March 29, 2009, 2:42 pm by dc-agape.

Image by reurinkjan via Flickr

I have been saving this post topic and a few more, including preacher salaries, for the last on the topic of the Word of God.  I am saving salaries for last because, even though Christians are not will to give up their pride, their freedom or their life for the Word of God, what they really won’t give up is paying people to make them feel good.  And the Christian religious leaders will certainly not give up this pay, even when told by Jesus (Matt 19:23, Luke 6:24, Luke 8:14) that it is wrong.  What about Paul’s own example (1^st Cor 9:14-15)?  But those questions are for my next post.  In this post I want to ask why Christians do not give up their pride.  That is what was taught in the Word of God.  It was required from the believers in the 1^st century CE.  Following this post will be one or two on giving up freedom and giving up your life for the Gospel.

So what about pride?  Jesus has much to say on the subject (Matt 18:4, Luke 14:11, and Luke 18:9-14).  But since Jesus’ teachings are not the largest part of the NT, what about the teachings of James, Peter, and Paul?  Both James and Peter use the exact same words to reprimand the proud:

James 4:6 But he gives us more grace.  That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

1^st Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those you are older.  All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Both use the exact same verse from the OT: Proverbs 3:34.  Why do the Christians of today seem so easy to forget this teaching?  Why are they so arrogant?  Why are they determined that the rest of society should live the way they live?

Paul is even more forceful on the topic, but then most of the NT was written by him (not the actual apostles or Jesus).  For example here is one:

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.

How many Christians do you know that follow this verse?  I bet the answer is zero.  Few churches live in harmony for long.  Rarely do you see a “Christian” associate with people below their class.  And many of them are so conceited that it hurts just to hear them speak or read what they write.

Paul also warns about pride in a particular teacher (that one makes you say hmmm) which starts in 1st Cor 3:21-23, but continues here:

1^st Cor 4:6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.

Yet we have 38, 000 denominations.  I would say that is both breaking Romans 12:16 and 1^st Cor 4:6.  These two verses alone show that Christianity is a failure.  I am beginning to have a theory on this failure, being that I am doing research on the 1^st century and this is an experiment.  I will post on this much later.

Paul has two more sections in his letters that are quite interesting as well.  Almost everyone has heard this one, but it is worth repeating:

1^st Cor 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

How many “loving” Christians obey this verse?  How many are patient?  How many are not proud?  The moderates sometimes fit this requirement.  But then they are patient with those Christians who break this verse as well.  I am waiting for the moderates to stand up and reprimand the “loving” Christians.  But that does not seem to be happening.

I will end with this teaching that Paul sent to Timothy:

2^nd Tim 3:2-5 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power.  Have nothing to do with them.

Paul warns Timothy about these people.  He should have also warned every Christian about these types.  But do these three verses remind you of someone?  Don’t these parts hit close to home, especially the parts about “lovers of money”, “unforgiving”, “brutal”, and “lovers of pleasure”.  They certainly have a form of “godliness” but it certainly does not have any power.

As a gay Atheist I am waiting for these Christians to “come out of the closet”.  That is exactly what they need to do.  If they even exist.  I am hoping that is one of the outcomes of this experiment.  I am looking forward to the true Christian standing up and make their presents known.  If they exist, they certainly are not making themselves visible.

Related articles by Zemanta

• T.F.: No shame (slacktivist.typepad.com)
• Mere Discipleship (petpeeving.com)
• What is strange about Christianity? (msatheists.org)
• What does the Bible say about the prosperity gospel? (searching4god.blogspot.com)
• Prioritizing Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (joshharris.com)
• To Walk Where Jesus Walked (justanotherclaypot.blogspot.com)

Posted in Word of God, Biblical topics | Print | 7 Comments »

March 29, 2009, 8:41 am by dc-agape.

Image via Wikipedia

Surah 106: Al-Quraish: The Quraish

Surāh 98: Al-Bayyinah to this surāh are all linked.  One starts with a topic the last one ended with.  But at the same time they do stand alone.  I hope that reading these 8 surāh in the manner that I have adopted will not hamper my point of view.  For example surāh 105 reminds the reader about an invasion (that failed) during the Prophet’s birth year.  Surāh 106 reminds the reader of the benefits that those same people, who defended the Ka’bah (cyberistan.org), have received.  Before that, surāh 104 tells the reader about how those who are iniquitous are crushed. 

The Ka’bah is central to this surāh.  From time immortal (since Adam) the Arabian tribe of the Quraish had been the protectors of this building.  The Ka’bah was a place, even before the time of the Prophet, was a sacred place of pilgrimage.  So even though the Arabian tribes worshipped idols they recognized the importance of Adam, Abraham, and Ishmael. 

The pilgrims coming to the Quraish tribesmen gave Makkah a special honor.   As a result, this tribe did not have to deal with what other tribes had to deal with in greater Arabia.  The Quraish, of course, felt that this greater peace was given to them by a supernatural being.  This would make sense, because they also were not attacked when they went on business trips to Syria (during the summer) and Yaman (during the winter). 

The surāh ends with what the Quraish were granted at home in Makkah: plenty to eat and security from war.  The pilgrims brought extra trade to Makkah providing the Quraish with more trade than the other tribes.  At the same time, the Quraish were given more respect than the other tribes as well. 

I cannot quite get the importance of this surāh.  If it only applies to the actual Quraish, then this verse has little meaning to the majority of people who become Islamic.  In a way, it might be similar to how the Old Testament explains how YHWH protected his own “people”.  In this sense, Allāh did a much better job at protecting his people than YHWH did.  Throughout history the Israelites were banished from Israel numerous times.  If this surāh is intended for all believers (and not just the earthly Quraish), then I cannot say that Allah has not done as well at protecting and feeding his “people”.  So, in the end, I must assume that this protection and prosperity is only given to the actual Quraish.  Which then leads to two important question: why treat these people better? And why (knowing that only the Quraish are protected) would anyone want to convert to Islam?  I am obviously missing something culturally, by the Traditions of Men, or in translation.

Related articles by Zemanta

• In pictures (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Muslim pilgrims complete annual journey to Mecca (ctv.ca)
• Millions Of Muslims Gather For Hajj Pilgrimage (huffingtonpost.com)
• Pilgrims converge on Mecca for the hajj (cbc.ca)
• Hajj Pilgrims Stone The Devil (abcnews.go.com)

Posted in Holy Qur'an, Readings | Print | 3 Comments »