Posts by tec

I think the lesson here is not to put money and possessions ahead of your spiritual wealth. The problem is that when we have these possessions we become so attached to them that we are unwilling/unable to toss them aside as if they mean nothing. Which they do mean nothing to our spirituality, which Jesus was concerned about.

A point I wanted to make about Matt 19:21 is this:

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

You need to actually read the whole thing. To enter life, Jesus told the rich man he had only to obey the commandments. When asked what he still lacked after doing this, Jesus answered the above. When the man went away, unwilling/unable to do as Jesus suggested, then Jesus said that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. (But that with God, all things are possible)

I don't think that there are two sets of standards or two sets of scales.

I think there is one standard. One set of scales. One rule, so to speak: faith in Christ, and love of God and neighbor. I personally think that this faith and love is the narrow path that many people do not find. Different situations with different people might apply different responses (different written rules), but love, faith and compassion should be the underlying point and motivation behind them all.

At the same time and to be fair, great wealth in the face of so much poverty does not seem very Christ-like, or based on love or faith. I feel like we are failing in this respect. (Or at least, we are certainly failing to be perfect) But I don't think supporting your family is a fail. Supporting your family is also motivated by love.

Tammy

20

The 144,000 Belief - What Will Happen To It?

by mentallyfree31 in

jw
friends

what do you think will happen to the 144,000 belief as the years progress?

will the wts convert that to a "figurative" number and leave it open-ended?

or will they come up with another date and insist that anybody after that date should not partake?.

tec

They've already changed the 144 000 issue once, concerning 'other sheep'. Its just new light. New light could easily be acknowledging that 144 000 is a figurative number.

Outlaw is right. They can put any spin they want on it and people will believe them.

Tammy

30

Do Y'all Like My House?

by snowbird in

jw
friends

<----------------------------------------.

if so, you might like the other pictures, also.. http://www.bbaaghs.org/photos/snowhillinstitute/.

syl.

tec

Can't wait to read your book! Love the pictures. What a beautiful woman in the white dress too :)

Tammy

347

Why do all intelligent Christians disobey Jesus?

by StoneWall in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-slagzjmdu.

tec

LOL @ THE GLADIATOR - Stonewall

How bad is it that I had to go back and read his post to get what was so funny?

I did chuckle on that second read. Very cute.

DD - If I read the first two chapters of Ephesians, then I can understand that some were predestined - chosen before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless- but then later, those who hear and believe in the gospel are also included in Christ. (Ephesians 1: 13-14) Meaning anyone can come to Christ.

The opposite works as well.

But a rejection of Calvanism is not a rejection of the bible. It just means that we look at the bible with different eyes, and focus on different scriptures. (And I do believe Jesus is the Word of God. The bible can be and has been misunderstood and mistranslated by men. I use it, but I try and keep the common-thread teaching of love of God and mankind first and foremost in mind when reading it.)

Tammy

347

Why do all intelligent Christians disobey Jesus?

by StoneWall in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-slagzjmdu.

tec

Was everyone else just to flabbergasted to respond or did you actually understand/agree with it?

I thought the explanation was a bit of a stretch, yes. Not that it couldn't be applied as well. But in order to consider that to be the interpretation, we'd have to establish that a backhanded slap was a common and known form of insult at the time, and to those people.

I know it is to the Klingons :)

Tammy

347

Why do all intelligent Christians disobey Jesus?

by StoneWall in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-slagzjmdu.

tec

Leaving - Yes, I suppose it is. (from my limited knowledge on what Calvinism is)

If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong. We're all wrong about things. So since I already know that I'm going to be wrong about some things, then I would much rather err on the side of love and mercy. Not out of fear of judgment or punishment. But rather, because I think that is true to the love and mercy Jesus showed and taught.

Tammy

347

Why do all intelligent Christians disobey Jesus?

by StoneWall in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-slagzjmdu.

tec

I agree with PSac. We are all God's children in a 'literal' sense, since God created us all. But we might not be his children in a spiritual sense - since we might not believe in or emulate the love and mercy and values that Jesus taught. (Same as a father who has two sons - one who emulates him and one who holds opposite values)

But God invites everyone. Everyone has the potential to become a child of God in the spiritual sense as well as literal. And neither I nor anyone else has the right or the ability to judge who is or is not a child of God now - or who will later become (or stop being) one.

I like to think of Romans 2:13-16 when people speak about who is and who is not a child of God:

For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.

This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

(Gladiator - I don't see how this is a self-serving writing for any one person or one group, which is one of the reasons why I trust it :)

And people should remember that Paul never even tried to judge himself; he trusted that only to God.

As for the rest of what you're all discussing, I guess I'm just curious how someone reconciles predestination with free will?

Tammy