I don't think that you should use Wilde for a promotion of Christianity...not such a good idea. Manny, As Max pointed out, Jesus in the gospels could get very "forceful." He even has a decent amount of "if you don't agree with me or stray from my teachings you will burn forever in hell" speeches.
I am finding it very difficult to believe that anyone thinks a bumper sticker is "pushing" religion or anything on someone. Do you feel that a person with a Dallas Mavericks is "pushing" the Mavericks on you or do you think they are showing support for their team? Do you think a person with a "Vote Bush" sticker is "pushing" Bush on you or showing their support for him?
Well, maybe pushing is a bad choice of words. I don't think it helps in getting someone interested in church, but that is my opinion. So, I guess, to me, I feel like that is pushing something onto someone.
If the sticker said "Know why you don't know jack sh*t about pro basketball? Because you're not a Dallas Mavericks fan." then maybe that would be a little bit closer to the 'pushiness' Manny mentioned. Its not really 'support'. Support would be the cross, or "I Love The Lord" or the little Calvin knockoff kneeling in front of a cross I guess. Either way, I don't care. People can put what they want. It just really doesn't accomplish much besides getting the people who disagreed even more reason to do so.
Rimmy, Wilde WAS very, very drawn to a particular aesthetic in the English church. You may want to read de Profundis again. I find the Chistian passage especially succinct and beautiful. Given he was only allowed on sheet of paper to write one a day, with no revisions, it is all the more remarkable. A not-so-brief quote : Christ's place indeed is with the poets. His whole conception of humanity sprang right out of the imagination and can only be realized by it. What God was to the pantheist, man was to him. He was the first to conceive the divided races as a unity. Before his time there had been gods and men, and, feeling through the mysticism of sympathy that in himself each had been made incarnate, he calls himself the Son of the one or the Son of the other, according to his mood. More than anyone else in history he wakes in us that temper of wonder to which romance always appeals. There is much more very well written, that develops the picture of Wilde grappling with the ideal of Christ, and his affection. It's worth reading. Also "diary of a seducer" from Kierkegaard. Spicy and effective. Don't be so quick to draw lines in the sand. No-one is quite exactly what they seem. That's what the enemy does.
this is my new favorite line ever posted here!!! i brought my own wands and cauldrons when we went to lunch that day...of course, YOU GUYS were the ones with all the spells, so I really don't feel guilty about it.
Watterson hates that his Calvin character has been used on stupid window stickers. He didn't license that out. Does God approve of breaking copyright laws?
I guess I dont understand how this particular bumper sticker could be regarded as "pushy" If you read the Bible, you will find many examples of Jesus being pushy and if that turns you off so be it. I can only imagine if Jesus were to come back in this day and age and try to teach his message as he did 2000+ years ago, I imagine many people would feel like they were having religion "pushed" on them.
Some of you guys are so selfish. You have to understand that it makes most Christians happier to share with others the reasoning behind what makes their happy lives so happy. Just as Rocket fans share in their team's positives to make their joy with being a Rocket's fan complete, Christians likewise share their life moments to make their joy complete. Allow us our happiness, please. Some people say our happiness make them more depressed, like a Spooner to a Longhorn. Maybe it's all about scoreboard. Happy, Happy, Happy
Testify brother Rudyball! I agree with you completely. I am really fascinated by the reference you made to sacrificing oneself to God. As you know for yourself, Christ Himself came to do the will of the Father. Doesn't sound like freedom to me. His life was a testament to honoring God. We are called to do the same. Who needs freedom from the God that is perfect, just and loves His creation? Free will facilitates separation from God in my opinion and promotes influence from Satan. The Bible says that God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. It also says that God is the I AM. In other words, He IS. God is the foundation of everything that was, is and will ever be. The buck stops here. All of that to say this: there is no such thing as freedom. Not even for God Himself. He can't stop being Himself can He? Not possible. Everything else will always be subject to His will. End of rant.
You know, I think I make fantastic vegetarian chili. On a nasty, rainy day like this, nothing makes me happier to sit down with a big bowl of it. BUT Mr. JB intensely dislikes chili of all kinds. It simply tastes bad to him. So what makes me happy makes him unhappy. So do I keep trying to get him to eat my chili? No. Why? Because I love him and respect him enough to let him make his own decisions about his life and how he chooses to live it. If he says he doesn't like it and doesn't want it, then that's good enough for me. Personally, I've never been one for the hard sell. It doesn't work with me for cars, it doesn't work for furniture, and it certainly doesn't work for religion. I've always been of the opinion that if someone is working that hard to convince me of something, they may not too sure of it themselves. I'm glad that Christianity has made so many people on this board happy. Anything that lessens suffering in the world is a good thing. But there are also lots of happy Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and athiests as well. I don't think Christianity has a lock on joy. I think one of the best ways to inspire others to follow your path is to simply live a good life. If you seem happy and peaceful, others will most likely be drawn to you and your message.
This is a powerful statement. It is simple but really packs a punch. My father feels the same way as you do, Mrs. JB, even though he is a deist (although he has also used "Christian Moralist"). Careful, bro...you're talking about our brother-in-law there! Oh, and I don't like chili either.
Three cheers for Mrs. JB's chili, and four cheers for her analogy! Amen. As for Jeff not liking chili, I'm sure it's just because of the Fast Approach of Rockets Trade Scenarios after he eats it.
Mrs. JB -- I see your point...but the problem with it is you don't believe your chili is the difference between eternal life or not. Though, I must say, sometimes I feel like a big bowl of chili on a cold day is heaven! But if I really truly believe that Jesus Christ is the savior...and the way to the Father...why wouldn't I want to share that with everyone BECAUSE I love them? Ultimately it's all in the presentation....
MM, I will NOT pretend to answer for Mrs. JB, of course, but if I might reply to your query.... You may want to say the issue is not chili-like. You may say it's more like smoking, yes? You want your friend to, in this case, give up smoking (i.e. embrace the Lord) because you are convinced that this leads to a better health (i.e. afterlife). Problem is, for better or worse, that analogy is worse than the chili analogy. So sorry, but medical science declares a cause-and-effect relation on the one hand, while on the other hand Christianity is one of a plethora of schools of spiritual belief. A priori, to respect other humans, you have to respect their spiritual views to some extent. In that way, I believe chili is a much more appropriate analogy, even if you believe accepting Christ is even better for somebody than quiting smoking. In terms of religion, we don't all agree on the same surgeon general, and I hope we never do all agree!
B-Bob -- I can't agree with your final hope...but I do agree with your premise...and I agree wholeheartedly...which is to say that I don't think Christianity or any faith should be shoved down someone's throat...at the same time, i don't think a Christian should shy from sharing his beliefs, as long as it's an appropriate forum to do so. The message in and of itself is offensive to some, no doubt. And what some would call subjectivity, the Christian would call fact. Bottom line...I'm with you..people need to be respected and treated fairly...which means you don't say, "i'm right, you're wrong...hope you enjoy hell!" That is all too often a common route for the church at large. That bothers me. At the same time, sharing one's faith is often a really amazing experience which at the very least allows someone to know you much better. Again...one usually has to EARN the right to be heard.
