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From: pmd@cbsck.UUCP (Paul Dubuc)
Newsgroups: net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Hogs and Dogs
Message-ID: <988@cbsck.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 18-Jul-85 14:58:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbsck.988
Posted: Thu Jul 18 14:58:09 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jul-85 09:40:31 EDT
References: <209@ihlpl.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories <SCCS>, Columbus
Lines: 43

>
>Matthew 7:6 Jesus says:
>
>"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before 
> swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you
> to pieces."
>
> What did Jesus mean?
> Who are the dogs and swine?
> What are the pearls? 

I've always had trouble ironing out this one, myself.  I can only reason
that "dogs" and "swine" represent those who have no desire to see value in
things that may truly have value (pearls).  The value of some things does
not make them indestructible; especially to those bent on destroying them.
To me a "pearl" connotes something that has great personal value (not just
monetary) and to have it trampled upon incurs personal damage.

One example of things like this is if, for instance, a Christian wanted
to share some of the personal details of her conversion with another person.
In doing this, some feel led to share some intimate details; baring old
wounds to help the person relate to God's power to heal a broken life.
One needs to be careful, if the person is bent against this testimony they
may use the knowledge to hurt you by telling others (and not in the way
you would tell it, if you thought it should be told at all).  Even
well-meaning people can tell your "testimony" to third parties, forgetting
details you consider important and therefore giving the wrong impression of you
(and it may be the only impression they get).  For this reason, it's good
not to identify another person's past life as an illustration to someone else
(whether you mean well or not).  A person's testimony is their own.  They
should have the most say over how it gets propagated.

Another example might be not to waste your time reasoning with someone
whose clear purpose is to twist your words and misrepresent what you say.
(Maybe that's why Jesus would never talk to the media :-) ).  In your dealings
with people, you just get to know which ones are sincerely interested in what
you think and those who just want to drag you through the mud no matter what
you say.  There are enough of the former type people around to make it
senseless to waste time on the latter.  Of course, as important as it is
not to "cast pearls before swine", it is just as important (if not, more so)
not to be the swine yourself.

Paul Dubuc