It's just a shame that that was your experience. Because of moves, I've belonged to 3 churches in my life and 2 chapels and people didn't always get along, but that happens in any large group of people. I think it's impossible and absurd to say "all Christians are this way or that way" because there are over a billion people who call themselves Christians. There was no drug dealing or hating or anything I would call evil going on. It's no wonder that made you question the belief system you were a part of, but I would advise anyone (not you directly) to really examine the faith itself instead of the people involved in it. People are imperfect and cannot become perfect, so I recommend learning what their ideal is and judging that.
Originally posted by willofthewisp
It's just a shame that that was your experience. Because of moves, I've belonged to 3 churches in my life and 2 chapels and people didn't always get along, but that happens in any large group of people. I think it's impossible and absurd to say "all Christians are this way or that way" because there are over a billion people who call themselves Christians. There was no drug dealing or hating or anything I would call evil going on. It's no wonder that made you question the belief system you were a part of, but I would advise anyone (not you directly) to really examine the faith itself instead of the people involved in it. People are imperfect and cannot become perfect, so I recommend learning what their ideal is and judging that.
That is true, and if these people are normal humans, all is fine. However, Christians claim they are filled with the Holy Spirit. If that is true, then their actions will be different then other humans, but they are not. That brings into question the believe in a Holy Spirit.
Originally posted by willofthewispI think it is more of a point that JIA was using this one woman to say that it was a choice being gay and that all gays are this way and that this is proof that being gay is a choice. Thus the same as saying that Christians are all the same because of one.
It's just a shame that that was your experience. Because of moves, I've belonged to 3 churches in my life and 2 chapels and people didn't always get along, but that happens in any large group of people. I think it's impossible and absurd to say "all Christians are this way or that way" because there are over a billion people who call themselves Christians. There was no drug dealing or hating or anything I would call evil going on. It's no wonder that made you question the belief system you were a part of, but I would advise anyone (not you directly) to really examine the faith itself instead of the people involved in it. People are imperfect and cannot become perfect, so I recommend learning what their ideal is and judging that.
Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
Nope, I am not on LSD. I have never used drugs--not even once.But we are not talking about all of the other people, only one woman is under discussion. I firmly believe that I have demonstrated that her conversion came about as a direct result of Jesus Christ. Hey, since Jesus delivered her from a lifestyle of homosexuality, drugs, and porn (as she powerfully testifies), He will do the same for anyone else.
Mmm. Porn.
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
That is true, and if these people are normal humans, all is fine. However, Christians claim they are filled with the Holy Spirit. If that is true, then their actions will be different then other humans, but they are not. That brings into question the believe in a Holy Spirit.
You're much too reliant on taking what you think should be true and simply assuming that it is.
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
That is true, and if these people are normal humans, all is fine. However, Christians claim they are filled with the Holy Spirit. If that is true, then their actions will be different then other humans, but they are not. That brings into question the believe in a Holy Spirit.
Ideally, people would be filled with the Holy Spirit 24/7 and let God guide them in every aspect of their lives according to the Christian faith. Don't get me wrong. It's just plain shameful what the people you mentioned were doing, but one of the key points about Christianity is that human beings are so flawed and imperfect that they could not save themselves and required God to come down in human form to do so. Christians will still make mistakes. It is impossible to go a day without sinning somehow and people are all still born with a sinful nature. The point is that Christians understand that they SHOULD act differently and make a strong attempt to do so and acknowledge when they have done something wrong so they can repent and try not to do it anymore.
Some people will call themselves Christians and do lots of terrible things and sort of hide behind their church, the Bible, and other Christians, but someone who truly is filled with the Holy Spirit will try to do God's will. That doesn't mean they will always succeed in doing so.
I'm really not trying to preach and it's not my goal to convert anyone, but I feel having a Christian come here and defend what people say about said faith provides a fresh perspective.
Originally posted by willofthewisp
Ideally, people would be filled with the Holy Spirit 24/7 and let God guide them in every aspect of their lives according to the Christian faith. Don't get me wrong. It's just plain shameful what the people you mentioned were doing, but one of the key points about Christianity is that human beings are so flawed and imperfect that they could not save themselves and required God to come down in human form to do so. Christians will still make mistakes. It is impossible to go a day without sinning somehow and people are all still born with a sinful nature. The point is that Christians understand that they SHOULD act differently and make a strong attempt to do so and acknowledge when they have done something wrong so they can repent and try not to do it anymore.Some people will call themselves Christians and do lots of terrible things and sort of hide behind their church, the Bible, and other Christians, but someone who truly is filled with the Holy Spirit will try to do God's will. That doesn't mean they will always succeed in doing so.
I'm really not trying to preach and it's not my goal to convert anyone, but I feel having a Christian come here and defend what people say about said faith provides a fresh perspective.
However, what you say is true for all people in all religions. I am now a Buddhist and the people in my group are far more Jesus like then the people in the Church I was in. That does not mean that all Buddhists are holy, but it does mean that Christianity does not have anything unique.
Originally posted by willofthewisp
I've belonged to 3 churches in my life and 2 chapels
So, you've changed your mind on the specifics 5 times? Did the minister say something with which you didn't agree? Did you leave because you disapproved of something?
People who leave a church because they disagree with something are actually very revealing. Rather than take the message for what it is and change their life to accomodate it, they simply abandon that aspect of the religion and take their business elsewhere. It really does illustrate how people use the bible and religion to justify their own prejudices. At the end of the day, the argument that homosexuality is wrong because the bible says so is a cop-out. It's wrong, in your opinion, because that is your opinion, not because you think that one regulation should be honoured above all others that have been abandoned over the centuries. It's just a convenient scapegoat for your own disdain.
Originally posted by willofthewisp
there are over a billion people who call themselves Christians.
I like how that figure is always used to validate their religious choice. Like 1 billion people some how proves that christianity is right. The only problem is that there are 6 billion people on the planet. And 1 billion of them are Chinese communists. Does that figure somehow validate their political beliefs?
Originally posted by Da Pittman
So how does it feel to be JIA (drug free) since Apr 14th, 2008 😆
It just occurred to me that you are very cynical. Can you handle this observation? It just dawned on me: you do not believe the woman under discussion's testimony and you don't believe that I have never used drugs--not even once. I am referring to illegal drugs. I have taken over-the-counter drugs (who hasn't), but I have never (and I will never) use illegal drugs. Why is this so difficult for you to handle/believe? There are some people out there that have self-discipline, self-control, and do not cave in to peer pressure of the lust of the flesh (with regard to using illegal drugs).
Anyhoo, it feels great to be drug free since birth.
😄
Originally posted by Da Pittman
You have called me a liar, sinner and evil with no moral values and have compared me to a pedophile and bestiality so I’m returning the favor. I call you these things because you can’t handle your own truth that you are a selfish person that is very hateful which I have shown you over and over as well as others on this site. You are a liar that you have never taken drugs and I can guarantee that you have, you also are rude and arrogant in your responses to me and I have asked you why you have ignored Shakey just for bringing up your movie and you dodged the question. Why is he not worth your time to try and “save” but I am???Yes the woman is free to believe what she wants as you are and I am however I do not force my beliefs onto you as you are trying to do to us. You offer things as fact not as your opinion and this is a very different thing, if you said all along that this is YOUR opinion then it would be different but you do not. You say that “according to the Bible” and you say that everything in the Bible is fact. You do not have your own opinions and we all tire of hearing the Bible version and not yours but you can not have your own view because that would be against the Bible’s version and that would be shattering your belief.
I do ask why are you trying so hard to convert me? You lack the compassion and knowledge to convert any atheist much less me.
I don't recall what we were discussing but there was some reason why I did not trust what you were stating. For this reason, I did not believe you. Care to refresh my memory of what we were discussing? I don't recall using the word "liar," but I may have stated that I did not believe you (there is a huge difference). Why do you keep bringing up the Golden Compass?
But...you are a sinner if you do not know Jesus Christ. This is a designation for all people who are not saved or born again through faith in Jesus Christ. That is not a put down it is reality according to the Scriptures.
Rude and arrogant are opinions so I'll take that. Selfish and hateful? I don't see the connection there.
Has it ever occurred to you Da Pittman that I choose who I want to respond to? There are a multitude of people that I don't respond to and yet I don't see you bringing them up. Better yet, there are a plethora of KMC members that do not respond to me (I ain't crying and complaining). It is what it is. It is life. I lose about this much sleep _ every night over it. No, really I reserve the right (just as you do) to respond to whomever I choose. I feel absolutely no guilt about the matter if you really must know the truth (well, actually I feel a little because my aim is not to offend anyone). Besides, I cannot save anyone (that is Jesus' job not mine).
I am not here to promote my opinions. Force? So, I use the force to make you believe the Bible? Just kidding. How come every time a Christian opens his mouth he is forcing his beliefs on someone? I thought that we were going back and forth presenting our viewpoints. I can keep on going like the Energizer rabbit, but I surmise that you cannot handle the truth? No?
Lately, I have simply been responding to your posts and you have reciprocated. But you see my dialogue as an adventure in conversion.
My belief would not be shattered it would be compromised if I was on here promoting my ideas. You know, that is what got Adam into trouble back in the Garden of Eden. He tried to have a thought independent of His Heavenly Father, and do his own thing. Look what happened as a result: sin, death, pain, suffering, the curse, sickness, disease, and eternal damnation.
As for compassion and knowledge, I am a work in progess, but I am very optimistic.
🙂