Before I begin, because I know this one will stir up issues with some people, this is what Christ had to say about helping others:
The Final Judgment
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 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. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 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. 35 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, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 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.’
41 “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. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 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.’ 44 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?’ 45 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.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Now,
I have read articles which say that when he says the words, "the least of these", he is referring to other Christians, but I find that hard to believe. If Christ said to go out and spread the word of the gospel to all the earth, why would he then say to only help the converted? So if I see someone in need I can't help them until they agree to believe in Christ? Or I am only allowed to help them if it looks like I can convert them, but must stop if it doesn't look like they will? Is that what Christ himself did? Did he only help the sinners who agreed to follow him? No, he helped them all in hopes that they would follow him.
I think the religious right are going about it all wrong. They are too intent on reaping the harvest that they rush through the sowing of seeds. Since when were the end results more important than the effort put into the work? Oh yeah, since American culture was absorbed into Christianity. We are so focused on getting to the end results that we do whatever it takes to get there. Christ himself, through his actions, was more concerned about doing the right thing for everyone around him than just for those who believed. Yes he wanted everyone to believe, but first he taught his followers to love, and care, and give to those in need, regardless of who they were and what they beleived.
Christ would be so very disappointed in Christian America right now.
The Final Judgment
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 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. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 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. 35 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, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 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.’
41 “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. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 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.’ 44 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?’ 45 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.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Now,
I have read articles which say that when he says the words, "the least of these", he is referring to other Christians, but I find that hard to believe. If Christ said to go out and spread the word of the gospel to all the earth, why would he then say to only help the converted? So if I see someone in need I can't help them until they agree to believe in Christ? Or I am only allowed to help them if it looks like I can convert them, but must stop if it doesn't look like they will? Is that what Christ himself did? Did he only help the sinners who agreed to follow him? No, he helped them all in hopes that they would follow him.
I think the religious right are going about it all wrong. They are too intent on reaping the harvest that they rush through the sowing of seeds. Since when were the end results more important than the effort put into the work? Oh yeah, since American culture was absorbed into Christianity. We are so focused on getting to the end results that we do whatever it takes to get there. Christ himself, through his actions, was more concerned about doing the right thing for everyone around him than just for those who believed. Yes he wanted everyone to believe, but first he taught his followers to love, and care, and give to those in need, regardless of who they were and what they beleived.
Christ would be so very disappointed in Christian America right now.
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