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From: mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: the Temptations (not a singing group)
Message-ID: <4539@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 4-Apr-85 18:09:00 EST
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.4539
Posted: Thu Apr  4 18:09:00 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 7-Apr-85 03:18:06 EST
References: <238@cvl.UUCP> <439@cybvax0.UUCP>
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Organization: U of Maryland, Computer Science Dept., College Park, MD
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In article <439@cybvax0.UUCP> mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz) writes:

>> 	As an aside, it is very interesting to consider exactly what were
>> the three great temptations of Christ -- which should warn us of our own
>> fallibility as Christians and others living in these dangerous and unjust
>> times. First, Christ was challenged to make bread of the rocks; but he
>> replied "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by the word of God."
>> That is, Jesus rejected materialism, which ignores spiritual needs.
>> Secondly, as was just mentioned, Christ rejected proving himself by testing
>> whether God would save him from self-destruction. And, finally, Christ
>> was challenged to accept political power over the world, in return for 
>> dignifying what is evil; but he replied, "You shall honor and serve God
>> alone." That is Jesus refused the political power of evil.

>It's very interesting to consider that these are precisely the responses we
>would expect a fraudulent miracleworker to use to explain why he won't
>work a miracle right here and now to show you.  Of course he'll be happy
>to tell you of the miracles he worked when you weren't there....

Perhaps so, but this is more a comment on the tendency of frauds to co-opt
the legitimate statements of others.  Jesus did go on to do many miracles;
to light up this episode as representing excuses is to ignore its context.

Not to mention, Mike, that you are claiming to be smarter than the devil.

Charley WIngate  umcp-cs!mangoe