Bush's Handling Of The War

[chrisfan]

thorny said:

as for your question "One more question since I'm still befuddled by your understanding of Christianity -- you seem quite firm in your belief that the only way to be a good Christian is to remain steadfast in following the rules 100% of the time - no room for error or weakness. If this is in fact the case, what's the point of forgiveness? Don't forget that we're told to forgive others so that God can forgive us. Why would we need God's forgiveness and grace if we do nothing wrong? ",

I think I made myself pretty clear before. I'm not going to fall into your elusive, slipknot semantic traps. Even God - - haha, ESPECIALLY God, and subsequently Christ, and your entire Christian Faith - - knows as well as anyone that rigidly following rules is not the answer. You could learn a bit about flexibility; and you shouldn't have to question why you need God's forgiveness and grace if you do nothing wrong.

He works in myserious ways, remember.

I'm not trying to trick you Thorn. I'm trying to understand you. You seem to call many Christians onit as soon as they do something that you see as being "against the rules" ... like your issues with Bush not turning the other cheek in your eyes. That to me indicates a zero tolerance on your part, no? If Christians are truly expected to do nothing wrong, as you're implying, why the need for forgiveness? It's an honest question,

[Thorngrub]

Yeah, it's pretty tuff understanding one another. But we made some headway.
I gotta do laundry and stuff. Had a long day. Take care, see U around

[chrisfan]

thorny said:

ok, so I "SEEM" to be "firm in my belief that following the rules 100% of the time, with no room for error or weakness, is what I'm espousing. Well things ain't what they seem, are they now.

I'm not being obtuse - -I'm being plain and direct. I can't blame you for not understanding me . . . and I don't think I could get you to, no matter how hard I tried.

Leave it said that I won't forget that we're told to forgive others so that God can fogive us: there's a huge difference between being COMMANDED TO DO SO AT ALL COSTS, with a quota no less, and the idea merely being a good one to roughly follow, more or less, should the opportunity present itself.

Let God do God's work, and let his sheep follow Him. If some sheep can get some others to join in, all the better. If not, don't sweat it honey. God'll take care of the rest.

Um, I never said anything about any quotas. I'm just at a loss to determine what interpretation of Chrisianity you're working from. It's nothing I've ever come across.

[Thorngrub]

Why the need for forgiveness? I thought we both understood that no man alive, today or ever before with the exception of Christ, is entirely free from sin. Hence the need for forgiveness. How could I NOT think you're trying to entrap me?


Essentially, where we begin divorcing our path, where you zig and I zag, is simply that I do not believe the contemporary focus on recruiting Christians was necessarily the highest priority originally. I know you feel otherwise; hence your belonging to whatever denomination you adhere to. Hence my being the "black" sheep-Christian, insisting on interpreting various scriptures and alleghorical teachings of Christ in my own way; I can't help it if we don't see eye to eye. But isn't it funny how I so desperately attempt to get you to see things my way (precisely mirroring that tenet which you believe in stating it is necessary to spread the nets to get others into your fold)-?

Ha. There you go. We're both Christians of a different stripe, each trying to get the other to fall into line with the True Way!

take care , chrisfan

[chrisfan]

Thorn, I have no idea where you are basing your summary of my beliefs in Christianity from. I've never said that I the focus of recruiting Christians was the highest priority - now or originally. I said it was A tenent of the faith. See the difference?