Question about the Bible

[Shoshanna]

I have a question related to scripture and what does God want?!

In Matthew, where it talks about

"Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison."

And

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."


Does this mean that despite something being unjust and unethical that I should not do something? Should I turn the other cheek and wait for God to do something? What if it is in defense of someone else?

How do you guys interpret this? Am I supposed to continue just praying on this and wait?

Is the last part there about how God makes the sun shine and rain fall on everyone good or bad just telling me that everybody has bad times and good times and nothing really will happen to bad people. The same things that happen to good people happen to bad people and it all means nothing in the scheme of things? Is it telling me to mellow out and not even worry about anything because it's all just chance whether it is rainy or sunny? I mean metaphorically not literally. I think metaphorically is the right word for what I mean.

It makes me think of this tool song.




"Someone told me once that there's a right and wrong
Punishment was sure for those who dared to cross the line
But it must not be true
For jerk-offs just like you, and

---

Maybe it's just bullshit
I should play God
And shoot you myself
Tired of waiting, oh

Consequences dictate
Our course of action and it
Doesn't matter what's right
It's only wrong if you get caught
If consequences dictate
My course of action, I should
I should play God and just
Shoot you myself
Tired of waiting"

I mean. If the verses in Matthew are telling me that I shouldn't do anything and just wait for God to do something, but that God makes the same random things happen to everyone at one time or another and those things have nothing to do with people's good or bad actions, then it seems all random.

[UltraBudgie]

I don't think it advises to do nothing. It's about the idea of "fighting fire with fire". That can end up burning rather than winning.

Like if some one sues you using corrupt law, don't try to use the same corrupt tactics to fight them back, instead accept that the system is corrupt, and take your lumps if necessary. Play the game, as honestly and generously as possible. Then, if the system screws you over regardless, anyone looking at the result will see, gosh that personal acted in the best, so it must be the system or law that's corrupt and unjust. That's the way change happens, by bringing the darkness into light where everyone can see its flaws.

Or if you find someone has ripped you off on a deal, accept that they're just a better liar and cheat than you are. Praise them for it to your friends. They will perhaps think gee that person can't be trusted and has no ethics. It will be obvious. But if you try to finagle back, then people looking may thing hmm I wonder who is in the right, and it won't be clear.

There's also the aspect of generosity of spirit. What can you take with you? Nothing tangible. So who cares about piling up treasure, like one of the books say? But knowing that you acted more generously than the swindlers, that's good for the soul.

And there's the trust in God bit. Like that verse about the lilies of the field, that God provides beautiful clothes for, as it were. If you're attached to "winning", then you're not trusting God, you're trusting the system of man more, perhaps. Which is not to say give up on society and go be homeless, living in the wind, but maybe feeling like you've "lost" can give insight into what you've been valuing. And maybe it could be better?

Interesting song, but maybe "consequences dictate our course of action" isn't best philosophy and it should be more "conscience dictates
our course of action"? If I'm playing a nasty rigged game, which is what life in this world often seems like, I'd rather do mediocre by play super-fairly as a loser, learning about myself along the way, maybe helping others, consequences be damned, rather than becoming evil super-schemer just to "win" a pile of things that just disappear at the end. Also, trying to play the "consequences" game perfect would imply you have perfect knowledge and predicting, which isn't very humble, and can often result in being shown that haha.

It can be slippery slope, trying to "fight" evil, because most all the examples in the world of fighting are one crappy side verses another crappy side. So very easy to become the evil one tries to fight, without realizing it. Don't do that.


Anyway I guess this isn't bible talk in that I didn't bother quoting chapter and verse and such, and thus more my own personal opinion, but I think it's aligned with what I've read in the bible. Also aligned with more eastern philosophy of karma and attachment and such.

[midicon]

I think it's best to just be kind and act with a good conscience. You don't need a book to tell you right from wrong.

[BeyondKnowledge]

A book written by men to control other men by saying God said so. Only it is about the god they made in the image of man and not God. The real God cannot be found in organized religon.

[Kwaka]

How do you guys interpret this?

Take things one day at a time, each case on its own merits. Plan for the future, prepare for change. Do what you have to survive, Up to the level of force that is used against you is the legal mark here.
 

Does this mean that despite something being unjust and unethical that I should not do something?  

This world is a big place, lots going on. All we have control of is our own backyard. While most people do the right thing most the time, it got us this far. Pick your battles, what is worth fighting for?

[Inspector44]

The current version of the bible is literally a telephone game. It has been mistranslated, edited by kings, and possesses stories, myths and lessons that are unoriginal to Christianity. I wouldn't really put much faith into what those passages currently say vs what the original author meant them to say who didn't speak any modern language.

[MichSwampbuck]

It is simply subverting the system and fostering peace on Earth at a grassroots level.

If the majority followed that advice, then the unjust sinners become the minority who are made less powerful. Also, it creates a universal support system that isn't true communism, but similar in its results. Those who can help are obligated to "pay it forward" (as it were), to give freely, not be made to give by some ruling oppressors. There will always be a believer to help you out as a brother or a sister no matter what may happen to you.

This is true of most exclusive clubs, except the Christians are told to be inclusive. It is the opposite of the exclusivity of related faiths with practices that do not give to outsiders. Most faiths, cults, clubs, associations, etc. only help their own members. Christians are supposed to help others regardless of their faith or associations.

[Creaky]

Old Testament is not the New Testament
The Old Testament represents the Old Mosaic covenant, the New Testament represents the Christ covenant. Christians are under the Christ covenant, not the old Mosaic covenant. The Old covenant only shows humanity it’s sin
Jesus was teaching the differences between the old laws and the new ideals of His covenant with us, subverting the old ways

What does that verse mean, Israel was under the control of Rome, heavy taxes and abuse, Roman oppression was widespread. 
The Jews had Sicaree, knife wielding freedom fighters, literally, slipping knives into Roman soldiers in crowded places, place was often on edge, obviously little peace and patience 
So, life is not going to work out, not in that culture, especially for christians. it’s never going to be easy, it’s always going to be problematic (most Christian’s were represented as a lower class) and fighting, arguing would inevitably be met with more oppression and persecution. Be calm, be peaceful, love those who need it and do your best too others


Some don’t like us, our beliefs, we are a threat, the bible, Jesus is a threat, not sure even why

Christians have no promise of peace or prosperity on Earth, that promise is for heaven, forgive now before Jesus returns, before His judgement has to be reconciled

[Creaky]

The current version of the bible is literally a telephone game. It has been mistranslated, edited by kings, and possesses stories, myths and lessons that are unoriginal to Christianity. I wouldn't really put much faith into what those passages currently say vs what the original author meant them to say who didn't speak any modern language.

Billy Carson fan I am thinking
Wes Huff explained the stupidity of your argument
Should watch the 3 hour Joe Rogan interview to see why your argument is so easily dismissed
For mine, it’s not perfect, just close enough

[Creaky]

I think it's best to just be kind and act with a good conscience. You don't need a book to tell you right from wrong.

And I bet you are a good person with a clean conscience, never done anything bad?
Or you are not, and your faults and failures are laying heavy on your shoulders.
The NT doesn’t moralise, it forgives those who need forgiveness 

Dont need a book to tell you right from wrong, dont need the US constitution to tell you your rights either? 
Don’t worry, they will remove that constitution and you won’t have them rights