Are there any Christians on this site anymore?

[baumgrenze]

koneill08,

Thank you for a thoughtful response. Perhaps we should be saying "forgive us our transgressions..."

It is hard to find anyone these days who doesn't want punishment, even violent, vengeful punishment for anyone who seriously wrongs them or someone they love. At the same time, they look to God for grace in response to their own transgressions. The net result is a growing prison population of individuals whose recidivism rate is skyrocketing, those who are eventually released, that is. We can't do anything to prepare them for reentry into the 'real world' because it costs too much and is 'soft on crime;' we need the whole budget for more guards, more prisons, you get the picture. Would that someone with a bully pulpit would begin to preach about being 'smart on crime.'

Your thoughtful reply reminds me that I posted the link below to this thread sometime last year. It might have escaped your notice. I think you will find it interesting reading:

http://www.sharktacos.com/God/cross_intro.shtml

God bless,

baumgrenze

[Rick336]

Originally Posted by koneill08

That's why Jesus said that if you even think of adultery, without committing it in action, it's still adultery.

I like this line of logic. I think this year instead of paying my income taxes, I'll just tell the IRS I'm paying them in my mind.


Rick

[Gennee]

Originally Posted by Rick336

I like this line of logic. I think this year instead of paying my income taxes, I'll just tell the IRS I'm paying them in my mind.


Rick

Would love to know if you pulled that off.

Gennee

[bnmoore]

Originally Posted by koneill08

Sin is dealt with in a one time transaction between us and God through Jesus.

This sort of belief system bias is one of the reasons I don't really make a distinction between Xians of any sexual orientation. Most all belief systems tend to have some sort of claim on God. And most all of the texts held sacred by any of them claim to be written by some sort of divine hand.

The sense of connection is what I'm concerned with. Not the method of getting there. What works for thee may not work for me. I respect faith.

[Masood]

Originally Posted by awediot

You know who you are. Speak up.

I am a Christian from a Muslim Homosexual background, I was called by Jesus to follow him and I left everything my country my home my job and my family (biological brother and sisters) and everything I had , and I followed him, he has been with me every step of the way during the past twenty two years of my christian life for the first twenty one years of which I thought he has made me a Heterosexual though deep in my heart I knew my orientation has not been changed, it is during the past one year I have realized that he loves me even though I am an homosexual nevertheless I enjoy the family and the children that he has given me and I have no regrets and i can proudly announce to the whole world that i am a Homosexual Christian Dad who got his most beautiful children by the loving grace directly from Jesus , and who has been saved by the grace of God and when I go to glory i'll see many of my brothers and sisters from the GLBT community God bless you Masood

[Masood]

Yes I am a Child of God and i am a christian , I wrote a full letter but I have no Idea where it went! I'll write again as it is very important to me. I am a christian from a Muslim Gay back Ground 22 years ago Jesus came to my heart and changed my life and asked me to follow him, I left my country my siblings and my profession and all that I had and followed him for the past twenty one years I thought Jesus has made me a heterosexual though deep within me I knew my orientation has not changed but because of the family and the beautiful children he had gave me I chose to think of myself as a heterosexual man and it is only one year that I have decided to be who I am and I want the whole world to know that I am a Homosexual Christian Man who has been saved by the Grace of Jesus and I call myself a born again Christian who is following his saviour irrespective of his sexual orientation and when I go to Glory I am sure many saints from GLBT community who are sitting along with Paul and Peter and the rest of the followers including Merry Megdalen and other Merry's at the feet of Jesus Oh yes we will all be there and I am sure what we have seen and tasted partly in this world we will see and feel in full God bless you Masood.

[bnmoore]

At the top of the page is says "We seek freedom from religious and political oppression..."

I find the presumption of sin judgmental and the personal savior requirement conditional. I've seen a few posts that say even if homosexuality is not a sin that it doesn't matter and that you are still a sinner. It seems to me that the original sin concept is still rooted deeply in the minds of LGBTQ&Q and heterosexual people. I consider that self-oppression. You don't have to. I believe in complete freedom and worthiness.

[Rick336]

Originally Posted by bnmoore

It seems to me that the original sin concept is still rooted deeply in the minds of LGBTQ&Q and heterosexual people.

And that's unfortunate.

Since no gods are actually speaking to us, and since no evidence shows that any gods ever have, sin is nothing more than the invention of ancient human's imagination; the same ancient humans that believed animals could talk and witches could fly.

Today if anyone says that animals can talk or that witches can fly, we vigorously encourage them to seek serious psychotherapy. But for some reason we still hang onto this "sin" idea as if it's still valid and real.

Homosexuality is not a sin for the simple fact that sin only exists in our imaginations. It's not a real thing. It was a concept invented thousands of years ago as a way to control the population.

In order to grow our intelligence and become a more civilized world, we need to challenge our thoughts and beliefs and ask a lot of questions before we automatically accept something as fact.


“The unexamined life is not worth living.” - Socrates



Rick

[bnmoore]

Originally Posted by Rick336

Since no gods are actually speaking to us, and since no evidence shows that any gods ever have,

I think that depends on the god of one's understanding and how it's defined to or by them. If may not be sacred to someone else. It could be perceived as madness.

Today if anyone says that animals can talk or that witches can fly,

I had a very talkative or maybe just vocal cat. And she was damned good at smiting unbelievers. A witch is perfectly free to buy a plane ticket. I've flown with several.

Homosexuality is not a sin for the simple fact that sin only exists in our imaginations. It's not a real thing. It was a concept invented thousands of years ago as a way to control the population.

In order to grow our intelligence and become a more civilized world, we need to challenge our thoughts and beliefs and ask a lot of questions before we automatically accept something as fact.

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” - Socrates

Rick

One of our courses was on 'Socrates' Way' at our center. There are a few around who say we are about impiety and corrupting youth. History says that's why Socrates was sentenced to death.

What we teach is a correlation of the laws of science, opinions of philosophy, and revelations of religions, applied to the needs and aspirations of people today. We've been labeled Panentheists or Panpsychists and that is true to the extent that we are Monists.

[snuka12000]

I am a believer in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!