Christian bronies: meet, greet, and mingle!

[Lithophila 291]

I in a way doesn't see masturbation as wrong. Although this may be a very taboo topic in Christianity because of guilt. But i was watching this video and its really well said. Although in Catholic and Orthodox tradition its bad though

Well i'll try to explain, when we sin, or in terms of masturbation its simply a biological function. Usually lust in those days referred to coveting another person, to desire one person for yourself. Example is Jesus saying "he who looks at a woman to lust" which actually means desire, to covet due to the old english meaning it. Because in those days being someone's property was normal

The greek word also means covet.

http://biblehub.com/greek/1937.htm

if you thought about having thoughts with someone else who wasn't yours then that is immorale. In terms of thinking about it.

 

But the video explains why nobody is righteous to god, but through faith we are saved. Atleast in protestantic view thats how it works.

Edited December 9, 2015 by Lithophila

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Ah, while I have a number of problems with the catholic church, I believe they give too much place to men and not enough to Christ, and that they have placed tradition too highly, and elevated their priests too highly, even more so when one gets to the pope and bishops.  I'm not really eager to go into it, because to be fair, I have issues with just about all of the various christian sects these days, and like Sunwalker I want to avoid divisive issues,

 

"Your faith is wrong in these ways, but let's not go into that."

 

If you truly did not wish to get into an inter-doctrinal conflict, which I most certainly don't, then you wouldn't say those things in the first place and instead of saying it's water under the bridge, just letting it be water under the bridge.

Edited December 9, 2015 by Steel Accord

[Reading Heart 167]

Ah...I really hoped that we wouldn't end up here.

 

So, what is the essence of faith with regards to those of us who are called 'Christian'?  It is the covenant of blood regarding Jesus death on the cross.  I'll quote, from the amplified version, so we'll cover the depth of the language better, but if you like you can look at several other verses in other versions if you prefer.  

 

Romans 10:9-10

9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.

 

And Matthew 10: 32

32 “Therefore, the one who [a]confesses and acknowledges Me before men [as Lord and Savior, affirming a state of oneness with Me], that one I will also confess and acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven.

------------------------

 

"Believe and confess" Nothing more, nothing less..  not by works lest any man should boast.

 

If they are teaching a different Jesus except for Christ and him crucified, then I've have a problem with their stance, the islamic faith for example, doesn't believe that Jesus actually died or was crucified, so they are clearly not of the faith.

 

But the Roman Catholic church, still teaches Jesus, proclaiming his death on the cross, so on that, I have no issues with them... 

 

----------------------------------------

 

Now to the matter of lust, which I view as far less important, but is still an important one.  Giving into lust in any way strengthens it and empowers it, as a man thinks his heart follows after..  pornography has our culture in it's grip, it's no surprise to me that the issue of masturbation and such comes up.  Let's go with my own experiences...  I've had trouble with this matter, I struggled with it for a long time, until I came to God and asked for his Heart on it... not simply to believe what He did about it, to feel as He did about it.. and in a single instant.. my attitude on it changed.. today I view all forms of giving into lust though the following lens..

• It dishonors and exploits my sisters, in particular, those who in believers in Christ, but also if I view it from Adam and I do, every human female.
• It dishonors the temple of the Holy Spirit (my own body) and therefor dishonors God.
• I will give no place to it in my life, not in my thoughts, not in my heart, not in my actions.  The only holy place to follow sexual desire is between husband and wife, according to God, and I want His Heart in this, so until or unless the day comes that I marry, I will follow his will on this.

Edited December 9, 2015 by Reading Heart

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Reading Heart,

 

I wouldn't give it much thought. I say we put the matter of sects and orders aside and remember what we all have in common, faith in Jesus. Let's get back to when this thread was at it's best. Just talking about our experiences with God and airing out our philosophical and ethical questions to our peers.

 

Who's with me on that? 

Edited December 9, 2015 by Steel Accord

[Sunwalker 981]

Some food for thought  I've heard a lot of folks draw parallels between certain aspects of the show and christian faith..  

 

I'd like to draw another one.. at least in some regards, in the way the tree of harmony seems to work (so far) and the way the Holy Spirit works in our lives.  The connections to fruit of the spirit, and the elements of harmony is the easy one, shoot, kindness is outright a biblical fruit of the spirit.  On a deeper level however.. the Spirit invites our participation, but doesn't push His way into our lives, but only as much as we accept His invitation does he move in and guide our lives.  If you see the elements, the map, the rainbow power and the castle all as still different parts of the tree, and it's response to twilight and her friends aligning themselves to the elements of harmony, the parallel's grow even stronger.. 

 

Of course, there are problems with any parallel, since it's not perfect, but it's the closest I've see in modern media to any sort of portrayal of the way the Beloved Spirit seems to work.  Still this sort of thing is nice to think about, but unless it affects you, it has no real meaning.. so what can you take from it?  I see it as a call to ask myself.. how much do I align myself with the Spirit and seek His guidance, and how much to I simply do my own thing, even to the point of trying to do spiritual things this way.. and as a call to go deeper, to seek more of God, more of the Divine will in my life.

That is a nice parallel . It reminded me of this passage:

 

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

Galatians 5:22-23

 

It even sounds like describing the Elements of Harmony! 

Edited December 9, 2015 by Sunwalker

[Steel Accord 6,660]

That is a nice parallel . It reminded me of this passage:

 

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

Galatians 5:22-23

 

It even sounds like describing the Elements of Harmony! 

 

Hey yeah, it does kind of sound like that. Christianity: almost everyone in the world practices it and preaches it, without ever actually knowing they are doing so.

Edited December 9, 2015 by Steel Accord

[Lithophila 291]

There is also ths verse i kinda like.

Matthew 10:33

But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

 

Basically in the same way you don't like to aknowledge a friend. You more or less will lose it. So thats a good way to think about it i think.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Hey, what are all of you guy's Christmas plans?

[Sunwalker 981]

Hey, what are all of you guy's Christmas plans?

I planned to visit my granny, who has moved to another state some months ago. But unfortunately that isn't going to happen this year, possibly it is going to be somewhere in the first few months of the next year.

 

So my plans are to stay at home with family, and go to the Christmas celebrations at the church near home

 

I also plan to play some games and catch up with my extensive backlog

[Lithophila 291]

Well i am boring myself with audiobooks on all deuteronomical books i can think of. I am done with catholic and regular Orthodox books. Currently on Orthodox Ethiopian tradition of deuteronomical books. Although i don't think it was needed to listen to "The Book of Jubilees", since its more or less a recap of the stuff in the old testament for some certain events. But i'll do it anyways. Its like 5 hours i think. After that its enoch. I don't know if there are audiobooks of enoch 2 and 3 (Although i've heard book of enoch has been somewhat controversial in Christianity. Which is why it was said to not be included in the bible. Although i am not sure what it is but i will read it. It probably is little i bet.) I basically only have these stuff left. And then i am done.

Edited December 10, 2015 by Lithophila

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Well i am boring myself with audiobooks on all deuteronomical books i can think of. I am done with catholic and regular Orthodox books. Currently on Orthodox Ethiopian tradition of deuteronomical books. Although i don't think it was needed to listen to "The Book of Jubilees", since its more or less a recap of the stuff in the old testament for some certain events. But i'll do it anyways. Its like 5 hours i think. After that its enoch. I don't know if there are audiobooks of enoch 2 and 3 (Although i've heard book of enoch has been somewhat controversial in Christianity. Which is why it was said to not be included in the bible. Although i am not sure what it is but i will read it. It probably is little i bet.) I basically only have these stuff left. And then i am done.

 

Wow you're avatar image is not just for show, that's exactly how Twilight would spend her vacation, nothing but reading books.

 

The Book of Enoch is mostly harmless and inoffensive. Not much of it contains anything in the way of actual teachings which might be part of why it was deemed apocryphal.

[Lithophila 291]

Wow you're avatar image is not just for show, that's exactly how Twilight would spend her vacation, nothing but reading books.

 

The Book of Enoch is mostly harmless and inoffensive. Not much of it contains anything in the way of actual teachings which might be part of why it was deemed apocryphal.

I think i got it wrong. I think it is more worse for the jews. Since it seems to cover somewhat of a Jesus figure. But i think the reason why deuteronomical books aren't canon. Has to do with them not knowing who wrote it. So its more or less disgarded as not very relevant if i guess right. Although i guess its nice to read as a spiritual side note. Book of Tobit for example, which is canon in catholic books takes up stuff like motherly love, a son finding his mother. But i listen to it so i might miss some detail, since i am too lazy to read all of the deuteronomical stuff

 

Yes. Twilight is a good study pony. I like her very much

Edited December 10, 2015 by Lithophila

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I think i got it wrong. I think it is more worse for the jews. Since it seems to cover somewhat of a Jesus figure. But i think the reason why deuteronomical books aren't canon. Has to do with them not knowing who wrote it. So its more or less disgarded as not very relevant if i guess right. Although i guess its nice to read as a spiritual side note. Book of Tobit for example, which is canon in catholic books takes up stuff like motherly love, a son finding his mother. But i listen to it so i might miss some detail, since i am too lazy to read all of the deuteronomical stuff

 

Yes. Twilight is a good study pony. I like her very much

 

I like these books for the same reason. No they may not be "a part" of the Bible itself but they are sort of like the tales of the Olympians or the Aesir. Not every myth we hear of them was a part of their attached faiths but they were good stories.

 

There is something to be said of looking for Judeo-Christian mythology, in fact I crave it as one raised on equal parts stories from the Bible and many other mythologies. My Dad would get done reading the Exodus tale or the Garden of Eden and I would want to hear more, more stories of angels and demons, God splitting the Earth, and His chosen champions being granted His power.

Edited December 10, 2015 by Steel Accord

[Lithophila 291]

Yeah. Its interesting.

 

Btw. Maybe somewhat off topic. But i beat this game awhile ago. Now i didn't have much of knowledge of what heaven can look like. Remember the part about elders sitting down with harps and playing around Jesus' throne...

 

Well in this game there is a God that somehow seem to reflect the abrahamic God, or the wrathful God. For some reason i get marcion vibes from it. Since the main character is the savior, and the other god is more portrayed more or less the bad guy.

 

But i liked the game either way.

 

If you wonder about marcion, it was the earliest form of questioning Jesus role in the divine plan, like the trinity as we know it today wasn't decided(But it was concluded at The First Council of Nicaea ), which is reason to why they had to sorta decide this faster, because marcion was popular for awhile before he became exccomunicated from the church in Rome.

 

Basically Marcion believed the old god in the old testament was evil. While Jesus came to deliver us from this evil god. But this was shocking because of Christians having the idea of being monotheists etc.

 

Its either way fascinating to what stuff humans have concluded on.

Edited December 10, 2015 by Lithophila

[Reading Heart 167]

Thinking that the God of the old testament and the God of the new testament are different, is a misunderstanding of the nature and being of God.  I don't blame folks that much for seeing it that way, but if you think he's not a God of mercy even in the old testament he's moved in mercy, read the book of Jonah.  The problem is that people have trouble giving equal weight to his justice and his mercy, or have any real understanding of what him being Holy means.  God can't comprise any part of himself, that's why the cross was absolutely necessary, it reconciled justice and mercy, allowing God to be true to both, without comprising who and what He is.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Remember the part about elders sitting down with harps and playing around Jesus' throne...

 

No I . . . really don't. That's . . . never in the Bible. Heaven's never given a concrete physical description. 

 

@@Lithophila,

 

And by the way, that's Lightning Returns. No offense to the Japanese in general, especially because Persona is much better in this regard, but they are infamous for reappropriation of Christian and Greco-Roman imagery and using them to tell stories with their own values that are rooted in a more Shinto, animistic, and in a sense humanist point of view.

 

Not that the West wasn't any better in using Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian cultural iconography as little more than window dressing for otherwise firmly Eurocentric values from time to time (not always, I must stress for both sides) but the shoe was on the other foot for that game series.

 

The Fal'cie of the first game were very traditionally Shinto gods of nature despite their mechanical appearance. Their power and being underlined the accepted reality of both Cocoon and Gran Pulse. Similar to the gods of Olympus accept they were seen as something higher, something that affected the world from above. The gods of Shinto were many and were a part of the world. All of the Fal'cie we see have specific jobs that people can just walk up to them to see them doing. No different than a tree or river.

 

The L'cie, like Lightning and her friends, weren't just "gifted by the gods" in the western sense, their societal status was reflective of their changed status in the divine hierarchy of the cosmos. In Japan, where your status on the pecking order was often thought of as divinely ordained, anyone who attained power in such a way is shunned and feared just as Lightning and co. were when they were marked and given their powers.

 

Lightning, by the end of the trilogy, has achieved a sense of purity. She's purged herself of all misgivings, doubt, and other emotional chains that held her. In the Shinto sense, where physical and spiritual purity are almost synonymous, she's become immaculate and is thus able to stand before the very Powers that Be.

 

Lightning is a good character and a hero, I do like her, but one thing she is not, is in anyway analogous to Christ, Joan of Arc, or any specifically Christian figure. If anything, she's more like a female version of Susanoo no Mikoto, abrasive, troubled relations with a sister, fierce in battle, carries a unique sword, and associated with storms.

 

And they may call the game's apocalypse Armageddon or Ragnarok, but trust me, it's either A ) the Japanese fetish for both English and German words and phrases uttered regardless of context. (Again, not that plenty of Westeners can throw stones in that department, especially the tattoo crowd.) Or B ) It's just the word they used for the purposes of translation.

 

All that being said, I don't think the game is bad, I just don't think one should take spiritual understanding of Christianity from media produced in a country that doesn't really get the underlying subtleties of the faith. I mean watch Hellsing or any anime that depicts actual clergy or Christian themes. It's exoticism, plain, simple, nothing wrong with it, but that's what it is.

Edited December 11, 2015 by Steel Accord

[Lithophila 291]

Thinking that the God of the old testament and the God of the new testament are different, is a misunderstanding of the nature and being of God.  I don't blame folks that much for seeing it that way, but if you think he's not a God of mercy even in the old testament he's moved in mercy, read the book of Jonah.  The problem is that people have trouble giving equal weight to his justice and his mercy, or have any real understanding of what him being Holy means.  God can't comprise any part of himself, that's why the cross was absolutely necessary, it reconciled justice and mercy, allowing God to be true to both, without comprising who and what He is.

You also have to take into account that the four gospels we have now are not written to be historical. Its purely for worship value. Although i think it was somewhat of a bad move to edit "The epistles" not to be confused with "The legit epistles of Paul" Marcion edited the epistles for some reason. Although Luke i can see since its not actually an account of being there, atleast one can argue for it atleast.

 

Well the theological lesson in the old is God is always wrathful, its the main idea. Because he hates what humans do because they dont want to do what he wishes them to do. Since humans were bad in keeping god's laws, then Jesus more or less gave this gift of forgiveness. Hense in Isaiah that human's righteousness is like a filthy rags, and thats where the idea Paul says in romans that no one is righteous. You can try as much as you want, but humans can never be perfect. And thats the theological idea of God's wrath in the old testament is about, they disobey and God get's furious, so it was about purely judgement on not obeying the law. With Jesus its purely different, the ultimate human sacrifice on the cross was so that anyone who accept him into his heart will be saved. Even no matter how bad you are(although you shouldn't intentionally be bad ), but you will be forgiven if you accept him as your Lord in general. For example, if you are furious on someone, wishing he'd be hurt. Will you be judged for it? 1st of all its not consensous fury, its non intentional. And thats the idea, nobody is perfect in the eye of God. And that's why if you try to walk on the path of God. In this case Jesus, you will be saved purely to that.

 

Well that's atleast how i can explain it.

 

Lightning is a good character and a hero, I do like her, but one thing she is not, is in anyway analogous to Christ,

Well i haven't studied Shintoism so i can't comment much. But she does spend time saving souls, so i just assumed it had some Christ like stuff to it. And there is like a big cathedral there i think in the main city of where you start. But i won't deny the developers mystifying stuff.

 

As for Hellsing, i kinda like it. But the priest is waaaay too happy hunting for demonic vampires .

But there are some questionable bible passages that one can in today find controversy, like claiming if Christianity is violent. Like Psalm 2 speaking of the future messiah. Also read Ten Minas.

Although the thing is with future interpretation and reformation this is not how we see it, and is much about worshipping and following Jesus' example of how he lived and did stuff. Sure he may have some judgement words as a warning, but its not the same on how to behave around others when one can use words. Or to say "He who lives by the sword dies by the sword" so relying on violence is not the way to go to say the least.

 

But yes. It was interesting to hear people's opinion on it.

Edited December 11, 2015 by Lithophila

[Steel Accord 6,660]

 

 

Well i haven't studied Shintoism so i can't comment much. But she does spend time saving souls, so i just assumed it had some Christ like stuff to it.

 

That may be what she's doing, but I guarantee you that's not with the original writer wrote it as, especially seeing as the word "soul" has no direct Japanese cultural translation at least not as how we define it. 

 

 

 

And there is like a big cathedral there i think in the main city of where you start. But i won't deny the developers mystifying stuff.

 

As I tried to say in as much detail as I could prior, it's all set dressing, a desktop, a facade, "insert holy place here" it could have been Mecca for how it would have affected or changed the plot. Hell the game doesn't even take place on Earth or our universe so any connections to real life religions aren't going to be intentional on the part of the characters.

 

The reason they are mystifying it is two fold. On their end, it's Christian-esque symbolism. Something they probably understand academically, maybe even are well versed in, but their target audience is very likely not. So it's all surface level connection and nothing deeper, rooting the more esoteric parts of their story in a religious milieu their audience are more familiar with.

 

On our end, it's "mystifying" because it's not true Christian allegory the same way the Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, or Pilgrim's Progress is, it's Shinto and Buddhism at the core with Christian flavor wallpaper.

 

 

As for Hellsing, i kinda like it. But the priest is waaaay too happy hunting for demonic vampires .

 

I just used Hellsing as an example of the common Japanese misunderstandings of Christianity. I feel like what I'm trying to communicate isn't really connecting to you.

[Lithophila 291]

 

That may be what she's doing, but I guarantee you that's not with the original writer wrote it as, especially seeing as the word "soul" has no direct Japanese cultural translation at least not as how we define it.

I am not sure if Japan believes in this. But from what i've heard they simply see Christianity as a part of western civilization. Like i've seen lots of games or entertainment where Christianity is added in. So i don't find it impossible that its there. And it would be a big coincidence having a big cathedral

http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Luxerion_Cathedral

 

Although i was wearing Cloud's garb in the whole game. Because its powerful and because i like Final Fantasy 7 on PS1, and even in that game Aeris was tending flowers in a Church.

 

I think i remember the scene mostly when Snow was possessed by something and Lightning won him over to his side.

 

Also... i really liked this. If there is one thing i like is they know how to add some liberty on mythological aspects and have sweet music to it.

 

But i thought the game was pretty ok. Its one of those games where you have a time limit to do stuff. Kinda adds suspension and stuff to it.The more souls you save the more time will expand ^^

 

The reason they are mystifying it is two fold. On their end, it's Christian-esque symbolism

Its all possible. But that doesn't make it bad though ^^.

But if you want a more real life.. well dark side of history more realistic attempts of christianity. Then "The First Templar" is a game i can recommend. I haven't gotten far in it. But i don't think there is any realistic attempts of modern games i know of that involves religion so far.

 

Although its a very good game

Edited December 11, 2015 by Lithophila

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Lithophila,
 
Still not sure we are on the same wavelength here. I'm not scouting for games with religious and specifically Christian themes, (not now anyway) I can name plenty myself that fit that criteria. 
 
I'm trying to communicate to you that the symbolism involved in Lightning Returns was very likely token and they were more concerned with telling Lightning's story and the conclusion of the XIII saga, not delivering a Christian message to their audience.
 
(Also there are plenty of modern games with religious sysmbolism. Want to know the biggest one? Bioshock Infinite is profoundly Christian in its plot.)

Edited December 11, 2015 by Steel Accord

[ASGARDIANBRONY 128]

Well i am boring myself with audiobooks on all deuteronomical books i can think of. I am done with catholic and regular Orthodox books. Currently on Orthodox Ethiopian tradition of deuteronomical books. Although i don't think it was needed to listen to "The Book of Jubilees", since its more or less a recap of the stuff in the old testament for some certain events. But i'll do it anyways. Its like 5 hours i think. After that its enoch. I don't know if there are audiobooks of enoch 2 and 3 (Although i've heard book of enoch has been somewhat controversial in Christianity. Which is why it was said to not be included in the bible. Although i am not sure what it is but i will read it. It probably is little i bet.) I basically only have these stuff left. And then i am done.

I just read the book of enoch and it was great. I hope you learn from it and enjoy it as much as I did. I don't celebrate Christmas as I believe its a pagan holiday, so ill probably read the poetic eddas.

[Lithophila 291]

I just read the book of enoch and it was great. I hope you learn from it and enjoy it as much as I did. I don't celebrate Christmas as I believe its a pagan holiday, so ill probably read the poetic eddas.

Ah that is a interesting history. The problem is people have a problem with Christmas being a pagan celebration. See here is the thing. Back then the clever ways to make pagans go over to Christianity... well in this case Christianize some pagan stuff like Christmas. Saying its to celebrate Jesus' birth. BOOM!!! Converts!

 

So its not like you worship Christmas or anything, its just a nice tradition. Same way with easter eggs and chicken.

 

I haven't read poetic edda but i've heard they are interesting. I have read about Norse mythology though ^^

Edited December 11, 2015 by Lithophila

[ASGARDIANBRONY 128]

Ah that is a interesting history. The problem is people have a problem with Christmas being a pagan celebration. See here is the thing. Back then the clever ways to make pagans go over to Christianity... well in this case Christianize some pagan stuff like Christmas. Saying its to celebrate Jesus' birth. BOOM!!! Converts!

 

So its not like you worship Christmas or anything, its just a nice tradition. Same way with easter eggs and chicken.

 

I haven't read poetic edda but i've heard they are interesting. I have read about Norse mythology though ^^

i cant remember where it is in the bible, probably proverbs, but it actually talks about ornamenting the tree and how it was sinful of the Israelites to do so. also have you ever read Beowulf? it actually talks a lot about the bible in it.

[Lithophila 291]

i cant remember where it is in the bible, probably proverbs, but it actually talks about ornamenting the tree and how it was sinful of the Israelites to do so. also have you ever read Beowulf? it actually talks a lot about the bible in it.

I can't remember that. Bur searching the definition of "ornamenting" means pride. It is however mentioned that pride is one of the six things God hates in Proverbs. Basically if you feel superior to others.

Edit: Ah now i see. Basically from what i understand is in the old people who followed pagan traditions was using ornaments to make stuff look nice. But i don't think one can compare this. Remember it was for a worship of another God. Its that which God hates. Remember, there are lots of stuff in the old testament where God is honored with gold and stuff, temple, Ark of the Covenant, you name it. So aslong as you don't follow the tradition to serve Zeus for example then i think you should be fine

http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Ornaments

 

Just to give you one example.

 

1 Kings 6:19-22 ¹⁹ He prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of the covenant of the Lord there. ²⁰ The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty wide and twenty high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar. ²¹ Solomon covered the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold. ²² So he overlaid the whole interior with gold. He also overlaid with gold the altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary.

 

Although later on Solomon did pagan worship. Its that which God hated. But when it was praising him he was pleased. Thats the main difference. Aslong as you believe in your heart in God. Then you shouldn't pressure that what you are doing is wrong.

 

Or to quote Isaiah

 

Isaiah 66:2

Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

Edited December 11, 2015 by Lithophila

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

This post has been redacted by the author.

Edited May 10, 2021 by Blue