Did He Just Call Me a Goat?

Edited for a preface: I notice that this post is being passed around, yet I don't know to whom or by whom. So, to you who are reading, who may have been the one giving or sponsoring the lecture of which I speak, let me say this: first, thank you for your time, effort and invitation--it has stretched me. And if I am mistaken in my interpretation of what you were telling your audience--if you do not, in fact, believe that your righteousness is increased by your keeping of the feasts (and thereby mine is diminished because I do not) then I look forward to your correction and gloriously full fellowship as two children of God who are to be found to His right with all the other sheep...

The girls and I have been studying history from the beginning again. Ancient Egypt with all their imaginative gods; Ancient Greece and all their ridiculous deities. It's much more fun with a dialectic/rhetoric stage student at the table--let me tell you. Fifi asked recently, "Does Satan learn?"

Does Satan learn? Well, I don't presume to know his mind, but it seems to me that his counterfeit religions have become more and more...what's the word?

"Sophisticated?" interjects Fifi.

Yes--sophisticated. Often I must remember that Satan, the creator of every faith system that fails to save, needs only to keep one thing from his blind follower--only one thing--the one thing that saves: faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, by grace, through faith.

But, seriously, look how the father of lies has moved from celestial beings with chariots, to sea creatures, to serene beings, to mortal men with fantastic leadership skills. And now we see God's very own principles and text being used to dupe His people--if that were even possible, as the Scripture says. Look how close to the line he is in these last days:

Prayer? Yeah, go ahead--how lovely.

Charity? Oh please, by all means.

Church attendance? Absolutely! Especially if it makes you feel accomplished.

Evangelism? That's a natural. How does the old saying go? "You never really know a thing until you teach it?" Absolutely. Go out there and teach others.

I attended a lecture this week on the Biblical Feasts. I thought it would be a cultural study--an interesting background to better understand the fathers of the faith and faith in Jesus Christ from their perspective of looking forward. But first thing after the introduction, our speaker explained that the "paths of righteousness" in Psalm 23 refer to the cyclical nature of the Biblical feasts because of where the word "paths" originates.

Soon after that, he suggested that if he were to ask the group, "Who here keeps the feasts?" that some would raise their hands, and others would not. And that that would be a separation of sorts. And then he likened it to that day when Jesus will tell the impostors to depart from Him because He never knew them.

Yes. I think, maybe--probably, he just politely called me a goat!

But I like to believe the best about people, so I ignored it and continued to listen. And I think, maybe--probably, he continued to teach that to truly walk in Christ's righteousness, we must keep the feasts. Which, translated, is to say that we must do the feasts.

Cuddlebug tuned it out.

Dumpling didn't understand.

Fifi wondered if knew they were twisting the Scriptures.

And I sat awed that I was living it. I was living in a moment like that one that the Scripture was written for when it cautioned me to beware those who would come preaching a Gospel other than the one that saved me. Because I was not saved by the Biblical feasts; I was saved by the One to Whom they all pointed. If I am obliged to accomplish these works, then I can no longer boast a salvation by grace. And a salvation that is not by grace alone, is no salvation at all. I know that all my works of righteousness are as filthy rags.

Why do people do that? Why are they anxious to strap themselves in chains again? Are they scared? Are they in need of reassurance? Are they feeding the most common and wicked failing of our human condition? Is pride leading them to script a part for themselves that isn't in the plan of salvation?

I'm thankful tonight for all the portions of His Word that He has allowed me to hide in my heart over the years. His Spirit used them this week to ward off confusion and error in my soul. When others would try to preach salvation by the keeping of the feasts, I remember that He nailed them to the cross. While others seek reassurance of their salvation, I remember and am thankful that the Spirit, Himself, bears witness with my spirit that I am a child of God. When others try to confuse me with the use of "Yahshua" in place of "Jesus," or "Yahweh" in place of "Father," I remember that the name (station/title of Savior) of the Lord is a strong tower, and when I run into it, I am safe.