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>Justice

October 6, 2010 by Fritz

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But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. – Jesus (Luke 16:25)

Jesus told a parable about a rich man and a poor man. It wasn’t a parable about riches and poverty but about justice.

Many complain life is unjust – some are born with with great advantages while others are in abject poverty. Some seemingly have it easy in life while others have problem after problem. There are those in power who oppress for personal gain and no one appears able to stop them.

Jesus points out this life is not all there is.

Jesus’ parable indicates if you have been born with advantages use them to help others because life is more than now and justice will out; and if you have been born with great disadvantages remain faithful to God because life is more than now and justice will out.

– fritz

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>God has no Grandchildren.

October 5, 2010 by Fritz

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[The rich man] cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. – Jesus (Luke 16:24)

Jesus told a parable about a rich man and a poor man. Most focus on wealth aspect – in the story the rich man ends up in hell and the poor man ends up in pre-heaven, “Abraham’s Bosom”, the place the Jews believed the faithful awaited the advent of Christ.

Few notice both the men were descendants of Abraham. The hearers commonly believed all descendants of Abraham were an automatic shoe-in to God’s kingdom.

The story indicates entrance into heaven is not a matter of heritage but personal faith and if one ignores what God has already said, more evidence won’t make a difference – note the conclusion:

Then he said … father … send [Lazarus] to my father’s house:…that he may testify … lest they also come into this place of torment … Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them …. If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. – Luke 16:27-31

We can apply, today, that being a member of a church or religious group is not enough, one must have a personal faith.

– fritz.

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Understanding Western Life and Culture

October 4, 2010 by Fritz

Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. – 1st Corinthians 6:13b-14

“THE HUMAN BODY is … created for spiritual life in the kingdom of God and to be honored—indeed, glorified—in that context. But when taken out of that context and made the central focus of human experience and endeavor, it is betrayed—robbed of the spiritual resources meant to sustain its life and proper functioning—and in turn it then betrays those who center their life on it.

The sense of this betrayal is what lies at the heart of youth worship in Western societies.

It also is the source of the fear, shame, disgust, and even the anger directed at fat, old age (or just aging), and death and dying that dominate our culture.

An outlook focused entirely on the body finds the body’s failure and cessation to be, of course, the ultimate insult from which there is no recovery.

You have to understand this if you want to understand Western life and culture” – Dallas Willard1

– fritz


1 – Renovation of the Heart, NavPress, copyright 1992, page 184

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