Cause & Effect?

I have read Matthew 10, honestly I think the whole thing is rather deplorable. It seems to be telling everyone that if they don't drop everything they hold dear (including their own family) and worship him unquestioningly then we will deny them to his father in heaven. Also instructions on how to best evangelize, and if people don't listen to you then they'll burn in hell anyway.

My point in posting that was not to try to imply that Jesus literally "lived by the sword", but rather that there are good things and bad things in the bible. You can use quotes to support almost any argument, including trying to legitimize something that would go against other parts of the bible.

I c, so you still don't understand. Try reading with a little less judgement about Christians. We are not all the ones who attacked you when you were young, most of us love you.

1. Does it say to drop your family or to put God before your family?

2. Does it say to turn on your family, or that they will turn on you?

3. Does it say that we should pick up our swords, or that we should not fear being slain by the swords for what we say?

Firstly, this doesn't relate to my point. Someone can use the bible to support any position.

For example I could say

1. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.(That kind of screams drop everything and worship)

2. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (This has been used to justify shunning your family)

3. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Or I could say.

1. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Simply put God first)

2. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. (They will turn on you, but God is most important)

3. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul (Purposefully leaving out the bit about us having to fear God because he can toast our bodies and souls in Hell)

Specific verses can be used to promote different viewpoints. Ultimately the entire text is made up of individual verses, so taking them out of context, then putting them back in can help one contort it's meaning (in their own mind) to whatever they want it to be, in some cases, attempting to legitimize their distrust or outright hatred of non-believers. This was all I was saying.

Furthermore, the reason I don't like Matthew 10 isn't because I don't understand it, it's because I find blind obedience deplorable. Clearly to someone who has faith in the lord, the writings are not bad at all because they're only asking you to follow the light of God.

Where you see, "keep your priorities straight" I see, "worship me without question or else"

I don't harbor any judgment towards Christians. It's few pages in a book, not the defining characteristic of every Christian on the planet.

Sin, doing that which is against the will of God. If God wants us to turn to love, and we instead strike out of anger have we not done what God detests?

So far you've talked about swords. I'm not talking about swords, but fists.

You've said turn the other cheek, and in fact, I did. It did not stop the Christian from assaulting me.

You've said love your enemy. While I feel the boat has set off on this one, I must point out that this does not necessarily mean that punching your enemy in the face is a sin. Indeed, it would seem to negate the need for enemies.

Besides, considering how many Christians seem to think Jesus carried a gun, do you really think they consider punching an atheist in the face a sin? I mean really? My point is that it is certainly not as cut and dry as say, thou shalt not worship graven images.

But wait, you have not yet convinced me that hitting atheists in the face is not in fact the will of God. I mean:

Psalm 14:1 - The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Why would God not want you to punch me in the face? We doeth nothing good other than make for excellent walking punching bags.

Sin, doing that which is against the will of God. If God wants us to turn to love, and we instead strike out of anger have we not done what God detests?

JGG, i'm really sorry about what this guy/s did to you. I know it was against the will of God because it obviously hurt you. Don't ever think however that God wants bad things to happen to anyone, even if you are a fool. On that note I can't hear what your heart says, only your fingers.

Long story short, only God knows the heart of man so only God can judge what you deserve. It was not this 'Christians' place to judge you and turn on you violently.

Obviously, I don't think God wants bad things happen to anyone. God doesn't factor into my opinion. I'm talking about Christians who think that God wants bad things to happen to people they don't like, and then carry such things out.

But obviously it is. Read the OP again. Read the links. These people are "God's executioners." They have determined what God wants, and have carried it out.

David, listen to me. I don't actually think Mathew 10 is advocating violence, I was trying to point out that someone can use the Bible to support whatever they want.

That is an obvious sin, and a selfish one.

and i can tell you they're wrong to do so.