I realize your allegory outlines the justification some Christians to use offensive language, be intolerant and non-accepting of others including so-called "alternative lifestyles". God does love, but toughly. And who am I to tell any of them their way of understanding, and their personal relationship with Christ is flawed?
Your (speaking with the universal meaning) beliefs are ultimately between you and God, the Father, and/or the Holy Spirit. I only wish the same would be extended in return. Even in matters such as what I've written about here, and which was written about in the link I posted above.
Someone in xiangoth hinted that they believed the Bible clearly says this or that is wrong. I replied to his post with this:
...you *perceive* the scriptures one way, I *perceive* them another.
Do you follow every leviticus law in the Bible? Every single one? Without exception, to the T? Always? If you do then you're certainly a better person than I. If not then you prove my point.
Everyone makes judgement calls on scripture. Some we write off as irrelevant for our times. Others we write off because we interpret them to mean something else entirely.
What I'm saying is that *your* unique way of relating to God, and understanding the bible, does not hold true for every other soul on this planet. God did not make everyone the same. Nor does He speak the same words to everyone.
In my understanding we are to strive to have a strong *personal relationship* with Christ - not with your pastor - you - or any other Christian or group of Christians. My life is between God and I. Nobody else matters in the long run. Only Him.
God changed with the New Covenant
Your (speaking with the universal meaning) beliefs are ultimately between you and God, the Father, and/or the Holy Spirit. I only wish the same would be extended in return. Even in matters such as what I've written about here, and which was written about in the link I posted above.
Someone in
...you *perceive* the scriptures one way, I *perceive* them another.
Do you follow every leviticus law in the Bible? Every single one? Without exception, to the T? Always? If you do then you're certainly a better person than I. If not then you prove my point.
Everyone makes judgement calls on scripture. Some we write off as irrelevant for our times. Others we write off because we interpret them to mean something else entirely.
What I'm saying is that *your* unique way of relating to God, and understanding the bible, does not hold true for every other soul on this planet. God did not make everyone the same. Nor does He speak the same words to everyone.
In my understanding we are to strive to have a strong *personal relationship* with Christ - not with your pastor - you - or any other Christian or group of Christians. My life is between God and I. Nobody else matters in the long run. Only Him.