ehbeth.....the kj, nkj,nasb,niv....name em they all say the same in those verses....
real life wrote:The assumption that a UU service is representative of Christianity at large is an error.
UU are generally considered to be an extreme fringe group, denying nearly all of traditional Christian teachings, while trying to hold the Christian label to attract attendance.
This may appeal to some who don't like Christian teaching, I'm simply pointing out the fact that there's not much that's Christian in the UU.
Quote: Unitarians recognise that the word 'God' has no single definition, that it may be used to describe:
* What a person or faith-community feels to be the ultimate in their own belief system
* What is of supreme worth and significance in their own lives.
Unitarians do not claim the right to define God for others. These are some of the ways in which they describe and experience God:
* As a universal father or mother.
* As a unifying and life-giving spirit, reflective of both masculine and feminine.
* As the source of all being, within which the creative process is unfolding.
* As a primarily inward reality, the "still, small voice".
* As a symbol for the noblest visions and aspirations of humankind, the standard against which to measure ourselves.
* As a 'great mystery' about which little can be said.
Some Unitarians find the word 'God' meaningless, or believe it too debased by misuse to have any value.
And this is the Unitarian Chapel where we held a memorial service for my mother recently
http://www.unitarian.org.uk/ecu/HydeChapel/
neologist wrote:kate4christ03 wrote:sentanta depends.........according to the bible and to Christ...a christian is one who is born again and seperate from the world and other religious teachings that contradict the bible.........so if these in this church are christians why are they doing what the bible says not to do.........
Interesting
There are no churches then. Every church I have ever known contradicts the Bible.
Take the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says "Don't resist the evil man". I bet your church doesn't teach (or follow) that.
ebrown_p wrote:neologist wrote:kate4christ03 wrote:sentanta depends.........according to the bible and to Christ...a christian is one who is born again and seperate from the world and other religious teachings that contradict the bible.........so if these in this church are christians why are they doing what the bible says not to do.........
Interesting
There are no churches then. Every church I have ever known contradicts the Bible.
Take the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says "Don't resist the evil man". I bet your church doesn't teach (or follow) that.
I take it you are referring to Matthew 5:39: "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
What do you think that means? Remember how Jesus chased the money changers from the temple. . . ?
I too would be interested to see the answer to that question.
Here is the quote in context.
Jesus wrote:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The message is pretty clear if you accept the literal meaning. Many "Christians" have come up with clever ways to explain this away... but if you can explain this away and still call yourself a Christian-- then you have got no legitmate beef with the Unitarians being called Christian.
I am a bit confused now. I think the verses quoted are clear.
Explain what away?
Do you remember the hostage crisis in Iran where American fathers, and brothers and sons where taken and kept seperated from loved ones.
Did you feel love for the hostages and concern for their families? Were you doing whatever it took to urgently call for their release so they could get back with their families.
What if they were'nt American. What if they were Mexican, Chinese, Cambodian, Indian, Canadian, African, Jewish, Russian, Italian, French or any other nationality?
Nobody can be all things to every individual situation that happens in the world. How does this explain the verses?
You almost got where I was going.... but the scripture says love your enemy. And who is our enemy now?
A Church that followed the Bible would feel and act the same way about the prisoners in Guantanamo that they did about the hostages in Iran. Like the Americans, the prisoners in Guantanamo were taken away from families and parents and jobs. But since they are "enemies" most Americans don't even see them as real people in an very bad situation.
The fact that we loved the American hostages meant that we were thinking about them-- we had sympathy for their families and we constantly thought about what we could do to get them back to their homes.
There are very few Churches (or "Christians") who are obeying Christs command to love our enemies.
All I can speak to is for me and the teachings of my church. I pray for all. Friend and even those who would be considered enemies. Love thy neighbour as thyself were not just words spoken by Jesus... it is one of the things that must be done if we are to follow faithfully and expect to have a place by His side when he returns to fetch His own.
That is why I asked about others as well as Americans. Yes, I even pray for you Americans.
kate4christ03 wrote:ehbeth.....the kj, nkj,nasb,niv....name em they all say the same in those verses....
Actually, they don't say precisely the same things. Which is why I ask which version you follow.
ehbeth
john 3:16,18 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. kj
jonh 3:16,18For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. niv
john 3:16,18 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God nasb
they all sound pretty much the same to me..........
This thread (at least in my mind) has gotten off topic, probably my fault for lack of clarity in the beginning. When I was first involved with UU back in the 60's in my home town it was very much a "works" organization with a "church" being an older house on the side of the city park and meetings consisting mostly of social/family activites, many of the activites consisted of projects like mentoring at-risk teens, food drives for the food bank, some local politics (most especially environmental issues). There was not any spiritual/mystical component. And this was my disapointment in attending (last sunday) the UU group here in Albuquerque where it seemed (as the Lady Diane remarked) just another protestant congragation with holding hands, standing and singing hymns. we (the lady Diane and meself) were actually seeking the "works" and socialiality of what we thought from past experiences.
dyslexia....in protestant and catholic churches, sunday is the day of worship so if you walk into any of these churches , you will hear hymns praise and sermons.....Now during the week most churches have various groups that do things to help others....ie job corps, missions, food drives, etc.......if you go to la or mississippi right now you will still see christians there helping out after katrina....
kate4christ03 wrote:dyslexia....in protestant and catholic churches, sunday is the day of worship so if you walk into any of these churches , you will hear hymns praise and sermons.....Now during the week most churches have various groups that do things to help others....ie job corps, missions, food drives, etc.......if you go to la or mississippi right now you will still see christians there helping out after katrina....
Well yeah, the thing is, I am not a christian.
dyslexia wrote
Quote:Well yeah, the thing is, I am not a christian
you can always change that.........
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life john 3:16...........
Dyslexia, I accept that you aren't Christian... as in church going-- but christian can also mean Christ-like (even though these meanings often contradict.)
You are a socialist leaning anarchist with a strong sense of right and wrong, a basic distrust of authority and a hatred of hypocrisy.
You may be the most christian person here.
