I am about to cause myself to come across as kind. Watch. But first, a little workout is in order.
OK. Ready.
Thank you, Mike, for your thoughtful analysis of my polls. Your input is always valuable and welcome.
You are kindly welcome!
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
Yeah!!!! How dare anyone ask difficult, thought-provoking questions that cause us to more deeply reflect on what we believe!!!
Nothing wrong with hard questions, but when done intentionally to destroy others' faith, then go figure. I have believers ask me hard questions all the time, in hopes to believe and intentions to draw closer to the Lord. But others will ask hard questions with no such intentions. You do not think Timmy is posing these questions with the intention of proving to others that the biblical Jesus is bunk as much as he personally feels Jesus is?
If I knew Timmy was coming to visit, I would bake him a cake and slap his back and have a good time. I like him. But intentions are intentions.
Personally I think some other folks enjoy standing up for anything the average believer is against for the sake of spite more than anything else. I also think some other folks inwardly KNOW very well that some people have an agenda to promote unbelief, but they erringly and mistakenly overlook that in a sincere desire to see such folks change by sheer virtue of their kindness, making the mistake of condoning damaging actions, while actually enjoying spitefully hitting out at others.
I'll send my bill in the mail.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
Nothing wrong with hard questions, but when done intentionally to destroy others' faith, then go figure. I have believers ask me hard questions all the time, in hopes to believe and intentions to draw closer to the Lord. But others will ask hard questions with no such intentions. You do not think Timmy is posing these questions with the intention of proving to others that the biblical Jesus is bunk as much as he personally feels Jesus is?
If I knew Timmy was coming to visit, I would bake him a cake and slap his back and have a good time. I like him. But intentions are intentions.
Personally I think some other folks enjoy standing up for anything the average believer is against for the sake of spite more than anything else. I also think some other folks inwardly KNOW very well that some people have an agenda to promote unbelief, but they erringly and mistakenly overlook that in a sincere desire to see such folks change by sheer virtue of their kindness, making the mistake of condoning damaging actions, while actually enjoying spitefully hitting out at others.
I'll send my bill in the mail.
I'm not concerned about his intentions. What were Paul's intentions on the road to Damascus?
If God is all that we say he is, I'm sure he can stand the test of Timmy! And if he does negatively effect people of faith? Well, maybe their faith and repentance wasn't real, kinda like you described in the "cross" thread!
I'm not concerned about his intentions. What were Paul's intentions on the road to Damascus?
Apples and oranges. Would you have condoned Paul's journey and its purpose on the road to Damascus, and pat his little blessed pea-picking hearts' back? "Keep on killing Christians, Saul."
God loves sinners, and true believers do as well, but not at the cost of condoning sinful intentions.
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If God is all that we say he is, I'm sure he can stand the test of Timmy! And if he does negatively effect people of faith? Well, maybe their faith and repentance wasn't real, kinda like you described in the "cross" thread!
Well, God does allow the devil to affect us. But I would never condone the devil's actions (and I am not comparing anyone to the devil). Just bringing out the principle of the thing.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
Apples and oranges. Would you have condoned Paul's journey and its purpose on the road to Damascus, and pat his little blessed pea-picking hearts' back? "Keep on killing Christians, Saul."
••No, Apples and apples. Who said anything about condoning the journey? "Intent" was the issue and that's what I was talking about. So Timmy just might be hanging around AFF to prod people to his side of the fence. And what if God is using AFF to keep Timmy close so that one day his faith is renewed? If so, I'll be glad that people like and you and Prax, who'd rather see him gone, didn't win.
God loves sinners, and true believers do as well, but not at the cost of condoning sinful intentions.
••God uses bad intentions all the time. He used Saul's. He used Joseph's brother's. He used Nebuchadnezzar's. He used Herod's. The list can get long. How many times have guys gone to church looking for girls (or vice versa) and ended up being ravaged by grace?
Well, God does allow the devil to affect us. But I would never condone the devil's actions (and I am not comparing anyone to the devil).
••I think you did, actually.
Just bringing out the principle of the thing.
••And it's the principle of the thing I'm talking about. Would Timmy like for me to "see the light" and agree with his view of things? Maybe. Probably? I can't speak for him. Would I like for Timmy to rediscover his faith? In his old pentecostal faith, no, but faith in Christ? Certainly. But all I'm doing is being his friend, and I'm not his friend strategically, I'm just a friend.
Nothing wrong with hard questions, but when done intentionally to destroy others' faith, then go figure. I have believers ask me hard questions all the time, in hopes to believe and intentions to draw closer to the Lord. But others will ask hard questions with no such intentions. You do not think Timmy is posing these questions with the intention of proving to others that the biblical Jesus is bunk as much as he personally feels Jesus is?
If I knew Timmy was coming to visit, I would bake him a cake and slap his back and have a good time. I like him. But intentions are intentions.
Personally I think some other folks enjoy standing up for anything the average believer is against for the sake of spite more than anything else. I also think some other folks inwardly KNOW very well that some people have an agenda to promote unbelief, but they erringly and mistakenly overlook that in a sincere desire to see such folks change by sheer virtue of their kindness, making the mistake of condoning damaging actions, while actually enjoying spitefully hitting out at others.
I'll send my bill in the mail.
Destroying other's Faith? I consider this statement strange, and maybe misapplied. It (The statement) appears to be the escape route of those who lose the debate. In other words, casting blame upon those who have ideas that prove to be right and convincing to the point people change their views.
If my Religion or Idea about God is solid and true, no one should be able to shake or destroy my Faith. If what we have is shaken or proven false, Faith is not destroyed, Faith is renewed and sustained.
Weakness of mind is a mind that can, and will be, manipulated by bogus philosophy. And, a mind is weak that won't venture into the unknown of learning. Church keeps people "At Bay", fearful of the deep waters of Truth.
Religion is afraid of you and I becoming educated with the Facts, because Knowledge is power and unlocks the door of lies.
Apples and oranges. Would you have condoned Paul's journey and its purpose on the road to Damascus, and pat his little blessed pea-picking hearts' back? "Keep on killing Christians, Saul."
••No, Apples and apples. Who said anything about condoning the journey?
You did. lol
You condoned Timmy's polls saying people can handle it. His intentions were to damage faith in the Bible. You simply condoned his polls. You said intentions do not matter. You then raised Paul's journey to Damascus, saying, "What were Paul's intentions on the road to Damascus? " as though to imply intentions did not matter, just that Paul got saved. I used that to show my point that condoning the polls is like condoning Paul's journey to Damascus, whether Paul got saved or not.
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"Intent" was the issue and that's what I was talking about. So Timmy just might be hanging around AFF to prod people to his side of the fence. And what if God is using AFF to keep Timmy close so that one day his faith is renewed? If so, I'll be glad that people like and you and Prax, who'd rather see him gone, didn't win.
No one wants to see Timmy gone. It's just practically everything said has an angle to damage people's faith. The polls are likewise engineered to bring damage to the faith. I think Timmy would admit that.
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God loves sinners, and true believers do as well, but not at the cost of condoning sinful intentions.
••God uses bad intentions all the time. He used Saul's. He used Joseph's brother's. He used Nebuchadnezzar's. He used Herod's. The list can get long. How many times have guys gone to church looking for girls (or vice versa) and ended up being ravaged by grace?
LOL. But He does not condone their intentions. That was my point.
No one invites young men to come to church so they can look for girls, whether they do that and get saved, anyway.
"Timmy: you keep on seeking to damage faith in Jesus and the Bible, and we're going to just believe that God will reach you. But keep on seeking to damage faith." Please, brother.
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Well, God does allow the devil to affect us. But I would never condone the devil's actions (and I am not comparing anyone to the devil).
••I think you did, actually.
Of course, if you do not believe my explanations.
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Just bringing out the principle of the thing.
••And it's the principle of the thing I'm talking about. Would Timmy like for me to "see the light" and agree with his view of things? Maybe. Probably? I can't speak for him. Would I like for Timmy to rediscover his faith? In his old pentecostal faith, no, but faith in Christ? Certainly. But all I'm doing is being his friend, and I'm not his friend strategically, I'm just a friend.
I personally think some folks condone a person's desire to damage faith due to not seriously considering that desire since one's concern is more about the sheer enjoyment one gets from watching others disagree whom he theologically disagrees with, thereby missing the damaging activity that goes on with people who may never even post. Again, IMHO.
My thoughts, anyway.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
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