On 06/25/2013 04:08 PM, Don Roberto wrote:
> On 6/24/2013 11:52 AM, Todd wrote:
>> On 06/24/2013 04:56 AM, Don Roberto wrote:
>>> On 6/23/2013 2:26 PM, Todd wrote:
>>>> On 06/23/2013 02:20 AM, Don Roberto wrote:
>>>>> I'm not into wasting time talking and writing about what Christ
>>>>> commanded his disciples to do in Mathew 25: 31-46
>>>>
>>>> Don,
>>>>
>>>> You are missing the point of Matthew 15:31-46 and why it
>>>> matter to me. Whenever you do something kind to someone else
>>>> in need without expectation of return, especially to those you
>>>> don't even know, as these people do on this group, you are
>>>> touching the face of God. And that my friend, is how those
>>>> that don't know God manage to pass the gates of heaven. They
>>>> may not know God, but God *knows* them. I like being around them.
>>>> I feel the love of God in them (their goodness). Which is why
>>>> I am a bit protective of them.
>>>>
>>>
>>> That's nice, but Christ was _very specific_ about who the folks are that
>>> you are supposed to help in order to pass the gates of heaven".
>>> Not a word about "those that don't know God" or those *you* "like being
>>> around. JUST "the least of his brothers and sisters".
>>> And Julie is one of them.
>>> Talk about missing the point...
>>>
>>
>> I am the Ancient faith. We have taught not to judge those truly
>> good people outside the church/faith since Jesus founded our
>> church as we do not know what the Lord's plan is for them.
>>
>> We *never* thought that "Just" part you expounded on above
>> is/was an "exclusive" club. "his brothers and sisters" is everyone
>> he loves and he loves us all, both those that know him and
>> those that don't.
>>
>> Think about it. Had the we, the Ancient church, thought it
>> was an exclusive club, since we wrote the new testament,
>> we never would have included it. You are reading Matthew 15:31-46
>> like a legal contract and missing the spirit of what is being said.
>>
>
> Matthew 25:31-46 isn't about his brothers and sisters, it's about _THE
> LEAST_ of his brothers and sisters.
>
> You seem to be deliberately leaving out essential parts to fit your
> agenda. You are of course free to do so, but you are not free to call
> yourself a Christian when you have to distort Christ's words in order to
> suit your version of the faith.

Sorry Don. It means everyone. You have to act like a Christian,
meaning be decent, to everyone. The more helpless the better.
If you don't think this is the case, see how the Ancient church
"practiced" this command. A good example would be Saint John
the Merciful: http://orthodoxwiki.org/John_the_Merciful. Do
you see anywhere in there that Saint John made distinctions
as to who he would take care of?

Not everyone is capable of great acts of mercy. What is important
is those little acts you do every day. No one on this group
actually knows me. What they do know is that I am a NIDDM
and I what to learn to cook for the condition. They respond
to me without expecting any return. This is the everyday
mercy I am speaking of. And, how God knows them, even the
ones that don't know him. These are good people.

-T