rumitoid

It is, from our worldly observations, bizarre and negative. pretty much a joke of idealism and extreme naivete. If viewed correctly by the mundane mind, it is totally unappealing and of no use to life on earth. To live in Christ does not and will not have any appeal whatsoever to live in his way. For many Christians, the unappealing aspects or prospects of real commitment are suppressed. In name only is the curse and pledge.

JW

A bigger problem is some of the people who claim to represent Him.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

No, the big problem is people telling others how to come to him.

wuzblynd Loc: thomson georgia

:thumbup:

mcmlx

You said it all when you said, "from our worldly observations". We are not OF this world. We are IN it, for a purpose.
If I were to claim that real commitment is "unappealing", then I could judge myself as not a friend of JESUS.
Yes, there are a whole lot of people who profess to follow the ways of JESUS, but that's only when they are in church on Sunday.
MCMLX

JW

You can go to Him any way you choose. If you claim to represent Him and act as if his instructions are irrelevant, you make damned (accent damned), poor witnesses.

Armageddun Loc: The show me state

We come to Christ just as we are. The Holy Spirit works with our brokenness and we become a new creation, the old has passed away, behold the new has come.

Jesus said I am the Way, The T***h, The Life. He prayed In John 17 that we would become one with Him as He and the Father are one.

The life a Christian lives, he/she lives by the Christ who lives within them.

richard0135 Loc: little rock, arkansas

Please tell me then, why does all these poor helpless childrend dying in hospitals deserve this. Are you telling me, that is God's will? A young person 16 yr. old driving their auto down the road and get k**led. The good book says the age of reason is 13. If this child is not saved they go to hell according to the bible. Why is that God's will? Explaine how several christians are praying for the outcome on a game or anything, and it is sure only one could win. How does God select that person? Or does he select. at all? Does it not say"Ask and it shall be given"

Armageddun Loc: The show me state

There are many questions, in fact probably more questions than there are answers. Chances are even if someone would offer an answer you wouldn't accept it because the answer would not fit your or my earthly way of thinking.

Gods original plan was for a sinless perfect world however sin entered the world and corrupted not only humanity nut the world in general.

Bad things do happen to good people. Many of the bad things that happen in the world are caused by negligence. Some bad things happen because of accidents. But some things that are bad and harmful happen just because this is a sin cursed world.

God is in the process of redeeming and reclaiming humanity and nature back to its perfect origin.

This world will be replaced by a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no pain, sorrow, tears, suffering, death, or any of the misery causing happenings.

How do we know this? We know by faith, that is the hard part for non-believers or atheist to accept. God has not deserted His creation, our pain does grieve God, but in His mercy and grace He has given mankind the right to chose to accept Him or reject him.

There is a better day, a better world coming but without faith it is impossible to believe it much less experience it.

rumitoid

Lol, yes, very true.

rumitoid

I did say it all in "from our worldly observations." You missed my point but perhaps I was not clear. Our worldly observations show clear and plain, without grace, that we are 'OF THIS WORLD." What Jesus offered as a way in this world was ferociously idealistic, absurd yet in an obtuse way admirable. Nothing that could possibly be adhered to consistently but noteworthy in balance with survival and acceptance in the community. Fanatical following of his word, such as to love our enemy, must have reasonable constraints. How could I love my country, be a true patriot, and love its enemies?

You cannot, it is that simple...if you are IN THE WORLD. But we are "citizens of heaven," foreigners." "strangers in a strange land," ambassadors of heaven." Our allegiance is only to love and to God.

rumitoid

If bad things happen to good people, why can't bad things happen to the environment at our hands?

I have no problem whatsoever at accepting "bad things" in my life because they do not exist. Life ends. Sickness, disease, poverty, injustice, and everything else seen as negative is part of being in a fallen world, but this is not God's plan. He is not in control of such things! He is the way out of the pain and suffering this world offers with his grace. We all have choices and in those choices we can suffer or rejoice: circumstances and conditions be damned.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

We've Come This Far By Faith

We've come this far by faith
Leaning on the LORD
Trusting in His Holy Word
He never failed me yet

Chorus/Refrain
Oh' can't turn around
We've come this far by faith

Don't be discouraged
When troubles in your life
He will bear your burdens oh
And remove all misery and strife
And that's why

Chorus/Refrain
Oh' can't turn around
We've come this far by faith

Short and to the point.

rumitoid

Being heavy-ladened with troubles in our life, being discouraged, knowing misery and strife is the true path to freedom in our existence, not something we want anyone else to bear or take away. This is growth opportunity. This is a way to shed the self, our biggest obstacle to God.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

I have a really favorite word I use frequently with Uncle and ProgenyE. It goes...W H A T E V E R!