Truth Be Told Micah Gunn

Compared to Old Testament and First Century Israel, celebration of God's Holy Days have diminished significantly. Even those who keep the Holy Days often have a hard time genuinely celebrating them. With this decrease in outward festivity and joy has come a complete dissolving of some of the lesser biblical observances and traditions that occurred during the Holy Days themselves in antiquity.
One of these observances that probably wasn't taken too much notice of even in biblical times that has almost become devoid of meaning to the average biblical Christian is the Wave Sheaf Offering that took place between the Days of Unleavened Bread outlined in Leviticus 23. 
If we carry the symbolism of this Wave Sheaf Offering through to the New Testament (as is common with all the rest of the Holy Day observances) to see what its purpose might have been as time went on, we just might be awestruck at how immensely important this small ritual actually is. 
The Wave Sheaf offering was an armload of barley grain that was taken into the tabernacle/temple and waved "before the LORD," as a firstfruit offering of the new harvest. In this episode we explore how this ties to the ascension of Jesus Christ to the Father and why this was even an important thing.
While most people know that Jesus did ascend to the Father, few know what the need for this was and how greatly this symbolism should enhance our celebration of what God has done on our behalf.
 
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUkiQvCEF8Rc4TzjyBMsxg
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

The things that run rampant in the culture of the world inevitably filter into the Church though, hopefully, to a lesser degree. One of these unfortunate things is the seeming desire to make division out of differences. Even in local church congregations where people, generally, have a lot in common, we find ways to divide ourselves contrary to Christ's prayer for us at the end of His physical life. 
One of the biggest differences turned division in the Christian church is that of age. Younger people who have grown up seeing the mistakes of older people lose respect for them over time and the older people, sensing this, lose trust in the younger. 
In this message (specifically given to my home congregation in Columbus, Ohio where this problem is honestly not one we struggle with, though applicable to everyone whether they struggle with it or not) we go over one story that takes place at the end of King David's life that outlines appropriate attitudes from both younger and older generations towards each other.
Hopefully we can take this as an example on how to overcome the generational divide by refusing to make it a thing worth being divided over.
 
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUkiQvCEF8Rc4TzjyBMsxg

The argument between science and God is finally put to rest here!
The idea that we need to take an either or approach to these two topics is a false dichotomy often leveled at Christians, so that antagonistic skeptics, atheists, and extreme naturalists can pretend like God isn't real just because He isn't hemmed in by their isolated field of study. A biblical approach to things allows for God, science, philosophy, history, morality, etc. to be unified under the banner of reality.
Christians - refuse to be made to feel as if taking the biblical approach is the more narrow view because it simply isn't.
 
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUkiQvCEF8Rc4TzjyBMsxg
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

*NOTE: throughout this episode I refer to Moses as a "murderer." I'd like it to be clear that I, personally, view Moses' action of killing the Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave as a justified act not worthy of the title of murder. Modern Torah readers, and even first century Christians (see Stephen's statement on this event) seem to view Moses' actions as appropriate, heroic social justice, and I agree that this is an appropriate interpretation. This being said, my use of the term "murderer" is meant to reflect the attitudes that, clearly, both the Egyptians and Hebrews in his time reflected back to him which created extremely unpleasant circumstances for him. Guilt and perceived guilt are not the same but they can both cause issues.*
While most wouldn't think of Moses as a cautionary figure, the events of his life and his life itself is summed up in one event that characterizes all of it, and it is certainly a cautionary story. Though Moses accomplished much in his life, ultimately, it ended in a failure to lead the children of Israel into the promised land on account of the sin he committed the second time God brought water from the rock.
In this episode we walk through the life of Moses to analyze his preexisting conditions that became a part of who he was, and the condition of that particular sin itself realizing that the entirety of Moses' life acted as a primer for that specific sin. Though this read through, initially, seems as if Moses was predisposed to fail in nearly everything he was asked to do, and his story cries out for justice and mercy and hope - it is also this very hole in the story that is perfectly filled by Jesus Christ.
In the cautionary tale of Moses we should gain an appropriate fear of committing the sins that often plague us, but with the hope that it points to in the person of Jesus Christ, we should also be filled with relief and gratitude for what he did that neither Moses, or we, could accomplish on our own.
 
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUkiQvCEF8Rc4TzjyBMsxg
 

Discussing our faith opens us up for criticism, critique, and antagonism from some and might alienate us from others. Talking about our beliefs is fine in some circles but uncomfortable in most others. This can put a Christian who believes they're supposed to be unashamed about their relationship with God at odds with themselves and create a lot of unease. Don't worry - you're not the only one!
 
How do we balance the understanding that Christians should be ready, willing, and able to share their faith with the paralyzing fear that inevitably crops up when we're actually faced with the opportunity (or predicament) to do so.
 
In this episode we cover 3 tips for sharing our faith effectively and 3 tips for mitigating the fear that surrounds it. You might not always be met with encouragement and support when you decide to be open about what you believe, but it does NOT need to be as fearful as thing as we often imagine it is.
 
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUkiQvCEF8Rc4TzjyBMsxg
 

With the topic of foot-washing entering the public eye with the "He Gets Us" campaign Super Bowl commercial, it felt appropriate to look into the topic to clear away some of the wrong ideas surrounding the practice. 
Who did it? To who? For What?
Often, the people that actively perform foot-washing as a Christian practice either think that it's a generic act to be done for anyone in order to show yourself a servant to all OR see it as some sort of rededication or recommitment to God.
This second mentality is closer to the truth but still glosses over the important fact that your commitment to God happened at baptism. Once you've entered into that relationship, you can recall, reflect, and refocus on that commitment, but you can't enter into it again. To quote Jesus, "the one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean."
 
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUkiQvCEF8Rc4TzjyBMsxg
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly