Politics & Current Events
MommyLiberty5013
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Iran Just "Discovered"
High reserves of uranium right after the good 'ole US of A seals the Iran Deal with Dems waiving it on through. According to Reuters and posted on Fox.
So friggin' stupid!!! Obama didn't get anything out of that deal. Not even 4 hostages/prisioners.
Re: Iran Just "Discovered"
I see what you're saying. The question then could be, if the USA hadn't been involved in the negotiations, would the deal be any better? Would the sanctions remain? Moot point probably; we can never know. Food for thought, I suppose.
With Iran, and now Syria and Russia teaming up, I dislike the state of things for Israel.
Some of my cousins are Jewish, through their mom's family. And, I personally wonder if I have some Jewish heritage way back in my family lines way before my ancestors came to the USA.
I am a Christian and I have always thought that Israel (both the people and the actual land itself) matter immensely to God (how could they not since Jesus was Jewish). I have a lot of respect and admiration for the Jewish people. I do think God is working in amazing ways in His people and in the land over there.
I believe in this Scripture, "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12: 2-3. God speaking to Abraham.
So yes, I too am looking for a candidate who supports Israel. Anti-Semitism is quite prevalent. And, animosity is also growing toward orthodox Christians on a number of fronts.
Actually, I had not seen this video. Thanks for sharing. I think Cruz is RIGHT ON here.
The Hebrew Scriptures in the Book of Jeremiah, says that from David would come a "righteous Branch." Jeremiah 23:5. Referring to Jesus (Jesus' genealogy can be traced back from both Mary, His mother and also Joseph, His earthly father, all the way through the Jewish genealogical lines back to Adam and Eve). Jesus is CLEARLY Jewish.
Furthermore, text, after text, after text of New Testament Scripture, show Him (Jesus) in the JEWISH TEMPLES preaching and teaching. But what did He preach and Teach? Old Testament Scriptures, AKA the Law or Torah of the Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus. Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), the Books of the Prophets or Nevi'im, and the Psalms and Praises also called the Ketuvim.
He celebrated Jewish festivals and feasts, most notably, Passover (which is where our Christian sacrament of Communion comes from).
The 12 Disciples were ALL Jewish. And, when Christ died, the Disciples, specifically Paul (formerly Saul a Jew who persecuted Christians before his conversion) were told and directed by God to go to the Gentiles (non-Jews) to share the Good News of Jesus. The Bible states that Gentiles are GRAFTED into the tree of Israel VIA Jesus Christ (Romans 11).
Most of the New Testament MUST be read with a good understanding of the Old Testament as many of the verses in the NT come from the OT or in the least refer to the OT. For example, Revelation (the last book of the Bible) only makes sense if you read and understand Daniel (a Hebrew OT book).
Support of Jews and Israel makes total sense in light of Jesus and the entire Bible. No where in Christian Scripture does it state that the Jews don't matter or that the OT ought to be laid aside.
I would seriously question anyone's understanding of Scripture and whether or not the Holy Spirit dwelt inside a supposed believer who was filled with hatred of Jews or didn't support Israel. To be on this line of thinking or heart emotion is not in agreement with God or His Word.
God is a covenant making and keeping God. No promise He ever made shall be cancelled out or nullified. He promised that Israel was His. And so it is!!! I have absolutely NO issue with Jews or Israel. I support both.
The Jews are unique in that you're the only people group that has specific ties to a physical location (Jewish by nationalism to a place) AND a religion simultaneously (the Jewish faith). "Jewish" is both a religion and a nationality. That's very unique. Plus, despite all the attacks of evil on your people over the millennia, your civilization has withstood the test of time, since the beginning of time, very unique as well. And, you also have your own language unique to your group...Hebrew (also Aramaic). No one else speaks this.
I do have a question: If so many Jews, whether they are religious or not, support Israel, why then, do Jewish people consistently vote for Democrats? Democrats don't seem to have a consistent voice of support for Israel.
Furthermore, it always seemed to me that the Jews, being devout religiously (the ones who still believe in God) in many ways, would also support candidates that are aligned with scriptural teachings they espouse. So, again why is there consistent voting support of Democrats who do not support rights to life for the unborn (Psalm 139:13 and Jeremiah 1:5) when the God of the Hebrews clearly supports the unborn and/or traditional marriage as its defined in the ancient Hebrew texts laid down by God in Genesis and subsequently upheld in other Books of Moses (Torah)?
Interesting. DH and I know quite a bit about Hebrew Feasts and Festivals -ones your people still celebrate today and others. It's amazing to us how rich the traditions are and how deep the scriptural and religious roots go into the traditions themselves. Yet, as you stated and also as what's happened with many Christians celebrations, is the secularization of them. They really loose their depth, whether Jewish or Christian, when the celebrations become just about a "party" or meal, or just what we've always done.
Due to the worldwide persecution of my brothers and sisters, both Jewish and Christian, I feel a great sense of responsibility to take very seriously the freedom I have to practice the religious celebrations very devoutly and seriously, not taking them lightly and enjoying them, but not letting them become about "checking off a box," or about a meal or JUST a family gathering.
Last year, DH and I actually ended celebrations of Christmas with Santa and Easter with the Bunny. We're really just taking the Holy Days back to their roots and becoming more basic and fundamental.
One thing that makes me sad about the world we live in...and have lived in for centuries actually...is how much animosity there is between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. We ALL worship the same God. The SAME one! With largely the same morals and tenets.
You'd think that would bring us together...but it doesn't...it drives us apart.
This discussion...a little bit...reminds me of when I read Exodus by Leon Uris. A large part of the book is about the United Nations vote on establishing the State of Israel. I knew it was a good book when I caught myself getting so into the story that I wondered, "What's going to happen? How are they going to vote?" And then laughing at myself because, of course I know how they are going to vote.
The U.S. was a strong supporter back then and should be again.
The Quran actually terms Christians and Jews as "People of the Book." Meaning there is a notably similarity between the Muslims and the other two. These three religions do have the same "father." Abraham. The Hebrew texts do prophesy that the children of Isaac (Abraham and Sarah) and the children of Ishmael (Abraham and Hagar) would be at odds with one another.
Upon our study of these faiths and their commonalities it's quite obvious that Judaism arose first. Descendents of Ishmael were around before Christians, but they didn't organize into a religion (Islam) until the 7th Century when it was founded by Mohammad. Christianity started with Jesus' death and resurrection in the 1st Century when Jews who followed Jesus began to speak that Message. The name "Christian" didn't come about until after Jesus' death during the first 1-2 decades of the Gospel being spread.
One problem, though, is that Muslims don't think Christians are monotheists. They see/hear 1 God in 3 persons (Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit) and they think we worship many gods. The concept of one God in three persons is a tough concept for the Muslim to grasp.
This is a cheesy example, but if you peal a banana you have three segments on one fruit. It's the same idea with Christianity - 3 persons in one Godhead.
Their teachings also promote that any god other than Allah is heresy. So, it's one of the reasons why they kill Christians who refuse to convert to Islam. When they see us worshipping Christ and the Holy Spirit, along with the Father - to them it's worshipping many gods. We are Infidels for that reason.
Many Christians over time have forgotten or ignored (or maybe they didn't know about) the Jewish roots of their faith. I cringe when people state that the Jews killed Jesus. While that's sort of true (since He was in a Jewish culture and part of that Nation [Tribe of Judah]), it was literally a distinct group of people that did have Him killed - the religious leaders did. The common folk were the ones who supported Jesus. Anyway, I know the Jewish leaders had Jesus killed after Jesus was betrayed by a Jewish disciple (Judas). But, that still doesn't cause me to hate Jews or not recognize my faith has its roots in that culture and worldview.
I'm not sure I can go so far as to state that I worship the same god as Muslims, though. Mohammad, their prophet gave word from Allah (as written in the Quran) to kill Jews and Christians who don't convert to Islam.
If Allah is the "same" god as the god Jews and Christians worship (Yahweh - the I AM), how could that same god order the death of his other children? It doesn't logically add up. He told the Muslims to kill the Jews and Christians? But, to the Jews and Christians, he told to turn the other cheek?
I'm not saying this out of hate. It's that there is a fundamental and sizeable difference in the teachings of these religions. They share a common ancestry and many of the same morals and societal values, but I cannot go so far to say that we all worship the same god.
Haha. Thanks. I'm fine with that. I'm friends with a lot of people with whom I agree with and lots of people with whom I disagree. My own sister is a left-leaning non-Christian and she's one of my closest friends. We talk religion and politics a lot actually.
I have always found it so bizarre when Christians are anti-Semites for exactly this reason. It's like...ummm...you realize our Jesus Christ was Jewish, right? And as for "it was the Jews who killed Jesus Christ"...even if I take that statement at face value...okay, and what does that have to do with hatred toward an entire group of people 2,000 years later? I promise, no Jewish person living today "killed Jesus".
@BluebirdMB, I have not read any books by Chaim Potok. Thanks for the recommendation.
@smerka, my philosophical question for the day. Did Hitler even actually hate Jews? Or was that group just a convenient scapegoat for him to use to rally the country around him?
But to paint the scene of Germany at the time of Hitler's ascent, WWI had left Germany in a deep, deep Depression with crazy inflation that lasted for many years. Much of the population lived in desperation. I hadn't heard about the interest on loans...though I do think of Germany as being more Protestant than Catholic anyway...but I think, generally speaking, Jewish citizens tended to be more affluent than average. By turning them into the enemy, it certainly allowed Hitler to then have the excuse to cede their homes/businesses/possessions into the Third Reich.
Sort of like during the witch hunts of the Middle Ages. If a woman was prosperous and owned land/possessions that her heirs wanted...well, just declare her a witch...and now her stuff is theirs. In a dispute with a neighbor? Declare her a witch and problem solved.
The other thing is that it's totally normal human behavior to congregate and associate with people who share commonalities with you including religion and nationality. It's easy for outsiders to say that people are being isolationists, when in fact everybody does this same exact thing!
It's not like I'm all of a sudden going to hang in a Hispanic neighborhood. I don't have anything against Hispanics, but beyond like the cuisine and speaking okay Spanish, I do not have a reason to go hang out with Senora Perez! I don't say they are isolating themselves anymore than they would say I am isolating myself.
I have a spiritual belief that the Jews have always been persecuted because they are from whom Christ came. If Evil (in my faith, Satan) could eliminate them, then Jesus would never come. Once He did come, Satan's objective was then to thwart the spread of the Good News/Gospel by persecuting Christians. But, Satan ALSO continued and continues to pursue and harm Jews because they are STILL God's chosen people. In Christianity, Satan hates whatever God loves. He is also called the Destroyer.
The word "scapegoat" came from the Jews.
"Scapegoat derives from the common English translation of the Hebrew term azazel (Hebrew: עזאזל) which occurs in Leviticus 16:8 after the prefix la- (Hebrew לַ "for"). And Aaron shall place lots upon the two he goats: one lot "For the Lord," and the other lot, "For Azazel. (for absolute removal)" Leviticus, Leviticus 16:8. In the Bible, the goat for Azazel was a goat that was designated (Hebrew לַעֲזָאזֵֽל la-aza'zeyl) to be outcast in the desert as part of the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement, that began during the Exodus with the original Tabernacle and continued through the times of the temples in Jerusalem." I quoted from Wikipedia since it's a definition of a word.