Devil's Advocacy WOOT!!
and here a Devil's Advocate makes a Grandiose entrance.
[NOTE: I can be very sarcastic. Therefore know that if it seems offensive, I'm actually trying to be funny. I am well aware of what tends to offend people, and avoid it unless it is used in a comedic manner.]
[ETANOTE: I posted this then noticed the PAX tag. If you don't want to respond to this, don't. Sorry.]
Ladies and gentlemen look around you. This world is as fallen as ever, and I fear we may be contributing to it. We are at a time when more churches are closing their doors then ever in in the history of the church. I look around at this world and fear for it everyday, If our lord does truly come like a thief in the night then whom do you think he steal away. We have forgotten what our tenants are, have we abandoned are charge.
Those words have resounded on this earth since the advent of religion. While this doesn't specifically null your statement, its certainly not new.
We have left the station God gave us to dabble in worldly politics. We have put all our priority on how we can save the world and forget that we are only ambassadors. The work of salvation and restoration is that of Son of God, the Holy Spirit, and the Everlasting Father. Even more so we have in our attempts to save the world abandoned the Church.
I wouldn't say that this is actually a truly Christian idea. While it could very well be a fault of Christianity, its not unchristian. Christianity has always muddled around in politics. Actually, this time period is marked with considerably less involvement of religion in politics. Look to all the Kings of the Israelis in the Old Testament, who went around warring with and conquering a host of nations, all with the permission, blessing, and assistance of God. While I agree that the religious should have nothing to do with government (while acting as religious people. I have no problem with them being leaders so long as they're able to separate what they religiously believe and what is logical and legal.)
False prophet, Teachers, saviors, and doctrine are rampant in our own faith, and we seem not to have a care in the world. No instead of we deal with the world affairs. We put our time into arguing over the legality of the homosexual's right to marry, and with the most vehemence men spit out filth to support their argument as if to forget Gal 6:1 “restore the transgressor in gentleness.” If we cannot respect our own scripture how can we ask them to respect us.
I've always wondered: how do people decide who is and is not a false prophet? It seems like a very important question, and I can think of no way to answer it. For an example, lets say that there's this guy going around, saying he's talked with an angel of God. He's proclaiming the God has decided to change his rules and that there's a new way to get to heaven, and if you follow in your old ways, you will go to hell (lets assume, for simplicity's sake, that there is indeed a Heaven and Hell, and before the proposed rule change you were on the way to heaven). So this graph shows the options and results:
Big decision, eh? How do you make it?
We complain over the monetary problems of the nation, forgetting that we are no perfect stewards and that only God can truly supply our needs.
Another thing I really don't understand of so many spirit based religions. If you don't support your body's needs, how can you survive long enough to make any difference to your soul. If this life is indeed the only shot at being good or bad, I'd like as much time here to be as good as I can. In this society, money is very much need to achieve this, to buy food and the like. If every christian up and stopped caring about money, you would all die rather quickly, as there are not enough non-Christians willing to support you all.
How many know that if we, only showed the love of Christ more often to our children that they would never have to worry about things like premarital sex, divorce, drug use and abortion. If we raise them to know right from wrong then why would we even have to ask these things.
True awareness of what is wrong and what is right does not mean that every one will uphold these standards, but it should not be discluded that Children to generally listen to their parents and adopt their views. So if you practice what you preach chances are they start preaching to.
uh, not today. Parents are no longer able to simply impose their own morals on their children simply by showing them love. The religious culture in our post-industrial society is highly eclectic. People very individually choose what they believe, and most of the time this differs from their parents. Good news is we no longer need religion to have moral people (I say that almost as though we ever did)!
Friends that is where we need to go, back to loving one another. So that we may heal the evils that plague Christ's spotless bride. We must first look to ourselves to make sure when we go into the world we are devoid of Logs. Only then with the caring and gentle heart of Christ can we hope to start winning back the fallen in the name of Christ.
I like that bit. If any, it would give a slight rest-bit from people trying to “save” me.
Today We lay siege to the gates of Hell!
Why? The devil, from a purely christian perspective, is a servant to God (God is omnipotent and omniscient. Therefore the Devil cannot do anything that undermines Him. Therefore, every action of the Satan is with God's permission and blessing. Read the book of Job)
I speak of all the churches in todays world, catholic, christian, lutheren, Baptist, etc... the list could go on withut end.
We need to forgoe these useless sectarian differenses and unite in Christ alone. Lest we forget that history has a funny way of repeating itself.
I would be weary of religious pluralism, it leads christians to believe things that they otherwise would see as naturally wrong.
“Unite in Christ alone.” I think you're forgetting some very important logistic issues. How do you unite, or really, who do you unite as. The entire thing among the plethora of sects is disagreeing on how to practice. Therefore, everyone who have to unite as one sect, either new or existing, but either way, many would have to abandon their ideas to accept the new sect's rules. Or the new religion would have to be one that allows all it followers to practice how they choose. However, several Christians believe that it is their duty to “lead” people to the “correct” way of practicing (your thread, case and point). Thus, the new unity would immediately either fall to in-fighting, sectarianism, or both as sectarian violence.
And THERE in lies the problem with organized religion., as well as the virtues of “Do as ye will.” *sticks tongue out at chistians*
Also, I don't get what you mean by the last bit, feel like explaining? I'm completely lost on all counts.
Men need a leader, but men are faulty. If we continue to lead one another we shall continue to kill one another.
Best to put perfection at our head and be lead by God.
Ah, but God has never led us but through people, so how are we supposed to be led with a human as the head?
Raising children from knowing what's right and what's wrong does not really stop them from doing wrong either way. Even Adam and Eve sinned, and weren't they supposed to be innocents? True enough, temptation was present, but no one forced them to sin. They acted out on the temptation alone.
Anyway, good thread, but may I ask what exactly it is you're trying to get from this?
While I mostly agree, I must make a factual correction. Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Before that they were clueless. Because of this action no person can ever return to their pure innocence (according to christian dogma).
Why stop at sectarian differences - why not unite all mankind, by virtue of our shared humanity - our ephemerality? Therein lies compassion, love and kinship.
While I normally lke this sentiment, I just want to say that such a unity is only worthwhile if it comes about simply by people accepting and respecting others variety and diversity. I will never accept such a thing if it comes about by people having to change who they are in order not offend another.
I also think that........ it is okay that we have different religious traditions, beliefs, scriptures, etc.
I think that there is nothing wrong with changing one's religion because for me, your religion is where you find God. And I have found him being a Catholic Christian.
so, I think it would be nice if there would be no religious discrimination happening and if we would all be united to help face the problems of the world despite our religious differences, then that would really make a difference.
Religions are different but salvation is universal
The love of and for the people around you is worth living for.
Giving and receiving that love makes life worthwhile.
I like you guys and what you say.
