Parables, can we break the code? (Jesus, moral, Kingdom, beliefs)

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by Heneni

Hello dobbelganger

Im interested in what you believe to be more than one kind of salvation?

I don't "believe" anything about it. I listen to different people describe different things they mean by "salvation." Your idea of torturing the king instead of the wicked servant is consistent with some of them.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

I don't "believe" anything about it. I listen to different people describe different things they mean by "salvation." Your idea of torturing the king instead of the wicked servant is consistent with some of them.

Perhaps the real question is, which version do you favour?

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by Willamena

Perhaps the real question is, which version do you favour?

Oh . . . now that's a question I can answer. Personally, I prefer to think of "salvation" as self-acceptance and a sense of peace with one's universe that follows after an experience of shame, condemnation, or a sense of separation or unwelcomeness.

[Heneni]

Hello dobbelganger.

I believe there is salvation of the spirit, the body and the soul.

Salvation of the spirit happened on the cross, salvation of the body happens at resurrection, and salvation of the soul is your responsibility.

Stinking thinking wont get you into heaven. Stinking thinking means you hurt your fellow human beings. Cant go to heaven if you want to kick your fellow citizens out, or be unfriendly with them.

Salvation of the soul is what this parable is about. You should have kindness and mercy on your fellow human beings simply because god is kind to you.

If you dont forgive your fellow servants neither will he forgive you. This does not mean you loose your salvation, it means you loose your rewards. The reward for being good to others is that your soul is re-generated. It means you start to think like god does. If you dont your soul is still not re-generated. We have to renew the way we think. We have to think like god thinks.

If you dont, you will suffer the consequences of that yourself. Jesus did not die for stinking thinking. He died to make a way for your spirit to return to god.

The bible says we have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Since if you dont renew your soul, your mind, its still not ready to return to him.

Love
heneni

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by Heneni

Hello dobbelganger.

I believe there is salvation of the spirit, the body and the soul.

Salvation of the spirit happened on the cross, salvation of the body happens at resurrection, and salvation of the soul is your responsibility.

Okay. I've heard that version before.

Originally Posted by Heneni

Salvation of the soul is what this parable is about. You should have kindness and mercy on your fellow human beings simply because god is kind to you.

I can see that interpretation and consider it a reasonable way of reading the text. I don't personally agree with the values I perceive in it though. In my view I show kindness and mercy "on my fellow human beings" because I want to, not because "God" or anyone else in particular has been kind to me.

Originally Posted by Heneni

If you dont forgive your fellow servants neither will he forgive you.

My approach to the Gospel is a little different these days. I'm more interested in the psychology, as I noted above. But thanks for sharing.

[Heneni]

The bible is clear on this matter. ANYone that does good to their fellow human beings, are rewarded for it.

Christian, non-christian, atheist...you name it. If you are good to others you are rewarded for it.

What is the reward? As long as you dont do it for a reward there is a reward.
The question is why do people help others? Do they do it to help others, or to feel good about themselves?

It is true that being good to others make you feel good about yourself. Therefore that is the reward.
For a christain being good to others is because they identify with the goodness of god, and more of him in our lifes is our reward, more of his way of thinking. The christian is encouraged to be particularly good to their enemies. Which is a strange concept to the world. But if you are able to do good to your enemies, you are truly a child of god. Its what seperated them from the rest. (well supposedly). Also being good to your enemy could mean giving them a good dose of the truth, which will offend before it sets free.

Love
Heneni

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by Heneni

The bible is clear on this matter. ANYone that does good to their fellow human beings, are rewarded for it.

Okay. That's one of the better things in the Bible then.

Originally Posted by Heneni

What is the reward? As long as you dont do it for a reward there is a reward.

Right. So don't do it for the reward. And it's cheating if you 'don't do it for the reward' so you can get the reward. Don't you think "God" would be smart enough to figure that one out?

Originally Posted by Heneni

The question is why do people help others? Do they do it to help others, or to feel good about themselves?

Probably for a wide array of reasons depending on the person doing the helping and who and when they are helping, but ultimately because they want to - however they may justify it.

Originally Posted by Heneni

For a christain being good to others is because they identify with the goodness of god, and more of him in our lifes is our reward, more of his way of thinking. The christian is encouraged to be particularly good to their enemies. Which is a strange concept to the world. But if you are able to do good to your enemies, you are truly a child of god.

What "enemies" are you talking about?

[Heneni]

Good question who is my enemy!!!

I could just frubal you for that!


Gods idea of an enemy is a spirit that resists good. And so by being hateful to your enemy means you become the enemy of god yourself. By opposing good, you become an enemy of god, who is good. God can therefore not be the enemy of anyone since he is good to everyone.

Whether people percieve him as such...well that is another matter.

Do