Killers for Christ

[Alter2Ego]

"for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword." (Matthew 26:48-52)

"I came not to bring peace, but to bring a sword" (Matthew 10:34)

... seems he got the comeuppance predicted.

Stu:
You are ignoring context. (Context refers to surrounding words, verses, and chapters.) At Matthew 10:34, Jesus Christ was not talking about a literal sword. He was using figurative speech. A sword, in the figurative sense, refers to division on the intellectual level. Below is the context from where you cherry-picked those few words. Take particular note to the words at verse 35.

"{32} Everyone, then, that confesses union with me before men, I will also confess union with him before my Father who is in the heavens; {33} but whoever disowns me before men, I will also disown him before my Father who is in the heavens. {34} Do not think I came to put peace upon the earth; I came to put, not peace, but a sword. {35} 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. {36} Indeed, a man's enemies will be persons of his own household." (Matthew 10: 32-36)

Based upon the context, it should be obvious that Jesus was NOT saying family members people would take up the literal, physical sword against each other and that he was referring to intellectual division. We see this everyday in families where certain family members are ostracized when they don't see eye to eye.

Alter2Ego

________________
"That people may know that you, whose name is JEHOVAH, you alone are the Most High over all the earth." ~ Psalms 83:18

 

[Wallet]

Stu:
You are ignoring context. (Context refers to surrounding words, verses, and chapters.) At Matthew 10:34, Jesus Christ was not talking about a literal sword. He was using figurative speech. A sword, in the figurative sense, refers to division on the intellectual level. Below is the context from where you cherry-picked those few words. Take particular note to the words at verse 35.

"{32} Everyone, then, that confesses union with me before men, I will also confess union with him before my Father who is in the heavens; {33} but whoever disowns me before men, I will also disown him before my Father who is in the heavens. {34} Do not think I came to put peace upon the earth; I came to put, not peace, but a sword. {35} 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. {36} Indeed, a man's enemies will be persons of his own household." (Matthew 10: 32-36)

Based upon the context, it should be obvious that Jesus was NOT saying family members people would take up the literal, physical sword against each other and that he was referring to intellectual division. We see this everyday in families where certain family members are ostracized when they don't see eye to eye.

Alter2Ego


________________
"That people may know that you, whose name is JEHOVAH, you alone are the Most High over all the earth." ~ Psalms 83:18

In reality Jesus was talking to his 12 disciples here, this happened at their commissioning, Jesus gave them the ability to heal, and authority over unclean spirits and sends them out to minister an evangelize Israel. Jesus tells them they will be persecuted, flogged and handed over to the authorities - sending them out as sheep before the wolves. But Jesus tells them to not be afraid as everything is in God's hands.

Then the verses mentioned, reassuring them that their testimony and sacrifice will not go unrewarded.

 

[blakpacman]

It's good that modern, civilized society has evolved to be tolerant of different religions and opinions. I don't care if someone wants to be a Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, or worship the Greek and Roman Gods of Mythology. Worship whatever the heck floats your boat as long as you don't impose your own will on other people.

 

[futurecurrents]

Ignorance and religion which flourishes within it is a killer.

 

[Alter2Ego]

It's good that modern, civilized society has evolved to be tolerant of different religions and opinions. I don't care if someone wants to be a Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, or worship the Greek and Roman Gods of Mythology. Worship whatever the heck floats your boat as long as you don't impose your own will on other people.

blakpacman:

Which "modern, civilized society" are you referring to? To this day, people the world over are killing each other over religious differences.

In fact, people within the very same religion take part in sectarian violence. Islam is a prime example of that. About a decade or so ago, the Protestants and the Catholics were blowing one another up in Ireland.

And guess what? None of them were instructed by the God of the Judeo-Christian Bible to do any of that. So the only thing they have all managed to prove, by that type of behavior, is that none of them belong to the true religion.

Alter2Ego

________________
"That people may know that you, whose name is JEHOVAH, you alone are the Most High over all the earth." ~ Psalms 83:18

 

[blakpacman]

blakpacman:

Which "modern, civilized society" are you referring to? To this day, people the world over are killing each other over religious differences.

In fact, people within the very same religion take part in sectarian violence. Islam is a prime example of that. About a decade or so ago, the Protestants and the Catholics were blowing one another up in Ireland.

And guess what? None of them were instructed by the God of the Judeo-Christian Bible to do any of that. So the only thing they have all managed to prove, by that type of behavior, is that none of them belong to the true religion.

Alter2Ego

________________
"That people may know that you, whose name is JEHOVAH, you alone are the Most High over all the earth." ~ Psalms 83:18

I'm talking about in the present day United States, but, yes, there is a lot of religious intolerance even in this day and age in other countries, though not as bad as say during the Crusades, or during Nazi Germany, if you need a contrast.

 

[dbphoenix]

I'm talking about in the present day United States, but, yes, there is a lot of religious intolerance even in this day and age in other countries . . .

There's a hell of a lot of religious intolerance in this country as well. Read the paper. Any paper. Any day.

 

[FortuneTeller]

There's a hell of a lot of religious intolerance in this country as well. Read the paper. Any paper. Any day.

And there is a growing glob of atheist's who are intolerant of anyone who isn't atheist!

 

[blakpacman]

There's a hell of a lot of religious intolerance in this country as well. Read the paper. Any paper. Any day.

I differentiate between intolerance in spirit vs. intolerance in action. Intolerance in spirit refers to a conflict of opinion where the opinion may be voiced. Having religious intolerance in action would be to the point of committing violence. In the US, we have freedom of expression, so anyone can voice their opinions freely, whatever they may be. However, we cannot forcefully make someone believe in something we want them to believe.

 

[dbphoenix]

I differentiate between intolerance in spirit vs. intolerance in action. Intolerance in spirit refers to a conflict of opinion where the opinion may be voiced. Having religious intolerance in action would be to the point of committing violence. In the US, we have freedom of expression, so anyone can voice their opinions freely, whatever they may be. However, we cannot forcefully make someone believe in something we want them to believe.

So killing gays, women, negroes, Muslims, etc is not violent?