Today we reach Day #18 in our "Counting the Omer" devotional series. In Jewish Gematria, the Hebrew word "chai," which means "life" has a numeric value of
18. Yet in scripture, the number
18 is also associated with bondage. Here's two examples:
So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab
eighteen years [IN BONDAGE]. But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer.
~ Judges 3:14-15a
And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this BOND on the sabbath day?
~ Luke 13:16
Thus, how do we reconcile these two seemingly opposite meanings? How is "being bound" also associated with LIFE?
Interestingly, the Two Pillars of the Holy Temple were each 18 cubits high.
Many people have tried to venture theological theories of what these two pillars represent. As with all of God's Holy Word, I think they may represent many things. Pillars can be likened to arms, such as the two arms of Moses which had to remain aloft for victory. Pillars also represent the strength that holds up buildings or strong foundations. Without getting too lengthy for our daily devotionals, a case can easily be made that the Two Pillars are also representative of Judeo-Christian based societies and nation states.
It stands to reason that if we base our nations on the Mosaic Law of scripture and the Liberty that comes from Yeshua the Messiah, we are both "bound" AND "alive." Any removal of either pillar, the Old Testament Law or the New Testament Grace, will result in an unstable building indeed. Once we start removing these two pillars from our governing laws, destruction of the Temple is not too far behind.
If there is one thing the devil is really "good" at, it would be his ability to redefine the meaning of words. It probably has something to do with his hatred for THE Word, the Holy Word of God. He twists and crafts words and meanings of phrases to repurpose them for his own evil use. Sadly, this sounds a lot like what we hear from our legislators and pulpits also.
For instance now we have "women's health care" instead of publicly funded child murder, gay "marriage" instead of the sanctification of perversions and "non-binary gender" instead of the undeniable science of male/female sexes.
I think the term "religious freedom" is one of these hidden oxymoronic phrases. On the surface, it sounds so nice. If we took a survey, I'm sure most people on the planet would give this an initial "thumbs up."
But...what EXACTLY does religious freedom really look like in the real world? How does it actually "play out" in real life? Let's start by taking back the definitions of actual words. Here is the dictionary definition of "religion" and "freedom."
Definition of Religion: "the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal god or gods."
Definition of Freedom: "the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.
Once we understand the correct meaning of these words, we easily recognize that we do not and cannot, nor have EVER had "religious freedom."
Remember the true definition:
"Belief and worship without hindrance or restraint."
It is the stuff of unicorns and fairy tales. It is impossible.
It cannot ever exist as one religious belief would automatically restrict or negate another's religious beliefs.
Here are some examples of "religious activities" by some of the most common religions on the planet:
Honor killings...female genital mutilation...amputations for crime...burning of wives at their husband's funeral...public stoning for adultery...public whippings...dropping babies from a rooftop...corpses are exposed in remote places to be devoured by vultures and wild animals...
Wow. You might think these are some really strange religious practices, right? Yet, these are some of the widespread practices of Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism...the TOP THREE other religions in the world besides Christianity.
But hey, that "religious freedom" thingy, right?
So, obviously, we can't be clueless and simply promote "religious freedom" with no qualifications on what this exactly means. What then should we support?
The most successful countries in the world have been so incredibly blessed because they were founded on the principles of Mosaic Law and the Holy Word of God found in the Old and New Testaments. The Two Pillars, one might say.
So, if we just speak vaguely boasting about how our country promotes "religious freedom," without actually taking the time to correctly define this term, then we are talking spiritual nonsense. We are instead promoting chaos and disorder which is from Satan. His sulfuric mouth is saying "freedom" but he really means LAWLESSNESS. From a dictionary perspective it would mean:
"no restraint of any aberrant practice whatsoever."
As Christians, we have a further mandate from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He didn't tell us to "go and spread religious freedom throughout the world." He said "go and make disciples" for Him.
The devil knows that if he can "neutralize" the Judeo-Christian based countries and radicalize the demonic-inspired "religions" he will gain control and be able to persecute the saints.
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, "I will return into my house from whence I came out;" and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the LAST STATE of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
~ Matthew 12:43-45
Thus, if any politician says he wants "religious freedom to flourish"...he is either cluelessly or knowingly speaking the language of anti-Christ. It is the language of LAWLESSNESS.
Let's take back the REAL meaning of "freedom of religion" instead of the false politically altered meaning of "religious freedom" which is more like the definition of "anarchy":
an·ar·chyˈanərkē/ (
noun)
a state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority (ALMIGHTY GOD).
absence of government (GOD'S MORAL GOVERNMENT)and absolute freedom of the individual, regarded as a political ideal.
Once we go down this path, there will be no more liberty. Instead be prepared to...
SLAVE AWAY
