Fanatics & Fundamentalists

[theblueprint_Ni]

Well it's easy to assume that the world has gotten worse and maybe in some ways it has.. Or is it that the affect on having too much info about others is just having its toll on the human mind.. And that might be the real Issue.. Do we really trust in the Lord? Or have we been trusting in other things and men?
What Guides Christians that they are to get so caught up in troubles beyond what God has ask of us.... Its why reality TV has become so popular I guess? Who convince others they are to get so concerned about what they can't control not what they can control or have controlled?

How has that affected the kingdom of Heaven? The kingdom of heaven is what it is. Just as the world is what it is.. Is it the terrible world that was passing away as written in scripture or one that was Better?
If one is focused on the Kingdom then obviously the world has less impact.. Why are people being caught up in the cares of those of the world.. Maybe all this points to that there is something wrong with those who think its suppose to be different.. Why aren't people spending more time in prayer about the those who need Gods Love in their lives.. I was talking to person the other day and to him the world is better.. To him the world living in our country had been horrible compared to way others lived in the same country. Is life being better for them a lie soon to be felt in way worse than before? Is life better because they are getting what the world has given so many others.. It's really strange..

Talking to my Priest about such things he just kind a smiles because his life other than being so busy hasn't really changed much.. Sometimes they welcome it.. Maybe for some things are better and for other things are worse.. But how is that different other than seem to be aware of it in places we most the time didn't know existed..

Like seanD Says, the Bible promotes suffering, and it's a tension that we have and should have when we are comfortable. When we suffer we are more reliant on God and more active in our spiritual lives (should be anyways). We should never be comfortable in our comfortability. Technology is so wide spread that comfort is always immediately available. This isn't to say that comforts are evil. We should enjoy the fruits of our labor after all. But it's gotten to the point where even seminary graduates struggle with prayer and real faith in God for our daily needs. It's actually difficult to find opportunity for need, in contrast to the third world where conscious reliance on God is more of a necessity than it is an option. The problem is that Christians in large can't handle the technology available to us. We are passively used for worldly purposes more than we actively use for divine purposes.

I'd rather have cancer without the availability of chemo and wholly rely and rest in the purposes of God than never know His blessings in suffering and physically rest in the advancements of medicine. The two don't have to be mutually exclusive, but the reality is that more and more we head in that direction. Many people won't realize this until they've been exposed to the lives of Christian people in different parts of the world, or for God to strip them of the things they've rested in that have obstructed their pursuit of faith in God in Jesus Christ.

[apostoli]

I'd rather have cancer without the availability of chemo and wholly rely and rest in the purposes of God than never know His blessings in suffering and physically rest in the advancements of medicine.

But what about if your child, brother, sister, mother, father, friend needed intervention? Imo, modern medicene interferes with natural processes far too much. In my case I watched my youngest son (17-22r) undergo chemo etc over a five year period, three remissions, three relapses. In the end he refused medical interference (given with a 20% chance of survival, not a wonder, and totally legal).

Imo, modern western society is too interventionist, and that includes appeal to God to placete our belief systems. Genesis tells us god gave us dominion over the whole earth! Imo, whatever happens to us, family, friends is our societal fault. Don't blame God for man's failure or ask for his intervention - make a change in your community yourself and ask God to help you to do so!

[maudman]

Like seanD Says, the Bible promotes suffering, and it's a tension that we have and should have when we are comfortable. When we suffer we are more reliant on God and more active in our spiritual lives (should be anyways). We should never be comfortable in our comfortability. Technology is so wide spread that comfort is always immediately available. This isn't to say that comforts are evil. We should enjoy the fruits of our labor after all. But it's gotten to the point where even seminary graduates struggle with prayer and real faith in God for our daily needs. It's actually difficult to find opportunity for need, in contrast to the third world where conscious reliance on God is more of a necessity than it is an option. The problem is that Christians in large can't handle the technology available to us. We are passively used for worldly purposes more than we actively use for divine purposes.

I'd rather have cancer without the availability of chemo and wholly rely and rest in the purposes of God than never know His blessings in suffering and physically rest in the advancements of medicine. The two don't have to be mutually exclusive, but the reality is that more and more we head in that direction. Many people won't realize this until they've been exposed to the lives of Christian people in different parts of the world, or for God to strip them of the things they've rested in that have obstructed their pursuit of faith in God in Jesus Christ.

Hello theblueprint_ni,

From studies of things the real issues it seems is that with all things come good and evil as scripture says.. I don't discount any of your comments...
Yes the bible promotes Suffering in the bible, it also places harse judgment on those that ignore the suffering of others.. Remember the rich man who ignored the poverty and suffer of another.. It's all very simple.. ""Do unto others"".. Truly that means put yourself in the others shoes and do for him what you would want done for you... I don't like suffering and we should at times do all we can to help those that do suffer because of others sin or their own.. If My sin causes others to suffer I should pray that God can heal the damage.. That might mean my suffering in some way.. It is the entire point on the ""indulgence"" Which was part of the Israelite tradition. Suffering in your wallet...

We understand or learn more about ourselves and our relationship with God when we do suffer for sure.. Often the severity of the suffering will likely determine us avoiding the circumstance that lead to the sin if any that may cause the suffering of others or God.. God doesn't like suffering but it seems God doesn't banish it because in certain situations its needed for the individual.. Christ healed and comforted the suffering of other.. I recall and Remember in scripture the Samaritan who found the stranger beaten and took him to the Physician and paid for all his medical expenses?
Suffering by avoiding the worldly desires ect.ect.. is what many early Christians did in monasteries.. Abstinence? But some felt they needed to suffer more and resorted to abandoning the creature comforts..
So it all begs the Questions are fundies really fanatics..

Usually they are when they are condemning others or lamming others for not being like them.. All those """I read and understand the bible better than any of you and I suffer some sort of religious persecution because I'm so righteous and obediently correct BS is a big Problem today..'''' They don't really help anyone not even themselves and they're are usually the first to abandon you when things are tuff because of your sin.. Their own filthy rag righteousness.. And they squawk the loudest when they have to suffer for the sake of others.. If so many believe in the end times and how bad it gets they should be rejoicing in their suffering..


peace and God bless