I figured that this might be the wrong community to post this in. I do get that this is a community where people "joke" around. Understand though that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing that frees. Sin blinds, and enslaves us.
"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8 KJV
Anyways I'll leave it for those here who want to break the cycle of merely seeking their next dopamine rush (unless mods decide to delete it).
I'm rather a fan of what Jesus of Nazareth had to say personally. He seemed like a well spoken man whom believed in people very much. I don't much have a use for a great many modern trappings of organized religion, I find the hierarchy of churches to stifle thought, literacy and the quest for enlightenment that I believe characterizes a worthy life. it's been years since I met a priest I thought worthy of that title nor any other. Except perhaps "charlatan" and "useless faggot".
This is of no great consequence nor loss as I believe personally that there can be no intercession between a person and their God. It's the most personal relationship there is and bringing someone in a fancy robe into it doesn't make much sense to me.
I personally believe that God would carry a .45. (nods seriously)
Your polite, well spoken response is a credit to you and I wish health and wealth to you and your family.
Dictated but not read in a van down by the river while wearing nothing but swim wings, a plate carrier and a pirate hat,
Luke 13:3-5 "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." 4 "Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?" 5 "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
Yes Jesus Christ was a teacher, but not ONLY a teacher! He is the savior of the world! His "teachings" were good news, because there is some bad news we all must come to face. God's word teaches that we're condemned and hopeless and that mankind is cursed and fallen state due to sin. Only God is perfect, and short of God being gracious towards us, his justice demands that we the "2nd death" (in hell) for our sins.
Revelations 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelations 2:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
But God loves us:
John 3:16 "¶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
It says "whosoever believeth" in him WILL NOT perish, but have everlasting life. Not whosoever joins a religion, or joins a church. His primary goal is to save us from that 2nd death, and reconcile us with God.
To make us to realize that we're guilty sinners, but God loved us, and so died for us, and we depend on his grace shone through his crucifixion for our sins. Not on ourselves, but in God's grace. The object of our faith being Jesus Christ (crucified, buried, & resurrected) then creates in us the right heart that we need in order to become pardoned and enter into heaven.
Epesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
The bible teaches that it's a "gift" given to us freely of God's grace and that you can never lose it. It's not based on our righteousness (not of yourselves), but Jesus Christ's being imputed unto us.
And this all not so we can live our best life now, but to carry our crosses.
We basically have two choices, and those are to obey him and be blessed (though NOT necessarily always according to our definition of being "blessed"), and to disobey him and be punished or lose rewards.
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
1John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
"Religion" is unavoidable and done right an important pillar of any society.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Just like you said, there's no intermediary needed between us and God. Religion done wrong, definitely can and WILL "stifle" us. It'll temporally wreak havoc, and even risk damning countless numbers to an eternity in hell.
Ignoring the spiritual like our current modern materialistic age does is a recipe for disaster, and in turn worshiping (either something or someone) ignorantly. Mankind was made to worship, and the vacuum will be filled somehow or another (if just even by worshiping ourselves). Worse though than (a-gnostically) ignoring the spiritual, is decidedly worshiping a false god.
(EDIT: Hmm, now that I think about it, rebellion is rebellion. I guess it matters more how consciously far along you are down that path until God eventually gives you up and you become rejected of him. Until you become a full-on (Romans 1) reprobate.)
I don't much have a use for a great many modern trappings of organized religion, I find the hierarchy of churches to stifle thought, literacy and the quest for enlightenment that I believe characterizes a worthy life.
Also "en-lightenment" can only be found up to a certain point without Jesus Christ, who himself boldly said he is the light of the world.
John 8:12 ¶Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
John 1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Gnosticism is a trap in itself that "truth seekers" can fall into chasing the (so called) "truth", if done while trusting in themselves (rather than Christ). While trusting in themselves and and their all their "sekreit" knowledge to save them. Careful.
Matt 7:7 "¶Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" Matt 7:8 "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
Luke 18:16-17 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." 17 "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein."
Religion put that rifle in your hands. Appriciate to how it first came into your possession, and never forget the human element behind each rifle. The state of their souls. An object cannot the source of liberty (Hint: it's found in 2 Corinthinas 3:17). It'd do you no good if your countrymen all became marxists.
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
—John Adams
The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be [based] in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments. Without religion, I believe that learning does real mischief to the morals and principles of mankind.”
—Benjamin Rush
The Christian religion, in its purity, is the basis, or rather the source of all genuine freedom in government. . . . and I am persuaded that no civil government of a republican form can exist and be durable in which the principles of that religion have not a controlling influence.”
I figured that this might be the wrong community to post this in. I do get that this is a community where people "joke" around. Understand though that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing that frees. Sin blinds, and enslaves us.
Anyways I'll leave it for those here who want to break the cycle of merely seeking their next dopamine rush (unless mods decide to delete it).
I'm rather a fan of what Jesus of Nazareth had to say personally. He seemed like a well spoken man whom believed in people very much. I don't much have a use for a great many modern trappings of organized religion, I find the hierarchy of churches to stifle thought, literacy and the quest for enlightenment that I believe characterizes a worthy life. it's been years since I met a priest I thought worthy of that title nor any other. Except perhaps "charlatan" and "useless faggot".
This is of no great consequence nor loss as I believe personally that there can be no intercession between a person and their God. It's the most personal relationship there is and bringing someone in a fancy robe into it doesn't make much sense to me.
I personally believe that God would carry a .45. (nods seriously)
Your polite, well spoken response is a credit to you and I wish health and wealth to you and your family.
Dictated but not read in a van down by the river while wearing nothing but swim wings, a plate carrier and a pirate hat,
Uncle Scruffy
Yes Jesus Christ was a teacher, but not ONLY a teacher! He is the savior of the world! His "teachings" were good news, because there is some bad news we all must come to face. God's word teaches that we're condemned and hopeless and that mankind is cursed and fallen state due to sin. Only God is perfect, and short of God being gracious towards us, his justice demands that we the "2nd death" (in hell) for our sins.
But God loves us:
It says "whosoever believeth" in him WILL NOT perish, but have everlasting life. Not whosoever joins a religion, or joins a church. His primary goal is to save us from that 2nd death, and reconcile us with God.
To make us to realize that we're guilty sinners, but God loved us, and so died for us, and we depend on his grace shone through his crucifixion for our sins. Not on ourselves, but in God's grace. The object of our faith being Jesus Christ (crucified, buried, & resurrected) then creates in us the right heart that we need in order to become pardoned and enter into heaven.
The bible teaches that it's a "gift" given to us freely of God's grace and that you can never lose it. It's not based on our righteousness (not of yourselves), but Jesus Christ's being imputed unto us.
And this all not so we can live our best life now, but to carry our crosses.
We basically have two choices, and those are to obey him and be blessed (though NOT necessarily always according to our definition of being "blessed"), and to disobey him and be punished or lose rewards.
And so by him we're given the option for our sins to be born once and die twice, or be born twice, and only have to die once.
"Religion" is unavoidable and done right an important pillar of any society.
Just like you said, there's no intermediary needed between us and God. Religion done wrong, definitely can and WILL "stifle" us. It'll temporally wreak havoc, and even risk damning countless numbers to an eternity in hell.
Ignoring the spiritual like our current modern materialistic age does is a recipe for disaster, and in turn worshiping (either something or someone) ignorantly. Mankind was made to worship, and the vacuum will be filled somehow or another (if just even by worshiping ourselves). Worse though than (a-gnostically) ignoring the spiritual, is decidedly worshiping a false god.
(EDIT: Hmm, now that I think about it, rebellion is rebellion. I guess it matters more how consciously far along you are down that path until God eventually gives you up and you become rejected of him. Until you become a full-on (Romans 1) reprobate.)
Also "en-lightenment" can only be found up to a certain point without Jesus Christ, who himself boldly said he is the light of the world.
Jesus Christ is the word (logos) incarnate, Jesus is logic incarnate, and Jesus is God incarnate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logos_(Christianity)
Gnosticism is a trap in itself that "truth seekers" can fall into chasing the (so called) "truth", if done while trusting in themselves (rather than Christ). While trusting in themselves and and their all their "sekreit" knowledge to save them. Careful.
LOL. But I'd say Jeebuz would carry something he built himself so when he returns, the powers that be can't trace it back to before the Easter Bunny.
The link is gun related so by rule it stays. It’s not exactly in the spirit of the forum but whatever
My rifle frees so much better than religion. God is great though
Religion put that rifle in your hands. Appriciate to how it first came into your possession, and never forget the human element behind each rifle. The state of their souls. An object cannot the source of liberty (Hint: it's found in 2 Corinthinas 3:17). It'd do you no good if your countrymen all became marxists.
—John Adams
—Benjamin Rush
—Noah Webster
Religion is the root of all evil, the earliest form of government, and only exists because evil men wanted to rule over other men