So how does one have a "discussion" about God then? Cause by your definitions there is no such thing. One side would always be "preaching", which isn't true, but that's besides the point. Again, preaching is a sermon, a message directed to a group of people that came to hear the message. We are again merely having a discussion, no preaching.

Less of course you could consider both sides to be preaching to one another. One preaching Jesus is lord, and the other preaching Jesus isn't the lord. Because all in all both sides are doing the same thing, they are stating their beliefs. They are DISCUSSING there beliefs. So yeah, if you guys wish to consider what I do as preaching, then all of us that speak on this forum are preaching in one way or other. And if that's the case, then why point it out particularly with me? Why point fingers and put titles on people's actions as preaching if that is what everyone is doing in the first place in this forum?

First of all on the verse you posted



Jesus was speaking to a specific person(s). This wasn't a general instruction to all of mankind.

OKAY if you want to call it discussing, that's alright with me.

CARRY ON.

I'm sorry, I just take it kind of offensive when they claim as such in this forum. Cause it's usually said in a way like the believers are condemning them, or saying things along the lines of well you're going to burn in hell for not believing. And that's absolutely NOT what is being said in this forum. We're all just here for friendly discussion and some atheists/people of other beliefs take it to far and get all offensive like in the discussion like we're again damning them and or condemning them for not believing. When in reality that is absolutely not what we are doing. Christianity is built on faith. Faith can NOT be "forced". Faith is something you wholeheartedly believe in. Faith is the greatest thing in the world and not ment directly about religion. Faith in general is hopes in something. Weather that's having faith in a relationship, faith in making it through life, faith in whatever it may be you have faith in. That's what we are here to do, is discuss our different faiths. Not to change another's faith or anything of that such. If that happens, it happens. But that is not directly the reasoning for a discussion, no one's trying to convince the other. Someone can't truly "convince" you to have faith in their belief and or a belief. Faith is completely built by the person that has the faith. No one can give you faith, no one can make you have faith, it's all a personal choice. And again, we're just here to discuss and it blows me away when people like previously mentioned go off like we are trying to change there faith. And just wanted to make that clear, so the insulting comments of preaching, forcing beliefs, ect would stop.

Well there is no reason to think you are going to change anyone's belief. No reason to fear that. It ain't gonna happen.

Don't worry about it cowboy, it is just a word. and we all view them a little differently , depending whatyou know or where you grew up.

Yep some of us see the preaching as not good.

Some see it differently, but it doesnt put across the wrong idea, preaching or discussing its really all the same, we are still talking about god.

What any of us get out of it,nowone else will ever know.

So just stay cruisy and relax its all cool, don't get offended by anyone its all just everyones views that's the beauty of being in here.

Just being able to put your views across.

Exactly, and is why I said it can't happen. Only that person could change their beliefs, not you, not I, not anyone else but themselves. So that was my point. Attempts at this would be in vein, would be pointless, would be a waste of time. And is why we are not here for that.


*again, just brought the entire subject up on this to get a mutual understanding for everyone. No one's here to change any ideas, beliefs, or anything of such. Again, just here to discuss. And this was brought up to try to make this more of a friendly environment rather then at each other's throats like it is a lot of the time in here.

Cowboy..a disciple is someone under the instruction or tutorledge of a teacher...you know like Uma Thurman was in the movie "Kill Bill"....but reading your posts I guess the answer would be no

but anyone can believe in Jesus but a disciple/follower would be willing to pay the cost for that belief

FOR EXAMPLE:
demons can believe in Jesus but those demons are not followers or disciples of Jesus because they are not willing to pay the cost to do so

this is why followers/disciples would "preach/spread the word" and why believers that are not willing to follow this command of Jesus would be no different than that of the demon when it comes to paying the cost

that's why 1've asked you if you preach/spread the word or was a disciple in Mingles2 ....so far your answers to those questions have been no different than that of your average demon

Yes true except, again discussing and preaching two ENTIRELY DIFFERENT things. Preaching is giving a sermon, it is speaking on a specific topic for a specific reason. No one's preaching here, again just merely discussion between two adults that have different beliefs.

Cowboy ...wouldn't whether if it's a discussion or preaching lie in the eye of the beholder....so why are spending so much time trying to convince others that you're not here preaching ..but then again let's face the facts..how many posters in this forum have told you that you were here preaching....

as I said any one can claim to believe in Jesus even a demon but to be a follower they must be willing to pay the cost and whether it's viewed as being a discussion or preaching won't matter to them

Oh dear,, so what is the definititon of preaching


preach
   [preech]

–verb (used with object)

1
to deliver a sermon.

2
to give earnest advice, as on religious or moral subjects or the like.
3
to do this in an obtrusive or tedious way.


OK Cowboy ....

FUNCHES IS CORRECT..

Yes we are all preaching, now let it go and talk about God that is what we are here for, this is becoming petty.
We sound worse then little school girls.

Honestly even to me who finds most things amusing this is becoming tedious.

josie...you're not seeing the big picture

a demon would not "preach" the word of Jesus, a demon that hide among believers would use every excuse to prove that it's not preaching the word of jesus, this is how you find demons

that's why this is not about whether it's a discussion or preaching...it's a fight between just and evil

what I'm doing is giving Cowboy an Exorcism ...

reveal thy name Cowboy....reveal they name
the power of Christ compels you...

Honestly did your Mum ever smack your butt for teasing your brothers and sisters..

OK get your exorcism over with so that we can move on ,you two have scared everyone off as noone is game to enter in case you both gobble them up.

Or grab them by the neck and preach to them, or hold them down and try and scare the demons out.

It matters mainly cause preaching is a directive action. Preaching doesn't involve listening to anyone but the holy ghost. It does not involve listening to the one they are "preaching" to. That is why no preaching is done here. We're all just having a discussion.

And that is not what I am here to do. I'm here to learn and possibly teach someone else if they wish to listen. But mainly to learn.

Cowboy said:




Cowboy here's the thing. You don't really listen. You only pretend to listen. Therefore, you are only pretending to "have a discussion."

More than just one or two people have told you that you appear to be preaching. You are not listening to them. All you are doing is denying that you are preaching and your reasoning is because you THINK you are listening to people. But you are NOT really listening. People KNOW THAT. They can tell that the words they type to you do not soak into your mind because you are not really listening or trying to understand what they are trying to tell you. There is a block there in your mind that bounces everything back out before you even consider it.

If you were really listening, you would be considering what they are saying. You are not doing that. By your answers, everyone can tell you are not really listening. You are simply waiting for your turn to talk. You are thinking about what you are going to say next. BUT you are not hearing or considering what anyone else is saying to you.

That is why people tell you that you are preaching. Because you don't listen. You only pretend to listen. So you come off as being dishonest or a phony because you claim to be listening to other people's view of God or other people's religion, but in truth you don't want to hear or consider them. You already think they are wrong in your mind and your mind is closed and already made up.

Even as I write this now I know this will NOT SINK IN and will bounch off of you like a rubber ball and you will claim to be offended. I am not trying to offend you. I am trying to help you LEARN SOMETHING AS YOU CLAIM you want to do.

But in order to learn anything you have to learn to listen. If you don't, then you are just preaching.

Don't respond right away. Let this sink in over night. THINK ABOUT IT.

Just because one doesn't agree doesn't mean they aren't listening.

You aren't listening. I asked you:

Don't respond right away. Let this sink in over night. THINK ABOUT IT.

But you jumped in there all defensive without even THINKING.

Oh but you are also incorrect about this. Why would I be offended by this? You are not belittling one's beliefs, you are not claiming another to be a liar, you are not insulting in any way shape or form. That's when it becomes offensive, when one belittles your personal beliefs to nothing but hearsay rumors, lies, or anything of that nature. Just because one doesn't agree with another, that doesn't make it offensive. Just because two people can't see eye to eye, that doesn't make it offensive. When one demeans the other's belief(s) is when it becomes offensive.