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Post by laughter on Aug 20, 2013 16:06:21 GMT -5
I was very fortunate to find this early in my search because it isn't 'strain on' but 'strain out', which proves I wasn't listening perfectly growing up in the Episcopal church going to Sunday school each week. This is a much more significant and important Bible lesson than I'd realized. Enjoy September 13, 2009 You Strain Out a Gnat but Swallow a Camel Jesus throws this accusation at the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23-24. Among the many condemnations he lays upon the religious leaders of the day, this one keeps sticking out in my mind. He accuses them of paying meticulous detail to the laws regarding tithing 1/10th of their herb garden all the while neglecting matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. They would strain out their drink to make sure their was not a gnat they would accidentally consume (as a gnat was believed to be unclean). Yet they would swallow a camel in the process. Not literally of course, but they were focusing on a small issue to the neglect of the larger. What was the larger issue? What was "the camel they were swallowing"? It's interesting that several comments I have seen regarding this reference will bring out the point that Jesus is addressing their neglect of bigger issues. But from there, they have inserted examples of bigger issues that have nothing to do with the "matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness" that Jesus suggested. As I grow in my understanding of Israel's role and purpose, it is clear that God chose them to be a blessing to the entire world (Genesis 12:1-3). In Isaiah 58, the people are rebuked for not living up to their call "to loose the chains of injustice...to set the oppressed free...to share your food with the hungry...to provide the poor wanderer with shelter..." and on and on the prophet goes. In fact, when you look at why Israel was sent into captivity, it is passages such as Isaiah 1 and 58 that highlight their failure to be the light to the world specifically in regards to justice, as the cause of their exile. What I want to suggest is that Jesus was exposing their obsession of personal religion and piety to the neglect of the tangible transformation that was to be offered to the world around them. Keep in mind Jesus said they should have done the former without neglecting the latter. (So as not to swing to the opposite extreme as many are doing today in their concern for social justice to the neglect of inner transformation). Are we carrying on our own personal religious experiences/practices all the while neglecting matters that carry us out into the world to be a light in the darkness and address matters of injustice? To bring mercy to those who need to be shown mercy? To be faithful to the call that God placed on Israel, which has also been placed upon the church of Jesus Christ? "You are the light of the world." Let us not strain out gnats and swallow camels in the process. Our faith should change our own hearts, but it must also move out into the community and bring mercy, justice, and love to the entire world. Indeed, God desires mercy not sacrifice. He requires of us to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. Who wrote the article?
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Post by silver on Aug 20, 2013 17:00:06 GMT -5
Who wrote the article?
Oops, I was going to put the link, but I forgot. I guggled strain on a gnat and found it.
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Post by silence on Aug 20, 2013 17:47:31 GMT -5
What happened on April 24, 1994? Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong story, which I won't likely discuss here, but basically, this is when I was 'born again' of the spirit, just not in the stereotypically Christian sense. So that's when your alcohol addiction started eh?
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Post by silver on Aug 20, 2013 17:53:37 GMT -5
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Post by enigma on Aug 20, 2013 21:21:38 GMT -5
Geez, I hope you're not turning born-again, Ag. In any event, my take on such a phrase, is that such was Jesus' way of saying, 'you miss the forest for the trees'. Ancient languages had similar idioms like that. Penny wise, pound foolish?
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Post by silver on Aug 20, 2013 21:32:02 GMT -5
Geez, I hope you're not turning born-again, Ag. In any event, my take on such a phrase, is that such was Jesus' way of saying, 'you miss the forest for the trees'. Ancient languages had similar idioms like that. Penny wise, pound foolish? Hey enigma, what does that mean? And I'm wondering if you remember what B did with that story of his - do you remember what thread he told us about it on? It was cool story.
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Post by enigma on Aug 20, 2013 21:37:56 GMT -5
Penny wise, pound foolish? Hey enigma, what does that mean? And I'm wondering if you remember what B did with that story of his - do you remember what thread he told us about it on? It was cool story. Gnat wise and camel foolish. I'm not the best person to ask, remember?
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Post by silver on Aug 20, 2013 21:45:13 GMT -5
Hey enigma, what does that mean? And I'm wondering if you remember what B did with that story of his - do you remember what thread he told us about it on? It was cool story. Gnat wise and camel foolish. I'm not the best person to ask, remember? 'member what? too old? I gt CRS too, heehee.
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Post by Beingist on Aug 20, 2013 22:06:36 GMT -5
Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong story, which I won't likely discuss here, but basically, this is when I was 'born again' of the spirit, just not in the stereotypically Christian sense. So that's when your alcohol addiction started eh? Strangely, it is when the addictions started giving up on me.
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Post by Beingist on Aug 20, 2013 22:09:15 GMT -5
Geez, I hope you're not turning born-again, Ag. In any event, my take on such a phrase, is that such was Jesus' way of saying, 'you miss the forest for the trees'. Ancient languages had similar idioms like that. Penny wise, pound foolish? Never saw that one in anything ancient I read, but I didn't, and gave up on trying to, read everything, so you never know. Otherwise, the quip you provide is probably better than the one I mentioned.
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Post by Reefs on Aug 20, 2013 22:11:40 GMT -5
What happened on April 24, 1994? Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong story, which I won't likely discuss here, but basically, this is when I was 'born again' of the spirit, just not in the stereotypically Christian sense. That's not what you said though. You said that on that day you discovered that there were no real nuclear weapons on your vessel. Major disappointment. Which lead to a suicide attempt and then you were hospitalized. They gave you the wrong drugs and you felt born-again. edit: don't ask me for a link, I'm going to decline that!
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Post by Beingist on Aug 20, 2013 22:15:15 GMT -5
Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong story, which I won't likely discuss here, but basically, this is when I was 'born again' of the spirit, just not in the stereotypically Christian sense. That's not what you said though. You said that on that day you discovered that there were no real nuclear weapons on your vessel. Major disappointment. Which lead to a suicide attempt and then you were hospitalized. They gave you the wrong drugs and you felt born-again. edit: don't ask me for a link, I'm going to decline! WOW! No idea where you got that one, but it might make a great book narrative. You may want to consider a career change.
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Post by Reefs on Aug 20, 2013 22:16:42 GMT -5
That's not what you said though. You said that on that day you discovered that there were no real nuclear weapons on your vessel. Major disappointment. Which lead to a suicide attempt and then you were hospitalized. They gave you the wrong drugs and you felt born-again. edit: don't ask me for a link, I'm going to decline! WOW! No idea where you got that one, but it might make a great book narrative. You may want to consider a career change. What, now you deny it?
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Post by Beingist on Aug 20, 2013 22:20:54 GMT -5
WOW! No idea where you got that one, but it might make a great book narrative. You may want to consider a career change. What, now you deny it? Do you deny that you're really an Interpol agent?
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Post by Reefs on Aug 20, 2013 22:24:03 GMT -5
Do you deny that you're really an Interpol agent? What did you do with those nuclear weapons?
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