A Question for Christians

I guess another good thing about being christian is that you get to be selfrighteously smug about the interpretation of bible passages.

Whatever makes the square peg fit in the circle.

Briana Dawson

Yes, yes, and you haven't said anything other than your usual condescending tripe.

Thanks Next?

Briana Dawson

Actually, I'd like you to point out where I've been condescending. Abrasive and short, perhaps, but I'm rarely condescending. It doesn't acomplish anything.

Tell your pal Magnumn Serpentine that one. LOL.

Rarely? Still qualifies ya, so if the boot fits, have fun wearing it.

Briana Dawson

Magnum and me have history. He's my special Forum Friend.

Most people are "rarely" a lot of things. You're condescending, arrogant, etc... at least rarely. Almost everyone is. Doesn't give a carte blanche excuse to dismiss the views of that person, unless you only debate with the perfect... in which case, well...

But you clearly indicated that I was being condescending on a usual basis, and the inference was in this thread. So, ya know... I'm waiting.

Selador, look again at the part right before your quote:

21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to (the) poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
22 At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23 4 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"

Jesus is talking to a (particular) wealthy man, asks him to drop everything and follow him. The man does not, but goes home to his possessions instead.

Because of his clinging to his prosperity, the man was unwilling to "take the leap" and put his faith in God. That is why it is so hard for the rich to get into the kingdom.

Context matters.

Sorry Reitsuki, I'm not a forum monkey that is going to search out all your posts just to try and prove a point.

I think you've demonstrated the point enough.

Glad you and Magnum are special "forum friends".

Briana Dawson

Hey, you made the accusation. Do you expect me to just ignore attacks on my character? I'm not a perfect Christian in all things, I do tend to have a problem with the "turn the other cheek" bit.

Blashphemy!

This was a good post.

But I will explain in my words. (without changing Gods words, or at least trying not to)
First of all I agree that the exact translation is not an issue, as either way it is translated it means the same thing.
Some people may say "But im not rich.", Well that is completely a point of view thing. I may be rich to you or visaversa.
But you should not treat your worldy possesions like God's.
If you put God first, then it dosn't matter how rich or poor you are.
You should be willing to give up anything at anytime "Especially if God tells you to".
A simple example I hear people use a lot is tv, But I think in this situation SL would work better
Lets say for example that you have some set time that you devote every day to reading the bible. But today there is something cool going on in SL, so you skip reading your bible. You have just put something before God. At this very moment you are a "rich" man with that specific possesion that you love more than God.(or at least mistakenly put before God). Someone who has a lot of earthly possessions will fall into this more often than someone with nothing at all. Thus why it is easier to fit a camel/or/whatever through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingom.
Even with all that said, the point he was trying to make is in verse 26.
"But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

I can't give you a Christian point of view, but I have an opinion.

Rich is a relative term. It implies that someone else is poor.

I always thought Jesus was talking about community values. That if you are well off and someone is starving on your doorstep, then your values are skewed.

Disclaimer: I'm not talking about lazy parasites who have the capacity to care for themselves and won't, but rather those that can't - think of all the widows and orphens mentioned in the Bible.

Human nature seems to be mostly ME ME ME!! I interpreted much of Jesus' body of teachings as trying to create an ethical balance between the individual and community. Shifting the focus off material goods and towards spiritual riches.

Some might interpret that as meaning you can't be rich. I would say you can't be rich on the sufferings of others, nor can you ignore those sufferings and still be righteous.

Oddly this is reflected in American culture. We are a very charitable nation - if we can volunteer and decide for ourselves.

We do dislike being taxed for it because it takes away our opportunity to judge for ourselves the need (well and also that good feeling people get from doing good). Logistically, however, a national answer to hunger, homelessness, etc. is the only one that works for our size and population. And it doesn't work well. And it does breed resentment.

Seems to me like the problems haven't changed since Jesus' time, just the magnitude.

Oh, if you're going to flame me... I'm not in the forums as much as I used to be, so you may have to hold that torch for awhile before I get back to you.

I don't like being taxed because 50% of my money goes to supporting the military-industrial complex. I would jump for joy if I that 50% was instead going to welfare to support those who need food, clothes, shelter, health care, and education.

~Ulrika~

I wouldn't
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=welfare+fraud&fr=FP-tab-web-t400&toggle=1&cop=&ei=UTF-8

"what's up with this making me think and stuff?! if god wants me to ride with him, i want it laid out like a centerfold."



the square peg in the circle is you trying to make me out like i'm christian, dude

Fraud is inherent in all institutions. It's presence is insufficient to be used as an argument for disbandment. For instance, insurance and the stock market are absolutely rife with fraud, yet like welfare they serve critical functions.

~Ulrika~

oh yeah?

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=military+spending+fraud&prssweb=Search&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-tab-web-t400&x=wrt

I never said do away with welfare. I think welfare is nessacary and is a good thing. I was just making a joke.

Which is exactly what Surreal said: We dislike being taxed because it takes away choice. I would not want 50% of my wealth going to a welfare system.

Word!

Hmmm, well you're very intolerant as evidenced by your comments about those you consider sexual deviants, and you try to hide it by being a Christian apologist and insulting anyone who disagrees. Seems just like a Christian to me.

"dude"?

Obviously you are in a 'shit on the people i know mood'.

Briana Dawson

easy. everyone is dude.

if you are talking about slavery and misogyny, i'd say yeah i'm a little less willing to endorse the celebration of some really vile moments of human history as roleplay.

i didn't insult anyone chip. unless you mean calling you out as a bigot. which you are.

it's ok chip, we know you need to sell skins of pubes to make rent! you go, guy



there's that vaunted logical and rational mind in action

That's because you're a selfish bastard.

~Ulrika~

I like flowers because they're pretty and smell good.