Jesus loves you over MK

[smartestnumber5]

I just have to shake my head at those who are saying that seeing Jesus Loves You or God Loves You (above Disney World, of all places) will "save" others by converting non-believers into Christians. I whole-heartedly believe in God, but I don't believe in Jesus. I treat others kindly and with respect, I help those in need, I take care of those around me, I've never hurt a soul in my life, I work hard and contribute to society. I'd say I'm a pretty good person. But I don't believe in Jesus so I'm not going to Heaven, right? And saying that I need "saving", especially by a random skywriter, is completely offensive in and of itself. I've always found that the radicals preaching of God's love and acceptance in the most extreme of ways are always the first ones to cast other's off in hate for their differing beliefs or opinions. Isn't religion supposed to be about acceptance?

Yes it's ironic isn't it? Many people are saying there's nothing negative about the message, yet at the same time the reasoning which makes it so important for him to put the message out there even if it offends people is that all the heathens will burn in hell if they don't start believing in Jesus (and we will deserve it!). Yeah, nothing negative there .

I remember a quote I used to like a lot when I was a young teen and lost my faith. It was something like "We are taught as young children that God loves us. But when we get older and learn more about religion we come to see that it is a very cold kind of love--not at all like the way we use the word." That just really rang true for me. The more I learned about scripture, the more I homilies I heard, the more I heard about people's understanding of hell, the more I just kept thinking, "I thought God was supposed to love us? Funny, I wouldn't treat people I hate as badly as scripture says God has and will treat some humans."

I have trouble wrapping my head around how people can reconcile the idea that there is a being who is perfectly good and this being sends people to eternal torment when they don't believe in Him/Her . Sounds like a case of "might makes right"--the mere act of God commanding or doing a certain thing makes that thing right. But then God could say do X and don't do X and that would make X both right and wrong which is impossible. Not to mention God could command horrendous things--raping children, eating our parents, torturing kittens for fun and they would magically become good. In what sense would that being be good?

This is why I'm not a believer. Too many confusing questions.

 

[Fitswimmer]

No one knows what is in another's heart. I wouldn't presume to know when you are doing something out of love and when you are full of, what did he say, hooey.

I think it's unfairly judgemental to call someone disingenuous about this kind of thing. We can only know our own hearts.

Yes, it's judgemental to decide what is in another person's heart.

Just because you can find a verse in the Bible that says condemns an action, doesn't mean that you have a right to perform the condemnation yourself.

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

I agree and I think it's sad that so many people think they're doing such a great thing by "spreading the Gospel" and what they're actually doing is pushing people AWAY from the very thing they want to draw them towards.

I still remember how one of the Sisters described service to God. "if I give you a piece of chocolate because I know you LOVE chocolate and I want to make you happy, isn't that better than my giving you the same chocolate because my Mother Superior told me I had to? Of course it is! An action done because we HAVE to is never as good as one we undertake because we WANT to. Obedience to God because we love God and we want to serve him by loving others is far better than obedience to God because He says so."

Jesus and His Apostles shared the Gospel -- so should we -- in deed and in word.

Hat's off to the skywriter.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Jesus and His Apostles shared the Gospel -- so should we -- in deed and in word.

Hat's off to the skywriter.

Even if you turn more people away from Him by your words and your actions? I just can't see the logic in that. People are saying that these kind of "in your face" things turn them AWAY from Christianity and offend them. How can that be ignored??

 

[Nikel]

Jesus and His Apostles shared the Gospel -- so should we -- in deed and in word.

Hat's off to the skywriter.

Dear Jesus,

Please excuse the skywriter from his proselytizing in mid December. It really is not going to change my mind and will only cause me to mock the ridiculous misguided attempts made in your name to save my soul.

Thanks!

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

Even if you turn more people away from Him by your words and your actions? I just can't see the logic in that. People are saying that these kind of "in your face" things turn them AWAY from Christianity and offend them. How can that be ignored??

These same people would have been offended by Jesus, Himself.

If they can't handle "Jesus Loves You" they can't handle the Truth.

They didn't turn AWAY from Christianity because of some skywriting -- they were already running in the opposite direction.

 

[Laura]

Huh? The point was that there is nothing offensive about "Jesus loves you". If we saw alot more of it, the world would be a much better place.

No, I really don't think so. Not better or worse, just the same.

 

[Gupsmom]

Even if you turn more people away from Him by your words and your actions? I just can't see the logic in that. People are saying that these kind of "in your face" things turn them AWAY from Christianity and offend them. How can that be ignored??

I guess I don't see why this turns anyone away. even more to the point, I don't think this does turn people away. Has anyone in this thread said that they were turned away from Christianity because this man wrote Jesus Loves U in the sky.

Who defines what is an exceptable and appropriate way to share your beliefs without offending?...if there is an answer to that, what is that method? For me, I am not offended. I don't find this "in your face" at all. If the guy showed up at my door, I wouldn't be thrilled. If he were standing outside the entrance to the park, screaming at me, I'd be a little freaked out. Having to see it writen, 3000 miles above me just does not offend me and/or make me feel threatened or uneasy.

Jess

 

[Feralpeg]

Tonight, I'll be saying a prayer that someone will put an end to this thread! Good grief. It seems like there are a lot worse things in the world to worry about, especially since most of you see this guy's message maybe once or twice a year!!

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

Dear Jesus,

Please excuse the skywriter from his proselytizing in mid December. It really is not going to change my mind and will only cause me to mock the ridiculous misguided attempts made in your name to save my soul.

Thanks!

Jesus said not everyone would listen, but He and His Apostles kept spreading the Word -- and told us to do the same.

Jesus loves us all!

 

[Tyler's Dad]

I guess I don't see why this turns anyone away. even more to the point, I don't think this does turn people away. Has anyone in this thread said that they were turned away from Christianity because this man wrote Jesus Loves U in the sky.

Who defines what is an exceptable and appropriate way to share your beliefs without offending?...if there is an answer to that, what is that method? For me, I am not offended. I don't find this "in your face" at all. If the guy showed up at my door, I wouldn't be thrilled. If he were standing outside the entrance to the park, screaming at me, I'd be a little freaked out. Having to see it writen, 3000 miles above me just does not offend me and/or make me feel threatened or uneasy.

Jess

Has anyone in this thread said that they were turned TO Christianity because fo these writings? I don't care what people believe in or don't believe in. What I care about is when their beliefs have an effect on my life. I would find it in bad taste to write Jesus is fake in the sky as much as Jesus loves you.

 

[ducklite]

I agree with you, Peg. I see it "backwards" out my office window every day and figure to each their own. I don't find it offensive, it is what it is, and frankly if it makes the guy happy to do it, who is he hurting?

And I agree it's hysterical that the people getting their panties in a wad the most on this thread are those who visit the area once every year or two.

Anne

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

For me, faith and spirituality is a private thing. I'd never have a bumper sticker professing my beliefs nor would I approach random strangers to talk about it. It's not something I need to advertise nor do I feel a need to convert people to my way of thinking.

Christianity, of course, is different and the overt arrogance and persistence in trying to convince the masses that it is the One True Religion is what turns me off to it. The Jesus Plane Guy is just another in a long series of people who have tried and failed to convert those of us who have decided that Jesus is not OUR answer. Give it a rest, already!

Your Truth isn't necessarily my Truth or my next door neighbor's Truth. I think many people would be much happier if everyone lived their life without feeling the need to demonstrate how pious and faithful they are.

 

[Gupsmom]

Has anyone in this thread said that they were turned TO Christianity because fo these writings? I don't care what people believe in or don't believe in. What I care about is when their beliefs have an effect on my life. I would find it in bad taste to write Jesus is fake in the sky as much as Jesus loves you.

The difference being that I never made the argument that these skywriting turned anyone TO chrsitianity. Fitswimmer did state "People are saying that these kind of "in your face" things turn them AWAY from Christianity and offend them."

Jess

PS...I am not offended by anyone writing Jesus loves U. Nor am I offended by someone writing Jesus is a fake.

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

Has anyone in this thread said that they were turned TO Christianity because fo these writings? I don't care what people believe in or don't believe in. What I care about is when their beliefs have an effect on my life. I would find it in bad taste to write Jesus is fake in the sky as much as Jesus loves you.

So you just don't like skywriting?

Does it REALLY effect your life?

 

[tropical depression]

man, a 'SATAN LOVES YOU' message in the sky over WDW would really blow some peoples' minds.

 

[RickinNYC]

This thread actually just reminded me of a couple weeks back, Joe and I were at the pool and we noticed a sky writer. He kept plopping down (up?) Heiniken Heiniken Heiniken Heiniken all over the city.

I didn't get turned to Heiniken. That stuff still sucks.

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

Yeah, but you are so not listening. I don't care what the Bible says. It's irrelevant to me. The harder you (Christians) try to convert us and the more often you try, the less likely we are to listen.

Really, do you think we are clueless about Christianity? I personally was raised as a catholic, so I've done the church thing. It's not like you're going to come up to me and say, "Jesus loves you," and I'll be like, "Sweet, you're so right. *** was I thinking all these years?! Sign me up!"

I think my new plan is to try to convert people to my belief system in response. Maybe when they realize how freaking annoying and ineffective it is, they'll stop.

But others will listen to the Word. We can't stop preaching because some are offended. It certainly did not stop Jesus.

 

[eclectics]

This...



or something else?

Actually, these two.

Missionaryism is a large part of your religion. We get it. You don't seem to get the fact that it's offensive to some. So, who's views are more important? Yours, or the people you offend? That's what it boils down to. You seem to feel, because you are more or less commanded to do so by God, that yours is. And, if Christianity were the law of the land, you would be right. But it isn't, so the "saving souls" excuse doesn't fly with me. If you get into people's faces with your religious views, you should be prepared to take all the flack some will throw back to you. And while it may not be against the law to preach your religious convictions, sometimes backing off is the polite thing to do.

Exactly. If someone knocks on my door, is polite, and offers me a pamphlet to read at my leisure, they are going to get a better response from me than the person that sticks their shoe in my doorway and "orders" me to read or discuss something I don't particularly feel like doing at the moment. This skywriting guy, in a way, is sort of ordering me to read his sign and that's what I resent, even though he has every right to do it.

 

[ducklite]

This thread actually just reminded me of a couple weeks back, Joe and I were at the pool and we noticed a sky writer. He kept plopping down (up?) Heiniken Heiniken Heiniken Heiniken all over the city.

I didn't get turned to Heiniken. That stuff still sucks.