The Value of Obedience

[Deeje]

When the nation of Israel had strayed from the path of obedience to God, he was incensed at them for their disobedience and for adopting the worship of other gods.....

Through the prophet Jeremiah God said....."For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24 Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, daily rising early and sending them. 26 Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers." (Jeremiah 7:22-26)

As a nation dedicated to the service of their God of their own volition, Israel had no excuse for their disobedience and for abandoning the worship of their God to engage in Baal worship.

As Christians, do we have less obligation to obey this same God who still hates false worship and disobedience? Jesus set the example of strict obedience to his God and Father in all he did, and admonished his disciples to obey him too.....yet, today we see a religious system that has again lost its way; it has sold out to the worship of another god....

How so? Jesus never once claimed to be equal with his Father......never once saying that he was God incarnate. Yet, those in Christendom say that they worship Jesus as God.....is that not putting someone who is not God, in his place? (Exodus 20:3; Luke 4:8)

Christendom also advocates involvement in the politics of this world, when Jesus told us to be no part of it. (John 18:36) This is a double kind of disobedience because they go one further and actively involve themselves in politically motivated bloodshed. There is no sanction from Jesus to do that. (Matthew 5:44-45)
When Israel took things into their own hands and shed blood without God's sanction he told them....

“So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen.
Your hands are covered with blood." (Isaiah 1:15)

Obedience to God has to be to the letter, as God told Israel.....without applying justification for doing what God says is against his law. (Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:7, 9)

From these scriptures (both cited and quoted) do you think that the majority of those who call themselves Christians today, are obeying the Christ? They seem to feel that they can make up their own rules (as Israel had done before them,) and try to be 'friends with this world'.....I don't see how that is possible. (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17)

If you disagree, please provide scriptural reasons for your view.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Two Scriptures come to mind:

1 Samuel 15:22, and....
Jesus requires the same : John 15:14,17

 

[Misunderstood]

Hello, Deeje

I like the posts you and many of the other JW's here post, they all seem so passionate, and sincere. I almost feel jealous of your zeal and passion which of course makes me feel even less of a Christian (not your fault).

I see you and the other JW's that post here regularly as the servant that got five bags of gold in Mathew 25:14-30. You have invested and made a return for your master. Myself, I feel more like the servant who buried it. Anyway, I see your passion for God and commend you for it.

But in reference to your post, I do agree with most of it. But the part on Jesus, if you do not believe Him to be God. Who do you feel He is?

 

[Khasekhemwy]

As Christians, do we have less obligation to obey this same God who still hates false worship and disobedience? Jesus set the example…and admonished his disciples to obey him too...yet today we see a religious system that has again lost its way; it has sold out to the worship of another god...

How do you tell whether a given church honors the “correct” deity, though? Claims to exclusive possession of truth, in which a Christian group declares all outside Christians apostates, are quite common. The Mormons, the Adventists, certain Pentecostals and many small sects all advance them.

Nor is gut feeling, that is, emotionalism, sufficient: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding,” advises Proverbs 3:5. Jesus gave us only two commands to obey, and these were to love God and love our neighbors, the people around us in daily life (Matthew 22:36-40). Jesus did not prescribe any special doctrines here, saying the Mosaic Law hinged on love. Rather astonishing for an observant Jew 2000 years ago when people were still being stoned.

do you think that the majority of those who call themselves Christians today, are obeying the Christ? They seem to feel that they can make up their own rules… If you disagree, please provide scriptural reasons for your view.

Yes, invention of rules is seen in organized religion. Some of this is okay, as when administrative and business needs of a church must receive attention; all societies, church or secular, have governance problems to solve—most of these either unaddressed in the bible or no longer solvable by the methods biblical era people used. Other rules become a theological fluff no honest religion should support. The medieval church blossomed with transubstantiation while Christian love wilted.

But the lay Jack and Jill don’t make these rules. Clergy do. I’m not here to bash Jehovah’s Witnesses or any of the other churches I mentioned above. However, I think the simplicity of Christ, our good shepherd, ought to be foremost in our minds. We are bleating sheep who follow his voice. Jesus said he knows us, not the other way around (John 10:27).
~

Christendom also advocates involvement in the politics of this world, when Jesus told us to be no part of it.

Agreed. Secular politics is not an appropriate arena for a church to operate in. Jesus suggested, as ministry to him, care for the poor this world uses like Kleenex and crumples (Matthew 25:31-46).
~

 

[Deeje]

Hello, Deeje

I like the posts you and many of the other JW's here post, they all seem so passionate, and sincere. I almost feel jealous of your zeal and passion which of course makes me feel even less of a Christian (not your fault).

Hi there.....those were my feelings also before I began my Bible study and learned to be the kind of Christian I wanted to be......not perfect by any means but certainly now more knowledgeable now after 45 years of continuous study and learning, mainly because of the quality of my teachers.

I see you and the other JW's that post here regularly as the servant that got five bags of gold in Mathew 25:14-30. You have invested and made a return for your master. Myself, I feel more like the servant who buried it. Anyway, I see your passion for God and commend you for it.

My humble thanks for your encouragement. But only God knows when a person is whole souled in their service to him. We are encouraged to love God with all we are, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.....easier said than done because it requires honest self appraisal. But we are also admonished not to compare ourselves with others because God doesn't. We are all individuals with different life circumstances, personalities and abilities, so we have to find our own groove and serve God's interests to the best of our ability. My brotherhood is richly blessed with regard to resources and research to help us maintain a strong faith. We all attend the same meetings for educational instruction each week, no matter where we live in the world.

But in reference to your post, I do agree with most of it. But the part on Jesus, if you do not believe Him to be God. Who do you feel He is?

Jesus himself revealed who he was when the Jews were wanting to stone him for blasphemy....

John 10: 31-36......."Once again the Jews picked up stones to stone him. 32 Jesus replied to them: “I displayed to you many fine works from the Father. For which of those works are you stoning me?” 33 The Jews answered him: “We are stoning you, not for a fine work, but for blasphemy; for you, although being a man, make yourself a god.” 34 Jesus answered them: “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said: “You are gods”’? 35 If he called ‘gods’ those against whom the word of God came—and yet the scripture cannot be nullified— 36 do you say to me whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?"

It was the Jews who accused Jesus of claiming to be a god because they wanted to bring a charge against him and do away with him.

His confession was to being "God's son". Not once did Jesus ever say that he shared equality with his God and Father. In fact he said...."Keep this mental attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God." (Philippians 2:5-6) His "form" before coming to this earth to be born as a human child was as a spirit, just like his Father. All who inhabit the heavenly realm are spirits.

So because the trinity was an introduced doctrine, adopted by an apostate church over 300 years after Jesus died, making Jesus equal to his Father was actually blasphemy.

Putting the son in place of the Father was a breach of the first Commandment. We are not taught to pray "to" Jesus but "through" him as God's appointed mediator. We are not taught to worship the son but Jesus taught us to worship the Father alone. (Luke 4:8)

I hope that helps.

 

[Enoch07]

Religion, or well religious people, has to be involved in politics to some degree just to protect their rights to worship. So not being allowed to participate in politics at all is counter productive to say the least.

I'm not gonna tackle the whole is Jesus God or not topic. That horse has been kicked to death and back a thousand times or more here. The way I feel about it is some people believe Jesus to be God, some don't. It is what is.

 

[Deeje]

How do you tell whether a given church honors the “correct” deity, though? Claims to exclusive possession of truth, in which a Christian group declares all outside Christians apostates, are quite common. The Mormons, the Adventists, certain Pentecostals and many small sects all advance them.

I find that the only honest way to arrive at the truth is not to deviate from God's word. Those who do will always end up with additional "stuff" that just makes them confused. It is our policy to follow only the Bible....nothing from outside of it belongs in our belief system.

invention of rules is seen in organized religion. Some of this is okay, as when administrative and business needs of a church must receive attention; all societies, church or secular, have governance problems to solve—most of these either unaddressed in the bible or no longer solvable by the methods biblical era people used.

I have to disagree with you there. There is no problem that cannot be addressed by adhering to Christian principles and practices. We do not have to go as far as stoning because that was not a Christian practice anyway.

Separating the Jewish system from the Christian arrangement seems to have caused a great deal of confusion in the "Christian" church of later centuries. For example.....there were no priests officiating in an earthly temple in first century Christian practice. There were no rituals or repetitive prayers or clergy dressed in distinctive clothing. All of these things were borrowed back from Judaism. Christianity was relatively simple in its practice. They met for instruction and encouragement, often in the homes of fellow believers. The church was governed by a body of older men in Jerusalem, at first made up of the apostles and those taught by them. But apostasy was already snapping at the heels of these ones.

Other rules become a theological fluff no honest religion should support. The medieval church blossomed with transubstantiation while Christian love wilted.

Jesus and his apostles foretold that an apostasy would occur. Jesus' parable of the wheat and the weeds made it clear who was responsible for corrupting the church that Jesus started. He said that the seeds of false Christianity would be sown "while men were sleeping" or after the apostles passed away. It happened very early in Christian history.

Before long bloodshed and corruption filled the church....it is safe to say, Jesus left the building. (Matthew 7:21-23)

But the lay Jack and Jill don’t make these rules. Clergy do. I’m not here to bash Jehovah’s Witnesses or any of the other churches I mentioned above. However, I think the simplicity of Christ, our good shepherd, ought to be foremost in our minds. We are bleating sheep who follow his voice. Jesus said he knows us, not the other way around (John 10:27).

Indeed...Jesus said that as the Fine Shepherd, we would follow his voice....but not the voice of strangers. In the first century the sheep of several shepherds would mingle together for the night as one shepherd would keep watch whilst the others slept. Come the morning, each shepherd would call his sheep and they would separate out and follow the voice of their own shepherd.

Jesus knows us, but we also show that we follow the right shepherd by how we conduct ourselves in this world ruled by God's adversary. (1 John 5:19) We separate out from the sheep who follow other shepherds.

In the two vital areas mentioned in the OP, I believe that we cannot afford to be disobedient.

 

[Deeje]

Religion, or well religious people, has to be involved in politics to some degree just to protect their rights to worship. So not being allowed to participate in politics at all is counter productive to say the least.

Jesus never required his disciples to be part of the political world. (John 18:36) The protection of rights to worship have in some lands been rescinded. It was not enjoyed for long under Roman rule until the Emperor decided to fuse weakened Christianity with pagan Roman sun worship. Roman Catholicism was born and the union of church and state began. Something Jesus never advocated.

Our participation in politics would not have made any difference to any outcome, but being friends with the world would make us enemies of God. (James 4:4) .

We are to remain neutral and law abiding.

 

[Enoch07]

We are to remain neutral and law abiding.

I agree with that for the most part.

 

[metis]

When the nation of Israel had strayed from the path of obedience to God, he was incensed at them for their disobedience and for adopting the worship of other gods.....

So, supposedly an entire nation of people just simply got up en masse and began to worship other deities even though all books in the Tanakh say otherwise? There's a difference between "some" and "the nation".

 

[metis]

Christendom also advocates involvement in the politics of this world, when Jesus told us to be no part of it. (John 18:36)

It doesn't say not to get involved in politics because that would make no sense based on what's found in Torah. Why would God select certain individuals out for King, such as David, and then supposedly turn around and say the complete opposite?

Also, at that time Rome was in control of eretz Israel, so it would make sense for Jesus to tell his followers not to get involved with them. And even with the apostles there was a political pecking order with them. Politics is not intrinsically evil, but what's dome by politicians may be evil but also may be not. Someone has to make decisions as they don't make themselves.

 

[Deeje]

So, supposedly an entire nation of people just simply got up en masse and began to worship other deities even though all books in the Tanakh say otherwise? There's a difference between "some" and "the nation".

Metis, why is your view always so narrow? The whole nation was held accountable because of the actions of others. (Remember Achan? Joshua ch 17)

Why was the entire nation sentenced to wandering in the wilderness for 40 years? The faithful suffered along with the rebels. Community responsibility meant not just thinking of self, but seeing one's actions as affecting the collective. Each individual contributes to the collective good...or the collective punishment.

When Israel ventured off into the path of apostasy, it was their leaders who led the nation in adopting false worship. It didn't happen overnight, but was a gradual decline and apparently, like the proverbial frog in the pot, the nation was induced to offend their God in the worst possible way. Do you think sacrificing their children in the fire to Molech was something obedient Israelites would have done readily if their leaders had just told them to? The devil has centuries to work on human weaknesses, leading them, ever so gradually to become a massive offence to God. It's all recorded for us as a warning example, (1 Corinthians 10:11) but Christianity followed the same path. Corrupt leaders were responsible for introducing false beliefs and practices, but just as individuals in the nation of Israel itself knew God's laws, they followed the lead of corrupt men, so none of us have an excuse to follow bad leadership. Especially is this true today, when we have all the knowledge we could possibly need to help us make the right decisions. It requires what has always been necessary....obedience to God in everything.

It doesn't say not to get involved in politics because that would make no sense based on what's found in Torah. Why would God select certain individuals out for King, such as David, and then supposedly turn around and say the complete opposite?

Israel was one nation in one geographical location, so the "politics" of the nation was based on obedience to God's laws. Each King had to personally make a copy of God's law and read from it every day. (Deuteronomy 17:18-19) God ruled through their kings as long as the kings were obedient; when they weren't, they led the whole nation into disobedience....and everyone suffered.

Christianity had no such arrangement. Israel lost the ability to govern itself because God removed it from them as punishment for their past deeds. Gentile nations were to dominate them until "Shiloh" came and then the government of God's people would be upon his shoulders. (Ezekiel 21:26-27; Isaiah 9:6-7)

Also, at that time Rome was in control of eretz Israel, so it would make sense for Jesus to tell his followers not to get involved with them. And even with the apostles there was a political pecking order with them. Politics is not intrinsically evil, but what's dome by politicians may be evil but also may be not. Someone has to make decisions as they don't make themselves.

We are not talking about positions of responsibility and accountability within the Christian congregation, as it is outlined in the Greek scriptures. We are talking about the politics of the nation under which we all live.

In Jesus' day it was Rome, and we find that the Jewish zealots were plotting to revolt against it. They failed miserably because they left God out of their activities. Jesus never advocated involvement in the governance of the land. But always taught his disciples to be law abiding citizens in whatever nation they called home.

Our subjection to the ruling authorities would obviously be governed by our obedience to God first. For example, when God's people were commanded not to murder, that meant not to unlawfully take human life....i.e. killing without God's sanction. Israel were at times used as God's authorised executional forces in defending their God-given land, but that did not apply outside of Israel. So in the Christian arrangement, there was no sanction from God to unlawfully take human lives. Jesus instead commanded his disciples to 'love their enemies and to pray for them'. This rules out any participation in military action or in supporting human governments that aggressively conflict with other nations for purely political reasons. We are to remain free of bloodguilt and to be politically neutral, as obedient, law abiding citizens of our nation in preparation for living that way under the rule of God's Kingdom in the hands of his appointed king.

Things that cause division do not belong in the Christian arrangement. (1 Corinthians 1:10) We have to be united in every way. Who can say that about Christendom?

Only strict obedience to Christ's teachings and unity of thought and belief guarantees success. There is no room for disobedience even in the small things. (Luke 16:10)

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Obedience and submission to God is the greatest wisdom we can all find.

The thought we can also consider is that, with the ability to have insightful obedience, this in turn allows blind obedience to become a possibility.

Now the Biblical Quandry, who are the people that have insightful obedience and who are those that have blind obedience?

Regards Tony

 

[Deeje]

Obedience and submission to God is the greatest wisdom we can all find.

The question then becomes...which God? It is clear that we have different gods with different messengers and different messages? Is there a true God with one truth in amongst all this religious confusion? How can you tell? The true God for one person becomes the false god of another. The message of one messenger becomes the only truth for one but total falsehood for another.

Who is to blame for all this confusion? The Bible answers quite clearly but many religions discount his existence. According to the Bible, there is one author of true worship, and one author for all false worship. What we choose is a reflection of who we really are....and how God sees us. It even determines our everlasting future. God will not interfere with out choices, but once our heart is involved, then the true God will "draw" right hearted ones to his truth. (John 6:44) He is looking for those ones to become citizens of his incoming kingdom.

The thought we can also consider is that, with the ability to have insightful obedience, this in turn allows blind obedience to become a possibility.

I agree, but blind obedience is not based on knowledge. Faith alone does not guarantee truth. So faith based knowledge is important so that we understand where we fit in the big picture. We must understand who God is and what he reveals about his purpose in putting us here on this planet in the first place.
If you think God gives people mixed messages through prophets with different religious backgrounds, then how is it possible to avoid compromise? The God of the Bible doesn't do compromise.

Now the Biblical Quandry, who are the people that have insightful obedience and who are those that have blind obedience?

Yes....because God gave us free will, it is possible that we may place our faith in the wrong God and misunderstand our purpose in being here. Humans are not difficult to convince when they have their own preferences and wants and needs foremost in mind. Many people search for a religion that suits them, with no thought about whether it suits God.

So why is obedience necessary for us to find the right God and to understand our purpose here? From my own studies, I believe the answer is obvious. There is only "One Lord, one faith, one baptism". (Ephesians 4:4-5)

 

[TransmutingSoul]

The question then becomes...which God? It is clear that we have different gods with different messengers and different messages? Is there a true God with one truth in amongst all this religious confusion? How can you tell? The true God for one person becomes the false god of another. The message of one messenger becomes the only truth for one but total falsehood for another.

Who is to blame for all this confusion? The Bible answers quite clearly but many religions discount his existence. According to the Bible, there is one author of true worship, and one author for all false worship. What we choose is a reflection of who we really are....and how God sees us. It even determines our everlasting future. God will not interfere with out choices, but once our heart is involved, then the true God will "draw" right hearted ones to his truth. (John 6:44) He is looking for those ones to become citizens of his incoming kingdom.



I agree, but blind obedience is not based on knowledge. Faith alone does not guarantee truth. So faith based knowledge is important so that we understand where we fit in the big picture. We must understand who God is and what he reveals about his purpose in putting us here on this planet in the first place.
If you think God gives people mixed messages through prophets with different religious backgrounds, then how is it possible to avoid compromise? The God of the Bible doesn't do compromise.



Yes....because God gave us free will, it is possible that we may place our faith in the wrong God and misunderstand our purpose in being here. Humans are not difficult to convince when they have their own preferences and wants and needs foremost in mind. Many people search for a religion that suits them, with no thought about whether it suits God.

So why is obedience necessary for us to find the right God and to understand our purpose here? From my own studies, I believe the answer is obvious. There is only "One Lord, one faith, one baptism". (Ephesians 4:4-5)

I also see the answer is mentioned often in the Bible and Tanakh.

There is only One God.

This is a great verse for this day.

Zechariah 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

Personally I see it is us that makes more Gods than the One God.

Regards Tony

 

[SalixIncendium]

**MOVED TO SCRIPTURAL DEBATES**​

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Hello, Deeje

I like the posts you and many of the other JW's here post, they all seem so passionate, and sincere. I almost feel jealous of your zeal and passion which of course makes me feel even less of a Christian (not your fault).

I see you and the other JW's that post here regularly as the servant that got five bags of gold in Mathew 25:14-30. You have invested and made a return for your master. Myself, I feel more like the servant who buried it. Anyway, I see your passion for God and commend you for it.

But in reference to your post, I do agree with most of it. But the part on Jesus, if you do not believe Him to be God. Who do you feel He is?

Thank you for those upbuilding comments!

Jesus was Jehovah's First-born son.

Adam is called a "son of God". Luke 3:38.
Luke 3:38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.


And angels are called "sons of God."
https://biblehub.com/job/38-7.

Of course, being first-born does make him special! And what he was willing to do -- and did -- for humans, endears him to us even more.

We love, honor and obey Jesus as our Savior, but our worship goes to his Father "only". Matthew 4:10
Matthew 4:10 "Away from me, Satan!" Jesus declared. "For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'"

John 4:23-24.

Would you like to talk more about this, on this thread? I know @Deeje won't mind.

Or we could do it privately, in a conversation.

 

[Misunderstood]

Thank you for those upbuilding comments!

Jesus was Jehovah's First-born son.

Adam is called a "son of God". Luke 3:38.
Luke 3:38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.


And angels are called "sons of God."
https://biblehub.com/job/38-7.

Of course, being first-born does make him special! And what he was willing to do -- and did -- for humans, endears him to us even more.

We love, honor and obey Jesus as our Savior, but our worship goes to his Father "only". Matthew 4:10
Matthew 4:10 "Away from me, Satan!" Jesus declared. "For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'"

John 4:23-24.

Would you like to talk more about this, on this thread? I know @Deeje won't mind.

Or we could do it privately, in a conversation.

Hi there.....those were my feelings also before I began my Bible study and learned to be the kind of Christian I wanted to be......not perfect by any means but certainly now more knowledgeable now after 45 years of continuous study and learning, mainly because of the quality of my teachers.



My humble thanks for your encouragement. But only God knows when a person is whole souled in their service to him. We are encouraged to love God with all we are, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.....easier said than done because it requires honest self appraisal. But we are also admonished not to compare ourselves with others because God doesn't. We are all individuals with different life circumstances, personalities and abilities, so we have to find our own groove and serve God's interests to the best of our ability. My brotherhood is richly blessed with regard to resources and research to help us maintain a strong faith. We all attend the same meetings for educational instruction each week, no matter where we live in the world.



Jesus himself revealed who he was when the Jews were wanting to stone him for blasphemy....

John 10: 31-36......."Once again the Jews picked up stones to stone him. 32 Jesus replied to them: “I displayed to you many fine works from the Father. For which of those works are you stoning me?” 33 The Jews answered him: “We are stoning you, not for a fine work, but for blasphemy; for you, although being a man, make yourself a god.” 34 Jesus answered them: “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said: “You are gods”’? 35 If he called ‘gods’ those against whom the word of God came—and yet the scripture cannot be nullified— 36 do you say to me whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?"

It was the Jews who accused Jesus of claiming to be a god because they wanted to bring a charge against him and do away with him.

His confession was to being "God's son". Not once did Jesus ever say that he shared equality with his God and Father. In fact he said...."Keep this mental attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God." (Philippians 2:5-6) His "form" before coming to this earth to be born as a human child was as a spirit, just like his Father. All who inhabit the heavenly realm are spirits.

So because the trinity was an introduced doctrine, adopted by an apostate church over 300 years after Jesus died, making Jesus equal to his Father was actually blasphemy.

Putting the son in place of the Father was a breach of the first Commandment. We are not taught to pray "to" Jesus but "through" him as God's appointed mediator. We are not taught to worship the son but Jesus taught us to worship the Father alone. (Luke 4:8)

I hope that helps.

Thank you for your responses. I was debating with myself if I should respond to this thread, I did respond. But I feel now I will leave the conversation. Not that I feel it is not something I would not discuss. Normally I discuss these type of things with people such as you who are strong in their faith. I feel I can learn even if I may not be in total agreement, I also know that it will not cause either of you to lose faith.

But I feel there are others here who might take advantage of what might be said to attack Christians in general. I do not want to be a stumbling block to anyone. I hope you can understand.

 

[2ndpillar]

When the nation of Israel had strayed from the path of obedience to God, he was incensed at them for their disobedience and for adopting the worship of other gods.....

Through the prophet Jeremiah God said....."For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24 Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, daily rising early and sending them. 26 Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers." (Jeremiah 7:22-26)

As a nation dedicated to the service of their God of their own volition, Israel had no excuse for their disobedience and for abandoning the worship of their God to engage in Baal worship.

As Christians, do we have less obligation to obey this same God who still hates false worship and disobedience? Jesus set the example of strict obedience to his God and Father in all he did, and admonished his disciples to obey him too.....yet, today we see a religious system that has again lost its way; it has sold out to the worship of another god....

How so? Jesus never once claimed to be equal with his Father......never once saying that he was God incarnate. Yet, those in Christendom say that they worship Jesus as God.....is that not putting someone who is not God, in his place? (Exodus 20:3; Luke 4:8)

Christendom also advocates involvement in the politics of this world, when Jesus told us to be no part of it. (John 18:36) This is a double kind of disobedience because they go one further and actively involve themselves in politically motivated bloodshed. There is no sanction from Jesus to do that. (Matthew 5:44-45)
When Israel took things into their own hands and shed blood without God's sanction he told them....

“So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen.
Your hands are covered with blood." (Isaiah 1:15)

Obedience to God has to be to the letter, as God told Israel.....without applying justification for doing what God says is against his law. (Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:7, 9)

From these scriptures (both cited and quoted) do you think that the majority of those who call themselves Christians today, are obeying the Christ? They seem to feel that they can make up their own rules (as Israel had done before them,) and try to be 'friends with this world'.....I don't see how that is possible. (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17)

If you disagree, please provide scriptural reasons for your view.

You seem to be testifying against yourself. You worship the sun god Bel/Baal on the "day of the sun", by your observance of Sunday, and keep the commandment of the beast with two horns like a lamb (Constantine), and not the 10 commandments. As for John 18:36, you are misrepresenting what it says. You pay taxes that have helped killed approximately 30 million children in the U.S. alone, and yet by not voting, but paying Caesar what is Caesars, you are by default, supporting abortion by default, by supporting the supporters of abortion. It seems that you are supporting murder, by not doing what is right, worshiping the sun god, by following the lead of the beast and the false prophet, and you apparently false witnessing, by rewriting the testimony of Yeshua. I would guess that you aren't not obeying "God to the letter". The "scriptural" references you listed seem to testify against you. My guess, is that things are not "going well with you" (Jeremiah 7:23).

Constantine's law of…321 [C.E] uniting Christians and pagans in the observance of the "venerable day of the sun" It is to be noted that this official solar worship, the final form of paganism in the empire…, was not the traditional Roman-Greek religion of Jupiter, Apollo, Venus, and the other Olympian deities. It was a product of the mingling Hellenistic-Oriental elements, exemplified in Aurelian's establishment of Eastern Sun worship at Rome as the official religion of the empire, and in his new temple enshrining Syrian statutes statues of Bel and the sun…. Thus at last Bel, the god of Babylon, came into the official imperial temple of Rome, the center of the imperial religion. It was this late Roman-Oriental worship of one supreme god, symbolized by the sun and absorbing lesser divinities as subordinates or manifestations of the universal deity, that competed with young Christianity. This was the Roman religion that went down in defeat but infiltrated and colored the victorious church with its own elements, some of which can be seen to this day. (Cramer 4)


On March 7, 321, Sunday was declared the official day of rest, on which markets were banned and public offices were closed,[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Great_and_Christianity

Christian Standard Bible John 18:36
"My kingdom is not of this world," said Jesus. "If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."

 

[2ndpillar]

Thank you for those upbuilding comments!

Jesus was Jehovah's First-born son.

Adam is called a "son of God". Luke 3:38.
Luke 3:38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

You are misquoting Luke 3:38. Ephraim is the "first born" (Jeremiah 31:9)

New American Standard Bible Jeremiah 31:9)
"With weeping they will come, And by supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble; For I am a father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn."