Thou Shalts and Thou Shalnts

There you go. The bible doesn't proclaim on everything under the sun. Just the vital stuff.I've often wondered what the evolutionary advantage proffered by tickling is...maybe it's to make your dying moments fun as a tiger claws away at your belly

What a shame that you think humour is not vital. People who laugh a lot live longer, you know. {booming voice from heaven:}Ian!Thou shalt not tickle! And keep thine hands above the sheets!
And wipe thine smile from thine face!Remember this, humour is the province of the godless.{echo fades away:}godless... odless... less... ss.

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We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further. - Richard Dawkins

Who wants to live longer? It's a shame, truly, but you really have no idea about how fantastic God is. I can't wait to die - suicide is selfish and sinful so I'm afraid I'll have a while to wait yet.Besides I said the bible covers the vital stuff. I laugh myself silly sometimes reading it. Laughter at the sheer genius that put it all together, laughter and Gods humor in dealing with me, laughter at the very thought of meeting him. Joyous laughter.The bible doesn't need to talk about it. The bible talks (amongst other things) about deepening a relationship with God. The humor follows... "Forgive me Lord but you have such a good sense of humour I really can't help it (giggle)".When I was in Israel I saw some kids playing around the cafe we were in. Some ran excitedly up to their father shouting "Abba Abba" It means "Daddy, Daddy"The bible tells me I, as a son, can call God the Father "Abba"Quite...

I believe you are mistaken, though of course there is no way to ultimately prove either of us correct.It seems to me the exact opposite message runs throughout, though Jesus plays a similar role. The garden was an explicit message that we absolutely do NOT know what right and wrong is, and that whenever we stop living and start judging as if we do (like we are Gods) then death and suffering are the result.Whether God is real or not the stories follow people suffering and trying to rule as Gods, until finally being shown that they are not and some simple rules set out upon everyone to try and create a consistent atmosphere.When this fails, people using those rules to yet again act like they are gods and know right and wrong, Jesus says okay forget the rules lets go back to the basics and live without judgement, hammering home the point that if there is judgement it will/should come from someplace else.Ecclesiastes in the midst of all this suggests what I am saying almost directly, and seems inconsistent with what you are saying.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

What if God told you that your mission in life was to go to Iraq and "convert" those suicide bombers? You do not fear death, so...would you go?

I actually DO agree with your view more than Jars. I DO think, however, that Jars folksy approach is much better suited to convincing the non religious mindset that their efforts DO count even if they do not profess Jesus.Traditional belief would balk at such a thing, but I feel that Jar has the best intentions and intentions trump edicts and Canonical doctorines. Its like Jesus...when confronted by Pharisees who told him that he was breaking the rules healing on the Sabbath...Jesus told them that their rules were meaningless and that it was the intentions of a heart that God will judge.Even when Jar does things like calling God a "she", he is doing it to break the ice and cause reconciliations rather than divisions.

I recently read in a book (some fantasy novel) a phrase I quite liked. /SorenABE: Should have been a reply to message 20This message has been edited by kongstad, 12-Oct-2005 04:33 PM

What if God told you that your mission in life was to go to Iraq and "convert" those suicide bombers? You do not fear death, so...would you go?If he did I would. Edit to remove the rest - misunderstood the questionThis message has been edited by iano, 12-Oct-2005 04:34 PM

Says Paul in Philippians 1 Even he who preaches without concviction preaches Christ.In Galatians 1 he says: So if one preaches the wrong gospel one is accursed - no matter the intetion.At least that is what I was recently told by and Danish apolegetic./Soren

quote:

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Jesus says okay forget the rules lets go back to the basics and live without judgement, hammering home the point that if there is judgement it will/should come from someplace else.

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IMO, neither Jesus nor his followers dumped the rules. Jesus was showing that we should have concern for the welfare of the individual (spirit of the law) not the letter of the law.

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"The average man does not know what to do with this life, yet wants another one which lasts forever." --Anatole France

And I've answered in other places.Love God with all YOUR heart, mind and soul.That is a relative limit. It is based on individual capabilities, not some absolute limit.God expects man to try. As Paul said, "Run the race", "Fight the good Fight". It says nothing about succeeding, nothing about limits, it says try your best.That's all, try.GOD knows mankind cannot succeed, that all we can do is try.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Judge in the sense of salvation? Or some other assessment

You continue to state this without biblical backup which speaks for itself.. But Paul is talking to believers at this point. These are letters to churches who already believe in what Christ has done for them. It is explaination as to how the gospel works and instruction as to behaviour in the light of who they now are. It is addressed to people who are already in christ/have the spirit/are saved etc. He points out that these things are NOT universal to all..Jesus talking to the rich young man is not talk to a believer. That person wants to know how to be saved. Pauls talk is to people who already areTwo categories of people Jar. They can't be compared. Only contrasted. Which is what Paul so often does. Contrast the state of the unbeliever with the believer

But IMHO there certainly IS Biblical support. The statement stands on its own.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Which statment? How can any statement stand on its own? What about context?