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Bible Study
See other Bible Study Articles

Title: Three Articles that help explain Israel
Source: WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)
URL Source: http://www.wels.net/news-events/for ... december-2008/invisible-church
Published: Jun 24, 2012
Author: various - Noted at end of each article.
Post Date: 2012-06-24 10:03:21 by SJN
Keywords: None
Views: 260511
Comments: 482

The Invisible Church

As the Bible describes the church, it becomes clear that the church is both what we see and what we cannot see.

Church. The word paints a picture. You see the building in which you worship. It may be a small, white-frame building set on a hill in the quiet countryside. Or it may be a large, stone structure occupying a street corner in a busy city. It’s not unusual for us to think of a building when we think of church. Worship is an important part of our lives, and that worship takes place in a building we love, whether it is fancy or plain.

But that is not the way the word church is used in the Bible. In Scripture, church most often refers to people and not to buildings.

The church is invisible

In the New Testament the word ecclesia is often translated as church. Ecclesia refers to a group of people who have been called together. It is an assembly. Yet even that definition does not fully explain what the church is. As the Bible describes the church, it becomes clear that the church is both what we see and what we cannot see. The church is both visible and invisible.

Why would we call a church invisible? You can see a building. You can see the people who gather in that building. Yet we do speak of the church as invisible in the Apostles’ Creed when we confess “I believe in the holy Christian church, the communion of saints.” Sometimes people mistakenly use the term saint to refer to a person who does an abundance of good deeds, someone who helps others. But the Bible uses the term to describe simply a believer. We even distinguish between believers who have been called home to heaven and those who still battle in this world. We speak of saints triumphant and saints militant.

The apostle Peter describes these believers as “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God” (1 Peter 2:9). Together all believers form the holy Christian church, a “spiritual house” made up of living stones chosen by God. When the Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts, we become part of this structure. The Lord Jesus can see the faith in our hearts. We, however, can only see the fruits of faith and not the faith itself. Because we cannot see faith, the church is invisible to our eyes. The prophet Elijah did not recognize that there were still seven thousand believers in Israel (1 Kings 19:8-18). He thought that he was the only believer left. Likewise, we cannot always tell whether a person is a believer or an unbeliever.

As the Bible describes the church, it becomes clear that the church is both what we see and what we cannot see.

Although the church may be invisible to us, the Lord sees his church clearly. “The Lord knows those who are his” (2 Timothy 2:19). At the same time each person knows what is in his or her heart. Trusting in the promises the Lord gives us, we know that we belong to that communion of saints, the church of God.

Characteristics of the invisible church

This invisible gathering of all believers is not limited by geography. The apostle John reminds us that believers come from different places and “from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9). In addition, the church is not limited by time. All believers who have lived, are now living, and will live until Jesus returns at the end of time—all these believers are part of this church. The church, the body of all believers, is invisible, and it is also universal. Once again we confess this fact in the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed. “I believe in the holy Christian church.” The first people who used this confession of faith said, “I believe in the holy catholic church.” The word catholic originally had no denominational connotation. It simply meant universal. When catholic became associated with a particular organization, the word Christian was substituted to prevent confusion. In the Apostles’ Creed we confess that we believe that the Lord gathers together everyone whose faith is in Jesus Christ as the Savior.

People believe in many things. We say that we believe in our team, in our country, and in people who are dear to us. Likewise, many people believe in some religious figure other than Christ. God’s invisible church gathers together only those people who confess Jesus as their Savior. We distinguish ourselves from the followers of Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and every other religion. We confess that Jesus Christ is true man and true God. We believe that Christ is sinless and perfect and that he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

As the Bible describes the church, it becomes clear that the church is both what we see and what we cannot see.

In a world that suggests that it does not matter what you believe as long as you believe, it becomes important to remember that the invisible church gathers together all believers in Christ. Without faith in Jesus we cannot be saved. Without Jesus we have no part in the communion of saints, the gathering of all believers. Jesus makes that clear when he says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

People die. Church buildings may fall apart. Congregations may disband. But the invisible church continues. The Lord has promised that there will always be true believers who are kept faithful by the power of God. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27,28). What a comfort it is to know that the Holy Spirit, who calls us to faith, also preserves us in that faith through the gospel in Word and sacraments!

It is easy to become attached to a congregation. It is in that fellowship that we listen to the good news of Jesus proclaimed. There we hear that our sins are forgiven. In our congregation we draw close to Jesus as we receive the sacrament of his body and blood. Likewise the building in which a congregation worships may be a special place. It may be the same structure in which we were baptized, confirmed, and married. It reminds us of all the blessings God has showered upon us.

But we are part of something that is even more valuable, the holy Christian church. Our triune God has brought us together with people we may never see or know on this side of eternity. Through faith the Lord has made us a part of the congregation of all believers. Right now we are not able to see this church in its entirety. Yet what is invisible to our eyes now will be seen when the Lord returns in glory. What a joy it will be to see all believers from every part of the world and from all times! The day will come when we will gather together and praise the God of grace who gives us membership in his family, the invisible church. That church is not really invisible. It is only invisible to us. God sees it clearly.

James Korthals, a professor at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wisconsin, is a member at David’s Star, Jackson.

Peter's Picture of the Church

1 Peter 2:4-10

The word "temple" in our modern society usually describes a large, beautiful building which is used for the worship of some god. The use of such temples goes back thousands of years. Peter used it to paint a beautiful word picture of Jesus and his church in 2:4-8.

Made up of living stones

Jesus is pictured in many ways in John's gospel. Peter adds his own picture here, when he writes, "The Lord Jesus is the living stone" (v. 4). In verse 6 he gives the original source for this statement (Isaiah 28:16), where God said, "Look! I'm laying a stone in Zion [another name for Israel], a very special cornerstone of great value, and the person who believes in him will never be disappointed."

In the ancient world the cornerstone was more than a stone on which was carved the date of construction. The cornerstone determined the length, the width, and the height of the building, so that the whole building depended on that cornerstone.

That is the picture Peter uses to describe the church in verse 5a, where he says, "And since you are living stones, as you come to him you are built up into a spiritual temple," of which Jesus is the cornerstone. The church is built on Jesus, and around Jesus, the cornerstone. And it is made up of people who are like Jesus--perfectly holy beings in God's sight. That is the way God sees every person who truly believes in Jesus as his or her Savior, because our God-given faith makes us new creatures who are perfectly holy in God's sight, and every such person "will never be disappointed" on Judgment Day.

Then Peter explains in verse 7, "This means that he's of great value to you people who believe in him, but for those who don't believe in him, 'the stone which the builders [the Jewish nation as a whole] decided was no good, is the very one which has become the cornerstone'; and 'the stone which will make people stumble, and the rock which will make them fall.' "How clear Peter makes it that Jesus is the difference between eternal life and eternal damnation.

We are now a holy group of priests

Next Peter uses a new metaphor in verse 5 when he says that the believers who come to Jesus as living stones "are built up into a spiritual temple, to be a holy group of priests, who offer up spiritual sacrifices which God is happy to receive." He continues in verses 9,10, "There was a time when you were no people at all, but now you are God's people. You who never knew God's mercy have now received his mercy." Praise the Lord!

Peter is reminding us that there was a time when we were all outsiders, so far as God is concerned, unbelievers who had never heard of the triune God. But now that we have heard the good news and have come to believe it, we are God's people, while the Jews, as a nation, have rejected their Messiah and are outsiders.

Now you must take note of the fact that every believer is a priest whose principal occupation it is to offer spiritual sacrifices to our triune God each day of our lives. Yes, from morning to evening we offer our God our thanks and praises for the undeserved love he has shown us by sending first his Son to atone for all our sins, and then his Holy Spirit who has brought us to believe the good news that all our sins are forgiven by Jesus' death on the cross, so that we are now God's children who are perfectly holy in God's sight.

Our task as priests is to also bring him our other sacrifices. First there are our time and our talents which we spend carrying out the different tasks we can do as members of our congregations. In some cases we may give our Lord all of our time and talents to serve as pastors, teachers, missionaries, or church office workers.

All of us, whether we are active workers or not, can offer the Lord a portion of our financial resources, which represent the value of our time spent in some gainful occupation.

And of course the temple in which we serve is known to us as the church, the whole body of believers. The picture of the church that Peter gives us here is perhaps the most complete picture to be found anywhere in the Bible.

Julian Anderson is a retired pastor and seminary professor living in Naples, Florida.


(The Following article should help to illuminate why the Nation of Israel and it's people have seen thousands of years of turmoil).

Samuel: A Judge in Israel

Concentrating on the Lord is daunting when dangers clamor for attention. Think back 300 years before Samuel. Following the death of those who carved a Jewish homeland out of Canaan, “another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10).

To awaken his spiritually-anesthetized people, God enlisted neighboring nations to harass, enslave, and terrorize Israel. Slapped to consciousness, God’s people recognized their sin, pleaded for forgiveness, and prayed for relief. God then raised up leaders—judges—who with the Lord’s power pushed back the oppressors. Moral and spiritual health flourished. But “when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers . . .” (Judges 2:19).

Repenting to God

This cycle of godlessness, oppression, repentance, freedom, upright living, and a return to godlessness repeated itself until Samuel. Remember Eli and his sons? 1 Samuel 7 brings us to a repentance and freedom section of that cycle and to Samuel as Israel’s final judge.

The Ark of the Covenant remained in the border town of Kiriath-Jearim for 20 years after the Philistines captured it and then returned it to stem a Lord-induced plague. During those two decades “all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the Lord” (7:2).

To confirm that renaissance of faith, Samuel summoned his countrymen to a spiritually essential, but politically provocative, act—national purification and rededication. Israel was not a free country. Philistine overlords kept close watch. When their surveillance noticed huge numbers of Israelites staging at Mizpah (literally, “look out point”), their early-warning alarms wailed. Mizpah was a military gem mounted in hills about eight miles north of Jerusalem.

Soon the sound of Philistine marching boots, the clank of armor, and the bellow of war trumpets echoed off Mizpah. “When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid . . .” (7:7). No doubt. Concentrating on the Lord is daunting when dangers (dare we add personal problems or financial difficulties) clamor for attention.

Victory through God

Samuel, however, urged Israel to fasten on God. “Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us” (7:8). Strength was not in their military might, but in the Lord’s omnipotence.

God confirmed that. With Israeli knees bent in prayer and without an Israeli sword unsheathed, God’s deafening thunder routed the Philistine army. Panicked, the troops stumbled south toward safety. Their backs made easy targets.

The Philistine losses that day did not completely free Israel. We await Saul and David to accomplish that. Israel, however, did enjoy a season of peace with Philistia and, as a fringe benefit, with the Amorites.

Concentrating on the Lord is daunting when dangers clamor for attention.

To mark the victory, Samuel set up a monument called Ebenezer (“stone of help”). Ebenezer stones (church cornerstones, wedding anniversaries, birthdays) remind us, “Thus far has the Lord helped us.” But our most conclusive proof that there’s always an upside in our downside world is Jesus, “the stone the builders rejected [that] has become the capstone” (1 Peter 2:7).

James A. Aderman is pastor at Fairview, Milwaukee.

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#282. To: sneakypete (#251)

LOL! Know a lot of VN-era SF vets,do you?

I sure do. Family, friends and when I was a youngster is 1/11th SFG a slew of them were in the unit. Not to mention the VFW.

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. -Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

redleghunter  posted on  2012-06-29   13:02:41 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#283. To: Biff Tannen, A K A Stone, Liberator, SJN (#281)

Can you start up a 'Liberator Wire' thread?

Or we could put Biff in a padded room like Jim. Since I suspect Biff has me on Bozo, the rest of us can enjoy the video:

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. -Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

redleghunter  posted on  2012-06-29   13:10:40 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#284. To: Biff Tannen, A K A Stone, Liberator, SJN (#278)

I never said I was in favor of it either. I was talking about people who are trying to use the force of government to make their beliefs law. I've never said anything in support of gays or against Christians.

Biff, who is trying to force their "will" on the people by using government? Below is a post in response to the same issue on another thread.

You come from a position that sees "tolerance" as being "acceptance."

Gays are asking for acceptance and indoctrination and not tolerance.

The true meaning of tolerance is this: you have a position, I have a position, we do not agree with each other's position but depart peacefully. What comes after this is called acceptance. Acceptance would be we have opposing views and one of us backs down and "accepts" the other's position as their own. Folks like SJN, me, Liberator and A K A Stone are all about tolerance as it is properly defined. We will not accept the homosexual position. And because folk like us do not accept your position on homosexuality there is only one option left to 'win' the debate. That would be called indoctrination and re- education. And WE ARE seeing that indoctrination today are we not? It is happening in the schools, after school programs, on TV and in universities. This week is the 50th Anniversary of the court decisions forbidding prayer and Bible study in public schools. So you can't say the Christians are trying to indoctrinate the kids in public forums, they can't it is illegal. However, given the homosexual lobby is not considered a religion (it should be) they can get local permission from school boards to "evangelize" their position thus cutting off the whole tolerance or acceptance route to the national debate.

That is what good Christian folk are fighting for. Some form of neutrality. If gays can spread their false gospel to the masses unopposed hiding behind the cloak of "intolerance" and "bigotry" of others, The Gospel of Jesus Christ should be getting equal time. And if Christians do not get equal time, then we should be all demanding neutrality, which brings us back to the REAL meaning of tolerance.

So based on the above, you can keep calling us intolerant bigots but that has little meaning and is just a chant. If you were tolerant in the real sense of the word, you could call the Christian response to the homosexual agenda as reactionary. And Christians would be correct and tolerant in calling the radical homosexual agenda an insurgency.

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. -Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

redleghunter  posted on  2012-06-29   13:16:42 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#285. To: Liberator (#262)

HA! Isn't that exactly what YOU TWO do regarding your characterization of "Fundies"?

Ok,how do YOU define "fundies"

Fundie Catholics and Muslims,for instance.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   13:24:04 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#286. To: redleghunter (#284)

I'm not here to educate you, asswipe. Save your tedious cut-and-pastes for someone else.

For someone who professes (I'd imagine) to love the truth, you sure don't recognize it when it's right in your face, lol.

.
Whatcha lookin' at, butthead
Say hello to your grandma for me.

Biff Tannen  posted on  2012-06-29   13:28:28 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#287. To: Liberator (#264)

He's more of a social enigma, siding with the Left on the issues of militant homo-enabling, pro-homo on queer-marriage, and is militantly and intolerantly anti-Christian...

It would be easier and more accurate to just describe me as being "militantly pro- Bill of Rights".

I have the odd and unpopular old-fashioned opinion that GOVERNMENT MUST treat all citizens the same when it comes to recognizing freedoms and applying laws.

ALL citizens. Even citizens I don't like.

I realize this isn't a popular position in the eyes of most members of the Dimpublic Party,but it's not my fault they/you are fascists who believe the government must control people,their acts,and their opinions.

If this makes me evil,I can live with it.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   13:30:32 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#288. To: Biff Tannen (#286)

Save your tedious cut-and-pastes for someone else.

The point applies to your line of thinking. Perhaps you could respond to what I posted instead of continuing to plow through a manure truck with your language.

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. -Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

redleghunter  posted on  2012-06-29   13:33:26 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#289. To: redleghunter (#288)

I tried to wade through that a couple of times. Too many words.

Narrow it down to a couple of sentences, why don't you.

This business of ignoring each others posts so we can get our own thoughts in isn't very interesting to me, you know.

.
Whatcha lookin' at, butthead
Say hello to your grandma for me.

Biff Tannen  posted on  2012-06-29   13:41:46 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#290. To: Liberator (#269)

Society and civilization has "imposed" it's beliefs because they are NORMAL AND NATURAL.

The battle cry of every dictator that has ever lived.

On the other hand, you, yu-klown, meguro, Pete, and Mikey ALL endorse using goobermint and the courts to impose and enforce YOUR queer, special statist laws upon the rest of US...

Pure,unadulterated horse shit. The exact opposite is true. It is people that think like YOU who are working to use the force of government to impose YOUR beliefs on the rest of us by creating laws that agree with your biases.

YOU and others like you want YOUR beliefs and lifestyle recognized as dominant and normal,when it fact it is not dominant,and is only normal for YOU. I am positive that members of other religious cults see your lifestyle and beliefs as being against the wishes of God.

Despite this,you are so narrow-minded you have become a statist in order to enforce your religious views and lifestyle on everyone else. Hitler,Stalin,Mao,and every other dictator that ever lived would stand up and applaud your actions if there were such a thing as life after death.

Speaking only for myself,I don't personally give a damn if you ever open your mind to the possibility of other opinions or not,but I want you to understand that you MUST accept the fact that your fellow citizens have the same right to live free without a nanny government monitoring their lives as you do.

The problem is NOT that people like you don't understand the simple statement "We are either all free,or none of us are free",which is a quote I originated,it's that you DO understand it and don't agree with it. From YOUR POV people like you should be the only ones free,and you should have the authority to dictate to others how they MUST live in order to avoid the government punishing them for non-Politically Correct thoughts or actions.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   13:42:08 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#291. To: redleghunter, Biff Tannen, A K A Stone, SJN (#283)

Or we could put Biff in a padded room like Jim. Since I suspect Biff has me on Bozo, the rest of us can enjoy the video:

Apropos clip...And frankly, a BOZO by that mental midget must mean he's worn out by your Chick Tracts, lol.

Btw, the padding in either cell had better be heavy-duty rubber. I actually feel sorry for Biffy. He's stands on ZERO principle....except subversion, chaos, and anarchy. Yeah - sorta like Jimmy Mac.

Liberator  posted on  2012-06-29   13:44:00 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#292. To: Liberator (#270)

So sayeth the Statist-Pro-Homo Lying Athiest who fails to see the *IRONY* that Commies AND Atheists share the same hatred of Christianity.

More horseshit. The commies and the churches only hate each other because they are competitors in the same business.

Pete also fails to acknowledge that the American Founding Fathers by and large were adherents of the "Cult" of Christianity.

A easy lie to sell because most people today don't realize it was illegal to NOT believe in God when those men were born and grew up,and impossible to get elected or even run a business if it became known publicly they were non- believers.

Kinda like people like you and your brothers in the Taliban want people to live today.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   13:46:00 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#293. To: Liberator (#272)

Lol, you think I'm bothered by your curse of The Almighty?

You should. Surely he's going to rape you if you don't punish me.

Maybe he will even impregnate you when he does it?

After all,if you believe in virgin birth and Jesus being the Son of God, he has a history of doing stuff like that.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   13:48:35 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#294. To: Liberator (#273)

More horsesh*t and lies....But I guess practice makes perfect.

You would know because you have been doing it your whole life.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   13:49:29 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#295. To: redleghunter, Biff Tannen, A K A Stone, TooConservative, SJN (#284)

Biff, who is trying to force their "will" on the people by using government?...

This week is the 50th Anniversary of the court decisions forbidding prayer and Bible study in public schools. So you can't say the Christians are trying to indoctrinate the kids in public forums, they can't it is illegal. However, given the homosexual lobby is not considered a religion (it should be) they can get local permission from school boards to "evangelize" their position thus cutting off the whole tolerance or acceptance route to the national debate.

That is what good Christian folk are fighting for. Some form of neutrality. If gays can spread their false gospel to the masses unopposed hiding behind the cloak of "intolerance" and "bigotry" of others, The Gospel of Jesus Christ should be getting equal time. And if Christians do not get equal time, then we should be all demanding neutrality, which brings us back to the REAL meaning of tolerance.

Amen, brutha...

THE truth of the matter repeated:

"This week is the 50th Anniversary of the court decisions forbidding prayer and Bible study in public schools. So you can't say the Christians are trying to indoctrinate the kids in public forums, they can't it is illegal."

So based on the above, you can keep calling us intolerant bigots but that has little meaning and is just a chant. If you were tolerant in the real sense of the word, you could call the Christian response to the homosexual agenda as reactionary. And Christians would be correct and tolerant in calling the radical homosexual agenda an insurgency.

BULLSEYE (but don't expect a sane rebuttal from Biffy or ANY of his ilk (like sneakypete). They just REFUSE to see the beyond their own bigoted, anti-Christian PC beer-goggles).

Liberator  posted on  2012-06-29   13:49:56 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#296. To: Liberator (#275)

You demand *everyone* kneel and bow down to the gay fascism that demand we all accept "gay marriage"

No,that's just one of your favorite fantasies,and no doubt one of your cult leaders favorite fund-raising tools.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   13:50:56 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#297. To: sneakypete (#285)

Ok,how do YOU define "fundies"

Fundie Catholics and Muslims,for instance.

You know damn well who you refer to in this case. And it AIN'T either "Fundie Catholics and Muslims". It's Protestants.

Liberator  posted on  2012-06-29   13:51:51 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#298. To: Biff Tannen (#278)

I never said I was in favor of it either. I was talking about people who are trying to use the force of government to make their beliefs law. I've never said anything in support of gays or against Christians.

To him,that's the same thing.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   13:52:34 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#299. To: SJN (#280)

I regret to inform you that more than your memory may well see hell.

I'll save you a seat.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   13:53:23 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#300. To: Biff Tannen, redleghunter (#286)

Biffy: "I'm not here to educate you, asswipe."

That's true. I'm sure a bag of hammers are willing to testify on your behalf.

Liberator  posted on  2012-06-29   13:54:31 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#301. To: redleghunter (#282)

I sure do. Family, friends and when I was a youngster is 1/11th SFG a slew of them were in the unit. Not to mention the VFW.

And you are trying to claim they were all thumpers?

None were atheists or agnostics?

All wanted religious rule in place of the Constitution?

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   13:54:59 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#302. To: redleghunter (#282)

Family, friends and when I was a youngster is 1/11th SFG

BTW,the 11th was a Reserve unit. They may have been VN-era vets,but none of went to VN unless they went active duty.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   13:57:10 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#303. To: Biff Tannen (#289)

I tried to wade through that a couple of times. Too many words.

Narrow it down to a couple of sentences, why don't you.

I will take that as you don't care to read posts other than your own. Maybe I need to post a few more comics instead.

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. -Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

redleghunter  posted on  2012-06-29   14:00:03 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#304. To: Biff Tannen, redleghunter (#289)

Narrow it down to a couple of sentences, why don't you.

But....but...but,that would require THINKING instead of "FEELING".

Something else the religious right have in common with their leftist brothers. It's all about "feelings" and emotion,not facts. All religions are based on faith because facts just don't support their beliefs.

The smarter ones know this at their core,which is why they get so defensive and go into attack mode when you question their beliefs.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   14:03:46 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#305. To: sneakypete (#301)

And you are trying to claim they were all thumpers?

None were atheists or agnostics?

All wanted religious rule in place of the Constitution?

That was not the original point. None talked poorly of Armed Services no matter their experience. None talked poorly of our Christian Heritage in the USA. And no one is advocating a "religious rule" in place of the Constitution. If you knew your American history well, you would know what the Founders said about the Bible and Christianity.

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. -Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

redleghunter  posted on  2012-06-29   14:04:25 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#306. To: sneakypete (#302)

BTW,the 11th was a Reserve unit. They may have been VN-era vets,but none of went to VN unless they went active duty.

Yes it was a Reserve unit and the Vietnam Vets served on active duty in different units during the Vietnam war. I was in 1/11th in the late 80s.

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. -Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

redleghunter  posted on  2012-06-29   14:05:41 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#307. To: Liberator (#297)

Ok,how do YOU define "fundies" Fundie Catholics and Muslims,for instance.

You know damn well who you refer to in this case. And it AIN'T either "Fundie Catholics and Muslims". It's Protestants.

Afraid to answer the question?

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   14:05:56 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#308. To: sneakypete, Biff Tannen, Liberator (#304)

Narrow it down to a couple of sentences, why don't you. But....but...but,that would require THINKING instead of "FEELING".

So thorough writing is considered feeling. That is quite humorous. So if I wrote two sentences, and used insults and profanity that would be genius right?

Then you and Biff are just brimming with genius:)/s

Just admit neither of you have an intelligent response to my original post.

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. -Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

redleghunter  posted on  2012-06-29   14:09:14 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#309. To: redleghunter (#305)

That was not the original point.

The original point was your claim that I must not be a SF VN Vet because you know a lot of VN SF vets and none were non-believers.

None talked poorly of Armed Services no matter their experience.

Where did THAT come from?

None talked poorly of our Christian Heritage in the USA.

What about now? And what about our NON-Christian heritages?

And no one is advocating a "religious rule" in place of the Constitution.

Not only a lie,a DAMN LIE! You and every other thumper on this board is ranting and raving about creating laws that treat one group of citizens as being of an inferior class that shouldn't have the same rights as other citizens.

THAT is un-Constitutional,and the government has already done enough of this as it is without screaming for more.

If you knew your American history well, you would know what the Founders said about the Bible and Christianity.

Yeah,they made damn sure religion was NOT a part of government. Freedom of Religion is also Freedom FROM Religion when it comes to laws and government.

I have no doubt you have been taught and told different your whole life by your cult leader who was and is pissed he and his organization don't have more political power and can't run the country to suit themselves,but that doesn't mean they weren't lying to you.

They earn their living by lying. It's what they do.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   14:14:26 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#310. To: sneakypete (#287) (Edited)

It would be easier and more accurate to just describe me as being "militantly pro- Bill of Rights".

I have the odd and unpopular old-fashioned opinion that GOVERNMENT MUST treat all citizens the same when it comes to recognizing freedoms and applying laws.

ALL citizens. Even citizens I don't like.

Like I said, you're an enigma...And frankly I agree with much of your opinion regarding "freedoms" and "rights"

Unfortunately you allow yourself to go off the rails on the definition of tolerance in the context of Queers and Christians respectively.

But not only that, you've lied and claimed "fundies" aka Christians are "changing" government when it is the Queers and their abettors who are *militantly demanding* changing IT along along with the status quo.

US "law" has enforced a man-woman definition of marriage since the beginning; MANKIND and his civilization has enforced the very SAME universal societal/cultural union as being between a MAN and a WOMAN.

Any such claim to force the rest of America and Civilization to accept "gay marriage" as *law* via YOUR fascism is just as fallacious "right" as enforcing polygamy, inter-family marriage, and inter-species marriage. Except there is actual precedence of the former two. But not "gay marriage" or "marriage" between Fido and his master.

I realize this isn't a popular position in the eyes of most members of the Dimpublic Party,but it's not my fault they/you are fascists who believe the government must control people,their acts,and their opinions.

You're projecting, yet can't see it. Amazing.

If this makes me evil,I can live with it.

It's inadvertently "evil" on your part; You believe you are a gay rights MLK. The worst of it is a blindness to your own hypocrisy, lies, and stupidity.

Liberator  posted on  2012-06-29   14:14:58 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#311. To: redleghunter (#308)

Then you and Biff are just brimming with genius:)/s

Well,neither of us has to habitually fill responses with quotes from other people in order to pretend we are thinking.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   14:16:05 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#312. To: redleghunter, Biffy (#288)

Perhaps you could respond to what I posted instead of continuing to plow through a manure truck with your language.

Intellectually, Biffy couldn't "plow through" a pile of feathers.

Liberator  posted on  2012-06-29   14:18:16 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#313. To: Biff Tannen, redleghunter (#289)

I tried to wade through that a couple of times. Too many words.

Would LARGE pictures and a few crayons help you any?

Liberator  posted on  2012-06-29   14:19:18 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#314. To: sneakypete (#309)

Not only a lie,a DAMN LIE! You and every other thumper on this board is ranting and raving about creating laws that treat one group of citizens as being of an inferior class that shouldn't have the same rights as other citizens.

THAT is un-Constitutional,and the government has already done enough of this as it is without screaming for more.

Interesting you mention this. Who is getting government to do what? Who is passing laws in 2012 to change traditional marriage to something else? If the gays would not legislate their agenda, then all would be well. But they are and Americans are reacting to their demands. Go get a lawyer and draw up a contract with your same sex partner, don't make it the law of the land. This has nothing to do with tolerance and equality. It is all about pushing their form of religion on each state and the entire nation. That is the tyranny, not those who hold to the same beliefs and traditions of the founding fathers.

You must have missed the reactionary vs. insurgent post a few back because it was more than two lines.

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. -Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

redleghunter  posted on  2012-06-29   14:21:16 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#315. To: sneakypete (#311)

Well,neither of us has to habitually fill responses with quotes from other people in order to pretend we are thinking.

LOL, you really do not pay attention. I pasted my own words from another thread. The words and argument are mine. Take a look at them if you really care to debate.

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. -Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

redleghunter  posted on  2012-06-29   14:23:10 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#316. To: Liberator (#313)

tried to wade through that a couple of times. Too many words. Would LARGE pictures and a few crayons help you any?

He did not like the cartoons and won't read more than two lines. He must be one of the Congressmen who voted for Odingacare before even reading it.

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. -Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

redleghunter  posted on  2012-06-29   14:25:03 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#317. To: sneakypete (#290)

Society and civilization has "imposed" it's beliefs because they are NORMAL AND NATURAL.

The battle cry of every dictator that has ever lived.

What part of "Society and civilization has 'imposed'" did you miss?

YOU and others like you want YOUR beliefs and lifestyle recognized as dominant and normal,when it fact it is not dominant,and is only normal for YOU. I am positive that members of other religious cults see your lifestyle and beliefs as being against the wishes of God.

I can see with your circular il-logic and your failure to concede a historically universal codes of ethics and norms that this conversation is going no where fast.

Thanks for playing, Pete. Good luck to you and yu-klown and Fire Island on pulling the SAME kind of rhetorical bullsh*t wagon train. I'm not wasting my time with you as you continue creating your own insane reality.

Liberator  posted on  2012-06-29   14:25:16 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#318. To: redleghunter (#316)

He did not like the cartoons and won't read more than two lines. He must be one of the Congressmen who voted for Odingacare before even reading it.

ROFL...@ BOTH observational jokes.

Biffy "wades" through TWO sentences. Catch that?? LMAO!

Liberator  posted on  2012-06-29   14:26:53 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#319. To: Liberator (#310)

frankly I agree with much of your opinion regarding "freedoms" and "rights"

Yeah,people have rights as long as they agree with your opinions,right?

It's when they disagree with you that they suddenly don't have any rights anymore.

But not only that, you've lied and claimed "fundies" aka Christians are "changing" government when it is the Queers and their abettors who are *militantly demanding* changing IT along along with the status quo.

ANOTHER lie by YOU. The FACTS are fundies like you ARE trying to change the laws to obtain a government based on fundie religious beliefs,just like the enviro and animal loons want to change law to enforce THEIR beliefs.

US "law" has enforced a man-woman definition of marriage since the beginning

So what? Does that mean it was right? There is no definition of marriage at all in the US Constitution,but there IS mentions of all citizens having the same rights.

Slavery was an accepted part of our culture from the beginning,too,but eventually it was recognized that it was un-Constitutional to enslave other humans,so we no longer have slaves in this country. Other than Dim voters,that is.

MANKIND and his civilization has enforced the very SAME universal societal/cultural union as being between a MAN and a WOMAN

More nonsense. Practically every culture since the dawn of mankind has recognized homosexual couples,just as they have recognized unmarried heterosexual couples. It wasn't common and it wasn't spoken about much,but everybody knew about it. I don't know about the East,but in the west it wasn't a big deal until the Catholic Church decided it was evil.

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   14:28:03 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#320. To: redleghunter (#314)

Who is passing laws in 2012 to change traditional marriage to something else?

Nobody. Traditional marriage will always be a marriage between a male and a female.

Where have you heard any different?

Go get a lawyer and draw up a contract with your same sex partner, don't make it the law of the land.

You think homosexual marriage is going to become required by law? As far as I know,some of them only want to marry each other,not you.

This has nothing to do with tolerance and equality.

Obviously. It has to do with your desire to get the government to enforce your religious viewpoints on others.

It is all about pushing their form of religion on each state and the entire nation.

That's EXACTLY what you are doing. It's good to see you finally admit it.

Or do you think homosexuality is some form of religion?

"It is impossible to talk reason with those who can only parrot Party Slogans." sneakypete Sept 2011

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish --Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs,life-long Dim,and major Barry Soetoro supporter.

sneakypete  posted on  2012-06-29   14:34:13 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#321. To: sneakypete, Redleghunter, TooConservative, LF Christians (#292)

Kinda like people like you and your brothers in the Taliban want people to live today.

You mean Christian "fundies" = Taliban....

Have you ANY idea how ignorant and dopey this makes you look??

Me: "Pete also fails to acknowledge that the American Founding Fathers by and large were adherents of the 'Cult' of Christianity."

Pete: "A easy lie to sell..."

You know - the one thing I and fellow posters always respected about you was your (past) integrity, credibility, and effort to remain as truthful as possible.

You've managed to blow all three.

Opposing all that Christianity stands for is one thing; But it is irrefutable that the Founders of this America by and large were INDEED Christians - many devout. It is THE only reason this nation EVER became a nation and became great.

The ONLY reason the nation is now an EPIC FAIL is exactly because Christian ethics and principles were shoved out the door - beginning in the early 1960s.

As folks like you keep on attacking and chipping away at the Judeo-Christian based foundation, we can count on NO "America" is the near future. Congrats on "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED".

Liberator  posted on  2012-06-29   14:41:21 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#322. To: sneakypete (#319)

Yeah,people have rights as long as they agree with your opinions,right?

It's when they disagree with you that they suddenly don't have any rights anymore.

More hyperbole. You're pathetic.

Liberator  posted on  2012-06-29   14:42:15 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  



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