Religious Legalism, Antithesis

From wiki:
"Antithesis (Greek for "setting opposite", from ἀντί "against" + θέσις "position") is a counter-proposition and denotes a direct contrast to the original proposition. In setting the opposite, an individual brings out a contrast in the meaning (e.g., the definition, interpretation, or semantics) by an obvious contrast in the expression."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antithesis#In_the_Bible

Scholars and Wikipedia calls it Antithesis: a direct contrast.
As I see it, …. it does not directly contrast…. in fact, the teachings directly upholds.
But not in the manner of religious legalism.....

John 4:19-24
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
 
Hello Aha, it may be stupidity showing, by I am having a tough time discerning what your point is.
Could you make it a bit more plain?
 
Hello Aha, it may be stupidity showing, by I am having a tough time discerning what your point is.
Could you make it a bit more plain?

My objective:
Young adults today… exposed to western philosophies, are saying some teachings of Jesus is immoral or weakness, if not stupid….and even contradictory.

This post is to educate more myself by the comments of other Christians here: on how to answer those tough questions.

Since inevitably other Christians may read this: it may help them or confuse them?
Hope it will help and not confuse them..... bible study is where people asks the tough question.

Sometimes I admire how the moderators delete….sometimes I don’t….

Let see how far the moderators will allow to do bible study here then : )
 
Related topics:

On Forgiveness

Forgiveness is often thought to be doing something for another person.

Yes, but I think it is more than that: it is more on doing something for one’s self.

An unforgiving hearth will slowly eat us: it will affect our decision making, make us bitter and untrusting, resentful and angry…. that is: it minimizes the gift for us to enjoy the fullness of life.

When we are unforgiving, we are living in the past....an unhappy past.

When we forgive, we live in the present.

When we forgive: we chose to be trustful and thankful once again, we chose to live in the present once more, and enjoy the beauty of life.

Whether the person forgiven changes for the better or not…. is irrelevant.

On the other side:

If the forgiver already clearly shown and manifested his forgiveness....
… and the forgiven still doubts or question the sincerity of the forgiver...whose problem is it now?

 
Related topics:

On Forgiveness

Forgiveness is often thought to be doing something for another person.

Yes, but I think it is more than that: it is more on doing something for one’s self.

An unforgiving hearth will slowly eat us: it will affect our decision making, make us bitter and untrusting, resentful and angry…. that is: it minimizes the gift for us to enjoy the fullness of life.

When we are unforgiving, we are living in the past....an unhappy past.

When we forgive, we live in the present.

When we forgive: we chose to be trustful and thankful once again, we chose to live in the present once more, and enjoy the beauty of life.

Whether the person forgiven changes for the better or not…. is irrelevant.

On the other side:

If the forgiver already clearly shown and manifested his forgiveness....
… and the forgiven still doubts or question the sincerity of the forgiver...whose problem is it now?

The Bible is clear: we don't have a choice when it comes to forgiving someone else. What the forgiven do with your forgiveness, is their choice.

Matt. 6:14-15 (NIV)
"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins"
Mark 11:25 (NIV)
"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Eph. 4:26 (NIV)
"'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry."
 
I think all Christians know we need to forgive, the problem arises when we actually need to put our knowledge into real action.

One of the hardest things we can actually do is forgive, but when we do it comes with enormous blessings.

Almost two years back, my daughter was overdosed to the point of death by a pharmacist who made up the incorrect amount of medicine. The mistake was so large that they gave my daughter enough seditive to kill an adult 10 times. Only the grace of God saved her life but afterwards I was faced with the prospect of facing the pharmacist.

I was encouraged by many people, including Christians, to sue the pharmacy (which belongs to a very large hospital group in my country). I had almost lost my daughter, gone through incredible trauma watching her go into a coma and doctors saying that she would die. I saw my wife blame herself and literally fall apart - in short after the events, even after God saved my daughters life, I had an anger and hatred towards the pharmacy. I wanted revenge.

The Holy Spirit quietly spoke to me and showed me scripture - Forgive your brother. He who hates is like a murderer etc etc etc.

I did not FEEL like forgiving, I did not want to forgive. I could sue and never have to work again (literally) but I decided to forgive because that is what Christ instructs us to do.

I went to see the pharmacist and forgave her - immediately afterwards every single feeling of hatred and revenge went away - I was set free and so was my wife.

Forgiveness is an act of obedience towards Christ whether we like it or not, but the blessing of freedom which comes afterwards is incredible!
 
Forgiveness is an act of obedience towards Christ whether we like it or not, but the blessing of freedom which comes afterwards is incredible!


Thanks for that advice/ comment…

That is “pearl of an advice”! : )

I do agree, we Christians reflect on “just obey" …. as this reflects our faith and commitment that God is always wiser than us…

What I was trying to do is to “intellectualize” why we should forgive…..

I think my post on “Forgiveness” should be rather posted in a non-Christian forum….

Also, your post made me to read the book of Job…

I was anxious to read it before, but, yes, it was.. it is a joy to read : )

Thanks ! : )
 
If we do not forgive those who hurt us.........they will in fact be running our lives because we will spend our time thinking and re-acting to what they have done to us and the fact is they do not even known what they have done to us.

That means our actions are dictated by those who harmed us. The only way to fix that is to forgive them of what they have done and that will aloow us to be in contole of our lives not them.
 
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