What Integrity Means

On Saturday 4 May 2013 we joined Oasis for another tour of the MET in New York.

This tour was all about integrity.

Much of the information is set out in the INSIGHT book.

(**The following were notes for another visitor at the museum)

We were first asked what does integrity mean? 

(IT-1 pp 1209-1210)

Moral soundness, completeness, one’s being blameless and faultless.

**Integrity is embraced in the commandment Jesus singled out as the greatest of all—loving Jehovah God with one’s whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. (Mt 22:36-38) His injunction that “you must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48) also stressed a completeness of one’s devotion to righteousness. (The Greek terms for perfection convey the idea of that which has been ‘brought to completion’ and so are somewhat similar in meaning to the Hebrew terms already discussed.)

 **Principle of Integrity in the Greek Scripture

Matthew 22:36-38 - 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment.

Our guide took us to the Greek section and we covered information on Greek sports and the marathon. We were explained why Paul used certain terms in writing to a Greek audience. It was very instructive.

We learned that for a Greek athlete to put off every weight meant he needed to perform his sport naked. This means for us that we need to put off all worldly weights. Anything that will slow us down.

We learned all about the Greek way of life and how difficult it was for s Christian to keep free. Yet if he/she was to remain in integrity they had too. A Christian could never take part in any of the games. They were tied closely together with state and religious ideals. Plus because men took part naked there was a tendency toward homosexuality. Carrying the olympic flame was worship to Zeus. (today we need to be careful of our involvement and support of the olympics)

We learned that most of what went on in the Greek and Roman times were in sacrifice to demons.  And the worshipping of demons.

**The integrity of the first faithful followers of Christ has become proverbial. Even at the cost of their lives, they refused to compromise their faith. But why were they treated so cruelly?

**Jesus once applied to himself a prophetic psalm, saying: “They hated me without cause.” (John 15:25; Psalm 69:4) Before telling his disciples this, he had warned: “A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:20) It would not be easy to follow in his footsteps. For one thing, religious leaders among the Jews would treat Jesus’ Jewish disciples as apostates from Judaism. When it was demanded that Jesus’ followers no longer speak about him, however, they refused to comply and thus compromise their faith.—Acts 4:17-20; 5:27-32

**Persecution of Christians took a new turn by 112 C.E., two years after Emperor Trajan appointed Pliny governor of Bithynia (now northwest Turkey). The previous administration there had been lax, resulting in disorder. Temples were almost deserted, and sales of fodder for sacrificial animals dropped considerably. Traders blamed the simplicity of Christian worship, for it lacked both animal sacrifices and idols.

**Pliny worked hard to restore pagan worship, while Christians paid with their lives for refusing to offer wine and incense before statues of the emperor. Eventually, Roman authorities conceded that Christians “were virtuous folk, but inexplicably hostile to the old religious tradition,” says Professor Henry Chadwick. Though being a Christian remained a capital offence, Jesus’ true followers had no thought of compromise.

More and more our eyes were opened. We wondered if we actually ever read any of the INSIGHT book. Our tour guide took us through many areas of the museum to explain about demonism and how it is linked from the past into modern day society.

Pandemonium – a place where all the demons are.

Definition of PANDEMONIUM

1: the capital of Hell in Milton's Paradise Lost

2: the infernal regions : hell

3 not capitalized : a wild uproar : tumult

Origin of PANDEMONIUM

New Latin, from Greek pan- + daimōn evil spirit

First Known Use: 1667

I had not realised this this image of a snake wrapped around a stick was was to do with worship of the Greek god for hygiene. It was also originally to do with divination.

** “Spirit of Python.” In Philippi, Macedonia, Paul met a servant girl who was possessed by “a demon of divination,” literally, “a spirit of python” (Gr., pneu′ma py′tho·na; Ac 16:16). “Python” was the name of the mythical snake that guarded the temple and oracle of Delphi, Greece. The word py′thon came to refer to a person who could foretell the future and also to the spirit that spoke through that one. Although later used to denote a ventriloquist, here in Acts it is used to describe a demon who enabled a young girl to practice the art of prediction.

**Python - a spirit to be able to speak through another person.

**Psalm 91:13 - Upon the young lion and the cobra you will tread; You will trample down the maned young lion and the big snake.

Here is another picture shown to us. These symbols have to do with demonism. We were advised not to go into any house or shop or have any dealings with anyone or anything displaying these signs. (We were warned, as these are direct Satan worshippers and steeped in demonism.)

We then learned why that was all important. We learned of the true meanings of PAN.

Pan has goat like legs and feet. He is what the Bible describes as a goat-shaped-demon.

**Pan in Greek religion and mythology, is the god of shepherds and flocks, of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music, as well as the companion of the nymphs.  Pan inspired sudden fear in crowded places, panic (panikon deima).  Following the Titans' assault on Olympus, Pan claimed credit for the victory of the gods because he had inspired disorder and fear in the attackers resulting in the word 'panic' to describe these emotions. Of course, Pan was later known for his music, capable of arousing inspiration, sexuality, or panic, depending on his intentions. In the Battle of Marathon (490 BC), it is said that Pan favored the Athenians and so inspired panic in the hearts of their enemies, the Persians.

**Eros (Ancient Greek: "Intimate Love"), in Greek mythology, was the primordial god of sexual love and beauty. He was also worshipped as a fertility deity. His Roman counterpart was Cupid ("desire"), also known as Amor ("love"). In some myths, he was the son of the deities Aphrodite and Ares.

Eros not mentioned in the Bible.

*** w65 4/1 pp. 203-205 The Love That Leads to Life ***

LOVE IN THE GREEK LANGUAGE

⁷ This is where the Greeks and their four words for love come back into the picture. In Bible times the Greeks used the word éros to describe what we today would call romantic love, or love between the sexes. Love among those of the same family, such as love of parents for a child, was expressed by the word storgé. The word philía conveyed the idea of affection felt for friends, a love characterized by fondness or attachment due to mutual attraction of personalities. Finally, they used the word agápe to express the love that is based on principle and that results from the deliberate exercise of one’s judgment and will, a love free from selfish interests.

Nationalism is to integrity where rust is to metal, corrosive and destructive.

Cybele was the fertility goddess of Phrygia, an ancient country of Asia Minor*. In Greek and Roman mythology, Cybele personified Mother Earth and was worshiped as the Great Mother of the Gods.

*** g74 2/8 pp. 27-28 Are They Harmless Observances? ***

Of May Day, this Encyclopedia observes: “The English and other peoples whom the Romans conquered developed their May Day festivals from the Floralia.” And whom did that festival honor? It was held in honor of Flora, the goddess of flowers.

But what of Mother’s Day?  “A festival derived from the custom of mother worship in ancient Greece. Formal mother worship, with ceremonies to Cybele, or Rhea, the Great Mother of the Gods, were performed on the Ides of March throughout Asia Minor.”

*** w04 12/15 pp. 26-29 Where True Worship and Paganism Clashed ***

From Artemis to the “Mother of God”

Paul warned the older men of the congregation in Ephesus that after his departure “oppressive wolves” would appear and men would rise from among them and “speak twisted things.” (Acts 20:17, 29, 30) That is exactly what happened. Events reveal that false worship prevailed in Ephesus in the form of apostate Christianity.

Job 27:5 - Until I expire I shall not take away my INTEGRITY from myself!

We very much appreciated this tour from Oasis.

The following is information that I have gained and no one from Oasis themselves have mentioned this. It has come from concerned brothers and sisters. 

It may interest you to know that the $25 paid on entry to the MET goes completely in the coffers of the museum. The guide does not get even one cent. That is why we should support these pioneers as they are giving of their time freely. Unless we tip them, they do it for nothing, and cant even count their time. Please give generously.  If everyone gave a minimum of $5 each. it will help make it worthwhile for our pioneers to give of their time. 

A few pictures from the INTEGRITY TOUR

download the integrity research