Interesting, isn't it, dear tec (peace to you, dear one!), how many have left religion/the WTBTS... and yet, still believe Christ judges? What, though, of HIS words that he judges no one... came to judge no man, etc.? It saddens me how many still adhere to religion's teachings, while claiming to have shaken all of that off entirely. I wish they would at least condescend to go back RE-read what they THINK they [thought] Christ said/did. I think they would be very surprised at what they read NOW - with different "eyes." I know many were/are... including me.
So many times I have read passages with others and observed how they included/excluded words, skipped over entire phrases, etc. So I always ask the one reading to do so OUT LOUD, so that perhaps they can HEAR what they are "reading" in their minds (or I can and ask them to re-read it). So many times, they go, "Wait! It DOESN'T say that, does it? It says...!" And then all of a sudden they have entirely new understanding.
Some use this "awakening" to support their assertion that the Bible is God's "Word" ("God's word is alive!") - they believe the change in their understanding proves that the Bible is a "living" document. That is not the TRUTH, though - the Bible isn't a "living" anything. The wood it's pages are made from is dead. The animal that produced the leather its covers are often made from are dead. The bugs, etc., that produce the ink... are dead. Ground to a paste. The gold that is often used to emboss its covers and line its edges was never a living thing. Thus, there is NO LIFE... in a bible.
The LIFE... is in us, even if only minimally... and it is our UNDERSTANDING that changes... based on our openess TO change... and not the words of the Bible (that changes). The words ALWAYS stated what they did. They did not miraculously switch around, or appear/disappear... to change the meaning of what was stated. It's a BOOK. It is because of [the change in] US, then... and not the Bible... that the change in what we SEE "in the Bible" occurs. And for some of us, how CLEAR we see... is because of Christ.
For most, a lot of what is believed to be "in the Bible"... or that God/Christ did/said... is based on what such ones were TAUGHT is in there, they did/said. Taught by others who purport to know... but truly do not... or do but are teaching different from what they know is in there. For example, that Judas WAS at the last meal... AND partook. The WTBTS knows he was... but won't bring themselves to ADMIT that. A lot of folks' understand is based on what others purported to be in there... that isn't. Or vice versa, that they say isn't... but is. I personally wish people would stop "parroting" what they were taught... and really look things up for themselves. If, that, is, they can't yet go to the One about Whom these things "speak" and learn the truth directly from him.
Saying that Christ judges, though... is pure ignorance. Yes, he has been GIVEN the power of judging. Indeed, ALL authority has been given him, in the spirit AND physical realms. And he will grant that power to others. But he never USES that power... and because of HIS "pattern"... neither do those he grants it to! Rather, he... and so, like him, they... go FORGIVING... and RELEASING! THAT... is part of the GOOD news.
THAT is the DIFFERENCE... between the "Old" Law/Covenant... and the "NEW" Law/Covenant.
And... it's in the Bible.
Again, peace to you... and thanks for the great segue! LOLOL!
YOUR servant, sister, and fellow slave of Christ,
SA
