I am not religious, but what do those who are think...

[Pototan]

...when Jesus said this in Mathew 25: 40-46?

https://www.bible.com/bible/114/MAT.25.40-46.NKJV

[The Blue Flower]

1. They haven't actually read the Bible

But it makes a good prop, weapon, or doorstop.

[Norbert]

13. I wonder if the readings of Matthew will be banned soon?

After all, his readings are very full of woke.

[Beachnutt]

2. And Matthew 7:15-19

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

[OldBaldy1701E]

14. Yeah, but they spent many decades working hard to become unrecognizable.

And, we fell for it.

[essaynnc]

3. Or they just know they're screwed !

And hope that since they're REPUBLICANS,they will be forgiven !

On the other hand, that is being just a little stereotypical, not all rs are evil, and not all ds are saints. But if the shoe (or sandal) fits.......

[Blue Full Moon]

4. They don't actually believe.

They don't have to do any good acts. Jesus dying absolves them. They can do whatever they please. All they have to do, say is I believe in Jesus and they are saved. My favorite is, if God didn't want me to do it he would stop me.

[sop]

5. Christianity is no longer a religious belief system, it's a branding scheme by tax exempt Jesus Corporations.

[Trellastic]

6. Selfish people often have a terrible sense of self- perception

like King Herod the Great who died afflicted by an infestation of worms. One article says it was genital maggots -
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=98107&page=1

New English Translation
Acts 12:18 At daybreak there was great consternation among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 When Herod had searched for him and did not find him, he questioned the guards and commanded that they be led away to execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

20 Now Herod was having an angry quarrel with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they joined together and presented themselves before him. And after convincing Blastus, the king’s personal assistant, to help them, they asked for peace, because their country’s food supply was provided by the king’s country. 21 On a day determined in advance, Herod put on his royal robes, sat down on the judgment seat, and made a speech to them. 22 But the crowd began to shout, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck Herod down because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24 But the word of God kept on increasing and multiplying.

BibleGateway.com

[thucythucy]

7. This was my sweeties most favorite Bible verse

which she did her best to live by:

Helping the homeless: check--she helped found a long term shelter for homeless people, designed to help people get off the street;

Feeding the hungry: check--she helped run a 'soup kitchen" which actually served nutritious warm meals to anyone who stopped by, no questions asked, and aside from an opening non-denominational prayer, no preaching or proselytizing.

Cared for the sick: check--not directly so much as advocating for Medicaid expansion and single payer and raising funds for our local independent living center.

Visiting folks in prison: check--was a volunteer in a program that offered classes to inmates at our local prison, was in touch with some graduates after their release. She also volunteered with Amnesty International and helped to free at least one political prisoner overseas.

One time, riding the subway on a cold winter evening, she saw two women shivering and obviously lost. She literally gave the older one her coat, and brought them home with her, much to our roommate's consternation. Turns out they were Jews, mother and daughter, just arrived from the then Soviet Union, landing at the airport, speaking no English, knowing no one and with nowhere to go. She got them in touch with the local B'nai Brith and helped to get them settled. She also loved the verse about, "If someone asks you for a coat, offer them also the shirt on your back." That's a paraphrase, I'm not much of a Bible reader.

She did all these things joyfully, saying it was her privilege to be able to help others in distress, though she herself had multiple disabilities and was in chronic physical pain.

She did her best not to pass judgment or hate, but made an exception for Trump. She was, obviously, a lifelong liberal Democrat.

Christmas and Easter were always a big celebration for her.

She even tolerated my agnosticism merging into out and out atheism. "It doesn't matter if you believe or not. What matters is how you act."

I miss you sweetie, out there in the Great Unknown these past five years. I don't believe in an afterlife, but just in case: Happy Christmas!

[Jacson6]

8. If they buy a DJT bible God will give them a waiver.

[bluestarone]

9. Good true Christians will see

Right through these evil bastards!!

[WhiskeyGrinder]

10. Depends on the Christian. There's no one interpretation, and no "true" Christian.

[Beastly Boy]

11. This is radical egalitarianism that an atheist might appreciate.

Beyond the universally accepted meaning of the verse as commitment to help the poorest of the poor as an act of religious devotion (same as, for instance, a prayer, or a piligrimage), there is another message here that is often being lost in the popular interpretation of the verse: any being made of flesh, be they outcasts or gods, have the exact same basic needs.

No fucking difference between one and the other. The distinctions of status in society are superficial and man-made.

[Karadeniz]

12. Paul needs to be removed from main christian teachings! His saved by grace

alone nonsense appeals to the lazy masses, who think there's no way they can ever achieve the demanded perfection. Luther knew he couldn't, but he didn't have a clue as to how the parables explain the spiritual mechanics and it's definitely not grace. Luther did a lot of good, but his landing on Paul's grace really put the skids on Christianity's mission to apply lovingkindness to all, especially the needy.

[Lulu KC]

15. Slightly off topic, but this includes the same quotation

I happened to come across this just now. I found it very interesting and his book might be worth reading.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/25/birth-jesus-plague-roman-empire-christianity