I haven't forgotten (peace to you!). Just went to bed, is all (it was around 11pm when I saw it!)
Now, then...
It just doesnt make sense that pagans in effect made a sacrifice without even knowing it.
First, they weren't "pagans". A pagan is someone who worships the physical earth as "mother"... and substitute fairies... for angels. The Jews believed themselves to be worshipping JAH... and believed in spirit beings from the spirit realm vs. the earth.
Okay, now that we've cleared that up:
It would definitely make sense that such would occur without their knowing it because such was a human sacrifice, something THEY never considered themselves as doing, as CAPABLE of doing... for human sacrifices were things done by the nations.
Although I would suppose if you (Shelby) and I were there, lets say you were James and I were John were the ones to make the sacrifice of Jesus to Jehovah, I would dare say you and I would be unable to slit Jesus throat and burn his body up as a sacrifice to Jehovah
I don't recall my Lord's throat being slit. His side pierced, yes... but I believe his throat remained intact. Nor was he burned (they wouldn't have done such a thing anyway, as burning humans was considered something "detestable" to JAH). But my Lord's sacrifice was not in the MANNER of animal sacrifices... in ANY way... so that it was a "much better" offering.
but strange as it may seem Jehovah not only wanted Jesus to be sacrificed but went further in allowing him to be sacrificed in a far more grotesque and inhumane manner.
While JAH did allow it, dear one... He didn't WANT it: Israel NEEDED is... and JAH PROVIDED it... and my Lord OFFERED himself... willingly.
The beheadings over in Iraq carried on by barbarians pale in comparison to what Jehovah allowed to happen to his son Jesus.
Since I don't want to be cyber-lynched, I'll refrain from commenting on the "barbarism" of Iraqi beheadings except to say... beheading... be-bombing... both take lives. The former of innocent adult men, the latter of innocent adult men... and women... and children. I am amazed at the outcry over the loss of "American" lives... innocent or those who chose to "live by the sword"... and obvious apathy over the loss of Iraqi lives... innocent... or those who chose to "live by the sword." I cannot say I understand how the innocent men, women and children who are killed daily... whether by Iraqi suicide bombs... or American missiles... meets the need to replace Sadam Hussein's "axis of evil." But... I digress...
If you and I could not allow ourselves to kill an innocent human to atone for our sins how is it that Jehovah allowed it and in effect condoned it?
"We"... are killing innocents lives for MUCH less these days, are we not? Are "we" not killing innocents lives because "we" have decided that a country's ancient form of government is detrimental to "us" because "we" believe that democracy is a much better form of government so that "we" are willing to KILL whomever "we" feel "we" need to in order to establish it (although the TRUTH is that "we" really want to protect "our" access to crude oil?) Tell me, dear Toreador... how can "we"... allow that?
Could you kill one of your kids for the sins another one of your kids committed? This just doesnt mesh with a God of love.
Let's see: if I had, say, 100 children... okay, 1,000,000... and in order to save 99 of them... okay, 999,999... I had to sacrifice... ummmm... ONE... I think I would say, yes... particularly if the one himself... offered himself... willingly. And I would love that one... much more than the others for doing so... so that if he were ever reestablished to me... all that I have... and all that my other 99 children would have had... would be his. So, I guess my answer is... yes.
But, don't "we" do it all the time... "sacrifice" our children for what "we" believe in? I think their are mothers and fathers in this world that would answer yes, and say that they've sacrificed their children... for much less.
The way that Jesus died was just pure barbaric and inhumane torture to death.
Indeed, it was. And yet, it also has the value to atone... mercifully... even for those who caused it.
I say a better way would have been for Jesus to have lived to a ripe old age and then he could have sacrificed himself by his own way of choosing and then for God to have taken him back to heaven.
Well, perhaps you should take that up with his Father; you have every right to do so (Psalm 4:4). Unfortunately, taking it up with me is... well... moot. I neither made the decision nor can do anything about your disapproval of it.
PS. I am still thinking about all those millions of poor animals sacrificed to death in the 4000 plus years prior to Jesus to temporarily atone for their ancestors, Adam and Eve, eating some forbidden fruit.
But why? I am sure that saying, "Let it go," won't suffice, so I'll say... is it not better to have given one's life in honor of the Most High God... than for some other frivolity (i.e., hideous disease that allowed worms to painfully eat away at your carcass, so that once you're no longer able to move, the birds come and pluck out your eyeballs while your breath still exists in you?). Or no, perhaps you feel it is better for animals to sacrifice their lives for HUMANS... to keep THEM alive... including the barbarians you mentioned earlier...
Earthling man... puny gnats that we are... always thinking our thoughts are "higher" than God's and that we know His mind so that we can check His hand...
I bid you peace, dear Toreador.
I am your servant, and a slave of Christ,
SJ
