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So Sensitive?! Why Sensitivity Is A Gift
by Carolyn Coleridge, MSW
You are too sensitive. Don't be so sensitive! Many people on the spiritual path have heard this criticism over and over again. It is usually meant as a put-down to someone who has a high sense of intuition and a sixth sense 'knowing'. This comment is usually stated with disdain and contempt as a major flaw in an individual's personality. In fact many lightworkers have heard these words, especially as children and it has caused them to close down this gift. "Toughen up..you need thicker skin", usually follows as a comment quickly after to shame and dismiss the individuals' perceptions.
Sensitives are usually quite gifted intuitive spirits as they pick up the less perceived sensations of life. Lightworkers on the planet have heard this comment a lot because they are generally trying to raise their vibrations as they evolve towards spiritual mastery. If you are on a conscious spiritual path you become more intuitive. Intuition, I believe, is God's voice. To hear it you must be sensitive. Spirit speaks to us daily in quiet synchronistic whispers. Sensitives have the ability to perceive the subtle nuances of truth in the physical plane. Hopefully they pick these signals up, follow them and begin to connect to their soul's conscious growth and begin to live more fulfilling and abundant lives.
Lightworkers, who are Spiritual teachers and healers, or those seeking truth, have a conscious plan to raise the vibration of the planet and bring in more positive qualities of kindness, goodness, love and compassion. They also have to balance the warring yin and yang energies that are on the planet. Yin, the more feminine principle is receptive, intuitive, nurturing and healing. Yang the more active principle is assertive, pioneering, instinctual and creative. When harmonious, these energies dance together manifesting birth and death, darkness and light. In conflict they create, evil, abuse, terror and chaos. You must have both energies co-creating to move toward wholeness in the physical realm.
As a psychotherapist and healer for the last ten years, I have noticed that sensitive people are often the ones who are emotionally abused by others. Their sensitivity is viewed as a weakness. Intuitive sensitives are sometimes the kinder spirits who fight for animals' rights, want to spread peace or speak out against child abuse. Since they have been criticized for just being who they are, they often close down and lead sad isolated lives of denying emotions in their soul. The bullies and the abusers, entities that are heralding the dark energies, don't want to lose their ego oriented existence, so they harass the sensitives so they can keep the veil of darkness alive. The ego thrives on chaos. The sensitives are here to pull the curtain back on the wizard, to reveal the trickster and shine a light on the darkness. Mother Earth and Father God are asking us to start speaking the truth to restore heaven on earth. It is the mission of many, you have heard the call, now it is time to honor your gift of sensitivity. Sensitive people will bring this planet towards a higher vibration. So we need the armies of sensitives to trust their guts, create their dreams, fulfill their missions and listen to the intuitive voice of God and not the abusive voice of the darkness. You were made sensitive for reason, be proud of it!
The universe is supporting you, but sensitives must protect themselves from the harsh energies on the planet. Here are some easy ways to do this.
1) Trust your Gut and start to believe the still small voice that is inside of you. Praise yourself when you intuit something and you were right. Always honor your spirit.
2) Speak your truth. Sensitives must not hold in their emotions. It becomes toxic to their bodies as negative feelings lay dormant in the body temple. Let out the negativity in constructive healing ways.
3) Protect yourself from negative energies. This can be removing toxic people from your life. Getting out of abusive relationships or situations. Trying to be more positive and inspiring to others instead of critical and pessimistic.
4) Meditate regularly, with grounding exercises. Meditation raises your vibrations and heightens your intuition. You begin to get stronger with your gut instincts and receive more messages on how to create your life purpose. As you live your life purpose, you feel less tired and depressed and more uplifted. Your sensitivity becomes a gift as you now have a focus and reason for being here.
5) Connect with God. Say prayers and ask God questions. What do you want me to learn today? What is the higher purpose of this? How can I serve? God likes to hear us speak to him/her. I believe he created us so she could see his/her own expression and become more inspired… so don't leave him hanging!
6) Receive energy work. Reiki, pranic healing, acupuncture, or massage. Sensitives must work with their energies and remove toxins that build up in their energy fields. It is like a shower for your auric field. Sage and incense also clears energy in your home, since sensitives have a tendency to be psychic sponges, you need to remove the maladaptive energies. Don't forget about getting into nature, a great energy clearer.
7) Find your life purpose. You are sensitive for one reason..to hear the source. God has a plan for everyone on this planet and it mostly coincides with yours. The more sensitive you are the more likely you have a heightened antennae to the source. Don't cloud that transmission. Tune in to KGOD- Keep Good Open Dialogue. It's a great Radio station that can help you feel fulfilled -. receive your daily inspirational messages.
8) Keep the Yin and Yang Balanced, especially the qualities of Gratitude and Forgiveness. Gratitude, puts you in a positive space to attract better outcomes. And like the Yin energy, pulls in better life outcomes. Forgiveness is about actively releasing negative energy. To give forth. The yang is about actively releasing stagnant emotions. Energy must be in balance for lightworkers and sensitives. There has to be a flow. Leave the swamps for the egoic alligators of the world. Stuck in their own muck.
With the light acceleration on the planet, sensitivity is absolutely necessary to listen and pull down the higher vibrations. These vibrations are full of light and love and of beautiful qualities .To be an open channel to divine expression, whether it be art, music, writing or inspiration you must be sensitive. So next time, someone criticizes you by saying, "You are so sensitive!" Say yes, I need to be to hear God's voice, it is the quiet whisper on the planet and I don't want to miss my loving instructions. Unlike you I don't want to mute the sound! Okay you can be a little nicer than that, but they will get the point. Yes I am soo sensitive that I hear and live the truth. Much love and blessings lightworkers!
http://www.byregion.net/articles-healers/Sensitive.html
Hey, maybe the pigs belonged to some dude whose bad ways drove the demon-possesed guy crazy? Clever, that God. Knows how to compare oranges to apples and come up with the right formula for justice.
By the way, from a traditional standpoint... I think I'm the only person I've ever heard suggest that someday Satan is going to look up from the lake of fire and praise God for sending him to the place he loves above any other he's seen.
Worth a note that God did not execute Satan for disobedience to the rules, but that rather he openly receives debate from the head demon (book of Job, of course).
Also, from the Bible... demons readily recognized and acknowledged Jesus for Who He was... even had a conversation with Him, but it didn't save them from the consequences of taking what did not belong to them... unfortunately the poor pigs had to drown as a result. Still chewing on that one. I told you... I'm sensitive. Poor pigs.
Worth a note that God did not execute Satan for disobedience to the rules, but that rather he openly receives debate from the head demon (book of Job, of course).
Also, from the Bible... demons readily recognized and acknowledged Jesus for Who He was... even had a conversation with Him, but it didn't save them from the consequences of taking what did not belong to them... unfortunately the poor pigs had to drown as a result. Still chewing on that one. I told you... I'm sensitive. Poor pigs.
Well, very interesting.. the one true way, having to defend the purpose and intent of this forum from prostlitizing (never could spell). Sorry folks, no quotes, no author references... don't have that kind of memory or ever even the time, just a student of the school of hard knocks.
I've prayed to hear from Jesus a zillion times, but the only time I hear anything is when I pray to hear from God. There are laws of Nature, immutable. Let there not be laws of Spirit. Some will follow the law of the big fish eats the little fish and the more the better... greed, so very Natural. Some folks couldn't find their Spiritual side with a searchlight and are repeled by the thought of seeking such a thing. I hate it, it's not me. But that means, distinctly, that there are two ways to Life... Nature and Spirit. God gave us Nature. In His unbounded generosity He also gave us Spirit guides and teachers. Divine? I don't know.
Spirit fills me with light and love at times when exposure to greed nearly kills my soul (or I nearly kill myself), that's all I need to know. I've seen too much greed protected by laws to believe that laws are the only way to live. If God had just one thing in mind religion-wise that would be rather not in keeping with things like unique snowflakes, fingerprints, DNA, etc. Let there be Life. LET there be. Don't try to live someone else's Life for them.
Now back to the original post.
I'm waay sensitive. I don't know if it's just built in or if it's the result of having to be hyper-conscious of what next horrible thing was going to go down around the house as a kid.
Later, trying so hard to be sensitive to others' viewpoints, but wanting them to SEE the things I can see... And so, ending up always on the defensive, always explaining myself, usually (as Dazon50 points out) being put down... has made me very negative, and I'm really tired of that. Shutting down didn't work either... can't recall how many times I heard "Doesn't anything bother you?" "Why don't you ever cry." So, okay, I put some effort into it and learned to cry... and couldn't stop... a fat lot of good that did me (and anybody who's been on the receiving end of my woe).
Time for a change. The world is in big trouble, my decision to embrace my sensitive nature isn't going to hurt anybody or anything. (Interesting. Wicca, huh? It's utterly indisputable that there has to be a father and a mother (one way or another) for most living organisms... a nod to the aomeba... and Spirit is certainly Life. Maybe there is a path to the father and a path to the mother? Shepherds tend to be male, no? And their followers sheep? Didn't I read somewhere that sheep are really stupid? I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY... I'm damnably irreverant that way... but I'm safe, there's a passage that condemns damning - or even judging - another. Pretty serious consequences, I read.)
If I'm right, and if this acceptance of myself makes me easier to be around, it should help, myself and others who have to be around me. Somehow I intuit that good will come of it.
Sometimes I wish I could only come out with things that everybody is going to like, agree with, etc. It just never works out that way. Anybody else have that problem?
I've prayed to hear from Jesus a zillion times, but the only time I hear anything is when I pray to hear from God. There are laws of Nature, immutable. Let there not be laws of Spirit. Some will follow the law of the big fish eats the little fish and the more the better... greed, so very Natural. Some folks couldn't find their Spiritual side with a searchlight and are repeled by the thought of seeking such a thing. I hate it, it's not me. But that means, distinctly, that there are two ways to Life... Nature and Spirit. God gave us Nature. In His unbounded generosity He also gave us Spirit guides and teachers. Divine? I don't know.
Spirit fills me with light and love at times when exposure to greed nearly kills my soul (or I nearly kill myself), that's all I need to know. I've seen too much greed protected by laws to believe that laws are the only way to live. If God had just one thing in mind religion-wise that would be rather not in keeping with things like unique snowflakes, fingerprints, DNA, etc. Let there be Life. LET there be. Don't try to live someone else's Life for them.
Now back to the original post.
I'm waay sensitive. I don't know if it's just built in or if it's the result of having to be hyper-conscious of what next horrible thing was going to go down around the house as a kid.
Later, trying so hard to be sensitive to others' viewpoints, but wanting them to SEE the things I can see... And so, ending up always on the defensive, always explaining myself, usually (as Dazon50 points out) being put down... has made me very negative, and I'm really tired of that. Shutting down didn't work either... can't recall how many times I heard "Doesn't anything bother you?" "Why don't you ever cry." So, okay, I put some effort into it and learned to cry... and couldn't stop... a fat lot of good that did me (and anybody who's been on the receiving end of my woe).
Time for a change. The world is in big trouble, my decision to embrace my sensitive nature isn't going to hurt anybody or anything. (Interesting. Wicca, huh? It's utterly indisputable that there has to be a father and a mother (one way or another) for most living organisms... a nod to the aomeba... and Spirit is certainly Life. Maybe there is a path to the father and a path to the mother? Shepherds tend to be male, no? And their followers sheep? Didn't I read somewhere that sheep are really stupid? I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY... I'm damnably irreverant that way... but I'm safe, there's a passage that condemns damning - or even judging - another. Pretty serious consequences, I read.)
If I'm right, and if this acceptance of myself makes me easier to be around, it should help, myself and others who have to be around me. Somehow I intuit that good will come of it.
Sometimes I wish I could only come out with things that everybody is going to like, agree with, etc. It just never works out that way. Anybody else have that problem?
I used to be called "too sensitive" or "thin skinned" and would often be hurt because I felt as though I wasn't built right for lack of a better term. Truth be told I would be hurt by the things I was sensitive to. I think it is ok to be sensitive. It helps me to better understand what is going on with someone else. From there I can take the needed time to understand what the next right thing to do may be. I find that for me, putting my will to the side and understanding what the "conditions" are allowing helps a lot in finding a good solution.
As far as the thin skinned thing goes I found for me that I was hurt by my own insecurities with myself. Today I am better able to laugh at myself and accept myself for who I am. I also tend not to worry to much about what others think. I honestly have no idea what is going on with them, their background or why they are the way they are or why they do the things they do. Today I do the best I can to be in a position to better help others.
As far as the thin skinned thing goes I found for me that I was hurt by my own insecurities with myself. Today I am better able to laugh at myself and accept myself for who I am. I also tend not to worry to much about what others think. I honestly have no idea what is going on with them, their background or why they are the way they are or why they do the things they do. Today I do the best I can to be in a position to better help others.
Yep I agree with you. He is so misled.
Do you find the occult Interesting.? You mentioned "Do what thou wilt..." Are you into Aleister Crowley or Helena Blavatsky?
Hey, if you read all those John Bible verses as if it literally means YOU when it says I am the way, then take that for the green pastures. Because anybody other than YOU will ALWAYS lead you astray. This is why ALL the Christian Churches have Money and control over the politics of this World. Because there is a distortion in understanding that YOU are literally the way to your OWN salvation, you are jesus. Your conscious, sub conscious and super conscious mind is ALL.
It saddens me that only Free Mason's and Rosicrucian are aware of this knowledge. I have also seen some converting back to the ancient Egyptian CHRIST. look up the word KHEM and find a teacher named Dr. Valentine, a very enlightened spiritual Man. Too bad he thinks white MEN are less enlightened than blacks. Otherwise, he's a genius. But, I suppose, that's the EGO at work, your physical self combating your spiritual self.
Inquire.
It saddens me that only Free Mason's and Rosicrucian are aware of this knowledge. I have also seen some converting back to the ancient Egyptian CHRIST. look up the word KHEM and find a teacher named Dr. Valentine, a very enlightened spiritual Man. Too bad he thinks white MEN are less enlightened than blacks. Otherwise, he's a genius. But, I suppose, that's the EGO at work, your physical self combating your spiritual self.
Inquire.
Great replies. So intelligent. Though, I only joined this group to reply to this post, I can tell from reading the reply of CrazykC that you are very "literal" in your Bible interpretation. If you look at the Bible from God's perspective, YOU are Jesus. In fact, he said that YOU are able to do more than he. In fact, he said we are gods. Which, totally agrees with the Wiccan/ Pagan faith of God/ Goddess worship leaving us to be the Jesus, the master of our own destiny being that we DO have free will. There is absolutely no Satan pulling your strings, only you, the decider of your own fate. One conscious mind living an identity crisis in many different bodies forms all over this entire Universe. Which is an awesome word. UNI-verse. Implying one. UNI-mind, implying one mind. How can God see all, be everywhere and know everything, unless God is within every single living thing, which, btw, is expanding and evolving every single day.
So for doomsday lovers, I'm sorry, yes it's going to end here. Every life ends, but will you graduate to a higher order? This is merely school for our Spirits, we're all tested to overcome and achieve. Those who give up are fruitless as Jesus pointed out and they will be not be harvested because of their ignorance and closed mindedness.
Just my observation. Peace out and do what thou wilt.
So for doomsday lovers, I'm sorry, yes it's going to end here. Every life ends, but will you graduate to a higher order? This is merely school for our Spirits, we're all tested to overcome and achieve. Those who give up are fruitless as Jesus pointed out and they will be not be harvested because of their ignorance and closed mindedness.
Just my observation. Peace out and do what thou wilt.
I am sorry to see you leave as you are more than welcome here.
No one is asking you to water God down. I think God is bigger than that.
The Spirituality group is a place for people to share what has helped them grow in their walk with God or who is it they turn to when they need help or how they cope day in/out with challenges or how spirituality fits in their life or those who want to know more about Spirituality. Not everyone here follows Jesus, but that doesn't mean you don't belong. What would Jesus want you to do?
I happen to think God is above all other gods so I am not bothered by others sharing what they follow. I cannot make anyone believe identically the way I do anymore than anyone could me. I share my faith and answers questions if asked. There are choices from the start. I think we learn from others. I don't worship Shiva and don't think anyone is offended that I don't as they are not asking me to.
Blessings to you also and peace too :-))
No one is asking you to water God down. I think God is bigger than that.
The Spirituality group is a place for people to share what has helped them grow in their walk with God or who is it they turn to when they need help or how they cope day in/out with challenges or how spirituality fits in their life or those who want to know more about Spirituality. Not everyone here follows Jesus, but that doesn't mean you don't belong. What would Jesus want you to do?
I happen to think God is above all other gods so I am not bothered by others sharing what they follow. I cannot make anyone believe identically the way I do anymore than anyone could me. I share my faith and answers questions if asked. There are choices from the start. I think we learn from others. I don't worship Shiva and don't think anyone is offended that I don't as they are not asking me to.
Blessings to you also and peace too :-))
" if I want to post about Shiva, I have to understand that although in my personal life, I see my God as the top dog,but when I post in the spirituality forum, my God has to be on equal footing with everyone elses God."
Sadly, I feel this is probably not the forum for me then as I cannnot and will not put my God on equal footing with all other gods. He strictly forbids that in the book that I follow (the bible). If I were to do that then I would have to put Him on equal footing with Satan, or even "The Spaghetti Monster" and that is such an incredible offense to my God and I won't dishoner Him in that way.
I'm not going to push my beliefs but neither will I "water down my faith" in order to get along with everyone. My God has to come first in my life and that is what I strive for, to do His will and put Him first. Some day I will have to meet Him face to face and would never want Him to be ashamed of me. I will not act ashamed of Him, either. He has sacrificed His life for me. The least I can do is honor Him and serve Him to the best of my ability.
I wish you all well. Peace and blessings to you all.
Sadly, I feel this is probably not the forum for me then as I cannnot and will not put my God on equal footing with all other gods. He strictly forbids that in the book that I follow (the bible). If I were to do that then I would have to put Him on equal footing with Satan, or even "The Spaghetti Monster" and that is such an incredible offense to my God and I won't dishoner Him in that way.
I'm not going to push my beliefs but neither will I "water down my faith" in order to get along with everyone. My God has to come first in my life and that is what I strive for, to do His will and put Him first. Some day I will have to meet Him face to face and would never want Him to be ashamed of me. I will not act ashamed of Him, either. He has sacrificed His life for me. The least I can do is honor Him and serve Him to the best of my ability.
I wish you all well. Peace and blessings to you all.
It is good to be able to share views without flaming/blaming. I cannot fault anyone who really believes something and is trying to do good in doing so. There is a difference in motives and how things are done.
I believe in being discerning...but after going through my experience I realize I really do have to rely on God not on other people's teaching and that I am going more by "my" perception in what I believe the Holy Spirit is telling me. That doesn't mean I don't run things by others to listen to what they say (Pastor, teachers, counselors, friends, even here). Believe it or not---I read what everyone writes here as time allows and reflect on it. I do not set myself up as the "authority" but leave an open .....to listen. I choose what I am following as I have to.
Nothing deleted here as it is good for each person to be able to share. April, nothing insulting/offending intended. I saw a post sharing Norman's thoughts & that is why I shared because I wanted to illustrate how others could interpret your posting as being "off-based" because of what Norman's position. A number of people never look into the background of who they are listening to. I learned to do that years ago. It is good to do.
There are many discernment ministries out there....even looking into their background. What I was trying to say is that I started getting critical of everyone because I was looking for the devil behind "all the different teachings". Fact is none of us are perfect and on a day I am tired/weak/sad....probably should keep my mouth closed because I may not be walking correctly in the Spirit.
My views are changing and I am learning to admit that it is totally by faith I believe what I do. I cannot produce Jesus, nor any actuall pictures of him. Certainly cannot produce God and He would not allow it as He isn't under my command to do my bidding. I am to submit to His will.
I am directing my attention towards learning to listen to Him better which involves being still.
I believe in being discerning...but after going through my experience I realize I really do have to rely on God not on other people's teaching and that I am going more by "my" perception in what I believe the Holy Spirit is telling me. That doesn't mean I don't run things by others to listen to what they say (Pastor, teachers, counselors, friends, even here). Believe it or not---I read what everyone writes here as time allows and reflect on it. I do not set myself up as the "authority" but leave an open .....to listen. I choose what I am following as I have to.
Nothing deleted here as it is good for each person to be able to share. April, nothing insulting/offending intended. I saw a post sharing Norman's thoughts & that is why I shared because I wanted to illustrate how others could interpret your posting as being "off-based" because of what Norman's position. A number of people never look into the background of who they are listening to. I learned to do that years ago. It is good to do.
There are many discernment ministries out there....even looking into their background. What I was trying to say is that I started getting critical of everyone because I was looking for the devil behind "all the different teachings". Fact is none of us are perfect and on a day I am tired/weak/sad....probably should keep my mouth closed because I may not be walking correctly in the Spirit.
My views are changing and I am learning to admit that it is totally by faith I believe what I do. I cannot produce Jesus, nor any actuall pictures of him. Certainly cannot produce God and He would not allow it as He isn't under my command to do my bidding. I am to submit to His will.
I am directing my attention towards learning to listen to Him better which involves being still.
Clarification
okay. I want to restart.
I know yesterday was a really bad day for me pain wise, and I am also starting a new medication that makes me feel really out of sorts, So I am not as articulate as I would like to be, and I want to make sure that I don't give the wrong impression, so I want to clarify some of the things I was trying to express yesterday. Sometimes I can come off sounding harsh or abrupt, but I don't always mean to be. (although I reserve the right to be a raving lunatic if the mood strikes me :)
So I want to start by apologising to anyone I might have made feel unwelcome yesterday. It is not for me to judge wether or not someones belief system is right for them, so I will try really hard not to do that here. :)
So...these are the main points I wanted to articulate yesterday. :)
1. I do not want people to refrain from posting in the spirituality forum based on their religious or spiritual systems. I want ALL people to feel comfortable posting here about their spiritual self. This is not the "anti-church" forum, and I don't want to give the impression that I am anti-church, or anti-christianity. I have learned to look for value in every single nugget of spirituality I come across on this winding road of life.
2. I do not want anyone to feel they have been "kicked out", or unwelcome of the forum for something they have posted about their spirituality. If one wants to post about their spiritual interactions with a giant spaghetti monster, I would be cool with that. As long as the post is about spirituality, I am down for a discussion, even a heated one, as I feel that sometimes we learn the most about our chosen viewpoint when we are called to defend it.
3. I want there to be a feeling of mutual respect and equality for the spirituality of anyone who posts here. Each of us is in a unique place on our spiritual path, and all of us here are seeking the same thing, a spirituality that can give meaning and hep us make sense out of life.
If I had my druthers, we would all treat each other as spiritual equals, sharing insight and information with each other,freely asking questions, giving answers, sharing insight, etc etc, with the understanding that we are all spiritual seekers still looking for our individual "truth" and although one person may feel they have found the truth, another may still be seeking.
I feel comfortable posting about my spiritual beleifs, and posting things I think another poster might be able to glean spiritual insight from. I will not post something that implies my way is the only path to God, becauseI believe spirituality is unique and individual to every person.
And lastly, I want everyone to know this is simply my personal opinion. I don't want anyone to feel pushed around by me, because this forum belongs to all of us, collectively, and it is (and will be) what we make of it. It is not an exclusive club where people feel they have to subscribe to a specific belief system in order to participate, nor is it a place any individual belief systems are excluded.
The last thing I want to clarify. I do not want anyone to feel their personal God or deity, or religious system has to be "brought down" in order for there to be open discussion. I do feel that each of us has to respect that in this forum, there is an equality among us, and our individual views of Godhead.
So in that sense, if I want to post about Shiva, I have to understand that although in my personal life, I see my God as the top dog,but when I post in the spirituality forum, my God has to be on equal footing with everyone elses God. If someone posts about Jesus, thats cool, as long as it is not a post proclaiming that particular deity as supreme over the others referred to in this forum.
In the spirituality forum, no one God is THE God, we must see and treat everyones chosen deity as equal in order for this forum to be about spirituality. Otherwise it would be a forum dedicated to one particular God above all others, and that is not spirituality, that is religion. I am not anti-religious, but I think a forum dedicated to a particular religion is the best place for posts that reflect personal religious views and dogma that are exclusive of other systems.
Whereas posting about different religious views and how they can relate to spirituality regardless of adherance to a particular religious system, that is totally game for this forum. (IMHO)
the other thing I would say is before one posts something that references another belief system or cultural value, take special care to be aware that someone who subscribes to that beleif system may be reading your post. People on this forum love and value many varied traditions, they are a great resource for information about particular cultured, relgions, and spiritual systems. This is the place to ask someone about Allah, not the place to lump "all other Gods" together.
If one believes their God to be the only God, there is nothing wrong with that belief, but in the spirituality forum, all Gods are respected as such, and all scriptures are on equal footing.
Ultimately, these are just my opinions, nothing more, and nothing less. In the end this forum belongs to all of us who post on it. It will become whatever we make it.
Love and blessings :)
~pb
okay. I want to restart.
I know yesterday was a really bad day for me pain wise, and I am also starting a new medication that makes me feel really out of sorts, So I am not as articulate as I would like to be, and I want to make sure that I don't give the wrong impression, so I want to clarify some of the things I was trying to express yesterday. Sometimes I can come off sounding harsh or abrupt, but I don't always mean to be. (although I reserve the right to be a raving lunatic if the mood strikes me :)
So I want to start by apologising to anyone I might have made feel unwelcome yesterday. It is not for me to judge wether or not someones belief system is right for them, so I will try really hard not to do that here. :)
So...these are the main points I wanted to articulate yesterday. :)
1. I do not want people to refrain from posting in the spirituality forum based on their religious or spiritual systems. I want ALL people to feel comfortable posting here about their spiritual self. This is not the "anti-church" forum, and I don't want to give the impression that I am anti-church, or anti-christianity. I have learned to look for value in every single nugget of spirituality I come across on this winding road of life.
2. I do not want anyone to feel they have been "kicked out", or unwelcome of the forum for something they have posted about their spirituality. If one wants to post about their spiritual interactions with a giant spaghetti monster, I would be cool with that. As long as the post is about spirituality, I am down for a discussion, even a heated one, as I feel that sometimes we learn the most about our chosen viewpoint when we are called to defend it.
3. I want there to be a feeling of mutual respect and equality for the spirituality of anyone who posts here. Each of us is in a unique place on our spiritual path, and all of us here are seeking the same thing, a spirituality that can give meaning and hep us make sense out of life.
If I had my druthers, we would all treat each other as spiritual equals, sharing insight and information with each other,freely asking questions, giving answers, sharing insight, etc etc, with the understanding that we are all spiritual seekers still looking for our individual "truth" and although one person may feel they have found the truth, another may still be seeking.
I feel comfortable posting about my spiritual beleifs, and posting things I think another poster might be able to glean spiritual insight from. I will not post something that implies my way is the only path to God, becauseI believe spirituality is unique and individual to every person.
And lastly, I want everyone to know this is simply my personal opinion. I don't want anyone to feel pushed around by me, because this forum belongs to all of us, collectively, and it is (and will be) what we make of it. It is not an exclusive club where people feel they have to subscribe to a specific belief system in order to participate, nor is it a place any individual belief systems are excluded.
The last thing I want to clarify. I do not want anyone to feel their personal God or deity, or religious system has to be "brought down" in order for there to be open discussion. I do feel that each of us has to respect that in this forum, there is an equality among us, and our individual views of Godhead.
So in that sense, if I want to post about Shiva, I have to understand that although in my personal life, I see my God as the top dog,but when I post in the spirituality forum, my God has to be on equal footing with everyone elses God. If someone posts about Jesus, thats cool, as long as it is not a post proclaiming that particular deity as supreme over the others referred to in this forum.
In the spirituality forum, no one God is THE God, we must see and treat everyones chosen deity as equal in order for this forum to be about spirituality. Otherwise it would be a forum dedicated to one particular God above all others, and that is not spirituality, that is religion. I am not anti-religious, but I think a forum dedicated to a particular religion is the best place for posts that reflect personal religious views and dogma that are exclusive of other systems.
Whereas posting about different religious views and how they can relate to spirituality regardless of adherance to a particular religious system, that is totally game for this forum. (IMHO)
the other thing I would say is before one posts something that references another belief system or cultural value, take special care to be aware that someone who subscribes to that beleif system may be reading your post. People on this forum love and value many varied traditions, they are a great resource for information about particular cultured, relgions, and spiritual systems. This is the place to ask someone about Allah, not the place to lump "all other Gods" together.
If one believes their God to be the only God, there is nothing wrong with that belief, but in the spirituality forum, all Gods are respected as such, and all scriptures are on equal footing.
Ultimately, these are just my opinions, nothing more, and nothing less. In the end this forum belongs to all of us who post on it. It will become whatever we make it.
Love and blessings :)
~pb
Ok..
You said, "In which case you would be basing what you think is the path to a one world religion on the unproven words of man, not the Holy words of God."
All of it is proven.The Bible says this will happen. And the whole world wondered after the beast. Which is false religion. We are to be very careful what we listen to because we can be decieved. Robert Muller, former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, is a strong believer in a one-world religion and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Notice his comments:
"We must move as quickly as possible to a one-world government; a one-world religion; under a one-world leader." Dwight L. Kinman, The World’s Last Dictator (Woodburn, Oregon: Solid Rock Books, 1995): 81.
You should really look into Mr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and what One World Government is about..
You also said, "I am saying if you want to post about why your church is the only REAL church, and your religion is the only REAL TRUE religion, I think there are forums you can do that in without making people uncomfortable."
So then what I said is exactly true. Jesus has to come down to the level of every other god to be accepted. I must take my Jesus with me to another forum...
You again said: "I hope you will see it as such, and not as "proof" that the whole world is out to defame Christ, proclaim his teachings as meritless, and banish his followers."
The Bible says that this whole controversy is over worship. Anyways, I simply said what I believed and I never told you to leave...
You said, "But you will never know that if your goal is only to distribute information, and not to drink it up yourself."
.. No actually I eat watermelon, but I spit out the seeds. I don't just internalize what sounds good without any real truth. I'm sorry when somethings wrong, it's wrong.
Anyways, my point is be strong tell me why you believe what you do. Discuss. I can back myself up, never will I be uncomfortable about saying something. I speak because it's what being a christian is about... showing people error and pointing them to Jesus. Some errors don't look like errors because they appear to be good.
Anyways, please don't be offended by what I have written but this is what I believe and I feel I have a right to say what I believe as well.
You said, "In which case you would be basing what you think is the path to a one world religion on the unproven words of man, not the Holy words of God."
All of it is proven.The Bible says this will happen. And the whole world wondered after the beast. Which is false religion. We are to be very careful what we listen to because we can be decieved. Robert Muller, former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, is a strong believer in a one-world religion and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Notice his comments:
"We must move as quickly as possible to a one-world government; a one-world religion; under a one-world leader." Dwight L. Kinman, The World’s Last Dictator (Woodburn, Oregon: Solid Rock Books, 1995): 81.
You should really look into Mr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and what One World Government is about..
You also said, "I am saying if you want to post about why your church is the only REAL church, and your religion is the only REAL TRUE religion, I think there are forums you can do that in without making people uncomfortable."
So then what I said is exactly true. Jesus has to come down to the level of every other god to be accepted. I must take my Jesus with me to another forum...
You again said: "I hope you will see it as such, and not as "proof" that the whole world is out to defame Christ, proclaim his teachings as meritless, and banish his followers."
The Bible says that this whole controversy is over worship. Anyways, I simply said what I believed and I never told you to leave...
You said, "But you will never know that if your goal is only to distribute information, and not to drink it up yourself."
.. No actually I eat watermelon, but I spit out the seeds. I don't just internalize what sounds good without any real truth. I'm sorry when somethings wrong, it's wrong.
Anyways, my point is be strong tell me why you believe what you do. Discuss. I can back myself up, never will I be uncomfortable about saying something. I speak because it's what being a christian is about... showing people error and pointing them to Jesus. Some errors don't look like errors because they appear to be good.
Anyways, please don't be offended by what I have written but this is what I believe and I feel I have a right to say what I believe as well.
I never said you or anyone who didn't believe as I did had no value!!! Never, never, never did I say that! I would never say that because I believe all life is precious and has value.
Nor did I say I thought my church was the only way. Actually, I agree with you that there are many things about religion that I dislike, not what God has said in His Word but man made doctrines. I very much dislike how many churches are more caught up in man made doctrines or rules than the simplicity of the gospel, which basically boils down to loving the Lord with all our hearts, souls and minds, and loving each other.
During Jesus' time there were no seperation. Everyone met and sat down and listened to Jesus preach. It's man that started seperating things and making different churches with different doctrines and rules because they couldn't get along with things that really shouldn't have been that important. For instance, my children went for awhile to a Christian school where the church who led it did not believe in using musical instraments during worship because they said there was no record of that in the NT. Yet in the OT there were many instances were the harp, trumpets, etc. were used during worship and the trumpet is what the angel is supposed to sound when Jesus returns. I really don't think God cares if we use musical instraments during worship or not as long as our hearts are focused on Him!
Many other churches disagree on baptism, through immersion or sprinkling. My parents had belonged to a church who wouldn't let me be a member because I had been sprinkled at another church. They didn't recognize it unless I would be immersed. I actually did get rebaptized many years later through immersion, NOT because a church told me to but because I felt like I did it for the wrong reasons the first time and wasn't fully committed to Christ at that time, nor really understood His sacrifice to me. So, I got rebaptized as an adult when I came back to Christ, after having walked away for awhile.
Actually, many, many churches have turned me off. I do think that a relationship with Christ should be more spiritual than religious because it's a heart thing. It has to be or it's not a real relationship.
My brother told me once that he felt closer to God walking on the beach than he did in church. I understand how he feels. I feel close to God by looking at what He has created too but I also enjoy going to church and learning and singing praise songs.
That's why I wrote my latest journal, about how God speaks to us. He speaks to us in so many ways, through others, through His creation, through that still small voice and through His Word. It all has to line up though and not contradict each other because God is not a god of confusion.
I'm not trying to make it sound like I'm a know-it-all by any means! I have a lot to learn. I think we're always growing and learning till the day we die. I do choose to believe the God of the bible and do my best to follow HIm but I mess up every day! And that's why I need Him so badly. I can't do it on my own. I can't forgive and love and all those other things He says I must do without His help. I'm just grateful I have a loving, forgiving and patient God because that's what gives me hope!
I do tend to get passionate about my beliefs because I love Jesus so much and am so grateful to Him and what He's done for me but I will try not to get too pushy, and if I did, then I'm sorry, it's just that I love Him so much!
Thanks for letting me post and share. Peace and blessings!
Nor did I say I thought my church was the only way. Actually, I agree with you that there are many things about religion that I dislike, not what God has said in His Word but man made doctrines. I very much dislike how many churches are more caught up in man made doctrines or rules than the simplicity of the gospel, which basically boils down to loving the Lord with all our hearts, souls and minds, and loving each other.
During Jesus' time there were no seperation. Everyone met and sat down and listened to Jesus preach. It's man that started seperating things and making different churches with different doctrines and rules because they couldn't get along with things that really shouldn't have been that important. For instance, my children went for awhile to a Christian school where the church who led it did not believe in using musical instraments during worship because they said there was no record of that in the NT. Yet in the OT there were many instances were the harp, trumpets, etc. were used during worship and the trumpet is what the angel is supposed to sound when Jesus returns. I really don't think God cares if we use musical instraments during worship or not as long as our hearts are focused on Him!
Many other churches disagree on baptism, through immersion or sprinkling. My parents had belonged to a church who wouldn't let me be a member because I had been sprinkled at another church. They didn't recognize it unless I would be immersed. I actually did get rebaptized many years later through immersion, NOT because a church told me to but because I felt like I did it for the wrong reasons the first time and wasn't fully committed to Christ at that time, nor really understood His sacrifice to me. So, I got rebaptized as an adult when I came back to Christ, after having walked away for awhile.
Actually, many, many churches have turned me off. I do think that a relationship with Christ should be more spiritual than religious because it's a heart thing. It has to be or it's not a real relationship.
My brother told me once that he felt closer to God walking on the beach than he did in church. I understand how he feels. I feel close to God by looking at what He has created too but I also enjoy going to church and learning and singing praise songs.
That's why I wrote my latest journal, about how God speaks to us. He speaks to us in so many ways, through others, through His creation, through that still small voice and through His Word. It all has to line up though and not contradict each other because God is not a god of confusion.
I'm not trying to make it sound like I'm a know-it-all by any means! I have a lot to learn. I think we're always growing and learning till the day we die. I do choose to believe the God of the bible and do my best to follow HIm but I mess up every day! And that's why I need Him so badly. I can't do it on my own. I can't forgive and love and all those other things He says I must do without His help. I'm just grateful I have a loving, forgiving and patient God because that's what gives me hope!
I do tend to get passionate about my beliefs because I love Jesus so much and am so grateful to Him and what He's done for me but I will try not to get too pushy, and if I did, then I'm sorry, it's just that I love Him so much!
Thanks for letting me post and share. Peace and blessings!
I would love for both of you to continue posting about spirituality in this forum. To be frank, I do not think a zealous repost of ones chosen dogma framed as being the only real "truth", exclusive of all other spiritual seeking, is what people are looking for in a spirituality forum.
But I do not speak for everyone else, just for my self.
Ultimately, I think both of you have some interesting ideas about spirituality and life in general. You both express a strong desire to find something that feels true to you, and that is really what all spiritual seekers are looking for(on this forum and elsewhere).
We all have a lot more in common than we might realize at first glance. For example, many Hindu's believe that Jesus was an incarnation of God. Just like most Christians. I bet we could have some great discussions together about Jesus. I love to read the Bible and have 4 different translations. We could grow closer to God together by examining the similarities and differences between the translations, and discussing what we think it might mean in a spiritual sense as opposed to a religious sense.
Or when you post here you can continue to post about your conviction that you have found the real "truth" about God that humans have been searching for for thousands of years, and how the rest of the spiritual systems in the world have no value
. If that is what you want to post about, and you want to do it in a forum specifically created to be open to all walks of life, and all spiritual paths, then you are setting yourself up for responses like mine.
If part of your church doctrine is that the whole world is out to knock Jesus down, I would advise you go out and ask some real people of different faiths what they think about Jesus. If your information about the teachings of other religions is coming from a Christian, then it is a biased view, and it may very well be incorrect. In which case you would be basing what you think is the path to a one world religion on the unproven words of man, not the Holy words of God.
Either way, I am not trying to imply that either of you refrain from posting here.
I am saying if you want to post about why your church is the only REAL church, and your religion is the only REAL TRUE religion, I think there are forums you can do that in without making people uncomfortable.
I also think if you post the kinds of things like you did above, in a forum or group of people who you know feel differently than you do, you should expect a few ruffled feathers and an attempt to de-rail proseltyzing for a specific religion in a spirituality forum. I hope you will see it as such, and not as "proof" that the whole world is out to defame Christ, proclaim his teachings as meritless, and banish his followers.
I love to talk about Jesus. But you will never know that if your goal is only to distribute information, and not to drink it up yourself.
I hope both of you post here in the future to talk about spiritual topics, and I hope anybody who reads this feels comfortable posting in this forum, whatever their chosen religion is, or their current spiritual inclinations.
:))))
But I do not speak for everyone else, just for my self.
Ultimately, I think both of you have some interesting ideas about spirituality and life in general. You both express a strong desire to find something that feels true to you, and that is really what all spiritual seekers are looking for(on this forum and elsewhere).
We all have a lot more in common than we might realize at first glance. For example, many Hindu's believe that Jesus was an incarnation of God. Just like most Christians. I bet we could have some great discussions together about Jesus. I love to read the Bible and have 4 different translations. We could grow closer to God together by examining the similarities and differences between the translations, and discussing what we think it might mean in a spiritual sense as opposed to a religious sense.
Or when you post here you can continue to post about your conviction that you have found the real "truth" about God that humans have been searching for for thousands of years, and how the rest of the spiritual systems in the world have no value
. If that is what you want to post about, and you want to do it in a forum specifically created to be open to all walks of life, and all spiritual paths, then you are setting yourself up for responses like mine.
If part of your church doctrine is that the whole world is out to knock Jesus down, I would advise you go out and ask some real people of different faiths what they think about Jesus. If your information about the teachings of other religions is coming from a Christian, then it is a biased view, and it may very well be incorrect. In which case you would be basing what you think is the path to a one world religion on the unproven words of man, not the Holy words of God.
Either way, I am not trying to imply that either of you refrain from posting here.
I am saying if you want to post about why your church is the only REAL church, and your religion is the only REAL TRUE religion, I think there are forums you can do that in without making people uncomfortable.
I also think if you post the kinds of things like you did above, in a forum or group of people who you know feel differently than you do, you should expect a few ruffled feathers and an attempt to de-rail proseltyzing for a specific religion in a spirituality forum. I hope you will see it as such, and not as "proof" that the whole world is out to defame Christ, proclaim his teachings as meritless, and banish his followers.
I love to talk about Jesus. But you will never know that if your goal is only to distribute information, and not to drink it up yourself.
I hope both of you post here in the future to talk about spiritual topics, and I hope anybody who reads this feels comfortable posting in this forum, whatever their chosen religion is, or their current spiritual inclinations.
:))))
tbabi, if I'm understanding correctly I think painbrain would rather we not post here anymore since she said there are other forums Christians can go to but she feels protective over this one. I'm really sad to hear that.
I sure didn't mean to start any argument or debate. The only reason why I posted anything at all was because the way painbrain worded her questions was "Is it ok to love Jesus and Wicca?" You asked if it was ok but apparently already had your mind made up and didn't want to hear any other way than what you already had decided. That's certainly your right, of course. All I was trying to do was show how Jesus felt about other gods.
Dazon, not sure why you posted what you did about Norman Vincent Peale but if you think I'm a big follower of his I'm not really. I have quoted some things he's written because I agreed with them. I do try to take most things with a grain of salt.
I know lots of people like Joyce Meyers. I never really cared about her. I have a friend who is crazy for Benny Hinn but I feel he's a false prophet after hearing things and watching him.
You said it was no way to live always trying to be careful but we do have to be careful and the bible says exactly that. Otherwise, we will be led astray. That's why the bible says we are to put on the full Armor of God because we are indeed in a battle, a spiritual battle, whether we like it or not. Yes, the battle is His and we can't do it ourselves but that doesn't mean we can play passive or we will be swallowed up. Believe me, I know.I've had to fight in some of these battles. We fight mainly in prayer and scripture. That is our weapon. It's more powerful than many of us give credit to.
I'm very picky when it comes to pastors and churches because there's just too many who are not following God's Word. I try to pray and ask God to give me wisdom and discernment to be able to distinguish what is from Him or not from Him because I'm afraid we're in some pretty perilous times and I think it will only get worse. Satan is called the great deceiver and disguises himself as an angel of light. Many people don't realize that and think of him only as a dark, evil figure that they'd be able to spot right away. It scares me enough that I try to stay close to God and under his umbrella of protection. I don't want to be led astray. I know I sure can't do it without the Lord's help so I totally depend on Him. Me means everything to me. I can't imagine life without Him.
I sure didn't mean to start any argument or debate. The only reason why I posted anything at all was because the way painbrain worded her questions was "Is it ok to love Jesus and Wicca?" You asked if it was ok but apparently already had your mind made up and didn't want to hear any other way than what you already had decided. That's certainly your right, of course. All I was trying to do was show how Jesus felt about other gods.
Dazon, not sure why you posted what you did about Norman Vincent Peale but if you think I'm a big follower of his I'm not really. I have quoted some things he's written because I agreed with them. I do try to take most things with a grain of salt.
I know lots of people like Joyce Meyers. I never really cared about her. I have a friend who is crazy for Benny Hinn but I feel he's a false prophet after hearing things and watching him.
You said it was no way to live always trying to be careful but we do have to be careful and the bible says exactly that. Otherwise, we will be led astray. That's why the bible says we are to put on the full Armor of God because we are indeed in a battle, a spiritual battle, whether we like it or not. Yes, the battle is His and we can't do it ourselves but that doesn't mean we can play passive or we will be swallowed up. Believe me, I know.I've had to fight in some of these battles. We fight mainly in prayer and scripture. That is our weapon. It's more powerful than many of us give credit to.
I'm very picky when it comes to pastors and churches because there's just too many who are not following God's Word. I try to pray and ask God to give me wisdom and discernment to be able to distinguish what is from Him or not from Him because I'm afraid we're in some pretty perilous times and I think it will only get worse. Satan is called the great deceiver and disguises himself as an angel of light. Many people don't realize that and think of him only as a dark, evil figure that they'd be able to spot right away. It scares me enough that I try to stay close to God and under his umbrella of protection. I don't want to be led astray. I know I sure can't do it without the Lord's help so I totally depend on Him. Me means everything to me. I can't imagine life without Him.
OK I didn't say Islam and Buddhism both see Jesus the exact same way, but they still see Jesus less than what Jesus said he was. Both say that Jesus was a good teacher but doesn't say he was God...
To me it is not arrogant to believe that Jesus is the only way. The Bible clearly teaches that He is the only way to salvation and that all other ways are a counterfeit of the truth.
In order for all religions to unite in a one-world religion, the belief of Jesus as the only way to salvation must be downplayed. Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims will not unify with Christians if Jesus is lifted up as the only source of salvation. This principle of Jesus as the only way is under attack in our world today.
I just think that there is a great effort to make Jesus small. The glorious work of Jesus is downplayed. He is being replaced by a "universal Christ that satisfies them all." This universal Christ bears many names and disguises, is acceptable to all religions, and isn't really God. This universal Christ claims to be just a teacher—no more divine than he claims all humans are. He speaks of global unity, world peace, and justice for all.
Although this false Christ's messages sound peaceful, in reality they will only bring peace to those willing to comply. The true Christ's message is of peace that will come when God eradicates Satan and the problem of sin from Earth and humankind.
I don't have a problem with people believing what they wish. I will not stop you from worshiping that way. But if I'm forced to make Jesus universal and I have to worship all Gods as equal I have a problem with that because Jesus has to come down to the level of every other god...
The Christian faith is based on the Bible alone. There are historical, archeological, prophetic, and personal reasons for some to place such faith in a book. But the Christian has also the natural world as evidence of a loving and wise Creator. Scientists and surgeons of all ages have admitted that only a designer and Creator could account for the lavish complexity of Earth. I do not need anything else..
To me it is not arrogant to believe that Jesus is the only way. The Bible clearly teaches that He is the only way to salvation and that all other ways are a counterfeit of the truth.
In order for all religions to unite in a one-world religion, the belief of Jesus as the only way to salvation must be downplayed. Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims will not unify with Christians if Jesus is lifted up as the only source of salvation. This principle of Jesus as the only way is under attack in our world today.
I just think that there is a great effort to make Jesus small. The glorious work of Jesus is downplayed. He is being replaced by a "universal Christ that satisfies them all." This universal Christ bears many names and disguises, is acceptable to all religions, and isn't really God. This universal Christ claims to be just a teacher—no more divine than he claims all humans are. He speaks of global unity, world peace, and justice for all.
Although this false Christ's messages sound peaceful, in reality they will only bring peace to those willing to comply. The true Christ's message is of peace that will come when God eradicates Satan and the problem of sin from Earth and humankind.
I don't have a problem with people believing what they wish. I will not stop you from worshiping that way. But if I'm forced to make Jesus universal and I have to worship all Gods as equal I have a problem with that because Jesus has to come down to the level of every other god...
The Christian faith is based on the Bible alone. There are historical, archeological, prophetic, and personal reasons for some to place such faith in a book. But the Christian has also the natural world as evidence of a loving and wise Creator. Scientists and surgeons of all ages have admitted that only a designer and Creator could account for the lavish complexity of Earth. I do not need anything else..
http://www.cephas-library.com/evangelists_jesus_must_have_lied_so_it_seems_to_some.html
http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/spirituality/peale.htm (Do research on Masons...rosicrucians, etc...occult mixed in). I was fully aware of this & stayed away from reading Norman's books because I didn't want to be "corrupted". Seems harmless at first, right???? In the discernment ministry, I realized when it came down to it, something could be found wrong with everything, even the people doing the discerning. I got to where everywhere I turned around, I had to be careful. That is no way to live a life. We are to rest in the Lord...the battle belongs to the Lord. We cannot win in our own strength. We are not to deal one on one with Satan. God is the only one with the knowledge and power to do so. He guides individuals & equips them to do His will.
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/guidepo/peale.htm
(I posted only a few, but enough to get the picture). You quoted him in another group. I let it go by until now because this is a good object lesson.
We share info. to help and encourage. If asked, we can explain why we see it the way we do. Main thing is the living out daily of what we believe. Words have power....shared, they do what Hebrews 4:12 says...For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart
I used to believe it was only the Bible, but now I know "words" are under God's domain and we are living epistles. The Catholic church realized this & wrote volumes in addition....the Israelites realized this & wrote volumes in addition, and so on and so on..
However, the Bible, is what points us to God, to the story of how it all began. The NT is the fulfillment, but not in the Jews mind/heart. Those that are not messianic do not accept Jesus as the Messiah. Their interpretation says...Jesus did not fulfill it.
It bears looking at the reasons why once having studied the Bible and praying continually for wisdom, knowledge and understanding . That is where I am at this point in time.
Blessings.
http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/spirituality/peale.htm (Do research on Masons...rosicrucians, etc...occult mixed in). I was fully aware of this & stayed away from reading Norman's books because I didn't want to be "corrupted". Seems harmless at first, right???? In the discernment ministry, I realized when it came down to it, something could be found wrong with everything, even the people doing the discerning. I got to where everywhere I turned around, I had to be careful. That is no way to live a life. We are to rest in the Lord...the battle belongs to the Lord. We cannot win in our own strength. We are not to deal one on one with Satan. God is the only one with the knowledge and power to do so. He guides individuals & equips them to do His will.
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/guidepo/peale.htm
(I posted only a few, but enough to get the picture). You quoted him in another group. I let it go by until now because this is a good object lesson.
We share info. to help and encourage. If asked, we can explain why we see it the way we do. Main thing is the living out daily of what we believe. Words have power....shared, they do what Hebrews 4:12 says...For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart
I used to believe it was only the Bible, but now I know "words" are under God's domain and we are living epistles. The Catholic church realized this & wrote volumes in addition....the Israelites realized this & wrote volumes in addition, and so on and so on..
However, the Bible, is what points us to God, to the story of how it all began. The NT is the fulfillment, but not in the Jews mind/heart. Those that are not messianic do not accept Jesus as the Messiah. Their interpretation says...Jesus did not fulfill it.
It bears looking at the reasons why once having studied the Bible and praying continually for wisdom, knowledge and understanding . That is where I am at this point in time.
Blessings.
Excellent...really couldn't say it better, just paraphrase.
You see my path whereas others question whether I am really hard-core Christian. They do so without knowing my struggles and path from childhood on. Yes, if put to the test...Jesus is my LORD and Savior!! Do I understand the theology...NO. Can the bible be interpreted many ways...you betcha!!!
I read through the whole bible. I agonized over God telling the Israelites to kill essentially "races" of people..old, frail, children, unborn. Some didn't obey and there was hell to pay. The Israelites never quite got rid of the groves and like now...the groves grew and other beliefs sprouted up. The Old Testament's admonition is to kill anything that sets itself up in God's place...the Israelite's God....the first 5 books of Moses.
I have gone the gamut of debates, of studying all sorts of angles, by no means totally exhaustive of everything out there. If you say someone is to be put to death for witchcraft, and that wearing mixed clothing is an abomination, along with eating shellfish and homosexuality, etc...you cannot pick/choose one and say the other was because of..... but we can do this/that because of..... To do that, someone is the authoritarian over what is meant.
When it comes down to it...each one of us claiming to have the Holy Spirit has a teacher already inside.
April, for your info...look up Norman Vincent Peale...he is considered off track as he is considered a "universalist". I was considered to be in the discernment ministry and could run down the list according to more main fundamental teachings the who is who on their list.
Joyce Meyers...off track. Any psycho babble ...off track. Promise Keepers ...off track....the list goes on. This is what drove me into a deeper relationship with God and saying I don't know you except through my limited view/understanding and through others.
I remember in my more fundamental days of learning Stuart Briscoe read non-christian books that had psychology, etc....thinking he was being led astray. What he was doing was learning what is out there and how it fit in.
People want to make nice rules (not easy) where everything fits in its place and makes semi-sense...but in doing so, they shut out so much and set themselves up to be the final authority. When you begin to really look, you see. How do you think the catholic church begin the separation and churches have been doing since. Not just them, but about every branch of anything? People do not live in each other's skin to do it exactly the same way and know it the same way. God is fully aware and gave us free will and individuality. There is more here than I can comprehend, but I believe God does. What it boils down to is what Jesus said....Love God with all your heart (can't go wrong there) and love others as yourself (can't go wrong there either...would you want your child to starve? then don't make it hard for other people's children to go without food. You want health care? Bring the prices down so everyone can have it to be healthy and live....goes on with a long, long list). There is clearly a lack of love . Every day we see it!
Some people argue over beliefs to be more right than because they love. Jesus saw that with the Pharisees. Who was the one who helped the man beaten up and left for dead on the side of the road? Who was the one who helped?
You see my path whereas others question whether I am really hard-core Christian. They do so without knowing my struggles and path from childhood on. Yes, if put to the test...Jesus is my LORD and Savior!! Do I understand the theology...NO. Can the bible be interpreted many ways...you betcha!!!
I read through the whole bible. I agonized over God telling the Israelites to kill essentially "races" of people..old, frail, children, unborn. Some didn't obey and there was hell to pay. The Israelites never quite got rid of the groves and like now...the groves grew and other beliefs sprouted up. The Old Testament's admonition is to kill anything that sets itself up in God's place...the Israelite's God....the first 5 books of Moses.
I have gone the gamut of debates, of studying all sorts of angles, by no means totally exhaustive of everything out there. If you say someone is to be put to death for witchcraft, and that wearing mixed clothing is an abomination, along with eating shellfish and homosexuality, etc...you cannot pick/choose one and say the other was because of..... but we can do this/that because of..... To do that, someone is the authoritarian over what is meant.
When it comes down to it...each one of us claiming to have the Holy Spirit has a teacher already inside.
April, for your info...look up Norman Vincent Peale...he is considered off track as he is considered a "universalist". I was considered to be in the discernment ministry and could run down the list according to more main fundamental teachings the who is who on their list.
Joyce Meyers...off track. Any psycho babble ...off track. Promise Keepers ...off track....the list goes on. This is what drove me into a deeper relationship with God and saying I don't know you except through my limited view/understanding and through others.
I remember in my more fundamental days of learning Stuart Briscoe read non-christian books that had psychology, etc....thinking he was being led astray. What he was doing was learning what is out there and how it fit in.
People want to make nice rules (not easy) where everything fits in its place and makes semi-sense...but in doing so, they shut out so much and set themselves up to be the final authority. When you begin to really look, you see. How do you think the catholic church begin the separation and churches have been doing since. Not just them, but about every branch of anything? People do not live in each other's skin to do it exactly the same way and know it the same way. God is fully aware and gave us free will and individuality. There is more here than I can comprehend, but I believe God does. What it boils down to is what Jesus said....Love God with all your heart (can't go wrong there) and love others as yourself (can't go wrong there either...would you want your child to starve? then don't make it hard for other people's children to go without food. You want health care? Bring the prices down so everyone can have it to be healthy and live....goes on with a long, long list). There is clearly a lack of love . Every day we see it!
Some people argue over beliefs to be more right than because they love. Jesus saw that with the Pharisees. Who was the one who helped the man beaten up and left for dead on the side of the road? Who was the one who helped?
The idea that both Islam and Buddhism both see Jesus the same way is not an accurate statement about how Buddhism "sees" Jesus.
Perhaps I am being a highly sensitive person, but I think in order to speak with authority on the inner workings of other religions one is best served by asking questions about them and being open to the answers and information given.
It seems like most Christians want a non Christian to know about what being a Christian means before they make judgements about Christianity.
Most Christians want that, as do most Jews, Pagans, Hindus, Buddhist's, Muslims, Shintos, etc. etc.
I guess the point I am making (as a sensitive person :) lol) is that I think posts here are meant to be more about all types of spirituality, not am opportunity to Proselytize for a specific sect, of a specific religion.
Dazon and I share a lot of the same spiritual ideas, but our chosen religions are very different from each other. If we wanted to, we could spend our days posting about our way being the "true" way. And we can each post pages upon pages of scriptures from our own Holy Books that "prove" our opinions to be true.
But in the end, that is not spirituality. It would be excellent religious debate. Yet still be pages of quotes from books deemed "the true word of God" by those who see them as such.
But if we sit down together and talk about how many aspects of our spirituality are similar, we can experience something even better than proving to each other that our God thinks we are right. We can experience friendship with someone we might not otherwise have gotten to know, or I might learn about something Dazon posts, something that really touched me spiritually and helped me improve my relationship with God.
If I only post about my chosen religion and how everyone else is wrong, sooner or later, this forum would become the "religion forum" or the "conversion to the true word" forum.
I may be a bit over-protective of this forum in particular because it was so helpful to me. It is impossible to live the life I have without constant spiritual practice, and there are not very many places people can go to discuss spirituality, without facing the shame and guilt that comes with not "fitting in" to most organized religions. But there are lots of places a Christian can post on if they want to discuss what they do and do not consider to be the word of God.
I hope I don't sound too crabby, I am an HSP with PTSD and FMS and my acronyms are affecting my mood a tad.
That said, blessings all around!
Perhaps I am being a highly sensitive person, but I think in order to speak with authority on the inner workings of other religions one is best served by asking questions about them and being open to the answers and information given.
It seems like most Christians want a non Christian to know about what being a Christian means before they make judgements about Christianity.
Most Christians want that, as do most Jews, Pagans, Hindus, Buddhist's, Muslims, Shintos, etc. etc.
I guess the point I am making (as a sensitive person :) lol) is that I think posts here are meant to be more about all types of spirituality, not am opportunity to Proselytize for a specific sect, of a specific religion.
Dazon and I share a lot of the same spiritual ideas, but our chosen religions are very different from each other. If we wanted to, we could spend our days posting about our way being the "true" way. And we can each post pages upon pages of scriptures from our own Holy Books that "prove" our opinions to be true.
But in the end, that is not spirituality. It would be excellent religious debate. Yet still be pages of quotes from books deemed "the true word of God" by those who see them as such.
But if we sit down together and talk about how many aspects of our spirituality are similar, we can experience something even better than proving to each other that our God thinks we are right. We can experience friendship with someone we might not otherwise have gotten to know, or I might learn about something Dazon posts, something that really touched me spiritually and helped me improve my relationship with God.
If I only post about my chosen religion and how everyone else is wrong, sooner or later, this forum would become the "religion forum" or the "conversion to the true word" forum.
I may be a bit over-protective of this forum in particular because it was so helpful to me. It is impossible to live the life I have without constant spiritual practice, and there are not very many places people can go to discuss spirituality, without facing the shame and guilt that comes with not "fitting in" to most organized religions. But there are lots of places a Christian can post on if they want to discuss what they do and do not consider to be the word of God.
I hope I don't sound too crabby, I am an HSP with PTSD and FMS and my acronyms are affecting my mood a tad.
That said, blessings all around!
I agree with April2,
This is the way I look at it..
There is naturally friction between each major religion, on how each sees things differently. For example, Jesus is God in the Christian religion, while in Islam and Buddhism Jesus is only a good man or prophet. Judaism rejects Jesus’ claims to be the Messiah, and New Age doctrine says He is here on the earth now, and has made multiple appearances throughout history. Is Jesus the only God then?
Any differences in doctrine must be brought to the Word of God for examination with an open mind, so that the Word and the Word alone will dictate our doctrinal beliefs. This is the unity Christ wanted for His followers. Never did He mean that we could believe whatever we wanted about a particular doctrine, for Christ Himself quoted the Word and lived by it.
The confusion among religions explains why atheists and agnostics see religion, and especially Christianity, as a spiritual crutch. It seems that each person interprets the Word to suit his or her fancy, and that truth is unavailable, unattainable, and perhaps even non-existent. Truth becomes relative to each person’s perspective and experiences.
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy, for I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2 Corinthians 11:2-4).
I guess when I think religious unity, I ask: can all religions really be one? If every religion believes whatever they want, doesn't that directly affects the existence of truth? So can they all be true? If so, then truth is just an opinion and nothing more... and that's sad.
This is the way I look at it..
There is naturally friction between each major religion, on how each sees things differently. For example, Jesus is God in the Christian religion, while in Islam and Buddhism Jesus is only a good man or prophet. Judaism rejects Jesus’ claims to be the Messiah, and New Age doctrine says He is here on the earth now, and has made multiple appearances throughout history. Is Jesus the only God then?
Any differences in doctrine must be brought to the Word of God for examination with an open mind, so that the Word and the Word alone will dictate our doctrinal beliefs. This is the unity Christ wanted for His followers. Never did He mean that we could believe whatever we wanted about a particular doctrine, for Christ Himself quoted the Word and lived by it.
The confusion among religions explains why atheists and agnostics see religion, and especially Christianity, as a spiritual crutch. It seems that each person interprets the Word to suit his or her fancy, and that truth is unavailable, unattainable, and perhaps even non-existent. Truth becomes relative to each person’s perspective and experiences.
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy, for I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2 Corinthians 11:2-4).
I guess when I think religious unity, I ask: can all religions really be one? If every religion believes whatever they want, doesn't that directly affects the existence of truth? So can they all be true? If so, then truth is just an opinion and nothing more... and that's sad.
Well said, Dazon.
You didn't offend me, painbrain. I guess I feel more sad or discouraged that some of us seem to be on different wavelengths but as Dazon said, it's up to God (or the Holy Spirit) to draw each person to Him and reveal Himself to Him. Our job is to mainly pray for each other and for ourselves.
Peace and blessings.
You didn't offend me, painbrain. I guess I feel more sad or discouraged that some of us seem to be on different wavelengths but as Dazon said, it's up to God (or the Holy Spirit) to draw each person to Him and reveal Himself to Him. Our job is to mainly pray for each other and for ourselves.
Peace and blessings.
I think we have the opportunity here to work with different views but same goal with wanting truth, to live in ways that are honoring and helpful to self/others & be close to God.
I take a traditional approach but also recognize that each person has to come to their awareness of God reaching them. I don't have a problem with some sharing what they believe is the way to be saved knowing it is done with a heart concern for someone's eternity standing.
Equal time though to those with differing views...then the person makes the choice. God gave free will and all things are possible with Him. It is my hope that none will perish and that God will find a way to reach everyone with what is necessary to save them.
I take a traditional approach but also recognize that each person has to come to their awareness of God reaching them. I don't have a problem with some sharing what they believe is the way to be saved knowing it is done with a heart concern for someone's eternity standing.
Equal time though to those with differing views...then the person makes the choice. God gave free will and all things are possible with Him. It is my hope that none will perish and that God will find a way to reach everyone with what is necessary to save them.
I am sorry I offended. I didn't mean to make you feel like you couldn't keep posting. I enjoy reading peoples posts about their spiritual selves.
I have come to believe ever single person who comes to the spirituality forum is here for a reason. Maybe it is something to share, maybe it is just a comment, or a link to some outside source of encouragement, for each person it is different.
But I think as much as spirituality can be a blessing, sometimes "religion" can be confining for people.
My life has taught me never to buy something labeled "one size fits all" because in truth, it usually doesn't fit well at all. I also tend to reject ideas or "rules" that are one size fits all, because quite frankly, the life I live is unique and varies from second to second. My spirituality does too.
Religion is different than spiruality. Religion is pretty straitforward, with rules and opinions on what is acceptable, and just as many rules and opinions on what is not acceptable. For some people, religion is what they need to give meaning to life, and I do not wish to deprive them of that.
But for some other people, traditional religions and their dogma can push people even further from a relationship with God. For some people, where they are on their path to God is spiritual rather than religious.
This is the place for spiritual seeking. For being open to, and supportive of ,the individual spiritual path that any one of us may be on. I respect the path that you are on, and I am glad that it works for you. I also respect the path that KC is on, and I am glad that it works for her.
There are many ways to interpret biblical scripture, and just as many other religious scriptures in the world that are seen as the words of God by their followers. The spiritual path that each of us walks down is different. Each life is unique and specific to the individual.
And spiritually, each path has something of value worth rejoicing in. Even the path that may seem full of darkness, can have a spiritual "light".
I hope I didn't discourage you from further posting :) I want everyone to feel their own spiritual path is welcome here. :)
I have come to believe ever single person who comes to the spirituality forum is here for a reason. Maybe it is something to share, maybe it is just a comment, or a link to some outside source of encouragement, for each person it is different.
But I think as much as spirituality can be a blessing, sometimes "religion" can be confining for people.
My life has taught me never to buy something labeled "one size fits all" because in truth, it usually doesn't fit well at all. I also tend to reject ideas or "rules" that are one size fits all, because quite frankly, the life I live is unique and varies from second to second. My spirituality does too.
Religion is different than spiruality. Religion is pretty straitforward, with rules and opinions on what is acceptable, and just as many rules and opinions on what is not acceptable. For some people, religion is what they need to give meaning to life, and I do not wish to deprive them of that.
But for some other people, traditional religions and their dogma can push people even further from a relationship with God. For some people, where they are on their path to God is spiritual rather than religious.
This is the place for spiritual seeking. For being open to, and supportive of ,the individual spiritual path that any one of us may be on. I respect the path that you are on, and I am glad that it works for you. I also respect the path that KC is on, and I am glad that it works for her.
There are many ways to interpret biblical scripture, and just as many other religious scriptures in the world that are seen as the words of God by their followers. The spiritual path that each of us walks down is different. Each life is unique and specific to the individual.
And spiritually, each path has something of value worth rejoicing in. Even the path that may seem full of darkness, can have a spiritual "light".
I hope I didn't discourage you from further posting :) I want everyone to feel their own spiritual path is welcome here. :)
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