Mars,The core belief of loving every man as a brother? Christ came, as he said to:
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. Matthew 10:34-38
To me the greatest teacher has been experience. Saying that, I understand the meaning of Matthew 10. There are those of the world, even in our own households, who will deny Christ. A Christian must put Christ above those even of his own household. My greatest sorrow and hurt has been from those whom I love and are close to me and we have been set at odds against one another.
Those who rebel against one another, because they love the ways of the world and follow their father, the devil. Either you will love the one or hate the other. This is not a subject that you can remain neutral on.
He was human to the extent that he was assigned the role of "scapegoat" for the sins of man. Having suffered much more than most for his teachings, he now understands our human temptations. He able to forgive us as an intercessor that covers our sins with his redeeming blood. God cannot look upon sin. Without Christ as our intercessor we would be dead in sin with no chance to be accepted in God's sight.
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Cor. 1:18
To you it may seem foolish that we celebrate the risen Christ by partaking of wine and bread as a token of his blood and flesh. To me, it is honoring Christ's life and resurrection.
Maybe, as you say, we shall respect one another's philosophies, and let it go at that. Christ did not say that we would save anyone. Christ saves. However, he loves our efforts to tell others to believe and be saved. Having done that, I leave you to your own instruction. (I didn't say destruction because you would have thought it to be so typical of a Christian.)
James |
