I wanna turn water into wine at parties. Try and tell me that wouldn’t impress women.
Neil
“. . .they could as easily have been carrying euphoniums and wearing war paint for all the notice their quarry would have taken of them.”
-Douglas Adams, “Life, the Universe, and Everything”
pl, My point was back when you called me ignorant about the prayer in schools deal. I wanted information, which tomndeb gave. I’m sure reciting a prayer in school, not even listening to the words would not make a child a better citizen, etc. Actually, that begins at home, with the parents influence. When arg said he wanted to be like Jesus, he didn’t mean dea, because Jesus is Not dead, remember? The empty tomb? He meant spreading the love of God. Obviously, you all think arg is not like that.
Mr. Arg, I generally do not participate in threads like this, where religious discussion degenerates into flame war (or this thread, which was designed as a religious flame war with Arg as the centerpiece). It is a waste of time. (See Matthew 7:6 and I Corinthians 2:14).
I have also generally avoided what you have posted on the board, wherever you have posted, for the same reason.
And please know that I am one of those born-again, evangelical, spirit-filled/charasmatic Christian believers you align yourself with.
I cannot believe that you actually think that what you are doing in a forum such as this has any positive effect.
You are acting like Jesus? Being intolerant of sin? I’d suggest you meditate a little bit on John 8:7.
And please note one great distinction. The passages you cite where Jesus is intolerant of sin are about the religious leaders in Christ’s society. Men who knew the scriptures cold, yet blatantly disobeyed them, or took to a literal, heavy handed reading of the law while avoiding the spirit thereof. I daresay there are very few folks who fit that profile here on the SDMB.
Jesus always knew his audience. He spoke in parables, because he knew that those who wouldnto receive him wouldn’t do so if he laid it out plainly; rather, he gave those who were really seeking him the chance to understand. When folks weren’t receptive to his message, he moved on. Look at the passages about when he came back to his hometown of Nazareth, or when he gave instructions to his disciples about “shaking the dust from their feet.”
There are no passages where Christ stood on a roof top or in a stadium with a mass audience and declared “I am the Son of God.” He was much more discreet. He usually announced who he was in private, or in the context of someone proclaiming faith in him as he worked miracles.
Even after the Ascension, the followers of Christ didn’t enter into debating sessions with potential believers. They preached to receptive audiences, or shared while reaching out, or healing the sick, etc.
I can’t imagine what would happen if I took your approach to reaching out to my neighbors. That’d be a big hit.
You see, Arg, you have no credibility here on the internet, because nobody knows who you are, or can judge your character, or determine if you have any credibility. Jesus and his followers (down to this day) can only succeed in spreading the gospel by becoming credible conduits of God’s love. That only happens in personal relationships. Friendship. Give and take. Listening.
And may I say, that ain’t what’s happening when you post on this board. Instead, you have portrayed yourself like the D.C. talk passage you quote so proudly.
I could paint “Jesus Saves” on the side of my house, and stand on my driveway with a bull horn proclaiming that all who will not accept Christ as Savior are damned to hell, and debate any non-Christian who passes me on the street until I’ve provoked him to a seething, curse-spouting ball of anger. What have I gained? I’ve proclaimed the truth. I’ve been “intolerant of sin.” And I’ve made a complete ass of myself. And I’ve helped reinforce the negative stereotype of evangelical Christians that just about every person on this board buys into.
The credibility meter is on zero, my friend. Take a look at I corinthians 9: 19-27.
I’d chill out a while, and focus my evangelical efforts on folks in my neighborhood or family. Rethink the strategy. `Cause it ain’t working. There are several evangelical Christian types here on the board. You haven’t gotten much support in your efforts. There’s a very good reason why.
Respectfully,
SoxFan59
“What would Jesus REALLY do?”
Dear SoxFan,
Thanks for your concern. I wish you would have conversed with me this whole time. I think it would have been interesting. 
Galatians 1:3-5 Adam
A quick bit of decoding for those readers who can’t dereference Bible verses in their heads.
Galatians 1:3-5 is a random bit of pablum, which says nothing germane to the discussion. (If I were in an uncharitable mood, I’d paraphrase it as: “God rocks! Yay!”) This is Adam’s little end-run around the No Witnessing policy. The poor boy is unable to refute or even acknowledge anything that SoxFan59 said, so he again falls back on random irrelevant quoting.
Incidentally, SoxFan59 is actually using his Bible quotes to support his arguments. For instance, I believe the Matthew verse he indicates is the one that says “cast not pearls before swine.” I don’t know whether to appreciate the logic, or resent being compared to a pig. (No points for anyone coming to the pig’s defense. =B^)
Adam, how about redoing that response, and putting something of substance into it this time? A little logic won’t hurt you, really.
Ooooooh K. Since my post wasn’t good enough for some people, I’ll make it even easier to understand. My previous post was mostly just for SoxFan. Since he does not post his e-mail address, I had to say what I wanted to via the board. But anyway…
Galatians 1:3-5 says, “Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present age, according to the will or our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Now, I was using that as a little greeting to my brother SoxFan. Afterall, he does say he’s Christian, and is even filled with the Holy Spirit. And I’m sure he understands it. And yes, it’s relevant to a believer.
Now, as for his post to me: You’re right about the verse in Matthew, Auraseer. But I don’t consider you fine people pigs. However, I bet some of you find my presence…less than desirable.
If you’ve been folowing all my posts recently, you’ll notice that I’m not going to witness anymore. Now, I’ll probably talk about God, but I’m not going to try to get any of you saved. I can pray about your salvation privately, but it does no good to argue anymore. I’ve seen the error of my ways.
Adam
"Mr. Arg, I generally do not participate in threads like this, where religious discussion degenerates into flame war (or this thread, which was designed as a religious flame war with Arg as the centerpiece). It is a waste of time. (See Matthew 7:6 and I Corinthians 2:14).
I have also generally avoided what you have posted on the board, wherever you have posted, for the same reason.
And please know that I am one of those born-again, evangelical, spirit-filled/charasmatic Christian believers you align yourself with. "
::snip::
“I could paint “Jesus Saves” on the side of my house, and stand on my driveway with a bull horn proclaiming that all who will not accept Christ as Savior are damned to hell, and debate any non-Christian who passes me on the street until I’ve provoked him to a seething, curse-spouting ball of anger. What have I gained? I’ve proclaimed the truth. I’ve been “intolerant of sin.” And I’ve made a complete ass of myself. And I’ve helped reinforce the negative stereotype of evangelical Christians that just about every person on this board buys into.” SoxFan
And instead, Sox, you’ve won my admiration. I have disagreed with you in the past, and I will disagree with you in the future, no doubt…but I do respect your learning and common sense in most areas. Every time I start feeling that ALL Christians (especially evangelicals) are complete nincompoops, your name comes to mind.
Lynn the Packrat
“Every time I start feeling that ALL Christians (especially evangelicals) are complete nincompoops, your name comes to mind.” Foot in mouth Lynn
Ummmm, I meant that your name comes to mind as an exception that makes me rethink that generalization!
Lynn the Packrat
Lynn, inre Sox’s admonishment of Adam:
Everything that Lynn said, also mirrors my own feelings, Sox. Thank you for allowing me to occasionally step back from my immediate reaction to those who would save me, and reflect upon what you have done and said in the past that disproves any belief I might have that all fundamentalists are the same.
Waste
Flick Lives!
I think its time to close this thread.Amen…
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And with the time you are spending here annoying people, you could be reading Matthew 25:31-46 and adding that to your religious lifestyle instead.
This thread is taking too long to load. If you want to continue it, start another thread.
SDStaff Lynn
For the Straight Dope
Every time I start feeling that ALL Christians (especially evangelicals) are complete nincompoops, your name comes to mind.>>> Lynn
LOL! Thanks for the kind words, Lynn. I feel like re-working this quote as my new sig line!
God Bless!
SoxFan59
“Its fiction, but all the facts are true!”
Adam says:
You see, Adam; this is why you don’t make any headway. You’re essentially placing yourself in God’s position. So you know what’s in people’s hearts? Nope, don’t think so. After all, you’re not God, although you sure do like to act that way.
Maybe you can glean a bit of insight from the following passage (heck, nobody says you have to believe it, just take it as advice):
Doctrine & Covenants Sections 64:9-10
Damned nice of you to decide on your own that you’re better than your god. I’ll keep that in mind next time I encounter any of your rambling.
To quote a source that Arg may find more authoritative, I offer Matthew 6:15:
“But if you do not firgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
SoxFan59
“Its fiction, but all the facts are true!”
uH OH arg,i THINK EVERYBODY ON THIS THREAD HAS CONVERTED TO mORMONISM BECAUSE OF YOU!
Somebody do me a favor, and start a new thread? I would do it, but that would seem very arrogantto me, i.e. that I’m special enough to deserve my own little thread. So, I’ll be glad to keep this discussion alive, if one of you starts a new thread.
Adam