[Picking up from the last exchange between Sinaites BAN/VAN and their missionary friends “A” and “C,” the dialogue continues.–Admin1.]
———————
Dear [BAN]
We heartily agree with your statement, “Jesus taught the Torah and always advocated obedience to it. He was a Jew, lived as a Jew and worshiped as a Jew. He was the epitome of what a Torah believer was.” We got that information from the New Testament. What is your source of your information on Jesus?
We are aware of the question of the canonicity of the New Testament books and know of many sources of information concluding the veracity of the canon. What is your research source?
Let’s keep talking to each other. We love you,
“A” & “C”
—————————————–
Dear “C,”
It has been continuous rain here for over a month now, and the news is, there is going to be another typhoon coming in a few days. I have never experienced rain lasting this long. It is getting to be depressing, as the days are always gray and here in Baguio, it is also foggy. How I wish I could be away during these times. Manila was 90% flooded and some areas are still flooded until now. It is so hard to see so many people homeless and staying in evacuation centers. We are blessed here in Baguio, as there is no danger of flooding, though we lose our electric power most of the time. We all look forward to the day when the sun will show its light to us.
As you have stated, we are starting from scratch. That is so true for me and [VAN], and I guess for all of us here who have so little understanding of what God had revealed in His Word. Now that we are studying the Hebrew Scriptures from scratch, and finding out truths we should have known before, had we been more diligent in our study and not accepted what we were taught in the seminary “hook, line, and sinker” and being content with what we came to know.
As I now realize, my spiritual walk never will end. Regardless of how far I advance spiritually, I should always feel I have not done enough and there is so much more I should do to have a closer relationship with God. Many times I have felt that I am coming closer to God, but then I suddenly find myself more distant than ever. And I think that is how it should be. God is like a Father Who wants to teach His child how to walk. I am like a child who is able to stand up, but fearful of taking the first step, as I could fall. God, like a Father, places Himself close to me and extends His hands and calls me to come closer, and I get the courage to take the first step. And so, this exercise goes on and on. But it just seems that the more effort I exert in taking the steps, God moves farther away. Then, I realize that I and God have different goals. My desire is to reach God, but God wishes to teach me how to walk on my own. The moment God allows me to reach Him, the lesson is over and my progress stops. God’s desire is to teach me how to grow spiritually and this can occur only as long as I continue to search for Him. If God were to allow me to reach Him, my spiritual growth would come to an end. My search for God is important and I should rejoice in the search, for search is a stimulus for further spiritual growth.
And so, “C,” this is how I view my Torah studies. It is my continuing search for God, as it is only in studying the Torah that I can truly know what God wants me to know so I can grow spiritually. For now I am really starting from scratch and it is in taking one step at a time that I am starting to know Him more and it is simply so liberating to know what God asks of us. It is not legalism as what our teachers used to drill on us. Just simple love and obedience to Him as He is a loving God to all His creatures.
With regard to how we know about Jesus, you are right, Jesus can only be found in the New Testament.
With regard to the questions on the canonicity of the New Testament and why we do not accept it though it contains a lot of good moral teachings? This, one can find through a diligent study of history of the church and the early church fathers.
The issue is, does the New Testament teach what God revealed in the Tanach? Or have the New Testament writers mistranslated, added, or subtracted from what God had revealed? Again, all the answers can be found through a diligent study of the Tanach.
I will be sharing with you a study on how the New Testament came about. And since this is such a lengthy subject, may I share it with you in my next email?
All for now, blessings on you and “A”.
Reader Comments