Posted by Alex Caughey on February 8, 2018, 7:12 pm
In Luke's gospel we are presented with the story of Simon the Pharisee, and an uninvited guest who appears at his table...a prostitute.
The prostitute walked the streets searching for whatever drove her to believe that love could be found among those desiring to abuse her.
Simon the Pharisee was weighed down with official piety, that destroyed any attempt at loving another person, for fear that the law (of Moses) would be contravened.
The uninvited guest continued to believe that she was capable of loving another person, and believed she could be loved by another human being...bringing her to the feet of Jesus to seek solace. This woman was alive..and Jesus spoke of her, "Her sins which are many are forgiven, because she loved much."
Simon the official churchman had died to love, to serve laws that had killed any prospect of love, of another human person.
Rather like the priest, and levite who passed by, and ignored an injured victim of robbery...for fear that they would break the Sabbath laws by assisting another human being, covered in blood...crying loudly, for help...that did not stop a passing Samaritan, intervening by transporting the victim to an inn, and paying for his expenses.
“In God there is no hunger that needs to be filled, only plenteousness that desires to give.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
Luke 7:36-49 (NIV)
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
end
Compassion in action
Posted by Faz on February 8, 2018, 7:37 pm, in reply to "Laws, and morality"
: Rather like the priest, and levite who : passed by, and ignored an injured victim of : robbery...for fear that they would break the : Sabbath laws by assisting another human : being, covered in blood...crying loudly, for : help...that did not stop a passing : Samaritan, intervening by transporting the : victim to an inn, and paying for his : expenses.
A few years ago I was lucky enough to do a study tour in Israel and one of our first ports of call was Mount Gerizim where a Samaritan community (one of the few left) lived.
In this context we learned how challenging this story Jesus told was to his contemporary audience. Not only would they have thought the Priest's actions (or lack of) were reasonable, they would have been taken back by a Samaritan being depicted in such a positive way.
Religious practice and adherence without love (compassion in action) is barren and, often as not, fuelled by anger and arrogance.
Religious practice and adherence without love (compassion in action) is barren and, often as not, fuelled by anger and arrogance.
Delightfully warm and fuzzy, Faz, but I don’t know of anyone here who has ever advocated that.
On the other hand ”love (compassion in action)” that is not underpinned by sincere religious practice and adherence is virtue-signalling and, often as not, fuelled by hypocrisy.
Not to mention selfism.
--Previous Message-- : Rather like the priest, and levite who : passed by, and ignored an injured victim of : robbery...for fear that they would break the : Sabbath laws by assisting another human : being, covered in blood...crying loudly, for : help...that did not stop a passing : Samaritan, intervening by transporting the : victim to an inn, and paying for his : expenses. : : A few years ago I was lucky enough to do a : study tour in Israel and one of our first : ports of call was Mount Gerizim where a : Samaritan community (one of the few left) : lived. : : In this context we learned how challenging : this story Jesus told was to his : contemporary audience. Not only would they : have thought the Priest's actions (or lack : of) were reasonable, they would have been : taken back by a Samaritan being depicted in : such a positive way. : : Religious practice and adherence without : love (compassion in action) is barren and, : often as not, fuelled by anger and : arrogance. :
Twisting the evidence to support the wrong conclusions
Posted by John on February 9, 2018, 7:41 am, in reply to "Laws, and morality"
False conclusion # 1 gThe prostitute walked the streets searching for whatever drove her to believe that love could be found among those desiring to abuse her.h Brings a tear to the eye, doesnft it? On the other hand, the evidence from the common perception of her profession is that she did it for money.
False conclusion # 2 gpiety, that destroyed any attempt at loving another personh A non sequitur. Love is destroyed by sin, not piety. Piety, either official or informal, can be either righteous or sinful depending on the sincerity of the person.
False conclusion # 3 gSimon the official churchman had died to love, to serve laws that had killed any prospect of love, of another human person.h A simple repetition of the above.
False conclusion # 4 eThe uninvited guest continued to believe that she was capable of loving another person, and believed she could be loved by another human being...bringing her to the feet of Jesus to seek solace. This woman was alive..and Jesus spoke of her, "Her sins which are many are forgiven, because she loved much."f The quotation undermines your conclusion, Alex. Having recognised Christ as a truly holy man, she came to have her sins forgiven, not to seek merely human love.
To try to get rid of those strange characters, that is. Let's see whether this is any better:
False conclusion # 1 "The prostitute walked the streets searching for whatever drove her to believe that love could be found among those desiring to abuse her." Brings a tear to the eye, doesn't it? On the other hand, the evidence from the common perception of her profession is that she did it for money.
False conclusion # 2 "piety, that destroyed any attempt at loving another person " A non sequitur. Love is destroyed by sin, not piety. The appearance of piety, either official or informal, can be either righteous or sinful depending on the sincerity of the person.
False conclusion # 3 "Simon the official churchman had died to love, to serve laws that had killed any prospect of love, of another human person. " A simple repetition of the above.
False conclusion # 4 "The uninvited guest continued to believe that she was capable of loving another person, and believed she could be loved by another human being...bringing her to the feet of Jesus to seek solace. This woman was alive..and Jesus spoke of her, "Her sins which are many are forgiven, because she loved much."' The quotation undermines your conclusion, Alex. Having recognised Christ as a truly holy man, she came to have her sins forgiven, not to seek merely human love.
: but I don’t know of anyone here who has : ever advocated that.
That's responding to a POV I didn't express. You may think that's what I meant, but given that I didn't specifically state that it applied to 'anyone here', it becomes your speculation.
: On the other hand ”love (compassion in : action)” that is not underpinned by sincere : religious practice and adherence is : virtue-signalling and, often as not, fuelled : by hypocrisy.
I presume, like me, you're not suggesting 'anyone here' advocates that?
: Not to mention selfism.
Already challenging 'politically correct' as the go-to catch phrase that doesn't mean much at all.