It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by dbates
So, you're saying that church members are blindly following their pastor? I'm not disbelieving you but give us some examples.
Originally posted by 2stepsfromtop
I pay good money every time I go to church in order to be accepted into heaven, it's a time honored and ancient practice that goes back thousands of years.
Originally posted by dbates
So, you're saying that church members are blindly following their pastor? I'm not disbelieving you but give us some examples.
Originally posted by smallpeeps
I suppose your post has merit primarily in pointing out two sets of laws which are divorced from reality and a burden on the people, namely the Vehicle Code and the Mosaic Code. Good observations.
Originally posted by dbates
No, I think that most are blindly following their leaders, but there are some who question what's going on and will leave if the church is taken over by a pastor that's out of line. They usually get labeled "troublemakers". I've been in that group before, and to the suprise of the people that stayed, their sweet pastor was involved in tax evasion. Those of us that left (read pushed out for complaining about his abuse) were not quite as suprised as the rest of the church. No one wants to hear their pastor has flaws.
I think most church leaders mean well, but you have to make sure they are actually reading from the Bible.
Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
Originally posted by dbates
So, you're saying that church members are blindly following their pastor? I'm not disbelieving you but give us some examples.
Certainly they are. When have you actually witnessed a "churchgoer" who thought for him/her self?
Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
Certainly they are. When have you actually witnessed a "churchgoer" who thought for him/her self?
Originally posted by Essedarius
Apologies for my post above and the misquoting.
I'm troubled by the whole "editing" thing.
You know people like me...so dumb.
Here's what I meant to do:
Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
Certainly they are. When have you actually witnessed a "churchgoer" who thought for him/her self?
Well if that isn't the most broadly ignorant statement I've heard in a long time.
Originally posted by Essedarius
Well if that isn't the most broadly ignorant statement I've heard in a long time.
I'm surprised Speaker, I haven't known you to dabble in stereotypes.
Do you have any other good ones for us?
Maybe one about hicks in the midwest? Pot smokers in Oregon? People who like football. Shoppers who like malls?
[edit on 1-11-2006 by Essedarius]
*fixed quote
[edit on 1-11-2006 by dbates]
Originally posted by HarpStrings
(It's actually when we little sheep do think for ourselves that we get swept into the wilderness)
Originally posted by dbates
Shoud you be criticized for saying Yeshua instead of יֵשׁוּעַ
There's a language barrier here, so we don't pronounce the Hebrew names exactly as one would have then.
Christ comes from the Greek word Χριστός (Christós) which is the usual translation for the Hebrew word מָשִׁיחַ (Mašíah), that is Messiah. It means the anointed one.
Jesus is actually a contraction or short form of the name Joshua, but we don't rail people for not calling Josuha "Yehoshua". The meaning of course is something to the effect of "salvation of God".
So Jesus Christ = Salvation of God, The Anointed One
I don't have any problems with that.
Originally posted by Essedarius
Originally posted by HarpStrings
(It's actually when we little sheep do think for ourselves that we get swept into the wilderness)
Wait wait, whoa!
I feel like I'm riding the pirate ship ride at the fair!
God gave us the power to analyze situations. Do you really think that he is up in heaven shaking his head when we use that power to analyze our faith? No no.
As SpeakerOfTruth pointed out, many people surrender the gift of analytical thinking at the door of their church. (In fact, every churchgoer Speaker has ever ever encountered has done that, apparently.) God gave you that ability to think independently. Why would you neglect a gift like that?!?
Having faith is not a synonym for living in ignorance
I know that I will never even come close to mapping the complexion of God Almighty...but I will never stop exploring.
To shut your mind off is to spit on God's greatest gift to you.
Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
Okay,okay.. I deserved that one. I was indeed speaking very broadly when I made my remark,and yes, it was stereotyping.