Many people see the Bible as a religious book. Recently there has been a great controversy over the display of the Ten Commandments in public buildings as if it is some sort of violation of a
principle of the "separation of Church and State".
Ten Commandments vs. Ten Laws
http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/10laws.html
The Ten Commandments was the foundational laws for a state, the nation of Israel. It was much like the Twelve Tablets of Rome in that respect. The Statutes of Moses were simply a form of
codification of the principles of those Law to be used by the legal system of that particular nation. They were a part of man's history in his relationship with different forms of government. The
fact is the Bible is mostly about man's relationship with good and bad forms of government and what kind of government is recommended by God. The Bible talks about liberty under God, oppression under
the laws made by men, justice and mercy in the hearts and minds of people, intrigue and betrayal, tyrants and despots.
That nation which depended on those Ten laws provided unique freedom amongst the nations of the world. That nation was called Israel, where God prevailed. It had no central ruler, no top
down authority, but it did change and become corrupt over time as it turned away from the principles expressed in those basic laws. There were some notable differences between that government
depending on the Ten Commandments and most all other nations.
Probably one of the most distinctive disparities was that, "In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes." Judges 17:6
What this meant was that every man was king in his own house. There was no one or no body of men to write new laws or claim the position of the law makers or the "fountain head of justice". There
was no one who "exercised authority" over your free dominion. Even with this almost absolute liberty in a nation of millions of people spread out over a wide area they were able to maintain internal
order and a stable social structure and system of justice and they were also able defeat all who attempted to oppress them by a networking system of local well organized militias. They could muster a
well regulated army of thousands almost overnight.
They had a system of courts controlled by the people, no compelled income, property or sales tax. The people were required to protect and defend their neighbor and their neighbor's rights against
all injustices and oppression both from foreign and domestic sources.
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD. Le 19:18
This of course is also identical to the message of Christ who preached a kingdom.
Honour thy father and [thy] mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Mt 19:19
Israel was a kingdom where each man was king in his own home and Jesus preached that kingdom which operated under the perfect law of liberty. This system of government when properly applied would
not only keep him free but if he went into bondage it could deliver him back into freedom again.
How did they do it? How did their government operate? What was the strengths of this system by which men lived in freedom and what was its flaw or failing, if any? What was its weakness?
The problems in the world are the same as they were 2000 years ago and the solution hasn't changed either. God's way is not the problem. The problem is the people. They are often slothful, greedy,
selfish and generally cowardly and arrogant.
The kingdom of heaven is not for everyone because everyone is not for the kingdom. The kingdom of heaven is for those who seek its righteousnessand do the will of the Father and not only call the Lord, Lord but keep His
commandments.
The reason that there is bondage, oppression and tyranny in the world today is because men will not be ruled by God.
If we will not be ruled by God, then we will be ruled by tyrants.
A lot of people say they are religious and believe in God and Jesus Christ but Jesus asked a question, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Lu 6:46
The answer is not what most people think. They do not look at the kingdom as a little child but have been taught what to believe and through sophistry have been given a strong delusion. We also
know from the Biblical text that John and Jesus told their disciples "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Mt 10:7
So, is the kingdom of God at hand? Is that what Christians preach? Do they know what the kingdom is? Do they know it is for the living and not the dead? Do they know that Jesus came in the
flesh and appointed his kingdom and that for centuries it operated according to the perfect law of liberty in the heart of the Roman Empire? Do the Christians know that the kingdom of God, which is
not like the governments of the other nations, was a superior system by which true Christian with the spirit of Christ lived and survive and even thrived while Rome was devastated by corruption,
economic collapse, plagues, a series of wars against barbarian terrorists and rumors of wars with terrorists?
No! Most so called Christians believe that the kingdom of heaven comes through observation.
They believe that they can be baptized without repentance, changing their minds and way of thinking.
They believe that they will find the narrow path without strivingand that it is okay to be like the governments of the gentiles.
They even believe that it is okay to covet their neighbors goodsin governments like that of Egypt.
But of course the Pharisees thought the same thing. It made them the merchandise of Rome and brought destruction at the fall of Jerusalem.
Now the whole world has become human resources and a surety for debt, literally they
have become merchandise.
The solution is the same as it has always been but few are preaching the superior system called the kingdom of God which is still at hand.
We will be sharing with you the ways of the first century Church, what they were doing and why they did it.
