Results 81 - 100 of 166
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Results from: Notes Author: Just Read Mark Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
81 | "throwing stones" or "making love"? | Eccl 3:5 | Just Read Mark | 196278 | ||
Hi Doc. Thanks for adding some scholarly perspective. Maybe I'll meet Eugene some day, and ask him a few questions. Here's my crazy link between Eugene and the real text: if the "stones" were understood as seeds, as in "the seed of Abraham", then his rendering would be reasonable. Your art discussion topic looks good. Art does not have authority like scripture --- but we do live by story. If Christians back out of the task, people will live by CSI. (Lord, have mercy.) I see part of our world-shaping task (for God gives us responsibility to shape this world, as an echo of His creative power)as an artistic one. One of my favorite verses is when Joseph says "Interpretations belong to the Lord." |
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82 | Don't be too righteous; nor too wicked? | Eccl 7:16 | Just Read Mark | 110618 | ||
What does "righteous" mean here? Hi Kalos. I don't have clear answers, but here's what I'm thinking. A general theme throughout the Bible is that we should strive for holiness. Admittedly, we fall short. But the New Testament reiterates the refrain of the Olde: "Be Holy, for I am Holy" (ie. 1Peter 1:16) This verse (I think) contradicts that instruction -- saying that seeking holiness can lead to a lot of problems. Look at Jeremiah being thrown in the cistern, and the persecution of the prophets in general. Look at people that stick up for justice today, and are punished. Holiness is very costly, and brings not peace but a sword. (Matt 10:34) One of the themes is Ecclesiastes seems to be "don't stand out. Just do your work, take pleasure in simple things." To strive for more than this is dangerous. So I would say "overly righteous" means to truely strive after holiness. The Amplified Version, I think, wants to gloss over the difficulty of this. Thus, they make the word righteous to mean "self-righteous" --- an arrogant attitude of legalism or pride. I see no reason for this in the text (other than to avoid difficult questions), and no echoes of it elsewhere in Ecclesiastes. If I am right about this, I am still left with a puzzle. How should I understand the moments of advice offered in this book? I see a struggling philosopher, trying on various approaches to life (work, pleasure, family, etc) - and then discarding them. So, is "be neither too righteous nor too wicked" advice to follow, or is this an opionion he experiments with and then rejects? How do we read this verse in context? |
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83 | Christ and war | Is 9:6 | Just Read Mark | 107164 | ||
Christian Protest. Hi EdB. I am surprised by the conclusion you draw -- that we are to do nothing other than pray for our elected leaders. We have a democratic systems (in my country, Canada, as well as most participants in the forum) which require participation beyond election time. The great thing about Democracy is it forces accountability on our leaders, and enables citizens to shape the direction of their country. Of course, we don't see democracy in the Bible ;-) but it is a good and faithful system. We need to pray, certainly. But also engage the process. Protest is a very important part of political debate. |
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84 | Christ and war | Is 9:6 | Just Read Mark | 107221 | ||
The civil rights movement, with Mr. King, is a perfect example of the Gospel and political protest working together for good. |
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85 | Christ and war | Is 9:6 | Just Read Mark | 107226 | ||
I agree with you--- what is really required is Christ's transformation of every conscience. But let us also remember how many Christians thrwarted equality. The protests served to spark debates around many kitchen tables, I am sure. No justice system will shape people's hearts, but it does help limit the damage. As Christians, I believe we need to be vocal about the issues of our day. May justice roll like a might river. |
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86 | Christ and war | Is 9:6 | Just Read Mark | 107368 | ||
Inner and Outer Peace. Hi. I've been thinking about this for a few days, so it isn't just a response to JCrichton's post. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Merry 2nd day of Christmas to those who celebrate the season). Certainly, this peace is an inner peace -- that we have been reconciled to God, individually, by Christ's sacrifice for us. Thanks be to God for this truth. We are also to be making peace in the world around us. This is not a polite declaration of "peace, peace when there is no peace." Jeremiah 6:14. Here are two scriptures to think on: When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. --- Prov.16:7 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. -- Colossians 1:19-20. Christ is reconciling ALL THINGS. This reflects the Old Testament notion of "shalom" -- a deep peace that is interconnected and societal. Even the oceans and the stars are embraced by Christ's reconciling act. An earlier post mentioned "turning the other cheek" limited to interactions with people of other faiths. I think "turning the other cheek" is a radical reshaping of relationships. The ultimate example is how silently Christ went to the cross. I believe we are to be peacemakers in the broadest sense. |
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87 | dictatorship superior to democracy? | Dan 2:37 | Just Read Mark | 82392 | ||
"Church" and "America" are not the same thing. We are called to be very active in the public sphere, shaping the world in which we live. Faith is not just a private, "in the safety of my home" thing. But it is also dangerous when the church panders to be the "State Religion". I have been reading an interesting book: "A Peculiar People", by Rodney Clapp. He shows how the church needs to think more broadly about shaping a culture of justice, in the image of God, that can critique the larger culture. The culture-shaping power of the church has been denied by both the evangelicals and the liberals, by wistfully wishing to turn back the clock. Look at how radical, and political, the early church was! Before compromising with the Roman Empire. Now there is a model to follow. |
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88 | Who wrote Daniel? | Dan 12:4 | Just Read Mark | 107454 | ||
Thanks, Pastor Glen, for some resources to check out. This is an honest inquiry, and I would love to read some material that tackles the issues I have encountered. I believe in the authority of the Scriptures, but live in an environment where I need to be informed about these issues. |
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89 | Seems to change in stories? | Mal 3:6 | Just Read Mark | 177015 | ||
Hi Iktoose. Thanks for the response. I think we're agreeing here --- that God did change direction in response to Moses' plea. The character of God is constant. I think sometimes we answer questions quickly (like showing one text where it says God does not change) without delving into the question more deeply. If Rusty goes to his teacher with one verse, that will be much less convincing than if Rusty has thought about the passages that are more confusing. I've enjoyed the range of answers. Maybe I like the "childish" elements of how God tells his story --- I believe in living within the STORY of it, from Genesis to Apocalypse. So I try to hold that complexity in my head. Peace. JRM |
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90 | What is mercy? | Matt 5:7 | Just Read Mark | 153206 | ||
Grace and mercy. Here is a different way of distinguishing grace from mercy. "The two terms are frequently synonymous; but where there is a distinction between the two, it appears that grace is a loving response when love is undeserved, and mercy is a loving response prompted by the misery and helplessness of the one on whom the love is to be showered. Grace answers to the undeserving; mercy answers to the miserable." -----D. A. Carson, "The Sermon on the Mount" What do you think? |
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91 | What is mercy? | Matt 5:7 | Just Read Mark | 153207 | ||
I like the example of Saul and David. Saul was king, but in that instance David had the power. So David had mercy on Saul. Turning now to the Good Samaritan --- we don't usually think of Samaritans as having power to yield. But he had the resources to aid the wounded traveller, so perhaps that is power enough. Aid was his to either give or withhold, and he was merciful. Does that follow from your statement about power and mercy? |
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92 | What is mercy? | Matt 5:7 | Just Read Mark | 153210 | ||
From the context of Salvation, can you reframe "mercy" in the context of christian life. Blessed are the merciful --- this means Christians in areas of authority or power not metting out the punishments that people deserve? |
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93 | Merciful Sheep? | Matt 5:7 | Just Read Mark | 153344 | ||
Hi Doc. I agree that God is showing mercy to the sheep. And it is beautiful how humble they are about the whole thing: "Lord, when did we...." Now, the actions that the "sheep" take toward those in need (the thirsty, hungry, etc) --- are those rightly called acts of "mercy"? Some say "yes" --- because the sheep are responding to suffering without expectation of a return for their efforts. Others say "no, it's not mercy" because the sheep are not in positions of power over the sufferers. I'm just trying to figure this out, in relation to Matt 5:7. Thoughts? |
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94 | Merciful Sheep? | Matt 5:7 | Just Read Mark | 153345 | ||
Hi Steve. Does that definition of "mercy" make sense in Luke 10:37? |
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95 | When is it time to say no? | Matt 13:55 | Just Read Mark | 111034 | ||
Thanks, kalos. That is very helpful to me. Was I right that punctuation is also very hard to deal with from the Greek? I heard that the sentences run together, so determinng where each thought ends is a delicate matter. JRM. |
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96 | What's Jesus example of borrowing money? | Matt 17:27 | Just Read Mark | 117232 | ||
I was being a bit silly. But doesn't that bit of the Gospel make you smile? We need to keep some humour in our study of the Bible, cause Jesus is at times a joker too. There is no description of how Jesus dealt with money... We know that he ate at other peoples' homes (like Zacheus), and stayed in peoples homes (like Mary, Lazarus and Martha). We know they kept a purse for giving to the poor, and that the disciples were stressed about the finances of feeding the 5000. Jesus tells a number of stories about shrewd financial managers, encouraging us to be clever and resourceful. (Luke 16 elevates an unjust steward as an example... strange indeed.) The Bible is clear about usury being wrong, which puts our Banks into a difficult place. Jesus maintains this OT sense, suggesting that we loan money without expectation of repayment (not only no interest, but to give it away!) Yikes. Matthew 5:42 "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away." Luke 6:35 "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. This last ones casts the borrower as "unthankful and evil." Hmmm.... Sometimes resigning ourselves to poor treatment frees us to be generous despite circumstances -- and then to really appreciate any gratitude we receive. Now, I have a mortgage, and some other debts -- related mostly to my business. I feel OK about it, although it can be a burden. One guideline I have heard Christians use (not Biblical, but thought out), is that it is not OK to borrow for things that depreciate in value (general living expenses, or even a car)... you should live within your means. But if you borrow for something that will INCREASE in value (ie. a house, an education, a business expansion) that is OK. Do I stick to this? Not quite --- my business fluctuates, so at times I borrow to get through a hard cycle. But it is a useful measure, I think. Here is a text I keep in mind: My child, if you have given your pledge to your neighbor, if you have bound yourself to another, you are snared by the utterance of your lips, caught by the words of your mouth. So do this, my child, and save yourself, for you have come into your neighbor's power: go, hurry, and plead with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler. (Proverbs 6:1-5) Yours, JRM |
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97 | What's Jesus example of borrowing money? | Matt 17:27 | Just Read Mark | 117240 | ||
Lighten up. Yikes. How about the content of what I wrote? How about looking at the context? And isn't it clear that I've read the rest, if you look at my posts? One of my gripes about how Jesus is portrayed, is that he is always grim faced and sombre. There are moments of brilliant wit in the gospels, and I love how he can turn an opponent away with a few words. Maybe "joker" was overstated for the sake of making a point? Whatever. I think you are all more offended than my Lord is right now. How about the content of the post, rather than one word? JRM. |
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98 | What's Jesus example of borrowing money? | Matt 17:27 | Just Read Mark | 117241 | ||
O humourless one: The first definition is "one who jokes." While this is contrary to our earnest sense of Jesus, there is some truth to it. I overstated my case for rhetorical effect. My dictionary has the "obnoxious or incompetent" element as U.S. usage. Hmmm..... I don't really care to pursue this.... see my other reply (to Hank). I can really see how this forum can get distracted. JRM |
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99 | What's Jesus example of borrowing money? | Matt 17:27 | Just Read Mark | 117245 | ||
Or am I being too earnest now? Hank, I can't quite tell in what spirit you post was written. Perhaps it was "light"? Somehow I am falling into the knot of writing a serious note about Jesus' sense of humour .... |
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100 | Matthew 19:24 is a puzzle for me ? | Matt 19:24 | Just Read Mark | 108753 | ||
clarification --- I realize the "Widow's Mite" is not a parable, but Jesus using an event as a "teachable moment." Jesus does feature the poor in many stories, however --- like Lazarus the beggar, and the outcasts invited to the Banquet... |
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