Jesus H

[Crankmas]

and then it was Happy Hour

[shuffleboardfan]

Hey guys I think this might be the deepest thread I've ever read on here. Thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

I am a Christian. Here's what that means to me.

I am a sinner. I fail all the time. I'm selfish. I'm arrogant. I'm rude. I don't love others. There are things about me I hope no one ever finds out. More often than not my life looks nothing like Jesus.

You might say I'm a hypocrite because of that. But that description is at the heart of every "real" Christ follower. I am all too familiar with how much I suck (and not just at the crag) and realize that on my own that there is nothing redeeming in me.

But what I read in the Bible is that Christ sees all of that and still loves me*. He offers me forgiveness and a new start. I can't get that anywhere else, and because of that I want to try and live like him. It's also one of the many reasons I believe that he is God, but not the only one.

Now to all you folks of other beliefs. Expect Christians to suck. The true ones will tell you that they suck and ask for your forgiveness for their short comings. The ones that are "Christian" in name only will do stupid unloving things and tell you that they're better than you. The actual Christ followers will tell you they're very sinful...eventhough we try not to be, and the false ones will be full of sin and try and pretend that they're not! I'm sorry for the ways that both impact you. Please forgive those of us who are actually trying to follow Christ, and please don't lump us with those of us who are only pretending to.

Not sure how that fits but I think it needed to be said.

*I don't know what your picture of God or ultimate reality looks like but that's about as perfect as I can envision him.

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"While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” -Matthew 9:10-13

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:6-8

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life." 1 Timothy 1:15-16

[shuffleboardfan]

Sorry for the long post. I told you I was a sinner. Much love if you heard me out and actually read it.

Earlier there was the promise of free beer for reading things. How do I cash in on that?

[Crankmas]

we're quick to have our conflicts with those of this world when our focus should be on that that is not of this world... you can go through conflict or you can choose to grow through conflict, either way it's an opportunity... the price has been paid, no action on anyone's part will grant them salvation, its through faith in the Redeemer that grace is granted... for the lost it would probably be better to be of the line of primates that evolution didn't play as prominent a role in their gene pool but that would make me a judge and I'll pass on that role... I'll take mustard on them french fries though and it's wrong what you done to that boy...

[Climbingrocks]

vicarious redemption is shameful. Horrible thing to teach

[Crankmas]

feel don't think, is blindness the inability to see or the inability to know what it is you see??

[Climbingrocks]

feel don't think, is blindness the inability to see or the inability to know what it is you see??

I do feel. I also think. Someone who can definitely see can tell the blind person what is there. My confusion with religion is it seems to be a blind person stating what is there to another blind person. Blind congregation listening to a blind preacher. Or a blind parent teaching their blind children. All the while these ideas spread as if they were fact. It has never made any sense. How one can believe something without any reason other than what they think.

I feel like I'm missing something, but I really don't think I am.

[clif]

wow

[cliftongifford]

it honestly scares me that people believe in their nonsensical religions. religion has manipulated entire societies for centuries. there will never be peace in this world until religion is abolished, sadly it'll be a long time before we evolve to that state of mind.

question for christians:
what percentage of people that don't believe in jesus are going to hell, damned for eternity?

from what i've read there's only one way...

[Crankmas]

don't ask a Christian for answers only God knows, and usually those who have the answers don't even know the questions... some have faith some don't we all have free will, maybe finding the things people have in common are more important than those that separate us... Christians haven't sought out an image makeover though the times might suggest it beneficial,then again image isn't the message