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My name is Abri(e) Theart and I live on a plot in Monrick AH, Centurion, close to Valhalla, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. I am 65 male and married to Tes (Theresa Zondagh) and now we both are retired. I was a Project Manager & Change Manager at large Telecommunications Company. I love teaching and giving training. I love reading non-fiction books and do research on my interests. I was a crypto trader. Now, I am fixing PC's and Church Growth.

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Die Heilige Naam Beweging en wat daarmee saamgaan

Die Heilige Naam Beweging en wat daarmee saamgaan

Verwysing: https://youtu.be/0NhupkwzgFs?si=SkfF7qyKgCKA70OY

Sendeling se opmerking: Klink my hulle neig oor na die British Israelities se kant toe.

Ook beken as: Sacred Name Movement (SNM) en Assemblies of Yahweh

Inleidend

Hierdie is nie negatief gemik op persone of organisasies nie. Ek wei ook nie uit met verwysings, skakels of bronne nie. (Vra as jy soek)  Baie min Teologie of teologies en tegniese terme word gebruik. Die artikel is ook beperk en bespreek nie alle verwante sake nie. Name giving, Feeste (soos Sabbat), Kalender, gebruike (Voet wassinge of denke (Stoïsisme, ens.), Scribal customs, Translation methologies,  nie. Soos bv. Vrae 4 – 8 word glad nie bespreek nie.Nee, bogenoemde video gaan nie eintlik oor Nie Britsh Israelisme, nie.Ek kan later daaroor skryf.

My ondervinding en reis met Wettiesheid.

Ja, ek dink jy weet - ek het 'n lang pad gestap in die Heilige Naam beweging en ook hulle Sacred Name Bybel en Tydskrif versprei (Parow dae). Dit was my eerste "skei" van die AGS in my matriek jare. Het ons ooit daaroor gesels? Ek het baie goeie navorsing en bronne van hulle gehad. Dieselfde was met Yeshua/Jesus. Ek moes toe vir die Here(!) vra - hoe regverdig ek die "suiwere" gebruik van Sy name. Het bv Jule se boek oor The Names of God gelees. ‘n motifering om hoop en geneesmaking te bring. (Gewone Bybel-Hebreeuse Studie - nie van die HN beweging)  Dit was eintlike maklik toe ek Hom vra –

1. Maar deur al die jare word in die Naam van God, Jesus, Here ens. gebid en gebede word verhoor…, genees, gegewe, gered, en ook mense wat lewend uit die graf opgestaan het, ens.!

 2. Ek sien, ek dit in Openbaring, alle, volke, nasies en tale voor Hom as gered is.

3. Paulus praat van nie meer Jood of Grieke in Gal, nie, ens.  Daarna (1978) was daar baie oplewing in die Christelike wêreld oor die Name (ander as net Here, en veral ook in Suid Afrika (Gospel sangers wat jy onthou) , veral in Liedjies en gebruik in "worship" en gebede ook op individuele vlak deur Christine - nie van die HN Beweging nie. Onthou ons lewe nie eintlik soos in die "ou tye" in 'n Name kultuur" nie.

4. Moet ek dan nou in die regte taal (Hebreeus) ook bid? (of is net die Name belangrik?

MAW, is my geloof/godsdiens dan nou taal gebonde en moet ek dan nou al die “regte Name van die Drie-Eenheid gebruik?. En in die sending veld? (Klink na ‘n Islamitiese verwagting)

5. Waaroor het die “verwarring van tale by Babel en dan “Pinkster” se Uitstorting van die Heilige Gees met vuur tonge en die nuwe twee gawes van Tale en Uitleg van Tale in die Nuwe Testament gegaan?

6. Watter taal is dan God se taal? Is Hebreeus dan die enigste erkende goddelike taal? Van wanneer af bestaan dit en hoe en wanneer deur wie is dit geskryf?

7. En die Bybel en Jesus se woorde? (Aramees by die Kruisiging!)

8. In watter taal tree Jesus en die Heilige Gees dan vir my in by God?

9. Is Abba Vader dan ook verkeerd?

Ontwikkeling van tale navorsing en Ontdekkings uit die Ooste

Ja, dit was nodig en ek dink veral die bewuswording van "grond tale soos Hebreeus en Grieks (+Aramees) onder normale Christine met nuwe uitgawes van boeke soos Die Amplifed Bybel, Ryke, Interliniêre ens., het daartoe bygedra. Dit was maar eintlik 'n normale fenomeen. Dit het my 'n geestelike slag toegedien, want ek het my "geskei" van die normale Kerk lewe en Christine omdat ek die as voorwaarde (regte gebruik van "Heilige Name vir die "Drie-eenheid", Jy was nie 'n ware christene as jy nie die regte Name van God gebruik nie. Eintlik was dit absurd".

Sommige Proof texts?

Ek kies van die sogenaamde “proof texts”, soos ek onthou. Hiermee het hulle probeer bewys dat jy net die regte Naam vir God in Hebreeus moet gebruik, dit reg moet uitspreek, en a ‘n ware christene, nie enige van die normale bekende name soos God, Jehova, Here of Jesus moet gebruik nie. Daarom het hulle dan ook hulle eie Sacred Name Bible (NKJV)wat hierdie woorde vervang met die regte name. Daar is ook baie ander - Transliterated, Tetragrammaton, Limited en other languages. (Sien Wikipedia)

Dis nie die doel van hierdie artikel om deur die geskiedenis en ontwikkeling van Language Studies, Literal Critcism of Historical Critisim te gaan nie en gaan ek ook nie oor die regte spelling o uitspraak vir Arikaans o Engels (o ander tale) uitbrei nie. Lees meer daaroor uit die verwysings en bronne van bv. Pillars of Biblical Interpretation van Porter. Sake soos Allah as naam, veral ook as gebruik in Islam en die Koran, word nie bespreek nie.

Ek gaan net wegval met verwysings hieronder.

Efforts to find the origins and significance of the Hebrew divine names in other ancient Near Eastern cultures have yielded generally disappointing results. One of the major reasons for this is that the ancient Hebrew theology invested these names with a uniqueness that renders investigation outside the narratives of the OT incapable of exploring fully their historical and religious significance. Basic to ancient Hebrew religion is the concept of divine revelation. While God is conceived of as revealing his attributes and will in a number of ways in the OT, one of the most theologically sig- nificant modes of the divine self-disclosure is the revelation inherent in the names of God. This aspect of divine revelation is established in the words of Exodus 6:3, “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord [Yahweh] I did not make myself known to them.” According to classical literary criticism, the verse teaches that the name Yahweh was unknown to the patriarchs. Thus, an ideological conflict exists between the Priestly author and the earlier Yahwist, who frequently put the name Yahweh on the lips of the patriarchs.

However, the words “by my name Yahweh I did not make myself known to them” have a somewhat hollowring if the name Yahweh is understood only as an appellative. The reason for this is that Moses asks in Exodus 3:13, “What is his name?” (mah-sémé). M. Buber has demonstrated that the syntax of this question does not connote an inquiry as to the name of God but an inquiry into the character revealed by the name. He says, “Where the word ‘what’ is associated with the word ‘name’ the question asked is what finds expression in or lies concealed behind that name (Revelation and the Covenant, 48).J. Motyer also concludes, “In every case where md is used with a personal association it suggests enquiry into sort or quality or character, whereas mi expects an answer instancing individuals, or, as in the case of rhetorical questions, calling attention to some external feature” (Revelation of the Divine Name, 19). Exodus 14:4 also supports the view that the name Yahweh embodies aspects of God’s character. It says, and the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh.” It is hardly likely that the intent of this assertion is that they would learn only the name of the Hebrew God. In the light of these observations, the use of the concepts of the name of God in the early narratives of the book of Exodus is far broader than simply the name by which the Hebrew God was known. It has a strong element of divine self-disclosure within it. The corpus of divine names compounded with ‘él and a descriptive adjunct also support this concept. The very fact that the adjunctive element is descriptive is an indication of its value as a source of theological content. Typical of this type of name is ‘él roi (“God who sees”; Gen. 16:13) and ‘él ‘6lam (“God eter￾nal”; Gen. 21:33). These ’él names sometimes emerge from a specific historical situation that illuminates their significance. (Evangelical dictionary of theology -- Elwell, Walter A -- 2001 -- Grand Rapids, Mich._ Baker Academic ; Carlisle, Cumbria, Pg 504-505. Underlining mine)

Read more about the ancient Near Eastern thinking under “Yahweh’s Place in the Cosmos” in Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament, John H. Walton -- Second edition, 2018 -Baker Publishing Group; Baker Academic

The emphasis on Yahweh’s reputation (and not the well-being of Israel) is stated explicitly in the context of exile and restoration in Ezekiel 36:22-24: “It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you haveprofaned among the nations where you have gone. . . . Then the nations willknow that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I am proved holythrough you before their eyes.” (The Lost World of the Torah (The Lost World Series) John H. Walton & J. Harvey Walton The Lost World Series, 2019 -- InterVarsity Press – underlining mione)

 

As a consequence of God’s judgment, Israel can be perceived as a nation whose God is unable to protect it from the enemy armies who conquer his people and destroy his temple. This is demonstrated in the words of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, in 2 Kings 18:32-35: Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, “The LORD will deliver us.” Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?

Yahweh responds to this taunt by demonstrating his power: “That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp” (2 Kings 19:35). After the Babylonian exile, a similar accusation is leveled against Yahweh in Ezekiel 36:18-23, to which he responds with the promise to restore his people to the land: I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, “These are the LORD’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.”I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. Therefore say to the Israelites, “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD.”Note that Yahweh’s concern is for his holy name (that is, his reputation), not for Israel’s moral or social condition. Note also that the restoration is specifically for the sake of Yahweh’s reputation and is not prompted by a desire to give anything to Israel. Because Yahweh is Israel’s God, Israel’s condition reflects on him, and Yahweh does not wish to be seen as a defeated God of a ruined and dispossessed people. All of Yahweh’s interactions with Israel serve to establish his reputation, one way or another. This is once again what we mean when we say that Yahweh uses Israel to reveal himself.(ibit pg 59)

en

Yahweh establishes and projects his identity and reputation before both Israel and the surrounding nations. All these observers belong to the cultural river of the ANE. Consequently, Yahweh establishes himself according to the principles of faithfulness, wisdom, order, and justice, as the ancient world understood those ideas, because those happen to be the highest values of the ancient world. The ancient understanding of order, justice, and faithfulness is circumscribed in the legal wisdom and treaty documents of the Torah(ibit, pg 80)

 

Ek stel ook voor dat Now, Thats a Good Question van Sproul, gelees word, veral die vraag in sy boek: “What are the characteristics of the Christian God that differentiate him from other gods?

Enkele Kommentare

Ek kies hierdie vers, omdat dit soos gerapporteer is, van Jesus sel a kom en sy woorde met sy dissipels.

Nadat Jesus Sy dissiples waarsku om nie soos die soos “die geveinsdes” te wees nie nie (v.5) , gee Hy ons om so te bid:

Só moet julle dan bid: Onse Vader wat in die hemele is, laat u Naam geheilig word; (Mat 6:9 AOV)

Ons kyk na wat Prof HJB Combrink die Verklarende Bybel skryf:

... dit wil se dat God self as die Heilige God erken sal word. Dit kan God bewerk (Volgenda Eseg. 36:23)ook in die lewe van die bidder (Bls 9)

 

Sien gerus Hennie C van Zyl se kommentaar in Die Bybellienium op bladsy 1127.

Aan die Engelse kant, hou ek wat Albert Barnes te se het:

Hallowed be thy name - The word “hallowed” means to render or pronounce holy. God’s name is essentially holy; and the meaning of this petition is, “Let thy name be celebrated, venerated, and esteemed as holy everywhere, and receive from all people proper honor.” It is thus the expression of a wish or desire, on the part of the worshipper, that the name of God, or that God himself, should be held everywhere in proper veneration.(eSword, my onderskrifering)

So ook Joseph Benson:

Hallowed be thy name — The name of God is a Hebraism for God himself, his attributes, and his works. To sanctify a thing is to entertain the highest veneration for it, as true, and great, and good, and to manifest that veneration by our dispositions, words, and actions. Thus it is used 1Pe_3:15; Isa_8:13. The meaning of this first petition, therefore, is, May thy existence be universally believed; thy perfections revered, loved, and imitated; thy works admired; thy supremacy over all things acknowledged; thy providence reverenced and confided in. May we, and all men, so think of thy divine majesty, of thy attributes, words, and works, and may we and they so express our veneration of thee, and subjection to thee, that thy glory may be manifested everywhere, to the utter destruction of all idolatry, sin, and misery. “The phraseology of this and other prayers recorded by the inspired writers, wherein the worshippers addressed God in the singular number, saying, thou, and thy, is retained by all Christians among us, with the highest propriety, as it intimates their firm belief that there is but one God, and that there is nothing in the universe equal or second to him, and that no being whatever can share in the worship which they pay him.” — Macknight.

Die ou geliede Adam Clarke volg dieselfde trant en skryf nog meer:

Thy name - That is, God himself, with all the attributes of his Divine nature - his power, wisdom, justice, mercy, etc.

We hallow God’s name,

1st. With our lips, when all our conversation is holy, and we speak of those things which are meet to minister grace to the hearers.

2dly. In our thoughts, when we suppress every rising evil, and have our tempers regulated by his grace and Spirit.

3dly. In our lives, when we begin, continue, and end our works to his glory. If we have an eye to God in all we perform, then every act of our common employment will be an act of religious worship.

4thly. In our families, when we endeavor to bring up our children in the discipline and admonition or the Lord; instructing also our servants in the way of righteousness.

5thly. In a particular calling or business, when we separate the falsity, deception, and lying, commonly practised, from it; buying and selling as in the sight of the holy and just God.(eSwaord)

Die Life Application Bible gaan hiermee saam dat elke Christen “wat God se naam dra”, Hom sal eer.

Vir die meer gevolrderde student, dis wat die Word Biblical Commentary.skrywe:

First Petition, ά γ ι α σ θ ή τ ω to ό ν ο μ ά σ ο υ , “set apart your holy nam e.” This is an appeal to God to act in vindication of his name. The relationship between name and person is much closer in Hebraic thought than for us today (see Comment on  5:22). The nam e of God is virtually indistinguishable from the person of God (cf., for example, Mal 1:6; Isa 29:23; Ezek 36:23; John 12:28; 17:6). Thus God is called upon to vindicate himself. In a Jewish context, this petition refers to God acting in fulfillment of the promises to Israel, and thus to the silencing of the taunts of her enemies. In short, G od’s nam e will only be properly honored when he brings his kingdom and accomplishes his will on earth (cf. the Q addish). Thus, the first three petitions of the prayer are closely linked, referring essentially to the same salvation-historical reality. The similar form of these three petitions, employing the divine passive and the aorist tenses in each case, also points to this conclusion. Gerhardsson refers to the three petitions as “one prayer in a threepart parallelismus membrorum (Matthaean Version, 210). There are at the same time ethical implications for the disciples in this petition (see Comment on next verse).( Matthew 1-13, Volume 33A (33) (Word Biblical Commentary) -- Donald A_ Hagner, Bruce M_ Metzger (editor), David Allen -- Revised ed_, 2015 – Zondervan, pg 148

Die South Asia Bible Commentary_het ‘n interesante opmerking:

To pray that God’s name will be “hallowed” is to pray that God will be treated as holy. God’s people hallow his name by right living.( A One-Volume Commentary on the -- Brian Wintle -- 2015 -- Zondervan Academic- My understeping)

Hierdie “right livnig”, sien ek as die lewe volgend die beginsels van die Koningkryk van God, wat Jesus gese het vir Sy dissiples, nou hier is en waarvan deel daarvan in die Gelykenisse, en Saligspreukinge uitgewys is. Daar is baie bronne en boeke hieroor.

Ek volstaan vir eers hierby.

Ou en Nuwe Verbond

Hierdie is eintlik ‘n onderwerp op sy eie, maar het ook groot verwarrering. Meestal omdat gelowegis en predikante/teoloe dit net in hy of sy “traditie” sien. Dit word ook nie as “bril” (sleutel filter) vir vandag se Bybel uitleg reg gebruik nie. Ek het gesien die polimiek (en bakleiery) in Suid Afrika tussen predikante soos bv. Oor die Doop. Wat ‘n gemors, maar illustratief hoe rof hiermee gewerk word en kerkbeleid verdedig word. Die punt wat ek hier wil maak is dat daar ‘n Nuwe Verbond is en BETTER as die oue, soos wat oa in die Boek Hebreers aangetref word. Hierdie onderskeid het baie te doen moet hoe ons hierdie en ander “wettiese” goed be-oordeel vir Jood o Christen. Spasie onbreek hier om daaroor uit te wei en is ‘n studie op sy eie.  Ek haal tog weer aan:

The New Covenant has a different purpose. God is no longer using his people to establish a reputation for himself. That was done through Israel and does not need to be done again, which is why the Old Testament has been preserved as Scripture. But God has other plans and other purposes now. Just as he was carrying out his plans and purposes through Israel, he is now carrying them out through the church (ibid, pg 201)

 

Dogma, Hart en Houding.

Nadat ek vrede en rede in my hart gekry het, het ek daarmee verlief geneem en ook stadig die regte houding gekry, met die wat wel die Name gebruik, maar nie die intensie gehad het as "voorwaarde" nie. Jare daarna ook so deur die Jehova-Jahwe ding gegaan en onlangs - 5 jaar gelede - deur bv. The God Culture beweging van die Filippyne. (Later hieroor) In my opinie kan daar ook 'n verbintenis met die "Joodse" Messiaanse aanhang van Feeste in die Bybel en Joodse gebruike  wees.

Populariteid

Daar is baie sulke organisasies en TV Kanale en Kerke!, veral ook onder sel groepe, en kyk hoeveel boeke daar oor met Google! Om nie eers te praat van populêre figure nie. Maar ek persoonlik is nie kop en stert daar in nie. Sien ook nie iets "verkeerd" daarin nie, solank die Messias/Jesus die regte plek kry. (Later oor God se plek - wat het daarvan geword – respek.  Ook hiermee saam gaan die onderwerp ook die Ontstaan van die Kerk/Christendom en die erfenis van die "Judaïsme/Jahwisme" geword?) Dit en dan die Konteks (Midde Oosterse) met verwysing na Israel en sy bure het deur argeologiese ontdekkings, Dooie See Rolle en vele meer, agtergrond gegee tot 'n meer vollediger prentjie van gebruike en gewoontes.

Populariteit: Evolusie se vrugte

Intuusen is daar vir baie lank ‘n dryf om die Here se Naam, watter een ook al, uit te roei. Op alle vlakke van die lewe. Direk en indirek beteken dit die bestaan van ‘n Skepper God. Hier in Suid Afrika is meeste van ons beken met die nuwe sekulere staat na 1994 toe die ANC aan bewind gekom het. Hoe die Kerk en die Bybel uit skole uigegooi is, om nie te praat van die voorslepende plan om diesede te doen op Universiteite nie, kan ons die slegte vrugte daarvan alles sien, sommer op die daglikse Nuus kanalle, tydskrite , TV en Radio. Dis nie net die velle on onlangste Olympiese Spele in Frankryk wat nog vars in ons gedagtes is nie, maar ook bv Amerika (oa. Trump) se terugkeer na Christelike waardes. Lees ook gerus boeke soos When Fables all – unmasking the lies of distorted science, secularism and humanism, Sovereign World , 2011 deur AF Green, en/of The Battle for Truth deur David A. Noebel, Harvest House Publishers, 1995.

Maar die boek en onderwerp wat vir my uitstaan en ek sien as baie oneer aan God bring is Tom DeRosa se boelie Evolution’s Fatal Fruit, 2006. Hoe die mens Darwin se “Three of Life” gelei het to Hitler en Rassisme.Ek gaan nie hier juis oor die hele Evolusie debat/Controversy skryf nie, maar die ontwikkeling en in Suid Africa was ook groot, waarvan ons die vrugte dra vandag. Alhoewel daar ‘n paar geleende teen skoppe was van boeke wat verskyn het, was die wêreldse invloed te groot. Manne soos oa. Ook Albert Alberts het dit ook mis in sy boek Evolusie vir Christine (!) 2017. Evolusie is maklik in die Onderwys gesleep en die Media het gehelp. Gin wonder dat prominente ouens soos Jurie van der Heever in Wat moet ons met die kerk doen? 2017 die trant verder uitbrei. Ja terwyl die geleerdes hulle ding gedoen het, het die kerk en predikante maar net voortgegaan met hulle goedjies. Dit, het nie lidmate gehelp nie en ek dink het baie vervreem. Dis is nie tot eer van God nie. Ek gaan nie hier oor Geheime Organisasies en Bloedlyne skryf nie. Miskien later.

Ateïsme, Kritici en Skeptici.

Hierdie onderwerp het my van staanspoor (1974) nie eintlik gepla nie en die verwysing daarna in Christian Apologetics, veral in my Evolusie/Kreationisme navorsing, wat tog my passie was, het onbemerk verby gegaan tot en  vriende gemaak het met van hulle. Wat ek onlangs wel opgemerk is, dat hulle goeie vrae het, maar van die gewone Christine net klassieke antwoorde kry (hol rug geryde “copy-cat”) , baie veroordeling en negatiewe houding.  Geisler stel die basiese vyf vrae so met my onderstreping:

 

...the five most consequential questions in lifeare these:

1. Origin: Where did we come from?
2. Identity: Who are we?
3. Meaning: Why are we here?
4. Morality: How should we live?
5. Destiny: Where are we going?
The answers to each of these questions depend on the existence of God (bls. 20)

Wat my dwars in die kop (of bors?) steek, daar by gelowiges geen of min talent is om deur reëls van argumentasie (rede en logika en die 12 punte van progressie) teenwoordig is nie, en probeer om om met gewonde sogenaamde argumente van die vrae af weg te kom (Road Runner effek). Meeste is ook onbewus van die behoefte by mense vir hierdie vrae soos deur Sire nagevors, o.a. Sosologies, Sielkundig, Godsdienstig en filosofies. Sy-stap argumente is net om ‘n “can of worms” oop te maak en hulle het baie teen argumente daarvoor waarvan baie christene min weet en die vraag na hoe ons by waarheid uitkom nie bespreek nie. Dan praat ek nie eers van die kennis dra van drie basiese Wêreld Godsdienstige Uitkyke (Worldviews), (Teïsme-, Panteïsme en Ateïsme) of die Kosmologiese-, Teleologiese-/Anthrotistiese- of Morele Argumente nie.  Gevolglik, soos dit met ateïste is, is hy/sy weg met ‘n wen aan sy/haar kant en verlore vir die evangelie.  Die polariteit van attisisme is natuurlik al oorweldigend oral, veral ook sosiale media en dis omtrent net op akademiese vlak waar dit reg hanteer word. (mense wat die “spel” ken.

Hierdie is ook fundamenteel in die Christelike “godsdiens”/Kerk/Evangelie en raak ernstig die eer van God aan, net omdat Hy ook Hom onderskei as die enigste ware en Skepper God.

Veral ook in Suid Afrika waar ons veral na 1994 amper geïndoktrineer is, om meer tolerant te wees in die nuwe sekulêre staat teenoor ander en die waarheid.

Ek gaan nie hier die bespreking vul met gepaardgaande argumente nie maar wel christene vra om te minste boeke soos I Dont Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist  van Norman L. Geisler, Frank Turek en David Limbaugh) te bestudeer.YouTube het ook baie soortgelyke videos en ek dink veral aan die bekende Lennox besprekinge.

Ek daag christene uit om hulle hierin te beywer en te leer. Daar is baie bronne en hulpmiddele (ook verniet) en in Sy Naam moet ons verantwoordelik optree in daad en woord.

Ander

Suidlanders, Israel Visie

Christelike God onderskei Hom van ander.

Met my post-Vietnam navorsing (2019-2013), veral in Ancestral Worship/Veneration en die "Stryd van die Kerk om die evangelie in Asië te "inter-kuturalisasie", het ek besef dat die "afgode" en drake, demi-gods daarmee te doen het. Toe ontdek ek Heiser en Gary Wayne se boeke en dit sit toe vir my die "dots" bymekaar. (Hierdie is 'n groot "ontdekking" in my lewe en maak Bybelkundige en Teologiese vir my baie sin (Later- as jy wil- meer hieroor). Die Rol van Nasies en Israel speel 'n groot rol en die Ou Testamentiese se God wat gedurig Hom wil onderskei en sukkel met Israel om Hom te onderskei van "ander" gode. Om nie eers te praat van die Eerste gebod nie en "Eer jy vader en moeder"!" Wanneer mens nog nie by die Divine Council idee (Heiser) uitgekom het nie (en Israel se rol) mis jy baie van die los en moeilike punte en insidente in die Skrif!. (ek praat nie eers van die parallel Rol van die Kerk (nie Jode/Christene) en Eindtyd nie.

God se doel met Nasies, Volkere en tale.

Daarom is daardie studie van die twee volumes van God's Stategy so belangrik. Hierdie is ook groot rede hoekom my hele aanhoudende studie in Bible Interpretation so belangrik geword het, en ek in my tweede boek oor Rom. 8:28 in die 3de edisie boek daaraan aandag wil gee. BTW, Britsh Israelism/Verlore 10 Stamme van Israel, ens., is en was ook een van my groot slaggate. Ek moet nou weer daarna kyk omdat ek 'n moontlike verbintenis sien met Bloedlyne, secret societies, conspiracy theories, ens.

Ons Doel en missie.

Sonder om te wyd uit te brei, is die doel van die Naam en Name van God, hierbo uitgewys.Vandag is dit die doel om God te eer, nie net met ons tomg (en taal) nie, maar deur ons leefwyse (houding) Ek haal weer aan:

Our commitment as individuals and as the body of Christ to be above reproach, self-controlled, submissive to transformation, and committed to being salt and light will all continue to drive us to think and work together toward solutions that will bring honor to the name of our God in all the complicated issues of our modern world. The mandate we have is to be the people of God bringing honor to his name, “so that in every way [we] will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (Titus 2:10) (Ibit, pg 207)

Hierdie manier van lewe va die gelowige, behoort dan in ‘n nie aggresiewe wyse ander te trek na God toe en hulle nie in kampe plaas of afstoot te gee nie.

We must be attractive because the Christian community can only sustain itself through recruitment. If we make ourselves reprehensible in the eyes of our culture, we will be unable to make disciples. Note that in 1 Corinthians 5:1 the deviant is accused not of violating God’s law but of behavior “of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate.” (ibit, pg 207)

Lees gerus ook verder

Ons goeie Erfenis

Uit ‘n dieper agtergrond en studie oor tale, veral dan Hebreeus en Grieks, is daar ‘n lang geskiedenis. Nie almal van ons is of was Admissie studente op Universiteit nie en toe ons van die naam van God lees of hoor, geen benul eintlik waar die kennis vandaan kom nie. Sekerlik ie nodig vir die gewone Christen nie, maar nogmaals nuttig vir die erinstige “teologies” student. Hiermee net ‘n paar woorde.

Oor die ontwikkeling van Languaga Studies (die bestudering van Hebreeus en Grieks) kan Pillars gerus geraadpleeg word soos soos deur die verskillende periodes van Renaissance tot ,  Enlightenment en vandag en die invloed in verskeie van vertakkinge en strominge soos Structuralism insluited Russian formalism en die Prague Skool, narratology, and post-structuralism. Die ontwikkeling gedurende rationalist period, comparative philology, and modern linguistics is vir baie onbekend, maar wat aanleiding en invloed gehad het op vandag se kennis. (Vir ‘n verkorte gids oor die geskiedenis van linguistics, sien Robins, Short History of Linguistics, 148–264) en die oorsprong daarvan (bls.149,165). Die werk van William Jones (1746–94) en Condillac (1714–80) word na verwys. Van ons mag dalk weet van die twee belangrike persone van Wilhelm Gesenius (1786–1842) wat gekenmerk is soos Porter skryf:

The rationalist dimension is evidenced in the logical ordering seen in the language, the use of Western (no doubt Latin-inspired) language categories for description (e.g., tense, mood, and flexion to describe the verb, where Hebrew is seen to be poor, in comparison with European languages), and description of Hebrew as defective because it does not have vowels written as letters (Later deur Kautzsch,in Hebrew Grammar verder verwerk en uitgegee.)

Oor “sound laws” is Jacob Grimm (1785–1863), met sy broer bekend, wat die werk van Hermann Gunkel (1862–1932) beinvloed het en geidentifiseer was as i “Grimm’s law” (1822) ivm die sound changes in verskillende klasses van konsonante oor tale.(Thomas, Fifty Key Thinkers 97–103.)

(las by)

Ervaring van God

My rede hoekom ek hierdie “kop-kennis” soos een vrou in die selgroep na verwys het, hier deurgee, is omdat ek meer en meer respek gekry het die erfenis waarmee ons vandag het, en vir my nog meer eer aan God se naam gee en dankbaarheid en betekenis vir my om Hom op daardie en Sy “eerste” Naam te noem. Hiermee bring dit vir my by die Karakter van God en hoe Hy deur die eeue optree teenoor verskillende groepe soos in die voor-skepping, Adam en Eva, die nakomelinge, later nasies en volkere en dan ook Israel en die Kerk en die wat vreemdelinge en “buite” is. Aller eers, het Hy Hom geopenbaar as “anders” as die afgode en die res van die Hemelse/Goddelike Raad, insluitend Lucifer/Satan/Duiwel, gevalle engele en engele.(Lees gerus boeke van Dr Michael Heiser)

Hierdie Yahweh God van die “Christelike” Bybel van Israel is ‘n geopenbaarde God, wat Hom nie wegsteek soos die ander gode nie. Wat bemoeienis met die mens maak en deur mense, Sy skepsels geken kan word, en wat nie optree soos die ander gode vir wie jy iets moet doen gedurende jou hele lewe hier op aarde, om hulle goedkeuring en/of guns (Luck)te kry of om gewaarborg te word oor ‘n paradys hiernamaals/Hemel/Ewige Lewe nie (Fate) en die Hel mis te spring nie. Hy is ‘n jaloerse God, nie omdat daar net ander soortegelyke mensgemaakte of hemel wesens van laer klas as Hy bestaan nie, maar omdat hy ons na Hom toe wil lei vir versekerde beloftes en genade, want net Hy kan dit doen en het ‘n plan daarvoor deur Sy Seun Jesus Christus, wat ons ken as die Saligheids plan vir beide Jood en nie Jood, kerk en nie-kerk, vreemdeling en vriend.

Hierdie korrekte verstaan van God (en Sy Gebod) het my ook jare gevat om die “dots” te “connect”, en het baie van my vrae oor “die Ouman daar bo” te leer ken wie Hy is en hoekom Hy opgetree het soos Hy opgetree het. Dit wat veral in die Ou Testament soos bv die oorloë met nasies en volkere (en gode en reuse!) voorkom in die narratief (stories) ,my meer insig gegee oor Sy Plan en Karakter. Dit deurgetrek ook na die Nuwe Testament en periode kon ek die ervaring van versoeking en beproewing verstaan oor my afhanklikheid van God en dat ek Sy genade en barmhartigheid nodig het. Sy voorsiening en heling het my gehelp om deur die lewe te kom en kan ek ook die “issue” van goed en sleg verstaan. Hoekom laat God hierdie (slegte) dinge toe en hoekom is daar lyding in die wêreld?

Dit is vir my waaroor die hele “Heilige Naam” gaan. Om Hom te ken en te beleef. Ek het nou antwoorde en daar is ‘n nou lewe todat daar die volmakte lewe hierna is. Die hoop van Paulus. Die oa. Heerlikheid waarvan hy praat in sy briewe. Die basiese wette bly staan, maar heirdie keer in ons harte geskryf en deur die krag van die Heilige Gees, ons groei en gevorm word na die oorspronklike mens na die gelykenis van God. Korrekte Naam gebruik, tradisies (menslike instellings) , rituale, en ook sakramente(!) is miskien vir ons belangrik, maar ons harte en denke is wat God sien en dit is “goeie werke” van die geloof wat by die Regterstoel eendag beoordeel word vir beloning.

Waardes en Beginsels (Etiek)

Christelike lewe en gesins en regering verband.

Bybel Interpretasie.

Hierdie verstaan van God se Naam en Name met die insig oor Sy karakter, is een van die belangrike filters wat ek gebruik in Bybel interpretasie. Ten spyte van my soeke na die verstaan van hierdie en ander wettiesheid (Die Tien Gebooie, Sabbat, Feeste en studie in Romeine, Efesiërs en Galasiërs, o ja en Hebreërs, het hierdie filter hom keer op keer gestand laat doen en vir my logiese sin gemaak. Ek moes soos Allan Platt, Stigter van die Doxa Deo Internasionale Kerk Groep in sy boe Dit is Volbring! gelief neem en “die rus” ook ingaan waaroor Hebreërs praat.

Uit Babilon?

Hierdie taal gebruik van “uit Babilon”, ek dink ‘n verwysing na die profete en Openbaring se boodskap, het ek baie gehoor en gelees in die Heilige Naam beweging. Ongelukkig kan ek nie daarmee saamgaan soos hulle nie.

Hiermee kwoteer ek weer uit Walton se boek met my ondersteping:

The mandate we have is to be the people of God bringing honor to his name, “so that in every way [we] will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (Titus 2:10). We must be attractive because the Christian community can only sustain itself through recruitment. If we make ourselves reprehensible in the eyes of our culture, we will be unable to make disciples. Note that in 1 Corinthians 5:1 the deviant is accused not of violating God’s law but of behavior “of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate.” This should not encourage us to pander to our culture in every respect. If we become indiscernible from non-Christians, the community will vanish and there will be nothing to recruit to. But it also does not mean that we rigidly conform to the cultural values of the ANE (expressed in the Torah) or of Hellenized Judea (expressed in the Gospels and Epistles). The decision between “do not conform to the pattern of this world” (Rom 12:1-2) and “become all things to all people so that by all possible means [we] might save some” (1 Cor 9:22) does not default in either direction. It means that we exercise wisdom in knowing where to conform to the culture of our day. This wisdom must be exercised by those who can understand the culture well enough to understand the cost of either decision, and it is these people whom we should appoint to lead the community. But making those decisions is not the same thing as following a rigid set of rules, especially not a rigid set of rules that was written to a different culture (The Lost world of the Torah)

Die groot verandering het darem gekom ook in Suid Afrikaanse kerke van alle geure om hierdie wysheid te volg en het baie kerke “community driven” geword. Ek wil sterk aanbeveel dat geleer moet word by hierdie “community transformatinal” kerke en organisasies alhoewel on net deur die Suid Afrikaanse media bloodgestel word aan die Moslem/Islam organisasies soos “Gift o the Giftwers. Lees gerus boeke soos City Changers – Bring the Presence of Christ in your community deur Alan Platt wat as Leier en Stigter van die Doxa Deo group sekerlik ‘n leiende rol gespeel het in Suid Afrika en nou ook wereldwyd. Vir ‘n meer herstel van die land uitsig lees Alistair Petrie se boek Releasing Heaven on Earth.

Konklusie.

Daar is baie gelowiges en ander, wat nie die talent (skills) het om te onderskei nie. Bronne en uitleg is nie altyd vir hulle beskikbaar nie en die Kerk skram maar vir baie redes van sulke goed weg. Die gevaar is ook dat analisering (Kritiek) afgemaai word deur “fundamentaliste” as nie opbouend vir bv. Geestelike groei of nie goed vir ons verhouding met God en Sy Bybel nie, en word so geïgnoreer en op sy geskuif. Die gevolg mag ook wees omdat mense die Kerk en Christelike lewe verlaat, omdat hulle nie antwoorde kry nie. Daar is baie stemme en veral in ‘n politieke klimaat soos ons in Suid Afrika, laat ons sulke goed met rus. Dit doen baie afbreek aan die geloof in die Bybel (Outoriteit), Kerk en God en vind hulle (ons) maklik die aantrekkings krag van ander godsdienste, gelowe en filosofieë. Die debat oor die Doop, Tale (Charisma), Vroue amp in die Kerk, LGBT +, gehoorsaamheid aan regering, ens. was en is tipiese voorbeelde.

Dis belangrik om redelikerwys ons gedurig en altyd moet soek na die “waarheid” en navrae doen (en navorsing) om te ontwikkel in hierdie talent. Gebed en die Heilige Gees, vir die wat net daarop dring, kan net werk as ons Sy Woord en die navorsing wat gedurig voorkom, gebruik om te evalueer en tot ‘n besluit te kom. Ons almal groei daarin en hoef nie perfek te wees nie. Die goue reël by staan. Die Liefde – regte houding.

Ek moet se dankie dat die Heilige Naam beweging ons hierdie belangrikheid van God se karakter en hoe ons lewe daarmee moet inpas gebring het. Die wettiesheid val ek nie voor nie, maar respekteer hulle as goeie en ernstige christene en wil hulle in liede hanteer.

Sunday, July 13, 2025

Kommentaar op "Foxe of Martyr's"

 Net 'n paar woorde oor Foxe se boek: "Foxe of Martyr's" (Gratis op Internet)

Inleidend:

Ja, goeie geskiedkundige agtergrond vir dinge soos Kerkgeskiedenis, maar aan die een kant, kan ook negatief wees. Gegewe ook die tyd en deur wie dit geskryf is.  (Daar is baie ander boeke wat daaroor handel en YouTube is baie daarvan.) Ek sou voorstel en/of jou net herrinder dat jy teologies en dinkend gewys daarmee moet gebalandseered moet werk. 

Lewensuitkyk:

Ek het al beleef en gesien, ook veral "sendelinge" se lewensuitkyk heeltemal of deels verander, omdat hulle net hier stop. Hulle uitkyk en opinie (veral ook vandag) van bv. die regering, politiek of nie-christenne word en is negatief (on Bybels as jy wil). Dit is nie wat Jesus of die dissipels in gedagte gehad het nie, alhoewel dit baie erg in hulle tyd, begin met die eerste Kerke (veral die invloed van Gnosticime/Griekse filosofie/Augustianism- Predestination-Election en Christendom, Kerkskeuring, Roomse afgodediens, heidenne wat Christen geword het, die vorming van die eerste skrifte en belydenisse, inter-testamentisetere periode, ens. 

Moontlike verskulide rassisme?:

Dis wat ek "Old School" bedoel en baie konserwatiewe - veral "fundamentaliste", in,"sektes" en organisasies  ook Gereformeerd, slaan hierdie rigting in en het een of ander "proof texts" vir hulle bestaan en belydenis. Dit kring ook uit na hulle "teologie" en "politiek" en ontaard in 'n somtyds, ongedefineerde en onbewuste rassisme. Nie net is die NT en wereld geskiedenis daarvan vol nie, maar is die Suid Afrikaanse geskiedenis, veral kerkgeskiedenis daarvan vol, soos ook in die geheime organisasies (bv Broederbond, Ossewabrandwag, Vrymesselary, ens.) en Bloodlyne (Hitler en KKK, bv.). 

Onthou! Twee Koningkryke:

Daar is twee Koningkryke en die swaard (moet regte beteknis daarvan verstaan) het gekom (Jesus- en later Paulus) maar ons houding teenoor hulle is belangriker! (Saligsprekinge- en Johannes (liefde dissipel)  geskrifte, ens.) 

Hedendaagse Martelaars en hulle Toekoms:

Vir my is ook hedendagse martelaars belangriker om van te weet (Internet websites en Organisasies is baie) en is die opdrag om vir hulle te bid  en te weet van hul toekoms. (Openbaring bv.) Eie- en Nasionale identiteit is ook ter sprake en jy moet jouself ook evalueer in jou wereldbeskouing (filosofie/opinie), veral, in die agtergrond van "Sending"/"Evangelisasie").  In Alan Platt se woorde ook: " Goeie Nuus is nie goeie nuus as dit nie goeie nuus is nie". (Sien sy preek daaroor!) 

Hoe ons geleer en groot geword het:

Ons het maar uit geskiedenis en grootword en preke luister 'n verkramte manier om hieroor te dink en te besin en dat "connect ons nie die dots" in ons teologie nie. Sommige weet ook maar min van ons (en ander volkere)  se afkoms en veral, na en voor Noag (en Adam!) en _God se Plan (in teenstelling met die huidige Wereldorde) met nasies ("rasse" - moderne woord  en waar Israel ("Jode") in die prentjie in pas , soos bv vandag se GAZA-Midde Ooste konflik), gepaartgaande met Islam (Ismael se vloek en seen van God) en baie belangrik, die Eskatologie (Toekomsleer) van hierdie nasies. 

Gooi die Bybel weg?!:

Met die uitsmyt van die Bybel by skole en ons "nuwe" sekulerisme/humanisme (ook veral in Suid Afrika), verorber ons die Media se opinies (TV, Tydskrifte, Social Media) as "die waarheid" want, as christene het ons dit ook verloor om te onderskei en ons met ander "onbenullighede" besig gehou - wat ons ook nie verstaan nie, (Ek noem nie eers "Geestelike Oorlogvoering" hier nie.  Dink hieroor!.

Afsluiting:

Miskien is hierdie nie die gepaste plek om van hierdie gewarderde boek te praat nie, maar dis waar ek van die relevante temas sien. Ek sal late boeke en skakels byvoeg.

Monday, June 30, 2025

Reviews: Islam and Christianity

 Notes and Commentary on: Islam and Christianity: A Comparative Missiological Analysis by RANDY THOMAS HARRIS 

(From a quick and superficial reading. I see there is a lot of Islamic stuff on their website - I have to review)

General:

1. More a BTh thesis than a Master's (maybe that is why it is called a "mini".

2. This info is basic and relatively known to informed Islamic evangelizers.

3. Omitting completely the SA context, although it's submitted to a South African Theological College.

4. No mentions of:(IPCI)

The Islamic Institute (Where you can order a free Quran) in Durban and 

5. Ahmed Debad (deceased) and his role and his Literature or Website in opposing and DAWAH.

Christianity/Church and the Bible in South Africa. (his apparent conversion at deathbed)

6. The visit of Anis Shorosh of  Islam Revealed: A Christian Arab's View of Islam, as arranged by AFM (Past Johan Carsens, etc.

7. The dialogue at Durban Stadium between Aghmed Debad and Josh McDowell (famous for Evidence that Demands a Verdict.

8. No articles or theses are quoted from South African soil or any other "incidents" in South Africa.

9. Gerrit Nehls (SA Mission to Islam) or his books or citation not mentioned "Comparing, Confusing, Considering and Concluding"

Nehls recommended an evangelistic approach is quite important for the Christian

10. John Gilchrist(SA), who wrote Our Approach to Islam, completely omitted, 

11. so is the famous American author and specialist Phil Parshall

12. No testimonies, visions, dreams, even current Muslim conversions and analysis to see important points that could help us with an evangelistic approach., "Finding Jesus" is not even mentioned. He did so much after his conversion in directing us (Christians) how to reach Islamic people.

13. The deceased author of ex-Islamic Nabeel Qureshi of Finding Allah, Finding Jesus, and No God but One.

14. Daniel Shayesteh and Nabeel T Jabbour books

15. Listing countries where it's is active underground and their successes and methods? (Iran is almost completely converted!)

16. No mention of Software or Quran or Hadith, or Traditions

17. Any discussion of interculturalism? (See below)

18. Prophetic implications and OT history are not touched on.

19. Most missing is any hint of the author's connection, experience, or engagement with Muslims!

20. No listing or mention of Missionary Organizations (Not even the Global one), if only South African) to the Muslims.

21. If any priority of discussion was given by the Lausanne Movement, SIM, 

22. Any Training School/Universities/College, etc.,  or material for this?

23. No Stats

24. "Missionary" is not clearly defined.

Bibliography:

I have about 14 Hard copy books and 47  other in ebooks on Islam and related subjects

25. No local sources - South African - Not even that an Afrikaans version of the Quran exists! 

26. No mention of The Mizzan-UI-Hagg - The balance of Truth by CG Pfander

27. God's War on Terror; Islam - Prophecy and the Bible by Walid Shoebat,

(There is a book and a Missionary Destiny of Islam in the End Times: Understanding God's Heart for the Muslim People by Faisal Malick ( founder of Covenant of Life Ministries and the Faisal Malick Foundation)  that details how God will use Islam (Ismael nation) to make Israel jealous.  

28. Journey Inside the Mind of an Islamic Terrorist (MA Gabriel), 

29. Controversy and/or origin of Quran/Allah as name and usage - not mentioned

30. No Journals (articles like in "Christianity Today" cited.

I would have liked to see (in a Master's)

Also above and:

31. Different groups within Islam and their differences

32. Any evangelistic approach/methodology to these different groups?

33. Include Apologetics and Reason/Logic argumentation (Answering Islam, etc.)

34. Growth, Influence, and Takeover in SA Politics and Government? (Why are the SA Government/ANC suddenly Anti Semitic/Jew/Israel?) (Especially the popularity of "Helping Hand" is SA)

I would have liked to see (in a Doctoral)

35. Bring as "Excursis" today's Middle Eastern conflict into play (Gasa, Hamas, ISIS, etc.)

36. Particularity question to be addressed. (Only get saved by Jesus?)

37. So-called contradictions: Bible and Quran

# Could be here as well.

38. The movement of "Chrislamism" and the uniqueness of Christianity

Conclusion:

39. Listing differences in a Missional thesis is not my way of thinking of answering the purpose(as he states) of this thesis. 

40. Surveying different approaches, lessons Learned, and maybe examples from current Missionary approaches

(International Mission Board- "Inspecting the Bridges We Use to Evangelize Muslims")

(There are many old school/outdated and new, like friendship Evangelization) and examples of Jesus, disciples and Early Christianity.

41. There also may be appropriate and practical examples of engaging with other "religions". Like I did with Vietnamese/Chinese "religions", especially in-culturalization and Roman Catholic and Pentecostalism/Charismatics.

So, I think, the SATS moderator/s are and were more lenient than me!

Maybe I will send this to SATS and/or Harris.


Your comments are welcome!

Abrie Theart

PS: All books or links available from me. See Book sites references in this blog.


My Research Info (Private )

 I have organized, integrated, and updated most of my Research information. This is more for those who want to know about my interests and book collection. My books (Hard and soft copies) are listed in the Thinkers Library.


If you want my Bookmarks (HTML file), contact me.

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Introduction

 After returning and steadily coming back from Vietnam (13 March 2022), where I gave ESL for about 8 months, I did a lot of reflection on what I experienced on all levels. I  went through my books and started to do some more research. I had a lot of questions on my mind, but I recall many themes and subjects that I read about during my lifetime. If you glance through my LibraryThing or Goodreads, you will find that I read widely and have a great number of interests. The one thing that stood out was that a number of these themes were revisiting my mind and these were the subjects that I was interested in throughout my life.

After my (Christian) conversation in 1974 in Standard 6 at HTS Drostdy, Worcester,  I started off my Bible study with the "normal" studies, but one thing that stood out was all the different "Christian" churches. I was from a Reformed upbringing (NG Church) and got baptized in a Pentecostal Church (AGS/AFM) and studies in (Adult) Baptism and Glossolalia were very popular due to the controversy in the media between the opposing churches in South Africa. During my High School years, I did more "Theological studies" than my normal classwork, but I passed Matric/GR10!.


I remember my challenges with Biblical Prophesy, British Israelism (The Plain Truth Magazine)(Lost tribes of Israel), Christian Identity, Racism, Illuminati, Freemasons, NDE (Near Death Experiences), to mention a few. One of the big ones was Eric von Daniken with his (I bought all his books), which led me to a lot of (Biblical) Archeology, UFOs, Ancient Civilizations, and eventually the whole Creationism/Evolutionism controversy with my first book of Henry Morris, The Troubled Waters of Evolution. I would say that then, I was triggered by Islam (See my Response and Comments on SATS MTh thesis), and continue even today on updated research on most of these subjects.

So what's the point? Well, as you will notice, I have covered the Physical and Spiritual Realm, with Science and History, and Sacred Texts. 

So on my return, I was introduced to two books that have completely impacted my themes/subjects and have given me a clearer path of interpreting a lot of what I am already aware of. 

    The first book is by Michael Heisner, The Unseen Realm, and The Genesis Six Conspiracy by Gary Wayne. These two books are a must-read for anyone who has had a similar experience and background to mine. In the following postings, I will discuss them, but for now, I will only reflect on the high-level impact.


For more information, see my posting on My Research.

Experiencing Vietnam as a Christian

Intro

First, when I use the term "Christian" in this blog, I use it in its widest sense. Similar to what you would have answered on the census form in your country. In this blog, I do not have in mind if you are Catholic, Protestant or Charismatic, etc. More like you believe in the Judaism-Christian God, Allah as Muslim or an Athiest. Happy?

What follows in my descriptions is very high-level and more idea-focused. If you what more detail you will have to Google.

Houses and Temples/Pagodas

Right, so one of the first things I experienced is not praying before a meal is taken and a few church buildings and a lot of OMGs for those speaking some English. Although places of Christian worship might be in a house or what I have come to call a "shop", there are many temples and Pagodas. Keep in mind that "houses" are not flat and wide on the ground like in the Western world but like duplexes mounting to the 4th and 5th floor and maybe "Penthouses". These houses range from very standard to very luxurious. The important point I want to make is that most of them have an "altar" on the ground floor and are most visible from outside. The altar is mostly built with good wood, very decorative, with a Buddhist image, with holders of anything you can think of - fruits, fake money, incense sticks, and family and/or here photos. You have to Google to see these pictures as examples. 

Importance of the Altar and Pagodas

My point is, they have a spot in the house for "worship and remembrance" for their spiritual beliefs and activities of "ancestral worship". This altar played a very important part in their life and respected for its value. They also pray in front of this altar, kneeling or standing, almost daily and especially during Religious days and Commemorative Days. There is a special Calendar for that. I even got one from a bank. During TET (Chinese New Year) fruit trees and decorative lights are added, almost like our Christmas and it seems there is competition in which house has the best display. (I will also publish my paper on TET on a blog)

Pagodas is very much like our churches and are center in their life, besides the house altar. I lived for four months next to one in Haiphong, North Vietnam. You get them big and small and even some in the yard of a private house. (See my videos on Youtube). These are visited on religious and commemorative days and use for marriages and funerals.

   Revelation: 

Their commitment and diligence in their belief system are publicly very visible and active in their daily living. Yes, they are born into it and supported by the government and know not any different. 

History

Keep in mind that when I decided to go to Vietnam, I had the picture in my mind of Silvester Stalone movies fighting in the rice lands of Vietnam! What a surprise was waiting for me. Besides being exposed to their fully 1st world economy (leading in South East Asia) I found cities bigger as in western countries. ( I am not quoting any statistics here - you can Google) The point is, it is as "western" as can be.

One of the first things that I did was to watch all possible Vietnam War and Movies on Youtube (and others), and I gained a lot of historical background. WOW, if you think that only your country has suffered, you should check out Vietnam's history. I was fortunate to be there in Saigon when they celebrated Ho Chi Minh's unification of Vietnam and stood on the bridge to see all the fireworks and thousands of Vietnamese gathering and red flags throughout the city. He, Ho Chi Minh is like our (South Africa) Nelson Mandela. I have also visited some of their Monuments and saw some statues and inscriptions. Specialty the ones in Haiphong and Halong Bay. (See videos)

French, American, and Chinese involvement
South African visits, Scholar exchange, and trade

   Revelation: 

One thing is for sure. The government has successfully deployed nation-building to make them very proud citizens. Despite their diversity (approx. 48 different cultures and strong North and South divisions) united them as Vietnamese nationals. 

Secondly: I have come to understand why they commemorate their War Heros even on a religious level and their many common surnames deriving from that.

Thirdly: Without being political (is it possible?), I realized how much this is missing in current South Africa after 1994 with the situation that cities/towns. streets, parks, airports, etc, are renamed and Statues are removed because of our "Apartheid" history and relaced and or substituted. I realized how we missed Mandela's /de Klerk's dream and how we could have done it in a better way. Keep in mind the South African government/politicians visited Vietnam in the past to get some tips (Lessons Learn) from them!


   Further research:

I am still busy tracing their ancestry from Noah and the Tower of Babel nations.

   Recommended books:

Understanding Vietnam (Philip E. Lilienthal Book.) by Neil L. Jamieson

   Recommended links:

Qualities and values

Respect, friendliness, hospitality, loyalty

Respect for Government and Police (See blog title South African)

Religion -Belief System(s)

Ancestral Worship? Self-help Teacher Mentor/Coaching Steven Covey

Partonage - Culture Index

Gods, deities dragons, and Idolatry

Besides the basic observations above regarding Temples, Pagodas, and House altars, my main point of investigation is to find out, if any of these practices were inherited all the way from Mesopotamia, Sumerians, Phoenicians, Babylonia, and even Judaism.

This is such a complex subject and I would rather publish more detail in a separate blog.
In my opinion so far, yes like in the case with countries all over the modern world, mush culture and religion came from the dispersion after the Tower of Babel. Many believe and practices I could identify and are still busy connecting and plotting them on a timeline. What is more important to me, is the Revelation/s I had and how God spoke to me after I came back to South Africa.

Revelation: We in the Christian Western world are quick to point fingers at nations and countries that are "atheist" and Communist and have no respect for God. Let me tell you, have no clue what we are talking about in "labeling or judging these nations. I have experienced more Christian values, practiced by nonchristian Vietnamese, than in my own country, which is supposed to be 73% Christian!

Culture Shock? (See blog title South African)

Christianity and the Gospel
It is not my idea to give an account of the situation in Vietnam, other than to make some general remarks. I will leave some links below for those interested.  It seems that there were in the past some "bannings" by the CP government, but I would say Christianity is alive and well in Vietnam. Ok, you are not allowed to preach on the streets or issue tracks. Keep in mind, that Cities, towns, and neighborhoods are very locally governed. So freedom and tolerance levels differ from place to place and time to time. The Vietnamese Bible is available in several editions and Churches are registered to a few big "councils"

 Remember that especially through the French missionaries and Catholics had a huge impact and heritage. Some of these proper church buildings are still a huge attraction and display the Nativity Scene during Christmas. Some of the bigger cities have also what we will call the "Council of Churches", where Catholic, Protestant, and Charismatics dialogue.
There have been some Evangelical/Revival rallies of which the Billy Graham Ministries one is famous.(You must check out this video on youtube) Charismatics are growing fast and so are house churches.

Mission - projects - children - radio the north Christians Chinese script

Revelation: We, in the Western world, must appreciate our religious freedom.

Recommended Books:


Cultural Integration and the Gospel in Vietnamese Mission Theology: A Paradigm… by Kimson Nguyen

Recommended Links:


Further research





Die Heilige Naam Beweging en wat daarmee saamgaan

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