first Article

My name is Jeramiah Burton and this is my first article on blogger. Below this you may see a bunch of long articles, these are from my former blog, How I see It, which was a tumblr page, after using that page for a few months I realized that tumblr lacked alot of good quality options and chose to move over to google blogger where I can hopefully be able to continue to spread the good word of God.

I figure that the best first article would be to explain why I went with the name "Written Truth." I went with a title that could be taken as what I write is "absolute truth" but that is not what I wish to portray rather that the opinions and beliefs that I have come to come from the only truth in my life. In a world that seems to put their faith in politics and celebrities that never seem to hold firm, I put my life into the book that has never changed, the holy bible, the written truth.

Immanuel

Article #8: Our Christ, Our Savior, Our Lord, Our God

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).” Matt 1:23 (NIV)

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matt 1:23 (KJV)

Immanuel:
 In Hebrew: עִמָּ֫נוּאֵ֫ל (im-maw-noo-ale’)
Immanuel consist of two Hebrew words: אלי (ʾĒl or ʾĒli) which means, God of righteousness. Then עִמָּנוּ (ʻImmānū) which literally means “with us.”
Therefore the word Immanuel used by Matthew in Matt 1:23 is describing Jesus Christ as a God that is with us.

For the past 2000 years a fundamental to our Christian faith has been that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was our Savior, our lord, and most importantly our God; but in the last two centuries this fundamental idea has been challenged by a numerous amount of churches throughout the Christian world. My question is; is a truth that has been preached since the days of the apostles so wrong? Are we to go against the words that have established our church for so long? The answer of course is no. The apostles preached that Jesus is our God, we cannot walk away from the preaching’s of the men inspired by God himself.  If they preached he was Immanuel who are we to say that he is any less. But I tell you, it was not just the apostles that preached that Jesus and God were one. Jesus himself stated “I and the Father are one” Matt 10:23. If we are to call ourselves Christians, shall we go against the very words Christ has preached?

Our God, Our Savior.

*“1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5
*“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Rev 22:13

The Word of God has been with God from the beginning, God literally is the Word, according to John1:1 (“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him”). And the Word became flesh, therefore God became flesh. Jesus was in the world as John says and through him the world was made. As Christians we do not worship a man but Jehovah, the God of the Jews from the Old Testament, the God of the New Testament. We worship the one that is called Immanuel, God on Earth. Our God is the God of three.

As it states in Verse 2 of John 1 he was with God in the beginning. (He of course is referring to Jesus; we know this because the Apostles had a distinct way of writing, where they used he in reference to Jesus.) Jesus has always been here, and as Jesus stated in Revelations, he is “Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end,” Jesus is God-the-Son, the most high God, the God of Three. We must understand this! Jesus was the one spoken by the prophets, song by about in at least 18 Psalms! We was even written about in Genesis:  “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” Gen 1:26, is God talking to himself? He said “Us” who do you think he is talking to? There were no angels at the time, so who then? UMMM JESUS! The man that says he was the beginning and the end? The Alpha, the Omega? Immanuel.  Yeah that seems right.

I honestly don’t want to draw this out any more, because the verses should speak for themselves. But I will ask you this same question that I ask any young believer that has questions; “Do you believe a simple man, man that was born with the seed of sin, could truly heal the entire worlds sin? Why would Jehovah send just a man? Who do think could heal the world, a man or a God?”  Why worship a simple man?  If my God was a man then I would never bow before him, lay my crown at his feet. But the truth is, my savior is no man, he is Immanuel. God who is with us, the God of Three, God the Son.

What Do I know of Holy

What Do I know of Holy: by Addison Road

I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all, no
If You touched my face would I know You
Looked into my eyes could I behold You
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean
Are You fire, are You fury
Are You sacred, are You beautiful
What do I know, what do I know of Holy
I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean
Are You fire, are You fury
Are You sacred, are You beautiful
So what do I know, what do I know of Holy
What do I know of Holy
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame
And a God who gave life it’s name
What do I know of Holy
Of the One who the angels praise
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean
Are You fire, are You fury
Are You sacred, are You beautiful
What do I know, what do I know of Holy
What do I know of Holy
What do I know of Holy

Sub-Article #7: The far we are from understanding Holy

This is not review of this song, I was simply inspired by it, and while it isn’t powerful enough to be considered a psalm, its message is amazing! What do we know about Holy? While yes you could argue the bible says A LOT about Holy but what do we truly KNOW? Because sure we can have a bunch of prophets describe the glory of God, but what makes a big difference is the fact that these prophets saw God’s glory in its most powerful form.  Paul the Apostle was blinded by the glory of God! I ask you, if God Touched your face would you know it? Do you know Holy?

 Holy has such a greater meaning then today. Today we use it as describing a righteous person, but the Hebrews (and Jesus) used it to describe God. Holy (qadosh in Hebrew) means to be set apart from all others, that there is none like their (the Hebrews and ours, one in the same of course) God. But holiness is more than just being like no other, it is also being pure in every way, we know this because of 2 Corinthians 7:1 (“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing Holiness to completion in the fear of God.”) Now I use this scripture because it does relate to man’s need to try to be holy, which I’ll go into greater depth later. But if you want to know some verses of God’s Holiness I’ll put some on the bottom of the page, mainly verses from the O.T.

The holiness of God is not merely a theological subject fit for scholars with the interest and stamina to pursue it. Indeed, the holiness of God is a matter of great importance to every living soul. We must understand that true holiness only belongs to Jehovah, the God of Israel, and all nations. But this holiness is something I believe we can’t fully understand. Can we fully understand the God the gave life it’s name? What do I know of you, who spoke me into motion? Where have I stood, but the shore along your ocean? You holiness is vast beyond any measure! Yet we stand at the edge looking in, we think because we’ve dipped our toes into the water that we know you! But in truth, we know only what we let ourselves see!

We think today, that God has forgotten us! We think because this world is in such turmoil that we have been forsaken! Do not bewilder yourselves at such crazy notions!  God’s light shines today just as it always has! God is moving mountains! But we are too blind to see it! Baby’ that should have never been born are living miracle! (You can see more of this in “Moving Mountains”) Children in Africa have a higher chance of living past the age of 3 than ever before! And even if you don’t see it the world is going through an era of peace! Yes we are at war, but in 7 days it will be the anniversary of the dropping of the second atomic bomb, a symbol to the end of a war the destroyed the world as it was known. And only 21 years before the beginning of WWII was WWI, compared to this, our “era of war” has nothing compared. Yes war is war, but God has given us the chance to fight without the mass bloodshed, of millions upon millions dead.

But while we can see God’s Holiness through the world, we feel it through ourselves, by the touch of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes in revelation, sometimes in simple confession, other times in loss. Whatever way you may feel God’s glory you must dip your toes in water to know its true power. A believer knows this revelation, and the power of it, it will bring you to your knees, tears to your eyes. Just having the gentle touch of God’s Holiness changes a man’s life because once you are touched, you are filled with the Holy spirit.

God’s Holiness dropped men dead in the O.T. and rose the dead in the N.T. the power of God can move the mountains. So I ask you, have you dared to glimpse back into the eyes of God, when he wished to look into yours? Have you felt the touch of the spirit, of redemption? Or have you simply walked along the shore not wishing to dip into the Holiness that is God?

Verses On God’s Holiness

Psalms 86:8-10
Psalm 99:1-3
Isaiah 40:25
Isaiah 57:15
1 Samuel 2:2
Isaiah 6:3
Hosea 11:9
James 1:13

A line in The Sand

Post #3: You are Either with Him or Agianst Him

“I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” John 8:24

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matt 16:24

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Matt 12:30

This is simple, so I’ll keep this short.

The Lord, our God makes this CLEAR that if you want to be a disciple (or Christian) you must deny yourself and take up your cross. All the sin and filth that you knew before hand is washed clean, but if you don’t know him, and take up your cross, you shall die in sin.

We are to give our ALL to the lord, now maybe your all isn’t as “good” as some other Christians. But God does not care, he does not see what we see, he sees the heart of who we are. (See Psalm 17:3 if you want further details.) What matters is that we are doing all that the lord needs of us. If you have a desire to go to Mexico to serve, THEN GO! That’s no humanly desire! That’s God, and he wants you to give your all!

But it isn’t just outward acts of love, no we need to shine of the lords glory from the inside out! MIND! Use it, God gave it to for a reason! But use it in a way that crowns our lord, not throws him to the side! Those thoughts that run across your mind, be it temptation or hate for another, destroy them! (see Matt 5:30)

But this is what I’m getting too, you are either with him, or against him. Are you full heartily giving him a 100%? Because any less is worth nothing in the kingdom of heaven. Your either crowning him or burying him you choose. 

American Christian Exceptionalism

Article #7: The Understanding of U.S.A. Christian Foundings

This is the subject of the founding fathers of the United States of America and the Christian belief they held, that would shape this country. This is American Christian Exceptionalism, the story of a Christian country.

American Exceptionalism

“American exceptionalism” is a term used to describe the belief that the United States is an extraordinary nation with a special role to play in human history; a nation that is not only unique but also superior. Alexis de Tocqueville was the first to use the term “exceptional” to describe the United States and the American people in his classic work Democracy in America (1835–1840), but the idea of America as an exceptional entity can be traced back to the earliest colonial times. Jack P. Greene’s analysis of a wealth of contemporary materials has established that by “the beginning of the nineteenth century the idea of America as an exceptional entity had long been an integral component in the identification of America.” Many scholars of the belief in American exceptionalism argue that it forms one of the core elements of American national identity and American nationalism.” But I would also say that it is a dying way of think, the Republican Party has recently tried to revive it by campaigning that they believed American Exceptionalism. But honestly I don’t believe this way of think will last another 20-30 year, if we are extremely luck. It could literally die out in the next 5 to 10 years. I say this because for the past 60 years this way of thinking has slowly been dying, to the point that this newer generations doesn’t see America as “exceptional.”

American Christian Exceptionalism

If you actually know what American Christian Exceptionalism means then you’re not doing half bad, if you’re not a Christian that is. American Christian Exceptionalism is actually where American Exceptionalism comes from. Alexis de Tocqueville, the man considered to have started it (as stated above) also wrote that this Land was “the Holy Land.” (Counting on how you translated it from French to English it could also mean the “God’s blessed land,” which can change his statement quite a bit.) But most people don’t know that; for over the past 50 or so years the church has been pushed out of schools; to the point that they are limiting the very history of our country. But American Christian Exceptionalism is so much more than just thinking we are blessed, it the actual knowledge that our country was founded by Christian men.

Good Old Ben! Oh and the rest of those guys.

On July 28^th 1787 Benjamin Franklin, a man considered to today as the least religious man of any of our founders, stood up after being pushed to his limit for four week  and address the President of the convention (later our countries first president) George Washington. In short he stated that they were getting nothing done and obliviously needed wisdom from a greater power. He asked George Washington if he could lead the group in a prayer. The prayer stated “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid.” That wasn’t the strongest prayer I’ve ever heard and to be honest doesn’t make a lot of since, not even in the context of the entire address doe’s it. There are other versions of this prayer that are really amazing, but you can never find out who wrote it down. While this version was written by James Madison, who was at the time “acting scribe.” Benjamin Franklin led this prayer, a man who did not attend church, who was truly the “playboy” of his time. WHY DID HE DO THAT!?!? It’s simple, while Ben did not go to church and was very much in the world he still believed in God and that he was saved by Jesus Christ love. (If you don’t believe this statement read the ORIGINAL version of the “Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin,” you will learn just how “unreligious” he was, especially as he started to revive his faith in his last years.) And more than that he knew the people in the room very well, he knew they would respond to it, even if it was just a little prayer that made no since as his was. But why would this group respond to this when the world says this group was a bunch of atheist??? Well they weren’t. I know, I know it’s a shock to us all. But believe it or not 29 out of the 56 signers had degrees in seminary. Now here is the thing the world likes to point out that a seminary degree back then could have meant a lot of types of degrees. Which then I like to point out that of those 29 there were 25 that actually had been ordained. So if you’re going to try and argue that one, don’t because you will lose.

The Myth of the Three Days of Prayer

After Ben had finished he went on to say this: “I therefore beg leave to move-that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service.” Ok so once again Benjamin Franklin, the founder that was against God, is asking for daily prayer? Ok well……. yeah. After wards he was second by “MR. SHARMAN” (It was actually Roger Sherman, there was no Sharman, Madison wasn’t perfect) who was a lawyer, and has a very interesting Christian story. After this, it was easily accepted by the entire group. And that when the  “Myth starts,” it is believed that afterwards they requested to do three days of pray after the next July 4^th came around. Nothing more in Madison’s notes show if it is accepted or not. What we do know is that there is newspapers talking about, and it soon became an unofficial national holiday for that year. This “Myth has become one of the most widely debated subjects for the Constitutional Convention.  I honestly don’t know why that is! This is LITERALLY from a direct copy of James Madison’s notes and from newspapers written from the time, which you can easily find online. Honestly I don’t get why this is even considered a debate among the historians today! So yeaaaaah!

Ending Note

After some of the longest debates of the Constitution Convention of how the Government should be formed, James Madison addressed the convention, stating, in short (sorry his speech was like a mile long), that the United States should be a centralized government with three branches. He finished his speech with Isaiah 33:22 where he stated he had found this perfect model of government: “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us.” That’s right! The basic form of our Government was based and supported by a VERSE FROM THE BIBLE! This nation was not founded on a bunch of atheist, it was founded on biblical doctrine and prayer, and a lot of people will disagree with that statement, but they are blind. And the sad part of it is that many who disagree with that statement are the ones leading this country now. It’s the blind leading the blind and if we continue this, sooner or later we’re going to fall off a cliff.

We’re Not So Different After All

Editorial #2: The Christian Life

I would love to say that every Christian has this perfect life, with perfect parents, and lots of money. But that would be a lie. I would love to say that every Christian comes to church every week, willingly goes and serves the poor, takes up his cross to follow Christ! But that would be lie.

I’m not yelling at Christian, actually I’m defending myself. I want to point out to those who do not believe the way, that we Christians aren’t perfect. We will fail! It is in our DNA to sin, to go against our Holy Father. Ever since Adam ate the fruit, we had sin running through our life. We are man and we will fail! Over and over! So what the point of struggling then? The point is that even though we are not judged by our works, Christ expects us as Christians to bare fruit, not thorns. We are to try to actually to avoid sin, to actually take up our cross and follow Christ!

We make mistakes, there are Christians that will get divorces, there are Christians that will not follow the laws of the land as we are commanded, there are Christians that will fall into temptation before marriage. This happens! As I said we are man, we shall fail.

But the Christian, as I said is about taking up your cross, and to lead a life that will bare fruit!

So all this might sound really random, but I was emailed about “why do Christians not act like Christ?” And my answer is simple, we try, we really, really do. But we are not perfect! Only Jesus was! So no matter how close to Christ you get, you will never be able to lead the life he did. But the major difference is that we have the Holy Spirit to lead us, but we still can fail!

Also in that email, I was asked “why do you hate so many people, that don’t that aren’t like you?” I don’t, if you knew me in high school I hung out with everyone! Atheist, homosexuals, ANYONE! I tried to mimic Christ, for if you know anything about him he hung out with the lowest of lows. I tried to shine the light of glory on them without pushing them away. I’m no Christ though! And it’s hard to be around some of these people, especially when they HATE your views. And sometimes it hurts to be bashed day after day. And what hurts the most is when churches of other denominations bash on your views as well. And it’s not like the Southern Baptist are all that different! Yeah we’re bit more conservative (or old fashioned as some people call it) but I read the same bible as you! It says the same thing! How can we disagree? When I tell you a verse from the NIV it’s same in your NIV! (For that statement I said NIV because it’s the only printed bible that actually has a copyright owned by one company, Zondervon!)  I didn’t do some magic trick to change it! So when my view comes from the gospel, I know its truth.

Ok guys Sorry about that! I just really needed to let that out! lol

Moving Mountains

Sub-Article #6: The Story of How Our Christian Faith can Change The World

“Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matt 17:20 I love, love, love this verse! Actually it’s my favorite verse!

 Jesus Christ is telling us how strong faith’s affects are on the world. While yes I do take this verse literal, that faith can really move the mountains, I also believe Jesus was pointing to the fact that faith, even the smallest amount of faith can drastically change the world and do the works of God. I believe this because as we see in the N.T. the Apostles caste out demons, healed the lepers, and even raised the dead through the Holy Spirit! So did this end with the Apostles? Let me think ummm NO!!

There is an adorable baby at my church (I would give a name for the family is out of town and I would not be able to ask them, I don’t think they would mind considering they have been on the news but it’s out of respect) a baby that truly should not be here! The doctors and nurses did not think he would pass the night. So our church put on a round world, round clock prayer for this baby and mother. We did not stop praying! Somebody, be a missionary, a minister, or just one of God’s children was always praying for this little tike. Once again won’t go into great detail but I will say this, this little guy went through everything, in the first few weeks of his life he had to fight to survive more times then the average person does in a lifetime! AND I’M NOT BE OVER DRAMATIC! It seemed every other day he was in the hospital and that’s after he spent so darn long in the hospital to begin with! But by faith we can move the mountains! By our faith through the Holy Spirit we saved a baby! Who may I say is now over a year old!! And is so DANG CUTE!!! I love that baby! And the message he has been able to give to the world. AND HE CAN’T EVEN TALK! We do all this through the Holy Spirit, who God, our lord, has set on us!

 This baby shouldn’t be here according to the world. But Through faith we can raise the dead or start a life.