Hello from BridgeBuilder, a New Ager with an evangelical past

[pneuma]

I am glad to see it is not only me that has that problem.

I have given up posting there because it keeps logging me out and then I cannot log on again.

Same here Seeker, so I quit posting there also.

[arcticmonster2003]

I'm hearing quite a bit of talk about Oprah, and quite frankly I'm disturbed about it. Oprah not only does not believe Jesus Christ (Messiah) is the only path, but openly spreads this teaching with her vast amount of pull she has with millions of faithful viewers. She is very concerned that it is enough to live "like Jesus" whether you believe in him or not, but know this, for those whom shall be justified by their works, by their good deeds and by their lifestyles, without the blood of Jesus Christ covering the door, that they shall be judged by their works according to the law.

Jesus is the Messiah, He is THE CHRIST, the Savior, not "a saviour" or "one of millions of saviours". He is THE way, not A way, make no mistake.

Notice in 1 John 4:2 that in order for one to make that confession, one must be not merely talking about Jesus of Nazareth, but acknowledging, as a part of that confession, the fact the Jesus of Nazareth is JESUS CHRIST, the Messiah, the Savior:

1 John 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

If Oprah is so concerned about all the people whom haven't heard about Jesus Christ, then why doesn't she use her vast resources to further that goal?? Instead she uses that to argue that he is merely "a way", and in fact she gets irritatied at people whom believe Jesus Christ is THE WAY, which means she is irritated at Jesus Christ.

Oprah's problem isn't with devout christians, but, according to the Gospel of John (14:6), her gripe is with Jesus Christ, her problem is with God.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

More on that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwGLNbiw1gk

Watch out folks, its getting layed on thick in these days. :sigh:

[Paul Hazelwood]

I think we have to keep things in perspective.   You will find that many spiritualists have been severely damaged by organized religion.  Oprahs background is baptist, people who have grown up in a strict old school baptist environment will understand how hard it can be to see God in Love after that has influenced a person so heavily and negatively.

From my perspective, there is only one way to God through Jesus Christ and what it comes down to is God having the ability to make it happen.

For some, it is a long road to separate Gods word from the religion that they detest.

[arcticmonster2003]

Good point Paul, healing is in order, and prayers and correction, to help lead them back to their first love, Jesus Christ (not their first church). Those whom know Jesus Christ must continue to witness to those whom do not yet know him, now if a person attended an organization that talked about Jesus Christ, that does not mean that the person knows Jesus Christ, and the witness from us can be no other: that Jesus Christ is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE.

Will you then join me in prayers for Oprah, and perhaps God will grant her repentance on the matter. What a marvelous witness she would make to the truth if she returned to her first love, Jesus Christ.

[Paul Hazelwood]

Good point Paul, healing is in order, and prayers and correction, to help lead them back to their first love, Jesus Christ (not their first church). Those whom know Jesus Christ must continue to witness to those whom do not yet know him, now if a person attended an organization that talked about Jesus Christ, that does not mean that the person knows Jesus Christ, and the witness from us can be no other: that Jesus Christ is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE.

Will you then join me in prayers for Oprah, and perhaps God will grant her repentance on the matter. What a marvelous witness she would make to the truth if she returned to her first love, Jesus Christ.

This is one reason I have come to Love God more.  I realize that humans are not bound to figuring it out on their own and we do not have to be bound to hoping we witness good enough or that we gave enough  money at church to "spread" the word or what other nonsense religion comes up with.   We can have a confidence that God is in control and Oprah (or anyone else) is not doomed to hell because their earthly circumstances caused them to act in opposition to religion.

We can concentrate on actually Loving God and not fearing each step we take won't be good enough. We can learn to love People in all circumstances and that the LOVE IS SUCCESSFUL even if our part was just a piece of the path. 


Yes, I will join you in your prayers.

[Sarah]

Who is this Jesus?

Some believe he was God's son sacrificed to appease God's judgement against us. Recently I read from the Jesus Seminar that he was a composite mythical person.

Honestly I do not have the molecular makeup of Jesus's origen figured out; was he the third part of a trinity, was he half/man half/God, full God/full man, fully man filled with God. My head spins when I think about it too long.

Let me speak from my heart my own experience. When I was in my early 20's the negative thoughts in my head were continuous and persistent. They were louder than my own voice; you are so stupid, you are such an idiot, you should just die, etc. etc. One night I had a dream that this woman had a large black dog. She would sick it on me, and I was powerless to outrun or overpower the dog. It would lay on me and it was terrifying. I called my brother for help, he led me to Isaiah 54. I woke up early and read this chapter every day because I was desparate. The part that sticks out in my head is verses 16-17

"Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me," says the Lord."

One morning as I was praying a warm electric peace covered me from head to foot. It was an electric wave that passed right through my body. As this happened I kept hearing in my mind "You righteousness is of me, your righteousness is of me." I believed at the time that this signified that Jesus was sent by God to stand in my place before Himself to cover all of the sins that were keeping me from Him. At that time I felt that when I sinned that I couldn't be in the presence of God or I would shamefully approach Him each time in prayer with a litany of 'I'm sorry's'. From that point on I had a default to refer to when my mind began to attack me for things I did. I would immediately think, you can't attack me, when God sees me He sees Jesus. This default protected me from the thing in my mind that accused me of all my wrong-doing.  I can honestly say that I never think those things anymore, God has completely healed me.

Now that I've matured (Ha!), I believe God saw me the whole time and loved me the whole time, but my conscience needed a covering. This is what Jesus was to me.

[Craig]

That happens to me a lot Sarah. Same exact experiences, and the Lord giving a Scripture in a dream that I would remember in the morning that would explain what I was going through. I also had that electric peace, and the God speak to me comforting me saying, "Craig, nothing can separate you from My love, I will never leave you or forsake you." to look next to me and Jesus was sitting in my bedside chair.

[arcticmonster2003]

Who is this Jesus?

Recently I read from the Jesus Seminar that he was a composite mythical person.

That statment from that Jesus Seminar you are talking about, that they are saying he is a composite mythical person, is from the anti-christ, and that is the truth.

1 John 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

P.S. the reason your head is spinning is because, through your search for the truth, are suffering alot of teachings from the anti-christ to be pondered upon. I've been there, and know what you mean.

[firstborn888]

Now that I've matured (Ha!), I believe God saw me the whole time and loved me the whole time, but my conscience needed a covering.

Bingo!  :Sparkletooth:

[Sarah]

P.S. the reason your head is spinning is because, through your search for the truth, are suffering alot of teachings from the anti-christ to be pondered upon. I've been there, and know what you mean.

I have been confused concerning the molecular makeup of God for a long time, and I just read the Jesus seminar thing I yesterday, so that wasn't the instigator. The truth is that the trinity has always been an area of mental conflict, especially since it felt like it was thing that I had to convince people of to convert them to Christianity. I knew the Mormons believed that Jesus was a literal son of God, and they were going to hell, and the Islams believed he was just a prophet and they were going to hell, so then I'd better get a good understanding of the trinity so I'm not responsible for misrepresenting the trinity and thus sending people to hell.

Since coming into the knowledge of His tranforming all-inclusive love, I have felt freer to explore other ideas regarding the makeup of the God-head, or God. I still haven't come to any strong conclusions. Now, I just concentrate on knowing Him. I have confidence in His overwhelming Love. I will not be put into bondage because I don't mentally have it figured out. I rest in his love and mercy. Perhaps this unknowing is my 'thorn' so I can have mercy on others.

[Mickiel]

P.S. the reason your head is spinning is because, through your search for the truth, are suffering alot of teachings from the anti-christ to be pondered upon. I've been there, and know what you mean.

I have been confused concerning the molecular makeup of God for a long time, and I just read the Jesus seminar thing I yesterday, so that wasn't the instigator. The truth is that the trinity has always been an area of mental conflict, especially since it felt like it was thing that I had to convince people of to convert them to Christianity.

This is interesting, I too have wondered the same. Interesting that you would word it the molecular makeup of God. Oh  , thats a big step I am willing to take, but just don't know how to take it. God exist, that I believe. If he exist, he then must be constructed of something. I mean, he has being, but what is he made of? Well he is not " Made", or constructed, or born, or encased within something I can understand. He just is. And I do believe that he gave birth to Jesus, as a human woman would give birth to her child, it just comes out of her. Jesus came out of God, but it " Was Not", a normal birth, or a human birth, it was a devine birth. Or Protozoan, something within, now is without, and now has independant self existing life.

Impossible without God producing it, thus God is entwined to it, thus " An Apperance of Unilateral birth, and from this comes the trinity belief." God doing the impossible, not impossible to him, but to us! We are not willing to accept that God gave Jesus individual self existing life, so we try to " Trinitise that", or make him out to be God equally, then include the Holy Spirit into that mix. Thus the trinity belief gains relevance, from learning that is illrelevant and off balence.

The hallmark of Gods creation of consciousness, is that he gave it individuality. Self awareness. There is nothing that exist that is independent from God. The trinity concept is really  seriously limited, God is all in all, the trinity seriously reduces that, short changes God, in an effort to uplift him.

Peace.

[Mickiel]

But you know, I am not far from believeing that Jesus is God, and that is a big change for me. But I think it needs contexting, explaining that seperates them, without seperating them, which is not easily done. If it came from God, then its God, but not if God didnotwant it to be him by extension, but how can we seperate child from parent? Well it has to be the individuality of consciousness, which Jesus obivously holds to himself, as we hold to ourselves. In the end, I think all humans will be Gods, just not God as the Father is God, but God as the beginning of a birth charactherised by its parent. Its just too wonderful to rightly discern, without the imagination running wild. And thus overboard and ego shifting.

I understand the confusion. I am confused about it.

Just far too much that I cannot see.

Peace.

[Sarah]

Thank you for your reply Mickiel and honesty. My point wasn't to down the trinity, or the other conclusions people come from scriptures; God is a family, The oneness theology, etc. I was just pointing out that it isn't a concept that is 'easy', and it seems mean to require someone to have it figured out to 'get to heaven'. If you go onto boards that discuss such things they get up into the 20 pages area with emotions raging. Each POV quoting scripture and stating how obvious it is. Maybe I'm dumb or smart, I don't know, but I freely admit that I don't have it figured out.

Concerning who this Jesus was, I have thought before that it isn't so much convincing somone of historical head knowledge, but showing them Christ within. This is the Christ that we accept or reject daily. It seems everyone in the US knows the Jesus Story, and we are trying desparately to persuade them of our understanding in thinking this is the key to salvation. But I believe the key is introducing them to the one who brings life.

Bridgebuilder mentioned earlier that the Jesus of the bible seemed like he was one minute full of love and the next sending people to a place of weeping and knashing of teeth. It is important that you look at the context. Who was he talking to? What was going on politically at the time? and also to keep in mind that the word 'hell' used in his teachings are not indicitive of the eternal torture chamber that comes to mind in our brand of Christianity.