This is meant to be a thread to have a view into the Christian mind and the Christian life. Basically, every Sunday and Wednesday, I'd like to simply share a Bible verse and talk a little about it.
There are a couple of reasons why I'm starting this. First, the atmosphere of WEPR has degenerated since I first joined AG in 2008. Second, I feel that those of us who are in the body of Christ, the church, should have a quiet place to increase our devotion and strengthen each other in the faith. Third, I've simply been moved by the heart of prayer to make this thread. Although I know none of you personally, I do pray for some of the people I have met here, whether they may like it or not. So let's encourage that.
Bible verses are in NIV, unless otherwise specified.
March 13-16: Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
When a non-Christian asks me to summarize Christianity in a short way, this is the first verse I turn to. All the problems in the world--the suffering, the pain, the hardship--stem from the first four words: "for all have sinned." And I know for me (and for many of us) this is the hardest thing, to acknowledge that we sin.
We sin, and we justify this to ourselves all the time: "This isn't quite so bad," "Not as bad as him," "Well, in this case." We become trained to think that morality is gray, that it is merely a social convention or a form of respect that we follow. And it's for this reason that the second point is fulfilled: that all "fall short of the glory of God."
There is nothing glorious about goodness if it must be justified here and justified there. And so, the reason why morality is seen as burdensome is not because it's something we should follow, it's because we constantly justify it to ourselves. And that is busywork.
Comments, questions, blessings, prayers all welcome!
There is no "they" here. It's not difficult to comprehend. The body of Christ as he uses it obviously means the church and not the bread for communion - he even uses an appositive to explain what he means. You're trying a scorched-earth tactic to argue against him and all it's doing is making you look like an idiot.
I am speaking of the people who use the term for both- making a statement that this kind of double-talk which sometimes presents itself in Christian theology.
Doing something often doesn't make it permissible, and it doesn't make you immune to being called out by it.
But it does imply that I am not prejudice, as Moon Faerie seems to think.
Rudeness makes you look like an idiot or a ******* who doesn't deserve attention. The rules here emphasize politeness, and it's your loss if you argue rudely because it makes you look like an idiot.
When have I ever cared how I looked?
All people supposedly fall under god's jurisdiction. It would be more like the USA making a law and expecting anarchist citizens to follow it. Just because they don't believe in the government doesn't mean they're not supposed to follow the law.
What gives him the jurisdiction? The USA officials are elected by the people, giving them jurisdiction to make laws. Even the cruelest deposits of earth at least provide minor protection to their people in return for their power.
I am speaking of the people who use the term for both- making a statement that this kind of double-talk which sometimes presents itself in Christian theology.
This has nothing to do with double-talk or doublethink or whatever. You're trying to undermine his argument by meaninglessly criticizing every aspect of it, which only makes you look like an idiot because you appear to be having issues with basic reading comprehension. Using similar terms for different meanings isn't a problem whatsoever - there's a difference between the body of christ and the Body of christ. One is used to refer to the church - which he more than adequately explained - and the other refers to communion bread. You're trying and failing to create an issue here.
But it does imply that I am not prejudice, as Moon Faerie seems to think.
You're only rude to religious people and people you don't like. You do seem prejudiced - if I was only rude to black people and people I disliked, would I appear racist? Yes.
When have I ever cared how I looked?
IT doesn't matter if you care. It matters that you're making an *** out of yourself and you're not following the rules. You've been warned by mods at least twice already for rude behavior - is it really so hard to not borderline flame every religious person you argue against?
What gives him the jurisdiction? The USA officials are elected by the people, giving them jurisdiction to make laws. Even the cruelest deposits of earth at least provide minor protection to their people in return for their power.
If god exists, he is omnipotent. He has the power to reasonably give himself jurisdiction.
The "Good ol' days"? Really? The days are rarely better "Back in the day". Even though on every game sight, everywhere, there seems to be someone saying "This was better back in the day", it is rarely the case. So, I am forced not to believe you.
Heh, I have to agree with Alt on that one. That is so mainly because I was there during the good old days. Ask anyone that bothered to go to the WEPR in 2008.
You aren't forced to disbelieve, you choose not to.
The "Good ol' days"? Really? The days are rarely better "Back in the day". Even though on every game sight, everywhere, there seems to be someone saying "This was better back in the day", it is rarely the case. So, I am forced not to believe you.
Ignore the evidence all you want but it's true beyond a shadow of a doubt. We had decent debates on politics, religion, and economics. Even more than that we had intelligent people on all sides of debate not just this flame war crap that we have now.
For example if this thread would have been created back then I guarantee we would have been interested in a positive discussion about Christianity than to simply make this another, idiotic, debate.
Anyway Parsat I'm all up for having an actual discussion about the bible based upon the premise that God does exist.
Second, I feel that those of us who are in the body of Christ, the church, should have a quiet place to increase our devotion and strengthen each other in the faith.
Not really seeing how that is a positive thing. I also don't get why God would give us free will and the ability to reason then demand we slavishly devote ourselves to him and stop using reason and just listen.
All the problems in the world--the suffering, the pain, the hardship--stem from the first four words: "for all have sinned." And I know for me (and for many of us) this is the hardest thing, to acknowledge that we sin.
How do things like earthquakes, diseases, floods, hurricanes, and other such natural occurrences fit into this concept?
Really? You are going to twist this by manipulating the meaning? Bread is the representation. Trying to make it seem stupid isn't helping you there, because most idiots know the difference.
This depends on the denomination of Christianity. For example in Catholicism it's a literal transformation into the body of Christ.
Not really seeing how that is a positive thing. I also don't get why God would give us free will and the ability to reason then demand we slavishly devote ourselves to him and stop using reason and just listen.
He didn't give us free will. We stole that from him in the garden of Eden....
How do things like earthquakes, diseases, floods, hurricanes, and other such natural occurrences fit into this concept?
Considering that we are ON Earth and not in heaven, the only explanation for this would be, uh, science?
A good god should not have given us possibility to sin, actually. Or to "steal free will from him". If you make a world where sin is possible, don't get mad if someone sins. Just don't making sin possible would be muuuch easier.
A good god should not have given us possibility to sin, actually. Or to "steal free will from him". If you make a world where sin is possible, don't get mad if someone sins. Just don't making sin possible would be muuuch easier.
He wanted Adam and Eve to eat the fruit. It was made like that so that you and me could have life and live it. You can't have good without bad.
This doesn't make very much sense... Are you saying that he is torturing half of the world's population just to make the other half feel good? I don't get this very much...
[quote]This doesn't make very much sense... Are you saying that he is torturing half of the world's population just to make the other half feel good? I don't get this very much...[quote] Most of the planet suffers because of stupid decisions made by PEOPLE, not God. I don't understand how you don't understand. If Adam and Eve had not ate the fruit, they would still be immortal, therefore cancelling out the need for children. You and I would not be here if it wasn't for the original sin. Also, world disasters happen because of human mistakes and natural happenings of the planet. If Earthquakes and tsunamis didn't happen, then pressure inside the planet would rise and blow us all to smithereens anyways.
