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=> Email to Ray => Topic started by: Craig on October 18, 2006, 10:29:45 AM

Title: Blasphemy
Post by: Craig on October 18, 2006, 10:29:45 AM
     Please read my article below.  Let me know if I am on the right track or not- if you read this that is ;)


    “Blasphemy of Spirit” The Unforgivable Sin
    By Jennifer Braden

    Matthew 12:31-33- "Therefore I am saying to you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be pardoned men, yet the blasphemy of the spirit shall not be pardoned. And whosoever may be saying a word against the Son of Mankind, it will be pardoned him, yet whoever may be saying aught against the holy spirit, it shall not be pardoned him, neither in this eon nor in that which is impending."

    There are many different interpretations of what the blasphemy of spirit really is (it being the only “unforgivable' sin and all) and I can tell you there are many different things it can be. But in most cases, I feel that this verse is misused to suit the judgments of those who claim to keep the faith but do not. It can be a great weapon to say that someone has sinned unforgivably so as to have the perfect excuse to judge and condemn our fellow human beings in the name of Jesus and God. But one has to take into account that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to this complex concept being stated in this verse and once you see it for what it really means you will know the incredible irony in using this verse as a weapon of condemnation. Surprisingly to some (and not so to others), this verse when used alone is a misquote and here is why: the quote in Matthew is incomplete. When reading the Matthew verse, you must also find the same quote in Mark to complete the actual dialogue- like so:

    Mark 3:28-30-"Verily, I am saying to you that all shall be pardoned the sons of mankind, the penalties of the sins and the blasphemies, whatsoever they should be blaspheming, yet whoever should be blaspheming against th e holy spirit is having no pardon for the eon, but is liable to the eonian penalty for the sin" -- for they said, "An unclean spirit has he."

    In this passage, you can see that Jesus is referring to a specific group of people- and here is the answer to who they are in Luke:

    Luke 7:31-34- To whom, then, shall I be likening the men of this generation, and to whom are they like? Like are they to little boys and girls sitting in the market and shouting to one another and saying, 'We flute to you and you do not dance! We wail to you and you do not lament!' For come has John the baptist, neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you are saying, 'A demon has he!'Come has the Son of Mankind, eating and drinking, and you are saying, "'Lo! a man gluttonous and a tippler, a friend of tribute collectors and sinners!'

    These three verses when taken together form the true picture Jesus intended to paint of the concept of blasphemy of the spirit. Jesus wa s not speaking about those who live a life of sin, he was not even speaking about those who sin against Him. Jesus was speaking of the Pharisees (supposed holy men of the time) who were claiming to speak for and on behalf of God and using this authority to condemn John the baptist and also Jesus. They were not just sinning at this point, they were condemning in the name of God- they were blaspheming. This is an important clarification and the difference that sealed the fate of the pharisees in the bible. If you read these three verses combined, this is the crux of the message: Those who sin against each other and themselves will be forgiven, those who sin against the Son of Mankind (Jesus) will be forgiven, but those who speak against or, more acurrately, misrepresent the holy spirit (God) can not and will not be forgiven (in this age or the next). Most Christians would agree that the Pharisees deserved to have these passages directed at them, for they were the ones that killed Jes us in the name of God and their king.

    Yet still, some choose to think there are other worse things than what the Pharisees did. For example some people may think that atheists must automatically be guilty of the “unforgivable sin” of blasphemy of spirit. In my humble opinion, I disagree- on the basis of it not making any sense. How can one speak against, misrepresent or portray in an evil light something that they do not believe exists?? Most people who don't believe in God are not talking about Him period and they would not be accusing, condemning or killing a man in His name.

    But who would do things like that? Hmmmm...perhaps those who do believe in God but are misrepresenting Him? Who could be known in our culture today who claim to believe in God and know God- but may also be misrepresenting Him and condemning and hurting people in His good name?

    Let's just bring this into the “now” and say that, according to this set of verses, Madonna would more than likely be forgiven her blasphemy with the whole mirrored cross thing being that blaspheming against the Son of Mankind is indeed forgiven. But, perhaps the so called God loving Christians that are portrayed in the media holding picket signs that say “you will burn in hell and God will be laughing” will be treading a very thin line with our Creator for portraying Him in such an evil light. Do you think God takes it kindly when one verbally abuses another in His name? Puts things into perspective doesn't it?

    It is too bad that a small minority of people are giving Christians and Christianity a bad name. It is even more sad that these type of Christians are the majority of what we see in the news. I hope that this changes some day.

    As a good Christian, may I seek to love- not to condemn. I feel I can better represent my Creator in this way.

    I will now top this off with a couple of my favorite quotes from the good book that go along with the three previous qu otes.

    Matthew 7:1-2- "Do not judge, lest you may be judged, for with what judgment you are judging, shall you be judged, and with what measure you are measuring, shall it be measured to you.

    Matthew 15:11- Not that which is entering into the mouth is contaminating a man, but that which is going out of the mouth, this is contaminating a man."

    Have a beautiful day!

    Jennifer Braden


    Dear Jennifer:
    I'm afraid you missed it. If your definition of what the "unpardonable sin" is, then Paul (as Saul, slaughtering many believers in Christ, and doing it in the Name of God) certainly committed this sin. But we know from his convesion and ministry that he did not commit this sin.

    God be with you,

    Ray

Title: Re: Blasphemy
Post by: Craig on October 22, 2006, 10:56:14 AM

>         This is not my definition.  This conclusion is brought about by the scriptural back-up (of which you require for the sake of accuracy).  I am a Christian- not an atheist just so you know.  You don't have to be so short with me.  I was told by someone at my church that Athiests commit this "unforgivable" sin (and I put it in quotations because I am not trying to say it is unforgivable or not- only God can know that).  But I felt differently about atheists and about this "unforgivable sin" I did not think that they could not be forgiven and all of the other people my fellow Christians enjoy condemning.  So I did the research.  Then I could know what Jesus really meant when he said this.  When you put these three verses together (witness, second witness AND spiritual match- I woul d have thought you would have appreciated this- but I guess not) Jesus was clearly speaking of the Pharisees.  It! is not my fault the verbage that was used.  I do not misquote scripture.  I was playing off of the concept of unforgivable sin to raise a point.  If some Christians belief in a sin that is unforgivable, then they have to face the fact that they do it and hope to God it is forgivable.  Get it?  Geese... I was trying to like AGREE with you in some way.  Didn't mean to offend.

>     Dear Jennifer:
>     I did not suggest anything "offensive" in my reply to you.
>     God be with you,
>     Ray

Title: Re: Blasphemy
Post by: Craig on October 22, 2006, 10:57:03 AM

    I am finding some clarification of these verses.  Blasphemy of spirit is proclaiming the works of the holy spirit works of satan.  I did find some verses of Paul speaking about his blasphemy.  Not blasphemy of spirit though.  He never attributed Christ's works being that of satan.  So in killing Christians there was a blasphemy, but may not have been of the spirit.  Sorry for feeling offended friend!  I am just very passionate about getting to the bottom of this mystery for myself.  The quickness of your dismissal did hurt my feelings.  I was hoping for some actual constructive info.  I will continue to work on this article.  If you do not wish to give me constructive feedback then just don't reply K?

    Thanks!


Dear Jennifer:
Jennifer, I have many hundreds of emails ahead of yours, but I took the time to answer your before them all. It is not possible, however, for me to write essay type answers to hundreds and thousaands of emails. I realize that this is hard for many people to understand. Your email is about 6 pages long. If all my emails were 6 pages long, I would have to read thousands of pages each year before I could answer all my emails. Try that some time.
 
Don't apologize in one sentence and then put me down in the next. I did give you constructive criticism in my answer to you. I said that your theory was not Scriptural, because if it was, then Paul himself would have commited the "unpardonable sin" when he persecuted the Church of Christ in the name of God.
 
However, I do not wish for you to be despondent over this matter or me.
 
When Jesus warned of this sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, it was when He had cast out demons. The Scribes said that Jesus cast out devils by the prince of devils (Mark 3:22).  The Pharisees also accused Him of this very same thing (Matt. 9:34). And we are told that Jesus gave that stern warning, "Because they said, He [Jesus] has an unclean spirit."
 
But this alone is not all there is to this sin. Even in the Old Testament, when one sinned "ignorantly," he was held to a lower standard than if he sinned "willfully, knowlingly."  God's principles are always true. There was more to the sin of these Scribes and Pharisees than merely stating that Jesus had a devil and cast out devils by the prince of devil. The truth is THEY KNEW BETTER.  They knew that they were lying in order to deceive the multitudes who were beginning to believe in and trust Jesus as a Man of God. They were SINNING AGAINST LIGHT.  They were sinning aginst WHAT THEY KNEW WAS THE TRUTH.  And how do we know this?  We are frankly TOLD this in the Scriptures.
 
In John 3 we have a "Ruler of the Jews" by the name of Nicodemus, and this is what we are told by him:  "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a RULER [this man KNEW what the Scribes and the Pharisees believed behind closed doors] of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, WE [Scribes, Pharisees, Rulers, Jews]  KNOW  that you are a Teacher COME FROM GOD; for no man can do these miracles [such as casting out demons] that You do, except GOD BE WITH HIM"  (John 3:1-2).
 
It is when we KNOW the truth and blaspheme AGAINST THE TRUE LIGHT THAT WE KNOW, that we then "blaspheme against the Holy Spirit" which is the means by which light and truth is imparted.
God be with you,
Ray