Lots of Christians are being taught now that Jesus is the Lion Of Judah, like the warrior/king David. No! Jesus rejected that title and role. He is still the Lamb of God, kind and gentle, loving and all-forgiving and all-embracing, taking no offense. Shallow thinkers believe meekness is weakness, when, in fact, meekness is awesome strength, under awesome restraint.
If God got you out, you don’t get to turn around and become somebody else’s Egypt.
For those trying to follow Jesus, the stakes get even higher. Jesus doesn’t let us spiritualize this away. Remember? “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.”
Amen! Thank you Derek! Help us to be faithful Jesus!
My prayers this past year have focused on the war in Gaza and the actions of ICE and the wholesale abandonment of the rule of law. Over and over this phrase has come to mind. “Israel has become the very people they hated, and so have we.”
Amen, Derek. I can't begin to imagine the energy drain of the mental gymnastics some folks engage in to twist "welcome the stranger" into acting cruelly. We were all strangers in Egypt, and we are all immigrants.
I find you thoughtful wording of the situation and the history of the Christian bible spot on and something I have inwardly struggled with since the 60's. The Old Testament in particular has been abused all my life as a Christian. I mentally have never been able to understand the tolerance of that abuse.
Lots of Christians are being taught now that Jesus is the Lion Of Judah, like the warrior/king David. No! Jesus rejected that title and role. He is still the Lamb of God, kind and gentle, loving and all-forgiving and all-embracing, taking no offense. Shallow thinkers believe meekness is weakness, when, in fact, meekness is awesome strength, under awesome restraint.
I agree, Lenny.
If God got you out, you don’t get to turn around and become somebody else’s Egypt.
For those trying to follow Jesus, the stakes get even higher. Jesus doesn’t let us spiritualize this away. Remember? “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.”
Amen! Thank you Derek! Help us to be faithful Jesus!
My prayers this past year have focused on the war in Gaza and the actions of ICE and the wholesale abandonment of the rule of law. Over and over this phrase has come to mind. “Israel has become the very people they hated, and so have we.”
Amen, Derek. I can't begin to imagine the energy drain of the mental gymnastics some folks engage in to twist "welcome the stranger" into acting cruelly. We were all strangers in Egypt, and we are all immigrants.
I find you thoughtful wording of the situation and the history of the Christian bible spot on and something I have inwardly struggled with since the 60's. The Old Testament in particular has been abused all my life as a Christian. I mentally have never been able to understand the tolerance of that abuse.
Spot on, Derek! You always have the words for what I am feeling.