Hello everyone,
I used to be a regular poster here on Ask God about a year or so ago. It was a great place to share my meditations, learn from others, and fellowship with some genuine fellow-seekers. There were lively debates with some atheists, great poems by, um, I forget his name, and plenty of scripture (as always) from Shalom. Around that time, this same argument over Talmudic Judaism broke out. I can't tell you how many times I've read the same arguments over and over again. I got burnt out, found the thread (and myself) deteriorating into fleshly, prideful debate, and decided to keep out of things.
Well, on a whim, I came back to to Ask God to see if things had changed. Wow. A whole year, and still nothing's changed. Same posts from Emile. A new batch of people trying to diffuse the hatred of his rants, but soon you will all tire of this sisyphusian task.
Emile, suppose you are right, (which you may be), what then? What do you propose as a solution? For all of us to hold a condemning finger over our Jewish friends? Expose them for the heretics they are, and leave them naked, and unloved? Christ knew the hearts of all those he came to. Those pharisees laden with self-righteousness he condemned, but if you recall, it was to a pharisee that Christ said "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
I must say, that seeing all this shakes my faith a bit. (What!?! Your faith gets shaken?!?! You have doubts?!?!? You INFIDEL!) My atheist friends (What!? you have atheist friends!?!?!?! PAGAN!) make the point that Christians are no different than anyone else. This supernatural love is B.S. When it's them against the world, well, then there's peace and harmony. Who wouldn't come together when faced with a common foe. But put two Christians in a room for 24 hours, and you bet they'll be dividing from each other in no time.
Let me post something from the comedian Emo Phillips:
I was walking across a bridge one day, and i saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. so i ran over and said "stop! don't do it!" "Why shouldn't I?" he said. I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!" He said, "Like what?" I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?" He said, "Religious." I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?" He said, "Christian." I said, "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?" He said, "Protestant." I said, "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?" He said, "Baptist!" I said, "Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?" He said,"Baptist Church of God!" I said, "Me too! Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?" He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God!" I said, "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?" He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!" I said, "Die, heretic scum", and pushed him off.
"By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you have love one for another" Forgive any mis-quote.
And what right do I have to say all this? None, I guess. I'm a struggling Christian learning to lean on Christ, knowing all too well that in me dwells no good thing. But thanks to Christ, I can be filled with all the fullness of God. |
