(July 6, 2013 at 2:40 pm)Godschild Wrote:
Esq Wrote:That's what you say, but it's hardly consensus, which is why we keep asking you, how can you prove that your definition is the right one. You've never given an answer beyond "that's what the bible says," and when we point out that other people read the same words and come to different conclusions you've never once seemed to even consider that yours might be the interpretation that's wrong. You fall back on the old personal experience gambit, conveniently ignoring that all the others are using the same damn excuse to validate their positions.
Let me put it this way, you believe what you wish, it's your choice. I will believe what I will, it's my choice, and we'll see who lives with God for eternity, that way you can argue with God about this matter of why you were wrong.
Esq Wrote:I know it will be hard, but just for a moment, imagine that you're wrong. Better yet, imagine you're looking at all this from the outside; who do I trust? Why do I trust you over anyone else? You're all claiming exactly the same thing, and using exactly the same kinds of justifications to do it; if I'm catholic the reason the protestants are wrong is because they haven't studied the scriptures correctly, if I'm protestant the reverse is offered. You claim it's all doctrinal differences, but according to some sources those doctrines are the difference between heaven and hell. For ages the catholics had this concept of limbo, where all the unbaptized babies would go, and in essence you're treating an entire extra realm of existence as nothing more than a cosmetic difference.
Hoe old are you 12-13 because you act that age. I've told you before I do not deal in speculation about my life and will not for you or anyone else, it's a childish thing to do, you need to forget it I'm not going there. I do not know what Catholics believe about babies other than they should be baptized so they will go to heaven if they should die. I do not believe it's necessary, so either way the babies are in heaven and that's what's important.
Esq Wrote:So I ask you again: why should I take your salvation-only doctrine as true, when if I wanted to I could find another person, even a preacher if I really looked, that would tell me with equal conviction that I'm going to hell for sleeping with dudes, christian or not?
According to scripture if your sleeping with dudes you're living in sin and unrepentant sin will land you in hell, whether you claim to be a Christian or not. See, I said you did not understand salvation and you do not, salvation is by the grace of God not by anything you can do.
GC Wrote:You haven't the ability to take me on, just forget it. It was the issue at hand until you decided it wasn't.
Esq Wrote:The issue was always interpretation. I don't care about the words of the bible, just the contents of the minds of its followers. The words remain the same- though some groups add books, or subtract them...- but the individual executions can vary remarkably. And you know this: you just shake it all off as unimportant.
The issue has always been the truth of scripture. The content of the believer's mind should be the truth received from God through scripture. Making the words of the Bible extremely important, just because this truth of God does not suit you does not make a bit of difference.
Here you are saying you're an expert on God's word, so bring the proof of your statement, I'll be waiting.
GC Wrote:I have no idea what this is in response to.
Esq Wrote:You said that most differences in doctrine aren't important enough to worry about. It's my contention that absolutely anything that might affect the fate of your immortal soul is worth serious consideration.
Your ignorance of the word of God and salvation makes that statement... well let's say you have no idea what your talking about. You can make all these silly assertions you want, but until you can bring some intelligent thought into this I'm done.
GC Wrote:According to the scriptures it's true, now I know you do not like to open up the book, but this time I would like to see you prove there are more ways than one into salvation, sorry but scripture is your only option on this one. We are discussing my God here so let's not get side tracked by other religions.
Esq Wrote:But it's not up to me, because I don't think any interpretation of the bible conforms to reality. But we've got you on one hand, claiming all we need is salvation. We've got, on the other extreme, the westboro baptist church, claiming almost everyone is going to hell but them. Both of you point to scripture to justify your views.
I do not know what they claim, any church that would do hateful acts as they do should come into question, they do with most of the Christians I know and probably all, I haven't asked all of them. If that's their view they will have to live with it, there are others who claim the same, I can't change them, doesn't matter I will be in heaven.
Esq Wrote:There are preachers right now claiming that if you're gay, you're going to hell, christian or not, and they're using Leviticus to do it. There are others who claim that all of the old testament doesn't count anymore, because the new testament exists.
I can't help how others believe, they've made their choice. I do not agree that a person being gay will get them a date with the devil, a gay can be a Christian, however they can not act upon their desires of wanting to be with someone of the same sex, that God says is an sinful act.
Esq Wrote:The only thing that unites you all is your reliance on scripture to back this up. And your only answer, when confronted with this question, is "I'm right, look at scripture."
I am almost certain that if I asked any one of those others, they'd say the same things.
Ask what, you need to be clearer.
GC Wrote:Why do you bring up such ridiculous things, you bring these things into a conversation to side track us from the relevant so you can avoid scripture, why don't you study the Bible and we could avoid all this ridiculous tripe.
Esq Wrote:I notice you didn't answer any of the questions, though. If they're so ridiculous, if you're actually in possession of the truth, then why can't you demonstrate that?
And if you just tell me to read the bible again, I'll just start quoting from the holy Spiderman.
If you want to discuss the Bible then you need to read it, if you do not read it how are we to have a discussion. There was nothing to answer, I've been waiting on a sensible question from scripture.
GC Wrote:Personal experience is everything to God, without it we could not come into salvation through grace, then it continues, why would I not want a relationship with my Friend.
Esq Wrote:So how do you answer those that have personal experiences with god that contradict the findings of your own personal experiences?
I do not know anyone who disagrees with the way I came to salvation, do you? If an experience does not line up with the truth of scripture it was not real.
GC Wrote:Once again you through out rubbish that means nothing, besides I can't threaten you with hell, hell is your choice. If it was that important then it would be in scripture, God would have made sure of it. Christ spoke of avoiding hell far more than He spoke of heaven, since He knows how both are it seems important that we listen.
Esq Wrote:I've been told by others that god is so holy that the mere sinful thinking is the same as the sin itself to him. Lustful thinking is the same as adultery, according to Matthew 5:28, why wouldn't violent thoughts be the same as actual violence? And isn't threatening someone with hell the most violent fate possible?
I'm not threatening you with violence, all are bound for hell unless they come to salvation through Christ, I'm stating a fact of life, as I said I can't threaten you with something that will happen, unless you're willing to change the fact.
Esq Wrote:See how I used scripture to justify a claim that you probably disagree with? See how easy that is? Why are you right and why am I wrong?
I see how you have failed at every point to prove anything, sorry but what you see as threatening is truth of scripture, I have changed that truth in my life by accepting Christ through grace for my salvation. Want you?
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.