Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[LifelongLearner]

May I recommend giving up after two or three attempts to explain one's views if there is no progress or constructive discussion so that we do not reach the point of ad hominem attacks?

Sadly, that's something both of them do GWH, i must make them understand it's not welcome on my posts. They can always create their own but if they don't behave on mine, i will call them out.
It might be useful to others to skim through comments in this post, can guarantee at least 60% is them derailing discussion. Like you, i just want to have good discussions, spiritual and otherwise, they want to call the shots, i won't allow it.

 

[Kroogz]

I attended a church where we learned from RBT for about two years, but I admired him without idolizing him--
as I did my systematic theology teacher William Hendricks at SWBTS.

I am interested to know what teachings differ.

You should have stuck with it. Your doctrine is a quagmire as of today.

Now I understand all of your "HSGEUAOD" and "LGBTWAS" stuff. Col Thieme did it with SUCCESS.

 

[Genez]

Wish it did go by me Genez, i'm not keen on seemingly senseless drivel. I say seemingly because there's a vague possibility it's true. Just looked at your profile and noticed a dearth of your own posts, surely even you can see the logic in creating your own posts to play in?

You should be working for fake news.
For some, hate sells.

 

[Genez]

Sadly, that's something both of them do GWH, i must make them understand it's not welcome on my posts. They can always create their own but if they don't behave on mine, i will call them out.
It might be useful to others to skim through comments in this post, can guarantee at least 60% is them derailing discussion. Like you, i just want to have good discussions, spiritual and otherwise, they want to call the shots, i won't allow it.

If a good discussion is what you seek?
Start a private conversation.

But, enter a public arena?

Try it...

 

[Genez]

Hey, those who have emotional doctrine over bible doctrine......Will keep you going for PAGES.

Emotional doctrine?
Is that an oxymoron?

Emotional opinions that interject Scripture are not truly what constitutes sound doctrine.

 

[Kroogz]

Emotional doctrine?
Is that an oxymoron?

Emotional opinions that interject Scripture are not truly what constitutes sound doctrine.

Agreed. I was just being nice(emotional.)

Those who do not have doctrine, will try to emotionally emasculate those who have bible doctrine.

 

[LifelongLearner]

You should be working for fake news.
For some, hate sells.

Heh! You know they picked you over me, i wasn't fake enough. Think your Mum or something like it comes next. Seriously just play somewhere else, on your own post would make sense.

My post was intended for rational, pleasant discussion etc, you seek to impose your views on others and have caused real unpleasantness at times within it. Which is why i think you could be young/immature, recommend people read back over at least a few pages of the comments from about 25% in, you'll see what i'm saying.

 

[LifelongLearner]

I will warn you that this is me being gentle and i'm very comfortable sorting things like this out on my own, which you clearly aren't. You need an audience and backup, i don't.

 

[Kroogz]

I will warn you that this is me being gentle and i'm very comfortable sorting things like this out on my own, which you clearly aren't. You need an audience and backup, i don't.

We should get a safe room thread set up. All the whining babies can go there. All bible doctrine is barred from entering.

 

[GWH]

Sadly, that's something both of them do GWH, i must make them understand it's not welcome on my posts. They can always create their own but if they don't behave on mine, i will call them out.
It might be useful to others to skim through comments in this post, can guarantee at least 60% is them derailing discussion. Like you, i just want to have good discussions, spiritual and otherwise, they want to call the shots, i won't allow it.

An obvious truism that needs to be mentioned is that the happy ending has not happened yet! In between conversion and heaven, God allows our journey to go through various places we would rather not visit: the ghost town of job loss, the quarantined ghetto of disease, the burning village of divided families--the frustration of discussion on CC. History can be viewed as a long “King of the Hill” struggle (KOTH).

But let us take heart from the words of Paul (in PHP 4:12-13: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation… I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” I think Paul’s secret is to treat every negative experience as an opportunity for learning some truth that will help us to become stronger persons and better witnesses for Christ. Financial problems teach us to value spiritual riches and to rely on God (1TM 5:6-10), physical ailments teach us to appreciate a healthy immortal life in heaven (2CR 12:7-10), and unhappy relationships or aggravating posters on CC motivate us to resist the devil, even though we feel as if God has forsaken us (JM 4:7-10, MT 27:46).

The paradoxical truth is that Believers experience joy despite KOTH or suffering (1PT 4:13). While not desiring to suffer or praying for problems, mature Christians have a Christ-like attitude so that tribulations only make them merely joyful rather than overjoyed! Christians are joyous because they realize that suffering is only for a season and for good reason:

1. Pain and sickness due to mortality teach us to center our lives on God and the hope of immortality,

2. Pain resulting from sinful behavior leads the wise to conform to the character of Christ (HB 12:4-11, RM 8:29),

3. Relying on God’s grace and truth in the midst of undeserved troubles glorifies Christ (2CR 4:7-11) and shows the value of LGW,

4. Troubles and being criticized on CC serve to keep mature saints humble (2CR 12:7-12), and

5. God’s Holy Spirit comforts those who suffer and thereby demonstrates His love (MT 5:4, 2CR 1:3-4).

As Paul wrote (in RM 5:3-4), “We also rejoice in our sufferings (KOTH), because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Our hope is that we gain heaven (PHP 1:21), which is worth any grief occasioned by Faith (1PT 1:6-9, 2CR 4:16-18, HB 12:2). Yes, this life is not heaven yet, although our continual prayer is for God’s will to be done on CC, but I encourage you to keep on believing God and resisting evil (JM 4:7) until God’s kingdom comes. Do not be discouraged, but rather relax and rest in God’s love as you remember what is really important in life. Have joy despite adversity because of hope!

 

[NOV25]

😏🍿

 

[GWH]

You should have stuck with it. Your doctrine is a quagmire as of today.

Now I understand all of your "HSGEUAOD" and "LGBTWAS" stuff. Col Thieme did it with SUCCESS.

Well, your reply was pointless, helpless and therefore worthless, so I guess I will remain stuck with what I believe God has taught me and is still teaching me as of today. Beware of viewing RBT as the pope!

 

[Kroogz]

Well, your reply was pointless, helpless and therefore worthless, so I guess I will remain stuck with what I believe God has taught me and is still teaching me as of today. Beware of viewing RBT as the pope!

You should have stuck with it.

 

[LifelongLearner]

An obvious truism that needs to be mentioned is that the happy ending has not happened yet! In between conversion and heaven, God allows our journey to go through various places we would rather not visit: the ghost town of job loss, the quarantined ghetto of disease, the burning village of divided families--the frustration of discussion on CC. History can be viewed as a long “King of the Hill” struggle (KOTH).

But let us take heart from the words of Paul (in PHP 4:12-13: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation… I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” I think Paul’s secret is to treat every negative experience as an opportunity for learning some truth that will help us to become stronger persons and better witnesses for Christ. Financial problems teach us to value spiritual riches and to rely on God (1TM 5:6-10), physical ailments teach us to appreciate a healthy immortal life in heaven (2CR 12:7-10), and unhappy relationships or aggravating posters on CC motivate us to resist the devil, even though we feel as if God has forsaken us (JM 4:7-10, MT 27:46).

The paradoxical truth is that Believers experience joy despite KOTH or suffering (1PT 4:13). While not desiring to suffer or praying for problems, mature Christians have a Christ-like attitude so that tribulations only make them merely joyful rather than overjoyed! Christians are joyous because they realize that suffering is only for a season and for good reason:

1. Pain and sickness due to mortality teach us to center our lives on God and the hope of immortality,

2. Pain resulting from sinful behavior leads the wise to conform to the character of Christ (HB 12:4-11, RM 8:29),

3. Relying on God’s grace and truth in the midst of undeserved troubles glorifies Christ (2CR 4:7-11) and shows the value of LGW,

4. Troubles and being criticized on CC serve to keep mature saints humble (2CR 12:7-12), and

5. God’s Holy Spirit comforts those who suffer and thereby demonstrates His love (MT 5:4, 2CR 1:3-4).

As Paul wrote (in RM 5:3-4), “We also rejoice in our sufferings (KOTH), because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Our hope is that we gain heaven (PHP 1:21), which is worth any grief occasioned by Faith (1PT 1:6-9, 2CR 4:16-18, HB 12:2). Yes, this life is not heaven yet, although our continual prayer is for God’s will to be done on CC, but I encourage you to keep on believing God and resisting evil (JM 4:7) until God’s kingdom comes. Do not be discouraged, but rather relax and rest in God’s love as you remember what is really important in life. Have joy despite adversity because of hope!

Now you i feel kinship with GWH, really appreciate the time and effort you put into your comment, you have a good understanding of the issue and have used very relevant scriptures for illustration.
Life is a precious, glorious learning experience until we pop our clogs, personally think we learn best from difficult rather than fun experiences. However, the meanness of some on this thread has gone too far and must stop but thanks and hugs for your gorgeous comment.

 

[LifelongLearner]

This is a serious question, without using anyone's name, does your behaviour truly reflect your stated beliefs?

 

[sawdust]

My post was intended for rational, pleasant discussion etc

Then don't insult people simply because they disagree with you.

Check out post#226 my entry into this thread and your response post#228. No rebuttal to my argument, just a rude dismissal.

You then responded to a conversation I was having with posthuman with a derisive comment about me foregoing logic, yet once again, didn't bother to refute my argument. post#571

It was obvious after those two responses you weren't interested in a discussion with me as you had made up your mind my input was worthless.

I was having a very interesting discussion with PaulThomson when I asked what he thought the new birth was (post#763) when you responded with something that seemingly came from left field, as we were discussing the spiritual birth not physical birth. It seemed you thought the new birth was physical so I corrected your understanding in post#810.

Yet post#775 you called me a troll and a spiteful child without any evidence to back up your claim yet when asked to point out to whom I had been spiteful you doubled down with your malice. post#820, 823, 824 and 828.

Let others go back and read what was said, I welcome them to see what has been said over the last 3 or 4 pages.

This is a serious question, without using anyone's name, does your behaviour truly reflect your stated beliefs?

Does yours?

 

[Kroogz]

This is a serious question, without using anyone's name, does your behaviour truly reflect your stated beliefs?

I think for the most part, it does. The majority think that Christianity is some " Can't we all get along" life. Religious. Hands folded, with a nice smile.

When bible doctrine comes along, it SHOCKS those that are deceived with the " can't we all get along" mentality.

 

[LifelongLearner]

Then don't insult people simply because they disagree with you.

Check out post#226 my entry into this thread and your response post#228. No rebuttal to my argument, just a rude dismissal.

You then responded to a conversation I was having with posthuman with a derisive comment about me foregoing logic, yet once again, didn't bother to refute my argument. post#571

It was obvious after those two responses you weren't interested in a discussion with me as you had made up your mind my input was worthless.

I was having a very interesting discussion with PaulThomson when I asked what he thought the new birth was (post#763) when you responded with something that seemingly came from left field, as we were discussing the spiritual birth not physical birth. It seemed you thought the new birth was physical so I corrected your understanding in post#810.

Yet post#775 you called me a troll and a spiteful child without any evidence to back up your claim yet when asked to point out to whom I had been spiteful you doubled down with your malice. post#820, 823, 824 and 828.

Let others go back and read what was said, I welcome them to see what has been said over the last 3 or 4 pages.



Does yours?

Sawdust, you are a protagonist and epitomise the point i made, you profess to be Christian but you'd actually have to tell me you are in real life. It's definitely not something i'd automatically think of you. There are quite a few people here who it is obvious they are to me but definitely not you two.

Possible you are very young but that's a very time limited cover.

 

[LifelongLearner]

Then don't insult people simply because they disagree with you.

Check out post#226 my entry into this thread and your response post#228. No rebuttal to my argument, just a rude dismissal.

You then responded to a conversation I was having with posthuman with a derisive comment about me foregoing logic, yet once again, didn't bother to refute my argument. post#571

It was obvious after those two responses you weren't interested in a discussion with me as you had made up your mind my input was worthless.

I was having a very interesting discussion with PaulThomson when I asked what he thought the new birth was (post#763) when you responded with something that seemingly came from left field, as we were discussing the spiritual birth not physical birth. It seemed you thought the new birth was physical so I corrected your understanding in post#810.

Yet post#775 you called me a troll and a spiteful child without any evidence to back up your claim yet when asked to point out to whom I had been spiteful you doubled down with your malice. post#820, 823, 824 and 828.

Let others go back and read what was said, I welcome them to see what has been said over the last 3 or 4 pages.



Does yours?

Your posts often consist of insults, which is why i'm telling you enough on my threads. Go insult people on your own posts. Forgot to say not realising how often you deliberately insult people is pretty delusional. This is the first time i've ever had to be straight with anyone here.

 

[kqr_anointed]

I think for the most part, it does. The majority think that Christianity is some " Can't we all get along" life. Religious. Hands folded, with a nice smile.

When bible doctrine comes along, it SHOCKS those that are deceived with the " can't we all get along" mentality.

True