All of those who are crushed by the mighty are literally Jesus . . .

[patrice]

amongst us today. That includes anyone : babies in the womb, people in the World Trade Center, and Iraqi citizens.

Why would Jesus suffer as he did? Certainly not just to make money for Mel Gibson.

Why wasn't Jesus just murdered and then rise again? Wouldn't that have proven his point?

No : He suffered because he was trying to show us something about ourselves, i.e. how we treat the weak and disempowered. These are the sins he died for. Not abstract somethings that are excused now, so I don't have to do anything except smile and obey and be nice. But concrete things we do every day to anyone who hasn't had the breaks we've had, such as the misfortune to be in the womb when someone is making a career move, or the misfortune to be living in Iraq right now. These persons are Jesus.

[ogsball]

1. When you did it not for the least of these you did it not for me. nt

[patrice]

6. Nice turn on Mathew 25. n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. True enough.

[Tsiyu]

2. Scripturally speaking"

you are correct.

"Love your enemies" has never been a Repuke mantra. Neither has "Sell all you have and give to the poor."

I would think Christ might tell the Repukes the same thing he told Peter, when Peter tried to predict the future:

"Get thee behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

[indigobusiness]

4. powerful

stuff

[Selatius]

3. People who help others

I think aid workers who work to help people in disaster areas, fight disease and famine in the third world, or help relieve suffering in war torn nations are closer to the message of Jesus than Bush is or any televangelist who would use his clout to politicize issues. If anything, that is what Jesus fought against his whole life, and that's what he died for. Anyone who sincerely wants to help others gets Jesus' message more than those who espouse "personal responsibility" (code word for "I don't believe in social programs to help those who need the most help").

His message of non-violence, tolerance, and love for all mankind regardless of lifestyle or beliefs has been lost.

[indigobusiness]

5. Ipso facto

Bush is Antichrist.