By their Fruit, we shall know them
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the sex workers are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the sex workers did.
God help those who still think they can kill their way into His Kingdom, under the guise of "protecting woman and children".
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ADDED: John taught the basic principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He taught the people about justice, mercy, honesty, morality, fasting, prayer, repentance and confession of sins, baptism by immersion, resurrection, and the Judgment (see Matthew 3; Luke 3).
Still more: (Selection from Matthew 3)
John taught in the Wilderness:
11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Selection from Luke 3: Don't be afraid, friends... Pray for time for yourselves. Live and learn, and do as He tells you (do NOT pay heed to false prophets who abuse his words for personal gain!):
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Men like David Brooks and David French and Ross Douthat? They don't meet this test. One is a former soldier who still defends the violence done not only to other men, but innocent children (=the fruits of his actions), and the two others are too clever by half. They are not halving and sharing their possessions, they are still pretending to be "professional" christian men who know all the answers, and are profitting mightily by their arrogant sins. God have Mercy.
(The sons of Abraham who hired them? Keep educating yourselves. Listen to Others, who also interpret the Gospels in these days of inequity, injustice, inequality, and hardships to so many. Be ready to recognize that not all sheep come dressed in fine clothing, with many family members, who purport to know the way for the women and children -- and other men -- in our diverse country. Yes, permit Christian voices in your secular publican, but... listen harder and think about what you are promoting. It's not Jesus' work these WhiteMaleChristian columnists are doing, but a perversion of the Gospel Christ preached... Know that.))
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Soundtrack to the Post: The great Tanya Tucker! (She gettin In!)
"When I die, I may not to Heaven...
Well I don't know if they let the Cowboys in..."
And more from the younger days, for those who love Tanya . Delta Dawn isn't a grief song, but about a woman who's going up to the Mansion in the Sky!
Same concert, "When I Die..."
Guitar licks, Memphis brass horns, she got the audience eating out her hand here... "You're Beautiful!"
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