Posted on 12/05/2013 6:33:26 PM PST by ebb tide
Yes, blessed are the poor in spirit. This is not the first time I’m seeing this bible verse altered to defend Francis’ focus on economic matters.
Got to remember that this was the “Francisian spirituality” side of Pope Francis speaking.
How do you know?
Did he tell you that?
Or are you just guessing?
If you believe the parables are about economics you have been misled; by definition a parable uses common situations as an analogy to explain difficult concepts, in this case about the spiritual world. Is the parable of the lost sheep about animal husbandry? Is the parable of the sower, or the parable of the tares instructing us how to be better farmers? NO!! They are teaching us about the kingdom of God, as Jesus tells us in his own words. Why do you view this one differntly? This parable is likewise not at all about money, but about the kingdom of heaven. Who does the lord give gifts to? His people... what are these gifts? Wholly undeserved supernatural (e.g. spiritual) gifts, what we call “grace” which become available as our relationship with God becomes perfected (a perfect relationship with God is to enter the “kingdom of heaven”). According to scripture these are gifts of discernment of spirits, of preaching, ability to understand Scripture, ability to heal, prophecy, etc. They are God’s power given freely to his people, waiting for us if we merely ask and accept them and use them. The parable tells us that if we don’t, they will be taken from us and given to others who will bear more fruit in the venture of saving souls.
Stealing peoples money isn’t the answer.
"You are lacking one thing. Sell everything you have and give the proceeds to the poor. Then you shall have treasure in heaven." (And the young ruler was greatly distresed....)
Well take a look at all the reporting that went on the minute Pope Francis was first made Pope, how he would take either the bus or the subway, cook his own meals, and live in an apartment. That should give you a “hint”.
That was from news reports, not me.
No one here - and not the pope either - is suggesting stealing.
But you forgot that.
It wasn’t altered. Please check your Bible.
Socialism is stealing.
Indeed.
It seems to me that a wise man would say, “doggone it, he’s right. I radically changed the meaning of the verse by leaving out the key phrase ‘in spirit.’ Maybe I don’t really understand the verse.” And then said wise man would get busy prayerfully studying the Scriptures to come to a biblical understanding of that verse and what it means to be “poor in spirit.” And if said wise man comes to recognize he has been misled by the spiritual authorities in his life he would get busy finding spiritual leaders faithful to God’s Word because he knows his eternal soul is at stake.
But most are not wise. They don’t really want the truth. They value their tradition, their way, over the Scriptures. Most lean on their own understanding, rationalize, and double down on error.
“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
You may want to brush up on the parts that talk about humility.
I read what I read-
No man can speak for God and pretend he knows what is in God`s mind.
When you get to heaven then you can tell me all about Jesus words coz he will tell you Himself.
Til then, I read what I read and I ain`t stupoid -
the story is a "similitude, allegory, parable, emblematic allusion" -"A Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament", Souter
This is one of the longest stories in the NT and it demonstrates the economic milieu of the times by illustrating the principles of investment and interest-bearing monetary practices then.
Otherwise Jesus is using a ficticious story with fictitious principles embodied therein. Jesus does not lie. So the story may be fictitious, but the principles are not.
So I read what I read.
The story may be fictitious, but the economic principles borne thereupon are relevant and true today as they were 2000 years ago. You can`t throw the bath water out with the baby.
Both spiritual and practical economic principles are true.
Ergo both must be respected as being effective paths to heaven and life on earth, resp.
We ain`t angels cos we have to earn a living to eat to feed our bodies coz angels don` got no bodies-
Otherwise Jesus would have only talked about angels in order to illustrate divine principles.
But he didn`t. He talked about human beings and what they do so common folk could understand Him.
Verbum sat.
Jesus certainly had vast powers to help the poor and did so by feeding thousands who took time to listen, healing the sick to show he was indeed the Messiah, even raising the dead on a few occasions to show he had the power of the Father behind him even stating he could call upon legions of angels for aid should he wish to.
These few and limited instances showed what he could and would do when God’s will was done on earth as it was in heaven under his kingdom.
But an examination of Jesus’ words shows his chief purpose in coming to the earth was not soup kitchens and food packages however well motivated such things are, he said his purpose was to preach the good news of that heavenly kingdom and “bear witness to the truth”.
The poor in material things were shown mercy and kindness but those poor in spirit or “beggars after spirit” were the focus of Jesus’ efforts.
Which proves my point.
So telling the truth is arrogant. Gotcha.
Amen!
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The Holy Spirit saves. Not the pope.
You don’t know me, but let me tell you this much about myself. I am eternally grateful for the Christian man who cared enough years ago to tell me I believed a lie. I didn’t appreciate it initially, but I came to realize he did the greatest thing for me he could do.
I do not speak like the feminine preachers of our day who are scared of plain talk. I cannot tolerate false religion and lies because souls hang in the balance! I believe in telling the truth and leaving the results in the Lord’s hands.
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