Ray Boltz????

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Michlow

I made a response to Amos this morning somewhere on this thread about my opinions about the Bible...but to make it simple...No, I don't believe the Bible to be "inspired word of God".

I don't consider myself to be "living in sin". Unless you consider not attending church, having issues with the Bible, watching TV, and not following standards to be sin. Oh, and I swear like a sailor. (But I don't take the Lord's name in vain).

I consider myself to be a liberal (ultra by the definations here), Progressive, emergent, post-modern, feminist Christian. But I DO still consider myself a Christian. And consider my life a faith-journey.

See that is my point. I don't think the issue is living in sin. I never said you were living in sin.

[Praxeas]

I am concerned though about the other areas of not accepting the bible as the inspired word of God. What forms the basis of what you believe is the Truth? You don't believe homosexuality is a sin or wrong? I don't want to get graphic, but do you believe them engaging in that kind of behavior is a sin or not?

As I said, Im not accusing you of living in sin....but you know even most Muslims are not living in sin compared to most people, But they are doctrinally in correct and in some very serious areas.

It's good you believe in Jesus and still believe He is God. You have said some things in the past that sounded very serious and now I don't know if you were serious or just yanking our chains

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I am concerned though about the other areas of not accepting the bible as the inspired word of God. What forms the basis of what you believe is the Truth? You don't believe homosexuality is a sin or wrong? I don't want to get graphic, but do you believe them engaging in that kind of behavior is a sin or not?

As I said, Im not accusing you of living in sin....but you know even most Muslims are not living in sin compared to most people, But they are doctrinally in correct and in some very serious areas.

It's good you believe in Jesus and still believe He is God. You have said some things in the past that sounded very serious and now I don't know if you were serious or just yanking our chains

I walked a very dark path, when I first left the UPC. I was very wounded, and my concept of God, and faith was very warped and twisted. I had no trust for the Bible, no trust for God, no trust for the Church, or other Christians.

I hated God, yet I desparately craved Him. I'm not sure that can make sense unless you have ever experienced something like that. But I was so afraid and wounded, I needed healing, but I was too scared to get close to anything that could help.

So during that time, it was not unlikely that I said horrible things about God, church, pastors, Christians, basically anything having to do with faith.

It was a difficult time for me, because before I could start rebuilding, I had to first deconstruct the faulty faith I had. I am now in the process of rebuilding. Which is messy and time consuming, but very fulfilling. I started with the only thing I had left. The belief that Jesus is God. To many it's not enough, but for me, it was all I had, and I grow stronger each day.

(Disclaimer -For the record, I do not blame the UPC for my experience. During my time as an OP I attended 3 churches. The first was severely abusive, the second very unhealthy, but not near the level of the first, while the third was relatively healthly. I understand that my experience was not necessarily the norm. )

[U376977]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I am concerned though about the other areas of not accepting the bible as the inspired word of God. What forms the basis of what you believe is the Truth? You don't believe homosexuality is a sin or wrong? I don't want to get graphic, but do you believe them engaging in that kind of behavior is a sin or not?

As I said, Im not accusing you of living in sin....but you know even most Muslims are not living in sin compared to most people, But they are doctrinally in correct and in some very serious areas.

It's good you believe in Jesus and still believe He is God. You have said some things in the past that sounded very serious and now I don't know if you were serious or just yanking our chains

Who are you addressing?

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

See that is my point. I don't think the issue is living in sin. I never said you were living in sin.

I know

You defined a backslider as one who was living in sin, so I was simply reiterating again why I don't consider myself to be a backslider.

But I will definately accept that the label of "Heretical" to the OP faith.

So we have come to an agreement, I am not reporbate, I am backslidden only by certain definitions, but I am definately a heretic.

Oh, and BTW, perhaps I do use my humor as a passive aggressive thing. I never considered that before. In RL, I tend to skip the passive part. But perhaps, what I considered as being "toned down" for the forum, was just as you said.