21 Aug 12
I heard a pastor make an interesting comparison between freedom and a funnel. Basically, the small end of the funnel symbolized a lack of personal freedom and the wide top of the funnel symbolized enhanced personal freedom.
So if you begin your journey doing as you please like having sex with whoever you desire, doing drugs because it feels good, dropping out of school cause you would rather do you own thing etc etc, you begin your journey in life at the wide end of the funnel and then work your way down to the narrow end. At the narrow end you will find that your life choices have drastically reduced your freedoms. For example, having sex with whoever you like will more than likely end up with you being alone, because no one likes to be cheated on. Also you may come up with a life threatening STD or be strapped with paying for a child that you don't want etc. As for drugs, you open yourself up to dependence to them as they drain your wealth and your life away etc etc.
However, if you start at the narrow end of the funnel and discipline yourself to do what you know is the right thing to do instead of just trying to please and pleasure yourself, your personal freedom expands as the funnel is turned on its head.
21 Aug 12
Originally posted by whodeySo after you discipline yourself, you can have sex with whomever you want and do any drugs you like? Or am I not getting it?
However, if you start at the narrow end of the funnel and discipline yourself to do what you know is the right thing to do instead of just trying to please and pleasure yourself, your personal freedom expands as the funnel is turned on its head.
Originally posted by twhiteheadYou are not getting it. The idea is that after you discipline yourself you will not desire to do drugs or have illicit sex. Your desire will be to do all the things that make your life better.
So after you discipline yourself, you can have sex with whomever you want and do any drugs you like? Or am I not getting it?
21 Aug 12
Originally posted by whodeyGreat post whodey.
I heard a pastor make an interesting comparison between freedom and a funnel. Basically, the small end of the funnel symbolized a lack of personal freedom and the wide top of the funnel symbolized enhanced personal freedom.
So if you begin your journey doing as you please like having sex with whoever you desire, doing drugs because it feels good, dropping ...[text shortened]... lease and pleasure yourself, your personal freedom expands as the funnel is turned on its head.
21 Aug 12
1 edit
Originally posted by whodeyI suppose someone should translate this into theist language:
I heard a pastor make an interesting comparison between freedom and a funnel. Basically, the small end of the funnel symbolized a lack of personal freedom and the wide top of the funnel symbolized enhanced personal freedom.
So if you begin your journey doing as you please like having sex with whoever you desire, doing drugs because it feels good, dropping lease and pleasure yourself, your personal freedom expands as the funnel is turned on its head.
I heard a pastor make an interesting comparison between freedom and a funnel. Basically, the small end of the funnel symbolized a lack of personal freedom and the wide top of the funnel symbolized enhanced personal freedom.
So if you begin your journey [as an atheist], you begin your journey in life at the wide end of the funnel and then work your way down to the narrow end. At the narrow end you will find that your life choices have drastically reduced your freedoms. For example, [doing a depraved atheistic habit] more than likely end up with you being alone, because no one likes to be cheated on. Also you may come up with [the consequences of sin] that you don't want etc. As for [yet another depraved atheistic habit], you open yourself up to [the consequences of sin].
However, if you start at the narrow end of the funnel and discipline yourself to [not act like an atheist], your personal freedom expands as the funnel is turned on its head.
😞
21 Aug 12
2 edits
Originally posted by twhiteheadIt has to do with submission. Do you submiit only to your own will, or anothers?
So after you discipline yourself, you can have sex with whomever you want and do any drugs you like? Or am I not getting it?
Christ once said that in order to lead, you must first serve. This is another example of the funnel. If you look at history, who do we revere? Is it those who try to seize power and glory right off the bat like Hitler, or is it those who first served like Jesus or Ghandi? Both Jesus and Ghandi submitted to a higher calling than their own personal welfare. In fact, they both were prepared to lay down their very lives for that calling. As far as success, only Jesus and Ghandi were truley successful in their endevour. You can't argue with success.
In terms of a sexual relaionship, the Bible indicates that married people serve each other. How can this be done when cheating on them or giving your self to another? Can we serve two masters?
Jesus once said that he who sins is a servant or slave to that sin. Sexual addiction is no exception, and the more you submit yourself to it the more it can enslave you. So as you can see, it is a no win proposition. We all submit to something. According to Christ, however, he brings liberty in the end. All he asks is that we begin our journey at the top of the funnel. He claims to have the keys to free us from the shackles that has us coming from the opposite end of the funnel
21 Aug 12
4 edits
Originally posted by AgergYes and no. You need not be a Christian to have self discipline. Biblically, in Galations self control and discipline is listed as one of the fruits of the "Spirit". Ghandi is an example of someone who practiced this and was not a Christian. Arguably, he used the teachings of Christ to aid his philosophy, however.
I suppose someone should translate this into theist language:
I heard a pastor make an interesting comparison between freedom and a funnel. Basically, the small end of the funnel symbolized a lack of personal freedom and the wide top of the funnel symbolized enhanced personal freedom.
So if you begin your journey [as an atheist], you begin your journ like an atheist], your personal freedom expands as the funnel is turned on its head.
😞
I'm sure you have done things in your own life that you did not want to do that you knew you had to do in order to have a better life, like go to school and study.
So why do we need God? Christ said that he has the key to unshackle us from what enslaves us would be my first retort. So if we have been shackled in one aspect of our lives or another, he has the key to free us if we submit to him. Who knows, maybe Ghandi was addicted to porn. We all have our "weaknesses".
I look at it this way, if I live my life with the focus of pleasing Jesus rather than myself or other people, I will then be inclined to serve others. If I do this, I need not worry about which end of the funnel I'm on. I also have the bonus of being in touch with the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE. 😛
21 Aug 12
Originally posted by whodeySo the whole OP was absolute nonsense? What you really wanted was a chance to preach about something totally different?
It has to do with submission. Do you submiit only to your own will, or anothers?
Jesus once said that he who sins is a servant or slave to that sin.
Be honest now and actually answer the questions:
1. Is having sex with whoever you want a good example of personal freedom?
2. Is it 1. a good example of being at the wide end of the funnel?
3. If you start out at the narrow end and make your way to the wide end will you experience 1.?
21 Aug 12
1 edit
Originally posted by AThousandYoungInterestingly enough, Big Brother uses the servant concept to gain control over all of us. Big Brother gives money to the rich, the poor, the middle class and every other nation on the earth. Why? It is to gain power. It is a twisted mind set of the principle I"m using but one that apparently works.
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
Party slogans in Oceania, from George Orwell's 1984
21 Aug 12
1 edit
Originally posted by whodeyAbsolute nonsense. I have far more self discipline than most people I know, and certainly more than the average Christian. Or are you going to redefine 'self discipline' and also claim that all those undisciplined Christians are not 'True Christians®'?
You need not be a Christian to have self discipline.
21 Aug 12
Originally posted by twhiteheadIn all that you do, ask whom you are serving?
So the whole OP was absolute nonsense? What you really wanted was a chance to preach about something totally different?
Be honest now and actually answer the questions:
1. Is having sex with whoever you want a good example of personal freedom?
2. Is it 1. a good example of being at the wide end of the funnel?
3. If you start out at the narrow end and make your way to the wide end will you experience 1.?
I dare say that if you are having sex with whomever YOU will, you are serving only yourself. However, if you are in a commited relationship, they you are serving another and a servant of sorts.
The gain is a loving and lasting relationship, the benefits of which are obvious.