How much love is too much?

[Faithfulservant]

Ive been hearing all day that the conferance coming up in Tanzania the hot and not so hushed topic of excommunicating the Anglican church of Canada and the Episcopalian church of the US because of their liberal views on homosexuality.

Romans 12:2: Excommunication and the Episcopal Church

I now have hopes for that part of the body of Christ not becoming a certain church Christ spoke of in Revelation.

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Faithfulservant

Ive been hearing all day that the conferance coming up in Tanzania the hot and not so hushed topic of excommunicating the Anglican church of Canada and the Episcopalian church of the US because of their liberal views on homosexuality.

Romans 12:2: Excommunication and the Episcopal Church

I now have hopes for that part of the body of Christ not becoming a certain church Christ spoke of in Revelation.

Hi Faithful,

You might want to know that that site is just polemics from a very conservative corner (actually it looks like one individual person) of the Anglican Communion.

If you'd like to have actual information, rather than rumors and ranting, you should check out:

The Episcopal Church

[Silas]

We should distance ourselves from all those who adhere to any other gospel than what we have recieved. As the Apostle Paul said..."let them be anathma (acursed!)."

[lunamoth]

And the Gospel is this: Fear not! For I am with you! The Kingdom of God is at hand! Love one another!

Hmmmm...nope, not seeing anything about homosexuals there.

But you all can have fun in this thread if you want. Personally I'd be happy to share a communion rail with you, but I don't need to hang around and read your condemnations of me or the Episcopal Church.

In His Peace,
Laurie

[Dor]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

And the Gospel is this: Fear not! For I am with you! The Kingdom of God is at hand! Love one another!

Hmmmm...nope, not seeing anything about homosexuals there.

But you all can have fun in this thread if you want. Personally I'd be happy to share a communion rail with you, but I don't need to hang around and read your condemnations of me or the Episcopal Church.

In His Peace,
Laurie

Ok that quote does not mention it but surely you realize the bible has plenty of places it does.

[Silas]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

And the Gospel is this: Fear not! For I am with you! The Kingdom of God is at hand! Love one another!

Hmmmm...nope, not seeing anything about homosexuals there.

But you all can have fun in this thread if you want. Personally I'd be happy to share a communion rail with you, but I don't need to hang around and read your condemnations of me or the Episcopal Church.

In His Peace,
Laurie

Was this to me? And if so, do you believe we should fellowship with those who are still in sin?

[earl]

I 'm saddened whenever I see Christians spend so much time deciding who's God going to love on behalf of God-usually the ones they pick for the presumed unloved category seem to coincide with the same folks they also personally dislike. I'm assuming that those who break Jesus' commandments are the ones considered to be sinning. So with that love thy neighbor standard for which we all fall short of perfect, guess if we're not to commune with sinners, we'd better not hang out with anyone including ourselves. While I don't like to cast stones at the stone-throwers, sometimes when I see the degree of non-Jesus-like behavior such as all this chatter about the "abominable homosexuals" & how it just reminds me of how it's this kind of absence of charitas that turns folks off to Christianity, I throw my 2 cents in. Gee, why is it with all the raping, murdering, really nasty human behavior out there some Christians waste all their time working up a fret about homosexuality? That weirdly seems to get more press among certain factions than the former. Go figure. On a positive note, thank you I, Brian for the "liberal" Christianity board. Ok done with my monthly preaching. may we all live out Jesus' message more fully. earl

[Silas]

Originally Posted by earl

I 'm saddened whenever I see Christians spend so much time deciding who's God going to love on behalf of God-usually the ones they pick for the presumed unloved category seem to coincide with the same folks they also personally dislike. I'm assuming that those who break Jesus' commandments are the ones considered to be sinning. So with that love thy neighbor standard for which we all fall short of perfect, guess if we're not to commune with sinners, we'd better not hang out with anyone including ourselves. While I don't like to cast stones at the stone-throwers, sometimes when I see the degree of non-Jesus-like behavior such as all this chatter about the "abominable homosexuals" & how it just reminds me of how it's this kind of absence of charitas that turns folks off to Christianity, I throw my 2 cents in. Gee, why is it with all the raping, murdering, really nasty human behavior out there some Christians waste all their time working up a fret about homosexuality? That weirdly seems to get more press among certain factions than the former. Go figure. On a positive note, thank you I, Brian for the "liberal" Christianity board. Ok done with my monthly preaching. may we all live out Jesus' message more fully. earl

Earl,

All sins, including homosexuality, is evil in God's sight. Do not suppose that God is loving people who continue in sin and choose sin over Him. Do not assume that God is bound or obligated to forgive a person just because they say that they are sorry. God has commanded men everywhere to repent and trust in Jesus. If people dont do that, Earl, they will suffer his wrath. The Sovereign of God the Universe has spoken through his word, you either believe it or dont. But please, dont be so condesending as to think that Jesus' love and yours is on the same plateau. Jesus, the God of the universe, loves righteousness and hates sin in all of its form. That said, God is also merciful! There is forgiveness for anyone who will foresake their sins and come to Christ. Dont think you can remain a sinner and be loved of God. That may work with some other god (especially the ones people create in their minds), but it will not with the true God - the God of the Bible.

Later,

Silas

[earl]

If you knew me in person it would come as no surprise to you that I'm quite a smart__s, but have avoided that temptation here until now Aside from the fact that to me sexual orientation is immaterial to anything, one of the the points I was trying to make was how odd it is to me the amount of time certain Christian factions spend decrying homosexuality compared to oh so many other human behaviors far more troubling. So my apologies for finally succumbing to my S.A. tendencies but if I were to create a top 10 most hated "sin" list in order of priority based on the amount of press its given among those factions, guess it would look like this:
1. homosexuality
2. homosexuality
3. homosexuality
4. homosexuality
5. etc.
6. etc.
7. etc.
8. murder
9. rape
10. general mayhem
God bless us all, earl

[Zagreus]

We see one Master of the Wisdom, whom Christians have known twice in their Bibles (once in the Old Testament, and once in the New), telling us that, "the only real sin of the New Era is that of separativeness." And this works itself out in many ways, and rears its ugly head in all types of circumstances & situations.

The irony, it seems, is that it is so pronounced among religious-minded people, who should certainly know better! For example, I find that more often than not, even though I might have started to say (or post) something with the best of intentions ... if I am not careful, the very effort backfires, and suddenly I manage to create the opposite result! How frustrating!!!

I would have to say, that if the intention of several people at CR of late, has been to sow seeds of strife and discord, create division, and pretty well demonstrate the failings of Christianity (or at least, Churchianity) - and perhaps various other religions ... then Kudos!!! You've done marvelously! {Yes, yes, motes and beams, here it comes, I'm bracing for impact! }

I manage to piss people off by trying to say, "Gee, maybe God is big enough, Loving enough, intelligent enough, and forward-thinking enough to work through all world religions" - and I get rapped on the knuckles for it every time! [I'm not the only one, I've noticed.]

Meanwhile, seeds of contention & discord seem to just be raining from the heavens, and this is despite John 10:16, and the presence & participation of several people at CR who have usually been able to offset this nonsense. It is genuinely, truly disheartening.

I haven't checked, is Mars just in a very conspicuous placement right now? Is Saturn (JeHoVaH) preparing us for something? What happened to those Aquarian energies, which should still be reaching us during the present month of this sign of Unity, Harmony and Group Effort?

My head is in my hands.

~zag

[Silas]

Originally Posted by Zagreus

We see one Master of the Wisdom, whom Christians have known twice in their Bibles (once in the Old Testament, and once in the New), telling us that, "the only real sin of the New Era is that of separativeness." And this works itself out in many ways, and rears its ugly head in all types of circumstances & situations.

The irony, it seems, is that it is so pronounced among religious-minded people, who should certainly know better! For example, I find that more often than not, even though I might have started to say (or post) something with the best of intentions ... if I am not careful, the very effort backfires, and suddenly I manage to create the opposite result! How frustrating!!!

I would have to say, that if the intention of several people at CR of late, has been to sow seeds of strife and discord, create division, and pretty well demonstrate the failings of Christianity (or at least, Churchianity) - and perhaps various other religions ... then Kudos!!! You've done marvelously! {Yes, yes, motes and beams, here it comes, I'm bracing for impact! }

I manage to piss people off by trying to say, "Gee, maybe God is big enough, Loving enough, intelligent enough, and forward-thinking enough to work through all world religions" - and I get rapped on the knuckles for it every time! [I'm not the only one, I've noticed.]

Meanwhile, seeds of contention & discord seem to just be raining from the heavens, and this is despite John 10:16, and the presence & participation of several people at CR who have usually been able to offset this nonsense. It is genuinely, truly disheartening.

I haven't checked, is Mars just in a very conspicuous placement right now? Is Saturn (JeHoVaH) preparing us for something? What happened to those Aquarian energies, which should still be reaching us during the present month of this sign of Unity, Harmony and Group Effort?

My head is in my hands.

~zag

Are you like some sort of cult member? Why did you call God Saturn?

[InLove]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

I'd be happy to share a communion rail with you

And I with you, Laurie.

InPeace,
InLove

[Zagreus]

Originally Posted by Silas

Are you like some sort of cult member? Why did you call God Saturn?

Yes, Silas, I'm a cult member. It's the cult of Love, the greatest CONSPIRACY of all time. And we're coming for YOU!



SO!

Why did I call God Saturn? Because THIS is the Lord of tests and trials. THIS is the Logos Who - when misrepresented via our little, human (mis-)understanding - becomes the angry, tribal, wrathful god who PUNISHES, and dispenses Justice with Fiery Thunderbolts and a Great Booming Voice!!!

We forget the Wisdom of Mercury, the tempering moderation and Compassionate Understanding of Jupiter, the Brotherly Advice of Venus ... and the Counsel of this Elder Brother [Venus].

Each planet has a Regent, or an Angel, and Saturn is but one of these - far too advanced for us to rightly understand. We are still much too subject to the fiery quickening of Mars as this plays itself out within our human passions (or "sin-nature").

Study your Bible, Silas. It's in there! (Like the Ragu commericals used to say ... )

God's Love, God's Presence, is (more than a bit) like the SUN. Even when there are clouds, is the Sun not still shining? Even when our planet turns, and we are not facing Him, is the Sun not still shining?

~zag

[Silas]

Originally Posted by Zagreus

Yes, Silas, I'm a cult member. It's the cult of Love, the greatest CONSPIRACY of all time. And we're coming for YOU!



SO!

Why did I call God Saturn? Because THIS is the Lord of tests and trials. THIS is the Logos Who - when misrepresented via our little, human (mis-)understanding - becomes the angry, tribal, wrathful god who PUNISHES, and dispenses Justice with Fiery Thunderbolts and a Great Booming Voice!!!

We forget the Wisdom of Mercury, the tempering moderation and Compassionate Understanding of Jupiter, the Brotherly Advice of Venus ... and the Counsel of this Elder Brother [Venus].

Each planet has a Regent, or an Angel, and Saturn is but one of these - far too advanced for us to rightly understand. We are still much too subject to the fiery quickening of Mars as this plays itself out within our human passions (or "sin-nature").

Study your Bible, Silas. It's in there! (Like the Ragu commericals used to say ... )

God's Love, God's Presence, is (more than a bit) like the SUN. Even when there are clouds, is the Sun not still shining? Even when our planet turns, and we are not facing Him, is the Sun not still shining?

~zag

I think you have another version of love than of the Bible. Let me guess? You're not a Christian, right? How come, by the way?

[Zagreus]

Originally Posted by Silas

I think you have another version of love than of the Bible. Let me guess? You're not a Christian, right? How come, by the way?

How come? I'm really, honestly not trying to be nasty, Silas. Thomas would probably disagree, and he's convinced I hate all Catholics & Catholicism, but let's just leave that aside for the moment.

I'm not trying to be nasty when I say ... I'm not Christian, partially, because of what you end up making out of the Bible, including some of the very same passages which appeal to me.

Yet as I said on the other thread, I have no interest in scripture-picking with you, and hearing about how, So-and-so is what this really means. I will either meet you on the same footing, wherein a PERSON is entitled to interpret Scripture, find Inspiration in it, and allow this to move him or her to Action (Charitable, Loving Action - as per I Cor:13) ...

... or I will politely agree to disagree, and let you believe that your own chosen interpretation of the Bible is the correct one. I'm man enough to take a couple steps back, and say, NO, I'm not "God Almighty," therefore I DON'T know exactly what x means ... or at least admit that there are any number of possible meanings, or levels of meaning, which I am not an ultimate authority to decide.

You got an interest there? Ok.

But we're on the Christianity thread, and it is only fair that if you'd like to quote scripture all day long to support your points ... you be free to do so. Thus, meet me on another thread, where I can politely request that we use our own wits, and not thump the bible all day long - to do our thinking for us.

God gave you a brain, a heart, a mind and the five+ senses to open up to others, and the world around you ... and to decide for yourself. I would submit that my own gifts are no better, maybe even no different than your own. Let's not try to get an edge by clutching a paper pope and crying Authority!

See ya elsewhere, else God Bless,

~Zag