I see the hand of GOD in everything.

K J V | o9/18/2012 | Rich Sr

[ShadowAce]

I, personally, did not take it as antagonistic. However, due to your status as having signed up here just yesterday, I would be doubly--or triply--careful as to how you word your comments.

You have no history for the mods to go by to ascertain your true intentions, to determine whether a comment was just stupid, or intentionally antagonistic.

Just some food for thought.

[presently no screen name]

It's scary fascinating how well propaganda works

Those who have no truth in them allow garbage in, thus garbage out. Propaganda can only work on those who are not rock solid in TRUTH/God. This election cycle was a vivid display of how many are NOT rock solid but will fall for anything and encourage others to do the same through fear.

It is obvious how propaganda/evil works and I found that you can't tell anyone for they truly can't see it or really refuse to see it. What is obvious for some, others are blinded towards it. I agree, it is scary - for them and America!

[Joseph Harrolds]

I have NOTHING to discuss with any godless creature!

I must admit, in the decades I've been on the internet (and the usenet before then) I've never been called a "godless creature"!

Well done, sir. You have amused me, and I thank you for it.

[who knows what evil?]

Thank you for your explanation...

[presently no screen name]

God did not make us robots. Those who chose GOD, do so willingly. He wants us to go to HIM because we want HIM. He does not control us as love never controls.

[presently no screen name]

So, finally, you are hearing the TRUTH!

[ZX12R]

I disagree with your characterization of my comment as "antagonisic". I attacked no one.

Your comments have not been antagonistic. You just gave your honest opinion, which caused alarm in some of the more ambitious religionists that stand watch here. You'll be fine, if you are sincere and a conservative leaning noob.

[Joseph Harrolds]

I, personally, did not take it as antagonistic. However, due to your status as having signed up here just yesterday,

A month ago, actually.

You have no history for the mods to go by to ascertain your true intentions, to determine whether a comment was just stupid, or intentionally antagonistic.

Or, as was the case here, a simple honest attenpt to add to the conversation.

[plsjr]

I think a reasonable person would see the validity of my opinion.

It seems TheFreeDictionary does too:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/antagonistic

antagonistic [ænˌtægəˈnɪstɪk]
adj
1. in active opposition
2. mutually opposed

I did not assert you attacked anyone, I merely made (an obvious) observation.

[plsjr]

I think a reasonable person would see the validity of my opinion.

It seems TheFreeDictionary does too:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/antagonistic

antagonistic [ænˌtægəˈnɪstɪk]
adj
1. in active opposition
2. mutually opposed

I did not assert you attacked anyone, I merely made (an obvious) observation.

[GBA]

I have NOTHING to discuss with any godless creature! This is a GOD first forum.

I bet you don't really mean that. That sounds more like frustration and fear talking, not belief nor faith.

I've spent most of my lifetime with atheists and agnostics.

Statements like the one quoted tend to push people away who most need to hear and see what faith looks like, that they might also be called, by good example, and not chased away by negative emotions that confirm what they "know" about Christians and Christianity.

[ShadowAce]

A month ago, actually.

Yup. I misread the date. Sorry.

Or, as was the case here, a simple honest attenpt to add to the conversation.

Perhaps. Perhaps not. Given the medium of this conversation, it is virtually impossible to determine the attitude in which something is posted, without actual cues. There is no non-verbal communication going on. There are no tones of voice to take into account.

I am a strong Christian. As I said before I did not take your comments as antagonistic. However, since some people have, I merely made the suggestion that you watch how you post. Seniority (and posting history) does go a long way here as to who gets the benefit of the doubt.

[Joseph Harrolds]

So, finally, you are hearing the TRUTH!

Er, why are you discussing things with me? I'm a godless creature...or hadn't you heard?

[ZX12R]

Er, why are you discussing things with me? I'm a godless creature...or hadn't you heard?

They can't help it now. The damage is done. Just interacting with you has caused them to be possessed by a legion of demons now. Way to go, Mr. Harrolds!

[Joseph Harrolds]

Yup. I misread the date. Sorry.

No biggee.

Seniority (and posting history) does go a long way here as to who gets the benefit of the doubt.

I've never bought into the "seniority" argument, myself.  I think a post should stand on its own, regardless of whether or not the poster is a "noob" to the particular board in question.  I do recognize that many (most?) on boards such as this disagree...especially when they have a lot of seniority themselves... ;-)

[presently no screen name]

You just gave your honest opinion

About being an agnostic on a PRO GOD site!

more ambitious religionists that stand watch here

I don't stand watch here - I have a life! Do you always assign levels to those who speak TRUTH? TRUTH IS TRUTH. Either one is FOR GOD or not - there is no in between. If you can't handle TRUTH, stay away from where TRUTH is paramount.

[ShadowAce]

I've never bought into the "seniority" argument, myself.

Doesn't matter. What you agree with or believe in doesn't change reality.

[presently no screen name]

a simple honest attenpt to add to the conversation.

You did not 'add' to the conservation. Keep it HONEST!! Fat chance of that happening by one void of Truth.

[PieterCasparzen]

God did not make us robots. Those who chose GOD, do so willingly.

So if God wants us go "go to HIM", but we do not want to, we can thwart his desire ? Hypothetically, if God wants to save me, I, little me, have the power to resist his power - God forbid.

He wants us to go to HIM because we want HIM. He does not control us as love never controls.

This contradicts Scripture. No human wants to "go to him", humans are born into sin. If it were not for God's Holy Spirit, all would reject God.

Does God rely on a man's cooperation ? Is God powerless to cause us to act unless we choose to allow him ?

No indeed. The theology of various American denominations has become very unaware of Scripture - as Americans we are self-reliant; independent. We are "exceptional" ! It's all about us - and we have the power to do anything we put our minds to ! We can do it !

All these things are heresy. We liken ourselves unto God, purporting to have the power ourselves to enter into the kingdom of heaven, refusing to admit our dependence on God for our safety and sustenance in this life and the eternal salvation of our souls.

Were it so easy to gain salvation everyone would. They could simply declare that they are saved at it would be so.

It is by God's Grace through Faith in Christ that we are saved. We forget that it is written that the best of our works are as filthy rags. The Bible clearly tells us that those who think they can merit heaven will be bitterly disappointed. We forget the doctrine of original sin, Rom 3:10, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:". We are sinful creatures, thus the precious blood of Christ is required as an atonement in order for a man to be in the presence of God.

It never ceases to amaze me how Scripture, both Old and New Testament, is filled with the doctrine that humans are sinful and wicked and are only made acceptable to be in the presence of God by mediation of Christ, and none would accept God except God's Holy Spirit draw them to him - and yet too often this Biblical teaching is implicitly denied in our claim that our salvation is ultimately in our own hands; we hold God powerless over us in that regard. Incredibly, the same God we profess has created the heavens and the earth.

A few short years ago I myself thought I was a "good person". I professed Christianity - but had never seriously studied the Bible ! Does that make any logical sense at all ? How could I say I believed in something, when I could not articulate any detail as to what I believed ?

Thanks be to God, I was, through what seemed "random chance", drawn to God's Law Word, and began to read and study. Now, praise the Lord, I'm beginning to see and admit the vile nature of sin and see how every man, without Christ - even those who outwardly appear to be "nice people" - is given over to temptation of all sorts of wickedness. This is the "bad news", or pessimisstic-sounding (if taken out of context by itself) part of Christian doctrine that few talk about today. The "good news" part of Biblical doctrine, that is, salvation through Jesus Christ, requires that the doctrine of sin be understood and accepted. The sinner convinces themself that they do not need Christ if they don't admit that they are sinful.

There are a few points in this regard in another thread that I'll post a reference to next.

[PieterCasparzen]

Commentary relating to free will starting at post 25...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2931792/posts?q=1&;page=21

Blessings.