A Parody of Jesus' Hyperbole

Here is a part of a discussion I am engaged in on beliefnet about the influence of today's crop of tele-evangelists:

dear shiloian;
I think this thread is a call for the evangelical church to get its house in order, that's why I said we should be seeing the comments as proof that we need to value integrity (and reality) in ministry

and Ms. Merope;
I agree that doing is much more important than saying and we evangelicals are mostly all full of talk and the wrong talk at that. Instead of emphasizing getting out of our fortress churches and helping and loving and interacting with people in an authentic way we are trying to be plastic perfect saints

Some of us have become a parody of Jesus' hyperbole. We are eyeless (we do not see the suffering around us, or perhaps don't care) we are handless (we do much too little about suffering, and usually prefer to pray at a distance rather than getting dirty in a real life lived in the real world) and testicleless, we are spending all our energies trying to deny our God given natures. We are made sexual and I do acknowledge that we do need to learn how to harness this but our ridiculous emphasis on never having an unclean thought leaves us with no energy or time to make an impact for love in the world. This wrong emphasis is an abomination greater than much that we continually condemn.

Matt. 5
28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

This statement is hyperbole. It emphasizes something to such a degree as to make the statement shocking. If we were meant to take this literally, we would all be blind, handicapped and impotent (in reference to becoming eunuchs for the kingdom).
Jesus' teachings are meant to show us that no one can be righteous enough to merit God's love. That is why Jesus gives us grace instead.

Why can't we give that grace a try?

At least that is how this myopic ape sees it.




Let's stop making our lives a parody of Jesus' hyperbole.

LH