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Thursday, May 2, 2024

Jewish/Christian 'words'do not mean the same! Why?



I recently attended a Christian Nazarene Church in Tucson and noticed obvious Schizophrenia in their congregation. After the service was over I asked the Pastor why the Schizophrenia? I pointed out that the songs presented all worshiped Jesus and the prayer (after the songs) was addressed to the Father. What's going on I asked. The Pastor said it is based on their belief in the Trinity. Then he scooted away so I could not follow up with another question. Why all the different theological meanings when I compare Jewish theology with Christian theology? Let's review!

1. Let's first address the 'word' God. God is merely a title and has no real meaning until one is aware of which God is a presenter meaning/referencing. Christians will jump from Jesus to the Father and back when presenting their sermons to their congregation. This implies TWO Gods at the minimum. If the Holy Spirit is added we end up with three Gods. Jews view this as theological Schizophrenia and/or idolatry. Three God person's in one Godhead is not representative of the God of Israel (say the Jews). Jews use the 'word' God to mean ONE person on the Throne. They call their God HaShem and/or the God of Israel. Christians think they also worship the God of Israel but for them this God is a Trinity (three god person's). Who has it right? Personally, I reject this Christian doctrine of the Trinity. I agree with Thomas Jefferson and my Jewish believers on this issue.

2. Another 'word' which is confusing when studying Jewish/Christian theology are the 'words' son of God. Christians generally view SON of God as pointing to Deity. They say that their Jesus is the SON of God and also God the Son. This implies that Jesus is Deity and/or part of Deity. My Jewish brethren will generally say that Son of God means merely that Jesus/Yeshua was a human man who is similar of all of us humans. He was a 'son' and/or 'child' of the God of Israel (HaShem/Father). I would qualify as a 'son' of God. My wife would be a 'daughter' of God. Jew's point to the Torah as their reference point where HaShem/Yahweh called Moses a 'son' of God. David was a 'son' of God. Isaiah was a 'son' of God, etc. None of this points to Deity (say the Jews). Personally, I agree with the Jewish theology on this issue. I am a 'son' of God and you are also (son or daughter).

3. Another 'word' which gets interpreted differently is this word Messiah. Christians point to their Greek manuscripts and this leads to the 'word' Christ (as Messiah) in comparison to Messiah in Hebrew. Christ is part of Deity for Christians and this means that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. The Evangelist, Paul, viewed Christ as part of the Deity and this led to the theology of the Trinity (by 325 A.D.). Jews reject this theology and say that their Messiah (yet to arrive) is a mere human man who is anointed (similar to prophet David and or this Gentile Cyrus who was also called a Messiah for allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem after their 70 year exile). Jews claim that their Messiah (in Hebrew) will FEAR God and bring the planet peace when he arrives on the scene. Christians think differently. Personally, I tend to agree with the Jewish concept of Messiah and not the Christian concept (mostly based upon Greek text).

4. Another 'word' which gets interpreted differently is that concept called 'resurrection'. Both Jews and Christians (with maybe some exceptions) view this 'word' resurrection as a bodily resurrection. Jesus was bodily resurrected after some three days in the grave (two days if Friday was his death). Paul gives a confusing message on this 'word' resurrection. Sometimes he implies that 'absent the body, present with the Lord'. This implies no bodily resurrection for Yeshua/Jesus. Personally, I reject this bodily resurrection concept as I view my real SELF as virtual/spiritual. I have a 'spirit' component within me which I call my virtual self and/or my consciousness. This virtual self lives on after my body is dead (in the grave). I pass on to this virtual realm and continue to live in this realm. My 'word' for all this is 'glorification' at point of physical death. My spirit self gets 'glorified' at the point of my physical/bodily death. This happens immediately at death when my 'spirit' leaves my body. For me there was NO bodily resurrection for Yeshua/Jesus (as we find within Christianity). When he gave up his 'spirit' the Father (HaShemj) immediately 'glorified' his virtual self. He then ascended to this virtual/spiritual realm (immediately). As he said to the thief at Golgotha, "today you will be with me in Paradise". 

5. A Jewish concept which I reject is the viewpoint that Yeshua/Jesus did not get 'glorified' and that he did not 'ascend' to the Father at the point of death. Most Jewish rabbi's say that Jesus/Yeshua was a mere man and his body is matter/dirt which has not been 'glorified'. He is dead like all Jews that die on this planet. There is no 'after life' which continues. I reject this viewpoint as I have ample evidence that Yeshua/Jesus did 'ascent' to the Father (Yahweh) and that he is currently at the 'right-hand' side of Father God (at this moment). Millions of believers have had real-time experiences with this glorified Jesus and this proves to me that he is alive and well in this virtual/spiritual realm. My mother is one example of having a real-time experience with the 'glorified' Jesus. My sister is another example. There are millions of others who claim likewise. This proves that the Jewish theology on this issue is INVALID. Jesus/Yeshua is currently subordinate to the Father (but acting as an 'agent' of the Father as he continues to promote the Kingdom Age). I view Revelation 4 and 5 as valid text for this belief.

6. Christians and Jews also view their scripture differently. Christians look to their Greek manuscripts as their reference point for their theology. The Septuagint is quite possibly the most important translation of the Bible (for Christians). It was considered by Philo and Josephus to be on an equal footing with the Hebrew Bible. It was preferred to the Hebrew by the Early Christian Church. And it sheds much-needed light on the development of the New Testament. Still, many Christians today have little to no knowledge of it.) Jews look to their Hebrew scripture as authoritative and view the Christian/Greek Septuagint as partially flawed. Jews claim that Hebrew was the language of God and they view this language as essential for interpreting concepts of theology. All this produces different MEANINGS for believers who seek truth and validity in their text. We all need wisdom and discernment when we listen to the SPIN of theological presenters. 

7. Finally, Christians have adopted a 2nd Coming of their Messiah Jesus while Jews are looking for the First Coming of their Messiah. Christians are now seeking an escape from the coming period called Jacobs Trouble. This escape is called The Rapture. So the eschatology of the Christians is much different from that of the Jews. I expect a big theological battle on all these issues after the global economy crashes. Our future is tied to these concepts of Prophesy IMO. Christians have their truth and Jews have theirs. Each of us must discern the SPIN on words which each religion espouses. SPIN is what I witness on the Internet as I listen to all the different viewpoints and interpretations. Truth is obviously RELATIVE and this means that each person must do their OWN thinking on all these issues of reality/theology. Schizophrenia is everywhere in today's world of prophesy. It may be WISE to question each expert's viewpoint and not to accept concepts which lead to confusion. Simplicity is my MOTTO. Have a great day! 


I am: Donald B. Swenson, Economist/Philosopher, http://kingdomecon.wordpress.com. Also, donaldswenson.blogspot.com.


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