Posts by brotherdan

152

Are you a TRUE Christian?!?

by brotherdan in

i've been thinking alot over the past few days on what makes a christian a christian, and i'm coming to some different conclusions than i ever have.... the watchtower likes to use the term "true believers" or "true christians".

i'm at a loss here lately.

you are either an atheist or you are not.

brotherdan

You said you were "born a Christian". I still don't get it.

I was talking hypothetically. IF I was born into a Christian family. But you caught the point. They are 2 different concepts. A Scotsman was born in Scotland, regardless if he likes sugar in his tea or not.

But a Christian is one that chose that life course. I can't say, "You aren't a TRUE Christian, because you believe in a literal 6 day creation time period" or "You aren't a true Christian because you don't believe in Hell".

Does that make sense?

95

What Would You Like To Ask Any Poster Here?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i'd like to ask undercover why he has so many responses that are similar to what i think?.

finally free, are you really as cranky as you seem?.

brotherdan

I'd like to ask Lady Viola if she would ever consider moving to British Columbia... mmmrrroooowwwrrrrgh!

She's awesome, huh?!? WOW! ....wow....so cute

But she's in Europe. It's pretty unlikely.

I'd like to say the same to Nobleheart! She's gorgeous.

152

Are you a TRUE Christian?!?

by brotherdan in

i've been thinking alot over the past few days on what makes a christian a christian, and i'm coming to some different conclusions than i ever have.... the watchtower likes to use the term "true believers" or "true christians".

i'm at a loss here lately.

you are either an atheist or you are not.

brotherdan

Exactly, Cheeze. They are 2 different concepts. They can't be compared. 1 is a choice. 1 is not. Did you choose to be born in Texas? And people don't "choose" to be born into a Christian family.

I do see my faulty post though. Touche'

152

Are you a TRUE Christian?!?

by brotherdan in

i've been thinking alot over the past few days on what makes a christian a christian, and i'm coming to some different conclusions than i ever have.... the watchtower likes to use the term "true believers" or "true christians".

i'm at a loss here lately.

you are either an atheist or you are not.

brotherdan

So true, Lost Gen. So true.

I still have that same habit...sadly. I'm trying though. I'm trying. One of the Christians on the site that I respect SO much is Psac. And Tec. And a bunch more. But they are always so unjudgemental. That's attractive to people.

27

A serious Bible contradiction for me

by sabastious in

mark 9:.

38 teacher, said john, we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.. 39 do not stop him, jesus said.

for no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,40for whoever is not against us is for us.41 truly i tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the messiah will certainly not lose their reward.. .

brotherdan

Cheeze, I'm gonna PM you with a prospect. It has the option of changing my life, both of our lives, or neither of our lives! :-)

Check it in 5 mins.

152

Are you a TRUE Christian?!?

by brotherdan in

i've been thinking alot over the past few days on what makes a christian a christian, and i'm coming to some different conclusions than i ever have.... the watchtower likes to use the term "true believers" or "true christians".

i'm at a loss here lately.

you are either an atheist or you are not.

brotherdan

Ahhhh, the No TRUE Scotsman fallacy...

Exactly! I guess this is the TRUELY subjective view of a person.

However, we have to make a logical distinction between a PLACE that someone was born and a CONCEPT that that person has chosen to accept. I was born in America. Does that make me an "American"? Techically it does.

I was born a "Christian". Does that make me a "Christian"? No it does not. The fallacy lies in the difference between the place and the concept or the belief.

If I was born a Christan and then became a Muslim, am I a Christian? Do you see where the real fallacy lies? We are talking about 2 different concepts.

152

Are you a TRUE Christian?!?

by brotherdan in

i've been thinking alot over the past few days on what makes a christian a christian, and i'm coming to some different conclusions than i ever have.... the watchtower likes to use the term "true believers" or "true christians".

i'm at a loss here lately.

you are either an atheist or you are not.

brotherdan

Jehovah's Witnesses?

I think some could be. I think the organization festers an attitude that would cause Christians to reject it. But I can't say that "All Jehovah's Witnesses are NOT Christians!"

That has been the attitude of many, including myself, in the past. Walter Martin, a man that I HIGHLY respect, claimed that all JWs were not Christians. But I cannot be that judgemental.

Is the Watchtower a Christian organization? No. But are there some that are associated with Jehovah's Witnesses that are Christians? Yes, I would have to say that there are. I know that some would disagree with me.

Just yesterday I posted a comment about 1John 5:1. It says: "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." I went on to say that all JWs believe that Jesus is the Christ. But do they accept that they are born of God? I said, "No". But how can I make that judgement? Have I talked to them all? No. So I can't say that.

My point in the post was to talk about bigotry. Am I better than anyone else that claims to be a Christian? NO! Going beyond that, should I think that I am better than anyone? No way! My point was to say that when you use the word "TRUE" before your title, then you are imply that YOU are TRUE and all others that do not agree with you are "False".

"You are a FALSE Christian!!!!"

That makes no sense. IMO

236

What is your definition of a "Fundi" or a Fundamentalist?

by brotherdan in

i've been called a "fundi" many times in my discussions with people on the board, and i'd like to know what your definition is of a "fundi".

don't google it.

i just want to hear your personal definition.. i find it interesting because i don't go to any church.

brotherdan

I've heard alot of the same sentiment, TD.

There is a girl that I used to work with, and she makes the most sense to me, now, from a religious standpoint.

She said, "When we get to heaven, God is going to say, "You guys were rediculous! You thought that EVERYTHING was a deal breaker. You thought that everything was so serious! But all I wanted was for you to love me and realize that you didn't have to feel so condemned because you were sinners. All I wanted was for you to acknowledge that Jesus died for your sins and that I am here with open arms to show you how precious and amazing you are! I gave you my Son to show you that. WHY WOULDN'T YOU LISTEN?!? It was all so trivial!"

I was a JW at the time and thought that sounded retarded.

27

A serious Bible contradiction for me

by sabastious in

mark 9:.

38 teacher, said john, we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.. 39 do not stop him, jesus said.

for no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,40for whoever is not against us is for us.41 truly i tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the messiah will certainly not lose their reward.. .

brotherdan

Cheeze...I'm sorry...but I'm going to offend you right now. You are such a Christian in waiting. I love you, dude.

27

A serious Bible contradiction for me

by sabastious in

mark 9:.

38 teacher, said john, we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.. 39 do not stop him, jesus said.

for no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,40for whoever is not against us is for us.41 truly i tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the messiah will certainly not lose their reward.. .

brotherdan

blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

Sab, I think this is a profound post, although I don't really know if it will get the attention it deserves. But what Jesus said here is VERY interesting to me.

What he says is that the ONLY unforgivable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. If I blaspheme the Father...I can be forgiven. Same with the Son. What is interesting when you take this all into consideration is the WT anti-semitist view that the Jews have been rejected by God because they rejected His Son.

But was THAT unforgivable? No. Blasphemy against the son is NOT unforgivable. This can be illustrated in the comments of some prophets in the Bible that were pretty much condemning God for things that He did and did not do. Can you imagine saying, "I can't believe that you have actually allowed evil to be stronger than you!" That sounds like blasphemy to me. But yet, God reasoned with Habakkuk and showed him that He was really righteous.

Anyway, yes, the other Christians on the board are right. We are talking context.

If I am of another religion, but I am proclaiming faith in Christ, but I don't necessarily agree with a Christian with another view, then you could say, "Whoever is not against us is for us." However, if you were to talk about those that FIGHT against belief in Christ, you would be justified in saying, "He who is not for me is against me!"

Does that make reasonable sense? Or no?