John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
http://alumcave.blogspot.com/
From: John Jenkins <jrjenki@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 8:14 AM
Subject:
To: Rick Cliett <rickcliett@hotmail.com>
One of the positive things about religion is we all can believe whatever we like and be comfortable. And, I realize I see things a little different than others, I tend to think literally and I like to consider the ramifications of beliefs and for what is said.
Early Christian preachers did not want the laity to have a copy of the bible in their own language. The clergy wanted to be the sole source and they could tell the people what to believe. One of the best ways to keep the attention of the laity is to scare them. Most of what is taught as Christianity is intended to keep the laity dependent upon the clergy.
Folks fall back on "God's Will" when their prayers are not answered. While the clergy assures them God does answer their prayers when it appears he does not obviously it is "His Will" being done. I take my personal experience and observations over the clergy any day and do not believe God answers prayers today. Does God hate amputees, people with autism or Downs syndrome, or those who are mentally or physically disfigured?
Recently I read in the Christian Chronicle that God says "No" because he has something better in mind. Someone should tell that to the parents of a three-year-old girl who was kidnapped, raped, tortured and killed. I doubt being told their child's death was "God's Will" would be very consoling. Did you know in the Sex Trafficking trade there is a market for 3yr-to-7-yr-old girls and boys?
We are told not everyone will be saved. Certainly it is not God's will that people be lost. While God has his preferences I do not believe he exercises them today.
As we pray without thinking so do we sing;
Tonight we sang about "our raptured souls, can here no longer stay" but we say we do not believe in the "rapture."
Another song was about our satisfaction with "just a cottage below, a little silver and a little gold; but in that city where the ransomed will shine, we want a gold one that's silver-lined." I find that ludicrous. I want the gold and silver here and am more than willing to take a shack in heaven. I chuckle when that song is sung, Christians telling God what Heaven means to them and what they expect.
Our last song which was written with 8 stanzas with number 5 saying: "comfort every sufferer watching late in pain; those who plan some evil from their sin restrain." God will not do either. He cannot. For him to refrain anyone from evil requires his taking away their free will and I see nothing in the Bible that suggests he will do that.
Many years ago Tom Holland, a preacher/song leader wrote a book Appropriate Songs at Inappropriate Times. He told the story of a cruise he and some of the members of his congregation took. They met each day for bible study and singing. The first song on the first day was
Living below in this old sinful world
Hardly a comfort can afford
Striving alone to face temptations call
where could I go but to the Lord
He said he laughed when he thought of a group, on a cruise with all sorts of luxury, singing "hardly a comfort can afford."
No reply is necessary. We all will continue to believe what provides comfort as do the Muslims, Hindus, Atheists and Christians of all ilks.
John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
http://alumcave.blogspot.com/
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