Two Christian Shopping Sites

Here are links to two Christian shopping sites.

www.christianhomegifts.com/ www.christianhomegifts.com/
www.christiantable.com/ www.christiantable.com/

The Connection of the Bible Codes to Kabbalistic Thought, Part 2

It is important to us as Christians to understand the Jewish origins of our faith since Jesus and his followers were observant Jews and were, at first, recognized as such by other Jews.

One stream of Judaism is the ultra-orthodox, many of whom believe that God dictated the Torah letter by letter. This is one basis of the thought which has fostered the study of the Bible Codes phenomenon.

One Jewish school of thought, considered heretical by some Jews, developed from a mixture of mysticism and ultra-orthodoxy to become what is known as Kabbalism.  “Kaballah” in Hebrew means “receiving,” and is concerned with secret doctrines, hidden meanings, and commentaries about the relationship between an unchanging God and the ever-changing world.  The early Jewish mystics developed in the first and second centuries at the same time that the Gnostic sects were developing among the Christian community.

Kabbalism remains strong among modern Hasidic Jews.

The emphasis of the Bible Code researchers on the Torah reflects, at least in part, kabbalistic thought about the true nature of the Torah.  The Rambam (Rabbi Mosheh ben Maimon, b. 1135, Spain – d. 1204, Egypt) declared that “… the entire Torah is the names of the Holy One.”

The Zohar Yitro 87a declares, “We have already taught; The Torah in its entirety is the Holy Name, for there is no word in the Torah which is not included in the Holy Name.”  So, according to the Kabbalists, the Torah is God’s Name.

Kabbalism teaches that God created the universe by the manipulation of the letters of the Torah. In other words, He created the universe by the use of His Name.

The most that a Christian can say on this is what the Bible says. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” Genesis 1: 1-3.

As to the name of God, He has answered the question:

“And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”  Exodus 3:13-14.

Hello, Ghana!

Hello, Ghana!  Welcome to the group of readers from one hundred and eleven other countries who also visit this blog.  I hope you find some of the posts useful or meaningful.

The “Translate This Page” gadget directly above the “Total Pageviews” Counter has the capability of translating the English text of this blog directly into numerous other languages.

One hundred and twelve countries: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France,  Georgia, Germany, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kampuchea, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg,  Macedonia, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,  Mexico,  Moldova,  Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,  Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam,  Yemen, Zimbabwe.

The Connection of the Bible Codes to Kabbalistic Thought

I have said before that I am not a believer in the Bible Codes.  I think that some simple code sequences  can clearly be shown to exist (see the sample below), but the more advanced codes which Israeli computer researchers are finding depend on very artificial manipulations of the text like skipping uneven numbers of letters between consecutive letters, etc.  It might be a case of finding codes because you are searching for them.  The patterns might have occurred by mere chance.

In Genesis 1:22-26; the name of Abraham is spelled out (from the top line down, enclosed in the added boxes) by the letters in the passage with each letter of the name separated from the preceding letter by forty-nine (seven times seven; seven was a sacred number, Genesis 2:2, 4:24, 21:28)) intercalary letters.  In each of the forty-nine letter sequences, אֱלֹהִים (elohim/God, backlit in gray) appears.

Also, the researchers insist that the codes cannot be used to predict the future.  My question is, if the codes are real, why not?  God is not bounded by time.  Tomorrow is the same to Him as The Creation.  It is all Now.

The Israeli researchers also insist that the codes cannot prove that Jesus is the Messiah.  Are they afraid that the codes, if real, might do this?  Rabbi Jacob Rambsel, a Messianic Jew, insists that he has found a code, "Jesus is my name," in the Suffering Servant passage in Isaiah 53.

The most strict theory of the codes is that they apply only to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible.  This is because one Jewish tradition insists that God dictated the Torah letter by letter. 


Because it is important for us to understand the Jewish background of our faith,  I will talk tomorrow about the direction in which one stream of Judaism, the Kabbalists, has taken these concepts.

Listen For Your Assignment

For 1143 consecutive posts to this blog, I have never “drawn a blank,” Never had writer’s block, never been at a loss for words.  This is not because I am somehow holier than anyone else, or because I am a more talented writer than others.  It is not because I am a bubbling, spewing volcano of ideas.  And it is not because I am some sort of brilliant intellectual. 

We all have talents and skills, even those of us who feel as if we know how to do nothing.   Paul reminded us of this.  We are all important to the functioning of the Church (the ἐκκλησία) which is the Body of Christ.  Ephesians 1:22-23, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 12:6-8.

Some of us are hands, some of us are feet.  As silly as it may sound, some of us may be hair, or eyes, or toenails, or … tonsils.  Every part of the body,  many of which are rarely if ever noticed,  is needed for the body to function at peak efficiency,

The Apostle Paul used his brilliant intellectual powers and his extensive knowledge of Jewish and gentile law and culture to work as an evangelist and theologian.

Tim Tebow, a professional athlete whose talent level and athletic fundamentals are often questioned, often wins because he tries harder than anyone else.  When he does win, he uses the occasion to glorify Jesus.

Brother Lawrence served God by performing kitchen duties and repairing shoes.  The very few pages of text which he wrote have inspired  millions.  During his lifetime, pilgrims came from around the world to meet the simple cook.

 

The gentle people at the Christian Animal Rescue Foundation  protect and comfort God’s creatures, expressing God’s love through kindness to animals.

 

Mother Angelica turned a small convent of nuns in Irondale, Alabama (USA) into an international satellite broadcasting giant .

 

Michael Jr. tells jokes and humorous stories.

 

There are multitudes of people serving the Lord in ways not always recognized as ministry.  These people are not always the most talented or the most capable.   What all of these people have done is to listen.  The Holy Spirit can use whatever you have, whatever you are, whatever you can do.  All you have to do is make yourselfg available and listen.  Some people say “everything is politics,” or that “everything reduces down to money.”  For the Christian, everything is Jesus.

The purposes of the Lord will be accomplished.  What a sad thing it is if you do not listen and cooperate with Him for He will call upon someone else and you will miss out on the honor and privilege which was intended for you.

Ignorance of Scripture

"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."  St. Jerome (b. ca 340 - d. 420; aka: Eusebius Hieronymus) Doctor of the Church, papal secretary, historian, exegete. compiler and translator of the Vulgate.

Book Comment: Makers of Christian Theology in America

Makers of Christian Theology in America (1997) is a massive collection of biographical information from the earliest days leading up to the founding of the United States and continues up to the present.  Hundreds of theologians are included from every religious persuasion, though it seems that there is a heavy emphasis on theological liberalism.

This would be expected since it is the more liberal religious traditions which are classified as “mainstream” by American academia and the majority of the American press.

The multitude of listings include: Cotton Mather, John Wesley, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards,  Thomas Hooker, Roger Williams, Lemuel Haynes, Lyman Beecher, Horace Bushnell,  Orestes Augustus Brownson, William James, Francis Elizabeth Willard, Harry Emerson Fosdick, Edgar Young Mullins, Walter Ruaschenbusch, Herschel H. Hobbs, Dwight L. Moody, J. Gresham Machen, Helmut Richard Niebuhr, Reinhold Niebuhr, Paul Tillich, J. Deotis Roberts, Dorothy M. Day, Thomas Merton, Carter Heyward, and Martin Luther King, Jr. 

This Is a Sermon?

For full disclosure: I am opposed to same sex marriage and will firmly state that I will never vote for any political candidate who is pro-abortion.  That said, I find the following video to be repulsive.  This "sermon" by Pastor Charles L. Worley seems to be based on hatred and has nothing to do with Christianity.  The pastor is actually calling for concentration camps.

(Some videos will not play properly when you click on the triangle.  Instead,  click on the title line in the picture and the video will begin .  When the video is completed, close the You Tube pop-up window to return to this blog.)

Hello, Suriname!

Hallo, Suriname! Welkom bij de groep van lezers van honderd en negen andere landen die ook een bezoek aan deze blog. Ik hoop dat u een aantal van de berichten nuttig of zinvol.
 
De "Vertaal deze pagina 'gadget direct boven de" Total Webpagina"Counter heeft de mogelijkheid van het vertalen van de Engels tekst van deze blog direct in tal van andere talen, waaronder Nederlands.
 
 
Honderd en elf landen: Albanië, Algerije, Argentinië, Aruba, Australië, Oostenrijk, Bahrein, Bangladesh, Wit-Rusland, België, Belize, Brazilië,Bulgarije, Canada, Caymaneilanden, Chili, China, Tsjechië, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica , Kroatië, Cyprus, Tsjechië, Denemarken, Dominicaanse Republiek, Ecuador, Egypte, El Salvador, Estland, Ethiopië, Finland, Frankrijk, Georgië, Duitsland, Gabon, Griekenland, Hong Kong, Hongarije, IJsland, India, Indonesië, Iran, Irak , Ierland, Israël, Italië, Ivoorkust, Jamaica, Japan, Jordanië, Cambodja, Kenia, Koeweit, Laos, Letland, Libanon, Lesotho, Litouwen, Luxemburg, Macedonië, Maleisië, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Moldavië, Marokko, Myanmar, Nederland, Nieuw-Caledonië, Nieuw-Zeeland, Nigeria, Noorwegen, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Filippijnen, Polen, Portugal, Qatar, Roemenië, Rusland, Saint Kitts en Nevis, Saoedi-Arabië, Senegal, Servië, Singapore, Slowakije, Slovenië, Zuid-Afrika,Zuid Korea, Spanje, Sri Lanka, Soedan, Suriname, Zweden, Zwitserland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad en Tobago, Tunesië, Turkije, Oeganda, Oekraïne, Verenigde Arabische Emiraten, Verenigd Koninkrijk, Verenigde Staten, Venezuela, Vietnam , Jemen, Zimbabwe.

Life in Roman Judea

Yesterday I spoke about our lack of understanding of life in Roman Judea.  Here is a description of a few of the conditions of the time.

Government: Most of the readers of this blog live in, or at least understand the concept of, a representative democracy.  That was not the case in Roman Judea.  The Roman rulers, including the local governors, were distant from the people, and were interested only in holding on to their own power by suppressing disorder by any means necessary.  On the local level, the most powerful person was the military commander who could order arrests and executions at will.

Taxation: The Roman government demanded that taxes be paid and contracted out the collection.  Tax collectors were allowed to keep any funds they were able to collect over what the Romans demanded.  Unscrupulous men could become wealthy.

Citizenship:  Roman citizenship provided some minimal privileges (by our modern standards) but people in occupied lands were not normally Roman citizens.

Medicine: Healthcare was largely based on potions and ointments.  It was possible to die from an abcessed tooth.

Communication: It was possible to send a letter to a person in another city or village but there was no scheduled mail and there were no specific mail routes.  You had to find someone who was going to the city and pay them to carry your letter.  You could also, as Paul did, send a courier to ensure delivery.  The process could take months.

Travel: Travel was by foot, horseback, wagon, or boat and sometimes took months.  Outside of Roman colonies, there were no paved roads.

Entertainment: There were no television, radio, newspapers, or magazines.  No professional sports teams or local sport leagues.  There were no music concerts.  Entertainment consisted of stories and singing.


Upward Mobility:  It was almost impossible to improve one’s station in life.

Literacy: Most people were illiterate, but as People of the Book , many had memorized large portions of scripture.

Knowledge: The people were of normal intelligence, as smart as any of us, but they knew nothing of human physiology, quantum physics, economic and political theories, and their knowledge of other cultures was minimal at best. 

Film Comment: The Spirit of '76

The silly comedic (?) film, The Spirit of ’76 (1991), is almost totally negligible unless you are on a nostalgia trip to the Seventies.   You might wish to see it for its long list of cameo appearances by Tommy Chong, Julie Brown, Devo, Iron Eyes Cody, Don Novello, Carl and Rob Reiner, Moon Unit Zappa, and others.

The thin plot is basically this: three time travelers from 2176 [ Adam 11 (David Cassidy), Chanel 6 (Olivia d’Abo), and Heinz 57 (Geofff Hoyle}] set out for 1776 to recover the long lost history of America.  A malfunction in their time machine sends them to 1976, where they set out to find the meaning of America, not realizing that they have missed their mark by 200 years.

Just like the confused time travelers, we really do not understand what it was like to live in Roman Judea.  The average live span was about 35 years.  The majority of people were illiterate or very close to it.  Most people lived and died in the village in which they were born and did the same work their parents before them had done.  The Romans were a brutal and alien occupying force who could arrest or kill someone for little or no reason.  Though many/most were illiterate it was quite common for the men to have a deep knowledge of Jewish tradition, history, and the scriptures.

The modern student of scripture must realize that we read and see and hear through our modern filters.  When Jesus and the Apostles spoke, their listeners understood what they meant.   Some of their responses make sense only when we understand the historical and cultural environment in which they lived.  

Held For Ransom

“A young couple was visiting a church for the first time.  As the preacher’s sermon dragged on, their little girl became restless.  Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered, “Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?”

“From The Big Book of Church Jokes, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.”

It Is All About Me

There will be untold millions, possibly billions of saints with the Lord throughout eternity (Hebrews 12:1 says that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses), but Luke 15:10 tells us that “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner” that repents. I believe that means that Jesus died for each one of us individually and would have willingly done so even if we were the only one.

Read the following verses aloud.  I have made one change to several of the verses.

“For I have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

“ … the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for ME.” Matthew 20:28

“ … the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for ME.” Mark 10:45

“I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that if I believe in him I will not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Tertius: (fl. 1^st century AD/CE) Tertius was the scribe used by Paul to write down his letter to the Romans.  Romans 16:22 was personally written by Tertius.

Ruvim I: Ruvim served as the Metropolitan of Montenegro from 1561 to 1569.

Sitting Bull: (b. ca 1831, Dakota Territory, USA – d. 1890; aka: Jumping Badger)  A Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man and tribal cjief.  He was the main war leader at The battle of the Little Bighorn against the United States Army.  Late in his life, Sitting Bull was a convert to Roman Catholicism.

Sarah M. Brownson (b. 1839, Massachusetts, USA – d. 1876) Roman Catholic writer, literary critic.

Shahbaz Bhatti: (b. 1968, Pakistan – martyred 2011)  Pakistani politician. Roman Catholic.  He was assassinated by a Muslim who objected to his criticism of Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy laws.

Film Comment: Paul: The Emissary

The film, Paul: The Emissary, was produced in 1997 by TBN Films (Trinity Broadcasting Network) for broadcast on TBN.  It is a fictionalized recounting of the life of Saul of Tarsus (modern Tersoos, Turkey),who became known as Paul the Apostle.

Saul was a highly intellectual Pharisee who made his personal living as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3).  He was very zealous and ambitious and participated enthusiastically in persecution of the rapidly growing Jewish sect known as “Christians.”

Paul: The Emissary depicts numerous events from Paul’s life: the stoning of Stephen (Acts 6 and 7); Saul’s conversion experience (Acts 9, 22, and 26); Paul’s beating and imprisonment; , Paul and Silas confront the slave girl possessed by a demon (Acts 16:16-21); an eartquake releases Paul and Silas from their chains (Acts 16:25-35); Paul’s appearance before Festus and Agrippa (Acts 25:13-26, 32);  and others.

There are problems with the film which are quite obvious. 

1.     The acting is very uneven, but the actor who portrayed Paul is the highly accomplished and respected Garry Cooper (over seventy-five film and television credits), so the main character of the film is powerfully depicted (with a British accent!).  Some of the other actors are clearly less skilled than Cooper and numerous regional and national accents are on display.

2.     The special effects are quite rudimentary and detract from the film.  The computer graphics are quite obvious.

3.     The brutality of the world in which Paul lives is clearly shown.  While not as graphic as many horror films, there is gore, which might offend some viewers.

4.     Paul, in prison, writes his letters while alone, which he may have done, but he is known to have used a scribe named Tertius (Romans 16:22)  I believe that he used a scribe because of his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7)  which I think may have been carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful condition afflicting the hands and wrists.  Untreated, the condition causes pain and numbness in the wrists and hands and can eventually render the hands useless.  Carpal tunnel syndrome would make handwriting very difficult.  Paul seems to almost laugh as hto his writing very “large letters.” (Galatians 6:11).

Paul: The Emissary is a well-intentioned and doctrinally orthodox short film (only 54 minutes) which I am sure you will enjoy because you are familiar with the main points of the story, but I doubt that it will have much appeal to unbelievers. 

The Probablity of Jesus Fulfilling Old Testament Prophecies

Several mathematicians have generated statistical studies of the probablity of Jesus fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies about the promised messiah..  The numbers are quite formidable.  Dr. Peter Stoner, the author of Science Speaks, has calculated the odds of Jesus fulfilling only eight of the over 300 biblical prophecies of the messiah.  The number Dr. Stoner derived by Dr. Stoner:1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

Several of the eight prophecies chosen by Dr. Stoner were chosen specifically because Jesus could not have “fixed” them.  (Born in Bethlehem, there would be a forerunner announcing his arrival, he would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey, betrayed by a friend, betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, the 30 pieces of silver used to buy a potter’s field, titally innocent, crucified.)   

Read more on this subject at the following link:

http://www.goodnewsdispatch.org/math.html 

It should be remembered that overwhelming  probability statistics are not proofs.  All proofs, and dis-proofs, of God, ultimately fail.  

John Piper's Definition of Sin

"This is what sin is - dishonoring God by preferring other things over him, and acting on those preferences.  ,,, failure to love him is not trivial - it is treason." John Piper

John Piper (b. 1946, Tennessee, USA) is a Calvinist Baptist preacher, theologian, and writer who currently serves as a pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA).

What They Think of Us: Religion is Garbage

Look at this advertising campaign from New Zealand.  The Muckmouth Agency in Auckland has produced posters advertising "Religion is Garbage" t-shirts and skateboards sold by Eshe Streetwear .  

Muck is an older English word which refers to a thick, moist, and sticky mixture of mud, barnyard manure, and decaying plant matter.

Hello, Jamaica!

Hello, Jamaica!  Welcome to the group of readers from one hundred and nine other countries who also visit this blog.  I hope you find some of the posts useful or meaningful.

The “Translate This Page” gadget directly above the “Total Pageviews” Counter has the capability of translating the English text of this blog directly into numerous other languages.

One hundred and ten countries: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France,  Georgia, Germany, Gabon, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kampuchea, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg,  Macedonia, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,  Mexico,  Moldova,  Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,  Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam,  Yemen, Zimbabwe.

Film Comment: At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul

Jose Mojica Marins (b. 1936, Brazil) is a director/actor of what would be known in the United States as independent, non-studio films, and is credited with producing the first Brazilian horror films.  Marins’ entire life has revolved around films; his father ran a movie house in Sao Paulo and the family lived in an apartment above the theater.

Though he has made and appeared in many other films, Marins is almost exclusively known for one recurring character, Ze do Caixao (Coffin Joe), who is always portrayed by Marins.  The character is so popular that he has appeared in films, on television,  in comic books, and in documentaries.  Mentions of Coffin Joe occur in numerous songs, magazine articles, and film reference books.  He even has been parodied in the short film, The Blind Date of Coffin Joe. (2008)

Coffin Joe is the embodiment of the amoral man dedicated to one thing and one thing only, himself.  Joe first appears in the 1964 film,  A Meia-Noite Levarei Sua Alma (At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul).  The film will not be confused with Citizen  Kane but is undeniably powerful.

There is an almost constant stream of eerie background noises, including ominous music, screams, animal sounds, and echoes.  The feeling of the film is quite intense and aggressive, pushing itself at you.  Just like Coffin Joe himself.

You Tube appears to have blocked this video.  Try this link instead.

Coffin Joe is an undertaker in a small, very superstitious town in rural Brazil.  Joe is a sadistic and brutal man who believes in nothing and enjoys the fear, disgust, and open hatred shown to him by the townspeople.  He believes himself to be infinitely superior to  all of them, For him, they exist only for his pleasure and for the accomplishment of his desires.  They are his slaves and he brutalizes them to force their obedience to him.

The one thing that Joe wants above all else is immortality, to be remembered forever.  Since he does not believe in God or the Devil and knows that he will eventually die, Joe decides that his name must live forever; in order to ensure “the continuity of blood” he decides that he must have a son, a perfect son.

To produce a perfect son, Joe is willing to commit murder, rape, torture, or any other brutality.  He is the totality of everything which is evil about the self.

The Christian view is that the self is the problem.  The Bible assumes that everyone loves themselves and it never says that we should hate ourselves.  What it does say is that we should love others as we love ourselves.  Romans 13:9-10, John 13:34-35, Colossians 3:12, Philippians 2:3, 1 Peter 5:5, James 3:13-18, 4:7.

Instead of prosperity (the heretical doctrine of the Prosperity Gospel), the Bible promises that we can expect opposition even from our own families and sometimes, persecution.  Matthew 10:34, 16:24-25.