Well then.

An interesting comment was left by Stentor at Hugo Schwyzer�s blog, where Hugo discussed my �autoerotism� post. Stentor observed that my post was based upon deontological arguments, whereas �liberal� Christians like Hugo use arguments of the consequent…

Actually, we’re pretty divided here on that front. Hugo’s Christian, of course, and many of his commenters also are (myself included), but many others aren’t.

I was not being nasty or rude in any way. Nor was I hiding any sinister motive. I assumed, possibly incorrectly, that most of the people that posted here were Christian. (If I was wrong, then I apologize if I offended your sensibilites). I never insulted Hugo Schywzer in my post. In my assumption that everyone on this board were Christians I quoted from 1 Timothy to show the danger in fooling around with the gospel and trying to add or take away stuff. All I did was show you what was written. I didn’t say, “hey here is what I think it means” and break the sentence structure apart. It says what it says. Again, if it offended your sensiblities I apologize because it was not my intention.

I did say that you should seek God’s guidance on the matter (who has the final say on the matter). I never said that my post was the defintive answer. God’s guidance is necessary in matters such as these.
The Holy Spirit is not a spirit of argument, anger and bitterness. It is a Spirit of love and compassion. Through continuing this discussion through snide comments and an attempt to show that the other person is a “bit off” is unhealthy, divisive and not of the Holy Spirit. The apostles in various letters did make it clear that in-fighting was and is not healthy as disciples of Christ.

I also made clear that You answer to God not to me. I am not here judging or berating anyone, if you read my post correctly. My experience with God is apart from any church, preachers or any other religious organization. As I stated in another post, those that judge, hate, kill, etc., in the name of Christ are way off. They have missed it and are not serving God. Service to God transcends politics and labels. Once we get caught up in that stuff, our relationship with God is in danger.

BTW: Mythago, I did answer your question about grieving the Holy Spirit.

Djw: your use of the term “substantive procedural grounds” was great. Nice use of pre-law lingo. “Juridical” is one word I also get a kick out of.

God bless and it is my hope that you grow in Christ.

Debating the issue is not healthy or edifying in any way. Again, trying to find fudge room in regards to discipleship is the work of man trying to impose his will on God. Again, this is an issue where you should seek God’s guidance.

We must all be careful when trying to apply Academic theories to spiritual issues. Political and social theories can be dangerous. Remember, “the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron”(1Timothy 4:1-2). We must always be on guard in relation to our service to God.

Look, if your reading is so obviously and transparently correct, then by all means assert it unequivocally and loudly. But if these other interpretations are so obviously wrong, why this urge to get other people who seriously attempt to read the Bible as best they know how and come to different conclusions to just shut up about it? The snippet quoted above suggests that Hugo (and, frankly, most who people who call themselves Christians, at least in the US) are not just hypocrites, but under the thrall of some nasty demons. Is this what you think of all people who read the Bible and differ in their understanding of it’s meaning from you? If not, what are you getting at here?

Meaning, you can’t answer the one I *did* ask.

“How can a person say that the Bible is a divinely inspired and holy book, but pick and choose the bits they like and don’t like? ”

Do you enjoy Red Lobster? Cut your hair? Shave? Wear polycotton blends? If you answered “yes” to any of these above, you ARE picking and choosing which parts of your Holy Book to follow. Plus there are other parts of it, some stuff in the Bible is meant to be taken figuratively. You don’t think taking some cash and burying it in the backyard is a sin do you? Of course not, the whole Talents parable is not really about money at all, but not hiding your god-given skills.

So, debating and discussing this is HIGHLY important. Since the Bible doesn’t come right out and say “Masturbation makes the baby Jesus cry” we really can’t say, without a shadow of a doubt, that it is bad. Ergo, what you say isn’t necessarily the truth any more than any other person on the earth. No one has a “god hotline”, so Christians are busy trying to interpret a 2000+ year book, figure out what is literal, figure out what is figurative, figure out what is the correct interpretation, and figure out what is simply a product of the society it’s written in.