Comments for Purposely Different

Comment on Video Comforts Women Who Had Abortions by Chris Cree

Chris Cree — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:34:16 +0000

Heya Crystal. I’m glad you found the video edifying. Please share it with as many people as you feel would be encouraged by it.

Comment on Jesus vs. Religion by Chris Cree

Chris Cree — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:32:57 +0000

Heya Kristin! You’re so right about “self-righteousness is so anti-Jesus.”

That’s the biggest problem with religion and religious systems. They’re all about “getting right with God” somehow by making ourselves better. It doesn’t work.

Comment on Video Comforts Women Who Had Abortions by Crystal Force

Crystal Force — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:40:54 +0000

Such a compassionate treatment of a very tough subject. The short film Joyful Reunion models the compassion that Christ showed us and gives hope to women who need assurance of Christ’s forgiveness, regardless of the nature of past actions. I was blown away by the estimate that 40% of women have had abortions…….that means there is a dire need for this book and film.

Comment on Jesus vs. Religion by kristin

kristin — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:23:09 +0000

Hi Chris. Yes, I think this fellow is on the right path. Self-righteousness is so anti-Jesus as I understand it, but yet so many Christians do an awful lot of judging of others.
I think church is good as a way to help keep on track on a weekly basis, but I think that we need to be free to be on our own path to salvation. (Isn’t that why God gave us free-will?)
It’s not for me to judge another – and I try not to. I’m certainly not perfect, but I do try to focus on compassion for others.
Jesus instructing us to love our enemies is the ultimate challenge.
I think that’s what it’s all about, finding a way to live this life loving others, being kind to others, amidst all the chaos, crankiness, and difficulties of life.
And the only one whose judgement matters is God’s.
I’ve realized that my path to God/Jesus is directly with him. No one else can bring me there. I have to take the steps.
I look forward to reading more!

Comment on What is Truth? by Chris Cree

Chris Cree — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:46:37 +0000

Good to know you’re suitably armed, Jim.

Comment on What is Truth? by Jim Turner

Jim Turner — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:43:39 +0000

My sword is the truth!

Comment on Sin is NOT the Issue by Randy

Randy — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:47:51 +0000

I thought this was a well written article. I do however wish to comment on one thing. I feel that you stopped a little short. I agree that it is a gift and all we have to do is accept it but you did not say how we go about accepting it. What are the steps, in the case of the homeless man living under the bridge, it would be obvious that he would have to get up, walk over to the rich man, and take the key from his hand. You may cover this on another part of your site I have not come to yet. However if you haven’t I would like to see something like that in the future added. Thank you for having this site and professing your love to God(and Jesus), I feel that it is done too little these days.

Comment on The Difference Between Faith and Belief by Matt

Matt — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:46:20 +0000

Just a quick comment here – the word in Greek in Matthew 17 is, in fact, oligopistos. The disciples say, in Matthew 17:19 “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”. Jesus replies, transliterating word for word, “because of the little faith of you” where little faith is oligopistos. A direct translation of oligopistos is few applications, few in number.

If I may speak a caution – I would be extremely careful in reading heavily into specific words. To my knowledge there is no distinction between belief and faith in the Greek wording used in the NT. For example, James 2:19 says (NIT) “even the demons believe, and shudder”. The word used for believe there is pisteuousin, the same root as pistos, faith. Even the demons have faith, the same word for faith we use to describe why the apostles couldn’t cast out a demon. Only through context, not specific words, can we really make a distinction between the two to ascribe the later English words which represent two separate ideas – from two different words (believe from Germanic roots and faith from Latin roots).

Biblically there is no different. In practical application and daily use in English there is. I would suggest to opine on your thoughts, but hold back from attempting to find scripture to justify these thoughts – unless you have made a thorough and careful investigation of the original scripture, scholarly and theological interpretations, etc.

In Christ,
Matt

Comment on The Difference Between Faith and Belief by Wm.D.-El

Wm.D.-El — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:52:38 +0000

Hi Chris and Alex, The dialogue between you both was very enlightening and helpful. However, Belief and Faith are not synomonous even though they are used many times interchangably. Belief, is what you think is true. There are many that say and have said that they believe but have not faith. Faith, is what you know to be true. It is the gift of God and not of works lest any man should boast. It is a progression from belief to faith through relationship with God through Christ, by way of love. The last being Fruition, Man, the truth himself. This is the true teaching of Christ.

Comment on The Difference Between Faith and Belief by Chris Cree

Chris Cree — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:18:51 +0000

Heya Jack! Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you were able to find something useful here.