Should A Christian Hate His Parents; Should A Christian Carry A Weapon?
Dear Disciples, this morning I had this exchange with one of my students from India and thought we all may profit from it. So I am sharing it here:
On Luke 14:26; Are we to Hate Our Parents
Student (India) Father, please just explain about this particular scripture Luka 14:26, I do not understand what the text meant.
Bishop Hayes: Luke 14:26. Jesus is speaking in hyperbole. This is exaggerated speech. He is saying that our love for our parents, when compared to Him, must seem like hate. Love Him more than earthly parents or self. He did not mean that we are to hate" our parents (or ourselves) in the way we think of hate. It is hyperbole.
Student: thanks you lot..
On Luke 22:35-36; Are Christians to be Armed:
Student - India: Father in Christ, hope you are doing good this day, so, i need you help. please explain what these verse meant. Luke 22:35-36, especially what do the 36 meant to state
Bishop Hayes: My brother, some try to dance around this text and say it does not mean what it says - but it does. V36 Jesus instructs His disciples to be armed for their personal protection and also to protect the mission of preaching the gospel.
Earlier He had sent them out without provision to teach them that God would provide for their needs. However, He did not intend for them to always be needy - Here He instructs them to be supplied from their own sources, if they had them.
Student: you meant that Jesus tell his disciple to buy real sword to protect themselves from their enemies?
Bishop: Yes. Jesus would say to Pilate: If my kingdom was of this world then would my servants fight. Jesus condoned physical struggle for a righteous kingdom through this statement. While we are to love our enemies, pray for them and do good to them, we are not to permit ourselves and our love ones to be killed by them. The teaching that a Christian is NEVER to bear arms is a misguided teaching.
Jesus said "sword." That was the weapon of the day. Today that would translate to "gun."
Student: but if we look in Mathew 26:52, it says that for all who take the sword will perish by the sword, here, one of the disciple trying to protect Jesus and even themselves but Jesus rebuke not to use the sword, i really confuse!!!
Bishop: This is only one of many biblical sayings and events that will be confusing. What I would say about Jesus' statement you referenced is this: Jesus did not want to be defended by the sword at that time because this was His destiny (i.e. to be crucified). Now, because of what He had told His disciples to do, i.e. arm themselves, we can be sure that He did not mean here to say it is wrong to be armed. In Matthew 26:52 Jesus is saying to Peter: If one "lived by the sword" (made their way through life by the sword -i.e. through violence) they would die by violence. Throughout history Christians have approved of wars for self-defense but not wars of offense.
Here is the thing about doctrine: Ps 119:160 says that the "Sum of thy word is truth." Therefore one MUST have ALL the Scriptures on a subject before one can arrive at truth. Our job as bible teachers is to collect ALL passages on a subject and then harmonize them so that there is no contradiction. Let me say it this way: We have not found truth until we have found the single common denominator that makes all of the passages fit together.
Student: Father, somehow i comprehend but still i need you help and teaching, according to me sword is the word of God. that why i am asking.
Bishop: Sword= the Word of God. That is true in passages that are referencing the Word. but the "Context" here, in our text, are physical things. To teach that "sword" in our passage is the Word is breaking context. This is how false teaching comes into being.
Think about it: If Jesus meant the “sword” to be understood as the Word of God, He would be talking about the OT because the NT had not yet been written. This was before the printing press and a copy of the hand written OT would be out of reach of anyone but a really rich person; a years wages would not be enough to purchase it. The "Sword" that Jesus instructed them to buy could be bought with the price of a garment. You must never break the context of the passage.
Are Ministers to Go Preach Without Provisions?
Student: before Jesus had send them without money bag, knapsack else but why here telling them to take money bag knapsack and even tell them to buy sword,
Bishop: Jesus did things to teach life lessons. The first time they were sent out He wanted them to learn to depend on God for their needs. Here he sends them out with provisions.
Example: As a young minister I traveled all across American preaching the gospel. I had a family (a wife and three small children) but I went from church to church without any promise of money or support. God provide although I had to trust Him for even a place for my family and I to sleep at night. As I got older and more experienced I was able to buy my own room and board even if the Church did not provide for us. At the first, we learned the lesson that God will provide. Once the lesson is learned there is nothing wrong in making provision for the mission before hand.
Peace to your houses;
☩ Jerry Hayes
