river said:Brotha Cedric,
It seems that the teachers you praise the most are the ones you most ignore. I cannot help but think you approach the bible with the same level of ironic propensity to see what you want to see and nothing else. I'm not saying you are a bad person. I just want you to think for a minute.
Oh believe me, I am thinking. I take what Samurai says, and what everyone says, and I give them credit for making a good point, but that does not necessarily mean that I agree with everything they say. When I approach the Bible, I intend to learn what I NEED to learn to be able to become a better DOER the word, rather than a READER of the word (James 1:22).
I Love God, and I am just aimed to do whatever it takes to make it to Heaven, and be glad that I am not on borderline Hell, regardless of what past, present, and future non-christians say and do.
I have beared witness to pastors who use scriptures to get money for a new car, preachers who try to manipulate you into believing what they believe, but that gives me no reason and/or excuse to break up my relationship with God. Instead of finding reasons to give up faith in God, why don't we find reasons to avoid the Devil, and avoid living in the Horrors of Hell. We are in the End Times, and things are only going to get worse, especially for those who have not accepted Christ as their savior. Don't believe me though; just read God's word. Homosexuality, raping, murder, theft; those are signs of the End Times, and only those with faith in Christ will survive. That to me is important. No matter what any Christian or preacher says to me, I still will have my relationship with God.
My advice: If you believe something, do not let other people talk you out of your belief, but at the same time, don't argue with them.
CD