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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 7/31/2009 4:01:59 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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I was reared in a "holiness church," which stressed, above everything else, an outside, visible, standard of holiness. Having grown up in that, I rejected it, because I did not see biblical holiness commonly lived out there. However, I am in pursuit of holiness. Not the froufrou of the outside stuff -- of what to wear, how to wear my hair, whether or not I wear a hat, not do this, not do that, etc. That is not enough.
I want biblical holiness. So first, I ask myself this: what do I know right now of biblical holiness -- off the top of my head, without the research? Then this is how I understand it:
- Biblical holiness does not mean being weird or odd in how I dress, etc., as is sometimes taught
- Biblical holiness does mean set apart unto G-d
- "Set apart unto G-d" means living in the world but separate from it in that I do not have the attributes of those who are without G-d; that means I must live as though I have had a profound, life-changing encounter with the Almighty
From what I presently understand, when I say I am in pursuit of holiness, I am simply in pursuit of doing what He asks in all areas of my life at all times under all conditions, not in pursuit of setting myself on some high ledge so that I can look over it at all the underlings. I do not believe that holiness will turn me into some holier-than-thou persona who sits enthroned in her own place, high and lifted up, above everyone else. Rather, I believe it will bring humility, servanthood, and a desire to follow biblical concepts as far as I am humanly able through the gifts, presence, and enabling of the H Spirit, the Teacher.
In other words, I am in pursuit of biblical ethics.
This will be where I write what I learn, as well as the ways I fail, in that pursuit. And whether or not anyone joins me here, this is my goal. If, however, someone else writes here in order to give biblical pointers and suggestions, to help me learn from the experiences of others, or to have a dispute that is productive, I welcome those.
So here, I stand; here, I begin. 6
_____________________________
While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 7/31/2009 5:55:35 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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My 60th Year
"Study to show yourself approved"
(Paul to Timothy)
"You shall become a blessing"
(HaShem to Abraham)
"Continue in the prayers"
(Paul to the Colossians)
This is what is on the front of my physical journal; inside the cover is my "prayer list" of those I pray for daily.
Inside are lines for keeping color-coded record of many things but mainly a record of what I learn and what I am studying in date-order. Flip it over, that there is a continuing undated color-coded journal of passages I am reading and why they are important to me right now.
Blue: Biblical references and verses
Black: other writings, other authors, my thoughts
Green: Hebrew definitions, specifically Hebrew thought
Red: important or a red star that marks the quotations I have collected during my study To explain the latter, I collect quotations: great ones, selah ones, funny ones, and ridiculous ones. I will be putting these in this CW journal.
_____________________________
While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 7/31/2009 7:32:19 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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Well, since I can't find a star, I will use this -- ◌ to mark of the quotations I collect.
My husband was watching Mark Lowry (sp?) the other day, and he said:
◌Our preachers aren't always right, but they're never in doubt.
Not Mark's:
◌People are [rarely] afraid of a known lie; they are afraid of the truth.
◌The power of sin is secrecy. ~~Tim
◌Fear is based mainly upon ignorance.
◌Model your thought patterns after your personal hero.
◌Ego: your false self.
◌Some say, "Don't judge!" The Bible says, "Judge righteously."
◌The testimony of the Decalogue seems overwhelming: Moral rules . . . are primary. Morality is the essence. . . . ~~Rabbi Shubert Spero
◌The 613 commands, distilled down to six: (1) Practice righteousness. (2) Speak truthfully. (3) Spurn dishonest gain. (4) Refuse bribes. (5) Close your ears to blood. (6) Close your eyes to seeing evil. From Isaiah 33:13 - 17
◌The L-rd does not delight in the things we prize: not in wisdom, might, or riches; He only glory in this: when we understand and know Him, "that I AM the L-rd, who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness . . . in these I delight," says the L-rd . Also see Jeremiah 7:23-24; Isaiah 1:15; 58:5-7
◌ Ethics: the blue "tzitzit" string that binds Torah together.
◌"Do what is right in the eyes of G-d" Deut 6:18
◌"What does the L-rd require of you? To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with G-d." Micah 6:8
◌"Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice well up as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." Amos 5:22 - 24
◌"Do we not all have one father? has not G-d created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?" Malachi 2:10
◌"Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor, and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another." Zecharian 7:8-10
◌"The sins against Torah are listed: idolatry [leades to unethical acts], oppressing the poor, perverting justice, unjust weights, accepting bribes, lying, murder, theft, adultery, swearing falsely, improper wages, and disregarding property rights." Amos 2:7; 5:7; Micah 6:10-11; 3:11; Jeremiah 9:4; 7:9; 5:8; 5:2; 22:13; Micah 2:2. Of course, these are accompanied by ritualistic observances and disregarding the "inconvenient" commands.
◌"Who will abide in your tent? Who will dwell in Your holy mountain? One who is (1) blameless (2) works righteousness (3) speaks truth in the heart (4) does not decieve (5) has not done evil to others (6) is not reproached for acts toward others (7) who abhors contemptible persons WHAT?? (8) honors those who fear the L-rd (9) stands by their oath and will not change (10) will not lend money for interest (11) will not accept a bribe against the innocent. Psalm 15:1-5
The underlined part stunned me when I thought about it. I have been told time and again, "Hate the sin, not the sinner." I need to look into this Scripture in Hebrew when I get a chance.9
◌
_____________________________
While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/1/2009 12:02:13 AM
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Bountiful
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I'm looking forward to reading this thread. I love the quotes you have included and I'm looking forward to what you learn about "who abhors contemptible persons." There truly are portions of scripture that stand out and raise questions. So much to learn. God's blessing on this work.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/1/2009 12:55:43 PM
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armydude
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I also would like to thank you for starting this thread. I love reading your insights, and I also love the way you've organized it. Well done!
_____________________________
As much as it's possible, learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make them all yourself.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/1/2009 10:13:30 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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Wow! I am stunned! Shocked! I didn't know anyone besides me would be reading this much, once they saw that it is not a "just for fun" area. I am overwhelmed that anyone would, especially, want to join in this pursuit with me!
Thank you SO much! I Welcome all of your input, all your hard stuff, all your insight, and criticisms. I am one who can take criticism from people like you.
Fantastic!
Amazing!
_____________________________
While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/1/2009 11:50:24 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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Journal
◌Holiness demands suitable conduct.
That would almost seem to be a given, but I need to be reminded -- often. At around 3:15 a.m. this morning, when two persons parked their van across my driveway and chatted loudly for 45 minutes, I needed to be reminded. When they left their van there, to go down to the house down the street that is a "party house" on weekends, I needed to be reminded.
I did open the door and ask them to please move their van so we could use their driveway, and only by the pure grace of G-d was I nice about it. I thanked G-d as I returned to my bed. It wasn't the attitude of the "me" at the door this morning.
When one of their visitors woke me again by playing their vehicle stereo (or whatever they are called today) very loudly, I was highly irritated! I marched myself outside and down the street, dialogue on my mind. But I stopped, hands on my hips, and hoped my stare would be enough. It was. Thank G-d.
So I asked myself, "What would be the best way to handle this?" Let it go? Roll over? Let the parties continue without saying anything? And I asked myself: what would be the kindest thing to do? In my opinion, the kindest thiing to do is get involved. I am not the only one they keep awake every weekend, and being three houses up, I am not the one it bothers the most. So I will get together with my neighbors and see what they are thinking . . . .
◌"A person who believes that he is already perfect will not admit that he is in need of completion, in which case the Torah will have been given to him in vain" ~~Derashos HaKahoral
◌"The commandments of HaShem are only found in Torah. All other places we find them discussed in Scripture refer back to Torah. Keeping the commandments has, built into them, the blessings of HaShem. Ignoring them brings only judgment" ~~Dan dV heard at shul today
◌To do what is right and just is more desired by G-d than sacrifice" Proverbs 21:3
◌Sodom's sin was "arrogance, abundant food and careless ease while not helping the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me" Ezekiel 16:49, 50
chesed: kindness
rav hachesed: master of kindness
Written on 29 July:
◌Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895 - 1986), an expert on Torah, was asked why he was so revered. He responded, "All my life I never knowingly caused hurt to another human being."
Reading this, it deeply grieves me. I have been his opposite. As a very young child, I strove to entertain, in order to make those around me happy, so that there would be peace for me. It was a selfish motive, and as I grew older, and it no longer worked, I hated G-d for that, turning against Him.
At the age of 14, realizing that this did not work either, I wanted an alliance with G-d. I turned to HaShem, asking for forgiveness, desiring repentance, but I was taught to worship a false god -- the church I was in.
Purposeful worship of a false god prevents the Teacher, the H Spirit of HaShem, from teaching -- from instilling empathy, ethics, and love in the individual (Deut 12:31; 23:18 - 19; Lev 21:5; Amos 1 & 2). Fortunately, HaShem placed people in my life who taught me important lessons the church was not teaching. In chronoligical order: Joey, "Sis" Johnson, Pat, my daughter, my son, Bryant Avenue Baptist School, Ken, Tim, my shul, Katy L, Tony J, Mary H, Heather P, Carol S, and Pamela B -- and throughout all this, one person from the old church, Denise W. Each one of these had their specific lesson to teach me, and some taught me many things, continuing to teach me. They were ordained for me by the H Spirit.
Two years ago (or more) I was stunned by the personal knowledge of how mean, demanding, obstinate, cruel, and beligerant I was. Since then, I have applied myself to repentance. It has not been easy to face myself in order to acknowledge these things and change, but He is changing me.
This journal chronicles the things I want to change in my 60th year, my study of biblical ethics, my changes, and my failures. G-d says, "You shall be holy." I want to be holy.15
< Message edited by Covaan_Meshuga -- 8/2/2009 12:00:23 AM >
_____________________________
While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/1/2009 11:58:04 PM
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Bountiful
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The Holy Spirit is certainly busy. He's definitely been showing me things about myself that I'm not too happy about seeing. How easy it is for us to cover over the things we don't want to deal with. But how grateful we must be for the patience our Lord shows us as he changes us with His love.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/2/2009 2:32:56 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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All my life, Bountiful, I have heard people speak of G-d "spanking" them. That concept is so foreign to me and very hard to swallow. Certainly G-d disciplines us, but His discipline is so gentle, so caring, that it seems difficult to try to spurn it for long. Certainly, sometimes, I get bull-headed, and He has to shout to get my attention, but His discipline remains gentle.
His calling us to growth may be difficult, but isn't it true that once we repent, it is so easy? No wonder Yeshua says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." 17
_____________________________
While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/2/2009 3:18:23 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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Journal
Important note re my references: Sometimes, I copy the Scriptures from a Hebrew Bible. Their verses, an occasionally their chapter-beginnings and endings, do not match those of the commonly-used English Bibles in our country. Please pardon me if I sometimes forget to switch back to the verse numbers most of us use most of the time. I have caught a few like that in this thread. Thank you.
◌James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding? Let that one show this by ethical behavior in the gentleness of wisdom.
◌Proverbs 37: 30, 31 [Wisdom's] ways are the ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace.
◌Psalm 37:30, 31 The righteous speak wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The Torah of Adonai is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
◌John 14:6 But if you have bitter jealusy and selfish ambition [or strife] in your heart, do not be arrogant and lie against the Truth.
◌James 3:14 - 18 This wisdom is not . . . from above but is earthly, natural (unspiritual), demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exists, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom [remember: Proverbs 28:7. Whoever keeps Torah is wise. Also see Jeremiah 8:8 - 9] from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruit [remember Galatians 5:22 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control] unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousnesws is sown in peace by [for] those who make peace.
◌Rabbi Leo Baeck (prayed this prayer before the congregation in Germany in 1935 on Yom Kippur and was shortly arrested: "We pronounce our abhorence . . . [of] the lies which are turned against us, and the slander directed against our religion and its character . . . Who has revealed to the world the sense for the purity of conduct, for the purity of family? Who has given to the world the command of righteousness, of social responsibility? The spirit of the prophets in Israel, the revelation of G-d to the Jewish people, has produced all of them." ~~Days of Sorrow and Pain, p 205 - 6, Baker.
◌Ain shaliach ledvar aveirah --
"There is no messenger in a case of sin."
Meaning: No one forces another to sin; it is the choice of the sinner.
Shifra and Puah (Exodus 1:15 - 21)
Daniel, the three "Hebrew children"
Evil Doeg (1 Samuel 22:9 - 23)
Evil Joab (2 Samuel 11:14 - 25)
Saul's evil officers toward Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:24 - 45
◌tzaddik -- a righteous person
Yetzer hatov -- good inclination
yetzer hara -- evil inclination
◌Unfortunately, motives must be constantly checked. Is it the yetzer hatov or the yetzer hara that takes precedence in our generosity? If asked for help, would we have given more if we'd known it would be reported in the newpaper for all to see?
_____________________________
July 31
◌"Are we growing in honesty, kindness, and compassion? If we are not [significantly] more compassionate and empathetic at sixty than we were at twenty, e have lived a failed life" ~~ Joseph Telushkin
◌"People become virtuous by practicing virtues" ~~ Joseph Telushkin
◌"We become just by just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts" Maimonides.
◌"A person has three names; the one that his father and mother call him, the one that his [friends] call him [i.e. how others talk about him], and the one he acquires [by the way he acts]. And this last one is better than all the others" ~~ Tanhuma VaYakel #1 (40)
Since Wednesday, 29 July, I have been grieving my loss -- that I have lived so wickedly rather than, as Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, who "never knowingly caused hurt to another human being." Today, however, my regret is coupled with gratitude that knowing and repenting my sins brings me closer to my goal of holiness. For me, it is like the leaven that is used only twice in the Temple service: once a year at Shavuot and when one brings a thanksgiving offering. The leaven in my life is remembered and brought before HaShem who forgives me as I repent, bringing me another step closer to holiness. 19
< Message edited by Covaan_Meshuga -- 8/3/2009 3:55:48 PM >
_____________________________
While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/2/2009 4:32:23 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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Journal
1 August
To become kind, practice kindness; to become ethical, practice ethical behavior; to become holy, practice holiness. This is my job daily, horly, minute-by-minute. At the same time, there will be failure, but failure tells me to move on in repentance.
I have known many people who are good, ethical people, but they will say bluntly that they do not know our G-d. However, there are no good works that can commend me to the Father. All that I ever do that may be called "good" must be the result of a changed life through the blood of the risen Savior.
Seek good and kind people; assemble with those who love both peace and justice.
◌"It is the nature of human beings to be influenced in their opinions and actions by their friends and neighbors. . . . Therefore, a person should strive to become friendly with righteous people, and to stay in the presence of those who are wise" Maimonides in Laws of Character Decvelopment 6:1
◌
◌"Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, norstand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers" Psalm 1:1, 2
◌"Try to live up to the reputation you aspire to." ~~ Joseph Telushkin
◌[color=]"See every act you do as being of great significance." ~~ Joseph Telushkin
Push the ethics pendulum hard to the extreme, until it learns where the middle is.
◌Avoid sins that seem minor because "One sin will lead to another" ~~ Ethics of the Fathers 4:2
Read 1 kings 21. Ahab's violation of Word 10 led to violation of Word 9, then violation of Word 6, followed by violation of Word 8.p 50, #16
2 August
My collective word carries my character: it is a perfect, complete portrait of the me. If that worries me (and it does), I must change not only my word but also my thought patterns. Even my words will not return to me void! Wow! My word carry blessing or cursing, wisdom or foolishness, joy or sadness, laughter or weeping. I am not what I tell you I am; I am what I say!
22
< Message edited by Covaan_Meshuga -- 8/2/2009 5:33:30 PM >
_____________________________
While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/2/2009 5:34:45 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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Hey, Pooky! Are you peeking in at me? Join in!
< Message edited by Covaan_Meshuga -- 8/2/2009 5:47:45 PM >
_____________________________
While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/2/2009 5:48:41 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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Well, I am learning a lot, and it looks like a life-long project. That it is!
But at least I got myself up to date here. Time to go home to read some more.
_____________________________
While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/2/2009 11:24:58 PM
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Bountiful
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I was looking up Scripture on holiness and just thought I would contribute this:
I Peter 1: 14-16 (NLT) - "Obey God because you are his children. Don't slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God - who chose you to be his children - is holy. For he himself has said, 'You must be holy because I am holy.'"
I'm really enjoying the quotations from different authors.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/3/2009 12:55:21 AM
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Hisjoy
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I just found your thread and am glad I did! Good food for thought and growth.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/3/2009 10:40:55 AM
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prolifepj
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You know, I wonder what it is that moves/has moved the angels encircling the throne- for all eternity (except for a quiet 30 min) to cry "HOLY!" I wonder what they see and know of The Almighty. Doesn't it just draw your heart heavenward?
I've heard a lot of preaching and teaching about grace and the love of G-d and that's great, amazing and desperately necessary, but it seems to me that the conversation of heaven is 'He is Holy'. I want my conversation and thought to be 'on earth as is is in heaven'.
When Isaiah saw Adonai so high and recognized Holiness Himself, his first reaction was 'Woe is me! for I am undone...' It was repentance. When Yeshua walked this earth, man repented the moment they recognized His holiness- we still do that when we recognize Holiness.
Oh G-d give us eyes that see, ears that hear and hearts to recognize Holiness Himself-because in that moment we cannot help but cry "HOLY" and repent because also in that moment we want for nothing more than to be able to stay near Him and sin cannot remain in the presence of Holiness. I want to stay where He is. Like you quoted above- something to the essence of, 'we become like who we hang around'? If we are close enough to Him, being transformed into His image, THEN He can be revealed through us as our flesh nature dies and others will be able to recognize HIM and repent also. Oh for the day that I look enough like Him that He is revealed to another and they are drawn to Him!
Abiyah you're making me think again this morning-I gotta get off here and go repent or something!!
_____________________________
Sho nuff honey chile - Smile, it makes people wonder what you're up to!
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/3/2009 11:35:23 AM
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Tinkerbell_
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This is beautiful! I love it and I love learning from you! I read this eagerly and will bring my Bible to work with me tomorrow so I can read with you and apply it to my life. 
*huggles*
_____________________________
When I've shown you that I just don't care
When I'm throwing punches in the air
When I'm broken down and I can't stand
Will you be strong enough to be my man?
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/3/2009 3:20:46 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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I SO appreciate your contributions! -- the Scriptures, your insights, your thoughts. You are going to make this more encouraging and even a bit easier!
Welcome Hisjoy (haven't seen you in forever! Coming through my town anytime soon?) and Tinkerbell. Come walk through this learning process with the rest of us. 
All I wrote in my journal this morning was this:
Journal
"This morning, I have some serious doubts about my ability to make some correct decisions" (leading toward holiness. We learned of a problem when we came home last night.)
As my morning went on, and as I read, the thought occurred to me, through a tough lesson, that this is really hopeless -- this idea of walking in holiness. I can't do it; it is impossible.
Then I realized that my helplessness -- my hopelessness -- is what can be used by G-d to show me that it is He who is able.
Otherwise, I would quit in disappointment, because I can't do this.27
_____________________________
While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: Growing in the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics - 8/3/2009 3:24:16 PM
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armydude
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I usually tell people that I cannot be holy on my own. But that's the point. If we could be holy on our own, there'd be no need for a Savior. We need Him every day. Maybe that's the reason He said, "Seek first the Kingdom of G-d and His righteousness..." Because as we do, we find that He is giving us the strength we need.
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As much as it's possible, learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make them all yourself.
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