I know I said I wouldn't talk about this again, but this time it is someone who is genuine so I just want to explain something to them. Whoever you are I just want to say first off that I agree with everything you said. This all seems so silly that we should be arguing amongst ourselves as Christians. And I know that you are not trying to start an argument either. I've said it three times now: I know that I can hurt people's feelings when I goof around. I know this. I don't see why people keep bringing this up. I said I would gladly apologize for anyone I have ever offended. This truly opens my eyes also and I will be much more careful about the way that I joke around with people. I preach about being kind and tolerant of others, yes. When I "rip" on people, as you put it, it is done in a friendly spirited manner and no harm is meant. This point is obviously not getting across, so like I said, I will need to make some changes in my behavior. And I am so horrified that people's good intentions are being misinterpreted. Being non-denominational is not trying to destroy the denominations. I'm not trying to "convert" you, and to my knowledge, neither are any of my friends. You talked about the sacraments. THAT IS MY WHOLE POINT! It DOESN'T matter about baptism and communion and anything else. It is about your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I've never been baptized. I've only taken communion maybe three times in my life. I don't see why these things are even being brought up as issuses. My friends will all tell you the same thing. Jesus is the key. Not ANYONE'S "religious" beliefs. Also, I REFUSE to back done from my goal to change the whole world. This is not just a goal. I'm following the command of my Lord Jesus Christ:

"Jesus came and told his disciples, 'I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth, therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.'" - Matthew 28:18-19

Jesus didn't tell me to start small and try and change just one person's world. Sure, that is where you always start, but I will never take my eyes off of my goal, which is to see every person on their knees with the name of Jesus on their lips. And that day will come. And I am told to make ready for that day. That's all I'm doing. God said not to be like the pharisees, who were fake, but he never said to hide in your bedroom kneeling at your bed. I'm not going to save anyone hiding out. The point he was trying to make was that we should not purposely pray in public, and act holy, just for the sake of having other people think better of us. That is not my intention. My SOLE intention is to spread the news of God's great love for man, and the news of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. If anyone thinks I am doing this for my own benefit, then I am very sad. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I would be very very disheartened over all of this if it were not for one fact. Right about the time that you were typing your comment, I was on the phone with Megan Shutte. SHE GAVE HER LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST! That is an answer to my prayers. I wasn't praying that she would go to my church, or that she would believe exactly what I believe. I was praying that she would come to know Jesus as her personal savior. And that's exactly what happened. I know that the last person who commented was being very respectful and only stating her opinions, but I do not want to hear any more arguments about religion on this blog. Religion is not my concern. Jesus Christ, my savior is. Do not bother me anymore with petty arguments over who said what, or what church is this and that, or who believes what. We should be working together to help others, not arguing among ourselves. Let's just drop this all and love one another. Jesus said that the world would know us as Christians by the way we love one another. None of us are perfect, so let us all just stop pointing out one another's faults. I promise to try my best to change the way that I treat others. But again, I refuse to stop talking about God or trying to change the WHOLE world for the glory of his name.

"From now on, don't let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus." - Galatians 6:17

Jon Taube
SLAVE of Christ Jesus

- posted by Jonathan@ 11:33 PM