Think of my regret expressed in #868 as a courtesy from a refined person to end a curious but trivial incident rather than an admission of error. (Though I couldn’t resist adding a little subtle sarcasm)
Since you’re not satisfied to just leave it at that but gave me a lengthy reply seemingly for a particular purpose, let us revisit your original post (#852).
Yes, all the questions you raised can be considered challenges (though it was an extraordinarily detailed set of questions when the usual ‘where’s your proof’ would suffice, especially at the beginning), and I did suspect that. But the intention of the post is unmistakable when we reach the last paragraph.
You wrote:
>> “(Please consider as you answer that how you respond may very well serve as a sort of “spiritual map” for those who might be seeking to understand the God you seem to know about. You based all this on the following assumption: “Actually, it really doesn’t matter...” How do you KNOW this? What if you are wrong and, in the end, it does matter? What if, instead, things like this matter: Prov. 14:12? What then?)”
Clearly, not only did you desire to know how and where to get more information about the God I know, you wanted some assurance, if possible, that it was not just another dead end.
If we could not agree on the meaning of simple English, there is really no basis for any meaningful discourse.
.
Your original post was a genuine desire to know more about a loving God that clearly manifests in my original post (#848). You were expecting I would put everything out there without your having to tip your hand. But I didn’t do that. Worse, my response scared you when I alluded to things like heresy, relinquishing long-held beliefs, etc. Suddenly you realized you might be at the blink of falling for some false teaching that Christians are so-o-o afraid of. A close call like this is really bad for a Christian’s image with his peers, and could perhaps lead to a little bruising of the ego. All these considerations prompted your initial denial (#868) and later your lengthy attempt (#870) to restore your proper image as a Christian. This explains why #870 is so full of standard Christian jargon, replete with all the empty and hackneyed terms and phrases that Christians seem to love to recite by rote
I’m not trying to put you on the spot. But it is a good illustration of how a typical Christian behaves. It is almost as if they draw a circle around themselves and dare not venture an inch out to see what else is out there.
**
With the above I have presented all the facts and non-facts surrounding this incident. Now you can have the last word, have at it.
“Here is what I believe really happened...” [or “What happens when what I believe is wrong?”]
“Clearly, not only did you desire to know how and where to get more information about the God I know”
Uh...no.
“Your original post was a genuine desire to know more about a loving God that clearly manifests in my original post...”
Uh-uh.
“You were expecting I would put everything out there without your having to tip your hand.”
I’m not even sure this is the way you “play the game” (and I didn’t even know we were playing one—next time, tell me, okay. It’s not fair for you to have all the fun!)
“my response scared you when I alluded to things like heresy, relinquishing long-held beliefs, etc.”
Hadn’t really entered my mind.
“Suddenly you realized you might be at the blink of falling for some false teaching that Christians are so-o-o afraid of.”
Can’t say this ran through my mind either (the idea of succumbing to false teaching, that is. Held by Christ; none can pluck me from His hands.)
“A close call like this is really bad for a Christian’s image with his peers, and could perhaps lead to a little bruising of the ego.”
I didn’t perceive any “close call” or any ego-bruising (BTW, Christians are supposed to deny themselves/dismiss things like ego, but I have to admit, ‘denying oneself’ is that most challenging aspect of the Christian walk.)
“your lengthy attempt (#870) to restore your proper image as a Christian.”
Uh...my lengthy post was an attempt to restore Christ’s proper image on the thread. There seems to be a bit of a problem here where many who come to post to a thread about Christ’s deity actually believe He is not (don’t know how they could get that idea when the scriptures “Clearly” show this...but, well...)
“This explains why #870 is so full of standard Christian jargon, replete with all the empty and hackneyed terms and phrases that Christians seem to love to recite by rote.”
If, by this, you mean the scriptures, well...If, by this, you mean my efforts to explicate the scriptures, then you must be like the “noble Bereans” and find out for yourself whether these things be so or not.
“I’m not trying to put you on the spot.”
Whew! For a minute there, I was feeling, well...I was feeling like, “Say, where’s this spot I’m supposed to be on? I need to find it, get on it and stay there until sun7 says I can go.
“...a good illustration of how a typical Christian behaves.”
Here is where I believe you’ve made/make your mistake. Of course, this is to be expected by the Christian. Low estimation of Christ necessarily means low estimation of His followers. It’s perfectly natural.
“It is almost as if they draw a circle around themselves and dare not venture an inch out to see what else is out there.”
Let me fix that for you: “It is almost as if Christ draws a circle around them and they need not venture an inch out to see that nothing else [really] is out there.”
“With the above I have presented all the facts and non-facts surrounding this incident.”
See, this is what I mean. It’s like your theology. Now we all have to do the guessing and try to determine which are the facts and which are the non-facts. BTW, aren’t “non-facts” sometimes called untruths?
You sound like you have a problem with Christians. I must admit, sometimes I do, too. That is, I have a problem with those who go around using the name of Christ to justify their actions, label their practices, put a name on their gatherings. They seek to derive something positive by aligning themselves with Him. I get it. I see those groups, all around me. But, there are those who are genuine followers (F-O-L-L-O-W-E-R-S). They do not seek their own will but HIS. They do not do their own works, but HIS. They do not use their own words, but HIS. They do not profess their own understanding, but HIS truth. They get their marching orders from HIM through HIS word. They gather together in HIS name (and not some earthly one). They have asked themselves, “How will I know Him, when I see/hear Him? How will I recognize Him?” They have gone to the place where they can find out - the scriptures. They do not follow the dictates of man when they do so; they follow the scriptures. These gatherings of His people are out there; you can go and find them.
If you believe I have put MarDav forth here in this or any post I have posted, then, yes, by all means, dismiss me. I am not the one to listen to. If, on the other hand, I have tried to reason with you (and others) using the scriptures, then, you are dismissing the scriptures (about which we read, “are able to make one wise unto salvation.”) What will you do then, having thrown away the road map to God? How will you KNOW Him, Whom to know is life eternal?
That’s all. No harm done here.