you don't have to be nice, ya just have to be good...
Posted on 09/29/2011 5:46:10 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
If one makes a statement by the type of entrance one makes, then God made quite a statement with Jesus.
Jesus was born, says the Bible, with a virginal conception—decidedly not in accord with the normal order of things. Then there was a host of angels who announced the birth to some startled shepherds with what will turn out to be ironic words: "Peace on earth!" For the first memorable political act after the birth of Immanuel—"God with us"—is the mass murder of infants preceded by the exile of the holy family. The first sign of God's coming leads to disruption and confusion.
Even in his childhood, Jesus signaled that he was about something startling. He was only 12 when he disobeyed his parents, staying behind in Jerusalem to teach in the temple after they had started home. He flouted one of the Ten Commandments—"Honor your father and your mother"—apparently believing that the fifth commandment was not made for man, but man for the fifth commandment. His parents are naturally hurt at his disrespect: "Son, why have you treated us so?" But Jesus just rebukes them for not recognizing his mission (Luke 2:41–49). Jesus was not a good, well-behaved little boy.
Things get really interesting when Jesus begins his ministry some 18 years later. His opening sermon—the one in which he announces his mission of liberation—sets the tone. He's in Nazareth, his home town. He has an opportunity to win the favor of family and friends, so they can send him off on his ministry with good will.
Instead, he picks the occasion to shame them for their parochialism. He notes that God is just as interested in freely sharing his mercy with Gentiles as he is with his chosen people.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...
As evil and bad as things and many people are in the world today, I am ready for him to return and set things straight. He will do it with a rod of iron.
I hope I am worthy to be in his Kingdom, but if not, it will be good for all the evil to be brought to a close.
Why can’t everyone treat each other decently and with respect?
The last paragraph:
“Jesus refuses to be put in a religious box. He’s not a nice Savior, whose goal is to make us feel better about ourselves and become well-adjusted, productive members of society. All that is well and good, and it is part of our lot in life. But this is not the mission of Jesus. He’s not interested in nice, well-adjusted people, but mostly in people who forgive and love. And sometimes he has to bring a little chaos into our lives to help us become the people he’s called us to be.”
Beautiful. I needed to read that today. Thanx!
I know I am not worthy. Fortunately, Christ has paid for my shortcomings with His blood.
And he has a strict immigration policy.
There’s even a fence.
A guy named Pete mans the gate!
you don't have to be nice, ya just have to be good...
I hear ya brother, thank God for Christ or my pathetic righteousness would be worth nothing..In God we trust...
It seems that man has forgot that the life in everything is Christ, we can’t hate each other and love God, its a reality we are headed for in God’s vision..with the supernatural reality we were created for..the coolest thing about seeing God in all is that we are forced to see Him in ourselves..as His children do we not possess the same attributes as our Father..ie our words create when mixed in faith..we are just too young to see the reaction yet..the world is collapsing so God can show us how to live, we can’t be barbaric muslims and we can’t concrete the earth and expect there to be a good outcome..we need God’s guidance..come Lord..
I hear ya brother, thank God for Christ or my pathetic righteousness would be worth nothing..In God we trust...
It seems that man has forgot that the life in everything is Christ, we can’t hate each other and love God, its a reality we are headed for in God’s vision..with the supernatural reality we were created for..the coolest thing about seeing God in all is that we are forced to see Him in ourselves..as His children do we not possess the same attributes as our Father..ie our words create when mixed in faith..we are just too young to see the reaction yet..the world is collapsing so God can show us how to live, we can’t be barbaric muslims and we can’t concrete the earth and expect there to be a good outcome..we need God’s guidance..come Lord..
In other words, He is not a tame lion.
I wrote a piece on FR a few years ago about Jesus’ supposed nonviolence. In it I declared that Jesus was profoundly violent, even to the point of demanding that those who despised Him commit murder. There was considerable opposition to my comments. It is still posted on my profile page.
(1)Jesus is not nice. Yes He is without a doubt.
(2)He encouraged His disciples to break the Sabbath. No, He did not. They broke man made interpretations of the Sabbath.
(3) God brings chaos. No, God brings order which may cause a commotion when chaos is considered "normal".
Also the writer did not capitalize God or the pronouns associated with Him.
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Can any one of us present ourselves faultless?
Be not afraid,only believe.
Fear not little flock,it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
I think the fact that a divine being would willingly come to this dead world to suffer a terrible death for us proves Jesus is nice. However, as King of Heaven he wears the crown.
That makes Him the “guy” who decides..Well the domain of His thought is Universal and death is an illusion to God, who knows he is spirit and not flesh..so people dying in the end times is for their own good, a lesson learned...we must believe and seek him with all our beings, so we are not His enemy....
I know at this point, there won;t be heaven for me BUT as long as Obama and the rest of the liberals burn in hell with me, I will take it. It will take me an eternity to kick their asses in hell and I will enjoy it.
I must admit that I haven’t read anything from Christianity Today for many years.
I thought it was a most thought-provoking article. When I was a new convert many years ago, I and my cohorts were all about challenging the status quo. As time progressed, we became the status quo we had dared to shake.
Now, I avoid things that take me out of my own universe (physical comfort zone); although I enjoy the sparring here at FR as opposed to a strictly evangelical mutual admiration society.
I am a personal failure on most of the fronts mentioned, yet God has never forsaken me since I first trusted and believed in His Son.
Thanks for posting this!
This article is a prime example of why, although often tempted to subscribe to CT, I never pulled the trigger. While some think CT is on the “cutting edge” of Christian thought; I view things like this article as irreverent drivel, and ANYTHING BUT edifying in any way.
Anyone who thinks Jesus was just a long-haired proto-hippie preaching love and forgiveness has never read John’s gospel.
Mat 10:5 ¶ These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go NOT into the way of the Gentiles, and into [any] city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of ISRAEL.
Mat 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Mat 15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am NOT SENT but unto the lost sheep of the house of ISRAEL.
And his final commission, Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, then to the udder most parts of the world.
the udder most parts of the world.
....uttermost parts of the world.
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