South DaCola: Criticizing without contributing

AMEN!

Well, on Saturday, I went out and did a little work in the morning (at my business that helps people achieve real financial security), came home and fixed lunch for my wife while she fed our baby daughter, then watched my alma mater's football team destroy their opponent. Then we took our daughter to my parents' house and let her meet her great-grandmother for the first time - she flew in from out-of-state to see her.
After a good dinner of antelope loin (my brother shot it and cooked it himself), we had great conversation and caught up on old friends from our home town.
On Sunday, I went to church as always, then my grandma took us out to lunch. I spent the afternoon cleaning our basement and doing laundry, pausing to change a diaper now and then.

I'm not sure what scares you more, Steve-O; that we at South Dacola are who you think we are, or that we're just regular, normal folks.

Church-going Dude - regular Sunday church, dinner with grandma, posting strippers on the Lord's Table…

Um… Scott posted that, not me.

Also, I wasn't aware DaVinci's painting was created while the meal was in progress. If you want to let a poke in the eye offend you so deeply, you can do that. I just roll my eyes and move on.

I'm not deeply offended. In fact, personally I wasn't even slightly offended. I made my two sentence comment related to the total defilement of things Christian versus the free pass the left gives Islam.

Steve,

Not to nitpick but it is Bill Maher and Religulous was hardly a flop. It made over $13 million in the theaters while costing $2.5 million I believe most studios would take that profit margin anytime.

And for a point of reference, Ben Stein's "documentary" Expelled grossed just over half of Religulous coming in at just over $7.7 million.

Infer from those numbers what you will.

"religion is a farse for fools."

Pretty much, so what's your point?

"Overseas we are building orphanages, digging wells, etc. etc."

So what do you want? A cookie or a reach-around?

Human reason without the light of Faith and Grace is self-serving, and Scott Ehrisman and Some Dude are just proving that to be true.

Human reason without the light of Faith and Grace is self-serving, and Scott Ehrisman and Some Dude are just proving that to be true.

I'm not sure if you just didn't read my earlier post, or chose to ignore it, but I'm a Christian (Scott is a deist, IIRC).

Is it so hard for you to believe that others of the same faith might have opinions that differ from your own?

Steve, Talk about scoffers in the last days! (2Peter 3:3)
These guys better laugh it up while they can. I wouldn't want to be in their neighborhood the day God administers His justice. Here's a scripture these guys might want to consider:

"Do not be deceived: GOD cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (Gal 6:7-8)

"GOD cannot be mocked."

I don't mock God, I mock religion.

Scott, Interesting, what's your view of the difference between God and religion?

Scott,

Explain that to God then…..I'm sure He will understand (that's sarcasm).

I'll do it for him. God is the Almighty. Religion is a human institution, and some of its hijinks are hilarious.

You’ve summed up my existence fairly accurately, Steve. Kudos.
My weekend was pretty relaxed. Went to the Zoo Boo and worshipped Satan with the wife and kids, carved a false idol and then cooked and ate its guts. I spent a good chunk of the Lord's Day working (GASP!) in my yard with the most holy of His tools, the Almighty Stihl Leaf Vac, laying waste to the plague that the Malevolent Oak demon blankets my lawn with every autumn. I do my best not to contribute to the world in any way that might be seen as charitable or caring. We’ll leave that to you X-tians.

Dude said it all. God created us, not religion.

do not think that you can worship or honor or acknowledge God as you please. that is not up to you. religion, while sometimes taken out of context of its original intent or to extremes that it never should have been, is at the end of the day the way the God prescribes for us to worship him. you do not get to choose this. don't think for a moment that you can go on with your life, living as you want, dealing with God in the way that you want, and at the end of your short 70+ years on earth you will be in right standing with God. there is absolutely no middle ground. think about this logically. you either serve God in the way that He tells you to, or "serve" Him in your own way and are given to total rebellion, and therefore deserving of eternal judgement.

if you find these this offensive, you should know that this isn't some fringe extremist wing of Christianity, it is firmly held biblical doctrine that has been held by almost the entirety of Christendom, and Judaism preceding it, for over 6000 years.

religion, while sometimes taken out of context of its original intent or to extremes that it never should have been, is at the end of the day the way the God prescribes for us to worship him.

So God wants us to sing hymn #128 then proceed with announcements, then pray for members of the church family who are in the hospital, sing several more praise and worship songs (my grandma calls them 7/11 songs - seven words repeated eleven times), pass the offering plate, hear a sermon, hear a doxology, hear an alter call, and then leave to another hymn?

Where in the Bible do we find that? It seems to me that if you accept Jesus as your lord and savior, you're on your way to heaven. If you live your life according to His principles from then on, good for you. The manner in which you worship has no bearing on your salvation.

Church-Going Dude,

I understand your point. I am very aware of how the traditions of men sneak in there.

But— the same Bible that says Jesus is the only way DOES tell those who believe in him to gather "on the first day of the week", to sing "songs, hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord", to collect both tithes and offerings for the poor, to pray for each other and the sick, to share testimonies and mutually encourage each other, that those gifted to teach the Scriptures should do that and not just say whatever people's iching ears want to hear.

If you really want chapter and verses references in the Bible for all ,as you asked for - I'll take the time to do that.

My dad, who is now with the Lord, used to say things similar to your grandmother's 7-11 comment. And I too used to have no patience for singing/services and figured what was important was the Word taught. That changed when Jesus revealed himself to me in very powerful and personal ways… a sense of awe came into me and worship is the natural reponse to that level of supernatural revelation. Now worship can be long, extravagent and repetitive and its still never enough for what is due Him. Unless and unless Jesus truly reveals himself to you, I can fully appreciate that what we do in worship is bizarre to you.

Why would he die on a cross for you just so that you could say a quick prayer and go on living your life the way you want to? would you pay for someone to go through drug rehab just so they could go right back to the same lifestyle they used to live? you are decieved if you think that you can live any way you want. you worship no god other than yourself.

you may accept him in the moment you pray the prayer, but if you go on business as usual, you deny him with your every waking moment. think about all of this. set aside your mocking of other people for two seconds and honestly think about it. if you decide you want to call yourself a christian, living as a christian, than welcome to the family. but if it's something you're unwilling to do, than drop the charade and call yourself what you really are: an atheist. like was said before, you don't worship or serve anyone but yourself. if you truly were a christian, you really believe that there is a god and you would seek to serve, honor and obey him. and since you don't, you've proven yourself to believe in no god, and for that reason, the term atheist is appropriate here.

"I wonder what Ehrisman, AngryGuy, Costner and Ghost of Dude did this weekend. You know what they did. Indulged themselves in whatever made them feel good. Make no mistake, they are just as "religious" as those they criticize, only they are their own god and their weekend revolved around themselves."

Beep beep back the truck up buddy. You seem to be rather quick to judge others for a guy who is supposed to represent Christianity. The last I checked Christians (and when I say Christians I mean real Christians not just those who wear a cross on their sleeve and preach to other others claiming they are Christians) are taught to not judge others, for that is only to be done by God.

I dare say you make huge assumptions about how I spend my weekends and what my personal beliefs may be. I think I am surely not is a god (either small or little "g"), and if you really wish to know my true feelings on a particular subject such as religion, or if you have questions about my personal faith all you have to do is ask… but don't assume - because clearly your assumptions are grossly inaccurate.

Why anyone would wish to attend a church with a pastor who is so judgemental and intollerant is beyond me, but it surely isn't from a deep desire to practice Christ's teachings.

My dad, who is now with the Lord, used to say things similar to your grandmother's 7-11 comment. And I too used to have no patience for singing/services and figured what was important was the Word taught

It isn't THAT the songs are sung, it's that they are totally cliche and seem uninspired. My view on contemporary Christian music is that its authors take their audience for granted.
It's almost the same problem I see when my fellow Christians fall so easily for scams perpetrated by others claiming also to be Christians. People aren't discerning enough.

Costner - not judging does not mean turn off your brain and shut up about matters good/evil, right/wrong, life/death. Study up.

Church GOing Dude- I agree. And I'm not a contemporary Christian music fan either.

"Church going Dude"

Heh. Nice subtle dig at me and my faith.

Tell me, in order for you to consider someone a Christian, do they have to think just like you? Because no other pastor I've talked to has held that view.

No dig intended.

No people don't have to think like me to be Christians.

Costner - not judging does not mean turn off your brain and shut up about matters good/evil, right/wrong, life/death. Study up.

And in what way were your comments about how I spent my weekend or your comment about me being my own god in any way related to good/evil, right/wrong, life/death?

Is "guilt by assumption" something that is taught in your version of the Bible? If not, I'd say you own me an apology by assuming you know the first thing about me or my personal faith.

I apologize for lumping all of you together as one collective "Ehrisman." My point stands about more critcism than contribution coming from SOuth DaCola.

I guess that all depends upon what you consider "contribution". Contributing to anti-defamation of Christianity or religion in general? Contributing to the collective sense of humor of the area? Contributing to the arts? Contributing to political discussion?

You be the judge, but please note that there are only a handful of contributors on the South DaCola site… the rest of us are merely observers who tend to comment from time to time. The fact is, aside from you Steve, I don't think I've ever met any of the posters/commenters there in real life (but they sure do seem like a fun group of guys to have a beer with).

You are "right on with your comments and I must congratulate you on your assessment concerning all of the negative comments. As far as being religious, congrats on speaking out. We need more people like you.

As I read some of the comments, most of it was ME orientated as were their activities. Most seem so self-centered and the sad part is, they don't even see it when they write it down and review it before sending it off.

How sad. However, when it comes right down to death or dying or themselves or their loved ones, I wonder how smug they will be at that point.