All posts by : Scott Laird

This week (Dec 16) on Shabbat Night Live, do we know where Yeshua’s name came from? Modern Christianity would have us believe it was unique, but it actually comes from the Torah!

Keith Johnson explains how Yeshua’s name was politicized over the centuries to completely disassociate it from the language, history, and context of the Old Testament!

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: 16:30) In light of the prevalence of the name of Jesus in Western discourse, particularly in the Christian popular culture of hymns, children’s books, and motion pictures, why has so little attention been devoted over time to the essential meaning of his name and its relevance to our salvation? How might this arguably underscore a larger ignorance among the faithful over both meaning and provenance in the Hebrew Bible canon?
2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) How does the plethora of manuscript variants of the Greek New Testament demonstrate the need for a definitive nomenclature for the figure known to us as “Jesus”? Furthermore, how might such a development serve to inspire greater popular spirituality in the midst of our largely post-Christian culture of arbitrary and pretentious naming by individuals, with inconsistent and shifting senses of identification?
3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) How does the Wycliffite translation of Matthew 1:1 with its reference to “Iesu” remind us of the democratic accessibility and global extent of English as a lingua franca, along with its hazards of ever-changing denotation and stylistic standards? How does the growing familiarity with vernacular scripture here and in those of other pre-Reformation figures such as Chaucer and Caxton remind us of the need for vigilance in our own study of biblical texts, to avoid anachronism and outright factual error?  
4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) How can Henry VIII’s promotion of a contemporary English Bible as part of his break with Rome be viewed as an example of the same politicization of scripture as that found in such efforts as the HeGetsUs campaign? How does a monarch’s consolidation of Christianity into an ecclesiastical department of state serve to undermine Yeshua’s identity in the process of making him more accessible to worshippers?
5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:30) How does a passage like Nehemiah 8:17 demonstrate both the strengths and the weaknesses of the King James Bible of 1611 as a source for scripture study and an articulation of doctrine for the private worshipper? How can the progressive establishment of a received orthography and standard pronunciation in Early Modern English be viewed as an unintended obstacle to recognizing the importance of genealogy and naming in the unfolding of Yeshua’s message through his life and ministry?
6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 38:00) In the landmark BBC series I, Claudius, there is a brief mention of a “Joshua Bar Joseph” as a cult leader in the provinces who was executed as a heretic. How does this darkly satirical reference draw our attention to the vagaries of casually equating the familiar names, Jesus and Joshua, without an informed sense of their etymology?   How has the latter-day trend of new parents’ choosing random male names from the Old Testament served to encourage this confusion?
7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 41:00) Similarly, how has the explicit statement of meaning behind the name of Jesus in Matthew 1:21 been largely overlooked among believers, despite the widespread familiarity with the nativity story throughout Western culture? How might a rediscovery of this passage inspire greater exploration of the affinities between the two names under discussion and the divine rationale behind them?
8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 46:00) Ultimately, how might a greater popular spirituality be achieved among believers, particularly those who are lukewarm in their faith or practice of worship, by encouraging an association between Joshua, successor of Moses, and Yeshua, the Messiah? How is the allusion in Hebrews 4:8-10 an indirect expression of Yeshua as the fulfillment of the earlier figure’s identity as a liberator and exemplar of obedience?
9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 50:00) How does Moses’ gesture of changing Joshua’s name from Hoshea in Numbers 13:16 compel the faithful to recognize the inherent element of prophecy in the proclamation of names throughout scripture? How are the changed names experienced by such vital figures as Abram, Sarai, and Jacob galvanized for believers by the angelic declaration in Matthew 1:21, as part of YeHoVaH’s plan for our salvation?
10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 52:00) Aside from the elimination of any historical, linguistic, or cultural context for the life of Yeshua, what are the most egregious omissions in Servant Foundation’s HeGetsUs promotion? How is their conception of the “Jesus of radical forgiveness, compassion, and love” an oversimplification that avoids virtually any sense of transcendent faith that is predicated upon thorough knowledge and obedient practice of received doctrine?

This week (Dec 9) on Shabbat Night Live, mainstream marketing has been flooded with a multi-million-dollar campaign to promote the Messiah — but is it pointing to a savior that doesn’t exist?

Keith Johnson explains why the “He Gets Us” campaign sends a misguided message based upon a false idea of “Jesus” and why the real question is: “Do we get Him?”

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

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

1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 16:00) Why have so many viewers and readers responded to discussions in this forum on the matter of proper names and formal address of God and the Messiah? Why is this such a relevant issue in a period of history wherein agnosticism and materialism have all but triumphed over attributes of spirituality and worship among ordinary citizens, who have become fearful of maintaining their apostolic lives?
2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) How do experiences like those recounted here constitute a bonafide beginning of a “Jesus Journey” for the prospective Christian who would be sincere on his path to salvation? How does the immediate challenge of temptation toward sin after profession of faith demonstrate the providential nature of seemingly random events that compel us to recall the need for an obedient application of Love, as professed repeatedly in the gospel of John?
3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) Similarly, how might a private dispute over the identity or address of Jesus serve to dramatize the virtual impossibility of eradicating this figure from the lives of contemporary individuals, however secular their outlook? What constitutes his staying power, even among those who would censor social media or demand removal of religious expression from public places?
4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) How does the Church of the Nativity continue to cast a long shadow over today’s faithful, despite its location in a disputed territory and the relative disinterest in biblical archeology among many believers? Why does Bethlehem consistently draw international pilgrims on their own Jesus Journeys, even in the midst of enduring controversies regarding doctrine or historical disputes over first-century political economy?
5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) Why do glib public relations campaigns like the current HeGetsUs or the mid-seventies’ I Found It! initiative ultimately fail in their attempts to evangelize through popular media by encouraging parallels between the historical life of the Messiah and our own present-day experience?  How is this reflex an example of anachronism, like that of contemporary slang or hairstyles appearing in a historical costume film?
6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 37:00) Furthermore, how do these efforts to achieve conversion through commercialism often risk failure, owing to the law of unintended consequences? How can the massive funds that subsidize a promotion like HeGetsUs serve to trivialize its purported intention through an emphasis on imagery and phraseology rather than firm grounding in study, discussion, and prayer?
7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 40:00) Similarly, how does this particular endeavor risk endangering genuine faith through its leveraging of current affairs as part of its apostolate? How might its use of race, gender, or income inequality as contexts for spirituality and its focus upon Jesus as a popular figurehead serve to encourage the post-Christian reflexes of agnosticism, “Woke” culture, and personality cultism?
8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 45:00) How do the straightforward opening verses of Matthew’s gospel demonstrate the essential unity of scripture and the fallacy of deriving YeHoVaH’s plan for our salvation from separate books or testaments? How does ignorance over the relevance of such figures as Abraham, Jacob, and David compromise the spiritual growth of believers and make them vulnerable to questionable influences like the organization behind HeGetsUs?
9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 48:00) How does the familiar episode in Luke 2:43-52 of Yeshua’s three-day separation from his family while at Passover continue to resonate, not only among believers as an exemplum or an amusing anecdote but also with skeptics, who might otherwise dismiss his life and ministry altogether as fiction? Why is the significance of his asking questions of learned elders and their astonishment over his understanding often overshadowed by his witty reply to his worried mother?
10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 52:00) Similarly, how is the significance of the detail in John 19:20 – that Pilate’s designation of Yeshua as “King of the Jews” was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin – often glossed over as historical trivia? How can this multilingual designation be viewed as a correlative for both the colonial diversity of this setting and for the ethos of the crucifixion as a sacrifice for all peoples who would preserve his narrative and heed the call of his ministry?

This week (Dec 2) on Shabbat Night Live, America as a whole is certainly not following the Torah, but we started out that way!

Steve Siefken brings a surprising comparison of ancient Israel and the United States — a sobering reminder of how we have risen and fallen in lockstep with our adherence to the Law of God.

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) Why do affluent Western nations continue in our present day to view politics and religion as mutually exclusive? How has much evangelical Christianity tended to downplay the complex relationship between YeHoVaH and his subjects as clearly demarcated figures who are bound to an agreed-upon code of conduct wherein mass disobedience may incur decisive punishment?
2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) How does the simplicity of the final passage in the Book of Judges dramatize the human predicament of choosing between the potential anarchy of a secular state without authority and a theocracy that is predicated on the word of YeHoVaH? Does the current climate of anti-Christian bigotry and desecration suggest the failure or the unintended success of our separation of church and state?
3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) Similarly, how do the words of founding father John Adams serve as both a gloss on Judges 21:25 and an admonishment to future citizens of our nation about an undeniable distinction between good and evil that must be recognized and adhered to, because of our fallen nature?  How does this quotation resonate with that of fellow statesman Benjamin Franklin, who also rejected monarchy for a republic – “if you can keep it”?
4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) How do the words of Deuteronomy 17:15 serve as an ironic foreshadowing of the dangers of subverting divine law in the maintenance of secular governance? How can this be seen to reference the chaotic and divisive climate of our national elections within the last decade, with the influence of such groups as Freedom From Religion or candidates for office who proclaimed “religious beliefs have to be changed”?
5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) How is the notion of a government whose precepts are ultimately derived from divine law currently under threat from factions within media, public advocacy, and political office who are ignorant or dismissive of failed attempts to create a utopian society? How has an atheistic system like Communism been replaced by an autocratic State Capitalism like that of China, whose influence is increasing within the globalist community?
6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 37:00) What are some examples of failure of governance within the U.S. presidency that can be attributed to elected individuals who have either viewed the office in purely secular terms, or have proclaimed their spirituality only to violate divine law in practice? How have these men come to reenact the narrative trajectory of such arguably heroic yet tragic figures as King Saul or King David, whose achievements were undermined by their disobedience?
7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 40:00) How do the historical affinities between British common law and American constitutional law reflect the growing dynamic of traditional precedent and the need for proscriptive rules? How might the founders of the United States be seen to reflect the ethos of the Mosaic Law in their proactive establishment of a written constitution and recognition of the need for a branch of government to interpret it over time?
8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 44:00) How has the vital legal component of due process been marginalized in our current climate of political and societal division? How can the practice of “rendering judgement only after trial” be arguably viewed as a casualty of pervasive ignorance of historical distinctions between nations and peoples, to say nothing of eroding self-discipline and contempt toward authority?
9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 48:00) How does the emphasis upon witnesses help to clarify such a crucial matter as forgiveness, as delineated by Yeshua in Matthew 18? How does the ostensible legalism of the examples in this chapter – particularly the parable of the unforgiving servant – provide a counterargument against the presumption of release from sin or freedom from obedience to the Law that is expressed throughout much of the evangelical culture?
10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 52:00) How is the phenomenon of man-made civil law vulnerable to the influence of sin in the absence of awareness or adherence to the Law, in both its creation and practice? What are some contemporary examples of our diminishing freedoms that have resulted from expanding regulation that suggest an agnostic dismissal of these divine precepts by many leaders, even to the extent of threatening the existence of the constitution?

This week (Nov 25) on Shabbat Night Live, we explore why words matter, especially when it comes to the Scriptures. One of the most important distinctions is the difference between justification and sanctification.

Steve Siefken shares why knowing the difference helps us to understand what the Messiah’s role was and what we are obligated to do in return.

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 notion of the “practice” of law apply in a diverse way to our attempts to learn and obey the doctrine given to us by YeHoVaH? How does this term convey the inherent need of believers who are constantly vulnerable to temptation to review, discuss, and contemplate the strictures of divine Law as well as to acknowledge our failures to do so through lapses into sin?
2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) Conversely, how do the words of Yeshua regarding the process of sanctification through adherence to the Law serve to restrain those believers who would overinterpret scripture through disingenuousness or self-interest? How does the simple brilliance of “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) recall the covenantal nature of our worship of YeHoVaH as well as our need for constant vigilance against weakness of spirit?
3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) How does Paul’s distinction in Romans 2:13 between those who hear and those who do the Law serve to underscore the apostolic nature of all who worship YeHoVaH? How does this discussion emphasize not only the importance of obedience and refraining from sin, but also the prospect of dedicating one’s works, whether personal deeds or professional livelihood, to the greater witness of the divine plan for salvation?  
4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) How does the discussion in James 2:8-12 serve as a warning against a failure to recognize the comprehensive nature of the Law by making false or irrelevant distinctions? How does this rebuke underscore the awareness of this aspect of human nature within the ancient world, not unlike those Greek philosophers who warned against the dangers of sophistry in legal and political contexts?
5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) As with the words of Yeshua quoted earlier, how does the workaday language of Acts 21:24, even allowing for the vagaries of translation, admonish the faithful to pursue a dynamic of belief, perseverance, and works of obedience in their chosen identity as subjects of YeHoVaH? How does the exhortation to “walk orderly” convey both a range of life choices and an indelible sense of responsibility for the believer?
6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 37:00) Similarly, how does the lingering controversy over interpretation of Ephesians 2:8-10 also dramatize the reluctance of many believers to adopt a disciplined and informed code of conduct that reflects adherence to the Law, as well as a fervent practice of worship? Why is it essentially impossible to construe this well-known passage as a statement of freedom from works in favor of salvation through belief or identification?
7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 40:00) How has the word of YeHoVaH been misunderstood and even summarily dismissed owing to many years of emphasis upon Paul as his representative by much of the evangelical community? How do both the parsing and the outright rejection of his epistles through personal interpretation reflect an unwillingness to recognize the complexity of his historical context in the progress of the divine plan?
8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 43:00) How does a recognition of Paul’s identity as a student of the Law, who was taught by the eminent but overlooked figure of Gamaliel, serve to enlighten today’s believers over the nature of his “persecution” of Yeshua’s followers? How does this legal dimension underscore our contemporary fear of erosion of civil liberties through weaponized agencies like the FBI or the IRS within our ostensibly free society?
9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 48:00) How does the conclusion of James regarding the Gentiles in Acts 15:19-21 create a precedent for today’s faithful who must recognize this as an incipient opportunity to learn the Law as a vital prerequisite for salvation? How does this in turn obligate all latter-day followers of YeHoVaH to become diligent “students of the law” in their study of scripture and their witness to unfolding divine revelation within their own lifetimes?
10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 52:00) Similarly, how might the inherent confusion of meaning owing to English translation in Paul’s reference to “ordinances” (Colossians 2:14-15) potentially mislead believers into a careless dismissal of all strictures of the Law? How does a failure to discern the distinction between sacred and secular law serve to deprive the scripture student of the equally important distinction between the contexts of the first century and the present day?

This week (Nov 18) on Shabbat Night Live, we say we love God, but what does that mean? Is loving God something different than we assume? Are there certain requirements of us when it comes to loving God and loving people?

Steve Siefken shares the biblical definition of love and how we are to show 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) How do the near-forgotten words of Malachi 3:6, “For I am the Lord, I do not change,” offer a perspective on the dynamic between the so-called Old and New Covenants? How can Yeshua’s later words be seen as explications and definitions of the Law for the listeners of his time and place rather than a rejection in the manner of evangelism that focuses solely on the text of the New Testament?
2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) How have interpretations of scriptural references to “love” in many evangelical circles served to limit and even distort its extensive meaning as intended by YeHoVaH? How does Paul’s renowned statement in 1 Corinthians 13:13 that love is the most transcendent virtue suggest a legal dimension, one that compels the faithful to consider a range of thought and intention in our interactions to illustrate this affirmation?
3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) Similarly, what is problematic about the recurrent evangelical practice of presuming salvation based on mere acknowledgment of Yeshua as Messiah or belief in YeHoVaH through selected verses from the New Testament?  How does this notion of “easy grace” allow for accommodation of questionable interpretation or even sinful behavior through abandonment of obedience to the Law?  
4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) How can the exhortations in James 4 be viewed as a foreshadowing of Paul’s distinction about the curse of the law for the disobedient? How do those presumptive Christians who rationalize sinful behavior by dismissing the Law demonstrate the notion that “friendship with the world is enmity with God”?  Further, how might this mysterious apostle become rediscovered by many believers for his advocacy of faith life as a covenant rather than a mere mindset?
5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) What are some tenable examples from our contemporary world that demonstrate this aspect of the Law as penalty? How does the extraordinary material prosperity of many otherwise agnostic individuals arguably demonstrate only an unwitting adherence to the Law that is further undercut by familiar expressions of contempt such as anti-religious advocacy and public displays of anti-Semitism?
6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 36:00) Why has the element of blood sacrifice in the crucifixion of Yeshua been ignored or even downplayed by many otherwise devout evangelical Christians? How has the continuity between this crucial juncture and its predecessor, the burnt offering, been all but lost through a general preoccupation with the prolonged torment and execution of the Messiah?
7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 40:00) How does the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution pose a challenge to all citizens of the nation that is virtually identical to the free will offered by YeHoVaH to his followers? How does our freedom to worship, speak, and publish convey both the opportunity for spiritual and cultural growth and the potential for corruption and ruin, all of it dependent upon our own maintenance of conscience?
8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 44:00) How has the disobedience of YeHoVaH’s followers in the so-called Old Testament been echoed within the last century by the reflex of atheism, whether institutionalized within Communism or popularized in the decadent materialism of Western capitalism? Why is the profession of belief itself viewed today as an act of rebellion or disobedience against an ill-defined standard or unwritten law?
9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 48:00) How has Paul’s proclamation that the gospel was preached in the Old Testament through Abraham (Galatians 3:8) been overlooked by many believers in their focus upon ancient prophecies of the life and ministry of Yeshua? Why is it essential for today’s faithful to recognize the continuity between the covenants that began with this venerable figure and extended through the Messiah, beyond recognition of his identity as patriarch of the Hebrews?
10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 52:00) Similarly, why have many believers glossed over the profound meaning of Abraham’s exchange with YeHoVaH in Genesis 15? How does the surreal imagery of this cryptic episode, particularly its detail of the burning lamp passing between the sacrificed animal parts and the “great horror and darkness” that fell upon the patriarch, demonstrate the covenantal nature of YeHoVaH’s categorical statement of his progeny and its enduring relevance for today’s seeker of salvation?

This week (Nov 11) on Shabbat Night Live, the Torah is often referred to as a legalistic burden — but the truth is that it is a legal document that defines our freedom.

Steve Siefken presents the first in a four-episode series that examines the Torah as a national constitution with legal rights, responsibilities, consequences, and means of escape.

Watch the episode — included in 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 notion of the Torah as a legal system that is applicable to nations and peoples serve to dramatize the inherent lack of precedent in man-made systems like Marxism-Leninism? How does our own separation of church and state suggest the constant negotiation between Judeo-Christian law and secular issues that must be part of bipartisan government?
2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) How does the comprehensive nature of the Ten Commandments – particularly their resonance with the later proclamation of love for God and neighbor by Yeshua – underscore our collective failure to recognize the intrinsic evil in permissiveness? How has the evangelical trend of overemphasis on selected verses from the gospels and Paul’s epistles led to neglect of ancient divine strictures that keep us from sin?
3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) Similarly, how does an overlooked verse like Proverbs 18:13 serve to admonish those who have a simplistic or sophomoric approach to a serious matter like salvation? How might this passage be revived in popularity and importance as a mandate for enduring self-education by students of scripture, who recognize the ethos of precedence in any engagement with YeHoVaH?  
4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) How has a pervasive ignorance of this notion of the Law as a divinely-sanctioned precedent also resulted in a loss of definition for “spirit”? How have conflicting interpretations and nomenclatures regarding this word in both sacred and secular contexts served to render this term almost meaningless without recognition of its essential component of “intention.”
5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) How does our current political situation in the United States, marked by bitter division and controversial leadership, pose a serious dilemma for believers who strive to be conscientious citizens? How does the freedom to vote without coercion indirectly dramatize the need to both familiarize ourselves with particular legal systems and adhere to those we have failed to influence?
6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 37:00) Why has the Law, as articulated in the Ten Commandments, been viewed by many believers as proscriptive rather than prescriptive? How has the phrase “thou shalt not” become a reductive cliché that has encouraged a perception of YeHoVaH as a punitive disciplinarian rather than a loving creator who seeks to convey a comprehensive standard of conduct for those who seek salvation?
7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 40:00) Similarly, how has the concept of “witness” become separated from its original context of legality when invoked in discussions of spirituality? How is the common evangelical practice of self-revelation often based upon a subjective testimony of experience rather than an informed sense of justification through obedience to scriptural precedent or verifiable evidence?
8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 44:00) How does Paul’s distinction in Galatians 3:13 regarding the curse of the law recall not only the sacrificial nature of Yeshua’s execution but also the complexity of faith as a practice by all conscientious believers? How does the dynamic between adherence to the law and intention in this chapter serve as a caution against the presumption of easy salvation through mere belief without obedience?
9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 48:00) How has our collective ignorance of biblical precedent and terminology in legal matters led to a pervasive cynicism regarding the practice of law? Aside from the caricature of the mercenary “bloodsucking lawyer,” how have many citizens lost sight of the inherent Judeo-Christian ethos behind such a fundamental precept as presumption of innocence in matters of defamation, whether in private or public spheres?
10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 52:00) Similarly, how has the problem of unskillfulness in communication within a presumably literate society resulted in negligence regarding the interpretation of legal language? How does the failure to acknowledge definitions and recognize ranges of meaning serve to encourage our human tendency to create new laws or discredit extant laws, which is categorically prohibited by scripture?