An Open Letter to Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. and his church.

.
n
n
n
n
n
g

Dear Trinity United Church of Christ; Pastors, Elders, Deacons and Congregants,


Ephesians 3:8 Although I [Paul the apostle] am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Ephesians 2:15b His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two...

Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

1. How many races are there? One, the human race. We all need to start acting in accordance with the truth of this very firm fact.
2. How many God's are there? One, the Creator of the human race. Ditto on behaving accordingly.
3. How many Saviors are there? One, Yeshua, (whom English speakers call Jesus) the Savior of all who will believe.

The Holy Spirit today, as in all times since Jesus resurrection, commands men everywhere to believe and conform themselves to the Son of God.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

We are to forsake the world.

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The pattern of the world is man living according to his flesh.

1 Corinthians 3:3 ...you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

The pattern of the God's Kingdom is peace. Peace is the absence of strife.

John 14:25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

God for His purposes had separated His people Israel from the seed of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, from whom the Messiah Jesus came. But after Jesus had accomplished His Father's will, the kingdom was opened no longer on the basis of human pedigree, but on the basis of faith and grace.

Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

God established Jesus the new and only Eternal High Priest of all God's faithful (believing) people, no matter if they are Jew or greek. The Kingdom is made up of one new man, the body of Christ composed of every tongue and tribe and people and nation.

Hebrews 5:1 Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
"You are my Son;
today I have become your Father." 6And he says in another place,
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."
7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

On the word of these and the entire Bible, our only authoritative written record of the events of our Savior, and by the Holy Spirit, I declare the dichotomy between "black" and "white" Christians to be false, and the enmity between them to be sin. It is time to according to God's Holy word and will to forgive, forbear and to love one another and to become one new man. If we do not we will be (remain) opposed God's word and will, and opposed to each other.

2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

I do not represent my self as having arrived at heavenly perfection, but I know the Way, the Truth and the Life who is Jesus the Anointed Savior, the only begotten Son and Heir of God.

On Jews and the Gospel

The following statement has been sponsored and published by the World Evangelical Alliance according to Jews for Jesus. I could not find it at the World Evangelical Alliance website, but did find a news report on it at:

http://www.worldevangelicals.org/news/view.htm?id=1742

• We pledge our commitment to be loving friends and to stand against such injustice in our generation. At the same time, we want to be transparent in affirming that we believe the most loving and Scriptural expression of our friendship toward Jewish people, and to anyone we call friend, is to forthrightly share the love of God in the person of Jesus Christ.
• We believe that it is only through Jesus that all people can receive eternal life. If Jesus is not the Messiah of the Jewish people, He cannot be the Savior of the World (Acts 4:12).
• We recognize that it is good and right for those with specialized knowledge, history and skills to use these gifts to introduce individuals to the Messiah, and that includes those ministries specifically directed to the Jewish people (1 Corinthians 9:20-22).
• We deplore the use of deception or coercion in evangelism; however, we reject the notion that it is deceptive for followers of Jesus Christ who were born Jewish to continue to identify as Jews (Romans 11:1).

To see more on it published in the New York Times visit Jews for Jesus at:

http://www.jewsforjesus.org/blog/20080328

God, help me… Amen. I seem to never be without two cents to offer. Grain of salt anyone? My comments follow the text of four points.

1. We pledge our commitment to be loving friends and to stand against such injustice in our generation. At the same time, we want to be transparent in affirming that we believe the most loving and Scriptural expression of our friendship toward Jewish people, and to anyone we call friend, is to forthrightly share the love of God in the person of Jesus Christ.

I have found justice to be a very personal challenge.
Micah 6:8 "What has the Lord desired of thee but to do justly and to LOVE mercy..."

I'm not at all sure we can address injustice effectively at all except by being merciful to the unjust. Isn't that the crowning feature of the cross? Perhaps if I (we) learned how to love and do mercy more, what is just would begin to follow along more readily. If Hitler or the Spanish monarchs had been truly merciful, what they did would have been impossible for them to do.

2. We believe that it is only through Jesus that all people can receive eternal life. If Jesus is not the Messiah of the Jewish people, He cannot be the Savior of the World (Acts 4:12).

Amen.

3. We recognize that it is good and right for those with specialized knowledge, history and skills to use these gifts to introduce individuals to the Messiah, and that includes those ministries specifically directed to the Jewish people (1 Corinthians 9:20-22).

That might ought be recommended as a preeminent desire and goal of the believer. The Old Testament was written for a purpose.
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Might know what is coming!)

4. We deplore the use of deception or coercion in evangelism; however, we reject the notion that it is deceptive for followers of Jesus Christ who were born Jewish to continue to identify as Jews (Romans 11:1).

I think the only virtue in being Jewish is the inextricable association of the Jew with the God and Lord of All. All have sinned, yet:

Rom 3:1,2 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit [is there] of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

God chose Abram, a Chaldean (a gentile?) who was not a Jew except by:
Rom 2:28,29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.)

From Abraham by the will of God sprang Judah (whose name some persons have co-opted "Jew" as a curse, others as a badge of honor) and Yeshua ha Mashiach. The nations have ever since found themselves in a place of having to bow to His choices of specific persons. Nevertheless it is now as deceptive for Jews to ignore, reject and defame the person of Yeshua of Bethlehem Judea, as it is deceptive for the nominal gentile Christian to ignore the family tree of the Messiah. I really identify with Judah's dad, Jacov. He received a new name.
Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].
Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.

Call me Israel !!!

In my (humble) opinion, we must (justly) see that being Jewish is to be of the human lineage first to be adopted by God. We gentiles are also able to be adopted by the Almighty (!!!). We ought to be humble and savvy enough to acknowledge that the tree we are grafted to has grown through Abraham to this present day!!! Are we not in position as Jews to become Messianic, and as gentiles to become Christians? Has human pedigree any importance in the visitation of the Holy Ghost to our humanity as individuals? It is I think important. But as in most of life, we do the believing (in Yeshua) and God does the heavy lifting (graciously accepting us in our present Jewish or non Jewish humanity). TY Yeshua!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As in most things I (we) must decrease. Notwithstanding, the facts of our human lineage stand as significant. The "art" is to use it in the ministry of reconciliation. The "gentile" often needs to be instructed by the same tutor given through Moses!!! The Jew needs to "graduate" from "Professor Law"!!! Ultimately The Lord must crush all our objections and opposition to His Holiness. The stuff is so simple, but we are so complex. What a tangled web has been woven!!!

John 1:12, 13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

"History" shows clearly that there were, are, and will yet be persons and a people of God to be His sermon illustration in time and space if not throughout all eternity. With all my heart, soul, mind and strength I believe God wants to exalt His Way of childbearing.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, Eph 3:8-15

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Eph 2:14 -22

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all.

God did not replace Israel with the gentile church, but He did change the priesthood from the Levitical priesthood to the Kingdom priesthood. It is a permanent change. In the Kingdom, He is the Eternal High Priest and we are all His (lowly) priests. We are all to walk in the works of the priesthood to which we are appointed. The ministry of His priests is to carry out His service, His ministry, that is the ministry of reconciliation. I honestly do not see any other ministry; reconciliation to God is the ministry of the Gospel. It is a multifaceted ministry, and we have been given diverse gifts with which to serve. Even and especially, the five fold ministry is specifically designed by God so that we His priests be equipped to carry out the greater ministry of reconciling men and women to God for all eternity!!!

There is no Jew or greek (gentile) any longer except by human blood, by the will of the flesh, or by the will of man. Neither Jewish believer nor gentile believer may exclude the other on grounds of human ancestry. It has been said God has no grandkids, only sons and daughters. All must be born again from above. We accomplished our physical birth by submitting to the womb of our mother. We can only accomplish our spiritual birth by submitting to the will and work of our Savior Yeshua and the Holy Ghost.

In my (humble) opinion we must repent and return to the teaching of the "Old Testament" to advance our understanding of the necessity the Gospel, that is, of being reconciled to God. This Gospel reconciles and saves all who call upon the Savior, and this Gospel is not at all of human design. We have no wiggle room at all to preach the gospel in order please the flesh of our intellect, or please the pride of our human pedigree. Doing that will only interfere with the results God is after. It will muddy the waters and lead us astray from the will of God and the power of God.

Therefore, being Jewish or gentile are now interesting facets of our past. Other than this we risk exalting ourselves rather than God, whose will, purpose and pleasure it was to give jacob a son named Judah. This is I fear, far less than being a member in good standing of the Kingdom of the Messiah. Our royalty, our present and our future is granted to us not on the basis of our human pedigree, but virtue of the gift of life God has communicated to us graciously, that we might trust in Him above and before all others. By this we continue to receive the effect and rest of His work of salvation, deliverance and healing accomplished for us (!) by His death and resurrection. This is all we need and all we ought ever to desire.

Matthew 6:33,34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

I love you all, please pray for me. I sense both by my sin and foolishness, and by no small opposition of the adversary I have been prevented from more fruitful service than is God's plan.

David