Prairie Poet
Last night, prairie poet responded to earlier posters--
I did not get scared away, but have come to realize that there is a reason people often will not discuss politics or religion with others. No matter what we say or do, people often take it the wrong way, or will not listen to or respond to questions one may ask but chose to answer with a question that takes the discussion in a new direction, which proves nothing and none of us is the better for it. Personal verbal attacks prove nothing, yet some resort to that in some cases
This question about the wearing scarves in church is a good example. But no one is going to go to hell for not wearing a scarf, and it is almost not worth discussion in this forum. There are much more important things we could discuss, I feel, but it all comes down to the matter of ones faith. And since there is no way to PROVE anything except the words that are written in the Bible, where does discussion get us?
We in the church do not hate others, nor do we or should we feel we are better than anyone. Of course there will always be some who exibit these negative attitudes, especially the young, but that is unfortunate and wrong headed.
I had thought this could be an enlightened discussion of differing points of view, but that is not to be, apparently.
For example, I believe the discussion on a womans head covering in church is meant to say what it sounds like it is saying. Men should be uncovered and women covered, otherwise we must assume that chapter is suggesting that men should cut off all their hair, but women should leave their hair uncut, or nearly so. Why else would the apostle make such an issue of it? They did not make a habit of much talk for nothing. They tried to get their point across in a few words. Writing for them must have been a laborious process. We could discuss why it was written that way, instead of some insisting on being negative.
It would be nice to discuss that in some intelligent way...or some other "place" and we could all learn something. Certainly many of the posters here could learn what the church really holds to be truth and not what some may only remember from the somewhat warped perspective of youth. But I understand that warping. I did not unserstand very well when I was young, and find that even today I have a lot to learn. I truly wish everyone would be able to go to heaven, but we know that is not what the Bible promises us. So some of us are wrong and some of us are lucky enough to understand a little better. (And I am not suggesting that I am the one with more understanding)We are all so much alike in so many ways, but only some will be fortunate enough to walk on the golden floor of heaven. We just disagree on what God expects of us and what Jesus words to us really mean."
For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face"
That "place" and many like it give me pause. What is it that any of us are not seeing? Can we be certain that "all" we have to do is accept Jesus as our personal Saviour or are there some clues that it is not at all a simple thing. What does the parable of the wise and foolish virgins mean? What kind of person would be a foolish "virgin", and what does that virginity signify. Those are the things we should all consider. And also the admonition that we will all have to answer for "every idle word"
Brothers and sisters, this could have been a place to talk about this, and I and you could have learned a lot, but I think it is not to be.
One last thing. I said that the Bible does not justify believing that one can ever be "saved", as some religions mean it. I did not,certainly, mean ever, under any circumstances. Obviously! Since I hope to be one of the chosen ones! But to say one is saved is to suggest that the battle is over. That you have won the battle and can not in anyway affect the fact that you are on a one way ride to heaven. I do not believe that any of us can say we are given the crown on this side, but it is a continuing battle for all of us. If all you had to do is say you have accepted Jesus as your personal Saviour, why did the apostles have to keep going back and preaching the same things to the same people over and over again. But, if one dies with that assurance and belief indelibly written in our hearts, then we are blessed.
pp
I hope pp will keep checking in. I know there are some who would like the chance to discuss the reasons that many of us share that have left the oalc.
posted by Left the OALC at 12:58 PM
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