That too is also "being human."
*sigh*

This is why Christians have so many problems in the area of sexuality. Even in monogamous relationships, they carry around a lot of guilt over having BASIC, HUMAN DESIRES. This causes unnecessary complexes and neurotic behaviors that serve no purpose other than to cast stones against those who are just experiencing normal human reactions when it comes to having chemistry with another person.

If you act on every desire, sure that could be detrimental. But, this is just another way for Christians to pretend they think "higher" than the rest of us heathens.

(March 16, 2014 at 8:58 am)discipulus Wrote: Thus far in my walk, I have only been made stronger and edified in numerous ways as a result of denying the desires of my flesh and living a life in the service of others. It has been denonstrated through research that those who volunteer in the service of others on a regular basis are more healthy and happier than those who do not.

When I compare my former life of drunkeness, drug abuse, chasing women, selfishness, and self-centeredness with my life now, the difference is as wide as the sea.

Your arrogance arises from an innate failure to recognize that your capability for self-control was always possible even apart from your belief in Christianity. Your former lifestyle, which you've probably come to associate with unbelief, has nothing to do with atheism any more than love and charity is uniquely Christian. Only in your imagination does a causal link exist between belief in Jesus and being happy.

Quote:All Christians are to be celibate in the sense of abstaining from sexual intercourse outside the bounds of marriage.

My girlfriend and I are celibate. We have moments of fleshly weakness no doubt, but our committment to honor God has brought us closer together and made our bond stronger for we are partners in the endeavor together.

On what basis do you define marriage? A monogamous commitment? A piece of paper sanctioned by the US Government?

Quote:We receive strength every time we resist temptation and are living proof that through Christ we can do all things. Are we perfect? By no means,

In other words, you can't do all things...just the things most people are able to do by their own will power.

Quote:and we have given in at times. However the few moments of pleasure we experince are nothing when compared with the peace and joy of being in the will of God.

i.e. will of yourself that in your "humility" see simultaneously as the "will of God."

Quote:When I say that if you reject Christ and die in this state that you will not be with Him in eternity, this is what hell is, i.e. existing apart from the immediate presence of God, then it seems to me you should understand that this is something that the despiser of Christ would want.

Who's Christ? The one you made up when you interpreted the writings of other people's made up Christ? No one here despises the historical Jesus any more than we despise the historical George Phillip Johnson II. Who's George Phillip Johnson II? No idea and don't care.

Quote:If a person mocks and spits on my pathetic and petty version of Christ as vile it is clear that spending an eternity with Him would be the last thing that this person would want! That would be hell for such a one.

That's better.

Quote:God gives everyone exactly what they want. He loves you too much to force you to be with Him.

That's comforting.

Quote:I do not agree with your lifestyle in the sense that you a man have sexual intercourse with another man and then think this is something that you need to tell people as if it is something they need to know.

Why does anyone need to know your lifestyle choices, such as your celibacy or superstitious rituals?

Quote:It advocates punishing people for instinctual thoughts?

Is lust not instinctual?

Quote:And yes, lusting after a person in your heart is the same in God's sight as if you had done it actually. God's standards of righteousness are not our standards and rightfully so.

Oh okay.

(March 16, 2014 at 10:45 am)truthBtold Wrote: What was the harm in wearing different blends of clothing..

I know its a sin to wear white after labor day!! Amen and pass the buttermilk biscuits!!!! Yum...

Are you familiar with the fertility cult practices of the Canaanites?

(March 16, 2014 at 11:31 am)discipulus Wrote: This is "lusting after a woman in your heart".

Oh, good, I'm so relieved, usually when I look at a beautifull woman, the lust is felt in another organ . Phew.

(March 16, 2014 at 11:37 am)Deidre32 Wrote: That too is also "being human."
*sigh*

This is why Christians have so many problems in the area of sexuality. Even in monogamous relationships, they carry around a lot of guilt over having BASIC, HUMAN DESIRES. This causes unnecessary complexes and neurotic behaviors that serve no purpose other than to cast stones against those who are just experiencing normal human reactions when it comes to having chemistry with another person.

If you act on every desire, sure that could be detrimental. But, this is just another way for Christians to pretend they think "higher" than the rest of us heathens.

I actually do not have any problems in the area of sexuality. The ability to have sexual intercourse and to be intimate with one's spouse is a gift from God. It is good and pure and sacred.

And yes I do believe sexual intercourse within the confines of a heterosexual marriage is more beneficial than sexual intercourse any other way. I speak from experience.

(March 16, 2014 at 11:42 am)Pickup_shonuff Wrote:

(March 16, 2014 at 8:58 am)discipulus Wrote: Thus far in my walk, I have only been made stronger and edified in numerous ways as a result of denying the desires of my flesh and living a life in the service of others. It has been denonstrated through research that those who volunteer in the service of others on a regular basis are more healthy and happier than those who do not.

When I compare my former life of drunkeness, drug abuse, chasing women, selfishness, and self-centeredness with my life now, the difference is as wide as the sea.

Your arrogance arises from an innate failure to recognize that your capability for self-control was always possible even apart from your belief in Christianity. Your former lifestyle, which you've probably come to associate with unbelief, has nothing to do with atheism any more than love and charity is uniquely Christian. Only in your imagination does a causal link exist between belief in Jesus and being happy.

On my phone so it's too difficult to quote just the top response. But that is an outstanding observation! So true. We have the ability to "change" our behaviors yet religious people preach that their inner will (will power?) came from a higher power.
Hopefully these seeds you plant here, will blossom. You can lead a horse to water but u can't make him think. :-)

(March 16, 2014 at 11:42 am)Pickup_shonuff Wrote:

(March 16, 2014 at 8:58 am)discipulus Wrote: Thus far in my walk, I have only been made stronger and edified in numerous ways as a result of denying the desires of my flesh and living a life in the service of others. It has been denonstrated through research that those who volunteer in the service of others on a regular basis are more healthy and happier than those who do not.

When I compare my former life of drunkeness, drug abuse, chasing women, selfishness, and self-centeredness with my life now, the difference is as wide as the sea.

Your arrogance arises from an innate failure to recognize that your capability for self-control was always possible even apart from your belief in Christianity. Your former lifestyle, which you've probably come to associate with unbelief, has nothing to do with atheism any more than love and charity is uniquely Christian. Only in your imagination does a causal link exist between belief in Jesus and being happy.

Quote:All Christians are to be celibate in the sense of abstaining from sexual intercourse outside the bounds of marriage.

My girlfriend and I are celibate. We have moments of fleshly weakness no doubt, but our committment to honor God has brought us closer together and made our bond stronger for we are partners in the endeavor together.

On what basis do you define marriage? A monogamous commitment? A piece of paper sanctioned by the US Government?

Quote:We receive strength every time we resist temptation and are living proof that through Christ we can do all things. Are we perfect? By no means,

In other words, you can't do all things...just the things most people are able to do by their own will power.

Quote:and we have given in at times. However the few moments of pleasure we experince are nothing when compared with the peace and joy of being in the will of God.

i.e. will of yourself that in your "humility" see simultaneously as the "will of God."

Quote:When I say that if you reject Christ and die in this state that you will not be with Him in eternity, this is what hell is, i.e. existing apart from the immediate presence of God, then it seems to me you should understand that this is something that the despiser of Christ would want.

Who's Christ? The one you made up when you interpreted the writings of other people's made up Christ? No one here despises the historical Jesus any more than we despise the historical George Phillip Johnson II. Who's George Phillip Johnson II? No idea and don't care.

Quote:If a person mocks and spits on my pathetic and petty version of Christ as vile it is clear that spending an eternity with Him would be the last thing that this person would want! That would be hell for such a one.

That's better.

Quote:God gives everyone exactly what they want. He loves you too much to force you to be with Him.

That's comforting.

Quote:I do not agree with your lifestyle in the sense that you a man have sexual intercourse with another man and then think this is something that you need to tell people as if it is something they need to know.

Why does anyone need to know your lifestyle choices, such as your celibacy or superstitious rituals?

Quote:It advocates punishing people for instinctual thoughts?

Is lust not instinctual?

Quote:And yes, lusting after a person in your heart is the same in God's sight as if you had done it actually. God's standards of righteousness are not our standards and rightfully so.

Oh okay.

I endeavor to be honest and transparent. Before Christ entered my heart I did not desire to change the way I was living, so I did not try to change.

God gives us the picture of what marriage is. Anything that deviates from that is just that, a deviation.

Make no mistake, you choose to live the way you do. You have that choice. If you are content then you are content.

I am content with my life. Compared to how I was, I would never go back to how I was.

Each person must be convinced in his own mind and heart.

I also do not introduce myself to others by saying: "Hi im a heterosexual Christian. My name is Jeremy."

I usually say something like: "Hi, I am Jeremy."

I do not feel the need to tell people my faith or my sexual orientation. I usually wait to speak about my beliefs only after I have been asked about them.

(March 16, 2014 at 11:46 am)discipulus Wrote:

(March 16, 2014 at 11:37 am)Deidre32 Wrote: That too is also "being human."
*sigh*

This is why Christians have so many problems in the area of sexuality. Even in monogamous relationships, they carry around a lot of guilt over having BASIC, HUMAN DESIRES. This causes unnecessary complexes and neurotic behaviors that serve no purpose other than to cast stones against those who are just experiencing normal human reactions when it comes to having chemistry with another person.

If you act on every desire, sure that could be detrimental. But, this is just another way for Christians to pretend they think "higher" than the rest of us heathens.

I actually do not have any problems in the area of sexuality. The ability to have sexual intercourse and to be intimate with one's spouse is a gift from God. It is good and pure and sacred.

And yes I do believe sexual intercourse within the confines of a heterosexual marriage is more beneficial than sexual intercourse any other way. I speak from experience.

I will say from a secular perspective, sex sometimes messes up a good relationship for me. Biologically, people bond through it. But, I used to view it as you for religious reasons and now when I'm involved with someone on a more serious level, that residual guilt is still with me. We shouldn't feel guilty for choosing to have sex outside of marriage. Christians didn't invent marriage btw. Pagans did and it was solely for secular reasons, not to honor a god.

But think as you choose. :-)

---

Hey thanks, Napoleon for the above "fix!"

never married, always committing pre-marital sex, still happy.

(March 16, 2014 at 12:00 pm)Asimm Wrote: never married, always committing pre-marital sex, still happy.

For shame. :p

---

discipulus, marriage did not come from God! Please stop posting that. It originated from PAGAN rituals, but Christianity hijacked the concept and put the God spin on it.

You should not post falsehoods.