From “Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus” (p. 170):
Later rabbis also preached about sin by comparing small sins to greater ones. Listen to what they say about gossip:
“To which is gossip more similar, robbery or murder?”
“Murder, because robbers can always give back what they’ve stolen, but gossips can never repair the damage they’ve done.”
To them, humiliating someone publicly was also like murder, because “the pain of humiliation is more bitter than death.” The rabbis called such sin “whitening of the face” because when a person’s face pales with shame, it’s as if a pallor of death has overtaken him or her. “Therefore,” they said, “one should rather fling himself into a fiery furnace than humiliate someone in public.”
Such comments remind us of Jesus’ striking exhortations to cut off your hand or pluck out your eye should they cause you to sin (also in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:29-30). The rabbis knew the great damage that even tiny sins can do. A little bit of gossip can ruin a reputation. One sharp retort can ignite a war. The goal of their exaggerations was to impress upon their listeners the dire consequences of sin. Jesus, too, was urging his listeners to avoid evil at all costs. His strong warnings express his anguish at the destruction that ensues when we do not resist temptation at the very beginning.
21 Comments(+Add)
Chris,
Wonderful quotes.
There are a few typos.
I tried to let you know via “Submissions,” but received an error message.
But these are thought-provoking things on which to chew.
Shalom
What does it say when one believer (Richard Abanes) offers to break bread with another believer (Steve Camp) and when Camp states he would welcome that another believer (Ingrid Schlueter) makes this statement about that get together:
“The whiff of sulfur in the air is overpowering.”
The depth and impications of such a statement is astounding. I suggested that Challies’ post would divide ODM friends. It has.
Um, yeah, sorry about that. Taco Bell does that to me, you know…
And Ingrid in her post regrets strife among the brethren. And when Steve Camp writes a thoughtful post concerning the post by Challies, Ingrid writes:
“They stir up someone there to plant a doubt or to post a hasty brain-dump that adds fuel to the fire.”
Can you believe it? She calls someone else’s post a “brain dump”. (I kinda like the literary creativity there).
well…at least it would be a brain dump.
Can’t say that about SoL, et. al…
Does “brain dump” trump “spittoon”?
I think I fixed all the typos.
My goodness Chris, did you even look at your screen when you were typing?
Remember, Chris L. works for a drug company. Just sayin’.
oh no…Rick.
Not a brain dump.
Just a plain dump…
Define gossip.
Definitions of words like sin, scriptural, etc on this blog are purely subjective.
BTW non of you have a good reputation to worry about.
The authors and the commenters on this site would do well to take this advice.
After the character assasination of ‘Muslim Street Preacher’ and all that stuff you all said about our ministry on Panama City Beach.
My roommate was one who got saved as a result of the preaching. He travelled with us with the idea he was saved, but discovered he was not. He repented and trusted the Savior on the trip back.
Put that in your judgmental pipe and smoke it.
Grace and peace to you, Thurstin.
So you couldn’t even discern whether or not the person you live with was a Christian, but somehow you’re able to judge whether strangers on a beach are? Hmmm…
I thought smoking would send me to hell?
I smoke a judgmental crack pipe.
You know, old men dreaming dreams and all that…
Thurstin,
As I think about your story, you’re actually somewhat confirming Joe’s thesis, as your roommate was not one of the beachgoers being subjected to the shouting, but rather someone already in a relationship w/ the shouters.
As for the story, itself, I suspect that (if what you’re relating is accurate) what your roommate experienced was growth, not conversion – the difference between the two being something a young Christian may be unable to discern…
And I know many people who got saved under Rick Warren’s ministry. All that proves is God’s grace, if you believe in such things.
False converts, all of them, Rick… Sheesh, that’s like ADM-preschool stuff, there.
Phil – could you please send me the 3-D glasses that can accurately assess the genuineness of a person’s conversion experience? I would pay for them since it would make my job so much easier.
PS – I want the kind that can look through the internet as well.
T: He travelled with us with the idea he was saved, but discovered he was not. He repented and trusted the Savior on the trip back.
RA: How does he know he’s saved now? How do you know he’s saved. Maybe it’s another mistake…..I’m just askin’…..
RA
Pipes!
I have several. My fave pipe tobacco is called Optima. full burn, only ash, smooth flavor.
yum….
#10:
ah, reputations…
How sweet it is to be hated by you, Chris P.
What a relief.
If there’s ever a confirmation that I’m doing well and on the right track, it’ll be the honor of resounding disapproval from the likes of you.