Christ was not speaking of a person's soul, when he mentioned a mote. A mote is a speck, not a person's soul. Christ did not say we can judge people, as long as we stay away from judging their soul. Labeling a person is no less a judgment, and as Christ said in John 8:7 "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." It is very easy to create an illusion of big sins and little sins.
Sins are sins......... all equal. But you are right. It's difficult for us to understand that concept. We are asked to "judge" every time we vote for our leaders. Our criteria for that judgment is either shallow or strong, but all of us do that. I agree with you that labeling a person is a sort of judgment we should avoid. But if a woman's husband beats her every night, she's not going against the teachings by making a judgment call that she needs to leave their home or die.
But your comment brings me to something I've said here before. Religion is used to control people. I don't think Jesus or God had that in mind. Or maybe that's something else to discuss.
I have seen people who profess to be Christians, who go to church 'religiously', and who have told me they do not 'know' if God is real, or if Christ is savior, they 'pray' just incase. They claim to be Christian, and yet the object of what is supposed to be their faith is non-existent.
I've seen the same. Sometimes I feel that way. Life isn't easy. I won't judge people who say that.
And I have seen people who choose not to step foot in a church, and are extreme believers in God and Christ. What they choose to do and not do should not be a reflection on their faith. I don't need a church, the best church is God's creation. I can get more from the trees, the rivers, the sky, than I can get from 4 walls. Being Christian is only from believing Christ is the savior, nothing else.
I don't go to church yet I strive to behave like a Christian at all times. I do it because I can see how it just makes for a better life AND because I believe God is in control and Jesus died for my sins. I don't feel that church attendance does anything but stress me out a lot so I don't go.
But it seems few people understand that the worshipers of Islam follow their own lineage back to Abraham or Ibrahim.
I understand that. God promised Abraham that He would make of him a great nation. Abraham went through one of those times where he wasn't certain if God was there or not or maybe God might have forgotten him and he and Sarah had gotten too old to have children..............so he had a child with a servant. God kept his promise for both sons and the people from both have been at each others' throats ever since.
Actually the call to prayer is beautiful, as well as Shinto chants are beautiful. As well so are Buddhist chants. And people need to remember, as there are radical Muslims, there are also radical Christians.
Yes. I never said otherwise. I am not nor have I ever been Catholic, but "Ave Maria" ( all versions) is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. In the little town where I spent my childhood, the Catholic Church played Shubert's Ave Maria (my personal favorite) over a loudspeaker every Sunday morning. To me that was the most beautiful sound on earth. My saying that was to show that Islam holds a dear spot in Obama's heart.
This I do not agree with. Are there atheists who see Christianity as ridiculous? Yes, but that is a persons opinion, and as man fell from grace in the garden he was given free will. Orthodox Jews do not believe in Christ, ergo they are not Christians. Are they viewed as evil, like all Muslims are? No, they're usually embraced by Christians. That secular nature has always been inherit in man, and it seems people reserve the right to judge one religion over another by their own prejudices. I've known Baptists who criticize Catholics and say they are sinners who are not worthy of God's salvation.
I understand what you are saying here and don't disagree. But let's take individual religions out of the equation and talk cultures. The Muslim culture is very different from ours. People of the Muslim religion in America have, for the most part, adapted to the European-style culture that has always been ours. The more radical Muslims seek to drastically change our culture. I think that is more what people are reacting to than the religion of Islam. Some Americans are racist. But for the most part, America is a pretty good melting pot and welcomes people of all religions and cultures. But if some culture wants to radically change America, there's trouble.
Is it any wonder I worship in God's creation and not mans?
No wondering about that all. I do the same. When I have gone to church, and for much of my life I went to church as my parents helped to start churches in inner city areas, and worked tirelessly in those churches for my entire childhood. As an adult, I was a church piano and organ player and held other administrative offices. But at a point I realized that although I dearly loved the people of the church, those who administrated the church (not my local church, but the whole denomination) were leading the church in a bad direction. I checked out other churches and found the same thing going on. So, for the last 15 years I have not gone to church. It's not the "sinners" in the church that's corrupt. It's the leadership.
It's been a great conversation. If you give me a response here, I'll answer you back tomorrow. It's late and I'm exhausted. I hope I wrote this in a way that makes sense.
