"Christians": How does it profit me to quote you scripture and ask you about your compassion for the poor?

Question

How does it profit you to ignore the scripture and mock me?

Matthew 25:45-46
"... inasmuch as ye have done it not unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it not to me.
"... these shall go away into everlasting punishment ..."

Matt 6:24-34
"No man can serve two masters ... Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat, and the body than raiment?
"Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
"And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? ..."

Matthew 19:21-29
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
...
"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."

Answer 1

I'm a Christian, and I am poor, so I'm all for compassion for the poor! And yes, I do give, sometimes to my church, sometimes to beggars on the street, and sometimes to other causes.

I am concerned about the so-called "God's Own Party's" ignoring of, and even contempt for, the poor. I'm bothered, even angry, that the Republicans support such Big Business practices of outsourcing, downsizing, and squeezing More Work from Fewer People for Less Pay, increasing the number of poor in our country and throughout the world. I'm bothered by the Bush Administration's tax cuts for the very rich. I'm bothered that in a time when the minimum wage has remained the same for ten years, that the top 50 or so people with the biggest salaries experienced a salary increase over last year of 68%!!! I'm bothered that Christians have been manipulated into caring more about BIll Clinton's adultery than about Enron's cheating their investors and pensioners and laying off their workers while their top executives absconded with millions.

Yet, on the other hand, Jesus advises us, rich or poor, to serve God and not Money, and not to be overly concerned about whether we'll eat or drink or have clothing, but to put God first and God will take care of our needs. I try to put God first, though it's hard. So far, though I make far less than I need, at this point in my life I have food, clothing, and shelter. I also have debt that I can't pay off, yet I've also gotten a couple of grants from organizations to help pay part of those debts. So God is looking out for me!

Answer 2

You see the issue with scriptures IMO is if you begin to quote some areas, than you must quote all areas. And that is when logic collides with illogic. Let me give some examples of scriptures that are simply illogical in this society without violating each citizens civil liberties.

1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbours. They
claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned > in Exodus
21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I
tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.

4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring > > > nations. A
friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but > > > not
Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2.
The passage clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated
to kill him myself?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I
don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if > I have a
defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my
vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27.
How should they die?

Are these extreme examples...well absolutely. Please do not say..well, this is old testament stuff, the new testament is more civilized. Hardly. It seems to me that many religions quote what is appropriate to their agenda at any particular time, in any particular context. I call that manipulation...hardly a beautiful way to start a relationship with a congregant. If the Bible were taken in its entirety, we would have to accept the absurdity of the doctrine in many ways and see much of it as violation of human life, human freedom and most of all dignity. Also contextually speaking it seems to me that points that were relevant to the day and time in which they were put forth, can never be known by us today.

Answer 3

The scripture doesn't profit you anything if you use it as a weapon against those who believe what it says. They might not live it perfectly, but they know that Almighty God wrote it. They are sometimes immature and childish, and selfish, all at the same time, but they know the one who puts repentance in their hearts and who forgives them through his perfect sacrifice. The scripture is to teach you about Christ, not to teach you how to be better than others.

Answer 4

It won't profit you at all.

Stop quoting, and start living it.

It sounds like you are trying very hard to run from God. What scares you so much about God, and Jesus as the Messiah? Why do you mock God and His children?

Answer 5

Good luck with that.

Since they believe they will eventually meet Jesus and have a day of judgment, you'd think they might try a little harder to do as he told them to do. You'd be wrong, but you'd think it.

They, on the other hand, seem to think all they need to do is believe and they are in. Even though Jesus clearly said that those who do not help the poor will be cast into hell.

Answer 6

Metta Sutta ~ Good Will This is to be performed by way of one expert in goals who needs to damage by way of to the state of peace: Be equipped, upright, & easy, convenient to teach, soft, & now not immodest, content material & convenient to aid, with few tasks, residing evenly, with peaceable schools, masterful, modest, & no greed for supporters. Do now not do the slightest factor that the shrewd might later censure. Think: Happy, at relaxation, would possibly all beings be glad at middle. Whatever beings there is also, susceptible or powerful, with out exception, lengthy, gigantic, middling, brief, delicate, blatant, obvious & unseen, close & some distance, born & looking for beginning: May all beings be glad at middle. Let no person lie to yet another or despise any individual anyplace, or by way of anger or inflammation want for yet another to endure. As a mom might danger her lifestyles to look after her youngster, her simplest youngster, having said that must one domesticate a unlimited middle in regards to all beings. With well will for the whole cosmos, domesticate a unlimited middle: Above, under, & throughout, unobstructed, with out enmity or hate. Whether status, going for walks, sitting, or mendacity down, so long as one is alert, one must be resolved in this mindfulness. This is referred to as an elegant abiding right here & now. Not involved in perspectives, however virtuous & consummate in imaginative and prescient, having subdued wish for sensual pleasures, one certainly not once more will lie within the womb.

Answer 7

Pray that God write His Word on your heart so that His wisdom simply flows from your mouth throughout the day that you might teach your children His ways.

Answer 8

You have just accused whose who have never met you and those you have never met of mocking you and ignoring the Scripture.

Why do I suspect you have a chip on your shoulder about the size of Montana?

Pastor Art

Answer 9

Do you also read and quote "Lord Of The Ring" ?

Answer 10

You tell me. I have seen this so many times now that I believe that you have an issue with this subject. : )