no, i wasn't offended by your question. i've just been frustrated with church issues...and one of them is the tendency to feed knowledge upon knowledge without actually working for heart and life change in people.
I don't want to turn this political...but Bush couldn't win here. If Bush cites his faith to justify policy, then people freak out on him...unless they agree with the end result. So if I'm an anti-death penalty atheist...am i happy she's spared, or pissed that Bush just substituted faith for policy? Having said that...I'm anti-death penalty, myself.
I agree that probably was the case in that situation but the question of whether someone has truly repented or been born again comes up frequently in regard to sentencing, parole and clemency hearings so this issue isn't one that is purely a spiritual matter.
but it comes up in a practical sense. not in a spiritual one. in other words...the after-life of a person isn't considered in whether someone is executed or not. what matters is how their spirtual life has practically affected their life in the here and now. does it mean he's safe to have on the streets or not?
Thanks again Art V, Rhester, Grizzled and Mad Max. Informative answers as always. If I'm understanding correctly what you're saying is that salvation is through faith alone and only God is the judge of whether one's faith is honest or not. Good works are important but salvation is achieved by good works. Good works matter in this life because of one's conscience and one's place in this life while in Heaven they matter for position in the Heavenly Host. Pardon me for presuming but I believe all of you are Protestant or come from a Protestant tradition and this argument over whether salvation is achieved by faith alone or good works is the cause of the schism between Catholicism and Protestant. I'm wondering how a Catholic would weigh in on the matter. Back to the dvorce example, from a Catholic standpoint, could someone in a truly awful and miserable marriage obtain a civil divorce, not annulment, and still repent and be saved?
Sentencing, parole and clemency are difficult decisions. I would think that repentance would factor in without spiritual conotations. Being 'Born Again' could mean almost anything now days. I don't know how that would factor into these decisions. I guess it would matter depending on how the authorities viewed 'Born Again'. I think your general questions deal with how God's forgiveness is given and how 'sinful' actions affect 'salvation'. Interesting, God's forgiveness was my sermon Sunday. I would suggest reading the story of the Prodigal son in the Bible. The reference is Luke 15: 11-32. ... a wonderful story of God's forgiveness- there are many others in the Bible.
faith and works come together in the heart. it is true for all of us. God looks at the heart. Anyone can repent and be saved.
Sishir -- if you have access to a Bible, pick up Romans Chapter 2-3. I think that might help explain a lot of this.
^ I do and would but actually enjoy reading y'all's citations and comments more than reading it on my own.
Daddy please hear this song that I sing In your heart there's a spark that just screams For a lover to bring a child to your chest that could lay as you sleep And love all you have left like your boy used to be Long ago wrapped in sheets warm and wet Blister please with those wings in your spine Love to be with a brother of mine How he'd love to find your tongue in his teeth In a struggle to find secret songs that you keep wrapped in boxes so tight Sounding only at night as you sleep And in my dreams you're alive and you're crying As your mouth moves in mine soft and sweet Rings of flower round your eyes and I love you For the rest of your life in your Brother see we are one in the same And you left with your head filled with flames And you watched as your brains fell out through your teeth Push the pieces in place Make your smile sweet to see Don't you take this away I'm still wanting my face on your cheek And when we break we'll wait for our miracle God is a place where some holy spectacle lies And when we break we'll wait for our miracle God is a place you will wait for the rest of your life Two headed boy she is all you could need She will feed you tomatoes and radio wires And retire to sheets safe and clean But don't hate her when she gets up to leave
