Rubel Shelly: So Who Is
My Sister / Brother?
Sermon Summary: Sermon not available. Quick Review
C. Bruce White: Madison's Use of Sweet's Kregg Hood's
material (Tithing, Tongues, raising the dead?)
See several expressions of the CORE GOSPEL.
The first Rubel Shelly and John York sermon review is here.
And the second review is here.
Since our citizenship is in heaven, isn't it pretty arrogant to ask Who is My Brother?
Postmodern, Narrative Theology: Rubel Shelly and John York see the fellowship as a series of concentric circles reaching all of the way back to Adam.
Hezekiah's Reform is narrated by "taking liberties" to say that arriving late and eating the Passover without being "cleansed" but still forgiven, means that we should EXPAND our circle of fellowship in defining who is our brother or sister.
The old MODERN Bible: The Bible recognizes the families of men as a tree or flow chart. Periodically, the limbs of the tree get lopped off.
This allows the branches which produce GOOD FRUIT to prosper. That there are tiny forces of LIGHT opposed by the majority forces of DARKNESS embracing everyone as a brother or sister can put you into the arms of the enemy.
> The fact: all circumcised
males and all females were already brothers and sisters in the FAMILY
of Israel. Some arriving late for Passover would be like trying to
take communion without being certified and given a token to certify
you as ok. Thomas Campbell got into trouble trying to certify brother
and sister Presbyterians who did not have their family token.
> No outsider was allowed to
eat the Passover without "joining."
And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. Exod 12:48
"The conversion of the proselyte required Kavvahah/intention and the recitation of a benediction. The proselyte recites the benediction after the immersion because until then he cannot affirm the part which says "...God of our fathers...who has commanded us." The blessing for immersion of a convert is as follows;
"Blessed are You, O G-d, King of the universe, who has set us apart by your commandments, and commanded us concerning the immersion".
"The Talmud states, "as soon as the convert immerses and emerges he is like a Jew in every way." How does immersion in a Mikvah change a person: This can best be understood by another Talmudic teaching, that "a convert who embraces Judaism is like a new born child." We see an example of this in the conversion of the proselyte, he becomes a Jew in every way just as if he had been born a Jew."
> Like Solomon, Ahaz even assisted the
"denominatinal" places of worship and brought God's wrath on
Israel:
And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 2 Chron 28:24
And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers. 2 Chron 28:25
> In Hezekiah's reform, the
national "church" could not be restarted until the officials, clergy,
temple and grounds were cleansed of the idols and
instruments of the pagan
usurpers.
After that, everyone went throughout the city and destroyed the "denominational" shrines. Therefore, those who were not ALREADY BROTHERS AND SISTERS were ousted.
> Antiochus Epiphanes
took Jeruselem and opened its "fellowship" to
the Abomination which brings
desolation:
1 Macc1: 11 - In those days lawless men came forth from Israel, and misled many, saying,
..........."Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us,
...........for since we separated from them
...........many evils have come upon us."1 Macc1: 12 - This proposal pleased them,
1 Macc1: 13 - and some of the people eagerly went to the king.
...........He authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles.This centered around MUSIC and a GYMNASIUM
1 Macc1: 14 - So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom,
1 Macc 1:41 - Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
1 Macc1: 42 - and that each should give up his customs.In First Maccabees, not only is the temple services cleansed and restarted, the "denominational" people were destroyed and their "churches" torn down.
Conclusion:
The Biblical FACTS
directly CONTRADICT the postmodern use of Hezekiah's Reform. Is that
honest? Well, in the old MODERN age we would say that this is not
just proof-texting but deliberately making Scripture say the opposite
of what it has said for all of these centuries.
However, in the postmodern theology coming out of our once "christian" universities it means whatever WE want it to MEAN to satisfy our own personal agenda. Rubel Shelly confesses to "taking liberties" with the Bible and advises his congregation to "take their own liberties."
At the very least, an honest use of Hezekiah's reform would not have even branded him like those who refuse to repudiate the Word of God and affirm all people. Rubel Shelly asks:
Rubel Shelly and John York: Could we lower some of the Satan-inspired and human-erected walls that divide Christians from one another?
Perhaps live by a broader definition of fellowship within the family of God than some of us have experienced to date?
The end time Abomination which makes desolation according to the mixture of music, false worship and "commerce" with the world in Revelation 18 is the same:
"Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us, for since we separated from them
many evils have come upon us."
Therefore, trying to blend the CAT family and the DOG family just creates fights.
Because some people arrived too late to have animal sacrifices sanctify them before eating the Passover, Shelly and York suggest that as an example of getting by with violating the law means that we should embrace those whom we believe not to be CHRISTIANS which means baptized disciples of Christ.
Rater than Hezekiah LOWERING GOD'S STANDARD He prayed that God would LIFT UP those "late for communion" to His standards.
Rubel Shelly and John York: A King of Judah once took the initiative to call the Jewish people to observe the Passover. After the collapse of the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C. and in connection with the cleansing of the temple at Jerusalem, King Hezekiah called people from both Judah and the Israel to keep the Passover together as brothers in the Holy City. Although many turned a deaf ear to his invitation, thousands began moving toward Jerusalem.
But not yet! What he was doing was carrying out HIS covenant with God to, like David, enact a PLAGUE STOPPING ritual caused by turning the Temple into a SEEKER CENTER and inviting the pagans into fellowship. Rather than endorsing a WIDER FELLOWSHIP, this text in context proves that God will not even listen to you until you RESTORE THE WALLS between the children of light and the children of darkness.
Before this PROOF TEXT begins, the poor congregation should grasp that the nation, leaders, clergy and temple were so polluted with idols of DENOMINATIONAL worship- - ncluding musical idolatry -- that God would not even look to it as a place for killing animals.
In Hebrew the same word defines "pollute, play the flute and prostitute."
And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. 2 Chron 28:20
...........For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord,
...........and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and
...........gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. 2 Chron 28:21And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz. 2 Chron 28:22Rimer Chief god of Damascus; so called from the word rime, a “pomegranate,” because he held a pomegranate in his right hand. The people bore a pomegranate in their coat armour. The Romans called this god Jupiter Cassius, from Mount Cassius, near Damascus.
Naaman is asking that the prophet recognize the realities he will face back in Aram, where, as the highly regarded and trusted general of the king he will be expected to show respect while the king worships Rimmon, the storm god of Damascus and the equivalent of the Caananite god, Baal.
This would have included the Whirling Dervishes and we know that David performed that dance while REMOVING the Ark of the Covenant to a NATIONAL or PAGAN, Jebusite High Place.
For instance, In the Hymn in Praise of Enki's Temple Esira at Eridu:
When one bends the knee in his holy temple
may the harp, algar, drum, algarsurra,
har-har, sabitum, miritum,
instruments of sweet entreaty and humble imploring
which fill the temple,
accompany the entreaty in its splendor.
Enki's holy algar has [always] sung to him in splendor.
The seven musical instruments indeed
[always] accompanied [the temple's] entreaty!
Again, these words occur:
"In reverence commanded in the forecourt the seven musical instruments are played and the ceremonies of exorcism are undertaken. (Quasten, Johannes, Music and Worship in Pagan and Christian Antiquity, p. 17-18)
Martin Luther (1483-1546), founder of Lutheran Church: "The organ in public worship services is a sign of Baal." Realencyklopadie fur Protestamtische Thelogie and Kirche, Bd.14. S. 433. As furnished James B. Bales a native German, and cited by Bales, (Instrumental Music and New Testament Worship [1973], p.130.) NOTE: others have translated as "ensign" where Reichel has "Sign," but each word is sometimes used equivalent of the other.) Baal worship with instrumental music was continued but under different names.
For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. 2 Chron 28:23 (Judah was imitating the practices of Israel so that the entire nation of Israel was consumed with idolatry)
And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God,
...........and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord,
...........and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 2 Chron 28:24And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers. 2 Chron 28:25
Therefore, Hezekiah, using David as a very ancient pattern, proposed his own covenant with God to cleanse the nation, city, temple and clergy BEFORE the people could even eat the Passover.
Because of this COMPROMISE WITH NON-BELIEVERS and FALSE WORSHIP in Jerusalem the people were IN CAPTIVITY. So, Hezekiah said:
Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. 2 Chronicles 29:10
Isn't it pretty clear that there is a difference between stopping God's FIERCE WRATH and forcing everyone to fellowship those who had brought on the plague?
This, like David's effort, was a PLAGUE STOPPING proposal and not to prove that accepts everyone.
If we miss the point just to use this as a PROOF TEXT for whom WE ALLOW to be our brothers and sisters may repudiate the eternal cleansing of Jesus Christ. And it minimizes the easy way Jesus ordained for becoming a brother or sister.
Looking at the Grounds, Holy Place and Most Holy Place as types of The unredeemed, unwashed World, of the Church and of Heaven or our Spirit where the ONLY worship takes place
Only those who have been WASHED by God as their bodies are washed have become DISCIPLES and are added to the church. Only they receive the clear consciousness by which they can perceive the seven spirits, are received into covenant fellowship and whose prayers God hears because believers are now "priests" with no need for musical mediators.
The early church which met to "give heed to Christ by reading His words," to remember His death in the breaking of bread and of offering up OUR OWN prayers as incense in fulfillment of the temple type.
The musical Levites were not allowed into this service.
Music cannot be used for learning, for fellowship or for prayer.
There is no way to fulfill the TYPE of the holy place and still allow Levitical musicians to PERFORM for us.
This PROOF-TEXT is misused to prove that we AFFIRM the soon-to-be destroyed "denominational" shrines to FELLOWSHIP with music in order to escape the Shellyisms including being fratricides or "brother killers."
Before a relationship with God can begin, one must repudiate almost 100% of the "churches" of both pagans and Jews in Jerusalem.
Click to see the historical account of how the DENOMINATIONAL groups were disfellowshiped:
Therefore, this cannot be used as a model of unity in diversity:
And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord.
And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron. 2 Chronicles 29: 16
Therefore, there is such a thing as CLEAN and UNCLEAN and any yearning to bring the unclean within the FELLOWSHIP CIRCLE repudiates the Hezekiah example.
Based on the Assyrian worship there WOULD BE idols and instruments in the holy place. However, the Levitical musicians and porters COULD NOT enter into the holy place or "church" even to remove the garbage.
The musical noise attached to burning the sacrifice was IN THE COURTS and never in "the church." It was used to mock or triumph over Jesus "outside the gates."
Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the Lord: so they sanctified the house of the Lord in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end. 2 Chronicles 29: 17
There is no need for violence, but the prophecy and fulfillment of the church makes it a fellowship of people holding common views. The church was never a a MACHINE OF EVANGELISM for many years. The early believers ate the fellowship meal and CHURCHED because they held common views.
Most of the postmodern "new style worship" is a direct restoration of the Law of Moses and legalistic traditions. Therefore, before Dr. Shelly can accept even his own "tribe" here is what he will have to do to use Hezekiah's Reform as PATTERNISM for a wider fellowship.
TEMPLE FOR OFFICIALS AND CLERGY QUARANTINED FROM GENERAL POPULATION.
The Temple was the King's Chapel and the gates were shut to all non-clergy, kings and officials during musical sounding of holocaust:
David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service: 1 Chr.25:1
The "service" was HARD BONDAGE and not spiritual worship:
Hundreds of years later, Hezekiah had to reach back to David's Plague-stopping animal sacrifice:
Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord. 2 Chron 29:20
And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the Lord. 2 Chron 29:21So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. 2 Chron 29:22
At the KING'S direction, he goats were also offered for the nation of Israel which was out of fellowship:
And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation (not the people); and they laid their hands upon them: 2 Chron 29:23
And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. 2 Chron 29:24
And he set the Levites in the house (not the holy places) of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the kings seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets. 2 Chron 29:25
This is not called "worship" but it was a friendship offering toward Israel. David's sacrifices were for a PLAGUE STOPPING RITUAL and not for CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP.
And the Levites stood
Civil-Military Noise Makers: with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 2 Chron 29:26
Civil-Military Noise Makers: and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. 2 Chron 29:27 And all the congregation (king, clergy, officials ONLY) worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued
-
- Clergy: And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began,
-
- Clergy: the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets,
-
..........until the burnt offering was finished. 2 Chron 29:28
It is a fact that Rubel Shelly's widespread SOWING OF DISCORD by adding the VINEYARD "new style praise singers" to replace Jesus as the One and Only Mediator has ONLY the MILITARY MUSICAL SOUNDERS to create a HARD BONDAGE. This bondage has the same name as ABADDON, APOLLYON OR APOLLO who STOLE his SEEKER CENTER at the oracle of Delphi.
Totally consistent, the "team" is trying to impose TITHING to go along with the 100% repudiation of the sacrifice of Christ.
Tithing and Temples Authorize Giving? (From:Great Themes of the Bible (#22-Generosity)
C. Bruce White: Madison's Use of Sweet's Kregg Hood's material (Tithing, Tongues, raising the dead?)
In chapter 30, before people could eat the Passover without going through the ritualistic ceremony, they actually went through the entire city of Jerusalem and TORE DOWN the DENOMINATIONAL "churches" in Jerusalem:
some ecumenical movement!
Rubel Shelly would have us BAPTIZE the altars and COLOR them godly and open up the temple as a SEEKER CENTER and invite them all to be Brothers and Sisters and bring their mechanical or "organic" model of instruments. But, we need not be so inclusive to escape the charge of being exclusive.
And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. 2 Chronicles 30:14
We are LIVING STONES in the Spiritual kingdom. For Christ to dwell in Spirit in the COLLECTIVE assembly Paul will silence singing and speaking out of OUR OWN SPIRIT and using instruments which he compares to INSTRUMENTS OF WARFARE as they indeed "under the king and the commanders of the army" and of the hollow, empty instruments like the Familiar Spirit of the witch, the nebel or harp as the lifeless instrument of the empty musicians or the brase sounding or echo chamber of the Greeks.
You cannot worship a Spirit God with machines and you have no God-given demand to AFFIRM those who do.
Only those who have COME TO THE DESIGNATED PLACE and have repented and are intending to be SANCTIFIED are those which Hezkiah permits conditional fellowship for EATING FOOD.
The Invitation to Fellowship
AND Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover unto the Lord God of Israel. 2 Chronicles 30:1
Now, you will notice that the people made their own arrangement about how the "buildings and grounds" and "clergy" would be made clean. If you are totally out of fellowship with God, as David as pattern was, then you have to DIE or REPENT and clean out the old before you can approach God.
For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month. 2 Chronicles 30:2
As David the king and COMMANDERS OF THE ARMY added instruments for the future temple as a CIVIL CENTER, Hezekiah the king and his commanders, as the national "congregation," decides how they are going to reopen their own CHURCH HOUSE.
You will notice that there was a PATTERN for sanctification. It was too late to do so and therefore Hezekiah proposed a different time.
The ETERNAL pattern is that we as priests cannot be participants unless we have accepted the sacrifice of Christ and have been WASHED in the laver by Christ Himself as High Priest. Only then can we be said to be part of the CHURCH and participants in the Holy Place.
For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently,
neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 30:3And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. 2 Chronicles 30:4
Hezekiah saw this as a RESTORATION MOVEMENT to get the estranged nation of Israel and Judah back into fellowship. However, Israel was only INVITED GUESTS.
You will notice that Hezekiah looked to the WORD OF GOD for his authority as far as it could be followed:
So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem:
for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written. 2 Chronicles 30:5
So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again (repent) unto the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. 2 Chronicles 30:6
Christ Invites the Jews to Church: the Jews Mock Him with Music and murder Him. Jesus did not fellowship them and even hid the truth from them.
They were so POLLUTED that Jesus refused to speak to them except in parables to hide the SPIRITUAL FOOD from them. God had not spoken through the prophets for 400 years as he had not spoken to the same people in Egypt for about 400 years. Therefore, it could be Jesus inviting:
And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren,
..........which trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers,
..........who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. 2 Chronicles 30:7
Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were,
..........but yield yourselves unto the Lord,
..........and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever:
..........and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. 2 Chronicles 30:8
Their returning to the LAWFUL fellowship in Jerusalem WAS THEIR REPENTANCE. Therefore, Rubel Shelly's proof-text will not work until the SOWERS OF DISCORD repent and pray and return to the ORIGINAL PATTERN.
The sanctuary was the area of the temple but not the holy place or most holy place:
Qadash (h6942) mik-dawsh'; or miqqÿdash (Exod. 15:17), mik-ked- awsh'; from 6942; a consecrated thing or place, espec. a palace, sanctuary (whether of Jehovah or of idols) or asylum: - chapel, hallowed part, holy place, sanctuary
The Holy Place typified the CHURCH. No Levitical musician, the majority of priests and none of the CONGREGATION could enter the Holy Place. Therefore, this cannot be proof text for inviting the world into the CHURCH to be Brothers and Sisters and be "brought into the presence of God" with music right into the Most Holy Place.
Only those priests who had been washed in the laver made possible by the SACRIFICE could enter into the Holy Place into which no singer or musician could enter under any circumstances.
Christ has died for our sins and those who are "washed" in the laver are children of God and therefore brothers and sisters. To make this statement does not make one SATANIC or SECTARIAN.
Therefore, Rubel Shelly has no right to declare who is or who is not cleansed by the blood of Christ IN BAPTISM as a way to participate in HIS OWN SACRIFICE is a priest of God and able to enter into God's presence.
God forgives sins which CANNOT BE PREVENTED but this does not invite those who live in sin to be "brothers and sisters." This example teaches turning back, honest seeking and prayers to God for a renewal of fellowship and not to determine who is or is not a brother or sister:
For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive,
so that they shall come again into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. 2 Chronicles 30:9
God does not even offer conditional food fellowship to those who WILL NOT RETURN. Dr. Shelly wants to bring the goats into the sheepfold.
God bestows grace: we cannot do that. Therefore, Hezekiah DOES NOT teach open fellowship as long as one believes in the Core Gospel of seven facts about Jesus which has deteriorated from the SEVEN ONES of Ephesians 4 as the CORE.
God sent the EVANGELISTS OUT: He didn't suggest turning the temple into a Seeker Center but demanded that they GO. The condition of fellowship was simply to GIVE HEED to the invitation.
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
..........He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16
Hezekiah sent out "evangelists":
So the posts passed from city to city, through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun:
..........but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. 2 Chronicles 30:10
This is typical of how the overwhelming majority of the people responded to the invitation of Christ. Are we Satanic Sectarians for refusing to fellowship (affirm) those who laughed and mocked Jesus to scorn which was musical mocking?
And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. Mt.27:31
Psalm 41 prophesied that they would MOCK Jesus to try to silence Him with the instrumental music the "king and commanders of the army" had used for the temple. Therefore, they would mock Him as they crucified Him but He had already been WASHED to FULLY PREACH baptism. His blood would wash our spirits OUTSIDE THE CAMP before He would enter into the Most Holy Place and establish a new HOLY PLACE as the Church of which He is the Head or Most Holy Place.
Remember that there is always a tiny remnant: can we then make THE FAMILY OF GOD into a series of concentric circles? No. The family is a tree and God prunes all branches which do not bring forth fruit.
Laugh
Sachaq (h7832) saw-khak'; a prim. root; to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by impl. to play: - deride, have in derision, laugh, make merry, mock (-er), play, rejoice, (laugh to) scorn, be in (make) sport.
And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets. 1Chr.13:8
This is the same meaning as CACHAQ (h6711) where Israel rose up to play at Mount Sinai:
And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.Ex.32:6
"The triumphal hymn of Moses had unquestionably a religious character about it; but the employment of music in religious services, though idolatrous, is more distinctly marked in the festivities which attended the erection of the golden calf." (Smith's Bible Dictionary, Music, p. 589).Ephraim of Syria: But when Moses came down, he saw their heathenism revelling in the wide plain with drums and cymbals.
Speedily, he put their madness to shame by means of the Levites and drawn swords.
Because of this MUSICAL IDOLATRY God shut the Israelites out of the tabernacle and considered them as strangers. Thereafter they needed the Levites and Priests to stand between them and God.
Therefore, Hezekiah is discussing the CURSE OF THE LAW which prevents one from being eternally sanctified by the blood of Lord Jesus Christ. MOCK or SCORN is like speaking in tongues or singing self-composed songs which repudiates the Words of Christ. Because they "spoke in tongues" to mock Jesus like they did the Jews in Jerusalem, the SIGN to them would be apostles speaking in tongues which mocked the Jews.
Leag (h3932) law-ag'; a prim. root; to deride; by impl. (as if imitating a foreigner) to speak unintelligibly: - have in derision, laugh (to scorn), mock (on), stammering.
Again, a tiny remnant out of Israel came to Jerusalem: not to be saved but to observe the Passover.
Nevertheless, divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 30:11
Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 30:12
And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. 2 Chronicles 30:13
David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly. Mk.12:37
However, before the Passover could be kept, the nation, city, officials and temple had to be cleansed. This was not ceremonial cleansing but literally tearing down the DENOMINATIONAL places of worship.
And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. 2 Chronicles 30:14
Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month:
and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 30:15
Jesus fulfilled the full terms of the Passover Lamb. Therefore, he has become our passover and we must repent and come to Him to "eat of His Word."
The Instrumental Music and Singing is ALWAYS outside in the courts and never in the Holy Place or Church
And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. 2 Chronicles 30:16
For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord. 2 Chronicles 30:17
Since we have "APPROVED" instrumental music and appropriated the Levitical musicians (sounders), why not GO ALL THE WAY and offer animal sacrifices as the co-partner of musical sounding IN THE COURTS or "church lawn."
The Jubilee, in history, was FOR THE ATONEMENT. And the Pope says that
"Whatever form its social ramifications may have taken, the jubilee was, and remained, a religious affair, for the atonement of sin (see Lev. XXV, 9)."
We directed people to the nearest AUTHORIZED place to BE REDEEMED in 2000 which was the Pope's big day hoping that all of the "congregations" would be forced to return to a DENOMINATIONAL STRUCTURE. The Shelly Jubilee appeared just after the Pope called for a grand ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT to include all as "brothers and sisters." Of cource, the movement would be on the Pope's terms.
However, Jesus has already become our Jubilee and only He can determine the conditions of Atonement.
Rubel Shelly and John York: The Passover lambs were killed and the celebration began. Some from the northern areas arrived too late, however, to perform the purification rituals that required several days for completion. So, although "a multitude of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed" (2 Chron.30:18a).
Or, as the New International Version renders the last words of this verse, "they ate the Passover contrary to what was written."
Would the rekindling of faith in Hezekiah's attempt at reformation be stopped in its tracks by their impurity and unauthorized eating of the sacred meal? Would God destroy those who had violated the Passover rules?
The nation, city, temple, clergy and king was so polluted that God did not hear anyone anymore. Therefore, HEZEKIAH made a covenant with God to RESTART animal sacrifices in Jerusalem. His reformation did not depend on the perfection of the people. Their eating of the Passover meant that they were back in fellowship.
Remember that after the rituals had been completed for Judah, Hezekiah decided to make a sacrifice for Israel and to later invite them to the Passover. Restoring the CHURCH in Jerusalem did not depend upon the ability of late Israelites to eat the Passover meal.
Since most of Israel mocked the effort, Israel really had no part in the deal any more than Canada would mess up a state ritual of the United States.
For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun,
..........had not cleansed themselves,
..........yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written.
..........But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one 2 Chronicles 30:18
Again, faith, repentance and prayer does not allow us TO LOWER THE STANDARD. Rather, God LIFTS THE PEOPLE UP to His standard by His grace: we don't have that power.
If the people had deliberately violated the rules of eating as the NIV seems to say, they would not have been able to eat:
Rubel Shelly and John York: Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the LORD, who is good, pardon everyone 2 Chron 30:18NIV
The word in the text lo (h3808) means otherwise or else, ignorant, as though
However, the word contrary is hepek (h2014) means to pervert, overthrow which is from haphak (h2015) meaning to change, overturn, overthrow, pervert, to the contrary
The way the word is used there is no reason for the NIV to say that the people deliberately VIOLATED or PERVERTED the law. They acted AS IF they were obeying the PATTERN.
The word SEEK is the only spiritual worship available for those who would bow before God. This means to WORSHIP IN SPIRIT. Therefore, the people were seeking to worship God but they had not been BAPTIZED. For instance, in the early church the Lord's Supper was not a PUBLIC show and tell but the members went into their own private "upper room." And so only a citizen of Israel could eat the Passover.
We might liken this to eating the Lord's Supper by those who are not in covenant relationship with God. We don't make judgment about who can eat the supper but we just have to pray that even 'members' have their heart prepared:
That prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. 2 Chronicles 30:19
Remember that most of the musical events were for dedicatory or purification and in connection with the Temple and in Jerusalem and in Canaan. The RULES are therefore FOR THE SANCTUARY and have nothing to do with the SPIRITUAL KINGDOM OF GOD.
Remember that Hezekiah is not defining who is brother or sister: he is trying to get the SANCTUARY and the people sanctified so that the normal animal sacrifices can be restored in the polluted nation, city and temple.
Rubel Shelly and John York: The LORD heard Hezekiah, and healed the people" (2 Chron.30:18b-20).
The violation of the purification laws in Hezekiah's day was not a matter of cavalier disobedience. The people were not defying God but seeking him. Precisely because the good king knew the difference between rebellion and the failure of those who "set their hearts to seek God," he had the generosity of spirit to pray for them to be accepted in their deficiency.
..........And because God ultimately judges on the basis of a seeker's heart rather than his or her performance,
..........he showed mercy, forgave their shortcomings, and healed them.
The forgiveness of sins for the believer is repentance and prayer. This is what the BROTHERS did. However, those with whom Dr. Shelly wants to fellowship are wrong and have not repented and would never be willing to return to the BIBLICAL PATTERN which outlaws "the works of human hands" which silences the Words of Christ.
We suggest that there is no violation of a law when it is impossible to be observed and God's grace covers us. Neither God's grace nor the people's mental attitude changed the STANDARDS OF THE LAW. By being healed through repentance, prayer and God's grace, Hezekiah did not establish a new PATTERNISM by which people could thereafter violate the rules for eating the Passover.
Nor would Hezekiah have been Satan-driven if he had not prayed.
To make sense of this proof-text, those we presume to ACCEPT as brothers or sisters would have to have repented, asked forgiveness and intending to obey the law as soon as possible.
Those Dr. Shelly wants to AFFIRM as brothers and sisters have deliberately, like Israel, sowed discord or CIVIL WAR and in the North have adopted the civil-military musical NOISE as tools of worship. They have no intention of repenting but, like Dr. Shelly, blames the people of "Judah" (non-instrumentalists) for the CIVIL WAR caused by introducing instruments just as they did and just as God soundly condemns it in Amos 5,6 and 8 and Isaiah 5. The instrumentalists have not sought to return to the DIRECT COMMANDS of Paul, have not repented and have not the slightest interest in Dr. Shelly affirming them in their sins.
And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. 2 Chronicles 30:20
God "stitched them up" or "healed" them but they WERE ALREADY brothers and sisters in the nation. However, they are NOT IN CHURCH but having a festival of food and fellowship. When the physician HEALS US he makes us LIKE THE PATTERN: he does not change the pattern to fit CANCER and we should not recognize CANCER as a normal state.
And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the Lord. 2 Chronicles 30:21
The common people's "congregation" never "sang congregationally with instrumental accompaniment." This was the BURDEN of service imposed on the Levites when the Levites had to kill thousands of their brethren for rising up in musical idolatry at Mount Sinay.
And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the Lord: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the Lord God of their fathers. 2 Chronicles 30:22
And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness. 2 Chronicles 30:23
The real problem was that the non-sanctified people were often the priests. However, when the time came they did not LOWER THE STANDARDS but performed the ritual of sanctification even if late.
For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. 2 Chronicles 30:24
And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites,
..........and all the congregation that came out of Israel,
..........and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. 2 Chronicles 30:25So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 30:26
Finally, the end result of the covenant Hezekiah made with God: the priests and Levites were able to serve in the city and temple and God would listen to their prayers:
Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven. 2 Chronicles 30:27
The Mantra is often the non-instrumentalists who Shelly claims broke fellowship by refusing to affirm those who deliberately sowed discord and confiscated the "church houses of widows."
Rubel Shelly and John York: Could we lower some of the Satan-inspired and human-erected walls that divide Christians from one another?Perhaps live by a broader definition of fellowship within the family of God than some of us have experienced to date?
If you erect the wall then those who have to abandon their church homes DO NOT erect walls. Any instrumentalists can admittedly attend a non-instrumental church without being WALLED OUT of participation.
Therefore, the GUILT CLAUSE and distorting the truth began in the garden of Eden where the serpent or NACHASH was a musical enchanter.
No, we cannot lower or erect standards. We don't have to draw inclusive or exclusive circles: the command is to GO preach the gospel. When that happens (if ever) there will be no surplus of energy to try to fabricate an artificial union between diverse religious groups.
From frequent history, we understand that the Satan-inspired and human-erected walls are instrumental music. And consistently with the offenders, he blames the offended for being Satanic.
Amos and Isaiah say that singing with instruments was the worship of Molech, Remphan or Chiun. Therefore, God would say that musical worship was a SATAN-ERECTED wall. Satan or Saturn was the "heavenly host" God turned Israel over to at Mount Sinai when they rose up to play IN MUSICAL IDOLATRY. Rubel Shelly wants to baptize the S.U.N. to think of the S.O.N. god. Saturn and the sun are creatures but Jesus is the CREATOR.
It is not even marginally honest to claim that those who had repudiated instrumental or mechanical worship of a Spirit God for 1800 years suddenly became SATAN-INSPIRED SECTARIANS because they refused to IMPROVIZE like David and add instruments to the WORSHIP rather than use them in dedication and purification as a CIVIL-MILITARY or "of the sanctuary" Plague-Stopping ritual.
Mechanical instruments or praise teams substituting for Lord Jesus in "leading you into the presence of God" are THE ERECTED WALL and the Bible and all of the ancient documents, such as the book of Enoch, blame SATAN for teaching Genun or JUBAL (rimes with Rubel) how to subvert people away from God's Word by the use of mixed-sex choirs and instrumental music.
The Jew tried to PERVERT Jesus by piping and trying to get Him to sing and dance. Because He would not, they murdered him. They would undoubtely say that NOT using instruments was a SATAN-ERECTED wall.
Therefore, the 100% verified fact is that instrumental music or performance music is the SATANIC WALL errected by his disciples.
Baptism is the Jesus-Erected wall between family members and those cursed and the Jewish clergy accused Jesus with being BEEL-ZEBUB or BELIAR or Satan.
Therefore, the clergy by "rejecting the counsel of God" said that Baptism was a SATAN-ERECTED wall.
Notice that Hezekiah knew that the people were not "certified" to eat the Passover. The people were trying with all of their might but there was not time. However, Hezekiah didn't pray:
"Lord, give me the right to lower your standards"!
No, Hezekiah put fellowship in the hands of God which cannot be otherwise.
He prayed for forgiveness of sins: he did not lower the standard.
God knew the hearts, heard Hezekiah's prayers and HEALED their problem so that the people had been LIFTED UP to God's standards by His grace.
Rubel Shelly and John York: Might we learn that we have misrepresented one another at times and exhibited a shoddy form of religious prejudice toward people different from ourselves?
Sure, and fall on the face for dividing the JUDAH brotherhood just so it can be God-like and include the ISRAEL brotherhood. Be our guest. But to see who produces the shoddy prejudice we might look to ISRAEL who is represented as a musical religious festival FAMILY which TOOK AWAY THE KEY TO KNOWLEDGE.
Just what are those SATAN-INSPIRED walls? How do I get all of that surplus time to erect or tear down walls? The Bible and all of history believes that Satan broke down the walls through musical seduction: right there in the garden of Eden. God broke down the walls in Isaiah 5 as the MARK of their "rising up to play" in mocking God.
Are we sectarian and Satan-inspired when we REFUSE to add musical worship or feel the God-like urge to DROP THE STANDARDS so that WE can certify them?
Rubel Shelly and John York: Would it be worth it to abandon sectarian rivalry in order to "be in agreement" for presenting the gospel to the world? Would it make our witness even stronger "that there be no divisions" among us in declaring that Jesus is the hope of our world?
Do you mean the CORE GOSPEL of seven facts ABOUT Jesus while all of the rest which the world's scholarship has considered as part of the gospel is said to be SIFTED through philosophy and John's personal agenda?
Part of the GOSPEL is that Jesus died to free us of the clergy-laded burden which means "spiritual anxiety created by religious ritual." Nothing so creates spiritual anxiety as music which is USED to silence the Word of Christ. Therefore, yes, I would say that Christ died for a cappella music or no music at all.
Paul had a solution for creating fellowship among the musical Orphics and musical Dionysiacs in Romans 14 (And possibly Essene Jews). In Romans 15 he commanded that we see church as SYNAGOGUE and not as pagan worship center. Then we can glorify God WITH ONE VOICE by speaking THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN. Church is SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE and Satanic Sectarianism would fall on its face if CHURCH ceased being acts and became school.
Rubel Shelly and John York: Maybe renounce our litmus-test doctrines for the sake of lifting up Christ?
Do you mean that non-instrumentalists must abandon their universally-held view of music as destructive of spirituality so that we can DO missions and USE instruments?
Jesus founded the church as SYNAGOGUE. The purpose was to TEACH the words of Jesus "as they had been taught." God is JUST TOO HEAVY to lift.
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Ro.10:6
Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) Rom 10:7
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; Rom 10:8
Paul warns here and in 1 Corinthians 10 against "rising up to play" which was repudiating the Word of God by engaging in the musical idolatry of Egypt. The claim that the musicans can "lead you into the presence of God" or "lift him up" is blasphemy because it denies that Lord Jesus Christ is the One and Only Mediator.
If Jesus is the true hope of the world then isn't is SECTARIANISM to try to force "musical worship teams" into churches and SOW DISCORD under the pretense that the musical lust is "leading the worshipers into the presence of God"? How can one who believes that only Jesus as full Deity is the One Mediator and another who believes that the TEAM is the mediator ever get on the same side of the wall? I suppose that consistent with the new trinitarianism or TRI-THEISM which is polytheism wants to LIFT Jesus back into heaven so that we can use the African "little man (spirit) int he big man (ME)" to get a new PARADIGM to LOWER THE STANDARDS.
God BREAKS DOWN WALLS and lets the beasts in when we reject the WORD and turn to wine, women and music for our religious festivals.
Rubel Shelly and John York: Could we ever learn to be gracious enough to pray -- and ask to have prayed for us! -- the prayer of Good King Hezekiah for those we see as flawed in certain interpretations and practices?
The late comers were NOT flawed in either interpretation or practice. They simply reversed the STEPS OF THE PATTERN because they COULD NOT follow the pattern.
Sure, but it would be a waste of time unless the people know that they are sinning but are earnestly seeking to do God's will. Then Hezekiah can pray for us. The seekers nor Hezekiah ever lowered the standards, never had a false interpretation of Scripture, but asked forgiveness for sins not committed with a HIGH HAND. The goal was to get everyone back on the SCRIPTURAL TRACK and not to make the HIGHWAY into a pig path.
Lifting up Christ can happen only when we LIFT UP His Word as "Spirit and Life." We cannot lift up Jesus by singing "Lord, Lord." Rather, God wants us to do His Will and Jesus can lift Himself up. Here is the only thing Jesus authorized evangelists to lift up:
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. Jn.4:35
But this does not make us into GODS so that WE can decide who is or who is not our brothers or sisters based on OUR GRACE and our prayers. Postmodernism deprives Dr. Shelly of the same standards used by Bible believers. Therefore, sincere Baptists do not need nor want his GRACE to forgive them. If he tries to forgive the ISRAELITES so that the tribe of JUDAH and practice ISRAELITE religion then the ISRAELITES will EAT HIS LUNCH AND HIS FLOCK because they are not afflicted with a guilt complex.
Rubel Shelly's proof text left in its context would equally authorize him to establish a latter day Jubilee and TRY desperately in the "Aztec" paradigm to burn down the old structures.
If Rubel Shelly wants to proof text, he will not find any authority for accepting everyone as brothers and sisters. Rather, he will probably land in jail for tearing down the denominational churches in Nashville:
NOW when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and
..........brake the images in pieces, and
..........cut down the groves, and
..........threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh,
..........until they had utterly destroyed them all.
Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities. 2 Chron 31:1
And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the Lord. 2 Chron 31:2
Here is the MINISTRY:
Abodah (h5656) ab-o-daw'; or abowdah ab-o-daw'; from 5647; work of any kind: - act, bondage, / bondservant, effect, labour, ministering (-try), office, service (-ile, -itude), tillage, use, work, * wrought
Abad (h5647) aw-bad'; a prim. root; to work (in any sense); by impl. to serve, till, (caus.) enslave, etc.: - * be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, / husbandman, keep, labour (-ing man), bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve (-ing, self), (be, become) servant (-s), do (use) service, till (-er), transgress [from margin], (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper.
Therefore, you cannot fellowship animal sacrifices with the Levitical musicians without restoring LEGALISM.
Here is an ancient woodcut of a GROVE for the worship of the S.U.N. god in place of the S.O.N. God. If Dr. Shelly sees one of these still ERECTED he should cast it down.
Because the sin had to be forgiven by God, Doesn't Rubel Shelly and John York accuse Hezekiah with
Rubel Shelly and John York: Satan-inspired and human-erected walls? Should Hezekiah abandon sectarian rivalry in order to "be in agreement" for presenting the gospel to the world?
Is God in trouble for not forgiving people before they recognized their unavoidable sins and praying for forgiveness?
The BIG SIN is to be so presumptions as to try to corral all mankind into a concentric circle which will include the Cainites (Kenites) as the SCRIBES Jesus condemned. Our goal is to preach the gospel and, like Paul, not look back too much and let the watering take place and GOD will give the increase without having to LOWER THE WALLS.
Part Four: Being God's Child: Event or Process? Answer: Yes! Today's Sermon: Rubel Shelly
Part Three: Can we TWIST and NARRATE 2 Chron. to define Who Is My Sister / Brother? We need to remind you that Dr. Shelly "takes liberties" to narrate theology to fit his own agenda--as he claims that John did. Therefore, we are not badmouthing Rubel Shelly but repudiating the use of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle by Theologians who believe that you cannot LOOK at Scripture without changing it. It is dangerous for philosophers or preachers to dabble in science!
Part One: The Jesus Project which sounds like the Jesus Seminar come to Nashville
We have added notes about the Jesus Movement and the Born Again Hippies baptizing Rock.
Counter added 2.24.07
