Why is it in Matthew 25:31-46 (“Whatever you did not do for the least of these you did not do for me …”), Christ's criterion for entry into the Kingdom of Heaven seems to be compassion rather than faith - mercy rather than self-righteousness? Judgment Day looks to be based on how we treat him in the least rather than a simple belief in him - - (John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world …”).
Similarly, many are used to being taught that the sin of Sodom was homosexuality and other sexually indulgent lifestyles. While excess in those things are included as wickedness, the following passage indicates that the major sin that caused God to burn Sodom up was focused on something entirely different!
Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous…" Genesis 18:20 "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.” Ezekiel 16:49-50 According to Ezekiel, it appears as though should God stay true to his patterns of justice, wealthy America and other places like Western Europe will have a lot to answer for in this regard.
Welcome to the Kingdom of God! It is where up is down, down is up, the last is first and the very least are rewarded. In fact, get to know your poor, prostitute, needy, orphan, gay, widow, fatherless, addicted, homeless, helpless, hungry, naked, demonized, sick, disabled, downtrodden, neighbor – he or she could quite easily become your next boss in the Heavenly Kingdom of God.
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Saturday, August 2, 2008
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1 comment:
Yes,this one is very good! Pat
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