Why are we afraid to be bold?

[FaithLikeARock]

University here in NZ and then post-graduate studies in various places actually. Know the song " I've been everywhere, man"?

No, but I think I get the picture. I wish I could go everywhere. My education is (planned) to be restricted to California.

 

[Chaplain David]

Yay! Danish!

Somewhat fractured but yes it is. Er du Dansker?

 

[FaithLikeARock]

Somewhat fractured but yes it is. Er du Dansker?

No but I can recognize languages very well. At first I thought it was Dutch but no, it's Danish.

 

[CaDan]

Yes it is. God doesn't recognize perverse relationships. He only ordains marriages between men and women...and those whom He knows.

I am confused about the part I have highlighted. Are you saying that marriages between non-Christians are not really marriages?

 

[Floatingaxe]

I am confused about the part I have highlighted. Are you saying that marriages between non-Christians are not really marriages?

Yes, they are marriages, but they are secular. They can be good marriages as well, but lack the third person that marriage was designed for.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

There are bold people who do stand up for the teachings of Jesus and for gay people. Check out the work of Soulforce: http://www.soulforce.org

Soulforce has also sponsored Equality Rides the past two springs. Buses of young people, Christians mostly, ride around the country to conservative Christian colleges and universities to dialogue about "homosexuality." At some colleges they have been greeted warmly, and good dialogue has taken place. At most of the colleges, however, the Equality Riders have been barred from the campuses and have been arrested for walking on campus to speak with students.

The Equality Riders are bold people, speaking out on behalf of the teachings of Jesus. And the students at the conservative Christian colleges they visit have mostly been eager to talk with them. Here is a link to more information: http://www.soulforce.org/article/1100

Hm, I remember reading about that group in a magazine for the college my sunday school teacher went to.. Guess they were one of the few.

 

[CaDan]

Yes, they are marriages, but they are secular. They can be good marriages as well, but lack the third person that marriage was designed for.

But they are still marriages, I take it? If two people are Christian when married and one de-converts, are those two people still married?

 

[Floatingaxe]

But they are still marriages, I take it? If two people are Christian when married and one de-converts, are those two people still married?

Did they get a divorce?

 

[CaDan]

Did they get a divorce?

Assume they did not get a legal termination of the marriage.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

Sacerdote, from what I've seen in your posts, you don't endorse nor accept homosexual sex as a good thing in God's eyes, so your attitude is strange. What is this compassion you're seeking? Are you telling us to reject God for this "compassion" and "love" that defies our Lord at the same time? I have none of that to give, if those words are even worthy descriptions. I hold to my beliefs, I won't hate you, but I cannot abandon my position, especially Romans.. it's too clear.. -_-; You may be able to hold foreign languages over my head, but it's not like that's conclusive either. So the "bold" guy mentioned in the OP is a load of crap.

 

[Chaplain David]

Sacerdote, from what I've seen in your posts, you don't endorse nor accept homosexual sex as a good thing in God's eyes, so your attitude is strange. What is this compassion you're seeking? Are you telling us to reject God for this "compassion" and "love" that defies our Lord at the same time? I have none of that to give, if those words are even worthy descriptions. I hold to my beliefs, I won't hate you, but I cannot abandon my position, especially Romans.. it's too clear.. -_-; You may be able to hold foreign languages over my head, but it's not like that's conclusive either. So the "bold" guy mentioned in the OP is a load of crap.

Although the ending statement where you said "a load of crap" I find a bit crude, I want to respond to you because your post doesn't seem loaded, in fact it seems profound and heartfelt.

By following Jesus Commandments and trying to become more like Him we are doing His will. Obviously, God can do anything but he's left us with certain tasks, each one of us.

Fostering goodwill, harmony and reflecting the love of Christ to our fellow humans, is Jesus' will and behavior while He was here stated over and over and over again in scripture. And Christ wants us to do that today. It just takes a few minutes of the evening news to see that more than anything, the lack of love in our world is the greatest problem. Never in history has there been such a lack of love and the negative things that result in it's absence.

A person isn't hated into submitting, or shamed into submitting, or antagonized into submitting to the will of God. They are also not forced into submitting by bludgeoning them with scripture. They are loved into the will of God.

I remember one of the first times that I realized that Jesus died for my sins. I cried for a long time. I was so unworthy and He not only gave His life for me, but he gave me His grace that made me a coheir with Him.

Before or during that realization however, there was not an angry medieval crowd at church, chastizing me. I wasn't being castigated for my sin of which there had been far to many. I wasn't threatened with damnation from anyone or shamed in any way. There were loving people supporting me, setting the example, and leading the way for me to follow. And at the head of that line was and is Jesus Christ.

I always look for inroads to find common ground with others, try to act in a manner that is befitting being a son of God and brother to Christ Jesus, and choose love as Jesus instructed us to do.

I am not perfect and am not always very good at what I try to do. But I am the best man that I have ever been through the love Christ brought into my life and the grace that I did not deserve.

Love one another the way that I have loved you was said to the disciples but was also meant for us all and not just Christians that follow the road that we are on.

We could quote scripture until we were both blue in the face but the way I see it, the answer always comes with love, the solutions with love, the changes with love, and the measure of our growth in Christ, by our ability to manifest love in our lives and to those around us.

God bless you and all the best.

 

[kiwimac]

Although the ending statement where you said "a load of crap" I find a bit crude, I want to respond to you because your post doesn't seem loaded, in fact it seems profound and heartfelt.

By following Jesus Commandments and trying to become more like Him we are doing His will. Obviously, God can do anything but he's left us with certain tasks, each one of us.

Fostering goodwill, harmony and reflecting the love of Christ to our fellow humans, is Jesus' will and behavior while He was here stated over and over and over again in scripture. And Christ wants us to do that today. It just takes a few minutes of the evening news to see that more than anything, the lack of love in our world is the greatest problem. Never in history has there been such a lack of love and the negative things that result in it's absence.

A person isn't hated into submitting, or shamed into submitting, or antagonized into submitting to the will of God. They are also not forced into submitting by bludgeoning them with scripture. They are loved into the will of God.

I remember one of the first times that I realized that Jesus died for my sins. I cried for a long time. I was so unworthy and He not only gave His life for me, but he gave me His grace that made me a coheir with Him.

Before or during that realization however, there was not an angry medieval crowd at church, chastizing me. I wasn't being castigated for my sin of which there had been far to many. I wasn't threatened with damnation from anyone or shamed in any way. There were loving people supporting me, setting the example, and leading the way for me to follow. And at the head of that line was and is Jesus Christ.

I always look for inroads to find common ground with others, try to act in a manner that is befitting being a son of God and brother to Christ Jesus, and choose love as Jesus instructed us to do.

I am not perfect and am not always very good at what I try to do. But I am the best man that I have ever been through the love Christ brought into my life and the grace that I did not deserve.

Love one another the way that I have loved you was said to the disciples but was also meant for us all and not just Christians that follow the road that we are on.

We could quote scripture until we were both blue in the face but the way I see it, the answer always comes with love, the solutions with love, the changes with love, and the measure of our growth in Christ, by our ability to manifest love in our lives and to those around us.

God bless you and all the best.

QFT!

 

[Floatingaxe]

Very good. However, you can love people right into hell by your tacit approval of their sin. Be very careful of that.

Most of the people here are defending their sin. If you had been defending your sin in your church as a new believer, I highly doubt your sisters, brothers and leaders would be patting you on the back! No, you would be taken to task, to the Word of God, and shown explicitly where you had gone wrong.

There is no defense for sin! We, who know Jesus Christ, have the better way, and we need to be telling them over and over and over. The trouble is, these folk don't want to be told...they want to TELL YOU! They LOVE THEIR SIN and have no intention of giving it up. So, instead of risking them mocking you, you dummy down Jesus' message.

Many of us here will not do that. Hard core doesn't respond to soft sell.

We have one offensive weapon: God's Word--the sword of the Spirit!

 

[Jecoulo]

Very good. However, you can love people right into hell by your tacit approval of their sin. Be very careful of that.

Most of the people here are defending their sin. If you had been defending your sin in your church as a new believer, I highly doubt your sisters, brothers and leaders would be patting you on the back! No, you would be taken to task, to the Word of God, and shown explicitly where you had gone wrong.

There is no defense for sin! We, who know Jesus Christ, have the better way, and we need to be telling them over and over and over. The trouble is, these folk don't want to be told...they want to TELL YOU! They LOVE THEIR SIN and have no intention of giving it up. So, instead of risking them mocking you, you dummy down Jesus' message.

Many of us here will not do that. Hard core doesn't respond to soft sell.

We have one offensive weapon: God's Word--the sword ofthe Spirit!

Now everyone listen to this woman. She has an answer for everything.

 

[Floatingaxe]

Now everyone listen to this woman. She has an answer for everything.

It couldn't hurt. I know the One who does have the answer to all things: Jesus.

 

[BreadAlone]

Now if we could combine sacerdote's love with FloatingAxe's truth, we'd be all set!!

 

[Floatingaxe]

Now if we could combine sacerdote's love with FloatingAxe's truth, we'd be all set!!

The truth of Jesus Christ is coming from a heart of love...or I wouldn't bother.

 

[BreadAlone]

The truth of Jesus Christ is coming from a heart of love...or I wouldn't bother.

Oh that sounded bad..I wasn't trying to say you were unloving, or that sacerdote had no truth!

 

[Floatingaxe]

Oh that sounded bad..I wasn't trying to say you were unloving, or that sacerdote had no truth!

 

[Chaplain David]

Oh that sounded bad..I wasn't trying to say you were unloving, or that sacerdote had no truth!

My friend, I took what you said as a compliment. Thanks very much. I won't get started on my "Hallmarks of a Christian sermon but will say that one of the most important ones I see embodied in you and that is kindness. GBU.