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June 14, 2005

Informatio: ,

Speaking of whores...

(In case you don’t know, the title of this entry references a post I made yesterday).

We read about the in our bible study this morning and it got me thinking. I’m constantly amazed at how close-minded we believers can be towards “outsiders” and the good works that they do for society (e.g., I don’t know how many times I’ve heard, “If they’re not sharing the gospel, what good are they doing anyway?”).

Why don’t I think this is a judgement that God wishes us to pass?

In the God uses the harlot, to help the Israelites take over the city of Jericho. And, not only do the Israelites spare Rahab’s life and the lives of her family members (as promised in an oath made by two Jewish spies), but the Israelites allowed Rahab and her family to live amongst them (Joshua 6:25). And, not only did these non-Jews get to live with the Israelites, but Rahab went on to become one of the many people in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17).

Maybe someday we’ll learn that there is really no such thing as an “outsider.”

Posted at 11:33 am

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Comments (17):
I guess by Faith in the one true God Rahab and her family became an insider instead of being an outsider. I sure wished that Jericho would have followed Rahab and her family’s lead but they didn’t.

dh () - June 14, 2005 at 5:51 pm

No, sorry… I don’t agree with your terminology. I’m saying that there are no such things as “outsiders” — God can use anyone He desires. We shouldn’t label anymore. I don’t think it’s God’s way.

timsamoff () (URL) - June 14, 2005 at 6:28 pm

He will use the wicked and has. I don’t that makes them an “insider” cause there are obviously distinctions between us and those not saved. But he has used the wicked to carry out judgements.

dennisthemenace () - June 14, 2005 at 6:59 pm

P.S. Good works probably dont need to be addressed here, i assume we all know what they are to God.

dennisthemenace () - June 14, 2005 at 7:00 pm

I guess what I meant to say is that we — as believers — are quite possibly overstepping our boundaries by using terms that separate us from unbelievers. While it makes for a tidy little religion, I don’t think God sees it (or us) that way (as is made evident through Rahab).

timsamoff () (URL) - June 14, 2005 at 9:55 pm

I just used this in relation to the reference of Rahab’s Faith in Hebrews as being the reason she and her family were saved. “Without Faith it is impossible to please Him.”

DH () - June 15, 2005 at 08:21 am

Oh, I know… I just don’t know if it is healthy to continue to allow the word into our subconscious. Sure Rahab appeared to have had faith, but would she have had faith if God did not desire to use her? (Just thinking out loud here.)

I wonder if sometimes we attribute a person’s blessings to their faith when maybe God has just chosen to bless them.

timsamoff () (URL) - June 15, 2005 at 08:31 am

That’s a great point. We do know that blessings fall on the just and the unjust. I guess I feel that in this case Rahab had a choice to have Faith and accept the spies or not. She had Faith and accepted so her “rain” was a “just rain”. I like to meditate on the Word. When I do this it gets into my subconscious. I never thought of this as unhealthy. I’ll have to rethink this one.

dh () - June 15, 2005 at 09:38 am

Well, I hope I didn’t say that letting the Word get into your subconscious was unhealthy. ;-)

timsamoff () (URL) - June 15, 2005 at 10:11 am

i think i’m actually with you on that one, Tim.

dennisthemenace () - June 15, 2005 at 11:43 am

“the wicked”? Goodness sakes. I think you are missing the point Tim is making. I believe he is saying that the concept of insider/outsider requires a judgement of the value of the other that is not ours to make.

wheat () (URL) - June 16, 2005 at 1:26 pm

THANK YOU, WHEAT!!! Whew! :-D

timsamoff () (URL) - June 16, 2005 at 1:30 pm

I guess when the Bible says what the wicked and righteous are, then it is not us making that distinction but God. So you are right it is God not us.

DH () - June 16, 2005 at 2:13 pm

And if interpreting the Bible were easy, then DH’s comment would be the end of the discussion. Unfortunately, the Bible transmits its meaning through language. And language, as this thread clearly demonstrates, is not easily understood.

Luke 6:37: “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven”

wheat () (URL) - June 16, 2005 at 8:01 pm

Like I say I’m not the one judging, God is through His Word. I say this with all care because I wish “..none to perish but all come to repentence”. All I know “apart from Christ I am nothing. “Without Faith it is impossible to please God.” Many of the Scriptures, particularly on Salvation, are so specific that is hard for me not to see the dichotomy. Maybe I’m a person who has the gift of Evangelism and want as many people to accept Christ. Maybe we just have different giftings so our emphesis’s are different. The Bible seems to be very clear on how to be in the Kingdom of God and not but that is just me.

DH () - June 17, 2005 at 09:26 am

Here’s a question, though:

What exactly is the Kingdom of God?

Don’t get me wrong, I have my ideas… This particular verse comes to mind, though:

“Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)

Opinions of prooftexting aside, I think this is a fairly compelling verse that might turn a few heads when truthfully pondered.

timsamoff () (URL) - June 17, 2005 at 09:50 am

I guess I look at this passage in light of John 3:3 “Except a man be Born Again he can not see the Kingdom of God.” So this is a very compelling verse that when we reach a place where we know we need to be Born Again it requires a recognition of how poor we are. Therefore, it is blessed are the poor as I truthfully ponder both of these verses in their entirety.

dh () - June 17, 2005 at 11:04 am

  
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