Regarding another commentratcheezlyMarch 15 2005, 22:51:08 UTC
Dear Wildchocobo43, Thank you for the advice you gave in Al's livejournal about my comment. I didn't mean to offend anybody. I was doing what I would have wanted a friend to do for me in the same situation. I know at times I can be judgmental...sometimes there's a fine line between judging someone and affirming a truth. God is loving, and even the Bible is sometimes funny. It just isn't funny in that way. But it's because God is loving that He doesn't let us do things that will end up hurting us or will keep us away from Him. Many times He's showed me when I was wrong and where I need to improve, and I am very glad for that. There is a difference between acceptance of a person and acceptance of a sin. I love Al, and I always will, no matter what she does. She has done many wonderful and caring things, I know, and she's a very gifted writer and singer. But as a true friend, it is my duty to warn her if she's doing something wrong before it gets worse. I know I do bad things just as much as anyone else, so I'll try to be more humble about it in the future. The last thing I want is for people to think I am better or more righteous, or that I am a good person. I am in need of God's grace, and will try to share it with all whom I love--even if that means telling someone he or she is wrong. Again, I'm sorry for sounding judgmental, because I could have said what I said much better. Thank you for your advice. Rachel
Re: Regarding another commentwildchocobo43March 16 2005, 03:40:23 UTC
That is fine except for one thing ... she didn't do anything Wrong or Sinful ... There was nothing to "Warn" or Judge her about ... God knows what was in her Heart and that she was just having some Fun and being Silly ... yet you decided it offended you and therefore attached the word "SIN" to it ... You are the one calling it a Sin and basically saying God told you so ...
I do not belief Sex is a sin ... I believe the enjoyment of sex is a gift from God that as I stated before he/she only gave to only two of his Creations. Religion is a personal calling ... each person follows their own beliefs and speaks to God or chooses not to ... God Gave us Free will to choose for ourselves our direction in life, and one's own personal relationship with him/her ... To chose Our own beliefs on what is wrong and what is right through that relationship with him/her.
"God’s ultimate goal is that human beings love Him, worship Him and exist in fellowship with him in heaven forever. Therefore, if love of God is a goal, then the ability to love is necessary ["...you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment." Mark 12:30]. Nobody can force love. It must be a choice made by free will. So in order for God to allow humans the choice to love Him, He had to provide free will or choice, despite knowing that evil would exist and that humans would often make the wrong choices."
If God won't impose his/her Will on her ... Should you? You also seem a little too hard on yourself as well.
PS: It is customary to reply to a post at the site of the post ... not to go to that person's Live Journal to reply ... keeping the threads together. Not that I minded
Re: Regarding another commentratcheezlyMarch 19 2005, 00:24:06 UTC
I agree with some of what you say. Indeed, sex is a gift from God for a man and woman who are dedicated to each other for their entire lives. It is an integral part of marriage, I know. But I have known too many young girls who look for love in sex, and don't find it. Many (including myself) talk about that kind of stuff or do that kind of stuff for attention, or to be cool, or just to feel wanted by another person. In reality, the kind of person who encourages them to act this way isn't doing this out of selfless love for the young girl, but out of selfish desires. I have yet to see a girl or boy who has gotten any kind of happiness, fulfillment, or anything besides pain from such actions or relationships. I remember talking online about that kind of stuff when I was 9 and 10. It made me feel happy at first that someone wanted me, or that someone thought I was beautiful (not that anyone had seen me, but it didn't change the feeling). I would often feel guilty and dirty afterward. No one told me to feel this way; in fact, I had gotten most of my sex education from watching talk shows and soap operas, and had never heard the Biblical viewpoint. Yet I could not shake the feeling that something was wrong, that my life was supposed to be different. It's been a long road since then, and sometimes I do get tempted to go the other way. But I know now that God loves me, has forgiven me, and will keep me on the right path when I trust in Him. He has done so much for me and has never failed me. Even when it didn't make sense at first that premarital sex or other perverse things should be wrong, following His way always made things turn out better. I was so lost when sinned, but now I feel every day closer to God. Giving up my own will for God's was hard, but the peace I now feel makes it more than worthwhile. About free will, I agree with the quote you gave. Indeed, God does not impose His will on us, but instead calls out to us, speaking through people and the beauty of the earth to encourage us to reach out to Him. He does not force us, but knowing that we are weak, requires nothing more of us than to take that first step of faith towards Him. If we so choose, we may spend our lives, and eternity, without Him. But to know Him and do His will is greater joy than anything, and I hope to do whatever I can to show others the grace God has given me and guide them to the One who loves them most. Rachel
Thank you for the advice you gave in Al's livejournal about my comment. I didn't mean to offend anybody. I was doing what I would have wanted a friend to do for me in the same situation. I know at times I can be judgmental...sometimes there's a fine line between judging someone and affirming a truth.
God is loving, and even the Bible is sometimes funny. It just isn't funny in that way. But it's because God is loving that He doesn't let us do things that will end up hurting us or will keep us away from Him. Many times He's showed me when I was wrong and where I need to improve, and I am very glad for that. There is a difference between acceptance of a person and acceptance of a sin. I love Al, and I always will, no matter what she does. She has done many wonderful and caring things, I know, and she's a very gifted writer and singer. But as a true friend, it is my duty to warn her if she's doing something wrong before it gets worse.
I know I do bad things just as much as anyone else, so I'll try to be more humble about it in the future. The last thing I want is for people to think I am better or more righteous, or that I am a good person. I am in need of God's grace, and will try to share it with all whom I love--even if that means telling someone he or she is wrong.
Again, I'm sorry for sounding judgmental, because I could have said what I said much better. Thank you for your advice.
Rachel
Reply
I do not belief Sex is a sin ... I believe the enjoyment of sex is a gift from God that as I stated before he/she only gave to only two of his Creations. Religion is a personal calling ... each person follows their own beliefs and speaks to God or chooses not to ... God Gave us Free will to choose for ourselves our direction in life, and one's own personal relationship with him/her ... To chose Our own beliefs on what is wrong and what is right through that relationship with him/her.
"God’s ultimate goal is that human beings love Him, worship Him and exist in fellowship with him in heaven forever. Therefore, if love of God is a goal, then the ability to love is necessary ["...you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment." Mark 12:30]. Nobody can force love. It must be a choice made by free will. So in order for God to allow humans the choice to love Him, He had to provide free will or choice, despite knowing that evil would exist and that humans would often make the wrong choices."
If God won't impose his/her Will on her ... Should you? You also seem a little too hard on yourself as well.
PS: It is customary to reply to a post at the site of the post ... not to go to that person's Live Journal to reply ... keeping the threads together. Not that I minded
Reply
I remember talking online about that kind of stuff when I was 9 and 10. It made me feel happy at first that someone wanted me, or that someone thought I was beautiful (not that anyone had seen me, but it didn't change the feeling). I would often feel guilty and dirty afterward. No one told me to feel this way; in fact, I had gotten most of my sex education from watching talk shows and soap operas, and had never heard the Biblical viewpoint. Yet I could not shake the feeling that something was wrong, that my life was supposed to be different.
It's been a long road since then, and sometimes I do get tempted to go the other way. But I know now that God loves me, has forgiven me, and will keep me on the right path when I trust in Him. He has done so much for me and has never failed me. Even when it didn't make sense at first that premarital sex or other perverse things should be wrong, following His way always made things turn out better. I was so lost when sinned, but now I feel every day closer to God. Giving up my own will for God's was hard, but the peace I now feel makes it more than worthwhile.
About free will, I agree with the quote you gave. Indeed, God does not impose His will on us, but instead calls out to us, speaking through people and the beauty of the earth to encourage us to reach out to Him. He does not force us, but knowing that we are weak, requires nothing more of us than to take that first step of faith towards Him. If we so choose, we may spend our lives, and eternity, without Him. But to know Him and do His will is greater joy than anything, and I hope to do whatever I can to show others the grace God has given me and guide them to the One who loves them most.
Rachel
Reply
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