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BBBCanada
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| Posted 4/24/2010 3:45 PM (GMT -6) |   | | | |
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Asher
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| Posted 4/24/2010 4:45 PM (GMT -6) | | | I thought that article was spot on, timely, and fair. | | Back to Top | | |
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One Love
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| Posted 4/24/2010 10:56 PM (GMT -6) | | Hmmm...let me ask a question like this:
If a person who were in a governmental office was a Christian actively seeking "purity of heart" and "seeing God", in what ways do you all think her relationship with God would affect her governmental sensibilities concerning the opportunities and limitations of her role in a sin-affected system?
Here's another...
ALL OTHER FACTORS BEING EQUAL between two equally competent candidates for a governmental office, would it make any difference to you at all if you knew (by some means) that one of them lived daily by the Jesus Prayer and the other was an atheist? If so, why? If not, why not?
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 4/24/2010 11:19:07 PM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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Tom
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| Posted 4/25/2010 4:50 AM (GMT -6) | | Wallis: In politics the question is not what God cares about per se but what the proper government response is.
Jeff: Exactly.
Tom: I agree as well, for the same reasons you stated Jeff. And it's the same with individual disciples of Christ. We're not to throw ourselves at EVERY possible opportunity to effect positive change in the world, we're to be led by the Spirit asking, "What, Lord, do you wish of my right here, right now." The Spirit MAY have you get involved in one of several possible ways or the Spirit may have you do nothing and move on.
D: If a person who were in a governmental office was a Christian actively seeking "purity of heart" and "seeing God", in what ways do you all think her relationship with God would affect her governmental sensibilities concerning the opportunities and limitations of her role in a sin-affected system?
Tom: She would, hopefully, be better attuned to discerning what's best for HER to do, given her position, to effect positive change.
D: ALL OTHER FACTORS BEING EQUAL between two equally competent candidates for a governmental office, would it make any difference to you at all if you knew (by some means) that one of them lived daily by the Jesus Prayer and the other was an atheist? If so, why? If not, why not?
Tom: Sure, all other things being equal AND their being equally competent, I'd go for the believer (for the reason stated immediately above).
But I do think it's more than hypothetical to imagine two equally competent politicians (unless you can define "competent" for me in a way that makes imagining this more probable).
Let me ask a question in response: If you needed brain surgery and the only trained brain surgeon was an atheist but you still want to go find anybody else who was living by the Jesus Prayer to operate on you even though whoever you found had zero medical training? Right. That's the thing. Granted, I'm assuming a big difference in competency levels. But isn't that just what we all always see in candidates?
T
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 6:32 AM (GMT -6) | | |
I hear you, Tom. As I think about it, CONTENT of belief has a role, too. Hey, y'all. Check this out. All of this made me think about the International Cops for Christ that I'd heard about. Basically, police officers that want to express their faith in their positions. Hey, cool. At the same time, take a look at the beliefs. (NOT TRYING TO BE NEGATIVE...just NOTICING something)
We believe:
The Holy Bible, commonly called the King James Version is the inspired and only infallible and authoritative written Word of God wherever English is understood. To understand why CFC makes a stand for the King James Bible, please read this article Is Jesus of Nazareth the Only Begotten Son of God.
.... there is one God, eternally existent in the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.
.... in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His personal future return to this earth in power and glory to rule a thousand years.
.... in the Blessed Hope - the rapture of the Church at Christ's coming.
.... in the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Christ.
.... regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation.
.... in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life.
.... in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the saved to eternal life, the lost to eternity in the everlasting lake of fire called hell.
.... Romans 13, that the position of a police officer was established and created by God to enforce the laws of the land under God's authority.
Ok. This is an INTERNATIONAL group with chapters all over the world. And there's KJV only, pre-mil dispensationalism, and eternal conscious torment in the GROUNDING BELIEFS of this worldwide organization.
Wow. Just a thought. Do you think that Cops for Christ having these beliefs in particular possibly affects the way they do their job? Do you think that having these particular beliefs affect the way they see the LAWBREAKERS that they deal with? Hmmm...
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 4/25/2010 6:50:27 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 7:01 AM (GMT -6) | | As I think about it, if there could only be TWO Scripture references that I would want Christians in ANY political/governmental positions to live by...it would be these:
1) And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
and...
2)“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.(OL's Note: Remember Revelation 20-22! ) For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Three Principles:
1) Loving God completely
2) Loving all humans and oneself in light of loving God completely (also seen in 1 John 4:7-21)
3) Seeing all humans as "the least of these" (per Jesus) in loving God, one's neighbor, and oneself
If a Christian person in political/governmental leadership would truly indwell these 3 principles in competent, professional exercise of their responsibilities, I can't see how that wouldn't be a good thing. And I can't see the Christian Left OR Christian Right disagreeing with this, either. Without doing these things, it's all nothing anyways. (1 Corinthians 13: Anything not done in love is nothing, REGARDLESS of how "good" it seems pragmatically! ) Maybe it'd be ONE thing they could agree on!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 4/25/2010 7:32:20 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 7:26 AM (GMT -6) | | Looking over the article again...
1) Do y'all think that Paul Marshall (author of the article) would agree with what I've said in the post just above?
2) Do y'all think that Jim Wallis would agree with what I've said in the post just above?
If the answer to both of those questions is "Yes", then what does that say?
Or at least I BELIEVE Marshall would say yes. Marshall mentioned "Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe" and how he's a "thug" and all that. Does Marshall hold that Mugabe is one of "the least of these" and his "neighbor" whom God calls him to love unconditionally...even WHILE denouncing any evil actions done by him? Does the article FEEL like he has that sensibility?
Hmmm...
I'd love to hear your thoughts, Asher...as always! 
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 4/25/2010 7:46:49 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 7:50 AM (GMT -6) | | Maybe I could ask this more forcefully:
If a given "Christian politician" does NOT abide by and/or demonstrably embody the 3 principles I've mentioned, is said person truly a Christian politician in the first place?
Three Principles:
1) Loving God completely
2) Loving all humans and oneself in light of loving God completely (also seen in 1 John 4:7-21)
3) Seeing all humans as "the least of these" (per Jesus) in loving God, one's neighbor, and oneself
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 4/25/2010 8:01:14 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 8:11 AM (GMT -6) | | Oops...make that 3 Scriptures and 4 Principles!
Here's the third Scripture...
If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’
Here's the Principle...
4) Opposing self-exaltation or self-glorification of any type (per Jesus' character)
Yeah...
So...
Four Principles:
1) Loving God completely
2) Loving all humans and oneself in light of loving God completely (also seen in 1 John 4:7-21)
3) Seeing all humans as "the least of these" (per Jesus) in loving God, one's neighbor, and oneself
4) Opposing self-exaltation or self-glorification of any type (per Jesus' character)
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 4/25/2010 8:17:03 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 8:20 AM (GMT -6) | | So...from my point of view, a politician or governmental leader cannot be described as genuinely "Christian" unless there is understandably imperfect, though generally demonstrable activity that significantly reflects the 4 principles and 3 Scriptures noted.
Would anyone disagree with that perspective?
----------------------------------------------------------
1) And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
2)“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.(OL's Note: Remember Revelation 20-22! ) For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
3) If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’
and...
Four Principles:
1) Loving God completely
2) Loving all humans and oneself in light of loving God completely (also seen in 1 John 4:7-21)
3) Seeing all humans as "the least of these" (per Jesus) in loving God, one's neighbor, and oneself
4) Opposing self-exaltation or self-glorification of any type (per Jesus' character)
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 4/25/2010 8:25:10 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 8:36 AM (GMT -6) | | Not everyone who claims to be a Christian "whatever" is what they say they are.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
and...
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
I KNOW you feelin' me on this, right, Tom?
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 4/25/2010 8:39:12 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 8:40 AM (GMT -6) | | Don't want anyone to feel left out or slighted...
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. | | Back to Top | | |
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 8:54 AM (GMT -6) | | Yo, Tom. Got an idea.
When we talk to Greg, maybe we should bring this up to him. You know how Anabaptist and all he is. I wanna ask him:
If a Woodland Hills Covenant Partner--who believed strongly in the "3 Scriptures and 4 Principles"--felt called by God to serve the community of Saint Paul as a policewoman and express those values through "walking the beat" as it were...and asked you (Greg) about what you thought about Christians being called to being police officers by God, what would you say to her based on your current views?
Ooooh. That's a goooooooood one. 
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 4/25/2010 8:58:01 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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BBBCanada
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| Posted 4/25/2010 9:00 AM (GMT -6) | | Jeff: Exactly. Why is this hard? Is it not obvious that if government was to address, by enforcement of a law (i.e., by penalizing insubordination), everything God cared about that we would have a totalitarian government? It seems to me that people who think that way must either feel they are so selfish they need to be continually FORCED to do right on any and all matters, or they already think they've arrived (in which case they're almost certainly blinded by arrogance) and have no reason to fear the benevolent despotism they knaively think can exist.
Right. None of these guys like Marshall or Skillen advocates that every sin or good thing be outlawed or enforced. I think they would think this isn't biblical to do this. Secondly, I think they would ask what the proper role of government would be ie., should government do something, if so, what? Or is that the role of some other jurisdiction in which case government would act in a juridical manner. Thus it would still be actively involved.
My response to your first post OL would essentially be the same as Tommy's. But to clarify, I would add that God's giftings are not restricted to believers. Because of the nature of politics, it would require strong leadership ie., people who know the situation, make decisions, etc.
Concerning your next posts I'm pretty sure that Marshall would agree that one should endwell those imperatives but he would find it problematic about how that should be worked out politically. For example, we are called to Christian action but then this has translated into anything from Marist theories of social analysis (which as it turns out it is more the theory affecting the theology rather than the other way around) to Liberation Theology's social affects to both liberal and cosnervative social analysis being worked out in public policies.
Brandon
It is the purpose that makes strong the vow, but vows to every purpose must not hold.--A friend.
To love without love is slavery--Mother Teresa
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 9:04 AM (GMT -6) | | Brandon:
Concerning your next posts I'm pretty sure that Marshall would agree that one should endwell those imperatives but he would find it problematic about how that should be worked out politically. For example, we are called to Christian action but then this has translated into anything from Marist theories of social analysis (which as it turns out it is more the theory affecting the theology rather than the other way around) to Liberation Theology's social affects to both liberal and cosnervative social analysis being worked out in public policies.
When Marshall called Mugabe a "thug", was he indwelling those imperatives? Just in your own opinion. Seems kinda objectifying to me.
The Jubilee and Sabbath certainly have implications for current policies on debt—they show, for example, that no debts, or crimes, are absolute obligations to be repaid come what may (a realization that has shaped U.S. bankruptcy laws). But they are no blueprint for government policy on Third World debt, especially if, for example, such forgiveness gave a new lease on life to thugs such as Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe.
I understand that there will be different political MEANS for embodying the 4 Scriptural Principles...but I'm pretty sure that any of those means would have to deal with the way that we TALK about our "enemies." Again, it's NOT about putting a positive spin on nefarious behavior and policies...or exonerating, condoning, or accepting any of that in any way It's about whether we are DEMONSTRABLY attempting to love our enemies at least through our words about them.
Right?
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 4/25/2010 9:08:37 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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BBBCanada
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| Posted 4/25/2010 9:23 AM (GMT -6) | | I would say that he should embody those imperatives and I cannot speak for him here. At the same time I don't have a problem calling a spade a spade. After all, Jesus did call Herod, "That fox."
Brandon
It is the purpose that makes strong the vow, but vows to every purpose must not hold.--A friend.
To love without love is slavery--Mother Teresa
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 9:25 AM (GMT -6) | | | Hmmm...riiiiiight. Tell you what I'll take that and raise you a "brood of vipers", eh?
Let's use that one too.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. | | Back to Top | | |
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 9:27 AM (GMT -6) | | | No, I got it. Let's use "Axis of Evil" ...YEAH!!
"Axis of evil" is a term initially used by the former United States President George W. Bush in his State of the Union Address on January 29, 2002 and often repeated throughout the rest of his stay in office, describing governments that he accused of helping terrorism and seeking weapons of mass destruction.
President Bush named Iran, Iraq and North Korea as the axis of evil.
...
In his book Frum relates that the more he compared the Axis powers of World War II to modern "terror states", the more similarities he saw. "The Axis powers disliked and distrusted one another", Frum writes. "Had the Axis somehow won the war, its members would quickly have turned on one another." Iran, Iraq, al-Qaeda, and Hezbollah, despite quarrelling among themselves however, "all resented power of the West and Israel, and they all despised the humane values of democracy." There, Frum saw the connection: "Together, the terror states and the terror organizations formed an axis of hatred against the United States."
Frum tells that he then sent off a memo with the above arguments and also cited some of the atrocities perpetrated by the Iraqi government. He expected his words to be chopped apart and altered beyond recognition, as is the fate of much presidential speechwriting, but his words were ultimately read by Bush nearly verbatim, though Bush changed the term axis of hatred to axis of evil. North Korea was added to the list, he says, because it was attempting to develop nuclear weapons, had a history of reckless aggression, and "needed to feel a stronger hand."
The 4 Principles were definitely in play here, right, Brandon? 
I guess America was supposed to be OPPOSITE of "Evil", huh? Wow. Think about how many American lives have been affected to date by this interesting choice of words.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 4/25/2010 9:58:48 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 9:46 AM (GMT -6) | | | | |
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 10:05 AM (GMT -6) | | Really though. I do want to ask the question...to all y'all.
Given what is being said about HOW the term "Axis of Evil" was brought about, specifically Former President Bush's reframe of Frum's original given terminology...would you say that Former President Bush's choice was demonstrable activity that significantly reflects the 4 Scriptural Principles we are talking about? In short, was this truly CHRISTIAN political activity?
Let's hear some GUT LEVEL response. I'd like to hear from EVERYONE on this one. This will help me to know how we are gauging things...
And don't leave me hangin' either. Ha! 
The Four Scriptural Principles:
1) Loving God completely
2) Loving all humans and oneself in light of loving God completely (also seen in 1 John 4:7-21)
3) Seeing all humans as "the least of these" (per Jesus) in loving God, one's neighbor, and oneself
4) Opposing self-exaltation or self-glorification of any type (per Jesus' character)
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 4/25/2010 10:23:47 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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Similitude
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| Posted 4/25/2010 10:45 AM (GMT -6) | | | I think Bush's later inaction made it clear he never meant to follow through with his "if you're not with us you're against us" approach. Like most politicians, he needed to rally support by PRETENDING he was motivated in the same way as his grass-root support. That being the case, I think it's shameless to talk about an axis of evil when you don't really mean what you're saying per its more plausible contextual meaning, but are only using it to motivate people by fear to support that part of your agenda to be implemented in the immediate future.
On the other hand, the Democrats err on the opposite extreme. They pretend that talks are WAY more effective than they know they are to get the anti-war crowd to vote for them. Then once in office they become pragmatic politicians just like the rest, killing who they need to to keep American hegemony moving right along.
That's not to say that American hegemony is bad, necessarily. It's just that when the goal is pursued using deceit and hypocrisy to attain and maintain power, WAY too many innocent people end up getting hurt and killed. God is not interested in American hegemony if it can only come at the expense of government injustice and hypocrisy/deceit. If American hegemony is a natural consequence of justice and truthfulness, then I have no reason to believe God is opposed to it.
Most of the time, enough people regret their vote because of the deceit of those they voted for, that had they known that up front, that elected candidate may not have even been elected at all. And this is just another way of saying that government by consent doesn't often occur, even in countries that have the right to vote. Heck, they had the right to vote in the U.S.S.R. The right to vote, per se, is over-rated. Brandon is right that political activism is what has a greater potential for effectiveness. But it's hard to get enough people on the same page for effective political activism.
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BBBCanada
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| Posted 4/25/2010 11:49 AM (GMT -6) | | I'm simply saying OL that it is possible to say that someone can be an idiot and thug objectively speaking. That their behavior can be the same. I hardly think that calling a spade a spade is not loving. "Hey dude! You just stole that old lady's purse. You're being an idiot, OK?" Is that unloving?
Brandon
It is the purpose that makes strong the vow, but vows to every purpose must not hold.--A friend.
To love without love is slavery--Mother Teresa
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One Love
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| Posted 4/25/2010 1:38 PM (GMT -6) | | Brandon:
I'm simply saying OL that it is possible to say that someone can be an idiot and thug objectively speaking. That their behavior can be the same. I hardly think that calling a spade a spade is not loving. "Hey dude! You just stole that old lady's purse. You're being an idiot, OK?" Is that unloving?
Ask in light of this:
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
What do you think, Brandon? Every careless word will be judged, right?
PS: Tom, check your PM
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