O, I agree with you. Just stating that all of his messages were not "honey" messages that was stated previously.

 

There were hard messages there too that had to be studied and understood along with the easy "honey" messages.

 

Jesus was not just about saying what people wanted to hear and didn't offend anyone or cause them to feel disrespected.

 

He did more than His share of offending and saying things that people didn't want to hear.

 

He also despised most of all those that tried to trip him up with his own words. He probably would have had a field day on BGP.

He also despised most of all those that tried to trip him up with his own words. He probably would have had a field day on BGP.

 

I am not as pessimistic as you.

 

I see us being no different than his disciples (there were many more than 12) and his apostles.

 

You know they were with Him every single day listening to what He was saying and seeing what He was doing.

 

And they didn't really get it till after His death. They were ignorant on matters that they thought they understood. And we are too.

 

But they kept striving to do what they thought he wanted which is the EXACT same thing that we need to do.

 

It is easier for us because it is in writing now. And we can study it a little more than they could since they were living it.

 

But if the disciples/apostles were not perfect and were hypocritical at times, it amazes me that people today expect us to be better than them. AMAZES ME!!!

 

I am surely no better than Peter and he didn't get it till after Jesus death. Why would you expect me to be better than Peter? I do not know.

I am not as pessimistic as you.

 

I see us being no different than his disciples (there were many more than 12) and his apostles.

 

You know they were with Him every single day listening to what He was saying and seeing what He was doing.

 

And they didn't really get it till after His death. They were ignorant on matters that they thought they understood. And we are too.

 

But they kept striving to do what they thought he wanted which is the EXACT same thing that we need to do.

 

It is easier for us because it is in writing now. And we can study it a little more than they could since they were living it.

 

But if the disciples/apostles were not perfect and were hypocritical at times, it amazes me that people today expect us to be better than them. AMAZES ME!!!

 

I am surely no better than Peter and he didn't get it till after Jesus death. Why would you expect me to be better than Peter? I do not know.

 

I told you from the beginning that I am no expert, but I do know whom Jesus loved the most....John and the little children. They were simplistic like Jesus' love.

 

As for the apostles-great men they indeed were...though the one with the most ink in the NT is Paul who was not one of the original 12. Many of the apostles were fearful for their own safety, and even denied the Lord even though He was in their presence. I surely am not as great or as worthy as them, and I have never seen the Lord in person. I don't believe He can expect me to have more wisdom than those who were alive with Him. I am not pessimistic, but I believe your great belief (which I applaud) seems to make you believe that all others see it the way you do. We don't. You probably are greatly blessed...."Blessed are those who have not seen, but believe." I tend to think of myself or relate better to those that probably would have wrongly called for Jesus to be executed. I wish I was better than that, but I don't kid myself.

 

As for the apostles-great men they indeed were...though the one with the most ink in the NT is Paul who was not one of the original 12. Many of the apostles were fearful for their own safety, and even denied the Lord even though He was in their presence. I surely am not as great or as worthy as them, and I have never seen the Lord in person. I don't believe He can expect me to have more wisdom than those who were alive with Him. I am not pessimistic, but I believe your great belief (which I applaud) seems to make you believe that all others see it the way you do. We don't. You probably are greatly blessed...."Blessed are those who have not seen, but believe." I tend to think of myself or relate better to those that probably would have wrongly called for Jesus to be executed. I wish I was better than that, but I don't kid myself.

I love reading Paul because he was a Gentile like us and was not there watching and listening to what Jesus said. His faith came later like ours do. Similar to what you quoted.

 

My great faith is not from anything I do or know or say. It is rooted in what I see in the Bible. I have long said on here, if I make a statement about Christianity and cannot back up that belief from Scripture than it is not Christianity but rather LBBCanity. And THAT is WRONG. No one should follow or listen to LBBCanity. But Christianity, listen to, study it and hopefully follow it.

 

As a teacher too, it is in my nature to teach. Some may see that as the pushy, religious guy but I believe more it is my sincere desire to teach. Same desire I have in my classroom. That's just me.

History, a little secret on my Bible knowledge. http://www.biblegateway.com

 

Type in the word you want to search and it will list everywhere that word is used. A resource I use a lot. I know the Scripture is there but not sure where. So, I go to Biblegateway and find it.

LBBC, I don't want it to sound like I'm defending Islam exclusively. I don't even like the religion, because I don't like Muhammad. That's a discussion for another time though.

 

I do think that individually we should all be able to pick whatever religion, if any, that we want and that they all should be protected.

LBBC, I don't want it to sound like I'm defending Islam exclusively. I don't even like the religion, because I don't like Muhammad. That's a discussion for another time though.

 

I do think that individually we should all be able to pick whatever religion, if any, that we want and that they all should be protected.

 

O I agree on the individually picking. I believe there is no way around it.

What is an extremely small percentage? Most of the ones I know follow this tradition.

 

I don't know of exact percentages.....The ones that do this are usually Apostolic Pentecostals.

 

Pentecostals as a whole, majority of them, do not. Its a dying tradition.

Like I said, I couldn't follow what you were saying.

 

:thumb: No shame in it.

LBBC, I don't want it to sound like I'm defending Islam exclusively. I don't even like the religion, because I don't like Muhammad. That's a discussion for another time though.

 

I do think that individually we should all be able to pick whatever religion, if any, that we want and that they all should be protected.

 

I agree with you, but just to be clear, want do you think "protected" should mean?

 

Freedom from persecution for your religious beliefs? Or should it extend further and protect you from anyone sharing a different belief with you?

I agree with you, but just to be clear, want do you think "protected" should mean?

 

Freedom from persecution for your religious beliefs? Or should it extend further and protect you from anyone sharing a different belief with you?

 

Just protection of their religious beliefs. I think everyone should be entitled to share their beliefs with others, but I think they should be receptive if the other person doesn't want to hear it or wants to share theirs. I've had many a discussion with Mormon Missionaries who have came by. I don't believe the same way that they do, but if they are willing to hear my views (surprisingly and contrary to popular belief they did) then I'll listen to them. Nothing wrong with sharing, you just can't force someone to try to believe it IMO.:thumb:

Just protection of their religious beliefs. I think everyone should be entitled to share their beliefs with others, but I think they should be receptive if the other person doesn't want to hear it or wants to share theirs. I've had many a discussion with Mormon Missionaries who have came by. I don't believe the same way that they do, but if they are willing to hear my views (surprisingly and contrary to popular belief they did) then I'll listen to them. Nothing wrong with sharing, you just can't force someone to try to believe it IMO.:thumb:

 

I agree, that, among many other things, is one problem I have with Islam.

Just protection of their religious beliefs. I think everyone should be entitled to share their beliefs with others, but I think they should be receptive if the other person doesn't want to hear it or wants to share theirs. I've had many a discussion with Mormon Missionaries who have came by. I don't believe the same way that they do, but if they are willing to hear my views (surprisingly and contrary to popular belief they did) then I'll listen to them. Nothing wrong with sharing, you just can't force someone to try to believe it IMO.:thumb:

 

I agree. I just wasn't sure what you were thinking.

 

There are certainly some people who are too "pushy". You can't convert someone to Christianity (or any religion) by nagging them to death about it, IMO. Of course, there's also no way to make a law preventing people from doing that, so we're stuck with those who can't or won't back off.