3/6/15

The Messiah--Person or Ideal? by Wayne Jackson, M.A.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=10&article=220

The Messiah--Person or Ideal?

by Wayne Jackson, M.A.

Harold Kushner is one of the most prominent Jewish voices in America today. Almost invariably, whenever the Hebrew point of view is desired, the news media solicit his opinions and publicize them widely. This Jewish leader has attracted considerable attention over the past couple of decades as a result of several controversial books he has authored.
In 1971 Kushner produced a book titled, When Children Ask About God. In this volume the famous “rabbi” offered advice to parents about how to cope with their children’s “fears, fantasies, and religious needs.” It is difficult to imagine a literary production that contains more error per square inch of space. As one surveys the pages of this work, he is reminded of the admonition of another Hebrew writer—one almost twenty centuries ago. A divine penman suggested that there are some, who by reason of time ought to be teachers, but who have need that someone teach them their ABCs all over again (Hebrews 5:12).
Consider, for example, Kushner’s observation regarding the term “Messiah.” He has written: “Today, few people still look for a person, called the Messiah, to appear and change the world.” He goes on to assert that the idea of “Messiah” arose in ancient times because people grew tired of unjust rulers, and so they longed for an ideal ruler to come and deliver them. He concluded by suggesting that the term “Messiah” merely embodies an “age” when “all the people will agree on what the world needs.”
Kushner’s view has no basis whatsoever in fact. There is not the slightest evidence in the Old Testament that his opinion regarding the Messiah is valid. Rather, this prominent scholar’s view is the result of his own skeptical inclinations regarding the Hebrew Scriptures. In fact, Kushner even goes so far as to deny that God is a person.
But what of Kushner’s idea concerning the Messiah? Let us reflect upon this momentarily. The notion that the Messiah is but an “ideal” is negated thoroughly by a consideration of the test of the Old Testament Scriptures. No better refutation can be found than that which is detailed in the book of Isaiah, chapter 53. This marvelous section of divine literature is a galaxy of prophetic testimony regarding the nature of the Messiah, Who, incidentally, is identified specifically in the New Testament as Jesus Christ (see John 4:25-26). Consider these crucial points in this regard.
First, there is ample historical evidence that the early Jews, both before and after the birth of Jesus, believed that Isaiah 53 was Messianic in its import. It was only after the early Christians began to use it as an apologetic for their claim that Jesus of Nazareth was this Messiah that novel (i.e., nonpersonal) views of the passage became vogue.
Second, anyone who is able to read this chapter with reasonable skill can see clearly that a person is the object of the prophet’s oracle. Verse 2, for example, reads: “For he [the Messiah] grew up before him [God] as a tender plant.” Again: “He was despised, and rejected of men.” Count the personal pronouns referring to the Messiah that are employed within this chapter. Aside from rationalistic bias, there is no compelling reason whatsoever for denying that a real person is being described here.
In the New Testament, Paul spoke of certain Jews who refused to believe in Jesus as the Christ because of the “veil” that shrouded their hearts (2 Corinthians 3:15). Mr. Kushner is of that sort. There is ample evidence that the Messianic hope is fulfilled gloriously in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

From Mark Copeland... "THE CASE FOR CREATION" Resources For Further Study


                        "THE CASE FOR CREATION"

                      Resources For Further Study

The following resources are suggested by Center For Science & Culture:

BOOKS

Darwin on Trial, by Phillip Johnson
Darwin's Black Box, by Michael Behe
Design Inference, by William Dembski
Design Revolution: Answering the Toughest Questions About Intelligent
Design, by William Dembski
Icons of Evolution, by Jonathan Wells
The Mystery of Life's Origin: Reassessing Current Theories, by Charles
B. Thaxton
The Privileged Planet, by Guillermo Gonzalez and Jay Richards
Darwinism, Design, and Public Education, edited by John Angus Campbell
and Stephen Meyer

ARTICLES

The Origin of Biological Information and the Higher Taxonomic Categories
By: Stephen C. Meyer, Proceedings of the Biological Society of
Washington
Intelligent Design is not Creationism
By: Stephen C Meyer, The Daily Telegraph (London)
Molecular Machines: Experimental Support for the Design Inference
By: Michael J. Behe, Cosmic Pursuit
Evolution: Debate it
By: John Angus Campbell & Stephen C. Meyer, USA Today
Science & Design
By: William Dembski, First Things
DNA and Other Designs
By: Stephen C. Meyer, First Things
Survival of the Fakest (PDF)
By: Jonathan Wells, American Spectator
Are We Alone?
By: Jay W. Richards & Guillermo Gonzalez, The American Spectator

MULTIMEDIA

Privileged Planet
New science documentary explores Earth's extraordinary place in the
cosmos
Unlocking the Mystery of Life
Documentary reveals growing number of scientific challenges to Darwinian
evolution
Icons of Evolution
Are students learning the whole truth about Darwin's theory of
evolution?
Where Does the Evidence Lead?
Modular classroom version of Unlocking the Mystery of Life

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

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From Gary... TRY


























We all have limitations- strength, intelligence, creativity and the like.  However, we never really know WHAT we are capable of until we TRY. This simple (yet beautiful) picture brought about the following.

TRY

First- Trust yourself. Doubt is a sure killer of action. TRY to believe in yourself. Who knows, you may not only surprise yourself, but others as well.

Second- Reach out beyond your comfort zone. Always doing the same thing the same way will produce the same results.

Third- Yield to God. We are more than just physical beings, so access that part of you that is linked to the Almighty. Open your BIBLE, follow the directions and T-R-Y!!!

Does it work?

Acts, Chapter 17 (WEB)
4  Some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women. 5 But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.  6 When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers  before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,  7 whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!”  8 The multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things.  9 When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 

The answer is a resounding - YES!!!  Anything is possible- if you will just TRY!!!