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@Harikrish
Yeah, polemics doesn't tend to make you likable.
Yeah, polemics doesn't tend to make you likable.
Being likable is neither a goal of our faith, neither is it guaranteed.But prejudice is never righteous judgement. There are plenty of likable Christians. Maybe what makes them unlikable to you is that you fancy yourself some kind of spiritual leader, and Christians don't tend to respect thatBut I againn would like to point out, engaging in polemics rarely makes you a likable person.
Well, that is your opinion, but it isn't our faith.
It certainly is your opinion, and it is not our faith
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."Sounds pretty likable to me.
light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
As I have said before, polemicists are rarely likeable fellows.
I hold a scholarly view having been trained in Esoteric scriptures, Christian Theology and Islamic fundaméntalism. With some 30,000 Christian denominations the majority of Christisns are sctipturally illiterate. Can you name a few modern biblical scholars you have studied?I don't really respect your opinions about the bible or Christianity. The fact that, being uneducated, you take yourself as an educator makes you somewhat unlikable."the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm."
My Presbyter is a biblical scholar. He actually wrote the commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews in The Orthodox Study Bible(A bible with commentary that works as a good way to introduce protestants to Orthodoxy)But as I said, your education is outside The Apostolic Church. That makes it rather worthless.
You are deserving of mockery.
Just so you are aware, it is really easy to do what you are doing. If someone wanted to take, say, your scriptures and interpret them out of context in order to paint a picture that isn't true, they could.We The Orthodox Church consider ourselves the true successors of Israel. The Church is Israel. You mock these many denominations, but we do not believe in denominations. You are either with The Apostolic Orthodox and Catholic Church or you are heterodox.The Church since the very beginning has put a great deal more emphasis on the typological interpretation of scripture. One thing that would be beneficial for you to understand is that while we certainly venerate scripture and consider it among the highest authorities in The Church, scripture is only rightly interpreted through The Church. You don't know what we use scripture for. Your interpretations simply can't be valid, because you do not have The Holy Spirit as your helper. You do not have the grace of The Church.You can take offense, but this is what we believe. I certainly know better what I have faith in than someone who has never shared my faith.
if it was the case that scriptures are not interpreted, there wouldn't be thousands of heresies as you admit that all claim scriptures and run away with a foreign gospel.
How did the Orthodox Church miss scriptures that declared Jesus a demon possessed madman?Nonsense