Help me out

[Quagmire]

Waymarker; just send the link to this thread to whoever sent you the friendship request.

I'm sure it'll make them feel a lot better about the refusal.

 

[ChristineES]

Jesus said that charitable acts were supposed to be done in secret- so instead of receiving praise from humans, you would receive praise from God.

 

[ChristineES]

As others have asked, I will ask, too. What was the purpose of this thread? Why was it put in the debates section instead of the feedback section? Why couldn't you have just ignored the friend request without alerting the whole board to it?
Christians are supposed to humble.

 

[Waymarker]

Jesus said that charitable acts were supposed to be done in secret- so instead of receiving praise from humans, you would receive praise from God.

On the other hand Jesus said- "let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" Matt 5:16
So in context don't boast about it, but just mention it from time to time where appropriate in discussions and debates, and maybe people will follow your example by doing good stuff themselves..

 

[ChristineES]

On the other hand Jesus said- "let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" Matt 5:16
So in context don't boast about it, but just mention it from time to time where appropriate in discussions and debates, and maybe people will follow your example by doing good stuff themselves..

Those are 2 different things. By letting your light shine, you are praising God, following Jesus commands (including love), and so on. As with praying- you are supposed to pray "in your closet" and not on the street corners so everyone will know you are praying. One calls attention to God, the other to yourself.

 

[Waymarker]

..You might genuinely like the Satanist..

That'll be the day. Farmers up on Dartmoor regularly find sheep with their throats cut and their carcasses laid out in symbolic satanic patterns..

 

[Waymarker]

I learn new stuff everyday. Isnt God beautiful? or Allah, or Brahma... take your pick

Allah? yeah he's a dandy-
[4.34] "Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and as to those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great"

As for Hinduism, its vile caste system preaches that all people are not created equal and that some must stay in the gutter. This National Geographic article spells it out -
National Geographic Magazine

(Excerpt) - "Discrimination against India's lowest Hindu castes is technically illegal. But try telling that to the 160 million Untouchables, who face violent reprisals if they forget their place"

What a difference to glorious Christianity-
"[God] raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory:" (1 Sam 2:8 KJV)

 

[Waymarker]

..As others have asked, I will ask, too. What was the purpose of this thread? Why was it put in the debates section instead of the feedback section?..

I explained in earlier posts, has somebody deleted them?
To recap, this sensational thread explores relationships between christians and nonchristians, ie whether we can be true friends, or whether christians should pray for them etc.
Here's a third aspect we can consider- Should Christians marry nonchristians and would such a marriage be doomed to fail?
Personally I could never marry a nonchristian woman, am I being too picky or what?

 

[Waymarker]

..Christians are supposed to humble..

Depends what you mean by 'humble'.
True christians don't do 'wimpy wishy-washy flippy-floppy''-
God says-"So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:16)

 

[England my lionheart]

That'll be the day. Farmers up on Dartmoor regularly find sheep with their throats cut and their carcasses laid out in symbolic satanic patterns..

Have you been watching an American Wherewolf in London,LOL it's funny

 

[ChristineES]

I explained in earlier posts, has somebody deleted them?
To recap, this sensational thread explores relationships between christians and nonchristians, ie whether we can be true friends, or whether christians should pray for them etc.
Here's a third aspect we can consider- Should Christians marry nonchristians and would such a marriage be doomed to fail?
Personally I could never marry a nonchristian woman, am I being too picky or what?

If you don't want to marry a non-Christian woman, that is your choice. No one is criticizing that. If you don't want to hang around (in real life) with no one but Christians, that is your choice, too.
I was just wondering why you announced to the whole board that you will not accept them on your friend's list, to me and the others, it makes you sound snobby- maybe it is not a fair assumption, but we can't help but think that. Jesus (and others) have taught to "do to others as you would have done to you". Think about that, would you want some atheist or Hindu or whatever announcing they do not want any Christians on their friends list?
Plus, adding someone on your friend list is not the same as going out with them to ball games or whatever it is you do for fun. You will probably not meet any of us face to face.

 

[Caladan]

I explained in earlier posts, has somebody deleted them?
To recap, this sensational thread explores relationships between christians and nonchristians, ie whether we can be true friends, or whether christians should pray for them etc.
Here's a third aspect we can consider- Should Christians marry nonchristians and would such a marriage be doomed to fail?
Personally I could never marry a nonchristian woman, am I being too picky or what?

I havent read all posts in this thread, and I dont know to what extent I should seperate the sensationalism from a genuine message you want to pass.
but I'll indulge myself for the rhetorical practice.
does your sentiment slides into all fields? for example shoud nations who come from a Christian background not ally themselves or even negotiate with non Christian nations?
what is the status que you aspire to?
is it strictly professional relationships that Christians should have with non Christians, with no affection involved?
What is the social image you would like to aspire to between Christians and non Christians?
seperation?, 'diplomatic' relations? caste system?

 

[Waymarker]

..you are supposed to pray "in your closet" and not on the street corners so everyone will know you are praying..

Church, closet or anywhere, any place is fine providing its not done for show like the snooty priests did in Jesus's day

 

[Copernicus]

I explained in earlier posts, has somebody deleted them?
To recap, this sensational thread explores relationships between christians and nonchristians, ie whether we can be true friends, or whether christians should pray for them etc.
Here's a third aspect we can consider- Should Christians marry nonchristians and would such a marriage be doomed to fail?
Personally I could never marry a nonchristian woman, am I being too picky or what?

Perhaps it is she who ought to be the picky one.

I don't see why you couldn't explore that relationship by just putting a general question about it out there. Instead, you have turned this into a thread about yourself, and you may have offended the original friend-requester (something you claimed not to want to do).

Anyway, I think that you have some interesting things to say, as I don't run across a lot of Christians with your spin on the religion. So here are some questions:

1) Say you had a very close friend that you suddenly discovered had become an atheist. Would you end your friendship? Ban this person from your company?

2) Say you had a close family member--a child, sister, brother, parent--who suddenly lost faith and became an atheist. How would that affect your relationship?

 

[challupa]

I once let a prostitute have my bed when she knocked my door at 4 a.m. after a client beat her up, but regarding her as a 'friend' would be going a step too far.. (I had the couch)
As for nonchristians, Jesus was quite clear that we can put the gospel message to them, but if they persistently reject it, we should walk off rather than waste any more time casting our pearls -
"If any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them" (Mark 6:11)
"The Jews argued with him, so Paul said 'I'm clear of my responsibility' and left" (Acts 18:6-7)

So the prostitute is not worthy of being a friend? Why not? Maybe I'm just not understanding your definition of a friend.

 

[Waymarker]

..does your sentiment slides into all fields? for example shoud nations who come from a Christian background not ally themselves or even negotiate with non Christian nations?...is it strictly professional relationships that Christians should have with non Christians, with no affection involved?
What is the social image you would like to aspire to between Christians and non Christians?
seperation?, 'diplomatic' relations? caste system?..

I've worked for two Jewish-owned family firms and found them (and Jews in general) to be warm friendly people, and I regularly vote Jerry Lewis's film 'The Nutty Professor' funniest film of all time in polls.
The moral is I get along wonderfully with all creeds in everyday life, but when it comes to having a nonchristian as a true friend or a wife, that's a whole new ball game because there'd always be the thought at the back of my mind "they're Jesus-rejecters".
Hey it cuts two ways, a lady regularly posts in another forum saying she had to become a Jew so that her Jewish boyfriend would marry her"..

 

[Waymarker]

..So the prostitute is not worthy of being a friend? Why not? Maybe I'm just not understanding your definition of a friend...

A true true true friend is somebody who's on your wavelength, and who you like meeting and hanging with and watching Star Trek vids with, simple as that..
The next category of friend would be "sort of" friends, and prossie Sue is one of them..

 

[Caladan]

The moral is I get along wonderfully with all creeds in everyday life, but when it comes to having a nonchristian as a true friend or a wife, that's a whole new ball game because there'd always be the thought at the back of my mind "they're Jesus-rejecters".

Well you can also consider them as fellow citizens, or fellow people, a category before you classify them as 'Jesus rejecters', the fact that they 'reject Jesus' does not take away from their humanity, they are still the same species as you, with the capacity to share healthy friendship.

Hey it cuts two ways, a lady regularly posts in another forum saying she had to become a Jew so that her Jewish boyfriend would marry her"..

Yes, this phenomena, can be found in many cultures. however, the vast majority of people on this forum are people who take inter religious dialogue a step further, and allow it to encompass friendship.

 

[Waymarker]

..would you want some atheist or Hindu or whatever announcing they do not want any Christians on their friends list?..

Some do..
[Koran 5.51] "O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people"

 

[challupa]

Church, closet or anywhere, any place is fine providing its not done for show like the snooty Jewish priests did.

Jesus did not have a church and he didn't preach in one. He did say not to pray in public, something that most Christians can't seem to get. Anyone who prays in public is going for the "brownie points" from humans imo, not from God. I believe that is what people are trying to say here. I also don't think you have the right to call anyone else snooty. I'm thinking it's rather amusing that you are badmouthing Jews when Jesus was one! You have said that you have been forced into telling us about all the wonderful things you have done. Do you not think for yourself and take responsibility for what you do and do not say? If we forced you to brag, then you subscribe to being a victim.