The Bible overturns my viewpoint completely

The Bible overturns my viewpoint completely

 

 

The Bible overturns what we take for granted or our common viewpoint boldly. For example:

It says that the poor are blessed not the rich.

[Luke 6:20] Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

 

If we give a banquet, it is better to invite people who are rich or have power for dealing something we want to get. Our Lord advises us, however, we’d better to invite people who cannot repay us.

[Luke 14:13~14] But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.“

 

The Bible even says “Rejoice the sufferings.”

[1 Peter 4:13] But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

 

These are so funny. There are also more curious stories in the Bible which can not be acknowledged if we don’t read with caution. These are found in teachings of our Lord. One of them is the story of Samaritan which was given as an answer to the question, “Who is my neighbor?”

[Luke 10:25~37] On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

(31-35 abbreviated)

[36~37] "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise.“

 

It is a well known story. It is begun with question a law expert asked to our Lord, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Both of them, the questioner and the respondent, knew the way to get eternal life well. It is "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" There was no inconsistency between their answers.

 

The law expert asked again to justify himself, “Who is my neighbor?” The answer our Lord gave was the story of Samaritan. After he told it, Jesus asked him, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" Did you find the turning over? The law expert asked “Who is my neighbor?” and the Lord answered “Who is a neighbor to the man in need?”

 

Well, there is a standpoint that 'I am greater than the man in need' when the law expert asked “Who is my neighbor?” In other words “OK, I will help my neighbor. So tell me whom should I help?” It seems to be the meaning of ‘wanted to justify himself’. However the answer is 'it is you being loved not the man in need.'

 

It is a radical reverse of viewpoint. It is not me who gives love but the man in need. It is critical because this story begins with ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ flows to the way we get eternal life is ‘Love our God and love our neighbor’ The story goes on the neighbor is me because I can practice ‘Love our neighbor’ by the man in need. I can have eternal life through helping the man in need. I am loved in fact.

 

It is the paradox of God. So Paul said as follows.

[Romans 12:15] Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

 

Can't you grip it yet? Then please read the passages in Matthew 25:31-46.

 

[Matthew 25:31-46] (31~33 abbreviated)

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

 

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

 

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

(42~44 abbreviated)

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

 

The Bible or the Christianity says 'It is not true' about what we think it is a matter of course. So if you expected that you would be blessed with materials or be rich then you got wrong address. You are a good Christian if you feel uncomfortable whenever you see the people in need around you instead.

(Every passages cited from NIV Bible)