Posted on 12/14/2001 7:39:41 AM PST by newsperson999
huge explosions!!
The question of where matter began is no more significant to this particular debate, than the question of who created God.
So if you happen to be from the backwoods of Tibet... that's just your tough luck.
No matter how righteous a life you may have had.
Is that the way you think God would see it?
Ok, here goes: I abused cocaine for about 20 years of my life (I'm now 42), and it all but destroyed my life. It consumed me and had me in its devasting grip. I was sticking a "spike" in my arm. I lived on the streets, in homeless shelters, and missions. I felt I had been cruelly sentenced to a life time of mysery and suffering that came with my addiction. I tried every thing under the sun to find freedom from the bondage of cocaine addiction.
And then, I gave my life to the Lord Jesus Christ...And guess what? All the years of devastation came to an end. My life was profoudly transformed. God restored me with hope and gave me a purpose in life. He restored relationships with family and friends. He took me from the "guttermost" to the "uttermost". There was nothing I could do in and of myself to free myself from the bondage that gripped my life.
God even granted me the awesome privelege to serve Him in full-time ministry with Teen Challenge where I could share His hope with others that were living in hopelessness. Where there was once no hope for me; God provided hope. Where there was only darkness; God provided light.
He restored my mind. I have memorized the entire books of Ephesians and James in the Bible; ver batum. And I give God the glory for that. For as many years as I abused cocaine it's a miracle I still have a mind left
So OWK, when you argue against the God of the Holy Bible...I cannot help but remember what that God has delivered me out of and the hope that he's given my life.
So when you use your intelligence to argue against the true and Living God of the Bible, I just remember where God says in that same Bible that, "He chooses the foolish things to confound the wise"...
And I was one of the BIGGEST of all fools and he took my tattered, dirty life and made something beautiful out of it. It wasn't Allah! It wasn't Buddah! It wasn't Hari Krishna, it wasn't Reverend Moon...It was my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ that set me free.
OWK, I will earnestly pray, as Paul prayed in Ephesians, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him; that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of His calling and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward ALL who believe"
Harping?
Near as I can tell, I was having a for the most part civil discussion regarding the subject.
Or do you disapprove?
I happen to know a good number of Christian libertarians here on FR, and I respect them profoundly. I also know a fair number of non-libertarian Christians, and I count them among my closest friends.
There is a difference between holding a different set of views than you (and being willing to discuss and defend those differences)... and "mocking" you.
And under NO circumstances does discussion or disagreement constitute and unwillingness to "live and let live".
Objection. Asked and answered.
No matter how righteous a life you may have had.
None is righteous before God, only Jesus can intercede on behalf of all those who believe in Him.
Is that the way you think God would see it?
I am quoting directly from God's Holy and perfect Word in His Bible. Is this how you think He "sees it?"
If not from God's own Word, upon what do you base your alleged knowledge of God's position on this matter?
And as for the part God might have played, I have only your testimony. And while you strike me as very sincere, and quite forthright, I would require more than testimony in order to accept such a fundamentally important premise.
Perhaps if I had experienced the same path as you, I too would believe. But as it stands now, I do not.
Then:Near as I can tell, I was having a for the most part civil discussion regarding the subject.
So. Is it significant or not? If not, why engage? After all, as you well know, there are many who find the comments you make less than civil when it comes to their religious beliefs.
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