When the Letter Killed, Jesus Wrote in the Sand
Slanting Scripture — Toward Love, Compassion, and Empathy
Dear Jim,
Thanks for your feedback. You made the following points:
The stranger in the ditch could have been a prominent Jewish citizen.
He had been robbed and beaten, stripped of everything that made him recognizable or important.
In your discussion, it would have been the LGBTQ person showing compassion for the stranger in the ditch.
Yet your interpretation takes a turn that doesn’t quite fit the story.
After all, if the stranger is beaten and naked, how could anyone possibly tell his orientation?
To address the last point — which, by the way, is a great one — that is, “If the stranger is beaten and naked, how could one tell his orientation?”
Lightheartedly, I say: he had lipstick on? Or painted nails? Maybe?
But you’re right. The man lying in the ditch could very well have been the Chief Rabbi.
The real point, however, is this: he was not recognized as one worthy of love — just like many LGBTQ folks today.
The point of my humble re-interpretation of the parable of the Good Samaritan is this: mercy does not judge.
I’ll come back to this in a moment, Jim.
As for why Jesus chose to use a prodigal son, not a daughter (not man/woman as you wrote), I too was surprised by that digression.
But the reason soon became clear, and I thanked the Lord for it in the essay "Mercy Not Judgement" https://donkenobi.blogspot.com/2025/11/mercynotjudgment-prodigal-and-good.html
(In which I noted that I am merely a servant - that all I do is use my pen to record whatever the Lord places in my heart - not just making things up!)
I completely agree with this statement:
“In Deuteronomy 12:8, Moses tells us that we cannot do what is right in our own eyes, but must do right.
This is a hard saying because we always put our own slant on whatever we are about to do.”
But that’s Deuteronomy.
And Deuteronomy is in the Old Testament for a reason.
Did Jesus “do what was right” when He questioned (He only questioned; He didn’t stop) those about to stone the woman caught in adultery?
They were about to end her life — and they were completely right!
That’s what Scripture recommended.
Surely you agree that Jesus put His own slant on what Scripture recommended.
Was Jesus, then, right or wrong in teaching that mercy does not judge?
Can we truly profess to be Christ-like if we do not put a Jesus-slant on what we — or others — are about to do?
Christianity means one thing only: Christ-like (Christ-mindedness).
And let’s be honest — Jesus questioned Scripture that one time (and several other times).
I am smiling as I write this, Jim, because you’ve led me to this truth:
Jesus gave us permission to question the Old Testament whenever it went against the tenets of love, empathy, or compassion.
Christ is our example.
1 John 2:6 (KJV)
“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
Interpretation: If you claim to live in Christ, imitate Him.
If we are to walk as Christ walked — to imitate Him — shall we not question Scripture whenever it goes against the tenets of love, empathy, or compassion?
There’s nothing wrong with Old Testament Scripture. Nothing wrong with not questioning it when it aligns with love and empathy. Nothing wrong with being Moses-like.
But — and this is important — that’s what many evangelicals really are: Mosians — followers of Mosaic law.
They must, however, accept that they are not necessarily Christians.
Following Moses might get them to heaven — who knows?
But Christians? That, they are not.
Anyone who has a problem putting a Jesus-slant on things has a problem with Christ Himself.
I’m enjoying this, Jim.
About Bill Clinton — I’m not sure I wrote about him in this one, but perhaps you’re referring to an earlier post.
I know about Vince Foster. Whatever the truth is, his life’s trajectory shows kindness, decorum, and a love for humanity.
Shall we compare him to Trump — a gratuitously wicked man?
About Clinton’s crimes: when people choose to look away from the Kilimanjaro of evidence against Trump — even the biblical warnings that call his deeds out, his endless lying — how can they not see he could very well be the long-anticipated Antichrist?
After all, when Clinton seemed to be making peace here and there, Evangelicals warned that he might be the Antichrist — because that one would bring a period of false peace.
Trump’s even making “peace,” false peace no less, and yet Evangelicals choose to look the other way!
The Bible has all the answers. True.
The problem is: many have stopped searching.
Many Christians truly believe Armageddon is about God warring with some external evil force out to destroy Christians — completely missing the fact that they themselves may be the very enemy the final battle is about.
And so, while they eagerly await Armageddon to rid the world of evil, unbeknownst to them… read my lips, Jim.
Thanks for the compliment, Jim.
I think deeply about things not because I want to, but because I am forced to.
There’s also that part in Revelation about the little beast calling the kings of the earth to war.
Read that part again — and honestly make a list of possible candidates for “the little beast.”
Revelation 16:13–14 (KJV)
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon,
and out of the mouth of the beast,
and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles,
which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world,
to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
I think that little beast is Israel.
And I also think this: Jesus is not on the side of Evangelicals.
If you would be willing to step off the cliff of certainty on which you stand right now and ask the Lord to speak to you, He will probably tell you.
The Bible says the same thing twice — and for good reason:
Proverbs 14:12 (KJV)
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Proverbs 16:25 (KJV)
“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Which pairs nicely with the verse you quoted earlier.
I speak as a brother, Jim.
My Jesus-slant might even get me to heaven.
But a Moses-slant, after the revealed Son — would that not be a rejection of the sacrifice of Christ?
Have a great day, Jim.
Talk later; got a ton of writing to do.
— Don Kenobi
P.S.
By the way, did you hear that the Catholic Church has demoted the Holy Mother of Jesus from Co-Redemptrix?
Catechism classes? 😃
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