Originally posted by SuzianneSo you are declaring that you yourself have very strong Christian faith and that "most Christians here" don't, right?
My point was that a lot of posters here do not have even a small faith, and it is always accompanied by some fear that it may be grounded in nothing.
21 Dec 14
Originally posted by SuzianneWhat is the difference between whether your faith is strong or weak or if it is large or small? Doesn't a person of little faith mean that it is weak? In comparison to a mustard seed, which is very small, a person starts with little faith that is weak, but over time it grows in strength just as a small mustard seed grows very large. But one does not say a person has large faith, right? 😏
It starts off being about the size of the seed.
"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge ...[text shortened]... KNOW their faith is true. This is why I said, "No. We know also." We of strong faith DO know.
Originally posted by RJHindsOf course, Ron.
What is the difference between whether your faith is strong or weak or if it is large or small? Doesn't a person of little faith mean that it is weak? In comparison to a mustard seed, which is very small, a person starts with little faith that is weak, but over time it grows in strength just as a small mustard seed grows very large. But one does not say a person has large faith, right? 😏
That's pretty much what I said.
Except, I think, though, that what joseph is saying is that even though the size of the mustard seed is small, the faith therein is still strong, as evidenced by the huge strong plant it grows into. And Jesus was saying that even if one could have the faith of the mustard seed (even a little faith, as long as it is strong), one could move mountains.
And yet, when I was talking about "most Christians" here not even having a faith the size of the mustard seed, I was speaking of size, being "just a little faith", not meaning it was weak, but even just the simple "size" of it. I meant that they don't even have a faith the "size" of a mustard seed, and certainly not the "strength" of such a faith. But in a way, I guess I was also speaking of the strength of the faith therein, when I said that for some here, even the mustard seed is too big a container for their tiny, weak faith.
Sorry if that was confusing.
21 Dec 14
Originally posted by SuzianneAll I know is that I can not move any mountains by talking to them, can you?
Of course, Ron.
That's pretty much what I said.
Except, I think, though, that what joseph is saying is that even though the size of the mustard seed is small, the faith therein is still strong, as evidenced by the huge strong plant it grows into. And Jesus was saying that even if one could have the faith of the mustard seed (even a little faith, as l ...[text shortened]... mustard seed is too big a container for their tiny, weak faith.
Sorry if that was confusing.
21 Dec 14
Originally posted by RJHindsI think Jesus was using the 'moving mountains' metaphor ("And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." -- Matthew 17:20, KJV) as a way of saying that nothing you can dream of doing is impossible to God, and so one should have faith and ask for God's help in prayer. We, as humans, know that this is not possible, at least we've never, ever seen an example of this happening, and so we cannot believe that we have found enough favor with God to make this possible. And so we find it not possible to have "enough faith".
All I know is that I can not move any mountains by talking to them, can you?
But I know that I have asked God for things that I did not believe I had the power to do for myself and these things happened. I believe all glory goes to God for these things.
Originally posted by RBHILLDon't you believe that, as humans, we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights? And that among these rights are the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? How can we, as a nation, deprive some people, just because of their sexual orientation, of these unalienable rights endowed to us by our Creator?
Just because I think homosexuals shouldn't get married doesn't make me a homophobic!
21 Dec 14
Originally posted by RBHILLYes it does.
Just because I think homosexuals shouldn't get married doesn't make me a homophobic!
Depriving a minority of the rights of the majority is bigotry.
Bigotry against gays is homophobia - albeit not as bad as
beating them up on the streets.
And you never answered my question.
Originally posted by SuzianneOriginally posted by Suzianne
It's just too bad that many, including most Christians here, do not even have that much faith.
They expound their beliefs, but then they water them down with "But only God knows for sure". No. We know also. The question is, how certain are you? How much faith do you have? How many times does God have to tell you before you believe, and I mean really, truly, believe?
Unfortunately, some never get there, despite all their "confessing with their mouths". They still do not believe ( [b]and I mean really believe it to be true ) in their hearts.
For some, even a mustard seed is too big.
And then...
My point was that a lot of posters here do not have even a small faith, and it is always accompanied by some fear that it may be grounded in nothing. Almost NO one here professes to KNOW their faith is true. This is why I said, "No. We know also." We of strong faith DO know.
Jesus knew too. And that's good enough for me.
Frankly, I can scarcely recall any regular Christian poster ever making such an extravagantly holier-than-thou claim about themselves as this. "Most Christians here" would largely be those on this list:
KellyJay, RBHILL, Doward, RJHinds, Grampy Bobby, Pudgenik, sonship, whodey, divegeester, josephw, lemon lime, KingOnPoint, Checkbaiter, CalJust, Rajk999, Kevin Lee Poracan, menace71, FreakyKBH, yoctobyte.
On what basis do you make the peculiarly egocentric claim that your faith is somehow stronger than the faith of most of the Christians on that list?
22 Dec 14
Originally posted by wolfgang59That's your opinion. So if I'm a person against a guy marries his dog in San Francisco that makes me a big-got too. They are the one with hate not me.
Yes it does.
Depriving a minority of the rights of the majority is bigotry.
Bigotry against gays is homophobia - albeit not as bad as
beating them up on the streets.
And you never answered my question.
22 Dec 14
Originally posted by SuzianneYes, freedom from the world, flesh, and the Devil.
Don't you believe that, as humans, we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights? And that among these rights are the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? How can we, as a nation, deprive some people, just because of their sexual orientation, of these unalienable rights endowed to us by our Creator?
23 Dec 14
Originally posted by FMFAll I have to say to you is that if you want an answer to your criticisms and questions, then perhaps you need to aim them at someone else. Perhaps someone to whom your real motivations for posting aren't so clear.
Originally posted by Suzianne
It's just too bad that many, including most Christians here, do not even have that much faith.
They expound their beliefs, but then they water them down with "But only God knows for sure". No. We know also. The question is, how certain are you? How much faith do you have? How many times does God have to tell y ...[text shortened]... claim that your faith is somehow stronger than the faith of most of the Christians on that list?