11-03-2009, 05:12 PM
Have you ever argued with a spouse?
Just because somebody asks something from the other, it does not follow that they are necessarily subordinate.
The whole idea of community is to make everyone equal; yet you are fixated on creating a hierarchy.
Isaiah 40:4
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
Your presumption that there is, or must be, a hierarchy, is your own projection. Even the Apostles fell into that trap, asking which of them would sit at the place of honor.
Luke 22:69
But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.
Is it possible for two people to occupy the same space, or sit in the same chair at the same time?
Honor is a farce. We live to glorify God and His works, not to judge them, and in the process enjoy His blessings.
To say that 'Jesus was not authorized' is to make a pretty extreme judgment in my opinion.
Do you liken yourself to the Pharisees? Somebody once said to me that everyone chooses a character in Scripture as the model for their life (consciously or unconsciously). All the stories have been told, just new faces fill the old roles. However, it does not mean that we have to stick to any one role. Revelation and repentance is for everyone.
If you are waiting for Jesus to apologize for his 'unauthorized actions,' you may be in for an extremely long and lonely wait.
In fact, I <i>could</i> argue that it was Muhammad who acted "without authorization." He was right about interest, but as a merchant he accepted the taking of profit. <b>Both riba and profit are sins.</b> For me the issue is not gossip about people, but rather a proper definition of righteousness, virtue and wisdom. If these things were commonly known and understood, then obviously there would be little disagreement amongst peoples. Ideas rule the world.