why

[dancingqueen]

Why do we force limitations on ourselves?
Why do we feel we are deserving of punishment?
Ultimately, why do we live our lives for someone else weather they be real or not?
Christians that believe in God, do you believe in God because you fear the alternative? or do you believe in what they believe? Why? How?
I am not looking for references from the Bible... I want to know why YOU choose to follow God's word.

[BlueSky]

You're flying upside down, DQ.

Christians do not regard thier lives as limited. They are free. There was a time when we THOUGHT we were free, but it was a lie; It was really a life of bondage and addiction that got tired real fast. The bigger and bigger bang became illusive.

We feel we are deserving of punishment because we faced what we were honestly and recognized that we are sinners, and that God is holy, and in order for God to remain God, justice must survive.

And justice and mercy were blended in the person of Jesus Christ who died for our sins, taking the punishment we deserved, and was condemned in our place. Because He was the Son of God, he rose from the dead, and lives today.

Life with Christ is a wonderful experience, and we have no limitations. Living with a transcendent purpose that looks beyond the grave is liberating.

We live our lives for Him, because it is the only way to really live. Living for ourselves is a dead end street.

[dancingqueen]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bluesky</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You're flying upside down, DQ.

Christians do not regard thier lives as limited. They are free. There was a time when we THOUGHT we were free, but it was a lie; It was really a life of bondage and addiction that got tired real fast. The nigger and bigger bang became illusive.

We feel we are deserving of punishment because we faced what we were honestly and recognized that we are sinners, and that God is holy, and in order for God to remain God, justice must survive.

And justice and mercy were blended in the person of Jesus Christ who died for our sins, taking the punishment we deserved, and was condemned in our place. Because He was the Son of God, he rose from the dead, and lives today.

Life with Christ is a wonderful experience, and we have no limitations. Living with a transcendent purpose that looks beyond the grave is liberating.

We live our lives for Him, because it is the only way to really live. Living for ourselves is a dead end street.


</div></div>

I'm sorry, I really don't mean to offend, but someone needs to tell you...
That is incredibly flaky....
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Christians do not regard thier lives as limited</div></div>
FALSE! Name me one Christian that does not place limitations on their lives.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> we are deserving of punishment because we faced what we were honestly and recognized that we are sinners</div></div>
Is a newborn baby a sinner? do they go to hell because they have not had the chance to be saved?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> We live our lives for Him, because it is the only way to really live</div></div>
how so?
I want to know, because to me, living what he gave me is how one really lives.. To me what you just said here sounds very much the same as the teacher's pet did in class... it's almost like one is willing to suffer in order to be blessed. How is life blessed when you have restrictions you believe God to have?

[Soundbear]

Is a child's life blessed, free to enjoy life safely if he stays under his parents restrictions or not??

How much more are WE children, under the love, care, AND restrictions of a loving, all wise God.

I'm trying to think of ONE SINGLE thing you want to have freedom to do, that God restricts, that inevitably, always leads to a happy, fulfilled life.

Give us something.

[Soundbear]

I can't believe this program didn't notice Bluesky's typo.

[BlueSky]

DQ, name me a pleasure that I cannot legally enjoy because I am a Christian.

[dancingqueen]

sex. Nameless, faceless sex.

[GenX]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dancingqueen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">sex. Nameless, faceless sex. </div></div>

What's so great about that?

Animals engage in nameless, faceless sex.

[dancingqueen]

Sex feels good. So that minus the commitment, is good times.

[GenX]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dancingqueen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sex feels good. So that minus the commitment, is good times. </div></div>

Are we more than animals that seek instant gratification?

To you, maybe not. But fashioning a relationship based on commitment is a goal of millions of people. Are they wrong?

[dancingqueen]

Nope, many people want a meaningful relationship, myself included. You are moving away from what I am talking about, it is not the relationship I am referring to, but the sex. You like sex don't you?

[GenX]

Yes, but I don't need it like a drug.

[dancingqueen]

The question was what pleasure can a Christian not enjoy because of their religion. I never once indicated that this is something anyone needs.

[BlueSky]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dancingqueen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">sex. Nameless, faceless sex. </div></div>

HA! Calling THAT a limitation is like handing me a cookie made out of $hit while I already enjoy triple layer genuine chocolate cake, and berating me for limiting myself the joys of eating crap!

See why I told you that you're flying upside down?

[dancingqueen]

well, if we can't be honest, then there is no point in having this discussion.

[BlueSky]

You can frame my response as dishonesty if you want to. Feel free to leave off the discussion. But if you call nameless faceless sex as pleasurable, you are more irresponsible than I imagined.

[dancingqueen]

How am I irresponsible by believing that sex without the need to commit is pleasurable. Are you going to tell me sex does not feel good if there is no commitment?

[BlueSky]

You are thinking of momentary sexual pleasure. Sex is most pleasurable when there IS commitment. Particularly after 30 or 40 years of commitment. That's the point.

I have experienced both. And here is how I will describe it.

When I was a child, I went to the circus and there, I had my first taste of cotton candy. I loved it. It was so pleasurable to taste. But after eating a whole serving of that stuff, I felt sick to my stomach. I also learned that nutritionally, this didn't do me any good.

SO I learned that pleasure combined with more long term positive consequences is to be preferred. Thus, maturity says, go for the good stuff.

Sex without relationship is awful. And its the stuff addiction is made of. It's a downward spiral. Have you heard of Oscar Wilde? You ought to read about him sometime.

[Soundbear]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dancingqueen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">well, if we can't be honest, then there is no point in having this discussion. </div></div>

Honest??

I said: "I'm trying to think of ONE SINGLE thing you want to have freedom to do, that God restricts, that inevitably, always leads to a happy, fulfilled life."

Sure you can have sex without commitment. But the inevitable result is a sense of worthlessness, for both parties.

And God knows that, and restricts sex to marriage.

[BlueSky]

Here's the point, DQ. There is a fleeting kind of pleasure, and there is lasting pleasure. I have experienced both.

I suspect you have only experienced one sort.