Recent content by BarneyFife

There truly is no other way to exert positive influence. But further yet, we should prefer service to teaching and sermonizing. A lesson or sermon will only influence as much as it serves. strs

Hi, Aunty! :waves: Plain English it'll be, then. :smile: NOT AOMSOC (Oops) AOMSAC Angry Old Men Shouting At Clouds

What is love? AOMSAC? (Oops)

I'm just tired of replying to Angry Old Men Shouting At Clouds.

At the risk of seeming overly dramatic, my personal 'faith' is founded on one (admittedly at least slightly expandable) absolute: God IS love. Of course, love requires freedom and, therefore, risk of love being withheld. So I guess that can of worms is open (again).

I have widely varying levels of concern about each of the items on your list. But I must confess I don't find this forum to be a very fruitful sounding board for my concerns. (Not that I should've ever expected it would be.) In large part, most likely, that I'm also not at all sure my concerns...

Only when it doesn't lead to purer Christianity ;-)

O come Desire of Nations, bind... All peoples in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease; Fill the whole world with Heaven's peace... Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel... The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out. – Proverbs...

I thought we were talking about brick-and-mortar churches.

I often feel like a stranger among my very precious brethren. strs

Some would consider this at least venturing into blind faith territory. It has a definite air of extremism to it—when taken purely at face value which, admittedly nearly always fails to allow for ever-present nuance. And, of course, it's a bit troublesome to claim to adhere to an...

You'd better get used to Mexican Jumping Bean theology with this one. Because that is all you're going to get. strs

What relationship? You never call me! hmmx1: strs

The problem—at least, among brethren who are inclined to work toward unity at all—has traditionally been about deciding on what constitutes "essential" and "non-essential" points of doctrine and also what types of activity/collaboration are being considered as an object of unity. Some might...

3 “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”—Matthew 5:4. The mourning described here is true, heartfelt sorrow for sin. Jesus says, “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” (John 12:32). As a person is drawn to look at Jesus on the cross, they...