Are you a Fundamentalist? A Protestant? A Conservative? An Evangelical?

[Neighbor]

44 minutes ago, LaMonte said:

I have never meant a truly moral, kind or a person of integrity in my lifetime and that includes myself. There is only one I know that have those qualities, the Lord Jesus Christ and him alone.

 

Gee, that is a sad life to have lived. So sorry for you.  I have met, known and have had as close friends, family members, and brethren too, many a moral , kind, and generous to the point of being sacrificial in their actions of care and hopes for others. Some were also Christians.

So many have "Paid forward",  to not have seen that  and to instead think there are no moral people is a sad testimony of one's own awareness and judgement.

There is not a relationship between moral generosity, kindness, and being saved by the grace  of God.

Jesus was not a moral man He is God, perfect Holy.

[Neighbor]

48 minutes ago, Luther said:

Brother! There are people that are really angels I believe.

Hebrews 13:2

[2]Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

That is my personal testimony. I was turned about  to my salvation by an angel appearing as a man.

That has nothing to do with my assessment of individuals being moral kind generous and having "paid forward" as the expression goes. 

[Tristen]

"Are you a Fundamentalist?"

Yes - in the sense that I agree with the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith: E.g. The Divine Authority of Scripture, The Eternal Deity of Christ, The Virgin Birth of Christ, The Vicarious Sacrifice of Christ, The Bodily Resurrection of Christ etc..

 

"A Protestant?"

Yes - in the sense that I consider scripture alone to be the highest authoritative communication from God to humanity.

 

"A Conservative?"

I am socially "conservative" in the sense that I consider the way things have worked in our past understanding of reality (often Bible-based) should be conserved unless there is a valid, well-defined and tested argument for change.

I do not consider myself to be aligned with, nor obligated to, any political or economic or ideological position apart from my Christian faith.

 

"An Evangelical?"

Historically, "Evangelical" is just a newer word for "fundamentalist".

The term "fundamentalist" became historically contaminated with a violent connotation after being associated with Islamic terrorism - i.e. commonly explained as the "fundamentalist" version of Islam (in the late 1970s). 

 

 

[Luther]

9 hours ago, Neighbor said:

That is my personal testimony. I was turned about  to my salvation by an angel appearing as a man.

That has nothing to do with my assessment of individuals being moral kind generous and having "paid forward" as the expression goes. 

Understood. I get the impression that people today are so caught up in a "survival mode" that investing time in the welfare of others is rare. 

[Neighbor]

20 minutes ago, Luther said:

Understood. I get the impression that people today are so caught up in a "survival mode" that investing time in the welfare of others is rare. 

Hi, I can only state that I see so much personal sacrifice offered freely without demand for credit that I reach a very different conclusion.

Thousands upon thousands of us in the Southeast of the USA are in a long term upheaval after two great storms. It will be years of turmoil ahead. Yet oh so many just ran to the problem helping  others  almost beyond practical limit. Thousands even tens of thousands have come to help  from great distances, each leaving the comfort of their own family to do so.

About three years ago we had a great storm. As soon as the winds slowed every able bodied person grabbed a tool of some sort and started clearing the street, when almost in unison we realized our policeman neighbor was still on patrol duty and would be for  as long as there was trouble ( He worked nonstop a 36 hour shift ) . So we all, without a word being spoken, left our own properties and took care of his first.

Then we started at one end of the street and worked right though nonstop till our whole street was cleared, well piled high with broken tree limbs and downed fences. 

I see people quite ready and willing to help without concern for self. They are motivated by some deeper drive a spirit within perhaps the Holy Spirit to just do  whatever one may in order to help to share and to love one another as we love God.

[PATrobas]

Neighbor:

The fine young fellow (below) had it all together as far as outward appearances, like many you have listed above. And though we cannot see the hearts of men and see what motivates them, we can read the scriptures and determine that without Jesus ALL men are corrupt. This is why Jesus said many of the things He did in order to expose their own heart to themselves (looking at a woman with lust is adultery, hating a brother is murder, etc.). We who are born from above have the HS to convict us and I'm so glad that He exposes my selfishness every day, multiple times a day. Jesus didn't go about giving testimony of how good people were, He exposed their true heart that it was deceitful and desperately wicked. I'm so glad I'm not judged according to outward appearances but according to righteous judgement and thankfully I have the Righteousness of Christ, imputed by faith, based on what He did. Someday I will be like Him. (1 John 3:2-3). Notice in this account the thoughts of the young ruler compared to what Jesus knew about Him. He said he fulfilled the whole law (he didn't). Jesus showed him his heart; he was covetous.

:18  And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?:19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.:20  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.:21  And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.:22  Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.:23  And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.:24  And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!:25  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.:26  And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?:27  And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Brother, you have done many fine things and you know many like you; good. Me too. but here is what Paul said about us.

1Co 4:1  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.:2  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.:3  But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.:4  For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.:5  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Blessings.