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junobet

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Everything posted by junobet

  1. Let’s just agree that we stick to very different Biblical hermeneutics. Mine bringing me to the conclusion that to care for the least of these is to care for Christ and that the death penalty is vile and unchristian. I’m very glad that the vast majority of contemporary Christianity, both Catholic and Protestant, has come to the same conclusion and speaks out against it: “God’s purpose is now to show the rulers and powers in the heavens the many different varieties of his wisdom through the church.” (Eph. 3:10)
  2. The pot calling the kettle black?
  3. I believe the Bible to be divinely inspired but written by human beings in their own respective historical backgrounds, asking their own specific questions. I don’t believe humans are inerrant, and I take the Bible seriously enough to study it and to see that the humans who wrote, edited, copied and translated it weren’t inerrant or infallible either. The subtle truth the Holy Spirit has given them about our salvation is inerrant and infallible. I believe in the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If you want to add a fourth entity to that, I do indeed not share that faith. And if your faith makes you pick the Bible’s nastiest bits whilst discarding everything it tells us about being forgiven and forgiving, just to justify executing people rather than showing mercy, I don’t think your faith is worth sharing. IMHO it must be dead (see doctrinal forum). Praying for you, junobet
  4. Hi there, Surely you are aware that the Psalms were written hundreds of years before the volume we are holding in our hands was finalized. That said: while I don’t tend to idolize the Bible, I love it dearly. I don’t need to believe that the mustardseed is actually the smallest of all seeds to believe that the Bible tells me all I need to know about my salvation. And knowing that Christ forgave me, I can’t possibly condemn any other person to death. Love, junobet
  5. Nowhere does the Bible claim that it is inerrant and infallible. What it does claim is that the Word of God is Jesus Christ.
  6. Well from my point of view somebody who doubts that “Britain First” is fascist and calls Hitler “left wing” must on the far right. So is a European who suggests that being against the death penalty is somehow left wing politics. This is not the first Pope who condemned the death penalty. All Popes in my lifetime have done so, and IMHO there’s no way you could describe John Paul II and Benedict XVI as ‘liberal’. I never said God is on the left. Quite the contrary: On numerous occasions I pointed out that God is not interested in our petty human political categories. Sadly the Evangelical right seems to think that He is. How you got it into your head that I’m in any way approving of Stalin and Lenin is utterly beyond me. So do me a favour Thalassa: please do ignore my posts. It seems to me that you simply don’t get them.
  7. junobet

    Dead faith

    It seems to me that very many Christians don’t quite understand the concept of “Sola Fide”. They seem to think that as long as you say you have ‘faith’ in Christ you can carry on as before and sin as much as you like. The thing about faith is that not even our faith is our own merit, but God’s present. Also good faith will produce good fruit. So if we behave like the worst bullies on the block, that’s a sure sign our faith is dead (comp. James 2:26). If Christ truly dwells in us we can’t but letting His love overflow from us to our neighbours, including our enemies. Whenever we are indifferent or hateful towards others in thoughts, words or deeds that shows a lack of faith. As Luther pointed out: “Instead, faith is God’s work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn’t stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever. He stumbles around and looks for faith and good works, even though he does not know what faith or good works are. Yet he gossips and chatters about faith and good works with many words. Faith is a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God’s grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace. Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire! Therefore, watch out for your own false ideas and guard against good-for-nothing gossips, who think they’re smart enough to define faith and works, but really are the greatest of fools. Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without faith, no matter what you wish, say or can do." From “An Introduction to St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans,” Luther’s German Bible of 1522 by Martin Luther, 1483-1546
  8. So did I. I take it then that you agree that we are saved by grace and through faith in Christ who paid for our sins on the cross? Good. Which begs the question: is it possible, that you blindly disagree with all of my posts just for the sake of disagreeing with them?
  9. I’m a bog standard Lutheran fully subscribing to sola gratia and sola fide. What about you? Do you think that anybody can be saved by making up for their sins by personal suffering such as the post I answered to suggested?
  10. Hi there, don't fret: you may be right in assuming that some people mistake their personal taste in music for the music being Christian or un-Christian. But also keep in mind what a horrible job it must be to review all these music videos, especially if it's music that does not meet your personal tastes. Keep on rockin and jamming, love, junobet
  11. Read the post I answered to and you will see how misplaced this question is.
  12. I fear it’s you who is quite openly displaying a far right stance in spite of the Bible. If your personal Christian conscience allows you to support the death penalty, so be it. But remember that whichever measure we judge others with is the measure we will be judged with ourselves (Mt. 7:1-2) Love, junobet
  13. Whatever happened to being saved by grace? Dunno about you, but I was taught that Christ paid the price for our sin.
  14. In a well run prison he couldn’t harm anybody else. However, I read your previous post on your brother in law having been murdered, and I tip my hat to you for changing your mind on the death penalty. It shows that the bigger our faith in the one who forgave our sins, the greater our capacity for forgiveness. Nobody has ever murdered a loved one of mine – and the chances for that ever happening are slim, seeing that the murder rates in my country (that does not have the death penalty) are pretty low in comparison to the US. But I have been hurt in my life. In my experience forgiveness does not only hold healing powers for the forgiven but also for the one who forgives. Praying for you and your family in your mourning, love, junobet
  15. Don’t be ridiculous Ezra! Of course the death penalty is all about revenge. It being state sanctioned doesn’t change the sentiment behind it. Killing a murderer because he has killed, is exactly the retaliating eye-for-an-eye justice that Jesus does not stand for (Matthew 5:38-48). Instead he stands for rehabilitation (John 8:11), which just happens to be the aim of penal systems throughout modern Western civilization, except the US. As for Romans 13:4: A “μάχαιρα” would hardly have been suitable for a beheading (which is how ancient Rome executed its citizens). That’s what a “ῥομφαία”, a large sword, would have been used for. Quite rightly the Vulgata translates “μάχαιρα” as “gladius”, the small sword carried by the Roman military. It symbolizes the power of the state. So no, Paul wasn’t a political revolutionary. Neither is the Pope. He doesn’t ask his flock to overthrow the states that still have the death penalty, he asks the states to change their policy on it. If you want to keep the US in the ‘good’ company of countries such as Iran, Saudi-Arabia and North Korea on this issue, the Pope will leave that entirely up to you. But you should not pretend it’s belief in Christ, the Redeemer, that makes you support the death penalty, rather than your own lower instincts. Love, junobet
  16. see what you just said about quote functions
  17. Why? Don't you believe God created all human-beings in His image, no matter what their race or religion is?
  18. The Pope is absolutely right! The Old Testament laws about the death penalty, that you’ve quoted here eagerly as Pharisees, are in the same category as Deuteronomy 24:1 as quoted in Matthew: “It was because of your hardness of heart that Moses allowed you …” (Mt 19:8) Reevaluating these laws in the light of Christ makes it absolutely clear to me that they are overruled by another: “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.” (Rom 12:19) That’s all the death penalty is about: revenge. But Christ told us taught us about mercy, forgiveness and giving sinners second chances. Love, junobet
  19. You just did comment on that. The cynical side of my rationality tells me that this is a rather double-tongued attempt to deflect blame. Back in the days all of Western Christianity was Catholic. The crusades and inquisition are our shared history. And after the Reformation Protestants also burned witches and heretics using the very same Biblical ‘justifications’ for such violence as Catholics did. Whitewashing our history is not a Christian virtue, repentance is. As for the Bible: whenever I see Christians cherrypicking the nastiest bits of the Quran to smear Islam as violent, the Bible verse that springs to my mind is Matthew 7:3: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Love, junobet
  20. Apparently you found it hard to connect the lines. As somebody whose Church is a member of the WCC let me try to be of assistance: Peace > Christ: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) “And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way 77 and to give his people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins. 78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, his light from on high has visited us, 79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death’s shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79) How are we to serve Christ? “Jesus answered, “the most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord,30 and you must love the Lordyour God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’31 The second is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’No other commandment is greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31) “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so thatthey may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16) “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:15-18) “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” (Romans 14:17) And why does Liberation Theology insist on the gospel's "preferential option for the poor"? "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Luke 4:18-19) Whatever we do to the poor we do to the Lord: “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who have been blessed by my Father! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, 35 because I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me. 36 I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will say to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you something to eat, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or see you naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 The king will answer them, ‘I tell all of you[a] with certainty, since you did it for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.’” (Matthew 25:31-46) “He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14) “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10) What does sustainability and climate change got to do with this? Climate change will affect the poor the worst. We are to be stewards of God’s creation, not its destroyers. There’s a reason God told His people not to take more than they need when he let rain Manna from heaven. We are not to serve Mammon and a greed, but we must "learn to do justice" So where exactly do you disagree with the “narrative of faith, hope and love” (comp.: 1 Cor, 13:13) that Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit tried to share in this speech?
  21. It’s very convenient to turn a blind eye to the past crimes of one’s own religion. Whether it is spiritually wholesome for a Christian to do so, even though Christianity calls for repentance, is more than dubious though. The Inquisitors surely thought the Bible justified their heinous acts. See for example Ex. 22:18 or Lev 24:14. And when the crusaders slaughtered the entire population of Jerusalem, women and children included, they did not act much different from how the Israelites were (supposedly) told to act in verses such as 1 Samuel 15:3: “Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” That the civilian population tended to fare better when conquered by Muslims is probably because the Quran teaches restraint: http://www.middleeasteye.net/essays/islamic-law-and-rules-war-1006257473 Which is why most of the Muslim world is absolutely horrified and disgusted by what ISIS is doing at the moment.
  22. I'm not sure whether linking videos is only allowed in the Video-section. So I'll just recommend you go to you-tube and type in the search "The Holy Quran Experiment". They've got the original Dutch and an American one. Both give a good lesson about violence in the Quran and the Bible - and make people laugh, about their own prejudices. I'm a devout Christian, but I'm honest enough to admit that in comparison to the genocides and war-crimes described in the Bible the Quran comes across as the first edition of the Geneva Conventions. Love, junobet
  23. Hi there, false Christ = not Christian was my first line of thinking. But then I thought maybe they are Christians still, but just very very mistaken ones. Dunno. Well, I suppose it's not our call to judge anyway. As for the kind offer: Thanks very much, but I'm afraid that evening of reggae was enough reggae for me for the next ten years. I can cope with the occasional song here and there, but all in all it's still not really my kind of music. Pray, start that thread though. Somebody else might like it. Love, junobet
  24. Well, wikipedia is the first page I went to when wondering about the Rastafari-religion. It didn't really answer my question. (Is it somehow overly fussy of me to bother with quotation-marks and sources when citing?) Personally I try to be very careful with my condemnations lest I should be condemned. Love, junobet
  25. Really? Here’s from a Rastafari-Forum on the topic of Vodoo, and that’s one of the more polite remarks: “Voodoo is black arts man and shamanism. It is Satanic and Jah doesn't want us to mess with that cult stuff. It should be condemned!” http://jah-rastafari.com/forum/message-view.asp?message_group=3737 But mentioning Vodoo: on the BBC there’s a really nice “Father Brown”- Episode”, in which Father Brown is absolutely fascinated by religious syncretism. I suppose you’d sympathize more with his secretary who is absolutely abhorred that he allows an Haitian singer to practice a voodoo ceremony in the vicarage.
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