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| Can we take this one out? |
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4:32 Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. Hey, everybody. Can we take this verse out of the Bible?
Perhaps we could vote to have it removed.
Thomas Jefferson did that. When he published Jefferson's Bible, he left out of all the verses he didn't like. It is a very short book.
Now most of us don't actually cut verses out of the Bible the way that Jefferson did. But perhaps we cut them out of our mind and out of our behavior by explaining them away. "Now the Greek word here means . . ." By the time we are finished with Greek we have often completely changed the meaning of the verse. For example, how many Christians are obeying this verse and having everything in common with other believers. I'm not. Are you?
How many of us explain this verse away? Almost all of us.
Here is a link to an article about William Monroe Trotter, a man who risked much to follow Jesus and His love for the poor and mistreated: http://www.examiner.com/x-19568-Nashville-Evangelical-Examiner~y2009m8d26-An-Inspiring-American-Christian--William-Monroe-Trotter |
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| To add a comment to "Can we take this one out?" |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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Steve,
You talk about stuff too uncomfortable sometimes man. We are a very individualistic society and we love it. The moment you start preaching this you are heading down that road to the big S word. |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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I have been thinking a lot about how those who think themselves super smart explain away the true meaning of Scripture through "study". Jesus revealed these things to babes, did He not? Mostly a bunch of ignorant fishermen! Soooooooo it is safe to say....lol I'll leave that one be. But you are so right! Times have changed, and we don't live in these close knit communities as they did then, (unless you're Amish), but I think the modern thing would be, if you see your brother needing a car and you got an extra vehicle, GIVE IT to him. Yes--give it to him! If you see your sister needing a good pair of winter boots and you have the means, buy her some or give her the $$ to buy some! If you see any believer who needs food or clothes or bills paid and you have more than enough, you need to meet that need, so that all of us are taken care of. I believe that's God's heart, and it will show the world how much we love each other, and really speak volumes. |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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Steve, I'll say it again...I love your blogs...(smile) You see my friend, the way I see it...most people want a Burger King Christianity....You know have it YOUR way....or MY way.....But this ain't no Burger King....and it should be GODS WAY or no way at all. We should have all things common, and have the same mind....heart and soul....Did not Jesus pray to the Father to make us ONE????? |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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Kind of what the Democrats think, everyone should be on equal ground, except they want to force the idea, instead of letting the Spirit move us to do so. I have been working on a story about this verse, I'll post it when I'm done. |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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It would be nice to take a lot of verses out of the Bible but if any one adds or subtracts one jot or tittle...hmmm
anyway good luck with the vote, kind of ironic voting on a verse about unity. Unless it is unanamious of course. |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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14:2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any that act wisely, that seek after God. 14:3 They have all gone astray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does good, no, not one. I would kinda like to take this one out. I do good things, and surely I can't be the only one! (just kidding!!!) NONE of us does good, not the tax collector, not the adultress, not the thief, not even the Law keeper! ...ouch.. But I DO like how that kinda puts us ALL on an even playing field. :) |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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| LOL...LOL |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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We should not be so quick to go to the extreme of pulling things out of the Bible. I know that Steve is only being facetious, but I worry that the Jeffersonian impulse to ignore or pull out "difficult" teachings of Christ is more an American/Western response to our compulsive desire/coveting for material things and creature comforts, and not a theological based objection to Biblical instruction. We are too quick to let ourselves off the hook, or calling such communitarian ways perjoratives ("The S Word") to make it appear hostile and alien.
Moreover, there are many Christian people who live (or attempt to live) a "all for one, and one for all" disciplined life of community, simplicity and relative poverty. It is not impossible, we just need to be willing to heed God's call to orient ourselves to such a vocation.
In the end in could be that this instruction, like many (not all) other scriptural injuctions could lead us not only to eternal Salvation ("The Way, The Truth, and the Life/Light"), but also a more fulfilling temporal existence; an existence "freed from needless anxiety." |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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| Some very good thoughts. Thanks guys. |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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Here it is..... The Way |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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| August 26, 2009 |
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| Brother Steve, I would be more apt to leave out, "if thy eye offend thee puck it out." It's better to enter into the kingdom blind than to go to Hell with sight. I've observed over the years, when one really gives their heart to Jesus the pocket book comes with it. Now lead my not into temptation,I'm pretty good about finding it on my own. |
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