Saturday, 08 August 2009
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Strangers who are they?
Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
(Hebrews 13:1-3 KJV)
Entertaining Angels... this is something we rarely entertain as a possibility. In a world where reality is based on what science can tell us we think this must be more of a metaphor than reality.
I normally think of entertaining angels as a old testament thing.
It is common belief that Abraham and Sarah had a visit by 2 angels, who then went on to Lot with Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19), but maybe the verse is for today.
In Hebrews we read that we are not to be forgetful to entertain strangers .....for some of us have entertained angels unaware....
Do you think this is literal or just a metaphor?
How does this verse impact your life?
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About the Author
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- From: BarryDadof3@xanga
- Name: Barry
- About Me: Hey There, I am a father of 3 children and husband to my wife (Kristenmom0f3). I am a Christian who enjoys sharing Adonai's word with others. I made this blog to become an outlet for my thoughts and feelings on being a father in this world in which we live May Elohim Bless You All Shalom BarryDadof3
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Comments (11)
I can see it being literal but whether it is or not we need to take the advice very literally. We need to be hospitable and loving to all people without exception. This verse DEFINITELY is connected to the story of Lot and Sodom/Gomorrah but I think it is also tied to current events because he says "some." that's plural so we are to read this thinking it's happened more than once.
@TheGreatBout@xanga - right on Bro!!
@TheGreatBout@xanga - My thoughts exactly!
A well known drug addict asked me for money today. In all hospitality I refused. The local Catholic church has a soup kitchen and extends a helping hand to all needy people. A couple of months ago this same fellow hit me up for money in the supermarket parking lot. He said he was really hungry. I recommended that he go to the soup kitchen. He told me that he prefered not to go there. I told him that I prefered not to give him any money.
Another time in front of the church a couple of indigent people hit me up for some money. Before I could refuse one of their better off friends jumped in and berated them for panhandeling. "Why weren't you guys at breakfast this morning (at the soup kitchen)?!"
"We slept in," they replied.
I guess it's just much easier to beg for people's hard-earned money than to get their lazy asses out of bed so they can eat a wonderfully prepared free meal.
Saying no to enabling drug addiction and craven laziness is so much more moral than mindlessly saying yes to wickedness. Charity is not about feeling good. It's about doing the right thing.
Luke 6:30-31
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Matthew 5:42
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Romans 12:13
Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
1Peter 4:8-9
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling
@TheGreatBout@xanga - why didn't you include the verse about casting pearls before swine? Selective application of verses....
I think it's real. Sometimes I wonder if people I meet really are angels and it's a test to see how I'll respond to them. Who knows?
Literal. why must we make everything figurative?
@Ork58@xanga - How do you relate the teachings not to cast pearls before swine and the teaching to give to all who ask, while taking both seriously?
@SirNickDon@xanga - point is, you cannot take the verses out of context. One part of the Bible teaches to turn no one away, another teaches not to throw your pearls before the swine. Jesus said if the salt loses its saltiness, it is worthless and to be cast underfoot.
We are to extend the hand of Christian kindness to those in need. But what is need? An old proverb says "give a man a fish and he will soon be hungry, but teach a man to fish and he need never be hungry"... to remediate true need, we need to empower others to help themselves. How is it that we are in a position to help others if we do not have abundance...how did we get in this position? Those who have extra to give got it some way, and seldom by others giving it to us...
It says to "give to those who ask you" the word Money is not in that sentence. If they were truly worried about eating they would have got up and went to eat. But as it was they were interested in feeding a different kind of hunger- one that had little to do with food.
So what should you give them? If they say they are hungry give them FOOD, not money. If they refuse the food and seek money you know that food is not what they plan on buying!
Use Wisdom and do that right thing!