Pentecost Reading: Acts 2

  The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost 2  When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.   2  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.   3  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.   4  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues [ a ]  as the Spirit enabled them. 5  Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7  Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?   8  Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?   9  Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadoci...
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Dialogue With Skeptic (Part 5) Slavery

Objection:  Jesus never condemned slavery!  Why does God need slavery? 

Reply: God needing slavery & allowing it because He refuses to infantize us aren’t convertible propositions.  

What does the Sermon On the Mount teach?   Via the 3 Uses (Individual, Ecclesiastical, Governmental)… 

It teaches we are not to murder, & we are not even “Raca” them with denigrating language like we find in the Antebellum South all the way to the present day.  (Matt. 5:21 - 22)

It teaches that we are to replicate & restore to communities we have historically failed.  If the jackbooted Roman soldier (the person you regard as property or long ago would have) demands or otherwise requests that you release him from bondage, we are to release him from bondage (replicate) & make reparations to them (restore). (Matt. 5:41 - 48)

It teaches we are to make provision for food, clean water, & clothing (shelter). the necessities of life, individually & communally without oppressing those for whom we make provision, especially the least of these.  (Matt. 6:25 - 34).  

Slavery robs people of dignity, economy, & liberty.  Which principles in the Sermon On the Mount do you think rob people of those things? 

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