Posted on 03/03/2015 12:32:27 PM PST by two134711
Here's another one...
Or maybe this one...
What I'm about to say is already implicit in what you wrote: I'd say the same about posting in any of the other forums as well. Of course, given its history, I easily see why the Religion Forum may deserve special attention.
Your second sentence quoted here contains my big reason for not wanting to close the Religion Forum or regretting that it was ever started:
I see politics and religion as intertwined, and in fact I see my politics as a result of my faith, not the other way around. I can imagine a policy that banned all primarily "religious" threads that had no obvious relation to news or politics, but that distinction would be artificial, even unnatural.
And then I would imagine enough religious discussion that it would be most suited to having its own forum instead of being all in something like Chat. (Being on its own forum would also work to the liking of those who don't want to see religious talk, since then filtering would be easier.)
I guess you might consider defining what you consider Christian discussion when opposing false teachings and teachers.....Jesus had a few words that didn't sit well with the false teachers either.
Oh they do but only when it suits them.
But what happens afterwards on the Religion Forum, when Matthew 23 seems to assume the importance that John 3:16 might elsewhere? Of making many threads there is no end, and I wonder what changes for the better after all of it.
Watching your mental gymnastics of trying to accuse me of things has been quite entertaining, but after a night’s rest I can’t help but feel so sorry for you. The hate and anger in the tone of your posts is frightening. I don’t have time to be bothered with you anymore. This is not a discussion. Peace be with you.
Kinda like my story; but I was converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Without the smells and bells.
O...
K...
No WONDER so many Catholics end up being poorly catechized!
I take it that it was MUCH better translated into English then?
OF COURSE not!
Look at the troubles started 500+ years ago when a...
...but I repeat myself.
Like what he wrote a little later in Galatians 5:12?
We get stuff from EVERY where!
https://www.google.com/search?q=spanish+inquisition+torture&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADRA_enUS475&gws_rd=ssl
Likewise...
... if someone thinks that "_______________" is a helpful form of address, someone should expect interesting responses.
And we have SURELY gotten PLENTY of responses to the BLANK when filled in!
Well...
...some of them do.
Bonaventure: the gates of heaven will open to all who confide in the protection of Mary. Blessed are they who know thee, O Mother of God, for the knowledge of THEE is the high road to everlasting life, and the publication of thy virtues is the way of ETERNAL SALVATION . Give ear, O ye nations; and all you who desire heaven , serve, honor Mary, and certainly you will find ETERNAL LIFE.
Ephem: devotion to the divine Mother is the unlocking of the heavenly Jerusalem.
Blosius: To the, O Lady, are committed the KEYS and the treasures of the kingdom of Heaven.
Ambrose: constantly pray Open to us, O Mary, the gates of paradise, since thou hast its KEYS.
Fulgetius: by Mary God descended from Heaven into the world, that by HER man might ascend from earth to Heaven.
Athanasius: And, thou, O Lady, wast filled with grace, that thou mightiest be the way of our SALVATION and the means of ascent to the heavenly Kingdom.
Richard of Laurence: Mary, in fine, is the mistress of heaven; for there she commands as she wills, and ADMITS whom she wills.
Guerric: he who serves Mary and for whom she intercedes, is as CERTAIN of heaven as if he were already there and those who DO NOT serve Mary will NOT BE SAVED.
Anselm: It suffices, O Lady, that thou willest it, and our SALVATION is certain.
Antoninus:
souls protected by Mary, and on which she casts her eyes, are NECESSARILY JUSTIFIED AND SAVED.
lonely bull; you might want to make a statement here...
14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.
I noticed the same verse while going over 2 Timothy. Of course, I wouldn't try to apply this counsel to forbid discussions about and disagreements over doctrine for the sake of a false version of unity, peace, or love.
At the same time, I have difficulty finding the love in certain styles of discussion. Maybe I'm a blind sinner who has difficulty discerning the genuine Christian love in them; if this is so, then I request that the masters of love make it easier for me to see.
If we spent more time praising God and expounding on His works in our lives I am sure He would multiply our wealth of His glories just as He multiplies our tythes.
Now that is a work we could all enjoy and prove that He is indeed in our hearts and in our lives instead of arguing over what we think He says plus show the pagans that we do indeed love our brothers and sisters in Christ and bring them into our loving churches.
It's interesting to consider how we choose to spend our lives, including the parts of our lives posting on forums such as these. I do not exclude discussions and even debates over "what he think He says" from what appears to be the ideal Christian life, but there is more to life than those.
"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
I do not expect that (or request that) the contents of one's private life of joy, prayer, and thanksgiving will be spilled all over the forums. I'd just hope that we can discuss matters of faith as people who sound as if we rejoice, pray, and give thanks more than we sometimes seem to do.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.