The Threshing Floor Radio Show-June 27, 2010-Randy Maugans

 
icon for podpress  The End of Religion [44:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download


“The tendency to turn human judgments into divine commands makes religion one of the most dangerous forces in the world.“-Georgia Harkness



We have got to deal with this:


Many religious doctrines are of men, not God. Religion is a tool of control that drives blind allegiances to falsehoods, stifles growth, and limits our capacity to be both critical and embracing of new information. Religion substitutes rigid rules and narrow interpretation for genuine seeking of TRUTH.


Even worse, religion is conformity to a world-view that streams into the goals of the elites…easily aroused to passions of fervor, the religious become unwitting pawns in a game of social control. genocide, and war.


This is about you…your quest…your battle for truth regardless of cost…heedless of risk. Faith begins at the point of not knowing, it ends at the moment you think you “know.”


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5 Responses to “The End of Religion”
  1. Natalie says:

    This was a very hard hitting moving and very appreciated podcast for me – like the arrow of a word striking where I needed it. I have to admit this is making me take a hard look at areas I need to deal with where I feel stuck or a certain “comfort zone’ and this challenges me to let go of some lingering bondages to legalism and religion I thought I was rid of, I’m not there yet, a lot to face and deal with after hearing this. almost feel overwhelmed like I want to run back to my comfort zone and shut my ears to be honest- but I know that’s my flesh talking so I won’t actually do that so all that to say few teachers have ever reached me in this manner, I’m used to a feel good message and realize it’s easier to lie to oneself but the time for that is over with all that is going on, I am not ready for the Lord’s return and want that more than anything – Him and less of me. – so right on word that really needed to be heard but at the same time I’m uncomfortable but challenged and excited to take this journey further with the things you are going to be exploring and talking about. I don’t worship the “bible” but have approached it as the way God talks to me and measured experience against that in fear of falling prey to a counterfeit spirit, reading War of the Saints right now by Jesse Penn Lewis in fact so I’m a bit confused by all the things I’ve studied and wondering about what now. – I know in my heart all that matters is our relationship with the Lord and it’s so hard to let go of crutches we cling to, whatever they may be.. This bible thumping thing, is so programmed into those of us who came out of evangelical churches. I’m still grappling with the fear of going to hell for doing this or or listening to that from 5-8 years of that kind of ministry that became like an “internal” chatter in my head to the point of feeling split sometimes, I get confused with the real Lord guiding however He may choose to speak to me so please keep going with this. I see I need do give this over to the Lord and let go of “me” and that He is not the author of the confusion I have. THANK YOU.

  2. “Translators are traitors” “Il traduttore è traditore” Ancient Roman Proverb

    How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. [Jeremiah 8:8]

    My question is when did the lying pen of the scribes EVER stop?

    “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”[Hosea 4:6]

    Words are used to control. It is the Artifice of Language Land. The question then becomes who is to be master? The one’s who invented the language we speak? Words are sharper then a two edged sword. Life and Death is in the power of the tongue. Understand what the meanings of words are and how they are used. The Phoenicians were masters at language and communication. This is what we still use tele-phones and phonetics.

    “Those who don’t know are at the mercy of liars” David: Parker Williams

    The Definition of “definition” is: the formal proclamation of a Roman Catholic dogma http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/definition

    “Thesaurus” sometimes means the money itself; sometimes the place where it is kept.” The Dialogue Concerning the Exchequer. circa 1180
    http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/excheq.asp#b1p10

    The definition of Human Being in Ballentines Law Dictionary says “See Monster”

    Monster. A plant or creature terribly deformed, a human being by birth, but in some part resembling a lower animal. “A Monster…hath no inheritable blood, and cannot be heir to any land, albeit brought forth in marriage; but, although it hath deformity in any part of its body, yet if it hath human shape, it may be heir.” [Ballentine Law Dictionary 2Bl Comm

    The Adventures of Artifice in Languageland http://hisholychurch.org/sermon/sacrifice.php

  3. Via the HHC:

    I hear a lot of people using the phrase “the word of God.”

    Based on what the Bible says when using that phrase I do not think it means what many other people think it means.

    Here are all the places you see the phrase. If you read them let me know if youagree with them.

    Gregory

    1 Samuel 9:27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,)but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.
    1 Kings 12:22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
    1 Chronicles 17:3 And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
    Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
    Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
    Luke 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
    Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
    Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
    Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
    Luke 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
    Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
    John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
    Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
    Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
    Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
    Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
    Acts 11:1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
    Acts 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
    Acts 13:5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
    Acts 13:7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
    Acts 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
    Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
    Acts 17:13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
    Acts 18:11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
    Acts 19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
    Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
    Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
    1 Corinthians 14:36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
    2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
    2 Corinthians 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
    Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
    Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
    1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
    1 Timothy 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
    2 Timothy 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
    Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
    Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
    Hebrews 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
    Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
    Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
    1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
    2 Peter 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
    1 John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
    Revelation 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
    Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
    Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
    Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
    Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

    You also have two words in the Hebrew Dabar and imrah

    The are also not translated word every time. I think this is all of them.

    The point is the word of God does not live in a book and those who move in that direction move toward idolatry and away from the spirit.

    1 Samuel 9:27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,)but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word [dabar]1 of God.

    2 Samuel 16:23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle [dabar] of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

    1 Kings 12:22 But the word [dabar] of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

    1 Chronicles 17:3 And it came to pass the same night, that the word [dabar] of God came to Nathan, saying,

    1 Chronicles 25:5 All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words [dabar] of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

    Proverbs 30:5 Every word [imrah]2of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

    Mark 7:13 Making the word [logos]3 of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

    Luke 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word [rhema]4 of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

    Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word[rhema] of God.

    Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word[logos] of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

    Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word[logos] of God.

    Luke 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word[logos] of God, and do it.

    Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word[logos] of God, and keep it.

    John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word[logos] of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

    Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word[logos] of God with boldness.

    Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word[logos] of God, and serve tables.

    Acts 6:7 And the word[logos] of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

    Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word[logos] of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

    Acts 11:1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word[logos] of God.

    Acts 12:24 But the word[logos] of God grew and multiplied.

    Acts 13:5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word[logos] of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

    Acts 13:7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word[logos] of God.

    Acts 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word[logos] of God.

    Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word[logos] of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

    Acts 17:13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word[logos] of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

    Acts 18:11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word[logos] of God among them.

    Acts 19:20 So mightily grew the word[logos] of God and prevailed.

    Romans 9:6 Not as though the word[logos] of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

    Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word[rhema] of God.

    1 Corinthians 14:36 What? came the word[logos] of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

    2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word[logos] of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

    2 Corinthians 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word[logos] of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

    Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word[rhema] of God:

    Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word[logos] of God;

    1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word[logos] of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word[logos] of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

    1 Timothy 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word[logos] of God and prayer.

    2 Timothy 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word[logos] of God is not bound.

    Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word[logos] of God be not blasphemed.

    Hebrews 4:12 For the word[logos] of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

    Hebrews 6:5 And have tasted the good word[rhema] of God, and the powers of the world to come,

    Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word[rhema] of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

    Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word[logos] of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

    1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word[logos] of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

    2 Peter 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word[logos] of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

    1 John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word[logos] of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

    Revelation 1:2 Who bare record of the word[logos] of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

    Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word[logos] of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

    Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word[logos] of God, and for the testimony which they held:

    Revelation 17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words[rhema] of God shall be fulfilled.

    Revelation 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings [logos] of God.

    Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The word[logos] of God.

    Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word[logos] of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

    Footnotes

    101697 rbd dabar daw-baw’ from 01696; TWOT-399a; n m

    AV-word 807, thing 231, matter 63, acts 51, chronicles 38, saying 25, commandment 20, misc 204; 1439

    1) speech, word, speaking, thing

    1a) speech

    1b) saying, utterance

    1c) word, words

    1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner ( by extension)

    2 0565 ^hrma^ ‘imrah \@im-raw’\@ or ^ hrma^ ‘emrah \@em-raw’\@

    from 0561; TWOT-118b; n f AV-word 29, speech 7, commandment 1; 37

    1) utterance, speech, word

    1a) word of God, the Torah

    3 3056 ~logov~ logos \@log’-os\@ from 3004; TDNT-4:69,505; n m

    AV-word 218, saying 50, account 8, speech 8, Word (Christ) 7, thing 5, not tr 2, misc 32; 330

    1) of speech

    1a) a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea

    1b) what someone has said

    1b1) a word

    1b2) the sayings of God

    1b3) decree, mandate or order

    1b4) of the moral precepts given by God

    1b5) Old Testament prophecy given by the prophets

    1b6) what is declared, a thought, declaration, aphorism, a

    weighty saying, a dictum, a maxim

    1c) discourse

    1c1) the act of speaking, speech

    1c2) the faculty of speech, skill and practice in speaking

    1c3) a kind or style of speaking

    1c4) a continuous speaking discourse-instruction

    1d) doctrine, teaching

    1e) anything reported in speech; a narration, narrative

    1f) matter under discussion, thing spoken of, affair, a matter

    in dispute, case, suit at law

    1g) the thing spoken of or talked about; event, deed

    2) its use as respect to the MIND alone

    2a) reason, the mental faculty of thinking, meditating,

    reasoning, calculating

    2b) account, i.e. regard, consideration

    2c) account, i.e. reckoning, score

    2d) account, i.e. answer or explanation in reference to judgment

    2e) relation, i.e. with whom as judge we stand in relation

    2e1) reason would

    2f) reason, cause, ground

    3) In John, denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world’s life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man’s salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds. ++++

    This term was familiar to the Jews and in their writings long before a Greek philosopher named Heraclitus used the term Logos around 600 B.C. to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe. This word was well suited to John’s purpose in John 1. See Gill on “Joh 1:1″.

    4 4487 ~rhma~ rhema \@hray’-mah\@ from 4483; TDNT-4:69,505; n n

    AV-word 56, saying 9, thing 3, no thing + 3756 1, not tr 1; 70

    1) that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing

    spoken, word

    1a) any sound produced by the voice and having definite meaning

    1b) speech, discourse

    1b1) what one has said

    1c) a series of words joined together into a sentence (a

    declaration of one’s mind made in words)

    1c1) an utterance

    1c2) a saying of any sort as a message, a narrative

    1c2a) concerning some occurrence

    2) subject matter of speech, thing spoken of

    2a) so far forth as it is a matter of narration

    2b) so far as it is a matter of command

    2c) a matter of dispute, case at law

  4. From the book “The Higher Liberty”
    Logos
    John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word [Logos] was with God, and the Word [Logos] was God.” What does it mean to say the Logos was with God? The word logos in the Greek does mean “word” but in Greek and throughout the Roman Empire the word logos had another meaning in law commonly known to everyone in those days which is seldom if ever mentioned today. The first line of Book I, Title XII, of the Roman Codes of Justinian states, “Concerning those who flee to the ecclesia [church] or raise a disturbance there.”374 There was a law allowing people to take refuge in churches. This was not new and has been practiced and respected for thousands of years before and after the code was first written. It has been called sanctuary but its origins were far more judicial in nature and well understood in Roman law and the law of Israel. Book I, Title XII of the Roman codes deals with the rules concerning the law of sanctuary and the asylum state. Almost every system of law had a system of trial. The justice of those courts was dependent upon the people or the rulers or both. There often was a separate system or jurisdiction for appeals to prevent injustice in common or administrative courts. The Romans had several systems of appeals including the “the virgin priestesses of “Vesta”. The temples, including Vesta provided services. In Vesta young girls were picked for the training at the age of six from honorable families of freeman and served the temple of Vesta for a term of thirty years. They could not marry during their term of office and were free, emancipatio, from their families. They were very well paid and even pampered with privileges. Behind the pomp there was a practical purpose. Their common duties beyond the burdensome rituals and ceremony of the temple was to keep many important records safe and secure, including every thing from wills to important government treaties. They were the…..

    Footnote:
    374 “De his qui ad ecclesias configiunt vel ibi exclamant.”

    clerks of government and the supreme authority over the common clerks who worked for them in the temple and other buildings maintaining these vital records of society and government. They could also own property, pass that property by will to any man or woman, testify in court without an oath, and exonerate criminals for any crime.
    There was always a danger that local courts could cause a miscarriage of justice. It was important to provide some system of appeals to prevent an innocent man or women from being abused by a miscarriage of justice due to negligence, bribes or prejudice.
    In ancient Israel people took refuge in the cities of refuge375. Refuge is
    translated from the Hebrew word miqalat [jlqm] which means a refuge or asylum.376 It is from a root word qalat which means something is wrong, missing, deformed or handicapped. When you add a Mem you add the concept of flow. In this case it is justice that flows from the provision of an asylum state.
    In Israel, God’s kingdom on earth, the people were the Fountainhead of Justice.377 There was no king but each man was required to tend to the weightier matters of law, judgment, mercy and faith.
    If justice failed in the people someone could appeal to the congregations of Levites [the Church in the wilderness and the ministers of the people and the servants of God] for justice. The cities of refuge were civil powers of asylum or appeals courts for the purpose of protecting the people from injustice. The Levites served the people but were separate from the power of the state, which first rested in the hands of the people and eventually, due to their rejection of God rested in the hands of the king, and his ruling bureaucracy, elected by the “voice of the people”.378

    Footnotes:
    375 Numbers 35:9 -15, Numbers 35:7; Joshua 21:41
    376 Strong’s 04733 miqlat in the sense of taking in; n m AV-refuge 20 1)
    refuge, asylum. From qalat meaning lacking, handicaped, deformed
    377 “Before the Norman conquest of England in 1066 the people were the fountainhead
    of justice. The Anglo-Saxon courts of those days were composed of large numbers of
    freemen… In competition with these non professional courts the Norman king, who
    insisted that he was the fountainhead of justice, set up his own tribunals. ” Clark’s
    Summary of American Law. p 530.
    378 Numbers 8:14, Ezra 9:1,Nehemiah 10:28, 1 Samuel 8:

    The Logos, the Letter. [Justinian Code, Annotated, By Fred H. Blume, Edited by Timothy Kearley,
    2nd Ed., http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/blume%26justinian/
    Cities of refuge were not hideouts for criminals. They were places to appeal to for justice when local systems failed. Simply taking asylum in the city of refuge would make every man a prisoner even if he was innocent. This would not be just or merciful. If he was found innocent by those men of the “city of refuge”, he could leave that city without leaving the protection it offered? This was common in most societies and we see it codified by Justinian.
    “The right of asylum might also be personal, that is to say, not connected with a place, but with a person. In this connection we find the so-called logos which was a letter or statement in writing granting the bearer exemption from molestation by public authorities. At first such letter or statement was probably granted to a person who had taken refuge in a sanctuary, but who wanted to go home or to some other place for the purpose of attending to some necessary matters.”
    The right of asylum might also be a persona connected to a person. This was like a hall pass which protected you where ever you went. The bondage of Egypt was the result of status, not a location. Egyptian territory extended all the way to Canaan. When Israel left Egypt they left a persona jurisdiction. When they came to new places they kept themselves free from local persona jurisdiction by making “no covenants” with local inhabitants, applying for no benefits and maintaining an ecclesia or “church in the wilderness”. The Levites were titular representatives to those who were not a part of their society. They could not make treaties, have a standing army, accumulate vast treasury or reserve funds nor do anything that might return them to the bondage of Egypt. Christ appointed one Church to those who would serve His kingdom and bear fruit. There is one church because there is one logos and that logos is Christ. Those who got His baptism were set free from the persona jurisdiction of the Pharisees.

  5. [...] of this as part 2 of the previous show, “The End of Religion.” In the words of Solomon we gain some fascinating insights into salvation and the process of [...]

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