Heaping coals on their own heads

Those that make a special point of attacking another, are only hurting themselves and heaping coals on their own head.  I have never tried to write anything in hatred of anyone on this blog and do not plan to start today.  Name calling is childish and certainly not Christlike.  There are those who have yet to learn this, pray for them.  Those that hate this Blog or wish to misuse it, should quite reading it.  Simple solution, why waste time with something that you do not like??  To all those who enjoy reading this Blog, thank you and may God Bless and keep you in His care.

Crossfire

1 Peter 3:16

1 Peter 3:16
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Jesus The Jew? by Crossfire

Jesus the Jew

It’s easy to forget sometimes that Jesus wasn’t a Christian. Despite his revolutionary teachings and heterodox approaches, he was considered a Jewish Rabbi, or teacher. This means he understood Judaism with a richness and depth that few others had. So why do so many Christians know so little about their own Jewish heritage?

By Christian Piatt  from  http://myjesusproject.com/my-mentors/

Crossfire:  What is wrong with the quote above?   Let me count the errors!  Let us begin at the start.  

     “Jesus the Jew”, First of all no one ever called Him “Jesus” when He walked this earth.  It is not even a translation of His name, the translators are responsible for changing His name when translating the Bible into English.  There are no “J”’s in Hebrew. Yahshua the Christ (Christ is a title and not His name) came in His Father’s name.  What part of “Jesus” is His Father’s name?  Some may argue that means that He came in His Father’s authority.  While it is true that He did, He also came with His Father’s name (just as I came with my Father’s name, His last name)  Many people, at the time were called by their father’s name (in some countries they still are).  Example, some people had the word “Ben” and then their father’s name following it to indicate that they were the son of whatever the name was.  "ben" and "bin" are called cognates (words that share similar language roots). They mean "son of" in Hebrew & Arabic respectively.   Using that form, I could have been known as Son of Carl, or Son of Hart ( which is actually done by my sharing my father’s last name, Hart ).

 The Bible tells us the short form of God’s name.   “Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.” Psalms 68:4  The word “JAH” is Strong’s # 3050, .   Yahh,  yaw   contraction for 3068, and meaning the same; Jah, the sacred name:--Jah, the Lord, most vehement. Compare names in "-iah," "- jah." Keep in mind that there are no “J”’s in Hebrews, note that #3050 is Yahh pronounced yaw (the self-existant)  .  I believe that it is short for Yahweh and that Christ name is “Yahshua”  (which means the self existent ones provided salvation / God’s Salvation).  Some have mis-spelled His name as “yeshua”, which I do not believe to be correct and have some information on that, but let’s not chase rabbits.  Note: when we sing the song Hallelujah, we pronounce the jah as yah,  Praise Ye the Lord, understanding that the “Lord” is Yahweh, therefore we are saying Praise ye Yahweh.

      Next, for “Jesus” to be a “Jew” or Judean, He would have to been the son of Joseph and not the Son of God.  What about His mother?  The best I have been able to find is that she was a Levite and not a Judean.  She was a virgin vessel, He came in the form of man, but not from man.  He was not called a Jew, by those who knew Him, but as a Judean (resident of Judea).  Here we could go into the Bible’s genealogy and look at various verses, but it is simple if we remember that He is the Son of God.  

     “Jesus wasn’t a Christian” ?  To me that is like saying Christ was not Christ (some do not believe that He was).  Or it would be like saying that He did not believe in the words that He spoke.  Christianity is based upon Christ, His person, His words, His life, and His gift to us.  While it is true that He was not a follower of Himself, His word is true and is the founder of Christianity. To say “Jesus wasn’t a Christian”, is misleading.

      “ he was considered a Jewish Rabbi, or teacher “  He was not a “Jewish Rabbi”.  While the word “rabbi” does mean teacher, He was not a teacher of Judaism, which is what is inferred by the term “Jewish Rabbi”.  The only time the word “Jewish” is used in the Bible is in Titus 1:14 “Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” The word “Jewish”, in that verse is Strong’s # 2451.  Ioudaikos,  ee-oo-dah-ee-kos'  from 2453; Judaic, i.e. resembling a Judaean:--Jewish.  Note that it is “Judaic” or “resembling a  Judaean” and does not mean someone from the tribe of Judah.  At that time there were lots of different people living in Judaea.  Note also that the word is from Strong’s # 03054.   yahad,  yaw-had'  denominative from a form corresponding to 3061; to Judaize, i.e. become Jewish:--become Jews.  You cannot become a race, therefore it has to do with their customs and beliefs rather than their linage.  The word “fables” in Titus 1:14  (#3454) means  “fiction” or "myth".  The only time “Jewish” is used in the Bible is referring to their fables, fiction, myths.    The point is that “Jewish Rabbi” has to do with Judaism and Christ had some very harsh words to say about the founders of Judaism (see Matthew Chapter 23).

            “. . . Judaism . . . Pharisaism became Talmudism, Talmudism became Medieval Rabbinism, and Medieval Rabbinism became Modern Rabbinism.  But throughout these changes in name . . . the spirit of the ancient Pharisees survives, unaltered . . . “

          from page XXI of “Pharisees, The Sociological Background of  Their Faith”, first edition.  by Rabbi Louis Finkelstein, the head of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, often referred to as “ The Vatican of Judaism “

"The return from Babylon and the introduction of the Babylonian Talmud mark the end of Hebrewism and the beginning of Judaism."

[Rabbi Stephen F. Wise, formerly the Chief Rabbi of the United States  as quoted in the article by Bertrand L. Comparet  “The Bible is not a Jewish Book”]

     ‘This means he understood Judaism with a richness and depth that few others had.”  The statement seems to infer that Christ was a “Jewish Rabbi” teaching Judaism.  Yes He did understand Judaism (even before the name had been coined) and that is why he rebuked it so strongly in the 23^rd Chapter of Matthew.  Need I say more?

“So why do so many Christians know so little about their own Jewish heritage?”  The Christian’s “Jewish heritage” is a fable, fiction or myth.  Christianity has no “Jewish heritage”, it is misinformation that has been repeated over and over again in an attempt to deceive Christians into believing it and there by Judaizing  Christianity.  Salt cannot be destroyed but it can be made useless by deluding it with something else, like sand.  This is what has been happening to Christianity for many years.  Many, otherwise good, preachers, teachers, laymen, and “Christian” authors, have, without even realizing it, helped to Judaize Christianity, making it useless and mixed with errors.

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” Matthew 5:13

     Statements, like the one at the beginning of this article a far too common and it is these errors that I endeavor to correct.  Let Christ’s church return to Him. #

Beware Of The Teachings Of The Pharisees

 Beware Of The Teachings  Of The Pharisees

 by Crossfire

      “Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. . . . Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”  Matthew 16: 6 & 12 

     Today’s church is not even AWARE, let alone heeding the warning to BEWARE of the doctrine / teachings of the Pharisees.  Today’s “Christianity” has a lot of the teachings of the Pharisees and they do not seem to realize it.  One reason that they do not realize it, is because they do not think there are still any Pharisees.  They believe that was just in Bible times.  They are just following the doctrines of their elders and forefathers.

     They do not recognize the modern day Pharisees because the Pharisees have changed their name.  They may have changed their name, but their teachings are still the same.  Yahshua (the one many call Jesus) warned His disciples to beware of the teachings of the Pharisees and as disciples / or followers of Christ, we should also beware of those teachings / doctrines.  In Matthew 15: 1,2,3,7,8,9

“Then came to Jesus (Yahshua) scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? . . . Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias (Isaiah) prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”  (verses 4 through 6 give an example).

     Yahshua was quoting from Isaiah 29:13

“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:”

     The New American Standard NAS renders “precept of men” as “consist of tradition learned” and the New King James NJKV, renders it as “commandments of men”.  Different words, same meaning, but I have listed it here for better understanding.

     Isaiah went on to say that Yahweh (“the LORD” in the KJV) would take away the wisdom of their wise men and that they would lose understanding.  The modern day Pharisee is wise in his own eyes and will try to get others to believe ho3w wise he is (even setting themselves up as experts on what God had to say, in the scriptures), but Yahweh has removed wisdom and understanding from them.

In John 14:15, Yahweh told us:  “If ye love me, keep my commandments”

And in Luke 6:46:   “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

     In Matthew 23:16-24, Yahshua exposes the lack of wisdom and understanding in the teachings of the Pharisees.  Also in the 23^rd Chapter of Matthew, Yahshua describes the Pharisees, stating that:

•  They seat themselves in the seat of Moses (they set themselves up as the authority on what God says).

•  They make heavy burdens for others to bare, but not for

themselves. (their religion has many rules and requirements and hold that the requirements in Christianity do not apply to them, for they have their own covenant).

•  What works they do is only so as to be seen of men (The news and talk shows dare not say anything but praise for them and they are given credit for all that is good).

•   They love the uppermost rooms at feast and the chief seats in the synagogues (they want places of honor and to be honored, no only by their own people but by our churches and pastors).

•  They love greeting in the market place (they must be acknowledged and reckoned with in business) and to be called of men, Rabbi.

     In Matthew 12:24, Yahshua told the Pharisees:  “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

     After Christ had, in Matthew 15:1-11, told them that they transgressed the commandments of God and that they were hypocrites, we read on in Matthew 15:12-14:

“Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

     Many today are more concerned, or afraid, that the Jews will be offended then they are of offending God.  So they follow the followers of Judaism into the ditch of darkness and false doctrine.

Matthew 23: 13

“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”

     The teachings of the Pharisees can keep you out of heaven.  Example: If you are taught a false plan of salvation (like one based on works) you will not be saved.  These modern day Pharisees are not going to heaven and are trying to keep others from going.

     In Mathew 23:15 Christ called them sons of hell.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”

     Much of the teaching of Christ was contrary and against the teachings and doctrine of the Pharisees.  It should be clear by now that Yahshua was against the religious teachings of the Pharisees and that He warned His disciples to beware of them.

     Some may say, “Ok, Ok, I get the point, so do we have Pharisees today?”   the answer is YES and it can be proven from their own writings, for example:  Rabbi Louis Finkelstein stated in volume 1 of his publication “The Pharisees, The Sociological Background of Their Faith”, page XXI of the Foreword:

     “Judaism . . . Pharisaism became Talmudism, Tulmudism became Medieval Rabbinism, and Medieval Rabbinism became Modern Rabbinism.  But throughout these changes of name,. . . the spirit of the ancient Pharisee survies unaltered.”

  Ok, how about a different Jewish source. 

From the Universal Jewish Encyclopedia (1943) as quoted on page 1 of Elizabeth Dilling’s book, “The Jewish Religion and it’s Influence”.

     “The Jewish religion as it is today traces its decent, without break, through all centuries, from the Pharisee.  Their leading ideas and methods found expression in a literature of enormous extent, of which a very great deal is still in existence.  The TALMUD is the largest and most important single piece of that literature . . . and the study of it is essential for any real understanding of Pharisaism.”

     Judaism is the teachings of the Pharisees, that Christ condemned in scripture and is alive and well today under its new name, Judaism, the religion if the people who today call themselves Jews.  The Babylonian Talmud is the Bible of Judaism.

     From an article entitled “What Is A Jew”, published as a feature article in “Look Magazine”, June 17, 1952 issue.  The article was written by Rabbi Morris N. Kertzer, Director of Interreligious Activities of the North American Jewish Committee and President of the Jewish Chaplains Association of the Armed Forces of the United States.  Rabbi Kertzer was the official spokeman for the American Jewish Committee (the Vatican of Judaism).

     “the Talmud consist of 63 books of legal, ethical and historical writings of the ancient rabbis.  It was edited five centuries after the birth of Jesus.  It is a compendium of law and lore.  It is the legal code which forms the basis of Jewish religious law and it is the textbook used in the training of Rabbis”  (Underline added).

     Ok, Ok, so what’s wrong with the bible of Judaism, the Talmud?   I’ll let the Jewish author of the book “Facts Are Facts”, Benjamin H. Freedman, tell you.  On page 28, paragraph 2 of his book, we quote:

     “From the birth of Jesus until this day, there have never been recorded more vicious and vile libelous blasphemies of Jesus, of Christians, and the Christian faith by anyone, anywhere or anytime than you will find between the covers of the infamous ’63 books’ which are ‘the legal code which forms the basis of Jewish religious law’ as well as ‘the textbook used in the training of Rabbis”.”

     I could list some examples of the teachings of the Talmud, as they pertain to Yahshua, Christians, and the Christian faith, but prefer not to in as much as it is very filthy and not appropriate for publication.

     So, what has that to do with today’s “Christian” church?  It has a lot to do with what you hear each Sunday morning.  Ther are many good preachers out there who are sincerely preaching what they have been taught and believe, without realizing that they have been deceived.  They love God and say that they love truth, but most have never taken the time to check things out for themselves.  Christianity has been Judaized, in fact what used to be know as Christianity is now called Judeo-Christianity.  The religious teachings of Christianity, as proclaimed by Christ, and the religious teachings of Judaism, as proclaimed by their Talmud are opposites.

     From page 71, paragraph 2 of the book “Facts Are Facts”, bu Benjamin H. Freedman:

“Another word is creating more problems among Christians.  I refer to ‘Judeo-Christian’ . . . In view of what we know today, how can there be ‘Judeo-Christian’ anything?  Based upon what is now known ‘Judeo-Christian’ is as unrealistic as it would be to say anything is ‘hot-cold’, or ‘old-young’, or ‘heavy-light’, or that a person was ‘healthy-sick’, or ‘poor-rich’, or ‘dumb-smart’, or ‘ignorant-educated’, or ‘happy-sad’.  These words are antonyms, not synonyms.  ‘Judeo-Christian’ in light of incontestable facts are also antonyms, not synonyms. . .”

     Yet, when a preacher or Christian layman is asked why their church or religion is called “Judeo-Christian”, you will often be told that it is because Christianity came out of Judaism.  They have been deceived because that is a lie straight out of hell, itself.  Christianity began with Christ, who is not only our savior but the creator (I don’t think I need to list all the scriptures that prove Christ is savior and creator).  On the other hand, Judaism, formally known as Pharisaism, began when a remnant of Israel, those of the House of Juda (the remainder of the tribes of Benjamin, Judah, & Levi) that were in the city of Jerusalem, were taken into captivity by Babylon.  It was there that Pharisaism began with the mixing of the false religious teachings of the Babylonians, this wi where the “Synagogue” began.  It is only Judaism that has synagogues, the worship of God was at the Temple and should not be confused with the Synagogue.

     From page 13 of “Judaism In Theory and Practice” by Berl D. Cohon; published 1958 by Bloch Publishing Co., New York (“the Jewish Book Concern”):

     “The central institution in Judaism is the synagogue.  Its origin and early history are hidden in obscurity.  The conjecture among scholars is that it originated in the informal meetings of the Hebrew exiles in Babylon.  Thus, the synagogue was born in Babylon.”

     Again, from the book “Judaism In Theory and Practice” on page 15, speaking of the synagogue, we see:

     “Originating in the informal, obscure meetings of the people, it gradually developed into an institution in contrast to the temple.”

     If Christianity would have came out of Judaism, then Yahshua would have preached Judaism / Pharisaism and the Pharisees would have loved him.  The Bible tells us differently.  Now tell me, why are we calling Christianity, Judeo-Christianity?  Perhaps it is because that is exactly what it has become! 

     Christianity has become Judaized with many false teachings of Judaism / Pharisaism.  We are told that we owe our religion to the Jews (propionates of Judaism) and that is NOT true.  We are told that we can gain insight into early Christianity by learning from Jewish scholars, it is just NOT true.  I heard a Jewish Rabbi, on a late night radio talk show, state that Christians did not correctly understand God’s word because it had been given to the Jews and it meant what the Jews said it meant.  How arrogant, and how untrue.

     If the pulpits, today, are teaching that Christianity is the religion of the Jews and that we are just adopted and / or grafted in, how can the teachings of the Bible make any sense.  First of all Christianity is not a religion, it is a way of life.  False teachings, from the pulpit and/or Sunday School teachers, are reinforced by other false teachings like:  Abraham, John the Baptist, and Paul were Jews.  It is just not true and can be easily checked out if a person would just open their Bible and read it.  Even if they mean the term Jew to mean a descendant of the tribe of Judah (and not a follower of Judaism) then it is impossible for these people to have been Jews, for the following reasons:

•  For Abraham to have been a Jew (a descendant of the tribe of Judah) he would have had to have been a descendant of his great grandson.  Kind of hard to dod!

•  Both parent of John the Baptist were Levites and therefore John the Baptist was a descendant of the Tribe of Levi and was NOT a Jew.

•  Paul was from the Tribe of Benjamin and therefore a Benjamite and not a Jew.

     Another false teaching, that goes right along with the other false teachings is calling all Israel  “Jews”.  It is like calling everyone that is from the United States, Texans.  Calling all Israel “Jews” or interchanging the terms confuses any serious Bible study, in as much as some prophets were sent to the sinning House of Israel (ten northern tribes) that was taken into the Assyrian captivity.  Other prophets were sent to the sinning House of Judah (remnant of the tribes of Benjamin and Judah).  How can a person understand what the Bible says if he doesn’t understand who the scriptures is referring to?  Everyone who lived in the Judea area, during the Biblical time of Christ, were not from the tribe of Judah, but were still called Judeans and in the English translations of the Bible, were, incorrectly, called “Jews”.

     From page 15-16 of the book “Facts are Facts” by Benjamin H. Freedman, he states:

    “It is an incontestable fact that the word “Jew” did not come into existence until the year 1775.  Prior to 1775 the word “Jew” did not exist in any language.”

     As for the modern day propionates of Judaism, called Jews, let us look at the 1980 Jewish Almanac, first sentence of the first paragraph of the first Chapter, entitled “Identity Crisis” with the subheading entitled “A Brief History of the Terms for Jew”:

     “Strictly speaking it is incorrect to call an ancient Israelite a “Jew” or a contemporary Jew an “Israelite” or a “Hebrew”.

Again, from page 9, paragraph 2 of the Book “Facts Are Facts”:

“The confusion in the minds of Christians concerning Fundamentals of the Christian Faith is unwarranted and unjustified.  It need not exist.  It would not exist if the Christian clergy did not aid and abet the deceptions responsible for it.  The Christian clergy may be shocked to learn that they have been aiding and abetting the dedicated enemies of the Christian Faith.”

     Brothers and sisters, much more could be said on this subject (and should be) but let this little bit be the opening of the eyes for those reading this.

     The purpose of this writing was not to throw stones at anyone nor was it written in hate of anyone, but was written to point the way back to truth and away from error.  Let us remove the teachings  of the Pharisees / Judaism from our pulpits and churches.  Encourage our pastors, preachers, clergy to proclaim the truth, without fear of the Jews.

#

Sometimes You've Got To Tare Down, Before You Can Build!

Sometimes You’ve Got To Tare Down, Before You Can Build!

By Crossfire

If a person bought a lot and was going to build a house on it and when he got there he found that someone had built a shack on his ground, would he just build on what was already there?  Of course not, for if he did the whole structure would be unsound.  He would first tare down the shack and start with a good foundation.  And so it is with building God’s kingdom.

In Judges Chapter 6 God sent a messenger to Gideon, called him a  “mighty man of valour”.  This is before Gideon had done anything, except listen.  Could it be that listening to God  and his messenger makes us stronger?  At first, Gideon was much like us in that he questioned the messenger and said,” if the Yahweh be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of”  Why, why, why?  The massager did not respond to his doubting, but instead told Gideon to, “Go in this thy might” and that he would be able to defeat his enemies. Could it be that questioning things is also a strength?  Gideon still having doubts ask the messenger how he could defeat his enemies when his family was just poor folks and he was the least of his family?  And the messenger told him it was because he would be with him. After asking for a sign, Gideon finally believed what the messenger had said and built a small alter to God.

That small alter was not going to do it, not when there were still Alters to Baal and Ashtoreth.  You know, “I’m going to serve God no matter what everyone else around me is doing.”  Is that going to win against your enemies, God’s enemies?  What is our small alter or service to God, when we allow and/or do not even expose what is false?  What good is our little praise, from our little pew, when false doctrines are taught in our Sunday Schools and from the Pulpit?  Back to Gideon. With all the false gods well established all about him, his small alter to the true God, would just seem like foolishness to others.  That would not defeat his enemies.

Judges 6:25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD (Yahweh) said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:

Verse 26 And build an altar unto the LORD (Yahweh) thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

Verse 27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD (Yahweh) had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

There would be no victory without first tarring down the false gods and their  alters  and symbols. No, we can’t all just get along.  Tolerance is not a Christian virtue.  Our God is a jealous God have will not have any other gods among us.   Exodus 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

Even doing what is right is not without difficulties, but God can work it all for good.

 Judges 6:28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.

The world gets upset when you tare down their heros, their false gods, their false beliefs.  The first thing they want to do is attack you.  It does not matter that what you did was right and true.

 Judges 6:29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.

Verse 30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.

Verse 31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.

Verse 32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.

I found this very interesting that Gideon’s  father called him “Jerubbaal” after he had torn down the false gods and had the area angry at him.  Remember Joash ask the people why they were fighting for the false god, that if he was a god, he could fight Gideon himself.  “Jerubbaal” means: Baal will contend or loosely Adversary of false gods.  I like it.

Side note:  the Hebrew word for “Joash” is Yoash, pronounced yo-awsh’. The Hebrew word for “Jerubbaal” is Yerubbaal, pronounced  yer-oob-bah'-al.  There are no “J”s in Hebrew.  And for those who wonder, “Gideon” in Hebrew is Gid`own, pronounced  ghid-ohn'. It is interesting that the translators left “Baal” as Baal and did not change it.  Only in the translations of the Bible, have the names been translated or replaced, anywhere else a person’s name remains as it is.  Think about that.

I would encourage reading on in the Book of Judges about Gideon calling his country men together, how Yahweh had him send some home and then select only 300 of what was left.  Read about the great victory that Yahweh gave them, over their enemies.

The victory would not have ever happened if Gideon had not first torn down the alter to Baal and the wooden idols of Astarte / Ashertoth.  We need that good foundation, we cannot coexist with false doctrine and pagan items (especially in our churches).  They must be torn down, removed before we can have the victory.