Do you guys realize that you throw so many pot shots at each other that eventually, anyone who happens to come along to read the topic hasn't the slightest idea what is being said?  

Take the last two comments for instance:

"Did you read what I just wrote, or did you just make something up?"  (Irritation)

Followed up by:

"Frankly, Ebia, your opinions just contradict themselves anyway."  

Wow.  You guys really help to make a conversation productive, don't you?  The topic begins on the concept of God's Word and it somehow wanders into "You don't make sense anyways, so why do you even bother talking?"

Now, to be honest, I really get a kick out of Ebia for one reason and one reason only.  He pushes the boundaries of what people believe.  But unfortunately, the degredation that he seems to face day in and day out for his alleged ungodliness is the same ungodliness that is slammed back in his face.  "You don't listen.  You don't this.  You don't that."  What kind of obligations do you expect of people in a discussion?  

Thus far, at least as I've scanned the introducing posts in each thread, I notice that Ebia seems to at least provide his point of view (however you may agree or disagree) and then get barraged with the most illogical backlash of conversation.  Perhaps all of you have seen him (or her) around other conversations are just plain sick of seeing his name in each dialogue, but for those of us who happen to just enjoy seeing productive dialogue, the constant badgering of one specific individual seems quite the waste of a forum entitled, "Christians Unite."

Truly, when I open up a conversation, I hope to see something that either makes me think or gives me reason to hopefully offer limited insight... anything else... such as the bogus that seems to show up in nearly EVERY thread around these forums... well, it really leaves me little to offer or profit.  

Imagine being in a room where two parents are supposedly discussing the pros and cons of the youngest child moving out at age 17.  You, as an adult, walk into the room and hear this...

"You never listen to me!"

"Well you don't listen to me!"

"Shut up!"

"He can leave if he wants to!"

"Fine!  I never said that he couldn't!"

"Yes you did!  You said you don't care!"

"That's not what I said, I said..."

Do you see it?  Lack of productivity.  Wasted words.  Not to mention, when its literally face to face... its a waste of breath and energy.

I love to see productive and cordial debate, but constant badgering of opposition really feeds no progress toward the goal of developing communication.

There.  I said my peace.

In Christ Alone,

Mercy

Interesting that there exists a "freedom of religion" within this country, but if that "religion" is based upon something Christian, Biblical, or morally defined, then such "freedom" only exists as a minority.  In fact, to boldly speak of what you believe (if that belief involves Jesus Christ) suggests that you are likely to be treated as an outcast.

To some degree, it almost appears that Christians today have traded places with homosexuals in social perspective.  "Homosexuality is more than okay and we're not going to say anything if you believe in it or do it.  However, you're a moron if you believe that Christ died, rose again, and all that jazz.  What a load of crap."

Having faith in Christ (to whatever end that faith exists) is increasingly looked down upon while having faith to do as you please with yourself is increasingly supported as a way of life for any normal american.  For if you are a normal American, you won't believe in the bogus of Jesus Christ.

Pretty lopsided if you ask me.  If freedom is freedom, why is no one going to the Supreme Court to argue the problem of pornography on the grocery store magazine shelves?  Why is no one going to the Supreme Court to argue the problem of infidelity within marriages?  Did we lose our guff somewhere along the way?  Cause as believers, I gotta say, we look pretty cowardly.  

We don't want to stand on a belief.  We don't want to argue a doctrine.  We don't want to ruffle any feathers.  We don't want to push any buttons.  God forbid, right?  Let's just sit and wait for His return, huh?

No.  God help us.  We have issues of our own.  With the power of Christ within us, we should have nothing to fear.  Yet, we seem to fear everything that involves confrontation.

In Christ Alone,

Mercy

"If the bible is silent on an issue, then I have to look outside of the bible for the answer.  The bible doesn't tell me what times the trains leave in the morning, so I check the timetable.  The bible doesn't tell me what the readings are going to be in church next sunday, so I check a lectionary."

Why is the Bible defined by us as the end all of the Word of God?  Is not the Word of God just that... the Word of God?  

For instance, when you first came to believe in the grace of God, was it the Bible that led you to believe or was it the Word of God?  Why must the two be synonymous when the Bible itself is not a "Biblical" term?

As for the Word of God being both historically and scientifically valid, the evidences of that are quite blatant in parallelled history books that record the life of those in Scripture.  History acknowledges that Israel was enslaved by Egypt and was led through the wilderness by Moses and Aaron.  History acknowledges that Saul of Tarsus was a zealot for the Law of Moses and went through a dramatic HISTORICAL change that altered the remainder of his life and that which he did.  These things are accounted for outside of God's Word, but yet you suggest that it can only be historical when we want it to be historical.  Perhaps I misunderstood you.

In Christ Alone,

Mercy

Jabez,

The passage in question regarding the man next to Jesus is Luke 23:43.

With regard to our "celebration of His death" moreso than our "celebration of His birth," I must say that I disagree with both.  Neither do I rejoice in Christ's birth, nor rejoice in His death, for if either of these things were to be the end, then I would not have life.  No, I rejoice in a celebration of His life.

"For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." Romans 5:10

"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:14

If I live, I live as Christ.  If I die, I move onto further life... which is gain.  In either case, I am alive because He lives.

In Christ Alone,

Mercy