goofy4tink said:
My brother did not 'choose' his lifestyle. In fact, if you ask him, he would say he would do just about anything to be considered 'normal'. He tried the hetero lifestyle. Said it made him feel the same way I would feel about spending my life with a woman..not great, that's not my lifestyle. Do I think that my brother is condemned to an eternity in hell? Nope. I think God knows him, and his struggle.
God does know him, and his struggle, that is true. God loves him, that is true. God hates sin, that is true. The Bible says it is sin, that is true. Therefore God hates that sin, that is true. But he loves the sinner, that is true. And the sinner can repent and be completely forgiven, that is true. But it needs to be asked for, and you must repent, that is true.
goofy4tink said:
What the Espicopal Church does is of no consequence to anyone other than Episcopalians.....stop saying it matters to you if you aren't a member of the church in question.
Incorrect, according to the Bible.
goofy4tink said:
Choose a church that comes close to the same beliefs you have...plain and simple.
A better plan would be to align your beliefs with the Bible's, then find a church that has done the same.
goofy4tink said:
Seems to be plenty of 'church shopping' going on. If you don't like what the newly elected PB says, move on. Don't start quoting verses from the Bible to me. We can all go there. Doesn't matter one iota to me. I believe what I believe.
It SHOULD matter to any Christian, what the Bible has to say. In fact, that should be the basis for ANY Christian's beliefs, Episcopalian or otherwise.
goofy4tink said:
You are not going to change my very firm foundations.
If your foundations are not based on the Bible, I would hope that if you are a Christian, YOU would want to change them.
goofy4tink said:
Perhaps we are all wrong and we'll be sent to purgatory by God, because we 'ignored' His word. I don't think that's going to happen, but I guess it's possible. But, again, that's my belief. You don't have to have the same ones.
Based on this, are YOU even sure of what you believe? You don't even talk with absolute certainty about it, and the Bible says we can be sure of our salvation, and sure of many other things. Are you sure of what you believe, and why? Just curious...
goofy4tink said:
I don't think there is anything worse than those who spout their beliefs as the only correct ones, making comments on others contrary beliefs. Last time I checked, this was the United States of America and I'm free to choose whatever I choose to believe. You don't have to like it, or to agree with it anymore than I have to agree with or like your particular beliefs.
When it comes to religion and eternity, it pays to be right. And if people aren't convinced enough about the truth of their own beliefs to say they're right, how convinced are they themselves?
goofy4tink said:
I choose to depend on God to decide who is right and who is wrong, in that final judgement. If I've gotten it wrong, oh well, I tried to do the right thing.
You've got that right, God will be the final judge, to be sure. And at that point, if you've gotten it wrong, an "Oh well, I tried to do the right thing" is unfortunately going to fall way short. All, of course, according to the Bible.