The dove as a symbol in
Scripture, and more on hellfire and brimstone preaching are shared, today. The
“Yahoo! Answers” Top Contributor using the ID “Camille” (Level 7 with 142,088
points, a member since March 18, 2009) posted the following:
Why is the dove often used as a symbol for
the Holy Spirit?
THE BATTLE AXE:
Hellfire and Brimstone Preaching? (12/27/2012)—Many traditions of charismatic
and impassioned preaching (often called “shouting”) are practiced in the
churches, to this very day. Hellfire preaching is thought to be from the
prophets, specifically John the Baptist (a voice crying in the wilderness),
rather than from the more intimate pastoral ministry of Jesus Christ, who shared
as a healer, judge, miracle worker, and teacher. The New Testament writings
from the Apostles of Jesus emphasize prophecy (comfort, edification,
exhortation), and describe their preaching as primarily invitation, testimony
and “eye witness.” In Islam, the role of an apostle is to “threaten and warn;”
and we often see this today as the fomenting of jihad (holy war).
Scholars frequently trace the hellfire tradition in the United States to early
America and a sermon by the missionary, pastor and theologian, Jonathan Edwards
(“Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God,” 1741). The evangelist, Billy Sunday
(1862-1935), is often spoken of as having been a modern era hellfire preacher.
He is said to have preached to as many as 100 million people face-to-face
without the aid of electronic sound systems, radio or TV. Newspapers often
published his full sermons. Sunday’s preaching of the temperance message gave
support to Prohibition, and is believed to have contributed heavily to adoption
of the 18th Amendment of the U. S. Constitution in 1919. While hellfire
preaching was believed necessarily dramatic and graphic to instill “the fear of
GOD,” it has often been criticized as overly simplistic, and labeled as
emotionalism. Identified with conservative Christianity, and labeled as
“fundamentalism”, hellfire preaching supports a behavioral understanding of sin
whereby various popular behaviors should be condemned. Thus, hellfire
preaching usually denounces fornication and sexual sin along with such popular
middle-class amusements as athletic competition on days of worship, attending
the theater, dancing, drinking, gambling, playing cards, reading novels, and
swearing. Proclamations for those in the public forum, may be very different
than messages in congregation. Even so, in addition to strong temperance
messages, biblical preaching that properly highlights advent, apocalypse, death,
divine law, judgment, resurrection, and end-times prophecy are all generally regarded as hellfire
preaching. Many believers simply continue to regard both the content and style
for all genuine preaching as having sacred origin, and carried out as the Holy
Spirit gives utterance (see Acts 2: 14-40, King James
Version).
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Behold, I
send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as
serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you
up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall
be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them
and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye
shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in
you. (Matthew 10: 16-20, King James Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER:
Spirit Matter (10/21/2012); Caesarea Philippi (10/22/2012); Visions of Heaven
(03/22/2012); Does GOD Need Worship? (03/23/2012); Binder 16: GOD Inhabits
Praise (10/13/2011); Binder 9: Commitment to Being (10/06/2011)
The dove first appears in the Bible through an
account of divine judgment against sin. Mature Christian believers accept the
dove bearing an olive leaf as a visible expression of the divine intent that
mankind should be in a continuing relationship with the Creator characterized by
grace, longsuffering, mercy, divine nourishment, peace, and prosperity (Genesis
8: 8-11, KJV). As a silent servant marked by innocence and prayer (white
feathers), swift, winged and bearing comfort from GOD, the dove depicts a unique
holy messenger that is different from the angels, who appear as flaming
ministers (Psalms 104: 4 and Hebrews 1: 6-8, KJV).
Very early, the dove became associated with
the sacred themes of deliverance, rest, wisdom and witness. Thus, the prophet
David employed the figure of a dove in hymns, worship liturgy, and prayer (e.g.,
Psalms 55: 6 and 68: 13, KJV). A later prophet, John the Baptist, would be
given a testimony and witness that Jesus is to be acknowledged as One Sent, and
the Son of GOD (Matthew 3: 13-17 and John 1: 1-37, KJV). From before his
birth, John had been divinely prepared, and was built up through the Holy Spirit
to discern and recognize the agents and operations of GOD in the earth. The
earliest mention of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures is as the active force of
GOD at Creation (Genesis 1: 1-3, KJV).
There is far more to be said, correctly
applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, doves (also called turtle
doves) were used in divining (ceremonies and rituals to receive guidance from
GOD) as well as for offerings and sacrifices by those in poverty who could not
offer a lamb, goat, or bullock. Gentle, harmless and lowly, the dove, like the
paschal lamb, is a type of Christ (1st Corinthians 5: 7, KJV). Therefore,
atonement, intercession and mediation come into view attributed to Messiah and
the Holy Spirit, rather than to any finite living creature.) Even so, I trust
this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK
PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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