What I'm wondering about is this: In a religion based on love, why is so much of the terminology violent or gruesome?
"Covered with the blood of Christ"
"Slain in the spirit"
"Baptism by fire"
Your thoughts?
2007-09-23 06:55:13 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I understand what all of these things mean, this question is strictly about the wording. Why violent terms for things meant to be positive?
2007-09-23 07:27:39 · update #1
Many spirituality-minded people fail to distinguish between metaphor and reality. It helps them to preserve their worldviews:
"We are covered with the blood of Christ"
(but not really...)
"God tells me what is right and what is wrong"
(of course I mean that metaphorically, if you're going to ask for a recording of his voice, but when you stop asking for that, I'll go back to saying that I really mean it...)
See how that works?
2007-09-23 07:10:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
You bring up good points -- but you have to look at the phrases in the context of the doctrine of Christianity.
1) Covered in the blood of Christ refers to the fact that through the death of Christ (the blood) we are given the change at freedom, we are forgiven, we are given grace. Our sins are given by the blood of Christ. The death paid for our sins. That is what that is talking about.
2) Slain in the spirit is usually a phrase that is associated with the charismatic movement. It means that when the Holy Spirit comes upon someone they are overtaken by that spirit and thus, slain in the spirit. Some people actually argue that the phrase isn't biblical.
3) Baptism by fire is talking about being baptized by the Holy Spirit. It can mean different things for different people. Fire is a symbol of the Holy Spirit because of the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). It is being overtaken by the Holy Spirit. If you are a part of the charasmatic movement, then it also means speaking in tongues.
2007-09-23 14:14:26 · answer #2 · answered by One Odd Duck 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
According to the messianic Judaic teachings, the messiah was supposed to be a warrior leader like David. Notice how both of the other major Abrahamic religions still retain the violence of their leaders and heroes.
Most of the gospels were written well after the death of Jesus implying that though he may have been a popular leader locally, he was not viewed as a significant martyr until much later.
Coincidentally, the Jews had just lost the Jewish-Roman war and were looking for a peaceful (or at least less OPENLY aggressive) focus that would allow them to coexist under Roman rule (many Jews had moved into Roman lands and even found new converts to Judaism).
In Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches - The Riddles of Culture by Marvin Harris, he posits the idea that Judas may have actually been a violent rebel against Rome and at the same time a follower of Jesus.
One of the possible etymologies of Iscariot might have been a "knife man" or assassin. Also, there is Roman record of an insurgency leader named Judas who lead several attempts to overthrow Rome in the decades after Jesus' death (but no record of Jesus).
Jesus might have been the peaceful cover for a brewing rebellion.
2007-09-23 15:40:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
First the blood is NOT gruesome. It is sacred.
Second slain in the spirit means exactly that. The old spirit is dead.
Baptism by fire does not mean they burn you .. You really need to check these things out. You take things out of context. And of course it seem strange. That is like reading two pages of War and Peace and trying to understand it.. You never will. Try the link below and do a little research.
Peace & God bless from Lonestar Prayer Warrior-ess
2007-09-23 14:14:53 · answer #4 · answered by jaantoo1 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sin is horrible and it took the shedding of innocent blood to pay the penalty for our sins.
Slain in the spirit is a term used to describe those who fall to the ground, as if they had been slain, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism by fire is a term from the book of Acts.
Fire is a first century term of power as understood by people in the first century.
Pastor Art
2007-09-23 16:31:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yeah, the language and imagery speak volumes about the nature of the religion. No matter how much contemporary clergy try to candy-coat Christianity, it's still all about violence, fear, intimidation and death. It reflects the primitive savagery of the Bronze Age people who invented it.
2007-09-23 15:44:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Who benefits?
Why were we covered with the blood of Christ?
Why is slain in the spirit good?
Is baptism by fire beneficial?
It is done to those who trust God in order to help us die to ourselves; metaphorically in many cases.
Self is against God. We all have it in us. The sin nature that wants control, seeks after itself, and relies on limited vision to judge. What God does through His Spirit is counter all that. Which is why so many of us go against the grain in many discussions.
Our sinful view that everyone has is altered, and we appear to be out of sync with some who are around us. It's because we are different, being changed by the Spirit of God and His word, which is in many cases counter to those ideologies which are actually man made and popular on Earth.
So those things that you brought up are violent to you. I would propose that is because you have not accepted anything that God has said, and by not having the influence of His Spirit to help you understand you only see violence and death, while I see peace and life which God provided.
2007-09-23 14:08:59 · answer #7 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 4⤊ 4⤋
FIRST.... The Terminology that you speak about... is Part and Parcel of the Word of GOD....
SECOND... there are Principles... of Study... that you will find on my Blog / 360... How To Study the Bible...!
THIRD.. IF... YOU... use certain Principles in your Finances... and Others in your Interpersonal Relationship.... THEN... there are.... SPECIFIC... PRINCIPLES.....for Studying the WORD of GOD....!
FORTH: If you care to... Make it a Real Study.... and Not Just An Overview!
Thanks, RR
2007-09-23 14:16:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Standing for truth is a violent thing whether spiritually or in the natural. So many young men died in the revolutionary war so we could be free and many of them did it holding their bibles and praying for their loved ones all at the same time. I'm speaking for the history of America, of course. Yes many people went to far and "murderered" Indians and stole their land and that was NOT God's will. but the idea of standing for freedom and truth.....even if it meant bloodshed is a Godly thing. Yes Jesus had to shed his blood to redeem us from our sins and that's what makes him so very precious to us.
2007-09-23 14:07:33 · answer #9 · answered by sisterzeal 5 · 4⤊ 5⤋
Onward Christian Soldiers
Marching as to WAR
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before...
2007-09-23 14:01:13 · answer #10 · answered by Laptop Jesus 3.9 7 · 6⤊ 2⤋