Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
First of all, see my post #217 as I took it a bit further from the one you quote above from me.
Um. Okay....
Do you think Christians can benefit from observing the Law even though Jesus summed it and the apostles negated some of the practices of the Law (if I'm reading you correctly)?
Did you say "the apostles (I think Paul?) negated some of the practices of the Law"? If not, just correct me or say you're right.
Did you say "the apostles (I think Paul?) negated some of the practices of the Law"? If not, just correct me or say you're right.
Do you think they could benefit from practicing all the commandments regardless of how they are related to Jewish Laws and regardless of whether it applies to them or not?
If I were Christian, I would benefit from following all the commandments as best I can. I don't know about other Christians. Some don't feel they can. In my opinion they would, do you think so too?
I know some Christians who feel practice of whatever kind isn't the same as compassion and other emotions that have no physical attribute beyond helping the sick and holding one's head down in prayer. I don't know if it's lack of understanding of tradition intertwined with belief or rejection of it. I feel that is another reason why they say they are not obligated to keep the commandments. Catholicism and other liturgical Churches seem to attempt and/or follow the laws as best they can. It could be a protestant thing that became mainstream thought.
I know some Christians who do not relate compassion and love with actual ritual practice/traditions outside of helping the sick and feeding the homeless. Things like lighting a candle, these particular Christians feel are the same and are OT teachings. That is how they feel. Just sharing my observations.
I personally don't know if it is lack of understanding of traditions are or rejection of it.
I notice Catholicism and other liturgical Churches do attempt (they don't follow all 613) commandments unlike protestant churches. (Blunt statement. Nothing behind it). It (this thought) could be mainstream Christianity, I don't know.
With that said.
In various books in the Tanakh, we were warned about performing sacrifices, for example, but just going through the motions. It's when we do the task but then forget or ignore what the task is for. In Matthew 25 with the Parable of the Sheep & Goats, this is essentially saying the same thing. The "goats" believe about Jesus, but not in him, and believing in him involves a commitment of compassion and justice for all.
How does this relate to what I said, my assumptions, and curious questions I asked and thought you'd have an opinion on?
As with Jews and Christians, you will find some just going through the motions but not actually doing what Moses and Jesus taught about compassion and justice. As we've seen all too many times, many seem to think that going to synagogue or church is like going into a washing machine and coming out clean, instead of realizing that living out love and compassion for the entire week is essential. IOW, synagogue and church are meant to be a beginning to an end, not the end itself.
Yes, some do. I practiced Christianity and I did not and was not in this category. So, that is generalizations.
It is also not related to my reply. If it is, how? Why the tone?
One of the priests at my wife's church often said this: "Joe thought he was going to heaven because of what he did on Sunday, but he went to hell for what he did on Monday". Or this one: "Joe missed going to heaven by 18 inches-- the distance from his head to his heart". Being nice to people whom one likes is easy, but being nice to even those who may hate and demean you is much more difficult, but that's what we're called to do.
I don't understand how this relates to my questions. Above... do you think Christians can benefit from practicing the Law regardless if they do or do not and what they think about it? And all the other questions posed above.
If Christians feel more attached to God for keeping our Commandments, that's great, but I hope they also realize that what they should mostly concentrate on is having and acting on compassion and fairness to all,regardless as to how difficult that may be, And let me just finish by saying that I'm not always good at doing that.
What about the Christians who do have and act on compassion and fairness for all regardless of how difficult it may be?
Why generalize Christians? That is pretty much an insult and something I got when I practice Catholicism. It was like protestants (and now Jews?) are thinking we (some of us) aren't real Christians because some of us do not practice what we are taught. I wasn't and still are not good at it; and, that doesn't mean I don't try.
I just wanted to know if Christians can benefit from practicing the Law?
Did I make a mistake in how I referenced what you said about Paul and the Law he negated?
Did you read my post with an presumption that I am arguing against you?
Where did you get that assumption from?
It feels like I stepped into the twilight zone. And yes, I read your full post. No assumptions.
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