The essence of Christianity can be found in several passages from
the Gospel of Matthew. One is the Sermon on the Mount (Chapters 5-7), which appeals to us to go beyond the letter of the law and act always in compassion and humility. Another key passage is the parable of the sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46). In
this parable, the Lord invites "the righteous" to join him in "the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world." Why?
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and
you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I
needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I
was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the
righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed
you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a
stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did
we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The
King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
Jesus is saying that "the righteous" are not those who followed some abstract dogma, or some particular sexual orientation, but those who have fed the hungry and sheltered the homeless, among other other compassionate acts. Yet on earth it isn't always so easy. Members of the Orlando, Florida, group Orlando Food Not Bombs have been repeatedly arrested by Orlando police for presumably distributing free food to the hungry in one of Orlando's public parks. Christian groups who focus on dogma, sexuality, personal salvation, and the Rapture, often quoting questionable scriptural passages, rarely say anything about these specific passages in the Gospel in which Jesus exhorts his followers to compassionate acts of mercy and generosity. There are exceptions, of course, including some mainline Protestants, Evangelicals, and Catholics, who emphasize the social gospel of Jesus. But I wonder where the voice of the Christian community is when people are imprisoned for trying to feed the hungry.
Jesus is saying that "the righteous" are not those who followed some abstract dogma, or some particular sexual orientation, but those who have fed the hungry and sheltered the homeless, among other other compassionate acts. Yet on earth it isn't always so easy. Members of the Orlando, Florida, group Orlando Food Not Bombs have been repeatedly arrested by Orlando police for presumably distributing free food to the hungry in one of Orlando's public parks. Christian groups who focus on dogma, sexuality, personal salvation, and the Rapture, often quoting questionable scriptural passages, rarely say anything about these specific passages in the Gospel in which Jesus exhorts his followers to compassionate acts of mercy and generosity. There are exceptions, of course, including some mainline Protestants, Evangelicals, and Catholics, who emphasize the social gospel of Jesus. But I wonder where the voice of the Christian community is when people are imprisoned for trying to feed the hungry.
This is a Great Point.... Thanks for sharing!
see the first amendment trampled under foot