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1. SuperLutheran (Festive half) (superlutheran@poa.st)'s status on Saturday, 02-Nov-2024 11:55:40 JST SuperLutheran (Festive half)
   Every apostasy is an opportunity for Christians to learn and grow more secure in the faith.
   
   Paul Maxwell, when he left Christianity, said he was glad that he didn't have to be angry anymore. What's interesting is, I know plenty of people who left for the opposite reason: they hated that Scripture tells us not to let the sun go down on our wrath.
   What does that tell us?
   It tells us that fixation on anger, whether desired or unwanted, is a threat to faith.
   Think about it! Are you pissed off all the time?
   
   Maxwell also cited how he didn't want to hate himself anymore. Ah, abother classic symptom of the "All Law and no Gospel" type. Is that you? Are you so fixated on your failures that you forget that God has made you a new creation? That perhaps you aren't the failure you think you are, that God thinks highly of you?
   Because He does, and I doubt that Maxwell considered that.
   
   If someone leaves the faith, do not get pissed off at them, but rather fear. If you are not clinging closely to Christ, you may fall in the same traps they fall into. Examine yourself!
   • Santa Noodle ☦️ (bowsacnoodle@poa.st)'s status on Saturday, 02-Nov-2024 11:55:39 JST Santa Noodle ☦️

     in reply to

     • givenup
     @givenup @SuperLutheran >I AM ANGRY AT THE EVIL ALL AROUND
     I actually went to confession because of this and wanting the chance to talk with my priest and get some private spiritual guidance. His advice was
     >It is a good thing that you are disgusted by the wickedness you now recognize. God is in control, and He may use you to influence others like a small flame starting a fire. It may take generations for the ripple effects of your actions to fully materialize, but God can and will use you in ways you don't know.
     Basically recognize the wickedness, but don't let anger consume you. The battle is The Lord's, and all we have to do is stand up when He asks.
     Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks likes this.
   • Shauni (shauni@poa.st)'s status on Saturday, 02-Nov-2024 11:55:39 JST Shauni

     in reply to

     • Santa Noodle ☦️
     • givenup
     @BowsacNoodle @givenup @SuperLutheran Considering the alternative is " You're a slave in an amoral universe where evil people get off scott-free", I don't think most people are equipped to handle that worldview.
     Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks likes this.
   • givenup (givenup@poa.st)'s status on Saturday, 02-Nov-2024 11:55:40 JST givenup

     in reply to
     @SuperLutheran BUT I AM ANGRY AT THE EVIL ALL AROUND
   • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks (washedoutgundampilot@poa.st)'s status on Saturday, 02-Nov-2024 12:01:24 JST Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks

     in reply to

     • Santa Noodle ☦️
     • givenup

     @BowsacNoodle @givenup @SuperLutheran I get where this thought comes from but am I the only one who feels okay with evil people not being completely smashed by divine justice lightning the very instant they deserve it? Everything will be sorted in the lord's time, it's not up to us to hurry it along.

     I look at evil people running around unpunished and sigh in relief - if they're walking free and clear then thankfully there's mercy enough for me, too.

     Always struck me as dancing a little close to the line of arrogance, hubris to get wound up in palpable fury over the imperfections of others, because all those who get closest to emulating Christ lose that as they go. That anger is replaced with pity, then empathy, even affection for the poor, broken, deranged sinners that surround them. It just seems so early in the process of discipleship to feel anger all the time, like a youthful fervor you outgrow as you learn, suffer, screw up, and grow through your own errors. 'There but for the grace of God go I,' and whatnot.

   • Santa Noodle ☦️ (bowsacnoodle@poa.st)'s status on Saturday, 02-Nov-2024 17:35:52 JST Santa Noodle ☦️

     in reply to

     • Shauni
     • givenup
     @Shauni @givenup @SuperLutheran >if you just be a good boy, and all your bullies will burn in eternal torment :)
     That's reductive past the extreme, but nice bait. The concept of "slave morality" implies there's a functional alternative to accepting earthly hierarchical structures. Curious that Nietzsche pushes that concept and then talks about ubermensch as if isn't an identical concept.
     New Janny in Town likes this.
   • Santa Noodle ☦️ (bowsacnoodle@poa.st)'s status on Saturday, 02-Nov-2024 17:35:53 JST Santa Noodle ☦️

     in reply to

     • Shauni
     • givenup
     @Shauni @givenup @SuperLutheran I wasn't a fan. It made me angry at society in an existential way. There's a reason Godlessness, Nihilism, and Marxism are chums. It's far easier to hate existence when you feel it's cradle to grave punishment followed by nothing. It's actually tough to think something might be after this, that there's more to life than the rat race, or that the real reward today is in showing genuine love to people, especially when you're beaten down in the material world.
   • Shauni (shauni@poa.st)'s status on Saturday, 02-Nov-2024 17:35:53 JST Shauni

     in reply to

     • Santa Noodle ☦️
     • givenup
     @BowsacNoodle @givenup @SuperLutheran Similar slave morality can manifest via Christianity: a perfect heaven accessible to everyone instead of an exclusive valhalla only accessible to strong warriors, and a hell for strong people who do you wrong. You might be gay and retarded, but you'll be welcomed into the bosom of abraham if you just be a good boy, and all your bullies will burn in eternal torment :)
     (not that *you* would want another being's eternal torment, of course ;) )