Image (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beelzebub.png)
The Jewish people were very much a tribal nation throughout the entire Biblical text. They were constantly at war or in some kind of battle with their enemy. Even when reading the New Testament there is still an enemy, it’s just that it changes from outsiders to insiders within the Jewish culture. Nevertheless, they were still at war. The way they degraded their enemies was by degrading their gods and render then impotent. It was the ultimate smack in the face to degrade a city state's or tribe's god. If you read through the book of Exodus you will find one of the biggest theological "bodyslams" in ancient historical writings. The plagues weren't just plagues against Egypt, each plague was directed at an Egyptian deity. After all the Egyptian gods were debunked, Egypt let them go.
One of the biggest enemies of the Jewish people were the Philistines. You remember the story of Goliath--you know, the big giant that David killed. He was a Philistine, and in a literary sense, he was a symbol of something larger. The author of this Bible story specifically gives measurements of his weapon and what it looked like. It said his "armor" was like "scales." Scales of what? You got it...a snake! The Hebrew writers were describing their nemesis as a giant snake (referring back to Genesis 3). They also gave a name to their god. Check out this little gem:
2 Kings 1:2-3
2 Ahaziah
fell down through the wooden bars in his upstairs room in Samaria and was badly
hurt. He sent messengers and told them, “Go, ask Baal-Zebub, god of Ekron, if I
will recover from my injuries.”
Demons and devils were the gods of other city states or tribes that the Jews went to war with. As the culture began to change and shift in the 3rd century BCE, religion began to adapt to a more Greek philosophy, culture, and religious influence. Theses city state/tribal gods that were the enemies of the Jews began to take on a new form in the shape of demonic creatures of the underworld Tartarus. They took on a more mystical, spiritual form that weren't just enemies but spiritual forces.
Enough history, because I know I’ve probably lost many of you by now. So, in the simplest form of who this Beelzebub is - the arch enemy. He was a make-believe god. Back to the story at the top of this page...there was a man who couldn't talk. The common belief in the time of Jesus was if someone had an illness or disorder, it was the result of their parents’ sin or their own disobedience to God. They believed God punished people by giving them disorders. You would avoid these people at all costs because they were "unclean." Kinda like much of religion does today...there are certain things that make you "not fit to be around." I remember being in Israel back in 2007 and when I went to the Dome of the Rock, the Muslims looked at me like I had leprosy. I could not go into their holy place. The same is true for many Christians. They attempt to shelter themselves in fear of contamination. Jesus went and did something you weren't supposed to do. Jesus went against that which was politically correct. As a matter of fact, Jesus went against everything that was religiously acceptable.
Image: http://barlowesrealm.deviantart.com/art/Inferno-Beelzebub-s-Flies-283814250
Some things never change. People within religion fear what they don't understand and want to label it as "the enemy." It becomes about "us" and "them." The battle isn't Satan vs. God or the devil vs. Christians. The battle is very similar to the battle in 1st century Palestine. We label our own as "Beelzebub" if they go outside the lines we draw. How ridiculous is this statement they made about Jesus: "Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, to force demons out of people." In my last blog I quoted an encyclopedia and study group that found over 33,000 denominations in Christianity and 242 in Catholicism. We throw people out that have new ideas, different perspectives, and see things from a different angle. You see, we are all heretics and hypocrites to those who won't open their minds beyond their own. Our insecurities can drive us to ascribe motives to those we disagree with. When we label others, it is really a sign of our own insecurity and lack of understanding. God told Abram; "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). From my perspective God is telling Abram, "Leave your security, embrace your insecurities/fears, and experience a world outside of your own." When Elijah was on the verge of suicide and thinking he was the only one that had it right and everybody else was his enemy and out to get him, God reminded him, "I've got 7000 other prophets that haven't bowed the knee to Baal."
When you are told by a religion, a church, a leader that you are a heretic, hypocrite, or demon possessed...know you are in good company--they did the same to Jesus.
We are all heretics and hypocrites to those who won't open their minds beyond their own. It's real simple:
Micah 6:8
The Lord has told you, human, what is good;
he has told you what he wants from you:
to do what is right to other people,
love being kind to others,
and live humbly, obeying your God.
The Lord has told you, human, what is good;
he has told you what he wants from you:
to do what is right to other people,
love being kind to others,
and live humbly, obeying your God.
Do this, and you will be a heretic...maybe even Beelzebub--EMBRACE IT!!
Our
insecurities can drive us to ascribe motives to those we disagree with.
- See more at:
http://askdrbrown.org/are-people-projecting-their-own-hurts/#comments
Our
insecurities can drive us to ascribe motives to those we disagree with.
- See more at:
http://askdrbrown.org/are-people-projecting-their-own-hurts/#comments
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