The Rapture is not an Exit Strategy
Foxwell
Posts: 142
As I left the gym this morning, I noticed this bumper sticker:
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u165/foxwell2000/rapture.jpg
It read: "THE RAPTURE IS NOT AN EXIT STRATEGY"
Normally, I don't put much credence in bumper sticker philosophy, but this one caught my attention in that it seemed to me to be somewhat ambivalent.
My instinct was to interpret this as an anti-Christian/anti-Bush statement because, when I hear "exit strategy" associated with fundamental Christianity, my mind naturally drifts towards 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Yet, at the same time, could this not also be a word of warning from one Christian to her fellows. A warning that it isn't good enough to wrap yourself in a Christian-cocoon and wait for Jesus to tap you on the shoulder; a presage that we shouldn't be looking for an exit but rather creating a paradise here on Earth.
I'm interested to hear what you folks think.
Me? I think Jesus Christ was a helluva a guy and should be honored and respected along with Buddha, Muhammad, Krishna, Jah, and Alan Thicke.
But is Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior? No.
So, I'm crossing my fingers (yes, I understand the historical irony of a heathen crossing his fingers) that the Rapture is more metaphor than reality.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u165/foxwell2000/rapture.jpg
It read: "THE RAPTURE IS NOT AN EXIT STRATEGY"
Normally, I don't put much credence in bumper sticker philosophy, but this one caught my attention in that it seemed to me to be somewhat ambivalent.
My instinct was to interpret this as an anti-Christian/anti-Bush statement because, when I hear "exit strategy" associated with fundamental Christianity, my mind naturally drifts towards 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Yet, at the same time, could this not also be a word of warning from one Christian to her fellows. A warning that it isn't good enough to wrap yourself in a Christian-cocoon and wait for Jesus to tap you on the shoulder; a presage that we shouldn't be looking for an exit but rather creating a paradise here on Earth.
I'm interested to hear what you folks think.
Me? I think Jesus Christ was a helluva a guy and should be honored and respected along with Buddha, Muhammad, Krishna, Jah, and Alan Thicke.
But is Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior? No.
So, I'm crossing my fingers (yes, I understand the historical irony of a heathen crossing his fingers) that the Rapture is more metaphor than reality.
"In the depths of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer." -- Albert Camus
"He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that." -- John Stuart Mill
"Mongo just a pawn in game of life." -- Mongo
"He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that." -- John Stuart Mill
"Mongo just a pawn in game of life." -- Mongo
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My verdict on Jesus as a Saviour is still out... but, I love His teachings and try my hardest to follow them. The logic in me just cannot excuse that whole, ressurrection and return thing. If they actually DO find the remains of Jesus and proves He was as human as the rest of us... it isn't going to sway me one inch regarding His teachings. I will still try to follow.
I don't expect to get called up in this 'Rapture' because i've done bad things in this life. But, I am hoping that Jesus and God are not the narcisstic, judgemental jerks that many Christians lead me to believe They are. I am hoping that They judge me on who I am, not what I do or believe and understand that having questions that have gone unanswered my entire life... isn't so wrong.
Hail, Hail!!!
That's funny...I hadn't gone that direction, yet. Thanks for the cutback, Cutback.
"He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that." -- John Stuart Mill
"Mongo just a pawn in game of life." -- Mongo
But isn't what you do or believe what makes you you? I don't see what else you can be judged on.
Pensacola '94
New Orleans '95
Birmingham '98
New Orleans '00
New Orleans '03
Tampa '08
New Orleans '10 - Jazzfest
New Orleans '16 - Jazzfest
Fenway Park '18
St. Louis '22
Why would God not judge you on what you do? "What you do unto others you do unto me."
Pensacola '94
New Orleans '95
Birmingham '98
New Orleans '00
New Orleans '03
Tampa '08
New Orleans '10 - Jazzfest
New Orleans '16 - Jazzfest
Fenway Park '18
St. Louis '22
that's a damn shame.
so according to the first statement, ghandi is going to hell?
No. Is a soldier that kills, a murderer? Is someone who believes she is doing good and drowns her children so they'll be with Jesus doing good? No.
You are who you are and THAT is what drives to do the things you do... not the other way around. You can be a drug dealer or a pimp and give money to your church... is that good?
Who you are leads you towards where you are going. For example: If you give to a charity just to get a tax break... you are not charitable. Charity comes from within and you do it unconditionally. Sure, you'll take the tax break because it is there, but the tax break should not be the reason why you give... right?
That's all I'm saying. I am who I am and that is how I want to be viewed and judged. And I don't expect anyone else to believe this... they can believe whatever they want to. I don't apply my beliefs to anyone else and I don't take on the beliefs of others. I'm on this road, alone... that's the way I came in... that's the way I'm going out.
Hail, Hail!!!
Question: "Goodness is something preprogrammed in our minds. It's a gift of God to us."
If it's pre-programmed in us all... and some of us choose to ignore it... isn't that part of the judgement?
And if this is just a stopping point... what's the point of us being here?
...
I'll read the Chapter you have referenced and seee if I can find the answers there.
peace...
Hail, Hail!!!
so according to the first statement, ghandi is going to hell?[/quote]i know where you are going with this, but this is not a subject that I can go into. my faith doesn't allow me. if Ghandi accepted Jesus Christ or not, it's not my business
there are two men. the old man and the new man. adam is the old and jesus is the new. if this is too much doctrine for you i respect if you stop reading. we as human beings have inherited the natural dna of the old man, adam. see, this nature of ours works like a virus, no matter how much you try to get rid of it, it doesn't go away. Paul says it this way, the things that I want to do I don't do and the things that I don't want to do I do. It's like that for all of us, whether a christian or not. We as christians call this a sin. Sin is not who we are. Sin is, what a friend once called, a false identity. And this is what gets in our way when it comes to knowing who we truly are. Now, the goodness inside of us is like a reminder that tells us that we are from a greater force, that is God. It's no wonder why He said, "let us create men in our image." But sin is what has corrupted our way and it's sin what causes us to distort our own identity. Thus, we have chaos, wars, deceipt and all those negative things that cause bitter feelings in our lives. It's not the act that God judges you by. There are so many scriptures that speak of this, Galations says, "not by works lest any man should boast, but by grace."
And it is this grace that Paul goes on to say: 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
so to answer your questions, is this a stopping point? No.
If it's preprogrammed why do we choose to ignore it? Because of sin.
What's the point of us being here? To share in God's glory.
Oh, Spurs win 100-93 and Ginobili scores 16 in the fourth quarter. Ginobili is so badass!
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
Frigid statue standing icy blue and numb
Where are the frost giants Ive begged for protection?
I'm freezing
Are you afraid, afraid to die
Don't be afraid, afraid to try
must be kind of a bummer walking around all day thinking you're such a horrible piece of shit.
haha, nice loophole. what doesn't your faith allow you to do? ghandi did not accept jesus, that's public knowledge. your religion tells you, i assume, that everyone who doesn't goes to hell. therefore, ghandi goes to hell in your religious doctrine, correct? admit it, you dont want to answer the question becos it exposes how utterly, ridiculously cruel and arbitrary your god is.
Sure it concerns me: just as it concerns me that the Bagadavita opens with a massive and bloody battle; just as it concerns me that, in Leviticus, the Bible condones slavery; just as it concerns me that Buddhism is peppered with misogyny.
I've read the Bible, the Qu'ran, the Four Noble Truths, and much of the Bagadavita. I was inspired by all and slightly disturbed, too.
I'm not sure if you are a Christian, but I found it interesting to note, and you may too, that there seems to be more violence within the pages of "the good book" than is contained in the Qu'ran.
In the end, I figure if I disregarded any philosophy or piece of literature because one or two aspects disturbed me, the only book left on my shelf would be Superfudge.
It too is a good book, but I want a whole lot more.
"He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that." -- John Stuart Mill
"Mongo just a pawn in game of life." -- Mongo
I'd rather follow the teachings of Judy Blume then a bunch of guys who lived 2000 years ago.
i didn't say i was a horrible piece of shit.... you're reading into things the wrong way. what i did say was that i wasn't perfect... and God knows our imperfections. what i believe and what the bible teaches me is that the entire world is held captive through their minds by the mundaine and physical challenges of life. it's what sin that caused sickness, famines and hunger. it's sin that causes us to hate each other and fight with each other. there's no way out of it. from the moment you are born, you are born with this sinful nature. but thank God that now he has formed a new man, Jesus Christ, and he is the ultimate example to live life the way we were meant to live it. why is it so hard to accept this?
you are such a close-minded person. tell me what good does it for you if we get into this conversation? you just want to feel satisfied that my God is cruel and arbitrary???? ok, true, my God is cruel. he can be a tyrant if he wanted to. the truth is he choses not to. you didn't read what i wrote to the other guy did you? it's explains this. another person's spiritual life has got nothing to do with me. i don't go around walking with a sign saying repent and be baptized or go to hell. this isn't what my faith teaches me. you've got all this nonsense plugged in your head.
i could write volumes about this, but i doubt either of us is going to get anywhere with it.
im just wondering if you can explain to me your beliefs. he chooses not to be a tyrant, yet says you are going to hell if you dont believe in jesus... period. i want you to explain the contradiction between a loving god who would send a good man like ghandi to hell for choosing the wrong religion. how is that loving or forgiving? now, if you're NOT saying ghandi has to go to hell and it's entirely up to god's judgment, then my question is why do we have to accept jesus, when it is clear that god can make his judgments as to people's fitness for heaven regardless of what church they went to on earth?
id love to see you explain how jesus can end the war in iraq and ethnic conflicts that have been going on since BEFORE jesus was born.
i will mention sin again. this is what is meant to be abolished. "the wages of sin is death." living in sin brings us to death and condemnation. it is not God. God doesn't condemn us. We lost our path and connection to God. like the virus i mentioned before. let me explain again. we got sick, metaphorically. we needed a healer, christ is our healer. if we do not heal, we will die, spiritually speaking. now i know i'm sort of speaking in riddles but this is exactly what is meant by it. God never sends us to hell. Hell was prepared for the devil, death and evil. God is not being a tyrant against us. He is not being a dictator. When we see the Old Testament and we think, "man, God was evil." He was only showing his hatred towards sin. God hates sin and abolishes it. In the Old Testament, men of then did not have access to this spiritual life in christ. Like you said in your other post, even before Jesus was around, what humans had access to was the Law... or actually it was only directed to the Israelites and anyone outside of the line of Israel was held bondage to the sinful nature. When we chose to live in sin this is what happens. God is not angry towards us, he is angry at sin. If we live in sin, we will go exactly where sin will go. is this making more sense?
if ghandi stayed in sin then he is where sin belongs. but our place belongs with christ, seated at the right hand of God. it's not about choosing the right or wrong religion. it's not about being good or being bad. (this was only back in the days of Israel) and it's not about religion. period. it's about choosing what we really ought to be.
so why do we need to accept jesus??? to get rid of sin.