Please forgive my impertenence. Salvation is a gift from God, offered through Christ, in which a person is changed into a new creature through no effort of their own. This is the ultimate gift given by virtue of the blood of Christ shed for each of us.
The recent claim by the President that he is a Christian by virtue of accepting the tenants of Jesus does not satisfy Biblical teachings about salvation. He talks about the Grace of God falling into Bonhoeffer’s trap of cheap grace, accepting salvation without repentence.
I get the same sense from reading your many posts on this thread. Please clarify for me that your words do not carry the contempt and ridicule they seem, often, to convey. I have no doubt but that sitting nez a nez we would have the added quality of personal contact as means of understanding each other so am willing to acknowledge my flawed judgement.
In short, “Been there. Done that.” is not satisfying.
If it is "a gift from God" and is a state achieved "through no effort of their own" then what am I to make of your opening advice in #790, to wit: "I can tell him how to achieve this state but he will not be willing to achieve it."?
You are telling me to achieve a state I can achieve through no effort of my own!? Brilliant.
The recent claim by the President that he is a Christian by virtue of accepting the tenants of Jesus does not satisfy Biblical teachings about salvation. He talks about the Grace of God falling into Bonhoeffer’s trap of cheap grace, accepting salvation without repentance. I get the same sense from reading your many posts on this thread
I couldn't give a rat's a$$ about his reasons. I didn't arrive at my state of not knowing (agnosis) what God is through him! It's been a life-long journey for me, not something I conveniently borrowed for political expediency.
In short, “Been there. Done that.” is not satisfying
It is to me. After years of praying to thin air, to some imaginary God, that's where I am. I didn't come to this overnight. Thomas doubted and asked proof and no one compares him to the President. Especially when the unsolicited advice offered is a blatant self-contradiction even a 3rd grader wouldn't commit.