Protestantism

» pink101 - Good point

In response to Good point posted by pink101:
.
And, if there is a promise, does it have anything to do with a two edged sword?
.
Or are we to defer from some old side winder down in Texas? Or an old curmudgeon in Michigan or some young upstart in K.C? Or even some Baptist preacher in the Red State of Ohohoho?
.

.

-- posted by pink101

» _Boanerges_ - authority

In response to Good point posted by pink101:

how shall we decide on what authority we shall make our choices?

ultimately, each person choses 'authority'

Is there a promise?

promise?

-- posted by _Boanerges_

» _Boanerges_ - Good point

In response to Good point posted by pink101:
Or are we to defer from some old side winder down in Texas? Or an old curmudgeon in Michigan or some young upstart in K.C? Or even some Baptist preacher in the Red State of Ohohoho?

if a believer professes the basic doctrine of salvation but have none related disagreements on doctrine, then I cannot go against my brother in Christ. We all have the same Lord.

-- posted by _Boanerges_

» redback - of this and that

In response to of this and that posted by Brother_Jones:

This is a topic about how I reason or approach things but its use has broadened. In it I've said to read these things into my posts outside this topic. And I want to keep it to that and leave substantive other issues to their relevant topics, OK?

You say:
"It is entirely possible that you can guess that I am not focused enough in my own life to answer you."

Anything's possible...try highly probable...and my answer is 'NO'. But from a number of levels, that's a kinda flaky response overall, sorry. Migisi seems to do OK, and Pink but I de-focus you?

But if you are referring instead to 'doubt' and I'm sure we all have degrees of it, tis a wandering response to my post?

I follow your "gray faith" and "vicious circle of reasoning" But to me, God's message doesn't insult. And my comments to which Boanerges gave a detailed response...seeks to unravel "twisted" versions make better sense in the bigger scheme of things. I am not in the broader scheme of things in that context.

But your grAy is my grEy if you can expand on the metaphor.

You "counter" with what you think I'd say...then you agree with it. I have difficulty with any approach that seeks the response: "I'm not saying that..." which inevitably loses the plot of what I was saying...if you ever had it.

But I wouldn't attempt anything if we weren't on some wave length of understanding. I just get a sense of defensiveness and whenever it's raised, all (non)response goes to dealing with that to avoid the topic. I'm happy to be wrong there.

-- posted by redback

» redback - a side bar or aside

In response to a side bar or aside posted by _Boanerges_:

It's funny...I was reading the other day that both 'approval' and 'disapproval' are judgemental. But I'm glad you understood the context of my post. There were some clumsy statements of mine as reflected by you...and that's OK. To the extent there a sorta statement of principles here, I'm "focused". But I really do have amblyopia which refers to depth perception in one eye...so I'll try not to be one eyed.

Re the dogma thing. I was referring to my inability to bamboozel" you guys with dogma...not that I question dogma.

The God the Father thing came from another topic so may lose context. I'm questioning, not stating the context of 'father' to me...hence the irreverent reference. Tis part of the Jesus is God is Jesus vs separate entities per decisionmaking type of thing.

God's children...yep, I understand you re belief vs reality. So, references to Cain in the other topic relate here.

"God is Love" thing. I agree concepts are simple, my issue is mantras and labels range from uplifting to lazy.

If God is tugging at the heart muscles that pump blood through my body, I'd better hurry and close this post.

Thanx for the reply.

-- posted by redback

» Brother_Jones - of this and that

In response to of this and that posted by redback:

I follow your "gray faith" and "vicious circle of reasoning" But to me, God's message doesn't insult.

I agree with you on that. It is much better in this format to stay rather objective and calm regarding the issues. The issues sometimes do come down to whether any of the bible is true. And it certainly seems common for most people who turn against the bible message to then reject all the stories. It's a free country.

The ideas about who Jesus was get thrown into the mixer of confusion. If I had been living in Jerusalem and Jesus came along and forgave my sins, you might get a little peeved if you were the one I had sinned against. You might also think it odd that Jesus forgave sins usually without the slightest notice to the victims of the sin. This could only make sense if He really was God whose laws were broken and who was also the victim of being wounded by the sinner. If Jesus was not God, it would strike anyone who heard it or who was there, that He was the silliest and most conceited man on earth.

Yet when some people heard Jesus talking about forgiving the sins of absolute strangers and heard Him talking about coming in glory, many did receive the message without insult and they believed Him.

the oldtimer.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» redback - Nice and Clean

In response to Nice and Clean posted by pink101:

I think it's great my topic encourages discussion and I appreciate all of it. I'm not ignoring what you say...just keeping on track. I actually like what Boanerges states about the Bible being directed at us or for us...in B's context. That's got nothing to do with literal vs metaphor IMO but the 3C I referred to. so, the challenge is to sort it out. What is grey to me, is gray to others here. You know it's not about spelling, doncha?

And not about language either. It seems to me Brother-jones is up to speed. Cain fled and BJ wants Jesus running.
BJ - I get the difference, really!

-- posted by redback

» redback - of things philosophic

In response to of this and that posted by Brother_Jones:

Your post jumped in while I was editing mine so maybe you're still online.

"Stand at the foot of a mountain and look down at the Bible in your hands. Stand on a mountain peak and on top of the Bible (for extra 'height') and look upward.
(Redback 2007)

I see a difference in how we tackle spirituality. We may express it clumsily or differently but 'different' aint always evidence of being more focused or grounded. I sense I am strolling up the mountain, clambering over rocks...picking apples as I go.

I don't knock your different discipline. Discipline has a VALID place. I am NOT part of any big picture IMO yet I could be wrong, right? But I have always pondered more over ethical and moral dilemnas facing a nation than what lays in store for me. There I 'wonder'. This is not the same as the more emotive words you use along the lines of 'agonising'. Will I be scared of dying more because of missed opportunities or of a fear of the judgement in the Bible. A work-in-progress.

BTW: The term 'insult' can apply to damage to a body, damage to one's sensitivities. Beliefs - whether or not God's message if correctly interpreted in the Bible, is about belief. Whether one seems to insult one's intelligence is not. Whether God is capable of being insulted, is the knowability factor.

My thinking (of the use of words) may not match yours in this wavelength of life.

-- posted by redback

» pink101 - authority

In response to authority posted by _Boanerges_:
.
Promise?
.
Yeah, promise. You know, something in which a person puts their hope of expectation that things will occur as the promiser has claimed. Can we trust what Jesus is reported to have said about supping with us or is that just fancy talk? It seems to me as though that is the heart of the matter and that it supersedes all the dogmatism we see in these threads--the rampant intolerance for any deviation.
.
And, is there not a promise that the Spirit of God will take up residence within the person of the believer? Or is that just gilding-the-lily talk that doesn't really mean what is said? Is that nothing on which anyone can place their reliance--just some figurative speech by the apostle Paul?
.
Is being a Christian--after all--a matter of a group association with other human beings or is it really a personal relationship with the Spirit of God? Is being a Christian some kind of a showy thing that people can wear on their sleeves? It seems to be that the latter is what is being promoted here in these threads. It seems that quite a bit of social pressure is applied for all the little ducklings to get in line. There doesn't seem to be any room for anyone that doesn't bow down when the trumpet is sounded.
.

.

-- posted by pink101

» redback - authority

In response to authority posted by pink101:

"It seems that quite a bit of social pressure is applied for all the little ducklings to get in line."

:) from this little beige ugly duckling.

But tis such a glorious spring day here. Armed with a mattock for my backyard paddock, I'm now off to re-align the swales, not ruffle feathers here.

-- posted by redback