disagreement

If I were to disagree with one of the previous blog posts, it would have to be with Jackie’s post. In her post she takes the teaching of, “removing a part of your body to avoid your whole being from damnation.” I do not think that Mathew is telling us that we have to remove every temptation that we may encounter in order to avoid damnation. I think that he is just calling for us to remember that we do not have to take part in everything that may lead us in to temptation. For example it doesn’t mean that I must avoid all parties to make sure that I do not drink or smoke. Likewise this teaching also does not mean that I couldn’t hang out with another young woman for fear of me cheating on my girlfriend. I still am allowed to do various activities as long as I check with myself and make sure that I am not giving into any sort of temptation that would be against my morals. When the devil attempts to tempt Jesus into sinning while Jesus was fasting for forty days, Jesus does not get rid of the devil to make sure that he isn’t tempted in the desert. He is mentally strong and always refers back to the teachings of God to help him through temptation. I also do not believe that this is the most important teaching that Mathew gives us I would put more important and neglected teachings before this one.