Yes, I’m selective about my company.
Which company do you prefer?
Yes, I’m selective about my company.
The name of God is blasphemed because of us. It is also written ''It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans''. Whoever does not trust in the Lord because of the example of sinful humans (of whom I am foremost) will not be exempt from judgement. You are not making a good argument for not accepting Christ, the reasons are more deep.
Strangely enough, the New Testament says almost nothing against homosexuality
2 parts ineffable, 3 parts Christ consciousness, 1 part pragmatic, and a handful of fresh-cut herbs.
Romans 1:26-27 (explicit), 1 Corinthians 6:9 (literally malebedders), 1 Timothy 1:10 (literally malebedders), Jude 1:7 (possibly, though it may refer to the angels or rape) all following Leviticus 18:22, which is one of the few commandments in force for Gentile believers along with those for abstraining from idolatry, adultery, blood and strangled meat (Acts 15:20).
I haven’t got any quotes in front of me - we’re up late cleaning. To me Christ consciousness is the attempt to live into the mind of God by reflecting the earthly mind closest - that of the Son.
It seems there is a difference of interpretation, as waybread says between understanding guidance as coming from the acts of Christ, and the guidance taken from literary framing or authorial dictates. I’m sure there’s scripture to back up both positions, but I’d ask you as well what Christ consciousness represents to you.
Sorry-- I should have said in the Gospels. This isn't the message of Jesus. This is: "“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
If one's neighbour is gay, Jewish, Muslim, liberal, &c, Jesus didn't distinguish. Clearly one could have a born-again experience yet not observe these most basic commandments.
Actually Christianity ended kosher food laws. It stresses 10 commandments, vs. the 613 in the Jewish Bible.
Well, Yeshua and his initial followers were all Jews. Christ says he did not come to abolish the Law and the prophets, but to fulfill them (that is keep them 100%, not in many ways, but in all ways) - Matthew 5:17. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth, but he was pierced for our transgressions, was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Yes, I’m pretty much an anti-literalist.
Gosh Petosiris! Have you changed from being someone who was dognmatic about his version of astrology to someone who is dogmatic about his version of Christianity? (If so, don't worry, you're in good company. Something similar famously happened to St. Paul.)
What I'm waiting to see from you is your acknowledgement that Jesus said that your main tasks in life are to believe in God wholeheartedly and to love your neighbour.
Acts is an interesting book, because it shows the early church leaders grappling with major logistical questions about how to set up the new faith. Acts 10 and 11 are two chapters that move Christians away from Jewish dietary laws. It became clear to early church leaders that they couldn't hope to retain gentile converts, were Christianity to construe itself as a reformed version of Judaism, due to the burden of its many commandments (such as male circumcision, Acts 15.)
Not eating "strangled animals and blood" are but two of the many do's and don'ts in Jewish dietary laws. As a convert to Judaism, I can tell you what that involves, if you're interested. Practices vary somewhat depending upon whether it's done through an Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform denomination.
I can see you have not the stomach to answer my sincere questions. You win petosiris. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Yes, I’m pretty much an anti-literalist. This means from the get-go I can’t participate in most monotheistic religious scholarly debates which are often hairsplitting and sect-driven. But it confuses me to no end why people who call themselves Christian can overlook the Commandments and the works of God. As pointed out and insistently overlooked by you, they take as a leader a man who flagrantly breaks half the commands. The focus may be community building, but for many it is distinctly exclusionary. There is also no humility in it whatsoever. In most religions there is a recognition by some followers that the creed is being used, as evil and great powers rise and cloak themselves in the outer garments of religion. Again, the reason for interest in archetypes is that they test the sincerity and integrity of belief vs behavior. Why would poetry or psychology strike fear into the heart of a believer who was sincere in his words and deeds?
But I must say, Petosiris, that I do not find you to be a compelling advertisement for Christianity. Time and again you fall back on rigid interpretations of proof-texts to demonstrate your personal superiority. This is hubris.
Re: Donald Trump.
Few people are politicians.
However, many of us try to stay current with global affairs, as informed citizens.
You might want to read up on him.
Why don't you exhibit loving kindness now? I can't be wrong about that being one of the most central teachings of Jesus.
I'm not in competition for your soul.
One thing that a lot of non-Jews misunderstand is that much of Jewish law is not in the Jewish Bible (OT.) It is in the Talmud and in subsequent commentaries. This is because some of the 613 commandments were not clear enough to put directly into practice in daily life. The Talmud has two versions, developed by rabbis during the centuries before and after the emergence of Christianity. Usually the larger version, the Babylonian Talmud, initiated during the exile, is the one meant. Much of this existed in oral, not compiled written form, during the time of Jesus.