Audie wrote:PaulSacramento wrote:Religions are parasitic?
Well, I don't think that something abstract ie: non-material, can be parasitic.
People can of course and something like religion or ANY ideology can be used in a parasitic way.
We could get into semantics, but I am satisfied that you at least dont go with that mean spirited crap about atheists as moral parasites.
Cuts both ways, militant atheist are just as guilty in their "mean spirited crap about Christians being moral parasites" too.
Big argument I used to use against Christians was the presupposition that Christians want to force their moral codes upon the rest of the world. I looked at a few weirdo types and supposed all were like this. Then one day, someone revealed by comparison what Christianity really is about. Of course, as I drank my beer and blew cigarette smoke in his face, I smugly held to my Christianphobic view. In reality, I could not answer because all people living under the terms this man presented would make for a really nice place to live.
I presented a few verses to you all regarding what that would look like such as Isaiah 61:1-4...
I also challenge Christians to simply trust God that he gave us the ability to live doing these as it is possible because he does the works thru us.
Sadly what is passed off in the majority of the modern Christian Church world is 'inability' and thus most view the church as a joke nowadays. So I am pitted against that segment of believers who believe in inability, teach it, etc and etc, too. I do not find that this 'inability' is the norm but rather a justification for retreat.
The USA and the world suffers from this retreat: dead babies (unborn), dead cops, all sexual transmitted disease spreading like wildfire thru promotion of sexual immorality, dominate sexual homosexuals deceiving others in a state of emotional weakness to be their partners (Law enforcement community cannot even express the brutality of homosexual crimes, nor discuss the love letters they send, nor the twisted view of love used to control, nor the diseases). The church retreats from standing against political abuse of power.
Retreats from showing that living any old way one pleases as a right is national, cultural, and social suicide. Retreats from standing against the violence glorified and sold in the media. Retreats from its duty to be salt and light midst a dark world where Isaiah 61:1-4 is the norm because: He who is in us is greater than He who is in the world.
So I do not blame or condemn atheists for pointing out the faults of the modern Church as it serves to us a good slap in the face to wake up to who we really are in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ literally saved my life. I deserved it not the least. I admit I was an real a-sh-l- way back then and lived like the world. However, Jesus saved me, he rescued me from myself and during this mortal sojourn here on earth makes me whole and sound. I go about sharing this power to others. Seen him make others whole and get thru really hard times. Seen great healing too as well as him saying no to a few too. Most importantly I have seen him change the worst in people and make them of sound mind while having to contend with the phony ministers who make a mockery of God's gift's of the Holy Spirit (many of which we have exposed and discussed here).
I know what the Lord can do and does do. Just grasping how he desires for us to arise - shine - Isa 60:1 and how in order for us to arise into him so we shine forth who he is by our very lives that he allows darkness to fall - Isa 60:2 - so that all artificial light we make is extinguished so that his people can become, Isa 60:3,4 note John 6:65 so we can become Matthew 5:14,15,16 returning to what he originally intended - Gen 1:26-31 by the reconciling work of the cross.
For demonstrating and challenging the world to become a better place, I am forcefully told to shut up by the media, by the courts, by militant atheist, by political party's selling rights, and yes, by fellow Christians content to preach compromise with the world system just to prove love.
Sorry, no can do. You see, I do not care which makes me dangerous and bold enough to proclaim the gospel of liberation from darkness so Isa 61:1-4 is lived as reality and many find true freedom from the darkness holding them down.
So what will it take for you a person to come to Christ Jesus, how much darkness must fall before they are sealed forever as his own or sealed as his enemies?
What will it take for a person to believe? Maybe the shedding of presuppositions for starters more than winning the Lottery or having God dance to one's tune... Or Maybe it takes the shedding of one's philosophic based self-love?
Eternity is a long time without end and into eternity all humans on earth must travel.God will not allow your self-love to ruin heaven as it did paradise. One can blame God for making us with the reason of free moral will but if he did not, then he would not be absolutely Just. Just in letting things play out in peoples lives so they can either wake up to arise to him so we can shine his ways or let one pass away as an enemy forever. Fair is fair.
I respect Audie and yes even Ken and I hope Audie can realize that not Christians are not moral monsters tyrants. I already no that most atheist are not militant atheist fundamentalist...
I am going to take a short break from the forum as life has me busy for a moment so it may take a bit for me to respond...
Blessings
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