Protestantism

» redback - How Do We

Sorry...the hotlink's font is too small for the eyeballs so when my printer works again I'll print off & read. But til then, I may get the gist from your and Migisi's posts.

I think "love your enemies has to be one of the hardest non-hypocritcal calls here. If you seek thanks for it, that's your sole reward? But if you don't, rewards flow in the after-life?

But you go behind the messages...for credibilty? Certainly in my lifetime, the veracity of the belief systems of 7th Day Adventists and Jehovas etc were brought into question...and they gave a heads-up to other denominations about possible challenges to their claims. But don't these sorts of challenges pre-date the 19th century or is that when they peaked???

The sorts of questions I ask go beyond these two churches. I have a wall chart probably over 3 feet long setting out cryptic 'Religious Views of Life' ie the different expectations for prayer. Islam and Catholicism seem to share a similar view as to why (bleep) happens.

The Salvation Army is known as the church with its sleeves rolled up...or similar? I didn't think the doubt was with any church NOT getting its hands properly dirty...but its invasive manner or patronising approach. Should a church be known by its laziest or most hypocritical member...or the one who sells the most lamingtons or runs the most schools etc etc?

They're all drawing their authority from the Bible...or at least citing selective passages. But what options do we & established churches have noting we can't call their bluff on the afterlife? So, to answer:
"Red asks, So, Pink...do we all get different things from this Book, too? seems a resounding 'YES' from where I sit.

"There is a danger that Brian's approach here might take us off track..."

When we forever look in the rear vision mirror in case THEY are following, we may run off the road anyway. And I'm not sure who's on the bus (like me) and who's in their airconditioned car...this hot 35 degree day.

"...An idea surfaced that it wasn't the fault of the Bible; but, it was the fault of poor understandings of the Bible."

A good reflection, seems to me. Tis only the poor workman who always blames his tools, eh? Not all workman are poor. And what if we simply can't accept our (alleged?) lot in life?

I'm not reading Evangelicals are defending God but maybe I paraphrase them wrongly.

-- posted by redback