posted July 17, 2012 07:33 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by PixieJane:
What about the philosophies some have of God's Left Hand being wrath and Right Hand being mercy?

I know in some occult trads (and I believe there's a Jewish tradition that has a similar philosophy) they believe God can be both good and evil (as a metaphor, Satan is God's Left Hand, which fits in with Job, btw, while Jesus is God's Right Hand, but both are aspects of God, and then there's the lambs and lions of God). Is there something similar going on here? That the "right hand" is for many people but some people get the "left hand"? If so, how does that work?

---

This is not in the Bible. There are other books such as the Talmud, which men wrote. The Bible was written by God, through Divine Inspiration, so it stands alone, for those of us who are Bible believers and believe in this way.

There is the Age of Law and the Age of Grace. So, the demands of the Law were met by one man--Jesus. Hence, the Age of the Law is over. Now, it is the Age of Grace.

However, not to make it confusing, but many things in the OT still stand such as God's love for Israel and His promises to Israel. Many churches have Replacement Theology. They say the church is the new Israel and God is done with the Jews.That is 100% not true. Israel is the "apple of God's eye". God can never break a promise or the sky would fall. It says that in the Bible.
After the Age of grace, God will turn back to Israel, during the Tribulation and all Israel will be saved.

------------------
Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal

posted July 18, 2012 05:51 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by katatonic:
congratulations faith on being aware enough to be able to change your mind on things. everything is possible to those who insist on using their brains...

while it may be true that we cannot just STOP at this moment it is a noble aim to work toward peace on earth. i too believe that it is possible, however naive it might seem, to at least revert to concentrating on a defense so strong it does not need to obliterate whole nations. iran is taking a macho stance now, but it would take the wind out of their sails if america suddenly proved she was NOT an agressor...then how would they justify their bragging?

i doubt this is a scenario for the next decade(though anything is possible) but one day a commander in chief will see the benefit of retrieving the huge portion of our budget spent not on DEFENSE, as it is described, but pre-emptive OFFENSE and holding stations all over the world...but first some way of transferring the profits and jobs sustained by the military industry will probably have to be found...

in the meantime, as you may have noticed, any attempts at diplomacy in place of aggression is mocked and repudiated by those who have given up on "human nature".

---

posted July 18, 2012 05:57 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by PixieJane:
Just out of curiosity how do you reconcile this with not judging others (Matthew 7:1-2, Luke 6:37, Romans 2:1), turning the other cheek (Matthew 5:38–5:48), bless them that curse you (Luke 6:27–31), and the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31)?

And what do you think of how the war is being waged so far, like using drones to bomb funerals where many families (with children and pregnant women) are at, disaster sites (thus killing good samaritans and what passes for the fire department) and the like? Is this righteous or heinous?

And if the US goes to war with Iran, do you think the US should use the same tactics as Iraq did when they invaded Iran? If not, then how should our tactics differ?

Of course anyone who says they follow the teachings of Jesus can answer. I'm genuinely curious how one works this out.

---

I think that you raise some good questions; I'd like to think about them more before answering.

I am against war myself, except in the case of self-defense.

However, that said, there should be limits on war. War should not happen anyway, but if it does, there should be standards of decency that should be followed. War does not make it OK to rape, murder, use landmines (that can harm many innocent people later), genocide, and to use unnecessary brutality and force, especially against civilians who are not participating in the conflict.

posted July 18, 2012 06:04 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Faith:
Ami, with all due respect,

Christians have been targeted and manipulated probably more aggressively even than the general public, in that their very belief system has been tinkered with deliberately by the higher-ups.

I don't have time to lay out my case for that extensively right now, but many of the evangelist "luminaries" of today are VERY politically active. They share ideas for shaping the Christian political landscape at the "Christian CFR," the Council for National Policy, which is, to me, one of the most sinister think tanks out there.

Thanks to the trickle-down effect of their efforts, I go into a church and find pamphlets about how it is "godly" to submit completely to the most invasive TSA churches. Military songs are sung in churches now.

GOTT MIT UNS.

The Nazis thought their calling was Christian, too. Everyone ought to remember that and take it as a warning.

All I'm saying is, delve deep in your research, learn to recognize propaganda, before you find yourself [...] supporting all-out genocide.

[...]

---

I have to agree, though I'd like to gently ask you not to use the word 'stupidly' from now on and to find a different term. Perhaps "unwittingly" or "unknowingly" might convey what you mean in a softer tone, just to politely make two suggestions.

The way that some of the people you call 'luminaries' interpret is not the only valid path worth considering. There are other schools of thought out there; I explored many of them while on my spiritual journey a few years ago to end up where I am today.

I don't believe that there is one sole path to being a good Christian. It's a big part of why I left my old denomination. I really don't believe that any one group has the authority to say that their way is the only way. It's one of the things that frustrates me about some denominations/schools of thought. In my own denomination's culture, civil disagreement is perfectly fine, and people approach things differently, and this is all right. We get along.

posted July 18, 2012 06:08 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ami Anne:
These are all very good questions and asked with respect, unlike the one Kat asks me, to try to be a jerk. I am happy to try to answer, to the best of my ability. The Bible always has an answer. The answer is always logical and no part of the Bible EVER contradicts another part.

OK, it will be a long answer, I cam see that lol

One has to look at 2 different dispensations--the Old testament and the New One must also look at the affairs of the earth and what will transpire and man's own personal code of conduct as he lives on the earth.

---

Ami, could you please find a better word to use than "jerk"?

I understand that you and kat have had disagreements, and I don't want to butt in or get in the middle, but I would like to ask that you refrain from calling her that, please.

If she's called you something on here and I have missed it, I apologize, and if that has happened, I will ask too that this be reciprocated (as in, that she not call you names either).

posted July 18, 2012 07:30 AM            

------------------
Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal