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The Rich And The Poor
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⛄🌲🎁 Every time the end of the year approaches, many charity institutions look busy collecting donations for the poor. Churches also advertise to boldly collect contributions for their prosperous missionary works, in doing so promote believers(or churchgoers) to donate for the good works that God wants, some of its donations might spend for the needy, they call it love of neighbor.
I know a renowned internet(on-line) missionary community in USA, their earnings were over "7 billion" every yearㅡthey made money over 7 billion in 2019. I checked out their performance through their homepage. And another minor missionary community(ministry) in USA earned money over "billion" in 2019, its earning is increasing steadily annually. For they target on international missionary work, so people over the world have donated for their missionary works, and have purchased their published books as well. In addition, they are native English speakers, thus they have a double synergy effect to collect donations, even they openly advertise to collect donations or sell their books over their YouTube channels and other various social media.
But the last of this year, they seem not to be collected many donations like the previous year because of the crisis of coronavirus pandemic. Who would want to willingly donate💰 amid this pandemic disaster?... Regardless, they will still do good business... God may give them His blessing to continually prosper that way...
Yet, no one will know how the donations are really helped for the very poor except a direct partaker. Even people will know that plenty of churches and charity institutions have embezzled the donations, so it looks like a "hotbed" to usurp the donation...
Especially, those who work at religious communities(churches) also manage "social welfare service agencies" along with their main religious business in my country; e.g. orphanages, disabled facilities, child care centers, welfare facilities for the aged...etc. , and commit crimes, and embezzle the donation or government subsidies.
A few days ago I read the news; a certain pastor has rapped a woman who was mentally handicapped(intellectually handicapped) for 20 years! by stealth in the social welfare service organization that he has managed as a pastor...
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The Scene Of The Movie: Oliver Twist
" Give Me Some More... "
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So when I read such news, I used to think the story of "Oliver Twist" (1837~1839 Author: Charles Dickens, 1812~1870, UK ), who was brought up in a workhouse near London, when the Industrial Revolution prevailed in UK.
That said, I didn't read the book in person, so don't know well regarding the overall story. But the owner of the poor workhouse looked like Scrooge, who never spent money, hence many poor orphans had to be hungry... The owner of the workhouse might have embezzled the donations or government subsidies...
When I was a student, that charity institutions and schools distributed a plastic-made moneybox to all students, or collected donations directly without the moneybox, pushing students to donate for the poor...
What if students don't donate, then teachers seemed to judge them as bad-mannered students... Having said that, there were the very poor students in each of classes, despite they were never helped, instead had to give money for other miserable people...
Such a promotion for the donation is still going on at every school in my country, even the charity institutions spend a lot of "plastic-made moneybox", polluting the environment... Everybody will know the issue of using plastic nowadays, which looks like a "battle of garbage"... Which one is for the majority first? Helping the poor or polluting environment?... They might have to devise other ways to collect donations. Regardless, that charity institutions and schools seem to want to teach students of how to donate to the poor in that way... on and on.
Even the rich countries send the tens of thousands of tons of garbage heap(esp. plastic) to the poor countries, paying money... Who would want to buy such a trash heap?... Nevertheless, the poor countries import it to make money...
For it is more important to live right away...
I think that my country's culture is not familiar with giving money to the poor unlike the USA's donation culture: e.g.: Giving Tuesday...
As far as I know, the US is well known for the donation culture, because "the gap between the rich and poor" is predominant based on rigorous and harsh capitalism... Only the rich and the strong can survive like the law of jungle...
Well just when Christmas season comes, I used to see the red charity kettle of the Salvation Army with Christmas carols on the street... ;
" I'm dreaming of a white Christmas~~~🎶🎵🎁❄🎅🌲 Just like the ones~~~"
"Joy to the world, the Lord is come!~~~ Let earth ~~~🎶🎵"☃️ 🎁 🎄"
We people will know those who always strive to donate for the poor as possible as they can... And people seem to admire such a good man... Even so, why do they donate?... For what...? Humm...
Recently I suddenly came to think that why people donate, (or should donate), looking at many Christmas' images(photos), decorations, etc. through social media, the mood of merry Christmas is already being shown through... so, I downloaded some of the images from there. Hope I can see to snow on Christmas day that I have always wished...😊
Well, what if I can donate $50 for the poor through blogging, if my blog is approved to set the advertising, it will take approximately more than a decade perhaps.., even though many bloggers will not blog as their chief job unless they are a professional blogger. Even so, blogging is one of the works(labors)ㅡwhether it can make money or not.
In doing so, I asked myself;
"Should I donate?"
"Why should we people donate?" "Am I not the poor?"...Something like that...
Such questions were hit me... In general, religious communitiesㅡChristianity, Catholicism, Islam, etc.ㅡhave taught that we people should donate(help) for the poor. Typically, many Muslim believers do donate for the poor indeed, they seem not to grudge giving money for the needy than Christians, for Muslims utterly observe the law by their "Koran(Qu'ran)", the Holy Book of Islam, like the Jews...
Anyway, is it true that people should donate for the poor?... If so, why some people are willing to donate?... For what?... Is there any reward to do it?...
I know a husband and wife who are a singer and an actress in my country, they have struggled to "consistently" and "constantly" donate for the poor, even adopted children as their real children! Humanly speaking, I don't fully understand how it was possible they could do it, and how much big money they own (or earn) to do it... Above all, they always smile at the viewers as if a couple of an ivory angel on the TV program.
Well, there might be various reasons... But, most people seem to donate for "the sake of themselves" in the end, expecting a double, triple, fourfold, and quintuple reward(blessing, or thriving future like whole life insurance) as much as they have done for other people.
And when they donate for the poor, might be proud of themselves as a good person who can do good deeds than anyone else that way, or might want to show off their generosity, fame, and a good personality, etc. Frankly, no one will want to intentionally lose the things(e.g. wealth) that they have had without any reasons or aims...
On the other hand, if one donates for the poor, then he might be reported as a good person through mass media, then that's all... No more, no less... Instead, his money can never get back as soon as he donates, and then people will forget his good deed "overnight"...
In honest, who would want to exchange his(big)money for a moment/second, so to speak, only for the applause(admiration) from people?... Are they fools?... They will not... They would know its donation was so futile to receive fame. Despite why do they donate?... For what...?
In contrast, those who don't want to donate "never" donate for the poor, even once, throughout their lifetime like Scrooge before he met the Spirits...
They, either believers or unbelievers, might expect this principle by which it was derived from the Bible; "As one sows, so shall he reap."
Galatians 6:7~8 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit reap eternal life. 9: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10: So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
In conclusion, it seems to conclude what the definition of doing good is, so sowing to the Spirit might be the definition of doing good that the apostle Paul wanted to write, because it seems that verse 9~10 draws a conclusion again based on the previous verse 7~8 of what the good deed is unlike people usually expect, which means that donation for the poor itself is not the good deed that people assume in this passage of the Bible.
As we see this passage, that kind of principle that people expect seems wrong; instead, its verse is underlining like this:
"Do not be deceived; God is not mocked." first and foremost like a BIG headline of a newspaper.
Not because people shall reap alone whatever they sow, but because God will also reap whatever they sow, that is why it is saying, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked." ... If only people reap whatever they sow, then its statement will never be mentioned...
The subject is not people, but is God, though it seemingly looks like people reap whatever they sow. God never seems to be snatched His Supremacy by humans as always...
Further, its verse is explaining what one sows the seed(root); if one sows the seed to his own fleshㅡ it looks like the kind of earthly things that people chase, for the flesh lives on this earth, so will rot, while the spirit lives above, so will be foreverㅡwill reap corruption, if one sows it to the Spirit, he will reap eternal life.
If so, whatever one sows, he will reap as it is, for God is not mocked. In other words, if one sows the seed to his own flesh, he will reap, but its fruits will rot soon like his body is rotting on the earth, that is, in this world...
So what if one donates for the expectation of worldly things, then he might be able to get back worldly things, either less or more, but it will not be meant the eternal life... Namely, it is meant; " sowing to one's own flesh is nothingness." Oddly, the Bible is not mentioning "how many" he can reap, but is only mentioning "what kinds of seed" he will reap as it is. Not "quantity", but what "the essence" is....
We people might be able to witness those who have received their reward(worldly things) with doing something good deeds in their lives in practice as if a role model everybody admires...
Anyway, what good is it to reap the things that will rot?... Despite, humanly speaking, no one will be able to live without worldly things as long as he lives on this earth... that is why it is also a paradoxical statement...
The parable of the SowerㅡMatthew 13: 3~9 3: Jesus said: And he told them many things in parables, saying: " A sower went out to sow.....(omitted) 8: Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
It seems that pastors teach this verse to "squeeze donations" for their livelihood and for the expense of managing church is never a "non-profit organization", though they are brazenly pronouncing that churches are a non-profit organizations. In doing so, even they want to avoid payment of tax unlike other common workers, but rather beg donations in the name of the non-profit organization in our society, esp. in my country.
But it is another workplace for making money called "religious business" like other companies exhaustively and only seek profit to the bone. For they are a "hunter for profit." That is why every company only, only, only, chases "money 💵💶💸" is, their "everything"ㅡthe way, the truth, and the life.
So just churchgoers or believers are their lifelong bank. And pastors are like catholic priests who issued and sold the "indulgence", so to speak, the ticket for entering Heaven, in the Middle ages, squeezing donations.
Such believers(churchgoers) also want to be served by their pastors, for they are pastors' bankers (financial supporters) and pastors' employees(slaves) simultaneouslyㅡ they work for pastors and their churches, its possession.
Receiving something attention from pastors as their bankers, financial supporters, will be very fun, and will give energy or vigor to live in this harsh world, who would not welcome or flatter such financial supporters?... But rather, pastors will hold fast to them not to flee, brainwashing them over and over again through their Bible teaching!
On the contrary, if that believers(churchgoers) don't donate the tithe (including other donations), nevertheless, will pastors ingratiate themselves with their employees/slaves without money? Who would want to curry favor with them nonstop without money?...
Everybody will want to be served by other people... that is why they donate for pastorsㅡit will be one of the reasons to donate for pastors as churchgoers... Those who have no money cannot even go to church... and they should be trampled by other people... Who would want to welcome the poor?... No one will welcome them... No one...
For example, what if a certain father who should shoulder responsibility for his family has donated $1,000(tithe) every month for such pastor's salary and their church's management expenses, if you were his wife, what would you do...? To make matters worse, the father doesn't even have any of his own property(e.g.: house), despite he still donates, so if he accumulates its money for 10~15 years instead of donating, then he might be able to have his own house...
Is this what God wants? Donating for pastors' living? So does the Almighty God receive money that way?
In this passage of the Bible, what Jesus said that way; The parable of the SowerㅡMatthew 13:8 Jesus said, "Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
is not meant the "worldly things" either like people look forward to having a double, triple, and fourfold reward in response to their good deed. But rather, such a mindset is sown on a thornbush that makes the seed "choke" not to produce its fruit, because of "the cares of the world" and "deceitfulness of riches" and "the desires for other things." ; Mark 4:18~19: Jesus said, " And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the world. But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
The sower that Jesus mentioned sowed "the WORD" was not the burning investment sentiment or ambition; Mark 4:14 Jesus said, " The sower sows the word." Therefore, the meaning of the sower parable in Mark 4 : 8: "Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." is meant those who bear fruit "the word" is never meant something worldly things; Mark 4:20 Jesus said, " But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."
By the way, I read the news a few years ago before the coronavirus pandemic burst; a certain "physically disabled " who uses a wheelchair all the time tried to travel abroad, riding in a plane in my country, in doing so, grumbled at and admonished for the unkind staffs of the airport that's why it was reported...
Well, it will not be wrong to travel abroad as the physically disabled, but does he have such an authority to complain about the unkindness as the physically disabled...? Should he necessarily "travel abroad" as the physically disabled, using a wheelchair?...
Likewise, the poor(or the weak) tend to take for granted donations(or helps) without any thankfulness... but rather, they used to chide people, begging, " I'm the poor! I'm the weak!, so cannot make money, despite why don't you help me? Why? You must help me."... Being the poor(or the weak) can never be a pride... Even many people still don't have money to travel abroad as ordinary people(not as the physically disabled)....
On the flip-side, donating money might be the same as this; there is no end to helping the poor or other people...
For example, I read this news a few months ago, so cannot clearly remember; a certain man who had a good job with a high salary "quit the job" in order to help India, which means that he went to India so as to clean the dirty and contaminated lakes of Indiaㅡthere are many piles of rubbish and excrement in it.
He wanted to protect the environment of India alone that way... Yes, He was never a fool, but was a very smart man who worked at a good and renowned company with having his intellectual brain. Further, he was not a native Indian, not brown skin, but was White.
What good is it to clean the dirty and contaminated lakes of India alone?... It looked utterly useless... If he cleans the lakes alone, then approximately 1.3 billion people in India will contaminate the lakes or rivers on and on...
Everybody will know this; the slums(poor villages) of India(in fact most of the areas), those slums have not even bathrooms... And they still burn the dead bodies in the river Ganges by their traditional method... so that, the stink of burning dead bodies is stinking all around of the river...
Even the poor cannot buy firewood enough, thus the dead bodies cannot fully be burned around the river, accordingly the rest part of the dead bodies are being discharged(forsaken) in the river as it is... thus lots of ravens are gathering onto the forsaken dead bodies in the lower reaches of the river...
Despite Indian people don't mind bathing and washing in the River Ganges, for they seem to naturally take up the coexistence with "the life and the death" and with "the dead and the living" in their lives just as it is...and in that way...
A great while ago, I read a book regarding the travel of India, which was glamorized about Indian people's ideas with artistic photos, for the author was none other than a "poet" who generally beautifies their words... Even the title of the book, "The Travel To The Heavenly Lake", was very poeticㅡso, even it was difficult to translate the poetic word...
Yes... Indian people might have a naive and pure spirit in them, so might be able to accept the coexistence of the life and the death without display, or without resentment, or without fear amid their poor lives..., cherishing the stars in the night sky like a spiritual man, not a carnal man...
Well, the movie suddenly comes into my mind; "City Of Joy " (1992, main actor: Patrick Swayze, USA) was screened in India. I was able to indirectly watch their poor lives and India's scenery in the movie... But now I don't remember its story at all...
But in reality, it doesn't look like that... Their harsh, cruel, and cursed "caste system"(It treats people only based on their social status) in India has made many Indian people live in its permanent sufferings...
Whether or not people donate, either big money or pocket money(chicken feed🐤...), it looks like this evil world is never changed...
While some people might want to disagree with my thoughtㅡthat said, I don't want to insist on persuading my view to them, just it is my petty personal viewpoint...
However, on the other hand, there is "the effect of a butterfly " , which means that a tiny butterfly can touch off something boom with its unnoted flutter of wings against something huge power, or something unchangeable things in our society...
For example, I experienced its effect a few years ago; I petitioned my personal opinionㅡ it was just my writingㅡto an educational institution in my city as a "nobody" like a tiny butterfly. That nobody has any power to convince someone(esp. the high position people), but the unbelievable miracle happened in my life...
However, the principal of the educational institution read my opinion!! He has never known me. It was difficult to meet the principal face to face like the general public cannot meet a president in person... Just I saw his photo on the homepage of the educational institution.
And then the following year, the principal changed the unfair policy of the management as I wished. Therefore, I directly realized that "the butterfly effect" 🦋 still impacts on our lives... Having said that, it looks like a very "rare" case that is why I say it is unbelievable miracle...
Anyhow, as far as I know, I searched for some of the verses in the Bible of what the Bible stated about donating, not as a pastor who knows and teaches the Bible at least...
This is just my personal viewpoint, so can "NEVER" be an absolute standard to define, or to persuade, or to explain with an expert description, or to spread it like a missionary worker(or pastor). And just it was written what I have felt in my personal life as well, so may readers are not brainwashed by. I wanted to question and answer regarding a donation on my ownㅡI suddenly wondered if we people should donate for the poor or not. Why do we people donate, especially whenever the end of the year approaches? For what? Will it be the reason that people donate to receive blessings for the following year?... Who is the very rich? Who is the very poor? and so on....
While all these ideas were occurring to my mind, I wanted to put my convoluted thought in order, most of all, I have wondered what it was... Yes... even it looks like an unprofitable idea, who would want to be interested in that issues indeed?.... and who would want to read my long length writing, making time for...? Regardless, there was no one to answer as to my questions... What if I ask it to pastors or Christianity missionary community, then I might have to pay for the cost of my some questions...
A few years ago, I asked my questions about a man's "free will" if it has in them or not ㅡyes, it looks very controversial like this issue; a chicken first or an egg first... ㅡ to a certain Christianity missionary community in USA. In the beginning, they kindly answered twice about my questionsㅡeven so, I could not agree with their incomprehensible answer. So, does God allow "the free will of humans" in their lives?...
I didn't donate to them, and then I asked the third question... They no longer answered... For I didn't donate at all in response to their laborㅡbut it was volunteers' answers and labor. Plus, it was incomprehensible answers by which they have exploited volunteers' labor free of charge. That volunteers were almost seminary students(or partakers for). Because they were also looking for volunteers who can answer about many and various questions kindly and sincerely over their homepage system to which people all over the world ask.
Of course, they sent me the donation application( a various button-based system by computer, that is, online payment system) along with their answers via my email account. If I wanted to donate for the cost of my questions, I would have to pay it by a credit card number, such as visa card, master card...etc. Even I had to pay the value-added tax. It hurt my heart that I had to pay for the cost of my question..., though I knew that there is no free lunch in this world... Yes... people also say that there is no free lunch in this world...indeed...
Who would want to answer something questions without reward(money)?...
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Credit Cards...
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Anyway, it was shocking to me and hurt me deep in my heart... so, in a sense, I might have been started translating and posting and spreading the gospel message(about 35 postings back then) not as an expert translator. In another sense, I might have wanted to spread something the very gospel unlike the online Christianity missionary community in USA that hurt me... Ultimately, God might have led me to do it through this happening...
Yes, at first, frankly speaking, and humanly speaking, I also wanted to get some reward in response to my labor( translation) like the on-line Christianity missionary community in USA has received cost(donation) that way, whereas such my exception for reward was all broken and trampled... For it seems that God trod "it" and tore into threads "it" and smashed "it" to the bone not to be achieved "it" at all... at all... unlike them and other pastors make money through teaching and through spreading the so-called gospel message(the Bible). Moreover, I might have wanted to spread something the very gospel to many English speakers who have been fooled by that missionary work in USA...
And what I have been started translating it was, it was because I had experience in translating the gospel message as a volunteer(not as an expert, but as an awkward translator) for one year, so I might have been able to do it.
About that time, I didn't know about "blog" itself at all... Later, I got to know about using a blog through the Christianity missionary community in USA, though they have used their own business homepage. I thought about how I could share the so-called true gospel message that I translated. After all, I was able to find this blog platform, which was advertised with the earning tab, like this; "You can monetize your blog, create your passion and earning." Who would not want to make money through, seeing the slogan?....
After that, severe sufferings began in my life, I had to be suffered by translating and posting and spreading the gospel message.... There was no reward of any kind unlike pastors or Christianity missionary communities receive money... and the so-called true gospel message itself that I translated hurt me, too, for it seemed not the very truth either... As time goes by, I felt something was going wrong...
Furthermore, the original text of the so-called true gospel message was written and sermonized by another pastor who has managed his religious business(church) through online homepage as well which draws believers thereby in my countryㅡYes they, such pastors, might want to excuse the reason is to only spread the true, true, true gospel...
Despite, such their homepages(webpages) are posted about profiles (their real names, address, phone numbers, education backgrounds, etc.), rough maps, navigation, even their churches (or pastors' personal) bank accounts for donations in order to guide people to directly visit their churches, or to draw people to depend on their Bible teachings(or themselves) is, their typical methods of earning money.
Even pastors advertise their business homepages through IT companies which can promote such pastor's(churches') business homepages(including videos, images, books, translation services, etc) over their IT technology, i.e. "information search business", receiving the expense enough. Who would want to advertise such pastor's business homepages free of charge?...
Well that IT companies might promote such pastor's business homepages without reward, for such IT companies might misunderstand that their "business homepages" are nonprofit organizations... If they think so, they look utterly wrong...
I think that such IT companies will know such pastor's homages are targeting for their own business to make money, for business owners or companies will be able to know the similar business owners or companies. For both are a hunter for a profit with their eagle-eyed eyes which look for preys!
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The Vulture's Eye For Preys
Image Source: pixabay |
That said, I don't know the exact behind story if such IT companies receive the advertising costs from pastors(CEO) or not... Personally, I think that such IT companies should receive the cost for advertising from them who are none other than CEO, business owners.
Anyway, the pastor also has received his reward(salary) from his followers(churchgoers) in his church unlike my case was not able to.... For I was not a pastor... Above all, oddly, the so-called true gospel that the pastor advertised over his homepage seemed not to be appropriate to my spirit as time goes on, though the gospel message that the pastor wrote looked very genuine... that's why I translated it...
Because, one day, I realized that the pastor was like the Pharisees, when I made a phone call to him in order to make known the fact that I have translated his original text. For I was incidentally found his homepage, while I was looking for something answers that I have wondered. Because I couldn't endure the sense of guilt that I translated it by stealth, though the gospel is free. But it seemed not to be free at all. It hurt me again...
Why should believers(or people) pay the cost to know the gospel?... Does Jesus need money, teaching His words?...
At first, I didn't know about "the problem of copyright" at all, and I didn't even know what blog was, and what blogging was..., and I didn't know the way of making money through using advertising. Moreover, I knew that the gospel message itself is all free... so I thought that it would not be a problem when I translated it without copyright. I didn't even get any reward for doing that.
Should the gospel have the copyright? What the hell is it?...
Anyway, the pastor posted what he had " the purpose of opening/sharing the gospel message" to those who want to know it over his homepage, because, a certain believer wrote a comment on the comment section on the pastor's homepage that he was sorry for reading it free of charge.
This is the pastor's comment(answer); " The gospel is given all by God's Grace, so I want to share it to many believers as possible as I can, the gospel is God's and everything is God's Grace." ㅡIt is my word based on his speech was written, for I cannot quote as it is now, nor can I remember his speech in detail, but the focus is not off. Moreover, now I never want to visit his homepage "nevermore" to check out his speech what he exactly wrote. Thus I thought the gospel is free as I thought... so I was able to translate it without permission...
When I made a phone call to the pastor after my long conflict and long painful sense of guilty and long agony of translating, of posting, of sharing the so-called true gospel message without any reward, his voice was unkind/chilly and arrogant...
Even he asked me to embed his real name on the translated page of the gospel message that he originally wrote and preached like this: e.g.: This was translated based on Pastor K*******'s original text.
Because, I confessed that my blog might be able to make some money by setting the advertising system, if so, pastor, I would be able to receive my reward in response to my translation work(said, its reward would be $30 per month if it is a maximum; I didn't even know how difficult make money that money through blogging back then), and subsequently said,
" But, pastor, it looks very difficult to be approved the advertising itself in practice through posting(blogging) the gospel messages, pastor, you will know that the gospel message itself is not profitable to set the advertising. Who would want to set the advertising on it?... What if it is done, it will be a miracle! Just everything is up to God... If God wants it, then it will be done regardless of impossibility, whereas if God doesn't want it, it will not be done, though it has a possibility. Sorry, pastor, I think that it might as well delete your real name, for I don't even post my real name on it... The gospel is God's, isn't it?"
And then he answered with the sense of embarrassment, saying, " Well, just I wanted to bear responsibility the words what I proclaimed with my real name."
So I immediately answered, " Pastor, almost all visitors are foreigners all over the world, especially they come from USA, for its country was stemmed from Christianity, even the Arab states visit to, for the gospel is dealing with the Law like the Decalogue, so I think that the Arab states also visit... Anyway, pastor, they don't know our language, and they are not even interested in your real name, and don't know who you are unlike you are in our country."
After all, my translation work was permitted by verbal promise without a paper... For the pastor permitted it. But his voice did not sound pleasant about that the so-called true gospel message is being spread all over the world that way..., though the pastor wrote that spreading the gospel is our(believer's) joy... I didn't understand the joy that he wrote and didn't understand why they are happy to spread it...? For I was only suffered to do it...
After it happened, two weeks after(maybe), oddly, he suddenly removed his original text for a whileㅡAs soon as, I found the removed his original text on his homepage that I downloaded to translate, it deeply hurt me again.... That night, I couldn't sleep all night long with much heartache....
I don't even know "the very reason" for why he suddenly rid it... In a sense, he seemed to be in conflict with his determination about the permission for translating for two weeks... like so, feeling the sense of dilemma...
In another sense, he didn't seem to want me to download his original text any longer in that way..., for I said to him that I printed the original text on the A4 papers, and then translated it in order to expressly translate as possible as I can. For If I make a mistake to translate, I should shoulder responsibility.
After this, he suddenly inserted "the notice of copyright" on his homepage... I don't know the very reason either why he put it like that... Well, he might have felt jealousy that he could not turn our language into English in person, if he could have translated it in person, then he could have magnetized more believers globally...
After it happened, about that time, the coronavirus pandemic was getting worse, so the pastor posted the notice on his homepage that the gathering for worship will be delayed temporarily...
After this happening that the pastor suddenly rid his original text, my work of translation came to cease like so... In doing so, I felt much mental pain by the sense of betrayal against the pastor, the gospel, and God who ultimately allowed all the situation to me, and I was to be cherished a bitter skepticism against the so-called true gospel, desperation, depression, sadness, wrath, and regret that I was started posting(blogging) the gospel... something like that...
It was not that I was not able to blog on and on...
Who would want to post the gospel with bitterness?...
Beyond that, my blog never seemed to be approved to set the adverting, and I felt so much pain whenever I shared the bitter gospel to those who visited my blog. I might not have wanted them to be suffered like me... like me...
At last, I rid all the bitter gospel contents that I translated in the inexorable suffering... Who would want to harbor it?... Every time I saw that content (the translated pastor's spirit), I was not able to forget all the bitter experience... Moreover, the gospel message itself that the pastor wrote gave me much pain and confusion, I couldn't overcome it any longer, translating it...
It was not even my own speech, nor was my mind. But whenever I translated it, my spirit and heart(not the direct pastor's spirit and heart) might have been sown to the word... and to the invisible readers' spirit...
And I no longer wanted to be a crazy person through the so-called true gospel message by which the pastor wrote and spread, if it was true or if it was false...
The gospel per se made me choke not to breathe under something another strict burden and bondage..., which looked like a harsh Sparta and an asceticism... Thus I had to be perished by that gospel... and I felt that God's sovereignty is so selfish, cruel, and dogmatic...
That said, I'm accepted such a selfish, cruel, and dogmatic God's sovereignty, I don't even know the very reason, but it always makes me so, so, so painful... For it kills me endlessly, but to die in Him might be meant "the new life"... Who would be able to find something newie without losing...? No one will be resurrected from the dead without death first...
If the pastor embedded the " notice of copyright" on his homepage from the beginning, and if he didn't answer like this;" The gospel is given all by God's Grace, so I want to share it to many believers as possible as I can, the gospel is God's and everything is God's Grace." then, I would not download and translate it... Further, I saw the red-violet "money-basket" photo that was covered by a velvet cloth, and that was embroidered the mark of the yellow cross in the middle on his homepage.
It was put to collect donations, while he was preaching or teaching the Bible among his followers(churchgoers) in the Bible study gathering. Technically, every church has been collecting donations by that kind of money basket!
As soon as I see the money basket, I was confused everything about what was right and what it was wrong, for I translated his sermon(the original text) without any reward unlike him, even I felt extreme wrath and skepticism with much suspicion against all kinds of the gospel per se(even the so-called true gospel) which all kinds of pastors teach... The pastor also has collected money(donation), harshly condemning other pharisaic pastors who have only loved money...
I might be the one who condemns such pharisaic pastors without knowing that " I am " the very the Pharisee...
Anyhow, I couldn't receive any reward, translating and posting(blogging) and spreading the so-called true gospel message
unlike the online Christianity missionary community in USA and the pastor who permitted my translation work and other pastors... All they look impenitent(psychopathic or psychotic). They are "still" making money that way...
And even the Christianity missionary community(ministry) in USA, their YouTube channel was approved the advertising to make money by the renowned IT company, so they are still making money through... In contrast, my petty blog is still not approved the advertising for a year..., though I have posted the part of the Bible message from time to time not as a pastor that's why my blog is petty which is not authoritative...
In other words, not because it is not approved the advertising by a matter of the Bible contents itself, but because it looks that it is only up to "profitability" that's why their YouTube channel was approved to make money with the profitability, milking the Bible. Their contents are the stuff of the Bible...
My contents(the part of the Bible)look very different from the things that they have
posted and screened, which looks that no one welcomes my contents(including the part of the Bible) unlike their contents, for my contents are painful, uninformative, unprofitable, third-class, and nonprofessional... etc. There is nothing to squeeze something people seek...
Yes... Pastors have tens of thousands of subscribers through spreading the so-called educated and authoritative gospel, using a technological computer-system screen or optimized homepage... so, is it the very truth?... so, is it the very truth that such expert pastors teach the Bible?... so, does "the Truth" let pastors make money? Is it the Truth?... the very Truth?...
Most of all, none other than God might let my blog fail to be monetized... Instead, I might have to only thank that my blog cannot make money in that way that pastors have done...
Because, anyway I often or sometimes post the inapt (or, miraculously... it might be accordant...) part of the Bible... So, does God love my blog unlike theirs?...
*Used the Bible: ESV
1) Who Was The Poor whom Jesus Gave The Metaphor In The Parable Of The Beggar Lazarus In Scripture?
The parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19~20 Jesus said : 19: There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a *poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
Well, it seems that "the poor" is not meant for the Pharisees at least, instead the poor seem to have to be suffered thoroughly with his poor life unlike the rich. The rich seem to be the Pharisees according to the previous context of the parables. For the previous chapters were referring to many "parables series", comparing "the Pharisees" and "the lost" whom Jesus sought( from chapter 13 to chapter 21, which looks like that), and it seems to be connected to the story of Zacchaeus, too. And Jesus was killed by the Pharisees like the inexorable death of beggar Lazarus...
So, the beggar Lazarus seems to figuratively be symbolized Jesus Himself(and His people are Jesus Himself according to the Bible) That said, Jesus never mentioned Lazarus if he believed in Him in the parable, so that we readers cannot know if Lazarus was a believer in his lifetime or not, but after he died, he entered in heaven: Luke 16:22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.
Plus, the poor that Jesus said seem to be those who had no money(wealth) literally, too. And the poor in spirit seems to be those who were Jesus' disciples, namely both the poor who have no money and the poor in spirit are the poor;
1) Matthew 5:1~33 ㅡThe sermon on the Mount, The Beatitudes , Jesus said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
2) Luke 6:20~21 The Beatitudes, Jesus said: And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: " Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied."
3) Luke 18:22ㅡThe Rich Ruler When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
In this passage of Luke 18:22, Jesus didn't mention the poor was poor in spirit in particular unlike the sermon on the mount, the part of The Beatitudes. Thus I think that the poor in this passage will be meant just the poor who have no money literally. For Jesus said the word, " Sell all that you have, and distribute it ", so its atmosphere seems to refer to the poor who have no money word for word, plus it seems that the poor who are not the poor in spirit are not Jesus' disciples in particular.
2) In The Parable Of The Beggar Lazarus, Why Didn't Jesus Mention In Advance If Lazarus Was A Sure Believer Or Not?
It seems that Jesus might have wanted to deliberately make a comparison between the beggar Lazarus and the richㅡthe rich seems to be a certain "believer" who believed in Abraham, for he called Abraham as " Father Abraham", which means that the rich believed in Abraham as God, with that, he went into hell. If the rich didn't believe in Abraham, he would not have called Abraham, as "Father Abraham..." Likewise, unbelievers (atheists) "never" calls God, " Father God" today, too...
Luke 16: 24 Jesus said, " And he called out, 'Father Abraham', have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame."
In this passage, what Jesus especially used the word " Father Abraham" instead of using the word "Father God" is, it looks that the Pharisees were proud of being the descendant of Abraham on behalf of accepting Jesus Christ "Himself" in Jesus' day;
John 8:31~33 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They(the Jews, the Pharisee) answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham" and have never been enslaved to anyone." John 8:37 : Jesus said, "I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you." 38: Jesus continually said , "I speak of what I have seen with "my Father", and you do what you have heard from your father."
So the rich( it is meant that he was the Jews or the Pharisees) might have called Abraham as "Father Abraham", and Jesus seems to intentionally stress "their father(God)" was Abraham was not God(the Father of Jesus) whom Jesus exactly said that way....
As mentioned above, they, the Jews(or the Pharisees), are Abraham's descendants, whereby they seem to have enjoyed many advantages as the supreme position than anyone else back then like the "caste system" in India that's why the rich was depicted; "he was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day...."
And what the Jews answered "we are offspring of Abraham" is, they might have wanted to attest that they are "God's chosen" with such their proclamation as well... They seem to say that no one can enslave(dominate) them except God alone...
In contrast, Lazarus was not found, if he believed in God in his lifetime or not. Still, he was saved without having a certain clue of the faith, such as : "God's chosen"... Who would anticipate that such a "beggar" Lazarus go into heaven?... So Jesus seems to underline "His unexpected(exceptional) sovereignty" in this way over the parable, which is utterly different from a humans' perspective...
Plus, it seems that Jesus wanted to stress "His own volition(determination)" of who can go into heaven based on "His own perspective", is not a "human's notion" , thus Lazarus might not have been intentionally mentioned, if he was a believer in particular, while Jesus was saying the parable.
In short, it seems that those who believe in God cannot even go into heaven, even though they assuredly believe in God like the parable of the rich... For they are not the ones whom Jesus only seeks... But they might be an imitated believer, fake believers, and the Pharisee in God's eyes... "their God" is not "the Father God" that Jesus said. Just their God is theirs, not the Father of Jesus, namely, is not Jesus Himself they find.
3) Who Was The Rich In the Bible?
They seem to be the Pharisees who endeavored to keep the law by their religious works; the rich ruler looks like the Pharisees as well, as below;
Luke 18: 22 The Rich Ruler 18~21: 21: And he(the rich ruler) said, " All these(the commandments that Jesus said) I have kept from my youth." 22: When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 23: But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24: Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, 25: "For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
Accordingly, as Jesus said, the rich ruler was difficult to enter the kingdom of heaven than the camel to go through the eye of the needle, which was indirectly meant, but in fact, it means utterly impossible!
That Pharisees cannot go into heaven, not because they are the rich who have an extreme wealth word-for-word, but because they are the Pharisees whom Jesus never seeks as the lost, so that they cannot give up their wealth like the example of the rich ruler, so it seems that Jesus figuratively(or indirectly) said that those who have wealth are utterly difficult to enter the kingdom of God. But Jesus might have wanted to say like this indeed; " The Pharisees cannot go into heaven, they are not the ones that I seek!. "
Because, the rich ruler looks like the Pharisees, while he was asking Jesus; the rich man asked Jesus:
Luke 18: 22 The Rich Ruler 18~21: 21: And he(the rich ruler) said, " All these(the Ten Commandments that Jesus said) I have kept from my youth." 18 : And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? "
Likewise, the Pharisees are only immersed in how to enter heaven, how to receive eternal life, keeping the Law(religious works) like many believers do nowadays...
Luke 6: 24~25: Jesus said: But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
According to the Bible, the definition of the rich is meant as the Pharisees; for it says that the Pharisees are those who love "money".
Luke 16:14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him (which means Jesus) For He was saying "the parable of the dishonest manager" in the previous chapter)
In conclusion, the rich ruler was not able to sell his possessions to the poorㅡ not because the rich had the extreme wealth per se, but because it was the ultimate reason that he was not the one Jesus sought, so he could not give up his wealth at all...
4) "Sweet After Bitter", Does It Really Exist Like The Bible Said, As Below?
Luke 16: 25: But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. Luke 6: 23: Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
In general, every person might want to firmly believe this sayingㅡ"Sweet after bitter", for it seems that no one can live without any "hope" in our lives... In one sense, plenty of people have killed themselves due to their deadly frustration in their lives...
Beyond that, much literature has described the concept of " sweet after bitter" through manifold fictional characters... In such a setting, such authors might have known "the parable of the beggar Lazarus"...so that, we readers know the story of "The Little Match Girl" , " The Dog Of Flanders"...etc. And the notorious "Scrooge" in the story of " A Christmas Carol " might have hinted at " Zacchaeus", who met Christ, and then made a decision to distribute his poverty to the poor....
Yet, this saying "sweet after bitter" doesn't sound right like we people can receive rewards after enduring the bitter suffering in our lives. Typically, people might make sure that if one has tasted the bitterness in his life, then he might be able to receive comfort and reward in response to his bitterness someday... and someday....is, might be a man's vague or ardent or ultimate hope...
The Hope of someday.... But sadly it doesn't seem to be a fixed principle in this shaky world... We people will know the title of the bookㅡWaiting for Godot (author: Samuel Beckett, 1906~1989, Ireland) In the book, Godot (stands for something hope that people wait) never came to them...
For instance, my blog is still not approved the advertisingㅡit has been pending for a year..., though I have done all I can...perhaps... At least, hope I receive "the notice of failure..." I have written all these things in person by owning my contents which were never copied from other people's sites or blogs excluding images... Despite it is still not being approved...
How cruel it is!; they don't even notice any results, either acceptance or failure... Just time is elapsing...day after day...
For example, what if a soldier was dead because of entering the army, despite the army doesn't even inform his death, then can their irresponsibly no comment be justified? His family cannot even know if he died or not... in there.... just they are waiting... and waiting... and waiting for the day he only comes back.... Moreover, the army recruited and tempted soldiers to squeeze their money, by the way, oddly the soldier was very insufficient and abnormal to make money for them unlike other soldiers, but he has diligently worked as a soldier... at last, he died like so....
The army doesn't still inform his death with their "irresponsible no comment."
For even his death is worthless to make known, above all, even the notification of his death is unnecessary to them in order that they make money... For the notification of his death is utterly "unprofitable" unlike the notice of the acceptance of making money... Just even his death is like a pile of dead bodiesㅡa trash heap... It seems that my blog is rightless to even get such an answerㅡ the failed result, the notification of the death...
From time to time, people say that when we people "die", they might be able to receive the reward(the sweetness) in place of the bitterness... Yes... "after dying"... Even so, the notion that people presume like so seems not to be proper what God plans and persists in...
According to the Bible, those who can receive the reward in heaven might have to become like the one, the beggar Lazarus, who was "utterly" different from the Pharisees...
In other words, strictly speaking, it seems that if one is not the one whom Jesus only seeks, then he cannot be saved, nor can he be received the reward, even if he was "extremely" suffered in this world...
For God will only appraise the result of the bitterness of what it is, what the very essence is... All companies and this world only appraise the fruition under the profit(money), but God will appraise it by the essence, the Spirit, whose spirit is His'n.
If someone is not the Spirit whom God seeks, he will never be saved from this world, only pursuing money like pastors, the Pharisees, and companies... Accordingly, if the bitterness is not the standard that God wants, then its bitterness is exhaustively meaningless...
For example, it looks that my blog is worthless to this company and to this world, even to God..., though I have suffered to blog for a year...
Similarly, God will never approve the things(reward) that people pursue and expect in this world... Still, we people expect the saying, " sweet after bitter" as they wish... The bitterness for worldly things will never be approved. And that's why people leave the last comment to the dead, " May you rest in peace forever...(in that world)...", when someone dies...
Yes... everybody will want to rest in peace in that world... But unfortunately, according to the parable of the beggar Lazarus in the Bible, it doesn't seem that everybody can rest in peace in that world... Not everybody, but only the ones whom Jesus seek... and Jesus Himself will only know them who they are... It will never be appraised by a man's perspective...
Anyway, being forsaken from this world's principle(the needs of the world) and from people, and being suffered from those who are like the Pharisees are, might be meant God's Mercy like the parable of beggar Lazarus, who went into heaven in the end... As I know, his name, Lazarus means "God's grace"... Even the dogs licked the "painful sore" of Lazarus under the table of the rich, the Pharisees.
This world and people in this world also belittle the beggarly poor... Who would want to welcome and admire those who are like the beggar Lazarus in this world?... But he was saved...
5) Expecting Reward After Donating, Is it Not To Sin? Instead, Does Jesus Intrigue To Expect Reward??
Matthew 6:1~4 Jesus said: Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your "Father who sees in secret will reward you."
I don't understand why even Jesus said like this.... It looks very contradicting...
Nowadays, churchgoers(believers) who are like the Pharisees seem to expect double, triple, fourfold.... rewards after they did something good deeds esp. in their churches...
Recently I'm reading an English book which was written about Christianity, I bought it was a used book, so the paper was faded, and paid it around $8. Along the way, I discovered a good sentence (message) to explain who the Pharisees were in Jesus' day; so I underlined its sentence with a red pencil.
" The Pharisees were legalistic , believing that the way to "gain favor" with God was by "earning merit"ㅡand "the best way to gain merit" in God's eyes, they thought, was through fastidious observance of the Law. The Pharisees' approach to religion naturally fostered self-righteousness mixed with overt contempt toward anyone who didn't measure up in their eyes. But the Pharisees were also hypocritical. They fastened their hopes chiefly on external and relatively insignificant features of the Law, apparently thinking that the more they stressed the fine points of the Law, the more spiritual they appeared to the people. That's also why they were obsessed with the ceremonial requirements of the Law. They valued the public display of religion more than private devotion and true righteousness. They would, for instance, make a great show of counting tiny seeds in order to make a tithe. But they neglected the weightier matters of the Law, showing little concern for the moral requirements and moral values, such as justice and mercy and faith. "
Even unbelievers know and say about donation, saying, " If one wants to help(donate) other people, then do give it without expecting rewards..." Despite Jesus Himself declared it in person; Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, "your reward is great in heaven"; for so their fathers did to the prophets. Why is that...?
Anyhow, it seems that the reward will be received "after dying"... like this; "Your reward is great in heaven."; Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. So it seems that the reward will not be something "earthly rewards"... Instead, it will be a spiritual reward in heaven...
And what if one can receive the reward in this worldㅡeven it looks like a spiritual thingㅡ that Jesus said, then he might have to receive it along with "persecution (tribulation)" like Jesus' disciples were persecuted... ;
Mark 10: 28 ~31 Peter began to say to him, " See, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, " Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, "with persecutions", and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
For example, if one donates a big money in secret, then he will be suffered due to its unnoted devotion, wherein lies no rewards for that in this age... unlike the Pharisees who already bountifully and loudly received their rewards among people and in this world like Jesus said, but the beggar Lazarus could not receive "anything", but rather was forsaken from them with his miserable death...
His life was only filled with starvation, derision, tribulation...something like that...
that's why the beggar Lazarus was embraced in Abraham's bosom (in "heaven") forevermore along with the empty moneybag that will be filled with a heavenly treasure... is, not an earthly treasure in this world...
Such people whom Jesus seeks will not receive any rewards with much hardship in this world..., instead will receive derision from people and from this world, although he did good deeds, but even its good deed was achieved by "God's intent", was not giver's own achievement(performance)...
So God will see it in secret will reward him...after he died in heaven... after "dying..."
What if someone can receive the reward that Jesus promised in this age and in this world, then it will be also "spiritual things", not the "worldly rewards(or blessings)" like the Pharisees (the rich) enjoyed the worldly rewards in this world...
Thus expecting earthly rewards(or blessings) in this age(world) looks "impossible" in stark contrast with the expectation that most believers assuredly expect their "worldly rewards" a double, triple, fourfold... in this world. Besides that, even they crave to go into heaven with the pharisaic and legalistic mindset and with the wealth(rewards, or blessings) all together as God's chosenㅡ as the offspring of Abrahamㅡlike the rich called Abraham, "Father Abraham"... They call their God, "Father God." Fairly, Jesus said to them, " I NEVER KNEW YOU. "; Matthew 7: 23 Jesus said, " And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' "
6) Who Can Follow Jesus Without Any Property In Practice In Our lives Today?
Luke 18: 29~30 And Peter said, " See, we have left our homes and followed you." 29: And he(Jesus) said to them, " Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of Kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life."
Humanly speaking, it seems that "no one" can do that for the sake of Christ and for the gospel, though Peter proudly said; " we have left our homes and followed you."ㅡperhaps, Peter would have wanted to show off the thing that they were utterly different from the rich ruler who couldn't give up everything that he had.
Before Peter said it, Jesus' disciples asked Jesus, seeing the rich ruler who couldn't relinquish his wealth at all, thus it was impossible to enter heaven like the difficulty of going through camel into an eye of the needle that Jesus mentioned; Mark 10: 26 And they(Jesus's disciples) were "exceedingly admonished", and said to him, "Then who can be saved?"ㅡIn the meantime, they would have wanted to ask the left question like this; if the rich cannot enter heaven, keeping the law, then who can be saved? And then Jesus answered; 27: " With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."
Such Jesus' answer(v. 27) seems to answer my question; Jesus' disciples didn't leave their homes "by themselves", or " by their volition", but God did it to be done that they were able to leave everything and followed Christ, that's why they were none other than Jesus' disciples whom Jesus sought, and whom Jesus let them relinquish everything that they have unlike the rich ruler, so it seems that Jesus was continually showing the difference between the chosen and the Pharisees how different they were.
So today, what if one can follow Jesus, leaving everything that he has, then God will be able to do it, for "with man it is impossible", but " God is possible." Well many followers of Christ were informed that they were killed by keeping their faith.
And what if God lets them, not only Jesus' disciples in Jesus' day, but also the common people today, leave everything that they have, then it will be...today, too. But, it looks very rare case nowadays... We people seldom see such a devoted person only for God, instead, it seems that everybody wants to milk God for the sake of themselves...
7) Why Did Jesus' Disciples Die Without Any Rewards In This Time And In This Age Unlike Jesus Promised The Reward? Instead, Most of Them Seem To Have Been Brutally "Killed" For Their Missionary Work. Why Is That?
Luke 18: 29~30 And Peter said, " See, we have left our homes and followed you." 29: And he(Jesus) said to them, " Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of Kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life."
Mark 10: 28~31 Peter began to say to him, " See, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, " Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, *with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
That's why I wonder it, but it looks impossible to know why Jesus' disciples couldn't receive the reward that Jesus promised in this time and in this age, instead, it seems to be reported uncertainly that they were killed for their missionary works without the reward that Jesus promised, though the Bible was not recorded how they died.
According to the book of Mark, it was described more differently, which I discovered it today:
But they seem to receive the persecution that Jesus predicted. In one sense, now I guess that Jesus' disciples might have been received the reward that Jesus foretold in this world too, for they were able to have houses and brothers, mothers and fathers, children and lands "hundredfold" like Jesus promised, which means that they were able to have tens of thousands "spiritual families" (e.g: believers' communityㅡtherein lies brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, children, houses(churches), lands(the missionary lands). Amazing!!... But they had to receive it along with "the persecution...."
Oddly, Jesus only mentioned these things: " those who left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands", which there was excluded "husband and wife". If one (or Jesus' disciples) leaves his family for Jesus' sake and for the gospel, if they were married, then they would have had each of husbands and wives... I wonder what was the reason that Jesus especially ruled out " husbands and wives" in the circle?...
So... I think that if it was meant a "spiritual family", then the sole spiritual husband would have been Christ Himself to His disciples, thus His disciples would have been all His Spiritual wives. Hence Jesus might not have mentioned to them the possibility of whether or not they would be received "husbands and wives" hundredfold. His disciples would not have left Christ in the circle of relation...and no one would have been able to be their spiritual husband except Christ...
Thus my question is resolved to some degree in this way... I'm feeling an amazing mood a little bit, for now, I realized the meaning of the reward in this age that Jesus said to His disciples, though it cannot be an exact answer based on my personal assumption. That said, I wondered what it was. Now it is resolved... :) I have misunderstood about that..., thinking it doesn't make sense.
8) Why Did Not Zacchaeus Give "All" His Wealth To The Poor?
Luke 19: 1~10ㅡ Jesus and Zacchaeus
8: And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, " Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And If I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.
(1) Luke 18: 29~30 And Peter said, "See, we have left our homes and followed you."
(2) Mark 10: 28 Peter began to say to him, " See, we have left everything and followed you."
Probably, because Zacchaeus was not the circle of Jesus' twelve disciples, that said, the Bible seems to demonstrate those who were transformed their spirits show up how they were to be transformed indeed after they met Jesus. They were different from the Pharisees who only talked, but never transformed their spirits like the young rich ruler case; When Jesus suggested to him, " Sell the things you have and distribute it to the poor, and then follow me." The rich ruler couldn't do that as Jesus proposed.
While, Zacchaeus wanted to distribute his wealth "in practice" after he met Jesus. Namely, it seems that the rich ruler (the Pharisees) was not "the one" whom Jesus sought as the "lost one" ; 9: And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
The rich ruler couldn't be transformed his spirit like Zacchaeus transformed, though he also met Jesus like Zacchaeus. And when Jesus said to Zacchaeus, " since he also is a son of Abraham", it might have meant the voluntary approval of Jesus Himself. Jesus approved Zacchaeus as a son of Abraham which looks something like a root of heirship to be saved in this passage.
Most importantly, it seems that Zacchaeus never asked the approval of a son of Abraham ahead, nor did he make sure that he was a son of Abraham on his ownㅡmaybe, Zacchaeus would not even know that he was a son of Abraham before Jesus mentioned it.
So it seems that Jesus determines who the very son of Abraham is in person, which doesn't look like a fixed frame like the Pharisees assuredly made sure that they were an offspring of Abraham or God's chosen by themselves.
Pulse, it seems to demonstrate those who were transformed their spirits by Christ, Christ transformed them to do actions indeed like Zacchaeus did. He was also the same rich; Mark 19:1~2 He entered Jericho and was passing through. And Behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.
Even Jesus never ordered him to donate to the poor, but he voluntarily donate by the grace of Jesus; Luke 19: 1~10 Jesus and Zacchaeus 8: And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, " Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And If I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. 9: And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."It doesn't look crucial that Zacchaeus distributed his properties on his own, but what is more important is, it would be; Jesus Himself transformed Zacchaeus' spirit to "voluntarily" donate. Besides that, in this passage, it doesn't seem to tell the importance of the amount of donations how much he distributed his wealth.
The rich ruler and Zacchaeus, they were very different from each other, when they met Christ. Thus Jesus might have wanted to show "the stark difference" between the Pharisees and the one(the lost) whom Jesus sought, which looks a main focus what Jesus intended in this scene, perhaps.
9) What Does It Mean The Treasures?
Does It Mean "Money"?
Matthew 6: 19 ,20, 21, 24ㅡ Title: Lay Up Treasures In Heaven, The sermon on the mount. Jesus said to "His disciples": 19: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 24: No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Luke 12: 33~34 "Sell your possessions, and give to *the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybag that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
In accordance with this passage, the treasures seem to mean money, for it was written; in conclusion, Jesus said, "You cannot serve God and money. In this overall passage (Matthew 6:19~34), it seems that Jesus is expounding about the word: " You cannot serve God and money" what it was meant, and saying, " But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."(v.33)
Pastors and churchgoers seem to understand this phrase(v.33) that they must do something tremendously for the kingdom of God and His righteousness. For Jesus said it that way, which looks like it does with the aura.
But in my eyes, what Jesus really intended to say that is, it would be: "Do not be worried about your(one's) living"; 31: "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, "what shall we eat?" or "what shall we drink?" or"what shall we wear?"
Never worry about one's livelihood is, looks like the very intent of Jesus in this passage, hence it is said like this: 31: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. 32: For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all."
Jesus said, 24: ....You cannot serve God and money." In other words, in plain words, Jesus would want to say like this, it would be:
" Choose one of themㅡis it God, or is it your anxiety for a living? Which one will you choose?"...
It seems not that we people must do greater devotions to "seek" the kingdom of God and His righteousness first. In conclusion, if they are the ones Jesus seek like His disciples, then not to be anxious for their living is, will be meant to seek the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness first, and is, will be meant to serve God(one master) alone without money is what Jesus really intended...; 24: "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money(treasure)."
However, who would not be afraid of living in practice? Who can be peaceful without money? For instance, if one loses everything in the fire, so has to be a homeless, who can not be afraid of his future today?... Even so, Jesus' disciples left everything that they owned and followed Him in Jesus' day... ; Mark 10: 28 Peter began to say to him, " See, we have left everything and followed you."
In this passage, Jesus said, "Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Who is the needy that Jesus said? As we see above, it was not manifestly recorded who the needy were.
Thus it seems that they are not meant pastors today, or churchgoers(believers) in churches today, too. It will be a very rare case that pastors donate to the poor churchgoers(believers) in their churches! Instead, pastors devour them, pushing them to donate for the prosperity of their churches(business). Moreover, its donation will not be meant the salary(living) for pastors, that is, for their religious business in churches, but Jesus only said; " Sell your possessions, and give to the needy".
Furthermore, even Jesus never mentioned the needy as "the needy in spirit" in particularㅡ yes Jesus would have already known the things that pastors, churches, churchgoers in the 21st century would be all-pervading(widespread) and the apostle Paul would be received donations from the saint in churches in those days, nevertheless, Jesus never mentioned that "sell your possession, and give to them." They were not specially mentioned as the needy by Christ Himself... Just Jesus said, " the needy." Why is that...?
Nowadays, pastors and churchgoers don't(or seldom)help the poor churchgoers in their churches, instead, "the government" helps them by citizens' tax in place of the church! Even pastors avoid payment of tax, alibiing they belong to a non-profit organization!
The balance(fairness) of donation for the poor saints in churches like the apostle Paul? Huh?; For I do not mean that others should be eased you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be "fairness."
Well, the poor believers cannot even go to church without "money!"
Why should believers(churchgoers) donate for pastors' rich religious business by the statement of the apostle Paul in the 21st century?
It looks very absurd in my eyes...
What is more important is, Jesus said like this; "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" is, will not be meant the money(treasure) for God is never a beggar who begs money from humans...Isn't He?... If not, why does God receive money from humans? Is God a lover of money like many other exorcists(sorcerers) who take money from people after casting out gods or after blessing them?....
And the central purpose that Jesus said like that is, it seems not the reason that we people expect the empty moneybag with treasures in heaven itself, but rather, Jesus seems to want His disciples(including those whom Jesus seek) to miss heaven(not this world) like we people always miss and love "money", for where our treasure(money) is, there will our heart be also like Jesus pointed it out. If We people empty "the moneybag"ㅡfiguratively speaking, the lust for moneyㅡby selling our possessions for the needy, then our heart will be put in heaven by means of the empty moneybag...
In that respect, Jesus seems to know very well what humans always love is, is "money(wealth, possessions)", will be the best "reminder" in every single moment in our lives, so Jesus seems to say like that... Money is a treasure to humans.
Sadly...even people die for money, and live for money...that's why money becomes our treasure, the most precious thing to humans...
But Jesus seems to reversely say, "the treasure is not money, but is our(one's) heart and mind towards heaven for ourselves... is the very our treasure(money).
That said, it seems not that "everybody" can donate for "the needy", but only when God leads them to donate(sell one's possessions) to the needy, it will be possible like Jesus' disciples who relinquished their possessions(everythings) by "Christ's Calling."
10) Is It True That A Sower Sows Sparingly, He Will Reap Sparingly, And Sows Bountifully, Will He Reap Bountifully?
2 Corinthians 9:5ㅡThe Collection for Christians in Jerusalem.
5: So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
6: The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
I cannot expressly understand the overall chapter 8~9 in 2 Corinthians that was recorded as to the collection for the saints in churches Jerusalem and as to the purpose of its collection etc.
Anyway, its epistle was written by the apostle Paul. Oddly, as far as I know, the statement of the collection(donation) that the apostle Paul said differs from the statement of Jesus said like this; Jesus only said, " Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven"; "Sell your possessions and give to the needy. "
It sounds more understandable than the statement of the apostle Paul.
Jesus didn't say; "Give donations to the saints in churches, or serve the saints in churches through donations, or give money to apostles, or glorify God through donations" like the apostle Paul encouraged to donate in 2 Corinthians...
Anyhow, in this chaptersㅡthe whole chapter 8: title: encouragement to give(donate)generously, and the whole chapter 9: title: the collection for Christians in Jerusalemㅡ I don't even understand what the apostle Paul said itself; Paul seems to"tediously" say about something the purpose of donating that looks mandatory(obligatory), doubtful, and religious just in my eyes, though the apostle Paul didn't say like that, but it seems that the apostle Paul subtly encouraged to donate.
2 Corinthians 8: 13~15 Paul said, For I do not mean that others should be eased you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be "fairness." As it is written, "whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack."
Before the apostle Paul said this( 8:13~15), he seems to encourage donating to believers in churches in advance;
8: 9~12 "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he came poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And this matter I give my judgment": this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have."
2 Corinthians 9: 6~14 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endured forever. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many Thanksgiving to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others. While they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
The apostle Paul seems to say his personal thought regarding donation like this; " And this matter I give my judgment; this benefits you." In other words, it sounds like this; Christ was rich, but became poor for your sake, so you might become rich by his poverty, hence it is good for you to donate and benefits you.
Why is that?
The apostle Paul seems to have a God-given talent to speak very well, that is, to bewitch people. When readers(believers) read such his discourse, everybody will want to donate by his persuasive speech...; e.g. these are the apostle Paul's discourses;
1) Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
ㅡThe apostle Paul doesn't force to donate, but ultimately stresses this; for God loves a cheerful giver. That said, this proclamation that the apostle Paul said seems to bolster up believers to detonate more, for every believer will want to receive God's love, donating as a cheerful giver!
2) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endured forever.
ㅡThe apostle Paul seems to promote believers to do good works, quoting this passage: As it is written, He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endured forever. Every believer will want to donate by his eloquence. For he said, " God can make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." Who will want to reject such God's grace with which He has it all sufficiency in all things at all times so that you(believers, churchgoers) may abound in every good work? And everybody(if they are not criminals) will want to be righteous, participating in God's work(His righteousness).
But oddly, the apostle Paul differently said it in this passage; Paul said, 2 Corinthians 8:2 " For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. "
Why didn't God's grace abound to them, having all sufficiency in all things at all times? On the contrary to this, they were in a severe test of affliction and in their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity... Why is that?...
3) He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
ㅡGod will hate a man's own righteousness. Nevertheless, why does apostle Paul enkindle the lust for a man's righteousness that way?... Does donating become the way of bearing fruits for a man's righteousness? Even he seems to beautify God as the supporter who can supply and multiply believers'(churchgoers')seeds(money). Why didn't he say the seed as money directly? But he figuratively and subtly said money as the seed. Why is that?... That is why the apostle Paul is a good speaker...
I don't know him; but as far as I know, according to the description of the Bible, he was reported as an intellectual person who educated very well under the tradition of a rigorous religion(Judaism); Act 22:3~4 Paul said, " I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all you are this day."
Act 23: 6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council," Brothers, I am a Pharisees, a son of Pharisees...(omitted)".
4) You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
ㅡWhy should churchgoers(believers) express their thankfulness(thanksgiving) to God through the apostle Paul and his fellow workers indirectly like churchgoers donate for their pastors today?... Doesn't God know their mind and heart, thanksgiving, if they don't express it by donating to the apostle Paul and his colleagues?
ㅡIs not God omnipresent or omniscient? If they don't express their thankfulness(thanksgiving) by donating to the apostle Paul(and his fellow workers, pastors today), doesn't God know their mind and heart? ... Nowadays, believers(churchgoers)have donated for their pastors in this manner... that's why it looks religious...
ㅡWhy should not believers receive the richness(grace) of Christ free of charge? Why does God receive money from believers? For Why?...
5) For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many Thanksgiving to God.
6) By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others. While they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
ㅡ Why will the generosity of their contribution to the saints and for all others glorify God? Can humans(sinners) glorify God?? No one will be able to...whatever it is, whatsoever they do...; By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others. While they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
ㅡWhy should they(givers) want to receive the longing and prayers from recipients like the apostle Paul? Why is that? It looks greedy! Jesus said, help the poor in secret. Do they want to be exalted from people like the Pharisees?... And what does this mean?
8: 9~12 Paul said, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he came poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And this matter I give my judgment": this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have."
Paul said, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he came poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
ㅡDoes this mean that if churchgoers donate for the grace of Christ, who was poor for their sakes, then they might become rich by Jesus' poverty? Then, what does it mean "by Jesus poverty"?
ㅡDoes donating become participation for Jesus' poverty? It sounds like that... So such participation for Jesus' poverty makes them rich as above? The apostle Paul seems to subtly stir them up donating, saying, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he came poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich... Because he subsequently said this; And this matter I give my judgment": this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have."
In short, what the apostle Paul personally said is, it sounds like that, "If you want to be rich by Jesus' poverty, then do donate willingly, it will benefit you are to be rich." It sounds like this; In other words, donating is the way to be Jesus' poverty, so if you are to be a giver(like Jesus' poverty), then you will be rich by Jesus' poverty. Is it really right?... What the hell is it?... The apostle Paul looks like pastors who urge their churchgoers to donate today!; You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
All these things sound very strange and contradictory!!
Nowadays, even pastors put their churchgoers in competition with other churchgoers in order to squeeze donation much more; e.g. whose donation is much more, advertising, " A*** churchgoer donated $ 1,000, B*** churchgoer gave $10,000, C**** churchgoer only donated $500!, Brothers, sisters, all those who donated for God's glory became rich by God's grace, or D*** churchgoer sold his house for God's glory, then he became a great CEO, his business is going strong! If you donate, you will be like them! etc. "
That's why I don't understand all these things that the apostle Paul said... What I personally understood the word that Jesus said is, Jesus didn't say about money(donation) like the apostle Paul; "Do glorify God by your donation." But as far as I know, to sum up, Jesus just said; "Sell your possessions, and give it to the needy, lay up yourselves treasures in heaven, and do never worry about your living, for God already knows the needs you need. Never worry for your living is to seek the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness first." is neither for the poor saints in churches back then nor for believers (or churchgoers) in churches today nor for apostles in those days nor for pastors today nor for God Himself is already in heaven, He doesn't need any moneybags at all, so the empty moneybag that is emptied for the needy is "their(giver's) treasures."...
That was the empty moneybag that Jesus Himself said in personㅡit would beㅡ is will not for the fairness(balance) of donation for the saints in churches in order to minimize the gap between the rich and poor either like the apostle Paul...
I personally think that the apostle Paul still seems very legalistic and religious, though he transformed and met Jesus' Spirit (it was written in the Bible), for Jesus wanted to use him as His implement because Paul was none other than a " thoroughly religious person" before he met Jesus. For this reason, his disposition still seems to be shown up and mirrored through his epistles.
In a sense, even he partly looks like an ascetic and the Pharisees... I have admired him obscurely (of course, I didn't know him, and don't still know him, but recently I no longer admire him... When I wrote "
The Man And Woman", I realized that he was like so... and I see that pastors who are like the Pharisees especially admire the apostle Paul, because, the more pastors respect the apostle Paul, the more they can be exalted from their churchgoers, for people tend to identify such pastors who praise the apostle Paul with the apostle Paul, that's why...
Even pastors have written books about the apostle Paul looks like their Idol...
The Bible itself looks very contradictory, fickle, cruel, legalistic, and dogmatic...etc. so lets people are confused on and on whereby those who are immersed in the Bible look like they are going crazy more and more... despite only the Bible treats a man's salvation by Christ's atonement absolutizes the truth...
Some say the Bible is just a common myth by which humans design... hence, the Bible might be very contradictory, fickle, cruel, legalistic, provocative, drastic, murderous, self-centered, forceful(coercive), and dogmatic...etc., and some argue the Bible is an absolute truth, which means, "The Bible has no any fault in it! For the Bible says, it was written by the inspiration of God"; 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture "is breathed out by God" and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
Well, I think that the Bible is not perfect, in any case, for it was written by humans, despite we people might have to keep in mind central messages(not word for word) from the Bible... For if there is no God, the fundamental root of man cannot be explained, such as these profound questions: who we are, where we came from, where we are going, why humans' nature is so evil, how the earth and the universe were made...etc. In respect to this, all science, technology, and other studies cannot attest everything in the world, for they don't know a spiritual world, whereas God is Spirit...; John 4:24 Jesus said, " God is spirit...(omitted)"
On the other hand, I'm afraid of saying the Bible itself...because, if I mislead or misunderstand it, I will be cursed...; Galatians 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Despite I'm still saying the Bible...I don't even know why I should do this, even though I fear it... But at least, I would like to rely on this word; I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lieㅡjust as it has taught you, abide in him. 1 John 2: 26~27
That's why we people don't need to learn the Bible(or gospel) from pastors, whoever they are... Why do believers(churchgoers) indirectly rely on or believe in pastors instead of His anointing(so to speak, His Spirit)? Are they their God?... That's why they are being brainwashed by their teaching...
Not only I but also those who abide in Him will know everything as his anointing teaches...like the Bible said.
Yesterday, I watched YouTube, another famous Christianity missionary community in USA was advertising about the Bible what it was like this; I quoted their speech over the subtitles on the screen as it is:
"For those of us who follow Jesus,
We have a book. It isn't a theology book.
It isn't a rule book. This book is a story, a story of God and humanity, a story Jesus said he was fulfilling. This book contains poems, riddles, letters, puzzling narratives and new ideas. Yet throughout it all, this book is full of the breath of God. For those of us who follow Jesus,
This book is a tree of life.
This book is a page-turner.
Anyhow, I came to know that they are regarding the Bible like so... Their perspective about the Bible was different from my personal viewㅡI said it is contradictory, capricious, provocative, dogmatic, legalistic, cruel, drastic, confusing, self-centered, coercive, and murderous...etc. Most importantly, I have never thought that the Bible is a page-turner... a page-turner...
Well that said, the Bible might be a common myth that people devise, fearing the afterlife, and idolizing themselves like God Himself with religions. In any case, I don't want to be a crazy person because of the contradictory, fickle, cruel, legalistic, provocative, drastic, murderous, self-centered, forceful(coercive), dogmatic, and confusing Bible, which looks like that in my eyes only...
In fact, it seems that every human being, either believers or unbelievers, is God's victims and victims by the Bible... God is not the very victim, but humans are His victims... Everything is only up to GodㅡTo live is not a man's choice, to die is not a man's choice either. God only and unilaterally determines everything as He only wishes... Even His death is not a man's sin, He made a decision to be dead by the Pharisees on his own, and then incriminate the sin to humans...
Further, God let Adam and Eve sin through the serpent in the garden of Eden, and then incriminated the sin to humanity. Some might assert that humans have their free will... Well, I think that even that free will is bound by God's sovereignty... Namely, there is no man's free will, yes we humans can choose the things we want, such as; what color clothes should I buy? what shall I eat today?...etc., something trivial things... But something major destiny(or event) of one's life will not be able to choose as he wishes... Is it Adam and Eve's fault only by their own free will?... So did they take the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden? Well God would have been involved in such a tremendous event behind the curtain... God might be an ultimate wire puller...
If God didn't allow Adam and Eve to sin, then He would not have needed to die on the cross, nonetheless, God Himself wanted to willingly die for the work of "His atonement", and for "New Creation"... Why did God intentionally choose the difficult and convoluted way that He had to die and Adam and Eve, humans, had to sin?...
If that event hadn't happened, God would have been more comfortable...and easier... It might have been God's own pleasure by which He willingly wanted and chose to die for "His atonement" and "New Creation"... Who can meddle in such His sovereignty?...
In fact, no one will know if Judas Iscariot, who betrayed and sold Jesus would go into hell or not, but the writer of the Bible cruelly described the tragic suicide of Judas;
Matthew 27:5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. Act 1: 17~18 Peter said, " For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry. ( Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out."
It looks like Judas's dangled(hanging) dead body by a rope might fall with a thud onto the ground, along the way, his middle(waist) and all his bowels would burst by an acceleration(falling speed) and its pressure...
And Jesus Himself hint at Judas' tragic fate with the regretful mood; Mark 14: 21 Jesus said, "For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."
Likewise, God might incriminate every sin to humans, but ironically God let them sin behind the curtain... Plus, God puts his enemies who are like the Pharisees and puts His people by Himself... In any case, it seems that humans are God's doormat, which humans must take the sin in the end...
The history of humanity has been victimized by the Bible... Those who are absorbed in the Bible have become mad people or criminals(including impostors) or lovers of money(like pastors) or martyrs(by their unbent faith or belief) or crazy religious sect leaders or a zealot or the Pharisees... etc. I think that the Bible itself drives people mad (to be a zealot), therein lies something preternatural factors like a drug(narcotic)...
Believers(churchgoers) are crazy for going into heaven by their own efforts like a Buddhist who always strive to be a perfect man or to do work for an ideal by themselves, and for receiving God's blessingㅡe.g. why do they donate for pastors' living or their religious business or the poor, deceiving themselves its donation only for God's glory?? It might be their lust for eternal life or their covetousness... and it is because that they want to only go into heaven by hook or by crook, laying up their money in heaven, and expecting its rewards in heaven, too, and expecting to be rich in this world by the reward in response to their good works. Is it not a perverse(sinister-minded) idea?
How humans can fight off a sin like a Buddhist? It's impossible... It doesn't work by a man's endeavor unlike Buddhists struggle to fight it off, the sinful nature looks like an invincible power, the bitter root... Human itself is a lump of sin!
Well, whenever I write the part of the Bible, I feel like I'm going crazy like pastors, and getting mad because of something deadly contradiction of the Bible...
Every time I write, my thoughts are deepening about the Bible and about the themes of writing, so from time to time, I fear it...
Moreover, my thought can NEVER be an absolute standard to tell the Bible account, I want to punctuate this fact again and again...and again...
Nevertheless, all my questions about donation, the rich, and the poor based on the Bible(so to speak, the question is: should we people donate?) were solved without any confusion... How strange it is...! Not because that I have studied it in detail or in particular, but because the answers were naturally entered my head in the twinkling of an eye like a lightning, for example, while I was washing dishes..., and while I was doing something... I didn't even copy such answers from other sources(e.g: books, information on the internet, sermons by pastors, etc.)... I don't know how it happens in my mind and heart...
Sometimes, when I feel sad, a heartache with my hot tear, and fall into endless despair deep in my heart, I feel an impulse to rid all contents that I have posted... But it looks very painful to rid it as well... Someday it may be possible to permanently delete it... the day when my heart is healed... But it seems not to come the day...
To return, the verse 6 that the apostle Paul stated seems to be connected with the previous verse 5, so that the writer is said with the aura of conclusion; "The point is this" It seems to say kinds of principle for a readiness;
6: The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. And Paul is describing about " the willing gift(donation)" ; So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
Every believer (churchgoers) will donate, expecting their double rewards, or expecting to be rich by the root of their donation, which looks like their own avarice...
Well, the apostle Paul might have wanted to punctuate something "settled order", without the disorder, as they donated, saying the wordㅡ" whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
For if they donate with preparing money in advance, then there will be no disorder based on their readiness for donations as same as they prepared; therefore if someone has prepared pocket money, then the pocket money would have been donated as little as he has prepared as it is with unerring accuracy, while if one has prepared a big money to give, then the big money would have been donated with unerring accuracy as it is ㅡthis might have been the apostle Paul's real intention which was said based on the readiness in advance for the gift(collection). In doing so, the apostle Paul is emphasizing the willing collection without exaction once again, punctuating it like this; 7: Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
So at least, it doesn't seem to say the investment sentiment that churchgoers(believers) worldly expect their fruition (reward) after they donated like below; but rather, the apostle Paul said; 2 Corinthians 8:2 "For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part."
Beyond that, it might not have been possible to donate in order to receive the blessing(double reward) with having the mindset of "investment sentiment."
For instance, if one is faced with an extreme poverty or affliction, he will be impossible to cherish an investment sentiment right away... Who would be able to donate enough for their far future amid that tribulation?
Namely, at least it seems that their donations were not motivated by the avarice of getting back reward or investment sentiment, but ironically "the affliction and the extreme poverty" made them donate with the abundant joy by God's will, which means that men can never do it by themselves, but God did it in the impossibility like Jesus' disciples relinquished all their possession by Christ's intent.
And the apostle Paul said :
5: And this(the relief of the saints, verse 4), not as we expected, but they have themselves first to the Lord and then by "the will of God" to us.
Thus what if one thinks the statement of the apostle Paul like thisㅡif one donates a small sum money for the expense of managing church or pastors' salary or the poor, so, he thinks, he will reap sparinglyㅡthen he is likely to make mistake, misunderstanding what the apostle Paul said....
For the apostle Paul seems to say it as the principle of readiness in an organized order without a mistake of counting donation, it doesn't seem the investment sentiment that pastors or believers(churchgoers) expect, by the way, the apostle Paul seems to craftily and subtly say it like he wants churchgoers(saints back then) to donate much more, driving them to expect their double rewards(harvest) with his prominent eloquence...Who would want to sow sparingly...? That's why the apostle Paul was very smart... Accordingly, they are likely to misunderstand its statement... So those who harbor greed to get back a double reward(bountiful money) will be understood its passage as the investment sentiment in order to increase their investments(money, donation) in that way like the apostle Paul said...
I watched those kinds of pastors over YouTube channels and other social media, they have bolstered up people to invest donations for their thriving religious business(missionary work) esp. at the end of the year, quoting this passage: " whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
Hum... anyway it looks like a theory of "Buddhism"... If one misunderstands Paul's statement, then he will make sure the things like this; so to speak, "I can do as much as I strive to gain, everything is up to myself, there is no exceptionㅡif I bountifully sow many peanuts, then I will necessarily reap many peanuts, If I endeavor to do something, then it necessarily comes true as I expect." something like that... What if it is true, then our lives in this world will never be suffered, which there is no "exception".
It looks that God ultimately harvests its fruition whatever one sows... it doesn't work as humans wish whatever they sow, either sparingly sows or bountifully sows, for the harvest...unlike the apostle Paul's statement;
" whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
Yes, of course, his statement is not wrong; even there is a similar saying; "there is no smoke without fire."
Despite, Jesus performed a miracle; He turned water into wine! (John 2: 1~11) It utterly differs from Paul's perspective.
God made them to donate amid the extreme poverty, is it possible in a man's eye?... No one will can do that, but God did it in the extreme poverty and afflictions, which there was no an abundant seed(money). But the fruits were bountifully harvested like the sign of the " Feeding The Multitude" with five barley loaves and two fish(John 6:1~15)
In any case, if pastors teach the apostle Paul's word with the aura of investment sentiment, instigating churchgoer's greed, or squeezing churchgoers' money to donate for pastor's living, or expense of managing church, its religious business, then they are like impostors who cheat their money or wolves that devour sheep...
If one sows bountifully, whereby it is possible to reap bountifully, then everybody will want to
bountifully give money for their rich future, that's why pastors stress to donate, saying, " Brothers, sisters, I want you to receive God's blessing or rewards through donating, because God will repay it double, triple, fourfold ...as much as you donate for !! " But the money will put such pastor's pocket...
Most pastors do travel abroad all over the worldㅡ Russia, USA, Europe(esp. Germany, France, UK), Japan...etc. Oddly they don't travel to the poor countries... Yes, their purposes are always to spread the gospel..., whereas their churchgoers must donate(esp. tithes) for the expense of pastor's vacation(Holiday), of course, their followers cannot travel abroad like pastors travel abroad...
In other words, it looks like a "tacit compulsion" to collect donations as possible as pastors can do, quoting the word of apostle Paul's ;
" whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
11) Is It Evil To Be The Rich? Is It Good To Be The Poor Like The Bible Stated?
On the ground of the Bible, it seems that the rich were meant the Pharisees, so being the rich itself is not meant evil literally. Ultimately, it seems that God Himself drives them to be the rich or to be the poor as He wishes. So I think that all the rich are not evil, nor is good, and all the poor is not good, nor is evil.
Only God will determine if they can be saved or not. Whether or not they are the poor, it seems that it has nothing to be saved. Namely, It seems that every the rich or every the poor cannot be saved, but only those whom Jesus only seeks will be saved as " the one(the lost)" like Lazarus or Zacchaeus.
For Zacchaeus was none other than "the rich" but, Jesus sought him, his spirit, regardless of his wealth; Jesus said,
Mark 19:1~2 He entered Jericho and was passing through. And Behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 9: And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
My Conclusion About Donating
Frankly, I don't know what is right or wrong..., so should we donate to the poor?... Just what I think is that if God necessarily leads them to donate for the needy, then they will have to do donate for them... if not, we people may not donate reluctantly.
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The Red Kettle Of ...
Image source: Google |
Then, is it okay that we people don't care for the needy?
Well...If one wants to donate, he will donate, if one doesn't want to donate, he will not donate... God will control their mind and heart...
If one dies as the poor like "The Little Match Girl", despite sadly... it looks inevitable... Yes...inevitable... For the miserable destiny of the poor might be their predestined and inexorable fate that "God Himself" wants to be... On the contrary to this, what if God wants them to be rescued through donations or other ways, then they will be saved from hunger or poverty...
Along the way, those who are being reported as the needy are the very lucky people; it is unbelievable news that I read a few months ago: a certain single mother who lived in UK died by a "hunger"... I don't exactly remember if her newborn baby(or child) was dead with her or not, but the single mother was assuredly dead by "hunger" at her home, she starved for several months without any money by which she was not able to buy some food...
Nobody helped her poor life like no one bought " The Little Match Girl" her match...in the cold...
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The Dead Little Match Girl By ....
Image source: Google |
Some are still not even reported as the poor like the dead single mother in UK( not in poor Africa)... She didn't kill herself, but died by a deadly hunger in the 21st century...
A few days ago, someone wrote his/her comment on the comment section of the news regarding the suicide decision: for a certain woman who has troubled with a mental illness(depression) tried to kill herself on the cliff of the mount, but she was rescued by her family reported to a police and relief squad.
That someone wrote about that, like this: "To live is a suffering, to die is a suffering, too..." That is our lives in this world... It seems that donating is to sin, and not to donate is also to sin...Whose fault is it to be the poor...? According to the Bible, God leads them to be the rich or to be the poor...; 1 Samuel 2: 7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.
During that time, some are still donating, no matter what they expect to receive rewards, and some are still dying as the poor in our society, which the rich are still the rich, the poor are still the poor... Even God mercilessly kills the poor like the death of the parable of the beggar Lazarus in the Bible...
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The Starvation In The Cold With The Naked...
On Christmas day...
Only the white snowflakes will be covered on her cold dead body in silence... on that day...
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This word might be the ultimate answer regarding "The Rich and The Poor" in our lives; even it seems that being the rich and being the poor exist to only reveal Christ Himself...
" For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich ."
