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Author Topic:   God says this, and God says that
funkmasterfreaky
Inactive Member


Message 229 of 417 (26704)
12-16-2002 3:56 AM
Reply to: Message 228 by zipzip
12-16-2002 3:46 AM


quote:
Originally posted by zipzip:
When you have been taught all your life how to avoid belief by avoiding God, how to be cynical, belief in God *can* be very difficult. Eyes clouded and hearts hardened by years of misuse or abuse may not see, feel, or hear clearly enough to believe right away. Part of this is because belief can be very painful -- think of all the years of walled-up pride that must come down for some. How to start believing when your whole ego is built on self-pride and disbelief?
Mostly, this back-and-forth reminds me of the scene in C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle, in which a group of dwarves trapped in a stable are confronted by Aslan. He sets before them a sumptuous feast, but they, who have been blinded and deceived by a false god, taste only straw.

This is why prayer is more important than words, only the Holy Spirit can open your eyes and give you hard evidence of God. This evidence sadly can still be denied.
Zipzip I have found reading your posts encouraging, and I love anything God did through C.S Lewis, wow did God use that man to a wonderous end. Praise God. If I may go back to the suggestion that it is time to dust off the sandals, I do not feel led to do as such as I do not see where the desire to know God is lacking. In particular John's case (sorry if I misrepresent you John), but I believe this is a man who truly searches to know. Jesus would not dismiss such a man, nor will I.
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saved by grace
[This message has been edited by funkmasterfreaky, 12-16-2002]

This message is a reply to:
 Message 228 by zipzip, posted 12-16-2002 3:46 AM zipzip has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 254 by nator, posted 12-16-2002 12:47 PM funkmasterfreaky has not replied
 Message 256 by John, posted 12-16-2002 12:49 PM funkmasterfreaky has not replied

funkmasterfreaky
Inactive Member


Message 337 of 417 (27098)
12-17-2002 7:56 PM
Reply to: Message 330 by forgiven
12-16-2002 8:09 PM


quote:
Originally posted by forgiven:
quote:
Originally posted by Chara:
quote:
Originally posted by schrafinator:
Something is unknowable if we cannot detect it with our senses.
This is of course presuming that we can trust our senses.

good pernt chara... and of course i trust mine... schraf, i'm sure, trusts hers... however, therein lies a problem eh?... chara, do you remember elijah and his servant? on the mountain? the servant couldn't understand elijah's lack of fear, given the army coming against them... and elijah asked God to give his servant "sight"...
there are senses and there are senses... i guess we could only accept the senses that the largest number of people say they have... leave it up to a vote, as it were

Now this is were it hurts that pride. Or else you can deny the existance of other senses. Realizing that you may be intellectually advanced but spiritually barely even a fetus. Until that part of you is nurtured I guess it's easy enough to say it doesn't exist. But then again this is the same as me saying "i don't understand evolution and therefore it doesn't exist". There is evidence on my life of the reserection of Jesus Christ, it's not sufficient for you so you dismiss it. There is evidence to support fluke life, it's not sufficient for me so I dismiss it.
Something to think about here, when someone marches into a scientific debate at starts spouting off when they aren't at all trained or qualified, how much thought do you give to what they say?
Now if someone who doesn't believe in God comes after your faith spouting who did what in the name of what therefore your faith is not credible, though all they have is a percieved view of what you believe, do you give to much to what they say?
Maybe, just maybe that person is a little more in the know about that faith than you are?
I'm trying to avoid being condescending or preachy here, I'm just saying if someone is claiming a personal relationship with God, that maybe they have an extra "sense" or a divinely given "understanding".

This message is a reply to:
 Message 330 by forgiven, posted 12-16-2002 8:09 PM forgiven has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 338 by forgiven, posted 12-18-2002 6:28 AM funkmasterfreaky has not replied
 Message 341 by nator, posted 12-18-2002 9:33 AM funkmasterfreaky has not replied

funkmasterfreaky
Inactive Member


Message 347 of 417 (27733)
12-23-2002 11:56 AM
Reply to: Message 346 by nator
12-22-2002 10:21 AM


Well, a lot of people report religious feelings as feeling that they are "one with God", or "one with the universe". Euphoria or joy, and the feeling of great contentment and peace are also common descriptions.
These are just emotions.
------------------
Saved by an incredible Grace.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 346 by nator, posted 12-22-2002 10:21 AM nator has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 348 by Primordial Egg, posted 12-23-2002 12:04 PM funkmasterfreaky has replied

funkmasterfreaky
Inactive Member


Message 349 of 417 (27762)
12-23-2002 10:08 PM
Reply to: Message 348 by Primordial Egg
12-23-2002 12:04 PM


I'm confused, what difference? Difference in what?
------------------
Saved by an incredible Grace.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 348 by Primordial Egg, posted 12-23-2002 12:04 PM Primordial Egg has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 411 by nator, posted 01-16-2003 7:40 AM funkmasterfreaky has replied

funkmasterfreaky
Inactive Member


Message 412 of 417 (30410)
01-28-2003 2:35 AM
Reply to: Message 411 by nator
01-16-2003 7:40 AM


I still don't know what a religious experience is. It's nothing I know anything about. We may have emotional reactions to something we have learned.
Religious experience is something I am skeptical of.
------------------
Saved by an incredible Grace.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 411 by nator, posted 01-16-2003 7:40 AM nator has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 413 by Primordial Egg, posted 01-28-2003 4:25 AM funkmasterfreaky has not replied
 Message 414 by John, posted 01-28-2003 9:05 AM funkmasterfreaky has replied

funkmasterfreaky
Inactive Member


Message 416 of 417 (30466)
01-28-2003 5:24 PM
Reply to: Message 414 by John
01-28-2003 9:05 AM


Hang on, funk. How is it that you became a Christian then?
I got to a point in my life where I knew I could no longer go on under my own power. I gave God a chance in my life, I chose to believe that he could help me and give me the strength and purpose I needed.
The strength was given me, and though life is still a daily struggle, it's never more than I can handle and there is a purpose.
It wasn't an emotionally intense experience, or anything I can really pin point. Not a "religious experience", or not what I think of when I think of that phrase.
I guess "becoming a Christian" was just a decision to try and follow God's will on my life, trusting that his plan for me was better than my own blundering along.
So far it's been the best decision I ever made.
------------------
Saved by an incredible Grace.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 414 by John, posted 01-28-2003 9:05 AM John has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 417 by John, posted 01-28-2003 7:11 PM funkmasterfreaky has not replied

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