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"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." (Luke 15.7)
Jesus warned that Christians would be hated and despised by the secular world though, in order to be hated and despised, Christians would have to be saying or doing things, the secular world does not like or agree with. If we look around today at some of the most hated and despised, its groups like Westboro Baptist!!
Jesus warned that Christians would be hated and despised by the secular world though, in order to be hated and despised, Christians would have to be saying or doing things, the secular world does not like or agree with. If we look around today at some of the most hated and despised, its groups like Westboro Baptist!!
The writers of the gospels (ostensibly quoting Jesus) were talking about the situation in their own times, when Christians were in the same position atheists are today. It wasn't talking about certain individuals or groups with a broadly accepted and approved religion who discredit their religion by their behaviour.
I just don't get it. How can it be excusable that women who are abused are told to pray, and stay. That is just so wrong, and yet, it seems, many Christians endorse leaders who make these statements.
I just don't get it.
These type of comments demonstrate limited human perception on both sides of the fence. Humans want things simple and easy. So we like to create laws and boundaries as a one size fits all. But real life doesn't work that way because every human being is an unique creation with unique experiences and on an unique life path. Therefore when you look at the Bible's laws, it is not always equally applicable.
The pastor is both right and wrong. He is right that you should first pray, but wrong to suggest that divorce is never an option for a Christian woman. Seek God's direction because everyone's situation is not identical and a loving God is not going to hold a Biblical law against you if the situation is harmful and dangerous. Futhermore, Jesus even gave a specific exception to the divorce rule being that if the other partner is unfaithful. So of course, an equal exception would be allowed if the spouse is doing something that also destroys the one flesh union. We have to remember that God hates sin because sin hurts us. So He would never want a woman to stay in a relationship that hurts them too.
Christianity is not about following a set of rules. Anyone with that kind of thinking is just either spiritually dead or immature. Any pastor that takes a hardline approach to marriage needs to study deeper and understand just why God hates divorce. Another example would be the sin of lying. So we should never lie under any circumstance, right? Well, would you tell someone the truth that their baby is ugly? Only if you have zero empathy and compassion for other people. No, most people will lie through their teeth and tell them that their baby is adorable. But they lied. Yeah, and they showed compassion which is more important in God's eyes.
These type of comments demonstrate limited human perception on both sides of the fence. Humans want things simple and easy. So we like to create laws and boundaries as a one size fits all. But real life doesn't work that way because every human being is an unique creation with unique experiences and on an unique life path. Therefore when you look at the Bible's laws, it is not always equally applicable.
The pastor is both right and wrong. He is right that you should first pray, but wrong to suggest that divorce is never an option for a Christian woman. Seek God's direction because everyone's situation is not identical and a loving God is not going to hold a Biblical law against you if the situation is harmful and dangerous. Futhermore, Jesus even gave a specific exception to the divorce rule being that if the other partner is unfaithful. So of course, an equal exception would be allowed if the spouse is doing something that also destroys the one flesh union. We have to remember that God hates sin because sin hurts us. So He would never want a woman to stay in a relationship that hurts them too.
Christianity is not about following a set of rules. Anyone with that kind of thinking is just either spiritually dead or immature. Any pastor that takes a hardline approach to marriage needs to study deeper and understand just why God hates divorce. Another example would be the sin of lying. So we should never lie under any circumstance, right? Well, would you tell someone the truth that their baby is ugly? Only if you have zero empathy and compassion for other people. No, most people will lie through their teeth and tell them that their baby is adorable. But they lied. Yeah, and they showed compassion which is more important in God's eyes.
Do evangelicals go to some kind of class to learn to communicate with this strange, meaningless gobbledygook?
It is similar to the way a politician spins or an attorney makes intentionally vague statements but with bizarre phrasing, random use of capital letters and off the wall stuff like "flesh union" thrown into the mix.
I have seen this same style from more than one poster, so I assume this is some weird form of speaking that is taught in certain Christian churches. Is that correct?
These type of comments demonstrate limited human perception on both sides of the fence. Humans want things simple and easy. So we like to create laws and boundaries as a one size fits all. But real life doesn't work that way because every human being is an unique creation with unique experiences and on an unique life path. Therefore when you look at the Bible's laws, it is not always equally applicable.
The pastor is both right and wrong. He is right that you should first pray, but wrong to suggest that divorce is never an option for a Christian woman. Seek God's direction because everyone's situation is not identical and a loving God is not going to hold a Biblical law against you if the situation is harmful and dangerous. Futhermore, Jesus even gave a specific exception to the divorce rule being that if the other partner is unfaithful. So of course, an equal exception would be allowed if the spouse is doing something that also destroys the one flesh union. We have to remember that God hates sin because sin hurts us. So He would never want a woman to stay in a relationship that hurts them too.
Christianity is not about following a set of rules. Anyone with that kind of thinking is just either spiritually dead or immature. Any pastor that takes a hardline approach to marriage needs to study deeper and understand just why God hates divorce. Another example would be the sin of lying. So we should never lie under any circumstance, right? Well, would you tell someone the truth that their baby is ugly? Only if you have zero empathy and compassion for other people. No, most people will lie through their teeth and tell them that their baby is adorable. But they lied. Yeah, and they showed compassion which is more important in God's eyes.
As a principle, all are equal before the Law. True, there may be mitigating circumstances. I once saw a woman convicted of shoplifting treated with some sympathy (not leniency exactly) because of the way she'd been trying to bring up two kids alone. If it had been some rich kid who just enjoyed the thrill of stealing, the law book should have been thrown at him, and the one bound in cast iron, too.
That said, the law on a level playing field should fit all sizes and people should fit the law, not the law be adapted to fit them.
Of course there cannot be one law for the Lion and the Ox. You observe, Jeff, quite correctly, that those who are by nature unfitted to comply with a law might have a case for the law being amended out of justice if not compassion. You know the sort of thing - people who claim to be Christian not getting preferential treatment, atheists not being debarred from holding public office, same sex couples not being prevented from marrying, let alone being regarded as criminals...you're thinking along the right lines, Jeff.
Well bless your heart. Way to be objective and give someone the benefit of the doubt.
I understand Ozzy's doubt. That you badmouth Ghandi bespeaks a prejudice against anyone professing the wrong religion, and I would observe that the accusations levelled at him come so very often from Pakistani Muslims.
Thus the suspicion is understandable and in fact plausible, that this is damage -limitation on your part. You weighed the odds and decided that this was one best thrown to the wolves as Not a Real Christian, as distinct from those who sacked a woman who didn't pay up all the protection -money they demanded, and you thought it was worth going in to bat for those.
But while we may not entirely buy it that you were opting for the just humane and correct decision out of Christian Kindness rather than tactical considerations of damage limitation, the fact that you did opt for it rather than scrunching your eyes shut, jam your fingers in your ears and scream denial was enough to merit the GBOM (2d class with handclasp).
I understand Ozzy's doubt. That you badmouth Ghandi bespeaks a prejudice against anyone professing the wrong religion, and I would observe that the accusations levelled at him come so very often from Pakistani Muslims.
You really know nothing about me. Do you have a clue how many people of other religions work in the IT industry? I get along very well with Hindus, Muslims, and other religions. I enjoy going out to lunch with my Indian friends, eating Indian food, discussing religion, and getting along with them. We're nice to each other, and we don't insult each other, as you seem to be predisposed to doing here.
Me calling Gandhi a pedophile has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with his practice of sleeping naked with young girls. But thanks for asking.
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"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." (Luke 15.7)
I understand Ozzy's doubt. That you badmouth Ghandi bespeaks a prejudice against anyone professing the wrong religion, and I would observe that the accusations levelled at him come so very often from Pakistani Muslims. 
plausible, that this is damage -limitation on your part. You weighed the odds and decided that this was one best thrown to the wolves as Not a Real Christian, as distinct from those who sacked a woman who didn't pay up all the protection -money they demanded, and you thought it was worth going in to bat for those. 
