sorry, Neal, but you lost me on the 'dog' reference. I have always had dogs as a Baptist and as a Bapti-costal. I fail to see your point in that. Sounds like grasping for straws to find something wrong.
An "aside" is a sudden change in the direction of a piece of work -- often interjected as a humorous device. It is the equivalent of a "stage whisper." One would think that a celebrated woman of letters, a veritable modern day Gertrude Stein or Willa Cather or Virginia Woolf would be familiar with this device.
Can you follow simple sentence structure, Latest Iteration of Monette? I never equated Baptists with people who did or did not keep dogs. I never equated dog ownership with anything. I made a joke about not really trusting churches without bishops or people who did not have dogs. It is based on the old adage, "Never trust people who don't smoke, drink, cuss, or keep dogs -- they are hiding something."
Why do you feel compelled to engage me and not the rector of St. Francis Church in Macon? He used the exact term I did to describe tribulation and rapture as did I earlier this year: claptrap. A priest. An ordained minister of the Gospel under the control of the Episcopal Bishop of Georgia, not a mere churchman and lay member such as myself.
Stick to your pseudo-pious polity, while I stick to the ancient apostolic faith of the Apsotles and the Church Fathers and not leave my brain on the hat rack when I enter a church.
You say "in the spirit," I say "hoot and holler," you call it "corn," we call it "maize."
Can you follow simple sentence structure, Latest Iteration of Monette? I never equated Baptists with people who did or did not keep dogs. I never equated dog ownership with anything. I made a joke about not really trusting churches without bishops or people who did not have dogs. It is based on the old adage, "Never trust people who don't smoke, drink, cuss, or keep dogs -- they are hiding something."
Why do you feel compelled to engage me and not the rector of St. Francis Church in Macon? He used the exact term I did to describe tribulation and rapture as did I earlier this year: claptrap. A priest. An ordained minister of the Gospel under the control of the Episcopal Bishop of Georgia, not a mere churchman and lay member such as myself.
Stick to your pseudo-pious polity, while I stick to the ancient apostolic faith of the Apsotles and the Church Fathers and not leave my brain on the hat rack when I enter a church.
You say "in the spirit," I say "hoot and holler," you call it "corn," we call it "maize."
What church do you go to, monet?
Monet has told us she goes to Faith Tabernacle. However, I am not sure she is representative of most of the members (all?) of the congregation. AS Bill O'Reilley says, "What say you?"
Oh, it sounded to me like she was pentecostal. Faith Tabernacle? The one time I attended that church, there was hoopin' and hollerin' and talking in tongues. I did not care for it.
If you are a Christian, I would strongly suggest you read 2 Samuel 6 vs. 12 - 23. If you are Baptist, Pentecostal, Episcopalian, it doesn't matter what denomination; read it and tell me if God looked down on David or if He blessed him. Read it and tell me if God blessed Michal or allowed her condemnation for making fun of what she did not understand.
You decide for yourself if God allows "hoopin and hollerin"
Good day!
You decide for yourself if God allows "hoopin and hollerin"
Good day!
This has turned out to be one of the all time great threads!
Michal- daughter of Saul. Saul -hated David and was jealous of him and tried to kill him many times.
David - brings Ark back to the capital. Dances and sings and shouts in joy that it is back where it ought to be.
Michal - sees it and it makes her even more angry at her father's enemy.
David - hero in battle, hero who returns the holiest object in the ancient Hebrew faith to where it ought to be, not Saul.
Is that the smae thing as people who claim the Holy Spirit to jabber and call it "unknown tongues" or run around the church during a normal service, instead of a glorious celebration of the safe return of a great religious artifact?
But as long as it isn't outright heresy, let the peeps hoot and holler until the cows come home. It is cheaper than the circus, after all, and times are hard.
That stuff ain't for me, though. But I have been known to become a bit weepy at post-communion time with the choir gently singing while I am still kneeling in prayer and meditation after having taken in the Body and Blood of Our Lord that He might dwell in me and I in Him.
Still a free country. Barely. But it is. Now what I want to know is why can't we take our dogs to church except for Blessing of the Animals on St. Francis Day?
David - brings Ark back to the capital. Dances and sings and shouts in joy that it is back where it ought to be.
Michal - sees it and it makes her even more angry at her father's enemy.
David - hero in battle, hero who returns the holiest object in the ancient Hebrew faith to where it ought to be, not Saul.
Is that the smae thing as people who claim the Holy Spirit to jabber and call it "unknown tongues" or run around the church during a normal service, instead of a glorious celebration of the safe return of a great religious artifact?
But as long as it isn't outright heresy, let the peeps hoot and holler until the cows come home. It is cheaper than the circus, after all, and times are hard.
That stuff ain't for me, though. But I have been known to become a bit weepy at post-communion time with the choir gently singing while I am still kneeling in prayer and meditation after having taken in the Body and Blood of Our Lord that He might dwell in me and I in Him.
Still a free country. Barely. But it is. Now what I want to know is why can't we take our dogs to church except for Blessing of the Animals on St. Francis Day?
Neal, maybe you should be a Baptist after all! LOL For three year, I won't say when,Mickey walked with us to the very small Baptist church in a very small town in East Texas. He lay down in front of the pulpit and did not move a muscle until after the invitation (16 verses if it was a revival) and closing hymn. Was he asleep? Only God knew. I later came into the Episcopal Communion in Dr. Albert Johnston's l7th Century Literature class where I experienced a religious awakening which I treasure along with other mountaintop experiences. I hesitate to see whether Mickey would be allowed in any pulpit today.
what church/churches do you go to MaryAnn & earthmamma?
My two favorite churches are Faith & Woodmont Baptist. I have been involved at both. For now, I am at Faith.
I am "further" than an Episcopalian. I call myself an Anglican. I had a Roman Catholic friend who called me an orthodox Episcopalian. I have at one time in my life attended the Episcopal Church in the morning and Calvary Temple at night receiving spiritual nourishment from both. I still remember singing "O Come All Ye Faithful" in the spirit - all with my priest's blessing! Perhaps that is why I despair when I read or hear Christians arguing so vehemently. They can only hurt each other and the cause of Christ. "Preach the Gospel at all times, use words if necessary." - a paraphrase from St. Francis. If there is more you want to know, I will be happy to share in a cordial PM exchange.
I went to Calvary once with a dear friend of mine, who has since passed away.
Hi Neal,
You tell us, "That stuff ain't for me, though. But I have been known to become a bit weepy at post-communion time with the choir gently singing while I am still kneeling in prayer and meditation after having taken in the Body and Blood of Our Lord that He might dwell in me and I in Him."
Neal, if you truly have Jesus in you -- how can you be so full of anger and hatred toward others who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? If you truly have Christ in you -- how can you work so hard to tear down every other Christian and every other Christian church?
For the full time you have been on the Forum, I have never seen you say one nice thing about another Christian. Do you really believe that Jesus would have you display such animosity toward anyone; especially those who profess Him?
When you have been angry; when you have been so determined to destroy all other Christian churches -- have you ever once asked yourself, "If He were faced with this same situation; what would Jesus do?"
Some time, when you are ready to strike out in anger; when you pen is poised to write out your venom -- give that a thought and ask yourself if that is what Jesus would do.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
You tell us, "That stuff ain't for me, though. But I have been known to become a bit weepy at post-communion time with the choir gently singing while I am still kneeling in prayer and meditation after having taken in the Body and Blood of Our Lord that He might dwell in me and I in Him."
Neal, if you truly have Jesus in you -- how can you be so full of anger and hatred toward others who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? If you truly have Christ in you -- how can you work so hard to tear down every other Christian and every other Christian church?
For the full time you have been on the Forum, I have never seen you say one nice thing about another Christian. Do you really believe that Jesus would have you display such animosity toward anyone; especially those who profess Him?
When you have been angry; when you have been so determined to destroy all other Christian churches -- have you ever once asked yourself, "If He were faced with this same situation; what would Jesus do?"
Some time, when you are ready to strike out in anger; when you pen is poised to write out your venom -- give that a thought and ask yourself if that is what Jesus would do.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Amazing, Bill. Are there any mirrors in your house?
Feel better Bill? Man, that retirement can be the pits, now can't it old boy? Sometimes the boredom results in compulsive behavior and a desire to show oneself constantly as superior -- or so I hear.
Have you tried making bird houses or macrame?
Have you tried making bird houses or macrame?
quote:Originally posted by CrustyMac:
Amazing, Bill. Are there any mirrors in your house?
Hi Crusty,
You are always there to cast stones at anyone who professes Christ; how about you tell us YOUR view of Christianity and what you practice.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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quote:Originally posted by Neal Hughes:
Feel better Bill? Man, that retirement can be the pits, now can't it old boy? Sometimes the boredom results in compulsive behavior and a desire to show oneself constantly as superior -- or so I hear.
Have you tried making bird houses or macrame?
Hi Neal,
In other words, you cannot answer the question I posed to you -- so, you squirm out by using Deep's Atheist Cutesy Comments Manual.
You, my Friend, claim all the knowledge of Christianity -- please lay aside Deep's book -- and let's talk from a Christian's book, the Bible. Can you or can you not answer my statement above?
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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quote:Originally posted by Bill Gray:quote:Originally posted by CrustyMac:
Amazing, Bill. Are there any mirrors in your house?
Hi Crusty,
You are always there to cast stones at anyone who professes Christ; how about you tell us YOUR view of Christianity and what you practice.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Bill, you profess, but you don't practice. Anyone who isn't a fundemental evangelical is subject to ridicule from you. I don't cast stones at everyone who professes Christ, just the self-righteous ones, and the literalists who are just plain crazy.
My relationship with God is none of your business, but just for your satisfaction, you wouldn't get it, and you would disapprove. But it is honest, which is more than I can say for yours.
quote:Originally posted by earthmomma:
I have at one time in my life attended the Episcopal Church in the morning and Calvary Temple at night receiving spiritual nourishment from both. I still remember singing "O Come All Ye Faithful" in the spirit - all with my priest's blessing!
The Episcopal Church doesn't have Oh Come All Ye Faithful in it's hymnal? What is wrong with them?
Bill, you started this a while ago when you got going on the gays and Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson and then the Anglican Communion. It is called tit for tat. I would never have told anyone what church I attended and held membership in, save for your lies and slander.
Then you got a-going on tribulation and rapture as doctrine and not dogma. Then it was Dr. Dino which you say we are compelled to believe or not be "True Christians" (marca registrada).
You dish out a lot of smack, but hide behind a mantle of holiness (self-professed) and special insight into matters theological and metaphysical, even the mechanism of the end of the world.
I tell you to leave your obsession behind on the end times, this silly obsession which you can neither alter nor change and get on with sowing your garden of good works to demonstrate to all men that you practice what you preach. I have never heard you say one word about trying to improve the lot of the downtrodden, only about how "lost" everyone else is. Isn't that odd what with the gigantic multi-billion dollar HIV and reforestation ourtreach to Africa and Asia that the Berean Baptists are sponsoring? Oh, wait, those don't exist, now do they? Not even a multi-penny program for the downtrodden. . . That says a lot about your kind to me.
A lot of satisfaction and hot air, but not much in this world to show for it but supposedly "saved" souls who raised their hands and now are good to go for the rest of their lives, the example of Our Lord be dashed.
By their fruits you will know them, sir, by their fruit, and you are fruitier at times than all the orchards in Washington State and in the pejorative sense, not the good way.
I claim to speak for no one but myself, I lack the self-confidence or audacity so to do, unlike you who speaks for all True Christian (marca registrada).
There is obviously good in every church, perhaps even in the Mormen, but I find it hard to find, it isn't like Bahai or Zoraoasterians, for example, where one would be hard to fault their theology or their morals. You read whatever you want to into whatever you want to and that is troubling, I do not know if it is a lack of basic reading comprehension, inability to tell satire from serious prose, or just bullheaded simpleminded with you. I just don't "get you" at all -- and I think I would be afraid of what I discovered were I to so do.
Look dude, do you believe in the Nicene and Apostles Creeds? Have you repented of your sins and turned from them? Have you been baptized and confessed your faith in Our Lord? Then you are a member of the Universal Church.
That is what I believe and should teach were anyone to ask me. There is one Vine but it has many branches, but some of them are filled with heresy and hatred, as one would expect with any institution, since people are vain and wish to have special gifts, knowledge and insight to the detriment of others. I reckon it makes them feel good about their otherwise miserable very ordinary lives.
Then you got a-going on tribulation and rapture as doctrine and not dogma. Then it was Dr. Dino which you say we are compelled to believe or not be "True Christians" (marca registrada).
You dish out a lot of smack, but hide behind a mantle of holiness (self-professed) and special insight into matters theological and metaphysical, even the mechanism of the end of the world.
I tell you to leave your obsession behind on the end times, this silly obsession which you can neither alter nor change and get on with sowing your garden of good works to demonstrate to all men that you practice what you preach. I have never heard you say one word about trying to improve the lot of the downtrodden, only about how "lost" everyone else is. Isn't that odd what with the gigantic multi-billion dollar HIV and reforestation ourtreach to Africa and Asia that the Berean Baptists are sponsoring? Oh, wait, those don't exist, now do they? Not even a multi-penny program for the downtrodden. . . That says a lot about your kind to me.
A lot of satisfaction and hot air, but not much in this world to show for it but supposedly "saved" souls who raised their hands and now are good to go for the rest of their lives, the example of Our Lord be dashed.
By their fruits you will know them, sir, by their fruit, and you are fruitier at times than all the orchards in Washington State and in the pejorative sense, not the good way.
I claim to speak for no one but myself, I lack the self-confidence or audacity so to do, unlike you who speaks for all True Christian (marca registrada).
There is obviously good in every church, perhaps even in the Mormen, but I find it hard to find, it isn't like Bahai or Zoraoasterians, for example, where one would be hard to fault their theology or their morals. You read whatever you want to into whatever you want to and that is troubling, I do not know if it is a lack of basic reading comprehension, inability to tell satire from serious prose, or just bullheaded simpleminded with you. I just don't "get you" at all -- and I think I would be afraid of what I discovered were I to so do.
Look dude, do you believe in the Nicene and Apostles Creeds? Have you repented of your sins and turned from them? Have you been baptized and confessed your faith in Our Lord? Then you are a member of the Universal Church.
That is what I believe and should teach were anyone to ask me. There is one Vine but it has many branches, but some of them are filled with heresy and hatred, as one would expect with any institution, since people are vain and wish to have special gifts, knowledge and insight to the detriment of others. I reckon it makes them feel good about their otherwise miserable very ordinary lives.
Neal, I am curious...what have YOU done, or what do YOU do to help the downtrodden? Have you been to African as a missionary and helped the poor starving children there, or those with AIDS? Do you regularly send money to support a starving family? Have you adopted a hurting child? Or do you spend most of your time with your nose stuck in a computer in the library, googling all day long, searching for info to tear down others, their religion, and their sincere convictions. Please list all your fruits for us...inquiring minds would love to know.
Hi Neal,
You tell me, "Bill, you started this a while ago when you got going on the gays and Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson and then the Anglican Communion. It is called tit for tat. I would never have told anyone what church I attended and held membership in, save for your lies and slander."
First, ask yourself if Christians should be responding -- tit for tat -- especially on a public forum.
Neal, you and I both know, beyond any doubt, that the Bible condemns the homosexual lifestyle. Not the homosexual, for God loves him/her also -- but, God calls the homosexual lifestyle an abomination, a detestable act, an unnatural act, etc. So, God leaves no doubt where He stands regarding the homosexual lifestyle. However, just as with all sinners, God longs for all homosexuals, and all sinners -- to turn from their sinful lifestyle and turn to follow Jesus Christ. This is called repentance. If a person refuses to repent, refuses to turn from his/her sinful lifestyle -- how can he/she say they are following Jesus?
So, in that respect, Gene Robinson is a sinner who refuses to repent, who refuses to turn from his sinful lifestyle and turn to follow Jesus Christ. Based upon that, viewing the fruit of his life, I have to draw the conclusion that Gene Robinson is not a Christian; he is not a Christ follower -- regardless of what authority or title the Episcopalian church may bestow upon him.
Therefore, what I said was not a lie; nor was it slander. Gene Robinson is an open homosexual living in an openly active homosexual lifestyle with another man. That is neither a lie nor is it slander -- just the truth.
Now, let's get back to what you have been avoiding. In my previous post, I asked you:
Neal, if you truly have Jesus in you -- how can you be so full of anger and hatred toward others who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? If you truly have Christ in you -- how can you work so hard to tear down every other Christian and every other Christian church?
For the full time you have been on the Forum, I have never seen you say one nice thing about another Christian. Do you really believe that Jesus would have you display such animosity toward anyone; especially those who profess Him?
When you have been angry; when you have been so determined to destroy all other Christian churches -- have you ever once asked yourself, "If He were faced with this same situation; what would Jesus do?"
Some time, when you are ready to strike out in anger; when you pen is poised to write out your venom -- give that a thought and ask yourself if that is what Jesus would do.
It takes very little to get you on a multi-page rage -- but, you still have not responded to my question. You have written one long rambling paragraph -- but, you are still avoiding my question. If you cannot answer it, or will not answer it -- just tell me and I will let it pass. However, please do not try to hide from answering by putting up a huge smoke screen.
I pose a very simple, straight forward question: "Would Jesus react to Christians and to Christians sharing the Bible -- in the same manner that Neal Hughes has been responding for so long -- with hatred, anger, and crude remarks?"
If He would not; then why is Neal Hughes, who professes to be a Christian, doing this?
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
You tell me, "Bill, you started this a while ago when you got going on the gays and Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson and then the Anglican Communion. It is called tit for tat. I would never have told anyone what church I attended and held membership in, save for your lies and slander."
First, ask yourself if Christians should be responding -- tit for tat -- especially on a public forum.
Neal, you and I both know, beyond any doubt, that the Bible condemns the homosexual lifestyle. Not the homosexual, for God loves him/her also -- but, God calls the homosexual lifestyle an abomination, a detestable act, an unnatural act, etc. So, God leaves no doubt where He stands regarding the homosexual lifestyle. However, just as with all sinners, God longs for all homosexuals, and all sinners -- to turn from their sinful lifestyle and turn to follow Jesus Christ. This is called repentance. If a person refuses to repent, refuses to turn from his/her sinful lifestyle -- how can he/she say they are following Jesus?
So, in that respect, Gene Robinson is a sinner who refuses to repent, who refuses to turn from his sinful lifestyle and turn to follow Jesus Christ. Based upon that, viewing the fruit of his life, I have to draw the conclusion that Gene Robinson is not a Christian; he is not a Christ follower -- regardless of what authority or title the Episcopalian church may bestow upon him.
Therefore, what I said was not a lie; nor was it slander. Gene Robinson is an open homosexual living in an openly active homosexual lifestyle with another man. That is neither a lie nor is it slander -- just the truth.
Now, let's get back to what you have been avoiding. In my previous post, I asked you:
Neal, if you truly have Jesus in you -- how can you be so full of anger and hatred toward others who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? If you truly have Christ in you -- how can you work so hard to tear down every other Christian and every other Christian church?
For the full time you have been on the Forum, I have never seen you say one nice thing about another Christian. Do you really believe that Jesus would have you display such animosity toward anyone; especially those who profess Him?
When you have been angry; when you have been so determined to destroy all other Christian churches -- have you ever once asked yourself, "If He were faced with this same situation; what would Jesus do?"
Some time, when you are ready to strike out in anger; when you pen is poised to write out your venom -- give that a thought and ask yourself if that is what Jesus would do.
It takes very little to get you on a multi-page rage -- but, you still have not responded to my question. You have written one long rambling paragraph -- but, you are still avoiding my question. If you cannot answer it, or will not answer it -- just tell me and I will let it pass. However, please do not try to hide from answering by putting up a huge smoke screen.
I pose a very simple, straight forward question: "Would Jesus react to Christians and to Christians sharing the Bible -- in the same manner that Neal Hughes has been responding for so long -- with hatred, anger, and crude remarks?"
If He would not; then why is Neal Hughes, who professes to be a Christian, doing this?
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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A, My charity is none of your business, but when I have money I give generously of my dollars, and when little money of my sweat, time and education.
B, I would never blow my own sanctified horn the way that you do.
C, Your lot can't even begin to approach the R.C. and Anglican Church, the UMC, the ECLA and PCUSA and other mainline churches at the charity level for third world and second world countries, or for that matter the Aga Khan's various charities for the Islamic World.
D, If the truth don't hurt then why are you and Bill so defensive and barbed tongued?
Your hubris is your own downfall. Honey, the Khmer Rouge were sincere when they set up the killing fields. If you didn't post silly things then there would be nothing to expose, or as you call it "ridicule.".
B, I would never blow my own sanctified horn the way that you do.
C, Your lot can't even begin to approach the R.C. and Anglican Church, the UMC, the ECLA and PCUSA and other mainline churches at the charity level for third world and second world countries, or for that matter the Aga Khan's various charities for the Islamic World.
D, If the truth don't hurt then why are you and Bill so defensive and barbed tongued?
Your hubris is your own downfall. Honey, the Khmer Rouge were sincere when they set up the killing fields. If you didn't post silly things then there would be nothing to expose, or as you call it "ridicule.".
quote:Originally posted by CrustyMac:quote:Originally posted by Bill Gray:quote:Originally posted by CrustyMac: Amazing, Bill. Are there any mirrors in your house?
Hi Crusty,
You are always there to cast stones at anyone who professes Christ; how about you tell us YOUR view of Christianity and what you practice.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Bill, you profess, but you don't practice. Anyone who isn't a fundemental evangelical is subject to ridicule from you. I don't cast stones at everyone who professes Christ, just the self-righteous ones, and the literalists who are just plain crazy.
My relationship with God is none of your business, but just for your satisfaction, you wouldn't get it, and you would disapprove. But it is honest, which is more than I can say for yours.
Hi Crusty,
Please show me where I have ridiculed another Christian's beliefs. I may disagree -- but, in doing this I will show, from the Bible, why I disagree. With another Christian; I will agree to disagree; but, I will not allow it to divide us.
With atheists, I will also disagree and I will show them from the Bible why I disagree. However, this matters very little to them, for if they acknowledge the Bible they would have to acknowledge God. If they acknowledge God; then they would have to let Him have control over their lives -- and that is what they are working so hard to avoid.
Now, regarding your relationship with God. The apostle Paul teaches us in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, . . ."
So, Crusty, if you have a relationship with Jesus Christ -- are you ashamed of it? Are you ashamed to tell us that you love and follow Jesus Christ?
Or, is what you seem to want to hide is the fact that -- you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ; that you are not a Christ Follower?
Either way, I am not knocking you for your belief or lack of belief. However, I will go back to my original question: If you are not a Christian -- why are you always the first to jump into a discussion about Christianity? I can see why Deep, Fish, Miami, and a few others do. They are atheists and their religion is the total opposite of Christianity. Therefore, to acknowledge Jesus Christ they would have to disavow their own gods.
So, in a few words, why are you always the first to jump into a Christian discussion?
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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quote:Originally posted by nealmhughes:
A, My charity is none of your business, but when I have money I give generously of my dollars, and when little money of my sweat, time and education.
B, I would never blow my own sanctified horn the way that you do.
C, Your lot can't even begin to approach the R.C. and Anglican Church, the UMC, the ECLA and PCUSA and other mainline churches at the charity level for third world and second world countries, or for that matter the Aga Khan's various charities for the Islamic World.
D, If the truth don't hurt then why are you and Bill so defensive and barbed tongued?
Your hubris is your own downfall. Honey, the Khmer Rouge were sincere when they set up the killing fields. If you didn't post silly things then there would be nothing to expose, or as you call it "ridicule.".
Exactly...your works, your charity is none of anyone's business. And no one has asked you that before; yet you spew your venom asking others to show their fruit! Now isn't that a bit hypocritical? I am sure all Christians on this forum give generously to their churches, their favorite charities, etc. And no one has to prove their works to anyone.
We are not saved by works, but if a person really is a born-again Christian his works will show that he is a Christian. As Bill said, we have only seen you spew your venom at other Christians yet condone the lifestyle of sinners. You never say anything positive to other Christians, and when they relate something positive (like answered prayer) you immediately cut them down. Do you really think God is pleased with that?
Hi Monet,
No, Neal will not respond directly to your question. Just as he cannot respond to the simple questions I asked.
All he will do is to spew out a one page paragraph -- rambling on and on about nothing. Just like a politician; Neal can talk forever and never say anything -- unless he can aim his poison pen toward Christians.
Neal is much like the Gnostics of Jesus' day -- grand oratory and verbal intelligence while declaring, "What a wonderful person I am!"
Jesus does not ask for great oratory nor super intelligence; He asks for an open and loving heart, a heart which can, by grace through faith, receive His wonderful gift of salvation.
Neal is more like the used car salesman on his wedding night: all night he kept declaring how wonderful it was going to be -- but, he never delivered the goods. When it comes to Christian brotherhood; Neal never delivers the goods.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
No, Neal will not respond directly to your question. Just as he cannot respond to the simple questions I asked.
All he will do is to spew out a one page paragraph -- rambling on and on about nothing. Just like a politician; Neal can talk forever and never say anything -- unless he can aim his poison pen toward Christians.
Neal is much like the Gnostics of Jesus' day -- grand oratory and verbal intelligence while declaring, "What a wonderful person I am!"
Jesus does not ask for great oratory nor super intelligence; He asks for an open and loving heart, a heart which can, by grace through faith, receive His wonderful gift of salvation.
Neal is more like the used car salesman on his wedding night: all night he kept declaring how wonderful it was going to be -- but, he never delivered the goods. When it comes to Christian brotherhood; Neal never delivers the goods.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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Since you wish to endow me with powers I neither have nor wish to have, let the Catechism of Creation of the Episcopal Church speak re: Biblical literalism in the Creation for your edification:
Link
I hope that suffices, it sounds like a perfect between faith, tradition (including scripture), and reason to me. Obviously that won't work for you, having the word "reason" in it.
Link
I hope that suffices, it sounds like a perfect between faith, tradition (including scripture), and reason to me. Obviously that won't work for you, having the word "reason" in it.
quote:Originally posted by nealmhughes:
Since you wish to endow me with powers I neither have nor wish to have, let the Catechism of Creation of the Episcopal Church speak re: Biblical literalism in the Creation for your edification:
Link
I hope that suffices, it sounds like a perfect between faith, tradition (including scripture), and reason to me. Obviously that won't work for you, having the word "reason" in it.
Hi Neal,
Still cannot speak for yourself? That is amazing, considering how you can write a ten page diatribe against other Christians and against the Bible. But, when I ask what you believe -- you cannot answer. Oh, well, so much for your faith.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Originally posted by nealmhughes:
Since you wish to endow me with powers I neither have nor wish to have, let the Catechism
Neal, the only power you seem to be endowed with is the power of the forked-tongue.
Since you wish to endow me with powers I neither have nor wish to have, let the Catechism
Neal, the only power you seem to be endowed with is the power of the forked-tongue.
quote:Originally posted by CrustyMac:
The Episcopal Church doesn't have Oh Come All Ye Faithful in it's hymnal? What is wrong with them?
WRONG! It is number 83 in the hymnal. Check again.
My favorite "regular" song is 318: "Here O Lord, I See Thee Face to Face," which sums up Anglican Eucharistic theology very well:
"Here, O my Lord, I see thee face to face;
here would I touch and handle things unseen;
here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace,
and all my weariness upon thee lean.
This is the hour of banquet and of song;
this is the heavenly table spread for me;
here let me feast, and feasting, still prolong
the hallowed hour of fellowship with thee.
Here would I feed upon the Bread of God,
here drink with thee the royal Wine of heaven;
here would I lay aside each earthly load,
here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.
Mine is the sin, but thine the righteousness:
mine is the guilt, but thine the cleansing
here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace;
thy Blood, thy righteousness, O Lord my God!
Feast after feast thus comes and passes by;
yet, passing, points to the glad feast above,
giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy,
the Lamb's great bridal feast of bliss and
love."
Words: Horatius Bonar, 1855
I am sure that Bill would hate it: too Catholic, and Monette's various iterations would not be able to find the drum and electric guitar music for this hymn.
"Here, O my Lord, I see thee face to face;
here would I touch and handle things unseen;
here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace,
and all my weariness upon thee lean.
This is the hour of banquet and of song;
this is the heavenly table spread for me;
here let me feast, and feasting, still prolong
the hallowed hour of fellowship with thee.
Here would I feed upon the Bread of God,
here drink with thee the royal Wine of heaven;
here would I lay aside each earthly load,
here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.
Mine is the sin, but thine the righteousness:
mine is the guilt, but thine the cleansing
here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace;
thy Blood, thy righteousness, O Lord my God!
Feast after feast thus comes and passes by;
yet, passing, points to the glad feast above,
giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy,
the Lamb's great bridal feast of bliss and
love."
Words: Horatius Bonar, 1855
I am sure that Bill would hate it: too Catholic, and Monette's various iterations would not be able to find the drum and electric guitar music for this hymn.
Hi Neal,
It would seem we have a "problem in communicating." I asked you to tell me in your own words what Neal Hughes believes -- and all I get are quotes a song written by another in 1855 -- or quotes from your Common Book of Prayers written in the 1500s.
Do your dead archbishops and song writers speak for you? Do your bishops have to speak for you? Have you no thoughts on God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and salvation -- other than what your bishops program into your head?
It is a sad day when a person who professes to be a Christian -- cannot, in his own words, tell us what this means to him and how he came to saving faith in Jesus Christ. And, you wonder why I like the Baptists or the non-denominational churches? In those churches we are encouraged to read and understand the Bible ourselves -- not depend upon a church leader to tell us what it means.
The Bible was written -- from God -- to man, all men, common man; and written so that a common man with the desire to understand God's Word -- can find His plan for our lives within the pages of His Bible.
Neal, it is not the church's Bible; it is not the Pope's Bible; it is not the Archbishop's or bishop's Bible. It is every believer's Bible.
So, once again, I will ask you. How did Neal Hughes get saved; or is Neal Hughes saved?
Does Neal Hughes know for certain that he has eternal life? Does Neal Hughes know, beyond any doubt, that he has eternal salvation and WILL go to heaven?
If not, then, Neal, you and I need to be talking privately -- and seriously. You are always welcome to use my e-mail: billdory@pacbell.net
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
It would seem we have a "problem in communicating." I asked you to tell me in your own words what Neal Hughes believes -- and all I get are quotes a song written by another in 1855 -- or quotes from your Common Book of Prayers written in the 1500s.
Do your dead archbishops and song writers speak for you? Do your bishops have to speak for you? Have you no thoughts on God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and salvation -- other than what your bishops program into your head?
It is a sad day when a person who professes to be a Christian -- cannot, in his own words, tell us what this means to him and how he came to saving faith in Jesus Christ. And, you wonder why I like the Baptists or the non-denominational churches? In those churches we are encouraged to read and understand the Bible ourselves -- not depend upon a church leader to tell us what it means.
The Bible was written -- from God -- to man, all men, common man; and written so that a common man with the desire to understand God's Word -- can find His plan for our lives within the pages of His Bible.
Neal, it is not the church's Bible; it is not the Pope's Bible; it is not the Archbishop's or bishop's Bible. It is every believer's Bible.
So, once again, I will ask you. How did Neal Hughes get saved; or is Neal Hughes saved?
Does Neal Hughes know for certain that he has eternal life? Does Neal Hughes know, beyond any doubt, that he has eternal salvation and WILL go to heaven?
If not, then, Neal, you and I need to be talking privately -- and seriously. You are always welcome to use my e-mail: billdory@pacbell.net
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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Neal and Bill,
I had gone to church most of my life, was Baptized at age 13, but never understood what "born again" meant. I assumed since I believed in God and Jesus, had been baptized and was a member of a church, I was born-again. You can go to church all your life and never quite 'get it'. One night God gave me a dream (that I won't go in to) but He made me realize my life was hopeless without Him. When I called out to Him, he told me to begin reading the book of John. I blew the dust off the Bible and began reading. It was suddenly like a letter from God just for me. I read in Hebrews that if you had 'willfully' sinned there was no more hope. Which frightened me, because everyone sins wilfully; but I kept reading until in the book of James I read that even the devil and demons believe and tremble. I realized then that being 'born-again' was more than just believing in God and Jesus. It is a relationship, without Him our lives are incomplete and meaningless, but He is always standing in the shadows waiting for us to ask Him into our lives and hearts. Right there, I knelt in my bedroom and gave my life to Him. I felt a warmth pour over me and my life has never been the same. Not that my life has been perfect or without problems...but God has always been there to help me through everything and to give me peace no matter what is going on around me. No, you do not have to be in a church to give your heart to Jesus; you can do it anywhere, anytime.
Being born-again is something you will never understand until you have experienced it. And once you have, you wonder why you took so long and you realize all the good things God had for you that you were missing.
As far as the denomination of church, I really don't think that is important...if the church is a Bible believing Christ-centered church. I think it is wrong to bash other Christians and other denominations, even if they interpret certain parts of the Bible differently. Some people draw conclusions without ever reading the Bible. If the preacher says it, they believe it. But you should never put your whole trust into a preacher, or anyone else but God. You should test what they preach by what the Bible says, if they are quoting scripture correctly, etc. Some people fall in love with their pastor, then when he makes a mistake, they are crushed and some even leave the church and never return.
Read the Bible for yourself, praying, asking God for understanding, and He will help you. Give your life to Him and He will never disappoint you.
I had gone to church most of my life, was Baptized at age 13, but never understood what "born again" meant. I assumed since I believed in God and Jesus, had been baptized and was a member of a church, I was born-again. You can go to church all your life and never quite 'get it'. One night God gave me a dream (that I won't go in to) but He made me realize my life was hopeless without Him. When I called out to Him, he told me to begin reading the book of John. I blew the dust off the Bible and began reading. It was suddenly like a letter from God just for me. I read in Hebrews that if you had 'willfully' sinned there was no more hope. Which frightened me, because everyone sins wilfully; but I kept reading until in the book of James I read that even the devil and demons believe and tremble. I realized then that being 'born-again' was more than just believing in God and Jesus. It is a relationship, without Him our lives are incomplete and meaningless, but He is always standing in the shadows waiting for us to ask Him into our lives and hearts. Right there, I knelt in my bedroom and gave my life to Him. I felt a warmth pour over me and my life has never been the same. Not that my life has been perfect or without problems...but God has always been there to help me through everything and to give me peace no matter what is going on around me. No, you do not have to be in a church to give your heart to Jesus; you can do it anywhere, anytime.
Being born-again is something you will never understand until you have experienced it. And once you have, you wonder why you took so long and you realize all the good things God had for you that you were missing.
As far as the denomination of church, I really don't think that is important...if the church is a Bible believing Christ-centered church. I think it is wrong to bash other Christians and other denominations, even if they interpret certain parts of the Bible differently. Some people draw conclusions without ever reading the Bible. If the preacher says it, they believe it. But you should never put your whole trust into a preacher, or anyone else but God. You should test what they preach by what the Bible says, if they are quoting scripture correctly, etc. Some people fall in love with their pastor, then when he makes a mistake, they are crushed and some even leave the church and never return.
Read the Bible for yourself, praying, asking God for understanding, and He will help you. Give your life to Him and He will never disappoint you.
Bill, it is called "changing the topic," as you were getting a little obsessive-compulsive. Well, in my opinion, anyhow.
Am I "saved?" I am saved and reaffirm that every time I reaffirm my baptismal and confirmation vows, when I confess my belief in Jesus as the Son of God, God from God, Light from Light, and was made fully man and was both God and man at the same time, and who voluntarily took upon the sins of the world to pardon my sins. I am certain of that every Sunday when I recite the same, when I take His Blessed Body and Blood into my body for the guarantee of the love he shows to me constantly and for the forgiveness of my sins.
I get a warm fuzzy every time I stand up to recite the Creed or when I see the procession begin and the Cross pass by me...I think that is what you mean by "saved," isn't it, a feeling of your own inadequacy to do a thing without the help of Christ Jesus and that you must trust in Him and His Church for guidance and His Word and good example?
Who God "saved" is not for me to know, I know who God adds to the Church both visible and invisible and who go through at least the motions of confessing their sin and His Word, but I cannot claim to know how God in His Own good time and method shall deliver unto eternal life, for how can I a mere man know what is inside the hearts of men? Do you dare presume to know such things?
There is a way not to read what I read, don't read it.
I am stubborn, if an old man in California who has a history of not answering question asked him by others, then I find no need to answer his, which I find quite silly and rather pointless at times, reminding me of asking how many angels they think can dance on the head of a pin.
Your history of lying about things political and historical is repugnant, and claiming that you "didn't know," is scant excuse. You need to apologize and delete. You support fringe novel dogma which you state as fact. That is not true: most denominations do not teach either biblical literalism nor tribulation nor rapture as doctrine and you know it. It is not in any Creed of the Ancient Church Fathers, the direct successors of the Apostles who knew Our Lord personally. It has never been taught as doctrine by any of the branches of the apostolic church for a good reason: these are novel and not worthy of comment except as an exercise in debate, settled in the West by Aquinas who declared that the truth was universal and held no contradictions. The earth is round, anyone from space can witness this. The Classical scholars and the general public knew this in times of old, yet the Bible refers in the Old Testament to the "Four Corners" of the earth, which is either metaphor or literal. Science shows it is metaphor or else that the pre-Classical Hebraic tradition held that the earth was flat.
Likewise the Bible refers to Joshua commanding the sun to stand still. While it may have appeared to have still, this is predicated upon the ancient belief that the stars were close to the earth and small and all revolved (as they appear to do from the earth) around the earth. Copernicus and Kepler showed this was not true. The Church, both Protestant and Catholic said it was heresy. Until . . . they used Aquinas and said, "Oops. Maybe it is metaphor for the sun not appearing to move and not that the sun did not move. . . " a few centuries later.
Is the earth flat? Does the earth revolve around the sun? Is the world 6K years old when the Bible itself says that a thousand years is but a twinkle in God's eye? Why would a creator who made the world with two words, "Fiat lux!" end it with a system so convoluted and flatly odd that no two seem to agree on what exactly it means?
I take it you did not like the song. It's my favorite Communion hymn.
Am I "saved?" I am saved and reaffirm that every time I reaffirm my baptismal and confirmation vows, when I confess my belief in Jesus as the Son of God, God from God, Light from Light, and was made fully man and was both God and man at the same time, and who voluntarily took upon the sins of the world to pardon my sins. I am certain of that every Sunday when I recite the same, when I take His Blessed Body and Blood into my body for the guarantee of the love he shows to me constantly and for the forgiveness of my sins.
I get a warm fuzzy every time I stand up to recite the Creed or when I see the procession begin and the Cross pass by me...I think that is what you mean by "saved," isn't it, a feeling of your own inadequacy to do a thing without the help of Christ Jesus and that you must trust in Him and His Church for guidance and His Word and good example?
Who God "saved" is not for me to know, I know who God adds to the Church both visible and invisible and who go through at least the motions of confessing their sin and His Word, but I cannot claim to know how God in His Own good time and method shall deliver unto eternal life, for how can I a mere man know what is inside the hearts of men? Do you dare presume to know such things?
There is a way not to read what I read, don't read it.
I am stubborn, if an old man in California who has a history of not answering question asked him by others, then I find no need to answer his, which I find quite silly and rather pointless at times, reminding me of asking how many angels they think can dance on the head of a pin.
Your history of lying about things political and historical is repugnant, and claiming that you "didn't know," is scant excuse. You need to apologize and delete. You support fringe novel dogma which you state as fact. That is not true: most denominations do not teach either biblical literalism nor tribulation nor rapture as doctrine and you know it. It is not in any Creed of the Ancient Church Fathers, the direct successors of the Apostles who knew Our Lord personally. It has never been taught as doctrine by any of the branches of the apostolic church for a good reason: these are novel and not worthy of comment except as an exercise in debate, settled in the West by Aquinas who declared that the truth was universal and held no contradictions. The earth is round, anyone from space can witness this. The Classical scholars and the general public knew this in times of old, yet the Bible refers in the Old Testament to the "Four Corners" of the earth, which is either metaphor or literal. Science shows it is metaphor or else that the pre-Classical Hebraic tradition held that the earth was flat.
Likewise the Bible refers to Joshua commanding the sun to stand still. While it may have appeared to have still, this is predicated upon the ancient belief that the stars were close to the earth and small and all revolved (as they appear to do from the earth) around the earth. Copernicus and Kepler showed this was not true. The Church, both Protestant and Catholic said it was heresy. Until . . . they used Aquinas and said, "Oops. Maybe it is metaphor for the sun not appearing to move and not that the sun did not move. . . " a few centuries later.
Is the earth flat? Does the earth revolve around the sun? Is the world 6K years old when the Bible itself says that a thousand years is but a twinkle in God's eye? Why would a creator who made the world with two words, "Fiat lux!" end it with a system so convoluted and flatly odd that no two seem to agree on what exactly it means?
I take it you did not like the song. It's my favorite Communion hymn.
Hi Neal,
That is okay. If you cannot or prefer not to answer my questions, "How were you saved?" or "Are you saved" -- there is no problem.
I can tell you how I was saved: By the grace of God, through putting my faith in Jesus Christ -- He imputed His righteousness to me making me appear clean and whole to God the Father; while, in reality, I am still a filthy unrighteous sinner. Yet, His blood shed on the cross of Calvary covers me and imputes to me, or attributes to me, His righteousness. I am covered by His righteousness.
And, I received this beautiful, free gift -- only by grace through FAITH in Him -- plus nothing else. Check out Ephesians 2:8-9.
However, if you are not a Christian; why are you writing rambling diatribes and volumes in the Religion Forum -- knocking all Christians and the Bible?
Simple questions -- for most folks.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
That is okay. If you cannot or prefer not to answer my questions, "How were you saved?" or "Are you saved" -- there is no problem.
I can tell you how I was saved: By the grace of God, through putting my faith in Jesus Christ -- He imputed His righteousness to me making me appear clean and whole to God the Father; while, in reality, I am still a filthy unrighteous sinner. Yet, His blood shed on the cross of Calvary covers me and imputes to me, or attributes to me, His righteousness. I am covered by His righteousness.
And, I received this beautiful, free gift -- only by grace through FAITH in Him -- plus nothing else. Check out Ephesians 2:8-9.
However, if you are not a Christian; why are you writing rambling diatribes and volumes in the Religion Forum -- knocking all Christians and the Bible?
Simple questions -- for most folks.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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Bill, did the Metamucil factory burn down? You got an answer. Beat your dead horse all you like. It only makes you more silly than you usually are.
Seriously, to you have the attention span of a gnat and reading comprehension level of Koko the gorilla?
You and your camp followers are always correct in all things metaphysical and physical -- in your own eyes.
I thwart nothing other than superstition and bigotry and reactionary politics wrapped in the flag and bearing a Bible. If I cannot posit my opinions, then why can you? Fair play, old bean, fair play.
The truth can withstand anything. That which is truly sacred is eternal and neither my words nor those of anyone else can stop that.
I simply refute your dogma and expose the serious lack of intelligence and reason that you would have us adopt in your quest to be Vicar of Christ on Earth.
Well, you ain't, and you never will be if I can do anything about it. Yet, at the same time you are free to post whatever you like about whatever you like and use my name in your headlines. It doesn't bother me now at all.
In fact, I rather enjoy you singling out me and the Anglican Communion. I am flattered that you would make me Presiding Bishop or AB of C! Shocked, but flattered.
I try to follow the Enlightenment and the tenets of the orthodox catholic apostolic faith as I understand them, and nothing else.
You refute both. Oh well, c'est la vie et chacun a son gout.
Once again, I ask you, aren't there Scientologists in Cali for you to try to convert? Just ask them about Xenu . . . .
Seriously, to you have the attention span of a gnat and reading comprehension level of Koko the gorilla?
You and your camp followers are always correct in all things metaphysical and physical -- in your own eyes.
I thwart nothing other than superstition and bigotry and reactionary politics wrapped in the flag and bearing a Bible. If I cannot posit my opinions, then why can you? Fair play, old bean, fair play.
The truth can withstand anything. That which is truly sacred is eternal and neither my words nor those of anyone else can stop that.
I simply refute your dogma and expose the serious lack of intelligence and reason that you would have us adopt in your quest to be Vicar of Christ on Earth.
Well, you ain't, and you never will be if I can do anything about it. Yet, at the same time you are free to post whatever you like about whatever you like and use my name in your headlines. It doesn't bother me now at all.
In fact, I rather enjoy you singling out me and the Anglican Communion. I am flattered that you would make me Presiding Bishop or AB of C! Shocked, but flattered.
I try to follow the Enlightenment and the tenets of the orthodox catholic apostolic faith as I understand them, and nothing else.
You refute both. Oh well, c'est la vie et chacun a son gout.
Once again, I ask you, aren't there Scientologists in Cali for you to try to convert? Just ask them about Xenu . . . .
Hi Neal,
In other words -- Sorry, Bill, I cannot answer you. I do not know what it takes to be saved. Okay.
So, we just have to put up with your long, rambling, one long paragraph diatribes. But, please stay out of Deep's Atheist Cutesy Comments Manual. You just do not have the panache to pull it off.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
In other words -- Sorry, Bill, I cannot answer you. I do not know what it takes to be saved. Okay.
So, we just have to put up with your long, rambling, one long paragraph diatribes. But, please stay out of Deep's Atheist Cutesy Comments Manual. You just do not have the panache to pull it off.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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Bill asks what it takes to "be saved." I shudder at the possible answers he may and most probably shall in reply, but here goes my feeble attempt at how I understand salvation:
Admit you are a sinner, every day, in thougth mind, act, and that sin is when you replace what belongs to God with your own will.
Realize that you will always be a sinner. Can't help it, little thing called free will involved, the great gift of God to humanity, alongside art and a natural altruistic and gregarious nature.
Find out and realize that you are separated from God by sin.
Realize that the self-donation of God Himself in the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son is teh mediator between you and God.
Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as God from God, Light from Light, begoten not made, who was made flesh for we men and women and for our salvation, offered Himself as the final and all-appeasing sacrifice upon the Cross.
Be baptized for the inward washing of your sins in the physical act of washing of the body.
Follow the Good Example of Our Lord who in His infinite wisdom left His own words and examples for us to follow, as we are directed so to do.
Know that you, through faith and baptism are now a member of the Church, established by the Lord Himself on the Day of Pentecost after His cruxifiction and Glorious Resurrection and Ascension.
Practice the Apostolic Faith, which includes the gathering together on the First Day of the Week for public confession of both faith and sins, and sharing in the Bread and Wine, which through the power of the Holy Spirit and our faith, is the living Body and Blood of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who freely stretched out His arms upon a cross, and was sacrificed for our sins and for our sake, and that this is the commeneration of memorial of this sacrifice and that it is indeed, a way for us to share in the grace of Our Lord in having been pardoned of our own sins and praised and glorified the Lord in praise and prayer and song, we dare to come to share His blessed Body and Blood that He may dwell in us and we in Him and be assured of our salvation.
Finally, live the life to which we are called in our baptism and confession of faith, that is to say, be a generation of royal priests, adopted children of God Almighty, and since God is Love, to spread love and not hate, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to comfort the afflicted, to bind the wounds of our neighbor who is everyone, and let not our hearts be troubled, as The Lord God Almighty, will surely end the world in His own time and choosing, to concentrate on making ourselves visible icons of Christ and not in vanity of titles, rights to decree doctrine, or dogma that is not binding upon any Christian merely because someone claims it is when it is repugnant to common sense, holy scripture, and the apostolic holy catholic church's historic teachings as protected by the Holy Spirit in the church's role as appropriate and ultimate right-holder to define doctrine and interpret the Bible and other documents.
It does not involve any television watching or even clergy, ultimately, as it is the duty of each to personally and publically declare his or her faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, and as anyone may baptize when an emergency arises and no clergy is available and while the church attendance part is important, there are many who by location or infirmity or incarceraton and/or commitment to state nervous hospitals and such similiar institutions, are unable to worship communally.
Now that is my interpretation of the theology of salvation as I understand it, and should not be considered authoritative, as I read no Greek or Aramaic and stumble through Latin even with an exhaustive dictionary and grammar by my side.
Your turn, separated brother in Christ.
Admit you are a sinner, every day, in thougth mind, act, and that sin is when you replace what belongs to God with your own will.
Realize that you will always be a sinner. Can't help it, little thing called free will involved, the great gift of God to humanity, alongside art and a natural altruistic and gregarious nature.
Find out and realize that you are separated from God by sin.
Realize that the self-donation of God Himself in the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son is teh mediator between you and God.
Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as God from God, Light from Light, begoten not made, who was made flesh for we men and women and for our salvation, offered Himself as the final and all-appeasing sacrifice upon the Cross.
Be baptized for the inward washing of your sins in the physical act of washing of the body.
Follow the Good Example of Our Lord who in His infinite wisdom left His own words and examples for us to follow, as we are directed so to do.
Know that you, through faith and baptism are now a member of the Church, established by the Lord Himself on the Day of Pentecost after His cruxifiction and Glorious Resurrection and Ascension.
Practice the Apostolic Faith, which includes the gathering together on the First Day of the Week for public confession of both faith and sins, and sharing in the Bread and Wine, which through the power of the Holy Spirit and our faith, is the living Body and Blood of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who freely stretched out His arms upon a cross, and was sacrificed for our sins and for our sake, and that this is the commeneration of memorial of this sacrifice and that it is indeed, a way for us to share in the grace of Our Lord in having been pardoned of our own sins and praised and glorified the Lord in praise and prayer and song, we dare to come to share His blessed Body and Blood that He may dwell in us and we in Him and be assured of our salvation.
Finally, live the life to which we are called in our baptism and confession of faith, that is to say, be a generation of royal priests, adopted children of God Almighty, and since God is Love, to spread love and not hate, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to comfort the afflicted, to bind the wounds of our neighbor who is everyone, and let not our hearts be troubled, as The Lord God Almighty, will surely end the world in His own time and choosing, to concentrate on making ourselves visible icons of Christ and not in vanity of titles, rights to decree doctrine, or dogma that is not binding upon any Christian merely because someone claims it is when it is repugnant to common sense, holy scripture, and the apostolic holy catholic church's historic teachings as protected by the Holy Spirit in the church's role as appropriate and ultimate right-holder to define doctrine and interpret the Bible and other documents.
It does not involve any television watching or even clergy, ultimately, as it is the duty of each to personally and publically declare his or her faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, and as anyone may baptize when an emergency arises and no clergy is available and while the church attendance part is important, there are many who by location or infirmity or incarceraton and/or commitment to state nervous hospitals and such similiar institutions, are unable to worship communally.
Now that is my interpretation of the theology of salvation as I understand it, and should not be considered authoritative, as I read no Greek or Aramaic and stumble through Latin even with an exhaustive dictionary and grammar by my side.
Your turn, separated brother in Christ.
Solipsistically , could one argue.
Good job.
Good job.