Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
June fully suspects, in fact realizes, that we in the north have our own fair share of rednecks, racists, and bigots. She is guessing that the only difference is that they don't scream and yell as much (if at all) up here...
Lastly, let June just say that she found the overall population and people she encountered in the south to be exceedingly pleasant people; far more curtious and kind than those up north. A vastly different culture, indeed, on a number of levels. Apart from the screaming and yelling in church, June's experience of those living in the south and their helpful kindness was something that genuinelly impressed her, leading her to come home wondering if we aren't just plain rude up here!
(Except for June, of course!)....
Different preaching styles affect people differently.
And, as Ray Wylie Hubbard said in his song "Conversation With the Devil:"
"Some get spiritual cause they see the light and some cause they feel the heat."
Perhaps what June is really asking is this: If you all really have ONE God, then what accounts for such vast variations in terms of your understanding of him, and how do you all reconcile that? June has clearly been on this forum long enough to know that such divides exist, but she is curious as to what other's responses would be...Perhaps as being a "northern intellectual atheist" she was completely unprepared for what she experienced, overall, but still has come away wondering: How do YOU all reconcile the differences that exist, and how do they matter and translate into one's real life as a Christian?
Thanks to all (in advance) who respond here.
Take gentle helpful care.
Perhaps the variations can be likened to the illustration below...
June would agree with the above, only in as much as the pastor had no "openness" to the few questions that June asked. It was made very clear to her that she was either "with" or "outside of." --Which, for someone who is open minded enough to simply ask questions and wish to understand a particular mindset can be a tad difficult. June thinks, (but is not altogether certain) that she was told (in a very politically correct and nice way) that she was going to hell. Period. (Which didn't surprise her, but just sort of surprised her!)
Again, perhaps June shouldn't travel outside of New England....Or if she does, she shouldn't ask questions?
Take gentle "it's gotta be demographics" care.
You should always ask questions but you should always be prepared for answers that are clearly within the Bible. You have admitted that you have not accepted Christ into your heart therefor according to the Bible you will be eternally seperated from God and many will interprit that as hell according to the Bible. What you consider openness others consider the broad path of distruction, also according to the Bible. You have read the Bible over and over again but still do not accept the truth of it, what is standing in your way? Man made knowledge?
You should always ask questions but you should always be prepared for answers that are clearly within the Bible. You have admitted that you have not accepted Christ into your heart therefor according to the Bible you will be eternally seperated from God and many will interprit that as hell according to the Bible. What you consider openness others consider the broad path of distruction, also according to the Bible. You have read the Bible over and over again but still do not accept the truth of it, what is standing in your way? Man made knowledge?
June has accepted love in her heart, she is as saved as you are.
OK?, but what are those teachings? The answer you get varies drastically depending on who you ask. Clearly religion is only what the follower wants, and as such poses dangers to society. The feuding of the Hatfields and McCoys or UR'ers and ET'ers is a negative force in society. It creates a normal environment of intolerance, which becomes a value, which to the reasonable person is not acceptable.
As June witnessed, the value of intolerance is deeply ingrained into the fabric of many churches in the bible belt. This intolerance permeates into society to the detriment of society.
In this forum I witness the constant snipping and bickering and calling others liars based on each sects interpretation. That's the symptom of the core value that intolerance has become for many believers.
The bolded sentence is the core problem which causes all others, selfishness. It is not about what we want but what God wants and until everyone realizes this fact there will be divisions.
The underlined portion is actually discribing all sides, you for instance are intolerant of Bible believers and most Bible believers are intolerant of sin.
June has accepted love in her heart, she is as saved as you are.
Maybe, maybe not. None of us are in a position to judge the state of your soul, or anyone else's for that matter.
But, the path to true salvation is clear and unambiguous.
A: Admit you're a sinner, that you've violated God's laws.
B. Believe in your heart that Christ was the only Son of God, that He died in payment of your sins and that God raised Him from the dead and He lives today.
C. Confess that, outloud, with your mouth, to another person.
If you've done that, you're as saved as anyone else. If you haven't, your not.
June would agree with the above, only in as much as the pastor had no "openness" to the few questions that June asked. It was made very clear to her that she was either "with" or "outside of." --Which, for someone who is open minded enough to simply ask questions and wish to understand a particular mindset can be a tad difficult. June thinks, (but is not altogether certain) that she was told (in a very politically correct and nice way) that she was going to hell. Period. (Which didn't surprise her, but just sort of surprised her!)
June needs to visit Salt Lake City for a completely different experience!
I also 'get' that God created us all differently (attitudes,preferences,languages;as well as eye, skin,and hair color etc),so that not only would life not be boring,but so that no ONE person or group could take over the world.so if you believe in the antichrist coming,you can see what that leads to....nothing pretty.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
....
