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Category Archives: Biblical
Origin of the "Christian" Fish Symbol
| Most symbols that people use have a story behind them and are used to make a statement. Some of the most famous are the so-called Christian symbols such as the cross and the fish. Whilst they provide a useful mean of identification, all of these are carnal and nowadays used promiscuously by everybody, thus it is best for us to avoid using them. Moreover they all have a precedent story of paganism, a thing we Christian must avoid, even if some says the pagan origins have now been lost in history. The wearing or keeping such symbols has the tendency to bring veneration to them and thus returning to paganism. Besides, what saith the Word of God: God is a spirit, and the ones worshiping Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)
Here are some tidbits concerning this ancient symbol:
When threatened by Romans in the first centuries after Christ, Christians used the fish mark meeting places and tombs, or to distinguish friends from foes. According to one ancient story, when a Christian met a stranger in the road, the Christian sometimes drew one arc of the simple fish outline in the dirt. If the stranger drew the other arc, both believers knew they were
Greeks, Romans, and many other pagans used the fish symbol before Christians. Hence the fish, unlike, say, the cross, attracted little suspicion, making it a perfect secret symbol for persecuted believers. So the early Christians made practical use of this symbol for practical convenience. It is somewhat similar to the use in our days of bumper-sticker and business-card practice to be recognised by strangers, although we are not yet under persecution.
The Romans called the goddess of sexual fertility by the name of Venus. And thus it is from the name of the goddess Venus that our modern words “venereal” and “venereal disease” have come. Friday was regarded as her sacred day, because it was believed that the planet Venus ruled the first hour of Friday and thus it was called dies Veneris. And to make the significance complete, the fish was also regarded as being sacred to her. The accompanying illustration, as seen in “Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism”, shows the goddess Venus with her symbol, the fish. The similarities between the two, would indicate that Venus and Freya were originally one and the same goddess and that original being the mother-goddess of Babylon. The same association of the mother goddess with the fish-fertility symbol is evidenced among the symbols of the goddess In other forms also. The fish was regarded as sacred to Ashtoreth, the name under which the Israelites worshipped the pagan goddess. And in ancient Egypt, Isis is represented with a fish on her head, as seen in the accompanying illustration. A Philistine deity. It is commonly admitted that the name Dagon is a diminutive form, hence a term of endearment, derived from the Semitic root dag, and means, accordingly, “little fish”. The name, therefore, indicates a fish-shaped god. This the Bible also suggests when speaking of the Dagon worshipped in the temple of Azotus (1Sa 5:4) and his trunk. Coins of various Philistine or Phænician cities, on most of which Dagon is represented as a composite figure, human as to the upper part of the body, fish-like as to the lower. From this it may well be inferred that Dagon was a fish-god. e had face and hands and a portion of his body resembled that of a fish, in accordance with the most probable interpretation of “the stump of Dagon” (verse 4). Dagon is sometimes associated with a female half-fish deity, Derceto or Atargatis, often identified with Astarte. One case in point is the church mitre worn by prelates. Where did this originate? Dr. Thomas Inman discussed this phenomenon in his two volume opus, “Ancient Faiths Embodied in Ancient Names,” (1869). He included a representation of a sculpture from Mesopotamia, observing “It is the impression of an ancient gem, and represents a man clothed with a fish, the head being the mitre; priests thus clothed, often bearing in their hand the mystic bag…” “In almost every instance,” added Inman, “it will be recognized that the fish’s head is represented as of the same form as the modern bishop’s mitre.” The fish also appears in another sacred iconograph, the Avatars of Vishnu, where the deity “is represented as emerging from the mouth of a fish, and being a fish himself; the legend being that he was to be the Saviour of the world in a deluge which was to follow…” Typical modern Jewellery:
What are we to do with all these “Christian” symbols that have pagan (satanic) roots? Absolutely nothing. And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:15)
A godly man once said about people wearing a cross hanging from the neck: “we ought to hang on the cross ourselves rather than the cross hanging from our necks”. Another one said: “when in doubt, leave it out”. Whether or not these pagan symbols have lost their original pagan meanings in our modern era (a doubtful situation) it is best not to be involved with them, we do not need them. Moreover, another secure test is to see what the world does with them: if the world loves them, then they are not godly for the world hates anything from God, and our stern warning is this: Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, (1 John 2:15) Therefore a Christian that worships God in Spirit and in Truth has no need to make a physical point for his belief and should not wear any jewellery AT ALL, or make use of symbols, whether he knows if they are Pagan or not. Besides the second commandment forbids the flaunting of such things. The faith of a Christian will be known by ALL if he puts into practice the word of his Master, Jesus Christ: 34 I give a new commandment to you, that you should love one another; according as I loved you, you should also love one another. 35 By this all shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love among one another. (John 13:34-35) http://www.albatrus.org/english/religions/pagan/origin_fish_symbol.htm |
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We Are…
31 ways to pray for your children…
Salvation
Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. (Is. 45:8, 2 Tim. 2:10)
Growth in Grace
I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18 )
Love
Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them (Gal. 5:25, Eph. 5:2)
Honesty and Integrity
May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection (Ps. 25:21)
Self-control
Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do (1 Thess. 5:6)
Love for God’s Word
May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb (Ps. 19:10)
Justice
God, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do
(Ps. 11:7, Mic. 6:8 )
Mercy
May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful (Lk. 6:36)
Respect (for self, others, authority)
Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as your Word commands (1 Pet. 2:17)
Biblical Self-Esteem
Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:10)
Faithfulness
Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts (Prov. 3:3)
Courage
May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions (Dt. 31:6)
Purity
Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions (Ps. 51:10)
Kindness
Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else
(1 Thess. 5:15)
Generosity
Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share, and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age (1 Tim. 6:18-19)
Peace-Loving
Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace (Rom. 14:19)
Joy
May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 1:6)
Perseverance
Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them (Heb. 12:1)
Humility
God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all (Titus 3:2)
Compassion
Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion (Col. 3:12)
Responsibility
Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load (Gal. 6:5)
Contentment
Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength (Phil. 4:12-13)
Faith
I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them (Lk. 17:5-6, Heb. 11:1-40)
Servant’s Heart
God, please help my children develop servants’ hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men (Eph. 6:7)
Hope
May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ro. 15:13)
Willingness and Ability To Work
Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work at it with all their heart, as working for the Lord, not for men (Col. 3:23)
Passion for God
Lord, please instill in my children a soul that ‘followeth hard after thee’ (Ps. 63:8, KJV), one that clings passionately to you
Self-Discipline
Father, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair (Prov. 1:3)
Prayerfulness
Grant, Lord, that my children’s lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Eph. 6:18 )
Gratitude
Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:20, Col. 2:7)
Heart for Missions
Lord, please help my children to develop a desire to see your glory declared among the nations, your marvelous deeds among all peoples (Ps. 96:3)
May Angels…
Did You Receive God’s Gift ?
Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a place where there is no pain or sorrow? A place where you can live forever in peace and have unconditional love? Where can you find this unconditional love?
Is there really a place where there is no pain or sorrow? This unconditional love is given by God and His Son, Jesus Christ and according to God’s Holy Word (the Bible), Jesus is in heaven right now preparing a place for those who choose to follow him and obey His commandments.
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3
This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:10
Are you ready for Jesus to come again and receive you unto Himself? Do you desire to spend eternity with God and His Son, Jesus? Jesus will not force you to choose Him. He gave all of us a free will so that we might CHOOSE Him. What will you do with Jesus? His invitation is there always.
The Invitation
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice ,and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. – Revelation 3:20
Why would Jesus do this for you?
The Story
For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him; should not perish; but have everlasting life. – John 3:16
God does not want you to perish, but instead have everlasting life. But there is only one way to have everlasting life. It is through Jesus Christ, God’s Son. It is not through your church or by being good. It is not through your pastor, priest or rabbi.
Only One Way
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
You cannot be with Jesus and the Father if you have not received His gift of salvation. And just like any other gift, you must RECEIVE it. You cannot be with Jesus and live eternally with Him where there is no pain or sorrow until you do something about the condition of your heart, which is filled with sin and corruption.
All have Sinned
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; – Romans 3:23
Sin is Death
For the wages of sin is death…. Romans 6:23a
But you can do something about the sin in your heart. There is salvation for you through Jesus Christ. It is God’s gift to you.
Receiving the Gift
But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 6:23b
All you have to do is CONFESS your sins and repent. This means to turn away from them.
Confessing Your Sin
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – I John 1:9
I tell you nay, but except ye repent; ye shall all likewise perish. – Luke 13:3
Once you confess your sins, repent, and ask Jesus to be Lord and Savior of your life, then the Holy Spirit comes to live in you and empowers you to obey Him and keep His commandments.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15
And once you give your life to Jesus and follow Him in obedience to His Word then you will have that eternal life and live forever with Jesus in a place of love and peace with no pain and sorrow. What a gift!
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people. And God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Revelation 21:3
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4
Won’t you receive God’s gift today?
God Said…
GOD SAID
If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I’m a Healer?
If you never went through difficulties, how would you know that I’m a
Deliverer?
If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer?
If you never felt sadness, how would you know that I’m a Comforter?
If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I’m forgiving?
If you knew it all, how would you know that I will answer your questions?
If you never were in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your
rescue?
If you never were broken, then how would you know that I can make you whole?
If you never had a problem, how would you know that I can solve them?
If you never had any suffering, then how would you know what Jesus went
through?
If you never went through the fire, then how would you become pure?
If I gave you all things, how would you appreciate them?
If I never corrected you, how would you know that I love you?
If you had all power, then how would you learn to depend on me?
If your life was perfect, then what would you need Me for?
THANK YOU, GOD!
— Author Unknown
It starts at home
Let’s look at these 2 verses:
Lu 8:38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, (39)Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
The Lord did a GREAT thing for this man. No different than the GREAT thing He did when He died for us and Saved our souls Amen?
Now let’s look at:
Mr 6:1-5 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
If we were to be totally honest with ourselves and others we would have to admit that the hardest mission field is our home: our family,friends,your workplace. Why? These are the people that know you better than anyone else! They see you day in day out, they see if you ‘practice what you preach’ as is said so often.
Let’s look at another verse:
Ge 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
It seems that Lot was in a problem here doesn’t it? His testimony was not so good, at this important time when He had a message from God .. he was not taken seriously! If we don’t live and walk with Christ we will look like hypocrites to our family and those that know us. Your family knows you better than anyone else. Who is the real you? Is it when you are at home? Church? Work? The way we are in private is the REAL US.
If we as wives don’t live as a godly example, if our husbands don’t either, the result is our children grow up to be bitter teens!
So we need to take inventory: how do you talk to your family? This verse comes to mind: Eph 4:31 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”.
Yes, there will be times that you will need to speak up for yourself, in defence or more importantly for our Lord. However, we don’t want to be like Lot and when it comes to something important, no one listens; especially those we love.
1Pe 34 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Ahhh the hidden man of the heart! That’s the ticket! It is what God knows and others will eventually see through our actions
Do You See Your Calling?
. . . separated to the gospel of God. . .
—Romans 1:1
Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God. The one all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell— it is redemption. The need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker today. As workers, we have to get used to the revelation that redemption is the only reality. Personal holiness is an effect of redemption, not the cause of it. If we place our faith in human goodness we will go under when testing comes.
Paul did not say that he separated himself, but “when it pleased God, who separated me . . .” ( Galatians 1:15 ). Paul was not overly interested in his own character. And as long as our eyes are focused on our own personal holiness, we will never even get close to the full reality of redemption. Christian workers fail because they place their desire for their own holiness above their desire to know God. “Don’t ask me to be confronted with the strong reality of redemption on behalf of the filth of human life surrounding me today; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes.” To talk that way is a sign that the reality of the gospel of God has not begun to touch me. There is no reckless abandon to God in that. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character. Paul was not conscious of himself. He was recklessly abandoned, totally surrendered, and separated by God for one purpose— to proclaim the gospel of God (see Romans 9:3 ).
From Oswald Chambers, ‘My Utmost For His Highest.’
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