by KeithE » Sat Nov 18, 2017 12:12 pm
There is a difference in being discriminating and showing discrimination against a class of people.
Jesus saw the greed of the money changers (no doubt that is what Jim was referring to with the "temple-defilement episode”) and wanted to make a point emphatically to not use the temple for monetary gain. That is what those money changers needed at the time. Jesus hoped that they would end this practice.
Jesus saw the hearts of the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law, and lashed out at them and He showed more anger at their sinful attitudes than any other type of sin. That is what those people needed again hoping they would become less judgmental and legalistic.
Jesus had witnessed the lack of welcoming or listening (Matt 10:14,15 a passage that Jim used to justify discrimination of a class of people) had told disciple to leave. Jesus believe was that the disciples should not browbeat or coerce them not belief. That would not be effective at that time, was Jesus’s guidance. So he asked te disciples to be discriminating but do not call for a forever-discrimination against those who were not receptive.
Then when Jesus Himself went into two of those unbelieving cities (Chorazin and Bethsaida Matt 11:20-25 larger context of what Jim offered to justify discrimination) and warned of a Day of Judgment that would be coming. That was what they needed.
So, yes Jesus was discriminating, but it was to be redemptive in the the most effective ways and I’m not about to challenge Jesus’s discernments.
Jesus also saw the sin of “sinners” like the woman caught in adultery (that the Pharisees brought to Jesus) and was tender with her as He saw her repentance and asked that she “sin no more” to the consternation of the Pharisees. He was always sympathetic towards those who are marginalized (e.g. Pharisee-condemned “sinners”, lepers, beggars, the sick, those with “demons”, Canaanites) whether they were sinners or not. These people were suffering from discrimination by the local people and Jesus condemned that discrimination. Jesus did not avoid interacting with the marginalized, as those cake makers or florists (in today’s issue de jour) are doing due to their discrimination.
For the record, in the LGBT/the cake maker&florist dilemma, I believe it is a very minor issue flared up by the RW. I believe LBGTs should just shake the dust off their feet and go elsewhere for their desired service and cake makers/florists should hold their nose and perform the service - they are not liable for the sin of others (if in fact God sees a same-sex marriage as sin) but their unloving attitudes very well could be sin.
Informed by Data.
Driven by the SPIRIT and JESUS’s Example.
Promoting the Kingdom of GOD on Earth.