daily prayer

   Good morning! How are we faithing? What does religion do? What does dogma do to us? Check this out; Back when Jesus was on earth it was common for the Jews to not have anything to do with strangers or foreigners. Salvation by the law was considered for them and them alone. They didn't even eat with non-Jews. Jesus started teaching this was improper and not Levitical law based at all, in fact it was proper to do the opposite according to Levitical law. What had happened in Jewish society at that time, due to many reasons, we don't have space to get into but this is a perfect example of dogmatic cultural things being accepted as cannon or in layman's terms, accepted fact. Look at these;

Lev 19:33-34
  And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Deu 10:19
 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

There are many more but this is to show you that truth sometimes is contrary to dogma and we ought to be aware when it is presented as fact. Jesus wasn't shy about telling the powers that be in those days that they were wrong about this exclusion. Paul states it thusly;

Eph 2:11-17

  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 

So be careful with your thoughts and comments that say ,"if you don't do thus and so you will perish" because other than salvation by being born again with a renewing of your mind, a confession with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord we are not any better off than those dogmatic, ritualistic, "I am at the temple every time the doors are open" type of "Christian" that wander lost. Jesus is Lord!!

Heavenly Father,
  Thank you for salvation. Help us not be Christians that look down on others due to dogma. Help us see truth and be courageous in our stance for messiah Jesus. We lift the lost to you and ask for wisdom to say what is right so they find your love and salvation. In Jesus name we pray