More Luke Puzzling (Luke 12-14)

Luke 12:10
First of all, the idea of something not being forgivable is pretty scary.  Second, assuming that 'speaking a word against' and 'blaspheming against' mean the same thing (is this a reasonable assumption?), then the distinction between forgivable and unforgivable must lie in the difference between the Son of Man and the Holy Spirit.  What differences between the two would account for such an act being forgivable or not?


Luke 12:22-31
This is quite a charge from God.  What do most people spend their entire adult lives doing?  Working feverishly to sustain themselves.  Here God is challenging us to make Him our number one priority, and leave everything else to fall in place according to His plans for us.  It's definitely not easy to release control of our most basic needs, like what we're gonna eat tomorrow.

The challenge that follows in verse 33 is just as epic yet incredibly simple: sell all your stuff and give to those who don't have what they need.  God doesn't make any distinctions here.  He dosen't say, "Ok, everyone making more than $100,000 annually, give away 1/2 of your things; everyone making $50,000 to $100,000, give away 1/3 of your things; and if you make under $50,000, just don't worry about it."  No, He is talking to everyone.  How many people do you see living this way?  Hmm, almost none.  Is this another case of Christians taking what they like from the Bible and ignoring or justifying the things they don't?  It's easy to forget (or intentionally put aside) the fact the Christianity is a messy thing.  I think Audio Adrenaline puts it nicely. (listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V64PUT0ix4o)


Tired of being clean
sick of being proper
I want to live among the beggers
and dig out in the dirt
step outside the walls we built to protect us
don't be afraid to get some mud on your face
come on come on everybody
come on come on and serve some one
Let's get dirty! let's get used,
no matter where you come from,
if your beatten up or brused,
let's get foolish, let's get free,
free to be the one thing, you were meant to be,
let's get dirty!
You might get a bruse
or some blisters on your fingers
you might start to question
or wonder what it's worth
you might slip and fall from the burdens that you carry
but you can't have this treasure till you dig it from the dirt.


Luke 12:49-53
This is one of those verses that, at first glance, makes you go "Uh...what the...".  Then you flip the Bible upside-down and see if it makes mor sense that way.  Here's an interesting sermon on the topic: http://www.sanfranciscoucc.org/Sermon13.htm


Luke 13:5
Asking for forgiveness is not enough.  Repentence is also required...not an option! 


Luke 14:5
The phrasing here is pretty amusing...almost seems to put the son and the ox at the same level of importance :)


Luke 14:25-33
The cost of discipleship is pretty high.  Sort of reminds you of selling all your stuff and giving to the poor, no?  Are you sensing a theme here with the poor?  Seems to be pretty important to me!


Luke 14:34
As a chemist, this verse is somewhat troublesome.  How can salt (assuming we're talking about sodium chlroide salt here) lose its taste if it is but a single compound?  There is nothing in salt to give it its taste.  The taste is simply a consequence of its existence.  Ok ok, I'm just being difficult here.  Sorry :)