The Kingdom is near

I feel bad for you. I think your intentions were good. You genuinely believe what you posted, and were trying I guess to offer hope to people. The trouble is that on forums like these, mentioning deep religious beliefs is open to attack. Many people feel abused by Religion and are resentful of someone preaching. It rarely results in anything but a heated dispute.
So even though I don't agree with everything you wrote, but I do appreciate the thought and energy you put into it.
Best wishes,
One

kanin wrote:My attempt was to make light of your ridiculous assumption that such actions are ok and non-offensive to members of the board. I would respond the same way to you as to anyone else who would post something similar regardless of their religious affiliation.

What exactly did you think I was referring to when I mentioned ridicule and sarcasm. I was not referring to whatever beliefs you may or may not hold, it's how you went about it. And I hold no expectations of others, you can still find something offensive whether or not you believe they should respond a certain way beforehand, as I'm sure you already know. What I do not understand is how someone can misconstrue something this trivial, this being the thing that brought me offense which in turn offended you, but you expected me not to do it beforehand. Can you make sense of that for me? No, I have said everything that needed to be said, mill it over in your own mind, I do not need any answers from you. And you can discard anything that I have said because that is your choice, not because I say you can, but because God instilled free will in you.

Why also would you feel bad for me? I did not post this for my own gain or my own intentions. Also, it is not me that is offering hope, I exist in this worthless shell just like any other person. Yes, these are support forums. I was delivering a message, a message of support for the trials that lay ahead. What anyone here does with that message is up to them, and that affects me none. But again, I didn't pass it along for my benefit, no expectation of reciprocation here. There are also no hard feelings whatsoever. Yes, feel free to do as you please. And when you do, remember that it is not by the works of your hands that allows you to do so.

When I said I feel bad for you it was not pity. But rather that I think you may be misunderstood here. By the way your message might have been received easier if your manner was kind, as in Christ like.....Thats how he wanted it to be delivered. Rather than accomplishing that you have come across as some sort of religious fanatic. That never gets anyones attention for the good. Jesus messages were effective because he reached peoples hearts. Yours was NOT heartwarming. It was condemning.
One

Even the Pharisees took the parables Jesus spoke against them as insulting. They took it as insulting instead of accepting His word because their egos hardened their hearts, they believed all their hours toiling at learned knowledge meant that no one besides themselves was "worthy" of wisdom and knowledge. The only hearts that Jesus was able to reach was those who let His words in. The rest plotted to end His life, that's how shamed they were.

I am also not claiming to be Jesus. However, the original message given to you as it has been given to me stands. It was delivered in accordance with Him. The ones that stand up against it were meant to stand up against it. The ones that accept it accept it. It is also not me who condemns. If they who believe the message was condemning, their hearts were hardened, not because of this message, but because of what sits inside of them. It is not what enters the body that makes a man unclean, it is what comes out. The message did not enter them unclean, the responses that came out reflect cleanliness.

It is understandable that you question me. But I already stated that the message I delivered was not my personal message, yet it is the message being attacked here. Fear not! Ask that your hearts be softened. The crops are not fully ripe, however the sun is rising.

Matt 7:22,23.
One

Let me hear the context you've extracted from those verses and how you are applying that here.

For I am a sinner, a mere mortal, I am far from worthy to be in the presence of God. There is no justifications for any actions I do on this earth that make me honorable enough to share in His glory. It is by His mercy that my soul may be saved.

I still am curious as to how you arrived at my delivering His message that I expect will earn me anything. Again, I already stated that it was not my personal message, and it was not for my benefit.

gwilly wrote:

kanin wrote:For your information, I actually am Pastafarian in real life. His Noodley Goodness has opened my eyes and enriched my life in ways I never thought possible.

I'm amused, having actually realized what you are talking about and what you are doing.

People don't quite get the actual seriousness of the FSM. They don't realize that while it may be satirical, it isn't a joke. Don't mind them.

Thank you, Gwilly.

That_guy, if it wasn't your personal message or for your benefit, you wouldn't be posting such things. EVERYTHING in religion is for personal benefit, either to satiate your conscience or to further solidify your own beliefs. You are hoping to reach out to "lost souls" on the internets because you feel it's your duty or it's your "higher purpose". I don't personally care which justification you chose. Every action, every word, it's all for benefit.

As for my continued participation in this thread, I think BraveGirl understands the point I was making. She would also be a more sympathetic ear.

Your angry in how you post here. That is how you come across. I would think you would be happy, grateful or kind in your delivering a life saving message, but instead you are cold.
You have this air of "here what I have to say, take it or leave it." Christ left a model for us to follow right? Your method does not follow his. "come to me all you who are toiling and burden down, and I will refresh you". "take my yolk upon you,... as it is light".
If your goal was to help people it would have been seasoned with salt, not vinegar.
I will debate this no further. I wish you well.
One

Yes, nearly all conscious acts are for a reason. Even to benefit others, there is a reason to benefit others when the conscious choice is made. The way around this is some times believed to be by entering an egoless state through meditation. If you can remove the ego, not only will the acts be selfless but they will also leave no trace of having acted.

The Sage is occupied with the unspoken
and acts without effort.

Teaching without verbosity,
producing without possessing,
creating without regard to result,
claiming nothing,
the Sage has nothing to lose.

onebravegirl wrote:I will debate this no further. I wish you well.
One

I stand corrected.