Does He command that we tell believers that they're going to hell if they don't use the “right” spelling for a word (according to us)? Does He command believers to motivate the poor to do what's right and better their situation? Does He command us to be hateful and rude to someone because they don't speak in tongues or agree with our exact doctrine? Does He command us to expect the world to live according to the Word? Does He expect us to get offended and mad if they don't?
I was accused the other day of simplifying God. I think that's exactly what He wants, though. I think He intended His word to be simple. When they asked Jesus what His greatest command was in Luke 10:27 He responded, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. The second, is like it. Love your neighbors as yourself.” Sounds pretty simple to me.
Tell me, how would you feel if your neighbor treated you as you have treated other believers let alone the world? God says we're not to treat others as they have treated us, but to love them...LOVE them...as we love ourselves. Does how you speak show love for other believers? The world?
How does the world see us? How does the world view the body of Christ?
There ought to be a term that would designate those who actually follow the teachings of Jesus, since the word 'Christian' has been largely divorced from those teachings, and so polluted by fundamentalists that it has come to connote their polar opposite: intolerance, vindictive hatred, and bigotry. -- Philip Stater, Huffington Post
THAT is how the world views us. That's not what I want. You?
God doesn't command us to motivate the poor to do better. He doesn't tell us to chastise them because they're not helping themselves. He tells us to feed them. He tells us to give them clothes. He tells us to visit them in prison and when they're sick.
You can argue all day with me, but if you're a follower of Christ, you CANNOT argue with Him. THIS is what He commands of us. He tells us to go out and spread His gospel. He doesn't tell us to do that by belittling people. He doesn't say to take offense and fulfill His commands that way. He says to feed them. To clothe them. To visit them in prison and when they're sick. He says, “Whatever you have done to the least of these you have done unto Me.” Here are the words straight from Jesus Himself in Matthew 25:
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
1 comment:
Oh preach it sista!
If only everyone could understand that it's so "simple". It's such a shame that God's word has gotten so "complicated" by some people. Once again, you speak the truth...so simple...I love it!
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