[font=Georgia]-
Some of the Bible's beatitudes are mavericks; viz: they aren't included with
the regular beatitudes in the so-called Sermon On The Mount and/or the
Sermon On The Plain. I'm thinking it might be kind of fun to take a look at
some of those; beginning with the one below.
Maverick 01
†. Matt 13:16-17 . . Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for
they hear. Assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men
desired to see what you see, and did not, and to hear what you hear, and
did not.
NOTE: The Greek word translated "blessed" in that passage is makarios
(mak-ar'-ee-os) which primarily means supremely fortunate and/or well off.
To put that blessing in perspective: just imagine what an amazing stroke of
luck it was to be alive in the decade of the 1960's, and near a television
watching live as the first man ever to walk on the moon descended a ladder
to the surface.
Thousands of generations preceded that decade, Those of us who witnessed
Neil Armstrong take mankind's first step on the moon were extremely
fortunate beneficiaries of a chance confluence of time and circumstances.
We today read about Christ but did not see him when he was here because
we were born too late. It's sort of like kids in school reading about the space
race but never experiencing any of it for themselves because they were born
too late. What's history to them, was at one time daily current events for
many of us.
But did the Jews at the time of Christ appreciate their good fortune? Some
did; but many did not because they somehow failed to discern his
significance.
†. Luke 19:41-42 . . And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and
wept over it; saying: If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy
day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from
thine eyes.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[/font]
Random Beatitudes
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Re: Random Beatitudes
Post #2[Replying to post 1 by WebersHome]
Indeed, that generation did enjoy a privileged position seeing the culmiination of the sacred secret in the manifestation of the Edenic seed. Since the Messianic kingdom Government (with the full number of anointed Christians) would begin to select its ministers at that time and Jesus audience would have had the opportunity to be part of that group and would ultimately have a part in the "new covenent", that was something, as Peter pointed out even the angels would have liked to be privy to.
Indeed, that generation did enjoy a privileged position seeing the culmiination of the sacred secret in the manifestation of the Edenic seed. Since the Messianic kingdom Government (with the full number of anointed Christians) would begin to select its ministers at that time and Jesus audience would have had the opportunity to be part of that group and would ultimately have a part in the "new covenent", that was something, as Peter pointed out even the angels would have liked to be privy to.
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"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
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Post #3
[font=Georgia]-
Maverick (02)
†. Luke 11:28 . . Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
The koiné Greek word for "keep" is phulasso (foo-las'-so) which means,
variously: to watch, to be on guard, to preserve, to obey, and/or to avoid
(viz: evade)
Phulasso is just the opposite of letting something slip from one's grasp either
by neglect, indifference, carelessness, or distractions; for example:
†. Heb 6:7-8 . . Soil that drinks in the rain often falling on it, and that
produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed, receives the blessing
of God. But soil that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and in danger
of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
Field burning used to be common in Oregon's Willamette Valley to rid the
soil of viable weed seeds in preparation for the next round of planting. Those
weed seeds aren't the result of neglect; in point of fact, they're to be
expected. The danger lies in allowing weed seeds to germinate because the
adult plants will compete with crops for soil, water, and sunlight resulting in
a poor crop, or worse; no crop at all.
In those cases, the entire field, weeds and crops both, have to be
incinerated in order to start from scratch; and a whole season's work is for
naught so Oregon's farmers stand guard over their soil against noxious
species. That is truly a real-life example of the old proverb: An ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure.
†. Mark 4:3-8 . . Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed . . . some
seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades so
that it produced no grain . . .The thorny ground represents those who hear
the word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this
life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is
produced.
We have an invasive species of thorn bush up here in Oregon called
Himalayan Blackberry. That stuff is very aggressive and lets nothing stand in
its way. Left uncontrolled, Himalayan will proliferate with huge bramble
patches that easily smother perfectly good soil and render it useless for
planting.
Ironically, even housekeeping can become Himalayan if not kept in check;
for example: one day Christ was over to some friends for dinner and one of
the two sisters in the home complained that the other wasn't making herself
useful out in the kitchen. His response?
†. Luke 10:38-42 . . As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came
to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She
had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
. . . She came to him and asked: Lord, don't you care that my sister has left
me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me! Martha, Martha; the Lord
answered: you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing
is truly needful. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken
away from her.
You see, it's all a matter of prioritizing one's activities in order to insure a
time slot for the Lord even if you have to put something else on hold. But if
you keep putting the Lord on hold, it's only a matter time before life's
brambles completely block him out. If people can make time for other
things, then it really shouldn't be all that difficult to make time for him.
Samuel is a good case in point of "keeping" the word of God.
†. 1Sam 3:19 . . So Samuel grew, and Yhvh was with him; and did let none
of His words fall to the ground.
In other words: Samuel not only harkened to God's words; but also applied
what he learned. But it is impossible for somebody to apply God's words
when they're uninformed as to what those words are.
†. Rom 12:2 . . Be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind; that you may approve what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[/font]
Maverick (02)
†. Luke 11:28 . . Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
The koiné Greek word for "keep" is phulasso (foo-las'-so) which means,
variously: to watch, to be on guard, to preserve, to obey, and/or to avoid
(viz: evade)
Phulasso is just the opposite of letting something slip from one's grasp either
by neglect, indifference, carelessness, or distractions; for example:
†. Heb 6:7-8 . . Soil that drinks in the rain often falling on it, and that
produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed, receives the blessing
of God. But soil that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and in danger
of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
Field burning used to be common in Oregon's Willamette Valley to rid the
soil of viable weed seeds in preparation for the next round of planting. Those
weed seeds aren't the result of neglect; in point of fact, they're to be
expected. The danger lies in allowing weed seeds to germinate because the
adult plants will compete with crops for soil, water, and sunlight resulting in
a poor crop, or worse; no crop at all.
In those cases, the entire field, weeds and crops both, have to be
incinerated in order to start from scratch; and a whole season's work is for
naught so Oregon's farmers stand guard over their soil against noxious
species. That is truly a real-life example of the old proverb: An ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure.
†. Mark 4:3-8 . . Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed . . . some
seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades so
that it produced no grain . . .The thorny ground represents those who hear
the word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this
life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is
produced.
We have an invasive species of thorn bush up here in Oregon called
Himalayan Blackberry. That stuff is very aggressive and lets nothing stand in
its way. Left uncontrolled, Himalayan will proliferate with huge bramble
patches that easily smother perfectly good soil and render it useless for
planting.
Ironically, even housekeeping can become Himalayan if not kept in check;
for example: one day Christ was over to some friends for dinner and one of
the two sisters in the home complained that the other wasn't making herself
useful out in the kitchen. His response?
†. Luke 10:38-42 . . As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came
to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She
had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
. . . She came to him and asked: Lord, don't you care that my sister has left
me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me! Martha, Martha; the Lord
answered: you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing
is truly needful. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken
away from her.
You see, it's all a matter of prioritizing one's activities in order to insure a
time slot for the Lord even if you have to put something else on hold. But if
you keep putting the Lord on hold, it's only a matter time before life's
brambles completely block him out. If people can make time for other
things, then it really shouldn't be all that difficult to make time for him.
Samuel is a good case in point of "keeping" the word of God.
†. 1Sam 3:19 . . So Samuel grew, and Yhvh was with him; and did let none
of His words fall to the ground.
In other words: Samuel not only harkened to God's words; but also applied
what he learned. But it is impossible for somebody to apply God's words
when they're uninformed as to what those words are.
†. Rom 12:2 . . Be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind; that you may approve what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[/font]
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A Personal Note
Post #4[font=Georgia]-
JehovahsWitness, hello;
I don't mean to drag the thread off-topic, nor do I intend to remain off-topic;
but just out of curiosity, have you heard of an ex Watch Tower Society
missionary named Raymond Victor Franz?
He was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses from
October 20, 1971 until his removal on May 22, 1980, and served at the
organization's world headquarters for fifteen years, from 1965 until 1980.
Mr. Franz resigned, and stated the request for his resignation, and his
subsequent dis-fellowshipping, resulted from allegations of apostasy.
Following his departure, Mr. Franz wrote two books relating his personal
experiences with the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and his views on
Jehovah's Witness teachings.
One of his books is called "Crisis Of Conscience". It's a bit expensive in print
form, but is available audibly for free on YouTube and/or as a free pdf
download.
Mr. Franz's book is a helpful aid to people wondering if they made the right
decision leaving the Society's fold. It's also helpful for people thinking about
becoming a Jehovah's Witness but not too sure whether they'd be making a
really big, life-changing mistake.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[/font]
JehovahsWitness, hello;
I don't mean to drag the thread off-topic, nor do I intend to remain off-topic;
but just out of curiosity, have you heard of an ex Watch Tower Society
missionary named Raymond Victor Franz?
He was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses from
October 20, 1971 until his removal on May 22, 1980, and served at the
organization's world headquarters for fifteen years, from 1965 until 1980.
Mr. Franz resigned, and stated the request for his resignation, and his
subsequent dis-fellowshipping, resulted from allegations of apostasy.
Following his departure, Mr. Franz wrote two books relating his personal
experiences with the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and his views on
Jehovah's Witness teachings.
One of his books is called "Crisis Of Conscience". It's a bit expensive in print
form, but is available audibly for free on YouTube and/or as a free pdf
download.
Mr. Franz's book is a helpful aid to people wondering if they made the right
decision leaving the Society's fold. It's also helpful for people thinking about
becoming a Jehovah's Witness but not too sure whether they'd be making a
really big, life-changing mistake.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[/font]
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JehovahsWitness
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Post #5
WebersHome wrote: [font=Georgia]-
Maverick (02)
†. Luke 11:28 . . Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
The koiné Greek word for "keep" is phulasso (foo-las'-so) which means,
variously: to watch, to be on guard, to preserve, to obey, and/or to avoid
(viz: evade)[/font]
Yes interesting point, it put me in mind of Jesus' admonition to "keep seeking the kingdom" the verb evidently being in the continuous form, so Christians must make a continual effort.
JEHOVAH'S WITNESS
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
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Post #6
[font=Georgia]-
Maverick (03)
†. Luke 12:35-38 . . Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and
you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return
from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him
immediately.
. . . Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find
watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit
down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the
second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are
those servants.
The man in the parable isn't the bridegroom of the mentioned wedding
because he returned home alone without a bride in tow.
But don't they usually serve alcohol at wedding receptions? I think we can
safely assume that a single guy returning from a wedding party is going to
be a bit unsteady on his feet; and if not, then at least tired and sleepy and
ready for bed after dancing all night with the ladies.
The point is, his servants expected their master's return sometime that night
and so stayed up to open the house and get him inside quickly and safely.
Their lanterns would come in very handy for illuminating his path in order to
avoid stumbling and possibly falling down in the dark.
It appears to me, from the tenor of the parable, that what the man's
servants did was above and beyond the call of duty. They didn't have to stay
up late waiting for him to come home. No, they did it because they had a
genuine concern for their master's welfare just like the moms and dads who
stay up late waiting for their teens to come home from dates, proms,
cruising the mall, and/or late-night movies.
I really have to hand it to the master of the house. Rather than take the
servants for granted; his gratitude really shows in reciprocating their caring
concern by treating them like royalty. I think the blessing in that parable
comes from the servants' good fortune to have a master with a heart of gold
like that.
†. Matt 11:29-30 . .Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls: for my
yoke causes no discomfort, and my burden isn't heavy.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[/font]
Maverick (03)
†. Luke 12:35-38 . . Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and
you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return
from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him
immediately.
. . . Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find
watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit
down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the
second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are
those servants.
The man in the parable isn't the bridegroom of the mentioned wedding
because he returned home alone without a bride in tow.
But don't they usually serve alcohol at wedding receptions? I think we can
safely assume that a single guy returning from a wedding party is going to
be a bit unsteady on his feet; and if not, then at least tired and sleepy and
ready for bed after dancing all night with the ladies.
The point is, his servants expected their master's return sometime that night
and so stayed up to open the house and get him inside quickly and safely.
Their lanterns would come in very handy for illuminating his path in order to
avoid stumbling and possibly falling down in the dark.
It appears to me, from the tenor of the parable, that what the man's
servants did was above and beyond the call of duty. They didn't have to stay
up late waiting for him to come home. No, they did it because they had a
genuine concern for their master's welfare just like the moms and dads who
stay up late waiting for their teens to come home from dates, proms,
cruising the mall, and/or late-night movies.
I really have to hand it to the master of the house. Rather than take the
servants for granted; his gratitude really shows in reciprocating their caring
concern by treating them like royalty. I think the blessing in that parable
comes from the servants' good fortune to have a master with a heart of gold
like that.
†. Matt 11:29-30 . .Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls: for my
yoke causes no discomfort, and my burden isn't heavy.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[/font]
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JehovahsWitness
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Post #7
Good point! A fitting metaphore for the royal bride of Christ!WebersHome wrote: [font=Georgia]-
Maverick (03)
his gratitude really shows in reciprocating their caring
concern by treating them like royalty.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[/font]
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
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Post #8
[font=Georgia]-
Maverick (04)
†. Luke 14:12-14 . .When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your
friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they
may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.
Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the
righteous.
At the time that Christ spoke those words, he was attending an exclusive
dinner party, hosted by a prominent Pharisee. Whether it was "black tie"
isn't stated; but then, not all such events are black tie. Some are informal
back-yard barbecues. (catered, of course)
So anyway, it looks to me like Christ wasn't recommending opening your
home to down-and-out strangers for Sunday dinner. The mixer he was
attending was an event: one of those you'd likely find reported next day on
the society page of your local newspaper. Personally, I have neither the
wherewithal, the status, nor the ambition to host those kinds of parties.
In his day, there were no agencies set up to provide for people whose health
prevented them from earning a living. Nor were there any welfare services
for people down on their luck. So the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the
blind were pretty desperate.
Christ said that people who have the wherewithal and the status to host
such events, and find it in their hearts to include some desperate folk, are
blessed because their generosity will be taken into consideration at the
resurrection of the righteous.
If so, then the converse is true. The generous acts of the unrighteous won't
be taken into consideration.
Take for example social media mogul Mark Zuckerberg. He recently pledged
a chunk of his fortune to charity. But will that compensate for the dishonest
way he went about founding FaceBook? No, it won't because Mr. Zuckerberg
is at heart an unscrupulous barracuda; ergo: he will not take part in the
resurrection of the righteous.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[/font]
Maverick (04)
†. Luke 14:12-14 . .When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your
friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they
may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.
Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the
righteous.
At the time that Christ spoke those words, he was attending an exclusive
dinner party, hosted by a prominent Pharisee. Whether it was "black tie"
isn't stated; but then, not all such events are black tie. Some are informal
back-yard barbecues. (catered, of course)
So anyway, it looks to me like Christ wasn't recommending opening your
home to down-and-out strangers for Sunday dinner. The mixer he was
attending was an event: one of those you'd likely find reported next day on
the society page of your local newspaper. Personally, I have neither the
wherewithal, the status, nor the ambition to host those kinds of parties.
In his day, there were no agencies set up to provide for people whose health
prevented them from earning a living. Nor were there any welfare services
for people down on their luck. So the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the
blind were pretty desperate.
Christ said that people who have the wherewithal and the status to host
such events, and find it in their hearts to include some desperate folk, are
blessed because their generosity will be taken into consideration at the
resurrection of the righteous.
If so, then the converse is true. The generous acts of the unrighteous won't
be taken into consideration.
Take for example social media mogul Mark Zuckerberg. He recently pledged
a chunk of his fortune to charity. But will that compensate for the dishonest
way he went about founding FaceBook? No, it won't because Mr. Zuckerberg
is at heart an unscrupulous barracuda; ergo: he will not take part in the
resurrection of the righteous.
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Post #9
[font=Georgia]-
Maverick (05)
†. John 13:17 . . If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
In other words: Bible reading, Bible study, Bible discussion, Bible classes,
Bible debate, and/or Bible memorization without any intent of allowing the
information to sink into one's skull, or reform one's life, or influence one's
thinking, speaking, or feeling; is of little more value blessing-wise than
comic books and romance novels.
†. Jas 1:22-25 . . Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do
what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking
at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
. . . But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives liberty,
and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-- he
will be blessed in what he does.
The non-doers will of course not be blessed.
†. Matt 7:26-27 . . Every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth
them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the
sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and
beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[/font]
Maverick (05)
†. John 13:17 . . If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
In other words: Bible reading, Bible study, Bible discussion, Bible classes,
Bible debate, and/or Bible memorization without any intent of allowing the
information to sink into one's skull, or reform one's life, or influence one's
thinking, speaking, or feeling; is of little more value blessing-wise than
comic books and romance novels.
†. Jas 1:22-25 . . Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do
what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking
at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
. . . But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives liberty,
and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-- he
will be blessed in what he does.
The non-doers will of course not be blessed.
†. Matt 7:26-27 . . Every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth
them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the
sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and
beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[/font]
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Post #10
[font=Georgia]-
Maverick (06)
†. John 20:29 . . Then Jesus said to Thomas: You believe because you've
seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway.
Some things are much easier to believe when we're very young; for
example: the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, and leprechauns.
But as we mature, those things become silly.
As for Jesus' resurrection: it doesn't help that it's God's wishes that the
gospel not hold up in court nor stand to reason. I don't know why; but for
some reason it's important to God that the world write believers off as fools
rather than wise. He actually wants Christ's followers to be esteemed as
Forrest Gumpsters with the minds of a naive child.
†. Mark 10:15 . . I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the
kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
That's really bad news for agnostics, which are defined as people who
neither affirm nor deny that Christ's crucified body revived simply because
they have yet to be shown sufficient empirical evidence proving it did.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[/font]
Maverick (06)
†. John 20:29 . . Then Jesus said to Thomas: You believe because you've
seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway.
Some things are much easier to believe when we're very young; for
example: the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, and leprechauns.
But as we mature, those things become silly.
As for Jesus' resurrection: it doesn't help that it's God's wishes that the
gospel not hold up in court nor stand to reason. I don't know why; but for
some reason it's important to God that the world write believers off as fools
rather than wise. He actually wants Christ's followers to be esteemed as
Forrest Gumpsters with the minds of a naive child.
†. Mark 10:15 . . I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the
kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
That's really bad news for agnostics, which are defined as people who
neither affirm nor deny that Christ's crucified body revived simply because
they have yet to be shown sufficient empirical evidence proving it did.
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