Which is why they are able to sin. God could forgive all sin just like that [clicks fingers], but does not because what would the point of that be?
People would just continue sinning and expecting that God will forgive them. 'Oh I am a mass murderer, but God will forgive me' is just illogical. So sin requires repentance at the very least, but it still has consequences, even beyond the prison sentences for mass murder. Sin affects people psychologically and the more you do it, the easier it becomes. It is the attitude that needs to change in people - the attitude that they can get away with it. Because it is that attitude that it is an anathema to God. Our past sins can be forgiven easily, but that clean slate comes with a cost - to go and sin no more.
Straw man. Do this again and we're done. I clearly was saying that God could forgive us as an act of will instead of sending his son to die. I never said anything about replacing repentance and etc.
Jesus died to execute our sinful nature - the nature that leads us to continue in our sinful ways. So when we die we go before God with that sinful nature suppressed. We will have free will but will choose to do Good because that is the nature we choose to exercise.
So you beat up a straw man, and then you leave my question unanswered here. Jesus died to execute our sinful nature, you say. OK. Why not just execute our sinful nature as an act of will?
It is why many of us harp on about 'love', because ultimately not sinning is not enough (you could be a very good person and never sin, which is great, but not all that fulfilling), we have to go to the opposite extreme and love other people.
If you love people, why ignore what they have to say and give them garbage answers?
Why is wages a unit of measurement?
I didn't say that. Re-read.
You earn wages and I earn wages, but they are different amounts, different currencies, but still wages.
But there is still an equivalence of currencies, so we could still be measured against each other.
Wages are what we earn. And we earn 'death' by sinning.
Why? I asked why this is so, and your answer is to assert it?
This is in the Jewish understanding of sin (though not in those words) - the Jews understood that there were consequences to sin that needed to be assuaged, so there were various sacrifices (and it wasn't the killing of animals that was the sacrifice, it was the loss of the animal to God that was the sacrifice).
Doesn't explain anything.
It's probably best not to second-guess what I am going to say based on zero evidence. It just seems to lead to you being confused.
I think you're the one who is confused.
If a person agape loved someone else, they would NEVER just kill themselves. They might sacrifice their life to save another, but the way you have phrased it suggests that is an act of selfishness, not love. So there is absolutely no justification for that statement, nor for seeing it as agape love.
When you're ready to address my points instead of beating up that straw man, do let me know.
Which should indicate to you that there is reason to doubt your interpretation. Indeed the whole point of the Good Samaritan story is to show that your neighbour is the person that needs your help. Every Christian would agree with that, since they are following Christ's example. So the definition as applied by Christians is the correct one. As far as I can tell your definition of neighbour is one that you have obtained for yourself and have tried to tell everyone else that they are wrong. Sorry we Christians have been believing this to be true for 2,000 years... I think we might have a better idea, even if we are not always good at applying it.
We've been over this. You were wrong then, you're wrong now, and 2000 years of Christianity has been wrong on a ton of things.
Not really, I do not know who you are. As far as the internet is concerned you are a masked stranger whom I am unlikely to ever meet. Even the Good Samaritan story is one of someone meeting the needs of the person they met. Now if you really want to see Christians being neighbourly go and look for the homeless in your city or watch street pastors at work, or soup kitchens or those that cross over borders to provide housing or food.
If Christians want to be neighborly, maybe they can start paying their taxes so that they are contributing to emergency services, roads, and etc. You know, render unto Caesar what is Caesar's.
If you have food, you have shelter, then your needs are being met and you are unlikely to come across Christians at work, but they are there. If you have spiritual needs you could go to a church and you might find them met (some churches would and some wouldn't).
Big wigs in the Vatican have $30K entrees, but hey... they make sure no one starves to death at least.
Firstly there is no way on these threads that you could ever feel agape. You don't feel it, you experience it. And on these threads people can only offer you explanations when you need them... which many have done and you have rejected them.
I said it's rare for Christians to express agape love. Don't twist it around to what I'm feeling.
They should be loving you, but they don't have to like you and let's face it you do seem to go out of your way to be unlikeable, which I actually think is quite sad.
Perhaps give me reasonable answers, and in cases where you can't simply say, "I don't know." But no, you and all Christians just keep giving me garbage answers or else outright lie. Sorry, I get aggravated.
I don't think I lack the perspective of seeing how Christians treat outsiders, I see it every day: they treat them as individuals, not as some corporate mob. That is not to say everyone does that, but that is hardly surprising. Becoming a Christian is not some magical formula where we are suddenly like Jesus, it is a process in which we are being transformed to be more like Jesus, and some are further along in their transformation than others.
How far along in the process before a Christian starts being honest when discussing the weak points of their religion?
If your only experience of Christians is unkindness, then I'd say you are not looking hard enough or only looking at what you want to see.
I said 1/10 Christians express agape love. I think we're done talking. Clearly you're not paying attention. I'm ending this conversation. Help yourself to the final word. Or not. I literally don't care, and won't read it.
