Rick Warren

[Texas Lynn]

That is an unfair assertion. One could equally assert that supporting interfaith movements is lessening the validity of Christianity.

If one is seriously concerned for the eternal sake of people, I don't see a reason to be contemptable of that.

So you favor forced Christianization?

 

[Texas Lynn]

We are getting there....

I wonder if by conflict you mean physical (bloodshed) or verbal (theological disagreement).....

I would certainly agree with you that there is a theological conflict between the belief of Christians and Muslims...

Could be either. As to whether or not a theological conflict exists, the only ones fighting it are those with contempt for the other side of the conflict.

Consider for example the vitriol that Congressman Keith Ellison, the first Muslim in Congress, was subjected to when he took his oath of office on the Koran. The attacks on him were reprehensible. Anyone who engaged in that-or advocated against Ellison's election because of his faith affiliation-dishonored Christ in doing so.

 

[Texas Lynn]

Well, you certainly tried and failed to support the saying using the Parable of the Talents. It is particularly noteworthy, to me at least, that in the process of your trial you threw in some ad hominem toward your debate opponent - an old tactic that really says more (and less) about you than the point of view you are advocating.....

I'm satisfied with my answer. It might have been "ad hominiem" if I was arguing, but I wasn't. I was just questioning the fellow's excessive emotuional investment in being right. Your willingness to push the envelope here is also perplexing. So we disagree. So what? Does it skeer ya? Or what?

 

[BreadAlone]

No, I just disfavor watering down Christianity or "hiding it under a bushel" so as not to offend the Lost.

So you favor forced Christianization?

 

[Texas Lynn]

No, I just disfavor watering down Christianity or "hiding it under a bushel" so as not to offend the Lost.

Really? Isn't that exactly what fundamentalist churches which welcome the divorced and remarried while condemning others do?

 

[Llucid]

Hardly. The men who acted faithfully showed initiative, i,e., they helped themselves by exercising competence. The last slave was lacadasical, i.e., he did not help himself. You seem to be highly invested in being right here. Too bad for you you're not.

I have as much invested in being right as anyone who is trying to rightly divide the Word. You're interpretation of the parable is not accurate. When it comes to the Christian walk, Christians do not take the initiative in anything.


"Jesus gave them this answer: 'I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.' " -John 5:19 (NIV)


In the parable of the Talents, the servants did not take the initiative.


"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them" - Matthew 25:14 (NIV)


The master called the servants. The master gave them his property. This was an invitation for the servants to join the master in his work. It was the master's initiative. The master was working at increasing his wealth, and the servants were invited to join him in this work. The first two did what they saw the master doing, and increased his wealth, bringing glory to him. The last one did not join in the work and was rebuked.

Christians taking the initiative and trying to do things for God is one of the primary causes of problems in the church today. We are not suppose to do this. Instead, we wait on God, allow Him to show us where He is working, and then we join Him in this work. The Christian life is a God-centered life, and we accomplish things, not through our strengths, but through His. We don't do things for Him, He does things through us.

 

[BreadAlone]

Yes it is. Thusly, I am not a Member of those churches. People like to bash strictly homosexuality and abortion, but don't do a single thing about other major and wide-spread sins. When's the last time you heard someone who uses the "homosexual offenders will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven" verse cite the part about "Liars" not entering the Kingdom either? Or when's the last time a street Preacher approached someone and ordered them to repent simply on the basis that they are obese?

No, we've got the concept of law totally screwed up.

/rant

Really? Isn't that exactly what fundamentalist churches which welcome the divorced and remarried while condemning others do?