Tribute Thread For the Recently Raptured Faith

It's because I'm a skeptic.I'm skeptical of the message and the messenger. I have tested the message against the evidence and yes, helping people is good for everybody. I have also tested the messenger against the evidence and found little reason to put any importance on him. He did figure out the message but so did almost everybody else. Unfortunately, his self-proclaimed "followers" are often more of a hindrance than a help in implementing the message.

Phat quoted a commentator. The Bible disagrees. Matthew 25 makes it clear that the yardstick by which God's grace operates is the way you treat other people. Faith does not mean mouthing, "Lord! Lord!" It means feeding the hungry, etc.

The Bible is equally clear and it disagrees. Neither does saying, "Lord! Lord!" God's grace is a whim and feeding the hungry is the yardstick that He uses.

It's ironic that you claim to be a Bible believer and yet you throw the Bible out the window in favour of Christian history.

Two ad hominems are no substitute for an actual argument. Do you have one?

The real question here is, Why do YOU throw away Matthew 25?

Yes you do. Constantly. You continue doing it in this very post, thinking up other ways to make yourself feel good. Yes, it is. In Matthew 19, Jesus told the young man to sell what he had and give to the poor. In Mark 12 and Luke 21, Jesus commended the widow for giving everything she had. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah encouraged another widow to give everything she had.It's a theme. It's what it means to have faith.But you throw it away in favour of a get-out-of-hell-free card.

That's a copout. It's an excuse to do nothing.Jesus didn't tell you to do a background check on everybody you help. He just said help.Give the guy the benefit of the doubt. Don't stereotype everybody who asks for help as a drunk.

Paul himself said that the Gentiles had consciences, even though they didn't believe in the Jewish God. Yes. As a social species, we evolved that way. Unfortunately, religion is often a stumbling block to our best instincts.

And the ultimate hubris is thinking that God talks to you. I don't say that. I say if there was a God He wouldn't be as stupid as you make Him out to be.

I said that if there was a God He wouldn't be as stupid as you (and Faith and jaywill) make Him out to be. Why would He have to give us a message to do what's already built into us by evolution? The only message that He has to get through to (some of) us is to drop that silly religious malarky and do what we already know is right. As far as I know, there's no curve mentioned in the Bible. It's strictly pass-fail. God's whim (grace) will decide whether or not we did enough.(I picture the Judgement - if there is one - as God asking, "Remember that guy who asked you for spare change at 8:47 GMT on September 22, 2018? Explain your reaction, please.")Edited by ringo, : Spvlling.

His attiutde or his philosophy or the color of his socks is not relevant. If he needs help, help him. That's the principle.

That's a poor excuse for disobeying Jesus.

If there was such a law, you certainly would allow it.But it isn't about law. You shouldn't need a law to force you to do what's right. The Christian principle, which is also the humanist principle and the socialist principle, is that you should contribute what you can and receive what you need. NOBODY has made that claim. I have corrected you on that point several times. Please pay attention.I promise you nothing but blood, sweat, toil and tears.

No you wouldn't. Some people would say that virtue is its own reward. Doesn't being a decent human being appeal to you at all?But of course socialist/Christian principles do have material rewards as well. You get help when you need it too.