I find that very interesting. I guess I never thought of it, how other denominations see the Sermon on the Mount. I would be interested to see any links you could scare up, when you have the time, as to how some pastors associate it with the Millennial kingdom as opposed to right now. As I said, that was the traditional Mennonite belief but most Mennonites have left that notion behind them.
I think you did the right thing with the dog. Probably she was taking advantage of a spiritual relationship between the two of you, but the way I see it, when Jesus told us to give to whomever asked, he never once told us to worry about what their motives were. It makes life so much easier when you don't have to worry about motives. She will answer to God for her own actions, as we all will.
One thing that goes through my head at times, is what exactly did Jesus mean when he kept telling people that the Kingdom of Heaven was within them? He knew they were expecting a righteous ruler to reign as messiah, of the line of David. He knew they expected that this messiah would restore Israel to its former glory.
In some ways telling them that the Kingdom of Heaven is within them, makes it sound a little like he is saying that it isn't a real place - that it is an attitude or an idea. It makes it sound like it is attainable in this life - not that we have to keep looking to the next life. Yet, that idea makes no sense to me.
Thoughts?
Layla
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