Neutrality

[HighCherub]

A reckon there is a lot of room to move around?

What do you mean?

 

[Hethatreadethit]

What do you mean?

There is a broad view of what is involved in following Christ. Sorry, but I have to get to work. Later if you want to carry on a discussion.

 

[Servantleader]

I know there are people that believe there is free will. Where exactly is that? Is there a place between righteousness and sin? Can a person live such a life that neither offends God or sinners. Spiritual neutrality, a place that must be on the beach of life where everybody is just happy to be there, and the blue skies are abundant and it must be after retirement because I don't know anybody who could hold a job and not have a bad or evil thought cross their mind.

Neutrality could be in vacation land but idol time is not always good for the wandering mind. Maybe one can find neutrality in a place where the mind is occupied with interest that captivate and intrigue our greater senses.

It is a wearisome job trying to stay neutral when a raging war is being fought between good and evil. Good luck trying to stay neutral because you only have to stumble one time and it's all over.

People who are free can think and do what they want. Slaves do only what their master tells them. Sinners and Righteous folks only do what their masters tell them. But neutralist have their own agenda. Are there any neutralist out there who would share with us what it is like to not be a servant to God or Satan? Did Adam have a chance to be a neutralist?

Perhaps it depends on one's understanding of freewill. I believe we have the will to choose life or death as the Scriptures remind us. I believe that a life in Christ is choosing freedom from the power of sin and evil, from the powers of the flesh.

Personally, I do not believe neutrality is a choice for any Christian because if you choose Christ, then you choose Him everyday in every way. Perhaps that is the greatest tug for today's Christian. Weaving in and out of compromise for the kingdom of God. When we do not choose into the will of God to obey Him, and claim it neutrality, is that not another choice we are making to deny God?

Like Paul said in Ephesians 6:6, being captured by the power of the Holy Spirit in salvation, we are slaves for Christ and we ought to remember Whom we serve and the Master of our lives. we no longer belong to ourselves, but to a gracious, loving Father who sent Christ to die for us, to lead us into eternal life. What we do for the Lord cannot stand on neutral grounds.

 

[Faith Alone 1 Cor 15:1-4]

I know there are people that believe there is free will. Where exactly is that? Is there a place between righteousness and sin? Can a person live such a life that neither offends God or sinners. Spiritual neutrality, a place that must be on the beach of life where everybody is just happy to be there, and the blue skies are abundant and it must be after retirement because I don't know anybody who could hold a job and not have a bad or evil thought cross their mind.

Neutrality could be in vacation land but idol time is not always good for the wandering mind. Maybe one can find neutrality in a place where the mind is occupied with interest that captivate and intrigue our greater senses.

It is a wearisome job trying to stay neutral when a raging war is being fought between good and evil. Good luck trying to stay neutral because you only have to stumble one time and it's all over.

People who are free can think and do what they want. Slaves do only what their master tells them. Sinners and Righteous folks only do what their masters tell them. But neutralist have their own agenda. Are there any neutralist out there who would share with us what it is like to not be a servant to God or Satan? Did Adam have a chance to be a neutralist?

You are born sinner because of Adam sin , even if you lived perfect life you would be lost . If you think of this , Adam was born in image of God , but we are born in image of Adam , since Adam sin , his image is corrupted so we are (Psalms 51:5).

 

[Servantleader]

You are born sinner because of Adam sin , even if you lived perfect life you would be lost . If you think of this , Adam was born in image of God , but we are born in image of Adam , since Adam sin , his image is corrupted so we are (Psalms 51:5).

Thank you for your post. That is definitely a unique way to put it. Nonetheless, my question to you is this - If we are born in the "image of Adam and not of God as Adam was, how does that impact our understanding of our divinity as creation in the image of God?"

Would it be more fitting to say that we are born through Adam but still created in the image of God as He forms us in the womb?

 

[disciple1]

I know there are people that believe there is free will. Where exactly is that? Is there a place between righteousness and sin? Can a person live such a life that neither offends God or sinners. Spiritual neutrality, a place that must be on the beach of life where everybody is just happy to be there, and the blue skies are abundant and it must be after retirement because I don't know anybody who could hold a job and not have a bad or evil thought cross their mind.

Neutrality could be in vacation land but idol time is not always good for the wandering mind. Maybe one can find neutrality in a place where the mind is occupied with interest that captivate and intrigue our greater senses.

It is a wearisome job trying to stay neutral when a raging war is being fought between good and evil. Good luck trying to stay neutral because you only have to stumble one time and it's all over.

People who are free can think and do what they want. Slaves do only what their master tells them. Sinners and Righteous folks only do what their masters tell them. But neutralist have their own agenda. Are there any neutralist out there who would share with us what it is like to not be a servant to God or Satan? Did Adam have a chance to be a neutralist?

If you do everything you can out of love, I think your all set.
1 Peter chapter 4 verse 8
Love covers a great many sins.

 

[Halbhh]

I know there are people that believe there is free will. Where exactly is that? Is there a place between righteousness and sin? Can a person live such a life that neither offends God or sinners. Spiritual neutrality, a place that must be on the beach of life where everybody is just happy to be there, and the blue skies are abundant and it must be after retirement because I don't know anybody who could hold a job and not have a bad or evil thought cross their mind.

Neutrality could be in vacation land but idol time is not always good for the wandering mind. Maybe one can find neutrality in a place where the mind is occupied with interest that captivate and intrigue our greater senses.

It is a wearisome job trying to stay neutral when a raging war is being fought between good and evil. Good luck trying to stay neutral because you only have to stumble one time and it's all over.

People who are free can think and do what they want. Slaves do only what their master tells them. Sinners and Righteous folks only do what their masters tell them. But neutralist have their own agenda. Are there any neutralist out there who would share with us what it is like to not be a servant to God or Satan? Did Adam have a chance to be a neutralist?

Evil is simply to intentionally do to someone what you would not want anyone to do to you.

Love makes us want to treat someone the way we'd like to be treated.

God wants us to avoid doing to anyone what we would not want anyone to do to us. He wants us to love them instead.

He wants us to "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "Love one another."

It's good stuff. Even the good stuff.

We tend to slip up a lot on that in life, and He has made a way for us to be rescued from our wrongs, from our angers and wars and strife.

A way for us to be eventually brought into a better Life. One with Love.

I'd not want to be neutral about having love vs not having love --

Love allows peace.

UnLove always leads to war.

 

[Hethatreadethit]

Evil is simply to intentionally do to someone what you would not want anyone to do to you.

Love makes us want to treat someone the way we'd like to be treated.

God wants to to avoid doing to anyone what we would not want anyone to do to us.

He wants us to "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "Love one another."

It's good stuff. Even the good stuff.

We tend to slip up a lot on that in life, and He has made a way for us to be rescued from our wrongs, from our angers and wars and strife.

A way for us to be eventually brought into a better Life.

One with Love.

I'd not want to be neutral about having love vs not having love. Love is better than unLove.

Love allows peace.

UnLove always leads to war.

LOVE of money is the root of evil. Love is kinda vague and general, and commonly misused.

I would say this:

Do not steal
Do not covet against your neighbor or God
Do not commit adultery
Do not kill
Do not lie or bear false witness
Do not put anything before God
Respect and honour your parents
Observe the sabbath
Uphold the name of God
Don't make hogwash holy (no graven images)

I believe if any body with all their heart can follow these commandments they are in the love of God.

Anybody disagree?

 

[Hethatreadethit]

If you do everything you can out of love, I think your all set.
1 Peter chapter 4 verse 8
Love covers a great many sins.

I believe that the love that Christ had for man is a hard one to follow without great faith and understanding of God. Not many people love in the manner that Christ showed. He knew what He was doing, and was led in his love towards God and the Holy Spirit. He had purpose and direction. That is a big problem with the religious confusion we live amongst today. Faith is more imaginative in this world than realistic. Every one has faith yayaya, everyone has love yayaya. The world needs a shot of real faith and real love. OH YA!

 

[Hethatreadethit]

Perhaps it depends on one's understanding of freewill. I believe we have the will to choose life or death as the Scriptures remind us. I believe that a life in Christ is choosing freedom from the power of sin and evil, from the powers of the flesh.

Personally, I do not believe neutrality is a choice for any Christian because if you choose Christ, then you choose Him everyday in every way. Perhaps that is the greatest tug for today's Christian. Weaving in and out of compromise for the kingdom of God. When we do not choose into the will of God to obey Him, and claim it neutrality, is that not another choice we are making to deny God?

Like Paul said in Ephesians 6:6, being captured by the power of the Holy Spirit in salvation, we are slaves for Christ and we ought to remember Whom we serve and the Master of our lives. we no longer belong to ourselves, but to a gracious, loving Father who sent Christ to die for us, to lead us into eternal life. What we do for the Lord cannot stand on neutral grounds.

Neutrality when you use the term to see nations that do not want to commit to either side but choose to be on the side lines and not commit, well is it possible having free will to not be involved with good or evil and just ignore it. With free will, one can avoid sin without being righteous. If you don't want to watch the game, don't turn on the TV. With free will, you don't have to sin, but you don't have to follow righteousness either. Right?

You know, I just thought of a famous saying by an English author, John Donne, and this is it: No Man is an Island. When you pour a substance into water it diffuses to everything in the cup. Likewise when sin entered into the world it spread to the whole. So contagious is sin that it spreads every where and for this reason does God value His holiness above all things because death is like the plague and great steps have to be taken to stop it in its tracks.

Likewise, the mouth of man is full of sin and great evil. As Christ appeared to put away sin, He showed that sanctification was necessary with His Spirit. Scriptures indicate that man is a vessel for God's Spirit. According to the book of truth every vessel must be SEALED.

Num 19:15 And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean.

A Purpose of Christ was to gather His vessels of believers and seal them from contaminants of sin.

What I'm saying is that all people are like open vessels until they receive the Spirit of truth and seal up their faith.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

In this world, the mouths of man are wide open spewing contagious death everywhere. Who could be an island or neutral in all this mess. The thing is, I believe were born with this contagion.

 

[Hethatreadethit]

You are born sinner because of Adam sin , even if you lived perfect life you would be lost . If you think of this , Adam was born in image of God , but we are born in image of Adam , since Adam sin , his image is corrupted so we are (Psalms 51:5).

Corruption is highly contagious, and Adam was a fleshly man, and was given commandment and sinned and was not allowed to stay in utopia. He was the beginning of what we call the rut system. Adam, was not created perfect spiritually but nevertheless was a great creation of God.

 

[disciple1]

I believe that the love that Christ had for man is a hard one to follow without great faith and understanding of God. Not many people love in the manner that Christ showed. He knew what He was doing, and was led in his love towards God and the Holy Spirit. He had purpose and direction. That is a big problem with the religious confusion we live amongst today. Faith is more imaginative in this world than realistic. Every one has faith yayaya, everyone has love yayaya. The world needs a shot of real faith and real love. OH YA!

I believe that the love that Christ had for man is a hard one to follow without great faith and understanding of God. Not many people love in the manner that Christ showed.

Galatians chapter 5 verse 6
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.

 

[Hethatreadethit]

Galatians chapter 5 verse 6
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.

What about this: Faith expressing itself in love with good works, because faith according to James is dead without works.

 

[disciple1]

What about this: Faith expressing itself in love with good works, because faith according to James is dead without works.

Love is the works James is talking about, and the whole bible is talking about the same love.

 

[Monk Brendan]

I know there are people that believe there is free will. Where exactly is that? Is there a place between righteousness and sin? Can a person live such a life that neither offends God or sinners. Spiritual neutrality, a place that must be on the beach of life where everybody is just happy to be there, and the blue skies are abundant and it must be after retirement because I don't know anybody who could hold a job and not have a bad or evil thought cross their mind.

This already shows signs of a closed mind, and a closed heart.

I have a deep abiding love for Jesus, yet I KNOW I have free will.

 

[~Anastasia~]

What it all boils down to is what you observed, the world is infected with sin. It touches us all. We are all made sick by it.

There is no neutrality. Jesus is the cure for the sickness of sin. We can either take the medicine, and live. Or we can refuse the medicine, and sicken further until we die.

Being already infected, we cannot remain neutral. Whether we wish it or not, sickness continues to weaken us as it remains in us.

That is perhaps a more realistic way of understanding it.

It's not like a battle between nations you can stand aside and refuse to participate in. You must participate, one way or another, because you have been born - you are infected. The only question is, will you be cured, or not?

 

[Blade]

We are free..to some degree. We live in this bubble of time.. so our freedom is.. limited so to speak. And we were born in to sin. There is no middle ground. God never came up with that idea. Its HIM or the enemy. Everyone.. has to make a choice. Even if you never heard of Jesus.. you still make a choice. Jesus said.. if you were born blind you would have no sin.. you say you see your sin remains.

Again.. we see some middle gray area.. its not real..its a lie. If one is not for Christ..God.. then you are for the fallen one. No one can live a perfect life. Again.. we were born into sin. CHRIST is the only way FREE. So say you do nothing bad your whole life.. you were born in to sin. Christ is the ONLY way out. He knows that..

 

[Hethatreadethit]

Love is the works James is talking about, and the whole bible is talking about the same love.

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Joh 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

So, true love is keeping the commandments

 

[Hethatreadethit]

We are free..to some degree. We live in this bubble of time.. so our freedom is.. limited so to speak. And we were born in to sin. There is no middle ground. God never came up with that idea. Its HIM or the enemy. Everyone.. has to make a choice. Even if you never heard of Jesus.. you still make a choice. Jesus said.. if you were born blind you would have no sin.. you say you see your sin remains.

Again.. we see some middle gray area.. its not real..its a lie. If one is not for Christ..God.. then you are for the fallen one. No one can live a perfect life. Again.. we were born into sin. CHRIST is the only way FREE. So say you do nothing bad your whole life.. you were born in to sin. Christ is the ONLY way out. He knows that..

You say: "free to some degree", and "some middle gray area", can you be a little more specific please?
I suppose that Christ did give the Church some wiggle room, in binding or loosing concerning doctrine:

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Although, Christ did not give the Church a license to sin. Gray area sounds middle to me.

 

[Hethatreadethit]

What it all boils down to is what you observed, the world is infected with sin. It touches us all. We are all made sick by it.

There is no neutrality. Jesus is the cure for the sickness of sin. We can either take the medicine, and live. Or we can refuse the medicine, and sicken further until we die.

Being already infected, we cannot remain neutral. Whether we wish it or not, sickness continues to weaken us as it remains in us.

That is perhaps a more realistic way of understanding it.

It's not like a battle between nations you can stand aside and refuse to participate in. You must participate, one way or another, because you have been born - you are infected. The only question is, will you be cured, or not?

I'm not to knowledgeable on this point but to build immunity to disease, you must first have it for the body to identify it and destroy it. God gave the commandments and sin took off and the disease spread. But He had the cure and Christ brought the solution forth in His death and resurrection. The way of life was made manifest in the faith that Christ established.