Why does the Bible, and why does Jesus, tell us to care for the poor and the outsider? It is because we all need to stand in that position for our own conversion. We each need to stand under the mercy of God, the forgiveness of God, and the grace of God—to understand the very nature of reality. When we are too smug and content, then grace and mercy have no meaning—and God has no meaning. Forgiveness is not even desired. When we have pulled ourselves up by our own bootstraps, religion is always corrupted because it doesn’t understand the mystery of how divine life is transferred, how people change, and how life flows. It has been said by others that religion is largely filled with people who are afraid of hell, and spirituality is for people who have gone through hell.
Jesus is always on the side of the crucified ones. He is not loyal to one religion, or this or that group, or the “worthy” ones—Jesus is loyal to suffering itself, wherever it is. He is just as loyal to the suffering of Iraqis or Afghanis as he is to the suffering of Americans. He is just as loyal to an oppressed gay man as he is to an oppressed married woman. We do not like that! He grabs all of our self-created boundaries away from us, and suddenly all we have is a free fall into the arms of God, who is our only and solid security. This seems to be God’s very surprising agenda, if I am to believe the Bible.
Related articles
-
Invitation to Life (markdaniels.blogspot.com)
A Pastor's Thoughts 
Reblogged this on A Conservative Christian Man.
I loved reading this! I love that you spoke a truth that a lot of Christians probably wouldn’t agree with. I’m one of the those crazy Christians who feels that it’s not my place to judge, but to simply love people. I believe that a heart that sincerely loves will lead people into THE PRESENCE of GOD above all else. I’m really glad that I found your blog and I’m looking forward to reading more from you. Blessings to you! 🙂
Thank for following.
You’re welcome!
Unfortunately, the bible is not a reliable source to make analytical or historical judgement on. There are no original manuscripts that survived. The gospels all contradict themselves on when and where Jesus was born; the circumstances around his death and trial, etc. The people who composed the early gospels were literate Greek scribes, not illiterate poor peasants like Jesus and his followers were. The gospels are not eyewitness accounts.
Any other wanna-be prose and attempts at claims of grandeur becomes almost void.
http://moonlithistory.wordpress.com/2014/10/24/archaic-plagiarism-judeo-christian-tales/
Within every saga and myth are directions for life. I agree that there are no original manuscripts, but still feel that the bible gives us a significant body of work that cannot be dismissed as unimportant. I believe in the Bible as a person of faith and not as one who is looking for exacting facts. Thanks for your thoughts.
In all due respect, one may see the Bhagavagita as a significant body of work that’s important, but that wouldn’t make all of its subsequent revelations to be correct.
What exactly do you mean “as a person of faith”?
For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ GAL 5:14
I agree! Blessings to you