Posted on 08/19/2002 11:15:10 AM PDT by Gargantua
Christians do not need the unsolicited advice of atheists on how to relate to their saviour or to the world, thank you.
"How so? I've opted to keep government out of the matter entirely. I've further stated that the issue doesn't register high on my personal list of offensive activities, mainly because I don't fixate on it."
Government is already in it! Where have you been? You've already stated that "don't fixate on it," because you don't think homosexuality effects you. On that point you are mistaken.
Some do and some don't, it would seem.
I tend to think of you as one who could use such advice, but would never "lower yourself" to take it to heart.
So much pride.... so much anger... so much self-righteousness.. so much scorn...
One problem with that: Marshall U.
So you recognize that government is a large part of the problem.
And your solution is...more government?
Jesus is divine. I am not. His standard of unconditional love may be impossible for me to reach. Evil sees this kind of love as a weakness, and tries to take advantage of it. Do yourself a favor and realize this fact, before you or your family become victims.
... You need to learn to let your emotions cool before speaking. Your attack is nonsensical, full of irrational assumptions made without any evidence
Please, speak for yourself, my exact point.
We grow Heisman QB candidates on trees.
"So you recognize that government is a large part of the problem."
"And your solution is...more government?"
NO! No more government, and no more "hate crimes"!! There was a time, before government got directly involved that Society had standards of decency that kept all of the weirdos in check. The queens kept their private lives in the closet (where they belong), and did what they wanted. The weirdos just weren't parading it out in Public. Homos shouldn't be attacked, or persecuted as long as they keep to themselves. Pedophiles should be put to death.
Had you read what I have written, instead of wallowing in self-righteousness, you'd have noticed that I have condemned pedophilia (whether heterosexual or homosexual) with the utmost vehemence. Pedophiles in my opinion, should be put to death. They violate the rights of children in horrific ways.
They differ from consenting adult homosexuals however, in that consenting adult homosexuals do NOT violate rights, and they may not therefore be morally restrained by state.
My words to you regarding your faith are specific to your scorn, self-righteousness, pride, and venom regarding consenting adult homosexuals, and your attempts to equate them to pedophiles (which they are not).
If you wish to help homosexuals within the dictates of your faith, quit thumping your chest and telling us how wonderful you are, and provide peaceful witness to them.
A rationalization used by many "kick 'em in the nuts fer Jesus" types, to excuse their disreagrd for the teachings of Christ, while claiming those same teachings as a guiding force in their lives.
The teachings of the Nazarene were not weak. They were profound in their strength. Caustic indignation and scorn are not strength. Love, compassion, humility, and peace are.
But love, compassion, humility, and peaceful witness don't make prideful and self-righteous men feel good about themselves.
These rights which you claim to revere..., from where do you feel they derive? For in our Constitutional Republic's founding and guiding documents, they are cited to have derived from God, our Almighty Creator.
You claim to believe in those, rights, but not in the Source of them as attributed by our Founding Fathers.
Further, you claim a very selective belief in the dictates of that code which facilitates an observance of all that "feels good," but shun the disciplines of that same code which dictate moral responsibility and right versus wrong in societal behavior.
Your claims, and your justifications, and your "beliefs," are as hollow and insubstantial as is the individual who spouts them as his new-and-improved idea of "Feel Good" religion.
Let him who has ears, hear.
It is so much easier to point these out in our fellow man than it is to address them as our own shortcomings... huh?
"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted' for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d dy of October, A.D. 1789.
(signed) G. Washington
I have the Spirit of God in my heart and I disagree with you.
This is known as "Decaffeinated Christianity." It is taking the parts of the Bible which make one feel all warm and fuzzy, and discarding or ignoring the parts that might keep you awake at night.
You seem also to mistake speaking out in strong terms against evil as "hate" or "prejudice." In fact, doing so is also a Biblical command to the faithful.
You seem also to enjoy lumping those who have discerned evil with those who are "holier than thou," or who isolate such trangressors as being somehow inferior to themselves.
While that inferrence is surely yours to draw (as in America more than anywhere else you do have the right to be wrong), the fact is that Christians understand that we are all sinners, both the saved and the un-saved.
The only difference is perhaps that the saved confess their sins to Jesus, and try not to sin even as they encourage all the flock to return to and follow more closely the Father's teachings.
Very harsh remedies are proscribed in the Bible, for those who have fallen away, and for those who have never given an ear. Your limited understanding of the Bible is very immature and incomplete, as is your belief structure.
Please accept this as constructive criticism from a humble fellow sinner.
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