Msgr Pope ping
Good read. Thanks
There was never anything wrong with the seed or the sower only where it was received or not.
Because some people’s best use is to serve as a bad example for others?
This explains things to me, thank you for posting.
Ping!
Perhaps so that none will have any excuse when they finally stand before the Lord on Judgment day. Nobody can say, "Why didn't you tell me" or "I didn't know"
First of all, what does a seed need to bear any fruit at all?
Second, does the seed on rocky ground or near thorns represent the lost? or does it represent unproductive christians?
The question here in the thread title can be summarized or simplified by asking; “Why does God allow evil to exist at all?”
It is my opinion that the parable relates to those who will be lost verses those who will find Christ... NOT those christians who will fail in their commission vs those christians who will bear fruit.
Therefore, I think we should make sure we should understand the question before using the object scripture to answer it.
I am not saying that anything said here so far is wrong.
However, I frequently do see scripture that is indicative of a lost condition used to teach or discipline those in Christ. I’m not so sure that is wise.
Also too this also talks about those who come to faith in the Lord even at their deathbeds.
Very good thoughts. I found myself thinking about the same thing yesterday. I also see the surface of the land similar to the surface of our souls...often made dry and hard or full of thorn bushes because of the choices we’ve made. Rocky soil could be comparable to the situations into which some are born...but haven’t we all seen trees growing out of a very rocky cliff side? There is NO doubt that God is exceedingly generous. ;-)
God gave us each “Free Will”.
It was not God’s intention to create Heaven on Earth.
The seed is the word of God, ain`t it?
If God controlled the sowing of seeds to be only those of exemplary servants of God, He would not be the God of free will I know. That He is not trapped by time and knows the outcome of everything, but allows random germination of random sowing shows He is willing that we choose Him.