God, I am the worst person. I was so determined to wake up early and study for finals, so of course I've spent all day eating peanut butter out of the jar. I also have this really weird but good unpasteurized honey. What does it mean for something to be unpasteurized? I hope that doesn't mean I'm going to get Mad Cow Disease or something.
Doesn't it seem like this sort of thing happens A LOT?
I tell myself that reading the bible counts as being productive but it totally doesn't. Ugh.
ANYWAY, we left off in the middle of Hebrews, so let's wrap that up. The author keeps going on about the whole "Jesus as high priest" idea, explaining in chapter 9 that -- contrary to my earlier beliefs -- Zombie Jesus will not be relegated to the temple, destined to spend his days sacrificing goats and rams. Rather, he sacrificed himself, which I guess nullifies the animal sacrifices that all those wacky Jews were still making all the time. "For if the blood of goats and bulls," the author writes, "sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (Hebrews 9:13-14).
On a semi-related note, I've been listening to Harry Potter on my ipod and I'm almost done... Voldemort just killed him in the Forbidden Forest, which got me thinking, it's the same freakin' story! Whenever these apostles talk about Jesus's sacrifice I envision a noseless Pontius Pilate grabbing Jesus's face and going, "Ah... The Boy Who Lived... come to die..."
Do you do this too? Well you should!!
Anyway, the author of Hebrews also talks a bit about the role of faith in Christian theology. In chapter 11, he (OR SHE!!! OR "ZIE" IN CASE THIS BIBLICAL AUTHOR HAPPENS TO HAVE BEEN TRANSGENDERED!! I AM VERY POLITICALLY CORRECT!!) cites countless instances from the Old Testament where the characters acted out of faith, arguing that this was the most important virtue in the stories.
Next up we have the letter OF James (not to James), traditionally ascribed to none other than Jesus's little brother! If it is actually written by him, we can presume it was penned circa 60 CE, although if not, it's a bit harder to date. Some scholars believe that this was originally a Jewish text that was Christianized later on. In his letter, James concerns himself with errant sinners, urging them to BEHAVE THEMSELVES.
James's four central concerns are partiality, the need for works along with faith, the danger of loose talk, and the sins of the rich. If I didn't know better, I might say that James was a dirty, stinkin' red! In chapter 2 he urges his readers to "show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" (James 2:1), explaining that if they encounter a rich man and a poor man, they should not treat the rich man preferably. But, damnit James, I hate poor people! They stink, they're lazy, and they just want to sit on their asses and exploit us hard-working rich folk. Am I right? Of course I'm right.
James would disagree with my mom-and-apple-pie-bleedin'-red-white-and-blue attitude, however, saying, "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you... You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person" (James 5:1-6).
That's capitalism, baby! Get with the program! AMERICA!!! LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!!!
James gives assorted other warnings, such as not to be arrogant and -- perhaps most interestingly -- not to proclaim faith if you're not willing to do good deeds to back it up: "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?" (James 3:15-16).
If this kind of thing interests you, make sure you read it all now, because we're about to blacklist this guy and have him deported.
To wrap things up, James also explains that PRAYER is the answer to all problems! And if it doesn't work, it just means that YOU'RE NOT PRAYING HARD ENOUGH!
Good to know!
Last but not least is the first epistle of Peter, purportedly written by ol' Rock-head himself. If this is the case, it was probably penned circa 64 CE, and reflects the religious climate under Emperor Nero's reign, when he persecuted Christians. It might have also been written by an anonymous Christian author during the reign of Domitian (81-96 CE) or Trajan (98-117 CE). It bids that good Christians remain obedient, steadfast in their faith, and submit to suffering, because it's all going to be AWESOME later on! Don't you worry your pretty little head.
Okay. That's enough for today. I'm going to ACTUALLY STUDY NOW, and by actually study I mean bake zucchini bread.
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