MLUG: Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] [POLITICS][RELIGION] Disowning Conservative Politics, Evangelical Pastor Rattles Flock
Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] [POLITICS][RELIGION] Disowning Conservative Politics, Evangelical Pastor Rattles Flock
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Mike Miller wrote:

The Bible has all kinds of great advice on how to kill people who do things we don't like.  For example, if a woman appears not to be a virgin to her new husband on her wedding night, she should be stoned to death. The Bible is crystal clear on this issue.

No Mike.  You are dead opposite wrong.  Jewish and Hasidic law are clear on this, yes... but...  Paul made clear statement that these laws were to some degree or another to be abandoned in favor of the teachings of Jesus Christ.

If you need an even higher authority on the subject, you are forgetting that Jesus calmed a crowd preparing to stone to death a woman of no virtue who was under pain of death according to the law.  His instruction of, "He who is without sin, cast the first stone", is one of the guiding principles of Christian behavior today.... well.  It is supposed to be.

Don't you just love that Biblical terminology -- "a woman of no virtue"? I wonder what she did to earn that title!

You caught me.  I couldn't remember the terminology used and I just went with a label I'd heard used before.  It was not the terminology used in this account.  It is correct however in the context of sexual virtue.  She could be a virtuous woman in that she cares for the sick, but being an adulterer she would be considered to be of no sexual virtue I believe.  The same is true for a man, though there always was a nasty double standard especially when one goes back to Deuteronomy.

You have a point there, Christian, but there are still many questions that are not clear.  Jesus didn't really write a new set of laws to overturn all of what is in Deuteronomy, so you have to make some judgment calls.

Well... you be the judge.  Here is chapter and verse of what he said and did.  As Christians we are to pattern our lives and actions after His example, so you be the judge:

John 8

   1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

   2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

   3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

   4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

   5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

   6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

   7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

   8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

   9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

   10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

   11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

   12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.


Actually, truth be told, you are absolutely wrong when you say, "Jesus didn't really write a new set of laws..."  The mere fact that his gift of salvation was to the Gentile and not JUST the Jew, pretty much turns the entire OT and all it's law on it's ear.  Jesus stated in the sermon on the mount (Matt 5-7) that he had not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.  I believe that by this He means God's law and not the tradition of law developed by the Jewish leadership.  God's real 'set of laws' were laid out in the 15 commandments  (oops. no wait, that's Mel Brooks) in the 10, 10 commandments.  Jesus actually indicated that some of these 'laws' had been incorrectly applied and told us how they were to be applied. Good old standbys like "and eye for an eye" were exchanged for things like "turn the other cheek", and "if he demands your tunic, give him your cloak as well."  The passages below show pretty clearly that Jesus did 'write a new set of laws', or rather 'brought them back to what they truly were meant to be.'  (a little context for the if he demands you go with him 1 mile, go with him 2...  Under Roman occupation, a Roman soldier could demand that you carry his kit up to one mile for him, even if it meant you wouldn't get home in time for the season finale of 24.)  The below is really a laundry list of Jewish law established in the Torah (the Pentateuch).

Those passages referenced... Matthew 5:
The Fulfillment of the Law

    17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder

    21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother[b]will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,[c]' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

    23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

    25"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.[d]

Adultery

    27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'[e] 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

    31"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'[f] 32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths

    33"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

An Eye for an Eye

    38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'[g] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies
    43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.


Mike

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