Restoration Ministries: Teachings
~ Geskryf deur Jimi le Roux
Ek het onderneem om iets oor tatoeering te skryf, en het ook nou te lank uitgestel. Die saak is eintlik heeltemal eenvoudig, maar laat ek maar net eers die opinies stel:
1) die tradisionele beskouing is dat die Bybel tatoeering vir ons uitdruklik verbied in Lev 19: 28 en dit is die einde van argument - wat is eintlik dan nog te se na so 'n duidelike opdrag (Ou vertaling)
Julle mag ook terwille van 'n dooie geen snye in julle vlees maak nie en geen ingeprikte tekening in jul vel maak nie. Ek is die HERE.
Die Jose sit om hierdie rede ook geen tatoeering op nie, en die wat tatoeering op het, mag (tradisioneel) nie in die Joodse begraafplaas begrawe word nie.
2) die meer resente beskouing (onder sommige) is dat die bg. uitleg nie korrek is nie en oor tatoeering gaan nie maar oor iets anders, of nie op ons van toepassing nie, en dat tatoeering us OK is. Daar is dus ook Christene wat tatoeerings laat opsit.
Die agtergrond van tatoeering is natuurlik meer negatief. Let op die volgende:
* Heidene het hulleself getatoeer,
en het spesifiek hulle gode se naam op hulleself geker. Tatoeering is dus geassosieer met barbaarsheid (selfs deur die Romeine) en afgodediens. Die heidene het hulleself ook algemeen as rougebruik stukkend gesny - uit hartseer, maar ook as 'n offer. Selfs die Jode het op 'n stadium meegedoen. Die bg. vers verbied beide hierdie gebruike uitdruklik.
* Slawe en oortreders is natuurlik gebrandmerk,
nader na ons tyd was dit gewoontlik maar die rowwe ouens wat tatoeerings gedra het, matrose, gangsters, bikers, tronkvoels,... maw tatoeering was 'n teken van rebellie.
Tatoeering het tradisioneel dus aar 'n slegte naam. Konnotasies met tatoeering is dat dit steeds die rowwe ouens is wat tatoes dra, dat dit steeds uitdagend en onkonvensioneel is.
Kom ons keer terug na die Bybel.
1) Die teks is wel deeglik duidelik in Levitikus 19. Die Jode verstaan dit uitdruklik en is heeltemal reg as hulle dan nie tatoeer nie.
2) Kom ons lees egter net een vers terug (v 27)
Julle mag die rand van julle hoofhare nie wegskeer nie.
Ook mag jy die rand van jou baard nie skend nie.
Ortodokse Jode hou ook hier gebod nog net so - Joodse mans laat hulle baard groe en skeer dit nie eens netjies met 'n rand nie. Dis om hierdie vers gehoorsaam te wees.
As Christene volg ons egter nie hierdie gebod nie.
Hoekom ignoreer ons dan die een vers en gehoorsaam die volgende een?
3) Kom ons lees egter nog 'n een vers terug (v 26)
Julle mag niks met bloed en al eet nie.
Julle mag nie met verklaring van voortekens of goelery omgaan nie.
Die eerste gedeelte het te doen met die belangrike Kosher-reel, wat die Jode net so volg. Ons eie vleis is egter nie Kosher geslag nie, en geen Jood sal sy mond daaran sit nie. Hulle koop net by 'n Kosher slagtery, en nie by Checkers of Pick 'n Pay nie.
4) Kom ons lees egter nog 'n een vers terug (v 19)
sien ons 'n opdrag dat ons nie twee soorte saad in dieselfde land mag saai nie, dat ons nie twee soorte klere saam mag dra nie (bv. wol en linne)
Julle moet my sabbatte onderhou en my heiligdom ontsien. Ek is die HERE.
Ons hou as Christene ook nie die Joodse sabbat nie, en rig nie ons geloofslewe op die (Joodse) tempel nie. Lees maar self verder in daardie hoofstuk na dinge wat ons ook nie meer doen nie.
Hoe moet ons dan nou hierdie vers verstaan? Let op:
1) Ons is nie langer onder die Ou Testamentiese wet nie.
In Romeine en Galasiers maak Paulus dit duidelik dat Jesus ons losgekoop het vna die wet en dat Christene (ons) nie eers Jode hoef te wees (en die wet te hou, met offers, besnydenis, Sabbat, eetreels ens) te einde Christene te kan wees. Hy se dat ons die wet volkome nakom as ons deur die Gees gelei word.
Lees Romeine 7-8 en Galasiers 2-5
2) Hoe kan ons dan onderskei?
wat in die ou Testament van toepassing is en wat nie? Dit is inderdaad 'n gryserige area, maar ons onderskei tussen die kultiese wette en die morele wet. Die eersgenoemde is duidelik spesifieke sake bedoel vir Jode in hulle konteks, hulle hele kultiese stelsel (offers, tempel, feeste, ens) of dit is die toepassing van 'n algemene waarheid in hulle antieke kultuur en dieselfde waarheid sal in ons tyd 'n bietjie anders toegepas word. Die laasgenoemde is meer algemeen van aard - die Tien Gebooie is 'n goeie voorbeeld - en is duidelik geldige beginsels vir alle tye en mense. 'n Ander nuttige maatstaf is hoe Jesus dit hanteer, want Hy het klem gele op die essensie van die wet, en by ander geleentheid eenvoudig 'n streep getrek deur 'n Ou Testamentiese wet (bv. Mat 5:38). Sy eie wet is dat ons mekaar moet liefhe (Johm 13:34) - dit is die vervulling van die hele wet (Rom 13:10).
3) Die kwessie van tatoeering val duidelik onder die e.g. kultiese wette. Dit het te doen met spesifieke heidense gebruike waarvan die Jode hulleself moes weerhou (soos die hele hoofstuk ten het in die konteks). Dit het te doen met:
4) In die N.T. is daar geen verdere verwysing na tatoeering nie. Paulus se ons liggame is 'n tempel vd Heilige Gees (1 Kor 6:19-20) en dat ons God in ons liggame moet verheerlik. Dit is inderdaad 'n belangrike beginsel, maar Paulus bedoel daar dat ons nie seksuele sondes moet begaan nie. Dit is 'n vergryp aan ons liggaam, wat God se liggaam is. Dit is 'n ope vraag of die gedagte sou impliseer dat ons nie aan ons liggame mag 'verbeter' nie.
Wat dan van:
* kosemetiese operasies (ook 'n 'permanente verbetering' van die liggaam)
* ortodontiese handeling
* operasies om gebreke reg te stel
* hare kleur, mooi aantrek, gym to gaan, ens om ons liggame 'mooier' te maak?
Dis te betwyfel of Paulus sulke dinge bedoel - hy skryf teen ydelheid. Die NT se hele klem is eintlik weg van sulke tipe wettisisme af, en meer na 'n wander deur die Gees en 'n lewe van liefde. Daar is sekere dinge in die NT (bv, die eet van offervleis, die vier van 'n spesiale dag (Sabbat) wat Paulus oorlaat aan die gewete van die Christen (sien Rom 14) en tatoeering van heel waarskynlik onder sulke temas. In Openbaring lees ons interessant dat die Here SY NAAM op ons sal skryf (Openbaring 7:3, 14:1, 22:4) - aan die einde van die tyd is Hy dan die Groot Tatoeerder? Weereens sien ons dat tatoeering 'n geestelike konnotasie kry - getatoeer ('gemerk') nie vir die afgode nie, maar vir God.
lees meer hieroor by:
Addictive behaviours and the addictive process
Any activity, substance, object or behaviour that become the major focus of a person’s life to the exclusion of other activities or that has begun to harm the individual or others physically, mentally, or socially is considered an addictive behaviour. A person can become addicted, dependent or compulsively obsessed with anything. Some researches imply that there are similarities between physical addiction to various chemicals, such as alcohol and heroin, and psychological dependence to activities such as compulsive gambling, sex, work, running, shipping, or eating disorders.
It is thought that these behaviour activities may produce beta-endorphins in the brain, which makes the person feel ‘high’. Some experts suggest that if a person continues to engage in the activity to achieve this feeling of well-being and euphoria, he or she may get into an addictive cycle. In so doing he/she becomes physically addicted to his/her own brain chemicals, thus leading to continuation of the behaviour even though it may have negative health or social consequences. Others feel that these are just bad habits. It isn’t. This is a full blown addiction.
Most physical addictions to substance such as alcohol, heroin or barbiturates also have a psychological component. For example an alcoholic who has not used alcohol for years may still crave a drink. Thus some researches feel that we need to look at both physical and psychological dependencies upon a variety of substance, activities and behaviours as an addictive process and as addictive behaviours. They suggest that all of these behaviours have a host of commonalities that make them even more similar than different from each other and that they should not be divided into separate categories or problems.
Common Characteristics among addictive behaviours.
Identify your addiction:
There are many common characteristics among the various addictive behaviours:
· The person becomes obsessed (constantly thinks of) the object, activity or substance
· They will seek it out or engage in the behaviour even though it is causing harm (physical problems, poor work or study performance, problems with friends, family, loved ones, fellow workers)
· The person will compulsively engage in the activity - that is do the activity over and over even if she/he does not want to and find it difficult to stop.
· Upon ending the activity, withdrawal symptoms often occur. These can include irritability, craving, restlessness or depression.
· The person does not appear to have control as to when, how long, or how much he or she will continue the behaviour (you now have lost control). (They drink 6 beers when they only wanted one, buy 8 pairs of shoes when they only needed a belt, ate the whole box of cookies, eventually get caught up in homosexuality or child pornography when they only wanted to look at a few naked pictures).
· He/she often denies problems resulting from his/her engagement in the behaviour, even though others can the negative effects.
· Person hides the behaviour after family or close friends have mentioned their concern (hide food under beds, alcohol bottles in closets, doesn’t show spouse credit card bills, passwords on websites and personal profiles, etc.)
· Many individuals with addictive behaviours report a blackout for the time they were engaging in the behaviour (don’t remember how much or what they bought, how much they lost gambling, how many miles they ran on a sore foot, what they did at the party when drinking etc.)
· Depression is common in individuals with addictive behaviours. That is why it is important to find out what is going on.
· Individuals with addictive behaviours often have I low self-esteem, feel anxious if they do not have control over their environment and comes from psychologically or physically abusive families.
Addictive persons often becomes violent themselves towards loved ones, express road rage and are highly irritable with those around them. This often is the result of suppressing their cravings for their addiction or when they want to hide the matter at hand.
"Unforgiveness and an absence of love"
Satan knows that if he can deceive us into harboring anger, bitterness, or grudges toward our fellow Christians, he can actually cause us to fall from the grace of God. The scripture says, "looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled" (Heb. 12:15).
According to the Bible, it brings grief to the Holy Spirit if we will not forgive and love one another. The Apostle Paul said, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you" (Ephesians 4:30-32).
Is it really possible to lose one’s salvation by merely holding a grudge against someone? Jesus left no room for doubt on the subject. He clearly stated that we cannot have God’s forgiveness if we choose to withhold forgiveness toward others. "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt 6:14-15).
It’s no wonder why Satan works so hard to stir up turmoil, and tries to keep us from forgiving and loving each other. If he can deceive us into harboring bitterness, he knows that we will exempt ourselves from God’s forgiveness of our sins, and will ultimately go to the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15). The consequences of unforgiveness is reiterated in many scriptures: Matt. 18:21-35, Mark 11:25-26, Matt. 6:12, Luke 6:37, Luke 11:4.
The scriptures make it very clear that the person who withholds forgiveness in not right with God. Their prayers go unanswered, they lack the Lord’s joy and peace. They will usually mainfest a critical and judgmental attitude, along with a dissatisfaction with with the people and circumstances around them. They may blame their unhappiness on a variety of other things, but the problem lies within themselves -- they’re simply out of fellowship with the Lord.
It’s time to wise up and become aware of Satan’s most effective weapon! Many believers still seem to be ignorant of these tactics of the enemy. They coddle offenses and grudges as though they were "pets" to be fed and watered. There is probably nothing else that has been more devastating to the body of Christ than unforgiveness. It has split Churches, destroyed families, and ruined lives forever! No wonder Christ spent so much time on the subject.
Jesus taught that loving God and loving one another were the highest ideals of His followers (Luke 10:27). Love and forgiveness is the most basic standard of Christianity -- it is the mark of followers of Christ -- the highest display of spiritual maturity! Love is the evidence necessary to convict you as a true follower of Jesus Christ. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).