Christian Forums - Whosoever Will, May Come - Liberal

Prayer request for my Dad.

genestealerbroodlord — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:45:25 GMT

Hi guys,

Could you remember my Dad in your prayers. He was taken into hospital a few weeks back with a problem with his heart. He's getting better and is due home on Monday, But yesterday his ward was closed to visitors, due to an infection on the ward. Please pray for him.

I'm also going to ask my Priest to put his name forward at Mass.

His name is John Mckay.

Thank you

John Jnr.

Paul Washer's Sermon

Brad2009 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:25:55 GMT

This is the most powerful sermon that I have ever heard. Please listen to it - I believe it may bring you under conviction from the Holy Spirit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuabITeO4l8

Teaching Workshops (Protocol Question...)

Galatians513 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:17:57 GMT

Hello everyone. I have a question.

I have wanted to teach a comparative religion workshop for some time, but I don't want to affiliate with my church on this project. I would basically write the manual and charge a registration fee for each attendee.

The problem? I'm not a "licensed minister" or a "ministry." I'm just a lady with a lot of information and a clear idea of how popular this could potentially be. I'm thinking that this could also open up opportunities to teach this workshop at area churches.

I'm wondering, would I be out of order for organizing such a workshop? Is it wrong to want to make a profit off of something like this?

Thanks in advance for weighing in on this issue. I've been conflicted about it for several months now.

Anxiety & Christianity - a quiet rant

Bron — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:03:33 GMT

I have suffered at times from anxiety - I don't mean "oh, what shall I wear today" but the abyss that you think you'll fall into and lose your mind. My rant is against misunderstanding and spiritualising of mental health. Yes, God was with me and brought me through, but it wasn't simple, and He didn't wave any magic wands, AND I still need medication. Anyone want to tell me I didn't pray right? I had a friend, who I turned to in a moment of dire need, tell me to pray to Jesus for forgiveness for my fear. Anyone understand how angry that makes me? What's wrong with that prayer?

There's two things - one is that some people need to understand that people need to take medication for mental health issues as much as they do for physical health (but I think I'm preaching to the converted here), but the other thing is my bewilderment at, and growing resentment of, the pat answers the church in general gives to life's struggles. "Non-believers" ask very good questions. I'm angry with the simplistic, circular arguments given as answers, and the shrug of shoulders when the "answer" is not accepted. "Oh, well, go to hell then."

And that's another thing of course. If Jesus actually died on the cross and accomplished His purpose right there, then not only can the church not claim credit for "saving any souls", but the hugest lie in history has been perpetuated against us all. It is done!! And it's beautiful! And somebody has robbed us all of our peace.

pc(usa)?

Evenstar253 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:11:53 GMT

By chance, are there any other members of the PC(USA) lurking around? Just wondering, since I thought maybe a few other PC(USA)'ers would surface at the Presby forum, but I got mostly crickets when I asked. Don't tell me I'm the sole representative of the PC(USA) at this entire site! ;)

Not a Christian!

RevSJamison — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:41:14 GMT

Found this on youtube today. Thought it might bring a smile to some of your faces!;)

YouTube - SPARTA Remix: SHE'S NOT A CHRISTIAN!!

Need Advice -- Leaving my church...

Galatians513 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:55:53 GMT

Hello everyone. I need some advice.

After many years of soul searching, I can wholeheartedly and comfortably affirm that I am definitely a "Liberal Christian." I simply can't support the mainstream assertions about homosexuality, inerrancy of scripture, or science that have come to define traditional evangelicalism-- and I fully believe that God, an intelligent and compassionate being, would not expect me to do so.

Now, there's the dilemma of how I can leave the church that my family has come to know and love for several years.

I was the first person in my family to join my current church in 2004. My mother and father joined shortly thereafter. (My parents and I live together). My aunt and cousin joined immediately after we did. My pastor, his wife, our elders, and I have a friendly relationship; we telephone one another, share meals, and have shared several important life events. They have been constant friends to me, supporting my family through several years of my mother's health problems and even taking up a collection for me when I lost my business.

The teachings there are usually interesting, but they carry a fundamentalist slant that I can no longer tolerate. One speaker used the podium to call homosexuality "nasty," with many others insisting that we pray for them to abandon their "lustful choices." I am a straight woman, but I still felt deeply offended when I heard these things.

I stopped going several months ago, but my mother still asks me to go with her every week. I usually say "no" without an explanation, but I can't help but miss the sense of community I felt with them. I thought of trying the Unitarian Universalist church in my area, but I have to be honest: I worry about the opinions of my mainstream evangelical friends. (In fact, I think the biggest problem I'm having right now is that I'm worried about how I'll explain my change of heart if the time ever comes... and I'm sure it will.)

So, can you offer any advice to someone in my situation? Is there a way to explain my feelings to my family or church? Do I need to? Can you suggest anything I might do to make this transition any easier?

Thanks in advance, and have a great weekend.

Galatians513

Final Reflections 7 - Faith Statement

paxi1334 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:48:17 GMT

So... what do I really believe anyways? Before leaving, while I still have the chance, I want to testify to what I believe...

1) I believe in the Triune God, creator of all, who is sovereign yet became like us... who is Justice and yet shows mercy and compassion even to the worst of us... who is Love and is holy...God is Light. All language referring to God is necessarily metaphorical.

*God 'the Father' is transcendent... He is "wholly other" than we are. In our human falleness we cannot relate to God 'the Father', we are on the wrong side of the great chasm. This is the Light which is not seen and not felt.

*God 'the Mother' (aka the Holy Spirit) is both transcendent and imminent... She is our creator, our nurturer and our comforter... Sometimes distant and yet sometimes here, the Spirit blows where She wills. This is the Light which is not seen and yet is felt.

*God 'the Child' (aka Christ) is imminent... S/he is here, among us. S/he is the Logos, who comes to us through the women and men of Scripture, S/he is the Logos who was incarnated in the intersexed Jesus.

I am a Trinitarian.

2) I believe in the Logos, the Word of God, the Bible, the Scriptures (for more details, see my Bible section).

3) Humanity was created in the image of God... we were deceived by the Snake of Satan, we fell and became totally depraved. We are the sinners, we are the fallen ones.

4) God chose to have unconditional mercy on everyone, to elect/chose/predestine everyone for Salvation - which is unlimited. Salvation is a gift given to all people.

5) The Logos was incarnated in the intersexed Jesus. S/he was conceived by the Holy Spirit while Mary was a virgin. Mary had a parthenogenic pregnancy and did not know Joseph until after she gave birth. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, was baptized, survived temptation, and went on to A) Show us how to live the way God intended and to B) Cure many people of physical and psychological ailments.

6) Jesus entered Jerusalem on the donkey on Palm Sunday ~ yet by the end of the week, the crowd turned against Hir and S/he was crucified. Hir bodily remains were left for the wild dogs underneath the Cross. But in the Christ event, in the Cross, S/he paid the price for all of our sins... the temple veil was torn, religion was put to death, the way to relationship with God became open for all people. At first people thought the death of Christ was the end... but...

7) On Easter Sunday, S/he was physically resurrected, given new bodily form so that S/he was not even recognizable as S/he once had been. This resurrection was not rescucitation, but was a literal, historical, physical event. In the resurrection, God said yes to Jesus and S/he was vindicated. S/he approached the Ancient of Days, coming from Earth to Heaven and was declared righteous. Because of this vindication and resurrection, we know that Jesus is the firstborn of the dead, that Hir vicarious atonement was accepted ~ that we are free and can place our trust in Christ.

8) At the end of time, Christ will return to Earth in full physical form to bring the consummation of God's realm. This will be a literal, physical return. The details are uncertain, but there will be a rapture before the main event... all wickedness will be seized and removed to prepare for paradise... til then the wheat grow with the tares, but on the Day of the Lord two will be walking, one will be taken and the other left behind (which is the better of the two scenarios, being left behind). So, here is a cheer to being left behind.

9) Since Christ's death was effective, the gift of salvation is extended to everyone. All people are saved, as God's elect includes everyone. Salvation had a universal effect. "All sins will be forgiven people..." However, the gift of salvation restores us to a position of having free will, we become once again like Adam and Eve, able to really make a choice. Of course, we all suck and we all choose horrid sins from time to time. Unfortunately, some people choose to reject God's gift and knowingly, intentionally and purposefully choose not to participate in God's realm. Having already given everyone the Gift, there is nothing else to save one who commits the unforgivable sin. "...except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit".

10) The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Child, trying to lead all people, in all places, in all religions, in all countries... trying to lead them on the path to sanctification. We all make the mistake of sometimes not listening, of quenching the Spirit... but the Holy Spirit is loving and nurturing and will continue to lead anyone who lets her. However, to completely shut the Spirit off and refuse any more guidance - to knowingly choose to work for Satan and to never repent, this is unforgivable sin.

11) Everyone is saved except for those who are in the unforgivable sin. So, what is hell really like? We don't know, other than that it is when one finally gets their way and is permanently separated from God. God does not predestine anyone for damnation - rather, it is freely chosen by some. We have _no clue_ who is and who is not beyond reach. So, we should live as though EVERYONE is our brother and sister in Christ. Leave God to sort out at Satanic nastiness... I personally adhere to the belief in annhilation, that the lost are not punished forever themselves... Rather, the "Eternal Fire" is God's holiness and justice, which necessarily exists forever and also necessarily consumes and burns up all evil. Some people will take longer to burn than others, but there is even mercy in judgment. But, God's holiness mandates that some day all evil will be no more. Whether or not some of us burn for awhile to be 'purged' is, I believe open to speculation and possibility.

12) We live in an eschatological tension... now, but not yet. We live between the inaugeration of God's realm and its consummation. As saved and redeemed people, we are called to love everyone, work for justice and equality, to bring the realm here... "On Earth as it is in Heaven". Someday God will truly be all in all.

13) Personally, I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I am a sinful human being, I cannot make myself right ~ but I place my trust and faith in Christ Jesus of Nazareth.

Final Reflections 5 - Being a Christian Goth

paxi1334 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:55:40 GMT

"Christian... Goth"

now there's a juxtaposition we don't see everyday, and yet I've lived more of my life than not claiming to be just that - a Christian Goth. I've often been asked exactly what that means. I will use this thread as a place to finally spell out what this has meant for me.

(Everyone/Anyone else feel free to jump in and add your thoughts/reflections/views regarding Gothic Christianity if you'd like)

Experiences with the Holy Spirit?

Change/Pennies — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:24:34 GMT

Hi everyone,

I'm a struggling Christian who is trying to regain his faith back. My journey in searching for truth has led me to look at God and the bible in a different way. I do not know what to think of the bible and I have no idea who God really is. My worldview and the foundation of my life feels very unstable, which is frightening at the moment. However, I am at a point where I can call myself an extremely liberal Christian. After lurking over this forum for some time, I realized this is a safe place for me to post.

The only part of God that I still hold on to are my experiences with the Holy Spirit. My trust in the Holy Spirit has led me to do amazing things for others and myself. It is the only thing i know that is real at the moment, however, I still doubt some of the experiences i had.

I still want to believe so badly that God is real and that I have an advantage in living my life under the spirit's guidance. I realized the only way for me to still believe is to learn of other's experiences in the power of the holy spirit.

Maybe some can share stories of synchronicities? Miracles? Prophetic dreams? Answered prayers?

Thank you for reading

Change

Final Reflections 6 - The Bible

paxi1334 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:18:56 GMT

Okay, I figure that this one is going to take the longest to flesh out, so I had best get started on it...
I do, however, want to clarify something before I even get this thread going... This is emphatically not a debate thread. There are plenty of debates about the Bible (both here and elsewhere) and are there for those who wish to engage in them.
Rather, this is my final reflection regarding what the Bible is, what it has meant to me over my life, etc. Since this is a reflection, I will avoid going into all the detail(s) that I would were this more of an academic thing. I provide this partially for myself and partially as a testimony for anyone who wanted to know what I think/feel about such things.

If you're interested, read on. If not, its okay and no one's feelings are hurt.
Although I am hopeful that this will not become debate oriented, if it provides discussions for people and helps people to engage the Bible, I am all for it.

~Paxi

Let there be peace on earth

CaDan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:47:55 GMT

YouTube - PS22 Chorus "Let There Be Peace On Earth" (BEAUTIFUL a capella)

Trouble with Church

dinonum — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:43:53 GMT

I want to go to church, very badly.

I've went to SBC churches all of my life and a couple non-denominationals and a Pentacostal church in between them. Currently, the only church that even remotely seems appealing is still a Baptist church and I love the pastor, he is a good guy and a good Christian and he has a lot of contemporary messages. Why not go there?

He is like 28 or so and he enjoys making woman jokes and the occasional gay joke. He does services in a laid back style and I love that, but considering that I identify more with feminist views of women and particularly because I'm not like a majority of women it seems like he's met, AND because I think that homosexuality is a big issue and not something to be mocked, I can't take his messages seriously some days. He'll be doing fine and then he makes one joke and I can't help but tune him out, and I don't want to say anything because other people don't care and he doesn't mean any harm really. I don't want him to have to think about it too much either because I don't want it to distract him from giving good messages just to appease one persons feelings.

I don't know where to go now. I'm reluctant about going to a new church anyways, especially since I'd be going alone because my husband has to work Sunday mornings. I'm just so angry and frustrated at the whole situation, and I want to have some other kind of fellowship, discussion times, etc. in a church setting. Probably because I grew up with it, but still I want to do it.

Any advice? Prayer? Denomination suggestions to check out?

Final Reflections 3 - Some Political Observations/Predictions

paxi1334 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:49:12 GMT

I've always wanted a chance to clear the air (so to speak) regarding my political inclinations. In choosing an icon, I finally decided that "Indy" was the least likely to misrepresent my views... That was the pro... the con was that it really doesn't tell anyone where I stand on anything. That is truly unfortunate.

Politics matter... other than religion, politics divide people (especially Americans) more than a lot of other things. It strikes me that over the years, I've leaked out some political rants at times, but never completely connected it all together. So, here that goes...

But, first, a disclaimer: I'm still young and young people haven't experienced everything that shapes a political outlook. I began with a lot of ideological views and when those did not work out, I switched to other ideological views and only now I am beginning to realize that in practice, it is never ideological.

So here this thread goes...

Can I get an Amen?

DeanM — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:45:15 GMT

Hi folks,

Every year I run a fundraiser for a local charity that helps kids with cancer and their families. Don't worry, I'm not here to ask for donations, hehe!

But here's the thing . . . There are so many variables in running an event like this. About 100 teenagers got together to write songs and record them for the fundraiser CD. The CD release party has several bands playing. There's the donations from local pizza places, Wawa, Coca-Cola, and other businesses that need to be orchestrated. It's a lot like trying to herd cats to get all this stuff lined up.

And as hard as I work toward all these goals, the stress and fatigue has really destroyed me in terms of being able to sleep (for weeks) and eat (I'm dropping weight too quickly).

I'm hurting right now. With two days left before the event, I really don't know how I am going to get through this. Somehow I will manage, like I do every other year.

But then it occurs to me why I'm doing this.

My stress and problems will end in a few days.

But the people I'm helping do not have an end in sight. They don't get a break from their stress.

So I'm asking the Lord for strength to help me get through these next few days, and to offer this strength not to me, but to those who really need it.

For anyone following Paxi's story, I think you know what I mean.

So, if I may, I'd like to offer a prayer. And religious or not, I'd like to ask for an Amen . . .

Dear Lord,

Thank you for you love and blessings. You've given me strength, and I have tried to put this strength to good use. I could use a bit more, please, but there are others who could use it more than me.

I don't know how to ask you to give us anything.

It is the comfort of your love that helps us endure the hardships in life.

Please find a way to lend your warmth to those who feel the cold.

Thanks, God.