Re: I love the smell of Calvinism in the morning. It smells like... self-loathing.
Zalis Send a noteboard - 01/09/2010 03:09:46 PM
The death and resurrection of Christ allow Christians to put a targeting system on our bows. I don't view sin as a commodity that's bought and sold; that's an interpretation of the Western churches that, to my knowledge, is not held by the Orthodox. Theoria is so much more hopeful and worthy than the repugnant "total depravity" of Calvinism.
So Jesus died so that we could "do better?" I think it has more to do with the post-salvation indwelling of the Holy Spirit than it does with anything inherently human. We were created in the image of God, but I think it has a lot more to do with volition and our capacity for relational intimacy (read: not sexual intimacy).
We miss the mark. Christ doesn't magically wave away all we've done; He lets us try again. Christians hold that we're made in the image of God. It's a pity they view that image with such contempt.
Because of the emphasis those adherents place on <our> works after the fact. It's all through God's power, not our own. The Holy Spirit can bring about great change in our hearts and lives, but we're still not to depend on our own perceived merits.
Universal salvation has been posited since Origen, by the way, so you might want to read up on that before casually dismissing it as a new, meaningless thing. Personally, I worship God out o thanksgiving and not fear, and I find the relationship to be liberating, rewarding, and holy. But I'm a young Episcopalian.
Solomon was wise to say there's nothing new under the sun, so I'm not about to say that age is immune from error. (he also thought Demons would be reconciled with God) I don't profess that anyone is following a 100% correct interpretation in every aspect, but there are reasons why I am not a Greek Orthodox or Episcopalian. (or a Catholic, etc)
In the end, so long as we worship the same Christ and agree that salvation comes only through His death & resurrection on the cross, we're on the same team. Or in the same city. A different team or country would be a camp that says humanity is inherently good, that Jesus was just a nice prophet who taught us to be excellent to each other. That life is about our good deeds outweighing bad on some celestial scale, to be accounted for in the after. Stuff like that.
So, saying that, I apologize for any sense of antagonism that may have been reflected in the earlier post. This forum is typically a pretty hostile place in regard to Biblical truth, and the "Word, brutha" thread had mock replies on my mind.

This message last edited by Zalis on 01/09/2010 at 03:24:27 PM
Preaching the Word: You're doing it wrong.
31/08/2010 08:22:14 AM
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Lots of good stuff
31/08/2010 12:43:57 PM
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Is my church the exception?
31/08/2010 05:33:36 PM
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Believe it or not...
31/08/2010 06:58:56 PM
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I'm not so full of myself....
31/08/2010 07:14:29 PM
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I wouldn't blame you much if you did...
31/08/2010 07:18:19 PM
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A little fire & brimstone for thy stomach's sake?
31/08/2010 07:29:20 PM
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passionate preachers make me uneasy.
31/08/2010 08:38:05 PM
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Passion doesn't need to be...
01/09/2010 03:50:22 PM
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Why do you take what he says so personally?
01/09/2010 08:51:06 PM
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I'm not taking anything personally....
01/09/2010 09:20:55 PM
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good question,why would they?
01/09/2010 09:32:25 PM
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Your assumption...
01/09/2010 09:44:28 PM
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Look him in the eye?
01/09/2010 09:59:02 PM
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Ok...
01/09/2010 10:34:56 PM
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yah I know. I just always feel like they're trying to sell me something. *NM*
01/09/2010 09:09:13 PM
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Wouldn't this be....
01/09/2010 09:22:27 PM
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nah, i generally feel that way about that particular behavior. it's not exclusive to preachers
*NM*
01/09/2010 09:29:23 PM
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*throws panties at you*
31/08/2010 08:35:13 PM
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There are churches where people throw panties at each other?
31/08/2010 09:42:17 PM
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I think you would also have to move to where she lives. I don't know any ones that do that here... *NM*
31/08/2010 09:47:21 PM
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I could just visit
31/08/2010 09:55:50 PM
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but it'd be fun to WATCH
31/08/2010 10:02:58 PM
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if the panties are the size of revival tents it wouldn't be all that fun
*NM*
31/08/2010 10:20:32 PM
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(as if this was the first time) I remember that night at kit & wooly's place..... *NM*
01/09/2010 09:51:17 PM
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If people don't see their need for Jesus as savior, we're doing it wrong.
31/08/2010 08:44:36 PM
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Well, at least you didn't include the vague "personal."
31/08/2010 08:59:55 PM
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....what?
31/08/2010 09:02:05 PM
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The word used for "sin" in the New Testament is ἁμαρτία, which means "to miss the mark."
31/08/2010 10:02:04 PM
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Re: The word used for "sin" in the New Testament is ἁμαρτία, which means "to miss the mark."
31/08/2010 10:29:16 PM
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I love the smell of Calvinism in the morning. It smells like... self-loathing.
01/09/2010 02:49:24 AM
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*picks up the thrown glove*
01/09/2010 03:44:53 AM
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You didn't say anything I disagree with.
01/09/2010 05:02:59 AM
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One of your statements suma great deal of Christianity, actually
01/09/2010 12:39:52 PM
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So then in your estimation....
01/09/2010 03:52:12 PM
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From what I do know...
01/09/2010 07:33:14 PM
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How about some homework first?
01/09/2010 09:32:32 PM
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You do understand
01/09/2010 09:35:25 PM
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You'd be suprised...
01/09/2010 09:50:12 PM
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Because I find theology interesting
01/09/2010 10:04:23 PM
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Re: I love the smell of Calvinism in the morning. It smells like... self-loathing.
01/09/2010 03:09:46 PM
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Re: I love the smell of Calvinism in the morning. It smells like... self-loathing.
01/09/2010 11:59:47 PM
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Re: I love the smell of Calvinism in the morning. It smells like... self-loathing.
02/09/2010 01:03:42 AM
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It isn't henosis. It's a union with God. That's the whole point of the Eucharist, anyway.
02/09/2010 01:13:39 AM
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Moralistic, therapeutic Deism sounds like the perfect religion to me... *NM*
01/09/2010 04:35:51 PM
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Bummer Jesus couldn't figure that one out.
01/09/2010 03:48:03 AM
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"That ye love one another; as I have loved you" is actually somewhat terrifying.
01/09/2010 07:25:19 AM
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Jesus talked about Hell more than anyone else in the Bible, AFAIK.
01/09/2010 02:39:59 PM
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You might want to research that some
01/09/2010 02:56:58 PM
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Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, for instance.
01/09/2010 03:38:00 PM
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Nice try, but you will notice that the term "Hell" is entirely absent in the King James version
01/09/2010 06:25:12 PM
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the weeds will be gathered and burned does seem a little suggestive *NM*
01/09/2010 06:55:44 PM
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yes of burning.
01/09/2010 07:38:07 PM
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to each their own...
01/09/2010 11:02:41 PM
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