Matthew 5 and 25 are not read by Christians.

Hate the sin, love the sinner(s).

Socialism involves some sin, not unlike other methods of social-economic governance.

We are supposed to achieve social-economic good by voluntary cooperation and respecting each others' property. Remember the commandment not to steal?

Jesus says to "give to the one who asks you...". Socialism involves sin. This is why Christians aren't allowed to read Matthew 5.

Thanks Lava, for supporting my point.

What church do you belong too? When I went to a Catholic school way back in prehistoric times the nuns taught these passages AMD many like them in order to impress on us that Christ's teachings were all about love. Granted that now days many preachers have changed that to money, especially the TV and radio preachers.

I don't belong to any church now. A very long time ago I studied for the ministry in a fairly strict Evangelical denomination. My church (like many Evanglical churches) didn't believe that Catholics were Christians.

1. I think you are confusing (Christians) as being the same as the (Religious Right).

2. I believe that there is a clear difference or distinction between the two.

3. I believe the "Religious Right" has continued to hijack "Christianity" for there own non-Christian purposes.

4. Do you truly believe that all Christians follow the "Religious Right"?

5. I would argue that many "Christians" would denounce the "Religious Right".

6. I think your thread is (probably) referencing the "Religious Right".

7. I don't think your thread was meant to reference "Christians"

8. I might be wrong. If I am please let me know.

Some Christians read these chapters and some do not.

Then again, some Christians know the Bible all the way through. Each and every verse. Many received glorious colorful ribbons in their youth to memorizing scripture. Many were also instructed to go and memorize scripture when they did something wrong. That punishment or learning moment was often courtesy of a parent.

The sector of the Methodist church I came up through probably read those chapters and verses. They certainly sound familiar.

(as always, remember, Methodists are similar to the folks who practice Judaism. Several different branches.)

This is Max’s attempt at humour. And like all of Max’s previous attempts it’s fallen flat on its face. Because as everyone knows a joke is always at its funniest when it has to be explained.

There is another recently arrived poster who started a thread claiming that Jewish people are forbidden from reading certain parts of Isiah.

This piece of biting satire is Max’s response.

This is why Max should stick to physics and leave the comedy to people who know how to tell a joke.

I thought his face mask bit was pretty funny.

Have you thoroughly thought through what it would mean to "not resist an evil person?"

1) We are all evil people, sinners, who are all saved and in the process of redemption; so what does it ultimately mean to not resist evil people when you yourself are one?

2) In this quote you posted, the metaphors are referring to a strategy toward dealing with oppression in which you become hypersubservient to a bully/criminal in order to try to win him over to the side of conscience. There is another passage where He says that if you can't convince a sinner of the error of his ways, treat him as a "gentile and a tax collector," meaning someone whom you just have to pay whatever they are due and no more.

You have to understand that Christianity is complex because it involves embracing sinners in order to win them over away from sin. So in terms of socialism, we are not supposed to condemn socialists for their sins, but we are supposed to win them over to see that there are better ways to achieve social/economic/environmental/climate reforms.

As I've told you many times, liberty is the political philosophy that free/independent individuals can make responsible choices on their own without the authority of a king reigning over them. Jesus never said we weren't supposed to teach and rebuke each other for sin; but He didn't want us to do it for the sake of condemning each other but to help each other see the light so that we could achieve self-reform through voluntary cooperation between individuals who respect each others' property rights and other fundamental sovereignty (i.e. inalienable rights)

Remember, for example, what He said to the young rich man about selling all his possessions and giving the money to the poor? The man walked away and then Jesus didn't say to steal his possessions because he refused to give them up voluntarily, He said that it is harder for a rich person to get into heaven than for a camel to get through the eye of a needle, meaning that in order to attain spiritual peace, we have to achieve the right level of charity to satisfy our hearts/consciences, and when we fail at that because we are more motivated by material greed, etc. then we suffer spiritually. So the point wasn't to transfer the man's wealth to the poor but rather to teach people that in order to serve God, we have to put effort into understanding poverty and what it takes to solve it, because we simply can't as imperfect humans/sinners sell everything we have and give the money away. So we have to see/confess that sin and then pray for Holy Spirit to help us figure out ways to solve the problems of poverty in a world where sin cannot be totally overcome.

Huh? This is the first I ever heard of that!

Christians read the entire Bible and are encourage to read each passage. So sounds like you are a bit of a Christian bigot if you say that.

This is not even socialism this is in keeping with God's word of helping others. I have not attended any Church that would go against these words.

Do you even know how many Christian Churches help refugees? What you are saying makes zero sense.

YOUR Church. Ok so one church or one strict denomination of churches then includes all Christian churches. My daughter attends a non-denominational Christian school. One of their projects for Bible was to attend a Christian Church service of denomination that they are not - this had to be approved by the teacher. She, along with her class partner, went to a Catholic Church - they consider this a Christian church - definition of Christian is someone who believe Jesus Christ is their Savior - thus the use of Christ in Christian.

Ok so all police officers are racists and would love to kneel on a black man's neck.

Ok so all African Americans are criminals.

Enough said!

Sorry if I did not understand this as a joke if that is the case as izzy stated - but yeah I have heard people believe things like this that have no or little knowledge outside their own area of religion.

Izzy is right. It was a response to the anti-Jewish thread. I am just amusing myself.

In reality, Christianity is whatever you say it is.

Well I waSn't apart of that - how the heck am I supposed to know!?!

Ug what a way to start a Monday - yelling about something and it was a joke -

Ignore me

That’s the thing about Max’s jokes, they amuse him and piss off everyone else.

Izzy doesn't speak for everyone else.

But I will admit, pissing off Izzy amuses me (but that's just because he deserves it).

Don’t be ridiculous.

If I feel anything it’s world weary resignation.

It’s what I’ve come to expect from you.

Certainly ain't gonna amuse anybody else.
(well, possibly your reflective image in various mirrors)

You might have had some level of success, if you had placed a link to the other thread and if you had tagged this thread as satire, humor, humour, laughs.

Initially, it ever so slightly and briefly occurred to me that you might be referencing the Judaism thread (and maybe in a, er, um...reverential manner.

...then I remembered you aren't usually that witty. Without tags or links, your plan was irrevocably screwed.

That’s the beauty of it.

Sturgizzy is back!

(I once saw Sturgis talk while Izzy was drinking a glass of water).