For God so loveth the world...

a reply to: Visitor2012

Yes, the Christ is in all of us, but the Christ doesnot want to be Christ. He wants to explore this world as a regular doe, the part when he comes in the clouds with the sickle well, it's just the Christ coming out of the shower getting ready to shave. Like Sting sings: "Every little thing she does is magic."

a reply to: LadyGreenEyes

Luke 4 - Jesus doesnot want world.
John 3 - God puts Jesus in world
Matt 5 - God gives world to meek people

After Satan had failed in selling the world to Jesus, God pumped up the value of the world by inserting his Son into it and dumped it on the market taxing it as inheritance. That's what the text says. Ancient pump and dump and luring stupid people in on the bogus deal.

originally posted by: jmdewey60
a reply to: Utnapisjtim

So God only loved the world enough to sacrifice a mere One of his kids for the cause . . .

You are saying exactly the opposite of what the text says.
God gave the most precious and singular thing that He had.

That's your interpretation. The text can actually be read to mean the opposite. That God didn't love the world at all, that he didn't really care about the world, not enough to send minions of angels and brigades of Cherubim spaceships, but he sent down baby Jesus just to see what would happen to the world, if it would become a better place. And My oh My. 2000 years on they are still running around like bridesmaids shining their lamps at the supermarket waiting for the Son to come and rip them out of the world and being all odd and impossible.

a reply to: Utnapisjtim

LOL! Yes as opposed to your interpretation. Oh that's right you don't have an "interpretation" just pure undiluted renderings.

Here's an alternate rendition of the Temptation of Christ passage and it's CONTEXT and maybe, maybe it's what really happened. Anyway I hope it will bring some light to this low majick sacrifice-death-cultism bollocks.

God: Hey Guys. I have a problem. What do we do with this -- World?
Satan: Give it to me, I'll find some cocky earthling to take responsibility for the damned thing.

So God gave Satan all the world, with all it's kingdoms and riches and sent him off to Earth. The usual crash landing later and Satan cussing at his crap 'Blind Dragon 2000' star-vessel even after that, he had soon found his subject who stood out, some hippie Hebrew who seemed very popular indeed, great karma, most of his followers among regular fellas, but also rich and influential people deep into the high chambers, seemed even the Romans with it's governors and a great part of their armies had taken favour in him. A controversial character. Spirited, ambitious, influential, popular, wise, well-read, crafty.... Satan sealed the scroll of the world and placed it in it's box like custom is, and picked up the Hebrew superstar who at the moment was hallucinating from eating stuff the Torah doesn't count as food or drink, sweating it out in the heat in a nearby desert. He placed the box on some rock Jesus initially was eager to eat before he took to his senses and cleared up a little:

Jesus: I promise, no rock-eating, word of God. What was it you wanted again?
Satan: Just do as I tell you. Kneel down or something and answer me: Would you like this here, world, that I present to thee? With all it's riches and splendour?
Jesus: Sounds cool with my own navy and all, but no thanks. And I don't kneel to anyone. I can barely handle my wife and my kids, and now I have this entourage of disciples who follow me around everywhere I walk, and you want me to take on the WORLD? Bollocks! Why do you think I'm out here hiding and sweating in the first place. I mean there is lots of stuff which isn't food and all, so there's plenty to eat, but have you tried to eat roaches and larva all day long? I just want to go home to my Father in the sky, and wish that none of this was happening!
Satan: No, Jesus! Don't jump! We could need someone like you! Please stay. How about I make you a nice little church instead? To rule the mighty and vast empire that will elevate you into God, above the hat of the highest priest and way atop the crowns of dragons, emperors and kings.
Jesus: Church? WTF is a church?
Satan: It's a new thing we're making. We raise them tall and mighty over your saints' graves, fill them with what we will call Christians and we amaze them with architecture, gold, art and acoustics every weekend so they stay calm throughout the week and don't mess about too much.
Jesus: Hm, sounds like a good idea, I'll think about it. Want a roach? Look it's only got four legs now. Not food.

Satan and Jesus parted, Jesus back to his family and his disciples, Satan back to God where he had to deliver the bad news.

God: Satan...
Satan: God. Would you like the good news or the bad news first?

God did a stone - scissors - paper with his Ghost and the good news it was.

Satan: Good news is I met your Son?
God: I have a Son? On Earth?
Satan: Yes, didn't you know? His name is Jebus or something, Gabriel made him, remember? He says he misses home and wants to come back to live with you.
God: In my house are many mansions, I'll see if I have one ready. Nope, all of them are occupied, just a barn or a cave for the birth it seems, you know, with Harmagheddon closing in, rooms are hard to find, he'll have to make his own house later on. Do 'a Joseph' and show him Egypt, they will teach him how to built for eternity.
Satan: I kinda promised him the Church...
God: Good, then we don't have to think about that any more.
Satan: Well, you will have to have your name in the top box in the powepoint presentation, but I can make it triangular and put an eye in it, illuminate it with rays protruding, that'll scare them from bothering you with all the kinds of nonsense humans struggle with after the insidence with the tree and the tower. Jebus or what's his name, HE will rule the church, or well, he DID say he needed time to think it over. I'll take the dive if he refuses. Even Michael your Pride can bitch me then, if Jebus doesn't want to rule the Church. Deal?
God: Think about it you said? And how about the World. Did he take it?
Satan: Nah, that was kinda the bad news. But I can call the Good News for the "God-spell" and we'll fool his followers into taking the world deal with king and glory and all. There has to be someone. We could get Jebus to advertise it in his speech tomorrow evening. Poster says "Sermon of the Mount, free entrance, bring wine!"
God: Verywell. Carryon, I have a new Heaven to design for my new Earth. I'm a busy God, got an idea how much toll it is just moving one star let's say two inches to the left? It's bloody killing me! Dismissed!

And the rest of the story we all know....

originally posted by: Logarock
a reply to: Utnapisjtim

LOL! Yes as opposed to your interpretation. Oh that's right you don't have an "interpretation" just pure undiluted renderings.

I have NO idea what I can call these revelations of mine, but you're right they're not quite interpretations. The irony of fate perhaps. I mean, if God loved the world so much as they desire, then why not come here himself? Nah, he sends his son to scout the place, and what did he find? Look around you. See any SENSIBLE Christians anywhere? Someone who doesn't believe in the powers of human sacrifices calling themselves children of God? Bollocks!

God, as he became older and less energetic, decided he no longer wanted to try to keep things balanced.

He began to desire to put some things on autopilot for fun and profit and sit around and watch TV instead of watch these stupid humans make the same mistakes over and over again.

Amidst the reorganization and downsizing, the angel who was to become satan lost his job in heaven, got bored and came down here to actively keep things from becoming balanced in retaliation for his being laid off.

Even angels get bored...

God is still watching TV....

Just kidding around of course, I hope....

a reply to: Utnapisjtim

Heres mine..

Satan...Worship me and I will give you all the kingdoms of the world.

Jesus...Well see Satan they are already promised to Me, as is everything in the universe, but I must first trump you out by being obedient to death.

Satan...Ok fine, fine but you need to test run the resurrection thing by jumping off this deal here and see if the Father is really going to catch you.

Jesus...But I didn't come here to be caught falling. Besides you know how that goes. You fell and no one caught you.

Satan...Well then at least stop starving yourself! Prove who you are and turn these stones into bread. Why should the Son of God go hungry?

Jesus...I have food you don't know anything about. I am the Bread of Life.

originally posted by: AfterInfinity
a reply to: deadeyedick

If all else fails, roll over and beg like the dog you are to him.

Not dogs, they are the Cananites (Matt 15:26). Christians are sheep or grass. Big difference. You can't sacrifice dogs, but you can sacrifice sheep and grass. Makes it easier for Jesus and the lot when they swing their sickles and bathe the Earth in fire and brimstone to cut down the lifestock by a third part. Can't you see them before you as the death toll is getting higher by the millions in days? "They're only sheep obladi *genocide slash to the left*, it's only grass trallala *extinction slash to the right* humptidum...."

originally posted by: Logarock
Satan...Well then at least stop starving yourself! Prove who you are and turn these stones into bread. Why should the Son of God go hungry?

Jesus...I have food you don't know anything about. I am the Bread of Life.

Ugh, I keep getting these nasty images on my mind here where Jesus is eating himself in all kinds of manners. Never understood the "bread of heaven" thingie. A wee bit cleverer now. I think.

a reply to: Utnapisjtim

he sent down baby Jesus just to see what would happen to the world, if it would become a better place.

That is the responsibility of the people in the world.
We don't need a tyranny imported from some celestial realm to take away our free will, to force people to be good.
It needs to become a permanently sustainable community righteousness.

I do agree with you on the one thing, that it is counterproductive to imagine being taken off the planet as a viable alternative.
We need more people actually carrying out Jesus' teachings and making the world a better place locally by being socially engaged in actual "works", something the Rapture crowd seems to disdain.

originally posted by: AfterInfinity

I do not live for the express purpose of fulfilling someone else's agenda. I will gladly and purposefully screw their agenda to the hilt, wreck their operation, just to teach them a lesson about control.

I'm in!

Damn, where is that damned spear when I need it? And where did I put me silver ravens' cloak and me dragon-skin boots?! HARMAGHEDDOOOON!

originally posted by: BELIEVERpriest
a reply to: AfterInfinity

You just stated that your agenda is to fulfill another person's agenda to be happy.

I live to please my Lord. To live is Christ.

Not at the cost of my own happiness, and certainly not to soothe their over-inflated sense of grandeur and importance. If I am an insect in their eyes, then they are a monster in mine. And I don't do business with monsters unless it's to knock them down a peg or three.

originally posted by: AfterInfinity
I'm particularly enjoying how you pointed out that both Satan and Jesus offer the same exact thing for the same exact price. A most curious overlap, that is.

Except one is with God and the other is not, one can fulfill the contract the other cannot.
What's so hard to understand?

originally posted by: TinfoilTP

originally posted by: AfterInfinity
I'm particularly enjoying how you pointed out that both Satan and Jesus offer the same exact thing for the same exact price. A most curious overlap, that is.

Except one is with God and the other is not, one can fulfill the contract the other cannot.
What's so hard to understand?

Nothing. I understand it very well. Hence my atheism.

originally posted by: ParasuvO
a reply to: BELIEVERpriest

And whose context is that?

Better yet, did any conclusion based on ANY context be pointed out?

The truest scoffers of all, the ones who actually try INCREDIBLY HARD to make sense out of something that really offers no answers, and never will, to anything in this world or beyond.

The vast majority of the people who make threads like this fail miserably in their "interpretation" of scripture. When reading the Bible, CONTEXT must be considered above all else. Context exists on many levels and in this order, from least to most... word, verse, passage, chapter, book, entire Bible, historical/cultural context, and most importantly, who the author is... who the intended audience is, and the message the author is wanting to convey. You also have to consider the writing style of the individual author. Mark and John both wrote gospels, however their writing styles are completely different, and they even use Greek words differently, however at the end of the day they both get across the same message when their gospels are taken in context. John wrote 5 books in the NT... The Gospel of John, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, and Revelation. If you were to actually do a study on his writing style, you will notice that his 5 books are all very similar, and John uses the word "world" in a few different ways consistently throughout all 5 books that he wrote. Just like all of Paul's epistles are very similar. Just like Luke and Acts are similar because they have the same author. It's very easy to sit back and speak ill of the Bible, but the vast majority of people who do have no idea what they are talking about, because they fail to try and understand it themselves, but instead repeat the same old tired talking points that skeptics have regurgitated for decades. The wisdom of God is foolishness to those who do not believe, just like the foolishness of God is wiser than the greatest of man's wisdom.

originally posted by: Utnapisjtim
a reply to: LadyGreenEyes

Luke 4 - Jesus doesnot want world.
John 3 - God puts Jesus in world
Matt 5 - God gives world to meek people


After Satan had failed in selling the world to Jesus, God pumped up the value of the world by inserting his Son into it and dumped it on the market taxing it as inheritance. That's what the text says. Ancient pump and dump and luring stupid people in on the bogus deal.

Only part of the picture, you conveniently leave out the promise of a "new heaven and earth"

Revelation 21:1

and

Isaiah 65:17

"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind"


Satan offers the crappy version of earth

originally posted by: TinfoilTP

originally posted by: Utnapisjtim
a reply to: LadyGreenEyes

Luke 4 - Jesus doesnot want world.
John 3 - God puts Jesus in world
Matt 5 - God gives world to meek people


After Satan had failed in selling the world to Jesus, God pumped up the value of the world by inserting his Son into it and dumped it on the market taxing it as inheritance. That's what the text says. Ancient pump and dump and luring stupid people in on the bogus deal.

Only part of the picture, you conveniently leave out the promise of a "new heaven and earth"

Revelation 21:1

and

Isaiah 65:17

"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind"


Satan offers the crappy version of earth

Crappy version? How so?

originally posted by: TinfoilTP

originally posted by: Utnapisjtim
a reply to: LadyGreenEyes

Luke 4 - Jesus doesnot want world.
John 3 - God puts Jesus in world
Matt 5 - God gives world to meek people


After Satan had failed in selling the world to Jesus, God pumped up the value of the world by inserting his Son into it and dumped it on the market taxing it as inheritance. That's what the text says. Ancient pump and dump and luring stupid people in on the bogus deal.

Only part of the picture, you conveniently leave out the promise of a "new heaven and earth"

Revelation 21:1

and

Isaiah 65:17

"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind"


Satan offers the crappy version of earth

I didn't conveniantly leave out God's future plans. We still live on the same Earth under mostly the same Heaven as we did a million years ago. Or is there something I missed? When we have built the Cubus Christi and moved our act inside, our next plan is to terraform our immediate neighbours in space. And when God comes back, rumour has it he will work on somewhere completely new in a completely different universe even. Something far out, something GOD. So no, I didn't conveniently leave out anything really. No more than you forgot to quote the pope on contraception anyway.

originally posted by: AfterInfinity

originally posted by: TinfoilTP

originally posted by: Utnapisjtim
a reply to: LadyGreenEyes

Luke 4 - Jesus doesnot want world.
John 3 - God puts Jesus in world
Matt 5 - God gives world to meek people


After Satan had failed in selling the world to Jesus, God pumped up the value of the world by inserting his Son into it and dumped it on the market taxing it as inheritance. That's what the text says. Ancient pump and dump and luring stupid people in on the bogus deal.

Only part of the picture, you conveniently leave out the promise of a "new heaven and earth"

Revelation 21:1

and

Isaiah 65:17

"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind"


Satan offers the crappy version of earth

Crappy version? How so?

“The heavens and the earth that are now are stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men.” (2 Pet. 3:7)