Theological Discussion

I'm Lutheran, and we're not taught to PUSH our "shit" on anyone. There's a huge difference between pushing and gently suggesting when God gives you an opening to do so.

I know Catholics, madam. Plenty of them. And I can tell you that you must have fallen asleep during the part where they told you that it is your responsibility to try to bring others to Christ.

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There are very few differences between Catholics and Lutherans (and Catholics and Episcopalians). I can't imagine that their teachings would be all that different.

EDIT: I just went down the hall and asked my Catholic friend about evangelism and she looked at me like I was crazy and told me in no uncertain terms that Catholics also believe it's the duty of all Christians to help other accept Jesus.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

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Originally Posted by Sassafrass

Alice.

How many of the population do YOU think doesn't know who Christ is.

If they wanted to live with Christ in their lives, they would.

I find it profoundly disrespectful when people think they need to inform others of "THE GREAT SUPER CHRIST." Maybe its me, but I see it as a form of condescension.

No offense, but it's more important to me as a Christian to do what is expected of me than to strive not to "condescend" or be disrespectful to people.

Don't get me wrong, here. I am NOT one of those bible thumpers who pulls out scripture as a response to all of life's trials and threatens and pressures and attempts to scare people into becoming a Christian. But there have definitely been moments - admittedly not many, but a couple - where I've felt God's presence and have strongly felt that He was telling me that the moment was right to talk to someone about Jesus. So that's what I did. I hope it didn't offend anyone or make them feel condescended to, but if it did, so be it.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Sass, almost every quote you pasted was from the Old Testament. Jesus taught that his message of love took precedence over the harshness of the Old Testament. In fact, Jesus took issue with a lot of those old laws and was very vocal about it.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

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Are you going to tell the Jews they're wrong, too? =/

*cough* Yes.

I mean, obviously I think they are. Otherwise, I'd be Jewish, right? They don't believe in the one dude that is their very salvation. How can I believe that what Jesus said is true (that He is the only way to Heaven) and not think the Jews are wrong? Either I belive in the teachings of Jesus or I don't. My political correctness only stretches so far, Sass.

I was speaking idiomatically.

And that's been the very hardest hurdle for me to overcome as a Christian. I have a hard time understanding all that myself. I'm not a biblical expert like Minion, but Jesus was very clear about it. He said that there's only one way into Heaven and that's through Him. It's not being judgmental, really. You either believe in Jesus and what he said, or you don't. It's pretty simple.

I guess a "better" Christian wouldn't struggle with those very questions you asked me, but I do and I always have. That's one of the main things I can't wait to find out an aswer to when I get to Heaven.

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Originally Posted by Sassafrass

Why would you believe in a man who said something so horrible? I am sorry if that sounds mean, or critical, but don't you think those are KIND OF war words?

Jesus only did as He was told. And there were times when He wasn't so thrilled with his job, let me tell you. It wasn't His big idea, by the way - it was His lot in life. It was the idea of the God of the Jews to make Jesus the only way into Heaven. Is it His fault that His own people rejected Him?

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What makes you so sure you're going there?

I have no choice but to believe that, if I believe in Jesus and his teachings, which I do. See, that's the beauty of it. Getting into Heaven doesn't have anything to do with anything you do or don't do. All it takes is for you to accept that Jesus is what He said He was, and that He died for us so that we could have eternal life in Heaven. That's it.

If I believe that, which I do, I'm in like Flynn.

Originally Posted by Minion

This actually is a tough issue, but there is a concept of "accountability" which is present in the OT and is reiterated in the NT. Basically, you have to hear, understand and reject the Gospel to be not saved. Although being not saved is just spending eternity separate from God. The stereotypical concept of Hell is actually not Biblical and very misunderstood. So, in a sense, God is just giving you what you want either way. He doesn't seem like such a bad guy to me.

Thank goodness Minion showed back up! See, I didn't know that.

FELIPE NO

Um, no. =/

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Originally Posted by LeHah

I can see you two sitting around, passing a blunt, complaining about your jobs like this is a shitty Kevin Smith movie.

"I hate my job. I'm tired of filing paperwork"
"Yeah, well, you try walking on fuckin water, lady. Puff and pass."

I LOL'd. Yeah, I said "LOL'd." What?

How ya doing, buddy?

Those little commandment thingys are guidelines on how God wants you to live. You can break all of them and still get into Heaven.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

It's such a great example of how loving Jesus really is. He wants you to get into Heaven so badly that He made it pretty much the easiest thing ever, even if you're a murderer.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by LeHah

I like how your ideology is full of shit.

Care to elaborate on this highly intelligent, well-thought-out and thought-provoking sentiment?

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Originally Posted by SMX

Am I the only person reading this and going in the back of my mind, isn’t it just a tad supercilious of the human race to conceptualize an entity that can create an entire universe as physically anthropomorphic. Or, does the various references of “he” in this thread isn’t to be taken in a literal context? I seriously can’t tell with Christians most of the time.

Would you prefer "It"? I fail to see what difference it makes whether we refer to God as "He" "She" or "It."

I was speaking idiomatically.