The Mystery of Jesus Christ. (Page 76)

Zanjan
Zanjan: Paul once had a profession as a tent maker so he'd been self-supporting. Only the Jewish priests were paid, not rabbis or pharisees and, there were lots of those.

Whereas, the Christian community was tiny and the needs were so much greater. Paul served the faith full time as there were no written scriptures yet and lots of illiterate seekers.

He wasn't accused of lifting from donations; there was a communal discussion on whether or not some of the funds should be given to him. Was an Apostle a Priest? Was Paul a true Apostle? What rights did an Apostle have? These things had to be fleshed out because they were new.

Maybe they thought he was wealthy but he'd been burning a hole in his pocket serving the faith. If a community asked him to come, they should at least be hospitable enough to reimburse his expenses.



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ghostgeek
ghostgeek: Where in Paul's epistles does he say he's a tent maker?
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Zanjan
Zanjan: Acts 18:3
"And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers."

Paul doesn't say that preaching should be an occupation; he explained the importance of work and toil as service to God. In other words, that one's life should be a witness to Christ. From his occupation, he earned money to economically build the community. Paul offered a variety of service not just to Christians because he had leadership skills. Remember how he acted when he was a prisoner on a ship during a severe storm. He says:

"I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:33-35)

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ghostgeek
ghostgeek: Perhaps you didn't notice that I specified Paul's epistles. Acts is worthless. It is contradicted by Paul himself, by history and by zoology.
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Zanjan
Zanjan: Why would his side-occupation be important to you?

I can see why occupations were carefully noted when Jesus chose His 12 disciples. Who, among them, were academics? He didn't choose a single priest.

You know that if a man wants to make a name for himself, he must align himself with powerful influential people - big names. Jesus didn't do that. He made the names.

Paul, on the other hand, had been of that world - before becoming a Christian, he'd carved out something of a name for himself and wasn't done climbing the ladder before he had a life-altering experience. He gave that all up to be rejected, distrusted, under suspicion, and always having to prove himself until finally martyred.
(Edited by Zanjan)
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ghostgeek
ghostgeek: I don't believe Paul was a tent maker and I don't believe Acts is anything more than ill-researched fiction. Even the Gospels contradict it.
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ghostgeek
ghostgeek: As for the Gospels themselves, nothing supports the tale they tell.
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Zanjan
Zanjan: Perhaps in the next world you might get a chance to meet Paul. He can laugh hardy at your bright pink aura.
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ghostgeek
ghostgeek: There may be a "next world" but, I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear, I have my doubts about that being so. What I have no doubts about is that it will be totally different to what you're expecting if it does by some miracle exist.
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Zanjan
Zanjan: Well, I've had a quick peek. Mind you, that was like standing on the front steps while opening a door - not a tour of the grand palace.

Imagine where you'd be without a passport - a castaway on the lonely island of Re-live Your Earthly Life......where you'd mentally repeat it in an endless loop.
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ghostgeek
ghostgeek: And all the other people, of other religious persuasions, what did they see when they had a "quick peek"? Odin or Zeus?
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Zanjan
Zanjan: Well, I wasn't watching THEM peek. That was just my peek. At the time, I wasn't religious and the event didn't make me want to be either. It was overwhelming enough to learn the next world is real and that anyone there would want to talk to me. That raised some new questions.

I expect those who pass on will immediately have their lives judged before Whomever is the Lord of the Age during their lifetime, as what happened to me. The Name shouldn't matter so it's a good thing they never tell you their names.

They'll receive their place according to the state of their heart. That place might be in one of the Father's Houses or maybe not.
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ghostgeek
ghostgeek: The Lord of the Age is very much dependant on where you live.
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Zanjan
Zanjan: Well, some haven't caught on to the fact we live in a new Age. Of those who have, most don't believe that any one Being is responsible for that. Humanity is still fairly early in on this modern Age so will need a bit more time to let things sink in.

However, I think the Internet can be a strong tool for universalizing education. If Elon Musk has anything to say about it, maybe only a few Amazonian tribes will be out of the loop.
(Edited by Zanjan)
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ghostgeek
ghostgeek: Listening to the news, I find it hard to discern the difference between this new age of yours and all the other ages. Same old politics even if the bunting is new.
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Zanjan
Zanjan: Oh, it's more than bunting. Historically, the political power lay in the hands of the Sovereign, who were top military leaders, being heavily counseled by the established religious clergy. Tribal leaders were Chiefs with a small council of seasoned warriors.

Overall, authority and power was piled into one basket, woven with warlords and cutthroat aristocrats. Men ruled. That was the old word way.

During the last 175 years, authority and power has been separated; religion has been ousted as the influencing party for modernized Nations. Democracy appeared; while men meddled with it, women stepped into the arena, which changed the zeitgeist of administration.

Now, the rulers only have authority but the people have the power - so new, that many don't know how to use it well yet.

The media hasn't been very helpful when it refers to leaders as those "in power". No king, prime minister or president has absolute power anymore; neither does any political party. Yet the media continues to perpetrate a false impression because it doesn't know what other words to use.
(Edited by Zanjan)
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ghostgeek
ghostgeek: So you're saying Xi Jinping has no power over the Chinese? That seems a little wide of the mark to me.
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Zanjan
Zanjan: Well, some countries are a little backwards. They'll probably always trail at the end of the line.......somebody has to, eh.
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WHlSKY
WHlSKY: Which countries and peoples, Zanjan?

*hands you a shovel*
(Edited by WHlSKY)
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ghostgeek
ghostgeek: Wherever you look, "Power to the People" seems to be on the back foot.
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ghostgeek
ghostgeek: Even in our so-called democracies, influence is leaching away from the man and woman in the street.
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Zanjan
Zanjan:
Comandante >>*hands you a shovel*

Zanjan>>> * hands you a thinking cap*
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Zanjan
Zanjan: Ghost, the biggest influence in society is the media. Sometimes it does good, sometimes bad - it's up to each person to distinguish the difference. Now go out and buy that new brand of soap; if it doesn't fulfill its promises, you know what to do.
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WHlSKY
WHlSKY: Dodged that question aye.
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ghostgeek
ghostgeek: The people with the power in many parts of the world have figured out how to deal with the media. If it gets out of hand, they close it down.
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