"THE BIBLE SAYS THAT?!" by (me!) sandra, tvgp
-I DON'T HAVE IT IN ME TO UNSQUISH THE WORDS.. or the time to learn HTML so this doesn't happen.. **** yeah, it says that. i was as shocked as any layperson reading this passage out of context would be.. 'cuz, i've never heard this on any of the church tv shows i watch.. EZEKIEL 18:5-... 6?! and scary because the very subtitle for chapter 18 reads: THE ONE WHO SINS WILL DIE. yikes.. k, now let's read this together.. 18:1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2: "What do you people meann by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: " 'The parents eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'? NOW -BEFORE WE READ ON, let me summarize my interpretation of the entire chapter.. essentially, what this passage says to me, when you read the whole thing, is that -spiritually speaking.. each individual is accountable to God for their own decisions, actions, behaviors, etc. Parents crimes won't reflect on the child, child's crimes won't reflect on the parent.. neighbor's crimes won't reflect on the neighbor; employees crimes won't reflect on the employer, vice versa, versa vice.. we each are accountable for our own actions.. that said, let's keep reading 18-3: As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. 4: For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child -- both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die. AND MAY I PAUSE here one more moment, to share how uncomfortable and contrary that always reads to me... any reference to -the one who sins will die - because everything i hear is in contrast.. a loving, forgiving God.. and i always go back, in my imagination to how that is counter to free-will.. in this way: believe in me or die! in which case, there is a certain built in incentive, isn't there, which doesn't leave anyone much -choice- in the matter but! this is also exactly why i return to God as a God of hearts.. when given the -choice- not by threat, but by study, getting to know.. learning about.. appreciating.. valuing... God's LOVE.. you become attracted toward.. not threatened into -know what i mean? i'm off track again, let's return: 18-5: "Suppose there is a righteous man (tempted there to put writeous, of course) who does what is just and right. HERE'S WHERE IT GETS VERY INTERESTING.. 6: He does not defile his neighbor's wife or have sexual relations with a woman during her period. WHOA! WHOA! WHOA... i'm like.. excuse me, what did i just read? is it a sin to have sexual relations when you are on your period?! why... why... 'that's the best time!' -i've never heard such a thing.. i joke with my handsome prince around that time of peaked hormones.. "come here, and let me make a man out of you" - i say, because.. well, that's humor code for it's gonna be messy.. but, know what else.. it's gonna be very good! and he just laughs.. and is there anything sexier than that? and so, well, don't you know, i've gone my whole adult life without having this register as a 'sin' -any form of unrighteousness.. so i read this passage several times: 6: He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife or (yep.. sure does say what i think it says..) have sexual relations with a woman during her period. 7: He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked. 8: He does not lend to them at interest or take a profit from them. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between two parties. 9: He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD. *** and i'm like.. how on God's green earth, did having sex on your period get put in the same category with robbery? exploitation of the poor/needy? oppression? stealing? adultry? that old sesame street song, about 'one of these things doesn't go with the others.. one of these things, just doesn't belong..' starts playing in my imagination.. and so, leaves us with a few things to think about.. like, what do you do with that information? what if you have been doing something -as a secular person- your entire adult life, and suddenly read in the bible, a book called the book "of truth" and "God's word" but what those words say sit in complete contrast with what you know to be true.. what do you do? and how do we define truth? i'm askin' you, not telling you. i read this passage to my handsome prince.. i'm like.. i had no idea that was considered a sin.. but at least now i know where some of the people from strict religions get there rules and regulations.. they didn't pull it out of the air.. it's in the bible. and, then.. so, my handsome prince thought i was trying to tell him that we weren't going to have sex anymore during -that time. and i said, "oh, no, no, no.. that is not what i'm saying at all!" and i have no intention of -correcting- this behavior.. there is NOTHING in me, that believes this is a sin and so, i just said to Jesus, in prayer.. i said, "i'm almost post-men0pause anyway.. only got a couple years left of sinnin' -then i'm home free and don't even have to worry about it if you would please forgive me" and then, because i'm on my period, like write now, as i type this.. i said, "handsome prince.. come here and let me make a man out of you." and i'm reminded.. Moses gave laws.. we got silly about LAW.. Jesus came and gave grace and truth. when my handsome prince expressed concern, i said, "oh! that is sooo old testament -take off all your clothes.." my truth has been told. amen.
posted by SHE @ 8:45 AM
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