| |
BGonline.org Forums
Mini Rant Because I Can
Posted By: mamabear In Response To: Mini Rant Because I Can (Stick)
Date: Thursday, 17 January 2008, at 2:26 p.m.
Whoever you are reading now (Dawkins? Harris? Hitchens?) forgot to add the immediately preceding material, which was the famous "Sermon on the Mount", and vs. 17, which was : 17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
So Jesus has come, and he blows off conventional strict interpretations of the law whenever he wants, such as when he stops the crowd from stoning the woman taken in adultery (John 8:1-11) He dies, then rises on the third day, fulfilling his mission and introducing the current era. Now we live by the commandments of love, including the famous Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12: 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Many cultures and faiths have a similar rule, but it's usually framed as a negative, telling you not to do things to others that you wouldn't want them to do to you. Jesus' postive formulation presents us with a greater responsibility that just leaving people alone if they're not in your face.
And while I'm counter-ranting here, since you don't restrict how much space we can use, I can't resist adding what Jesus had to say, later in that same Chp. 7, regarding the "Religious Right" of his day:
15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
If Jesus had come in our time, surely the wealthy, comfortable, and politically entrenched Religious Right would be leading the charge to crucify him...just as they did then. As they say en France, Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose >>
| |
BGonline.org Forums is maintained by Stick with WebBBS 5.12.