Questions for the Christian Church

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24

There are many, many subjects that I have not heard addressed in the 45 years I have been in the contemporary Christian church, and I have heard many of the same sermons preached over and over again by a hundred different Pastors and Preachers. I am not complaining nor disparaging anyone, it just seems to be a matter of circumstance. Here are some common sermon topics: the prodigal son, the good samaritan, the widow and the two mites, robbing god, Elisha burning his farm equipment, the story of the birth of Jesus at Christmas, Jesus’ resurrection on Easter, thankfulness at Thanksgiving, slaying your giants like David, and the list goes on and on. At Hear the Matter, we try to explore the areas of scripture that are rarely discussed. In some cases, it would be discouraged to bring up some of these topics. If a topic is not open for discussion, it is a clue there are issues at hand.

In this blog, I have made a list of some questions, some of which I believe there is a commonly known answer in some circles, some of which I have theories, and some I am still searching for the answer.

To start, a common sermon I have heard dozens of time in my life is about the prodigal son. In my experience, it has always been referred to as a person who left the faith and came back, or literally a child that was brought up in church, went astray, then returned. Those are not bad examples, but was Jesus just referring to some random person’s son who went astray? Here is the parable:

Luk 15:11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.
Luk 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.
Luk 15:13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
Luk 15:14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
Luk 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
Luk 15:16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
Luk 15:17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
Luk 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’
Luk 15:20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
Luk 15:21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
Luk 15:22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
Luk 15:23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
Luk 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Luk 15:25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
Luk 15:26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
Luk 15:27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’
Luk 15:28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,
Luk 15:29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
Luk 15:30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
Luk 15:31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
Luk 15:32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Jesus is talking about some very specific things here. The father is Yahuah, (Yahweh YHWH 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄). The son that left was Ephraim, also referred to as the house of Israel, and the older son that was jealous was Judah or “the Jews”. Feeding the pigs and longing to eat food as good as theirs represents Ephraim rejecting the commandments. The older son’s complaint about the prostitutes is referring to the many gods the house of Israel, Ephraim, or the younger brother, whored with against Yahuah. This whole parable is about the two houses coming back through the new or renewed covenant by what Jesus would do. With that sort of interpretation in mind, here are some questions I have, some of which, I am searching the Word for answers. Some of these questions I have discussed in my previous blogs.

What is the significance of adding the “Hey” sound to Abraham and Sarah’s name?

Gen 17:5 Your name shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.

Gen 17:15 And God said to Abraham, “as for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, for Sarah shall be her name.

What does Jesus mean when He says He is the Alpha and Omega?

Rev 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
Rev 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

What does Daniel do to seal the book? What book?

Dan 12:1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.
Dan 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Dan 12:3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Dan 12:4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
Dan 12:5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream.
Dan 12:6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?”
Dan 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.
Dan 12:8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?”
Dan 12:9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.

Where is the church in the new covenant? It is made with the house of Israel.

Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

What is the mystery in Romans 16:25-27?

Rom 16:25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
Rom 16:26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
Rom 16:27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

What is Paul referring to concerning Jannes and Jambres? Who are they?

2Ti 3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.

What is the mystery of Christ and the church becoming one flesh?

Eph 5:31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
Eph 5:32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

How could the thief be in paradise with Jesus the day he died when Jesus spent three days and three nights in the grave and had not ascended to the Father? Hint: there are no commas in the Greek language, they are inferred by the translators.

Luk 23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
Luk 23:40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”
Luk 23:42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Luk 23:43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Joh 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
Joh 20:17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

There is a difference between us knowing Jesus and Jesus knowing us. What is it?

Mat 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
Mat 7:23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Who is Jesus referring to in John 5:43?

Joh 5:43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

Why did Jude and Peter reference events in Enoch, yet we do not regard the book?

Jud 1:14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,
Jud 1:15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
2Pe 3:11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!

Why did Saul’s name change to Paul, and what does it mean?

Act 13:9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

Why are the two most important days celebrated in Christianity (Easter and Christmas), not mentioned in scripture, and not celebrated in the first century church? Why is there no mention of Hallow’s Eve, All Saint’s day, Lent and Good Friday being celebrated?

By what authority did the Council of Laodicea forbid celebrating the Sabbath in 346 AD, which is one of the Ten Commandments? This is in direct rebellion to the Word of Yahweh, spoken directly, face to face, to the congregation of the twelve tribes at Mount Horeb. Should we follow Rome or Yahuah, יהוה, the creator of all things?

Canon XXIX.
Christians must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honouring the Lord’s Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon XXIX.
A Christian shall not stop work on the Sabbath, but on the Lord’s Day.
Balsamon.
Here the Fathers order that no one of the faithful shall stop work on the Sabbath as do the Jews, but that they should honour the Lord’s Day, on account of the Lord’s resurrection, and that on that day they should abstain from manual labour and go to church. But thus abstaining from work on Sunday they do not lay down as a necessity, but they add, “if they can.” For if through need or any other necessity any one worked on the Lord’s day this was not reckoned against him

By what authority did the Westminster confessions reduce the accepted books in the canon to 66 books in 1647?

What is the significance of the 5 loaves for the 5000, the 7 loaves for the 4000 and 12 and 7 baskets left over that were gathered? I am sure these are not random numbers.

Mat 16:5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread.
Mat 16:6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Mat 16:7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.”
Mat 16:8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread?
Mat 16:9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
Mat 16:10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
Mat 16:11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Mat 16:12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Why were there more copies of the book of Jubilees found than Genesis in the caves of Qumran?

Why is Cainan listed in the genealogy in Luke as a son of Arphaxad, but not in Genesis?

Luk 3:36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

Gen 10:24 Arpachshad fathered Shelah; and Shelah fathered Eber.

Why was it not acceptable to Yahweh for Aaron and Jeroboam to make up their own special days, complete with symbols from other deities, in honour of Yahweh, but it is supposedly acceptable to Yahweh for the “church” to create special days with symbols and practices borrowed from other deities?

Why do translators translate breath to Spirit from the Hebrew, and Ghost from the Greek?

Psa 51:11 Cast H7993  me not H408  away from thy presence; H4480 H6440  and take H3947  not H408  thy holy H6944  spirit H7307 from H4480  me.

H7307 (Strong)
רוּחַ
rûach
roo’-akh
From H7306; wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions): – air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit ([-ual]), tempest, X vain, ([whirl-]) wind (-y).

Mar 1:8 I G1473  indeed G3303  have baptized G907  you G5209  with G1722  water: G5204  but G1161  he G846  shall baptize G907  you G5209  with G1722  the Holy G40  Ghost. G4151

G4151 (Strong)
πνεῦμα
pneuma
pnyoo’-mah
From G4154; a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit: – ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Compare G5590.

Why was Yahweh very angry with Moses, and his wife had to save the day?

Exo 4:23 And I said to you, “Release my son and let him serve me,” but you refused to release him. Look, I am about to kill your son, your firstborn.'”
Exo 4:24 And on the way, at the place of overnight lodging, Yahweh encountered him and sought to kill him.
Exo 4:25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, and she cut off the foreskin of her son, and she touched his feet, and she said, “Yes, you are a bridegroom of blood to me.”
Exo 4:26 And he left him alone. At that time she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.

Which scriptures are Jesus referring to regarding marriage and angels?

Mat 22:29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
Mat 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

If Jesus supposedly declared unclean animals listed in Leviticus acceptable to eat in the gospel of Mark, why did Peter react negatively to the idea in the vision in Acts chapter 10 years later? Did he not get the memo?

Mar 7:18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,
Mar 7:19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)

Act 10:12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
Act 10:13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
Act 10:14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

Who is being spoken to in Jeremiah 23? I don’t see Judah and Israel dwelling in safety yet.

Jer 23:1 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the flock of my pasture,” declares Yahweh.
Jer 23:2 Therefore thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people, “You yourselves have scattered my flock, and you have driven them away, and you do not attend to them. Look, I will punish you for the evil of your deeds,” declares Yahweh.

Why do we hide the name of the creator with words like Lord and God? Who forgot His name and called him Baal (Lord)? Is this scripture in Jeremiah referring to 2020?

Jer 23:26 How long will this be in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy lies, even the prophets of the deceitfulness of their hearts,
Jer 23:27 who plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell each one to his neighbor, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal?

H1168
בּעל
ba‛al
BDB Definition:
Baal = “lord”
1) supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanites (noun proper masculine)
2) a Reubenite (noun proper masculine)
3) the son of Jehiel and grandfather of Saul (noun proper masculine)
4) a town of Simeon, probably identical to Baalath-beer (noun proper locative)

Exo 3:15 And God said again to Moses, “So you must say to the Israelites, ‘Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my remembrance from generation to generation.’

Why do we call Jacob, half brother to Jesus, James? Why do we call Jesus, Jesus? They were Jacob and Joshua and became James and Jesus.

Why does the church say that the birthday of Jesus was December 25th, the same as every sun god deity, when it was not?

Why does the church say Jesus died on Friday and rose on Sunday, when a person with a little knowledge of scripture and Yahweh’s feast days, Passover, unleavened bread and first fruits, can clearly see it is not the case?

Why do we celebrate the day of the dead, Samhain, a high sabbath on the occult calendar, with similar symbols and traditions, such as “trunk or treat” in the church?

When did Jesus or Yahweh command us to celebrate the day he resurrected?

Why is it said Jesus “rose again” when He only resurrected once?

The questions can literally have no end, and the answers are available if a person is willing to take the time to seek Yahweh for the answers. Where is the inquisitiveness? Why are scriptures allegorically analyzed, when they are literally the living Word of God? Why do we hear many of the same topics over emphasized and some of these other topics are never mentioned or glossed over? We should be as the Bereans and search the scriptures daily.

Act 17:10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.
Act 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Act 17:12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

Not answering some of these questions can cause people to leave the faith or not even consider the faith. Remember to worship in spirit and truth!

Joh 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

Featured image taken by Emma Vail.