Editor’s Note: This year, Yom Kippur begins at sunset on Friday, October 11th, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, October 12th.

The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, is the most solemn day in Israel’s religious calendar, a time for comprehensive purification and renewal of the covenantal relationship between God and the people. This annual observance, described in Leviticus 16, provided a way for Israel to address the accumulated sins and impurities that threatened their standing before a holy God. Central to this ritual is the high priest, who alone enters the Holy of Holies to make atonement for himself, his household, and all of Israel.

On this sacred day, the high priest first bathes, clothes himself in linen garments, then offers a bull as a sin offering for his own sins, ensuring he is cleansed before entering the holy presence of God. Afterward, the two goats described in Leviticus 16 are presented to the people. The first goat, chosen by lot, is sacrificed as a sin offering for the people. Its blood is sprinkled on the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies, purifying the sanctuary itself from the defilement caused by the people’s sins throughout the year. This act symbolizes the cleansing of both the people and the holy space, allowing God’s presence to remain among them.

The second goat, known as the scapegoat, is defined as the Azazel. The Hebrew word Azazel is only used in the 16th chapter of Leviticus. It is a mysterious word that can mean “off a cliff,” “desert place,” or even “demon.” After the high priest lays his hands on this goat and confesses all the sins of Israel, essentially transferring the guilt of the people onto the Azazel, the goat is then sent into the wilderness, bearing the people’s sins. There was a visible presentation of the complete removal of sin from the people of Israel, demonstrating that sin is not only atoned for through blood but also taken away, never to return. The use of the two goats highlights the dual nature of atonement: the need for both expiation (the cleansing of sin) and propitiation (the substitution of the animal’s life in exchange for the forgiveness and new life granted by God, as explained in Leviticus 17:11 through the significance of blood).

In this way, the Day of Atonement emphasizes the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. It is a day of fasting, self-denial, and repentance, where the people reflect on their need for God’s forgiveness. This observance was performed once every year — to recognize the need for sacrificial atonement to cover the sins of the people and restore fellowship with God.

Hebrews 9 draws a direct connection between the Day of Atonement and the ultimate atonement made by Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, the high priest had to enter the earthly sanctuary every year with the blood of animals, but these sacrifices could never fully remove sin. They served as a temporary covering, pointing forward to something greater. In contrast, Christ, as the true High Priest, entered not an earthly sanctuary but the heavenly Holy of Holies. He did not offer the blood of goats and bulls but His own blood, securing eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12). Jesus, through His death and resurrection, became sin, so that we can become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21) — Jesus fulfills the entire purpose of Yom Kippur. Like the first goat, His sacrifice cleanses from sin. Like the Azazel scapegoat, He took away our sins completely, offering perfect and final atonement for all humanity. Thus, the ritual of the Day of Atonement foreshadows the complete and eternal work of Jesus Christ, who removes sin once and for all.

In the ancient text of Leviticus, within the details of ritual and sacrifice, lies a profound truth about peace. The Peace Offering, outlined in chapter 3, verses 3, 10, and 15, transcends mere tradition, unveiling the very heart of human consciousness. Here, the choice of animal for sacrifice reflects not only the offeror’s devotion but also their socio-economic standing — a tangible expression of their commitment to peace.

The peculiar detail of this offering begins with the burning of the liver and the kidney, both organs designed to detoxify the body. Next is the fatty lobe above the kidney: in Latin, ad meaning above, and renal meaning kidney, together known as the adrenal gland, which is the source of adrenaline, the hormone of fight or flight. To sacrifice the adrenal gland is to relinquish conscious control of adrenaline, thus surrendering the rush of fear and urgency that often governs our actions.

This act, rooted in ancient Hebraic practices, speaks volumes to modern struggles. In a world consumed by adrenaline addiction, where stress and anxiety reign supreme, the Peace Offering beckons us to recognize the Presence of the Prince of Peace. It invites us to embrace Isaiah’s promise (Isaiah 26:3) that God will keep us in perfect peace when our minds are steadfastly fixed on the Lord God.

In the midst of turmoil, Jesus, our constant source of perfect peace, extends an invitation to us continually — to lay down our burdens, to surrender our anxious thoughts, and to find rest for our weary souls (Matthew 11:28-30).

Here is a promise that true peace is not found in the pursuit of an adrenaline-fueled life, but in an assurance that in quietness and confidence in Him, we find true rest for our souls (Isaiah 30:15).

As we offer our anxieties, our fears, and our very selves upon the altar of surrender, we draw even closer to the true author of peace, just like in the Peace Offering.

“Yet the righteous will hold to his way, and he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger” (Job 17:9).

On December 31, 2019, a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown origin was reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. On January 9, 2020, China CDC reported a novel coronavirus as the causative agent of this outbreak, which is related to the SARS-Coronavirus. The disease associated with the virus is referred to as novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

As of March 11, 2020, 118,598 cases of COVID-19 were reported worldwide by more than 100 countries. Since late February, the majority of cases reported are from outside China, with an increasing majority of these reported from the European countries and the USA.

The Director General of the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020.

In the current situation where COVID-19 is rapidly spreading worldwide and the number of cases in the US and Europe is rising with increasing pace in several affected areas, there is a need for immediate targeted action.

The speed with which COVID-19 can cause nationally incapacitating epidemics once transmission within the community is established indicates that in a few weeks or even days, it is likely that similar situations to those seen in China and Italy could be seen in other countries.

There are no vaccines available, and there is little evidence on the effectiveness of potential therapeutic agents. In addition, there is presumably no pre-existing immunity in the population against the new coronavirus and everyone in the population is assumed to be susceptible.

Clinical presentations of COVID-19 range from no symptoms (asymptomatic) to severe pneumonia; severe disease can lead to death. While the majority of cases (80%) are milder respiratory infections and pneumonias, severe illness and death are more common among the elderly with other chronic underlying conditions, with these risk groups accounting for the majority of severe disease and fatalities to date.

Then how should we respond???

The risk of transmission of COVID-19 in health and social institutions with large vulnerable populations is considered high. The impact of transmission in health and social institutions can be mediated by the application of effective infection prevention and control and surge capacity.

Given the current epidemiology and risk assessment, and the expected developments in the next days to a few weeks, the following public health measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic are necessary:

Social distancing measures should be implemented early in order to mitigate the impact of the epidemic and to delay the epidemic peak. This can interrupt human-to-human transmission chains, prevent further spread, reduce the intensity of the epidemic and slow down the increase in cases, while allowing healthcare systems to prepare and cope with an increased influx of patients.

Such measures should include:

• Isolation of symptomatic persons suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19.

• Avoid mass gatherings, take into consideration the size of the event, the density of participants and if the event is in a confined indoor environment.

• Take social distance measures at workplaces and schools (for example teleworking, suspension of meetings, cancellation of non-essential travel)

• Stay in communications with national surveillance systems that are constantly assessing community transmission, with particular focus on severe acute respiratory infections.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psalm 24:3,4).

As the body of Christ, we first called to His place – His presence. With clean hands, representing our actions, motivated by a clean heart, evidenced by our relationship with Jesus – and no other god or idol. What is in your hands right now? They may be clean from sanitizer, but above all, are they clean from sin? Check your heart first – and ask yourself, does Jesus reside there? He is knocking on the door of your heart – all He asks is that you acknowledge your sin and invite Him in. Jesus is the ultimate cleanser, the Author of life both here and eternity.

_References:

_{1. coronavirus.gov}

_{2. World Health Organization (WHO). Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (March 11, 2020).}

Evidence to support the medical benefits of smoking marijuana for the treatment of pain has become a challenge for many Christians.

Our culture has made a radical shift in the acceptance of marijuana as a medication, which has also paved the way for legalization of marijuana for recreational use.

Marijuana, derived from a species of cannabis, contains a relatively high concentration of the psychoactive chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The effects of THC in marijuana include intoxication, alterations to mood and memory and lack of sleep. Although pain relief is included in this list, it is one of many – similar to the pain relief experienced by intoxication from alcohol. Another related chemical to THC present in marijuana is cannabidiol (CBD), which has a much lower concentration than THC and is not psychoactive or a pain reliever.

Although the Bible does not give direct guidance about smoking marijuana, there are some who support the use of it based on the allowance to consume seed-bearing plants (e.g. cannabis) (Genesis 1:11-13; Genesis 2:9). However, because of the intoxicating effects of marijuana, the biblical principles that apply to alcohol should also be used to condemn its use, such as Ephesians 5:18, “Do not be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit,” and 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

The motive for using marijuana, whether therapeutic or recreational, is based on the reason why one chooses to use it. Therapeutic use of marijuana has the goal of treating pain associated with a pathological condition. It is interesting that marijuana is even considered as an option for treating pain, particularly when there are several more effective medications available. Even recreational use of marijuana is motivated by one’s own desire to change or enhance the way our minds process thoughts and ideas. Just like drinking alcohol has the potential for intoxication, one can also drink moderately and not become intoxicated. Curiously, I wonder if this logic also applies to the intoxicating effects of THC (achieved after four inhalations). Can one also reduce the number of inhalations and only be a “moderate” marijuana user? Also like alcohol, self-dosing of marijuana is determined by the amount of THC consumed, or how many inhalations does it take to maximize the euphoric feelings, including pain relief? It is important to note that the therapeutic benefits of THC only occur at intoxicating doses, which means that to experience the beneficial effects of THC, one also must become intoxicated.

As a pharmaceutical toxicologist, I have been immersed in the opioid crisis, with a particular focus on designing studies for abuse deterrence.

When an opioid with abuse potential is evaluated for toxicity, the goal is to understand how much of the drug will maximize the therapeutic effect, while minimizing the potential toxic side effects. The dose is carefully determined to ensure that the positive effect is gained while minimizing any negative consequences. In contrast to this rigorous method of designing an appropriate dose range for a drug, an inhaled dose of marijuana (the most common method of dosing) is not “metered,” or it is not possible to regulate the amount of marijuana entering into one’s lungs. Although it can be taken orally, most people smoke or vaporize marijuana to maximize the rate that the THC is delivered to the brain. With no metered control of the dose of inhaled marijuana, one can vary the dose greatly, even to toxic levels. This is why drugs are regulated with strict guidelines on how much of a dose can be tolerated and for how long. It is also for these reasons that the massive opioid crisis is occurring.

In addition to the health challenges of marijuana, the psychoactive nature of the THC in marijuana also has been a vehicle of gaining a higher consciousness. Entering into a spiritual realm with marijuana has been one of the hallmarks of Eastern religions and cults. Even though there may be pain relief following the use of marijuana, Christians must realize that our “bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). It is for this primary reason that believers must be wise in taking any form of a drug, knowing that we are called to glorify God with all our heart, mind, body and spirit (I Thessalonians 5:23).

Enjoy an interview with Dr. Lu Wing and host Pastor Brian Brodersen on Things That Matter, discussing in further details about the questions of legalized Marijuana.

I was amazed to read the headlines today, “Twitter Engineers to ‘Ban a Way of Talking’ Through ‘Shadow Banning,’” “Algorithms to Censor Opposing Political Opinions.”

According to a Twitter engineer, “Twitter is ‘shadow banning’ to stealthily target political views.”

Shadow banning is really a way of “sanitizing” thought by eliminating ideas that are not in line with their current ideologies.

As described by a Twitter engineer, “One strategy is to shadow ban, so you have ultimate control. The idea of a shadow ban is that you ban someone, but they don’t know they’ve been banned; because they keep posting, and no one sees their content. So they just think that no one is engaging with their content, when in reality, no one is seeing it.”

It is nothing but another attempt at natural selection – survival of the fittest ideas!

As believers in Jesus Christ today, the world system is aggressively seeking to shadow ban – sanitize – our voice, and ultimately, our lives. We need to be acutely aware of the spiritual basis of a “shadow ban” – which is a weapon from the enemy attempting to build a stronghold against our testimony. To silence our witness for Jesus Christ, the enemy needs to threaten us so that “no one sees our content.”

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal or based on computer algorithms.

Our weapons against shadow banning is to recognize the power of social media, acknowledge that the various forms of social media are designed and monitored by a fallen world system. Knowing this, we are to use these media sources with the full understanding that our content may be banned. Our weapons are mighty however – because only God can pull down the strongholds of these forms of social media. As the human race has once again attained a power beyond its ability to control, we must remember Nimrod who sought to build a tower up to heaven and make a name for himself (Genesis 11:4). Interesting how we will face the same consequences that the world encountered – by God bringing a confusion of the language!

“Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4). The consequences of these actions are so similar today, “Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech” (Genesis 11:7).

God dealt with Nimrod’s attempt at a shadow ban by destroying their algorithm used for communication. The pride of man continues to seek to control over mankind just as Nimrod did. It is also interesting that Nimrod is referred to as a “hunter of souls,” and a type of the antichrist.

How then are we to battle the Silicon tech giants, the agents of Nimrod, who are the seemingly gatekeepers of ideas, and ultimately, thought?

How do we combat our thoughts being silenced or sanitized?

As the passage quoted above continues, we are to bring our thoughts into captivity – not only within the algorithm of the computer technicians, but to the obedience of Christ. Instead of our thoughts being sanitized by them, we are encouraged to have them brought into God’s control. How do we do this? Isn’t social media the only way we can effectively communicate?

As believers we must realize that prayer is the most effective form of communication in the universe.

To have constant access to the Creator of the universe, we have the ability to converse with Him in any form of language – words, tongues or groanings! He knows our thoughts. In Psalm 139:2 it says that God “knows our thoughts afar off,” and He has provided us with the ultimate communication algorithm that transcends all of the tech giants’ ingenuity. We have no need to sit at a computer 24/7 and live and breathe algorithm development. We are encouraged with:

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).

Even though our thoughts may be shadow banned by the world, we have a voice that transcends even our language – a groaning, cry, sigh – that cannot be uttered. An eternal voice of communication that is heard in heaven. Our God is greater than any imaginable algorithm, and He will use all of our thoughts for His glory if we come to Him first and let Him sanitize them – with salt and light. Our voices are needed in this world, and God uses social media – we just have to realize that our God desires to hear from us first, have our thoughts captivated or sanitized by Him – then present them to the world. Let’s seek Him first and His righteousness (Mathew 6:33), then look at the social media sites that are begging for your attention!