The Bible also says, a soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. So what is your reason, really, for such grievous words, and why are you so intent on stiring up anger?
Whay are BOTH of you so intent in ignoring the words of the Good book and stirring up anger?
Just curious, I am genuinely interested.
blackopal - Taking you at your word, that you are "genuinely interested," let me answer you with a few comments.
"Why are BOTH of you so intent in ignoring the words of the Good book and stirring up anger?" With all due respect to someone who has stated that they themselves are not a Christian, where exactly do you "see" me trying to ignore the words of the "Good book" (which I assume you do not adhere to yourself) and am "stirring up anger?"
From AlanF's opening post on my thread on evolution and creation he laid down a "challenge" that his interpretation of Matthew is that Jesus is a false prophet. If ANYONE is attempting to "stir up" something, it is AlanF. But that thread is intended for a scientific discussion, not a discussion of faith, or in particular the Christian faith. Hence I moved his argument to this thread to discuss it with him. If that is a "problem" to you, I am sorry, but he issued a "challenge" and all I am doing is standing ready to give a reason for the faith that I have in Christ Jesus.
Frankly if you are secure in your faith there is no reason to argue about it and there is no reason for your continued and exceedingly nasty efforts to dominate anyone around here who doesn't accept YOUR word as the Truth.
Why don't you put it down, it's becoming dammed irritating to see all the discord over it on these forums.
For the record, blackopal, I am quite secure in my faith.
As for the rest of your attack, let's look at it in a slightly different light to perhaps illustrate what I believe is your faulty reasoning in this matter. Let's just look at three examples of NOT responding to falsehood offered as "right and true" by someone else that one could choose to either ignore and thereby give "silent assent" to their idea, or one could respond because "lies" need to be confronted not only for the individual, but for the greater "common good."
1. Slavery in the USA touted as "natural and okay" because certain individuals or races are "inherently inferior." NOT standing up to that falsehood led to many years of "acceptability." But it took much courage and lives to "confront" the lie and change the nation to a "better place" where "all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights."
2. Adolph Hitler and the Nazi's consider "their ideas and worldview" to be the "right" way. Many, like Neville Chamberlain, tried the idea of "appeasement," of not "stirring the waters," to placate Hitler and not "offend" many others. But after allowing the lie to continue and to grow in strength and power, it took a hurculean effort on the part of those who "opposed" such a gross lie to intervene and "set the record straight" for all of humanity. The "cost" was horrendously high, but the cause was right and we enjoy the freedoms we have today in large part to that effort of brave souls to "stand for what is right and not allow the lie to dominate."
3. Virtually every single Wayward Spouse "rationalizes and justifies" their choice to commit adultery. They "rewrite" history to give themselves a "legitimate reason" for breaking their vow of exclusivity to their spouse and to commit adultery. Everyone supportive of monogamous marriage "could" just remain silent, including the spouse of the adulterer, and simply let the "lies" assume the status of truth. This failure to confront truth is largely what is behind the "acceptable practice by society" of "No-fault" divorce. I'd dare say that most, probably all, of the Betrayed Spouses would argue for confrontation, or at least discussing the "justifications and rationalizations" offered by the Wayward Spouse.
"there is no reason for your continued and exceedingly nasty efforts to dominate anyone around here who doesn't accept YOUR word as the Truth."What you don't seem to understand, blackopal, is that it is NOT "my" truth. It is God's truth as revealed to all of us, but not accepted by most. Those who don't accept most often attack those who do, as AlanF did. It is my responsiblity NOT to convert anyone or "dominate" anyone, but IS my responsibility and "assignment" by God, to stand ready to give anyone who asks "why" a reason for my faith. That is precisely what AlanF did.
"If you don't want a fight, then don't attack. Just show me the compassionate side of christianity.... "Very well put. Allow me to show it to you the best way that I know how. "This is love, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Compassionate side of Christianity = Jesus brutalized, beaten, and nailed to the Cross to die....for us. And our response to His compassion for us is...?
Those who nailed him to the cross (all of us) chose the "lie" over truth, but that did not stop him from offering one last attempt at showing us the truth. He finalized and proved His compassion and the truth with His resurrection from the dead as the "first" to show us that His Truth is the only truth. And for those who have accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior, His truth shines and humbles those of us who previously accepted the "lie" as "truth."
Please feel free to participate or not participate in the discussion as you see fit. But don't feel like you "must" participate, or even read, if it "offends" you. There will be NO attempt to "dominate" you, you can rest assured of that.
