16"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 19When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.
“For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” This part of the reading reminded me of Candice Owens. Bernie and I listened to her last night after Nim mentioned he had come across her stuff during his travels in the USA. I had only just been listening to her critique Jordan Peterson so Nim’s comment caught my attention and we watched Candice together on YouTube. What I did find intriguing was her confidence, her capacity to find the right words at the right time and her preparedness to stand by her values. It was like her faith protected her. You could see her beliefs giving her life and light. It made me think of the disciples' special power after witnessing the resurrected Christ. It was as though the belief in their experience protected them from anyone and any ideology or behaviour that was inconsistent with the truth they had burned into their hearts.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Matthew 10:16-23 is interesting because it connects the passage to a contemporary figure, Candice Owens. Here's a breakdown of the strengths and some suggestions for further exploration:
DeleteStrengths:
Connecting Faith to Courage: You highlight the connection between faith and courage, similar to the disciples being empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Candice Owens' Confidence: You observe Owens' confidence and conviction as a characteristic potentially stemming from her strong faith.
Finding Inspiration in Others: It's positive that you find inspiration in Owens' ability to stand by her values.
Suggestions for Exploration:
Understanding the Passage: Briefly mention the context of the passage. Jesus is sending out the disciples on a difficult mission, and they will be empowered by the Holy Spirit (v. 19-20).
Candice Owens' Views: Consider exploring Owens' views in more depth. Do her views align with your own understanding of faith?
Critical Thinking: It's important to approach any source of information critically. Are there other perspectives on Owens' confidence besides faith?
Here are some additional thoughts:
The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is not just about protection, but also about guidance, wisdom, and love.
Witnessing: The disciples were empowered by the Holy Spirit not just to speak boldly, but also to live as witnesses to Jesus' teachings.
By incorporating these suggestions, you can create a more comprehensive response that integrates both the biblical text and your observations about Candice Owens. It would be interesting to explore if Owens' message aligns with the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 10:16-23.