"And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:59-62)"
Oh, I'll follow Jesus BUT...'
'Yes, I'm a believer, BUT...'
'I'm a christian, BUT Jesus didn't mean that...'
Oh heavenly Father, help us overcome our deceitful hearts.
The Way is narrow indeed (Matt. 7, John 14), and one of the greatest stumbling blocks is hanging onto people who are not willing to forsake all and follow Jesus with all their hearts. Take, for instance, the men Jesus addresses in the Luke 9 passage quoted above. The first is unwilling to let go of his unbelieving natural family members, and uses as an excuse not to follow Jesus, the attending of a ritual of hopelessness and death. The second, making the same error of holding onto his natural family (Matt. 12:48-50), Jesus' judges as unworthy to enter the kingdom of God.
2006-09-22 05:12:50 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Think from Truth about life, not from life about Truth." V.H.
"I am the way, the truth, and the life" Jesus.
"Neither do I condem you." Jesus
If truth is life, and love is the way, then living for GOD, is being and expressing truth, in love. Simple honesty is required. Courage is required to live without self condemnation. Insight is accepting what is true by watching thoughts appear hear and now as they do. Resisting this awareness does not side with God. Setting ones self up as judge, does not free anyone.
"HEALING TRUTH
'How can I be different?'
'Be the way you are.'
'I don't understand.'
'You must always be the way you are because there is nothing else.
Pretending to be different will chain but not change you. A sheep
who imagines he is a lion is still a sheep.'
'But how do I change by being what I am?'
'By seeing what you are. See the difference between your real nature
and your dozens of stage roles. When realizing the price you pay to
be onstage, the roles fall away of themselves.'
'I see. Awareness of what I am changes what I am. But I fear such
self-honesty will hurt.'
'The truth that hurts is the same truth that heals. Remember that.'”
"The Truth is for those who no longer want to suffer."
"SEEK TRUTH
Only empty people seek power over others. If obtained,
everyone aches. A power-lover hopes to fill the terri-
fying vacancy he feels, and so he fills, fills, fills,
but feels more hollow than before. As cleverly as he
conceals his horror, it will not let him go. He fills
a flower basket with rocks, then indignantly wonders
why life is so hard. You don’t need power over others.
It hurts, for you fear losing it. Seek Truth-power."
"LIVING TRUTH
A truth is understood only when it favorably influences what the
individual does, what he is. He must not only know the truth with
his mind, but must live it with his whole being. Everyone must
guard against taking mental knowledge of the truth for living it
out in daily behavior. An honest glance at the actual inward con-
dition is enough to prevent a mistake here. Speaking the phrases
‘kindly attitudes’ and ‘mental health’ is not the same as living
with those qualities.
You want a way of life, not a pill to be taken when desperation
dictates. You want a freely flowing day requiring no stops for
pills. You don’t want just the words; you want the lasting ins-
piration of the music."
"POSITIVE TRUTH
Careless people say, 'But these higher ideas seem so negative.'
This is painful and dangerous delusion. A negative mind looks at
Truth, but cannot take its brilliance, and so turns back to see
itself, which it foolishly thinks is negative Truth. Darkness sees
only darkness. Such ignorant people would call a scientist negative
if he warned them against drinking impure water. Let positive Truth
declare what is negative. It makes you positive."
"Truth does not exist to be organized and interpreted by man,
but to save him."
"Truth's strength does not depend upon your belief or lack of
belief in it. You can be very grateful for that. Truth's power
is as independent of human thought as sunlight is independent
of the wind. To understand this, blend with Truth."
"Truth wants only to help you. Falsehood wants only to
hurt you."
"Truth's compassion is beautifully apparent when it asks,
'What are you doing to help yourself?'"
"Truth is not on the level of words, which is why it is easier
to see truth than explain it."
"Truth can be explained with simple words, but deluded man
thinks that the obscure is the profound."
"Truth seems harsh and negative only to dishonest people,
dishonest people who would rather attack than yield."
"Truth is tough on pain. It is not tough on you."
"TRUTH POWER
Suppose you are passing a rioting mob. Someone in the mob
exclaims, 'This is madness. I’m getting out.' You sense the
sanity in that remark. How is such wisdom won? The more power
you get from society, such as money and approval, the more you
are under mob-terror because you are part of it. But the more
power from Truth, the more wisdom you have toward the mob that
is human society. You know enough to stay out! Know enough!"
"Truth is very much concerned that everything is all right
with you."
"Truth knows exactly what you should do with yourself all day long,
so why not let it tell you?”
"Truth never condemns anyone for anything. It simply informs
everyone that he lives unknowingly in a state of psychic
hypnosis which attracts all his griefs. Truth cordially
invites everyone to listen to the necessary instructions
for self-awakening. Truth teaches, 'See your need for facing
an entirely new direction. Remember, when facing the sun,
the shadow is at your back.'"
"TRUTH’S INVITATION
Truth does not say an individual must approach without his angers
and frustrations. If a man is bound by these chains he has no choice
but to come with them. Asking a prisoner to behave like a free man is
both impossible and hypocritical. Truth says this to the chained man
or woman, ‘Come with your very angers and frustrations, but add some-
thing else. Add a simple and earnest wish to drop your chains. This
wish itself is a new power. By permitting it to enter the action you
permit it to become the key to liberation.’
No man who asked insincerely ever received an answer. No man who
asked sincerely was ever denied an answer. Truth always knows which
of the two attitudes is asking.
Inspiration is the beautiful explosion of understanding that occurs
when a truth meets a willingness to receive that truth."
"Truth is compassionate to all
Because the truth is gentle and kindly, it also shocks.
It has no motive in shocking except to awaken suffering
humanity. Falsehood fears to shock, for its selfish in-
terests require sleeping people to remain asleep, there-
fore falsehood is ruthless and cruel. Knowing its own
innocence, truth can say, 'Sacrifice to others in hope
of securing their support for your shaky self-structure
can only bring heartache. That wonderful person you idol-
ize is just as lost as you are. Do not call evil good.
Let that begin your self-rescue.'"
"Truth will go anywhere to rescue anyone. You need only be ready to
come back home. It makes no difference how long or far you have
wandered. Since Truth does not fear what you fear, it can seek and
find you in the deepest jungle, and guide you back to where you
really belong."
"Truth does not hide from anyone, which means that it is men and
women who hide."
"Truth is absolutely delighted with anyone who walks toward it
while simply wondering what it is all about."
"Truth is the only force on earth that will not betray you after
asking for your obedience."
"Truth never argues with what is wrong."
2006-09-22 08:02:00 · answer #1 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow, well said ! If we don't deny ourselves and follow Jesus (pick up your cross and follow me) then we have no chance to see Heaven. The only way to salvation is strait and narrow, NOT broad and easy as many of the Christians now-a-days want you to think. Why did Jesus describe the "way that leadeth unto life (Himself) " as hard, full of anguish, and trouble ? Is it because the salvation doctrine preached in our churches today is FALSE?
Could it be that, Jesus was right when He said He will reject the "many" Christians that will say to Him " Lord Lord have we not prophecied in thy name ? and have we not cast out devils ?" Yet He will answer them swiftly with a :I never knew you, DEPART from Me." One has to find out WHO those people were that will be rejected, and WHY have they been rejected by Christ. The answer to these questions should be the number one priority of every man on earth.
This isn't a game, if the salvation doctrine that is preached in our churches today is FALSE, we are living our worst delusion ever. This is so important I cannot express it in words and emphasize enough how important this ! Please consider what Jesus said, and if you trully trust in Him, then do as He told you to do.
"Not everyone who will say to me "Lord Lord" will inherit the Kingdom of God,but HE WHO DOES the WILL OF MY FATHER.
2006-09-22 06:20:47 · answer #2 · answered by Nothingness 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So you're saying it's wrong to love your family and want to tell them what's going on? The way in Christianity isn't supposed to be narrow, so stop making it out to be. The whole point is that ANYONE can live any way they choose and still get into heaven just by believing Jesus was the savior. That doesn't mean you have to abandon your family if they don't believe in God or something.
This kind of separatism is what gives religions like Christianity a bad name. "Well, you can't be happy because you're not WITH US."
2006-09-22 05:19:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
That is what he said and that is what he meant,,,,, WE as Christian men and women are to love him above all else. We are to put him first in everything in our lives.Our life with him is eternal, our lives with our earth family's is just temporal,we should or MUST always put our Lord first. That will be the down fall of many a good Christian right there, are you strong enough in the Lord to do it??? I pray he will give us the strength to do all his will for us...
2006-09-22 05:24:40 · answer #4 · answered by littlecwoman 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't exactly follow your point of views..You sound as though your turning your back on people..Jesus would never do that ..Maybe I'm misreading you all together but you really don't make much sense to me..Sorry
2006-09-22 05:24:23 · answer #5 · answered by Just Dreamin' 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
each of us have our own reasons for hanging back to a certain extent. we are all mortals and all have hesitations in letting go of certain things or persons. even today when a loved one dies instead of gladness most people are sad and upset. not for the departed one but because we are going to miss the loved one who has gone before us.
2006-09-22 05:22:57 · answer #6 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I dislike people who do things half-assed. Therefore I don't follow him at all.
For some reason, christians have never gotten that "love they neighbor as thyself" and "turn the other cheek" stuff. I just never became popular.
2006-09-22 05:16:39 · answer #7 · answered by jesse_o_ellis 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Totally but why would you write that.
2006-09-22 05:14:54 · answer #8 · answered by karren b 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yep, too many but's muddle the walk.
2006-09-22 05:16:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sorry, I don't follow.
I'm an Agnostic.
2006-09-22 05:15:04 · answer #10 · answered by Girl Wonder 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋