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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:03 pm 
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sabastious wrote:
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Do we need the symbol? No.


In your opinion what symbols do we need? And if the answer is 0, then why does God use symbols?

-Sab


Quite right. But the Cross is so much more than a symbol. It is a fact, a harsh, stark fact. Jesus Christ was crucified. He gave his life for us willingly, and as a bishop said in a homily, spreading his arms wide in love for us on the Cross.[/quote]


Char .... The cross is the image made into an idol. And we are told " to flee from idolatry "

The only symbol or image we need to look at is Christ.

And he is ALIVE, he is a SPIRIT, and dwells IN US!
He wants us to always remember what he did and how he died for us YES, but not to wear in around our necks, nail it to every wall inside our homes, hold it with our beads and pray with it, ( beads? )
hang it in our cars, etc etc etc. It was only inevitable it would become an idol this way.

But if you still want to....I have no problems. It is your choice. I still love you anyways.
But Christ as a spirit is enough for me. I have enough distractions that I deal with everyday already.


Love Justmom[/quote]

It's not an idol. Far from it. It is both a fact and a symbol, a sacramental one at that. Catholics, including me, make it often many times a day, even as an outward sign of a quick prayer itself, as I do. "In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" is the prayer behind it, said aloud, or internally.

The Cross is power and strength, in that symbol lies the truth of the very message of Christ.

As you deny both it and the name of Jesus, you have no idea how much that says.


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:06 pm 
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tec wrote:
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Yes, you can look back and find where I said that and when you've got over your happy little triumph you could see where we've had this same interchange later on where I pointed out...I think on more than one occasion...that actually one CANNOT leave theChurch, one can merely stop attending.


Yes, CHAR, I know what you LATER said. But you have said that you left the rcc, and that your understanding changed, does not change what you said to us... and what we went by.

You do continue to throw out little digs and snark though, Char... and it is uncalled for. I am not doing a happy little triumph. Just stating what has happened, so that perhaps you can stop and think before accusing others. So that you also cannot falsely accuse others.

The mistake that you say others have made, then, is based on your mistaken words. How is it fair, just, or even honest... to make an accusation against others for your mistake?

Peace,
tammy


How you and Shelby and justmom love your little triumphs, your little gloating sessions, especially if you can mock me at the same time.

Mock away. I don't care one jot.

I make mistakes and I learn from them. Do you admit yours?...you made a huge mistake following Shelby's course.

And hey, you have free rein now! I'm going to cook myself something to eat. It'll be a whole lot healthier than the food on offer here.

Mock away.


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:10 pm 
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Idolatry is a complex subject and I don't know of any person that use/have cross that idolize them.
The symbolisim of the cross is a strong and loving one for the Son of God that died so that we who believe in Him are reconciled to God By His Love and Grace.
It is a symbol of what he DID so that we know it isn't about what WE DO.
The cross is not a 'graven image" of God, but a symbol of victory of the Son of God over death.
The OT jews made images also, even order by God ( the ark of the covenant and the angels on it), the curtain of the Holy of Holies, the bronze serpent.

I think it is important to understand the multieel layers of idolatry -like money, vanity and such.

Here is a summation of St John of Damascus's view:
Quote:
He wrote in direct response to the Byzantine iconoclasm that began in the 8th century by the Byzantine emperor Leo III and continued by his successor Constantine V. St. John maintains that depicting the invisible God is indeed wrong, but he argues that the incarnation, where "the Word became flesh" (John 1:14), indicates that the invisible God became visible, and as a result it is permissible to depict Jesus Christ. He argues: "When He who is bodiless and without form... existing in the form of God, empties Himself and takes the form of a servant in substance and in stature and is found in a body of flesh, then you draw His image..."
He also observes that in the Old Testament, images and statues were not absolutely condemned in themselves: examples include the images of cherubim over the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18-22) which God instructed Moses to make, the embroidered figures of cherubim angels which God told Moses to make on the curtain which separated the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle tent (Exodus 26:31), or the bronze serpent mentioned in the book of Numbers.
He defends external acts of honour towards icons, arguing that there are "different kinds of worship" and that the honour shown to icons differs entirely from the adoration of God. He continues by citing Old Testament examples of forms of "honour": "Jacob bowed to the ground before Esau, his brother, and also before the tip of his son Joseph's staff (Genesis 33:3). He bowed down, but did not adore. Joshua, the Son of Nun, and Daniel bowed in veneration before an angel of God (Joshua 5:14) but they did not adore him. For adoration is one thing, and that which is offered in order to honour something of great excellence is another". He cites St. Basil who asserts, "the honour given to the image is transferred to its prototype". St. John argues therefore that venerating an image of Christ does not terminate at the image itself – the material of the image is not the object of worship – rather it goes beyond the image, to the prototype


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:12 pm 
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The Holy Ejaculation, eh? That's about as insulting to the Spirit as you can get.


Well, I did try to warn you a bit ago. My Lord NEVER lies, though, and so you have fulfilled what he said. So SOON, though... and quite immature, IMHO. I mean, really, that's what you chose to call him? I am not so sure that that is as insulting as you are trying to be. Given Mary's insemination, I mean. My understanding is that that was a GREAT privilege for her...

Quote:
I am really glad I'm not you.


Now, we BOTH know that THAT's not the truth. Else, you wouldn't cry so much that no one is listening to YOU... but everyone SHOULD... while having problems that it seems people ARE listening to ME. They're not. They're just listening to what I am sharing as to the One they SHOULD be listening to... and do/are trying to. The One YOU should have listened to... before you blasphemed. Because he DID allow me to warn you so as to keep you from doing it. Unfortunately, your "righteous indignation" has led you to it.

While it is not my (sole) decision, of course, as far as I'm concerned, you can... and probably should... move on now.

A slave of Christ,

SA


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:14 pm 
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Sab said...


Justmom , what you seem to be doing is observing my internal pain (which I cannot hide from others) and using it to assess my relationship with God and his Son. You are essentially saying that because I feel the pain that I do that I must be alienated from God. This comes from a misunderstanding of a scripture found in Psalms:



No Sab, I realize we all have pain. But yes, we can ask to be healed. And the peace and joy and love and contentment that comes from knowing Jah will on most days ( lol) surpass our pain.

It is anger that alienates us from Jah. It is what alienated Cain from Jah. Anger towards our brother or sister can be like being " a manslayer or murderer".

This anger is real for us. And the WTBS breeds this in its people.
I understand really I do. But Jah, Christ and many of us here do love you despite the fact that we CANNOT follow what you say as being truth.
We owe each other love. Love will always speak truth. Truth will not always be easy to receive.
But we all will stand and have an accounting as to who our master IS!

I must continue listening to the one who led me out of the WTBS. And although there were and are pieces of puzzle that are not complete with me yet, one day that beautiful puzzle will be complete.
I have faith in this! And I have faith in the words of the spirit that speaks every piece of this puzzle in between. When and as I am ready, he feeds me.

Love to you always
Justmom


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:17 pm 
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I think some people DO need them yes, sorry if I wan't clear.


Some people? Think again.

Quote:
Jean Piaget was one of the most important and influential people in the field of Developmental Psychology. He believed that humans are unique in comparison to animals because we have the capacity to do "abstract symbolic reasoning." His work can be compared to Lev Vygotsky, Sigmund Freud, and Erik Erikson who were also great contributors in the field of Developmental Psychology. Today, Piaget is known for studying the cognitive development in children. He studied his own three children and their intellectual development and came up with a theory that describes the stages children pass through during development.


-Sab


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:21 pm 
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sabastious wrote:
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I think some people DO need them yes, sorry if I wan't clear.


Some people? Think again.

Quote:
Jean Piaget was one of the most important and influential people in the field of Developmental Psychology. He believed that humans are unique in comparison to animals because we have the capacity to do "abstract symbolic reasoning." His work can be compared to Lev Vygotsky, Sigmund Freud, and Erik Erikson who were also great contributors in the field of Developmental Psychology. Today, Piaget is known for studying the cognitive development in children. He studied his own three children and their intellectual development and came up with a theory that describes the stages children pass through during development.


-Sab


We are talking about religious iconic symbols dude, quite a specific sub-set of symbols and, since the very beginning, a very controversial one.


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:21 pm 
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Now, we BOTH know that THAT's not the truth. Else, you wouldn't cry so much that no one is listening to YOU... but everyone SHOULD... while having problems that it seems people ARE listening to ME. They're not. They're just listening to what I am sharing as to the One they SHOULD be listening to... and do/are trying to. The One YOU should have listened to... before you blasphemed. Because he DID allow me to warn you so as to keep you from doing it. Unfortunately, your "righteous indignation" has led you to it.


Be silent, woman (1 Corinthians 14:34).

-Sab


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:24 pm 
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No Sab, I realize we all have pain. But yes, we can ask to be healed. And the peace and joy and love and contentment that comes from knowing Jah will on most days ( lol) surpass our pain.

It is anger that alienates us from Jah. It is what alienated Cain from Jah. Anger towards our brother or sister can be like being " a manslayer or murderer".

This anger is real for us. And the WTBS breeds this in its people.
I understand really I do. But Jah, Christ and many of us here do love you despite the fact that we CANNOT follow what you say as being truth.
We owe each other love. Love will always speak truth. Truth will not always be easy to receive.
But we all will stand and have an accounting as to who our master IS!

I must continue listening to the one who led me out of the WTBS. And although there were and are pieces of puzzle that are not complete with me yet, one day that beautiful puzzle will be complete.
I have faith in this! And I have faith in the words of the spirit that speaks every piece of this puzzle in between. When and as I am ready, he feeds me.

Love to you always
Justmom


Anger is a motivator and even God gets angry. Why do you feel qualified to assess my relationship with God? I agree that we should not be angry with petty things and act out of impulse. But righteous anger is productive by design. Jesus did chase people around with a whip at times.

-Sab


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:27 pm 
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Be silent, woman (1 Corinthians 14:34).

-Sab


ah hell no


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:30 pm 
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Chariklo wrote:

The Cross is power and strength, in that symbol lies the truth of the very message of Christ.

As you deny both it and the name of Jesus, you have no idea how much that says.



Char, I never said I denied it, I just said it is not needed as an image or idol which is what it has come to be and never was intended for.

Justmom


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:31 pm 
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ah hell no


I know, she'll probably just re-translate the scripture. Hopefully one day she'll learn to respect her superiors.

-Sab


Last edited by sabastious on Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:32 pm 
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How you and Shelby and justmom love your little triumphs, your little gloating sessions, especially if you can mock me at the same time.


You have not been mocked. You DID the mocking... shelby followers, mindless cult followers, etc, etc... including what Psac called you on as to your comments to this group, to which I did not see your response

How you have changed, Char. Make no mistake... it is you who has changed. WE have been open and honest about who we hear, how we hear, and the one we follow. From DAY ONE.

WE did not say one thing and mean another thing. In fact, just what... a couple of weeks ago, you were saying how loving JM was... but now because she is speaking against the rcc and not backing down to you, she is now a gloater, and mocker?

That you once enjoyed fellowship with us... and now reject us and speak against us... is again, on you.

So what is your purpose now? Is it to pursue and decry those who have never been anything but honest with everyone about who it is they hear, how they hear, and who they follow?

I think perhaps you need to answer that for yourself.


Quote:
Mock away. I don't care one jot.


Though we are not mocking... of course you care. Otherwise, you would not respond.

Quote:
I make mistakes and I learn from them. Do you admit yours?...you made a huge mistake following Shelby's course.


If I was following Shelby, then yes, that would be a huge mistake.

Thankfully, i am following Christ. That HE leads HIS sheep the same... well, that would be because He is not divided.


I urge you to go back and look at your comments and judgments against the people on this forum. I urge you also to go and look at your intro post on jwn... because at least there you acknowledge the great wrongs that your church has done in the world, and so you left her... and sure you went to the wts after you left the rcc, and 'she' (the wts) also proved false to Christ. But instead of looking then only to Him, you went back to the first one... though nothing she had done had changed. You just found a way to excuse it away. The same way that jws excuse away the wts.... imperfect men.

And if that is valid for the rcc, then it is just as valid for the wts.


Peace,
tammy


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:37 pm 
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Ah, Sab... you have no idea how that one thing you said... be silent woman... speaks about you! Used as a fall-back also, when a man cannot rebut a woman. Weak, Sab. Very weak.


Do you have any idea how many women are here?. Are you telling us to be silent? You actually think you have the right to do so?



I will remind you that this is not your forum. You have ZERO authority here. And quite honestly, lol, you are asking for any female backlash that comes your way after that comment.




Peace,
tammy


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:39 pm 
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Location: I dare you to close your eyes...
sabastious wrote:
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Now, we BOTH know that THAT's not the truth. Else, you wouldn't cry so much that no one is listening to YOU... but everyone SHOULD... while having problems that it seems people ARE listening to ME. They're not. They're just listening to what I am sharing as to the One they SHOULD be listening to... and do/are trying to. The One YOU should have listened to... before you blasphemed. Because he DID allow me to warn you so as to keep you from doing it. Unfortunately, your "righteous indignation" has led you to it.


Be silent, woman (1 Corinthians 14:34).

-Sab



You are missing a smiley face :)

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