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Post by BobWilliston on Jun 11, 2020 18:51:34 GMT -5
It doesn't make him a liar. true, but neither does it make a him a spokesperson for 2x2ism... So it's inappropriate to take an atheist at his word?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2020 19:03:42 GMT -5
It doesn't make him a liar. true, but neither does it make a him a spokesperson for 2x2ism... Why do you have to be a spokesperson to comment about the 2x2 Church. Workers in our day were quick to bad mouth main stream Churches that they were not spokespersons for. So surely it is OK if it is the other way round. I have heard that the practice is now not encouraged which of course is a good thing.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2020 19:05:55 GMT -5
true, but neither does it make a him a spokesperson for 2x2ism... So it's inappropriate to take an atheist at his word? depends on whats being said....
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Post by BobWilliston on Jun 11, 2020 19:09:17 GMT -5
So it's inappropriate to take an atheist at his word? depends on whats being said.... So the problem is not whether it's true, it's whether an atheist can say something that's inconvenient.
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Post by Grant on Jun 11, 2020 19:28:23 GMT -5
Can I speak,Speak? Well I will anyway,many years ago when the Salvation Army arrived at a nearby farm,the 2x2 farmer didn't give him a penny. "WHY?".When Jesus comes back I don't expect Him to be wearing a uniform,said the farmer. No "I"think he will turn up an a Macys suit an Italian shirt and tie.MMMM maybe a kilt? All the Salvation Army Officer wanted was donations for an Orphanage-for the abused,deserted,unwanted,orphaned kids care. This attitude comes from Bishop(overseer)via the Workers down down to their sheep.. Magpie That attitude that you speak of happening many years ago is definately wrong IMO. I personally feel a sense of appreciation, having done research on my family to read my great grandparents were Salvation Army. The newspaper articles on their deaths (within 2 days of each other), referred to Sister Sarah and Brother Henry, their Christian lives, their values & care in the community for those less fortunate than themselves. Hi Olea, aren't you saying the same as magpie. He's praising the good works of the Salvation army comparing it to the 2x2s who didn't give them a penny.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2020 19:45:12 GMT -5
That attitude that you speak of happening many years ago is definately wrong IMO. I personally feel a sense of appreciation, having done research on my family to read my great grandparents were Salvation Army. The newspaper articles on their deaths (within 2 days of each other), referred to Sister Sarah and Brother Henry, their Christian lives, their values & care in the community for those less fortunate than themselves. Hi Olea, aren't you saying the same as magpie. He's praising the good works of the Salvation army comparing it to the 2x2s who didn't give them a penny. Sorry if my post is not clear. Absolutely saying the same,... I am conveying, that attitude of the 2x2 farmer, Magpie refered to in his post is wrong & I was sharing some info on my family to support the values of the S.A. Cheers.
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Post by speak on Jun 11, 2020 20:22:19 GMT -5
Another load of horse poop. Here's your chance then....... I suspect it will be like our last conversation, crickets......... It is horse poop because we follow [love your neighbour as yourself] so know what you are talking about before you talk
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Post by speak on Jun 11, 2020 20:24:24 GMT -5
"Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on." That was never meant as an instruction by Jesus to not care for others. That was for you and me as individuals to get our priorities right in our own lives. The first priority is get the Spiritual right and the Natural will take care of itself. Funny how 2x2's always seem to interpret scripture and get things back to front. Guess it is because Workers never get proper Theological education, so they put their own spin on it. Always turns out opposite to the proper meaning. Guess it is part of the opposition to those who get it right. Sad. Why have you joined the ranks of the horse poopers?
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Post by speak on Jun 11, 2020 20:27:26 GMT -5
It doesn't make him a liar. true, but neither does it make a him a spokesperson for 2x2ism... Funny how it is that those not of the fellowship know what we do and don't do.
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Post by speak on Jun 11, 2020 20:30:24 GMT -5
Can I speak,Speak? Well I will anyway,many years ago when the Salvation Army arrived at a nearby farm,the 2x2 farmer didn't give him a penny. "WHY?".When Jesus comes back I don't expect Him to be wearing a uniform,said the farmer. No "I"think he will turn up an a Macys suit an Italian shirt and tie.MMMM maybe a kilt? All the Salvation Army Officer wanted was donations for an Orphanage-for the abused,deserted,unwanted,orphaned kids care. This attitude comes from Bishop(overseer)via the Workers down down to their sheep.. Magpie If you only knew but then if you did you wouldn't believe it because then you couldn't accuse us
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Post by speak on Jun 11, 2020 20:31:47 GMT -5
Hey Speak, that doesn't sound like 2x2 language. You expect that sort of talk from me, but then I am not restrained. It was said nicely
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2020 20:51:11 GMT -5
I agree with comments made by Magpie and Olea, re 2x2's not being big on charity. Their attitude is leave it to someone else. Even if they tried they would not get anywhere near what the Salvation Army do. They are absolutely dedicated, and excel. But that doesn't stop their function in preaching the Gospel. When I was working in Melbourne one of my workmates was a S. A. and got me involved in setting up electronic equipment for them. They made us welcome to attend services which we were glad to do. They preach the same Gospel with just as much fervour as the Workers. If you shut your eyes you would not know any difference. The only thing perhaps that hurt the ears a bit was when the band struck up to play the hymns. Sort of rattled the windows in the hall.
In contrast the 2x2's don't seem to provide for their own. Many of the Workers that I grew up with when they retired ended up in Nursing Homes run by other denominations, Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, etc. I don't know if they realised that many of those Homes are subsidised with funds from the Church, they represent. That is why many are of a better standard than public ones. Do realise that 2x2's have started in USA with Pecan Grove. A good thing hope it comes to Australia, long overdue.
Chuck got it right in an earlier post, "2x2ism is anything but generous. It is selfish and all about "ME" and how to get to heaven when "ME" dies!." He is right the 2x2's concentration is on some unknown future, to Hell with everything else. Not a true Christian attitude, we have to help each other through this life no matter what peoples beliefs are.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2020 20:56:16 GMT -5
true, but neither does it make a him a spokesperson for 2x2ism... Funny how it is that those not of the fellowship know what we do and don't do. We still have good 2x2 friends who complain to us. I never ever tell them to leave, but do tell them how we found peace and happiness. If they want help go to questioning friends.com. Better qualified than I am to advise.
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Post by chuck on Jun 11, 2020 21:14:05 GMT -5
Here's your chance then....... I suspect it will be like our last conversation, crickets......... It is horse poop because we follow [love your neighbour as yourself] so know what you are talking about before you talk Yeeeessss thats why we hear all about sadaq all the time. That's why we use words like, professing, friends, wordly, and that's why we make up what they mean. Thats why unity is only with people like us!, That's why meetings are not open to the public, thats why conventions arent open to the public, that's why we are covert, that's why we are the remnant, that's why were exclusive, that's why were not encouraged to mix with people not like us!, that's why we make up silly rules to make people become like us!., thats why we rebaptize people "our way" who already have been, that's why only our worker's are servants of God, that's why we never ever ever hear about leaving the corners of your fields, that's why we never hear people outside of the 2x2's can know God. That's why we never hear about the Grace of God the Free Gift to people also not like us!. You think we teach we love our neighbors, you've gota be kidding. You know when Jesus said "I don't know you or where you come from" well that's us!. we think were first but were actually last!. We miss the whole point which is why we do not and cannot love our neighbors with a 2x2 mindset. It's impossible. We are like the levite and the priest, we cannot help the samaritin even if we wanted to, our religion forbids us to do so just like it forbid them, it makes us unclean to help samaritins, thats why they didnt help. We can only help people who become "like us". That's not what God is, that's not what Grace is, that's not what the Character of Christ is. We do not as a group represent God at all.
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Post by iam on Jun 11, 2020 22:07:53 GMT -5
We still find an occasional “friend” that is trying at least to some extent to be a brother’s keeper. It’s so rare. Many have given up. I have witnessed some very cruel things. Breaks my heart every day. What’s worse has been my spirit of complacency. I have hurt others because of my lack of wanting to get involved and my fear of what others would think or how they would treat me. Also, to help the man half dead in the ditch, that Chuck was referring to is very costly in a spiritual sense. Now, as I face the prospect of old age ahead (I am 62), it’s like it’s too late to go back and do it right. That makes me angry because I feel like I have been duped. Our leaders not teaching and exhorting or being an example of these things. They’ve been too busy jetting around the world to take care of the devastation in their own backyards. It causes so much damage. I hope we will all learn to open our hearts and maybe these unprecedented times will help us return to the word of God and less to the commandments of men.
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Post by chuck on Jun 11, 2020 22:40:42 GMT -5
We still find an occasional “friend” that is trying at least to some extent to be a brother’s keeper. It’s so rare. Many have given up. I have witnessed some very cruel things. Breaks my heart every day. What’s worse has been my spirit of complacency. I have hurt others because of my lack of wanting to get involved and my fear of what others would think or how they would treat me. Also, to help the man half dead in the ditch, that Chuck was referring to is very costly in a spiritual sense. Now, as I face the prospect of old age ahead (I am 62), it’s like it’s too late to go back and do it right. That makes me angry because I feel like I have been duped. Our leaders not teaching and exhorting or being an example of these things. They’ve been too busy jetting around the world to take care of the devastation in their own backyards. It causes so much damage. I hope we will all learn to open our hearts and maybe these unprecedented times will help us return to the word of God and less to the commandments of men. I don't think many people realise who the samaritins were and how much they were hated, yet they were the ones to stop and help, in today's understanding it would be like your worst enemy stopping to help someone or the person who you think could never know God, our worst enemy is our neighbor, and our worst enemy is the one displaying the Character of Christ. Let that sink into your exclusive mind. Not at you personally iam
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Post by speak on Jun 11, 2020 23:09:06 GMT -5
Funny how it is that those not of the fellowship know what we do and don't do. We still have good 2x2 friends who complain to us. I never ever tell them to leave, but do tell them how we found peace and happiness. If they want help go to questioning friends.com. Better qualified than I am to advise. Complainers never prosper.
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Post by speak on Jun 11, 2020 23:14:19 GMT -5
I agree with comments made by Magpie and Olea, re 2x2's not being big on charity. Their attitude is leave it to someone else. Even if they tried they would not get anywhere near what the Salvation Army do. They are absolutely dedicated, and excel. But that doesn't stop their function in preaching the Gospel. When I was working in Melbourne one of my workmates was a S. A. and got me involved in setting up electronic equipment for them. They made us welcome to attend services which we were glad to do. They preach the same Gospel with just as much fervour as the Workers. If you shut your eyes you would not know any difference. The only thing perhaps that hurt the ears a bit was when the band struck up to play the hymns. Sort of rattled the windows in the hall. In contrast the 2x2's don't seem to provide for their own. Many of the Workers that I grew up with when they retired ended up in Nursing Homes run by other denominations, Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, etc. I don't know if they realised that many of those Homes are subsidised with funds from the Church, they represent. That is why many are of a better standard than public ones. Do realise that 2x2's have started in USA with Pecan Grove. A good thing hope it comes to Australia, long overdue. Chuck got it right in an earlier post, "2x2ism is anything but generous. It is selfish and all about "ME" and how to get to heaven when "ME" dies!." He is right the 2x2's concentration is on some unknown future, to Hell with everything else. Not a true Christian attitude, we have to help each other through this life no matter what peoples beliefs are.There you go again with the pooping they have been care for for all their ministry life and many latter are cared for by family. Chuck didn't get right at all but if you wish to believe poop who am I to stand in the way.
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Post by speak on Jun 11, 2020 23:15:48 GMT -5
It is horse poop because we follow [love your neighbour as yourself] so know what you are talking about before you talk Yeeeessss thats why we hear all about sadaq all the time. That's why we use words like, professing, friends, wordly, and that's why we make up what they mean. Thats why unity is only with people like us!, That's why meetings are not open to the public, thats why conventions arent open to the public, that's why we are covert, that's why we are the remnant, that's why were exclusive, that's why were not encouraged to mix with people not like us!, that's why we make up silly rules to make people become like us!., thats why we rebaptize people "our way" who already have been, that's why only our worker's are servants of God, that's why we never ever ever hear about leaving the corners of your fields, that's why we never hear people outside of the 2x2's can know God. That's why we never hear about the Grace of God the Free Gift to people also not like us!. You think we teach we love our neighbors, you've gota be kidding. You know when Jesus said "I don't know you or where you come from" well that's us!. we think were first but were actually last!. We miss the whole point which is why we do not and cannot love our neighbors with a 2x2 mindset. It's impossible. We are like the levite and the priest, we cannot help the samaritin even if we wanted to, our religion forbids us to do so just like it forbid them, it makes us unclean to help samaritins, thats why they didnt help. We can only help people who become "like us". That's not what God is, that's not what Grace is, that's not what the Character of Christ is. We do not as a group represent God at all. Man you must have a sad life if all can do is complain.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2020 23:20:05 GMT -5
Thanks Iam for your post, so honest and sad . I liked your comment, "They’ve been too busy jetting around the world to take care of the devastation in their own backyards." Hear that same comment made by some of our own 2x2 friends. I was surprised recently a very sincere couple that we have known for years gave us the same story. They became so disillusioned that they voted with their feet and walked. Very happy and satisfied with their new found Church. I never ever thought they would do that, but management in Australia, or lack of it is at an all time low. If the top brass don't wake up soon many more will walk. I know they will right it off as predicted caused by the Devil. They are clever always come of with an answer that resolves them of responsibility. We were hearing that message 50 years ago.
You look at the progression of movement of itinerant Workers over the years. 90 years ago when our Parents professed they were not getting around on their Ass, but many had Horses. In our day 70 years ago it was Push Bikes. 60 years ago it was borrowed Cars. 20 years they got their own Cars. And of course 10 years ago they graduated to Air travel. I mean it is complete nonsense to say they are doing the same as Christ. Not that we expect them to get around on their Ass, not practical in this day and age. But please don't say we are doing it the same way as they did 2000 years ago. And think if they kept their feet on the ground in their own back yard the money saved in Air fares could be given to Charity.
As Chuck posted, "This does not mean there isn't generous people within the 2x2's.", we know that is true, and feel so sorry for them. I know that management don't listen to those within, probably less chance for those without. But there are ways to make them sit up and take notice, they will be used as Ross has mentioned. Magpie and myself will do what we can because of our concern for the good people. The only problem for Magpie and myself is that our perches are getting a bit shaky. It is good to see that the B.L.M. campaign is gathering strength and supported Worldwide. We need follow up with A.L.M. campaign. ALL LIVES MATTER
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Post by speak on Jun 11, 2020 23:21:44 GMT -5
We still find an occasional “friend” that is trying at least to some extent to be a brother’s keeper. It’s so rare. Many have given up. I have witnessed some very cruel things. Breaks my heart every day. What’s worse has been my spirit of complacency. I have hurt others because of my lack of wanting to get involved and my fear of what others would think or how they would treat me. Also, to help the man half dead in the ditch, that Chuck was referring to is very costly in a spiritual sense. Now, as I face the prospect of old age ahead (I am 62), it’s like it’s too late to go back and do it right. That makes me angry because I feel like I have been duped. Our leaders not teaching and exhorting or being an example of these things. They’ve been too busy jetting around the world to take care of the devastation in their own backyards. It causes so much damage. I hope we will all learn to open our hearts and maybe these unprecedented times will help us return to the word of God and less to the commandments of men. It is never to late to help another, I am older than you but help others it is easy. Why beat yourself up nothing helpful in that. Ask God to show you. You can't be listening very well if the highlighted area has not been your experience.
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Post by speak on Jun 11, 2020 23:22:40 GMT -5
We still find an occasional “friend” that is trying at least to some extent to be a brother’s keeper. It’s so rare. Many have given up. I have witnessed some very cruel things. Breaks my heart every day. What’s worse has been my spirit of complacency. I have hurt others because of my lack of wanting to get involved and my fear of what others would think or how they would treat me. Also, to help the man half dead in the ditch, that Chuck was referring to is very costly in a spiritual sense. Now, as I face the prospect of old age ahead (I am 62), it’s like it’s too late to go back and do it right. That makes me angry because I feel like I have been duped. Our leaders not teaching and exhorting or being an example of these things. They’ve been too busy jetting around the world to take care of the devastation in their own backyards. It causes so much damage. I hope we will all learn to open our hearts and maybe these unprecedented times will help us return to the word of God and less to the commandments of men. I don't think many people realise who the samaritins were and how much they were hated, yet they were the ones to stop and help, in today's understanding it would be like your worst enemy stopping to help someone or the person who you think could never know God, our worst enemy is our neighbor, and our worst enemy is the one displaying the Character of Christ. Let that sink into your exclusive mind. Not at you personally iam More poop
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Post by iam on Jun 11, 2020 23:28:36 GMT -5
We still find an occasional “friend” that is trying at least to some extent to be a brother’s keeper. It’s so rare. Many have given up. I have witnessed some very cruel things. Breaks my heart every day. What’s worse has been my spirit of complacency. I have hurt others because of my lack of wanting to get involved and my fear of what others would think or how they would treat me. Also, to help the man half dead in the ditch, that Chuck was referring to is very costly in a spiritual sense. Now, as I face the prospect of old age ahead (I am 62), it’s like it’s too late to go back and do it right. That makes me angry because I feel like I have been duped. Our leaders not teaching and exhorting or being an example of these things. They’ve been too busy jetting around the world to take care of the devastation in their own backyards. It causes so much damage. I hope we will all learn to open our hearts and maybe these unprecedented times will help us return to the word of God and less to the commandments of men. It is never to late to help another, I am older than you but help others it is easy. Why beat yourself up nothing helpful in that. Ask God to show you. You can't be listening very well if the highlighted area has not been your experience. More bs, speak. We do what can but you can’t change the past. You May be listening but you’re not hearing or understanding. We have too much of that in the truth.
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Post by speak on Jun 11, 2020 23:30:35 GMT -5
Thanks Iam for your post, so honest and sad . I liked your comment, "They’ve been too busy jetting around the world to take care of the devastation in their own backyards." Hear that same comment made by some of our own 2x2 friends. I was surprised recently a very sincere couple that we have known for years gave us the same story. They became so disillusioned that they voted with their feet and walked. Very happy and satisfied with their new found Church. I never ever thought they would do that, but management in Australia, or lack of it is at an all time low. If the top brass don't wake up soon many more will walk. I know they will right it off as predicted caused by the Devil. They are clever always come of with an answer that resolves them of responsibility. We were hearing that message 50 years ago. You look at the progression of movement of itinerant Workers over the years. 90 years ago when our Parents professed they were not getting around on their Ass, but many had Horses. In our day 70 years ago it was Push Bikes. 60 years ago it was borrowed Cars. 20 years they got their own Cars. And of course 10 years ago they graduated to Air travel. I mean it is complete nonsense to say they are doing the same as Christ. Not that we expect them to get around on their Ass, not practical in this day and age. But please don't say we are doing it the same way as they did 2000 years ago. And think if they kept their feet on the ground in their own back yard the money saved in Air fares could be given to Charity. As Chuck posted, "This does not mean there isn't generous people within the 2x2's.", we know that is true, and feel so sorry for them. I know that management don't listen to those within, probably less chance for those without. But there are ways to make them sit up and take notice, they will be used as Ross has mentioned. Magpie and myself will do what we can because of our concern for the good people. The only problem for Magpie and myself is that our perches are getting a bit shaky. It is good to see that the B.L.M. campaign is gathering strength and supported Worldwide. We need follow up with A.L.M. campaign. ALL LIVES MATTER What do you expect them to do? ride donkeys when you are in a car? Using a row boat when going over seas, what a pathetic argument, they get moaned about for not helping in other countries then get moaned about not helping in their own countries. They get moaned about using cars then get moaned about them not visiting all. If half of you people actually thought about you are saying you might have a eureka moment, but that I doubt because you would then have nothing to complain about. What a sad life.
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Post by speak on Jun 11, 2020 23:33:00 GMT -5
It is never to late to help another, I am older than you but help others it is easy. Why beat yourself up nothing helpful in that. Ask God to show you. You can't be listening very well if the highlighted area has not been your experience. More bs, speak. We do what can but you can’t change the past. You May be listening but you’re not hearing or understanding. We have too much of that in the truth. If you don't want God to bury your past and set you free who then can help you or who can you help? Fairly bland way to live a life. Oh well it's your life I suppose.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2020 23:37:14 GMT -5
Speak you obviously have carpet all through your house. Good place to sweep all the dirt, a well used 2x2 practice. Bit lazy and irresponsible, I prefer to use a vacuum cleaner.
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Post by iam on Jun 11, 2020 23:38:49 GMT -5
More bs, speak. We do what can but you can’t change the past. You May be listening but you’re not hearing or understanding. We have too much of that in the truth. If you don't want God to bury your past and set you free who then can help you or who can you help? Fairly bland way to live a life. Oh well it's your life I suppose. We don’t have a bland life at all. Sometimes I wish we did.
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Post by chuck on Jun 11, 2020 23:40:36 GMT -5
I don't think many people realise who the samaritins were and how much they were hated, yet they were the ones to stop and help, in today's understanding it would be like your worst enemy stopping to help someone or the person who you think could never know God, our worst enemy is our neighbor, and our worst enemy is the one displaying the Character of Christ. Let that sink into your exclusive mind. Not at you personally iam More poop Not my words........ Leviticus says do not touch someone who's bleeding out. Do not touch someone who's bleeding out. Leviticus also says do not leave someone for dead. Can you see where you could be in a situation where that could contradict itself, alright? Let's read one. This scripture is a parable Jesus told - it's very familiar, out of Luke 10:25 to 37. I want to take 10 minutes or so and break this scripture down, and then I want to apply it to our lives. We're going to find ourself in this. It says this: On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? What is written in the Torah, He replied, how do you read it? And Jesus - oh, I'm sorry - Jesus answered him, what's written in the Torah? How do you read it? And he answered love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. You have answered correctly, Jesus replied. Do this and you will live, and he wanted to justify himself so he asked Jesus a follow up question; And who is my neighbour? In reply Jesus said a man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of some robbers and they stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away leaving him half dead. And a priest happened to be going down the same road. When he saw the man he passed him on the other side, so too the Levite, when he came to the place and saw him he passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan as he travelled came where the man was and when he saw him he took pity on him. He went to him and he bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to the 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 I will return. I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have had. Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? And the expert in the law replied the one who had mercy on him, and Jesus told him go and do likewise. Now there's so much going on here. Any time you read a Hebrew parable you have to understand how they interpreted it. Hebrew people read parables for identification, not primarily for content okay. Hebrew people read parables for identification, not for content. Here's how it worked. Jesus was called a Master of Haggadah which was the ability to teach with parables. Now it took some skill to do it because this was how they thought about it. Any time you're reading a Hebrew parable the first question you ask is this: who is asking the question? Two - so who is asking the question? Two, what question is he asking? Three, who in the story would he identify with? The answer to the question is found in whoever the one asking it identifies with in the parable. Okay, does that make sense? So if I'm asking a question and you're my rabbi and you say let me answer you with a parable, I would be listening intently for whoever I would identify with in the parable and that would be the answer to my question, alright. So there's at least two things going on here. The first thing is this, is Jesus is giving us a light and heavy interpretation of what do you do when you find someone left for dead, touching them versus helping them? What do you do? If you touch them you're sinning; if you leave them for dead you're sinning. Which one's the worst? Alright, so Jesus is doing that. The second thing He's doing is He's answering this guy's question, so let's go through this. Who was the one asking the question? Who is it? An expert Pharisee, so a top end Pharisee alright, so expert Pharisee. Okay, what question is he asking? Who is my neighbour. Why is he asking that? He comes to Jesus and he says what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus is so rabbinical, Jesus says um I don't know, how do you read it? You're a Pharisee, tell me your yoke, right and the Pharisee says okay, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbour as yourself. Jesus says that's it. If you do that you'll inherit eternal life, okay. If you do that you'll inherit eternal life. So the Pharisee says well hold on then, who's my neighbour? In other words if I have to love my neighbour like I love myself, then let's define who are the people I have to love this way. So essentially he's drawing a box and he's saying in this box are neighbours. Who is in here? Now there are a lot of answers aren't there? Isn't there a lot of possibilities? Couldn't Jesus have said okay, just Jews. Just Jews. The Pharisee, okay - maybe He could have said only clean Jews. That would have even been better. What if He said only Pharisees? What if He only said the guys who live on your street, those neighbours? Like there are a lot of potential answers here and it's a very important thing because Jesus is talking about something called eternal life. He's saying if you want to inherit eternal life you've got to love your neighbour as yourself. The question is who's my neighbour? In other words who are these group of people that I have to love like I love myself? So Jesus says let me tell you a parable to answer this. Now as soon as He said that the Pharisee would have been listening to the parable for who he identifies with in the story. In a Hebrew parable there are three characters as you see at the end of the parable Jesus said, so which one of the three acted like a neighbour, okay? There are three characters okay, so Jesus sets him up. So He says there's this guy that gets left for dead, okay. There's three people are going to walk by him. The first one is a priest and he walks right by him. Now two questions: one, would the Pharisee have identified with the priest? No. Priests were Sadducees. Pharisees and priests did not get along because they disagreed on what made up the scriptures. The Pharisees said that the Torah and the prophets made up scriptures; the priests said that the Torah only was the scripture, so they didn't get along at all. So as soon as Jesus said there's this priest that walked by the Pharisee would have been like okay, go on. The second observation is this. Our tendency is to say bad priest, bad priest, you walked by. But maybe that priest's rabbi, maybe he said listen, it is a better thing for you to walk away instead of touching a person bleeding out. Why? Because the priest would have been going to offer sacrifices. If he touches the guy bleeding out he becomes unclean, which costs him his ability to offer sacrifices, so maybe that priest, if he touched the guy it would have cost hundreds of people their forgiveness that day - so it's totally plausible that the priest walked by. He says okay, the second guy's a Levite and the Levite walks by too. Now here's the question: if you're a Pharisee do you identify with the Levite? No, same reason. Levites were priests. Levites were Sadducees okay. The Levites believe that the Torah only was the scripture. The Pharisees were about two per cent of the population who believed that the Torah and the prophets were the scriptures. They were actually - I know this goes against some things - the Pharisees were actually the progressive, visionary thinkers. They were the ones who would look at our Bible and go that's plausible. The priests of that day and the Sadducees would have said no, you've added too many books. Ezekiel, no way. Isaiah, no way. Joshua, no way. No, Matthew, no, no, no. It's got Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, that's it see? So the Levite walks by, same reason right. So here Jesus sets him up so good. In a Hebrew parable when you're answering a question, if you're not the first and you're not the second then you're automatically the third, so the Pharisee would have been on his toes - oh! Oh! Who am I? Who is my neighbour? Jesus says the third guy is a Samaritan. [Laughter] The Samaritan actually is the kind one. He picks him up and he takes care of him and he does all this stuff, and then Jesus asked him the following question. He says who acted like a neighbour? The Pharisee can't even say it, he can't even say Samaritan. He says the one who had mercy. Jesus said that's right, go and do likewise, you'll inherit eternal life. So what's He saying? A couple of things, light and heavy. The first thing He's saying is this, is that when you're faced with a situation of touching someone dying or walking away to offer sacrifice, He says the light sin is always having mercy. The heavy sin is leaving someone for dead. Later He said this: I desire mercy more than sacrifice. In other words if you're act of mercy takes away your ability to offer sacrifice, I understand your heart. That was the light and heavy part. What was the other part? So in this parable what is Jesus' definition of a neighbour? Who does He tell the Pharisee is his neighbour? The Samaritan. In other words Jesus is saying your neighbour is the person you hate the most. He's saying if you want to inherit eternal life you have to grow in your kingdom mentality to where you can actually love the people you think you hate. He gives him a follow up tool to do that. He says the way to do that is don't ask how restrictive can we make this box. Don't ask questions like how restrictive can we make this box. Here's a better question to ask. A better question to ask is how can I be a neighbour to someone else? How can I actually make someone else's life better? What's He saying? He's saying you're getting so caught up in the light you're missing the heavy. You're getting so caught up in who's my neighbour that you're missing all your opportunities to be a neighbour. Listen to me. When the spirits and the demons and the enemy of our soul, the things that can control our thoughts in a negative way and can sort of drive behaviour, listen, they typically are very subtle. They don't come in [unclear 00.35.15]. They come in very subtly and they get a foothold and a stronghold. One of the primary ways they do that in the church is this, is they make the church lose sight of the heavy in favour of the light. They take an organisation and they get everybody in the organisation so focussed on the light that they lose sight of the heavy. The get so focussed on questions like who's my neighbour? Well let's apply it to what we're doing. They get so focussed on questions like what songs are we singing? Is our lighting okay? How's this? How's that? They get so focussed on the light that they lose sight of the heavy. People are starving. We need to feed them. People are oppressed with the demonic. We need to be a hand in delivering them. People's lives are going to hell day by day by day, and we need to be a part of bringing heaven to that situation. There are single mums here who have four children. Their left eye twitches uncontrollably and all they need for heaven to come to their situation is for a group of people to watch their children once a week just so they can have four hours alone of peace and quiet. That would bring heaven to that situation, and we walk by it. Why? Because we're worried about systems and songs and lights and fog and programs and all of that. We lose sight of the heavy in favour of the light and when the enemy of our soul can get us to focus on the light instead of the heavy, he wins. Now listen, I'm all for details and being organised and all that. We should focus on the light. That is something we should do, but any time we get so focussed on the light that we lose sight of the heavy then the devil wins. There's a group of people in Charleston, South Carolina who are so focussed on women not cutting their hair or wearing slacks, or wearing make up and not going to movies, and making sure people don't take a sip of beer that they're willing to hate people of a different race and not feed hungry people, and not clothe naked people and not visit prisoners. They've gotten so focussed on the light that they lose sight of the heavy and when that happens the enemy wins and the kingdom suffers. People say oh, it's just between me and God. No. Listen, if it's just between you and God do whatever you want to do. God can handle you. It's the problem is it's never between you and God; it's always between you and God and it affects a whole lot of people. May we be kingdom people who are focussed on the heavy. May we be people - and you know what? All of us, all of us struggle with this. Why? Because it's the devil's primary strategy. He had this guy who had memorised the entire Bible. The guy had - the Pharisees had memorised the whole Bible, the whole thing. He had a guy who had memorised the whole Bible, yet he was missing the point. How did the devil accomplish that? How did he accomplish that? Here's all he did. He said wait a minute, let's see if we can restrict this and ask the wrong questions. When we start asking the wrong questions the right questions go to the side and we lose our effectiveness. Listen, we have got to step back and get the bigger picture.
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