Matthew 16:21-28 confronts us with the gap between Jesus' gruesome fate and our own modest discipleship. Jesus' verbs say it all. Deny the self, take up the cross, follow Christ. Moreover, only in losing one's life -- the primary meaning of apollymi is to destroy -- one may save it. And Jesus apparently means it. Judgment, he says, involves "repaying" people according to what they have done. At this moment we are hearing Matthew's distinctive voice: Salvation comes not to those who call Jesus "Lord," but to those who do what he says (7:21-29). The Great Commission involves teaching people "to obey everything that I have commanded you" (28:20). It's a matter of life and death. Disciples are to walk Jesus' grim path.
So we face the chasm between Jesus' call to discipleship and our own lives as part-time volunteers for the Gospel. Few Christians abandon everything for the Gospel's sake. Most of us simply fit our Christianity into the open spots on our calendars. But in this passage Jesus links the life of discipleship with his own path.
This spring, Mark and Katharyn Richt sold their second home, a lakefront property valued at just below $2 million. Best known as head football coach at the University of Georgia, Mark Richt has earned -- if you can call it that -- more than $25 million dollars since taking that position in 2001. He also openly professes his Christian faith and engages in a variety of ministries.
The Richts sold this property so that they could give to anti-poverty work. Mark Richt attributed the decision to the dynamic book "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision. Named the "Christian Book of the Year" for 2010, this resource introduces readers to the harsh reality of global and local poverty, pressing the question of how Christians should respond to human suffering in the light of the Gospel. If you're interested, a fully resourced curriculum (DVDs, daily exercises, study guides and the like) supports the book for congregational and small group use.
Some of us might not be all that impressed by the Richts' sacrifice. What does it mean to sacrifice $2 million on an income of more than $3 million per year? "I'll make that sacrifice," the cynic might say.
For my part, I am impressed. Katharyn and Mark Richt clearly understand that the Gospel not only blesses our souls, it also calls us to service that will enrich our lives and bring forth our resources. Following Dietrich Bonhoeffer, my denomination's contemporary statement of faith confesses "the cost and joy of discipleship." The Richts are not just giving money. This summer, they've joined World Vision in a trip to Honduras devoted to the construction of water wells. I fully trust the Richts are experiencing joy in their service.
Matthew 16:21-28 moves from a focus upon Jesus and his vocation to his demands for disciples. Jesus has just congratulated Peter for his recognition that Jesus is "the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Moreover, Jesus' language has intimated authority and privilege: Peter the Rock provides the church's foundation, he receives the keys to the realm of heaven and his earthly authority carries heavenly significance. But now Jesus begins a process of reinterpreting what being the Messiah really means -- and what following that Messiah entails for the disciples. If Peter cannot bear the revelation of Jesus' coming suffering (16:22), how will he respond when the focus shifts to disciples whose fate mimics that of Jesus?
Some readers hardly need to hear this news. Moment by moment, many of us are constantly mindful that we fall far short of Jesus' standard. By contrast, our culture needs the reminder. The prosperity gospel holds greater sway than many of us want to admit. According to a 2006 Time magazine poll, 17 percent of Americans claim allegiance to the movement, while 61 percent agree that God wants us to be prosperous. Maybe our preaching doesn't draw folks who think that way. Then again, we find all sorts of surprising attitudes in our congregations, don't we?
Whatever the threat posed by the prosperity gospel, a more insidious assumption definitely lurks among us: that God wants us to be happy. Countless praise choruses celebrate how much Jesus loves us, how much we love Jesus and how great God is. Self-help books pack the inventories of Christian bookstores. This happiness assumption has sunk so deeply into our collective psyche that even the words of Jesus can hardly challenge it. Are we even capable of hearing that God might call us to radical sacrifice, even to danger? Can Jesus' words get past our ears?
It does no good for preachers to rehearse Jesus' extreme demands while congregations sit in well-cushioned, air-conditioned sanctuaries. Preachers must level with our congregations. Precious few of us lay everything on the line for the Gospel, but neither can we ignore its call.
In 1961 a group of Nashville students resolved to reinforce the Freedom Rides. Two previous busloads of Freedom Riders had already encountered firebombing and severe beatings, and the Nashville students determined that the movement, having commenced, should not be allowed to fail.
No one could deny that these students experienced joy during their trials -- the notorious Bull Connor complained, "I just couldn't stand their singing" -- but these students were fully mindful for the potential cost as well. The night before their departure, they had signed their last will and testaments. Singing hymns after signing one's will: the cost and joy of discipleship.
So what about Mark and Katharyn Richt? Perhaps we can't credit them with suffering for the Gospel. But we can heed their testimony. As Mark Richt put it, "You know what, I don't want to pour money into a home like that when I can use it for better things, for eternal things."
Jesus asked, "For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?"
Editor's Note: ON Scripture is a series of Christian scripture commentaries produced in collaboration with Odyssey Networks. Each week pastors from around the country will approach the lectionary text of the week through the lens of current events, providing a religious voice that is both pastoral and prophetic.
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Prosperity theology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prosperity Gospel and its problems - Christianity - Beliefnet.com
Prosperity Gospel on Skid Row | Christianity Today | A Magazine of ...
Hard Questions For "Prosperity Gospel" - CBS News
Does God Want You To Be Rich? - TIME
The Bankruptcy of the Prosperity Gospel: An Exercise in Biblical ...
refer to God as the Rock. Christ is the Head of Christianity. Not an erroring mortal like Peter. In verse 23 Christ calls Peter "Satan" Peter means small pebble. Certain denominations like to inject things in verses, that aren't there, to nourish their agenda.\
God will recompensate all who wrest the Scriptures
I have often had gay/lesbian commentators say, "God doesn't ask you to give up your heterosexuality!" Well, actually, he does. Likewise to give up my political affiliations, my education, my money, relationships, my safety, self-image and time. Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." What can a crucified man do (except decompose)? I am not passive in my following, as Christ has "returned" to me many of the talents, abilities, and desires that I had before becoming a Christian, but some ambitions and priorities have remained dead (and may stay that way). I don't claim to be a paragon of discipleship, but it was made clear to me from the beginning that everything was potentially "up for grabs". Modern American evangelicalism too often looks to Christ to affirm what is already believed, rather than looking to him for death and rebirth on his terms.
Jesus was around before Buddhism came about- btw. Jesus teachings are a reflection of Jehovah Gods teachings.
Finally, I don't know why you would say Jesus was around before Buddhism came out. Buddha lived five hundred years before Jesus, and the Jerusalem of Jesus' time is known to have had plenty of mendicant Buddhist monks wandering around loose.
That's a difficult happiness to embrace, but it's one that doesn't fade like last year's fashions.
Life and all we ever needed to exist was already given and provided for freely. All our natural resources, the sun that shines, rich soil, plants, with medicine in them, 4 seasons, clean water, seeds and knowledge to replant them, animals, clean air, that was are greatest blessings, that where our prosperity is, it all comes from God. All that God created was good, till man thought it was not good enough, and created things that destroy the great blessings of prosperity God gave us. Our greatest prosperity is the sacred gift of LIFE, to be lived, to experience love, joy, peace, family. We have exchange the greatest wealth, treasure, our greatest prosperity, a Nations, citizens,our sacred gift of Life has been exchanged, to become of lesser value, for gold, silver, idols, materialism. Nations thousands of years ago, existed without oil, idols, materials and those empires lasted longer then we do today. A Nation that is only over 300 hundred years young is already falling. We were not created to make money, we were created by Love, to Live Life itself, knowing it is our greatest prosperity and to care and take care of our greatest gift, treasure Life, human beings.
Prosperity gospels are nothing more then self worship, ignoring God, all about you, Jesus was all about God, Jesus knew were are infinite well of prosperity blessings come from only, God. Like God said. I am coming on the terrible day of the Lord, to gather ALL Leaders, from ALL Nations on the day of my wrath, let your gold and silver save you now.
Prosperity gospels, not the gospels handed to us by God, but Prosperity gospels have replaced God's Word, with their own prosperity gospels, that money, idols, self worship are before God. Telling us it is not God who gives blessings and brings about prosperity, but being a consumer, idols, products does, what saves a Nation, trust not in God, but trust rather in products, your idols, your gold silver. Wonder why all are suffering now?
These disciples write about the Golden Rule but Confucius was saying the same thing 500 years before Jesus was even born. In fact, a disciple of Confucius once asked the question, "Is there any one word that could guide a person throughout life?" and Confucius responded, "How about reciprocity: never impose upon others what you would not choose for yourself." He also said, "What you do not wish for yourself, do not to do others." Does this sound familiar?
It never ceases to amaze me that the Savior of the world, was only known by 1% of it and everyone else just has to have faith that it all happened in the first place. Please.
Even though people didn't know of other parts of the world, Jesus should have because Jesus, like God, knew more than people. Therefore, Jesus should have spoken about all regions of the earth and, at least, traveled to other countries for a visit. To imply that Jesus' knowledge was limited, doesn't bode well for him being the Son of God and all. God should have mentioned more parts of the world. It's still pointless to be at the 'door' of other regions without actually visiting these regions.
I'm not sure how you can classify Jesus' location as the center of the world? What about South America, North America, Asia, and all of the other places that were just as culturally rich as the Middle East? Was everyone in South America or Japan just supposed to wait for missionaries to come explain the story of Jesus? It would have been much easier for Jesus to visit these places and establish himself as the true Savior of the World. Yet, his passport stamps were minimal.
The Mayan civilization was established around 2,000 BC; I think people often forget that other people lived on the planet during 'bible time' and were just as culturally significant as those mentioned in the Bible itself.
Where they part time for God? and part time for $$$? Who were they collaborating with on the outside, behind closed doors? Cannot serve 2 masters. God said: "A house divided (part timers?) cannot stand". Jesus knew them both well, did he not? He had no palls in Government, for Government in Jesus time ruled over the Temple also, they needed permission from them, to put one to death Jesus for one and was not Roman rulers and some priest working together behind closed doors? Why did Jesus said:, "in 3 days I will destroy this temple and in 3 days build it back up? Jesus was talking about establishing a - Spiritual Church of God, God's Spiritual Temple, Church on earth now.
God said. Do you not know you ( me, you, mankind) are the Temple of the Lord? Jesus did not come to establish a new religion but a new Spiritual Temple Church are earth. Jesus identified God's new Temple, new Church on earth, is not a building made of bricks or stones, but a living, church, -us, each one of us, you, me who belief accept God's Word as Truth, God's Government Laws, are the Temple, Spiritual living Church of God. God does not sit in a building all day, God has placed himself, God who is our real Divine authority over us. God has placed himself within every heart to know and understand right from wrong. What Jesus came to teach us. God said: "But you do not ask ME, or seek ME, or knock at my door" we trust rather in man, to teach us, instead of God.
There were married woman thought as Virgins, because of the purity of living a holy life, served also within the temple, sewing, cleaning cooking, tending to the needs of the temple also. They had children and labored also within the needs of their family while not serving in the temple.
No one who commits mu*der is not to be stone to death. Those who are saying God is talking to them, better ask which god it is talking to them. And those who want to go by Leviticus Laws cannot be cherry pickers either, all Leviticus laws or none at all. For they would be do more harm to themselves breaking more laws, liars, those who judge others etc are all sins punishable by God. Funny sinners judging sinners who cannot even save themselves.
Those who abandon their families will be rewarded. (Matthew 19:29)
"For I am come to set man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother... And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." (Christ - Matthew 10:35-36)
"I came not to send peace, but a sword" (Christ - Matthew 10:34)
If you don't have a sword, sell your clothes to buy one. (Luke 22:36)
Christ cursed a fig tree for not bearing fruit in off-season. (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21)
Christ didn't want to help a girl because she was a "dog" gentile. (Matthew 15:22-28)
Of course, there are several good passages in the Bible, the ones that are carefully selected by a minister for Sunday readings, but (and pardon the analogy) if you find some chocolate in a pile of dung, you don't eat it, right? No. The good is tainted by the bad that surrounds it.
And know this Jesus wrote nothing down nor did his apostles, by all was written years after, found in different times, in different places, in different languages, and by unknown authors, it was years later that only disciples names were attached later, no prove has anyone that the disciples wrote any of theses gospels, except Paul or maybe John. Paul did not even walk with Jesus while he was on earth, or even states in his letters, he even knew Jesus while alive. Paul speaks of the last supper but was NOT present either. And all 4 gospels have a different saying of the last supper, Mark said Jesus took up 1 cup of wine, Luke says 2 cups of wine, and all know not the Passover meal, now, for there is 4 cups of wine and a meal, meat also. No meat, only wine and bread and was done on the Feast of unleaven bread, 2 days away from the Passover still. Now also scholars say some were maybe even added to. Or something put in them after the fact also the gospels and some writings..
And this is a fact many forgeries were taken place, they made money from them, selling them claiming to be disciples writings, or those saying they were present were never present.
Why just great heated debates went on, had hundreds if not thousands of writings
God is not a hypocrite tells us Love thy neighbor, Love they enemy as I have love you then tell us to hate our entire family. God does not command us not to k1ll then tell us to go out an k1ll. God would be a liar, a transgressor of his own laws. And if one wants to hold onto Leviticus laws, then this is a Leviticus Laws, if one gets married, and the bride is not a virgin, found out later, not a virgin, she must be stoned to death? Oh my. Or how about this Leviticus Law, A Father is to sell his daughter for the highest price as a slave? Oh, my . Or how about this Leviticus Law, if a woman wears two different threads, she is to be stone to death. So what does one do call the police or do her children do it themselves? As was played out on TV called the West Wing of the White House,TV series.
But good luck living in the past while waiting for that bus that never seems to arrive.
To place the same Death Wish Jesus volunteered for onto a human is not a just cause. Jesus obeyed the ultimatum of God for human sacrifice. Then Jesus puts the same ultimatum on his followers.
The problem is that these followers are not the Son of God. Hence, the demand to resign to persecution is an unjust requirement.
Of course not - he wants them to have full medical coverage.
All came to exist was created by God's spoken Word, orally, Let there be and then it was, existed.