Replying post #218 from Freodin,
THE W in his post 163 said:
>>>we're not discussing whether or not something is harmful. we're discussing whether or not something is right or wrong and why. consensus of opinion is not an objective determination of anything.<<<
In the post #170 you interpose with the intention to nulify what THE W said, stating or counter-arguing: >>>"Defining" is also not an objective determination of anything.<<<
And I said: With these words (counter-arguing THE W) are not you also defining anything?
Freodin replied: >>>Err... no, I don't<<<
Well, in truth you were not determining anything, but defining something, yes.
Oh! Then you were only mocking, a scoffer, no?
Freodin: >>>Quite the opposite. When I tell you to do or not do something, and expect to be obeyed, I do that from authority. When I can make you to do or not do something, I do that from power.<<<
I meant Power as a noun, not verb. (I am not discussing grammar. English to me is hard, it is not my native language)
JESUS, the King of the kings and LORD of the lords, He came unto His own (Israel), and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him (Gentiles or Jews), to them gave He Power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name, JESUS Christ.
Freodin said: >>>The Christian God expects to be obeyed, but doesn't enforce his commands. Obviously we are talking about authority here.<<<
JESUS said also unto His disciples: Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with Power from on high.
Freodin says: >>>Oh, Christianity is more than a moral system. I should have phrased it a little differently: The christian moral system is purely authoritarian. You cannot deny that.<<<
The authority was/is given from the King of the kings and LORD of the lords through the powerful Word of God. Do you understand? I said: The Word of God, the Most High and Almighty God.
Freodin says: >>>And humans are humans. Fallible, in the best case. Deceitful, at worst.
You said it for yourself: "the true Christian". Who is a true Christian? You can never know. Even in the best case, you can only claim that someone is a false Christian, because they do not conform to your image of what a true Christian should be. Even someone who seemingly conforms to your image of a true Christian can fail you tomorrow.<<<
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn tghe world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were/are evil. Every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
But he that doeth truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Freodin says: >>>You cannot even be sure about yourself... self delusion is a thing with humans.<<<
We are of God: he that knows God hear us; he that is not of God hear not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwels in him, and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwels in love dwels in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.
Freodin says: >>>That's why I said what I said. It is always humans who interprete what they read, hear, think as "God's word". And all of them claim to "speak as he speaks". And neither of them has any "power". Only a claim of authority.<<<
Whomsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God? And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Feodin says: >>>Any system that is build on blind obedience is worse than any possible system that is build on understanding.<<<
The Kingdom of God is not a system, but a reign. To the only wise God our Saviour, through JESUS Christ, be Glory and Majesty, Dminion and Power, both now and ever. Amen.