rhunt wrote:Whatahutch, I "hope" that I don't offend you by saying; its scary how much you sound....well just like me 15 years ago. I had a "bible" answer for everything and I was completely convinced I was right. I wrapped myself in a warm illusion of biblical certainty and I didn't really want to be friends with anyone who thought differently. Thank goodness I found rock climbing and outdoorsy, hippy, liberal people who help me out of that destructive black and white way of thinking and living.
Rhunt you don't offend me. I have not actually been offended once in this conversation. I shook my head once or twice in disbelief. (Mostly in that the majority of people that are in the climbing community can be so accepting of everybody and everything and the first mention of Jesus or the Bible and they are ready to kill the messenger. Which seems to juxtapose what they normally say).
You sound similar to me ten years ago. My favorite writer was Hunter S. Thompson. My favorite musician was Jim Morrison. My favorite movies were Almost Famous, Fight Club, and a toss up between The Color of Money and Blow. My hair was long enough to put into a pony tail and I had chops on my face the size of Texas. When my friends saluted me it was, "Hey Hippy." I wrote papers about legalizing marijuana, and angry rants about the wrongs of a materialistic vain society. I had a slight sexual addiction. I hated George W. and all that the "conservatives" stood for.
My favorite thing to do was to smoke pot, drink beer, and debate the existence of God.
Finally after a number of confrontations with Christians where I told them things like, "Jesus never claimed to be the God." I was semi-challenged to find out the truth for myself.
In my arrogance I said I will then.
I picked up a Bible and put God to the test. (Which the Bible says to do if you don't believe).
I started to see things differently. I started to realize I was not the center of the world. I started to realize that no mater what my culture tells me my life is not about me. I read things about Jesus offering a free gift of life, a free pass without me doing works to save my life and soul, etc. I am not going to get into a testimony here though.
By the time ynp1 met me I was a different man. At that time people were surprised when I mentioned that I drank beer (which I still do). They were in disbelief if I told them I used to do drugs and that I had sex before I got married. By the time I met ynp1 a lot of my anger towards the world was replaced with solace. My theology was "conservative," but in no way then or now am I on the "right." (I think that all politicians and the majority of evangelical media preachers are crooks and liars).
Again, I say that I am not trying to convert anyone. I haven't even really broke the surface of my theological views, and have really tried to limit my responses in the hopes that I don't offend anyone.
If I have offended anyone I apologize. I am sincerely sorry.
I do however challenge every person that takes offense to the Bible, the God of Abraham, or Jesus to find out for themselves why. Do your own research.
In that way I respect Clifton because he knows what he stands against.
And like ynp said, I also respect you rhunt because you have walked both sides.
I also appreciate everyone that has kept this on the light side, like Pigsteak and Brentucky.
The humor and lightness keeps things enjoyable.
With that I will add one more (longer) Bible quote. My favorite verses are 7-10.
Ecclesiastes 9:1-10(New International Version)
A Common Destiny for All
1 So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them. 2 All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad,[a] the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.
As it is with the good,
so with the sinful;
as it is with those who take oaths,
so with those who are afraid to take them.
3 This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. 4 Anyone who is among the living has hope
—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!
5 For the living know that they will die,
but the dead know nothing;
they have no further reward,
and even their name is forgotten.
6 Their love, their hate
and their jealousy have long since vanished;
never again will they have a part
in anything that happens under the sun.
7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. 8 Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. 9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.