The Miracle of Israel (Episode 2)

EPISODE 2: Creating Israel

This week (April 21) on Shabbat Night Live, most understand that Israel was created in 1948. But what led up to that is a complicated, messy situation after World War I.

Al McCarn sheds light on the head-spinning details of how Israel became a country, where the name Palestine came from, and why Israel’s eventual founding could only come about by the grace of YeHoVaH.

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

While you watch, consider the questions below. The timeline for each discussion topic in the video is noted on each question. Post your answers in the comments section and let’s get some discussion going!

  1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 16:00) How does the prophecy in Jeremiah 31:5-8 give resonance to the vineyard as an emblem of divine providence, as well as an extended metaphor for the affirmation of devotion that continues through the ministry of Yeshua? How has this image suffered over the centuries from oversimplification as a mere figure of speech that has been derived from the agrarian milieu of Hebrew culture?
  2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) Similarly, how does this passage in its prophetic context serve to illuminate the pioneering spirit that has been exemplified by the settlers of modern Israel? How does the csheds light on how liché that immigrant Jews “made the desert bloom again” actually understate the sophistication of agrarian, urban, and commercial innovation in this small but vital and intractably resilient nation?
  3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) How is the pervasive contempt toward history demonstrated by ignorance over the Dreyfus Affair? Why has this watershed case been virtually erased from the annals of post-Enlightenment history by educators, despite its resonance with the ensuing events of the 20th Century?  Is it justifiable to view the failure to recognize this figure as a precursor to the Zionist movement as an antecedent of the horrific anti-Semitism of the subsequent decades? 
  4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) Similarly, how has the figure of Theodor Herzl been largely ignored by Western educators as the father of political Zionism? In light of the arguable overemphasis on the Holocaust as the sole justification for modern Israel, how might the brevity and commercial accessibility of Der Judenstaat lead to its rediscovery as a seminal tract for contemporary readers regarding the continuity between scripture and the Jewish state?
  5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) Latter-day historians such as Modris Eksteins have examined the fragility of the European imperial alliances whose collapse led to the Great War. How has the enduring analysis of this global trauma failed to account for its fortuitous initiation of an eventual Jewish homeland amid an immense international reflex away from the empire to the democratic republic as a national paradigm?
  6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 36:00) Aside from its relevance to the outbreak of a second world war, why has the Treaty of Versailles become an object of ridicule for many followers of 20th century history? How do lingering controversies over its equivocal provisions and prolonged negotiations serve to illustrate the admonishment in Numbers 30:2 about adhering to the terms of an agreement for today’s students of scripture?
  7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 40:00) Similarly, how does the presumption of the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 that an Arab kingdom would dominate the Middle East demonstrate the limitations of negotiating international relationships by absentee politicians?  How does the indifference here toward the prophetic element in the Zionist reflex continue to inform and prolong the notion of Jewish invasion in mid-20th-century Palestine?
  8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 44:00) How has Woodrow Wilson’s advocacy for national sovereignty become viewed in retrospect as a well-intentioned but ill-informed policy that failed to consider the complexities of the developing world outside of Europe and the United States? How has this resulted in the fallacy of major nations arbitrarily arranging national boundaries without concern for ancient rivalries or tribal alliances?
  9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 48:00) As has been discussed elsewhere in this forum, the notion of the Palestinians as a demarcated, sovereign people has been questioned and even discredited by many since the founding of Israel in 1948. What is the likelihood of this perspective becoming accepted throughout Western nations in the near future?  What arguable revisions of opinion on this matter have occurred within the Arab League over the past decade?
  10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 52:00) Similarly, how have the elements of commerce and military skill been overlooked by many Westerners as pretexts for the modern Jewish presence in Palestine? How does the service with distinction in World War II by many Jews and the increasing purchase of land from the Arabs by Jewish settlers demonstrate the justification of Zionism in light of the haphazard and self-serving administrators of the British mandate?

Israel and The Deep State (Episode 2)

EPISODE 2: The NSA’s Jew Room

This week (March 31) on Shabbat Night Live, was the Yom Kippur War a fabricated exercise for political gain?

Bruce Brill reveals jaw-dropping evidence about antisemitism inside the NSA — and why Israeli intelligence preferred to ignore their own information and trust American intelligence instead, which led to disaster.

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

While you watch, consider the questions below. The timeline for each discussion topic in the video is noted on each question. Post your answers in the comments section and let’s get some discussion going!

  1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 16:00) How does maintaining the venerable practice from Hebraic culture of sighting the new moon serve to dramatize the inherent unity in YeHoVaH’s creation? How have we, thanks to our preoccupation with ongoing scientific advances, effectually separated divine influence from natural phenomena and failed to recognize providential patterns in our created world?
  2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) How does the necessity of secrecy and classification of information by government agencies over prolonged periods like that of the Cold War arguably lead to abuse of power through leveraging such practices as surveillance, profiling, and diplomatic immunity? How can our current political climate be viewed as an example of this same exploitation for questionable intentions?
  3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) Similarly, how has the concept of confidentiality in matters of governmental security become trivialized by civilian officials who violate their security clearances through arrogance or the public behavior of military valor thieves who conceal their imposture by claiming “classified” promotions or service? What is the possible role of our expanding communication media in this potentially explosive scenario?  
  4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) How does the seemingly permanent marginalization of the Jews from certain sectors of U.S. intelligence demonstrate the inexplicable threat of Israel to the Western powers, despite their ostensible alliance with the Jewish state? How might this paradox have been dramatized over the past week over media attention to the scale and intensity of public protests against the alleged autocracy of Netanyahu’s leadership?
  5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) What is the likelihood of public acceptance of the provocative suggestion that major world leaders, including those of Israel, collaborated in the contrivance of the Yom Kippur War? Will this accusation lead to further investigation thanks to the profile of the controversial Henry Kissinger, or will it be relegated to the status of a fringe conspiracy theory like those involving the JFK assassination or 9/11?
  6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 36:00) Similarly, how does Kissinger’s alleged involvement in an orchestrated war against an allied power in late 1973 serve to recontextualize the international identity of the U.S. during a time of détente with the Soviet Union and China? How does the resignation of an American president within a year of this event add further cynicism to the sensibilities of an uninformed public regarding the conscience of public officials?
  7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 40:00) In light of the scale of disinformation that ostensibly played a major part in this matter, how might the Yom Kippur War eventually be viewed as a paradigmatic event in world history? Might this conflict eventually equal or surpass the significance of the Seven-Day War of 1967, even though it has been largely forgotten by at least two generations of students and is rarely referenced by political leaders?
  8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 44:00) Similarly, how might the deceptions discussed here – particularly the deliberate withholding of vital information from Israel – convey an aspect of realpolitik that suggests the hollow nature of alliance for this small country? Will the near-destruction of Israel during this war be viewed as vindication of its resilience or as a result of policy failures by its supporters?
  9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 48:00) How does the subversive yet comic amateur surveillance attempt described here provide an ironic illustration of the David v. Goliath principle to those who recognize Jewish resourcefulness and its underestimation by the larger world powers? How might the greater circulation of this episode provide a withering example of the pretensions of power for uninformed citizens of any developed nation?

 

  1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 52:00) Similarly, how does the eventual exposure of questionable testimonies by government officials over the origins of the Yom Kippur War indirectly strengthen Israel’s reputation to the point of undermining the tiresome perennial arguments for a two-state solution to Arab-Israeli conflicts? How might this war ultimately become rediscovered as a watershed event that reaffirmed Israel’s political and military integrity in contrast to those of its allies?

Israel and The Deep State (Episode 1)

Episode 1: The Shameful Truth

This week (March 24) on Shabbat Night Live, the Yom Kippur War saw thousands of Israelis lose their lives. But it didn’t have to be that way.

Through first-hand experience in the NSA, Bruce Brill reveals the shameful truth that members of American intelligence agencies knew what was happening yet deliberately misled the Israeli government.

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

While you watch, consider the questions below. The timeline for each discussion topic in the video is noted on each question. Post your answers in the comments section and let’s get some discussion going!

  1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 16:00) How does the sequence of events leading to the meeting between Brill and Michael Rood described here exemplify the providential ethos of life in Israel for those foreign visitors whose spiritual life becomes redefined in this democratic oasis within a desert of authoritarian hostility? How does the power of YeHoVaH to enlist unwitting servants manifest itself when individuals arrive in Israel only to receive a new apostolic agenda?
  2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) Similarly, how do the heated debates described here regarding the integrity of a genuine biblical calendar dramatize the imperative of accuracy in our recognition of YeHoVaH’s manifestations through his creation? How do the attempts in this case portray the uncompromising desire for correctness as an inextricable element of obedience in the observation and protocols of those who would seek salvation?
  3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) How does the sometimes irreconcilable factionalism within Israel – invariably viewed by many U.S. citizens as sectarianism – dramatize both the resilience of this nation and its ostensible fragility? How has the alarming scale of the recent protests against the current Netanyahu government led to premature charges in the Western press against ungovernability, despite its illustration of the democratic vigor of this controversial sovereign state?  
  4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 29:00) How has the war in Vietnam become an enduring paradigm for the troubled dynamic between conscientious citizens who believe in defense of freedom, loyalty to one’s home country, and adherence to Judeo-Christian morality? Is this controversial and divisive example of foreign policy likely to continue as a bellwether for those who would fight and others who would refuse involvement, all for the same range of principles?
  5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) Similarly, how has this conflict and its aftermath given rise to the recurrent notion of compulsory national service, either in a military or civilian capacity? Despite the familiar image of individuals opting for feckless bureaucratic positions at taxpayer expense instead of being in harm’s way, how might such an option encourage those believers who would desire a means for charitable work as their choice for “fighting the good fight”?
  6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 36:00) How has the rediscovery of Arabic by Western learners as a Semitic language family served to demonstrate the arrogance of wealthy nations during the peace and prosperity of the post-Cold War world? How did the sudden demand among agencies like the State Department and the military for speakers of this and other Middle Eastern linguae francae reveal a cultivated ignorance toward the looming threat of Islamic terrorism?
  7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 40:00) Why has the so-called Yom Kippur War of 1973 become a virtually forgotten conflict in the study and teaching of postwar history? How can this event – which nearly resulted in the destruction of Israel as a nation – be viewed as a disturbing reminder to anti-Semites among the cultural Left of Jewish resilience in the face of persecution and of Israel’s formidability as a major player on the world stage?
  8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 44:00) How does the ostensible failure of intelligence that led to the opening salvos of this war constitute a grim foreshadowing of the events of September 11, 2001? How do the withering documents that surfaced after the terrorist attack provide an example of the reluctance to engage in defense of ourselves or our allies in the presence of short-term political interests or longstanding economic alliances?
  9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 48:00) How does the disingenuous conduct of the IDF and the Pentagon regarding vital intelligence of Arab forces mobilizing on Israel’s borders demonstrate a level of complexity and unsettling cynicism? How does this exemplify Orwell’s contention that such acts “can indeed be defended, but only by arguments which are too brutal for most people to face, and which do not square with the professed aims of political parties”?
  10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 52:00) Similarly, how does this development suggest the weakening of the American concept of independent agencies and an incremental growth of collusion between NGO’s, intelligence organizations, and the federal government?  How does the foreshadow the obstructive midlevel buffers between tradecraft and unelected, appointed groups that were fictionalized by John Le Carre or Graham Greene? 

Yeshua In The Torah

SPECIAL EPISODE

This week (March 17) on Shabbat Night Live, Yeshua’s name appears in the Old Testament, but it’s not referring to whom you think it is!

Keith Johnson and Dr. Nehemia Gordon comb through the Torah to illustrate the subtle nuances of Yeshua’s name for different individuals throughout the ancient world.

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

While you watch, consider the questions below. The timeline for each discussion topic in the video is noted on each question. Post your answers in the comments section, and let’s get some discussion going!

  1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 16:00) How has the evangelical impulse to translate unknown words and idioms into contemporaneous locutions proven to be problematic for many believers? How might careless or unscrupulous individuals seek to politicize or falsely allegorize ancient texts into contemporary polemics, resulting in another Tower of Babel instead of the clarity of divine truth?
  2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) How do these two references to the name “Yeshua” in books of the so-called Old Testament both de-mystify and hallow the identity of the Messiah? How can this paradox be said to undermine the distinctions between two major segments of the Bible by suggesting a narrative element of prophecy and also drawing our attention to the inherent symbolism of divinely-appointed names throughout scripture?
  3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) Similarly, how does Moses’ gesture in Numbers 13:16 of changing the name of Hoshea to Joshua serve to dramatize the importance within biblical narrative of name-changing as a profound shift of identity, one that demarcates particular figures as significant for the process of salvation? How does the absence of this context effectually deprive believers who are limited to English translation of the New Testament of the eminence of Yeshua’s birth?  
  4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) As discussed repeatedly in this forum, the matter of proper translation of scripture is known and frequently acknowledged by many believers, yet proper instruction and methods of exegesis are often unavailable to most readers of the Bible. How does the present discussion suggest the plausibility of a growing evangelism that is based on accessible scholarly approaches, one that could challenge the “easy grace” that has been criticized by Michael Rood?
  5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) How does the initiation of the Feast of Sukkot as detailed in Nehemiah 8:17 underscore the importance of the linguistic affinity between the names of Joshua and Yeshua? In light of the scale of this commemoration on the part of the children of Israel and their return from exile, how might this factor be interpreted as a vindication of the Law of Moses and a foreshadowing of the coming of the Messiah?
  6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 38:00) How does the concise yet detailed pronunciation gloss in Leeser’s 1853 translation provide an essential tool for the student of scripture regarding the recognition of linguistic patterns that provide a subtext of continuity between the earliest texts and the accounts of Yeshua’s ministry?  How might the revival of this simple practice serve to deter potential believers from the tempting recourse to doubt and agnosticism?
  7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 42:00) Aside from its importance as a commemoration of Sukkot, how does Nehemiah 8:17 further underscore the pattern of exile and return throughout Hebrew history and scripture? How does this ancient text draw our attention to the profundity of an event like the founding of modern Israel for those believers who seek evidence of YeHoVaH’s plan for his creation as a foundation for their own worship and obedience?
  8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 46:00) How might Benjamin Kennicott’s Vetus Testamentum hebraicum (1776 – 1780) and the scholarly activity which it inspired be rediscovered as part of a reflex toward greater recognition of the importance and challenges of biblical translation within the evangelical community? How does its equivocal legacy encourage the participation of both academic and unlettered readers in efforts to discern the truth of scriptural meaning?
  9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 50:00) Conversely, how does the confusion over specific meanings in these volumes involving vowel points and centuries-old scribal practices threaten to discourage the student of scripture from ascertaining truth through preserved texts?  How does this work demonstrate the need for recognition of shifting historical contexts as a characteristic of intellectual history as part of the search for salvation?
  10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 54:00) How does the ostensibly arbitrary rabbinic commentary on the 1523 edition of the Jerusalem Talmud suggest the importance of Ezra with regard to the Book of Nehemiah? How does his presence in the chapter under examination here, particularly his designation as “the scribe,” serve as a reminder of the Hebraic orientation toward preservation through the written word and an ironic foreshadowing of the close reading that will be demanded of those who would follow the word of YeHoVaH?

The Way of Messiah (Episode 3)

EPISODE 3: Reformation 2.0

This week (March 10) on Shabbat Night Live, sometimes we as believers need a reminder of who we really are. Martin Luther did it by nailing his 95 theses to a church door.

Today, Luke and Kayte Abaffy are calling for Reformation 2.0 in a new book called The Truth — a reminder to today’s Church that they are Israel, and as such, should start acting like it!.

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

While you watch, consider the questions below. The timeline for each discussion topic in the video is noted on each question. Post your answers in the comments section and let’s get some discussion going!

  1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 16:00) What are the challenges facing those believers who would instigate a second reformation in our present-day world? How do internal divisions within many denominations, secular politicization, and the growing “Christophobia” of many powerful leaders and agencies all combine to sow discord and confusion among the faithful who seek a genuine authority regarding doctrine and practice?
  2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) How do personal accidents or injuries serve to impact our spiritual lives in complex and unforeseen ways? Why are these private and traumatic experiences so often treated in a pretentious and self-serving manner by those who have little if any spirituality, as opposed to others who are willing to view such events as providential challenges for future apostolic work?
  3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) How does a contemporary evangelical effort like The Way dramatize the importance and enduring controversy over the writings of Paul? How has the proliferation of biblical translations over the centuries served to diminish the role of historical context – those of both 13th BC and AD 1st C. – in the comprehension of his expressions of Christian doctrine, to the extent of virtually dismissing the role of the Law of Moses?  
  4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) How can this negation of the Hebrew ethos in present-day Christian evangelization be said to have contributed indirectly to pervasive popular agnosticism and outright hostility toward worship by many advocacy groups? How does the practice of parsing and editing scripture suggest the wiles of Satan in its refusal to accept the stricture of venerable rules and the potential for permissiveness and the rationalization of sin?
  5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) As with fortuitous personal accidents, how do unexpected insights gleaned from the study of scripture compel us to reassess our received knowledge and assumptions about our search for salvation? How does this in turn aid our recognition of the apprehension of YeHoVaH as part of an ongoing revelation of the truth, one that is dependent on our willingness to persevere in learning as well as worship?
  6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 37:00) How can the documented decline in deep literacy since the turn of the millennium be viewed as having encouraged a resistance to serious consideration of scripture and the viability of Christian belief? How has the proliferation of aural and video representations of biblical narrative, both dramatic and documentary, possibly undermined the potential insights that can be derived from private glossing and rereading of texts?
  7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 40:00) Similarly, how has the prevalence of visual imagery over the postwar period contributed to a virtual dependence on still photographs and moving video to convey ideas in education, whether formal or private? Have we unwittingly fostered an overreliance on such elements as PowerPoint and streaming video, to the detriment of our rhetorical skills in interpretation of the written word in learning environments?
  8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 44:00) How have efforts over time by publishers of biblical translations to enhance their texts with illustrations possibly thwarted their own intentions, thanks to the inclusion of representations that are either luridly overstylized or self-consciously contemporary and “relevant”? Why has virtually every generation of Christian educators found it necessary to recreate personages and events from the Bible for young learners in a newly contrived manner instead of a historical framework?
  9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 48:00) Similarly, how might the idioms of particular English Bible translations prove to be a hindrance for contemporary readers who seek a fundamental, literal understanding of narrative before consideration of doctrinal significance? How does the common presence of “therefore” within a seeming non sequitur or the appearance in the KJV of archaisms like “it came to pass” or “verily” demonstrate the need for linguistic context as well as secondary apparatus?
  10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 52:00) How do the scriptural “contradictions” discussed here recall the common practice of arbitrary selection of quotations from the Bible to justify questionable beliefs or conduct? How instead does the close examination of text and context between Old and New Testament passages demonstrate both the doctrinal coherence and consistency between these divisions and the fallacy of glib accusations of treating the sacred text without proper Christian charity?

The Way of Messiah (Episode 2)

EPISODE 2: Questioning Christmas

This week (March 3) on Shabbat Night Live, one of the first Christian traditions that believers begin to question is Christmas. Is it pagan, or isn’t it? Does celebrating Christmas constitute sin? If not, what’s the problem?

Luke and Kayte Abaffy recall their journey creating a documentary around the Christmas question.

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

While you watch, consider the questions below. The timeline for each discussion topic in the video is noted on each question. Post your answers in the comments section, and let’s get some discussion going!

  1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 16:00) Aside from fulfilling the mandate to spread the truth of YeHoVaH throughout the world, evangelical efforts in the Southern Hemisphere have been notably proliferating in recent decades. How have Western media outlets either ignored or marginalized this activity, despite their focus on migrants and populist movements?  Is this a function of arrogance, carelessness, or a refusal to recognize the impact of spirituality?
  2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) Similarly, how has the increasing commercialization of Christmas in wealthy countries since the mid-20th century served indirectly to aid evangelical endeavors in the developing world? How does the unthinking materialism that is promoted throughout the capitalist West through exploitation of the Christian calendar serve to encourage “the still, small voice” of divine truth within the poor and unlearned?
  3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) How do today’s evangelists in this vast, multinational part of the world face the challenge of semi-literacy among those who seek salvation? How can such subjects as scriptural history, the vagaries of translation in biblical texts, and the dangers of syncretism be taught and advocated without the corporatization that often restricts freedom of thought and imposes narrowly-defined learning models?  
  4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) How does the method of scriptural and historical interpretation demonstrated by Hislop’s controversial The Two Babylons (1853) serve to illuminate ancient Babylon as an enduring point of reference for diverse believers who seek salvation through YeHoVaH? How have postwar developments in the Middle East, such as the restoration project of this city by the Ba’athist government of Iraq, underscored the challenges posed by seeking contemporary signs of the Book of Revelation’s prophecies?
  5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) In light of the recent evangelical revival at a small, largely unknown Kentucky university and the grudging reportage by the mainstream media, how likely are such practices to make an impact upon public perception and conscience in our cynical, materialist age? How might the spread of voluntary restrictions in diet and days of work among various denominations, hearkening back to our nation’s earliest settlers, become part of an emergent and unanticipated spiritual awakening?
  6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 36:00) How is the post-Christian reflex of the early 2000s manifested through such popular culture events as solstice celebrations in music and dance, environmental efforts involving Native American ceremonials, and the resurgence of Gnosticism? How might the conflicting components of these practices allow for influence of the demonic among those unwitting individuals who lack any sufficient background in Christianity?
  7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 40:00) Similarly, how might the spread of these diverse activities be indirectly responsible for the disturbing revival of anti-Semitism throughout many nations, thanks to pervasive ignorance of the Hebrew heritage in both Christian worship and Western civilization? How do such elements as the BDS movement and the euphemism “Anti-Zionist” serve to corrupt the attitudes of those who are susceptible to the temptation of scapegoating?
  8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 44:00) How does the tiresome phenomenon of the “twice-a-year Christian” pose a problem for those who practice their faith on a daily basis, incorporating prayer, study, and calendar-based worship? Aside from matters of negligence, how does this syndrome convey to potential believers an example of easy salvation predicated on the notion that scripture study and informed practice of doctrine are optional factors that do not impact salvation?
  9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 48:00) Similarly, how does this level of poor intellectual formation also increase the vulnerability of those presumptive believers who might accept an inadequately-sourced or even invented foundation for certain practices, such as those discussed in a recent series about Mormonism? How does this widespread tendency reflect the progressive erosion over recent decades of deep literacy among our population, to the endangerment of countless souls?
  10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 52:00) Conversely, how does this attraction to exotic yet questionable belief systems demonstrate both the very human need for a coherent structure of worship and the attendant imperative of evangelism for YeHoVaH’s promise of salvation, as commanded by Yeshua? How is this perennial situation ironically referenced in our cynical political commentary about received “narratives” concerning particular leaders and their self-serving testimonies?

The Way of Messiah (Episode 1)

EPISODE 1: Finding The Way

This week (Feb 24) on Shabbat Night Live, Luke and Kayte Abaffy had an awakening to the truth of the Torah, like many Christians. The difference was they made a documentary about their journey.

Today, they are taking the next step that they hope will spark a reformation in the hearts of believers worldwide.

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

While you watch, consider the questions below. The timeline for each discussion topic in the video is noted on each question. Post your answers in the comments section, and let’s get some discussion going!

  1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 16:00) Aside from being a charming anecdote, how does the meeting between Luke and Katie demonstrate the providential nature of marriage for believers who view their futures as living apostolates? How is the will of YeHoVaH affected through the utilization of diverse talents and eccentric career paths in individuals who choose to devote their time and energy to evangelization?
  2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) How does the controversy over the centrality of the Torah in Christian worship underscore the failure of many evangelical movements to recognize the integrity of the continuity between the Old and New Testaments? How does the casual distribution of the later, smaller collection of texts, both in public and private, damage the message of YeHoVaH through a glib campaign of an accessible “manual” for salvation?
  3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) Similarly, how can some evangelical practices undermine the inherent challenges of following YeHoVaH through their over-promotion of divine forgiveness? How can the insidious influence of Satan be given an inroad into spiritual lives through a marginalization of sin as an ever-present danger for believers, one that hearkens back to his disingenuous words to Eve in the book of Genesis?  
  4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) How do personal testimonies like those recounted here – particularly those involving dreams which suggest private revelations – dramatize the importance and challenge of discernment for believers? How does the often-frustrating delay of answered prayers provide a corrective for short-sighted and self-serving interpretations that could lead to choices that conflict with the will of YeHoVaH?
  5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 321:00) How is the contemporary opportunity of evangelizing through media both spiritually remunerative and fraught with dangers?  As feature films, documentaries, and online programs proliferate, how can these efforts of the faithful avoid becoming overwhelmed by competition, dismissed as propaganda, or increasingly vulnerable to the aggression of hostile individuals or corporate bodies who would destroy their works outright?
  6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 36:00) How have endeavors like Kickstarter and GoFundMe served to redefine the advocacy of faith-based media and public awareness? How does the notion of corporate benefit and crowdfunding provide not only an outlet for evangelization, but also subvert those efforts on the radical Left to politicize such efforts through accusations of fascism or through such organizations as the Freedom From Religion Foundation?
  7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 40:00) How do the myriad obstacles and frustrations involved in realizing a project like this one, such as funding difficulties, technical malfunctions, and administrative delays, all demonstrate the need for perseverance by believers who seek to spread the word of YeHoVaH? How does the frisson between intention and completion serve to deepen the faith of those involved, both before and behind the camera?
  8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 44:00) How does a production like The Way underscore the dilemma currently experienced by many throughout the Christian world over major denominations, religious leaders, and self-styled “faithful” public figures who seek to rationalize disobedience or normalize transgressive conduct? How has the suggestion of following the example of Yeshua as well as accepting his identity as the Messiah become such a radical notion in our present day?
  9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 48:00) Similarly, how does the concept of private revelation serve to undermine popular efforts to denigrate religious practice among individuals in an epoch of socioeconomic materialism? How does the divine impetus toward conversion, seemingly conveyed at random throughout a diverse population of those willing to consider such a gesture, consistently subvert those organized human efforts to eradicate religious belief from society?
  10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 52:00) How does the notion of syncretism pose a challenge for today’s faithful who seek a bonafide practice of genuine spiritual doctrine? How should believers attempt to discern between contemporary examples of cultural assimilation of pagan belief or practice that suggest possible gateways for demonic influence, and more benign examples of intellectual history in relation to the growth of Western Judeo-Christian culture?

Why I Left Mormonism (Episode 6)

FINAL EPISODE: A Foundation of Lies

This week (Feb 17) on Shabbat Night Live, when just a little falsehood is mixed with truth, it’s hard to recognize — and that’s the issue with Mormonism.

Jake Hilton explains why the lies of Mormonism are so difficult to decipher, what to ask when examining the foundations of Mormonism, and how to help those questioning their Mormon faith come into the truth of Yeshua.

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

While you watch, consider the questions below. The timeline for each discussion topic in the video is noted on each question. Post your answers in the comments section, and let’s get some discussion going!

  1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 167:00) How do the questionable doctrines of Mormonism dramatize the essential vulnerability of all seekers of salvation regarding the study and interpretation of historical scripture? How do Joseph Smith’s additions to the actual books of the Bible demonstrate the “slippery slope” phenomenon for those who fail to perceive the consistency of YeHoVaH’s commandments?
  2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) How has much of our Western imagery for Satan – from artistic depictions of the Garden of Eden to those of scenarios in Hell, along with cartoonish caricatures – served to obscure the essentially disingenuous nature of his temptation, as in his false flattery of Eve in Genesis 3? Why does the simple act of interweaving lies with truth so frequently result in our human failure of conscience and wisdom?
  3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) How is Satan’s insidious plan for the ruin of souls affected by the disillusionment of those faithful who decide to reject Mormonism, and ultimately all religious practice, as a mere cult phenomenon? How can this common reflex toward atheism or agnosticism be viewed as a vindication of the warnings against corrupt leaders from the prophetic scriptures to the writings of Paul?
  4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) How do the categorical words of M. Russell Ballard in 2015, in their presumption of disseminating incontrovertible truth from the LDS Church, not only marginalize the truth of the Bible but also absolve followers from developing their devotion by exercising their free will to question, compare and contrast, or reconcile divergent viewpoints in their faith journey?
  5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 31:00) Similarly, how does the resistance of the temptation to embrace agnosticism by some disillusioned followers of Mormonism demonstrate the need for constant prayer and discernment by those believers who recognize individual responsibility for spiritual growth? How could this, in turn, become a growing trend that could possibly compel the LDS leadership to amend their various claims?
  6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 37:00) How does the vulnerable identity of today’s followers of Mormonism illustrate the complexity and unspoken challenge in Yeshua’s exhortation to evangelize? In light of the international scope of the LDS Church, how is the danger of distortion by human beings of the gospels’ truth implicit in the command to teach all nations?
  7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 40:00) Aside from its inherent drama, epic scale, and spiritual significance, the Exodus continues to haunt the imagination of believers of various denominations. How can this event be interpreted as a paradigm of reform, conversion, or divine providence on an intimate, individual level for those who struggle with doctrinal issues on their path to salvation?
  8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 44:00) How can the repurposing of the Bible through the apocryphal texts of Joseph Smith by the LDS Church be viewed as analogous to attempts by numerous media documentary sources or revisionist scholars to minimize or even dismiss the inherent divinity of Christian history, often by reducing the Bible’s important individuals to political figures or crucial events to mere symbols of ideas?
  9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 48:00) How has the notion of “fulfillment” often been poorly understood or distorted throughout evangelical Christianity? How is Yeshua’s statement regarding this in Matthew 5:17 undermined by exclusive use of the New Testament as an independent text, or his controversial command “Be perfect” misunderstood as incongruous, all as a result of a failure to recognize the importance of completion in spiritual growth?
  10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 51:00) How can the imagery of Yeshua’s comprehensive statement in Matthew 10:34-36 be interpreted as both a fulfillment of the prophetic texts and a foreshadowing of the warnings of Paul, Peter, and Jude against the false teachings of men? How might disillusionment with Mormonism result in a disturbing scenario like the concluding passage here, wherein one’s enemies become “those of his own household”?

Why I Left Mormonism (Episode 5)

The Ultimate Blasphemy

This week (Feb 10) on Shabbat Night Live, Joseph Smith, the father of Mormonism, lied about an Egyptian papyrus that he said was the writings of Abraham, but that’s not the worst of it.

Jake Hilton shares what Joseph Smith claimed about artwork depicting YeHoVaH in Egyptian mythology that is anything but holy.

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

While you watch, consider the questions below. The timeline for each discussion topic in the video is noted on each question. Post your answers in the comments section and let’s get some discussion going!

1.    (VIDEO TIMELINE: 17:00) How does Facsimile 2 in the “Book of Abraham” underscore the credulity of Joseph Smith’s followers through its considerable detail and cryptic imagery?  How does its actual meaning and function retroactively serve to discredit both its role in Mormon doctrine and the presumption of those who would engage in pseudo-science?

2.    (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) How does Smith’s failure to recognize the meaning of the reversed segment of this emblem call into question both his knowledge of Egyptology and also the importance of deliberate stylization within ancient cultures?  How do his annotations of Figure 7 constitute an anachronistic, Western gloss on an eastern cultural expression?

3.    (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) Similarly, how does the recognition of the fertility god Min in this image represent a withering rebuttal to Smith’s questionable description of the invisible deity?  How does this distinction further dramatize the enduring dynamic between the multiple gods of various pagan societies and the advocates of monotheism throughout so-called Judeo-Christian culture to the present day?  

4.    (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) How does the uncompromising description of the god Min by Prof. Nibley beg the question of this figure’s place within LDS doctrine and teaching?  How does this god’s inclusion within Mormonism reveal a level of exaggeration and excess that transcends fantasy or carnivalism to the point of outright blasphemy, thanks to its alignment with the deity of Abraham?

5.    (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) How does Joseph Smith’s categorical, presumptive claim of divine revelation for his presentation and interpretation of Egyptian artifacts serve to characterize him as a questionable prophet?  How is this ironically underscored by its presence alongside the numerous warnings within the epistles of Paul, Peter, and John against disobedience and the influence of false, self-serving teachers?

6.    (VIDEO TIMELINE: 37:00) How is Joseph Smith’s reputation as a cult figure underscored by the predication of the entire Mormon infrastructure upon his texts and precepts?  In light of its longevity, how likely is this vast congregation to continue undeterred, or to collapse from increasing exposure and for its remnants to be absorbed into another Christian denomination?

7.    (VIDEO TIMELINE: 40:00) How does Smith’s appropriation of the serpentine image of Nehebkau to the dove symbolizing the Holy Ghost suggest a deliberate attempt to rewrite ancient history for his own purposes?  How might this further demonstrate the dangers of allegorization in its apparent failure to recognize the resonance between this pagan figure and the appearance of Satan in the Book of Genesis?

8.    (VIDEO TIMELINE: 44:00) How do the cynical and patronizing comments attributed to Joseph Smith about his own congregation in 1877 not only cast doubt upon his integrity as a religious figurehead, but also beg the question of the legitimacy of his canonical texts?  How does this underscore the frequently overlooked characterization of Satan, whatever his physical depiction, as the Father of Lies?

9.    (VIDEO TIMELINE: 48:00) How likely is the LDS Church to face decisive scrutiny in the near future over the matters of Smith’s erroneous assertions, thanks to the rapidity of communication and information exchange?  How has growing public awareness of imposture – valor thieves, 9/11 hoaxers, media disinformation – allowed for a more discerning and critical treatment of provocative claims and the reputations built upon them?

10.  (VIDEO TIMELINE: 51:00) Similarly, how does a latter-day statement from LDS Apostle Boyd K. Packer arouse suspicion of self-interest in its cautionary phraseology?  How do his admonitions to his fellow advocates regarding “faith promoting,” “responsibility to build faith,” and the distinction between what is “true” instead of “useful” illustrate a subtle but unmistakable attempt to justify the continued promotion of Smith’s doctrine?

Why I Left Mormonism (Episode 4)

The Book of Abraham

This week (Feb 3) on Shabbat Night Live, it’s not in your Bible, it’s not even in the Apocrypha, but it is part of scripture according to the Mormon Church.

Jake Hilton exposes the fraud behind The Book of Abraham, a supposed “lost book” written in hieroglyphs by Abraham himself while he and Sarah were living in Egypt.

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

While you watch, consider the questions below. The timeline for each discussion topic in the video is noted on each question. Post your answers in the comments section, and let’s get some discussion going!

  1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 16:00) How does the apocryphal Mormon text The Book of Abraham demonstrate the astonishing presumption of revising and repurposing scripture for an ostensibly sacred yet essentially manmade endeavor? How does this further dramatize the pervasive ignorance of scriptural integrity by professed Christians who predicate their evangelization upon discreet biblical quotations that are frequently devoid of proper context?
  2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) How does the early 19th-century infatuation with Egyptian antiquities underscore the central conceit behind Mormonism? What is the essential ethos behind both the crass commercial publicity of important ancient artifacts and Joseph Smith’s opportunistic claim of understanding the written papyri and his appropriation of them for his own contrived religious doctrine?
  3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) Similarly, how does the brief sojourn in Egypt of Abram and Sarai in Genesis 12 offer a questionable prospect for exploiting public gullibility during a period of pervasive fascination and ignorance of ancient languages and cultures? How is this syndrome still evident today in both New Age occultism and attempts to recontextualize scripture to render Yeshua as an accessible, contemporary figure?  
  4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) How do the equivocal words of W. W. Phelps regarding the apparent legitimacy of Joseph Smith’s ensuing translations of the papyri, along with Smith’s own ambiguous diary entries on this subject, inadvertently reveal the validity of Mormonism as a foregone conclusion by both men? How does this further suggest their exploitation of their congregation’s credulity regarding ancient texts?
  5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) Similarly, how does the rhetoric of Smith’s November 14th diary entry suggest a self-serving fait accompli regarding the providential involvement of Warren Parrish? How does the ersatz biblical phraseology of this passage, along with its supposed source in divine revelation, indirectly reveal a categorical attempt to seize control of his congregation through manipulation of doctrine, as further suggested by his entry of December 12th?
  6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 38:00) How does Smith’s lengthy denunciation of a young would-be follower regarding the antiquity of the Egyptian papyri anticipate the familiar hysterical reactions of those who defend politically correct or “woke” perspectives in our own time? Why do such attempts at verification of received opinion often elicit such vicious ad hominem attacks instead of rational argumentation from those in power?
  7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 41:00) How does the sycophantic behavior of Joseph Smith’s “scribes” regarding the legitimacy of his translations of the Egyptian sources serve to support the view of him as a cult leader? How does the cynicism of Martin Harris regarding financial gain from these efforts reveal the corrosive effect of false prophesy and its potential for spreading corruption on a massive, popular scale?
  8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 46:00) How does the extent of Smith’s translation of one specific depiction in the scroll – involving purely imaginary insertions of imagery, faux Egyptian names of “idolatrous gods,” and even a misapplied Hebrew construction – dramatize the dangers of amateurism in matters of historical folklore? How does Facsimile 1 ironically foreshadow such public embarrassments as the Piltdown Man or the “1692 A.D.” date of the prose poem “Desiderata”?
  9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 50:00) How does the eventual discovery of the intact Hor Book of Breathing demonstrate the opportunism of those who underestimate future breakthroughs in archeology and paleography? How has the rise of Egyptology studies in various disciplines completely undermined Smith’s “translation” as a cornerstone of his contrived religion?
  10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 54:00) How do Smith’s presumptive identifications of the various figures in Facsimile 3 reveal aspects of chauvinism regarding race and gender that have been invalidated by historical research and growing enlightenment since the early nineteenth century? How likely is Mormonism to survive accusations of “institutional racism” in a period of increasingly global and multiethnic commerce?