The original said “Jesus is the only way to Heaven.all other ways are wrong.”
Many, many years ago when I was in college, I was on the phone to an old friend of mine ranting about something which had happened at work. As I built to a crescendo in my tirade against my soon-to-be-ex-manager, I proclaimed his ultimate accusation in an outraged tone: “He accused me of mindlessly following the crowd!” I heard a very puzzled sort of silence from my friend, then he said, “He doesn’t know you very well, does he?” 
I have never in my life, here or anywhere else, compromised my beliefs simply to be popular. If anything, I’m more likely to do something to be unpopular, or at least I was in my misspent youth. I am too proud of my image of myself as an outsider, rebel, and all around rabble-rouser to do something for the sake of popularity. The views I have expressed on this board throughout my 3,000-odd posts (some odder than others!), especially those on serious matters such as religion are mine, and I stand behind them. Vanilla, if you meant to imply that I, Siege, have compromised my beliefs in the name of popularity, I’m afraid I will take that as a direct, uncalled for insult.
In the time I have known Lynn73, she has shown herself willing to lie about the beliefs of other forms of Christianity, notably the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Catholic Church. She has told innumerable people they are going to hell, yet shown no drop of compassion. She has been quick suggest that perhaps others aren’t Christians, including, on one notable occaision, my home town! Since in her view non-Christians are condemned to an eternity of unspeakable suffering, this is a rather serious accusation. She has also been quick to accuse others of sexual immorality while overlooking her own pecadilloes in that area. Is this person, a liar and hypocrite, to put it bluntly, really the sort of person you want to emulate?
My Christian beliefs are mine. They have been formed by my experiences with God including Jesus Christ as surely as your beliefs have been formed by yours. I will not back down for anyone, even someone whose friendship I once valued. I happen to believe I am, for the most part, serving God and living a Christian life, albeit an unconventional one. The witness I’ve tried to bear here is the one I sincerely believe God has called me to. I’m grateful that it’s apparently born fruit, and I do thank those of you who’ve complimented me.
I have been a regular at a Christian message board. I left because remaining tempted me too much to commit the sin of wrath. I found the people there to be as intolerant of those whose views differ as anyone I’ve seen here. No doubt there are some there who would accuse me of bearing false witness to God. I wonder if they realize that I am inclined to think of them but I’m reluctant to do so because I am bound by the Commandment Christ gave us.
I stand firm in my commitment to Christ. Many, many, many years ago, when I was a child, my commitment to doing what was right in the face of opposition from the popular crowd cost me nearly everything, including a part of my soul. I may regret some of the extremes I went to, but I do not regret my actions. Calling me a sinner is no insult – I’m acutely aware that I am one. It comes with this fallible human body I’m wearing. To say that I am “watering down the Gospel” as some have accused me of, or that my witness is a lie, or that I prefer popularity to Truth, however, is an insult. I have have gotten familiar with them back in the bad old days, but I am not required to take them from friends. I am, by the vows I have sworn by Christ and the Commandment He gave us required to respect the views of others, even or perhaps especially those I disagree with. I am required to treat them with courtesy, consideration, and even, gasp, tolerance. The whiskey, not water, which is my faith and which is the standard I measure my actions against is this:
(Mark 12:28-34)
Yes, I know I quoted that exact same passage over in IMHO earlier today, but it seemed to bear repeating. My faith, the people I am to bear witness to, and the manner in which I am to do so are mine, not yours. I do not believe I have compromised my ability to do so. I don’t know about you, vanilla, but my prayers end with, “Lord, not my will, but Thy will be done,” and I mean that with all my heart. I may serve God differently from you, but I assure you I do serve Him. Do not assume that I do otherwise.
CJ
Vanilla changed it since then. Back on page 1 she says what it used to say.
Seriously though, I’m glad Guinastasia said it so I didn’t have to. I was afraid His4Ever had turned to stealing SDMB screen names.
ah thanks Ilsa & Lord, that makes a bit more sense.
So then, vanilla, what’s up with the personality change?
Seriously, you used to be a bit more compassionate and humble?
It’s not about being popular, it’s about not judging others, because we’re ALL supposed to be sinners.
Unless you’ve decided to take the JerseyZirconia/His4NEVER routine.
In that case, I’m sincerely disappointed.
Just out of curiosity, if some descendent of mifepristone comes out and costs 75 cents a dose and has no significant side-effects, would women who take it to end pregenancy (or even just as a precaution in case a pregnancy has started) still be stupid? Seems to me that if the expense and hassle were less than that of conventional contraceptives, a chemical abortion might actually be the more economical, smarter choice.
The “stupidity” angle needs to be justified, I think.
And vanilla needs to get laid by a brown guy and a pink guy in a Neapolitan three-way, stat.
Cybil Shepherd comes on tv and calls me and all my sisters stupid because we sincerely believe abortion is wrong.
A death occurs, but to them, it seems it all about ME.
Whats convenicne tfor ME, it will interfere with MY life.
Yes, I had an abortion. I was wrong. I should have carried it and adopted.
My neighbor had done so before me and was ready to set me up with the organization and I did have free medical care.
No one should ever have to be pregnant if they don’t want to be.
But it happens; and outside of marriage, my religious beliefs; which are not shared by a lot here say sex outside marriage is wrong, or a really bad idea.
Bryan, uh, I am not uptight. Had I made any other strong statement, you would not have accused me of such.
Grow up.
I do not expect any others to have my beliefs, even my christianity.
But I have been reading God’s word and drawing closer to Him more lately and it makes me think nowdays many things are accepted which should not be IMHO.
Theres a living person in there, and those of us who want it to live do not care for being called Stupid just for “being religious”.
I am not stopping anyone from getting an abortion;i am saying its a bad option and can be prevented.
As for married women, I cannot understand why one wouldn’t want to have their husband’s child(career? Not enough money? wait to marry then)
You see from my views here I have been flamed away.
Because I wasn’t following the party line.
Hey, my opinions haven’t always been the majorities for sure.
Being a christian means standing up for what you believe God says is right and wrong.
That makes one unpopular.
Where I post, Lynn(his4) is a wonderful compassionate person, because we are (almost) all chritians there and all agree on most things.
If you knew her like I know her…
No lobotomy has bene performed on me(it would probably improve my grammar, I know) just standing up for what I believe is right.
Presentation being a significant part of any argument, you’re hurting your position by insisting on sloppy grammar, spelling and typing. This isn’t just nitpicking, either. Sloppy writing implies sloppy thinking, so it’s harder to convince anyone of the soundness of your ideas if you don’t bother to compose them properly.
Throwing around words like “idiots” doesn’t help, either, nor does accusing people who disagree with you with trying to stifle you.
And I stand by my Neapolitan remark.
I see mostly people who are concerned about you, as you’re not acting like yourself all of a sudden. What brought on this new “drawing closer to God,” anyway? New preacher? Friends or family bad-mouthing “being friends with heathens?”
It’s all very odd and worrying.
But to me the true measure of a person’s character is to be compassionate when you’re not surrounded with people who agree with you on most things. I think that was Jesus’ point too.
What board is this?
vanilla, if your behavior was completely civil and polite, your sad complaint of how people are picking on you might hold some water. It doesn’t because not only have you apparently changed abruptly, you’re acting like a jerk. The vast majority of the time, that’s what gets flames around here. If you figure out how to express your views without sounding like an ass, people won’t flame you. But I don’t know how you can start a Pit thread called “Why don’t you idiots calm down,” slam pro-choicers, people who have abortions, and a whole bunch of other people, and then act surprised when people criticize you for it. Use some common sense- of course people will flame you if you flame them first!
Because they plain just do not want children? Or maybe because she has health issues that would make it unwise for her to have a child?
Bingo. Being a Christian isn’t just about being nice to fellow Christians. It’s about treating EVERYONE like you want to be treated.
I think we saw her true colors already. Apparently, in your world, vanilla, it’s okay to make up lies about other people’s faiths, so long as you do it in the name of Christ. It’s okay to condemn everyone for their sins, just because you’re “forgiven.”
This isn’t about your feelings on abortion, vanilla, and you damn well know it. It’s about the WAY you express them. YOU were one of those women once, you said. So that makes it okay for you to look down on them, because now you know you were wrong?
Bullshit. Doesn’t that go with the whole, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone?”
It’s this judgmental shit that’s driven me from Christianity. I cannot, will not worship a being who treats people so hatefully. I don’t BELIEVE in that God, and if it does exist, it is hateful.
And in case someone asks, yes, I am INDEED prepared to answer for it if that God does turn out to be the one true god.
CHRIST himself was one of those who was persecuted by the fundies of his day. That’s the ultimate irony, of fundamentalism, in my view-that these fundies love and rever a man like Christ, and act like the same people who persecuted Jesus in his day, because he dared suggest that THEIR views were not necessarily the correct ones.
So when Christ says he IS the way, he’s right. But what I believe that means is that if people would just show LOVE for one another, they ARE following his way, whether they mean to or not. That’s what the Good Samaritan was all about, wasn’t it?
I think Christ is probably puking when he sees what people are doing in his name.
Well, all you puzzled people who are scratching your heads and trying to figure out where Vanilla is coming from on this, whence the big “personality switch”–I actually understand exactly where she’s coming from.
On the SDMB, it’s frequently a challenge for a “Conservative Evangelical Protestant Christian” to sit on one’s hands and not step up to the podium and post what one truly believes. When those hot “Fundie” buzzword topics like abortion and homosexuality come up, one is faced with a three-way choice.
- Say what you really think.
- Say nothing at all.
- Say something carefully neutral, and tactfully phrased.
#1 is going to trigger a violent reaction here, 100% of the time. Absolutely. That’s just the way the SDMB is, I’m not complaining, or whining, “Anti-Christian bias! Anti-Christian bias!”, I’m just reporting.
#2 will keep you from getting your ass flamed off, but if you’re always lurking, you can’t establish yourself as a posting member of the SDMB community.
#3 will aid in establishing you as a member of the community without alienating people–but it requires you to bite your tongue. Constantly.
And Vanilla’s just tired of biting her tongue, is all. And doesn’t feel like simply lurking anymore on those hot topics without commenting. She’s planting a flag here, and I think those of us who are not inclined to flame her ass off for being what she is should at least respect her wish to “come out” as a Fightin’ Fundie. 
What’s the deal with Cybill Sheperd? She keeps coming up. Aside from being a pro-choice activist…
**Duck Duck Goose **, there is another way of expressing deeply held convictions that Vanilla might want to consider. Maybe she should learn how to express her feelings and beliefs without namecalling and ridicule of others.
I don’t always choose that way myself, but I thought that Vanilla had followed a stricter path than Cybil Shepherd.
Not all religious people or even Christians believe the same as you do and so not all are offended. There are many church women who have participated in this event. They are also standing up for their beliefs. I respect your right to do that and I respect theirs.
Not if one practices non-judgment of other people. Look at what angered you about Cybil Shepherd. It was her judgment of religious people as “stupid” that seemed to really get under your skin.
I hope that you will continue to practice the teachings of love, forgiveness and non-judgment as you have in the past.
Anything else is throwing stones.
You’re half right. Jesus didn’t take that stance. But not because he wasn’t hypocrite, but because he wasn’t a sinner.
I have many friends who have opened up their homes to young women in crisis pregnancy situations and done whatever they could to support them – beyond room and board – and help them get their lives in order for themselves and their children, and if they were out there, they would say yes, absolutely. I too have helped these women find jobs, secure healthcare for themselves and their kids and to navigate the maze of the various assistance programs which exist. There are a lot of pro-life people out there, not seeking any kind of glory for what they do, simply helping women and their children because it’s the right thing to do, no matter what you think about abortion.
But that question comes up all the time, “what are pro-life people doing for women and their kids?” Who is asking that question of the pro-choice activists? The only choice I see them working to support is the choice for abortion. Where are the pro-choicers’ centers which provide financial, housing, child care, social, spiritual and other support for the women who decide that an abortion isn’t right for them? For all the slams that the pro-choice side makes against Crisis Pregnancy Centers, a woman who walks into one who ends up making a decision to have an abortion is still welcomed back if she still needs help in her life. What help is Planned Parenthood giving women who decide to have their babies? That door swings both ways, and it doesn’t look good on the other side of it, from where I sit.
As for Vanilla, well, the controversial sig wasn’t even accurate, from a Biblical perspective. If you believe the words of Christ, it isn’t that other routes to heaven are wrong, no other routes exist at all. (“No man comes to the Father except through me.”) That’s a pretty basic Christian tenet. But Vanilla, with all due respect as a sister in Christ, I beg you to consider what kind of witness you’re having – in a community filled with skeptics, nonbelievers and some who are outright hostile to the Gospel – by being strident and unpleasant.
DDG - Cybill Shepherd spoke at the ineptly named “March for Women’s Lives” this past weekend, and made some highly offensive commentary about those who are pro-life, particularly those of us who are Christian and pro-life, calling us idiots and tossing about other insults. This is not the first time she’s done so, either. Vanila mentioned her comments in the OP, that’s why she has come up in the thread.
The Blue Moon Board*. And of COURSE Lynn73 comes across differently when she’s being patted on the back for learning a new word instead of being told sternly for the Nth time that no, Catholics are not polytheists.
Because of the possibility of a board war, I’d think it extremely unwise for anyone to link to the board in question.
*That would be a joke for those who hadn’t guessed it already.
I understand, that, DDG, but I guess it’s her out and out defense of Jersey and Lynn73, who have said so many hateful things, who have been the cause of so many tears and hurt on this board…is that truly what Jesus wanted?
TeaElle, you make some excellent points. You sound quite reasonable and like you actually THINK about what you preach, and follow it, instead of spewing vitriol just to hear yourself talk.
I am not a Christian. However, I’ve known them all my life. There are some that I have become extremely close to, and some are wonderful people. I’ve been with Christians that are so joyous and peaceful and loving that it’s like there’s a light coming from them. I’ve also known alot of people that like to wear the Christian label, yet are extremely stingy, selfish, and hateful. When THESE “Christians” (and I’m not referring to any dopers here, only people I’ve known IRL) act like assholes, then go to church on Sunday, to stand up and proclaim their righteousness… THAT’S what really gets my goat.
To my mind, anybody that claims to strive to be “Godly” yet judges, condemns, and criticizes others with ease, deserves to be taken down. Especially if by their own admission, their statements are hypocritical.
And what’s up with that comment about sex means being used? That tells me by itself that this lady has some deep-rooted issues regarding sex, which I’m sure affects her thinking on religion, abortion, etc. That comment alone is highly disturbing to me.
To the OP: DON’T try to counsel others about sexuality, or reproductive rights, when obviously YOU’VE got issues. Whether you couch it in fundamentalist gobbledy-gook or not.
Actually, after some googling and what not, I found the board.