Christians: Do you really believe... (Jesus, salvation, faith)

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

Very cool Muffled. I was actually thinking especially about prisoners and others whom it is more easy to judge than to love.

How about "Terrorists"? "Pedophiles"?

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

How about "Terrorists"? "Pedophiles"?

The thread about the convicted child molester in the UCC church probably prompted me to think about this. You would be surprised at how many people (not at this forum) were calling instead for anything from branding to flogging to the death sentence, rather than having him allowed in church. Peadophies have such a poor chance for reform...show just how deep seated such disorders are.

IMO, Love and forgiveness does not mean you don't hold people accountable for their actions nor does it mean you should naively trust them. Frankly I would have a very hard time with a known child molester in my congregation near my kids but then again there are probably unknown child molesters near me and my children every day.

Muffled shows love to the prisnoners, I imagine anyway, by listening to them.

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

Muffled shows love to the prisnoners, I imagine anyway, by listening to them.

Sound like he does. Have you read Clarence Darrow's autobiography?

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

Sound like he does. Have you read Clarence Darrow's autobiography?

No, but I would like to.

[doppelgänger]

Now that's what I call a micropundit.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by gilbertconcepcion

The Polynesians were thought to be the first to discover the use...

Please be careful to cite your sources when cutting and pasting from other sources.

http://www.italknews.com/view_story.php?sid=15241

[lunamoth]

Hmmmm...how sweet it is!

[Muffled]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

The thread about the convicted child molester in the UCC church probably prompted me to think about this. You would be surprised at how many people (not at this forum) were calling instead for anything from branding to flogging to the death sentence, rather than having him allowed in church. Peadophies have such a poor chance for reform...show just how deep seated such disorders are.

IMO, Love and forgiveness does not mean you don't hold people accountable for their actions nor does it mean you should naively trust them. Frankly I would have a very hard time with a known child molester in my congregation near my kids but then again there are probably unknown child molesters near me and my children every day.

Muffled shows love to the prisnoners, I imagine anyway, by listening to them.

Agape love is always unconditional. You are correct in your assessment that love does not wish to leave people in a sinful state but to save them from their sins. Many of the prisoners would be back out of jail. We always emphasized the ability of Jesus to change a life for the better. (I worked at a county jail where jail terms were 3 years or less, murderers were only there until found guilty,then they were sent to state prison)

I also worked at a mental institution for a short time and inpatients would pay me a visit every once in a while. This was before I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and at a time when I wasn't reading the BIble on a regular basis. Even so having received Jesus as Lord and Savior meant that all the fruit of the Spirit were opertional and love is one of them.