thank you for the heartfelt and honorable response, it is good to know that people with these strong beliefs walk the earth...as you are a highly educated person, I trust that you impart to your congregation that many people have high morals, whether they are of different Faiths or of no established Religion. I have many other thoughts and possible questions.....
thank you for the heartfelt and honorable response, it is good to know that people with these strong beliefs walk the earth...as you are a highly educated person, I trust that you impart to your congregation that many people have high morals, whether they are of different Faiths or of no established Religion. I have many other thoughts and possible questions.....
Thank you as well for your irenic tone and conversation. My tradition within Christianity, the Reformed tradition, holds to the belief as evidenced in the Bible, that everyone has been radically affected by sin, such that while none of us are as bad as we possibly be, every area of our lives has been damaged by sin. Morality, in and of itself, isn't exclusive to Christians. I've met and know a large number of people, who do not know, nor have any desire to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, but who are "good" people. But this is why being "good" is never enough to earn salvation. We've all likely been there, where we want to be the best person we can be, where we want to make sure that the "good" in our lives outweighs the "bad". But if we're honest, we should be able to admit to knowing that even if we've done a hundred "good" things, that one "bad" thing we did always overshadows all that "good", or reminds us that we're never as "good" as want to think we are.
Anyhow, I'd be happy to continue talking about whatever questions you might have, though I can't promise I'll have the answers, or at least have them off the cuff (i.e., I might have to go back to the books). As far as confessions go, confession is a regular part of the Christian's life (though we don't believe you have to go to a priest to have confession; just honest, sincere prayer, talking with God. He knows our hearts, and He's always ready to forgive the sincere person.
thank you for the heartfelt and honorable response, it is good to know that people with these strong beliefs walk the earth...as you are a highly educated person, I trust that you impart to your congregation that many people have high morals, whether they are of different Faiths or of no established Religion. I have many other thoughts and possible questions.....
plus, some possible confessions....;)
JT,
Thank you as well for your irenic tone and conversation. My tradition within Christianity, the Reformed tradition, holds to the belief as evidenced in the Bible, that everyone has been radically affected by sin, such that while none of us are as bad as we possibly be, every area of our lives has been damaged by sin. Morality, in and of itself, isn't exclusive to Christians. I've met and know a large number of people, who do not know, nor have any desire to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, but who are "good" people. But this is why being "good" is never enough to earn salvation. We've all likely been there, where we want to be the best person we can be, where we want to make sure that the "good" in our lives outweighs the "bad". But if we're honest, we should be able to admit to knowing that even if we've done a hundred "good" things, that one "bad" thing we did always overshadows all that "good", or reminds us that we're never as "good" as want to think we are.
Anyhow, I'd be happy to continue talking about whatever questions you might have, though I can't promise I'll have the answers, or at least have them off the cuff (i.e., I might have to go back to the books). As far as confessions go, confession is a regular part of the Christian's life (though we don't believe you have to go to a priest to have confession; just honest, sincere prayer, talking with God. He knows our hearts, and He's always ready to forgive the sincere person.
Have a good day!