He came to bring a sword between family members.
No one is saying quarelling with others is a sign of righteousness. Only that following a path that is against the norm will likely bring you in conflict with others.
I will defend Jesus treatment of his Mother (and Father) as I have done before.
Most parents in most cultures feel that they have a right to direct the lives of their children. While this is obviously largely true while the child is a minor, it becomes a problem once the child reaches...
I think there is a fundamental difference you are missing. The church (from I know) tells its own members to stay away from, shun or otherwise distrust apostates. The apostates can have no fight against this as they have no natural or legal right to the association of anyone, including JWs.
So...
I've just realised that you have began a new topic.
Jesus at times displays a dogmatic ego by making people's happiness and salvation dependent on how they treat him or whether or not they listen to or follow him.
But if looked at with a spiritual eye, there maybe something else other than ego...
As specified in another post, I assume we are talking about adults, including adult children. I don't know of a country that requires any adults (including parents) to associate with other adults. If it is the case then that country clearly does not respect the right to freedom of association...
No one has any right to the association of another. If you walk a different path from mine in terms of fundamental beliefs there is nothing wrong with me choosing not to associate with you. In fact it may be in the best interest of yours and mine's mental welfare to rather keep our distance...
I mistated the quote - If you love someone you let them do what makes them happy. You have no obligation to do anything for them.
NOTE: I'm assuming we are talking about an adult child.
Yes - if one does not read anything spiritual into it, then this is clearly a huge expression of ego.
From a spiritual perspective Jesus appears to be advocating for principle above subjective emotions and connections. Truth over all (Remember he says "I am the way the truth and the life") . So...
I have often heard it being said that if you care about someone you do what makes them happy - not what you think should make them happy. So a case can be made that those who are trying to disturb the happiness of others (be it a delusion or not) are not acting out of care but out of some sort...
Because when using a figure of speech, it is understood that one is comparing aspect of the two objects rather than saying that the one is the other. This is especially true of simile. In fact in the quoted passage the specific similarities the author sees are specifically mentioned to show that...