NationStates

Stonok wrote:

Salus Maior wrote:Guys, leave Parkus be. I'm disappointed in what he's done too, but harping on about it isn't what this thread is for.

Yeah, I agree. We're Christians after all, we should be able to forgive someone indefinitely. Seventy times seven.

Forgive sure, but chasitizing I think is an essential part of the Christian community. Policing our own so to speak

Tarsonis wrote:

Stonok wrote:Yeah, I agree. We're Christians after all, we should be able to forgive someone indefinitely. Seventy times seven.

Forgive sure, but chasitizing I think is an essential part of the Christian community. Policing our own so to speak

Yes, I agree.

Tarsonis wrote:

Stonok wrote:Yeah, I agree. We're Christians after all, we should be able to forgive someone indefinitely. Seventy times seven.

Forgive sure, but chasitizing I think is an essential part of the Christian community. Policing our own so to speak

I think there has been enough chastisement for this particular offense so far.

Stonok wrote:

Vulkata II wrote:So Evangelist Billy Graham died today at the age of 99 if my local newspaper is telling the truth.

May he be with our maker.

Your local newspaper is 2 days late.

My local newspaper is not American... Thanks for telling me.

Stonok wrote:

Tarsonis wrote:
Forgive sure, but chasitizing I think is an essential part of the Christian community. Policing our own so to speak

I think there has been enough chastisement for this particular offense so far.

The limit does not exist

Tarsonis wrote:

Stonok wrote:I think there has been enough chastisement for this particular offense so far.

The limit does not exist

This brings me great joy.

Benuty wrote:

Nordengrund wrote:
If your question was sarcasm, it’s hard to detect on the Internet

Trust me if it was sarcasm you wouldn't be alive to witness its full glory.

On a more serious note, I was confused about whether they were talking about Billy Graham or Parkus.

My bad. I just mistook what you typed as sounding sarcastic.

Reference this op-ed:

Much of the unhinged hate targeted at the reputation of Billy Graham started minutes after his passing.

Just minutes after his passing.

The crescendo of unbalanced loathing then building by the second to the point where even The Washington Post got into the act by attempting to not only smear Billy Graham, but his children.
(original emphasis)

Thank God for those vilifications! For by such we know that the late Billy Graham was no false prophet:

"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets."( Luke 6:26)

The Glorious Third Reign of Templedom wrote:Reference this op-ed:

Much of the unhinged hate targeted at the reputation of Billy Graham started minutes after his passing.

Just minutes after his passing.

The crescendo of unbalanced loathing then building by the second to the point where even The Washington Post got into the act by attempting to not only smear Billy Graham, but his children.
(original emphasis)

Thank God for those vilifications! For by such we know that the late Billy Graham was no false prophet:

"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets."( Luke 6:26)

Huh, why wont you look at that.

Looking at the current landscape, I can be thankful for some things Billy Graham did NOT do.

He did not accumulate vast personal wealth.

He did not solicit personal gifts.

He keep clean and open books of account,and supported the concept of a self enforcing network of evangelical institutions who would hold each other accountable for ethics, financial and otherwise. Billy Hinn objected, of course. "How dare you impugn my integrity?" lol

He has no one claiming #Me Too about him.

He was not partisan; he offered counsel (and a shoulder to cry on) to Presidents of both parties.

Hi, new here

Neyde Spears Kingdom wrote:Hi, new here

So, want to share something about your background, point of view, theology, focus of curiosity?

Pope Joan wrote:Looking at the current landscape, I can be thankful for some things Billy Graham did NOT do.

He did not accumulate vast personal wealth.

He did not solicit personal gifts.

He keep clean and open books of account,and supported the concept of a self enforcing network of evangelical institutions who would hold each other accountable for ethics, financial and otherwise. Billy Hinn objected, of course. "How dare you impugn my integrity?" lol

He has no one claiming #Me Too about him.

He was not partisan; he offered counsel (and a shoulder to cry on) to Presidents of both parties.

Just goes to show that the Pence/Graham rule of avoiding being completely alone with someone you're not married to pays off.

I am drained. I just had to singlehandedly fight off two Atheists who were saying that Christianity was a religion of hatred due to its statements about Homosexuality, Lust, and Divorce. And then one of them started blaming God for her mother's rape, and saying any flaw with Humanity is reflective of flaws in the Christian God, and so on and so forth. I cited a Doctor of Divinity, a Professor, Scripture itself, trying to illustrate that they were looking at it the wrong way and nothing worked. My nerves are shot. They also said that education was going to kill Christianity in a boastful way.

Stonok wrote:I am drained. I just had to singlehandedly fight off two Atheists who were saying that Christianity was a religion of hatred due to its statements about Homosexuality, Lust, and Divorce. And then one of them started blaming God for her mother's rape, and saying any flaw with Humanity is reflective of flaws in the Christian God, and so on and so forth. I cited a Doctor of Divinity, a Professor, Scripture itself, trying to illustrate that they were looking at it the wrong way and nothing worked. My nerves are shot. They also said that education was going to kill Christianity in a boastful way.

Was this is real life or online? Real life would be much more tiresome.

If you presented the Christian position nicely, there's not much else to do. They have heard the Word and rejected it. They will reap what they sow. If discussion of Christiantity comes up again, carry on what you did before and pray for a better result.

Hakons wrote:

Stonok wrote:I am drained. I just had to singlehandedly fight off two Atheists who were saying that Christianity was a religion of hatred due to its statements about Homosexuality, Lust, and Divorce. And then one of them started blaming God for her mother's rape, and saying any flaw with Humanity is reflective of flaws in the Christian God, and so on and so forth. I cited a Doctor of Divinity, a Professor, Scripture itself, trying to illustrate that they were looking at it the wrong way and nothing worked. My nerves are shot. They also said that education was going to kill Christianity in a boastful way.

Was this is real life or online? Real life would be much more tiresome.

If you presented the Christian position nicely, there's not much else to do. They have heard the Word and rejected it. They will reap what they sow. If discussion of Christiantity comes up again, carry on what you did before and pray for a better result.

It was in an online chat server, I haven't had an argument with an Atheist IRL in years (They're hard to find here).

I wasn't even trying to convince them of Christianity being true, just that it wasn't self contradictory or hateful. But they wouldn't have any of it. My fault for arguing with anyone on the internet I suppose, but still, the claims these people made are just so frantic. And they kept cherry picking verses which were clearly talking about something else, like the personifications of Samaria and Babylon as whores, they only snipped the "whore" part and not the parts in which it's shown that they are illustrating nations.

Stonok wrote:I am drained. I just had to singlehandedly fight off two Atheists who were saying that Christianity was a religion of hatred due to its statements about Homosexuality, Lust, and Divorce. And then one of them started blaming God for her mother's rape, and saying any flaw with Humanity is reflective of flaws in the Christian God, and so on and so forth. I cited a Doctor of Divinity, a Professor, Scripture itself, trying to illustrate that they were looking at it the wrong way and nothing worked. My nerves are shot. They also said that education was going to kill Christianity in a boastful way.

I once had a similar incident with an atheist who claimed that the Virgin Mary was a rape victim. They curse at God despite their unbelief, and for that I have nothing but pity in my heart.
These kinds of people are not interested in a genuine discussion, but we should never back away from defending the truth.

What's so ironic is that without God you have no grounds on which to call God evil. The only objective morality for Atheists is the chemical synapses in their brain that rationalize not doing something because a person might not like it. That's all there is. Everything else is borrowed from the Judeo-Christian cultures in which they live.

Stonok wrote:I am drained. I just had to singlehandedly fight off two Atheists who were saying that Christianity was a religion of hatred due to its statements about Homosexuality, Lust, and Divorce. And then one of them started blaming God for her mother's rape, and saying any flaw with Humanity is reflective of flaws in the Christian God, and so on and so forth. I cited a Doctor of Divinity, a Professor, Scripture itself, trying to illustrate that they were looking at it the wrong way and nothing worked. My nerves are shot. They also said that education was going to kill Christianity in a boastful way.

consider these two verses from Proverbs:

26:
4 Do not answer fools according to their folly,
or you will be a fool yourself.
5 Answer fools according to their folly,
or they will be wise in their own eyes.


These seemingly contradictory verses paint a very nuanced picture. Some people can be reasoned with, some can’t. When you recognize the difference it’s okay to just shake your head and let them go.

Consider Galatians 6:

4 All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride. 5 For all must carry their own loads.

6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.

7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.


No matter how they gloat and blaspheme, the glory of God is not reduce one iota. They heap hot coals and damnation onto their own heads.

Stonok wrote:

Hakons wrote:
Was this is real life or online? Real life would be much more tiresome.

If you presented the Christian position nicely, there's not much else to do. They have heard the Word and rejected it. They will reap what they sow. If discussion of Christiantity comes up again, carry on what you did before and pray for a better result.

It was in an online chat server, I haven't had an argument with an Atheist IRL in years (They're hard to find here).

I wasn't even trying to convince them of Christianity being true, just that it wasn't self contradictory or hateful. But they wouldn't have any of it. My fault for arguing with anyone on the internet I suppose, but still, the claims these people made are just so frantic. And they kept cherry picking verses which were clearly talking about something else, like the personifications of Samaria and Babylon as whores, they only snipped the "whore" part and not the parts in which it's shown that they are illustrating nations.

People will only ever find what they look for in religion. If they want to see strength, they'll find strength. If they want to find weakness, they'll find weakness.

Stonok wrote:What's so ironic is that without God you have no grounds on which to call God evil. The only objective morality for Atheists is the chemical synapses in their brain that rationalize not doing something because a person might not like it. That's all there is. Everything else is borrowed from the Judeo-Christian cultures in which they live.

What are your thoughts on their education comment?

Northern Davincia wrote:

Stonok wrote:What's so ironic is that without God you have no grounds on which to call God evil. The only objective morality for Atheists is the chemical synapses in their brain that rationalize not doing something because a person might not like it. That's all there is. Everything else is borrowed from the Judeo-Christian cultures in which they live.

What are your thoughts on their education comment?

I think considering that there are Astrophysicist Christians, and Apologists with PhD educations in philosophy, and Atheists who arrive at Christianity through reason alone, plus the fact that Christians have largely driven scientific advancement in the past five centuries or so, saying that people becoming educated will naturally kill Christianity is unlikely. If they search for truth, many will find sufficient reasonable evidence for our faith.

Plus Atheism is only really increasing in Europe and the US, it's declining in the rest.

Stonok wrote:

Northern Davincia wrote:What are your thoughts on their education comment?

I think considering that there are Astrophysicist Christians, and Apologists with PhD educations in philosophy, and Atheists who arrive at Christianity through reason alone, plus the fact that Christians have largely driven scientific advancement in the past five centuries or so, saying that people becoming educated will naturally kill Christianity is unlikely. If they search for truth, many will find sufficient reasonable evidence for our faith.

Plus Atheism is only really increasing in Europe and the US, it's declining in the rest.

That increase would only become a more significant problem through atheist-dominated education. We've forgotten the proper method of evangelization in favor of howling.

Northern Davincia wrote:

Stonok wrote:I am drained. I just had to singlehandedly fight off two Atheists who were saying that Christianity was a religion of hatred due to its statements about Homosexuality, Lust, and Divorce. And then one of them started blaming God for her mother's rape, and saying any flaw with Humanity is reflective of flaws in the Christian God, and so on and so forth. I cited a Doctor of Divinity, a Professor, Scripture itself, trying to illustrate that they were looking at it the wrong way and nothing worked. My nerves are shot. They also said that education was going to kill Christianity in a boastful way.

I once had a similar incident with an atheist who claimed that the Virgin Mary was a rape victim. They curse at God despite their unbelief, and for that I have nothing but pity in my heart.
These kinds of people are not interested in a genuine discussion, but we should never back away from defending the truth.

I hate it when people say that. Mary consented to it, that's actually something meditated on in the Rosary and one of the big reasons that she is venerated, because she lived perfectly within God's will.