Christian Discussion Thread V

[Morr]

I have read the NT and the things it says about Satan. Honestly though I do not recall anything about Satan being the absolute evil until Revelations, and Revelations is the kind of book that is mostly allegorical instead of literal. What it does say about Satan earlier on though is that he is the father of all lies, but this is not the same thing as being told in an Apocalyptic book that he is the epitome of evil.

Sure, Satan is called "the evil one", but "the evil one" is not the same as "evil incarnate".

He's the father of evil and sin, and the core antagonist to humanity's salvation. I don't know how you want to look at it, but whether that is evil incarnate or whatever hardly makes a difference, he's as evil as you can possibly get.

[Morr]

So, how does that make me sympathize Satan?

You don;t feel bad for the satan of any of those possibilities? I do, he can't understand good even if he did at one point. I literally feel bad for someone like that. Even if they are evil, am I not allowed to feel for them? To pray they come back to what they left? In a way he reminds me of Azula from Avatar, definitely evil but at the end of the day the monster simply is something to be pitied.

You can, but seeing as how he is ultimately behind every wicked thing that's happened in the world, it's a bit hard. To feel sorry for him is about as hard as feeling sorry for Ted Bundy, from my perspective.

[The Alma Mater]

I have read the NT and the things it says about Satan. Honestly though I do not recall anything about Satan being the absolute evil until Revelations, and Revelations is the kind of book that is mostly allegorical instead of literal. What it does say about Satan earlier on though is that he is the father of all lies, but this is not the same thing as being told in an Apocalyptic book that he is the epitome of evil.

Sure, Satan is called "the evil one", but "the evil one" is not the same as "evil incarnate".

He's the father of evil and sin

That is the thing being debated.

and the core antagonist to humanity's salvation.

Which does not make him evil per se.

[Gim]

You don;t feel bad for the satan of any of those possibilities? I do, he can't understand good even if he did at one point. I literally feel bad for someone like that. Even if they are evil, am I not allowed to feel for them? To pray they come back to what they left? In a way he reminds me of Azula from Avatar, definitely evil but at the end of the day the monster simply is something to be pitied.

You can, but seeing as how he is ultimately behind every wicked thing that's happened in the world, it's a bit hard. To feel sorry for him is about as hard as feeling sorry for Ted Bundy, from my perspective.

Being sorry for him is impossible, because I personally can't be sorry and forgiving to some mortals in my surroundings.

[Morr]

That is the thing being debated.

That's not up for debate if you're a Christian. He was the tempter of Adam and Eve, and was a sinner since the beginning.

Which does not make him evil per se.

It makes him such in the Christian sense, since he is Christ's antagonist, and Christ will crush him with his heel, as per the Bible.

[Morr]

You can, but seeing as how he is ultimately behind every wicked thing that's happened in the world, it's a bit hard. To feel sorry for him is about as hard as feeling sorry for Ted Bundy, from my perspective.

Being sorry for him is impossible, because I personally can't be sorry and forgiving to some mortals in my surroundings.

Satan surely supported all of Ted Bundy's acts.

[The Alma Mater]

That is the thing being debated.

That's not up for debate if you're a Christian.

Considering Christians are debating this very thing in this very topic, I daresay that is untrue.

[Gim]

Which does not make him evil per se.

According to John 1 5:19, yes.

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

[Morr]

That's not up for debate if you're a Christian.

Considering Christians are debating this very thing in this very topic, I daresay that is untrue.

They don't have a leg to stand on, from the perspective of Christian doctrine. Such an assertion can only be argued from a secular perspective which does not hold to Christian doctrine.

[The United Neptumousian Empire]

Define "judging".

If you read the Bible, you'll see that God does not support it.

Keeping the true faith and rejecting and rebuking heresy is not "judging".

[Morr]

Which does not make him evil per se.

According to John 1 5:19, yes.

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

This itself isn't a great argument, because the word here could just mean "evil". But contemporary Protestants have taken a liking to translating the word as "evil one" more today with their fascination with Satan (they even often say "deliver us from the evil one" in the Lord's prayer).

King James translation

"And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness."

[Gim]

If you read the Bible, you'll see that God does not support it.

Keeping the true faith and rejecting and rebuking heresy is not "judging".

From what I can recall, he called someone a, "heretic", or accused him of "heresy".

[Morr]

Keeping the true faith and rejecting and rebuking heresy is not "judging".

From what I can recall, he called someone a, "heretic", or accused him of "heresy".

1 Corinthians 5 deals with sinners within the Church. You can hang out with sinners who are not in it, indeed that is part of our mission. For sinners in it, if they do not repent of their sins (which we should be doing on a regular basis, since we all continue to sin), then rebuke them. If they show no concern or repentance no matter how much you make an effort, then they are excommunicated, and you should not talk or eat with them anymore--of course, they could always repent, in which case they'd be reconciled.

[Gim]

From what I can recall, he called someone a, "heretic", or accused him of "heresy".

1 Corinthians 5 deals with sinners within the Church. You can hang out with sinners who are not in it, indeed that is part of our mission. For sinners in it, if they do not repent of their sins (which we should be doing on a regular basis, since we all continue to sin), then rebuke them. If they show no concern or repentance no matter how much you make an effort, then they are excommunicated, and you should not talk or eat with them anymore--of course, they could always repent, in which case they'd be reconciled.

Yes, but when he said that, did he know the person whom he judged had no concern or repentance? He showed no sign of that.

[Morr]

1 Corinthians 5 deals with sinners within the Church. You can hang out with sinners who are not in it, indeed that is part of our mission. For sinners in it, if they do not repent of their sins (which we should be doing on a regular basis, since we all continue to sin), then rebuke them. If they show no concern or repentance no matter how much you make an effort, then they are excommunicated, and you should not talk or eat with them anymore--of course, they could always repent, in which case they'd be reconciled.

Yes, but when he said that, did he know the person whom he judged had no concern or repentance? He showed no sign of that.

It's pretty easy to know. I mean, if they care about Repentance, then they're going to confession, and making good on the instructions for repentance given to them. And with some sins, it's just easy to tell, because they are sins you can live in.

[Gim]

Yes, but when he said that, did he know the person whom he judged had no concern or repentance? He showed no sign of that.

It's pretty easy to know. I mean, if they care about Repentance, then they're going to confession, and making good on the instructions for repentance given to them. And with some sins, it's just easy to tell, because they are sins you can live in.

Wouldn't it be better to pray to God for wisdom on this matter? I mean, we cannot outright condemn a person based on our own judgements. When God gives you a clear sign that the person cannot be redeemed, then you can judge him.

[Morr]

It's pretty easy to know. I mean, if they care about Repentance, then they're going to confession, and making good on the instructions for repentance given to them. And with some sins, it's just easy to tell, because they are sins you can live in.

Wouldn't it be better to pray to God for wisdom on this matter? I mean, we cannot outright condemn a person based on our own judgements. When God gives you a clear sign that the person cannot be redeemed, then you can judge him.

The person can always be redeemed. It's just a question of whether they want to be.

[Gim]

Wouldn't it be better to pray to God for wisdom on this matter? I mean, we cannot outright condemn a person based on our own judgements. When God gives you a clear sign that the person cannot be redeemed, then you can judge him.

The person can always be redeemed. It's just a question of whether they want to be.

Maybe, they don't really know if they want to be redeemed or not. Praying to God for help in this matter, I think, is the best approach towards a certain individual. Whatever God tells you to do is right, after all.

[Morr]

The person can always be redeemed. It's just a question of whether they want to be.

Maybe, they don't really know if they want to be redeemed or not. Praying to God for help in this matter, I think, is the best approach towards a certain individual. Whatever God tells you to do is right, after all.

Yeah, about that. People sometimes hear what they want to hear.

And we're talking about heresy here, anyway. It's nothing blurry or tricky like someone who has to sell drugs to support their family. It's heresy. To repent, all you have to do is renounce it. If, after being rebuked repeatedly, they don't renounce, then they are poisonous to the Church because they set a bad example and might spread their heresies. But the moment they renounce said heresies, it's all good in the 'hood.

[Gim]

Maybe, they don't really know if they want to be redeemed or not. Praying to God for help in this matter, I think, is the best approach towards a certain individual. Whatever God tells you to do is right, after all.

Yeah, about that. People sometimes hear what they want to hear.

And we're talking about heresy here, anyway. It's nothing blurry or tricky like someone who has to sell drugs to support their family. It's heresy. To repent, all you have to do is renounce it. If, after being rebuked repeatedly, they don't renounce, then they are poisonous to the Church because they set a bad example and might spread their heresies. But the moment they renounce said heresies, it's all good in the 'hood.

I mean, for some, setting their minds to repent all by themselves is possible, but for some, that is not. That is why I keep insisting others pray to God for them to turn their hearts towards God, because they cannot do it themselves, even if they know that repentance can make them redeemed.

[Morr]

Yeah, about that. People sometimes hear what they want to hear.

And we're talking about heresy here, anyway. It's nothing blurry or tricky like someone who has to sell drugs to support their family. It's heresy. To repent, all you have to do is renounce it. If, after being rebuked repeatedly, they don't renounce, then they are poisonous to the Church because they set a bad example and might spread their heresies. But the moment they renounce said heresies, it's all good in the 'hood.

I mean, for some, setting their minds to repent all by themselves is possible, but for some, that is not. That is why I keep insisting others pray to God for them to turn their hearts towards God, because they cannot do it themselves, even if they know that repentance can make them redeemed.

That makes sense. Doesn't mean we should treat their actions as just peachy though.

[Gim]

I mean, for some, setting their minds to repent all by themselves is possible, but for some, that is not. That is why I keep insisting others pray to God for them to turn their hearts towards God, because they cannot do it themselves, even if they know that repentance can make them redeemed.

That makes sense. Doesn't mean we should treat their actions as just peachy though.

Just ignore them. If you can't, pray God to help you with this.

[Morr]

That makes sense. Doesn't mean we should treat their actions as just peachy though.

Just ignore them. If you can't, pray God to help you with this.

Ah, no. They will disseminate their opinions and lead people astray. And in greater sins, a sinner who calls himself a follower of Christ represents us--if we do not condemn his sins, then to heathens it is as if we do not disapprove of them.

[Winnopolis]

I'll just laugh at the fact that they're going to hell.

Please tell me that was just a (misjudged) joke.

EDIT: If you're serious, here's an alternative - pray for them.

I'll try, then. :/

[Dwarfpolis]

Have you read Kierkegaard?

Nope.

Have you seen The Passion of the Christ?

Wasn't that a movie about Jesus falling in love with Mary Magdalene?

If you're at a seminary, you have access to a priest, right?

I am pretty sure I do, yes.

Religion is not the only source of spirituality. There are plenty of opportunities to discover more outside the walls of a church.

Literally tumblr-tier advice