The easiest way to see how someone does something, such as the quote boxes, is to click on peek, lower right corner of a post, when reading. It will open up another window that will show all the formatting controls. Also, on the left when responding you can find help. Click on help for either db code or html to see what we use for formatting.
And now back to our discussion.
I read the Bible quite differently than you and hold a completely different view of Christianity.
In Matthew 25 there is still only two, not three groups. The phrase "the least of these my brothers" does not seem to imply a third group but to the members of both the sheep and goats.
Daniel, one of the more classic tales in the Bible, seems to be refering to the angels, those who minister to him, and humans, those gathered before him. So it's still but two groups, in that case, angels and humans.
Though you draw a distinction between the reaction of the sheep verses the reaction of the goats, I detect none.
How can you possibly read Matthew 25 and not see the difference in the reactions?
sheep writes:
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
The sheep are shocked. They did not expect to be among the saved. Now that is not the reaction that you'd expect from a follower of Christ.
goats writes:
44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
And the goats too are shocked, shocked that they are not included. That is the response you'd expect from a believer, one who thinks that because they are a Christian, they will get to rule over others, to be among the elect.
'Taint necessarily so though. They, like so many Christians today, simply didn't get the message, the message that it's not what you profess, but what you do. To show a modern example, they would be the folk that support the Defence of Marriage Act and other similar oppressive legislation.
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
™ Version 4.2
