How to adjust

[reFORMer]

Consider Jesus bleeding on the cross, seeing the look of triumph on the faces of the Jewish and Roman authorities gathered before Him, hearing their jeers.  What does He retaliate with?  If their destiny is ceaseless torture for ever, He would with joy be prophesying their horrible neverending doom.  If, on the other hand, He knows the end of the Lord is mercy, then He would ask Father to forgive them for they know not what they do.

[MLCCP]

My comments were for those that come to the site and are searching. Obviously, if you have 2000 posts under your belt, what I say is old stuff. However, the way I look at it is if you  (3rd person plural) can take something positive out of any of my comments, or disagree, or whatever, fine. If not, don't read it, or read it, ignore it and go on to the next.

[ded2daworld]

Where did that come from? Were you offended somehow? I read back all the comments and saw nothing but praise and agreement with your posts. :sigh:
:dontknow:

[rosered]

  Hi Ded It was my preaching to the choir  comment  :( 
I just meant in agreement with Him and same page  , I should have said Amen to his post 
my poor choice of words has offened  yet another   dear soul ,
  and now I will go back to just reading once again  :footmouth:
I did not mean to tear down , but build up  those whom speak the same truths   
my apologies  to MLCCP  , I offended without even realizing it !  :doh:
God bless you and and   good bye  once again  :HeartThrob:

[lomarah]

Aw Rose, we are all misunderstood many times on this forum. It's not your fault! This way of communication is not ideal for so many reasons, that being the biggest. Don't live in fear of offending people sis! Just explain and move on. I'm sure MLCCP gets it now. Your posts are always very edifying and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way! Love you.  :HeartThrob:

[ded2daworld]

Like I said Rose, I read back all the posts and saw nothing offensive.
You always write in love and if offense is taken it doesn't mean you were at fault.
"Love takes no offense when others do it wrong."
Please stay, we've missed your input. :Peace2:

[Captain.Theophilus]

Thanks for all the replies!!! It's been very good to read :)

Having the support and encouragement of a community is very helpful in dealing with this.

[rosered]

   Thank you Lo , for the kind words , love you too  :HeartThrob: 
I am not  hurt or offended   , just not wanting to hurt anyone else

  We know by scriptures that Jesus is the WORD OF GOD /made flesh    and Jesus said this to help us not be offended   in His Word  ,  and am remined  not to  hold any  root of bitterness  that is not  holy , but to forgive as I am forgiven  , for / the Word is the stumbling block to many as it also is  a warning for us    to take heed to not to become disobedient  children  :sigh:


Isa 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

  working hard to use scripture references here  on this 11 yrs old puter and dial-up   
  bear with me ... :doh:
  Mat 11:5   The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is [he], whosoever shall not be offended in me. 

  :HeartThrob:

[rosered]

Again , thanks for the support CT AND Ded   , much appreciated  , I have posted way  more than ever intended already  :eek:    Love in Christ  :girlheart:

[dajomaco]

Rosered 
Here is a simple solution.
Post 8 more times. If no one is offended.
You could post freely after that.
If some one is offended then you will know that God
has used your posts.
At the realization that God uses your posts, you simply must not stop posting.
You could decide your self.

This is my way of encouraging you keep posting.

[VineBranch]

I'm not sure if it really matters anymore what the theology is.

Over the last three months my theology has undergone a sort of implosion.  I think ultimately it doesn't come down to thought.  In fact it may be thought which stands in the way of understanding.  I told a friend mine a couple of years of ago, that I had come to the conclusion that explanation often prevents understanding.  I think it is because explanation stems from the personal.  I've been here about five minutes myself, so there is very little I have in the way of help for anyone else.  I barely get it myself.  In the last three months I've changed my view on ET and free-will.  I used to believe the whole shooting match was about free-will.  Now, I'm not sure I care anymore.  Here is what I have seen however.

The people who denigrate me for my new belief in UR, are the same people who call me silly for having rethought my stand on free-will.  They are the same people who need to control what I think about what I see.  They have a vested interest in being right ... not because they get a reward, but because they control at least part of the outcome.  The people I have talked to over the years have all had one thing in common when speaking of hell.  There are those who quip, they are going there and taking over (ego), and there are those who say they will avoid it (ego).  Most non-religious folk tell me they aren't going to hell because, although, they are not perfect, at least they never killed anyone or did anything serious enough to warrant being sent there;  in other words, they think it exists, but they will ultimately be in charge of what constitutes a valid reason for going there (ego).

I have come to understand that there are three things I really detest in this world:  comparison, competition, and aggression; they constitute my unholy trinity.  Most religious folk, in my experience have liked the notion of hell, because mostly, religious folk, in my experience, are usually involved in competition.  If you avoided hell, you did it, and they (the other folk) didn't; I think a lot of those who like hell see it as a vindication that they are/were right.

Once you no longer need to control others, you no longer need to see them in hell to prove you were right.  Once you love them, you don't need to dominate them.  Once you sit on your father's lap and realize that he loves you, you start to understand that you love them, and wouldn't wish hell on anyone.  Then I think we understand that God's love makes there hate irrelevant.  I don't think you can actually make anyone see it.  I have given up trying to explain it.  Either you know your dad (abba), or you don't.  If you do, you will never again need a hell to control or punish anyone.  If you don't, controlling people is your only option if you can't love them.  Red is right, (if I may take liberties with his post) fear craves Hell, love knows God.

[dajomaco]

And anyone who is not offended because of Me is blessed."

[lomarah]

Amen daj.  :HeartThrob:

[rosered]

Rosered 
Here is a simple solution.
Post 8 more times. If no one is offended.
You could post freely after that.
If some one is offended then you will know that God
has used your posts.
At the realization that God uses your posts, you simply must not stop posting.
You could decide your self.

This is my way of encouraging you keep posting.

Well we are at that  goal/quota  , right now Daj ! ,

And anyone who is not offended because of Me is blessed

:HeartThrob: again amen to that !

[MLCCP]

Where did that come from? Were you offended somehow? I read back all the comments and saw nothing but praise and agreement with your posts. :sigh:
:dontknow:

Sorry, I was responding to a private comment, but wasn't sure I did it right, so I posted a general comment too. Just learning the site and how to use all the features.

[MLCCP]

"I'm not sure if it really matters anymore what the theology is."--VineBranch

Well, I do think theology matters as the comments on this site clearly demonstrates. I agree with your comments, over all, though and have gone through the same transition.

I guess I can say that we are free to act according to our essence and nature, but to me at least, Holy Writ is very clear that we can do NOTHING without Christ. Everything we have is a gift from above (John 3:27), and it is God that puts the clean heart in us. (Ezek 36:26-27).

I believe it was Martin Luther who said "we are all born under a death sentence. What's free about that?" He had a point.

[Lazarus Short]

VB, I think you are onto the seed of a great and huge idea.  Idea?  No, not in the intellectual sense.  I remember what Confucius said, "I hear and I forget.  I do and I remember.  I teach and I understand."  This is something happening in the spirit of us, and it is a work of God, not of us - not ego, lest any man should boast.  I used to think proper theology was the goal, but now I know that it is only part of the journey.  The goal is Love.  :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob:

[ded2daworld]

Amen. Did Jesus ever concern himself with someone's theology or was he more concerned with their love for others?

[MLCCP]

Matthew, Chapter 23 Jesus blisters the  Pharisees because of their bad theology. I think one has to maintain a healthy balance between theology and how one treats/loves others.

It would be difficult to worship God in Spirit and Truth, if you didn't know (theology) what that truth consists of. Then there is the greatest theologian of all time--the Apostle Paul.


In my humble opinion, the Book of Romans is nothing but a theological discourse, and some of the most brilliant writing ever recorded.

I understand what you are saying, and a lot of man's Systematic Theology is nothing more than setting out a subjective, desired end, then bending the scriptures to support your view. That type of theology one would do well to leave on the bookshelf--unread.

[eaglesway]

Matthew, Chapter 23 Jesus blisters the  Pharisees because of their bad theology. I think one has to maintain a healthy balance between theology and how one treats/loves others.

It would be difficult to worship God in Spirit and Truth, if you didn't know (theology) what that truth consists of. Then there is the greatest theologian of all time--the Apostle Paul.


In my humble opinion, the Book of Romans is nothing but a theological discourse, and some of the most brilliant writing ever recorded.

I understand what you are saying, and a lot of man's Systematic Theology is nothing more than setting out a subjective, desired end, then bending the scriptures to support your view. That type of theology one would do well to leave on the bookshelf--unread.

I am the way, the truth and the life. Paul does give us a lot of theology in Romans, but it is so much more than just a theological discourse. The problem with theology is that it is so often of the letter, powered by the mind and not subject to the higher streams of consciousness in the Spirit. Love, compassion, gentleness, patience -these are all elements of the divine nature of God as revealed in Jesus. Good sound doctrine is not so much knowing "about God" as it is "knowing God" and "walking in His ways".

"By this shall all men know you are my disciples, by your love one for another".   :2c:

[MLCCP]

Matthew, Chapter 23 Jesus blisters the  Pharisees because of their bad theology. I think one has to maintain a healthy balance between theology and how one treats/loves others.

It would be difficult to worship God in Spirit and Truth, if you didn't know (theology) what that truth consists of. Then there is the greatest theologian of all time--the Apostle Paul.


In my humble opinion, the Book of Romans is nothing but a theological discourse, and some of the most brilliant writing ever recorded.

I understand what you are saying, and a lot of man's Systematic Theology is nothing more than setting out a subjective, desired end, then bending the scriptures to support your view. That type of theology one would do well to leave on the bookshelf--unread.

I am the way, the truth and the life. Paul does give us a lot of theology in Romans, but it is so much more than just a theological discourse. The problem with theology is that it is so often of the letter, powered by the mind and not subject to the higher streams of consciousness in the Spirit. Love, compassion, gentleness, patience -these are all elements of the divine nature of God as revealed in Jesus. Good sound doctrine is not so much knowing "about God" as it is "knowing God" and "walking in His ways".

"By this shall all men know you are my disciples, by your love one for another".   :2c:

Well stated, however I would say that compassion, gentleness, patience are attributes of God, while Love is the Essence and Nature of God. Scripture never says God is compassion, or is gentleness or is patience. It does say God is Love.

Theology/Scripture cannot be understood by the "higher streams of consciousness." According to 1 Cor 2:14 the spiritual things of God can only be discerned by the power of the Holy Spirit. Maybe that's what you meant by that phrase.

We have to remember that God's written Word to man is His revelation to us, so I would assume it is meant to be understood, otherwise it wouldn't be a revelation.

I think we are discussing the same thing, basically. Put a little differently, one has to be careful to not only have "head knowledge," (intellectualism), but also must have "heart knowledge," and with some there is a huge gap between the two.

[VineBranch]

Matthew, Chapter 23 Jesus blisters the  Pharisees because of their bad theology.

I actually get the exact opposite from Matthew 23.  I read it this way ... when Christ tells the people to do what the Pharisees say, but not what they do, I think he is saying that their theology (what they say) is right, but the way they present it (what they do) is wrong:  "For they preach, but do not practice."

[VineBranch]

Amen. Did Jesus ever concern himself with someone's theology or was he more concerned with their love for others?

I think your rhetorical questions is right ded ...

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
(Joh 15:12)

I went looking for ...
"This is my commandment, that you have the right theology as I have."
but couldn't find it.

[VineBranch]

Rosered 

I'm afraid I don't know you, but I would be honoured to not be offended by you, if you so chose.

[rosered]

Rosered 

I'm afraid I don't know you, but I would be honoured to not be offended by you, if you so chose.

Hello VineBranch ,   Thank you , I   tell you the truth  , I choose not to offend  anyone  :Peace2:
I am simple  in thoughts and   
on the  point of theology it seems loving  in  word  nor tongue  seems to  not  amount to much    as doing the deeds in truth  ,  That can only be done with in  right Spirit  motovating / guiding us 

  the pharrisses  were called  [basically ]  the sons of  the Devil in   other words  ,  Jesus  in John  8  because their lusts /desires were self serving  and not  born of the Spirit of  God , [NO faith ] needed to be born again of the Incorruptible seed  , the original seed was doomed  to fail  , as is in every man born of Adam 

  1Jo 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
we know the  works/deeds[ results ] are of the Holy Father and the  way , truth and Life are found in Christ /annointed One 
  so  they did not abode / dwell  in the Truth / Spirit of Truth  , so a  lie  is  words used as a sword / Word and the act or deed results in murder of the innocent  blood /life is in the blood 
they had no faith , they went about to kill ,kill  kill the Spirit of Life  planted in every  mans heart 
as Jesus is the open show/revelation  and main example  we are to learn by

Jhn 8:44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

  Than I could be all wrong here  :footmouth:

  But does  what they preach become living a  lie when they do not do as they say ?  showing that they do not abide in the truth  making them a faithless   generation  doomed to fail  ?   

"For they preach, but do not practice."