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Subject: Searching

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fotojunkie
New User
Posts:5

04/14/2006 3:33 PM  

I was raised Southern Baptist, and though that may be a great foundation for some folks, it wasn't so great for me.  God seemed like some untouchable diety far away, out of touch with ME.

This may sound crazy, but I felt closest to God when I practiced Buddhism.  I still believed in God, but the virtues and total acceptance of all people, all beliefs was very attractive to me.  I had never experienced that anywhere before and I truly believe that Jesus loves us all, regardless of whether we are unmarried and living together, homosexual, adulterer, etc.  Why else would the Bible tell us that He cried for those who strayed from God?  Besides, who are we to judge?  We can not see into another's heart, who are we to judge someone, can't we just love them and value them for the good things that they are. 

People learn from example.  Why can't we witness through example?  Through how we live and love others?

Am I way off here?  Is there such a faith where I can finally call home?

innervisions
26-50 posts
Posts:29

04/15/2006 12:21 AM
I can totally agree that Jesus and God love us all. In all our sin and wrongdoing.

Human beings have not been given the job or privilege of judging others. That is clearly outlined in the Bible, our holy canon. You are 100% right that our witness should speak louder than our words. That's why I love the UCC denomination. I truly feel that what they are saying speaks to the true mind of Christ.

Of course we can love people for the good we see in them, but its true love that allows us to see the bad in them and still love. And an even greater love when we lovingly try to show them back to Christ's words and messages. Not in a judgemental way. But in the way a friend might help you when he sees you're off-track.

It is so discouraging for me when I see people who were raised Christian turn away from Christ because of how some "Christians" tend to act. (And I'd love to point out here that everyone who claims to be a Christian certainly isn't. You can recognize a Christian by their "fruit." Meaning if their fruit is hate, chances are, they aren't really Christians.) Personally, Jesus means too much to me for me to ever doubt Him.
WWJD
26-50 posts
Posts:40

05/08/2006 11:14 PM
[QUOTE]fotojunkie wrote

People learn from example.  Why can't we witness through example?  Through how we live and love others?

[/QUOTE]

 

"God is as God's people are doing."  RAther some like it or not we *do* witness through example.  We know each other by our actions.  Anyone can say they are this or that but people see you by what you do, not what you say about yourself.

 

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