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savedfromsalvation · 6 years ago

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Be Wise As Serpents

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16)

Comment

This verse instructs the apostles to act "wise as serpents." Since Christians hold that the serpent in the Bible represents Satan, one might wonder about this. In Genesis 3:1 the Bible describes the serpent as "more subtil than any beast..." Some early Gnostic heretics believed that Satan and Jesus were the same. They may have used sayings such as this to support their belief.

It seems odd that Jesus would resort to the metaphorical "sheep" instead of sheep-dogs or some other noble animal. The awkward fact remains: people raise sheep to either fleece them or kill them for food. To send them as prey in the midst of marauders hardly seems advisable.

Note also that doves actually act just the opposite of "harmless." Doves sometimes act viciously against other birds.

Beat That Slave

"And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes." (Luke 12:47)

Comment

Note, the word "servant" here means slave. The Biblical Jesus lived in a time when slavery flourished, yet He never spoke or fought against it.

"English North Americans embraced slavery because they were Christians, not in spite of it... It was Christianity that perverted the African's way of life. Not leaving them alone was the real tragedy." --Forrest G. Wood

Burn Them!

"Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings." (Psalms 140:4)

"Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again." (Psalms 140:10)

Comment

Such wicked words can justify to the religious person any atrocity including holocausts. Ironically, the words "Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked" and which verse 10 calls for horrible acts against their enemies, hardly imparts a message of love of thine enemies.

Creation Contradiction, 1

"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." (Genesis 1: 3-5)

"And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth." (Genesis 1:16-17)

Comment

God creates day and night on the first day and then makes the stars and the two great lights (sun and moon) on the fourth day (Genesis 1:19). How can you have day and night on the first day without a star? This describes a dramatic contradiction to the way the actual universe works. To have a day you must have a rotating planet and a sun. Genesis proves that God (or more accurately, the authors of Genesis) could not have known about the structure of the universe, or even the difference between stars and planets.

Creation Contradiction, 2

"And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that is was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." (Genesis 1:25-26)

"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air..." (Genesis 2:18-19)

Comment

In the first account, man gets created after the beasts, the second account has man created before the beasts . Only a person who exercised warped logic or blind faith could believe this outright contradiction. Yet to the fundamentalist reader, the many hundreds of contradictions and discrepancies in the Bible go by unseen, regardless of how many honest scholars and theologians have discovered otherwise.

In fact there occurs two stories of Genesis, the second story starts at Genesis 2:4. The first story uses Elohim (God in the plural form) and the second story uses the LORD God (Yahweh Elohim, sometimes incorrectly termed Jehovah). Both stories appear markedly different, yet somehow in history the stories got annexed together. This shows the allegorical intent of Genesis rather than a factual account.

Even the belief among non-fundamentalists, that the Bible has kept its original form despite minor changes, has led many theologians to think otherwise. One of the most highly respected theologians, Bruce Metzger, has written extensively on the errors in the Bible. For example, in his book "The text of the New Testament- Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration," Metzger asserts errors due to:

Errors arising from faulty eyesight

Errors arising from faulty hearing

Errors of the mind

Errors of judgment

Difficulties historical and geographical

Alterations from doctrinal considerations

Addition of miscellaneous details.

Many times whole belief systems and vast changes to a society can change from a simple mistranslation of a single word. (For example "virgin" got confused in Isaiah 7:14 for young woman "almah")

Creation Contradiction, 3

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27)

"And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man." (Genesis 2:21-22)

Comment

In the first account, God created a man and female simultaneously, in God's image. In the second account Adam gets created from the dust (Genesis 2:7), and then later, a woman came from one of Adam's ribs. Again, this shows another difference between the two Genesis story accounts, each contradicting the other.

There occurs a plethora of contradictions in the Bible, far too many for the scope of the Dark Bible. For those who wish further edification, consult "The Bible Handbook for Free-Thinkers and Inquiring Christians," edited by G. W. Foote and W. P. Ball (Pioneer Press, London)

Curse The Children

"And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise." (Numbers 14:33-34)

Comment

This cruel curse on children attributed to God, for the sins of their parents, bears the typical harsh vengeful evil spirit that permeates the Old Testament.

How can one not conclude that these verses give the greatest insult to a loving God?

Eat Your Children

"And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD they God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straightness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:" (Deuteronomy 28:53)

"And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates." (Deuteronomy 28:57)

Comment

Here we have the horrific calling for cannibalism. It comes even more barbaric considering it calls for the devouring of their own sons and daughters.

Hardly anyone today accepts cannibalism, yet many fundamentalist Christians would have us believe that cannibalism or some other depravity will result if we choose not to believe in God or to choose another god.

(See also II Kings 6:28-29)

God Accepts Slavery

"And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever." (Exodus 21:5-6)

Comment

The Bible bears witness to the fact that God accepts not only slavery but violence against such slaves (in this case a awl driven through the ear) for the innocent statement of love for their master, wife and children.

It came from precisely these verses that justified, in many peoples minds, the tortures inflicted on African slaves when they tried to leave their cruel masters in the American colonies. "Good" Christians of the day would drive nails and spikes through the ears of defenseless slaves whose only offense came from the will to no longer serve as slaves.

Not until after the Civil War did federal laws become enacted to protect African Americans from gross physical abuse. Even today, the KKK and "the Aryan Race" use the Bible as justification for their attacks against "Negroes."

God Condones Slavery

"Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids." (Leviticus 25:44 , KJV)

"As for the male and female slaves whom you may have, it is from the nations around you that you may aquire male and female slaves." (Leviticus 25:44, NRSV)

Comment

The Biblical meaning rings clear: God not only condones slavery, but gives permission to buy and own slaves. The Southern United States fought The Civil War over such Scriptural teachings.

The Gods creation

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." (Genesis 1:26) [Bold caps mind, Ed.]

Comment

The Bible has a crisis from the very beginning in that Biblical translators have chosen to use the word "God" for the Hebrew term 'Elohim.' The problem, here lies in the fact that Elohim represents the plural form of 'El.' Elohim literally means 'gods.' A more honest translation of Verse 1 should read, "In the beginning Gods created the heaven and the earth," and in Verse 26: "And the Gods said..."

The idea of Genesis and the Creation story did not come originally from the Hebrews, but rather from various cultures in the area. For example, excavations in Mesopotamia uncovered small cylinder seals depicting the creation stories. Of course these early people believed in many gods and goddesses, just as did the first Hebrews. The Enuma Elish, the Mesopotamian creation story which predates Genesis and which believers recited in every Mesopotamian temple every year for some 4000 years and more, parallels the Biblical stories to such an extent that it even makes abundant use of the "magical" number seven. [Romer, p.35-36]

Although as the Hebrew belief system grew, and the word Elohim came to mean the singular God, the fact still remains: The original meaning meant the plural form. Any honest translation of Elohim, therefore should reflect this plurality. In the name of honesty, we should ask why our Church fathers would allow the dishonest singular forms of the word God in the Bible.

Note, when anyone questioned this plurality, Christian priests tried to resolve this sticky problem by using the concept of the Trinity (Father, Son and the Holy Ghost) or the heavenly angels to explain the plurality. The problem here comes that if they truly believed this, then why not use the proper plural translation in the first place? Substituting a singular term for the plurality of the Trinity or other heavenly agents amounts to dishonesty or subterfuge.

God Orders Adultery

"This said the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun." (II Samuel 12:11)

Comment

Here describes God, not only condoning adultery, but literally causes it to happen!

Note also, the strange assertion that God raises up evil, supposedly an act reserved for Satan. In fact, nowhere does the Bible accuse Satan of raising evil. Little do most faithful realize that they worship a raiser and creator of evil (for God's creation of evil, see Isaiah 45:7).

God's OK On Abortion

"And when he hath made her drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people. And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed." (Numbers 5:27-28)

Comment

This nonsensical ritual, prescribed by God, to a woman suspected of infidelity, must undergo the drinking of a vile concoction made of bitter water and dust from the floor of a tabernacle. A priest calls a curse upon the woman's head to insure that if she has acted in adultery the drinking of the liquid will cause her to have a miscarriage. If she comes out clean, then she shall conceive.

Regardless of how ridiculous this procedure seems, any person who believes every word of the Bible must come to terms with the realization that the quoted God here sometimes authorizes abortion.

(also see Num. 5:1-25)

Golden Rule

"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." (Luke 6:31)

Comment

From this verse we have the Jesus formulation: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Also known as the Golden Rule. This gives an example of perhaps the most admired and quoted saying by Jesus, not only from Christians, but from unbelievers alike.

Most people do not realize that Jesus did not originate this saying. K'ung-Tzu (also known as Confucius) also expressed a similar idea, ironically called the Silver Rule. However, does this seemingly worthy Golden Rule live up to its billing?

At first glance, the rule appears justified. Who wouldn't want to receive treatment the way we wish? And who wouldn't want to give the same treatment to others? However, upon further reflection we quickly come upon problems. Who says that the receiving person wishes to always get treated the way "we" wish? Would most people like to get treated like a masochist from a masochist? Would an atheist like to get treated like a Christian? Would a Christian like to get treated as an atheist? Clearly, the Golden rule can cause severe incompatibilities with the other person involved. The Golden Rule only seems commendable because we impart our own individual concepts without realizing that "doing unto others" has various meanings to other people. The Golden Rule reflects upon selfish motives instead of incorporating a system that can work for a diverse society. Therefore, when Jesus uses this incomplete and illusory command, he deceives the believer into a false sense of morality. Consider that in some cases, treating people the way they would like to get treated works better than the way you would like to get treated. Think about it.

Note: many studies of rule based systems (including ethics, game theory, and computer simulations) reveal two rules that always lose: the Golden Rule and the Iron Rule. The systems that work best involve Tit-For-Tat strategies that include many situational rules.

[For more information on game theories, refer to the works of Robert Axelrod (for example: 'The Evolution of Cooperation,' and 'The evolution of strategies in the iterated prisoner's dilemma') and Douglas R. Hofstadter's, Metamagical Themas)]

Happy To Kill Children

"Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones." (Psalms 137:9, KJV)

"How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock." (Psalms 137:9, New American Bible)

"Happy the man who shall seize and smash your little ones against the rock!" (Psalms 137:9, New American Bible)

"a blessing on anyone who seizes your babies and shatters them against a rock!" (Psalms 137:9, Jerusalem Bible)

Comment

Ask a Christian friend whether he or she should feel happy to dash a child against the rocks. Your friend will most likely stare at you in horror, much less believe this idea exists in their sacred Bible.

Many Churches have found this verse quite embarrassing. It gives no wonder why priests, Jews, and Christians alike, who quote from Psalms 137, always leave out this last verse.

(See also Isaiah 13:16; Hosea 13-16)

Hate Them!

"Surely thou will slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies." (Psalms 139:19-22)

Comment

A message of hate from the, supposed, inspired words of God against anyone who takes God's name in vain or who goes against God.

Faith in one's belief produces a barrier to further investigation. Religious groups that differ in beliefs from other societies cannot see past their own barriers. When hate enters into the prison of their beliefs, the seeds for violence to act out against other societies come to full bloom.

Hate Your Family!

"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26)

Comment

This remarkable statement of hate by Jesus directly contradicts the idea of a loving Christ. If one must hate their father, mother, wife, children, brethren and sisters and even themselves, in order to become a disciple of Jesus, one must question Christ's idea love, family, and decency.

(See also Luke 12:51-53, Matthew 10:34-37.)

Note: A few desperate apologists attempt to dismiss this verse claiming that the word 'hate' here really doesn't mean what it says. The problem with this approach boarders on complete deception and the ironic dismissal of the Bible and Biblical scholarship. The word 'hate' here comes from the ancient Greek word 'miseo' which means hate (from the primary 'misos' [hatred]). If any synonym could substitute for this word, it would come from a word like 'detest,' 'loath,' or 'despise.' Moreover, virtually all Bibles translate the term as hate. To deny this intent means to deny the Bible and the alleged word of Jesus.

He Must Increase But I Must Decrease

"He must increase but I must decrease." (John 3:30)

Comment

The dubious Old Testament concept of declaring the entire human population as depraved and sinful goes far to insure an inferiority complex, but this verse takes it to a lower level. One of the distinctive features of the Dark Ages showed how the faithful would publicly display their lower status by prostrating and punishing themselves before crosses, priests, and churches. Monastic disciplines adopted flagellation and scourging in the fifth and following centuries. Self-flagellation served as a discipline as a measure of mortification and penance as exemplified in the lives of St. Dominic Loricatus and St. Peter Damian. Damian wrote a special treatise in praise of self-flagellation. In the 13th century a sect developed called the Flagellants where its members would whip themselves in public which aroused much excitement among the populace. [Catholic Encyclopedia]

To decrease one's earthly life for promoting an increase of a superstitious idea, in effect, declares humans as unworthy and valueless. Belief in universal sin and increasing the myth of Jesus above all human concerns must put this kind of worship as among the most insidious and depraved forms of human thought known to man.

"There was a time when religion ruled the world. It is known as The Dark Ages."

-Ruth Hurmence Green (The Born Again Skeptic's Guide to the Bible)

Human Sacrifice

"Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me." (Exodus 22:29)

Comment

This verse refers to human sacrifice which many primitive cultures practiced.

In the Canaanite world the Molech cult practiced human sacrifice and many scholars equate Yahweh with the Molech god. Explicit references to Molech appear in Lev. 18:21, 20:2-5; Jer. 32:35 and II Kings 23:10. Fortunately, few people believe in sacrificing humans directly to gods these days (but Christian leaders still sacrifice soldiers and innocent men, women, and children in the name of "freedom" and God).

(See also Gen. 22:1-19 for Abraham's will to sacrifice his son Isaac, and Judges 11)

Make Weapons

"Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong." (Joel 3:9-10)

Comment

Peace loving Jews and Christians love to quote the biblical passage about beating swords into ploughshares and spears into pruninghooks, (Micah 4:3) but here we have just the opposite.

More Than One God

"Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them." (Exodus 18:11)

Comment

Here we have the Bible alluding to the existence of more than one god.

Note that it does not say "the Lord is the only god" but rather that he "is greater than all gods."

History records that the ancient people in the area of the Middle East, including the Hebrews, believed in many goddesses and gods. Yahweh served only as their god, a god among many others.

"It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are 20 gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."

--Thomas Jefferson

Pray in the Closet

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." (Matthew 6:5-6)

Comment

The Religious Right wishes to put into law public prayer. How many Christians realize that the Biblical Jesus strongly opposed public prayer?

The wall of separation between Church and State, actually protects the religious liberties for all of us in the United States and here we have Biblical justification for keeping prayer private.

Serpent Jews

"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (Matthew 23:33)

Comment

Chapter 23 describes the famous diatribe of Jesus against the Jewish leaders. Such biblical words has, for centuries, given believers justification for Jewish hatred. This verse, spoken by the alleged Jesus himself, compares the unbelieving Jews with the serpent devil.

Slay Enemies

"But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me." (Luke 19:27)

Comment

Although Jesus in one instance calls for the love of enemies, at the end of the parable of ten pounds, he orders to slay his enemies that would deny his reign (Luke 19:12-27). Despite the commandment not to kill, Jesus accepts the killing of humans here.

Believers try to escape this problem by claiming, "Well, it's just a parable." Of course when Jesus gives a parable about love or living, then the parable serves as an important lesson which the faithful should take seriously. So also must any of Jesus' parables. Nor can one escape by route of metaphorical excuse. The parable clearly connects the "nobleman" with Jesus (see verse 12) , and there occurs no other meaning for a metaphorical "slay" other than words like "kill," "slaughter," "massacre," etc.

Although there occurs scholarly debate as to whether Jesus meant verse 27 as part of the parable or as a non-parable conclusion, it has far more serious consequences if believed as a parable. Why? Because a parable instructs beyond the life-time of the parable's author. If the author of these words meant it only as an example during Jesus' alleged life on earth, then it would serve only as a request of Jesus during his life time. But as a parable, it lives through the followers of Jesus who believe that he still lives (in Heaven) and that they might follow his commands, even after his death-and-resurrection. As a parable then, slaying of enemies "before me" (in Jesus' spirit) instructs believers well past the alleged life of Jesus.

If any one need Biblical justification to kill anyone who denies Jesus, or whom you believe acts as an enemy, you need only to believe this verse.

Synagogues Of Satan

"But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate." (Revelation 2:6)

"I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." (Revelation 2:9)

"So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which the thing I hate." (Revelation 2:15)

"Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." (Revelation 3:9)

Comment

These verses by Jesus has fueled the engine of anti-Semitism throughout Europe and the rest of the world for centuries. Unfortunately many believers today still justify their hatred of Jews based on Scripture.

Note that we have here in Rev 2:6 the words of Jesus admitting to hate, contrary to the belief by many Christians that Jesus holds only to the principle of love.

The Talking Donkey

"And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, 'What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?' And Balaam said unto the ass, 'Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.' And the ass said unto Balaam, 'Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee?' And he said, 'Nay.'" (Numbers 22:27-30)

Comment

Here we have, as absurd as it may seem, a talking donkey. If we came across a talking animal, would we not feel amazed? Yet, oddly, Balaam here seems not the least bit concerned and converses with the ass as if nothing unusual had happened!

Given that millions of fundamentalists believe every world in the Bible, they would have us also believe that the Bible has its own version of Mr. Ed.

Notice that Balaam's cruel behavior to the donkey seems to have mimicked God's jealous behavior towards His people. Yet God responds to Balaam: "thy way is perverse before me." (Num. 22:32)

"If the bible had said that Jonah swallowed the whale, I would believe it."

--William Jennings Bryan

The "Gods"

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3)

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;" (Exodus 20:5)

Comment

Note this does not mean "I am the only god," but rather, that one shall not believe in other gods above the God of the Chosen People.

Scholars and archeologists know that the early Hebrews practiced polytheism.

Not only does the Bible describe the polytheism of the Hebrews but digs from archeological sites give evidence that these early people believed in many gods, or more accurately, goddesses. They have found many statuette goddesses among their living dwellings.

Monotheism appears later in the Bible. Historically, monotheism got taught by many Greek philosophers. Judaism later separated itself from the Hellenistic world with its belief in only one supreme deity.

In verse 20:5 we have here a god so jealous that he holds a grudge against the children of the fathers who hated him. Hardly a concept of a forgiving and loving God. And if not against the other gods, just who could God claim for his jealousy?

The Sun Stands Still

"Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day." (Joshua 10:12-13)

Comment

These verses imply that the sun moves around the earth. If the Bible actually represents the words or inspired words of God, then why didn't the Great Creator inspire them to tell the truth about the universe and our solar system?

Also, the Bible asks us to believe that a supposedly loving God made the sun stand still for the sole purpose of helping the Israelites slaughter the Amorites. How can one not see that these verses would insult the intelligence of any person who believes God possess wisdom, knowledge and love?

Turn Thy Cheek

"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." (Matthew 5:39)

Comment

This nonviolent principle does not originate with Jesus. Lao-tse and the Buddha taught this five or six hundred years before Jesus, but does this represent a good rule to follow?

Ironically, few Christians hold to this principle. In fact, the Religious Right preach just the opposite as Christians throughout the centuries have violently attacked anyone who dared threaten them.

Although one should not overly react if smacked on the cheek, it might prove prudent to raise your hand in defense or at least leave the scene of trouble to avoid conflict. If you turn your other cheek to get smacked again, your enemy may just break your jaw or beat you to a pulp.

Wars must be

"And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows." (Mark 13:7-8)

Comment

Belief in these words can justify any war and atrocity against nations. Yet Jesus here tells us that we should not feel troubled by it as long as we have belief in Him.

When Jesus prophesies about the future, he gives the message that we have no control over our lives other than to choose or not choose a belief in the Lord. With such a message, it should not surprise anyone why the Religious Right does little to strive against war.

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meforeverz · 4 years ago

Text

Spring in Hatchetfield (The Guy Who Didn’t like Musicals, Paul Matthews)

It’s been quite a while since I’ve written a snzfic, so here we go!

Paul sniffed uncomfortably as he walked into the office. It was a beautiful late spring day. Nice and warm with a small breeze. Perfect, if you weren't allergic to pollen. And even the less than five minute walk from his car to the office was enough for his allergies to start bothering him.

“Morning Paul!” Melissa beamed at him. Paul returned the smile, rubbing absentmindedly at his nose.

“Morning Melissa!” he said. To his frustration, his nose was already itching quite badly. He hadn’t taken the antihistamine he still had because it made him annoyingly sleepy. He stepped into the elevator and pressed the button to the third floor. As soon as the doors closed he immediately pressed his wrist against his nose, trying to will the now spiking itch in his nose away. It didn’t work though. “H’nxxx! H’xnntc!” two tightly stifled sneezes escaped him. Paul sighed and got out of the elevator. He headed to his cubicle and practically fell into his chair. “He’Xxcn!” he barely managed to stifle the sneeze.

“Bless you!”

Paul jumped, surprised by the sudden voice to his left. He looked over and saw Bill sitting next to him at his own desk.

“Thank you.” he muttered. Looking over to the window on his other side, he saw to his dismay that it was opened widely. On one hand, he knew he should close it. Otherwise this day would not be very fun. On the other hand, the window was in Ted’s cubicle. Which meant he’d have to ask Ted. And there was a good chance Ted would just refuse anyway. So, he resigned himself to a day of suffering.

He wasn’t even an hour into the day when he thoroughly regretted that thought. His breath hitched again and he quickly turned away from Ted, who’d been complaining about one thing or another. “Hu’exxnt! H’nnnx!” he couldn’t help but wince a little as the last sneeze scraped against his throat. “S’cuse me.” he mumbled.

“Ew, gross.” Ted said. Paul rolled his eyes, fighting against the embarrassed flush working it’s way up his face.

“That’s an interesting way to say bless you. It’s because you keep your window open so wide.” he complained. Ted scoffed in response.

“Not my problem, should have taken anti whateverthefuck.” he said.

“Antihistamine.” Paul deadpanned. Ted waved his hand.

“That. Sorry dude but if I close the window I’ll choke because of this goddamn heat.” Ted said a little more apologetically. Paul sighed and was about to respond when he was forced to turn away again.

“Hu’Achhew! H’nXxct!” he didn’t manage to stifle the first sneeze.

“Bless you!” Charlotte said, who’d just entered the room. Paul jumped, not expecting her.

“Thank you.” he responded, rubbing his nose again. He sat down again, grabbing a tissue and blowing his nose for what felt like the tenth time that day (and judging from the glare that Ted gave him he’d been doing it more than enough to be annoying) “He’xXC!” rubbing his eyes, he made up his mind. “I’m going to Beanies. Anyone want anything?” he asked.

“GET ME A CHAI TEA!” Ted yelled.

It was a short walk to the cafe. He’d normally enjoy the weather, but now he was just focussed on getting to the place as soon as he could. When he practically reached the entrance to Beanies the itch in his nose spiked again and he had to steady himself on the doorframe.

“H’nnXc! H’Xxch! X’xxchew!” he groaned.

“Bless!” Emma called from inside. He looked up at her and smiled.

“Hi Emma. Sorry.” he said. Emma shrugged.

“No worries. Don’t sneeze like that.” she said. Paul frowned.

“Why not?” he asked, walking over to the counter.

“You could burst a blood vessel. Or rupture your throat.”

Paul shook his head affectionately, muttering something about biology students. “I will sneeze h-how, fuck, sohh-rry, H’xxchh! h’Achew! However I damn please.” he said.

“Next time you sneeze like that I’ll punch you.” Emma quipped. The joke didn’t quite land with Paul however.

“Please don’t. I’ve been suffering enough already.” he said. As if to punctuate his claim, he immediately turned away from Emma again. “Hu’Achh!” Emma’s face softened.

“How are you holding up?” she asked more gently. Paul shrugged.

“My nose feels like it’s trying to escape my face. Ted won’t close the damn window in the office so I’m not getting any relief inside.” he said, rubbing his nose and blinking. Emma nodded sympathetically.

“Not fun I hear. Order?” she asked. She didn’t want to push him, but she could almost feel the glare of her boss on her back if she chatted too long.

“Oh yeah, uh, He’Atch! H’Uchew! Sorry, one black coffee and a chai tea.” he said.

“Bless. Coming right up.” she said. It was quiet for a bit, the silence only broken by Paul’s occasional sniffles. Then, Emma chuckled. “You know, this could be the universe’s way of revenge for that time you got me those scented candles.” she said. Paul trew his hands up, although he was smiling slightly.

“How was I supposed to know you were sensitive to those? You never t- fuck’sss sake A’chhu! Hu’achew! Told me!” he said. He sighed, pulling a tissue from his pocket and blowing his nose. “Sorry. God I feel gross.” he said. Emma placed the drinks next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“You look miserable Paul. Can’t you just take an antihistamine?” she asked. Paul shook his head.

“Makes me too sleepy to properly work.” he said. Shaking his head again to clear it, he smiled at Emma. “I’ll be alright babe, really. It’s just annoying.” he said. He looked at the clock behind Emma. “Damn, I have to go back. Sorry Em.” he said. Emma leaned forward and kissed him. She couldn’t help herself, and quickly kissed him on the nose as well. Paul practically shoved her off him and buried his face into his elbow.

“H’acchew! Hu’Achh! A’cchhew! He’Ticchew! h-h-Hu”tchhew! Emma!” he whined. Emma chucked.

“Sorry Paul. Didn’t expect it to make you sneeze. Honestly.” she said.

“You’re a menace and I hate you.” he responded. But Emma could see the twinkle in his eye. She smiled wider.

“I’ll see you after work. You coming to pick me up?” she asked. Paul nodded.

“I will. Bye Em!” he said, and quickly exited the cafe.

At 5 pm Emma finally exited the café . She’d been on her feet all day and was exhausted. Just like promised, Paul’s car was in front of the store. She quickly got in and closed the door before looking over at Paul. He smiled at her. His nose was almost bright red and his eyes looked slightly watery. He was about to lean over to give her a kiss when he held up a finger and turned away.

“H’xxch! Sorry, H’tchh!” he sighed.

“Bless you Paul.” she said affectionately. He sniffed and rubbed his nose.

“Thank you. As soon as we’re home I’m taking those antihistamines. Let’s-” he cut himself off. “H’nxxc! Ugh, sorry. Do you want to drive maybe? I don’t want you to feel like I might crash the car.” he continued. Emma nodded. They got up and swapped seats. It was a good idea too, because as soon as Paul sat down he succumbed to another fit. “Hu’achew! H’EChhew! h-h’Achh! A’cchh!” he sighed, leaning back in the car seat. Emma gently ran her hand over his knee.

“Let’s get you home.”

#t/gwdlm #p/aul matthews #E/mma perkins #allergyfic #snzfic #snzblr #snzfetish #sneezefetish #fic #Oc

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