If I believe......

March 31st, 2007, 10:41 AM

I would like ot share how I feel about living what we believe. I believe in my opinion and experiences we need to stand for something... there is an old saying that says" if we do not stand for something we will fall for anything"... in saying that I feel like it is dangerous to just believe anything and everything. What I feel like I need to do is get grounded and rooted in what I believe to be the truth and implement that into my life on a daily basis. When something goes against wha I believe I need to throw it out. We cannot just take everything coming and going... we must be wise in our choices. Sometimes no matter how wise we think we are we will make wrong decisions... that is okay but when we figure out they are wrong we need to make changes. A lot of times we will be challenged on what and why we believe what we do... I just encourage all to stand firm in that belief. What do others think about this?

**jtw61194** · March 31st, 2007, 12:58 PM

I will be the first to admit that I find some of your posts pesty, at best. I will also be the first to admit that they also challenge me to justify what I believe in, if not to you, but more importantly to me. I believe that saying something is not as good as doing something. I believe that God is not found in a passage of the Bible, but in normal everyday situations. I believe that tolerance and compassion are cornerstones in becoming a better spiritual person. I believe that there is always going to be a different attitude on a common religious viewpoint. I believe that there is a gray area in religion and that it's not as black and white as you seem to portray it. That's not meant to be a slam on you, it's just my personal observation. I have made it known that I am very active in Special Olympics in Southside Virginia. Neither of my kids are Special Olympics athletes and I'm not in the Special Education field. I'm a P.E. teacher who just happen to stumble on this very special and small portion of our school population. Some of these kids cannot talk, much less read the Bible or repent their sins. By the very virtue of the fact that they are completely dependent on others, they are absolutely selfish. They care only about themselves, most of the time. In your eyes can these profoundly and severely mentally retarded children become "good" Christians? I challenge you to check out the hyperlink below and buy the movie to add to your reference base. www.teachingsofjon.com Jon's sister came to my school and did a wonderful presentation about how someone who is seemingly worthless can help change the world for the better without even knowing it. This will add a little gray to your views. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

April 1st, 2007, 02:01 PM

I am sorry that you feel like some of my posts are pesty... You say that you believe god is not found in scripture.. right? That is you take on it it but not mine... I believe he is found in every scripture... there is an application behind every scripture. But on the other hand God is in everyday situations also.. I agree. Tolerance and compassion are very important and so is love... which is probably the most important. I believe it is black or white... the teachings in the Bible... we seem to see it in 2 different ways.. that is okay though. I think it is great that you are involved in Special Olympics in SW Virginia... I thank God that you taske an interest in doing that... that is awsome... YOu ask could they become good Christians? If their handicap causes them to not learn or understand there would be no need for repentance.... they would be first in the kingdom of heaven.....God loves them dearly just as he loves us. They are not held to the same accountability as we would be... because we do understand and comprehend. And I would be vey upset if anyone would say that they are worthless... because they are children of God and could probably teach us more about him and his ways than anyone else. I have someone in my family.. distant that is Mental retarted... and they just light up my days.. when I see them. I do not think it added a little gray to my views.... I think we are on the same page about this.. don't you?

**imported_ut1** · April 1st, 2007, 08:59 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I believe that there is a gray area in religion and that it's not as black and white as you seem to portray it.

[/ QUOTE ]
I respectfully disagree, as the Bible is very clear in what it teaches us. We're the ones who muddy the water by trying to understand it without the help of He, the Holy Spirit.

As far as the special needs kids go, Jesus said "Suffer little children and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Only those who know right from wrong, who know they are lost, will be held accountable by God.

**jtw61194** · April 2nd, 2007, 07:38 AM

We will just have to agree to disagree. I wonder how all those people, before Jesus, got into heaven. I mean, there wasn't the Bible to tell them what to do. I'm not a biblical scholar, obviously, so I don't know the answer to this.

**imported_ut1** · April 2nd, 2007, 10:19 PM

Obviously, the Jews were taught differently pre-Christ. John was the one who prepared the changeover with his cry of "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand", speaking namely of the three year ministry and subsequent death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus' message was for us, not for those before Him. As He said, "they had Moses and the prophets" to guide their spiritual lives, as Moses and the prophets were led by God. When Jesus came, all that changed, and Jesus delivered the mandate Himself as "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

**aoa_stripes** · April 2nd, 2007, 10:26 PM

You have my upmost respect. I don`t get in much discussion like this, but I don`t remember a post you`ve made on a religous discussion that I did not fully agree with. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beer1.gif[/img]

**centennialdawg** · April 2nd, 2007, 10:28 PM

Very true, I find his posts on this forum very, informing and non argumentative.

**imported_ut1** · April 3rd, 2007, 06:27 AM

Thank you both for your gracious comments. I don't consider myself a Bible Scholar by any stretch of the imagination, but I do consider myself a serious Bible student. There is much to learn each time you turn a page.

**aoa_stripes** · April 3rd, 2007, 08:12 AM

Nobody can ever fully understand everything there is to know about the bible. When your life on earth is through and your walking on streets of gold, Then you will have the complete knowledge. My father and grandfather both pastor churches, and I have heard them say many times that they learn something knew nearly every time they open the book. It`s a funny thing that you can read the same book of the bible 10 times and all 10 times pick up somethign new.