STATUS

author=sbester
This was totally fun! God is good, and we're all evil. But what about the following considerations?

The Good Person Test – *

1. Have you ever lied? If so, this makes you a liar.

Well, the truth hurts. So in that sense, you're actually an insensitive asshole for NOT lying. You truther!

2. Have you ever stolen anything before, regardless of it’s size or value? It could be gum, a pen, music on the internet, anything. If so, this makes you a thief

I steal hearts, which is totally out of my control. And air... I don't know how people haven't caught on to what a valuable commodity that is yet.

3. Have you ever looked at someone with lust? If so, this would make you an adulterer at heart

Hmm, I'm stumped there. But if God gave me a penis, isn't he just as accountable?

4. Have you ever hated anyone? If so, this makes you a murderer at heart

Come on, even God hates Dane Cook.

5. Have you ever used God’s name in vain? This would include saying things like “Oh my G-o-d”. If so, then you are a blasphemer.

Totally unfair. No one says their own name in vain. You know how weird that'd look if I was like "OH MY SEAN!" in a grocery store? Doesn't even role off the tongue nicely.

author=Link_2112

author=Micah718

author=Marrend
Hatred != Murderer in my book. Besides, we all know that the flip side of "Hatred" is "Love". Also, I've been replacing "Dear God" with Darigaaz" of late. Does that replacement effect make me a blasphemer? My guess is "probably", but I'm no expert.

As a total aside, I've heard that recognizing one's own faults, and wishing to atone for mistakes, is a path to righteousness.

Saying God's name in an irreverent way would be the issue. People often say things like "Oh my G-o-d" very casually, not revering God at all. Using a euphemism such as "Oh my gosh" is fine, as the point of a euphemism is to replace an offensive word with one that is inoffensive. "Gosh" isn't God's name, so it wouldn't be blasphemy. I'm not sure what Darigaaz is, but if it's just a word you're using I don't see any issue.

As for what you said about recognizing our faults, and wishing to atone for our mistakes, this is actually a very common teaching. However, if God is just, how can He forgive you? Imagine a murderer stands before a judge, and he says to the judge "Look, I'm really sorry, I know what I did was wrong. Will you please let me go?" Do you think that judge should let him go? If the judge is a just judge, he has to punish the criminal. If God simply pardons the wicked, He is no longer just. If He simply allows the wicked to dwell with Him He is no longer holy.

So, if all men are evil and all men rightly deserve Hell, then what hope do we have? The thing is, even though God is just, God is also love, and in love He has responded to our problem. God came to the Earth as a man, in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ. Christ was born of a virgin and lived an absolutely perfect life. He was accused of evil falsely, beaten terribly, and nailed to a cross. When He was on that cross? He didn't simply suffer being beaten before, or the torturous crucifixion, but more importantly all of the holy hatred and just wrath that God's people deserve, it was ALL poured out upon Him. He died and on the third day after His death He rose again to life. He appeared to over 500 eyewitnesses before ascending to Heaven, where He sits at the right hand of the Father.

So, what does this mean? Imagine it like this. Say you're in a courtroom, and you're guilty. The evidence is against you, there is no doubt in anyone's mind, you did this crime. The fine is $250,000 and you have absolutely no way to pay. The judge is about to sentence you when in walks a man you've never met before in your life, and he pays the fine for you. Now the judge can legally dismiss you. This is similar to what Christ has done: He has paid the fine, for anyone who will repent and believe in Him.

God made a way to both remain just and show mercy toward the sinner. Every other religion I know of tries to teach men that we can repent and work our way into Heaven, but there's a problem: no matter how much you try to make up for what you've done wrong, you have still done wrong and you must be punished for those crimes. Imagine that same scenario from earlier, that murderer before the judge who said he was sorry. Now, if he says "I give to charity and I'm very thoughtful of others. Will you please let me go?" do you think the judge should let him go? The good things he does is irrelevant: he has broken the law, and there are consequences for that. No amount of good works we can do will ever erase the crimes we've already committed.

The Bible teaches that our works are as filthy rags before Him (Isaiah 64:6). It's like trying to bribe God to overlook the evil we've already done. Christianity is different from any other religion I know of, in that it addresses how God can be both just and show mercy to the unjust. It explains how God is able to forgive evil men yet at the same time remaining just and holy. If anyone will repent of their sins (if they will admit that what God says about us is true, that we are evil and we have sinned, and if they turn away from the sins they do know about) and put their trust in Jesus Christ, they will be saved from God's wrath. The fine has been paid in full, for everyone who will repent and trust in Him.

If you'd like to learn more about this, please, feel free to continue speaking with me here, or check out my website, the one in this status. If you can't reach me here, my email should be on the website. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for your reply before.

is this a joke account? very suspicious