16d (edited) • DEEP CHAT
What exactly is a "pagan"?
i apologize, but felt compelled to make a post on this (moot) topic because of multiple interactions i've had recently.
Because i'm 'imperfect' i can only give my experiences, hoping you can infer something of value to your views.
i wrote in the "check this out" thread i was having a 'discussion elsewhere', which consisted of the challenge asking me: "curious to know if you’re a follower of Christ? If you are, would you be willing to share your own eschatological views regarding Israel?"
which was the reply to my: (Tucker asserting) "I'm so obviously not a great Christian" was lost in your "suggestion that your position is the only Christian belief"? your proclaiming "a role for Israel" is ignorant of "God is not on any country's side." Tucker states as FACT.
Asking MY views, rather than the topic of what Tucker said was my sign the person was NOT sincere, so i replied with "I'll ignore your curiosity about Christ, as it's not "germane". which i admitted to them was an obvious "troll" response from me.
I've made a mess explaining and context, but need to keep moving.
I was watching a discussion between Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro and historian Samuel Biagetti because i subscribe to Shapiro's approach to Jewish "identity theft" when he used the term "pagan"
"the difference between us and them is in a way very similar to the difference between the Catholic Church and the evangelicals. They are idol worshippers."
"As far as I'm concerned, they are pagans. They're pagans who have things in common with my religion. The Christians have things in common with my religion. Ten Commandments, creation of the world, Old Testament, etc." (source)
"Things in common with my Religion" BUT, he uses the word as a pejorative.
I lost some respect for him with that, knowing he's way more "educated" than i am, i used that to examine my own beliefs.
Also, i need to include Tucker's words: "Your politics does not trump my love for other people"
To me, that statement is ground zero. only second to "You shall have no other gods before me"
I am not doing a "Bible study" here, for that, the verse from Ephesians 6:12, has already been posted "our struggle is not against flesh and blood". what i'm asking is about behavior and attitudes.
I'm sitting here feeling very acerbic, for lack of a better word. If you need to reach for a Bible to cite, i say stop, μαλακός - you're preaching to the choir where it's safe?
Also, if you want to reference Matthew 7:13-14 about the "narrow path", i can only think of the secular southpark: "Mormons were right" (1:36 short) being pushed by too many i believe.
Have i accepted Christ? yes. But when i see a "Christian" making jokes about bacon "holy water" being used on "aloha snackbar (Muslim)" i think, does that hypocrite use that on Jews too?
I've said some 'challenging' things here. I believe sin is internal, Evil external, and i'm being attacked from all sides by evil. whispering in my ear "THOSE people..."
So i'll close with a simple question: Do you tolerate 'pagans' finding their own path to God, or do you take the secular assertion "wrong answer". making you the 'arbitrator of access' to God.
and in fact, you, the reader, don't need to post an answer. a 'rebuttal of the premise' or anything. i'm typing all this to make you ask yourself uncomfortable questions.
because this is NOT about "what I think", but what YOU do.
Post script: i know i'm angry over this, because i've been meditating on this division for YEARS. speaking anything positive about certain Faiths is strictly taboo and has earned me significant grief from "purists".
i stepped afk and had a simple "word from God" inspiration from memory of an "imperfect messenger" House M.D.? "Would you pull an ass out of a pit on Sabbath?
Gregory House is Baalam's Donkey, R Lee Ermey calling me a "JackWagon" has me laughing now.
you've been warned
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What exactly is a "pagan"?
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