The High PRICE of

PEACE and

CONFORMITY

as we continue

THE TWO MINOR QUESTIONS -- 

 PEACE AT WHAT PRICE?

and

CONFORMITY 

TO WHOSE DOCTRINE? 

First, it might be instructive to look more closely at the "Proof Texts" offered on Page 1

    Luke 2:9 "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them: [the shepherds of Bethlehem] and they were sore afraid.

    10 "And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

    11"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

     12 "And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe  wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

     13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men."

According to the Bible story of Christ's birth in Matthew, not Luke, the 

"Peace" that arrived in Bethlehem was that of Herod's soldiers sent 

there by that bloodthirsty king to kill all the babies in that town that 

were two years old and under (Matthew 2:16) and Jesus only escaped 

death himself because his family fled to Egypt (Matthew 2:13,14).

    Luke 2:52 "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."

    3:16 "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

     17 "And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias [Isaiah], And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 

     18 "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverence to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."

As Luke continues this story, Jesus' announcement that he was now 

fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy was not well accepted.   Indeed his hearers 

immediately tried to kill him.

Verse 28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things,

were filled with wrath,  29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city,

and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that 

they might cast him down headlong."

      Matthew 5:1 "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

    4 Blessed are they that mourn (as did the parents of all those dead babies in Bethlehem): for they shall be comforted.

     5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."

     6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness (because they are NOT CONFORMING TO AN EVIL WORLD): for they shall be filled,

     7 Blessed are the merciful (merciful to WHOM? to those who are the NON-CONFORMISTS?): for they shall obtain mercy.

     8 Blessed are the pure in heart (certainly a minority in today's world!): for they shall see God.

     9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."

     19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

     21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

    27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

     29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."

    30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that the whole body should be cast into hell."

     39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.  40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also."

     41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away."

     42 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.  42 But I say unto you, Love your enemy, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

     48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

          Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

      19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

"The Holy Trinity"

      20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

     

     Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

       This Gospel of the Kingdom being, of course, the Gospel delivered to Saint Peter and Saint Paul by Jesus, and delivered by them to the Holy Catholic Church.    The Gospel now controlled and administered by Pope Benedict XVI, who expects all Christians to come to mass on Sunday mornings to receive absolution from their sins to escape the fires of hell and purgatory!

The church in it's righteous efforts to see that the

"Christ of Conformity" 

is satisfied ran into a young maiden of France known as 

"Joan of Arc" 

who persisted in wearing men's clothes instead of 

clothes designed for women.   Also she listened to 

voices in her head (visions she claimed) instead of 

the "safe" voice of her priest and Father confessor.

For these and other non-conformist actions, 

she was burned at the stake ---

The priest who ordered her burned also

said the words which sent her soul to purgatory

or hell, but about a decade late Christ's church on earth

decided she was in heaven instead---

eventually she was declared a saint---

Saint Joan of Arc!

NEXT: Original Sin!

Other web pages in this same series (5 web pages in all)

1) Jesus, the Christ of Peace and Conformity

2) The Price of Conformity

3) How did Jesus escape Adam's Original Sin?

4) Bible Creation Story Conformity 

now required at Southern Adventist University

5) Controversial Christ, Controversial God

INDEX to healthark.com