i was baptised on 1st sept 1990, 25years ago today.
it is still a date with deep meaning for me.
i never dedicated my life to serving any man or any organisation, this was my choice - as a grown adult - to serve my god through jesus christ.
Sweetp0985:-
It sounds like your baptism was an occasion for your step-mom.
That raises an interesting point, maybe often a baptism can be the joyous occasion for parents, guardians or study conductors, rather than the person baptised. I call this "ego " rather than " love". ( once again the genuine meaning of " love" is misunderstood)
The Rebel.
i was baptised on 1st sept 1990, 25years ago today.
it is still a date with deep meaning for me.
i never dedicated my life to serving any man or any organisation, this was my choice - as a grown adult - to serve my god through jesus christ.
Thanks for the lovely reply " Giftsinmen".
We are both newbies here but welcome.
Take Care Always.
The Rebel.
i was baptised on 1st sept 1990, 25years ago today.
it is still a date with deep meaning for me.
i never dedicated my life to serving any man or any organisation, this was my choice - as a grown adult - to serve my god through jesus christ.
Agreed LoveUnHateExams:-
But " GIftsinMen" got baptised and made a dedication to " God" and that dedication is very commendable and sincere. All I would add is your user name " GiftsinMen" does not balance with the bible passage " Do not put your trust in man". So you do what your heart tells you and your heart will " hear" and answer " at the deepest level" and don't let us or any " idiot elders or bonkers organisation change that"
The Rebel.
p.s maybe iam over using the word " love" but "loved" your term " bonkers"
i was baptised on 1st sept 1990, 25years ago today.
it is still a date with deep meaning for me.
i never dedicated my life to serving any man or any organisation, this was my choice - as a grown adult - to serve my god through jesus christ.
Hi GiftsinMen:-
Firstly I also think there is nothing wrong with the " f" word. I do think however it can be over used like the word " love" and i think If we use over use these words they loose the impact.
Now to your question " What does my baptism mean to me" I am tempted to say it once meant " love" but it now means " f...k" but I don't want to over use those words on something that now means "nought" "zero" and " nothing" to me.
All I would add is sometimes, somethings takes time but you will heal....and it will get better.
The Rebel.
" only the good die young".
or at least they remain eternally young and heroic particularly if they died for you.
the trouble is we can outgrow our hero worship and our opinions of that person can change.. this is what has happened to me with my childhood friend and my hero jesus.
So do I LoveUnHateExams.
But I think violent death creates a Legend.
" America has known many rebellions,
but never one like this:
millions of teenage rebels heading for nowhere,
some in' hot-rod" cars, the others on the
blare of rock 'n roll music, some with guns in their hands.
And at their head- a DEAD leader"
Picture Post October 8th 1956.
That was written on the death of James Dean . His VIOLENT death made him " immortal" to his generation, and only time has diminished that stature. But the Jesus death ( JESUS DEATH even spells like JAMES DEAN) has survived over 2000 years.
Why?
i think Jesus was untouchable until the Internet. Now it's harder to believe that the grave was empty and that he rose ....
The Rebel.
i don't know if gb member g jackson really meant the gb were 'god', with his 'guardians of doctrine' comment at the arc.
it's nice and conspiracy to think so, i suppose.
i honestly don't know.
punk:-
What is a guardian?
answer ) it is a person with " legal authority"
So I assume he is saying " God" ( did he not say Jehover?) has given the G.B legal authority to be guardians of his doctrines" . Now I assume this would mean the printing and publication of W.T literature.
Its interesting in a court of law it is not always about justice but what is legal. So in a court of law " insane" statements that can't be proven are legal. Who can disprove his statement the G.B are " God" and " Guardians of his doctrine"
Anyway since when did the watchtower = sanity?
The Rebel
" only the good die young".
or at least they remain eternally young and heroic particularly if they died for you.
the trouble is we can outgrow our hero worship and our opinions of that person can change.. this is what has happened to me with my childhood friend and my hero jesus.
DJS:-
a fair and valid point, however I never referred to Jesus as "my presious" ( so please don't assume that) I said the character was " a rebel with a cause" who like Smiddy, I believe to be a fictional character.
I also think many Christians believe the message of Jesus, was a war between evil and good. So in short they believe in " just war"
Having said that we all like our baddie films, and make heroes of Killers like " Billy the kid" & " Butch & Sundance" ect. I believe these Idealised images and views of manliness,are seen for what they are entertainment.The difference is I believe people do not see Jesus as entertainment.
Would the view many have of Jessus be weakened with out the violence to the story? I believe to maintain "Jesus popularity " the violent death of Jesus was needed, as much as the message of peace many claim he delivered .
The Rebel.
" only the good die young".
or at least they remain eternally young and heroic particularly if they died for you.
the trouble is we can outgrow our hero worship and our opinions of that person can change.. this is what has happened to me with my childhood friend and my hero jesus.
Smiddy "I'm more inclined to think of him as a fictional character..."
And the world would be a sadder place with out its fictional characters. Imagine a world of literature with out Tom & Huck,or Sherlock @ Watson,. And what about our great comedians, or actors from Errol Flynn & John Wayne,to James Dean,De Niro & Pacino, the fictional characters they portray become real to us and in some strange and magical way enrich our life's.
Yet each of the fictional book characters, or the characters portrayed by the actors will be outlived by time, and yet our " idealist fool" (which is how Anne Frank described Jesus) lives on and on....maybe for many because of the message of hope? Ironically many a war has been blamed on that message.
The Rebel.
it is a warm sunny day, blue skies and i am excited by the prospect this sunday holds.
will i dismantle a motorbike?
paint a picture?
So turning my O.P around what did I miss?
No public talk.
No W.T study.
No 1 hour service.
No magazine placements.
No food at the proper time.
No false handshakes with my brothers.
No wasted petrol.money.
No contributing my money to the W.T
No being told my tie was too flashes.
I am FREE, even if J.Ws would say I am DOOMED. At least I am FREEDOOM (ed)
THE REBEL.
" only the good die young".
or at least they remain eternally young and heroic particularly if they died for you.
the trouble is we can outgrow our hero worship and our opinions of that person can change.. this is what has happened to me with my childhood friend and my hero jesus.
" Only the good die young". Or at least they remain eternally young and heroic particularly if they died for YOU. The trouble is we can outgrow our hero worship and our opinions of that person can change.
This is what has happened to me with my childhood friend and my hero JESUS. I no longer believe he died for my sins. But I want to keep the figure of the man alive in my heart so this is how I do that:-
Jesus remains to me a religious fanatic, a young Jew who wanted to make the world a better place to live in. A REBEL WITH A CAUSE, who fought the establishment. Each of the parties, Pharasis, Scribes and Romans might have used him for their political ends, but he was an idealist who was willing to die for what he believed in.
Being the " son of God" is easy being "a man" is harder. That is enough for me and I still class my childhood friend as a hero,and my " Rebel with a Cause"
Anyway how do you see your Jesus today? Is he the son of God? Simply a man? Or a fictional character?
The Rebel.
