Re: Re: Bush's "God"
  By: Daryl Stout to Daniel Prather on Wed Oct 10 2007 10:23 am

 >   All of the other "religion founders" are still in their graves.
 > As a bumper sticker I saw once said:
 >
 > "Jesus Christ...the greatest man alive".

Though, since there's no proof that it actually happened, it's something else
you have to take on faith.

 >   All the other religions say you have to do all these good deeds,
 > works, etc. to get favor with God. What if everything you do turns
 > out to be not enough??
 >
 >   True Christianity takes you, just as you are, with all your sin
 > and faults, and by humbling yourself, and accepting what Jesus
 > Christ did for you on Calvary...then allowing Him to mold you into
 > what He wants you to be, you are counted righteous before God.

Which ends up being somewhat of a predestination thing.  If you're saved,
you'll act saved.  If you don't act saved, then you aren't.  But if you do good
things, but profess your non-belief in God, you're told that you're going to be
punished for eternity after you die.  It seems rather pointless, in my opinion.

 >   To quote what the Apostle Paul was inspired to write in his letter
 > to the Ephesians (chapter 2, verses 8 and 9), and then 2 passages
 > that Paul wrote to the Romans (chapter 3, verses 10 and 23):
 >
 > "For by grace (unmerited, undeserved favor) are you saved through
 > faith. It is the Gift Of God. Not of works, lest any one should
 > boast".

Though, it'd have to be said that Christianity wasn't founded on salvation by
faith.  I'm not sure if he was the first one to really go about preaching it,
but I think that came about with Martin Luther.

 >   If mankind got what he really deserved, we would've been stamped
 > out of existence long ago...and none of us would be here...present
 > company included.

That would be silly.  Why should all of humanity be punished for the
transgressions of others?  Though, I guess you can't expect much more from a
deity that bases you not on your person, but on what you believe without proof.

 >   God commanded His Love toward mankind, in that while we were still
 > sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). He didn't have to do that...
 > taking His Judgment upon Himself for every sin that would ever be
 > committed by everyone who would ever live. The only sin not forgiven
 > would be refusing His Free Love Gift. God does not owe anything to
 > mankind...except to judge the unrepentant to the Lake Of Fire with
 > Satan and his demons.

He didn't have to do anything.  If all of that actually did happen, and if
there's the whole magical aspect that it's alleged to have, it was a needless
act by God to make up more reasons to punish people for being people.

 > "All our righteousness is as filthy rags".
 >
 >   The original translation of filthy rags was "menstrual cloths".

Sounds like some deity (or his followers) is a misogynist. :)

 >   God gave us all free will, and you are free to believe however you
 > choose. Neither Almighty God, nor myself will force you to accept
 > His Free Love Gift, in the person of His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ.

It isn't free, though.  "Believe this, or I punish you for
eternity."  That's
not free will, it's not freedom, and it's not a choice.  If God is really that
silly, I'd say he doesn't deserve what he demands.

 >   If you think that what I've said is a lie, that's your choice...
 > but, everyone is going to give an account for their lives one day,
 > and what you did with Jesus Christ.

I don't think it's a lie, I simply think it's your opinion.  You're obviously
more than welcome to have whatever opinion or beliefs you want, but if you look
at them logically, they really don't hold water.

 >   And, I'm not a "holier than thou" type of person...I'm as guilty
 > a sinner as the preacher is. But, as noted above...I'm a sinner...
 > saved by the Grace Of God.

Which, no offense, seems sad.  You have to ask for forgiveness for being a
human being.  If that's what God wants, I find it rather petty of him.

 > ... Thou shalt have no other Sysop or BBS before this one (just kidding!).

Okay, that's funny. :)

-- Daniel
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