tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13343388.post175606091028461666..comments2024-03-18T19:52:24.700-07:00Comments on The Faithful Geek: Changing Perspectives: Go the Extra Milenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12406031304387961610noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13343388.post-29707051750797163092023-02-13T08:54:41.658-08:002023-02-13T08:54:41.658-08:00i mean would you get the roman soldier in trouble ...i mean would you get the roman soldier in trouble if you are willing to take it a extra mile on your own free will? its not obligated..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13343388.post-23592212708538455772021-08-28T19:27:59.541-07:002021-08-28T19:27:59.541-07:00I think you've presented a few legitimate &quo...I think you've presented a few legitimate "angles" to this passage and principle, but I would not negate the concept of going above and beyond expectations, because that is exactly what going the extra mile is all about. It's actually about a lot of things, one of which is the demonstration of God's value system, with a clear emphasis on eternal values, witness and the being a light for God in a world that is corrupt, warped and skewed in every way imaginable. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13343388.post-66002144899255964422020-09-15T15:25:31.734-07:002020-09-15T15:25:31.734-07:00Unknown, interesting idea but I think it wanders a...Unknown, interesting idea but I think it wanders away from the meaning. Studying the Bible means you read the whole passage when puzzling over a verse. In the same speach that Jesus tells his listeners to go the second mile he says "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5:44 The Romans are clearly persecuting the Jews when they use this law, but Jesus is not saying "stick them with a pickle of legal retribution."<br /><br />I think Jesus here is preaching the same thing, consistent message, as he often does and that we also see in the Old Testament. Proverbs 25:21 "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,"<br /><br />The reason for this radical, revolutionary message is shown in the story of Paul and Silas in prison. Acts 16:27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”<br />29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”<br /><br />By acting completely different from the way a normal human would respond (Don't tread on me!) we can show how God loves the world, and people will see that we are truly different from the false religions.SlowlyFollowingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13343388.post-25759789998003207992020-05-14T21:25:04.000-07:002020-05-14T21:25:04.000-07:00He definitely did though. We have to remember a fe...He definitely did though. We have to remember a few critical things. One, Jesus comes from a long line of self-proclaimed messiahs and revolutionaries who were tired of Roman oppression and desired to put an end to it - rebellion. Two, this Roman world was grossly poor. Abject poverty. There’s no middle class. It’s a 2-3% wealthy elite and in power. The rest are absolutely poor. Jesus was among this poor, lower class from a small village just as poor, named Nazareth. Three, the religious rulers (scribes, priests and the high priest) was selected and positioned by Rome. It wasn’t by prayer or agreement from the Jews, but Roman designation. And those in power kept their power by pleasing Rome. Caiaphus, the high priest during Jesus’ life was indeed appointed by Rome. Having said all that, four, we must remember that there was a reason why the Roman government tortured, beat, and brutally executed Jesus - he was dangerous and his message was absolutely dangerous. And like His relative John the Baptist, his rhetoric was inflammatory both the religious elite and the government, again, who worked in tandem. Fear of displeasing Rome aka losing control of an unstable region of Judea, marked with uprisings and revolts, was the motivator for even Pontius Pilate to quickly put an end to whatever this uprising was. So our Jesus isn’t a pacifist nor was he preaching messages just of peace and passive conformity to the status quo. No. He rebelled directly against that and like the other “messiahs” before him, he was also executed as well.<br /><br />But unlike other messiahs......<br /><br />Wait for it.....<br /><br />HE GOT UP! Hence why history itself divides time on his birth!<br /><br />Just something to prayerfully consider that I’ve learned in school at my time in theological seminary. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02559229998031179315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13343388.post-84622443674579122782020-05-11T08:31:51.662-07:002020-05-11T08:31:51.662-07:00Also, https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png
...Also, https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png<br /><br />:facepalm:Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09821212300163613810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13343388.post-48614373839932705542020-05-11T08:27:51.922-07:002020-05-11T08:27:51.922-07:00Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I enjoyed re...Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I enjoyed reading this and you did a good job communicating your point. I don't know you and only found this post as I searched for the historical veracity of the practice of Roman soldiers being able to compel others into this kind of service. I have to say that I don’t agree for a couple of reasons and I hope my feedback won't be too unwelcome. :-) <br /><br />First, Jesus, and the whole Bible, promote trusting (faith) in God and humility toward oneself, often in direct contrast to taking matters into one's own hands in order to resolve them. (Romans 12:17-19 is one strongly correlating passage.)<br /><br />Secondly, the immediate context of this statement in Matthew 5 promotes humility, integrity, and generosity. Some examples of Jesus promoting humility are - don’t swear, for you don’t own the things you swear on, don’t divorce your wife but learn to work it out. Some examples of integrity, or aligning your inner life / heart with your actions are His teaching on murder & adultery in your heart vs. what is acted out. There is no hint of Jesus teaching creative, passive-aggressive techniques to protest and subvert oppressive forces. Finally, this teaching leads straight into clear calls for His followers to live generosity (give to him who asks, love your enemies).<br /><br />I appreciate you exploring how obeying this could lead a Roman soldier into a dilemma and the complexities that could result. I am confident that Jesus would have understood all of this. However, I don’t believe that He taught the second mile concept primarily to cause these circumstances.Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09821212300163613810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13343388.post-56916512936341993622020-04-12T20:31:06.164-07:002020-04-12T20:31:06.164-07:00Thank you. Thank you. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17243224179321793589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13343388.post-36865431891171295162020-03-03T15:29:33.919-08:002020-03-03T15:29:33.919-08:00Thank you. Thank you. nichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12406031304387961610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13343388.post-87283594437078910532020-03-02T02:57:11.055-08:002020-03-02T02:57:11.055-08:00Good readGood readgugugagahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09641328026198923625noreply@blogger.com