Why Should Jesus Love Me?

G_O_D wrote:

I hate to admit it but most organizations to benefit the masses end up being little more than bureaucratic mouth pieces and do little to further the goals of the original movement. It seems the larger the organization's member bases, the less it accomplishes.

That may be true. There is certainly a tendency toward that end.

Le_le wrote:

<quoted text>
I do not understand why you don't see that your "rights" cease
the second you tell someone they do not have the same rights that you have.
You do have the right to follow any path you see fit -for you-
you do not have the right to try and block any path others
might see fit for their life!
You and your religion need to stay out of others business..
You are not God- you don't speak for God, get over yourselves already!
Did you join Q and his wife at the "Chick Fil A" Appreciation
Day?
I wondered what kind of monsters would join together to support
such a statement denying equal rights to all..
Didn't have to look very far did I?? There's two right here on this thread..
It's shameful, to me, that you claim the same God as I do..

If you want to see what type of hatred it breeds...just take a look at the posts of DR's that have been directed my way...from my avatar which is nothing more that a piece of art to the belittlement of my son.

All that I can say is...I feel pity for him...nothing more in his life than trying to tear down others.

It is however what some choose to do with their religion...with whatever god they believe in.

In the mean time...I will try to remain gracious...LOL

It aint necessarily so wrote:

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Don't the scriptures say that the words in the bible are the "Word of God"?

There are a few problems.

They are all seperate works by different authors. One book can not state anything regarding the others although they try.
Note too that the Hebrew scriptures were written long after a history of oral traditions and that the NT is a compilation selected from hundreds of texts 300 years after Jesus and Paul were dead.

A few of the authors give their character's authority on the lines of "God put these words in my mouth" (IE: Jermiah) that is to authorize a 'portion' of that text not the entire text.
Note that the author does not claim the text is the words of God but that the prophet claim his are.

Now if one wants to take something interesting away from the Bible as a literalism and claimed to be the "Words of God" in the text, I recommend Psalm 82"

"I said,'You are all Gods. You are all Sons of God.'"

Too bad people want to be told they a pieces of shit by Paul instead of accepting what "God" told them.

Good Morning Folks
Part 2

After His Ministry on earth talking about God's Kingdom, repentance and dealing with their attitudes towards them and such, NOW He could deal with the major obstacle at hand... that is, bringing reconcilation between mankind and God through His sacrificial death. He knew that is the major reason why He left is pre-existence and come in the flesh in the first place. THAT even while we were in our sin Christ, The Son of God, laid down His Life voluntarily into the unmerciful hands of sinners to be a sacrifice for mankind. So He died an excruciating death, was buried confirming that death... but meanwhile His Soul had gone down into paradise which some know as Abaham's bosom. He preached to them, delivered those righteous souls out of there and sent them up. After those 3 days our Lord went back up also into His own body and was raised from the dead. As the scriptures follow, He met with His Disciples and others... and He commisssioned them to preach His message to the entire world. And that holy and divine message has cascaded through time to us, through trial, through tribulation, persecution, banishments, hatred, insults, love, perserverance, Divine Providence and has made it's way after all that time into our hearts as we CONTINUE to trust in Christ Jesus. Now not all who claim they have Christ in their hearts, have Christ in their hearts... they claim Christ but they have the world and it's preoccupation with sin in their hearts... Christ is simply in their backpocket but they lean towards the things of this world first.

There are many sins... but concerning the sin of fornications... that is, bestiality, homosexuality, unmarried heterosexuality... well, the latter seems normal and now they are trying make homosexuality normal... then comes bestiality and then eventually pedophilia. All those are sins and all of the excuses in the world, all of the science and all of the political mumbo jumbo and insults will not change that fact. They are shameful, they are sinful and those who support and help this wickedness to continue are just as guilty as those who are doing it. I'm not saying that if one has a family member or friend in that situation that they ought to avoid them... I'm saying when a Christian especially, goes out of their way and "vehemently" show support to this wickedness then they are culpable also in this particular subject area. And worse yet, if a brother is in the Lord and is actually in fornications then the scripture says to not even associate oneself with except to try and convert him from his wickedness. Someone needs to have a coming out party... that is coming out of this sinful behavior.

"When I say to the wicked,‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ AND YOU DO NOT SPEAK OUT to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die forahis sin, and I WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE for his blood.

But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways AND HE DOES NOT DO SO, he will die for his sin, BUT YOU WILL HAVE SAVED YOURSELF."
Ezekiel 33

G_O_D wrote:

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I am of the opinion that as an ancient effort to explain the beginings of the Universe and Life, the Hebrew rendition of the Sumerian tales does make a lot of decent, abeit simplistic and incomplete, speculative theories.

Perhaps. But if we're going to look at the scriptures naturalistically, why live by them?

G_O_D wrote:

That said, it is more of a Children's Book of History. I do not find the 'Big Bang', evolution nor the spontaneous emergence of life to be contradictory with the Genesis account. As for Exodus, well that is obviously a political document and has little to do with history, again much like a grade school history book in USA schools.

That's fine. But if some of the bible is to be regarded that way, why not all of it? What parts of it if any should be taken at face value, and how can you know?

To a skeptic, this is exactly the kind of thing that we would expect human beings speaking for a god to write, and the opposite of what I would expect from a god trying to establish its credentials and authority for millennia to come.

Serah wrote:

<quoted text>This thread wasn't paid for by those who mock JESUS ~ therefore it is not intended for mockery!!?

Actually this thread is free to whomever

What's your point?

Serah wrote:

There is so much affected behavior by certain individuals in certain groups.... I could almost hear the words of G's posting, and I knew exactly the affected behavior he would have adopted as he was rubbing it in. I see it all the time these days :)

Do you see affected behavior in Christians?

Here is another good example of what hatred breeds.

http://www.topix.com/forum/topstories/T64GV6Q...

"Your use of the word patriarchy shows your bigotry. And I'm perfectly fine with gay kids being bullied to death."

Serah wrote:

<quoted text>Do you not know of the judgement of the Churches? Ah well, you are not the only one disputing and debating things you know nothing of....
So, as you like Scriptures so much, I'll share a few to enlighten you a touch.
Actually, I went to my old notes instead of Google, and after I have listed these for you, I will also write from an insert I have popped in there because it was special at the time. Once again, it is special :)
Book of Revelation
2:1 The Loveless Church
2:8 The Persecuted Church
2:12 The Compromising Church
2:18 The Corrupt Church
2:29 JESUS says "HE who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches"
3:1 The Dead Church
3:7 The Faithful Church
3:14 The Lukewarm Church
..........
***24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.***
My book is called The Morning Star :)

Thanks Serah
I think you've gotten ahead of yourself, I'm not one who waits around for a GOD to do.

You as well as others should try it sometimes.

Serah wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you suggesting that Epi's Prayers are not real or from the heart? Ahh, how does one teach about a heart in Prayer? How does one explain the link between GOD and those in Prayer if one doesn't not have that sense or emotion? It can be done, of that there is no doubt, because it is a tangible asset of the greatest magnitude and stronger than the other senses as such. If one cannot see, will they ever know the color blue regardless of how many times it is described? How does one explain the many ranges of blue so that one who has never seen blue will picture it in their minds eye?
But that explanation is not necessary with GOD ~ as HE is in control of the ranges :)

Most of Epi's posted prayers are not from epi, those prayers belong to someone else,..try asking Epi.

It aint necessarily so wrote:

<quoted text>
Perhaps. But if we're going to look at the scriptures naturalistically, why live by them?
<quoted text>
That's fine. But if some of the bible is to be regarded that way, why not all of it? What parts of it if any should be taken at face value, and how can you know?
To a skeptic, this is exactly the kind of thing that we would expect human beings speaking for a god to write, and the opposite of what I would expect from a god trying to establish its credentials and authority for millennia to come.

I agree.
I do not take the Bible or Hebrew scriptures literally or as "The Word of God".

Have you read, watched or listened to Joseph Campbell's "The Power of Myth'?

If not, I think you would get a lot out of it. I think you will be saying, like I did, "WoW! This guy thinks like me."

Serah wrote:

<quoted text>Do you think there should be no limits displaying one's sexuality or sexual preferences? No boundaries as such.

People probably shouldn't reveal their sexual preferences by indulging in them in the streets. Where would you draw the line?

Do you think that there should be no limits on public displays of faith or religious preference? No boundaries as such. Should people be indulging in worship on the streets? Where would you draw the line, if any?

Do you think that that is an unfair comparison?

AnnieJ wrote:

Here is another good example of what hatred breeds.
http://www.topix.com/forum/topstories/T64GV6Q...
"Your use of the word patriarchy shows your bigotry. And I'm perfectly fine with gay kids being bullied to death."

It is sad how much hatred is spewed in Jesus' name.

"Jesus wept"

AnnieJ wrote:

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Yes...after years of posting on this thread I don't even have to anticipate the response...I know what they will be.
I picked your post to give my thoughts on the subject...simply because while we might not agree I can anticipate the manner in which you will respond.
My problem is not with someone believing that homosexuality is wrong...a sin. If one says "Based on my faith I believe to be homosexuality to be a sin and thus wrong." then I would say that they have the right to believe as they choose.
It is that response that follows afterwards that promotes the hatred and division. The line "love the sinner...hate the sin" is a hollow and shallow cover-up. How does one expect another to feel that love when one has called them a...
pervert
deviant
scum of the earth
human garbage
pedophile
degradation to marriage
sex with animals
etc
etc
etc
Do you really expect anyone to see that as anything else but hatred?
An example...
At one time I posted on the Gay/Lesbian forum. There was a professed Christian that was as vile as I had ever seen.
I asked him once...what he would do if his child came home and told him he was gay.
His response...
I would throw him out on the pile with the rest of the trash.
One can say that man was not a "true" Christian...yet I have read similar comments here on this thread among the "true" Christians.
As I said above...that "love the sinner...hate the sin" rings hollow...a cover up for hatred.

I shared the story last week of my cousin who was gay.....I am not covering up hatred because I really LOVED my cousin (he was like my Brother)....but as a Christian I know God has words against the gay lifestyle. I trust Gods word...I still LOVE my cousin.

mike wrote:

<quoted text>Most of Epi's posted prayers are not from epi, those prayers belong to someone else,..try asking Epi.

Yep.
She shares from her daily readings.
I seem to recall she used to put citations in her post to indicate where they came from. I have become so used to them I don;t know if she still does.

One was a publication called "Daily Bread".. I think.

Epi is not passing them of as her own words.

Good Morning Folks
Part 3/Last

Jesus: "For many are invited, but few are chosen."

Apostle Paul: "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

Welp, have to head out earlier. But I will tell you... with the Lord's help I will not be "turned out" to believe that fornications is okay. It is sin... no matter the excuse, no matter the demonic doctrine of evolution by the backsliding backslider, Darwin... Jesus is Lord... thank God for the Chick-fillets and the Hobby Lobby's of the world who stand up against the sin of pride... that is rebellion towards our God and His Christ.

__________

The below message is beautifully stated... for Senecus and Drew especially... Drew, thanks for sharing Dr. Carson. He seems to have gotten more fiesty over the years. I've read his book back in the 90's. A testimony to His Faith... He kept it and did not Shrink back:

Who are the Real Gay Bigots and Bullies?

"George Orwell said,“In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” When you tell the truth about homosexuality today, you can be sure that the central tools of deceit—name-calling and bullying—will be unleashed."

http://www.theoakinitiative.org/turek-who-are...

Praise The Lord

Epiphany2 wrote:

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I shared the story last week of my cousin who was gay.....I am not covering up hatred because I really LOVED my cousin (he was like my Brother)....but as a Christian I know God has words against the gay lifestyle. I trust Gods word...I still LOVE my cousin.

I am not being beligerant but wonder if you can give your opinion of "WHY" God finds male homosexuality an abomination and what you think "abomination" means.

Thanks.

:)

AnnieJ wrote:

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<quoted text>
I'll ask both of you...
If you won the lottery for 10 million dollars...when the check arrived and you saw that the check # was 666...they refused to replace it with a different number...would you destroy the check...or would you cash it?
I know that this number holds significance in your faith (I heard about that number often as a child) but in reality it is just the number that comes after 665 and before 667.
We teach our children to count as far as they can...we turn it in to a game...often counting to 1000 and beyond. Would you teach them to skip 666?

Its just a number to me.....the one between 665 and 667....But some others put more emphasis on it....They think it is EVIL...I feel they are intitled to their belief and opinion

Everything gay is evil.