Posted on 05/01/2015 9:59:07 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
Although his narrative never slides into an ardent polemic, it is arguable that Reza Aslan's Jesus is a bold and tireless advocate for the poor. A close read of Zealot, The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth makes this conclusion the Number One Take Away Point; a perspective not necessarily original, but nevertheless comforting and affirming if you're inclined to worry about white privilege and socio-economic inequality.
Aslan is not alone. Many scholars have postulated that Pauline Christianity - the version that eventually became imperial Christianity - was an extreme sharp right turn from the path on which both Jesus and his biological half-brother, James traveled. Aslan explores this turn to the right and offers explanations as to why the early Christian church preferred an altogether different guy, i.e., a peaceful, turn-the-other-cheek spiritual leader, seldom angry; a gentle soul who never spoke truth to power.
Aslan's Jesus, however, is a radical; a politically conscious revolutionary.
Were he alive today, this Jesus would be advocating an ethical minimum wage, a new consciousness about America's underclass and a serious campaign against global poverty.
On a global level, one billion people are still trapped in extreme poverty, which up close, means that 800 million people go to bed hungry; more than 700 million drink dirty water; and 57 million kids live without access to education.
Inevitable? Unavoidable? Evidently, Jesus didn't think so. Is there a relationship between Pauline Christianity and the excessive accumulation of wealth?
Equality. A fair distribution of a nation's wealth when it is common knowledge that no one makes a profit without somebody's labor.
(Excerpt) Read more at huffingtonpost.com ...
That was Paul, not Jesus.
I am not a Biblical scholar, but isn’t something in the Book about “God helps those who help themselves?” Not in a looting, robbing sense, of course.
Jesus is relying on us, he won’t have much to say when he returns because he has already said it.
Actually, no. I don’t think that statement or one like it is in there. Jesus was not concerned with material prosperity at all.
Noting that the states have never delegated to the corrupt feds, expressly via the Constitution, the specifc power to regulate vote-winning intrastate minimum wage, Matthew 20:2 not only shows that Jesus taught that an employer and workers are free to negotiate a price before doing a job, but Matthew 26:11 also shows that there will always be poor people; no human remedy for poverty.
The reply this sad female will someday in some where/when get is ‘Depart from me, I never knew you.’ She quite obviously does not know Him.
No, that's found in Poor Richard's Almanac:
10 More Popular Bible 'Verses' That Aren't Actually in the Bible
Leftist, democrat, progressive logic is totally juvenile.. They didn't grow up... are children.. obsessed with "MINE"..
and this scripture is also quite true of them...
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2 Tim 3:
1 You must realize, however, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unfeeling, uncooperative, slanderous, degenerate, brutal, hateful of what is good, 4
*** a cursory look at american politics will show this is true.. Prophecy?... maybe?.. Who cares.. it's true..
What nonsense! Jesus told the parable of the man who went to the marketplace to find workers in the morning. He hired them for a certain sum.
Later in the day he hired others for the same wage.
Near the evening he hired others for the same wage.
when pay time came, all received the same wage making those hired earlier in the day very upset as they had borne the heat of the day and expected more.
Then there is the story of the master going away and gives three servants a certain amount and tells them to keep the business going till he gets back.
Upon his return, the first had doubled his amount by buying and selling in the marketplace, same for the second.
The third his his in the ground and the master got no gain from the unprofitable servant, and the master chews him out for not at least taking the money to the moneychangers and get gain by usery.
Jesus IS alive today.
yOUR COMMENT: Jesus was also killed by Big Roman government who let him die at the hands of a mob in order to appease the mob....
After the leaders of the Jewish temple encouraged the mob so that they could protect their power base.
The parable of the Workers in the Vineyard would be pretty tough for them to explain.
worth repeating...
He who does not work, neither shall he eat
[ yOUR COMMENT: Jesus was also killed by Big Roman government who let him die at the hands of a mob in order to appease the mob....
After the leaders of the Jewish temple encouraged the mob so that they could protect their power base. ]
So pretty much the “leaders” today are Al Sharton and his gang of thugs?
Jesus was an atheist communist. Who knew?
I am not talking about material goods. I’m talking about self sufficiency (growing food, getting ahead, finding shelter for sharing) so I believe that would have been a great ‘parable’ to have been included in Jesus’ teachings. Ben Franklin was a VERY smart man.
I'm sure the Holy Spirit will take it under advisement when it's time to put out The Third Testament, or a New New New Testament
HMMMmmm...
Mark 14:7
The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want.
But you will not always have me.
Actually...
Paul wrote that:
2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 The Message (MSG)10-13 Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty.
No.
As a bible teacher; I've found that it is MUCH easier to teach what is actually in Scripture; than to UNteach what ain't!
The phrase "God helps those who help themselves" is a popular motto that emphasizes the importance of self-initiative and humanistic philosophy.
The phrase originated in ancient Greece and may originally have been proverbial. It is illustrated by two of Aesop's Fables and a similar sentiment is found in ancient Greek drama. Although it has been commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin, the modern English wording appears earlier in Algernon Sidney's work.
The phrase is often mistaken as scriptural, but it appears nowhere in the Bible. Some Christians have criticized the expression as being contrary to the Bible's message of God's grace. A variant of the phrase, however, can be found in the Quran (13:11)[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_helps_those_who_help_themselves
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