Why do some "respected Christians" reject Jesus' teachings?

Did you ever wonder why "respected Christians" advocate positions that are diametrically opposed to Jesus' teachings?

God wants all Christians prosperous.
- Benny Hinn

God wants you prosperous.
- Oral Roberts

God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money.
- Joel Osteen

I distrust those people who know so well
what God wants them to do,
because I notice it always coincides
with their own desires.
- Susan B. Anthony

Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.
- Jesus (Mark 10:21)

Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink;
or about your body, what you will wear.
- Jesus (Matthew 6:25)

You cannot serve both God and money.
- Jesus (Matthew 6:24)

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.
- Jesus (Matthew 6:19)

He overturned the tables of the money changers.
“It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’
but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’"
- Jesus (Matthew 21:12-13)

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.
- Jesus (Matthew 19:24)

The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
- Timothy 6:10

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need
but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
- 1 John 3:17

The world has become an idolator of this god called money.
- Pope Francis
   

To Be a Faithful Follower of Jesus

From Romans 12:9-21...
Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in love.
Honor one another above yourselves.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath.
[It is God's job to punish, not man's]
If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

And the second [commandment] is like it:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
- Matthew 22:39:40
[Jesus 1st commandment is, of course, to love God]

Loving others is FUNDAMENTAL to the "radical" (and basically socialist) teachings of Jesus.  If a person rejects one of the two commandments that "All the Law and the Prophets hang on," how can they consider themself a true follower of Jesus?

If America Became a Christian Nation

A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
- Jesus of Nazareth (John 13:34)

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need
but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
- 1 John 3:17

Guide our feet into the way of peace.
- Luke 1:79

Depart from Me, you cursed... for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.
- Matthew 25:41-43

It is common for those that are farthest from God,
to boast themselves most of their being near to the Church.
- Matthew Henry

I highly recommend that you go to to time.com/3856484/america-christian-nation/ to read Time magazine's article: If America Became a Christian Nation.

The essence of the article is...

1. To be truly Christian is to follow the teachings of Jesus, and to live the principles He lived.

2. A number of the principles held most dear by some who stridently claim Christianity are actually diametrically opposed to Jesus' principles. These include war; a gun culture; choosing to deny food, health care, and love to the sick and poor among us; and excluding migrants.

Quotes for Holy (Maundy - "Foot Washing") Thursday and Good Friday

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,
you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
- Jesus (John 13:14)

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you and persecute you.
- Matthew 5:44

more at...
www.dreamthisday.com/quotes-sayings/jesus/
www.jlhuie.com/search/label/Jesus

May the world be kind to you, and may your own thoughts be gentle upon yourself.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

A Quick Thought on Anti-Gay Discrimination

Suppose, hypothetically, that being Gay were a sin - so what? Nowhere in
the bible does Jesus suggest that punishing sin is a job for humans.
Actually He says "Let he that is without sin cast the first stone." And
certainly the bible tells us that no one is without sin. So let sin be a
matter between each individual and God, and let's all follow the
overarching Christian commandment to love our neighbor as ourself.

Who am I to Judge?

He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.
- Jesus of Nazareth (John 8:7)

Who am I to judge.
- Pope Francis

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
- Jesus of Nazareth (John 15:12)

Jesus often asks His followers to follow His commandments -
especially loving one another,
but NEVER does Jesus ask his followers to punish other people for anything.

The ONLY mention of punishment in the four Gospels is in Matthew 25:46.
Consider reading Matthew 25:31-46 today.

Homeless Veteran Transformation

You can also view this Homeless Veteran Transformation video on YouTube.

If we have no peace,
it is because we have forgotten
that we belong to each other.
- Mother Teresa

People will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget
how you made them feel.
- Maya Angelou

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need
but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
- 1 John 3:17

What is Moral versus What is Right

Never let your sense of morals
get in the way of doing what's right.
- Isaac Asimov

What can Isaac Asimov possibly have meant in this quote? I interpret the quote this way...

"What is Moral" is what we have been taught by our parents, teachers, religious leaders, and other influences.

"What is Right" is what we know in our heart to be compassionate, generous, honorable, and noble.

As an example, in the Bible, when Jesus healed the sick on the Sabbath he was criticized by the religious authorities for being immoral in violating the Commandment against doing work on the Sabbath. (Luke 13:10-17)