Posted on 04/22/2013 6:27:15 AM PDT by piperpilot
At my small Episcopal church yesterday, we prayed for all those "killed" in the "tragic" Boston Marathon bombing. That was bad enough--those people were murdered and it was anything but a tragedy. Then we had to pray for the dead terrorist--which I refused to do. How unbiblical can you get. The dead terrorist didn't repent before his death. His soul went straight to Hell. Praying for him is basically praying for evil if you ask me. We also prayed for the still living terrorist. I can see that--he's still alive and can repent. But we didn't pray for the Holy Spirit to change his mind. No, no, no. We prayed for the Holy Spirit to "change minds.". Most likely ours. This sort of thing is the Just more evidence of the moral equivalency and lack of Biblical truth that has infected the mainstream Protestant sects today. The most amazing thing though was that not a single parishioner thought there was anything wrong with this. I pointed this outntonseveral people and they all tried to explain it away so as not to create waves. So sad.
Muslims will stay silent, as usual.
Church leaders who say we need to “understand” Muslims need to take a lesson from Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill. While courteous, he was uncompromising in his message condemning idolatry and false religion. He laid out the message of salvation through Christ in no uncertain terms. He wasn’t worried about befriending his audience.
I think you’re dead on. The Episcopal church is hemmoraghing members so badly that they try to befriend everyone—everyone, that is, except those who actually read the Bible and stand for the Truth.
This is likely. But it isn't known for sure and it is up to Jesus to pass final judgement.
IMHO, the time to leave the Episcopal church has long since passed. If you've tolerated the recent implementation of modernism and relative morality up until now, then I don't think this incident should change your mind.
Iced coffee or hot coffee, not many people drink room temp coffee. drinking slightly hot plain water is kind of repulsive.
The turning point for me in studying the Bible came when I just wanted to know the truth. Of course I was crying my eyes out to God at the time. It is not our reasoning that deciphers the Word, it is God who opens our eyes to His truth. All you have to do is ask, and be willing to have your world turned upside down by the truth.
That is clear as mud and why I find the bible incomprehensible.
Incomprehensible? Really?
Personally, I think it's pretty clear. The speaker (first person, "I") wishes that the person or people he is addressing (second person, "you") were able to demonstrate some sort of full commitment to a position or cause. "Hot" and "Cold" are metaphors for being fully committed to a belief or position. The speaker is disgusted with the people he is addressing because they aren't willing to commit. "Lukewarm" is a metaphor for that lack of commitment.
What? I suppose you're typing on some device with auto-correct ... and I'm more than a little puzzled that your auto-correct came up with "ghagra" as a replacement for (presumably) "that".
I just checked ... "Ghagra Coli" is a piece of traditional Indian womens' clothing. So I just learned something ... that's kinda cool.
Interesting.
The turning point for me came when I realized that God chooses (for whatever reason) to speak in metaphors, similes, parables, idioms, and figurative language that are loaded with multiple layers of meaning. The Bible is often not an "either/or" proposition, but a "both and something else as well" proposition.
Has your mother or father or grandmother or grandfather died?
Do you ever remember them in your prayers?
Muhammed, unlike Jesus, preached to avenge, hate etc non-believers. Jesus preached something, even more remarkable in the Roman occupier days, than now. He said love thy enemies.
I think your post shows that very few of us are like him. He would say forgive and love these brothers that killed. I for one can’t. I’m far short a man than He was.
Your point is well taken. In truth, our country needs a wake up call. The people killed and injured at the marathon are martyrs, because their agony will result in this country doing the right thing.
It will take time. Already, I’m hearing liberals questioning why they city lock down. I’m hearing that the younger terrorist needs to be tried in a civil court and that Holder should not ask for the death penalty because he was controlled by his older brother etc.
I pray for this country.
Purgatory: An Objection Answered
Essays for Lent: Purgatory
Of saints, sinners, and purgatorial souls [Catholic Caucus]
First Things - Purgatory for Everyone
What the Church means by Purgatory
Radio Replies Second Volume - Purgatory
Purgatory Exists. And It Burns
The Month of November: Thoughts on the "Last Things"
To Trace All Souls Day (Protestants vs Catholics)
Radio Replies First Volume - Purgatory
The Doctrine of Purgatory [Ecumenical]
The Heroic Act [Catholic-Orthodox Caucus] (Offering everything for the Souls in Purgatory)
MONTLIGEON MIRACLE: HOW PRIEST TURNED INTO 'TRAVELING SALESMAN' OF PURGATORY
IN BRUSH WITH DEATH, PRIEST SHOWN HELL, PURGATORY, DEGREES OF SUFFERING
Praying for the Dead [All Souls Day] (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
Purgatory: Service Shop for Heaven [Ecumernical]
Beginning Catholic: Catholic Purgatory: What Does It Mean? [Ecumenical]
OF GUARDIAN ANGELS AND THE ROLE THEY PLAY NOT JUST ON EARTH BUT IN PURGATORY [Catholic Caucus]
IN ANNALS OF SAINTS IS CONVERT'S STRIKING DEDICATION TO THOSE SOULS IN PURGATORY [Catholic Caucus]
Explaining Purgatory from a New Testament Perspective [Ecumenical]
PURIFYING THE SOUL ON EARTH IS WORTH 100X WHAT IT TAKES AFTER [Catholic Caucus] What Happens After Death?
Purgatory
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 12: Purgatory
The Doctrine of Purgatory
The Early Church Fathers on Purgatory - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
Required for entrance to Purgatory? Personal question for Cathloic Freepers.
(Protestant) Minister Who Had Near-Death Episode Believes In Purgatory
Straight Answers: What Is Purgatory Like?
Do Catholics Believe in Purgatory?
Purgatory, Indulgences, and the Work of Jesus Christ (Discussion)
Prayer to Release the Souls of Purgatory
The Forgotten Souls in Purgatory
Praying for the dead [Purgatory]
Do Episcopalians believe in hell?
A number of main stream churches are leading the attack against Western Civilization and its traditional values.
Even Catholics don’t endorse prayer for those who died with no hope of salvation, like this guy who died while trying to commit another murder.
Now, this is rather far-afield from my specialty; I don’t consider myself an expert on your faith, nor upon what you’re supposed to do with it, but I must ask you a question:
Isn’t it all about forgiveness? I mean, something tells me that on a weekly (or more frequently!) basis, you speak the words “as we forgive those who trespass against us”, don’t you? Perhaps that’s why you’re praying for the terrorists, both dead and alive?
Ah well; just a thought.
Wow, I have no idea what happened. Auto correct fail! And yeah, I meant that.
We know he was a hell-bent personality who did damnable things, but we do not know if he repented in the end.
As you know, St. Peter tells us in the Bible that a day is like 1,000 years to the Lord,and 1,000 years like a day. If that is so, then God could have stretched Tsarnaev's last nanosecond out into a month or so in God-time, when he could have repented of his sins.
We simply don't know. Haven't got a clue. Only God is the Master of Time and Space, and only Jesus Christ is the Judge of the living and the dead.
On the day that died Pope innocent III (who was evidently not very innocent) appeared to Saint Lutgarda in flames and told her that he was expiating three crimes that he had to make atonement for. He begged her and her fellow nuns for prayers, because otherwise, he said, he would have to stay in purgatory until the end of time.
I know some Episcopalians believe in the Biblical purgatory, and some don't. (I do know the Episcopalian Church observes All Souls Day, which is an official "Holy Day" to pray for the dead.) In any case, if Tsarnaev did manage, like the criminal crucified next to Jesus, to repent at the end, I imagine he might get a punishment just like Pope Guilty. Not damned, you understand, but still requiring -- considerable -- purification.
May the Lord, Who knows all things and can do all things according to His will, have mercy on Tsarnaev, on us, and on the whole world.
Great that it has meaning to you and thanks for your interpretation.
Seems I was not alone in finding this and so many other, oft repeated meanderings of the Bible less than transparent and difficult to understand. IMO this lack of clarity does the love of God and Jesus a disservice.
To me metaphors and decoder rings belong on or in cereal boxes. My thinking is logical in that if I want to say something I say it.
To leave so much to interpretation, given the human race’s love of distorting things to their own whim, seems counter productive. A clear concise message with little or no wiggle room for “interpretation” would be quite helpful
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