Comments on: Evangelize Through Intimacy, not Intimidation

By: Enemies at the Gate « SHARP IRON

Enemies at the Gate « SHARP IRON — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 03:34:20 +0000

[...] about what I felt are the largely negative aspects of extolling a gospel of hell and damnation. http://sharpiron.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/intimacy-not-intimidation/#comment-1209 There were other more reasoned responses, some of them even suggesting that my position may be [...]

By: lovewillbringustogether

lovewillbringustogether — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 04:19:13 +0000

Not altogether sure i agree with your assessment of his state of mind Big C, i suspect he is quite happy doing the work of his Lord in the best way he knows how ( how sad is That?)

You might find my latest blog of interest… let me know what you think?

(lovewilbringustogether.wordpress.com)

By: Christian

Christian — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:43:45 +0000

It is easy to laugh off Ruben’s rhetoric until you realize how sad all this is. And how unhappy he must be. He presents us with an example of the self abasement that people are led to by the ‘toxic’ religious elements that have pervaded all the major faith traditions. A God of of hate instead of a God of love, damnation over salvation, us versus everybody else. A lack of trust, an inability to adide in the promises of Jesus.

Anyway, Ruben, thanks for the illustration. Very timely. If trying to paint a picture of your organization I would likely have been accused of gross and unfair exaggeration.

By: lovewillbringustogether

lovewillbringustogether — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:39:50 +0000

I Love Gummi Bears, Chocolate Soldiers ( most forms of Chockkie actually!) and Candy but i moderate them to consuming some every second day.

Don’t want to get daibetes now – do We?

By: lovewillbringustogether

lovewillbringustogether — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:36:19 +0000

Oh! My God!!

Just visited the ‘official’ SOAPA site and sadly i don’t think he is being in any way satirical or sarcastic – this is the real ‘deal’!

The phrase that speaks most eloquently to me of the level of intelligence we are dealing with there is as follows:

‘You do not need a degree in Theology to understand that the Bible is talking about the kind of destruction that can only be caused by the power of a nuclear blast or the sun exploding….either way, it is obvious that the Bible qualifies this destruction of the environment and all the wicked inhabitants of the planet as THE DAY OF THE LORD. Who can this be talking about? This massive destruction, this burning up of everything, a fire so hot that it dissolves the heavens….evaporating the atmosphere itself! Vaporizing all flesh in fervent heat? Could this be your smiling, laughing, chuckling, happy faced, homo loving Jesus that you have created in your imagination? Is this His DAY? It certainly would appear that your version of Jesus needs some revision in light of this description of the Day of the LORD.’

‘the HEAVENS being on fire shall be dissolved’

Apparently the Heavens are just contained in Earth’s Atmosphere and will be wiped out by one sun exploding???

Anyone who buys what this guy is selling is welcome to it but don’t expect any ‘happy’ reward on that Judgement Day, will you guys and gals.

And to correct yet one more of his errors – Jesus never commanded you to judge anyone or anything – He commanded you to NOT judge Unrighteously! – sadly Reuben can’t see a difference in those two statements – yet!

I live ever in Hope but some humans don’t half make it difficult at times.

By: Ruben Israel

Ruben Israel — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:38:35 +0000

Your Jelly Fish version of Chrissianity is well documented…great job “coverting” souls to Christ with you gummy bear Jelly bean Jesus version of the Gospel! You guys are well defined by this little piece appropriately called “Back Rubs 4 Jesus” Ha! That suits your sweet, sweet, candy cane Chrissianity just fine! What a farce! Chocolate Soldiers every one of you!

By: Christian

Christian — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:52:24 +0000

Thanks, Dana. Well put.

Journaling Woman has just published an article that addresses this issue much better than I have. In it she says;

“…condemnation is a prideful act on our part that says, “I know this person’s heart. I know that this person is hateful in God’s sight.” This is why condemnation is such a horrible sin. It reveals an attitude not only of pride, but of an unloving and untransformed heart and spirit.”

“So, what can we do within the parameters of a good, loving Christian walk? Let us continue to discern the times, let us test the spirits, be critical of our brethren when we must, but let’s make sure we are not doing it from a heart full of condemnation or pride or unforgiving love.”

http://journalingfaith.wordpress.com/2007/09/07/criticize-but-dont-condemn/

By: dana

dana — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:42:00 +0000

Wow didn’t expect to be in the minority in the comments here….I give you big kudos. Seems like a very positive message!
Meeting people where they are…Loving them and showing them that God’s Word seeks to correct their (and my) wrongs out of His desire for a better life for us and His love for us…Exposing our own weakness and desperate need for God in order to lift others up to also partake in His Glory and Mercy.
I pray for the day when such a message becomes so redundant that we don’t need to spread it any more. Strong evidence shows today certainly isn’t that day.
And if one person reads this blog who didn’t think of their faith in this way before, I think it is certainly worth boring those of us who get it already.
Thanks!

By: Christian

Christian — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:54:47 +0000

OK, I get your point. But let’s clarify something here…

The ‘negativity’ that you are tired of – did you find that in my article or did it occur after Ruben joined the discussion? Did you think that I was being negative by espousing a ‘positve’ way of dealing with others?

You know, when someone says something negative about negativity, isn’t that a positive?

By: BuddyO

BuddyO — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:41:41 +0000

I think we can get a pretty good idea of what God’s plan doesn’t include.

Yeah, your right there. That’s why it wears on me to constantly be talking about it. Seems redundant and counterproductive.

It’s “OK” for some people to use exteme, even insulting language, to make their point but it would be hypocritical for someone to criticize that behavior, no matter how moderate or respectful they might be.

Never have I said it was OK for ‘them’. I would like to raise the discussion above (despite) it. Never said it was hypocritical to criticize… I just think it’s futile and there could be better use of the discussion time. I’d even go as far as to say that if we could see past the vitriol there may be something of value in what ‘they’ are doing that we could learn from. (Even Hitler built nice roads… obvious sarcasm)

Tolerance doesn’t mean accepting everyone’s thoughts and actions but it does require an acceptance of the human being

You know how I feel about Tolerance… You also know how strongly I feel about accountability. I just cant take the constant negativity any more. I’m taking time to focus on the positive, yes even if that positive is sometimes very hard to find.

Don’t worry, I’ll probably end up getting back to my old ‘critical’ and ‘judgemental’ self eveltually. Who knows maybe I’ll get pulled infront of another tribunal again… Ahh the good old days…