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The basic issue with Christian sin is when it interferes with the joy of living. I know many devout xtions do not beleive in sex before marriage. To a non-Christian this is very strange indeed. Seeing as sex and physical love is such a joy then why would anyone want to deny themselves? Lets say the atheists are right and we are just worm food when we die then is it not sad to deny any and every experience - especially the deeply pleasurable ones? Any of us could die through misfortune at any moment - so then why not get laid as much as possible. Why wait? Life is short and time is fleeting.
Who's to say I'm denying myself anything? Why give up something that is so meaningful to just anyone? I believe that giving yourself to your wife or husband is the best gift you could ever give them.
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Most healthy adults can drink occasionally, gamble, enjoy pornography with no issues. Can these really be offenses suitable for burning in a firey pit for all eternity?
I know Christians who will have a beer or two, who will have a glass of wine or two but will not indulge in it. I also know Christian who will go out and gamble a little from time to time but will not indulge in that either. When you indulge in it enough that it affects your life and affects your relationship with God then yes, you do need forgiveness for it. As far as pornography, that brings lust into your life. Take me for example, if I watched porn and lust was brought into my heart then in God's eyes that would be the same as adultery.
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Are you aware that the xtian model of hell is very different to other faiths. The Jews have Ghenna - where you go for up to 11 months - depending on the seriousness of your crimes - you are then forgiven and go to heaven. Islam follows a similar model - you are punished according to the size of your earthly crimes and then move on. The Hindu's also have a type of hell where you are punished for major crimes before your next incarnation - smaller crimes are balanced by Karma in the next incarnation. Isnt it odd that ALL of these non Christian gods seem to show clemency and forgivness AFTER a punishment suitable to the size of the crime. Yet it is the xtian "God of love" that apparently will send you to a burning pit for all eternity for the crime of buying a 6 pack of beer, a porn rag and then going round to your girlfriend to give her a sound rodgering.
Yes I know there are different types of hell and I respect other people's view points on it. Christians have a different view of hell and my friends that I know that are of different religions respect my view as well. What's the problem with that? If you don't believe in hell or believe my view of hell then you have nothing to worry about and it shouldn't be an issue.
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Only xtianity has this "Hell for all eternity" approach. Xtianity is also dishonest - you have a built in "get out of hell free card". As long as you appologise, recant, confess, be penitent, then you are "forgiven". At least in faiths such as Islam if you commit a crime then you do your time in hell and are then forgiven. Xtians have no real motive to not sin - they just need to keep apologising and wailing about being a poor sinner (and of course the old fave "the devil tempted me!!!") and they are good to go.
We do not have a built in get out of hell free card... When a person accepts Jesus, turns from sin then it is a 180 degree turn for that person. Christianity isn't about "ooohhh I’ll accept Jesus and then run out and have major drunken orgies and top it of with massive murders". Doesn't work that way.
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As to whether your life is "wasted". I read with interest in your "becoming a xtian" thread that you used to party hard, drink and run with the wrong crowd and your life was a train wreck, but now you are a good Christian. So good for you, im happy for you if you got laid and drunk a few times before you "found god". You now dedicate your life to god, tithe a % of your earnings to the church, get life advice on everything from your preacher (even about such mundane things as to whether to return to DV apparently), and of course you no longer party hard, drink or run with the "wrong crowd". I would say the first part of your life sounded great. The life you are living now, such as not coimmiting any sins for fear of invoking the wrath of the sky fairy - does from my point of view seem somewhat wasted. But its your life and you must do what you will.
That first part of my life was wasted in a way and in a way it was not. I feel over time, it actually brought me closer to God. It showed me that road was a dead in street. I am so much happier now, my life is filled with so much more joy then sitting in a bar or downing a case of beer. There was no point to my life during that time.
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It does interest me why you came back though. After all you posted in your "Goodbye Im leaving cos you are all so mean" thread that you dont have any interest in Lucid Dreaming. All you do is hang out in the R/S forum. You post threads such as devotionals in a discussion forum and then whine when others make "profane" posts within them. Why do you come here? Why are you not hanging out on a Christian forum somewhere? Lets be honest - your devotionals and prayer threads didnt have a lot of takers? There's 1500 active members on these boards! And how many people have posted their stories in your "When did you become xtian thread" Its also odd that you needed much prayer and the advice of your Preacher to return. Are you on a mission Davej? Is Noogah & Kyhin your little flock? Do you get brownie points or extra credits redeemable at the pearly gates for fighting the "good" fight on DV's? Does your preacher also tell you when you can go to the bathroom and do you pray hard for acuracy?
I look for God's direction in everything I do. If I were to plant one seed then it would be worth being here.