Jesus didn’t care about being nice or tolerant, and neither should you

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm confused. When I brought up the Old Testament in regards to Islam and highlight the similarities, I was told to disregard. So, is it relevant or not?

Most fundamentalist Christians run into a consistency problem when they regard the entire bible as a word for word, literal edict from God, as you probably noticed when referencing OT passages. Try to get a biblical literalist to explain some of the more disturbing passages and they do a little interpretive dance. It's quite amusing.

[Danno 1,228]

Most fundamentalist Christians run into a consistency problem when they regard the entire bible as a word for word, literal edict from God, as you probably noticed when referencing OT passages. Try to get a biblical literalist to explain some of the more disturbing passages and they do a little interpretive dance. It's quite amusing.

No one here is quoting the Old testament... why shadow box?

I asked you a question to clarify your earlier post, answer it.

[JohnR! 5,495]

I'm confused. When I brought up the Old Testament in regards to Islam and highlight the similarities, I was told to disregard. So, is it relevant or not?

You have met what is called 'cafeteria christianity'. It is a group of self-denominated christians who, in their lack of understanding of what christianity really is, cite passages of the bible without context or filter. They quite often go gaga over Leviticus! They are no different from those who extract single lines from the Q'ran to suit their evil designs. In a nutshell, cafeteria-chrsitianity can be considered the terrorist columns of christianity.

Edited April 8, 2014 by Gegel

[B_J 2,752]

I actually grew up seeing Christ as the all loving soft spoken Character.

When I read the New Testament, I realized there was a whole other side.

For those who were hurting or repenting, he showed compassion.

For those not repenting or those full of pride, the side of Christ with vinegar came out.

Jesus really seemed to save that "other side" for special people. Not people who were lost sinners; but for people who were judgmental hypocrites.

Consider the worst people we have - picture a gay, drug-addicted, hippie, tree-hugging, prostitute. If Jesus met that person, he would treat them with love and compassion. He'd still try to get them to change, but he would do it with kindness, not with anger.

But the person who is attacking that person, the christian posting online about how horrible those people are: that's when Jesus would show his "other side". Jesus would point out the hypocrisy of thinking we are better than that person.

Too many times, we act like the worst sin in the world is "other people's sin". My sins - not so bad. But that other guy - those are really bad sins. That's something Jesus would really have a problem with.

And, while I don't necessarily agree with the "Jesus is a hippie" description, the Sermon on the Mount is pretty hippyish.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Jesus really seemed to save that "other side" for special people. Not people who were lost sinners; but for people who were judgmental hypocrites.

Consider the worst people we have - picture a gay, drug-addicted, hippie, tree-hugging, prostitute. If Jesus met that person, he would treat them with love and compassion. He'd still try to get them to change, but he would do it with kindness, not with anger.

But the person who is attacking that person, the christian posting online about how horrible those people are: that's when Jesus would show his "other side". Jesus would point out the hypocrisy of thinking we are better than that person.

Too many times, we act like the worst sin in the world is "other people's sin". My sins - not so bad. But that other guy - those are really bad sins. That's something Jesus would really have a problem with.

And, while I don't necessarily agree with the "Jesus is a hippie" description, the Sermon on the Mount is pretty hippyish.

You've been excommunicated from Republican Church.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Jesus really seemed to save that "other side" for special people. Not people who were lost sinners; but for people who were judgmental hypocrites.

Consider the worst people we have - picture a gay, drug-addicted, hippie, tree-hugging, prostitute. If Jesus met that person, he would treat them with love and compassion. He'd still try to get them to change, but he would do it with kindness, not with anger.

But the person who is attacking that person, the christian posting online about how horrible those people are: that's when Jesus would show his "other side". Jesus would point out the hypocrisy of thinking we are better than that person.

Too many times, we act like the worst sin in the world is "other people's sin". My sins - not so bad. But that other guy - those are really bad sins. That's something Jesus would really have a problem with.

And, while I don't necessarily agree with the "Jesus is a hippie" description, the Sermon on the Mount is pretty hippyish.

+100

[B_J 2,752]

You've been excommunicated from Republican Church.

[Danno 1,228]

Jesus really seemed to save that "other side" for special people. Not people who were lost sinners; but for people who were judgmental hypocrites.

Consider the worst people we have - picture a gay, drug-addicted, hippie, tree-hugging, prostitute. If Jesus met that person, he would treat them with love and compassion. He'd still try to get them to change, but he would do it with kindness, not with anger.

But the person who is attacking that person, the christian posting online about how horrible those people are: that's when Jesus would show his "other side". Jesus would point out the hypocrisy of thinking we are better than that person.

Too many times, we act like the worst sin in the world is "other people's sin". My sins - not so bad. But that other guy - those are really bad sins. That's something Jesus would really have a problem with.

And, while I don't necessarily agree with the "Jesus is a hippie" description, the Sermon on the Mount is pretty hippyish.

I actually agree with a lot of your post.

One thing I didn't get yet is an example of Christs interaction with "The sinner" who claims he is not a sinner or rejects the Law.

I have to hand it to you... the Sermon on the mount is, well I won't say hippiesh because hippies have ideas for everyone else, the Sermon OTM talks to us and demands things from us.

And I have to reabsorb it from time to time. What I won't do is read everything else and discount that..... where many folks read THAT and discount everything else.

[B_J 2,752]

One thing I didn't get yet is an example of Christs interaction with "The sinner" who claims he is not a sinner or rejects the Law.

I don't think you'll find that example either. Consider the adulterous woman that the Pharisees wanted to stone - even though in the end Jesus doesn't condemn her, he still tells her to change her ways. But, he did it by being nice to her. So while I agree, he's never accepting of sin, he still gets the person to change through love and kindness.

By the way, after rereading those verses, I've always wondered what he was writing on the ground.

[Danno 1,228]

I don't think you'll find that example either. Consider the adulterous woman that the Pharisees wanted to stone - even though in the end Jesus doesn't condemn her, he still tells her to change her ways. But, he did it by being nice to her. So while I agree, he's never accepting of sin, he still gets the person to change through love and kindness.

By the way, after rereading those verses, I've always wondered what he was writing on the ground.

Some speculate the sins the mob had committed in their life... perhaps the names of women.

That is a question to be answered by and by.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I'm confused. When I brought up the Old Testament in regards to Islam and highlight the similarities, I was told to disregard. So, is it relevant or not?

It's relevant only when they say it is. Got it?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Jesus really seemed to save that "other side" for special people. Not people who were lost sinners; but for people who were judgmental hypocrites.

Consider the worst people we have - picture a gay, drug-addicted, hippie, tree-hugging, prostitute. If Jesus met that person, he would treat them with love and compassion. He'd still try to get them to change, but he would do it with kindness, not with anger.

But the person who is attacking that person, the christian posting online about how horrible those people are: that's when Jesus would show his "other side". Jesus would point out the hypocrisy of thinking we are better than that person.

Too many times, we act like the worst sin in the world is "other people's sin". My sins - not so bad. But that other guy - those are really bad sins. That's something Jesus would really have a problem with.

And, while I don't necessarily agree with the "Jesus is a hippie" description, the Sermon on the Mount is pretty hippyish.

amen, brother.

[Danno 1,228]

The article of this thread seemed to be addressing gays and more specifically, equal treatment under the law for gays, to which the author argues that Jesus would have never endorsed treating them as equals under the law. The author relies on Old Testament rationality to explain why Jesus wasn't really a tolerant, kind being towards the outcasts and sinners, dismissing actual biblical reference as feel good nonsense. Quite amusing actually that the modern day Pharisees can't seem to see the forest for the trees in understanding the message of Jesus. Both ironic and amusing.

You never told us what that message was?

[Darnell 8,479]

I'm confused. When I brought up the Old Testament in regards to Islam and highlight the similarities, I was told to disregard. So, is it relevant or not?

Depends on the audience and the location of the debating society, Marvin.

If you mean 'folk on Vj', then I'm sorry, there are other agendas for the smack-downs that you receive about this topic.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You never told us what that message was?

If you've read all four Gospels as I'm assuming you have, and you still don't know what Jesus was conveying, then I can't help you. I can't perform miracles.