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From: marty@ism780c.UUCP (Marty Smith)
Newsgroups: net.religion.christian,talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: Sweet water vs bitter (long)
Message-ID: <3765@ism780c.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-Oct-86 14:20:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: ism780c.3765
Posted: Mon Oct  6 14:20:41 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Oct-86 10:49:26 EDT
References: <5507@decwrl.DEC.COM> <3664@ism780c.UUCP> <2590@watdcsu.UUCP> <3697@ism780c.UUCP> <153@cwrudg.UUCP>
Reply-To: marty@ism780c.UUCP (Marty Smith)
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Organization:


Richard, most of your posting was based on the wisdom that is in the
Bible, and so I found it to be of great value.  On the issues below, however,
I disagree.

In article <153@cwrudg.UUCP> rush@cwrudg.UUCP () writes:
>
>On the issue of relieving negativity:
>
>	"And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved,
>	 put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness,
>	 and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other,
>	 whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave
>	 you, so also should you....And let the peace of Christ rule in
>	 your hearts...And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the
>	 name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the
>	 Father."
>	-Colossians 3:12,13,15,17
>
>Does your swearing give thanks to God? Does feeling "negative" (angry,wrathful,
>etc...) spring from a thankful heart? I do not claim that I am never angry
>or unthankful in my heart towards God. In fact I have just finished spending
>the most miserable summer of my life being angry at God in my heart. However,
>the place the that anger was relieved was in my prayer closet, when I was on
>my knees, repenting before the Lord. There is no joy without God. The prayer
>closet is the appropriate place to relieve negativity, where I cannot cause
>my brothers to stumble.

My swearing does not give thanks to God.  Neither does it blame God.  But I
think the issue of swearing has worn out its welcome here.  The issue of
negative feelings, however, is interesting.  I think, since I became an
educated person (whatever that means), I have never been angry at God.  It
simply doesn't make any sense.  *I* am responsible for my actions, not God.
If I make a mistake, it is my responsibility, not God's.

If an earthquake causes a house to fall on me, that's the way the universe
is.  That *is* God.  It makes no sense to waste time complaining that God
ought to be otherwise.

When I'm angry, I take responsibility for my anger, and, knowing that it
will destroy my body and my mind if I do nothing about it, I relieve it in
one of many ways that works.  One of those ways that works for me is by
cursing.

It is commendable that you, filled with rage, can go into a closet, meditate,
and come out with a smile on your face, but it doesn't work for me.  For me,
anger almost always manifests itself physically, and I jump up and down and
curse: scream therapy.  It works.

>>Christiandom has not allowed the
>>Bible to change over the centuries.  Thus, the Bible has lost meaning
>>rather than gained.
>>
>The message of the Bible does not need to change. I understand it to be this:
>
>	God is and is Holy.
>	Jesus is God incarnate (an amazing thing).
>	Christ was crucified to atone for man's sins.
>	Jesus rose from the dead.

If that's all there is to the Bible, then we can do away with it and just use
your clear, concise summary.  But, of course, that's not the case.  There is
much more to the Bible.  My point was that, unfortunately, the Bible has been
translated many times, and the meanings of the words have changed in the
millenia since it was written.  It seems at least reasonable then that
without changing the words to keep up (not The Word, but, the words), the
meaning would also change (not the intended meaning, but, the meaning we get
when we read the words (not The Word, but, the words)).

>I personally believe that those parts of the Bible that are not declaring
>these things are describing the implications  of them. The meaning of the
>Bible does not need to change "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today,
>yes and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Good point.  In fact, if the meaning of the Bible changes, then something is
wrong.
				Marty Smith