BCITORGB wrote:
Tink says:
===============
Now all that I have addressed so far is why it is good to have our
notions disturbed. As to the exact nature of those notions, and maybe
more important, the true notions, that may take a bit longer to
consider.
=================

I don't want to do riddles. Just give it to me straight -- what IS
the
TRUE notion?

The first and most important TRUE notion is that Jesus is God. Jesus
said, "I and the Father are one. If you have seen me, you have seen the
Father!"

If He is not who He says He is, then He is a Liar, and a Fraud, a
Madman, and certainly noone you would want to set as an example of love
and peace, or look to for political options.

If He is who He says He is, then you have to be prepared to deal with
God, if you are going to talk about dealing with Jesus.

If He is who He says He is, and you want to talk about Jesus, but don't
want to acknowledge Him Being God, you may be the liar, fraud, or
madman. For being God, what He says about any issue, is supremely
important, and what He says about a significant issue such as capital
punishment, only one of the above would casually handle at best, or
ignore to their own peril at worst.

Only someone with silly notions plays hot-patato with a nuclear bomb!
If you are naieve, you may do so in bliss, but the inevitable result is
the same!


Tink says:
==============
The silly notions were primarily in your understanding of the nature
and character of God.
=============

Sorry Tink. I was NEVER talking about a god. I'm not interested in
any
theism. I was talking about JC. I'm open to your interpretations of
JC's position on issues.

Tink says:
===============
Have you ever heard the Scripture, "Thou
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself"? Would you say that this phrase
sets a high mark to strive for in the New Testament? Do you think we
should try to live according to this Scripture today?
=================

Sounds good to me. In fact, it sounds kinda "liberal" to me. You know
what, that's exactly my point to begin with. Recall my initial point:
that JC and the NT were more likely liberal or left-wing than
right-wing?

And further, Tink, as a non-believer, that's EXACTLY the principle
I've
been trying to live my life by. Ain't life strange?

frtzw906

And so, many folk attempt to live their lives, and especially those who
claim to be Christians, who then feel compelled to emminate this high
ideal. We see this in many noble societies, as you observe those around
you, and see men at their noble best trying to live loving and peaceful
live, truly a liberal existance, and not necessarily an exclusive
Christian expression!

The only problem with this high ideal, as stated by Jesus, was that He
was only summarizing the Old Testament, when He made the statement. As
a summary, though couched in gentler terms, was never the less, still
just an Old Testament teaching. You know the one that has been
mentioned before, that talks about judgement, and death, and killing,
and in particular - Capital punishment! It is all part of the same
bundle, and you can't claim part without taking the whole Old
Testament.

Now many "Christians" try to live, according to this noble clause, and
noble indeed it is. But please understand that in so doing, they are
showing they do not have the foggiest idea about the New Testament
which Jesus spoke about. They often times have the silly notion, and
they share this silly notion with people around, that their lives
somehow illustrate what Jesus would do. And in reality it is just a
silly notion, that may be comfortable, but nonetheless silly. Their
lives may illustrate at best the Old Testament, but it has nothing to
do with the true life that Jesus offers in the New Testament, and
cetainly not one that reflects Him in the world in which we live, with
the issues and concerns which you ask about!

Jesus, as God spoke of the New Testament, which is leagues above the
Old Testament, in comparison. Everything you have tried to talk about,
is the Old Testament, and though noble and probably very liberal, in
points, is passe as far as Jesus is concerned, and as far as any claim
on our attention, and discussion, it may be academically of interest,
but lacks in depth application for it falls short of the New Testament.

You say you want to talk about deep water stuff, but then stay at the
farm pond, and even there, say you don't want to get your feet wet, you
just want to watch the other paddlers. That may be wise on your part to
not even get in the water even there, if you don't know how to swim,
and are not really interested in learning! The deep water is certainly
out of your league at this time, though it is there awaiting your
exploration!

Does Jesus have things to say about certain issues in our life today,
certainly! I just don't know whether you can handle it? One of your
first silly notions was thinking you could, and I always offer the
opportunity to acknowlege your own short comings before taking you into
deep water where you may not really want to go! Respectfully, TnT