Allen的邊境探索

"While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

When a person getting religion as his life guidance, it usually means that he believes its core value and wants to be faithful of it. Thus it will be very ridiculous that a believer intentionally avoids talking about the core value of the religion he chose and eludes the conflicts of personal/cultural/secular values (whatever you named it). So what the core value of the religion is. Some people said it is "TRUTH". Actually I like another more distinct term "MORAL LAW". However, why does the moral law have to be the core value of the religion? Let's review its definition first.

And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before Jehovah. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? And Jehovah said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes: peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for the forty's sake. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the ten's sake. And Jehovah went his way, as soon as he had left off communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

There have been 40 episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist since last year. In summary, the whole story started from a Devil used "IMMORTALITY" as an excuse to attract greedy humans committing sins and even selling their souls to evil spirit. How familiar...huh? How come a story can be laid out so neatly in a cartoon drama. Although there are two series with different scripts broadcasted during 2003-2004 and 2009(still in broadcasting) separately, both of them have their own distinct characteristics. By the way, the later series is actually conformed to the original story of comic version. It's so sad that the drama is getting closer and closer to the end. However, the Fullmetal Alchemist is really a surprising animation with the serious topic "CARDINAL SINS" ~ Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. Highly recommended.

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

"I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.

〔法規名稱〕會議規範
〔施行日期〕中華民國四十三年五月十九日內民字第五0四四0號公布試行

"The statistics for divorce, materialism, sexual promiscuity, racism, physical abuse in marriage, and neglect of a biblical worldview are devastating. Not only is the divorce rate about the same for born-again Christians and the general population, but 90 percent of all divorced born-again folk divorced after they accepted Christ."

The above abstraction is came from the book "The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience By Ron Sider". Some people might argue, and refuse to accept the conclusion of this book. No matter how, this book would be a warning to Christian community if the author has no bias in explaining these statistical data. Since the hypocrisy is so popular in the modern Evangelical Christianity, how to recognize both the cheap grace and the Gospel constructed as self-fulfillment has became a critical topic to people who want every corner of their life to be submitted to biblical truth. How come there is no big difference between disciples and their secular neighbors. If all faithful life is only connected to happiness in God's love, please answer the following two questions?

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

This is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."

As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

“Faithful is the Lord, who has made himself our debtor, not by receiving any thing from us, but by promising us all things,” (Augustine in Psalmum 32, 109, et alibi).

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.

"I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god — which you made for yourselves. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus," says the LORD, whose name is God Almighty.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

受了傷，就會記住憎恨。
傷害了別人，就會被怨恨，同時也會被罪惡感折磨。