Protestantism

» jlthomp - Re: Brief reply

In response to Re: Brief reply posted by Migisi:
Okay Migisi, that sounds like an honest challenge, and I expect you to hold my feet to the fire(figuratively) when you see me breaking my own rules. Your comment about my last sentence is well taken, but I didn't actually intend for that to come out as sarcasm. I was just hoping he'd take note.

Honestly, I've grown brutally tired of the cruel joking and all of the above--now hold on a second--when people are speaking within a closed, like-minded group. And that includes myself, as the chief of sinners. In my idealistic gourd, I believe ideas that are worthy of sharing should be expressed civilly, even out of earshot of those with whom we differ. As a wise one once said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Okay, that was a cartoon rabbit, but it doesn't change its truth. Obviously, I'm a work-in-progress. But I have the best of intentions.

By the way, you might guess I appreciate your nephew's vocation. But unfortunately, I agree with you in one sense. The part of prison "spirituality" that gets to me is the games the inmates too often play. They find a goody-two-shoes, bleeding heart Bible thumper and turn on the religious charm. And many of 'em have it down better than most Christians I know. I have a pretty good B. S. detector, and I've been fooled often.

As far as the others--the murderers, rapists, pedophiles--I'm not a bit better human being than they are. Like D. L. Moody once said, "But for the grace of God, there go I." Whenever I'm tempted to pass judgment on someone, I remind myself of my own sinfulness, and God's incredible grace toward me.

-- posted by jlthomp