THE LIFE OF MOHAMMED
Mohammed, or Mahomet (properly Muhammad, 'the praised' or 'the desired'), also Mohammad (c. 571-632), the founder of Mohammedanism, or the faith of Islam. He named his religious system Islam or Hanif, apparently ‘devoted.'
Mohammed himself was of the Banu Hashim, who are said to have claimed the position actually enjoyed by the Bami Ommaya, but this assertion seems to have originated in the claims to the caliphate which the Hashimites (the house of Ali and the Abbasids) subsequently opposed to those of the Ommayads.
His father, Abdallah, came of good Arab stock, and was a member of the tribe of Koreish. Mohammed was a posthumous child, and his mother, Amina, lived only till his seyenth year; on her death his grandfather, Abd-al-Muttalib, took charge of him, and on his death at the end of only one year, Mohammed was adopted by his uncle, Abu Talib.
The child was an epileptic, and was of a melancholy, thoughtful disposition. Most of his early life was passed in tending flocks of sheep and herds of camels; he had little or no education, and as a lad could neither write nor read. His grand-father had been a man of considerable standing, and had taken charge of the Temple and the Holy Well in Mecca, so that the boy must have seen and known many pilgrims and holy people. His uncle was a poor man, and until twenty-six years of age Mohammed worked hard for his living like any other young Arab. In his twenty-sixth year a wealthy widow, named Khadija, fell in love with him and married him; she was fifteen years older than Mohammed, and appears to have been a woman of great good sense and patience, with a whole-hearted belief in her young husband that materially helped him in his subsequent career.
As a young man he naturally worshipped at the Kaaba, the great sanctuary of Mecca, originally a local sanctuary of the Koreish tribe. The Kaaba contained the image of Hobal, their tribal god, also several other deities belonging to other tribes, and, more sacred than all, it held the famous 'black stone' of Mecca (q.v.), 6 to 7 in. square, built into the walls of the Kaaba, traditionally held to be a stone from ‘Paradise ' brought down by the angel Gabriel.
Mohammed’s first battle took place when he was quite a young man, in a blood-feud between his tribe and the tribe of Ha-wazin, in which he did not distinguish himself or show any of his later military spirit. After his marriage with Khadija he seems to have been a partner in a produce-shop.
During his thirty-fifth year the Kaaba was wrecked by a great storm. No person could be found who would venture to replace the sacred stone in the wrecked shrine, and it was finally decided that the first man who entered the court by chance should be the chosen one. To Mohammed fell the honour. All his life the prophet had been interested in theology, and he had been slowly forming his new belief in one God, but as yet he had not proclaimed himself a prophet. His first revelations came to him in a cave in Mt. Hira, where he had retired with his wife for meditation. Here he appears to have had visions and religious ecstasies. Khadija, at first alarmed about his health, later, when he declared the angel Gabriel had appeared and spoken with him, at once believed him to be a prophet. He now put his new doctrine into the famous formula, “There is no God but God, and Mohammed is the apostle of God.”
Among the people of Arabia the early Semitic religion had survived with little change save deterioration. It had many deities, of whom Allah was chief, but scarcely worshipped. The worship of natural objects, of stones, like the Kaabah, and of images, was practised. Debased forms of Judaism and Christianity also flourished. Many Arabs, known as Hanitites, rejected these, as well as the native faith, held a simple monotheism and absolute submission to Allah, and practised asceticism and meditation. Mohammed came in contact with all these faiths, and his doctrine developed out of them, particularly from Hanifism. His originality lay in his putting monotheism on a firm foundation, proclaiming it as an absolute revelation, and making it the centre of a definite creed and worship.
For the first few years his faithful wife, his friend Abu Bekr, and his adopted slave Zaid worked in secret, converting only a few. Meanwhile the revelations became more frequent, and during his trances he uttered messages which were carefully remembered and written down. They varied in subject, from history and magic to religious teaching, and formed the beginning of the Koran (q.v.). His friends were aware that as a boy he was subject to fits, but they believed these later seizures to be inspirations from God.
His attitude to Jews and Christians at this period was friendly and conciliatory. The first religious meetings were held on Mt. Safa, where Mohammed boldly proclaimed himself to be the prophet of Arabia. From here he preached his doctrine to the people of Mecca, denouncing idolatry, preaching heaven and hell, and declaring Allah to be the only God. His followers were named Muslim (Moslems), which, as apparently meaning 'traitor,' 'surrenderors,' remains difficult to understand. The fury of the tribe of Koreish, who had charge of the holy shrine, merely added energy and fervour to his preachings, and he threatened the non-believers with awful tortures in hell, and petrified Mecca with his furious eloquence. He established himself in the house of a rich convert in the centre of the town and held frequent meetings. The Moslems now began to be cruelly persecuted by the Meccans, and the prophet was blockaded in his own house, for though persons might be starved to death, no blood must be shed in the sacred city.
After a revelation that the goddesses of Mecca existed as well as Allah, the siege was raised, but once free Mohammed asserted that the revelation came from the devil; and the trouble was renewed. Khadija died about this time, and also Abu Talib, and his strongest influence for good and his protectors were thus removed. The prophet was forced to flee from the wrath of the Meccans to Yathrib, afterwards called Medina. This is the Hijra (Hegira), Sept. 22, A.D. 622, from which Moslem chronology dates as A.H. 1.
From the hour of the Hijra Islam began its career of conquest, and Mohammed his role of statesman, lawgiver, soldier, and king. With success came the weaknesses which stained his career, and the revelations by which he excused them. The divine sanction claimed by Mohammed for wholesale slaughter, and his love of women, cannot be excused. Mohammed in trying to realise a great idea, came into contact with the world, and had to place himself on a level with it, and thus rendered himself liable to deterioration. In this respect he compares unfavourably with Buddha; and his weaknesses reacted on his religion, and became its most dominant notes.
Mohammed bound his followers to himself by the strongest ties, and caused both helpers and followers to intermarry. He contracted several marriages himself, one wife being Ayesha, aged nine, the infant daughter of Abu Bekr.
The first Moslem mosque was built at Medina, and an arranged code of laws established, dealing with ceremonial washing, praying five times a day with the face turned towards Mecca, abstinence from the drinking of wine, and the abolition of infanticide. Prayers were formerly directed to Jerusalem, until the prophet found that no compromise could be made with the Jews. He also established the call to prayers, muezzin, and Friday as the sacred day of the week. He enforced the 'fast of Ramadan,' a period when no food may be eaten from sunrise to sunset.
The prophet next began his series of campaigns, the first successfully directed against the Meccan caravans. The second resulted in the victory of Badr (Bedr) (A.D. 629). The prophet's plundering expeditions added great wealth to Medina, while his army
rapidly grew strong, and in A.H. 8 (A.D. 630) he marched on Mecca with 10,000 well-disciplined men, easily conquering the most sacred city of Arabia. The next year the great pilgrimage was managed by the Moslems, and very quickly Mecca itself was a Moslem town.
Mohammed no longer showed mercy; all unbelievers were to be slain, his soldiers became fierce religious zealots, who died cheerfully for the faith and the promise of Paradise held out by the prophet. The conquest of Mecca brought thousands of converts to the white standard of the prophet, and in one year his army grew from 10,000 to 30,000 men. The subjugation of Arabia was assured.
The last years of Mohammed’s life were spent in a succession of victories, especially that of the 'Day of Honain' against a confederacy of tribes. He died of some fever at the age of sixty-three or sixty-five. The date of his death was 12 Rabia, A.H. 11. the A.D. equivalent of which is June 7, 632. His beloved wife Ayesha was with him, and he was buried on the spot where he died in Medina. The traditional appearance of Mohammed seems to have been that of a middle-sized, heavily built man with a large head and big, thick hands and feet, with long hair and dense beard; his eyes were said to be tinged with red. He left no son to succeed him.
After his death the sayings of his revelations were collected, and being bound together formed the Koran. These sayings were scratched on bones, written on palm leaves, and some on parchment, and there could at the time be no proof that some were not spurious.
Mohammed's revelations during twenty-three years form the contents of the Koran, but their final arrangement, arbitrary, and inconsecutive, was made long after his death. Mohammed had given his world a new religion, and a new code of laws, many of which he was the first to violate, though always excused by a special revelation.
For the effect of his teaching and its far-reaching influence see Mohammedanism, and for the succession after his death see CALIPHATE; see also ISLAM; SHI'ITES and STJNNITES.
See W. Irving, Mahomet and his Successors, 1849;
Sir W. Muir, Life of Mahomet, 1856-61 (4 vols. and abridgment, 1
vol.);
Sprenger, DOS Leben und die. Lehre des Mohammads, 1861-65;
Syed Ameer Ali, The Spirit of Islam, 1896;
T. Arnold, The Legacy of Islam, 1896;
D. S. Margoliouth, Mohammad, and, the Rise
of IslaMohammed 1905:
A. Muhammad, Muhammad, 1924, 1948;
H. Pirenne, Mohammed et Charlemagne, 1937;
and R. V. C. Bodley, The Messenger, 1948.
Source: “Everyman’s Encyclopaedia” published J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd. 1913-14
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Saturday 31 May 2008
Friday 30 May 2008
Islam and Christianity compared
The Meads and Persians along with the astrologer Babylonians were the forerunners of today's Islamic culture. They worshipped the heavenly bodies including the moon while Daniel who worshipped Jehovah was thrown into the Lions Den simply because he did not worship the same God.
After Daniel survived his ordeal in the lions den King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwelt in all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions."
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian who along with their countrymen worshipped the moon god and not Jehovah the God of Daniel the Jews and Christians.
By the time of Mohammed the religion of Arabia had survived with little change save deterioration. It had many deities, of whom Allah was chief but was scarcely worshipped although the worship of natural objects, of stones, like the Kaabah, and of images flourished. Debased forms of Judaism and Christianity were also practised. Many Arabs, known as Hanitites, rejected these, as well as the native faith, holding to a simple monotheism and absolute submission to Allah. They also practised asceticism and meditation. Mohammed came in contact with all these faiths, and HIS doctrine developed out of them, particularly from Hanifis. Mohammed's originality lay in his putting monotheism on a firm foundation, proclaiming it as an absolute revelation, and making it the centre of his creed and worship. Muhammad reduced the many deities to the one god called Allah six hundred years after the death of Jesus Christ while at the same time writing his own Holy Book the Koran.
Another difference between Christians and Islam is that Christians believe Jesus was the Son of God while Muslims do not. Their god Allah had three daughters.
For Christians, "Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” If people deny Christ they deny the One True God and they worship a false god.
Again the Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” Muslims say that Jesus was a prophet.
So here in Athens is the Apostle Paul who proclaimed the teaching of Jesus Christ and it was in Athens where he saw statues to the Greek gods, where the people to be on the safe side had included an alter to the “Unknown God” in addition to their other pagan gods who were:
Apollo God of music, prophecies, poetry, and archery.
Ares God of war and bloodshed.
Artemis Goddess of the hunt and wild things. Protector of the dewy young. She became associated with the moon.
Athena Goddess of wisdom, warfare, handicrafts and reason.
Demeter Goddess of fertility, grain, and harvest.
Dionysus God of wine, parties/festivals, and merriment.
Hephaestus God of fire and the forge.
Hera Goddess of marriage and love.
Hermes God of flight, thieves, and commerce.
Hestia Goddess of the hearth and home,
Poseidon God of the sea, horses and earthquakes.
Zeus King of the gods.
The legend to the unknown God was that there was a terrible plague in the city of Athens, and attempts to appease the gods and stop the plague had no effect. One of the wise men of the day brought a flock of sheep to the top of Mars Hill and released them. Wherever these sheep stopped, an altar was set up to an 'anonymous god' and the animal was sacrificed. This course of action was allegedly effective and the city returned to health, hence the alter to “An Unknown God.”
Returning from Mohammedanism and the Greek gods to Christianity, Paul the Apostle of Christ stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and began to tell them about the "God of Abraham" who he said is the one true God and He does not need to be unknown to you any more and with that he began to speak:
"Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Then using this as his theme the Apostle Paul continued to tell them about the one true God who was unknown to them and explains that their unknown God is the God of creation, He is the God who made the world and everything in it. He is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. Neither is he served by human hands because he is the one who gives all men life and breath and everything else…..
Paul goes on to tell us and the Greeks that: “God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.'
Then, we would know him for the living God he is.
After Daniel survived his ordeal in the lions den King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwelt in all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions."
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian who along with their countrymen worshipped the moon god and not Jehovah the God of Daniel the Jews and Christians.
By the time of Mohammed the religion of Arabia had survived with little change save deterioration. It had many deities, of whom Allah was chief but was scarcely worshipped although the worship of natural objects, of stones, like the Kaabah, and of images flourished. Debased forms of Judaism and Christianity were also practised. Many Arabs, known as Hanitites, rejected these, as well as the native faith, holding to a simple monotheism and absolute submission to Allah. They also practised asceticism and meditation. Mohammed came in contact with all these faiths, and HIS doctrine developed out of them, particularly from Hanifis. Mohammed's originality lay in his putting monotheism on a firm foundation, proclaiming it as an absolute revelation, and making it the centre of his creed and worship. Muhammad reduced the many deities to the one god called Allah six hundred years after the death of Jesus Christ while at the same time writing his own Holy Book the Koran.
Another difference between Christians and Islam is that Christians believe Jesus was the Son of God while Muslims do not. Their god Allah had three daughters.
For Christians, "Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” If people deny Christ they deny the One True God and they worship a false god.
Again the Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” Muslims say that Jesus was a prophet.
So here in Athens is the Apostle Paul who proclaimed the teaching of Jesus Christ and it was in Athens where he saw statues to the Greek gods, where the people to be on the safe side had included an alter to the “Unknown God” in addition to their other pagan gods who were:
Apollo God of music, prophecies, poetry, and archery.
Ares God of war and bloodshed.
Artemis Goddess of the hunt and wild things. Protector of the dewy young. She became associated with the moon.
Athena Goddess of wisdom, warfare, handicrafts and reason.
Demeter Goddess of fertility, grain, and harvest.
Dionysus God of wine, parties/festivals, and merriment.
Hephaestus God of fire and the forge.
Hera Goddess of marriage and love.
Hermes God of flight, thieves, and commerce.
Hestia Goddess of the hearth and home,
Poseidon God of the sea, horses and earthquakes.
Zeus King of the gods.
The legend to the unknown God was that there was a terrible plague in the city of Athens, and attempts to appease the gods and stop the plague had no effect. One of the wise men of the day brought a flock of sheep to the top of Mars Hill and released them. Wherever these sheep stopped, an altar was set up to an 'anonymous god' and the animal was sacrificed. This course of action was allegedly effective and the city returned to health, hence the alter to “An Unknown God.”
Returning from Mohammedanism and the Greek gods to Christianity, Paul the Apostle of Christ stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and began to tell them about the "God of Abraham" who he said is the one true God and He does not need to be unknown to you any more and with that he began to speak:
"Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Then using this as his theme the Apostle Paul continued to tell them about the one true God who was unknown to them and explains that their unknown God is the God of creation, He is the God who made the world and everything in it. He is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. Neither is he served by human hands because he is the one who gives all men life and breath and everything else…..
Paul goes on to tell us and the Greeks that: “God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.'
Then, we would know him for the living God he is.
Thursday 29 May 2008
Christianity Misrepresented
I don't think you can condemn Christianity because it parallels other "good" philosophies. As you have said before everyone knows not to steal and murder but I don't think it is grounds for complaint when the Bible repeats it.
The problem is, and we see it time and time again is that people take the Bible out of context and say things like "the Bible says slaves should be beaten" which is plainly wrong except as we have seen if they become drunk and unruly and beat their colleagues and then they will be punished in the same way they mistreated those around them.
The Old Testament teaches an eye for an eye or to put it another way for the punishment to fit the crime and that limits the extent of it thereby protecting the law breaker and the Bible expressly says not to take vengeance. The New Testament says to turn the other cheek.
This is the spirit that runs though the entire Bible, it is a spirit of love and protection, caring for others, self sacrifice, and giving more than you need, for example going the second mile. Breaking the law will result in punishment.
Then along come people of ill-will and quote the punishments and put that forward as Christian teaching which it isn't at all, the Bible is about behaving in an honourable manner and if you don't and only then will you be punished, which happens in all societies and without it there would be anarchy.
Unfortunately there are people in Christian churches who are reprehensible themselves and in my opinion should be routed out, but what I feel we need to do is to look at what the Bible says for ourselves and study it with sincerity of heart, rather than look to those who would seek to mislead.
The problem is, and we see it time and time again is that people take the Bible out of context and say things like "the Bible says slaves should be beaten" which is plainly wrong except as we have seen if they become drunk and unruly and beat their colleagues and then they will be punished in the same way they mistreated those around them.
The Old Testament teaches an eye for an eye or to put it another way for the punishment to fit the crime and that limits the extent of it thereby protecting the law breaker and the Bible expressly says not to take vengeance. The New Testament says to turn the other cheek.
This is the spirit that runs though the entire Bible, it is a spirit of love and protection, caring for others, self sacrifice, and giving more than you need, for example going the second mile. Breaking the law will result in punishment.
Then along come people of ill-will and quote the punishments and put that forward as Christian teaching which it isn't at all, the Bible is about behaving in an honourable manner and if you don't and only then will you be punished, which happens in all societies and without it there would be anarchy.
Unfortunately there are people in Christian churches who are reprehensible themselves and in my opinion should be routed out, but what I feel we need to do is to look at what the Bible says for ourselves and study it with sincerity of heart, rather than look to those who would seek to mislead.
Slavery
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Slavery was widespread in the ancient world and was accepted as normal. There were more slaves in ancient Greece than there were freemen. The Egyptians used slaves for the building of the pyramids and other projects and the Romans relied on slavery in the building of their empire. It was the Romans who ruled Judea at the time of Christ and Israel had been held as slaves in Egypt under a harsh regime. While the memory was fresh in their minds they drew up suitable laws for their welfare which far surpassed the treatment of slaves anywhere in the world. Simply put their masters were not allowed to abuse them and after six years they had the option to leave free of all debts.
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Deuteronomy 20:10-18
The Israelites were not enslaving anyone they were buying slaves in the slave markets from around the world. These people were already slaves and in need of a good, secure and safe home and in Israel there were laws for their protection that did not exist anywhere else.
Other nations treated slaves as commodities to be sold on for profit and then discarded when they were too old and frail to work. Had these poor people needed to fend for themselves they would surely have died of cold and starvation but this way they had a home and security for life. After about seven thousand years we have forgotten the social conditions of the day as life was then and it is verses like this that show the goodness and provision of a loving God.
As it was they had security for life and not many people can say that today. Not only that but the provision of a will sets it out legally, the inheritor perhaps not wanting an elderly and frail dependent to look after, but the slaves security is ensured.
The death penalty was for killing your slave and followed the established rule of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Furthermore there is no record of it ever happening because the slave owner valued his own life too much so the life of the slave was safe.
Today beating your servant would be like trashing your car, you wouldn't do it. Like it says in the Bible it is your money and you are the looser.
Slaves or more properly servants in the Bible were free to go after six years; they were cared for and given shelter and food in return for work. They became part of the family and often chose to stay with the family even when they were free to go.
Compare that to Roman and Egyptian slaves and it is a different story altogether. Remember when the Egyptians held the Israelites they would not let them go, giving rise to the well known song, "Let My People Go." Not only that but if someone in the Bible ill-treated a slave it was the master who was punished. Bible slaves were well looked after and protected and their lifestyle can in no way be compared to modern slavery which Christians stopped while it was the non-Christian atheists who argued to keep people in enslavement.
SLAVERY
In his treatise, Wilberforce urged that total emancipation was morally and ethically required, and that slavery was a national crime that must be ended by parliamentary legislation to gradually abolish slavery.[205] Members of Parliament did not quickly agree, and government opposition in March 1823 stymied Wilberforce’s call for abolition.[206] On 15 May 1823, Buxton moved another resolution in Parliament for gradual emancipation.[207] Subsequent debates followed on 16 March and 11 June 1824 in which Wilberforce made his last speeches in the Commons, and which again saw the emancipationists outmanoeuvred by the government.
Wiki.
When William Wilberforce first introduced anti-slave-trade legislation into Parliament, he had high hopes. He quickly learned that opposition would be fierce.
Financial stakeholders howled. Significant elements of British economy relied on slavery. Businesspersons didn't want to sacrifice profit. Their elected representatives didn't want to sacrifice votes. Some claimed slavery benefited slaves since it removed them from barbarous Africa. The Royal Family opposed abolition. Even Admiral Lord Nelson, Britain's great hero, denounced "the damnable doctrine of Wilberforce and his hypocritical allies."
http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNs...lave_Trade.htm
[quote=Grahame;5008822]In his treatise, Wilberforce urged that total emancipation was morally and ethically required, and that slavery was a national crime that must be ended by parliamentary legislation to gradually abolish slavery.[205] Members of Parliament did not quickly agree, and government opposition in March 1823 stymied Wilberforce’s call for abolition.[206] On 15 May 1823, Buxton moved another resolution in Parliament for gradual emancipation.[207] Subsequent debates followed on 16 March and 11 June 1824 in which Wilberforce made his last speeches in the Commons, and which again saw the emancipationists outmanoeuvred by the government.
Wiki.
When William Wilberforce first introduced anti-slave-trade legislation into Parliament, he had high hopes. He quickly learned that opposition would be fierce.
Financial stakeholders howled. Significant elements of British economy relied on slavery. Businesspersons didn't want to sacrifice profit. Their elected representatives didn't want to sacrifice votes. Some claimed slavery benefited slaves since it removed them from barbarous Africa. The Royal Family opposed abolition. Even Admiral Lord Nelson, Britain's great hero, denounced "the damnable doctrine of Wilberforce and his hypocritical allies."
http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4218071/k.DC26/William_Wilberforce_and_Abolishing_the_Slave_Trade.htm
Yes a lot of people who were against slavery may well have believed in God and will have called themselves Christians.
Those who voted in favour of slavery were the ship owners, the slave traders and anyone else who stood to make a profit financially. Taking people captive, branding them with hot irons (I have seen them) treating them intolerably and throwing them overboard to their certain death if they saw a government patrol vessels is far from being a Christian act.
Personally I think that if anyone is a "God fearing person" then obviously they are going to believe in God and that will limit the extent of their actions, but If you take that away as atheists do then there is nothing stopping them from committing the most horrible offences against humanity other than their own sense of right and wrong, but some of these people had such hard hearts their first and only thought was one of profit and to them the slaves were nothing more than cattle.
It is not hard to harden your heart and if you talk to a fireman or someone who has to deal with motorway accidents and cut dead bodies from smashed up cars, they will tell you that in order to be able to sleep at night they have to look on those dead people simply as either dead cattle or inanimate objects. They have to for their own sanity but these slave traders chose to treat these people as they did of their own free will and shutting themselves off from God and denying His existence and the possibility of divine retribution was the way to do it and that would make them atheists, obviously their are very nice atheists as well who will do anything to help another human being, but these were atheists of the worst sort.
WILBERFORCE
Lev 25:39-55
We have here the laws concerning servitude, designed to preserve the honour of the Jewish nation as a free people, and rescued by a divine power out of the house of bondage, into the glorious liberty of God's sons, his first-born. Now the law is,
I. That a native Israelite should never be made a bondman for perpetuity. If he was sold for debt, or for a crime, by the house of judgment, he was to serve but six years, and to go out the seventh; this was appointed, Exo_21:2. But if he sold himself through extreme poverty, having nothing at all left him to preserve his life, and if it was to one of his own nation that he sold himself, in such a case it is here provided, 1. That he should not serve as a bond-servant (Lev_25:39), nor be sold with the sale of a bondman (Lev_25:42); that is, “it must not be looked upon that his master that bought him had as absolute a property. No, he shall serve thee as a hired servant, whom the master has the use of only, but not a despotic power over.” And the reason is, They are my servants, Lev_25:42. God does not make his servants slaves, and therefore their brethren must not. God had redeemed them out of Egypt, and therefore they must never be exposed to sale as bondmen. The apostle applies this spiritually (1Co_7:23), You are bought with a price, be not the servants of men, that is, “of the lusts of men, no, nor of your own lusts;” for, having become the servants of God, we must not let sin reign in our mortal bodies, Rom_6:12, Rom_6:22.
2. That while he did serve he should not be ruled with rigour, as the Israelites were in Egypt, Lev_25:43. Masters are still required to give to their servants that which is just and equal, Col_4:1. They may be used, but must not be abused. Those masters that are always hectoring and domineering over their servants, taunting them and trampling upon them, that are unreasonable in exacting work and giving rebukes, and that rule them with a high hand, forget that their Master is in heaven; and what will they do when he rises up? as holy Job reasons with himself, Job_31:13, Job_31:14.
3. That at the year of jubilee he should go out free, he and his children, and should return to his own family, Lev_25:41. This typified our redemption from the service of sin and Satan by the grace of God in Christ, whose truth makes us free, Joh_7:32. The Jewish writers say that, for ten days before the jubilee-trumpet sounded, the servants that were to be discharged by it did express their great joy by feasting, and wearing garlands on their heads: it is therefore called the joyful sound, Psa_89:15. And we are thus to rejoice in the liberty we have by Christ.
II. This authority which they had over the bondmen whom they purchased from the neighbouring nations was in pursuance of the blessing of Jacob, Gen_27:29, Let people serve thee. 2. It prefigured the bringing in of the Gentiles to the service of Christ and his church. Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thy inheritance, Psa_2:8. And it is promised (Isa_61:5), Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your vine-dressers; see Rev_2:26, Rev_2:27. The upright shall have the dominion in the morning, Psa_49:14. 3. It intimates that none shall have the benefit of the gospel jubilee but those only that are Israelites indeed, and the children of Abraham by faith: as for those that continue heathenish, they continue bondmen. See this turned upon the unbelieving Jews themselves, Gal_4:25, where Jerusalem, when she had rejected Christ, is said to be in bondage with her children. Let me only add here that, though they are not forbidden to rule their bondmen with rigour, yet the Jewish doctors say, “It is the property of mercy, and way of wisdom, that a man should be compassionate, and not make his yoke heavy upon any servant that he has.”
III. That if an Israelite sold himself for a servant to a wealthy proselyte that sojourned among them care should be taken that he should have the same advantages as if he had sold himself to an Israelite, and in some respects greater. 1. That he should not serve as a bondman, but as a hired servant, and not to be ruled with rigour (Lev_25:53), in thy sight, which intimated that the Jewish magistrates should particularly have an eye to him, and, if he were abused, should take cognizance of it, and redress his grievances, though the injured servant did not himself complain. Also he was to go free at the year of jubilee, Lev_25:54. Though the sons of strangers might serve them for ever, yet the sons of Israel might not serve strangers for ever; yet the servant here, having made himself a slave by his own act and deed, should not go out in the seventh year of release, but in the jubilee only. 2. That he should have this further advantage that he might be redeemed again before the year of jubilee, Lev_25:48, Lev_25:49. He that had sold himself to an Israelite might, if ever he was able, redeem himself, but his relations had no right to redeem him. “But if a man sold himself to a stranger,” the Jews say, “his relations were urged to redeem him; if they did not, it was fit that he should be redeemed at the public charge,” which we find done, Neh_5:8. The price of his ransom was to be computed according to the prospect of the year of jubilee (Lev_25:50-52), as in the redemption of land, Lev_25:15, Lev_25:16. The learned bishop Patrick quotes one of the Jewish rabbin for an evangelical exposition of that appointment (Lev_25:48), One of his brethren shall redeem him. “This Redeemer,” says the rabbi, “is the Messiah, the Son of David.” They expected this Messiah to be their Redeemer out of their captivity, and to restore them to their own land again; but we welcome him as the Redeemer who shall come to Zion, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob, for he shall save his people from their sins; and under this notion there were those that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (Matthew Henry)
***********************************************************************
Lets begin where we left off with Deuteronomy chapter 20. Here it sets out the rules of battle. First of all they were to talk peace. If the people refused then there was no alternative but to lay siege to the city. The consequence would be that the men would be killed but the women and children were to be taken safely back home. You made the assumption it was so they could be raped but in desert nations it was tradition that the women would be looked after.
They would become slaves but the proper term is a bond servant and they were to be given their freedom after six years when in year seven they were free to go and their debts were wiped out. If there was a man and he was married when he became a bond servant then he was free to leave with his wife and children but if they so wished they could stay with the family who had befriended them.
It is worth reading Deuteronomy chapter 16 where it says “you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your towns, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell there. You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.”
And then it goes on
You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns. For seven days you shall keep the feast to the LORD your God at the place that the LORD will choose, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful……(boring bit)….
and it goes on to talk about the appointment of judges who will judge the people with righteous judgement. "You shall not pervert justice. (Like you pervert the truth of the Bible) You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you."
This is a well regulated society where everyone is looked after and the people appear to be happy and carefree and rejoice in the Lord.
It sounds better than living in the UK in 2009.
************************************************
You quote from the Bible and take it out of context but those laws were for peoples protection, in particular the stranger, the fatherless, the widow and those who found themselves in a strange land. The laws were there to protect people from those over them who were the rulers, the landowners and their masters. These people did not need protection, it was those under them who needed laws to help keep them safe and secure. These were the people who were destitute and were given work to do and were taken into peoples homes where they found safety and security. The laws were to protect the servants from the bad employers. Here it is explained in more detail:
"Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner; remember that you were foreigners in Egypt. Do not mistreat any widow or orphan. If you do, I, the LORD, will answer them when they cry out to me for help, and I will become angry"
(Exodus 22:21)
"Slaves (servants), obey your human masters with fear and trembling; and do it with a sincere heart, as though you were serving Christ. Do this not only when they are watching you, because you want to gain their approval; but with all your heart do what God wants, as slaves (servants) of Christ.
Do your work as slaves (servants) cheerfully, as though you served the Lord, and not merely human beings. Remember that the Lord will reward each of us, whether slave or free, for the good work we do.
Masters, behave in the same way toward your slaves (servants) and stop using threats. Remember that you and your slaves (servants) belong to the same Master in heaven, who judges everyone by the same standard."
(Ephesians chapter 6.)
"Be joyful in the LORD's presence, together with your children, your servants, and the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. Do this at the one place of worship. Be sure that you obey these commands; do not forget that you were slaves in Egypt.
After you have threshed all your grain and pressed all your grapes, celebrate the Festival of Shelters for seven days. Enjoy it with your children, your servants, and the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns."
(Deuteronomy 16:11)
(Luke 12:43)
"Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath."
(Now we have the bad servant who gets drunk and beats everyone up)
"But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;"
(Now the master arrives home unexpectedly and punishes the servant in exactly the same way as the servant was doing to his colleagues)
"The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."
(Justice was done in a fair and even handed manner.)
.
Slavery was widespread in the ancient world and was accepted as normal. There were more slaves in ancient Greece than there were freemen. The Egyptians used slaves for the building of the pyramids and other projects and the Romans relied on slavery in the building of their empire. It was the Romans who ruled Judea at the time of Christ and Israel had been held as slaves in Egypt under a harsh regime. While the memory was fresh in their minds they drew up suitable laws for their welfare which far surpassed the treatment of slaves anywhere in the world. Simply put their masters were not allowed to abuse them and after six years they had the option to leave free of all debts.
****************************************************************
Deuteronomy 20:10-18
The Israelites were not enslaving anyone they were buying slaves in the slave markets from around the world. These people were already slaves and in need of a good, secure and safe home and in Israel there were laws for their protection that did not exist anywhere else.
Other nations treated slaves as commodities to be sold on for profit and then discarded when they were too old and frail to work. Had these poor people needed to fend for themselves they would surely have died of cold and starvation but this way they had a home and security for life. After about seven thousand years we have forgotten the social conditions of the day as life was then and it is verses like this that show the goodness and provision of a loving God.
As it was they had security for life and not many people can say that today. Not only that but the provision of a will sets it out legally, the inheritor perhaps not wanting an elderly and frail dependent to look after, but the slaves security is ensured.
The death penalty was for killing your slave and followed the established rule of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Furthermore there is no record of it ever happening because the slave owner valued his own life too much so the life of the slave was safe.
Today beating your servant would be like trashing your car, you wouldn't do it. Like it says in the Bible it is your money and you are the looser.
Slaves or more properly servants in the Bible were free to go after six years; they were cared for and given shelter and food in return for work. They became part of the family and often chose to stay with the family even when they were free to go.
Compare that to Roman and Egyptian slaves and it is a different story altogether. Remember when the Egyptians held the Israelites they would not let them go, giving rise to the well known song, "Let My People Go." Not only that but if someone in the Bible ill-treated a slave it was the master who was punished. Bible slaves were well looked after and protected and their lifestyle can in no way be compared to modern slavery which Christians stopped while it was the non-Christian atheists who argued to keep people in enslavement.
SLAVERY
In his treatise, Wilberforce urged that total emancipation was morally and ethically required, and that slavery was a national crime that must be ended by parliamentary legislation to gradually abolish slavery.[205] Members of Parliament did not quickly agree, and government opposition in March 1823 stymied Wilberforce’s call for abolition.[206] On 15 May 1823, Buxton moved another resolution in Parliament for gradual emancipation.[207] Subsequent debates followed on 16 March and 11 June 1824 in which Wilberforce made his last speeches in the Commons, and which again saw the emancipationists outmanoeuvred by the government.
Wiki.
When William Wilberforce first introduced anti-slave-trade legislation into Parliament, he had high hopes. He quickly learned that opposition would be fierce.
Financial stakeholders howled. Significant elements of British economy relied on slavery. Businesspersons didn't want to sacrifice profit. Their elected representatives didn't want to sacrifice votes. Some claimed slavery benefited slaves since it removed them from barbarous Africa. The Royal Family opposed abolition. Even Admiral Lord Nelson, Britain's great hero, denounced "the damnable doctrine of Wilberforce and his hypocritical allies."
http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNs...lave_Trade.htm
[quote=Grahame;5008822]In his treatise, Wilberforce urged that total emancipation was morally and ethically required, and that slavery was a national crime that must be ended by parliamentary legislation to gradually abolish slavery.[205] Members of Parliament did not quickly agree, and government opposition in March 1823 stymied Wilberforce’s call for abolition.[206] On 15 May 1823, Buxton moved another resolution in Parliament for gradual emancipation.[207] Subsequent debates followed on 16 March and 11 June 1824 in which Wilberforce made his last speeches in the Commons, and which again saw the emancipationists outmanoeuvred by the government.
Wiki.
When William Wilberforce first introduced anti-slave-trade legislation into Parliament, he had high hopes. He quickly learned that opposition would be fierce.
Financial stakeholders howled. Significant elements of British economy relied on slavery. Businesspersons didn't want to sacrifice profit. Their elected representatives didn't want to sacrifice votes. Some claimed slavery benefited slaves since it removed them from barbarous Africa. The Royal Family opposed abolition. Even Admiral Lord Nelson, Britain's great hero, denounced "the damnable doctrine of Wilberforce and his hypocritical allies."
http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4218071/k.DC26/William_Wilberforce_and_Abolishing_the_Slave_Trade.htm
Yes a lot of people who were against slavery may well have believed in God and will have called themselves Christians.
Those who voted in favour of slavery were the ship owners, the slave traders and anyone else who stood to make a profit financially. Taking people captive, branding them with hot irons (I have seen them) treating them intolerably and throwing them overboard to their certain death if they saw a government patrol vessels is far from being a Christian act.
Personally I think that if anyone is a "God fearing person" then obviously they are going to believe in God and that will limit the extent of their actions, but If you take that away as atheists do then there is nothing stopping them from committing the most horrible offences against humanity other than their own sense of right and wrong, but some of these people had such hard hearts their first and only thought was one of profit and to them the slaves were nothing more than cattle.
It is not hard to harden your heart and if you talk to a fireman or someone who has to deal with motorway accidents and cut dead bodies from smashed up cars, they will tell you that in order to be able to sleep at night they have to look on those dead people simply as either dead cattle or inanimate objects. They have to for their own sanity but these slave traders chose to treat these people as they did of their own free will and shutting themselves off from God and denying His existence and the possibility of divine retribution was the way to do it and that would make them atheists, obviously their are very nice atheists as well who will do anything to help another human being, but these were atheists of the worst sort.
WILBERFORCE
Lev 25:39-55
We have here the laws concerning servitude, designed to preserve the honour of the Jewish nation as a free people, and rescued by a divine power out of the house of bondage, into the glorious liberty of God's sons, his first-born. Now the law is,
I. That a native Israelite should never be made a bondman for perpetuity. If he was sold for debt, or for a crime, by the house of judgment, he was to serve but six years, and to go out the seventh; this was appointed, Exo_21:2. But if he sold himself through extreme poverty, having nothing at all left him to preserve his life, and if it was to one of his own nation that he sold himself, in such a case it is here provided, 1. That he should not serve as a bond-servant (Lev_25:39), nor be sold with the sale of a bondman (Lev_25:42); that is, “it must not be looked upon that his master that bought him had as absolute a property. No, he shall serve thee as a hired servant, whom the master has the use of only, but not a despotic power over.” And the reason is, They are my servants, Lev_25:42. God does not make his servants slaves, and therefore their brethren must not. God had redeemed them out of Egypt, and therefore they must never be exposed to sale as bondmen. The apostle applies this spiritually (1Co_7:23), You are bought with a price, be not the servants of men, that is, “of the lusts of men, no, nor of your own lusts;” for, having become the servants of God, we must not let sin reign in our mortal bodies, Rom_6:12, Rom_6:22.
2. That while he did serve he should not be ruled with rigour, as the Israelites were in Egypt, Lev_25:43. Masters are still required to give to their servants that which is just and equal, Col_4:1. They may be used, but must not be abused. Those masters that are always hectoring and domineering over their servants, taunting them and trampling upon them, that are unreasonable in exacting work and giving rebukes, and that rule them with a high hand, forget that their Master is in heaven; and what will they do when he rises up? as holy Job reasons with himself, Job_31:13, Job_31:14.
3. That at the year of jubilee he should go out free, he and his children, and should return to his own family, Lev_25:41. This typified our redemption from the service of sin and Satan by the grace of God in Christ, whose truth makes us free, Joh_7:32. The Jewish writers say that, for ten days before the jubilee-trumpet sounded, the servants that were to be discharged by it did express their great joy by feasting, and wearing garlands on their heads: it is therefore called the joyful sound, Psa_89:15. And we are thus to rejoice in the liberty we have by Christ.
II. This authority which they had over the bondmen whom they purchased from the neighbouring nations was in pursuance of the blessing of Jacob, Gen_27:29, Let people serve thee. 2. It prefigured the bringing in of the Gentiles to the service of Christ and his church. Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thy inheritance, Psa_2:8. And it is promised (Isa_61:5), Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your vine-dressers; see Rev_2:26, Rev_2:27. The upright shall have the dominion in the morning, Psa_49:14. 3. It intimates that none shall have the benefit of the gospel jubilee but those only that are Israelites indeed, and the children of Abraham by faith: as for those that continue heathenish, they continue bondmen. See this turned upon the unbelieving Jews themselves, Gal_4:25, where Jerusalem, when she had rejected Christ, is said to be in bondage with her children. Let me only add here that, though they are not forbidden to rule their bondmen with rigour, yet the Jewish doctors say, “It is the property of mercy, and way of wisdom, that a man should be compassionate, and not make his yoke heavy upon any servant that he has.”
III. That if an Israelite sold himself for a servant to a wealthy proselyte that sojourned among them care should be taken that he should have the same advantages as if he had sold himself to an Israelite, and in some respects greater. 1. That he should not serve as a bondman, but as a hired servant, and not to be ruled with rigour (Lev_25:53), in thy sight, which intimated that the Jewish magistrates should particularly have an eye to him, and, if he were abused, should take cognizance of it, and redress his grievances, though the injured servant did not himself complain. Also he was to go free at the year of jubilee, Lev_25:54. Though the sons of strangers might serve them for ever, yet the sons of Israel might not serve strangers for ever; yet the servant here, having made himself a slave by his own act and deed, should not go out in the seventh year of release, but in the jubilee only. 2. That he should have this further advantage that he might be redeemed again before the year of jubilee, Lev_25:48, Lev_25:49. He that had sold himself to an Israelite might, if ever he was able, redeem himself, but his relations had no right to redeem him. “But if a man sold himself to a stranger,” the Jews say, “his relations were urged to redeem him; if they did not, it was fit that he should be redeemed at the public charge,” which we find done, Neh_5:8. The price of his ransom was to be computed according to the prospect of the year of jubilee (Lev_25:50-52), as in the redemption of land, Lev_25:15, Lev_25:16. The learned bishop Patrick quotes one of the Jewish rabbin for an evangelical exposition of that appointment (Lev_25:48), One of his brethren shall redeem him. “This Redeemer,” says the rabbi, “is the Messiah, the Son of David.” They expected this Messiah to be their Redeemer out of their captivity, and to restore them to their own land again; but we welcome him as the Redeemer who shall come to Zion, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob, for he shall save his people from their sins; and under this notion there were those that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (Matthew Henry)
***********************************************************************
Lets begin where we left off with Deuteronomy chapter 20. Here it sets out the rules of battle. First of all they were to talk peace. If the people refused then there was no alternative but to lay siege to the city. The consequence would be that the men would be killed but the women and children were to be taken safely back home. You made the assumption it was so they could be raped but in desert nations it was tradition that the women would be looked after.
They would become slaves but the proper term is a bond servant and they were to be given their freedom after six years when in year seven they were free to go and their debts were wiped out. If there was a man and he was married when he became a bond servant then he was free to leave with his wife and children but if they so wished they could stay with the family who had befriended them.
It is worth reading Deuteronomy chapter 16 where it says “you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your towns, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell there. You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.”
And then it goes on
You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns. For seven days you shall keep the feast to the LORD your God at the place that the LORD will choose, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful……(boring bit)….
and it goes on to talk about the appointment of judges who will judge the people with righteous judgement. "You shall not pervert justice. (Like you pervert the truth of the Bible) You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you."
This is a well regulated society where everyone is looked after and the people appear to be happy and carefree and rejoice in the Lord.
It sounds better than living in the UK in 2009.
************************************************
You quote from the Bible and take it out of context but those laws were for peoples protection, in particular the stranger, the fatherless, the widow and those who found themselves in a strange land. The laws were there to protect people from those over them who were the rulers, the landowners and their masters. These people did not need protection, it was those under them who needed laws to help keep them safe and secure. These were the people who were destitute and were given work to do and were taken into peoples homes where they found safety and security. The laws were to protect the servants from the bad employers. Here it is explained in more detail:
"Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner; remember that you were foreigners in Egypt. Do not mistreat any widow or orphan. If you do, I, the LORD, will answer them when they cry out to me for help, and I will become angry"
(Exodus 22:21)
"Slaves (servants), obey your human masters with fear and trembling; and do it with a sincere heart, as though you were serving Christ. Do this not only when they are watching you, because you want to gain their approval; but with all your heart do what God wants, as slaves (servants) of Christ.
Do your work as slaves (servants) cheerfully, as though you served the Lord, and not merely human beings. Remember that the Lord will reward each of us, whether slave or free, for the good work we do.
Masters, behave in the same way toward your slaves (servants) and stop using threats. Remember that you and your slaves (servants) belong to the same Master in heaven, who judges everyone by the same standard."
(Ephesians chapter 6.)
"Be joyful in the LORD's presence, together with your children, your servants, and the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. Do this at the one place of worship. Be sure that you obey these commands; do not forget that you were slaves in Egypt.
After you have threshed all your grain and pressed all your grapes, celebrate the Festival of Shelters for seven days. Enjoy it with your children, your servants, and the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns."
(Deuteronomy 16:11)
(Luke 12:43)
"Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath."
(Now we have the bad servant who gets drunk and beats everyone up)
"But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;"
(Now the master arrives home unexpectedly and punishes the servant in exactly the same way as the servant was doing to his colleagues)
"The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."
(Justice was done in a fair and even handed manner.)
.
Wednesday 28 May 2008
Children and Parents
Buck, You may or may not know but Mr. Goose along with others attempts to trip people up and make life difficult for anyone who shows any sort of sympathy with Christianity. This is what the Bible says about parenting and also slavery, but this was not the modern slavery we know about but was more like being a kitchen maid or a gardener in an Edwardian household. The terms and conditions if you want to put it that way are very fair and equatable for everyone concerned and are not at all harsh as some people would like to make out. Here is what the Bible says on the subject:
"Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do. "Respect your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise added: "so that all may go well with you, and you may live a long time in the land."
Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry. Instead, raise them with Christian discipline and instruction."
(My children should respect me, and as I am the child of my parents I have to respect them as well, it goes all the way through the generations.)
(Ephesians chapter 6.)
.
"Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do. "Respect your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise added: "so that all may go well with you, and you may live a long time in the land."
Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry. Instead, raise them with Christian discipline and instruction."
(My children should respect me, and as I am the child of my parents I have to respect them as well, it goes all the way through the generations.)
(Ephesians chapter 6.)
.
Tuesday 27 May 2008
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the most mysterious member of the Trinity, which includes God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Spirit (or the Holy Spirit). Many struggle with the idea of God being three persons, yet one. Quite honestly, we will never fully grasp the concept this side of heaven.
Some, however, have wrongly thought of the Holy Spirit as more of an "it" than a "him." That is probably due in part to biblical descriptions of him as being like the wind or coming upon Jesus in the form of a dove, among other comparisons. Yet these descriptions must be balanced with the descriptions of the other members of the Trinity. For instance, Jesus referred to Himself as "the bread of life" and "the good shepherd." In the same way, God the Father is referred to as "a refuge" and "a consuming fire." Does this mean that Jesus is a loaf of bread or a sheep farmer, or that the Father is a pile of rocks or a blasting furnace? Of course not! These are simply metaphors used in Scripture to help communicate God's character.
Likewise, the unique description attributed to the Holy Spirit do not imply that the Holy Spirit is merely some "force" or "power." Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit: "When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth... He will tell you about the future" (John 16:13). Note the use of the pronoun He. The Holy Spirit has a distinct personality, and He also has specific work that He wants to do in our lives a followers of Jesus Christ. Explore what the Bible says about Him.
1. Who does the Holy Spirit help? The Holy Spirit strenghtens and empowers followers of Christ (Acts 2: 1-40).
2. How does the Holy Spirit work with the Father and the Son? The Holy Spirit works alongside God the Father and Jesus, God's Son, to make our lives pleasing to God (1 Peter 1:2).
3. Why does God us the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit's presence in our lives is God's mark of ownership (Ephesians 1:13-14).
4. How does the Holy Spirit work in our lives? The Holy Spirit draws us to Christ, enters our life at conversion, and empowers us as we allow Him to work in our life (John 14:15-17).
5. When can the Holy Spirit be sinned against? There are six specific ways we can sin against the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-10).
6. Why do Christians need the Holy Spirit? Living the Christian life is impossible without the Holy Spirit's help (Galatians 5:16-26).
I have a response to each one of these, if you want, but I figured that the post was long enough, and if you wanted to know more about it, just ask.
Some, however, have wrongly thought of the Holy Spirit as more of an "it" than a "him." That is probably due in part to biblical descriptions of him as being like the wind or coming upon Jesus in the form of a dove, among other comparisons. Yet these descriptions must be balanced with the descriptions of the other members of the Trinity. For instance, Jesus referred to Himself as "the bread of life" and "the good shepherd." In the same way, God the Father is referred to as "a refuge" and "a consuming fire." Does this mean that Jesus is a loaf of bread or a sheep farmer, or that the Father is a pile of rocks or a blasting furnace? Of course not! These are simply metaphors used in Scripture to help communicate God's character.
Likewise, the unique description attributed to the Holy Spirit do not imply that the Holy Spirit is merely some "force" or "power." Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit: "When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth... He will tell you about the future" (John 16:13). Note the use of the pronoun He. The Holy Spirit has a distinct personality, and He also has specific work that He wants to do in our lives a followers of Jesus Christ. Explore what the Bible says about Him.
1. Who does the Holy Spirit help? The Holy Spirit strenghtens and empowers followers of Christ (Acts 2: 1-40).
2. How does the Holy Spirit work with the Father and the Son? The Holy Spirit works alongside God the Father and Jesus, God's Son, to make our lives pleasing to God (1 Peter 1:2).
3. Why does God us the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit's presence in our lives is God's mark of ownership (Ephesians 1:13-14).
4. How does the Holy Spirit work in our lives? The Holy Spirit draws us to Christ, enters our life at conversion, and empowers us as we allow Him to work in our life (John 14:15-17).
5. When can the Holy Spirit be sinned against? There are six specific ways we can sin against the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-10).
6. Why do Christians need the Holy Spirit? Living the Christian life is impossible without the Holy Spirit's help (Galatians 5:16-26).
I have a response to each one of these, if you want, but I figured that the post was long enough, and if you wanted to know more about it, just ask.
Sunday 18 May 2008
Is it possible to be a gay Christian?
Answer: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). There is a tendency to declare homosexuality as the worst of all sins. While it is undeniable, biblically speaking, that homosexuality is immoral and unnatural (Romans 1:26-27), in no sense does the Bible describe homosexuality as an unforgivable sin. Nor does the Bible teach that homosexuality is a sin Christians will never struggle against.
Perhaps that is the key phrase in the question of whether it is possible to be a gay Christian: “struggle against.” It is possible for a Christian to struggle with homosexual temptations. Many homosexuals who become Christians have ongoing struggles with homosexual feelings and desires. Some strongly heterosexual men and women have experienced a “spark” of homosexual interest at some point in their lives. Whether or not these desires and temptations exist does not determine whether a person is a Christian. The Bible is clear that no Christian is sinless (1 John 1:8,10). While the specific sin / temptation varies from one Christian to another, all Christians have struggles with sin, and all Christians sometimes fail in those struggles (1 Corinthians 10:13).
What differentiates a Christian’s life from a non-Christian’s life is the struggle against sin. The Christian life is a progressive journey of overcoming the “acts of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21), and allowing God’s Spirit to produce the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). Yes, Christians sin, sometimes horribly. Sadly, sometimes Christians are indistinguishable from non-Christians. However, a true Christian will always repent, will always eventually return to God, and will always resume the struggle against sin. But the Bible gives no support for the idea that a person who perpetually and unrepentantly engages in sin can indeed be a Christian. Notice 1 Corinthians 6:11, "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
First Corinthians 6:9-10 lists sins that, if indulged in continuously, identify a person as not being redeemed—not being a Christian. Often, homosexuality is singled out from this list. If a person struggles with homosexual temptations, that person is presumed to be unsaved. If a person actually engages in homosexual acts, that person is definitely thought to be unsaved. However, the same assumptions are not made, at least not with the same emphasis, regarding other sins in the list: fornication (pre-marital sex), idolatry, adultery, thievery, covetousness, alcoholism, slander, and deceit. It is inconsistent, for example, to declare those guilty of pre-marital sex as “disobedient Christians,” while declaring homosexuals as definitively non-Christians.
Is it possible to be a gay Christian? If the phrase “gay Christian” refers to a person who struggles against homosexual desires and temptations – yes, a “gay Christian” is possible. However, the description “gay Christian” is not accurate for such a person, since he/she does not desire to be gay, and is struggling against the temptations. Such a person is not a “gay Christian,” but rather is simply a struggling Christian, just as there are Christians who struggle with fornication, lying, and stealing. If the phrase “gay Christian” refers to a person who actively, perpetually, and unrepentantly lives a homosexual lifestyle – no, it is not possible for such a person to truly be a Christian.
Perhaps that is the key phrase in the question of whether it is possible to be a gay Christian: “struggle against.” It is possible for a Christian to struggle with homosexual temptations. Many homosexuals who become Christians have ongoing struggles with homosexual feelings and desires. Some strongly heterosexual men and women have experienced a “spark” of homosexual interest at some point in their lives. Whether or not these desires and temptations exist does not determine whether a person is a Christian. The Bible is clear that no Christian is sinless (1 John 1:8,10). While the specific sin / temptation varies from one Christian to another, all Christians have struggles with sin, and all Christians sometimes fail in those struggles (1 Corinthians 10:13).
What differentiates a Christian’s life from a non-Christian’s life is the struggle against sin. The Christian life is a progressive journey of overcoming the “acts of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21), and allowing God’s Spirit to produce the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). Yes, Christians sin, sometimes horribly. Sadly, sometimes Christians are indistinguishable from non-Christians. However, a true Christian will always repent, will always eventually return to God, and will always resume the struggle against sin. But the Bible gives no support for the idea that a person who perpetually and unrepentantly engages in sin can indeed be a Christian. Notice 1 Corinthians 6:11, "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
First Corinthians 6:9-10 lists sins that, if indulged in continuously, identify a person as not being redeemed—not being a Christian. Often, homosexuality is singled out from this list. If a person struggles with homosexual temptations, that person is presumed to be unsaved. If a person actually engages in homosexual acts, that person is definitely thought to be unsaved. However, the same assumptions are not made, at least not with the same emphasis, regarding other sins in the list: fornication (pre-marital sex), idolatry, adultery, thievery, covetousness, alcoholism, slander, and deceit. It is inconsistent, for example, to declare those guilty of pre-marital sex as “disobedient Christians,” while declaring homosexuals as definitively non-Christians.
Is it possible to be a gay Christian? If the phrase “gay Christian” refers to a person who struggles against homosexual desires and temptations – yes, a “gay Christian” is possible. However, the description “gay Christian” is not accurate for such a person, since he/she does not desire to be gay, and is struggling against the temptations. Such a person is not a “gay Christian,” but rather is simply a struggling Christian, just as there are Christians who struggle with fornication, lying, and stealing. If the phrase “gay Christian” refers to a person who actively, perpetually, and unrepentantly lives a homosexual lifestyle – no, it is not possible for such a person to truly be a Christian.
Thursday 15 May 2008
GOD DOES EXIST AND SO DO BARBERS
"A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:
'I don't believe that God exists.'
'Why do you say that?' asked the customer.
'Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.'
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.
The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and said to the barber:
'You know what? Barbers do not exist.'
'How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber. 'I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!'
'No!' the customer exclaimed 'Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.'
'Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.'
'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 'That's the point! God, too, DOES exist but that is what happens when people do not go to him."
As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:
'I don't believe that God exists.'
'Why do you say that?' asked the customer.
'Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.'
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.
The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and said to the barber:
'You know what? Barbers do not exist.'
'How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber. 'I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!'
'No!' the customer exclaimed 'Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.'
'Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.'
'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 'That's the point! God, too, DOES exist but that is what happens when people do not go to him."
DID GOD CREATE EVIL
A University professor at a well known institution of higher learning challenged his students with this question. "Did God create everything that exists?"
A student bravely replied, "Yes he did!"
"God created everything?" The professor asked.
"Yes sir, he certainly did," the student replied.
The professor answered, "If God created everything; then God created evil. And, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then we can assume God is evil."
The student became quiet and did not answer the professor's hypothetical definition. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.
Another student raised his hand and said, "May I ask you a question, professor?"
"Of course", replied the professor.
The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?"
"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?"
The other students snickered at the young man's question.
The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-460 F) is the total absence of heat; and all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."
The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?"
The professor responded, "Of course it does."
The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color.
You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."
Finally the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?"
Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, as I have already said. We see it everyday. It is in the daily examples of man's Inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
The professor sat down.
The young man's name - Albert Einstein
A student bravely replied, "Yes he did!"
"God created everything?" The professor asked.
"Yes sir, he certainly did," the student replied.
The professor answered, "If God created everything; then God created evil. And, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then we can assume God is evil."
The student became quiet and did not answer the professor's hypothetical definition. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.
Another student raised his hand and said, "May I ask you a question, professor?"
"Of course", replied the professor.
The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?"
"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?"
The other students snickered at the young man's question.
The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-460 F) is the total absence of heat; and all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."
The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?"
The professor responded, "Of course it does."
The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color.
You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."
Finally the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?"
Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, as I have already said. We see it everyday. It is in the daily examples of man's Inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
The professor sat down.
The young man's name - Albert Einstein
Wednesday 7 May 2008
HOMESEXUALITY
1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: (KJV WEY ASV DBY)
1 Corinthians 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. (KJV ASV DBY)
1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the
1 Corinthians 10:8 Nor may we be fornicators, like some of them who committed fornication and on a single day 23,000 of them fell dead. (WEY)
1 Timothy 1:10 fornicators, sodomites, slave-dealers, liars and false witnesses; and for whatever else is opposed to wholesome teaching (WEY ASV DBY)
Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be unpolluted; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (WEY ASV DBY NAS)
Revelation 21:8 But as for cowards and the unfaithful, and the polluted, and murderers, fornicators, and those who practise magic or worship idols, and all liars--the portion allotted to them shall be in the Lake which burns with fire and sulphur. This is the Second Death." (WEY ASV DBY RSV)
Revelation 22:15 The unclean are shut out, and so are all who practise magic, all fornicators, all murderers, and those who worship idols, and every one who loves falsehood and tells lies. (WEY ASV DBY RSV)
Monday 5 May 2008
THE CHRISTIAN CALLING
Discipleship comes through love and love is the key to everything. People cannot love their neighbour because of the hatred in their hearts, tribe cannot love tribe because of hatred, and nation cannot love nation because of the hatred between them. The love of Christ changes hearts and the things of the world become less important when we look to a higher authority. It was Christ's love for us that took Him to Calvary's Cross and it is through our love for Him and our concern for others that we become His disciple and follow Him which is the Christian calling.
The Christians calling is irrevocable: -
"For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." (Rom 11:29)
The Christian calling is to preach among the heathen: -
"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;" (Gal 1:15)
The Christian is to be worthy: -
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Eph 4:1).
Christians are called to be saints: -
"To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom 1:7)
Christians are to consider Christ will in all we do: -
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;" (Heb 3:1)
Christians are to be consistent: -
"Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." (1Cr 7:2)
Christians have been bought with a price and are the servants of Christ: -
"For he that is called in the Lord, [being] a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, [being] free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." 1Cr 7:22
It is a Holy calling: -
"Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," (2Ti 1:9)
Christians are to be diligent: -
"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:" 2Pe 1:10
It is Christ's final commandment: -
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Mat 28:16)
The Christians calling is irrevocable: -
"For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." (Rom 11:29)
The Christian calling is to preach among the heathen: -
"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;" (Gal 1:15)
The Christian is to be worthy: -
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Eph 4:1).
Christians are called to be saints: -
"To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom 1:7)
Christians are to consider Christ will in all we do: -
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;" (Heb 3:1)
Christians are to be consistent: -
"Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." (1Cr 7:2)
Christians have been bought with a price and are the servants of Christ: -
"For he that is called in the Lord, [being] a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, [being] free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." 1Cr 7:22
It is a Holy calling: -
"Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," (2Ti 1:9)
Christians are to be diligent: -
"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:" 2Pe 1:10
It is Christ's final commandment: -
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Mat 28:16)
Friday 2 May 2008
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
The Samaritans were the newly imported alien population after the fall of Samaria in 722BC, hence the name Samaritan. They were never accepted by the Jews and in the time of Nehemiah the rift was clearly irreparable.
The building of the Samaritan Temple on Mt. Gerizim set the seal on the Jewish rejection of this heretical sect and it was the Jewish king Hyrcanus who destroyed the Samaritan temple in 128BC. The Jewish hatred of the Samaritans was partly historical but was mainly the result of racial hatred.
The Jewish layer asked Jesus in true legalistic fashion to define the word ‘neighbour.’ The parable Jesus gave in reply is most remarkable. We might have expected a parable telling how a Jew should show love to people including the hated Samaritans but in fact Jesus tells the Jewish lawyer that even the despised Samaritans who were the victims of Jewish hatred may be better than the proud Jew to whom Jesus was talking. Jesus was a straight talker and he told people to their face. Good for him.
Jesus illustrated his message by comparing a priest who was at the top of Jewish hierarchy, a Levite who was responsible for the spiritual leadership of the nation and a Samaritan who was despised by all. The Priest and the Levite ignored the man who had been robbed and mercilessly beaten and passed by on the other side of the road. However the Samaritan when he saw the man took pity on him. He poured oil on his wounds and bandaged them and gave the man wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
Jesus asked the Jewish lawyer, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The lawyer replied, "The one who had mercy on him." (He couldn’t even bring himself to say the word Samaritan)
Jesus told the lawyer, "Go and do likewise."
The point is that you cannot love someone you hate and in order to love our neighbour who we may not like we need a change of heart. We need to change our attitude towards people so that we can love them.
This is one of the main problems in the world today and just as Jesus told the Jewish lawyer to change his ways and to love those he despised, so he is telling us also to love our neighbour just like the Samaritan did.
The building of the Samaritan Temple on Mt. Gerizim set the seal on the Jewish rejection of this heretical sect and it was the Jewish king Hyrcanus who destroyed the Samaritan temple in 128BC. The Jewish hatred of the Samaritans was partly historical but was mainly the result of racial hatred.
The Jewish layer asked Jesus in true legalistic fashion to define the word ‘neighbour.’ The parable Jesus gave in reply is most remarkable. We might have expected a parable telling how a Jew should show love to people including the hated Samaritans but in fact Jesus tells the Jewish lawyer that even the despised Samaritans who were the victims of Jewish hatred may be better than the proud Jew to whom Jesus was talking. Jesus was a straight talker and he told people to their face. Good for him.
Jesus illustrated his message by comparing a priest who was at the top of Jewish hierarchy, a Levite who was responsible for the spiritual leadership of the nation and a Samaritan who was despised by all. The Priest and the Levite ignored the man who had been robbed and mercilessly beaten and passed by on the other side of the road. However the Samaritan when he saw the man took pity on him. He poured oil on his wounds and bandaged them and gave the man wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
Jesus asked the Jewish lawyer, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The lawyer replied, "The one who had mercy on him." (He couldn’t even bring himself to say the word Samaritan)
Jesus told the lawyer, "Go and do likewise."
The point is that you cannot love someone you hate and in order to love our neighbour who we may not like we need a change of heart. We need to change our attitude towards people so that we can love them.
This is one of the main problems in the world today and just as Jesus told the Jewish lawyer to change his ways and to love those he despised, so he is telling us also to love our neighbour just like the Samaritan did.
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