MosesSole
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Posts posted by MosesSole
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On 12/10/2015 at 2:32 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (Luke 19:10; Matthew 11:19) Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. What does it mean to you personally that Jesus is the Friend of Sinners? How should it affect your relationships with people who are deep in sin? I think it would be near impossible not become a friend to sinners since we are all with sin. It's a beautiful theory to come to save those that are lost, but I wonder how attainable the goal is. To save a sinner, that person has to be willing to repent of their ways, and in many cases people don't fully repent. If the lost sheep is deep in sin that is in violation of God's Laws and Man's Law-- murder and theft for ex-- can they be saved? Should they be saved if they do not change their ways? Because without atonement and justice for the injured, it's essentially Jesus emboldening sinners to continue sinning against their neighbors. And there is no love in that.
I personally would not feel comfortable being around someone who has killed and robbed from their fellow neighbors because I would feel unsafe. If the person continues to rob and assault, I would seriously question why they are worth saving. There's a phrase, birds of the same feather flock together. I would not want to be sharing bread with those that pursue evil over good because others might see me as an evil enemy of the state.
I'm also of the culture that places high value in the authorities of the state and we're very respectful of the laws that govern our state. I would not want to live in a society in which I am being asked to forgive and forget those that hurt and steal from others. I believe that wrongs should be righted and that those who violate the sanctity of laws must face consequences. If one is of the mindset that all wicked acts can be forgiven without due punishment, then it's the belief that wickedness should prevail over the righteous. There's no logic in this.
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On 12/19/2007 at 9:55 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q5. (Matthew 5:21-26) Verses 21-22 are about murder, anger, and insult. Verses 23-24 discuss some fault against one's brother. Verses 25- 26 discuss settling a civil suit before going to court. What is the overarching theme of Jesus' teaching in our entire passage, verses 21-26? The theme would be that we should forgive and reconcile any and all conflicts in our hearts so that we can best serve our Heavenly Father. It all goes back to the idea of love your neighbors, as you love yourself.
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On 12/19/2007 at 9:54 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q4. (Matthew 5:25-26) What is the point of Jesus' parable of settling out of court? Who are we supposed to settle with, according to this parable? What does "settling" entail? What are the reasons that we should settle? As a matter of practicality, the idea to settle is to avoid harsher penalty if the case was adjudicated in court where you might get sent to Debtor's Prison. Settling means agreeing to pay what you owe, with an arrangement that you can manage. Oftentimes, the aggrieved may agree to take less if you agree to give him what is owed.
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On 12/19/2007 at 9:53 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (Matthew 5:23-24) What's wrong with worshipping while a brother has something against us (or us against a brother, Mark 11:25)? What is the appropriate action for us to take? We should not be worshipping if our heart has unresolved conflict with someone in our family. The recommendation is to resolve matters before coming before God to worship so that our insides are clean as we are on the outside.
How far should we go to bring about reconciliation with someone whom we have offended? We should make any and all attempts to resolve conflicts by trying first to reconcile the differences. Even if the aggrieved doesn't make an effort to reach back, the reconciliation effort should be made.
Are there any situations that we shouldn't try to resolve? Or that we can't resolve? I think there's always room for a resolution but if the effort to end in violence, no of course, the parties should stay socially distant, but amicable.
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On 12/19/2007 at 9:53 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (Matthew 5:21-22) Why does Jesus treat calling someone a fool in the same classification as murder? I'm of the mindset that calling someone a fool is not in the same classification as murdering someone. I can't speak for why Jesus would interpret the law this way other than perhaps he was looking to reinterpret the law itself.
Does this mean that murder is no worse than an angry insult in God's eyes? Again, I can't speak for how God would interpret this radical approach to the crime of murder but I think that taking a life whether out of anger, greed, fear etc, should be met with harsh and just penalty. When you take someone's life, you're acting with God-like authority and that could even be seen as blasphemous. Notice also how I include several other possible motives for murder-- anger is only one factor which causes man to act out against another. Let's not make excuses for murderers and thieves.
How would we act differently if we actually believed that angry attitudes towards others are viewed by God as murder? I doubt we would act any differently since anger is a natural emotion of a human being and not able to be repressed. What is controllable is how you react to anger and while calling someone a fool is not a loving reaction, it's certainly better than taking a sword and plunging it into someone's heart. Some anger is justified-- righteous anger-- as we saw when Jesus knocked over tables when the the temple grounds were being used as a market place. Would he have flipped the table if he thought God would equate this reaction as murder? Hard to say.
Anger is not always bad, and in some instances, it can bring about a positive result esp when it's directed at evil and wickedness.
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On 12/19/2007 at 9:52 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (Matthew 5:17-20) Can you see any tendencies in the church today to effectively "abolish" the Old Testament from our Christian faith? I can't speak to what the churches are doing today but based on just reading the Old Testament, versus the New, it's looking like the teaching of Jesus undermines the Ten Commandments. Moses brought out the laws based on the physical Word of God, and those laws were meant for people to live justly and righteously. The teaching of Jesus is all about forgiveness and the result is a lack of accountability for any wrongdoing. If you keep forgiving people that abuse their neighbors, they will never be motivated to stop hurting people. There is no atonement for sin and evil will continue to prosper.
What does a "Christian" legalism look like in a church? What does it look like in a church where there are no moral standards and no obedience expected of Christians? I think our society places greater emphasis on the laws of the State, "Man's laws," rather than religious or Moral laws as they pertain to sin. Churches have to find a balance between the two because both serve God's Word, which is for His children to live righteously and without sin. In order to live in a civilized society, we need to hold ourselves accountable equally to Moral laws and Man's laws. Essentially, if you behave and act with the highest sense of morality, you will most likely not be in violation of the laws of the State. You are righteous if you abide in both sets of laws, because both mirror the other. Obviously, any church that disregards standards of any kind, is one which invites violence and chaos and that goes against the teaching of both Old and New Testaments.
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Q4. (Matthew 11:12; Luke 16:16) Admittedly, this is a hard passage to interpret. However, if you take the "forceful" or "violent" people as seekers who are doing whatever it takes to press into the Kingdom, then what is Jesus teaching us here about the nature of the Kingdom? I'm quite surprised by this fact. I never knew that there was violence, and a coup d'etat happening in Heaven. I also don't under why Jesus is encouraging people to force their way into the Kingdom. Isn't this telling us that how we are in life is ultimately not going to affect where we end up in afterlife, if we can just force ourselves into Heaven?
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On 9/16/2010 at 2:37 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (Matthew 7:7-8) Why is continual asking, seeking, and knocking so essential to our looking forward to the Kingdom? Asking, seeking and knocking is our way of communicating with our Heavenly Father, who rejoices in hearing from us. So we should not be shy about looking up, reaching out to our God Most High, because He would surely welcome us.
Why do we give up so easily? How do we gain boldness and persistence in prayer? Myself personally, I feel embarrassed about praying for too many things. I think I'm bothering Heavenly Father, who has millions and millions that need Him. I often wonder, am I worthy enough to be asking for this and that? But all the preachers out there encourage us to pray, and to pray often, and to pray boldly. The last part is hard to do because I come from a culture where we were taught to be reserved and respectful. But I'm working the boldness because I'm without a home, a job, and running out of money. I have to start getting bold because I will surely end up on the streets without divine intervention!
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Q2. (Matthew 6:33) What does it mean in verse 33 to "seek first his Kingdom"? What does it mean to "seek first … his righteousness"? Well if you're a disciple of Jesus, the requirement is that you give up your worldly possessions and follow him. The teaching, as I understand it, is to seek the Kingdom, and all the righteousness that God imparts for His children. Basically, it's the idea that you surrender yourself to God for everything-- food, clothes, etc-- and God will provide you with all that you need.
How can we both seek the Kingdom and support our families? What is the promise found in verse 33? Honestly, I don't know how realistic this is in our current society. If we stopped working, we would get evicted and be on the line at the food pantry. I think there's a verse in the Bible that says God helps those that help themselves, and we have to be mindful of being self-sufficient enough not to get put out on the street while still putting God first in our hearts. This is likely the more logical option since being homeless does not make you more God-loving. It would make you bitter and stressed out not knowing where to rest your head.
There is an underlying assumption that poor people are better at putting God first, more so than people with jobs and money. I think this is an unfair assumption. Never judge a book by it's cover, and as such, do not judge a person by the size of their wallets.
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Q1. (Matthew 6:24) Jesus seems to make it sound like you can't seek wealth and God simultaneously. Does he really mean this? Is this hyperbole? Figurative? Literal? I think Jesus does mean that we can't be seeking wealth while serving God. I'm not sure that working to be prosperous in your work, is the same thing as having money as your Master. But I do think that this is literally what Jesus means-- if you're seeking prosperity, money has become your Master, therefore, you are likely not putting God first. I don't agree with this assumption.
Can wealthy people serve God in actual fact? Absolutely, and in fact, wealthy people can serve God 100 times better than those who are poor and devoid of assets. If you're a small farmer with only tools to work your land, you might produce abundant crops, but only a small portion of that can go to honor God because majority of the earning from your harvest will need to go to feed your family. A successful farmer might have several tractors, horses, vehicles and hired hands which would produce 100 times the amount of harvest than that of the less successful farmer. Providing that both farmers are equally pious and God-loving, it would be a gross injustice to anyone to be assumed unfit to serve the Lord, just because he has wealth.
It's possible that the wealthy farmer could use the overflow from his crops, to donate to the local churches; he might even build a new church to honor the Lord that brought him so much prosperity.
One should not assume based on someone's finances, whether they are rich or poor.
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On 12/10/2015 at 2:31 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q4. (Philippians 2:7-8) How are we to follow Jesus’ example as the Servant? According the the Bible passage, it's asking us to be obedient to death, as Christ was when he was crucified. As a new believer, these kinds of messages are just the thing that makes me want to turn away.
Why is humility difficult? Humility is not difficult as most people are fair-minded of their neighbors. We live in a politically correct climate and everyone is petrified of offending any one group.
Why is obedience hard? Obedience that asks for complete sacrifice of one's life would be hard for anyone. I never realized that this was the foundation of Christianity so naturally it's particularly difficult to obey the idea of giving up the whole of your being.
Where are you struggling right now to be humble and obedient? I consider myself a fairly humble person so I don't see this being an issue with the teaching of Christ. There may be differences in how I react to hostile situations and people but overall, I'm gentle and loving towards my neighbors. For the last 3 years, I have faithfully served my neighbors by helping to rescue and recover hundreds of people and their children, that were held captive and/or buried in the concrete of the city landscape. I have asked nothing in return from the people I saved. I did it without pay, while being put on constant assault by Satan's attackers, while being in a wheelchair and homeless, jobless, living on Food Stamps, with no outside support of any kind.
The obedience issue is a struggle if the teaching of Christ is asking me sacrifice the whole of my life and everything in it. I don't know who out there is willing to die for their God, but if this is what is required, this is a very cruel and demanding God. Again, these are the kinds of ideologies that make people turn away from Christianity. I'm a believer of Christ and I believe with all my heart that he is the Son of God, sent to earth to save Man from our rogue and sinful ways. But I don't consider myself a "disciple" of Christ in that I should be required to give up everything in my life.
Even Heavenly Father valued the contribution of His children and helped them prosper when their ways were righteous and faithful to Him. Look what he did for David, Joseph, Sarah and others.
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On 12/10/2015 at 2:31 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) What is the purpose of the Lord’s Supper? Why should we partake often? I think the purpose of the Supper was to remind his disciples of the sacrifice that was to come, and that he would return. We should partake often as a reminder of what Jesus bore, to save Man.
Why is it so easy to forget what Jesus has done for us on the cross? I don't think anyone has forgotten that. But I will say that society as a whole, has become less faithful to religion.
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On 12/10/2015 at 2:30 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (John 1:29) Why is Jesus referred to as the Lamb of God? To what degree does he take away our sins? The Lamb of God is the sacrificial lamb to atone for the sin of man.
How does he come to represent you – as your sacrifice for sin? I don't know if he represents me in anyway but because I'm the daughter of Man, I have many faults and sins. I would assume if Jesus gave his life for the people, I would be included in that.
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On 12/10/2015 at 2:29 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. What does Jesus’ holiness and righteousness demand of our lives as his disciples? All disciples are expected to live according to the holiness and righteousness exemplified by Jesus. Doing anything less would be a mockery of the Holy God of Israel.
In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, what was the primary characteristic of the sheep vs. the goats? (Matthew 25:31-46) The sheep were the righteous and holy ones sanctified for eternal life because they helped and believed when Jesus' disciples needed it. The goats on the other hand were doomed to eternal fire because they turned away Jesus' disciples.
I recently had strange incidents of young people-- in their 20s-- coming up to me on the street to beg for money. This usually happens with homeless people who often hold out cans for spare change but it is somewhat unusual for young people dressed in nice clothes to chase me down for money. It's not recommend that you give handouts because you don't know where the money is going; most often these beggars use the cash to buy drugs. I found it strange, almost like a test set up to see how generous and righteous I was. It's hard to see that these well-dressed 20-year-olds are in need when they obviously have the means if they're dressed in fancy sneakers and jeans. I didn't give because I didn't feel the need to prove to my righteousness.
There's a guy in the Airbnb apt I've been living in, who has been chasing me down for money for weeks. He's a young attractive male and was a friend of the lady that owned the place. In his room are massive amounts of stereo and music equipment, guitar, so he's definitely not poor. It could be assumed that since he's a friend the host of the apt, he was getting some kind of a break in the room fees. He once asked me for $20 and then $40, and even a $60 and had a whole sob story planned in which he would say that he was taking his guitar to the corner store to beg for money. He would be calling, texting, asking to meet me out at a bank so I could give him the money he needs. I wonder how he could stay in an apt that is 110 per night, if he has to beg for money on the street corner? I had no choice but to give him some money because he was harassing me so much.
The great irony of this is that I told the guy about how I had been illegally locked out of my home for 16 months and that I'd been living out of hotels and Airbnb spots ever since. It's been doubly hard because I use a wheelchair and have hard time finding accessible housing. Can this guy see I was in need? Of course. Could he hear the distress in my voice when I was explaining about having been moved from shelter to shelter? Sure he could. But it goes back to the verse about those who are sighted but refuse to see, and those who hear but refuse to listen. It's unfortunate that there are people out there that would prey upon their neighbors this way.
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On 9/16/2010 at 2:35 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q4. What did Jesus intend the Parable of the Soils to teach us about the "message of the kingdom"? The seed is the message of the Kingdom, and the message of the King. And the message is for us, the farmers, to sow the seed fully accepting of Christ's teachings in order for us to harvest abundance.
Why are these truths so important for keeping disciples from becoming disillusioned? This is Jesus letting us know that not all are going to make to the Kingdom, whether it's through disillusionment or otherwise.
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On 9/16/2010 at 2:34 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (Matthew 13:23) Even good soil can have factors that hinder growth in various parts of the field, or make some areas grow taller and fuller wheat. What factors make a disciple especially good soil for the growth of the word or message of the Kingdom? The person with receptive heart that hears the Word is a disciple with good soil. He that understands the Word and yields a large crop is the disciple that will stay for the long haul.
What might be the reasons for 30-fold, 60-fold, and 100-fold growth? This is in reference to the harvestable crop that bears good fruit. The good-hearted farmer will succeed in because he will have seeded his crops with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, a godly trait that one develops once we yield to God's teachings. The farmer will also have spiritual gifts from which to succeed in all his endeavors. The growth of the crop is going to depend largely on how the farmer-- or disciple-- uses the gifts that God bestows on him.
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On 9/16/2010 at 2:34 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (Matthew 13:22; Luke 8:14) Which of the thorns that Jesus mentions do you think is the most dangerous: Riches, worries/cares, or pleasures? Why do you think so?Probably the one that is most likely to threaten one's belief is the pleasure aspect of our lives, just because it's hard to control. One can easily fall prey to pleasures of sexual encounters and, adulterous relationships which can impact our belief in Christ's teachings.
I think wealth has the potential to be come between a follower and his/her dedication to God but I would not say this makes them bad Christians. I think wealth can only serve to deceive if you use it to deceive. A righteous person will do good, whether or not they're rich or poor. It wouldn't be fair to assume one will falter just because they have money, or come into money. A good example of this is Bill Gates, who after having made many millions, dedicated his life to charitable work. Will he get to the Kingdom? I hope so.
I have nothing now-- no home, no job, no money except for disability checks-- and I still make provisions for my family from what I have left in my savings account, in the event I expire prematurely.
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On 9/16/2010 at 2:33 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (Matthew 13:20-21) Why, according to Jesus teaching here, do some people fall away so quickly? What is their problem?
There's many variables as to why people fall away quickly-- non-believing, unrepentant, and non-committal. I can't speak for other people but I will say that as Born Again, I find the concept of suffering and being persecuted, to reach the end result, difficult to accept. The problem is that we live in a society that demands so much from us so it gets harder and harder to dedicate the entirety of our existence to God, when many of are getting pulled in so many directions.
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On 12/19/2007 at 9:49 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q4. (Matthew 5:13-15) How do verses 13-16 relate to verses 10-12? If you are persecuted and made to suffer as a result of it, you will be vindicated in the Kingdom.
How does hiding our light affect the glory of God? If people can't see the good work you're doing in the name of God, then you're not bringing glory to Him. This negates your efforts so be sure to walk the righteous path with all the lamps lit.
Why must glory and suffering go hand in hand? It really shouldn't be and this is the concept I have difficulty grasping.
Was Jesus' suffering necessary? It was for the time period, absolutely. Because Jesus was giving sight to the blind, and raising the dead and people still didn't believe.
Is ours? What does this have to do with Romans 12:2? I think we would better appreciate the glory after having gone through some tribulations. However, I don't know to what degree of suffering one needs to endure. I believe if one is good and righteous and honor God, He will see and glorify you in some way.
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On 12/19/2007 at 9:48 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (Matthew 5:14-15) In the parable of "the light of the world," Jesus notes the stupidity of lights being hidden under bowls. Concerning what danger in the life of a Christian disciple does Jesus warn us in this parable? This is actually a great parable. Basically, if you're working to enlighten people with the righteous Word of God, your message should be clear, bright and resonant in the way a lit lamp might be. Everyone should be able to see you, even from a distance. But if you hide the light, then the words of a disciple will also be muffled and hidden, therefore it could easily be misinterpreted, causing misinformation to get directed at the disciple. So if you're doing good, make sure you do it in the light and let God see you.
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On 12/19/2007 at 9:48 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (Matthew 5:13) What might be the symptoms of a Christian who has lost his "saltiness"? Is it possible for a believer to detect such symptoms in himself or herself? Someone who has lost his "saltiness" might have stopped praying. He/she may have become ensnared by the enticements of the world. They might no longer support Christian values, either through life experiences or through the influence of outside teachings.
I think in many cases, people who were once devout recognize when they no longer have the same passion.
What do secular people notice about a "de-saltified" Christian? I don't know if secular people recognize this. They are secular bec they do not understand nor feel the presence God in their lives.
What do other Christians notice about you? I don't think my faith is what people notice about me. In our culture, most people don't perceive one another as a "good" or "bad" Christian. I will say that over the course of my life I have been able to instill loyalty in people, and I think this has helped me to become a better and useful Christian. I think people are loyal to me because they find me honest and trustworthy. I have always been honest and faithful with everyone I met and worked with.
Is t possible to "resaltify" your life? There's always room to become a better Christian.
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On 12/19/2007 at 9:47 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (Matthew 5:13) In what sense are Christians the "salt of the earth" using the preservation analogy? We preserve the world by holding back God's wrath. Despite the overwhelming presence of sin and wickedness in the world, it is the presence of saints and their prayers that allow God to give humanity another chance. God is reasonable as we saw with Abraham when He agreed to preserve Sodom if good people could be found.
In what sense are Christians the "salt of the earth" using the seasoning analogy? I believe this means that our belief in salvation adds to the salvation of the earth. Our faith and devotion add something of a seasoning in our belief of Christ as our Savior, that is to speak with conviction and be a witness in the belief of God's Kingdom.
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On 3/3/2012 at 2:30 PM, Highohfaith said:
Q6. (Matthew 5:10-11) Why should we rejoice when we are persecuted? What keeps this from being some kind of sick masochism, or finding pleasure in pain? Why is the blessing "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" appropriate for the persecuted?
I look at suffering as a way to grow in Christ. I don't take masochistic joy in it, I don't like it, and find it hard to rejoice in suffering. Human nature popping it's ugly head says we must always receive all of the goodness of Christ but not partake in the sadness and suffering. But in God's eyes we can not partake in one without experiencing the other. He who partakes in the suffering of Jesus, realizing that there is nothing upon this earth that could possibly compare to His sacrifice or suffering, and realizing it is all done for us. Our gift, given to us out of God's Grace. Those people persecuted with Christ,suffering with Christ at the foot of the cross, may enjoy the reward of being heirs to the kingdom of God.
I, too, find it difficult to rejoice in pain and suffering but I wonder if the question is referring to the act of being persecuted, rather than rejoicing in, or "finding pleasure in the pain." Merrian Webster defines persecuted as a verb, "to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict specifically: to cause to suffer because of belief." So we are right to feel uncomfortable with rejoicing in the act of being "punished and injured," but perhaps the question is actually asking us, Is there a reward of being persecuted?
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On 12/19/2007 at 9:42 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q6. (Matthew 5:10-11) Why should we rejoice when we are persecuted? I don't know why there is rejoice in persecution. It's true that when you are attacked, it means you symbolize some threat to your enemies. But even that is not a reason enough to rejoice over it.
What keeps this from being some kind of sick masochism, or finding pleasure in pain? What you want is to be heard and listened to. If you're being persecuted, it's a form of slander in which the tide of good opinion could easily sway in the opposite direction.
Why is the blessing "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" appropriate for the persecuted? It means that you are being rewarded for having taken the strikes for what you believe in. It would be due reward for the tribulations endured.
Q2. To Seek and Save
in 7. Jesus our Savior, Shepherd, and Redeemer
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