The Folly and Danger of Parting with Christ for the pleasures and profits of life

Christian Classics Ethereal Library | Unknown | George Whitefield

[Da_Shrimp]

It is for anyone who is interested in hearing the truth!

Would it be acceptable to you if people started posting a lot Buddhist discussions, for example, on FR?

[ThinkLikeWaterAndReeds]

If the communication is from He who wants His people to serve him, the communication would be so clear as to rise above all misunderstanding - crystal clear to any who care to read, however, centurys of dedicated theologens (not just your occasional reading in less than one lifetime) have not been able to sound the depths of understanding. All who have come before you outside your circle of like believers can't all be wrong unless your ego superceeds acceptance.

[ThinkLikeWaterAndReeds]

Now you are speaking of the Tao, not about God or Christ. The Tao is impossible to understand and the Tao is not jealous of anything - "The Tao can not be glorified or put into discrace". The Tao doesn't care about what you think. Besides, most Taoist preists will tell potential converts to go elswhere to find spirituality for Taoism is too hard, there is no merchantile exchahge, no salvation, no enlightment for trusting in the Tao.

[ThinkLikeWaterAndReeds]

See post #22 and respond if you care - this is a question that has not been answered by anyone, albeit there have been a lot of beating-around-the-bush responses much like yours.

[Khepera]

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Casting pearls before the swine.

[tet68]

Are you still here?

Why doth the christian rage?

Because they ARE the taliban.

[Khepera]

This is what usually happens. SSSSSSooooooooWeeeeeeeee. and they all come runnin for the feed trough.

[RnMomof7]

I didn't realise this was a religious website.

There are Sports posts, entertainment posts ,cooking Posts, and posts on Computers like here

The only difference is that none of them have a thing to do with the Constitution, like Religion does..

This is a community with lots of interests beside politics.Most of us can walk and chew gum at the same time :>))

If it offends you do not read it..

[RnMomof7]

Because they ARE the taliban.

FR Bigotry wothy of being deleted by the monitor..but the Calvinists believe in free speech...unlike some of you and the taliban

[winstonchurchill]

If the communication is from He who wants His people to serve him, the communication would be so clear as to rise above all misunderstanding - crystal clear to any who care to read,... All who have come before you outside your circle of like believers can't all be wrong unless your ego superceeds acceptance.

You have correctly described the Bible. I have never encountered anyone who read it who "couldn't understand" the claims of Christ upon his life. Didn't like them? Yes. Thought that He would require them to 'give up' too much? Yes. But couldn't understand them. No.

As far as "All ... outside your circle of like believers can't all be wrong". The focus of your comment on believers is incorrect. But what is amazing about Jesus Christ is that He stands athwart history and claims to be the central figure of history. He says He came and died and rose again from the dead to provide us an opportunity for Life -- both Life Eternal, i.e. beyond this life, and Life Abundant, i.e. a qualitatively better life here.

Now, you can accept His premise or reject it -- that is your choice. But as in considering any offer, it would help to know its terms. I would respectfully suggest you get a New Testament in a modern language format. There are many good ones out there. Start reading in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) because they are histories of Christ's ministry and statements. Decide for yourself what you will do with this Christ and His claims.

One more thing. This thread is unlikely to help you much. This is likely to be another a long series of discussions on a particular form of theological theory, which has very little to do with the claims of Christ on your life and mine.

By the way, I like your screen name, but I have a pond in my backyard with reeds in it. Unfortunately, neither my water nor my reeds think -- the water just sits there and the reeds just multiply, mindlessly. So, I'm not sure I want to think like my water and my reeds. Yours must be different.

[fortheDeclaration]

Would it be acceptable to you if people started posting a lot Buddhist discussions, for example, on FR?

Why would you think that we would care about that? Christians believe in the free exchange of ideas. It is the nonchristians who want to shut down Christian witnessing. Separaton of church and state means all faiths compete for the souls of men.

[ThinkLikeWaterAndReeds]

Thank you for your reply. The "claims" as you call them are the basis for dissention among Christian denominations. The fact that there are so many denominations demonstrates that the Word is not crystal clear to all who read it, or those multitudes who dedicate their entire life, excluding all else, to try and understand it. I respect that you have your own interpration of what it means but you won't get affirmation from someone outside your own religeon.
As far as water and reeds, water is one of the most fluid of all substances yet is as close as can be found for a universal solvent. Little can stand up to the steady and regular flexible flow of water as the grand canyon demonstrates. Reeds bend and sway with the wind, sturdy oaks crack, splinter and die. Acceptance of what is and flexible adaptive powers to accommodate that is what nature demonstrates to be the secret to longevity and opposition. Having been a student of the Tao te Ching and Tai Chi Chuan for many years, I have found how that realistically applies to life.

[troublesome creek]

deep.

[fortheDeclaration]

If the communication is from He who wants His people to serve him, the communication would be so clear as to rise above all misunderstanding - crystal clear to any who care to read, however, centurys of dedicated theologens (not just your occasional reading in less than one lifetime) have not been able to sound the depths of understanding. All who have come before you outside your circle of like believers can't all be wrong unless your ego superceeds acceptance.

What part of the message don't you understand? You must accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal saviour to spend eternity with him.

He that believeth on the Son hath life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him (Jn.3:36)

This is not about 'theologians' but about what the Bible says in clear, simple English

[fortheDeclaration]

Are you still here? Why doth the christian rage? Because they ARE the taliban

Hey, you must be a Democrat! That is their new tactic, to accuse anyone of the 'right' of them as being 'Taliban'

[tet68]

waste of time. Over and Out.

[constitutiongirl]

Puh-leeze. I've been in the Arts since I was six years old. Taoism is nothing but esoteric nothingness. Just a bunch of nothing, wrapped in an enigma, meaningless, empty thought and passive mind excercises masquerading as deep spiritual truths. You could save yourself some time by skipping the soft Arts and dropping acid instead. May the Force be with you and may you always have yin and yang in equal measure.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The point is you complain about the Bible being imperfectly understood. While forgetting that the "Tao" you are currently trusting in is in no better a situation, in fact is defined as ultimately unknowable (whereas in the Bible it actually says that the Lord will "teach us all things").

[HiTech RedNeck]

"A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out, until He leads justice to victory."

[F16Fighter]

"Would it be acceptable to you if people started posting a lot Buddhists discussions, for example on FR?"

That would be your prerogative, AND anyone elses, Herr Reichsfuehrer. Now run along and stuff your unsolicited two cents elsewhere if you don't like it.