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It is a God many create to allow them to do and believe as they wish.
Yes, the "the God of the Bible" is man's dim view of something so divine that mere man can not adequately describe it, yet we still try. Your second sentence is meant as an insult, I get that, but it's kind of a childish slur, no? And it's not true.
If you don't believe in a God of love and compassion and justice, why do you believe? For a reason to act unkind? An excuse to hate? That is sad, and I cannot relate to it. To me, God is Love. If that's not true, then I don't want to believe.
Yes, the "the God of the Bible" is man's dim view of something so divine that mere man can not adequately describe it, yet we still try. Your second sentence is meant as an insult, I get that, but it's kind of a childish slur, no? And it's not true.
If you don't believe in a God of love and compassion and justice, why do you believe? For a reason to act unkind? An excuse to hate? That is sad, and I cannot relate to it. To me, God is Love. If that's not true, then I don't want to believe.
Well said, MQ. Too few people seem to have any standards about what kind of God they will love. It is almost as if they are too frightened NOT to love whatever God exists. I cannot understand such thinking. How could God NOT truly be worth loving and believing? If He isn't . . . He isn't God . . . or He is non-existent. The God some people seem willing to love resembles a capricious devil or demon more than a God.
That doesn't answer my question about the church gossips. You know. All those people who have said "Yes" to Jesus but continue to be gossiping sinners. But that's OK. I didn't expect one. I know fundamentalists would rather talk about gays being sinners than the people eating donuts in the church basement being sinners.
I can't speak for all who claim to be Christian but for those I am around, the recognition that we are all sinners is a given. Just because someones sin is different does not make them below or above us. We are all the same with the exception of our status in Christ Jesus. While I know that homosexual acts are a sin, just like any other sin, the person committing those acts are just sinners the same as I. I have received forgiveness of my sin and strive to do as Jesus instructed and "sin no more" but without Him, all I am is a sinner. Of course eating a doughnut is and never was a sin, overeating is. So is cheating in business, speeding in your car, taking anything that is not yours, abusing children, murdering, and homosexual acts. It's all sin.
What brings the focus on some sin's over others is that some want to declare the sin is not a sin but is somehow approved by God. When you do that we must correct it and not allow that falsehood to deceive any. As Jesus said, the "truth shall set you free".
Of course we could mention how when you expose someone's sin they do as children and point out what someone else has done wrong as if that somehow makes their sin not so bad. We should all grow out of that childish behavior. Although it is the easy thing to do.
While I know that homosexual acts are a sin, just like any other sin
And therein lies the egregious and malicious horror that is religion. You can not defend or substantiate the claim there is anything wrong about homosexual acts. You just "know" it to be so or... since that is what this thread is about.... one simply takes ones pastors word for it.
The question "What does YOUR Pastor say about it?" is not specific enough. We know many pastors call it "sin" or "wrong" or "immoral" or "bad" or "evil" or whatever. When many of us ask "What does YOUR Pastor say about it?" we are not asking for THAT. We know that already.
No, what we are asking for is "What does YOUR Pastor say about it?" after that blanket assertion. How does he substantiate the assertion? What substance does it have? What are the foundations of his opinion on the matter. "What does YOUR Pastor say about it?"
And alas when I ask THAT question I get essentially the same response as your post. These people just "know" it to be wrong or bad or evil or sin. No explanation offered or required it seems. Forgive me for suspecting the lack of explanation stems solely from them simply not having one to offer in the first place.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DennisW
What brings the focus on some sin's over others is that some want to declare the sin is not a sin but is somehow approved by God.
And why should they not? You have simply DECLARED it to be sin. Just a blanket assertion/declaration. So why not have another group simply DECLARING it to be the opposite? If all we are doing is DECLARING things whenever the neurotic desire to do so pops into our heads.... how is their declaration any more or less valid or useful or informative as your own?
You can throw out the line "The Truth shall set you free" as if it adds something to your argument. But so can they. Just as easily. Just as often. And with just as much validity (that is to say: none).
To me NEITHER of you is valid or useful or informative. Sitting down and actually adumbrating and then expounding upon the merits and demerits of the topic itself is.
And therein lies the egregious and malicious horror that is religion. You can not defend or substantiate the claim there is anything wrong about homosexual acts. You just "know" it to be so or... since that is what this thread is about.... one simply takes ones pastors word for it.
The question "What does YOUR Pastor say about it?" is not specific enough. We know many pastors call it "sin" or "wrong" or "immoral" or "bad" or "evil" or whatever. When many of us ask "What does YOUR Pastor say about it?" we are not asking for THAT. We know that already.
No, what we are asking for is "What does YOUR Pastor say about it?" after that blanket assertion. How does he substantiate the assertion? What substance does it have? What are the foundations of his opinion on the matter. "What does YOUR Pastor say about it?"
And alas when I ask THAT question I get essentially the same response as your post. These people just "know" it to be wrong or bad or evil or sin. No explanation offered or required it seems. Forgive me for suspecting the lack of explanation stems solely from them simply not having one to offer in the first place.
And why should they not? You have simply DECLARED it to be sin. Just a blanket assertion/declaration. So why not have another group simply DECLARING it to be the opposite? If all we are doing is DECLARING things whenever the neurotic desire to do so pops into our heads.... how is their declaration any more or less valid or useful or informative as your own?
You can throw out the line "The Truth shall set you free" as if it adds something to your argument. But so can they. Just as easily. Just as often. And with just as much validity (that is to say: none).
To me NEITHER of you is valid or useful or informative. Sitting down and actually adumbrating and then expounding upon the merits and demerits of the topic itself is.
I don't expect you to understand and be able to discuss Christian doctrine.
So your answer is you will not be answering my post then? Or are you suggesting you will be doing so tomorrow but not today? It is not clear from your response.
So your answer is you will not be answering my post then? Or are you suggesting you will be doing so tomorrow but not today? It is not clear from your response.
I will not be discussing anything with you. Hope that is clear enough for you. Goodbye!
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I didn't expect one. I know fundamentalists would rather talk about gays being sinners than the people eating donuts in the church basement being sinners.
