Is this the time where you really leave or are you just being your typically coy self?
Trump & Hillary
- Thread starter chick_bleeds_carolina_blue
- Start date
Is this the time where you really leave or are you just being your typically coy self?
OK I've seen you make statements like that before and that's what I'm confused about. To me a Christian is anyone who believes Jesus Christ is the son of God.....period
So how would we definitively know then? If someone says they're a Christian... do we need to literally watch a movie of their entire existence to see if every second of every day they exhibited characteristics of a Christian? And if they didnt - well then we can't call them a Christian? At that point, why even have the word Christian? No one would ever be able to fit into that description so the word would be useless.
Well yes, and that's 99.999% of the world's definition as well. So while Strum likes to say it's "relative" I like to consider 99.999% to be pretty much absolute.
Okay... fine. You win. I love you, too.
I made the generalization that more people in the American South will like my Waylon Jennings guitars. So, I posted some photos with a Rebel Flag behind one of the guitars to promote them last year, just as an accent. I had a guy in Texas tell me "man, that's insulting Waylon having that flag behind his guitar." Oops! Then, I had 3 Waylon impersonators in Scandinavia commission one each! They liked the Rebel Flag! Woops! Those are insignificant little examples. But, it makes me second guess making too many generalizations where people are concerned.
Um, are you a doctor like me? No? Then you need to shut the hell up.False.
I'm glad you have that working for you. It doesn't take much to be a Christian, I guess.
BUT CAN YOU? You know about every planet in every galaxy in this universe, as well as alternate multi-verses? And do you know about all dimensions on this very planet? There very well could be places where electrical outlets are conscious and self aware and breed, perhaps even in monogamous relationships. Your knowledge is only based on your own relative experiences and awareness.
But generally speaking, outlets don't have moms and dads. I will give you that. But generalizations are dangerous so we should all be aware.
Just be safe out there- we would hate to lose you to a pack of angry generalizations.
Now, this I enjoy!
Why have the word Christian, indeed? Personally, I believe Jesus of Nazareth vehemently opposed organized religion. He sure was disgusted with the way the Hebrews were doing it... supposedly. I think that guy was so tuned-in and in-touch with God that it really took the people of that time totally by surprise. I don't believe Jesus wanted ANOTHER religion started-up for HIM! But, people being people, they couldn't resist. A few generations later, passing-down the stories, and he was a perfect religious cornerstone! I'm trying to do the same with George Carlin, actually.
But, more to what you posted: I'm not trying to make it complicated as to what should or can constitute referring to someone as being Christian. When I see people calling themselves a Christian, and then acting-out in ways that goes antithetical to what I have read of Jesus in the 4 Gospels (and the Gnostic books), I don't think of them as being Christians, or exemplifying Christ. You can call them whatever you want, or whatever they want to be called if it makes you feel good. But, at some point, if they say they are and act differently, then, as you alluded to, it does make the word become useless.
And, it doesn't make being a Christian very special or unique... or even Christ-like. It becomes a token reference.
What I'm getting at is this; you can be a Christian without being a baptist but you can't be a baptist without being a Christian, you can be a Christian without being a Mormon but you can't be a Mormon with being a Christian, and so on and so on. Do you get what I'm saying?
So then your expectation is that people who call themselves Christians are never allowed to exhibit any behavior that doesn't exemplify Christ? That seems reasonable.
It's not that it makes me feel good, as much as it's necessary to have descriptive words in order to have intelligent (or even unintelligent) conversation.
Tall is a relative word/term. Someone who is 5'3" can be considered tall to someone who is 4'8". But most of the world wouldn't consider the 5'3" guy to be tall - so therefore no one refers to him as tall because they want to make sense to the people they're talking with. Same with someone who is 6'7". A guy who is 7'3" might consider him short, but to the majority of the world he's tall, so he is referred to as tall - even by people who may not consider him tall... so that they can have conversation and have people know who/what they're talking about.
They can do and exhibit any behavior they want! I think the need for the reference/label is unnecessary anyway! That's sort of the whole damn point! That's one of the reasons I avoid organized religion. No one can maintain that kind of standard. Well, I guess they COULD, but not likely (see, generalizations). But, if showing up to one of these churches is all it takes, then, awesome. I'm generalizing, of course.
This thread got me like
No, actually I don't get it. I want to... but, I think you lost me. If it makes you feel like a more complete individual by calling yourself a Christian... do it, man! I'm not going to tell you that "YOU'RE NOT A CHRISTIAN!" I'll call you a Christian if that's what you want me to do. But, when I (me, personally) objectively observe a person, or people, in that context, my personal assessment may differ.
This election is not worth this.
That's my point. If you define a Christian as someone who believes Jesus Christ was the son of God, then all your problems go away. It will separate Christians from Jews, Muslims, Buddhist, whatever. Then people like Strum can narrow it down to "these people are not Baptist, Mormon, etc. etc.
Why the hell are you still here? Didn't I tell you to go back to Canada?
This thread needs to be pinned as an example of what happens when Strum and his lady friend are given free rein to allow the direction of the conversation.
Right, I get that, man. I'm not trying to toss the reference entirely. I'm just coming down off of some really sweet LSD!
I keed, I keed!
I am a hamburger person, too.
I get what "technically" is attributed to being a Christian for discussion purposes. But, we're not really talking about that simplistic aspect of the reference. Saying you're one, and being one are not always in the same place at the same time. I want to be LIKE CHRIST. But, I have no interest in being a "Christian", in the religious sense. To me, in a nutshell, being a Christian means being a member of a religious club where they sit around judging all the other Christians and Non-Christians. Those are too hypocritical for me. I'm generalizing again in that assessment! No harm done, though.
OK then you define "Christian" differently than 99% of the rest of the world. Do you see the problem here?
I should have given you more bread crumbs. Or, maybe I needed more.
How I define a person, personally, as being Christian may differ from just referring to them as being a Christian for discussion purposes.
No.
Guilty as charged. I have no idea what the hell you're talking about or referring to with "Dude."
OK now we're getting somewhere. Do you not see the problem with the other 99% talking to you about it? You have your own definition and 99% of the people you're talking to has another
I understand the simplified reference for the sake of conversation... or, I thought I did. I fully understand what qualifies as being referred to as a Christian. I know that Protestants and Catholics (and all the denominations of each) are, for reference sake, Christian. But, having a membership to a religion, to ME, doesn't automatically make someone exemplify Jesus Christ.
OK, I can understand that, but you need to come up with a different word other than "Christian".
Similar threads
