Protestantism

» _Boanerges_ - what say you?

message from Mig from - the bible thread
http://protestantism.suite101.com/discus...

Eight years as a believer? I'd like very much to meet you in, say, another 50 years, just to see if you still believe just as you do now. I kinda doubt it

I would like to answer that.. but. I was kinda thinking (maybe looking forward to) meeting sometime in the near future.. I'm sure we would see each other in a new light.. up close and personal is the truest way to really get to know a person.....

that being said.. and probable that meeting is not going to happen.. then, I shall consider your message and come back in a bit and offer a few thoughts..

-- posted by _Boanerges_

» Migisi - what say you?

In response to what say you? posted by _Boanerges_:
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Good thread title, Bo. Carry on...
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Gotta go play. Grandkids are here. Yippee!!

-- posted by Migisi

» _Boanerges_ - 50yrs from now

well... of course, I dont plan on being around at the age of 97... but.. who knows.... maybe...

yet. nonetheless...

even though you may doubt it, concerning myself.. and I cannot predict the future, as in your example.. I would say that 10yrs from now, or 5, or 20.. my opinion would not change.. the reason that is so is solely based on the evidential truth of what the Bible claims (ie.. as written)..

As mentioned, I do not believe Islam is true.. nor is Buddhism, nor is the Red Man's spirituality.. I reject those as non truths and cannot possibly be true.. for a variety of reasons....

It is not that I do not want to NOT believe them, because of 'this or that'.. but because none of those religions offer even one evidence of truth, based in reality.... it only comes down to what a man 'thinks and feels' is true or right, or whatever...

I believe that God's word is true based upon the Bibles' prophetic accuracy. If what is written has been a verified reality in time and space, then to me, this is the right path to determine truth.. not hopes, or feelings, or thoughts.. but merely the fact that truth itself, can be verified..

If truth cannot be verified in reality, then, we only fool ourselves into believing something for the mere 'comfort' of feelings and emotions.....

At 47yrs of age.. I do not need something to make me feel good or any of that.. I know that death is nearer and much closer than it was - then. My my, where did the time go...?.. And yet, here it is.. the later years of life..

So.. when I am dead.. where will I be? Can anyone answer that with assurance?

I believe the God's word, the Bible, has not only answered that, but has proven its case - clearly and evidentially...

therefore....

my opinion will not change down the road.. not because I "tried Jesus" and it didn't work.. or that I don't feel better, or that I am not blessed with riches and rewarded for my good service to the Lord....

No.. I believe that all of that is just crap.. who cares about feelings and emotions when it comes to that which is true.. What is true, cannot be denied....

I may lose my left arm tonight in a car wreck. And even though it would be true that I no longer have a left arm, it is still evident that I did have a left arm.. and now, simply because I do not, does not mean that it is not true because it cannot be found.

The fact is, I could never deny I had a left arm for the remainder of my life.. That truth is evidential, and verified in reality.. I is no myth that once, I had a left arm....

hope that makes some sense...

-- posted by _Boanerges_

» pink101 - 50 Years From Now

In response to what say you? posted by Migisi:

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We never know what might happen in the next moment of time.
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I used to think I had everything figured out just like you seem to think about your self. But, I have definitely changed.
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Depending on how honest a person can be in their own mind and in their thinking, they will accept the fact that change is inevitable.
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Never be afraid.
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I read something interesting today. A person was wondering why, when they dropped into a fit of depression, that everything looked so dark when nothing--in reality--had changed except their attitude.
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-- posted by pink101

» _Boanerges_ - 50 Years From Now

In response to 50 Years From Now posted by pink101:

A person was wondering why, when they dropped into a fit of depression, that everything looked so dark when nothing--in reality--had changed except their attitude.

did I not just make that point? listening to feelings and emotions has no relevance to truth.. as you point out.. and.. as already mentioned....

-- posted by _Boanerges_

» pink101 - 50 Years From Now

In response to 50 Years From Now posted by _Boanerges_:

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-- posted by pink101

» pink101 - Could Say A Lot

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I guess I could say a lot here; but, why?
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The fact of the matter is that we have many facets to our persona and they are continually involved in an inner dialog in which we constantly adjust our understandings of reality. And, for that, we can be very thankful. Otherwise, we would stagnate on the spot and more or less be dead.
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It's obvious that we won't be the same person down the road that we are here. And, we aren't the same person here that we were a month, a year, or a decade ago. Time changes each one of us without exception. We change more or less intensely in the direction we are growing or we move in some other or entirely new direction. It is the way reality works for each of us. It makes me think of the famous Greek trilogy of Oedipus. We can greatly surprise ourselves.
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Who knows what they will be like tomorrow or ten or twenty years from now? No one.
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-- posted by pink101

» _Boanerges_ - Could Say A Lot

In response to Could Say A Lot posted by pink101:

the topic is 'enduring belief'.... not about change!.... I'm not interested in arguing with you, or anyone, as to your manner of change and that being true for everyone.. I disagree with that automatically and toss it aside as nothing but personal opinion.. who cares about opinions..

we all know that change occurs... that is life.. and that is a simple pattern...

but.. can you deny you once had an arm, if you lose it?.. you have not answered that yet.... for obvious reasons to be sure...

It is not my intention (noting change) to argue any longer in these discussions... I do not participate in these discussions because of the argument factor.. In the end, nothing is resolved and everyone walks away pissed off...

I would rather avoid discussion religion entirely for that reason alone.. It is God's job to change minds and hearts.. not mine My only calling, as a Christian, is to give out the Gospel message... not argue about opinions...

Truth is all that matters.. wasting time and energy on endless argument is futile and vexation of the spirit...

-- posted by _Boanerges_

» pink101 - Can You Imagine

In response to Could Say A Lot posted by _Boanerges_:
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First, I should make it clear that my response to Wendell's last post here is not addressed to him; but, to any others that may happen to come by.
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In my previous post, I wrote that I could "say a lot" . My purposes had nothing to do with arguments and that was why I asked, "Why?"
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Persons in bondage to some "thing" outside their being often set up a defense system to stay away from ever giving any thought to anything that does not coincide with that to which they are in bondage. In the case of certain christian and other religious doctrines they are convinced that doing so might put them in danger of not pleasing the Lord and Master of their life. And, that could result in the eternal damnation of their soul.
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Can you imagine some bully that regularly steals a grade school child's milk money, telling his victim that if he ever tells anyone about it the bully will teach him a lesson he will never forget?
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Can you imagine?
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-- posted by pink101

» Migisi - Could Say A Lot

In response to Could Say A Lot posted by _Boanerges_:
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but.. can you deny you once had an arm, if you lose it?.. you have not answered that yet.... for obvious reasons to be sure...
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I once had belief in the Bible, but I lost it. Like a lost arm, I learned to function quite well without it.
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I would rather avoid discussion religion entirely for that reason alone..It is God's job to change minds and hearts.. not mine
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See how you've changed.

-- posted by Migisi