Remember when a SCOTUS nominee was accused of sexual assault with very little documentation or evidence? Then remember when a bunch of folx decided that the mere presence of this allegation was sufficient to prevent his confirmation and these same folx spared no effort to portray him as all sorts of horrible things?
Well, now we find out that the accusation was a lie.
Should I be holding my breath waiting for the apologies and retractions?
I doubt it.
Remember when the videos came out showing PP employees admitting that they manipulated abortion procedures to maximize salable body parts? Looks like court testimony is suggesting that the accusations were true and that the videos were accurate.
Yet folx on the left are more upset by chicken sandwiches than by this news.
Slavery is bad, but this doesn’t even get a negative comment.
Friday, September 6, 2019
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Hurricane relief
As we come to grips with the destruction in the Bahamas, I’m struck by two things.
1. The quick response by the cruise lines to commit resources both financial and otherwise to the Bahamas.
2. The outpouring of private citizens who own boats that can make the run from FL. Just like the rednecks showed up with bass boats when Houston flooded, the boat owners in FL are on the front lines in bringing in supplies.
I’m sure that there will be plenty more from all sorts of entities before it’s all over, but seeing people and companies taking the lead is somehow gratifying.
1. The quick response by the cruise lines to commit resources both financial and otherwise to the Bahamas.
2. The outpouring of private citizens who own boats that can make the run from FL. Just like the rednecks showed up with bass boats when Houston flooded, the boat owners in FL are on the front lines in bringing in supplies.
I’m sure that there will be plenty more from all sorts of entities before it’s all over, but seeing people and companies taking the lead is somehow gratifying.
More sheep/goats
https://www.gty.org/library/bibleqnas-library/QA0095/the-judgment-of-the-sheep-and-the-goats
"As Jesus makes clear later in this passage, those who are alive on earth when He returns will include both saved and unsaved, represented by the sheep and the goats, respectively. And those two separate peoples will have two separate destinies. The believers will be ushered into the kingdom and the unbelievers into eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46).
The process of Christ’s judgment will include the absolute and unerring separation of the saved from the unsaved. When all the nations and peoples of the earth will have been gathered before Him at His return, the Lord Jesus Christ will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."
"As Jesus makes clear later in this passage, those who are alive on earth when He returns will include both saved and unsaved, represented by the sheep and the goats, respectively. And those two separate peoples will have two separate destinies. The believers will be ushered into the kingdom and the unbelievers into eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46).
The process of Christ’s judgment will include the absolute and unerring separation of the saved from the unsaved. When all the nations and peoples of the earth will have been gathered before Him at His return, the Lord Jesus Christ will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."
Some sheep/goat questions.
I'd argue that what I think it means and what you think it means isn't the relevant question. The relevant question is, "What did Jesus mean when He said it?"
Some other relevant questions.
What sorts of claims is Jesus making about Himself?
What does this tell us about a coming judgement?
What does this tell us about what happens after Judgement?
Is Jesus teaching that "works" can transform a goat into a sheep?
What is the significance in Jesus making the division between sheep and goats before addressing their actions?
Can we separate the sheep/goats portion of Matt 25 from the parable of the wise and foolish Virgins and the parable of the talents?
If we take the tree together do we find a common theme?
If one chooses to separate the three, on what basis does one do so?
Some other relevant questions.
What sorts of claims is Jesus making about Himself?
What does this tell us about a coming judgement?
What does this tell us about what happens after Judgement?
Is Jesus teaching that "works" can transform a goat into a sheep?
What is the significance in Jesus making the division between sheep and goats before addressing their actions?
Can we separate the sheep/goats portion of Matt 25 from the parable of the wise and foolish Virgins and the parable of the talents?
If we take the tree together do we find a common theme?
If one chooses to separate the three, on what basis does one do so?
Another sheep/goat take
"According to Matthew’s gospel, only two kinds of people walk this
earth: those who love Jesus and those who do not. There is no middle
ground — either we are for the Savior or against Him (12:30). On one
hand, Herod’s evil plans showed him to be one of the Lord’s enemies
(2:16–18), and on the other, Matthew’s leaving all to follow Christ
indicated what side he was on (9:9). Then there was the rich young
ruler, whose seeming love of money placed him on the wrong side
(19:16–22). Those who refuse to invest their goods and talents for the
sake of the kingdom have no love for Jesus, but the people who put their
gifts to work for God will be seen for the kingdom servants they
are (25:14–30).
The picture of final judgment in today’s passage is further evidence that all people will be grouped into two categories at the end of this age. Most Christians have heard the account of the sheep and the goats used as an exhortation for the church to meet the needs of all the destitute. Certainly, we must care even for the needy who are not part of the covenant community. After all, the Mosaic law encourages generosity toward strangers (Lev. 23:22), a principle not limited to the old covenant era (Luke 14:12–14). Not inappropriately, believers have served all mankind based on Matthew 25:31–46. However, Jesus in today’s passage is not dealing first and foremost with poor people in general. Instead, He is referring primarily to our care for other Christians. Since Christ identifies His disciples as His brothers elsewhere in Matthew (12:46–50), the story of the sheep and the goats concerns our treatment of other believers (see 25:40). John Calvin and other commentators recognize this point.
This does not mean that doing good to believers merits salvation. Jesus is merely teaching that “if anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar” (1 John 4:20). True love for the Savior begets love for all those united to Him by faith. Even if only in simple deeds, the sheep are to serve one another, especially the needy. Goats, though they dwell among God’s flock today, disregard the sheep and overlook their needs. Thus, they manifest hatred for the One to whom the sheep are united and deserve only a dreadful fate (Matt. 25:41–46)."
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/sheep-and-goats/
The picture of final judgment in today’s passage is further evidence that all people will be grouped into two categories at the end of this age. Most Christians have heard the account of the sheep and the goats used as an exhortation for the church to meet the needs of all the destitute. Certainly, we must care even for the needy who are not part of the covenant community. After all, the Mosaic law encourages generosity toward strangers (Lev. 23:22), a principle not limited to the old covenant era (Luke 14:12–14). Not inappropriately, believers have served all mankind based on Matthew 25:31–46. However, Jesus in today’s passage is not dealing first and foremost with poor people in general. Instead, He is referring primarily to our care for other Christians. Since Christ identifies His disciples as His brothers elsewhere in Matthew (12:46–50), the story of the sheep and the goats concerns our treatment of other believers (see 25:40). John Calvin and other commentators recognize this point.
This does not mean that doing good to believers merits salvation. Jesus is merely teaching that “if anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar” (1 John 4:20). True love for the Savior begets love for all those united to Him by faith. Even if only in simple deeds, the sheep are to serve one another, especially the needy. Goats, though they dwell among God’s flock today, disregard the sheep and overlook their needs. Thus, they manifest hatred for the One to whom the sheep are united and deserve only a dreadful fate (Matt. 25:41–46)."
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/sheep-and-goats/
An interesting and unusual take on the sheep/goat controversy
"So I would boil all that down this way: Shepherds protect sheep from
their environment, whereas goatherds protect the environment from their
goats. So for us to be God’s sheep, we must depend on Him to defend us.
If we push, take, destroy and bully, we are goats.
The main thing though—the central difference between sheep and goats—is really simple. It’s an idea that we can come back to when we need to stay on track: A sheep is led by its shepherd. A goatherd is led by his goat.
Literally! Sheep follow the voice of their shepherd and trust him to lead them to food, water and safety. If they wander, which some do, the shepherd will go out and rescue them and bring them back to the safety of the flock. Sheep separated from their shepherd and flock are nervous and vulnerable because they have no defensive or offensive survival abilities.
A goat, however, doesn’t follow anyone. A herd of goats goes where it wants, and the goatherd follows behind. Instead of grazing, goats “browse”—foraging for whatever strikes their fancy. So that tells us that if we are allowing ourselves to be led, being sensitive to the pull of God’s Spirit, and following the path of our Shepherd, we are sheep. If we are headstrong, going our own way, and pulling back against God’s Spirit, we are goats.
So the thing that God sees in His sheep is a gentle and yielded spirit. They trust their Shepherd. They follow His voice. On the other hand (pun intended), the goats have a spirit of defiance, self-will, or independence from God’s involvement in their lives."
https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/what-is-the-difference-between-sheep-and-goats
This just might give us a different view about who are the sheep and who are the goats.
The main thing though—the central difference between sheep and goats—is really simple. It’s an idea that we can come back to when we need to stay on track: A sheep is led by its shepherd. A goatherd is led by his goat.
Literally! Sheep follow the voice of their shepherd and trust him to lead them to food, water and safety. If they wander, which some do, the shepherd will go out and rescue them and bring them back to the safety of the flock. Sheep separated from their shepherd and flock are nervous and vulnerable because they have no defensive or offensive survival abilities.
A goat, however, doesn’t follow anyone. A herd of goats goes where it wants, and the goatherd follows behind. Instead of grazing, goats “browse”—foraging for whatever strikes their fancy. So that tells us that if we are allowing ourselves to be led, being sensitive to the pull of God’s Spirit, and following the path of our Shepherd, we are sheep. If we are headstrong, going our own way, and pulling back against God’s Spirit, we are goats.
So the thing that God sees in His sheep is a gentle and yielded spirit. They trust their Shepherd. They follow His voice. On the other hand (pun intended), the goats have a spirit of defiance, self-will, or independence from God’s involvement in their lives."
https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/what-is-the-difference-between-sheep-and-goats
This just might give us a different view about who are the sheep and who are the goats.
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
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