So, a question ...

What's the strangest thing you've encountered while reading the book of Matthew? What questions does it leave you with?

(I want to know how to interpret all of those parables!)

What the Bible/God says about Angry and Judgemental Christians

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged,and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Matthew 7:1-2

"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother 'you good- for- nothing', shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says 'you fool', shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell."

Matthew 5:22

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Ephesians 4:31-32

"for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God."

James 1:20

What the book of Matthew (masically chapters 5&7) has to say about topics that may somehow relate to Angry Christians...

So Anika and I looked through the beginning of Matthew and found a few verses we'd like to share:

(These verses are from the New International Reader's Version)

5:7 - "Blessed are are those who show mercy. They will be shown mercy."

5:9 - "Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called [children] of God."

5:10-11 - "Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of me. You are also blessed when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me." The Bible says that we should suffer for doing what is right, unlike the Angry Christians who make others suffer by doing what they think is right.

5:19 - "Do not break even one of the least important commandments. And do not teach others to break them. If you do, you will be called the least important person in the kingdom of heaven. Instead, practice and teach these commands. Then you will be called important in the kingdom of heaven."

5:22 - "But here is what I tell you. Do not be angry with your brother. Anyone who is angry with his brother will be judged. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca (stupid head),' must stand trial in the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire in hell."

5:38-39 - "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye must be put out for an eye. A tooth must be knocked out for a tooth.' But here is what I tell you. Do not fight against an evil person."

5:43-45 - "You have heard it was said, 'Love your neighbor. Hate your enemy.' But here is what I tell you. Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. Then you will be the [children] of your Father who is in heaven."

7:1-2 - "Do not judge others. Then you will not be judged. You will be judged in the same way you judge others. You will be measured in the same way you measure others."

7:3-5 - "You look at the bit of sawdust in your friend's eye. But you pay no attention to the piece of wood in your own eye. How can you say to your friend, 'Let me take the bit of sawdust out of your eye'? How can you say this while there is a piece of wood in your own eye? You pretender! First take the piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you will be able to see clearly to take the bit of sawdust out of your friend's eye." The Angry Christians were trying to point out what other people were doing wrong, but they failed to notice what they themselves were doing was even more wrong.

7:15-16a - "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you pretending to be sheep. But on the inside they are hungry wolves. You can tell what they really are by what they do."

7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do what my Father in heaven wants will enter. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord! Lord! Didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we drive out demons in your name? Didn't we do many miracles in your name?' Then I will tell them clearly, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who do evil!'" People like the Angry Christians who are supposedly doing "Christian" deeds won't necessarily be let into the Kingdom of Heaven. God sees through them.