Gentle JESUS, meek and mild . . .

by nicolaou 34 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  nicolaou

  Okay, this is a subjective choice of scriptures but I'm throwing them out here for discussion. What do these texts tell us about Jesus? Remember, this is Jesus in his own words!

  (Luke 14:25-26) . . . If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own soul, he cannot be my disciple.

  (Luke 19:27) . . . Moreover, these enemies of mine that did not want me to become king over them bring here and slaughter them before me.

  (Matthew 10:34-37) . . . Do not think I came to put peace upon the earth; I came to put, not peace, but a sword. For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a young wife against her mother-in-law. Indeed, a man's enemies will be persons of his own household. He that has greater affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me; and he that has greater affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me.
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  bohm

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK7P7uZFf5o
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  bohm

  Sorry, this was a double post.
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  THE GLADIATOR

  nicolaou

  The bible covers all bases. For every scripture one can quote, there is another that says the opposite. Should it become impossible to reconcile or make sense of the discrepancy, it must be assumed that the quoted scripture is not part of god's inspired word. Any verse that proclaims love and kindness is god's word. It is a no win circular argument, like a dog chasing it's tail.

  To be honest. I am weary of such discussions and the bad feeling they create. I started on this forum under my own name when it first opened. I felt it was a place for those who had lost their faith to come and share their loss with similar people.

  Now it seems to be a battle-ground for Christians and Atheists. A place for egos to find satisfaction. These remarks are not aimed at any particular persons. Most Christians have shown me great kindness but I am not sure that being here is helpful to me anymore.
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  ProdigalSon

  These apparently contradictory teachings of Christ can only make sense from a higher spiritual standpoint, one that is not of "this world". The teachings of all the world's greatest Masters focus on not being overly attached to the material world and the present physical life. That is not to say that life should not be treated as valuable and precious while we are here, because we can do great work and evolve much faster on this level than higher ones, but Jesus is reminding us that we are much more than what we appear to be while we are trapped in our physical bodies. There will come a day when we will have to face death, and that means giving up one's family and friends, at least on this material plane. Since we are all one (John 17), the greater reality is that we are not separate from others or from God, it's only an illusion that causes much of our suffering.

  I would recommend reading "The Third Jesus" by Deepak Chopra, it really puts Jesus' troublesome sayings into a very sensible perspective.

  ~PS
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  THE GLADIATOR

  Thankyou ProdigalSon

  I have 2 of Deepak Chopra's book in my study: Unconditional life & Quantum Healing. I used to be something of a fan but have alas change my view of him.

  bohm I watched the U-tube clip. It's funny but sad that it's so true.
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  Midget-Sasquatch

  Couple those sayings with the table turning incident at the temple grounds with the money changers, and you may see the faint possibility that the historical Jesus was an apocalyptic prophet who expected the end very very soon. He was hoping for God to bring an upheaval and had no qulams about letting people know that there would be loss of life. Post failed coming: alot of what was said needed a spiritualized explanation.

  Even one of his followers is said to have been a Zealot who were akin to revolutionary terrorist groups. Not saying Jesus himself was one.
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  PSacramento

  Taking things out of context is very dangerous, it was then and is now, perhaps even more so when we take something written 2000 years ago and aimed at THAT auidence and try to, out of context, interpret it with our "21st century" glasses on.

  There are many great books and commentaries to help one understand what was written, why and who it was directed to and I know that as JW's many of you were warned NOT to read them, but there is no reason not to do so now.

  Luke's passage for example was Jesus expaining what the cost of being a disciple coudl be, going against one's ones own family, even one's own soul ( ie: life).

  Why? Because if one choose to follow Jesus and his teachings of Love, and accepteance and tolerance and at time even gping against the "law", he woudl indeed find himself at odds with his family, his religion and even his own life.

  We can't have it both ways and at times, following Jesus can cost us dearly, not because WE make it that way, but because others make it.

  Think of what following Jesus cost many DF'd JW's.
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  tec

  What PSac said. If people were living in a way that was at odds with the mercy and forgiveness and honesty that Jesus taught, then if one was to follow Jesus, then one would be going against family, friends, etc...

  Or you could choose to stay with the family and friends who were without mercy, who were hypocritical, who were dishonest. But then you would be against Jesus... and so you would be unworthy of him. It includes denying ourselves - and our desire for material things, to be accepted by our peers, even if that means going against the things that Christ taught.

  Tammy
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  leavingwt

  Jesus brought a sword to my family.