Ah, thanks.
Snoopy's Lenten Reflections
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unsafe
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AI on Jewish Lent
The Month of Elul (The "Jewish Lent"): The closest Jewish equivalent to Lent is the month of Elul, which takes place 40 days before Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). During this time, Jews engage in repentance, self-reflection, and spiritual preparation, similar to the introspection of Lent, but focused on returning to God rather than preparing for a Messiah's resurrection.
The Month of Elul (The "Jewish Lent"): The closest Jewish equivalent to Lent is the month of Elul, which takes place 40 days before Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). During this time, Jews engage in repentance, self-reflection, and spiritual preparation, similar to the introspection of Lent, but focused on returning to God rather than preparing for a Messiah's resurrection.
paradox3
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I see. Elul starts 40 days before Yom Kippur. It ends on the day before Rosh Hashanah.
The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are known as the days of repentance.
I really only knew about Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) before we started discussing this.
Who knew I would learn so much on this thread?
The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are known as the days of repentance.
I really only knew about Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) before we started discussing this.
Who knew I would learn so much on this thread?
unsafe
Well-Known Member
The Hebrew word for Repentance is Teshuvah
The season of Teshuvah is a 40-day period of repentance, introspection
and returning to God, beginning on the first of Elul and culminating on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). It is a time of spiritual preparation, marked by prayer, charity, and self-reflection, intended to prepare individuals for the High Holidays.
I say ----This introspection,reflects this according to ----AI
Spiritual introspection is the inward examination of one's thoughts, motives, actions, and soul, aiming to shift identification from the ego to the true self and align with divine will. It is a practice found in nearly all faiths that cultivates self-awareness, reduces selfishness, and facilitates personal growth, emotional balance, and spiritual awakening
Key Aspects of Spiritual Introspection
Shift from Ego to Soul: It is designed to move awareness away from the ego and toward the soul, fostering a deeper, more genuine understanding of one's inner workings.
Self-Correction and Growth: It allows individuals to identify, confront, and overcome negative traits or weaknesses, leading to spiritual progress and better alignment with spiritual values.
Divine Connection: In various traditions, it acts as a means to understand one's relationship with the divine or to evaluate actions based on higher, ethical principles.
Peace and Clarity: By going within, practitioners often find inner peace, calmness, and clarity, enabling better decision-making
Tools and Methods
Journaling and Reflection: Recording thoughts, emotions, and daily actions to identify patterns.
Meditation and Contemplation: Taking time for silence and deep contemplation, often practiced to cultivate compassion and reduce the influence of the ego.
Ethical Evaluation: Reviewing actions and intentions to ensure they align with moral or spiritual principles, such as during the month of Ramadan.
Differences in Perspective
Spiritual vs. Psychological: While psychological introspection focuses on mental states, spiritual introspection digs deeper into the soul and the root of self-identification.
Potential for Over-Analysis: Some perspectives, including certain Christian viewpoints, warn against "morbid introspection," which can become self-absorbed and distract from divine focus. The key is balancing self-reflection with outward devotion
I say ----
All This to me sounds mentally and physically exhausting --and -- it is all self driven --
The Greek word for Repentance is --
metanoia: Repentance
metánoia – literally, "a change of mind"
Conceptual Essence
Strong’s Greek 3341, most often translated “repentance,” expresses a Spirit‐wrought reorientation of mind and heart that issues in a changed life.
It is never presented as a mere intellectual shift, nor as a work that earns salvation, but as the God‐enabled turning that accompanies true saving faith.
- Definition: Teshuvah means "return" or "repentance," signifying a turning back to God and aligning one's actions with righteousness.
The season of Teshuvah is a 40-day period of repentance, introspection
and returning to God, beginning on the first of Elul and culminating on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). It is a time of spiritual preparation, marked by prayer, charity, and self-reflection, intended to prepare individuals for the High Holidays.
I say ----This introspection,reflects this according to ----AI
Spiritual introspection is the inward examination of one's thoughts, motives, actions, and soul, aiming to shift identification from the ego to the true self and align with divine will. It is a practice found in nearly all faiths that cultivates self-awareness, reduces selfishness, and facilitates personal growth, emotional balance, and spiritual awakening
Key Aspects of Spiritual Introspection
Shift from Ego to Soul: It is designed to move awareness away from the ego and toward the soul, fostering a deeper, more genuine understanding of one's inner workings.
Self-Correction and Growth: It allows individuals to identify, confront, and overcome negative traits or weaknesses, leading to spiritual progress and better alignment with spiritual values.
Divine Connection: In various traditions, it acts as a means to understand one's relationship with the divine or to evaluate actions based on higher, ethical principles.
Peace and Clarity: By going within, practitioners often find inner peace, calmness, and clarity, enabling better decision-making
Tools and Methods
Journaling and Reflection: Recording thoughts, emotions, and daily actions to identify patterns.
Meditation and Contemplation: Taking time for silence and deep contemplation, often practiced to cultivate compassion and reduce the influence of the ego.
Ethical Evaluation: Reviewing actions and intentions to ensure they align with moral or spiritual principles, such as during the month of Ramadan.
Differences in Perspective
Spiritual vs. Psychological: While psychological introspection focuses on mental states, spiritual introspection digs deeper into the soul and the root of self-identification.
Potential for Over-Analysis: Some perspectives, including certain Christian viewpoints, warn against "morbid introspection," which can become self-absorbed and distract from divine focus. The key is balancing self-reflection with outward devotion
I say ----
All This to me sounds mentally and physically exhausting --and -- it is all self driven --
The Greek word for Repentance is --
metanoia: Repentance
metánoia – literally, "a change of mind"
Conceptual Essence
Strong’s Greek 3341, most often translated “repentance,” expresses a Spirit‐wrought reorientation of mind and heart that issues in a changed life.
It is never presented as a mere intellectual shift, nor as a work that earns salvation, but as the God‐enabled turning that accompanies true saving faith.
paradox3
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Matthew 4: 1-11
The Temptation of Jesus
www.biblegateway.com
Jesus has just been baptized and now he has been led into the wilderness by the Spirit. He fasts for forty days and nights and, no surprise, he is famished.
The tempter appears with 3 temptations that Jesus resists. Each time, He quotes from the Hebrew Scriptures.
The devil departs and angels arrive to minister to Jesus..
This is a familiar passage but I don't remember ever studying it through the lens of Lent. Any thoughts?
The Temptation of Jesus
Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 4:1-11 - New English Translation
The Temptation of Jesus - Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” But he answered, “It is...
The tempter appears with 3 temptations that Jesus resists. Each time, He quotes from the Hebrew Scriptures.
The devil departs and angels arrive to minister to Jesus..
This is a familiar passage but I don't remember ever studying it through the lens of Lent. Any thoughts?
paradox3
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Can't say I have ever experienced Lent as a wilderness time although I have used the metaphor on other occasions.
Interesting that the gospel writers don't have Jesus praying at this time. They have him defaulting to faith and relying on familiar passages of Scripture. Even when famished and presumably quite weak.
Interesting that the gospel writers don't have Jesus praying at this time. They have him defaulting to faith and relying on familiar passages of Scripture. Even when famished and presumably quite weak.
unsafe
Well-Known Member
So it says -------
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness----
So Jesus in His 100% human state ---did not lead Himself into the wilderness -----
God lead Him into the wilderness -------
Greek word for wilderness
Lexical Summary
erémia: Wilderness, desert, desolate place solitary place
I say -----How many of us have felt at times we are in a desolate place in our lives and have no idea how to escape this desolate place -------this wilderness we are in -----
Jesus went to the desert to fast and be tempted by Satan for our benefit ---not for His Benefit -----
When one Receives Jesus today in their heart ----it is not long before Satan is in there like a dirty shirt or a Roaring Lion trying to knock us off our Faith journey -----trying to Tempt us to give up on Our True Identity in Christ -----
This is when the real Spiritual Battle begins -----who will win your Soul today ------Satan or God ----and you win or loose that battle in your mind -----Satan attacks your mind __FOLKS----
Jesus was Fasting and so His body was weak ---He was dehydrated -----had no food etc ----ans is Tempted in this deteriorated condition ------
Satan is a master and knows when a person is at a vulnerable point to attack them that he may get results ----
So Satan Tempts Jesus during His weak period ------ and he does the same to weak Christians
Jesus is Tempted in 3 areas ------which we are also Tempted in --------
Lust of the flesh---Physical ----Hunger ---turn stone into bread
Lust of the Eyes ----Emotions ----throw yourself off the cliff ---
Pride of Life -----Control for personal gain ----Satan says worship me and I will give you all this ------
Jesus fires back with the Sword of the Word -----which cuts 2 ways and -----off Satan goes ----defeated on all counts --
So the Spiritual take away for me is -----Let God lead you from your Wilderness and Resist the Devil's tactics which can infiltrate your Mind ----by doing what Jesus did ---Quote Scripture -----that is our defence against Satan -----
From AI
How to Use Scripture When Attacked:
Identify Lies: Recognize that the devil is the "father of lies" and uses deceitful thoughts.
Take Action:
Immediately replace negative, anxious, or tempting thoughts with the truth of God's Word, as Jesus did in the wilderness.
Pray the Word: Turn the verses into personal, direct prayers for protection and strength.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness----
So Jesus in His 100% human state ---did not lead Himself into the wilderness -----
God lead Him into the wilderness -------
Greek word for wilderness
Lexical Summary
erémia: Wilderness, desert, desolate place solitary place
I say -----How many of us have felt at times we are in a desolate place in our lives and have no idea how to escape this desolate place -------this wilderness we are in -----
Jesus went to the desert to fast and be tempted by Satan for our benefit ---not for His Benefit -----
When one Receives Jesus today in their heart ----it is not long before Satan is in there like a dirty shirt or a Roaring Lion trying to knock us off our Faith journey -----trying to Tempt us to give up on Our True Identity in Christ -----
This is when the real Spiritual Battle begins -----who will win your Soul today ------Satan or God ----and you win or loose that battle in your mind -----Satan attacks your mind __FOLKS----
Jesus was Fasting and so His body was weak ---He was dehydrated -----had no food etc ----ans is Tempted in this deteriorated condition ------
Satan is a master and knows when a person is at a vulnerable point to attack them that he may get results ----
So Satan Tempts Jesus during His weak period ------ and he does the same to weak Christians
Jesus is Tempted in 3 areas ------which we are also Tempted in --------
Lust of the flesh---Physical ----Hunger ---turn stone into bread
Lust of the Eyes ----Emotions ----throw yourself off the cliff ---
Pride of Life -----Control for personal gain ----Satan says worship me and I will give you all this ------
Jesus fires back with the Sword of the Word -----which cuts 2 ways and -----off Satan goes ----defeated on all counts --
So the Spiritual take away for me is -----Let God lead you from your Wilderness and Resist the Devil's tactics which can infiltrate your Mind ----by doing what Jesus did ---Quote Scripture -----that is our defence against Satan -----
From AI
How to Use Scripture When Attacked:
Identify Lies: Recognize that the devil is the "father of lies" and uses deceitful thoughts.
Take Action:
Immediately replace negative, anxious, or tempting thoughts with the truth of God's Word, as Jesus did in the wilderness.
Pray the Word: Turn the verses into personal, direct prayers for protection and strength.
unsafe
Well-Known Member
I do agree with what you say here ------impulses and desires are within us and I believe our Tainted Sinful Nature itself tempts us -----like desiring what others have---that we want too
AI __Says this
Key Aspects of the Internal Tempter:
Internal Desire (James 1:14): Temptation thrives when personal desires entice an individual to choose evil, rather than being forced by God.
The "Carnal Mind": Sometimes, the internal struggle is interpreted as the conflict between the spirit and the carnal mind.
Targeting Identity and Worth: The internal tempter often twists perceptions of worth, causing people to rely on actions for validation.
I think for the Believer these internal tempters can be defeated by Submitting to God and can be eliminated again by doing what Jesus did ---Quote Scripture----Quoting Scripture is a very powerful tool when any kind of Temptation comes for the believer as it drowns out the evil desire within -----and frees the captive ----
For a True Christian to stay in that Carnal Mindset is very dangerous for their true Identity in Christ ----as internal and external desires etc can take control of a double minded believer --
When one accepts Christ into their life ----what reflection they see when they look in the mirror is very important to Satan and his Tempting Schemes ----the Carnal Christian needs to get maturing onward growing in their Faith -----
For the Believer -----who's reflection are you seeing -in the Mirror ----your own --or Christ's
Satan wants to keep you from your true Identity ----Maturing out of that Carnal state is important ===
GordW
Church-Geek-Oramus
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I tend to see this story in the lens of a vision quest experience. Between baptism and the start of public ministry Jesus retreats for a time of reflection to figure out who he is called to be/what his ministry is called to be. The role of the tempter here is not to lead JEsus away from the path but to help him discover/clarify it.Matthew 4: 1-11
The Temptation of Jesus
Jesus has just been baptized and now he has been led into the wilderness by the Spirit. He fasts for forty days and nights and, no surprise, he is famished.Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 4:1-11 - New English Translation
The Temptation of Jesus - Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” But he answered, “It is...
The tempter appears with 3 temptations that Jesus resists. Each time, He quotes from the Hebrew Scriptures.
The devil departs and angels arrive to minister to Jesus..
This is a familiar passage but I don't remember ever studying it through the lens of Lent. Any thoughts?
paradox3
Peanuts Fan
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Well, yes, this is pretty much the explanation I have always heard. But since learning that the passage is commonly associated with Lent, I have been looking for the tie-ins.
We certainly see the aspect of 40 days & nights. And some very serious fasting on the part of Jesus.
unsafe
Well-Known Member
I agree with GordW here------
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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Which is consistent with the presentation of the figure in some other works, too, and the source of terms like the advocate for them. Satan is originally more of a trickster or tester than Lord of Darkness.
paradox3
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The Lord of Darkness believers will tell you Satan can change shape or form. And even use Scripture for nefarious purposes.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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And the Lord of Darkness makes a more compelling opponent if you want to paint the world in big picture Good vs. Evil terms. Jesus as Yoda and Satan as Palpatine type of thing.
The problem with that is you are then moving away from monotheism and into dualism. Zoroastrianism, for instance, posits a conflicting duality of divine forces in Ahura-mazda and Ahriman. Christianity (and Judaism and Islam) are supposed to be monotheist, not dualist, but if Satan is a force of evil counterbalancing God as a force of good, then that's more Zoroastrian to my eye. It is interesting that neither Judaism nor Islam accords Satan the kind of power that certain branches of Christianity seem to.
However, if the battle is really about us struggling with our own selfishness and immoral desires, then maybe the trickster actually makes more sense. We aren't really battling Satan, but our own failings and Satan is just there to tweak our spiritual noses and test our resolve. There is no opposing force of evil, just us imperfect beings struggling to be good.
As a result, I have tended to see Satan more as a symbol of the temptation from within than a literal external force.
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paradox3
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Have wondered the same thing about other stories that tell us Jesus is alone somewhere.
Me too, and considering that the early Jews were insistent on eyewitness within the law (at least 2,3 or more as witnesses in court) and the same amount or even much larger for some supernatural or miraculous events.( The Revelation at Sinai, witnessed by 600,000 people, was considered the ultimate, indisputable testimony to Gods direct intervention to history)
While the Talmud or Folklore will also mention supernatural occurences like demons or sorcery or the raising of spirits these were often met with scepticism or considered forbidden acts rather that acts of God. There was a distinction from magic.
When making evaluations of miracles, if a prophet or dreamer performed a sign or wonder, this alone was not enough to follow them, the validity of the message was paramount (it must have an alignment with the law) even if a supernatural event was witnessed.
(AI)