Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. -- Matthew 10:26-28Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. -- Matthew 10:32-33
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. -- Matthew 10:22
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. -- John 15:18
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. -- Revelation 14:9-11
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. -- Matthew 10:34
It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. -- Revelation 21:6
Here's how I've classified Ann's favorite verses at the SAB.
| verse | category |
|---|---|
| Matthew 10:26 | cruelty, injustice |
| Matthew 10:32-33 | injustice, intolerance, absurdity |
| Matthew 10:22 | contradiction |
| John 15:18 | contradiction |
| Revelation 14:9-11 | cruelty, intolerance, injustice |
| Matthew 10:34 | family values, injustice, cruelty, intolerance |
| Revelation 21:6 | none |
Not a good verse among them.
11 comments:
Good morning.
I'm an atheist.
I've recently been researching Matthew 10:34 as part of a wider study looking into the advocacy of violence by religions.
Focuing in particular on Islam and Christianity.
Last night I recorded an interview for my podcast show with Dr Mark Durie, an Anglican mininister here in Melbourne, Australia.
The interview isn't online yet. It should be up in a couple of days.
I'd contacted Dr Durie after reading his article in The Australian called Islam: Creed of the Sword
In that article he wrote:
At one point Christ says: "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:34)
This is sometimes cited as evidence for Jesus' militancy, but the statement occurs in an extended passage where Jesus is advising his disciples on the inevitability of persecution.
The sword he refers to is the one that will be raised against them.
Among many other sources which present this interpretation is a section of THIS Wikipedia entry.
Read especially under the heading "Predicting Violence".
Anyway, my personal conclusion on Matthew 10:34 is that it is NOT clear that this is an advocacy to violence.
Thanks.
Best Wishes,
PRODOS
Howdy!
One more thing, "Anonymous", wrote:
I have never heard such nonsense. The idiotic rambings of someone who is already biased against the Bible, who is trying to interpret its meaning. You are an utter fool.
This sort of approach is not helpful. It doesn't further debate and exploration. It's dumb. It's "idiotic rambling".
I've spent quite a bit of time studying Skeptics's Annotated Bible and its related sites, and I think it is an excellent study tool.
OF COURSE, many of us are "biased against the Bible"!
What exactly is wrong with that?
It's not as if it's a self-evident document.
Even some Christians, for instance, understand passages such as Matthew 10:34 to be justifications for the use of violence to promote Christianity - at least in some circumstance.
And there are many examples across history where Christians HAVE resorted to violence and claimed the Bible justified their actions.
I doubt Jesus would have replied in the manner that "Anonymous" has replied.
Maybe "Anonymous" needs to re-read his Bible?
Good on you Steve Wells! Keep up the good work, mate!
Best Wishes,
PRODOS
Melbourne, Australia.
John 15:18 - you've mentioned there "interpretation", not "contradiction"
I have never heard such nonsense. The idiotic rambings of someone who is already biased against the Bible, who is trying to interpret its meaning. You are an utter fool.
With this logic, it is fair to say that a Christian has no qualifications to comment on the legitimacy of the atheistic worldview because the Christian is biased against it from the start and therefore would a priori be attempting to misinterpret everything that atheism has to say.
This logic could also be used to claim that a conservative has no justification for commenting on liberal politics, or that a Catholic has no justification for commenting on the merits of Protestantism, etc.
Anonymous is an utter fool.
Although I agree with Aaron Nixon about anonymous having no argument and arguing ad hominem, Aaron also resorts to an ad hominem argument by claiming that Christians have no balls. What does that have to do with an argument? Can those without balls not put forth an argument? Aaron therefore becomes a hypocrit. Furthermore, if you believe that Christianity is a religion that promotes violence, perhaps you should read just a little earlier in Matthew. The Sermon on the Mount starts in Matthew 5. Unfortunately, most don't want to read that part of the Bible or follow it, so it makes Christians look like they're violent crazies like Ann Coulter.
Thanks,
Ben
By the way...Ann Coulter is not a Christian, just another Republican using Christianity to further the goals of Corporate Fascism.
I am a Christian, and I believe in God. When I study the Bible, pray or meditate, I seek God. I don't pray to things of this world, like celebrities, to seek God. I go to God alone. In my opinion, the representation of Ann Coulter, and other people's faith, is no different than the opposition and controversy experienced when Jesus walked the earth. People doubted God would bring together a simple fisherman, a zealot and a tax collector for a holy purpose. That God would minister to children & people society spit upon. That God would walk among us in the flesh. But God did ALL of this and more. God can do anything but fail. Humans have doubts, disbelief and questions. Faith asks us to "raise a sword"--to battle that which holds us back, by calling on God to
work in our hearts & minds. You have started your journey in faith and I hope it will lead you closer to God...to go beyond what is in this world, and to pierce through all that is holding you back, so you can experience the love, mercy, compassion, wisdom and goodness that truly is what God wants for you.
Blessings!
Ephesians 1:16-21, "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."
Lynn:
Was there a point to any of what you said? Any at all?
Surely by now you realize that this is NOT a site about a "path to God" or however you put it. Quite the opposite. Maybe you realize that now. Just in case, though, here's some information in exchange for yours, since turnaround is fair play, quid pro quo and all that:
"What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence" -Christopher Hitchens
You don't have any evidence for your God, and good luck finding any.
Thanks for playing.
im in awe! you do realize it takes more faith to be an athiest, dont you? the wonders of your godless world, and all the amazing coincidences throughout time and completing this wondrous world we live on. just a bang and a organism is all it took to create atheism, hmmm boy you sure you dont have a god that created your amazing atheistic chain of events and perfect conditions to sustain an atheist? ill tell you what , while you are searching for that perfect reason to believe your miraculous chain of fantastic events ill loan you my god in heaven so you will find peace while you are looking for your answers. he will be patient and faithfull if you ask him! god bless!
Timmy, Timmy, Timmy. Faith? You need faith to believe that you exist? You also seem blissfully unaware that atheism is the lack of belief in gods, not the presence of disbelief.
Aquaria-- I have very little evidence for the existence of Christopher Hitchens. As a matter of fact, his existence would be inconvenient for me, so I prefer not to believe in him.
Thanks for playing.
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