Page 270 … not all who say “Lord, Lord”
Surprisingly, you start off this latest comment with Matthew 7:21-23. This verse is one of my personal favorites, if for no other reason than it applies more readily to Paul & his evangelical adherents (including you & yours) than to anyone else on the planet … Let’s read it closely, shall we? … “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven [see Luke 17:20-21], but only 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 just what is the “lawlessness” of which Jesus speaks here, my dear Friend? Well, religious fanaticism, for one! Especially the conservative fanaticism (akin to the Pharisees of whom Jesus was less than fond) that abandons all semblance of humility (Mathew 18:3-4) and that spends its moments criticizing &/or condemning the sins of others (Matthew 7:1-5) instead of correcting its own failings (Matthew 23:25-26) – &/or actively Caring for the downtrodden (Matthew 25:40) – &/or being Kind to those most in need of the same (namely, its enemies, a la Matthew 5:44-48). Lawlessness – according to the Scriptures – is sin (1 John 3:4), and you & yours – at least according to Jesus Christ – are being extremely “lawless” with the way you are judging & denigrating homosexuals … Maybe it is time that some of your more arrogant, hypocritical & bigoted branches were pruned and thrown into the cleansing fire, yes?
“Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; and yet whosoever enlivens the teaching has both the Father & the Son.” ~ 2 John 1:9
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples: that you show Love towards one another … My Father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit and [thereby] become my disciples.” ~ Jesus Christ (John 13:35 + John 15:8)
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