Do you think that too many people are trusting others to define their relationship with Jesus and God? Rather than rely on what the bible and the spirit tells them?
Buzz/Phat - if you see this, I'd love to get your views on this?
maybe we should spin this into another thread?
Hi Charles. I'll try to respond to this in a manner so as to keep on topic.
1. I'm reading a lot of stuff here about Christian talk boards and Christians in general, some of which disturbs me as to the charges. If some of the sites like Terry's TO is as intolerant and inhospitable to outsiders as it appears, it appears as per charges that they have a problem. Having been closely associated with dozens of fundamentalist Christian organizations and churches over the years, unfortunately, I tend to think some of the charges may be valid.
2. Charles, imo, your question has hit heavily on the problem. Too many Christians and specifically too many pastors, evangelists, web masters, university professors, teachers, et al have a problem somewhat like science professionals have, imho. They've been indoctrinated via an assembly line of technitions who have programed into their minds what their minds should think and how they should act from 1st kindegarten on up. For example, I've been interested in Biblical prophecy since a kid. I've read scores of books on it, but not until I focused in on THE BOOK have I been able to sort things out to make sense and harmonize.
3. According to the NT, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Galations 5:22, 23. Read this list slowly and thoughfully. If we who call ourselves Christians would bear these fruits in our daily lives, we'd still be persecuted and despised for our message, but
not for our conduct, as seems to be the problem here.
4. Guess what Charles? Jesus prophesied through John the revelator in Revelation 3:14-22 as to the problem with end time Christianity. Imo, the letters to the seven churches are prophetic as is all of Revelation. The last and 7th
church period, imo is our age, i.e, the Laodicean church period. Even God is highly ticked at us in general, to the point of spitting us out of his mouth. Nevertheless that is not to say all Christians are
Laodicean/lukewarm The last verse says we can be
overcomers and admonishes us to be so. God hates lukewarmness. He'd rather we be either cold or hot for him as the text goes.
5. I've said the above to say this: Don't judge Christ or Christianity, websites, web forum boards or individual churches or groups of
Christians by certain individuals in them including their leaders. Judge Christians on the basis of the New Testament, the apostles of Jesus and Jesus himself. Do so also with Muslims and other religions. Saddam H and Ben L and their fundie people are not madmen. They, like good Christians follow the teaching and practices of their Lord/master/prophet Mohammed. Devout Catholics have over the centuries followed the teachings and practices of their
holy fathers, the popes and history attests to the tradgic results during the dark ages. Jim Bakker's people did likewise, as did/do J Swaggart's. And getting closer to home, I've been in certain very intolerant and unhospitable Baptist kind of churches as well as other denominations. I've also been in some very good Baptist kind of churches, some independent or other denominations.
In Jehovah God's Universe; time, energy and boundless space had no beginning and will have no ending. The universe, by and through him, is, has always been and forever will be intelligently designed, changed and managed by his providence. buzsaw
™ Version 4.2
