#thebible

Captured moments in Ethiopia 🇪🇹, where an African priest showcases an over-a-thousand-year-old painting of Jesus from the oldest illustrated Bible on Earth and the Ark of the Covenant.

This Art was created by me Rev PapaJ.

in this post I truly want people to understand what this really is buy someone who was tough but not read up on.

Hoodoo Explained: More Than Just Magic, It's Faith in Action.

Ever heard the term "Hoodoo" and wondered what it truly means? I bet you heard that it's just a practice because voodoo is the religious part. WRONG... Hoodoo is a traditional African American folk spiritual practice that originated in the Southern United States. It's a rich blend of African spiritual traditions and Christian Practices.

1 To me It's vital part to help you understand that Hoodoo was not created by the initial African men and women who were brought here in boats, but rather by their descendants, African Americans born and raised in the American South. It emerged out of a profound and urgent need to help its people to challenges the oppression, and daily struggles they faced. For many who practice it, especially those from traditional Southern Black communities, Hoodoo is not merely a set of spells or workings. Instead, it is deep interwoven with their Christian faith, often described as an version Africanized of Protestant Christianity, particularly Southern Baptist.

The Foundation, of God, The Bible, and Ancestors: At its core, Hoodoo relies on these three pillars and nothing else from other spiritual systems. There are no moon phases, no "head workings" (or any other concepts from other practices), no complex astrological charts, or anything else adopted from unrelated spiritual traditions.

2. Passed It Down, Not Reading It Up: Crucially, one cannot learn traditional Hoodoo solely from a book. Just like any other form of religion or deep spiritual practice, it must be learned directly from a seasoned teacher. This oral tradition ensures the proper understanding, ethical application, and spiritual integrity of the practices, which are imbued with layers of communal history and personal experience.

Important Port of Hoodoo Is Christian Religion in it's Practice: For these Southern men and women, Hoodoo is their religion, no different in its core belief in God than other Christian denominations. 'They believe in God, engage in prayer, attend church services, become pastors, and participate in baptisms'. The "workings" or "spells" are seen as direct applications of their faith, prayers in action, empowered by the Holy Spirit and guided by the Bible.

The Key To Practicality: Hoodoo is all about bringing about results. Whether it's for luck, protection, love, money, health, or even justice, Hoodoo practitioners use various methods to influence their circumstances, always with God at the center.

Q. What's The Original Meaning Of Hoodoo: If you've ever read my old post, you'd know what the term Hoodoo really means? What is was tough years ago is that over the last twenty-something years, this term has become a catch-all, used to identify a lot of different root workers. But down South, among folks who are considered real root workers, the word "Hoodoo" has a much more specific meaning: "to delete someone". Some Southern folks might say "to send them down the river," while others say "to send them to the upper room." Either way, it's a term that means to seriously hurt or even kill. It's not about healing or helping; it's about making someone disappear, one way or another.

The Bibles Resource: The Bible is an incredibly important spiritual text in Hoodoo. Biblical Psalms, verses, and Christian prayers are frequently incorporated directly into Hoodoo workings and spells. It's seen as a book of power, divine instruction, and a source for spiritual remedies and blessings.

Q. Is There A Place for Catholic Saints or Idols? Not really. With its strong Protestant and particularly Southern Baptist roots, Hoodoo generally does not venerate Catholic saints. For many practitioners, the Bible is taken literally in its teachings on sainthood, where all believers are considered saints (as in the Pauline epistles). Furthermore, the Bible's commandments against worshipping or praying to " images" or "false idols" are deeply respected. Therefore, prayer is directed to God alone, and objects used in Hoodoo are seen as tools or conduits for intention, not as deities or objects of worship themselves.

The Bibles Description Of The Saint, "Saints" refers to all Christians, both living and deceased, who are united with Christ. Catholics.

Your Ancestors: Honoring and working with ancestors is a significant part of Hoodoo. Ancestors are seen as guides and protectors who can assist in spiritual workings, always under God's ultimate authority.

The Misconceptions in Hoodoo: Is That Hoodoo is simply a secular folk practice. This is not true for traditional Hoodoo. For many practitioners, it is profound a spiritual and religious expression of their Christian faith.

Doing Dark Magic": This is a common misconception often fueled by stereotypes. Hoodoo, like any spiritual practice, can be used for good or bad, However, the majority of it's workings focuses on the positive, protection, and self-improvement, always seeking divine favor. It's about influencing circumstances and seeking God's will, not inherently causing harm.

At its core, Hoodoo is about empowerment and agency – giving individuals tools to navigate life's challenges and manifest their desires through spiritual means, all within the comprehensive framework of their Africanized Christian faith. It's a testament to resilience and ingenuity, born from a unique historical context it doesn't mean you need to be a Christian but you do need and have a profound respect for the Bible and that it's apart of this religion. So If you don't believe I'm the word of God and his son this isn't for you.

I cannot believe we are already halfway through 2025. As I get older, the time seems to be going by faster and faster (even though time is constant.)

I am not sure that I have ever really taken the time to blog specifically on Pride on this blog before. So, this year, I am.

On my Facebook page I have a lot of conservative Christian friends. This post is for them, but most likely, very few will probably read it, so I hope this will give a bit of encouragement to my liberal Christian friends.

Two years ago I wrote a book, "The Case for Christian Inclusivity: How the Misinterpretation of Scripture Paved the Way for Church Homophobia, Pedophilia and Sexual Assault." I wrote it more as a therapy to help me get through church trauma from the Church of the Nazarene. But, I also thought it might be a good tool for Christians who believe that LGBTQ+ have a rightful place in the leadership of the Christian Church to use so that it might open eyes of conservative Christians who believe that just by being or associating with the gay community, that they are sinning.

I used to believe that.

I used to believe that being gay was a choice and that by that choice, people were sinning against God and choosing to go against God's covenant of marriage. Over the past couple of years especially, I have been repenting from that belief.

Associating with and being a part of the LGBTQ+ community is not sinful, if it was, the millions around the world who prayed to God to take that sin away, God would have taken it.

And how do I know?

I lost track at how many sleepless nights I had, crying out to God, to take away this part of me.

(If it isn't obvious, by now, I identify as bisexual.)

After much time, reflection and prayer, it occurred to me: What if God isn't taking this "sin" away from me, because it isn't a sin at all? Why would the God of love torture me in that regard?

God wouldn't.

And if God did, I am not sure I would want to worship a God like that.

For Pride this year, I am going to be blogging excerpts from my book, in hopes that it sparks good dialogue. That it might open some hearts and minds to the fact that the overall arching teaching about homosexuality in the Bible is actually a misinterpretation.

To start, I am going to be referencing Part 2: The Current Consequences of LGBTQ+ Individuals in the Church:

"The Pew Research Center, which began in 2004, according to their website, is a "nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. We conduct public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research. -93% of all LGBT Adults see at least one religious institution as "unfriendly." Proverbs 18:1-2: 1: Unfriendly people are only about themselves; they lash out at common sense. 2: Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. -76% of religious adults believe homosexuality should be discouraged, by frequency of attendance at religious services James 2:8-9: Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself (quoting Leviticus 19:18). 9: But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. To discourage people from coming to church to worship the living God is downright shameful and ridiculous. We should be welcoming everyone who wants to come to church and greet them with the love and kindness God has shown us, not bar people because we might not like something about them. James 2:1-4: NASB: 1: My brothers and sisters, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2: For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and is dressed in bright clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in, 3: and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing bright clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool." 4: have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? We must stop being evil judges who are trying to kick out the LGBTQ+ people and allies in our churches. May God have mercy on our souls if anyone believes this is the right action, when clearly it violates Scripture. -48% of LGBT+ adults are unaffiliated with religion -60% (of the 48%) are 18-29 year olds -45% (of the 48%) are 30-49 year olds -39% (of the 48%) are 50 or older*

*Bolton, Cody Marie. The Case for Christian Inclusivity: How the Misinterpretation of Scripture Paved the Way for Church Homophobia, Pedophilia and Sexual Assault. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. 2023. pgs. 18-19

Unfortunately, the LGBTQ+ demographic seems to be "lost", not because of what they are doing, but because how Christians have treated them.

In Part 2, we will discuss more about the exact misinterpretation that has caused this hatred toward our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters.

In Part 3, we will also discuss how Pedophilia is also involved and how it pretty much runs unchecked.

In Part 4, we will also discuss Sexual Assault and how it is all connected with this misinterpretation of homosexuality in the Bible.

In Part 5, we will take a look at the Scripture verses themselves, like Leviticus 18:22 and others, and what should be the more appropriate interpretation than what is the current "standard."

Happy Pride!

Peace, Love and Blessings,

Despite your appearance or position, praise the Lord in your works and work for Him. Be a good example of the people around you 💡

Titus 2:6-7 KJV

6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

1 Timothy 4:12 KJV

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

“BEHOLD THE LAMB”

John 1:29

It was mid 2016 that I was enraptured in the grace of God as I was struck by the beautiful truths of the gospel. That’s essentially what pushed me to begin creating art that would be for the glory of God and hopefully encourage God’s people.

Sometimes, as I draw, I get awestruck, in part because I can’t believe I’m drawing what I’m drawing it often feels otherworldly. And most of it is symbolism for realities that truly are otherworldly. Things like, a risen lamb, the lion that conquered death, the spirit of God dwelling within.

We don’t physically see these things but believe them to be true by faith in what scripture teaches. A faith given to us by Yahweh.

Most of my art carries these three elements; the lamb, the dove and the lion. Which to me is Messiah represented in all three the lion of Judah, the sacrificial lamb that God provides for our sins, and the dove representing the Holy Spirit of Yahweh(which is also referred to as the spirit of Christ. Rom. 8:9, Gal. 4:6). So in essence I am trying to communicate the richness of Messiah Jesus in whom the fullness of God dwells in, represented in these three creatures.

Messiah Jesus is worthy of beholding, for he took our sins upon himself and died the death we rightfully deserved to grant us the forgiveness of sin and the reconciliation with the Father.

This Messiah is the lamb that was slain, the Lion that conquered death and the spirit that now lives in those who put their trust in him for salvation from sin and death.

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