Brief Background

A while ago, I wrote an essay, "TD Jakes Preaches, Abraham Listens to God, Doesn't Worship Paper." Part of the essay — the beginning — was devoted to a particular sermon delivered by that man and how great it was. I'd been meaning to write that essay for a while, but after seeing his sermon I just couldn't stand it any more and rushed out an essay. Not one of my better pieces of writing. However, God recently showed me it was an accurate interpretation I was trying to share, after I read some from Deuteronomy.

Strategic Side Note

But first an interesting side note that's totally relevant. I wrote that essay nearly one year to the day before TD Jakes' house exploded, or at least part of it! And you know what? If he hadn't changed his rut-like routine, he would have been blown up too. In the video I link to below he describes himself as "very systematic, extremely systematic," and says "every Sunday morning around six o'clock I go in to a certain part of my house to get dressed, and at six-thirty, one of my deacons comes to pick me up. Every Sunday morning I'm in the same room at the same time, every Sunday morning."

He goes on to describe how he felt he should change his routine. If he had not he would have been in the exact spot that blew up! You can see and hear him describe it in his own words by downloading the video, "Manpower 2009, Pt 3." It is definitely another powerful message from the man.

Don't Worship the Dry Tree

All of that goes to support the lesson I tried to share in the previous essay, we are to listen to God, who is alive, and who talks to us.

WE ARE NOT TO WORSHIP THE BIBLE!

I used a quote from Luke, Luke 23:27-31. Here is the last part, a quote from Jesus (NIV):

“… For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Jesus says this after he's been brutalized via flogging, insults, a crown of thorns, and is on his way to be crucified.

I point out the interpretation I have is the "green tree" represents Jesus in the flesh talking his words. The dry tree represents his words written on paper, which are in most instances dead dried trees. I point out that Jesus knew his words would be written down and passed down.

I also point out that Jesus blasted the religious leaders of his day for clinging to their scrolls ("dead trees," or at least dead papyrus, vellum, etc…), in John 5:46, "if you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me." It's also written the religious leaders of Jesus day blasted the man born blind who was healed and shouted at him, "we know God talked to Moses!" [John 9:29 ] (Which is kind of humorous, because they in fact, did not know that — they did not witness it — they took it on faith.)

So, clearly the religious leaders of the day worshipped their scrolls more than God. They were so devoted to searching the scrolls and other things Jesus pointed out: praise of humans, money, power over others, etc… they clung to their dead trees and ignored the living tree speaking the words of life.

Refusing Change. Refusing to Repent.

They could not change. They refused to repent.

So just yesterday when I was taking a look through Deuteronomy I came upon a passage right before Moses died that sounded remarkably like the passage above Jesus spoke before he died (his one and only time by the way). As I said, Jesus knew his words would be written down and passed down.

So here's what Moses said before he died, Deuteronomy 31:27 (NIV),

“… If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die!”

Sound familiar? Hm… I wonder why?

Can I Get a Witness?

Yes, I am now convinced even more that the first interpretation is accurate. And how many witnesses are there? ;-) Well, there's the first one that popped in my mind, then there was me thinking about it and agreeing with it, then there was the sermon TD Jakes gave, then there was the event that happened to him a year later, and last but not least, there was my running across the line from Moses. So that makes five!

I guess I would probably also add this holds true for other religions too. Worship God, not your scriptures.

I have more to say on this issue, but will save it for later.