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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/26/2007 1:28:02 PM | No man can say that they know what a "true Christian" needs to do or how they feel closer communicating with their God..
Well, it seems they can, and the Good Book happens to provide a perfect example of that. Jesus wasn't opening schools, or running for office. He was just living His life, and essentially not bothering anyone that didn't want to be bothered - with perhaps the exceptions of the moneychangers and the Pharisees.
I'm just passing on Matthew's message, and Christians should have no problem with it. A person of spiritual depth should not , either. God's there for you, and you are there for Him. You've got that right, and it's important to have.
That said, the right ends eight when you start to forget others rights. They have them, as you have them. Tests are given in schools, and students are expected to answer them in the manner in which they are taught - and not supply any "answers" that are "given" to them by any invisible guy in the clouds they happen to believe in.
We start accepting that in our school systems, and it's a-back to the Middle Ages we shall go. Education, like politics, should be protected from the tyranny of religion (and vice versa). Religion is a private matter, and not a public one.
If you want to "protect" your kids from such "lies and falsehoods" , send them to a private Christian school. There you can all believe in whatever you choose to believe. If you want to put a statue of a caveman riding a dinosaur in front of it - feel free to. I won't stop you in any way.
Your kids are totally free to sit there and say a private word of thanks for their dinner. That's actually pretty commendable, and I wish more people did . Do you really think your God can't hear and appreciate that fact ?
So God's deaf ?
Say nothing of my religion. It is known to God and myself alone. Its evidence before the world is to be sought in my life: if it has been honest and dutiful to society the religion which has regulated it cannot be a bad one.
- Thomas Jefferson | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/26/2007 3:02:07 PM | For now,...unless someone rewrote the constitution and forgot to tell me about it,I am still within my religious rights and freedom each time I touch the grass,embrace the rain,welcome a new dawn and choose to do all this while I bow my head to lift my father up in heaven through silent prayer to give thanks and also to not only pray to give thanks but to be able to do what I have just mentioned as I also choose to put God's agenda out there first,asking what I can do in his name,for his glory....and yes,I agree that this is a time of intimancy between me and God,and I also agree that I can not expect others to participate out of any type of "forceful control".....sit awhile with these two words for a min...."forceful control"
If one is forcing me to only be able to give thanks and ponder in God's name(and of course these following words are the words one chose to use)only when I am in my "dog-gone car"...or maybe one thinks I should just wake up each morning and give thanks all at once like someone shooting arrow prayers to the sky,with a predetermined list of what my day will unfold for me.....Is this not indeed also by "forceful control" that one would wish to protest and pass laws to prohibit me from this freedom and limit me to when I can even give thanks through my slient prayer?
I say this outloud with all my heart,...I wish to embrace nature's beauty and all of nature's whispers and be able to bow my head and siliently pray and give thanks while I am doing this and while I am at the park watching my child at play with others,and observing these little ones that come together as one and not be divided by social distance and religious differences,..... I wish and choose to share intimancy with God and give thanks at THAT VERY MOMENT and not be "forced" to have to wait till I am out of the view of others.
And I know I have read in here from many that they have experienced others coming to their door,spreading the word of God.And if one has experienced someone that chose to ignore your wishes and chose not to leave upon your request,I would have to also consider this one using "forceful control" as well.As much as I do understand the desire and passion that has one spreading God's word,I also feel like the word of God can not be "forced" upon anyone as well.....
But then one may ask this question,"What truly bothers some the most in all this?"What I am trying to say is, what if this one walked away from your door with respect for you as soon as you asked him or she to leave and this one would leave never to try to "force" anything upon another?"The reason I ask this is because I feel that the ones that would embrace the said protests mentioned over here the most,are the one's that wish to do away with all rights and freedom of religion.....and I also believe the things that will fuel these protests would be ANGER and FEAR.....
And anger and fear does not discriminate....these protests will be a downhill spiral that affects all,including the little lady in the soup kitchen that opens her heart to everyone,to the little boy that siliently bows in his head to pray before he eats his school lunch and ends up getting milk cartons thrown at him along with words of slander(true story...happened to my son)...to other kids "forcing" the word of God on others only to remind another child he or she is doomed for hell....yes,there are two sides to this coin!
No, these two things,anger and fear,can take over the life...consume the life of anyone....and with that being said....I believe that these protests will fuel and attract many,both the believer and non-believer....as we have seen also,someone that proclaims to be a christain can be driven by so much anger and fear that this one doesn't embrace the teachings of Jesus Christ in their personal walk...again,this fear and anger does not discriminate..it may very well fuel these said protests from both sides of the coin.....
Another example to think over...and I hope you are still pondering over the words,"forceful control".As I continue to embrace this part of my heritage,I am reminded of a forceful control and seperation that has been often referred to as "the trail of tears," to me,because of someone else's(both christian and non-christian)trail of anger and fears!
Now,do I think that the day will come.... "Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?"...We'll, what do you think?And to be quite honest,the thing I need to keep reminding myself is that my biggest battles of all will come to me...and I can only standstill and continue to sing my praises ....best wishes to everyone! | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/26/2007 7:55:04 PM | susiesnowflakes
Having a conversation without personal accusations or judgementalism directed personally would be nice. I don't remember a story with 3 women and a whore. If you are refering to the parable in Matthew 25 about the 10 virgins? Besides that I think your responses in this thread are more reaction than reason. As you say "if you are a true christian" than you see what I do not or at least are claiming too.
Motreal Guy
I think the spirit of what Jesus is saying is for those who make an outward show of righteousness. I have a hard time thinking he meant it to abolish praying in public since he himself openly blessed food and prayed a long prayer over his disciples. This does not fit with the teaching in Matthew if you disregard the fact that he was speaking to those more concerned with an outward show than with those concerned with pleasing God from their heart. Indeed if I didn't look for the meaning in Jesus words I might have come to a point where I gouged my eyes out or cut my hands off.
casheyesblond
Many years ago a little old lady knocked on my door and invited me to come to a new church. I thanked her and went to that church. It was wonderful... | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/26/2007 8:14:17 PM |
My children are idiots? How kind.
If you are teaching your children that evolution isn't true by mischaracterizing it as some sort of ridiculous strawman, then yes, your children are idiots by virtue of what you are teaching them. I only word this so strongly because evolution is about as solidly supported as the fact that the Earth revolves around the sun.
Are you asking or accusing me of ignorance?
I'm asking you to tell me what evolution is, because I suspect that you do not truly know what the theory entails if you doubt it. That seems to be the case with most creationists.
I have studied evolution and got lost somewhere between mankind crawling from the swamp with their fins still attached and my beautiful and wonderfully made body and mind creating itself from a big bang...
Okay, now it's pretty clear you have no clue what evolution is. Evolution does not claim you created yourself. It claims that selection pressures winnow out various biological possibilities while allowing those best suited to the environment to spread. Nor does the theory of evolution have anything to do with the Big Bang.
In short, given the superficiality of your answer, I'm led to suspect you don't even know what evolution predicts or claims, and that you are one of these creationists who believes that because "dogs don't give birth to cats" that evolution is therefore false. But that would only be the case if evolution made such a silly prediction.
And yes, I believe strongly in being a hardass about all this, because I think we need to create an environment where creationists and other idiots who are touting pseudo-science and misinformation are not welcome. And I'd do the same thing with holocaust deniers or anyone else with a crazy, hare-brained skepticism about a legitimate truth. | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/26/2007 8:17:34 PM |
Tell that to my kids who may not pray aloud, thanking God for their meal together at lunch..
If school officials are preventing your children from praying on their own individual time, then by all means they are having their rights violated. The establishment clause and the "no prayer in school" movement only seeks to abolish STATE-led prayer, in which people of other faiths will feel ostracized as school and state officials endorse a specific religion and lead large groups in prayer. If your kids want to quietly pray over their meal at lunchtime, without going into hysterics or harming anyone else, then they are free to do so, and you should contact the ACLU or a similar organization if the school is depriving them of this right. | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/27/2007 5:58:43 AM |
I think the spirit of what Jesus is saying is for those who make an outward show of righteousness. I have a hard time thinking he meant it to abolish praying in public since he himself openly blessed food and prayed a long prayer over his disciples. This does not fit with the teaching in Matthew if you disregard the fact that he was speaking to those more concerned with an outward show than with those concerned with pleasing God from their heart. Indeed if I didn't look for the meaning in Jesus words I might have come to a point where I gouged my eyes out or cut my hands off.
The point I was trying to get across, and I'm certainly not in total disagreement with you on the context, was that it very clearly points out that God is with you and listening - you don't have to shout to get his attention. Jesus was doing those things with believers, members of his own faith. Families can do exactly the same, within their walls.
He knows from your thoughts, and from your actions, and what's in your heart. Bowing your head and saying a silent (honest) word of thanks is all that you need to do to be heard.
The road this leads to is one day where Christians will be in the minority, and suddenly those school prayers will be Muslim, Jewish, or whatever other faith demographically takes the majority position.
If a Muslim or Jewish person gets elected President, is pork suddenly illegal to produce and eat ? Do we close all companies on the Shabbat ? 
That's why religion should not mix with politics or education - unless they are private schools paid for by members of that particular religion. This isn't discrimination against Christians, it's simply rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's .
In a society where there is a growing demographic of cultures and religions (as well as non-believers) we have to find a way to integrate everyone together. Dividing them with religion in politics and education can never accomplish that goal.
The one type of religious education in schools I am STRONGLY for, is teaching all of the main religions to every student. I actually had that , as a child. We took a look at each one, did assignments, and came out with a relatively good idea of what each stood for - and how they differed.
That opened up (for me) some great opportunities, as the English school system I was in was the one that accepted all immigrants. At that time (the Sixties) the French school board accepted only French speaking Catholics, since their schools were run (essentially) in great part by the Church.
We were like the U.N. 
We had Buddhists , Catholics , Protestants , and even some Muslims. During those class discussion we all could talk about our various religions, and share our beliefs. Since we were quite young, that was easily done.
We all walked out of there with a much greater empathy for each other. We were also able to laugh about how we sometimes saw things so differently, thanks to religion and culture.
Too bad we lose that, when we age.  | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/27/2007 7:47:11 AM |
We had Buddhists , Catholics , Protestants , and even some Muslims. During those class discussion we all could talk about our various religions, and share our beliefs. Since we were quite young, that was easily done.
We all walked out of there with a much greater empathy for each other. We were also able to laugh about how we sometimes saw things so differently, thanks to religion and culture.
Too bad we lose that, when we age.
While taking a world religion course in college,this was indeed a shared experience with many in the classroom...In an outline given,this course objective was to be able to give everyone the opportunity to have a better understanding of the different religions and cultures which in return was to extend beyond this classroom if you will.
To extend on my earlier post,...to me,there is a difference in trying to 'force' what one believes to be the word of God and those that have a desire and passion to want to share through outreach what one believes to be the word of God while wanting to be able to give others the same opportunities to be able to hear this as one continues to choose their own path....like for example I seem to believe that the person that the op was referring to in message 103 is a positive example of what I am referring to as someone wanting to give others this opportunity. | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/27/2007 11:12:18 AM | i live in a part of the country that is dominated by one Religion. some communities are 100% of this one faith. Others are 90% I happen to live in a city that is about 50/50. At times we get a lot t of Christian Churches that door knock and want to spread the message of Jesus and their brand of christianity. Last June seemed to be a time when The Faithful Christian must have gotten together to really make a big push in this are. I had at least 2 groups a week knock on my door. Once of twice was OK. a polite no thanks I'm busy usually is all it takes to send them on their way.
It is annoying and rather bothersome. Yet really is it any worse then the guy selling door to door? If you go up by the LDS Temple in Salt Lake City you get the street preachers who also want to save The Mormons. Now one thing these preachers and others need to keep in mind. the Mormons are much better at this missionary work then they are. Since the 1830's the LDS Chruch has been sending out young men and woman on their missions. They now have it down to a science. It does all get rather tiresome. Each claiming to be the " true" Chruch of Jesus. Each has the Books and the passages from those books to prove their points.
Just because someone rejects your message does not mean that you are being or will be prosecuted. There are a great many like me who may have a very different view then you, on what and who isGod . Yet I will defend your right to peacefully voice your message. I will not stand for any state sanctioned spreading of your message. | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/27/2007 12:57:43 PM | Artz,
I liked the quote by a famous atheist "I do not like what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." I took such ideas very seriously growing up and when I raised my hand to join the US Army I felt like such freedom is what I would die for. Of course this was to hide the fact from myself that I was really joining to get over a girl and hopefully get motivated to persue a higher education.
Anywho...
Montreal Guy
He knows from your thoughts, and from your actions, and what's in your heart. Bowing your head and saying a silent (honest) word of thanks is all that you need to do to be heard.
..and..
Jesus was doing those things with believers, members of his own faith.
Agreed to part one. And such is my custom. But in my experience people who do their prayers in a public manner are not to be judged either. There are examples of prayers in public before non-believers in the New Testament. Many times a prayer in public was a testamony against those who heard it. Sell your extra cloak a buy a sword... you will be hated of all men for my names sake. Look I see heaven opened up and the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Father.
You purposefully look testimony and witness as part of our faith a presume to tell us that many are doing it wrong so we shouldn't do it at all... I'm convinced of neither... even my most self righteous christian friends are not judged by me on this issue. | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/27/2007 2:03:07 PM |
You purposefully look testimony and witness as part of our faith a presume to tell us that many are doing it wrong so we shouldn't do it at all... I'm convinced of neither... even my most self righteous christian friends are not judged by me on this issue.
Not what I'm saying at all, so maybe I wasn't clear enough in how I phrased it.
It's not that public prayer is bad.
It has no place in schools or government , but it's perfectly acceptable in your home, church, or even outside on the street. | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/27/2007 9:36:12 PM | I am beginning to question what it means to witness for Christ. Most people in Western Society probably have heard that Jesus died for them. They have either accepted or rejected this. So do we keep beating them in the head with it until they agree with us or do we concentrate on living up to the Words of Jesus and gain at least some peoples respect that way?
By the way, I have always been under the impression that it is not our jobs as Christians to point out the individual sins of society, but rather share with them the Good News. | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/28/2007 7:23:35 AM |
I am beginning to question what it means to witness for Christ. Most people in Western Society probably have heard that Jesus died for them. They have either accepted or rejected this. So do we keep beating them in the head with it until they agree with us or do we concentrate on living up to the Words of Jesus and gain at least some peoples respect that way?
This post is a reflection of my own thoughts unwinding also as I have continued to read over here in this thread.Thank you for sharing this.I also wanted to highlight your post in it's entirety as I share as well with these thoughts.In doing so,I address the original post,along with other posts over here.
Some would say that I should pray and fellowship in what I believe to be God's word,only in the privacy of my home or a church.....
And the thoughts of many may actually be,"you need to keep that religious stuff behind doors because I shouldn't even have to see it happening"....the one reading this post may not feel that strongly,but indeed there are many out there that do feel exactly this way.
To continue on,for many,even if I am not "forcing what I believe to be the word of God on another"....this one may very well disapprove of me being out there even spreading what I believe to be the word God.
So then I have to just ask myself this question,"Am I really getting to be an example of Christ....am I really being Christ-like if I only stay in this "caged-like box" others deem fit for me?"
The reason why I ask myself this is because for me,being an example of Christ would include and extend beyond loving my neighbor and keeping my heart open for all, ....as well giving true forgiveness to all even if it means living with the consequences of the ones that have wronged me......Yes,for me, this example of Christ would also mean that I am out there spreading what I believe to be the word of God to others,and of course not by forceful control of any kind.
Correct me if I am wrong,but with my intimate understanding of this,Jesus was out there spreading what he believed to be the word of God to all the masses,and he chose to fellowship with others in what he believed to be the word of God, and with others that many to this day would not even think about reaching out to,or even find themselves associating with at all.
The thing is...yes because of the wounds and human sufferring of the one that has gone before me,and yes,to know my own personal suffering and struggles....but I also feel I was not intended to have to stay in this" caged-like box" others wish for me....because I feel that it was also intended for me to also have an intimate understanding for others and their struggles and suffering as well just like Jesus did and therefore show the compassion for others like Jesus did...
And as I dwell upon what all these said protest would also wish to include by many,I am aware that my religious rights and freedom would suffer greatly.And I also conclude that to witness also means to- witness-....meaning all this world-wide sufferring and struggles all around me....with this will come knowledge and lessons learned....and to witness ...meaning being there to see and observe things....just like what happened a few months back in my workplace....someone was dying while I was still holding this one in my arms,and with her final breath she tells me it's okay to let go now because she's not alone....
No,I feel one can't say they are still letting me be an example of Christ and expect me to stay in this "caged-like box" one would have designed for me should these said protest be the result of my religious rights and freedom to suffer....
So in conclusion and to address the topic,"Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?/and to address the last post in here,
for me,this is what I conclude:
If only I could stay in the calmness...
this temporary place
where all is as it should be.
But with his quiet whisper
comes knowledge
and with knowledge
comes understanding....
And with eyes that have been washed,
we walk these warm sands
to witness
and yes
also ....to witness....
edit/sorry about the added blank space taken
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/28/2007 7:54:44 AM | The thing that strikes me as odd, is that it seems like Christians are the only ones going door to door trying to save souls . I don't see anyBuddhists doing that, or Muslims, or even atheists.
All those other religions continue with their goals of enlightenment, without any real desire (at least in our pluralistic North American society) to try and save anyone.
They certainly see their religion (or lack of it) as importantly as Christians do, and still feel no need to do this.
Correct me if I am wrong,but with my intimate understanding of this,Jesus was out there spreading what he believed to be the word of God to all the masses,and he chose to fellowship with others in what he believed to be the word of God, and with others that many to this day would not even think about reaching out to,or even find themselves associating with at all.
The way I see Jesus, and His message , is that he was not out their spreading anything. He wasn't knocking on doors, or really speaking out from a bully pulpit.
He just .....was.
His actions define His message, and not his words.
When Thomas Jefferson took the Bible, and did his own version of it (removing all the divinity involved in it) , that message wasn't lessened....it was increased.
Even if you see Jesus as simply a man, and nothing more, you can't take anything away from His actions. That message is equally as valid.
Jesus was all about going out there and simply doing what was obvious, without any motive behind it. That's His true spirit.
If you were hungry, He fed you.
Sick, He cured you.
Unloved, He loved you.
He did those things not for any attention it would bring Him, but because they needed to be done. He did them because HE had no other choice BUT to do them.
Jumping up and down proclaiming your faith doesn't do it for me. Nor does trying to get some heavenly reward for helping others.
It's not an "Air Miles"plan.
If even 50 percent of the most dedicated Christians went out this afternoon, and just helped people out, because they desperately needed that help, I'd be far more impressed - and so would a lot of other people.
Instead of judging people and isolating them based on the Message, let that Message shine through in your actions.
You see a gay man over there dying of AIDS ? Go to his side, and cherish him now exactly as you would your own brother, and your message becomes as powerful as Christ's was.
That's timeless.
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/28/2007 8:16:19 AM | To address the post in 114 and 115:
I feel everyone's personal spiritual path is their very own "personal" spiritual path.And I can't speak on the behalf of someone else in regard to what this one may include or choose not to include on their spiritual journey.But I can speak from my heart soul and mind in regard to my spiritual path....
And to add,my intimate understanding of Jesus and yours may differ...For me....my intimate understanding is that Jesus did not stay only in the temple...or limited himself to the privacy of being behind close doors...I also feel like this one we speak of ,walked and walked .....and spoke outloud to others ....all the masses....anyone that wished to hear....and
I also believe that he spoke his father's words to anyone that wanted to hear,including some that wished not to hear....even when some would doubt and demand what is truth....yes,I believe that he was spreading God's love.....but for me,I wouldn't think for a min that he was only out there giving out hugs and handshakes and only reminded us to love our neighbor....There was a great deal more to his message!....and yes...I believe he shared the word of God everywhere he walked.....and walked...and walked...for anyone and everyone!
and in regard to this:
jumping up and down proclaiming your faith doesn't do it for me. Nor does trying to get some heavenly reward for helping others.
It's not an "Air Miles"plan.
If even 50 percent of the most dedicated Christians went out this afternoon, and just helped people out, because they desperately needed that help, I'd be far more impressed - and so would a lot of other people.
Instead of judging people and isolating them based on the Message, let that Message shine through in your actions.
One thing I know I just can not do....and that is to pretend I know the condition of someone else's heart.... if someone was doing these things you have mentioned,thinking to themselves,ooohh,I got a blessing coming to me now, kind of thing...guess what?...I wouldn't know....again,I say,I only know the condition of my own heart when I reach out to others... | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/28/2007 9:05:01 AM |
He was just living His life, and essentially not bothering anyone that didn't want to be bothered - Actually, thinking that Jesus went about His life, making friends and people smile is unreasonable. Jesus Himself stated that He would cause brother to turn against brother, family members against themselves and although He is the Prince of Peace, do not fool yourself into thinking that that is what He leaves in His wake for it is often not..
Tests are given in schools, and students are expected to answer them in the manner in which they are taught Students are then expected to be "brainwashed" ( a term as so many unbelievers use to describe believers).. simply believe/ learn what is told in class, never questioning by whose authority such information came...
~having true faith in God comes with the commitment that no matter who or what is told to you, you will not lose faith in His existence nor His Word..
and not supply any "answers" that are "given" to them by any invisible guy in the clouds they happen to believe in. Invisible guy in the clouds"?
Your sarcasm says much..
Religion is a private matter, and not a public one. Says who?
Glad to ses that, as a believer, I have no choice in the matter, then. So then, let secular demand set the rules? Why?
If you want to "protect" your kids from such "lies and falsehoods" , send them to a private Christian school So then, seclude ourselves? By the way, we are instructed not to do so, but to go and make fishers of men..how are we to do so when swimming in our own little gated pond?
Do you really think your God can't hear and appreciate that fact ?
So God's deaf ?
God can hear all things. I am not demanding that my children be able to outwardly praise Him but simply answered a question that I was asked as to how they have lost a right to do so as they wish.
(and I do pray "outloud" when alone, when no one can hear me, but that is for reasons of a spiritual battle nature, that is totally O.T. ) | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/28/2007 10:45:18 AM | Ugh.
Let's get one thing perfectly clear:
This is a free country. Everyone has the right to say, do, and worship whomever or whatever the hell they want, and NOBODY has the right to deny them that privelege, especially not the Government.
Secular Demand sets the rules because that's how the rules were WRITTEN in the first damn place... at least here in the States. Elsewhere in the world, the entirety of civilization had been written to religious demand. Religion is individual, thus, private. Nobody can tell you how to worship, by law, which means that you cannot tell others how to worship. Live and let ****ing live. The concept is not a difficult one.
Anyone can pray however they choose... until it interferes with any other person's right to do the same. If a christian, muslim, or pagan decides to enjoy the protection the Law offers, they cannot then choose to ignore the requirements it asks of them. Don't like it? Go set up a theocracy.
Oh wait, those have been done before. We refer to that time period as the Dark Ages. | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/28/2007 12:36:11 PM | Well... as far as making an ideal for christians to live up too. I cannot judge (anymore) those christians who love to jump up and down and knock on doors like I used too. Let me re-write the words to a christian childrens song to bring things into perspective
Jesus loves the little children
all the little children of the world
smart or stupid dumb or bright
they are precious in his sight....
I just think it presumptious to take a scriptural viewpoint that seems more accurate on the surface and use it to disqualify folks who I know first hand are also amoungst those who "walk the walk" no matter how some of their outward practices may seem. Some of the dumbest people I've ever met make for the brightest christians who to my knowledge have been doing things for over two decades of knowing them that other more intellectual christians wouldn't touch with gloves on. From my perspective their are some who make an outward show of their faith for attention... and others who do it from a sincere heart if not a particularly knowledgable one. | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/28/2007 10:20:24 PM |
All those other religions continue with their goals of enlightenment, without any real desire (at least in our pluralistic North American society) to try and save anyone. Some religious paths teach that the highest that you can offer the world is your own enlightenment.... because your light will lift others...
I truly believe that the enlightened being named Jesus did just that... it's too bad that his words got twisted and used for an elite fews gain..... | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/29/2007 6:20:52 AM | The way I see it it, God's love doesn't shine ON you, it shines THROUGH you. You aren't a reflector, you're a lens.
You aren't there to judge, in any spiritual sense. You are not better, or worse, than anyone else. For the truly spiritual, you ARE everyone else.
If one takes that stance, it's very hard to "protest" anything you do.
You can't blame a lot of people for their "anti-religious" views, if you understand that those views are based on things they see every day. Just look here at POF at some posts by people that claim to be quite religious, or look around you at others.
Like anything else the human race gets involved with, people lose sight of things sometimes.
We see T.V. evangelists that are simply in it for the power and money, religious people with signs saying "God hates fags" at soldiers funerals, Roman Catholic priests abusing children, other people that use their religion in the affairs of state, and we live in a world where every day we see people killing each other over their religion.
Can you blame people for how they think ?
Of course that has ZERO to do with good Christians who quietly work to make the world a better place . Those people typically AREN'T in the spotlight, nor should they be. They are behind the scenes, like our good brother in the kitchen, making a difference each and every day.
There's this priest in Montreal, who goes into the streets each and every night in an R.V., and he seeks out street kids, and gives them food and shelter. He's sitting there, in that R.V. , with kids who have pet rats, punks , and tattoos and spiked hair in various colours.
His name is Father Emmett Johns .
In 1988, Father Emmett Johns decided to make his lifelong dream come true: he became a missionary. Although he didn't have to leave the country to make this happen, his journey has indeed been a very long one. After 36 years as a priest at various parishes throughout Greater Montreal, he found his calling in the city's downtown streets. He started out by meandering through these streets at night in a used van he bought with his own meager savings in an attempt to make contact with young street kids in need of a bite to eat and a little human compassion. That's how Le Bon Dieu dans la rue came into being. Soon afterward, the charity's founder, who was 60 at the time, was affectionately nicknamed "Pops" by those he was committed to helping.
If one is judged by the strength and depth of his convictions, personal values, undying faithfulness to his friends, selfless generosity, tireless devotion to helping the weak and the poor, then it is safe to say that Father Johns is truly a giant among men.
http://www.danslarue.com/an/father.html
This man started something when he was SIXTY, and age many retire at. He bought his own van, and set out on his quest to help those who needed it most. He's been doing this for a decade and a half.
He judged no one, and he gave those forgotten kids something no one else probably ever did during their lives.
Love, attention, and understanding, and some food and shelter. Not to save their souls, but to save their lives. Not to convert them, but to simply empower them with his great gift of compassion.
Who knows how many lives this man has personally changed for the better, how many people have returned to productive lives ? How many are even alive today, through this one man's dedication to Christ's message ?
 
That's what I mean by being a lens. | |
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| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 8/29/2007 9:25:31 AM | As a Christian, I have some very deep beliefs, about right and wrong etc.
Freedom of religion though, having to the right to disagree with me, is also a deep belief that I hold.
In no way, do I condone those Christians who expect every one to live by what they think is right or wrong. Hey, many Christians dont agree with what is right and wrong to begin with. There are Christians on here that no doubt think I am completely wrong . Thats democracy in action for you, and I love every minute of it!
There is another post on here, written by ayoung lady seeking advice concerning her being pregnant for the 2nd time. One thing that struck me , was that some anti Christians can also be as blind to the moral decisions of others , their right to choose ,just as much as the fanatical Christian.
Her simple sttatement that she was uncomfortable with abortion as an option, brought a lot of very harsh judgement down upon her. Just thought it fair to point out, that there are many zelots, of every persuasion. Hot heads will always be hot heads.
While there are many who claim to preach Gods words, they get their information from a different Bible than I do. The example that Jesus showed us when on this earth is a far cry from what a lot of Christians show. He was gracious to the woman at the well, broke bread with the tax collector, told us to not throw the first stone unless we as well were sinless.
Its not our job as Christians to cast stones and judgements on unbelievers, tell them how wicked they are. Its our job to emulate Christ, lead people to him with his promise of salvation, and hope! Its Jesus`s job and the holy spirit`s to deal with their behaviour. Not ours at all.
He didnt yell once that he hated "fags", actually he showed he loved them by dying for their sins.
There will be wide spread persecution of Christians one day for sure. Unfortuantely, it will be all of them that suffer becuase of a few zelots who followed their own hate inspired doctrine rather than the one shown to us by Christ.
Funy thing is, a lot of good believing Christians are knocked by those fanatics as well. Those who because of slight doctrine differences , label other believers as wrong. The example of Father Emmit Johns mentioned above is one.
I am sure, if Christ were here, he would breaking bread with the good man, along with the punks etc down on St Catherines street.
Dont feel bad about being picked on by these "warriors of God". I get it from them as well, lol, had one write me here that if they had their way, my Scotch would be out lawed!
Do as Christ did, feed the poor , help the lost, preach his salvation and get real indignant when tossing the money changers out of your temples.
What is it we were admonished to do? "Take the log out of our own eye before removing the splinter in someone elses eye". | |
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kotkoj
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Joined: 5/10/2005
Msg: 125 | |
| Will wide spread anti religious or anti christian protest happen soon in the US and Canada?
Posted: 1/24/2008 10:00:09 PM | | I would like to see it happen. See if someone wants to believe go ahead I don't care. What I don't agree with is marriage. It is all about church and religion. I think you should be able to get married and have absolutely nothing to do with ministers/church/god. Now I know common law is basically married but woman always want a ceremony and well without a minister there is no ceremony. So I don't agree with that. | |
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