I haven't called anyone "Evil". I know that many, many non-Christian people are very nice, moral people, living positive, constructive lives. I also know that there are many mean-spirited, selfish people who call themselves "Christian."
So to clarify, then... is it your position that there are "good" people in hell, but because they didn't accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they're damned for eternity, despite their inherent goodness?
When you say that the "lost" are "already in Satan's pocket", you don't mean necessarily that they're on his SIDE (ie, evil... that is, assuming you believe that Satan is evil), but rather, he just "owns" them?
Unsaved people are not Satan's "plaything". People saved and unsaved have free will. However, until a person accepts Jesus, that person is destined for Hell, so Satan doesn't need to tempt or lure him there. That's why Satan doesn't need to often use overt methods to increase his fold. His "family" is already established. Satan uses his powers in an attempt to prevent members of his family from leaving, from joining the family of God.
Unsaved people aren't Satan's plaything... they're just "in his pocket" and "owned" by him. Ok... a debate in semantics, but I'll play along, I suppose. But... that whole "free will" thing... how exactly does that work when we're Satan's property? We're slaves who can do what we want... is that what you're saying?
Why do you take it so personally? Is something convicting you? I certainly didn't address it to you or any other individual. I don't know each person's personal relationship to the Lord.
I take it personally because you are sitting on a throne of moral and spiritual superiority, making claims that anyone not like you (saved) is destined for hellfire. Do you, or do you not, equate hell with all that is wicked and evil? If you don't, then perhaps I've misunderstood what so many other Christians have proclaimed for centuries... or perhaps your brand of religion is just different, I don't know. There are, after all, so many different "takes" on "God's Word" out there, and each one of you claims to follow the "true" meaning of the Word, etc. Which is why I asked you to define what "lost" means, to you.
If anyone is against Jesus Christ, that's between them. That doesn't mean they are "against" me as a person, nor does it mean I'm "against" them as individuals.
But I beg to differ with you. I can't tell you how many Christians I've met in my life who consider themselves "soldiers for the Lord", who go out of their way to confront "evil-doing" in all its nefarious forms; who see themselves as the "salt of the earth", and the "light" that shall lead those lost back onto the true path on enlightenment, yada yada yada. If a person's relationship (or non-relationship) with God is a personal one... then why the proseletyzation? Why the butting in? Why the strife between different denominations about whose version of "the truth" is the right one?
I'm not saying that YOU, personally, have said any of the above... I'm more curious to know your thoughts on those comments, and whether or not you see YOURself as a "soldier for the Lord".
Maybe you don't... and I apologize if I'm lumping all fundamentalist Christians in the same boat, because I know that there ARE, indeed, differences in interpretation, etc. respective to each branch of religion.
But in a world where people are "soldiers" for the Lord... it sends a pretty clear message to everyone else that there's a "war" afoot, and those of us who want nothing more than to live our lives free of religious influence find ourselves typically on the defense in a war we wanted nothing to do with, in the first place.
How is what I posted "dangerous"? No one is forcing anyone to believe it. No one is being judged here. The judgment takes place at the throne of God.
Reba, come now. You are one of the most judgmental people here (just as I am likely one of the most opinionated), and I often attribute it to the fact that you are so strong in your beliefs. But you DEFINITELY see things in black or white, good vs evil, etc. You often point out how something is out of synch with scripture, how "such and such isn't obeying the bible", etc. I imagine you fancy yourself somewhat of a biblical scholar (you do know your scriptures!), and you're very quick to point out exactly what various scripture passages MEAN, using your version of interpretation. There is little room for deviation from that interpretation, in your book.
And THAT is why that kind of zealotry, that kind of religious obstinance is so dangerous... because we live in a world where not everyone believes as you believe, and it's never going to be that way. In a world where SO MANY of our world's religions hold so strongly to their beliefs and convictions... it does nothing but set the stage for conflict, again and again. Good grief, that's why there's been unrest in the Middle East for thousands of years.
It's scary because some "faithful" are so militant... so determined to sway others to their cause. It's just as frightening as Islamic Jihad, to me. I'm sorry, but it's true.
I just post the truth, with Scriptural support, explanations and examples. Whatever people choose to do with it is their business.
You post what you believe to be true, yes, and I can't fault you for that. I may be an atheist, but I respect other peoples' right to believe as they wish. If your religion brings you comfort, I'm happy for you, truly. What I can't abide, however, is the fact that as an atheist, I am seldom extended that same courtesy to believe (or not!) what
I wish. Instead, I am told that I am going to hell, where Satan is going to "own" me. It's not so much that I buy into that, because I don't... Satan and hell mean little to me, as an extension of my own personal beliefs. What bothers me about what you posted (and what you believe) is that YOU believe that I'm a pawn of Satan's, and everything that goes along with that. If you believe I'm going to "live out my afterlife burning in hellfire" with the rest of the wicked and evil... then yeah, I have a problem with that kind of slander. It means that no matter how well I try to live my life and help my fellow man... all that means nothing to people like you. I'm doomed from the start.
Should I CARE what you think, or what the entire convocation of Southern Baptists thinks about my eternal damnation? I suppose I wouldn't care so much if there weren't so many fundamentalist Christians out there attempting to sway everyone to their way of thinking. I'm a good person (or I try to be, at any rate), and I'd just as soon be judged (and I assure you, we ALL judge) on my actions on this earth, rather than given the "Not Worth It -- He's Going to Hell Anyway" badge to wear for the rest of my life.
If I posted anything that you perceived as a personal attack, then I apologize. That's not what I intended.
I believe you... I don't think you intended it, either.
:jaw: 
:fruit: 
