He’s a “nice man.” Really, I wish organized religions were perfect; but just like sinners, they are not perfect either. So, we put our faith in God, in the essential words of Jesus. Here is a collection of quotes (translated of course by someone):
 
http://rosskendall.com/blog/faith/10-great-quotes-from-jesus-of-nazareth 

I try to not be overly critical. About the Pope, for instance, I posted http://hunt4truth.xanga.com/773428016/pope-floats-like-a-butterfly-stings-like-a-bee/ and its not at all overly critical–but it certainly invites opinions.

As you say, and I agree (as for myself too): “After all, my opinions matter little.”
 
Thanks for taking some time to post this blog.
God Bless

I read a few quotes from his Wednesday mass homily, and I was struck by a few things he said. It’s important to me that I filter everything I hear anyone say through firstly Ye’shua’s own teaching and secondly through that of the men he ordained and gave authority to build and govern his church. If your opinion matters little here my friend, my opinion matters not at all lol, so instead of an opinion, allow me to share something said by one of those ordained apostles to the church he was building:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2Co 6:14)

Dang, that verse is misunderstood to be encouraging us to judge those who don’t share our faith, so I hope I won’t be crossing the line into opinion anywhere in my conclusion! A yoke is an implement placed on beasts of burden which enables them to bear a load behind them, ie a plow. Yoking animals together increases the power being applied to the task and increases efficiency. But in order for a yoke to work properly, the beasts that are yoked together must be evenly matched. The result of a bad match is an uneven pull, a crooked row and a compromised harvest.

That’s what this verse is saying. It has nothing to do with judgment, but with efficiency and power in our work in service of the Master.

Ahhh I dunno. Was there any of my own opinion in there bro? Peace

@nyclegodesi24 - I thought a lot of what he said was true based on scriptural evidence too. Christ’s atoning sacrifice was beyond a doubt for the sins of the whole world, and his redemptive work was 100% effective. Every man, woman and child on earth for all time have been redeemed, which is to say ransomed! Nothing he said in that regard is problematic as far as my understanding goes (and my understanding is growing continuously which means it changes). What I’m having trouble wrapping my mind around is his call for believers and non-believers alike to come together in works of mercy. To be more specific, not that he would encourage unbelievers to do good works, but that he would encourage believers to enter into collaberation with unbelievers. When believers do acts of mercy, we do them in the name of Christ to glorify him and through him the father who sent him, and that with the intention of drawing others to him if be his will. That’s the ultimate aim of the love we are commanded to put into action. But to be engaged in good works with those who deny him and the father who sent him strikes me as suggesting that we become unequally yoked in his field. Does it seem rational to my worldly mind that by joining forces with anyone who would do good might increase our potential and power to do good? Yes! But then I’m confronted with scriptural instruction and guidance, and I’m left with a choice. My own understanding can lead me astray even when my intentions are good, but I have to believe that I can trust the guidance given in that word and have faith that God’s will is being done and that he will prosper the work we do when we obey his teaching.

@nyclegodesi24 - Thank you bro. I wouldn’t disagree with a thing you said there. Doing good deeds glorifies God regardless of who is doing them, whether they will accept that or not! Good works are good! I can’t really speak for the different motivations for doing good works among non-believers, but I’d agree with you that most christians don’t do good works with glorifying God as their primary interest or motivation. But I hardly think that what most christians do (or their reasons for doing it) is a good standard by which to judge our own deeds and motivations. That makes for an easy cop out. I need scripture to illuminate truth and shine a light on proper motivation:

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, (Rom 2:7-8)

If I seek glory by doing good works, and I know that all glory is in God and to God, I have unshakable motivation to do good beyond any other motivation. Ye’shua prayed his father in heaven and asked that we be made one in him, in Christ. My motivation is to glorify that which I seek to become a part of! In scripture, I have a good set of guidelines to help me know which good works will be the most profitable in that pursuit. It enables me to build wisely upon the foundation laid for me by the apostles of which Christ is the cornerstone. We know that all our works will be tested by fire, and so it’s urgent that we build wisely my brother.

Praise be to God that he touched your friend’s unbelieving heart! That’s awesome bro! Did conviction produce repentance and faith? Peace be with you and your house

@AOK4WAY - I think you’re thinking too much here. Doesn’t Jesus say don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing when you do a good work? And didn’t the sheep not even realize they were feeding and clothing Jesus (in the parable of the sheep and the goats?). “Where were you when we saw you naked and clothed you? Or hungry and fed you?” That was their response to Him. I mean, I’m a sinner, but even I realize the beauty of the sheep’s response. Oh, to have a heart like those sheep.

@petite_and_centered - I’m not sure what alternative you’re suggesting to thinking these things through. Now that the pope and a few folks here have done some thinking, should I just read what they have to say and go with it? Ye’shua says thet the first and great commandment in the law is to love the Lord my God with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind. So I can’t just stop with feeling love toward God! If I love him with all my mind, then every thought will revolve around him.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (2Co 10:3-6)

The parable of the sheep and goats is particularly useful, so thank you for introducing it into our discussion. Unfortunately, you omitted the lesson of the parable, which came in the King’s reply to the question those sheep had just asked:

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Mat 25:40)

In this parable, the king is the son of man, which is to say Ye’shua, when he returns in glory. Here, I learn that the place to seek his face is not in a church building, but wherever there is suffering and need. Each and every time I convey mercy toward someone in genuine need, I see his face, and I’m doing it for him. And that is precisely what motivates my good works, whatsoever they be. Whether it’s in giving monetary aid, or mowing a neighbor’s lawn or taking their trash out, or in whatever good work we do, we are doing it for him and TO him! And when I let the people I do good works to know that, I’m doing what Ye’shua told me to do, taking the gospel into the whole world, and I’m not doing it with lip service, I’m putting my back and my wallet into it at the same time. And my friend, that makes one’s message credible to those hearing it.

Such are profitable works by the will and grace of God.