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Current Events » in reply to The church does not have a gun.

No. Only the threat of Hell.
Mary Anne — (archived)

I almost didn't have to open your post.

The church actually did use guns for a while. Before that churches used swords, clubs, and whatever else their worldly lieutenants saw fit to use to collect the tithe (10% of what you had). Some churches still expect their congregations to tithe. This is not optional. There's a spiritual price to pay for not doing it, too. Now, for such as me, this is no threat, but if you belong to that church, it's because you believe and that makes the threat of a tormented afterlife very serious stuff.

I, on the other hand, believe that the Kingdom of God (whatever that being may or may not be) is at hand. So we have it in our power to make it as much like Heaven or Hell as we want right now for the people around us.

It's been my fate to believe in and venerate the teachings without believing that anyone is going to come rescue or resurrect any of us. So for me, this is the only chance we have, and if we screw it up, we have made Hell in our own image and likeness. The image I'm seeing is one of indifference to the situation of the average, the less able, the tormented and the unlucky. Like it or not, the only institution we have that can even claim to speak for most of us is the government. Only an institution like that, one such as the church was when it had temporal power, can reach those who are needy in a day-in, day-out way without the drama of a catastrophe to inspire our compassion. It's an imperfect solution, but until we become perfect it's the best one available because its reach is broadest.

No, Jesus doesn't work for the IRS. The IRS only wants a percentage. Jesus tells us to sell everything, give the money to the poor, and follow him. For it is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

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