(October 1, 2012 at 8:19 pm)theeleven Wrote:(September 13, 2012 at 11:31 pm)Godschild Wrote: The above bold is by me, what control, by whom and for what purpose. This control stuff comes up all the time, I think it's time someone explained what is meant by it, or if you all are just repeating something you've heard. I've been a part of the Church for a long time and I do not know of any control going on.See this is why religious people are so easily led. Think about your logic...If you knew you were being controlled you would realize that you were only a sheep in the herd. Ever wondered why they refer to Jesus as your shepherd? Also, you should logically think through the fact that faith is they're only answer to every criticism upon their beliefs. Would you believe that if you closed your eyes on the highway for one whole minute while driving on the highway you wouldn't have an accident because you had faith in your safety?
One thing I will say for us Christians we do know better than to drive down the road with our eyes closed, please let me know when you're going to be driving, you scare me.
Now for the serious side of things, you need to go and study what the shepherds of old were all about, then you might change your mind about why Christ is called our shepherd, probably not, you wouldn't be interested in the truth. I use far more than faith to defend my knowing that Christ is my savior. Now back to your driving assertion, if I put faith in my ability to drive with my eyes closed I would be foolish, and deserve to have an accident. However to have faith in an omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God makes complete sense, even if you do not see it that way.
God loves those who believe and those who do not and the same goes for me, you have no choice in this matter. That puts the matter of total free will to rest.