"CHANGING THE PRIESTHOOD MEANS CHANGING THE LAW" - HEBREWS 7:12

“For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law” 

( Hebrews 7:12 )

About a year ago, I sat through a series at church about the Ten Commandments. Each week the pastor would give his message on the next commandment instructing the congregation how to follow it and live it out in their lives. I spent the entire time wondering why a teaching series like this existed. I came to the conclusion that the Church as a whole is missing vital information concerning everything that took place at Calvary. This passage declares that when there is change in priesthood by necessity there also must be a change in law. And if there has been a change in the law, why are we still acting as if there hasn’t been?

Christians still want to live under the Old Testament Covenant which is why we have this hybrid of grace and works that permeates the Church. We teach salvation by grace but holiness by Law as in the example of the teaching series on the Ten Commandments. However Paul said in Colossians, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him” ( Colossians 2:6 ). How did you receive Christ? The only acceptable answer is by faith. So it makes sense that we continue in Him in the very same way. In fact, Paul said in Galatians, “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” ( Galatians 3:10 ). His point is that Jesus became the curse so we could be redeemed from the law’s curse to live by faith ( Galatians 3:13-14 ).

This is why we must pay attention to Jesus and everything that took place at His death and resurrection.  “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess” (Hebrews 3:1). Why? Because the covenant of grace that He ushered in is far superior in every way than the old system of the law. “But the ministry Jesus has received is superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises” ( Hebrews 8:6 ). If we, as New Testament believers, have better promises, then it only makes sense that we know what they are and operate out of them instead of the old system that is aging and ready to disappear ( Hebrews 8:13 ).

This comes as a shock to many people but the old system did not work. Look at this passage from scripture. It actually says this very thing – the old system was broken “For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: “The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord” ( Hebrews 8:7-9 ). The time for change came with Jesus.

The old system of Laws only dealt with the external ( Hebrews 9:10 ) which is why it could never work. Take an apple tree, for example; when the fruit is ready to be picked you might find evidence that it had a worm. However if it is early enough in the season when you pick the apple, there is a chance that the worm is still inside. This is because the apple actual grows around the worm and the worm ruins the apple from the inside out. The law was geared toward the flesh, but since the core was bad, it showed us that we were already defeated and in need of a savior. This is why God had to deal with the heart of man, not merely external behavior which manifests because of what is inside. This is why there was a need for a new Covenant and new system.

“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear” ( Hebrews 8:10-13 ).

Jesus dealt with the core of mankind which is why we must be born again, so that our nature is no longer according to the flesh which is corrupt. Instead it is according to spirit fashioned after Jesus’ in true righteousness and holiness ( Ephesians 4:22-24 ). He put the law of God on the inside of us, writing them on our hearts and minds so that we can know all his ways, it becomes part of us; cleansing us from the inside out, not just a system of rules to live by. This is the change in law. It is not of the letter which condemns, it is of the spirit which gives life. “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” ( II Corinthians 3:6 ).

As believers, our covenant is glorious, which is why it seems inconceivable that anyone would choose to return to the old system of being under the law. “Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone [The Ten Commandments], came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ( II Corinthians 3:7-8 ). The point here is that Jesus ushered in a new system with His priesthood, then gave us the Holy Spirit, which allows us to live in a completely different way. Not by a list of “dos and don’ts” but by His Spirit. “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” ( Romans 8:6 ). Unlike the commandments which arouse the desire to sin ( Romans 7:11 ), living by the Spirit of God actually produces the righteous requirements the law describes ( Romans 8:4 ), which is why the new system under Jesus’ priesthood actually works!

“Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read,a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” ( II Corinthians 3:12-18 )

So instead of spending ten weeks doing a study on the Ten Commandments, which actually puts a veil over our hearts and dulls our minds to the things of God, we should spend time focused on Christ and the change that came with His priesthood. We do not need to be told what the law of God is, through Christ these things have been written on our hearts and exist in our minds and will be evident in our lives by walking and living by the Spirit of God ( Jeremiah 31:31-33, Hebrews 8:10-13, Hebrews 10:15-16 ). We should always look at the law through the filter of Christ which will always confirm what is spoken to us through the Holy Spirit. This is why by necessity there had to be a change in law when there was a change in priesthood. Through Christ a better hope is introduced by which we can draw near to God ( Hebrews 7:18 ) - Written by Juli Camarin on September 27, 2011.

IS THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF THE AMERICA'S REPUBLICAN PARTY BLEAK OR BRIGHT?

The results from the November 6, 2012 presidential election in America  that showed exactly how the Americans from different races, socioeconomic status, age groups and geographical locations voted may be the perfect data that can be used to answer the key question that is raised from the above named subject matter. The GOP as a major national party in America was rejected by the following voting blocs:(i). 93% of the African-American voters. (ii) 73% of the Asian-American voters. (iii). 71% of the Latino-American voters. (iv). 60% of young American voters between the ages of 18-29 and (v) 54% of female voters. A further breakdown of this presidential election results showed that the Democratic Party won 5 million votes more than the GOP from all Americans that are below 30 years of age. A recent study that was done by the group known as the College Republican National Committee that was titled as "Grand Old Party for A Brand New Generation" showed the major reasons why millions of young Americans rejected the GOP and its political agendas. These young Americans between the ages of 19 and 30 years of age described the GOP as racist, lacking in diversity, closed-minded and old-fashioned.


If these political trends that are at the moment working against the GOP go on unabated. Then the most important question to be asked will be directly related or connected to the true political future of the GOP whether it will remain a very viable national political party in America in the nearest future or not. At the present moment, the three different political ideological groups within the GOP are at full war internally against each other by attempting to control the life and the direction of this political organ, but all of them have one common political enemy which is the presidency of Barack Obama. The GOP internally is fractured by the Tea Party ideologues, the establishment group and the Christian religious rights. Today in 2013, the GOP as a major national political party is no longer policy-oriented in nature, its true leaders are the conservative radio and television talk show hosts, bloggers and columnists and its own public elected officials at the United States Congress are simply yes-men in the hands of these news media political jokers, clowns and carnival barkers who are the true leaders of the Republican Party of America today in America in all truth, honesty and reality.

The presidential  election results of 2012 showed that the Republican Party of America or the GOP is moving gradually toward a regional, a southern and most likely an old white men and women only party. With this political development, the GOP may never win the White House again in our lifetime if the party continues on their current retrogressive political path and the highly divisive political ideologies that are not nationally popular or accepted in America of today and mostly likely in the future America to come. The current electoral data from the 2012 presidential demographics in America showed clearly that no political party again in America can win the White House with the white-only votes easily. Furthermore, no political party can win the White House again without winning the substantial and significant votes of the Latino-Americans, the young Americans, the young women and the African-Americans. The rapidly growing Latino-American population in the states of Texas, Georgia and Arizona may likely turn those states in the 2016 or 2020 presidential elections from their stable traditional red states for the GOP into the battle ground states.

The 21st century American politics is now bigger for the first time in our lifetime more than the political vision of our forefathers over 200 years ago. The politics of race and religious bigotry are no longer the true political answers to political victory in American again. You cannot also lie or deceive American voters and manipulate your way to power easily without openness, truthfulness, honesty and integrity. The politics of money-power, negative television and radio adverts failed to win the votes of most Americans for the GOP presidential candidate, Mitt Romney last November. Finally, the American 2012 presidential demographics and the electoral map both reflected the rapidly changing voting patterns that reflect the 21st century American nation that is now more diverse and no longer monolithic in nature.

"PRESIDENT OBAMA AND AMERICA CELEBRATED THE LIFE OF CHINUA ACHEBE OF NIGERIA"

A celebration of life for the late renowned Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe was held on June 2, 2013 at Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington DC. An evocative Arts exhibition featuring Obiora Udechukwu and other artists, as well as a reception began the celebrations. While the background Afro-beat music of Eme and Heteru electrified the audience. Other musical and dance acts of the evening for Achebe’s celebration were the riveting Igbo masquerade dancers, such as “Oja (Ojii) Onu” “Aga ba Masquerade, and “Ijele Masquerade, who performed to honor the dead, a person they believed lived in “immortal state” in spiritual world.

 In her introductory remarks, the Mistress of Ceremonies Dr. Johnetta B. Cole, a director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art, says the lesson Professor Achebe taught us lives on. She further described him as a gentleman from Ogidi in Eastern Nigeria who became a literary icon, and whose classic novel “Things Fall Apart” was translated into 60 languages. Dr. Derrick Harkins who said the opening prayer extolled Achebe’s writing for speaking truth to power and conscience. For Dr. Ruth Simmons, former President of Brown University, while rendering her own tributes eulogized Achebe as a sage, peacemaker, statesman, groundbreaking artist who represents for her a complete human being. She stated further that her first reading of Achebe was to say the least epiphany.

 In a letter delivered by Dr. Joe Leonard Jr. Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, US Department of Agriculture, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama described Professor Achebe:“A revolutionary author, educator, and cultural ambassador, Chinua shattered the conventions of literature and shaped the collective identity of Nigerians throughout the world. With a dream of taking on misperceptions of his homeland, he gave voice to perspectives that cultivated understanding and drew our world closer together. His legacy will endure in the hearts of all whose lives he touched with the everlasting power of his art.”

 Other highlights of the events were a tribute by poet, Sonia Sanchez, Simon Gikandi a Professor at Princeton University, who reads from Achebe’s poem “Beware Soul Brother.” Scott Moyers the publisher of the Penguin Press. Jules Chametzky, Professor Emeritus of University of Massachusetts Amherst, where Achebe spent time in the 1970s and 80s, remembered vividly how Achebe came to his class in 1972 and talked about Biafra war. He described the second transformation of Achebe as his critique of Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” he opined that the essay which was published in The Massachusetts Review changed literary criticism.

 The Francesca Harper Project provided symmetry ballet to test the aesthetic boundaries. The Chuck Mike theatre group engaged an enthusiastic crowd with a theatrical production of a scene from “Things Fall Apart” adapted by Biyi Bandele. Chuck Mike had the audience burst out laughing with his witty and caustically funny narration of his experiences in Nigeria; and the idiosyncratic gestures of Nigerians to the response with the phrase “We thank God” when asked a variety of questions in various scenarios. One of the heartfelt moving tributes for the late Achebe was delivered by his grandchildren, represented by Chochi, who began her speech by quoting Abraham Lincoln “You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.” They remembered their grandfather left a legacy behind when he died. They remembered he left them wisdom; he  left them his shoes, they said they must forget tears to celebrate his legacy, his shoes, and accept responsibility to live life with dignity - By Ademola Bello.

"YOUNG AMERICANS SAY GOP IS "CLOSED-MINDED", "RACIST", "OLD-FASHIONED" AND "FOR THE RICH"

“Solely for the rich", “Lacking in diversity", “Closed-minded", “Racist' and “Old-fashioned.” This is how younger voters characterized the Republican party, according to a 95-page study released Monday by the College Republican National Committee. The report’s authors had an equally blunt assessment: “dismal present situation.” Voters under 30 criticized the party for its stance on issues like same-sex marriage and contraception, while the report’s authors blamed what they describes as “errant Republicans’ voices.” But like the Republican National Committee’s own autopsy from earlier this year, the report gives few suggestions for policy changes that might win over the youth vote, focusing instead on messaging. The report does suggest that the party be “open to debate” on marriage equality.

Minority voters present an especially significant challenge for the GOP. “[Republicans have] that mentality that you’re born like royalty and the peasants stay peasants,” a young Hispanic voter said, according to the report. “I don’t think that is the view that America was founded on. This is supposed to be a land of opportunity.” Another young Hispanic voter blasted the party over the defunding of Planned Parenthood. “I think Romney wanted to cut Planned Parenthood. And he supports policies where it would make it harder for a woman to get an abortion should she choose, even if it were medically necessary. That goes…with redefining rape,” she said. The views of minority voters are increasingly important. The report says non-white voters make up 42% of voters under the age of 30, meaning that “the issue of party diversity and the party’s success with the youth vote are absolutely inseparable.”

The proposed solutions to shrinking the youth voter gap include focusing on economic issues that young people care about and refusing to “concede ‘caring’ and ‘open-minded’ to the left.” In reaching for diversity, young Republicans appear ready to reach out to Latino voters more than African-Americans. While Hispanic youths are quoted repeatedly in the report, it includes no specific thoughts from any black voters, and only a handful of references to how they tend to feel on certain economic issues. From Morgan Whitaker, @morganwinn.

"70% OF CHRISTIANS KILLED WORLDWIDE IN 2012 WERE NIGERIANS" - ICC

"NIGERIA WAS THE DEADLIEST PLACE TO BE IN 2012 AS A CHRISTIAN" - ICC:Seventy percent of Christians killed around the world in 2012 died in the African country of Nigeria, where the persecution continues today. "I think the actual number is 900 Christians were killed in 2012 in Nigeria," reports William Stark of International Christian Concern (ICC). "This year, it's something like 150 [killed] at this point.". Boko Haram, a Muslim terrorist group, has taken credit for persecuting Christians in Nigeria, mostly in the northern region of the country. ICC recently reported the murder of a Nigerian pastor, Faye Pama Musa. He was followed home by suspected Boko Haram militants, who pulled the pastor from his home and shot him. Goodluck Jonathan, the president of Nigeria, has declared an emergency in the northern states, including where Musa was killed, and he has committed the military to go up against the terrorists.

So far, the U.S. Department of State has refused to declare Boko Haram a terrorist group. Secretary of State John Kerry (D-MA) recently chastised Nigeria for its human rights abuses but also said the country has a right to protect itself against Boko Haram, Stark recalls. But if that designation is granted, assets can be frozen and other steps taken to shut down or reduce the flow of money to finance the terrorist organization's activities. - See more at:http://www.onenewsnow.com/persecution/2013/05/31/deadliest-place-to-be-a-christian-nigeria#.Uam_22TwKJd

"THE DEBT CANCELLATION THEOLOGY OF THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL IS UNBIBLICAL"

All human institutions, such as governments, corporations, organizations and the entire human race can not survive or thrive today without owning some debts in this global human economic system. Debt ownership has both its positive and negative consequences to the human institutions and individuals. Debt can be used wisely to create wealth and financial security in life. Debt can be used to achieve high intellectual and educational attainments in life. Banks and financial institutions cannot function, employ millions worldwide, carry out their humanitarian activities and pay their yearly taxes to the governments if they cannot loan out their monies to generate interests in form of debts to others. The world economy system will crash if debts do not exist in it. If all the global debts are cancelled today in all reality, then the governments and the financial institutions all over the global capitalist economic world will grind to their final halt bringing untold hardships, economic recessions, social crises and huge sufferings to humanity worldwide.

The wise management of the IMF/World Bank loans in form of government national debts that were given to Brazil in the 1980s have helped Brazil to create an emerging economy that has moved millions of ordinary Brazilians from abject poverty into the thriving middle class that the whole world today is forced to reckon with, The student loan programs that are made available to the needy American students who desire to go to universities allowed President Barack Obama and millions of other Americans to be college educated and to be out of poverty. Millions of Americans today will not be called proud home owners without these housing loans from these banks. Only very few people worldwide will be able to start their own businesses, get university education, buy or build their own houses, buy their own automobiles and the other basic things of this life without owning debts in form of loans from banks or individuals .

The doctrine of debt cancellation that is part and parcel of the so called prosperity gospel is totally unbiblical and also anti global economic system. That teaching was designed by the preachers and teachers who are totally sold out to the life of greed, lust, love of money and materialism. The debt cancellation theology serves as an avenue that is used by these money-preachers and money-teachers to manipulatively and deceptively exploit their ignorant, vulnerable and gullible disciples under the disguise of debt cancellation by demanding for their offerings in return for those anointing prayers, oil and handkerchiefs for the so called debt cancellation.

"RELIGIOUS FANATISM AND BIGOTRY PUT NIGERIA IN A PRE-SCIENTIFIC ERA" - NIYI OSUNDARE

"Religion has killed rational thinking in this country. I say this all the time, our country is still in a pre-scientific era. That is why things are like this. We don’t think logically; that is why any ruler, any fool would seize the reins and rule us, because we would always find an excuse for being ruled or being led by the nose. Not long ago a pastor said he was between two cities and he discovered that the fuel in his car had run out. He actually checked and saw the fuel in the car was completely gone. But because of his act of faith and on the strength of his prayers, he was able to do two hundred miles on an empty tank! When he declared this testimony, people clapped and shouted “ Hallelujah!” I never heard anybody say how can?"

"Nigerians don’t ask questions; that is why the imams and the pastors lead them by the nose, and the politicians also complete their humiliation and disempowerment. And between the clerics and the political functionaries, there is a very close liaison. It’s a kind of power structure; one controls the political, social realm, the other controls the spiritual, metaphysical realm and they are together. Many Nigerians are not rational, interrogative people. In fact, in this country today, if you are the interrogative type you are easily labelled, branded, and condemned. People even wonder: why are you always asking questions?"

"Another problem: well, our people are docile and the reason why they take all kinds of cheating is that many of them envisage themselves in the position of power someday, too. If I am X and the oppressor is Y, and the oppressor is oppressing me, stealing all the money, and making life difficult for me and my children, I am not likely to attack him. I’ll pray to God to let my own “miracle” happen so that someday, he will go and I will be in his place. No; I am praying for him to go but for the structure to remain."