In the past, I myself was this way and had this need to let you know what I believed and then challenge you all the time with my rhetoric using all the buzzwords of my belief-system, but it never really changed people that much other than making them angry and it also pushed some away who saw me in their own eyes ,based on their statements to me later,(I'd never ask them being so trite with views then) as someone just looking to get another notch in their 'bible belt'. How pathetic can it be when we are so interested in getting notches in our various belts? Bible belt, Atheist belt, Hindu belt, Buddhist belt, Baptist Bible belt, Assemblies of God Bible Belt, Faith belt, Jesus only Bible belt, Sabbath keeper Bible belt, insert your view here __________ belt and so on. For all of us I'd like to take a passage out of the Bible and use it as a principal that applies in principal to what ever view you may hold to as follows:
2 Timothy 2:23-26, NIV -
23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
I'll go over to a modern paraphrase using The Message Bible:
Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.
Now I'm aware, quite well, of the mindset and the direction this can go with those who are both Christian all the way to those who are Atheist. I can already hear in my head some complaint from certain Atheists that the Bible was used at all and I can hear from certain Christians that they need to "stand up for the Lord and be a witness", but this is not what this passage is about UNLESS you insist on being narrow, and hold to a presupposition.
Let's apply it with some editing done to those who are Atheist:
Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. [Intelligent people confident in their beliefs] must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to [be rational]. You never know how or when [your views] might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the [ignorance of tradition], where they are caught and held captive, forced to [serve man made religions].
See how that can work IF you are one who is TRULY confident and TRULY not afraid of the would be 'flying spaghetti monster'?
Let's take it back to people who claim to be 'christian' and put this idea forward:
If God is God and He then is the One (as shown in 2 Timothy 2:25) that "grants repentence" then there is really no need to quarrel and goad and attack ALL the time, now is there? Who is greater, you or God? God in this instance, in this paradigm, is much greater and capable than the one who is worshipping Him. So then what is it in reality when the worshipper tries to usurp God and be Him and do the 'work' that ONLY He does? Idolatry is what it is called.
The idea is that if your view is THE TRUTH then that view on it's own, all by itself, without your defending it or forcing it on others should be able to make the changes in a person's life once they come into contact with it IF it is THE TRUTH, but if it is not or if you are not entirely, 100% sure then it may be that your need, your drive, your near blood lust, to push your views on others and attack others with different views COULD come from your lack of 'faith' in what you profess be it Atheism or Christianity or Judaism or Islam or Pantheism, etc.
Lay the cards out on the 'table' and step away with out touching them at all and then let us see the catalyst reaction.
So...while the cards do their thing we can enjoy life together and care for one another and then leave a legacy behind that says that regardless of whatever view we held to we were loving, caring, compassionate, REAL friends.
Let's do life under and suspended in like some kind of fluid, Love. Love isn't blind, instead Love refuses to pay attention to certain details.
Get Code | Create Your Own!
Chris --
[noun]:
An immortal
'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com
Another fun quiz from eSPIN-the-Bottle...
Which Sexy Are You?
MY RESULT: Cool Sexy
You keep it real smooth, all James Bond-style with a mix of indie rock, yet at the same time you can be bold and intense like the James Bond character. The suave, international hotties will love you and the gamma girls too. People who appreciate the genuine and aren't afraid of those who are not only out of the box, but burned the box will enjoy your company.
You’re sophisticated, mature, and you’ve got fairly expensive tastes at the same time you know how to rough it because your personal style comes from the heart. (And your personal hygiene? Outstanding. While at the same time you are equally cool covered in mud. Its an aura eminating from within that makes you this- cool sexy.) You can can come out with big bold gestures of romance as well as have fun playing in the rain. Style is important to you, but you aren't controlled by it for you don't follow the trends- you are one.
Take This Quiz!
Myspace Layouts - Myspace Editor - Image Hosting
You are Green Lantern Green Lantern 85% Wonder Woman 70% Iron Man 70% Supergirl 65% The Flash 65% Batman 60% Hulk 60% Superman 55% Spider-Man 55% Robin 50% Catwoman 45% Hot-headed. You have strong
will power and a good imagination.
Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...