Mye: you have a good heart and head, wisdom and character. We are all called to do the work of an evangelist, even if we are not of that office gift in the local church. So few believers share there faith, one reason the cults have flourished in the past (plus many do know what they believe and why, so they are vulnerable). There is a warfare for the souls of men. We cannot be silent and must defend and proclaim our faith (Jude 3). I am hearing that there is a good and bad way to do so and concur. This is a tuff, unique audience due to the negative past experiences that make one leary of anything that smells like the dead religion. This is why our focus is on Jesus, not religion. He is winsome, awesome, majestic, worthy. I can understand reticence to identify with organized religion, but I cannot understand why some would fear the Lord Jesus and His Church that He loved and died for (Eph. 5). Phooey, WT, for messing people up. Love and patience will win the day, I trust.
godrulz
JoinedPosts by godrulz
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205
The Christian Onslaught
by satinka in*sigh* i have been noticing lately there are a number of groups of "christians" signing up as members of this forum, with the obvious agenda of gaining converts for their own cult-like religions.
i have been wondering things like:.
hmmm...maybe i'll try ignoring them.. thank you simon for the space to vent.. satinka.
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277
What say you Christians ???
by wobble init seems to me that most, if not all christians are really hung up on sin and redemption from sin and how naturally evil we all are.. my question, and observation is this : i had nothing to do with whatever you say adam and eve did wrong, i have always, throughout my life, treated whoever i came into contact with compassion, respect and love.. i have lived by the golden rule.. not many people, hand on heart, can say that, i can.. so, is your god going to judge me for the "sin" of some mythical forebears of mine ?
is he going to say that , because i did not believe in him, i willl be judged adversely, even though i lived by the precepts he is supposed to support ?.
all i can say is, if your god is like that, i refuse to worship or acknowledge him.. and i certainly do not want to get to know him.
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godrulz
I am an Open Theist (free will theism), dog, the opposite of a Calvinist. Calvinists would believe in double predestination, so the elect are foreknown and decreed from eternity past. I can't imagine a baby who is non-elect going to hell and am not sure if they really teach that. Perhaps all babies are elect if God allows them to die? I am not sure what your point is? What is the Calvinist issue here? Babies go to heaven based on lack of capacity and their non-rejection of Christ. Adults are culpable if they knowingly reject Christ (and are still condemned sinners even if they have not heard about Him, but judged based on that lesser light). I would say one is safe before that age, but that the age varies from person to person.
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205
The Christian Onslaught
by satinka in*sigh* i have been noticing lately there are a number of groups of "christians" signing up as members of this forum, with the obvious agenda of gaining converts for their own cult-like religions.
i have been wondering things like:.
hmmm...maybe i'll try ignoring them.. thank you simon for the space to vent.. satinka.
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godrulz
The Bible/God gives us a mandate to go, preach, evangelize, disciple, etc. all men. We are to do this wisely and sensitively. I am aware that many have baggage and are not ready to wrestle with sound doctrine, Bible, religion, etc. because of negative triggers/associations with the previous cultic abuse. This does not free us from the responsibility to 'fish'.
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277
What say you Christians ???
by wobble init seems to me that most, if not all christians are really hung up on sin and redemption from sin and how naturally evil we all are.. my question, and observation is this : i had nothing to do with whatever you say adam and eve did wrong, i have always, throughout my life, treated whoever i came into contact with compassion, respect and love.. i have lived by the golden rule.. not many people, hand on heart, can say that, i can.. so, is your god going to judge me for the "sin" of some mythical forebears of mine ?
is he going to say that , because i did not believe in him, i willl be judged adversely, even though i lived by the precepts he is supposed to support ?.
all i can say is, if your god is like that, i refuse to worship or acknowledge him.. and i certainly do not want to get to know him.
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godrulz
The age of accountability would vary with individuals. My wife understood the gospel and received Christ at a young age. We know babies lack mental and moral capacity to sin or reject Christ. Someone born mentally handicapped may never achieve accountability, even in old age. Mormons arbitrarily say it is age 8. The Bible is silent, so God alone knows the heart, amount of light/capacity a person has. Gen. 18:25 Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? Yes. The Bible is clear about people like you and me who have capacity. We are without excuse for suppressing truth by our wickedness (Rom. 1). So, on judgment day, God will not have a theological debate with those who do not trust His wisdom and ways. The issue will be receiving or rejecting Jesus, something even a child can do (Jn. 3:16 vs Jn. 3:36; I Jn. 5:11-13; Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom. 1:16).
Good question, but no simple answer, just parameters and principles.
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205
The Christian Onslaught
by satinka in*sigh* i have been noticing lately there are a number of groups of "christians" signing up as members of this forum, with the obvious agenda of gaining converts for their own cult-like religions.
i have been wondering things like:.
hmmm...maybe i'll try ignoring them.. thank you simon for the space to vent.. satinka.
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godrulz
I believe in permission evangelism. This is a forum for dialogue. It is not a face-to-face, relational encounter. I expect that many or most will not read posts that they do not want to. One can make a comment or share info without it being targeted to one person in a bullying, stalking way. Some preaching in Scripture is to a crowd without a consent form being signed. The preaching is directed at all in a persuasive manner. The reactions varied from sneering/jeering, procrastination/pondering, to repentance/faith/change. The same happens here when someone says something. There is a place for permission and pussyfooting and a place to share and let the chips fall. The issue is the various hearts/personalities, not the right or mandate to share truth always, whenever. My approach in real life is different. I do not pounce on co-workers nor run up to strangers and preach at them. This is a forum where I would expect people interested in religion to freely share their beliefs, experiences, etc. I cannot intelligently dialogue with you because you don't want to disclose your beliefs. If asked, I will fully disclose what I believe and why since I have nothing to hide. As well, if I am wrong, I expect to be challenged successfully for my good. Who wants to be wrong/deceived on eternal, spiritual matters?
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277
What say you Christians ???
by wobble init seems to me that most, if not all christians are really hung up on sin and redemption from sin and how naturally evil we all are.. my question, and observation is this : i had nothing to do with whatever you say adam and eve did wrong, i have always, throughout my life, treated whoever i came into contact with compassion, respect and love.. i have lived by the golden rule.. not many people, hand on heart, can say that, i can.. so, is your god going to judge me for the "sin" of some mythical forebears of mine ?
is he going to say that , because i did not believe in him, i willl be judged adversely, even though i lived by the precepts he is supposed to support ?.
all i can say is, if your god is like that, i refuse to worship or acknowledge him.. and i certainly do not want to get to know him.
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godrulz
There is a difference between YHWH and FSM.
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205
The Christian Onslaught
by satinka in*sigh* i have been noticing lately there are a number of groups of "christians" signing up as members of this forum, with the obvious agenda of gaining converts for their own cult-like religions.
i have been wondering things like:.
hmmm...maybe i'll try ignoring them.. thank you simon for the space to vent.. satinka.
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godrulz
There are one-on-one encounters in Scripture with conversion by using Scripture in addition to large crowds. This contrasts with months of indoctrination in the WT before one is baptized/converted. The Holy Spirit can convert someone in a moment, but cults take extended periods of time to change thinking and behavior. Jesus and others who preach the gospel go after false gods, smash them, and replace it with the true God. Everyone's false gods differ, so one size does not fit all (except solution/Jesus).
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277
What say you Christians ???
by wobble init seems to me that most, if not all christians are really hung up on sin and redemption from sin and how naturally evil we all are.. my question, and observation is this : i had nothing to do with whatever you say adam and eve did wrong, i have always, throughout my life, treated whoever i came into contact with compassion, respect and love.. i have lived by the golden rule.. not many people, hand on heart, can say that, i can.. so, is your god going to judge me for the "sin" of some mythical forebears of mine ?
is he going to say that , because i did not believe in him, i willl be judged adversely, even though i lived by the precepts he is supposed to support ?.
all i can say is, if your god is like that, i refuse to worship or acknowledge him.. and i certainly do not want to get to know him.
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godrulz
God's ways are righteous and perfect. You are judging God, the perfect One, demonstrating extreme pride and arrogance on your part. You are on trial, not God.
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277
What say you Christians ???
by wobble init seems to me that most, if not all christians are really hung up on sin and redemption from sin and how naturally evil we all are.. my question, and observation is this : i had nothing to do with whatever you say adam and eve did wrong, i have always, throughout my life, treated whoever i came into contact with compassion, respect and love.. i have lived by the golden rule.. not many people, hand on heart, can say that, i can.. so, is your god going to judge me for the "sin" of some mythical forebears of mine ?
is he going to say that , because i did not believe in him, i willl be judged adversely, even though i lived by the precepts he is supposed to support ?.
all i can say is, if your god is like that, i refuse to worship or acknowledge him.. and i certainly do not want to get to know him.
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godrulz
The grounds or reason by which we are saved relates to God's grace and provision in Christ. The conditions of salvation are manward (not without which) and include repentant faith and continuance in the faith. God alone provides and initiates salvation, but we must receive or reject it if it is to be a reciprocal love relationship vs causation/coercion (that people would complain about).
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277
What say you Christians ???
by wobble init seems to me that most, if not all christians are really hung up on sin and redemption from sin and how naturally evil we all are.. my question, and observation is this : i had nothing to do with whatever you say adam and eve did wrong, i have always, throughout my life, treated whoever i came into contact with compassion, respect and love.. i have lived by the golden rule.. not many people, hand on heart, can say that, i can.. so, is your god going to judge me for the "sin" of some mythical forebears of mine ?
is he going to say that , because i did not believe in him, i willl be judged adversely, even though i lived by the precepts he is supposed to support ?.
all i can say is, if your god is like that, i refuse to worship or acknowledge him.. and i certainly do not want to get to know him.
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godrulz
God is holy and man is sinful. You wrongly assume that God is not holy and that man is good (read the paper and Bible, dude). Rom. 1-5 is God's view of things. When you stand before Him, you will be without excuse under His blazing eye. Unless you think Hitler was a good man and defend his right to kill your relatives, you should have some concept of love, mercy, justice, grace, etc. Apparently, you have a seared conscience and are smarter than an omniscient God, the responsible Moral Governor of the universe vs foolish men.