Here’s a fun little bit javascript hackery for you all: a kind of Google Maps-like zoom on our big commandments hierarchy. Try it out, click and drag the image, or scroll your mouse wheel for some easy navigation:
Courtesy of Zoom.it
Here’s a fun little bit javascript hackery for you all: a kind of Google Maps-like zoom on our big commandments hierarchy. Try it out, click and drag the image, or scroll your mouse wheel for some easy navigation:
Courtesy of Zoom.it
Very cool and helpful. It's a lot easier to view your image this way. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to see the idolaters section of the graphic. What strikes me is that in the New Testament there's virtually not even a hint of accusation of idolatry aimed at Jewish believers in Yeshua by their Jewish opponents. The reasons that dominated then were: perceived subversion of existing rule (and endangering the nation by goading the Romans) and jealousy on the part of corrupt leadership over perceived competition from the new movement.
ReplyDeleteToday, however, the accusation of idolatry plays a central in Jewish opposition to Yeshua faith as it is currently presented to the Jewish people. Clearly, the Jewish opposition to "The Way" that we see today is not exactly what was happening 2K years ago - to view it that way would be anachronistic indeed (as some still blame modern Jews for killing Yeshua). Instead, in our day we see the faith that was transformed by Gentiles (and we see it even in the Jewish evangelicals in Israel, who are mirroring their American Christian sponsors in about every way) into one that is viewed by most Jews as "Avodah Zarah" (foreign worship).
Interesting take.
ReplyDeleteI would add that the accusation of blasphemy was made at Yeshua. "We stone you not for your works, but for blasphemy. For you, being a man, make yourself to be God."
Here's an interesting question: Imagine a strictly observant Messianic community in Israel. Would they still be labeled idolaters by the deeply religious in Judaism?
Objectively, I'd have to say, yes, they probably would still be labelled as idolaters.
It seems to me that as long as Yeshua is King, as long as Yeshua is Lord, and short of a miracle/Messiah returning, MJ will not be accepted by mainstream Judaism. It won't until it rejects Yeshua's divinity, or until some miraculous thing happens.
Of course, even for those Christian-like Messianics, even they do not deserve the label of idol; Jesus is not a 2nd god. It's not intimately tied to observance levels.
"Here's an interesting question: Imagine a strictly observant Messianic community in Israel. Would they still be labeled idolaters by the deeply religious in Judaism? Objectively, I'd have to say, yes, they probably would still be labelled as idolaters. "
ReplyDeleteToday - yes. And that's my whole point about how things have changed. Today MJs are viewed as following a religion of Gentiles and most are proving it by living as ones, where at one point we are told that MJs had favor with "all" the people of Israel (Acts).
But I am not lamenting about what I can't change. Clearly, there's still an objection to Yeshua (the spiritual side behind the opposition, severely exacerbated by what was done to Jews by Christians over the last 2K in Messiah's name). That said, we are told not to be the cause of stumbling to either Jews or Gentiles - Yeshua himself is enough. Just pointing things out.
I was wondering if when you do get these finished, if you will have them printed up as posters for sale? I would LOVE to have this, and had discussed with friends about doing such a project when I saw you were already working on it.
ReplyDeleteHi Mausi,
ReplyDeleteThat's the plan, yeah. Finish, print 'em up and maybe get them out there for purchase.