Quote:
Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa
What I think is just as fascinating is that you must be having a major struggling on a day by day level. That isn't an insult, by no means. Sinful attitude, why? Why would I have to have one? Sinful thoughts? Again, can you tell me why I would have to have them? My own goodness? Here is another thought of my old dad, "Christians think what Serial Killers actually perform." When he would say that he would roll, chew, the end of his cigar. Calvinism breeds the Jailhouse Jesus. I have a sister in the church who use to be a teacher in the prison. She was able to interview inmates as helpers. She interviewed one chap who was Bible study leader, helped in chapel. She told me that he was very pious and knowledgeable concerning scripture. Well, it turns out that when she checked out his background, that he assaulted the dental assistant, and broke her jaw. I said that to say this, he believed that while sinning he was saved. He could attempt to rape a girl but still be in good standing with God. Because after all it wasn't about his goodness, but Jesus' goodness. After all sin is part of who we are, and never can live a sin free life. So, we have a bullet wound oozing blood, and just a small band-aid to stop the hemorrhaging? Why is Jesus telling married men not to even look on a woman to lust after her in their mind? Didn't Jesus know that was clearly impossible? But even worse lay the charge of adultery? Costeon, please explain the verses I have given you. Clearly you have the time because you keep coming back for more.  |
Actually I don't feel like I am constantly struggling. I have noticed, for example, if I have had intense pressure at work for an extended amount of time or have had little sleep for an extended amount of time and am exhausted I am more prone to have a struggle with sinful thoughts. I don't think that is extraordinary. But apparently you, Esaias, and Michael never face this and continually prevail in absolute perfection. If this is true, bravo, I am sincerely impressed.
But I wonder if the Lord Jesus evaluates your thought life like you do? Does he regard you as consistently pristine as you suggest you are? How do you know you are perfect? You just don't ever feel conviction about anything done, thought, or said?
I have never suggested anything as extreme as your examples above. I would not think that someone who attempted rape and then assaulted someone else was a man of true faith. I have said repeatedly that the goal is to seek sinless perfection, and I would add that, if someone scoffed at that and said our behavior does not matter at all, I would assume that person did not have true faith. All truth faith is expressed in the pursuit of holiness. I may in fact have a good amount of time where I don't seem to sin in thought, word, or deed, but I do not think, practically speaking, that anyone is perfect at all times. I have not, at any rate, met anyone who is. I asked y'all if y'all were or if you knew anyone who was and y'all have acted like it was so odd that I would ask such a question. Who wouldn't want to know if there are others who are consistently perfect? Seriously, maybe I could learn something from how they manage it with the help of God.
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