The "Dead Sea Scrolls" Exhibition

On hearing that the "Dead Sea Scrolls" exhibition is in town, I was eager to view it and was doubly excited when my SO repeatedly reminded me about the exhibition and sought to confirm that we would be visiting it over the weekend (as if I needed any reminder!)

I had expected it to be a historical, factual tour and it was that. The unexpected and wonderful gift and bonus was that it was also a faith-building experience.

First the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1948 which had previously belonged to an isolationistic Qumran jewish sect. They were dated to be within 100 years of Jesus' death and resurrection. They contained fragments of the scrolls on which the Old Testament was written in their original hebrew, and in which scholars painstakingly pieced together over 60 years. They confirmed that the Old Testament text, from which legitimate bible societies now translate from into our own languages, is the same as the text that was read by the original Israelites of old. Miraculously, the fragments came from all the different books in the OT (except for the Book of Esther.) Even more amazingly, a whole scroll containing the Book of Isaiah is intact. This is consistent with Isaiah 55:11

"...so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Next the miraculous passion in varied individuals in various parts of Europe to translate the word of God from its original Hebrew and Greek into their own tongues. Up till 400A.D, the bible was translated into 160 languages, however, from 500 A.D, the bible could only be available in 1 language, which was in Latin (not even the "native" tongue of the originals.)

However, in 1510s, an amazing thing happened, varied individuals, who do not know each other initially, felt the call to translate the bible into their own language - an illegal activity punishable by cruel torment and death, normally burnt at the stake as a heretic. And so heroes sprang forth - Martin Luther (who had initially purposed for internal changes, not an external separation) for the German bible, William Tyndale for the English bible (and who created the modern English language in the process), Casiodoro de Reina in Spanish, many of them matyred in the process. It reminded me about Jesus' word:

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

All these enabled by the timely invention of the movable-type printing press! Though Gutenberg's primarily purpose appears to be for profit (as mentioned by some resource on the internet), it was the invention that enabled the mass production of the bible.

It is illuminating to see for myself evidences of how God Himself protected and enabled to transmission of knowledge of Himself to all nations. The scrolls, the bibles right there, one of which could be felt and touched directly awed me as to the finality of God's purposes and will and on how He had enabled men to do the work He had purposed in His good timing despite men's militancy and suppression for their own agendas. How great and glorious is our God!

Where intellect and religion meets...

A Skeptical View of Theism

"The bible - a love letter from God..."

"It's not just an academic book we explore, study and memorise, it is about holding Him (the Word of God) close to our hearts..." - from my SO

More similarities than differences?

My SO and I came from different churches both of which is widely perceived to be very different in terms of their philosophies and understanding about Jesus' promises. So, I'd guess it's natural that when my SO and I were in our early courtship days, many concerns perpetually run through my mind.

"How Christian is he?"
"Is he worshipping the true Jesus? Or is He fellowshipping with a Jesus I don't know?"
"Is he someone I can trust to lead me spiritually? Or will I have a bigger than usual struggle in learning to submit to him?"

This struggle is not helped by the fact that within the whole body of class, many different congregations (read churches) have very varied practices and understandings which results in different practices. Adding to this confusion is a number aberrent organisations which also teaches about Jesus but who corrupts the gospel He brings.

However, if my and my SO's experiences together could be any sort of reliable barometer, it does appear that believers who value God's word actually have more important similarities than differences in life applications. So far in our conversations, it appears to include:

1) Worship of God as a matter and response of the heart
2) The purpose of dating/courtship
3) The handling of finances in marriage
4) The place of children in marriage
5) Enjoying God and His gifts
6) The importance of Christian fellowship
7) The intention to honour our parents (without worshipping them.)
and many others (I'm simply listing these from off the top of my head.)

Where we do differ, are (in my opinion) areas of relatively lesser importance, these include:
1) The place of suffering in a Christian's life
2) The figurative vs literal nature of God's blessings and how that manifests itself in our lives
3) The partnership between God's effort and our effort in our sanctification process and how it should actually work out in our lives.

For purposes of determining a person basic doctrinal beliefs, you may find this link: http://www.carm.org/christianity/christian-doctrine/theological-test useful. I remember the time before we date when I had subjected him to this test... keke....

But much more than the model answers a person can regurgitate in answering the question, I guess the heart of the matter, is the matter of the heart. After the foundation of ascertaining wheter the person is in relationship with the right Jesus, it is really about how much he/she reveres the Person, places faith in the promises and seeks (mainly through the bible) the will of Jesus.

Interesting article on the first few years of marriage

Newlywed Ambush: http://www.christianitytoday.com/mp/1999/spring/9m1018.html