Nicholas, co-founder and executive editor of Orthodox Reflections, joined Orthodox podcaster Buck Johnson on his popular podcast to discuss the article 3 Harmful Myths Most Christians Believe About Judaism. Buck actually spent his teenage years attending a Christian, nondenominational Zionist church. During that time, he actually took the myths discussed in this podcast as facts. The article sparked his interest in the truth, and this lively interview is the result. You can subscribe to Buck’s YouTube channel here. Buck is also a great person to follow on Twitter. Please support your fellow Orthodox content creators, now more than ever!
An interesting study would be the concept of the watchman on the wall. In ancient cities, every city— if it wanted to survive the onslaught of marauders— had to build a defanceable wall. Yet, the wall alone would eventually fail. So, every defensible wall, had to have “watchmen” to be on the wall watching for anything of a threat that may come.
Our Lord echoed that principle in John 10 making it a universal, global, all-encompassing principle according to covenant norms. Please take serious heed, In my KJV “Blackback 66 w/ name engraved”, it’s in red for a reason. When He says, “verily, verily” you better pay attention or you will suffer loss to the enemy; guaranteed!.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers” (John 10:1-5).
Establishing it as a universal, even The Logos—the Creator/Kinsman Redeemer—is subject to gatekeepers and porters, “To Him the porter openeth” or NOT (Jesus can’t get into His own Church because clergy won’t let Him in). It’s just like each person, if you don’t let Him in, He will never push His way in, but the devil will look for a way over the wall into the sheepfold.
As He stands there knocking—stood up—”the lights are on, but nobody is home.”
BTW: covenant sanctifies a defensible sanctuary of trust for intimacy. Breaking covenant is to invade another’s personal space, to go “over the wall”. All—all means all—relational dysfunction is a breakdown of or a breaking of covenant. Again, everything—all means all—is about covenant, how all distinctions are connected and relate to each other.
So, we must gel in our thinking what He is taking about. Let’s first define the vocabulary: What is a “sheepfold”? Any containment of sheep. From the individual, to a church, to a nation, to a denomination, to a school, to whatever defines where folks are grouped, this is a “sheepfold.”
What are the entrance points? Gates, points of access. Who is the porter? The guy governing what and who gets in, or is blocked out.
You, by the way, are a sheepfold of one, and you must learn how to porter, your spirit, soul, and body. If you are a dad, there is that, but also that of your trust—your wife and kids. Most dads, and moms, are clueless and Satan runs rough shod over their children with impunity and they are left standing there confused, angry, and impotent. This applies to the visible realm as well as the invisible realm.
Anything over the wall, is “off the wall” and inconsistent with what’s in the sheep fold—does not belong there will bring harm, not healing. When Satan went to Eve first, he went “over the wall” as Adam was the gatekeeper—standing rite there— who should have placed himself between the woman and the serpent—that was his job—this is reason for the head covering.
If Adam would have answered the devil knocking at the door—instead of Eve—we’d still be in paradise. Protect your paradise dad, mom.
The first error was caused by a husband who would not porter—be the gatekeeper—of his domain—the Garden and over his wife, he failed to take control over the creepy that slithered into the Garden/Adam’s dominion. Every husband/father has a domain to defend both spiritually and physically and we have almost universal failure due to wholesale ignorance on this issue.
When it comes to the Church, God sets certain “watchmen” on the wall to defend the sheep. While this onus should fall to clergy, they are totally oblivious to the whole scenario they are in because they have no clue of what I speak, or they are wolves in sheep’s clothing and we have a boat-load of that variety. Don’t forget to hide the kids when Elpi comes to town. Let me ask you a question: would you allow this man to baby sit your children? If so, you must have a hole in your head and those children should be taken from you and given unto responsible parents. Capiche? What you see in public is only the cover of a book filled with horrors and more horrors—things very painful to even think about.
In that vacuum, because God loves His people, He sets up watchers on the wall to cry out when danger approaches—or is already in—the camp.
Nick and this website fulfill that mission, which now seems to be going into the public square and gaining traction. This also means, God is paying attention—heard our prayers— and is taking back what belongs to Him and His people. (all rogues, you might want to slither back out, into some very deep hole in the ground, before you get squashed) Word to the wise: he that hath an ear, let him hear. God will defend the innocent, judge the guilty.
Francine /Alexandra Botton
8 months ago
I truly enjoyed this interview! Nicholas spoke about the heart of the matter regarding Zionism etc. Raised in Judaism, I search for the Utopian existence thinking it was to be found on the Kibbutz. After living 6 months on the Kibbutz, I realized the problem of fallen human nature was everywhere! It took another 25+ years to find Eastern Orthodoxy. Orthodox now for 22+ years, so Grateful!!!!
An interesting study would be the concept of the watchman on the wall. In ancient cities, every city— if it wanted to survive the onslaught of marauders— had to build a defanceable wall. Yet, the wall alone would eventually fail. So, every defensible wall, had to have “watchmen” to be on the wall watching for anything of a threat that may come.
Our Lord echoed that principle in John 10 making it a universal, global, all-encompassing principle according to covenant norms. Please take serious heed, In my KJV “Blackback 66 w/ name engraved”, it’s in red for a reason. When He says, “verily, verily” you better pay attention or you will suffer loss to the enemy; guaranteed!.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers” (John 10:1-5).
Establishing it as a universal, even The Logos—the Creator/Kinsman Redeemer—is subject to gatekeepers and porters, “To Him the porter openeth” or NOT (Jesus can’t get into His own Church because clergy won’t let Him in). It’s just like each person, if you don’t let Him in, He will never push His way in, but the devil will look for a way over the wall into the sheepfold.
As He stands there knocking—stood up—”the lights are on, but nobody is home.”
BTW: covenant sanctifies a defensible sanctuary of trust for intimacy. Breaking covenant is to invade another’s personal space, to go “over the wall”. All—all means all—relational dysfunction is a breakdown of or a breaking of covenant. Again, everything—all means all—is about covenant, how all distinctions are connected and relate to each other.
So, we must gel in our thinking what He is taking about. Let’s first define the vocabulary: What is a “sheepfold”? Any containment of sheep. From the individual, to a church, to a nation, to a denomination, to a school, to whatever defines where folks are grouped, this is a “sheepfold.”
What are the entrance points? Gates, points of access. Who is the porter? The guy governing what and who gets in, or is blocked out.
You, by the way, are a sheepfold of one, and you must learn how to porter, your spirit, soul, and body. If you are a dad, there is that, but also that of your trust—your wife and kids. Most dads, and moms, are clueless and Satan runs rough shod over their children with impunity and they are left standing there confused, angry, and impotent. This applies to the visible realm as well as the invisible realm.
Anything over the wall, is “off the wall” and inconsistent with what’s in the sheep fold—does not belong there will bring harm, not healing. When Satan went to Eve first, he went “over the wall” as Adam was the gatekeeper—standing rite there— who should have placed himself between the woman and the serpent—that was his job—this is reason for the head covering.
If Adam would have answered the devil knocking at the door—instead of Eve—we’d still be in paradise. Protect your paradise dad, mom.
The first error was caused by a husband who would not porter—be the gatekeeper—of his domain—the Garden and over his wife, he failed to take control over the creepy that slithered into the Garden/Adam’s dominion. Every husband/father has a domain to defend both spiritually and physically and we have almost universal failure due to wholesale ignorance on this issue.
When it comes to the Church, God sets certain “watchmen” on the wall to defend the sheep. While this onus should fall to clergy, they are totally oblivious to the whole scenario they are in because they have no clue of what I speak, or they are wolves in sheep’s clothing and we have a boat-load of that variety. Don’t forget to hide the kids when Elpi comes to town. Let me ask you a question: would you allow this man to baby sit your children? If so, you must have a hole in your head and those children should be taken from you and given unto responsible parents. Capiche? What you see in public is only the cover of a book filled with horrors and more horrors—things very painful to even think about.
In that vacuum, because God loves His people, He sets up watchers on the wall to cry out when danger approaches—or is already in—the camp.
Nick and this website fulfill that mission, which now seems to be going into the public square and gaining traction. This also means, God is paying attention—heard our prayers— and is taking back what belongs to Him and His people. (all rogues, you might want to slither back out, into some very deep hole in the ground, before you get squashed) Word to the wise: he that hath an ear, let him hear. God will defend the innocent, judge the guilty.
I truly enjoyed this interview! Nicholas spoke about the heart of the matter regarding Zionism etc. Raised in Judaism, I search for the Utopian existence thinking it was to be found on the Kibbutz. After living 6 months on the Kibbutz, I realized the problem of fallen human nature was everywhere! It took another 25+ years to find Eastern Orthodoxy. Orthodox now for 22+ years, so Grateful!!!!
Francine, your diligence in seeking the truth scholarship is admirable!