Christians? I don't think so...
I see these hateful people on the steps of the Alabama courthouse. They claim to be Christians, which supposedly means they follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who is called the Christ. They say this as they "pray" on the steps of the courthouse, as they carry their signs of hate and condemnation in the name of Jesus. I just don't see it. When I look in the New Testament I do not find justification for their actions. Instead, just after Jesus talks about the Ten Commandments, I find:
Matthew 6: 1- 8 (New Jerusalem Edition): Be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract attention; otherwise, you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win human admiration. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. 3But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; 4 your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.. 5 And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. 6 But when you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in, and so pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. 7 In your prayers do not babble as the gentiles do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
They claim to follow this guy? I don't see it. And, Oh yeah, this begins Matt's next chapter:
Matthew 7:1-5 1 Do not judge, and you will not be judged; 2 because the judgments you give are the judgements you will get, and the standard you use will be the standard used for you. 3 Why do you observe the splinter in your brother's eye and never notice the great log in your own? 4 And how dare you say to your brother,"Let me take that splinter out of your eye,' when, look, there is a great log in your own? 5 Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother's eye.
I see these hateful people on the steps of the Alabama courthouse. They claim to be Christians, which supposedly means they follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who is called the Christ. They say this as they "pray" on the steps of the courthouse, as they carry their signs of hate and condemnation in the name of Jesus. I just don't see it. When I look in the New Testament I do not find justification for their actions. Instead, just after Jesus talks about the Ten Commandments, I find:
Matthew 6: 1- 8 (New Jerusalem Edition): Be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract attention; otherwise, you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win human admiration. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. 3But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; 4 your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.. 5 And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. 6 But when you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in, and so pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. 7 In your prayers do not babble as the gentiles do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
They claim to follow this guy? I don't see it. And, Oh yeah, this begins Matt's next chapter:
Matthew 7:1-5 1 Do not judge, and you will not be judged; 2 because the judgments you give are the judgements you will get, and the standard you use will be the standard used for you. 3 Why do you observe the splinter in your brother's eye and never notice the great log in your own? 4 And how dare you say to your brother,"Let me take that splinter out of your eye,' when, look, there is a great log in your own? 5 Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother's eye.
posted by Michael at 10:00 AM
