You know, a couple of months ago I thought... Gosh, I think I'll just start reminding people of what Jesus actually taught, and over time I thought... many would come to appreciate the Sermon on the Mount and the Original Gospel (you know "Mercy, Not Sacrifice," and "forgive others and God will forgive you." and so on.
But alas, nothing has changed... people just seem to insist that Paul's gospel of sacrifice for sin is better than anything Jesus could have preached on his own.
Well, out of despiration, I just want to ask... is there ANYONE out there who has enought respect for what Jesus taught to hold his Sermon on the Mount and his Kingdom Gospel above the doctrines that came AFTER Jesus was so unjustly killed?
Is there anyone out there???
2007-09-14 13:45:42 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Amen
My son memorized the Sermon on the Mount when he was 9---word for word, KJV, and he knew what all the words meant, and read it with emotion. I have problems with Paul's epistles being given equal weight in the Gospels as Jesus', and I have problems with some of the messages and contradictions in the gospels, but the Sermon on the Mount is the most important theological, inspirational, and practical lesson in the Bible, and maybe, in the history of the world.
2007-09-14 13:50:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
As a Muslim, I love Jesus. I have read and appreciate the Sermon on the Mount. Now that you have accepted Jesus and now that you value mercy over justice, what would YOU do in this situation:
A bully is beating up a young innocent child on his way to school:
Would you stop the bully or would you preach the child to forgive the bully and patiently receive the beating and pray for the bully?
What would be more right? and WHY?
As a Muslim if I was that child, and if I had the heart and the ability to forgive the bully, that will certainly bring me closer to the Almighty Lord. However, if I was that child and you came preaching to me to forgive the bully, without stopping him, I would see George W. Bush in you.
Bullies tend to abuse the weak and if you look the other way, being a bully would become a great job. Did Jesus come to support all the bullies and lecture the little innocent school boys who are being beaten.
If the Christians had not so totally misunderstood and confused the teachings of Christ, there would be a lot more Christians. There can not be mercy when it is a third party involved as in a social setting. Mercy is applicable ONLY and ONLY in your own personal decisions. If you are the victim, you alone can be merciful and forgive. I can not forgive your abuser. I can only seek justice for you. YOU can forgive the abuser if you so wish which is the loftier path.
Instead most people in America who are Christians still support the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, when Christ teaches about giving the other cheek, the Christians tend to feel others should give the other cheek while they beat them up ... or be called unforgiving and revengeful.
Look, from the American Indians in North America to the South Americans and today the Muslims, many have been at the receiving end of people who preach salvation and mercy.
Does this make sense to you? Should people give you the other cheek while you slap them around? THINK about that.
I did not mean to be as blunt when I started out. I know you are a sensitive person, but please see from a higher perspective, rather than putting yourself on a pedestal, which Jesus never did.
2007-09-14 14:06:00 · answer #2 · answered by NQV 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have great respect for Jesus and his teachings. I think he was primarily a religious and social reformer, who wanted to end organised dogmatic religion and social injustice. He would have been appaled to see people worship him as a deity, and would have been disgusted by what has been done in his name.
He drove the moneychangers from the Temple. He'd have some pretty harsh words for televangelists.
2007-09-14 13:53:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a Christian, but I respect what Jesus said. Personally, I have no, or little use for Paul. I do like the description of love in his letter to the Corinthians though; that's about it.
2007-09-14 13:53:32 · answer #4 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I take to heart the whole word but I focus on what Jesus actually said. That is what I base my life on.
2007-09-14 13:52:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
don't get me wrong ... its not that i personally have no respect for what jesus tryed to teach..
it's just hundreds and hundereds and hundreds of years later.. if feel his wisdom has developed to a more catchy beat.
prehaps if you want to engage the modern world on your take you shoud try to find comparisons in todays litrature that follow his preachings... more up to date situations... that sort of thing?
2007-09-14 13:53:46 · answer #6 · answered by goosebumpsandgiggles 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a lot of respect for what Jesus is said to have taught. "Be good to each other and to yourself" I like it.
2007-09-14 15:55:25 · answer #7 · answered by Black Dragon 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's no substitute for accepting and teaching the FULL gospel ... which includes a lot more than the bible alone.
The Catholic church was there with Jesus at the time. Were you?
2007-09-14 14:29:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Jesus seemed to be a nice dude that was a little crazy..you see he thought he was the son of a imaginary man in the sky...I met a homeless guy once that thought he was pretty boy Floyd, but I don't worship him tho..cool dude tho
2007-09-14 13:59:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I appreciate Jesus for who he is and what he taught. That's my biggest problem with these Christian conservatives: they put the work of other humans above the word of who THEY call "Lord."
2007-09-14 13:50:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋