Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

I recently read of Marine Gunnery Sergeant, Nick Popaditch.  Sgt. Popaditch (his friends nicknamed him, “Gunny Pop”) is running for a Congressional seat in a California district that borders Mexico. This decorated Marine veteran fought in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm and, more recently, Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2003, Popaditch’s unit helped topple the Saddam Hussein statue in Baghdad’s Firdos Square. He was awarded the Silver Star for combat action in Fallujah after he was hit in the head by a rocket-propelled grenade and blinded in one eye on April 7, 2004, during Operation Vigilant Resolve. The blast left him with only eight percent vision in his other eye. A proud Marine, Popaditch now sports a prosthetic eye emblazoned with the Marine Corps’ eagle, globe and anchor logo.

I have to say that I am impressed with America’s Patriots. Popaditch and others have put themselves in harm’s way for the cause of Freedom and the safety of America. Unlike the Vietnam days, Americans tend to appreciate these veterans and their sacrifices. Maybe we are realizing that the cost of Freedom is high for each generation.

It is too bad that so many of our politicians can’t see what Sgt. Popaditch can in spite of his vision impairments. He knows the value of America to the world. He knows that if America goes down the hope for freedom will be lost to countless peoples all over the world. America has to stay strong. America has to follow its Constitution. America has to resolve to be the people our Founders intended for us to be.

If you read the original writings of the Founders you will see a great emphasis on character. I personally do not believe that they intended for Americans to check their character at the door of the Capitol or the Oval Office and resort to deceptive behavior as our current Administration does.

John Jay, America’s first Supreme Court Chief Justice said, “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”

Patrick Henry stated, “Bad men cannot make good citizens. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom.”

Thomas Jefferson (yes, Thomas Jefferson) said, “The only foundation for useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion.”

The Founders knew that only GOOD PEOPLE can lead a GOOD NATION.

“Gunny Pop,” good luck in your quest for a Congressional seat. We need dedicated patriots to lead our country. Certainly the Marine Corps (pronounced as ‘core’ not ‘corpse’) emphasizes honor and integrity as they develop quality citizens.

Why leave it up just to “the Corps”? Isn’t this a call for ALL Americans? Shouldn’t we All develop integrity? Shouldn’t we all base our actions on a code that is higher and greater than we? Isn’t this where the word of God impacts our lives and our way of life (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Have you noticed that some church people are not fond of Jewish people? Christians at times can be highly anti-Semitic. Why do you think that is?

One person told me that she did not like Jews because they crucified Jesus, or at least initiated it. Another said that he did not like Jews because they still reject Jesus as the Messiah. These ideas set me to thinking about Jewish-Christian relationships.

Without getting too far into Christian atrocities toward the Jews, it seems interesting that Christians have little animosity toward the Italians. Pilate and his Roman Legions had a significant role to play in the death of Jesus. They were just as guilty as Jews in his crucifixion. In addition, there are hosts of Italians who do not believe in the Jesus of the New Testament.

A question comes to mind. Which of the Jews actually wanted Jesus to die? It was not his Jewish disciples – not the 12; not the 120. It was not the Essenes. It was not the Pharisees. It would not have been the Zealots. It was not the working class. The group primarily responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus was the Sadducees.

The Sadducees are noted for their disbelief of the resurrection and angels (they are “Sad, You See”). They did not believe in the Oral Law as did the Pharisees (and Jesus). They were primarily the Priests of the day headed by Annas and Caiaphas. They made a great deal of money trafficking in the religion of the Jews. This was done at the expense of the individual worshiper. Jesus was a threat to them and their financial gain (“It’s the Economy, Stupid!”)

Let’s go another step. Consider this. The priests had some significant duties according to the book of Leviticus. They tended the altar fire. They made the ritual sacrifices of animals. They determined the cleanness of animals and people. They determined leprosy and the healing of leprosy in individuals and mold in the homes. They had a great number of things to do, especially where the tabernacle and temple were concerned. At Passover and Day of Atonement, and daily, they made the animal sacrifices – the blood of the innocent for the cleansing of the guilty. These sacrifices foreshadowed to the death of Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

Isn’t it fitting that the Sadducees (priests) would be responsible for the death of Jesus? They were the ones charged with making the sacrifices. They would be the ones to initiate Jesus’ once for all sacrifice (see John 11:49-53). These priests offered up the Lamb of God for the sake of the nation and the world (John 3:16).

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Last night I watched “The Diary of Anne Frank” on our PBS channel. This is part of the Holocaust remembrance as this month marks the 65^th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day. The allies liberated many concentration camps during this month in 1945.

General Eisenhower did some very good things in this regard. He had the camps and inmates photographed for posterity. He knew that people would deny it had ever happened if there was not photographic evidence as proof. He was right; people are denying it today. He also had his troops bring the nearby townspeople for a tour of the camps so they could see what they had allowed to happen by their passivity.

As I watched the movie’s reenactment of the Franks and others hiding in a relatively nice Amsterdam attic space, I wondered about some things. As Jews, they were required to wear a yellow Star of David on their clothes. You will recall of the Nazi’s contempt for Jews. This was due to a number of issues, but they and others became the “scapegoats” for everything that was wrong with Germany.

The Nazis told the public that the Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus and they wanted everyone to be aware of who was guilty of that atrocity. It is interesting to me that the Italians seem to have had a hand in the death of Jesus with Pilate’s sentencing and the soldiers carrying out the order. Italy was a part of the Axis (Germany, Italy, and Japan), so Hitler could not very well stir up his citizens against them. It had to be the Jews.

What would it be like if I was forced to wear a cross on all of my clothing? This would not be a designer look but something to make me stand out to pagans who did not like Christians. Maybe they would use some kind of excuse regarding the worship of the Earth or the worship of an ungodly President as their reason for turning their ire on Christians. What would I do?

What would I do if that persecution was to the death? Would I stand and take it, or deny my faith? Would I go into hiding and hope for the war to pass? If I went into hiding, could I withstand the daily rigors of the possibility of being caught?

Millions of Jews died during the holocaust simply because they were the descendants of Abraham. Many courageously faced their end with the words of the “Sh’ma” on their lips. “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. . .”

There are real persecutions going on in the world today. People are dying in Oriental and Arabic countries because of their belief in Jesus. What if it happened in the good old USA? “That could never happen!” you say? Why not? If it was to happen here, what would I do?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, were among those chosen by God to be his priests. However, they were executed by God for bringing “strange fire” to him (see Leviticus 10.1). Does it make you wonder what that fire was like? Was it the wrong color? Was its temperature wrong? What was “strange” about it?

Among other things, the Levites had been given an important task of keeping the Tabernacle’s and Temple’s fire going – always. In Leviticus 6:13, God told them, “The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.” They used this fire to burn the morning and evening sacrifices and all the ones in between. In addition, the priests would light the menorah with it and use its coals to burn the incense.

The altar fire was from the Lord. It was intended for HIS use. No other fire was to be used. If the priests brought in unauthorized fire, it was considered “strange fire.” Thus, when Nadab and Abihu brought in their strange fire, it was without God’s authorization.

To American Christians this may seem trivial. Fire is fire, right? What difference does it make where we get it? It all burns and does the required job.

While fire may be fire, God is not just a god. He is supreme and deserves respect and love. Who are we to trivialize ANY of his instructions? Who are we to replace anything he has revealed to us?

God teaches and tests us with his commands. His words carry symbolism as well as practical applications. If we violate one, we violate the other. If we omit a small one, we will likely omit larger ones. It is just a matter of time (Luke 16:10).

Let us keep his fire burning in our lives. That is the fire that comes from him and cannot be replaced by any worldly allure. It is a fire of passion (Jeremiah 20:9). It is a fire of love and respect (Matthew 22.34-40).

Keep The Fire Burning!

Perry Greene