[aragornreborn]

Woah, gee. Gone for a few days and look what happens… I can’t really catch up with everything that has been said (All of us should aspire to post like Estelyn Telcontar who, I’ve noticed, always manages to say exactly what she means in one paragraph. And yes, I’m talking to myself here). Also, even I am having a hard time getting this back on topic. So, I think this will be my last off-topic post out of respect for the rules here.

First, I never meant to attack Menelien, personally. And I don’t think she’s some evil being who supports moral anarchy. :P

What I contend is that there is a divine standard of right and wrong – and only one. And that that standard is given to us by God to show us how we should live. Not because He wants to ruin our fun or put limitations on us, but because He knows what is right and what is beneficial. He tells us not to lie because lying ruins relationships, for example. I also believe that the divine standard was given to us to show us our need for salvation. As you said yourself, Menelien, we aren’t perfect. And perfection is the goal. If we are not perfect, we are imperfect which clearly can not be the way that we are meant to live. God tells us that Himself. He says that “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (perfection).” He also tells us that we can’t save ourselves. “For the payment of sin (imperfection) is death.” But it isn’t hopeless. God adds that “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus died for us all. He took the punishment for us that if we believe in Him, God will give us eternal life and make us perfect. Not in this life. Believe me, I’m not saying that Christians are perfect by a long shot. But God promises us that He will give us life after death and that he will make us holy (perfect) if we believe in Him ("And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life."). In this life, God promises to give those who believe in Him both a specific purpose and the power to do what’s right. That doesn’t mean Christians will always do what’s right. But God does promise that He will help us.

Having said that, I know the words intolerant, religious fanatic are being muttered (or will be muttered) or that people are thinking, “Fine, you have your religion, and I’ll have mine.” In today’s society, there is a misconception about religion. People seem to think that religion was made by man. And indeed, religion is man’s attempt to communicate with God. People also seem to think that all religions are acceptable and right for the people who believe in them. That can not be true. There can not be more than one standard or truth or else they’d conflict. There’s only room for one - which makes sense. There can not be more than one all-mighty Creator. And you can’t have more than one set of absolutes. It doesn’t work. Also, man can not create God. Or else it isn’t God. People sense the supernatural, the existence of God, but they explain it in various ways. They “create” God. Hell isn’t a reality for some people and a non-reality for others. It either exists or it doesn’t. But man can not say, “all right, Hell exists for you but not for you.” Man does not have control over that. And religion is man’s attempt to have control over the supernatural which is, by nature, impossible. So, instead of religion, we must have faith. Instead of “creating” the impossible - creating God, heaven, and the supernatural – we must accept God, heaven, hell, and the supernatural. We must accept and believe in God and obey Him.

There. That’s what I believe. That’s why I think man can make moral decisions about such things as war and killing – because there is a standard and because there is a living, active God who cares about the world and the people in it.

[ May 17, 2003: Message edited by: aragornreborn ]