[dsc]

"Most people cannot bear the thought of submitting their own precious wills to any authority other than their own nerve endings. That sort of prideful ersatz "freedom" is at the root of the problems facing the Church (and humanity as a whole) today."

And wasn't it the root of Original Sin as well? Didn't the serpent tell Eve, "You shall be as gods."?

[B-Chan]

Yes. You're right on the money. Pride, the Original Sin, is at the root of all our problems. It started with Lucifer's haughty non serviam, and continues today as "Nobody's gonna tell me what to do!" Throughout all history rebellion -- Mankind's quest for the "freedom" to determine for himelf what is right and wrong -- leads only to chains and Hell, yet we persist in believing that we can be as gods. No wonder Jesus cried at the gates of Jerusalem, "How often would I have gathered you under my wings as a hen gathers her chickens, but you would not!"

God is our Father. He loves us. Instead of sneering in contempt at Him like rebellious teenagers, we should all strive to be the good, obedient children He wants us to be. But, no, that would be too embarassing, too grovelly, too un-American! No one's gonna keep us from killing our babies, make us go to some boring church, or keep us from discarding our wives and husbands and children and parents like used shoes! God can't be God, because He won't let us have our precious divorces, abortions, or live-in girlfriends!And so we go on with the farce of self-satisfaction, all too eager to listen to the lie that we are wise enough to rule ourselves. If the results weren't so heartbreaking they'd be almost comical.

Christianity is a religion of submission, not pride. Only by killing our selfish desire to run our own lives can we be reborn as new creatures in Him. Our role as Christians living in a pagan society is to be salt and light; rebellion is Satan's game.

[nickcarraway]

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