People Wear It But Do They Understand It's Message?

@whowasthatmaskedman I know, right? The concept of the whipping boy went out of style centuries ago.

@whowasthatmaskedman @LordShadowfire [quote]Personally I am not comfortable with any religion which glorifies nailing some poor b@$t@rd to a lump of wood...[/quote]

Neither am I but Jesus is not some poor 'b@$t@rd', as you put it. If you had read the Scriptures, you would know that Jesus chose to lay His life down for the world, and to take it up again. It's not about man made religion, regardless of what you believe. It's all about a close relationship with our Father in Heaven.

@GodSpeed63 [quote]Neither am I but Jesus is not some poor 'b@$t@rd', as you put it.[/quote]
You're right. He wasn't. He was innocent of all wrongdoing, according to your own mythology. And yet you feel it's moral and just for him to take responsibility for whatever bad things you've done in your life, so you can get off Scot-free.

@GodSpeed63 But that would be how the story was spun by Jesus' PR people. I read the scriptures like most people watch Fox News or Newsmax.
But thanks for the "get out of jail free card" So I can cause a reign of terror now and still get into heaven. Good to know.. But I dont think they will like me there. I ask too many questions..😷

@whowasthatmaskedman I feel like this conversation has inspired me to write one of my infamous hypothetical questions. Stay tuned.

@whowasthatmaskedman Just because you are forgiven for whatever it is that causes you to fall from grace, it doesn't mean you get off scot-free. Exhibit A: my great uncle was a mule for a drug cartel. He turned his heart over to God at one point, but felt due to his choices he was going to die young. He would always tell the family, "let's not fight or bicker because I don't think I'm going to be here very long." Well, he chose to continue his life as a mule and was crossing Oklahoma to drop of the package. Doing so, a cop pulled him over for speeding. He didn't notice any signs of drugs and whatnot, and warned him. You'd think that might scare the shit out of somebody, especially when their car is hot and that they'd say screw this and ditch its contents. Not the case. He kept going and somehow he got into an accident, rolled his car, and was crushed to death.
Someone who claims that you can continue to ruin people's lives and still get off completely without consequences hasn't read anything out of scripture, so let me enlighten you. The process of turning your heart over to God, [b]and following his teachings,[/b] transforms you to being more like Him and the desire to strive to obey His commandments becomes your main concern in service to the Lord. So not only do you receive salvation, but you are transformed and are serving God in obedience and aim to please him.

Also, I understand your point of view because I've questioned the whole, "Well, so and so claimed to be a Christian but is out here r@ping people, whatever it is, and they don't have consequences and they're terrible people so WTF?!"
My answer to that is this:

There's a huge difference in following God, than just believing in his existence. Even demons know God is real, but they do not follow him but rather flee.

@RedGrizzly Your family story notwithstanding, I think we have a lesson here. One person told me I would get off scot free because of Jesus sacrifice for me.. Now you quote from the same book telling me I wont.. You see my problem with that..😷

@whowasthatmaskedman Well, does your dad or mom say, "Because I love you, I'm not gonna punish you for what you did?"
No. There's consequences to your actions. Being forgiven, receiving salvation doesn't mean there aren't consequences to your actions. What Jesus saved us from was death and Hell, by sacrificing himself for humanity taking on all of our shortcomings that angers God and is punishable by DEATH. This gives us a chance for eternal life. But because you have eternal life when you turn your heart to God, it doesn't mean you continue to do wrong by others, yourself and God and not face any consequences of that. Just like you can't walk into a bank, hold them up, and say, "You can't arrest me because Jesus loves me and I'm forgiven already!"

Unfortunately, this is of the day and age where there are many churches that interpret things very freely and whimsical, or false prophets like one I found saying by not following the old laws mentioned in the old testament you'll go to hell, people that just are regurgitating what they hear and not actually reading anything... it's confusing...but that's not a God error as it is a human one.

@RedGrizzly Your problem there is that we are still reading from the same book and getting different interpretations and in the end this is like ordering the new kitchen appliance and getting a box with only the instructions and warranty card. But no air fryer.. I am going hungry...I want a demonstration and a thirty day free home trial...😷

@whowasthatmaskedman hahaha I understand that but here you go.

2 Corinthians 5:17" Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Galatians 5:22–23
" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

1 John 3:8-10 " So everyone who lives in union with Christ does not continue to sin; but whoever continues to sin has never seen him or known him."

Christians that are genuinely looking to follow Jesus, will not simply go through the motions to have salvation then continue on being a catalyst for evil. That's everything against what God has intended for the purpose of Jesus sacrificing himself. And in John, they are denounced as well as in the last few sentences of the scriptures in Timothy about people who claim to be religious but are in their heart of hearts reject God. "Christians only in name."
Edited for typos lol

@RedGrizzly More instructions.. Still no air fryer.. Sorry. I dont think we are communicating here. I wont bore you with yet another critique of the bible, its origins or its many editings. Lets just say that if you dont have better source material, you arent going to make the cut..😷

@whowasthatmaskedman Very well. I do want to thank you for not being vile with me while we have this discussion. And I understand, a lot of people want God to appear in front of them to "prove it" or for something different other than scriptures of the Bible because they hunger for something the world cannot provide. Unfortunately, the Bible is like the Constitution. It's sole purpose is to be a guide and to tell the character of God as is the Constitution is to be a guide to uphold and display the core principles of a nation still standing. It is arguable and there are many interpretations for whatever reason among people, even when things are more or less straightforward but rather our own understanding that cannot grasp it (human error). If you really are seeking Jesus, then I ask God that may you have wisdom, faith, and your moment to testify as witness to God's glory in your life to begin your walk. But that's also going to be a ball in your court, as a matter of willingness to accept that help...even if it's beyond any understanding you currently have right now. I've been where you are. I've had doubts. But I had to make the decision to say, "I want to understand. I want to be saved, if all this is true. Please forgive me for all of my wrongdoings so that I may become a child of God. Guide me, help me with my doubts so that I may have faith and grow to love you like you love us. Breathe life into my spirit, and transform my heart. In your name, Jesus, amen." That's all it takes but that is your choice, yours alone. :) Thank you again for being civilized with me.

@RedGrizzly You have your faith and if it brings you peace I am happy for you. I just need a different kind of evidence. Like maybe child molestic priests being struck by lightening.. Something along those lines..😷

@whowasthatmaskedman Hahahahaha I can definitely agree with that. With what I know, if they don't face the penalty in life, they will in death. That's no running from that. ;)

@RedGrizzly See thats the thing. If I were god I would be doing that and other things to protect the children. It bugs me that you dont expect god to perform...😷

@whowasthatmaskedman I do actually. There's a bigger picture than just part of what we see say by day. I mentioned spiritual warfare. That's going on all around us right now and has been since the fall of man. Demons love to perverse Godly things and people who claim to be holier than thou like a "priest" who in secret do shit like that or even publicly like the time the Pope pushed one of his own followers hand away from him. Jesus didn't do that nor does he condone it. It's also going to take more than just a bolt of lightning to eliminate the sick and twisted whether priest or not off this Earth because this is an ongoing war in spirit of the world, our flesh, and Satan. And that's why WE are called like an army to stand with the truth and to take the appropriate action against it. Not only does this bless/glorify you as a warrior, but it also glorifies God who sent you. Why hasn't anyone stood up against the Catholic church now days? I don't know, but it has been done before in history. They have a whole record of skeletons in their closet that's public and people really just don't care or choose to ignore it or are outright brainwashed by their self-given authority. It's a broken world.

@RedGrizzly

@RedGrizzly It is broken.. And a loving god could fix the whole thing on his way to the bathroom in the morning and still have time for a fart.. So in my book either he doesnt exist or he doesnt give a crap. Either way he wont be getting my adoration...😷

@LordShadowfire @whowasthatmaskedman [quote]You're right. He wasn't. He was innocent of all wrongdoing, according to your own mythology[/quote]

What makes you think that the established accounts in the Word of God are myths, LordShadowfire? Jesus didn't give us a license to sin, whowasthatmaskedman.

@GodSpeed63 I never fucking said that, you lying sack of shit!

@GodSpeed63 That they were written at least 300 years later and contain elements of "magic" that cant be repticated is a start. Then add the fact that every "genuine" relic" that has been subjected to science has come up a fake. (Like the shroud of Turin and pieces of bone shown to be animal) I say at this point the burden of proof is back in your court. Sceptics have proved a number of faithless acts. The side of the angels has to show one genuine article yet..😷

@whowasthatmaskedman [quote]That they were written at least 300 years later and contain elements of "magic" that cant be repticated is a start. [/quote]

You need to do your research more thoroughly. Paul was not 300 years old when he wrote most of the New Testament.

@GodSpeed63 Your statement is correct.. Of course, it makes no sense. But its correct.. Nor was I three years old when I built the Suez Canal..😷