2 Corinthians 10-13

[wolfpurplemoon]

Paul and his followers have powerful weapons to tear down arguments against God, and they take thoughts captive to make them obey Christ (no freethinking in Paul's church). People say that Paul is forceful in writing but weak in person.

Paul is worried that the newly-converted will be led astray by someone with a better offer, a legitimate concern as these people were already converted once they are probably open to anything.

Paul has suffered more for Jesus than most, he is therefore more of a servant of Christ than many others, he's been imprisoned more, beaten more, and faced death many times (he's not boasting though).

Comments

[bill_sheehan.livejournal.com]

Well, remember that 2 Corinthians 4:11-13. Even in the present day and country, where Christianity is the majority religion, there's a church on every other corner, and public proclamations of belief are practically a prerequisite for elective office, some Christians still claim they're suffering terribly for Jesus.

[wolfpurplemoon]

Hi Bill, you've not been round these parts for a while!

The constant claim that Christians in the West are being persecuted is quite laughable, here in the UK we have an ongoing conflict between the fairly new equality law that requires businesses to provide services to everyone whatever their sexual orientation and various Christians who claim this infringes on their rights.

I was reading something the other day (can't find it right now!) that pointed out that many Christians in Egypt and the surrounding countries are actually being killed and fear for their lives right now, which sort of puts the so called suffering of US and UK Christians into stark perspective.

[yukinoomoni.livejournal.com]

Prelude to the Crusades =/

Rockround: Christ's "captives"

[(Anonymous)]

The real captive where those bound by their sin with the chains of guilt and consequences. The life of an unsaved sinner can be suffocating as addictions take over, relationships are lost, self-destructive behavior surfaces. On top of that there were the constant offerings to settle the debts to God, though they would never catch up. Only through Christ's blood are we truly redeemed - our sins paid for and our spirits set free- free of guilt, of eternal consequence- free to fall and fail and love God for who he is- our creator, our father, our jealous judge an our humble redeemer. I once was lost but now I'm found... Was blind but now I see!

Paul sees himself as setting these people free from themselves and from a stale religion that had used faith and the law to enslave their followers.

break free

[zen-says.livejournal.com]

the real captives are those bound by imaginery invisible man in the sky, accusing them of fallen short of his standard of moral, whereby the invisible "destroyed" the human race, killed the "1st borns babies in egypt" and blamed you for looking at a woman's boobs.....

sure,,,,, break off your chains of slavery, dump your imaginery god and find your real life,,,,, there are no afterlife, live now and in the present,,,,,

Re: break free

[(Anonymous)]

I've walked several paths and I'm quite happy on God's, thanks. Anyone who claims to be a Christian but feels like they arent free to live a full and rewarding life isnt doing it right. If after this life there is nothing else then at least I won't be disappointed. If you're wrong, though... yikes!

Ultimately it's a faith bet for both of us- no one can prove empirically beyond any doubt the existence of a creator or the lack of one. I like my odds and payout a lot more than yours, so I'll let it ride.

Good luck with that whole godless / pointless thing!

Re: break free

[wolfpurplemoon]

Please take your patronising tone elsewhere thankyou.