30 Jun '08 11:01>
Originally posted by twhiteheadSo you do think that ToO has not overcome sin himself? Do you think the "truth has set him free?" You didn't say.
I think I would side with ThinkOfOne on this one. You are entitled to ask anything, but not necessarily entitled to an answer.
Though it is true that whether or not a preacher practices what they preach can tell you a lot about whether they believe what they preach, it does not necessarily reflect on the validity of the message.
If ThinkOfOne is able t ...[text shortened]... o follows the teachings of Jesus (as you claim) then those are not the teachings of Jesus."
Whilst I agree that someone is perfectly entitled to not answer any question , I do think that it's quite reasonable for someone to expect their own positiion to be reflected back to them.
ToO either has the truth or he doesn't. (In jesus' own words ) either the "Son has set him free" or he hasn't. If he has the truth then he just needs to say it , if he doesn't have the truth then ...erhem....what is all this gas he's coming out with??
The point is that Jesus was very clear that truth was knowing him. He was always saying things like " you do not hear the truth , because you do not know me , nor my Father". Jesus taught that we are to embody truth and it's not something to be known "intellectually".
In Christian terms a person is either "in" the truth or not. My question is this. If the truth (the Son) has not set ToO free then what does he really know anyway?
Fragmented , unintegrated knowledge may work in science but in Christianity it's different matter. You need to think about this because it's one of the great atheist weopens used against right wing fundies , Catholicism etc . The next time a right wing preacher is found guilty of embezzling and adultery would you really allow me to say .........
" Though it is true that whether or not a preacher practices what they preach can tell you a lot about whether they believe what they preach, it does not necessarily reflect on the validity of the message."
??????