The Bible and Love and Christians

[RedPiggy]

Jesus wasn't exactly the nicest guy when it came to non-Jews. If you look at the times He had to talk to them (the Samaritan or whatever woman and the Centurion, off the top of my head), He's a complete jerk. None of that "God is for everybody" stuff! No, originally, Jesus' God is strictly for Jews, by Jews, and of Jews. However, non-Jews respond to His offensive attitude with a "but, hey, we really CAN get along, dude". Jesus is so impressed that He tones down His BS and decides to help them, amazed (so much for all-knowing) that non-Jews can have faith. The parable of the Good Samaritan, I submit, is most likely evidence of Jesus' evolution from an exclusive to a more inclusive theological outlook. It took several tries, but Jesus eventually learns that being a jerk to somebody isn't the best way to handle things, particularly if your stated Mission is to be on the moral high-ground. It progresses even to the point where, at the end, Jesus can heal a soldier with his ear cut off (by one of His own guys) AND forgive His executioners. I see Jesus' real triumph as, not His death and resurrection, but His progression from a smartmouth to someone truly smart.

 

[Frogpuppeteer]

Man sometimes threads like this make me sorta held back in saying im a christian, i grew up in the church along with my family

Jamie i have the upmost respect for you and have nothing against gays, my own sister is a lesbian and i love her to death...its a little confusing belief wise, but she is still a person and my sister...some of my best friends are gay..( one who hides it but we all know,,and he hides it because of his dad) and even some of the greatest puppeteers i know

but im more posting because im not liking this view of Christians at the moment..not all of us are on the street holding "God hates {insert hate here}." and are actually pretty normal, i can sit with people of any faith, sexual orientation and what have you and have a nice friendly convo and not once mention religion

if anything only people i have a problem with right now are local jehovah witness people...they pound on my door as if my house is on fire and force themselves in my home..thats not right

now im not the most perfect christian..ive done things that most wouldn't...but i don't regret any of it...because i know if God loves me like it says he does he will forgive me

i just feel in todays day and age us christians are all put into a pile of haters and im not like that..im pretty open to everyone, yea i dont agree with everyones views but its not my place to force them what i believe and call them wrong

random post i know just felt like saying this for a long time

 

[CensoredAlso]

Jesus wasn't exactly the nicest guy when it came to non-Jews. If you look at the times He had to talk to them (the Samaritan or whatever woman and the Centurion, off the top of my head), He's a complete jerk.

Um sorry, but I think you're misinterpreting the stories. He goes out of his way to talk to them like they were regular people, which was shocking to his followers.

The fact that she's a "Samaritan or whatever" is very important. They were considered the enemy. And men didn't just go up to women and have chats with them. So for Jesus to do that was incredibly ahead of his time and meant to show his progressiveness.

I'm honestly not trying to be rude but it's like if someone misinterprets a Shakespearean play and says Romeo and Juliet are just friends.

 

[RedPiggy]

I don't think I'm misinterpreting Jesus and His apostles refusing to heal a woman's kid, calling her a dog, and dismissing her concerns with a "well, we're here for Jews, chick"-type statement.

He's a little nicer to the Centurion (who wouldn't be? ... doesn't pay to tick off the cop with the gun), but is still just flabbergasted that a Roman Centurion would even bother asking for His help.

Why is Jesus such a jerk? And there's no whitewashing it ... He wasn't leaping for joy at the thought of helping them. They BOTH had to convince Him to do His job.

As I said, this doesn't make me dislike Jesus ... because towards the end, Jesus seems to have learned His lesson, making stories like the Good Samaritan, encouraging more inclusive get-togethers, etc. God also helps out by telling Peter not to be such a jerk to Romans when it comes time to arrive at a requested prayer meeting with a bunch of Romans.

What this tells me is that clearly Christianity evolved its sense of universalism (and is still evolving, since some groups still want to exclude themselves from "sinners").

 

[CensoredAlso]

I don't think I'm misinterpreting Jesus and His apostles refusing to heal a woman's kid, calling her a dog, and dismissing her concerns with a "well, we're here for Jews, chick"-type statement.

Ohhh, I thought you were talking about a different story. That's where we were getting confused, I'm sorry. Well initially he probably did feel like his mission was mainly for his own people, who were being horribly oppressed by an empire and had a history of being cruelly exiled. Jesus was a human being living at that time; it makes sense he would have had some of those same feelings. That's why it's so important to have some historical context with the Bible.

Plus there is the interpretation that he was simply testing her to see if she had enough perseverance to keep trying. Or that he was trying to make a point to his disciples about the way they were acting towards her. These have been presented as interpretations of this story before.

So, you think that when Christians are persecuted, we just need to let it go and not fight back?

Actually I would say, yes. That is what "turn the other cheek" means. Let it go. Fighting back will only lead to more fighting. Treat them the way you would want to be treated.

 

[TheMonsterAteMe]

I recently created a video on the topic of what I think the Bible says about Homosexuality... just to throw my voice in!

One Christians view on Homosexuality and the LGBT community.

 

[beaker]

Once Christians begin to be persecuted in America, there will be a movement to step up and fight back.

Hey, I thought I was the resident conspiracy theorist here!

It's true, the Department of Homeland Security report cites Christians, gun owners, etc as the "new possible terror threat".

I'm against persecution of anyone for beliefs en masse. This includes both the persecution of Christians in commie China, Sharia Law Islamic countries, but also the mass persecution and rounding up of gays by Christian nations in Africa.

I think it's the sleeping around aspect of homosexual or hetero swinging lifestyles God, if he exists, would frown upon. The swinging 70's stuff. I see no way on earth God would frown upon two committed loving women whove been together for years. Heck, a married lesbian couple saved 40 kids from dying in that Norway terror attack the other week(which the media didnt seem to make much mention of)

 

[CensoredAlso]

I think it's the sleeping around aspect of homosexual or hetero swinging lifestyles God, if he exists, would frown upon. The swinging 70's stuff.

Yeah and I think that is what's basically being addressed in the Leviticus chapter. Like I've said before, it seems more of a health issue than a moral one when I read it.

 

[Bannanasketch]

Hey, anybody still want to discuss on this thread. I've been thinking lately and I wanted to share my thoughts with everyone.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Hey, anybody still want to discuss on this thread. I've been thinking lately and I wanted to share my thoughts with everyone.

I'm willing, lol.