seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Luke 14:25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.
“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
"Fear" and "hate" must have had different meanings back in the days of Jesus. I'm always reading how we should "fear" God. So, I Binged "fear definition" and this is what I got.
- an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat:
- be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening: "farmers fear that they will lose business"
So, I'm supposed to "fear" God. I "fear" rattlesnakes. Should I avoid God like I avoid rattlesnakes? Rattlesnakes move around more in the spring, should I avoid God during Easter and Christmas like I avoid rattlesnakes in the spring?
"Fear" God, back in the day, as well as today, means "respect Him". I have a healthy respect for rattlesnakes but I'm not going to be threatened by them if I follow the rules concerning rattlesnakes. I fear God because I know He has the ultimate power. I respect Him because He says what He means. If I follow the rules He laid down, I'm good.
Now Jesus says I should "hate" my family. This is what "hate definition" showed me.
- feel intense or passionate dislike for (someone):"the boys hate each other"
- intense or passionate dislike: "feelings of hate and revenge"
I don't hate my family. I can however live without all the drama they wade in. My family has a variety of names for me.... none of them describe a Christian. They don't like my "religion" [it's faith, not religion, but they don't know it]. I don't think any of them go to church anymore, and only my brother gets into the Word. I hate they have given up on God. I hate how they think God is irrelevant.
Once you become a Christian, you change. It's a fact.
Your family and friends may not like the change. They might want to take you out to the cliffs and throw you off for being insane. They may stop coming to you for advice because you always bring up that "religion" [it's faith not religion, but they don't know it]. You have to accept the fact that some of your drinking buddies might not be too appreciative of the new sober you.
You have to choose.
The cost is really high.
The reward is Heaven.
So... it's time... do you choose "fear and hate" or are you doomed to hell?
This is about real "fear and hate".
