My wife said something profound today about the connection between community and sacrifice.
The first sacrifice was not initiated by man.
In Genesis 3 we see the fallout from the first sin. After God explains the consequences of the choices Adam and Eve had made, he stops to help them. God killed animals, to clothe Adam and Eve better than they could clothe themselves. Why?
He did it for them, to benefit them. To give them clothing, and make it so they could be comfortable in their proximity with God now that they were aware of where they fell short. To give man community with God despite their sin. The first sacrifice was for mans sake, initiated by God, and meant to restore community. This reason was why sacrifice continued through out Jewish history. It changed some, becoming more symbolic, but the purpose remained the same: To help man gain access to God and to restore community.
So, since we obviously don't slaughter animals to gain access to God as was done in the temple of the Israelites, what kind of sacrifice do you see today, and how is it connected to community?
James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what its says.
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