Do You Think You Would Regret..... (Jesus, punishment, mystic, choices)

[des]

Well to me very much. I think it is unfortunate that the word myth has come to mean lie or falsehood. Myth is so much more and not that at all.
I use the word mythos which I believe may not have quite the same connotations, but then I have to explain myself. :-) Oh well.
Some Native Americans said of their legends. "These didnt' really happen but they are true anyways." In the movie "Little Buddha", one of the monk says, "the children like these stories and they contain much truth." That suggests to me that they don't believe they literally happened. Western culture is so dualistic that people often think a myth can contain truth. So therefore in order to think these stories have any validity you have to demand they be taken at face value.

Of course, I am not a Christian in the most typical sense either, but I still find meaning in a lot of the Bible.

--des

Originally Posted by lilithu

Thanks Ravenwolf. Just to be clear, I'm not Christian. But since Unitarian Universalism came from the Christian tradition many of us still look to these stories for meaning. For me the story is true but that doesn't mean that I believe it literally happened. Does that make sense?

[CelticRavenwolf]

So you're saying the truth is in the message, not the telling?

That I get!

[joeboonda]

Well, the BIble tells us the truth of what happenned, twist it with limited human reasoning all day long, twist the greatest verse in the Bible, John 3:16, it is your free will to do so. Adam and Eve had free will, because God did not want to create mindless robots. The Fall was a horrible thing, for with sin came death, and with sin and death came all manner of terrible things on all creation. It is a Spiritual Law, just like Gravity is a Physical Law. The wages of sin is death. God's thoughts are far higher than our thoughts, His ways are not our ways, but He is a God of great love and mercy and wisdom and power. God is Love. But there are Spiritual Absolutes, there is evil, sin, and death. God does indeed love even the most foul-mouthed, blasphemous sinner that He paid the wages of sin, which is death, by dying for us. The word was with God and the Word was God, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Oh, to twist the glorious truth of the simple Gospel of Christ and condemn onesself, I pray God grants wisdom to those whose eyes are blinded to His Truth spelled out plainly in the pages of His Word.

[James the Persian]

Originally Posted by jmaster78

i don't get it! if you look at things from a christian point of view, would a god of peace, love and FORGIVENESS really dish out the ultimate punishment for eternity? he expects us to forgive others, yet refuses to forgive us? what ever happened to 'practice what you preach'?

Scripture and Tradition actually tell us that we will be judged with the measure with which we judge others. So whether you are judged harshly and condemned or leniently and forgiven is entirely in your hands. It is not God that condemns a man but man who condemns himself (but then we do view heaven and hell rather differently from the western Christian view you appear to be railing against).

James

[MysticSang'ha]

Originally Posted by JamesThePersian

Scripture and Tradition actually tell us that we will be judged with the measure with which we judge others. So whether you are judged harshly and condemned or leniently and forgiven is entirely in your hands. It is not God that condemns a man but man who condemns himself (but then we do view heaven and hell rather differently from the western Christian view you appear to be railing against).

James

This makes perfect sense to me.



Peace,
Mystic

[roli]

Originally Posted by MaddLlama

Haha, and Christians wonder why so many people are angry at them.

I'm sure if Jesus were here, he'd probably be more interested in talking to me about my life than reading the Bible to me. I'm sure Jesus and I would get along just fine, despite the fact that I'm not a Christian.
I'm not interested in not being responsible for my actions, or my words. Matter of fact I count on it, just as you can count on being held accountable for your own witness and your own attitude. Whether I end up in Heaven, Hell, Hades, the Summerland, the cold earth, or back in another body, I stand by my personal convictions. I'm not blaming my problems on anybody - I'm simply saying that it's a cold fact that there is a lot of animosity towards Christians these days, and it is people with hellfire and brimstone attitudes that help to create and fuel that animosity. If you won't even consider that, then I don't think I have anything at all left to say to you.

I agree whole heartedly with the fact that some Christians do put a distaste in christianity to the world,as they have for me.
But if you think that by you or me blaming any christian for any action they have personally done,directly or indirectly to me or anyone,especially the ones in the lime light, who cause even strong non christians and solid christians to question their faith even fall is going to justify anyone on judgement day ,many will be sadly mistaken.
We are all left with choices at the end of the day and God is able to reach you regardless of an insult or opposed personal attack against your person.

All have the free will to not just have an intellectual concept of Jesus but receive him.
Do you see that this is not preaching,as you also mistakenly label me as doing,several times.
It is called elaborating ,dialoguing,discussion,debate,etc,etc.
Although it sounds like preaching or evangelizing it is the topic I am discussing,the objections that are brought up,the knowledge I feel I have of the word and relationship with Jesus that I share.
I am trying to be civil and respectful as I to anyonewhich by the way I usually am speaking primarily in a general sense even if I am directing my response to specifically to you.
Jesus is the living embodiment of his word,as per scripture.
I agree he uses love and compassion to the poor and unlovable,even those who refuse to believe and follow him,but my point is He uses the word.
He says he resists the proud but gives grace to the humble,those who are broken and meek in spirit over their condition of sin in the eyes of God.
My point in this is you will never catch the words from my mouth telling someone they are going to hell,never,if you interprete it that way, I will apologize,explain and try to better myself in that regard.

I don't preach this hell fire and brimestone I think you have me stero typed with some other Christian.
Jesus did preach,sin, hell and judgement more times in the new testament and the whole of the bible then on hell.
Yes,he did do it out of love ,but he often was bold and recieved as arrogant,evil and unloving,not that I am justifying myself ,just setting the recored straight.

On another note ,without my preaching to you,why is it specifically that you chose not to serve Christ and trust him for salvation
I use alot of scripture here to try and show those who have misquoted,or have a misinterpretaion of scripture,I am not excempt from error .
But I do this type of dialoguing,discussions,debating in person,through TV, and as a lifestyle

[roli]

Originally Posted by MaddLlama

Haha, and Christians wonder why so many people are angry at them.

I'm sure if Jesus were here, he'd probably be more interested in talking to me about my life than reading the Bible to me. I'm sure Jesus and I would get along just fine, despite the fact that I'm not a Christian.
I'm not interested in not being responsible for my actions, or my words. Matter of fact I count on it, just as you can count on being held accountable for your own witness and your own attitude. Whether I end up in Heaven, Hell, Hades, the Summerland, the cold earth, or back in another body, I stand by my personal convictions. I'm not blaming my problems on anybody - I'm simply saying that it's a cold fact that there is a lot of animosity towards Christians these days, and it is people with hellfire and brimstone attitudes that help to create and fuel that animosity. If you won't even consider that, then I don't think I have anything at all left to say to you.

I agree whole heartedly with the fact that some Christians do put a distaste in christianity to the world,as they have for me.
But if you think that by you or me blaming any christian for any action they have personally done,directly or indirectly to me or anyone,especially the ones in the lime light, who cause even strong non christians and solid christians to question their faith even fall is going to justify anyone on judgement day ,many will be sadly mistaken.
We are all left with choices at the end of the day and God is able to reach you regardless of an insult or opposed personal attack against your person.

All have the free will to not just have an intellectual concept of Jesus but receive him.
Do you see that this is not preaching,as you also mistakenly label me as doing,several times.
It is called elaborating ,dialoguing,discussion,debate,etc,etc.
Although it sounds like preaching or evangelizing it is the topic I am discussing,the objections that are brought up,the knowledge I feel I have of the word and relationship with Jesus that I share.
I am trying to be civil and respectful as I to anyonewhich by the way I usually am speaking primarily in a general sense even if I am directing my response to specifically to you.
Jesus is the living embodiment of his word,as per scripture.
I agree he uses love and compassion to the poor and unlovable,even those who refuse to believe and follow him,but my point is He uses the word.
He says he resists the proud but gives grace to the humble,those who are broken and meek in spirit over their condition of sin in the eyes of God.
My point in this is you will never catch the words from my mouth telling someone they are going to hell,never,if you interprete it that way, I will apologize,explain and try to better myself in that regard.

I don't preach this hell fire and brimestone I think you have me stero typed with some other Christian.
Jesus did preach,sin, hell and judgement more times in the new testament and the whole of the bible then on hell.
Yes,he did do it out of love ,but he often was bold and recieved as arrogant,evil and unloving,not that I am justifying myself ,just setting the recored straight.

On another note ,without my preaching to you,why is it specifically that you chose not to serve Christ and trust him for salvation
I use alot of scripture here to try and show those who have misquoted,or have a misinterpretaion of scripture,I am not excempt from error .
But I do this type of dialoguing,discussions,debating in person,through TV, and as a lifestyle

[roli]

Originally Posted by MaddLlama

Haha, and Christians wonder why so many people are angry at them.

I'm sure if Jesus were here, he'd probably be more interested in talking to me about my life than reading the Bible to me. I'm sure Jesus and I would get along just fine, despite the fact that I'm not a Christian.
I'm not interested in not being responsible for my actions, or my words. Matter of fact I count on it, just as you can count on being held accountable for your own witness and your own attitude. Whether I end up in Heaven, Hell, Hades, the Summerland, the cold earth, or back in another body, I stand by my personal convictions. I'm not blaming my problems on anybody - I'm simply saying that it's a cold fact that there is a lot of animosity towards Christians these days, and it is people with hellfire and brimstone attitudes that help to create and fuel that animosity. If you won't even consider that, then I don't think I have anything at all left to say to you.

I agree whole heartedly with the fact that some Christians do put a distaste in christianity to the world,as they have for me.
But if you think that by you or me blaming any christian for any action they have personally done,directly or indirectly to me or anyone,especially the ones in the lime light, who cause even strong non christians and solid christians to question their faith even fall is going to justify anyone on judgement day ,many will be sadly mistaken.
We are all left with choices at the end of the day and God is able to reach you regardless of an insult or opposed personal attack against your person.

All have the free will to not just have an intellectual concept of Jesus but receive him.
Do you see that this is not preaching,as you also mistakenly label me as doing,several times.
It is called elaborating ,dialoguing,discussion,debate,etc,etc.
Although it sounds like preaching or evangelizing it is the topic I am discussing,the objections that are brought up,the knowledge I feel I have of the word and relationship with Jesus that I share.
I am trying to be civil and respectful as I to anyonewhich by the way I usually am speaking primarily in a general sense even if I am directing my response to specifically to you.
Jesus is the living embodiment of his word,as per scripture.
I agree he uses love and compassion to the poor and unlovable,even those who refuse to believe and follow him,but my point is He uses the word.
He says he resists the proud but gives grace to the humble,those who are broken and meek in spirit over their condition of sin in the eyes of God.
My point in this is you will never catch the words from my mouth telling someone they are going to hell,never,if you interprete it that way, I will apologize,explain and try to better myself in that regard.

I don't preach this hell fire and brimestone I think you have me stero typed with some other Christian.
Jesus did preach,sin, hell and judgement more times in the new testament and the whole of the bible then on hell.
Yes,he did do it out of love ,but he often was bold and recieved as arrogant,evil and unloving,not that I am justifying myself ,just setting the recored straight.

On another note ,without my preaching to you,why is it specifically that you chose not to serve Christ and trust him for salvation
I use alot of scripture here to try and show those who have misquoted,or have a misinterpretaion of scripture,I am not excempt from error .
But I do this type of dialoguing,discussions,debating in person,through TV, and as a lifestyle

[jmaster78]