From:  (Nigel B. Mitchell)
Newsgroups: aus.religion.christian,aus.religion
Subject: Re: NEWS: Sex and the Archbishop
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1998 12:13:16 GMT

Do you have a name, AJ? Even God has a name. It is so much easier to
relate to someone when you know their name. You know my name, and you
know my church affiliation. All I know about you is that you are an
embittered former member of Chris Graus' church. Like many here, I
pray regularly for those who post on this newsgroup, and it is ever so
much easier to pray for someone who ha a name.

In <>, "AJ" <>
wrote:

>The Bible is infallible and it identifies what sin is..sin is wrong or have
>I got that screwed up too? there is no sin undefined.there are no grey
>areas.

Sin is sin, whether the Bible says so or not. There are many sins
underfined, and there are many grey areas, as we shall see below.

>You have chopped out the vitals which was asking you what you thought it
>was.
>You also chopped out vitals concerning logic in my last posting.
>Do not expect to look through your Bible search engine and find
>Paedophilia.
>I gave you four reasons why it is there or could you not see.?
>Just on count one ..we are  to obey  the laws of the land. it is against the
>law.
>End of argument.

So, in a country where it is against the law to preach Christianity,
you would obey the law. Fine.
Me, I use my brain, and I compare my ideas with the Bible and the
witness and experience of my fellow Christians. If it was against the
law to preach Christianity, I would break the law. Is that sin? You
tell me.

>Also...
>Paedophilia ...what can it involve ...rape ..sodomy...seduction..one
>or all of these!! all described as sin in the Bible.Sin is wrong.
>Am I splitting my infinitives or something? Why did you have difficulty with
>this.?

You are supporting my position more than you know. A "fundamentalist"
might argue that since pedophilia is not ever explicitly mentioned in
the Bible, it is OK. A thinking person would say that the principles
behind the Bible teaching against rape etc. apply in the case of
seducing young children, and so therefore pedophilia is wrong.

>>Let me use another example.
>>I assume that you would agree that racism is wrong,

>You would need to define racism first.

It worries me greatly that you would say that. What do you think
Racism is? Do you think it is a sin?

I think that Racism is discriminating against a person because of
their race. I think that racism is a sin. 

>>and yet it is
>>probably much easier to use the Bible to make a case FOR racism
>>than it is to make a case against it.

>Is it? 

Yes. In case you do not know it, there are people who use the Bible to
support the view that black people are inferior to white, that Jews
are not really Jews, that "us British" are superior to everyone, and
that asian/oriental people do not even exist. Type "white+supremacist
+christian" into any search engine on the web and you will see what I
mean.

>I thought it was in the 10 commandements.
>Love thy neighbour as thyself.Simple..

You really don;'t know the Bible very well, do you. "Love your
neighbour as yourself" is Leviticus 19:18 - nowhere near the 10
commandments. In Leviticus it clearly means "love your fellow Jew",
but in the teaching of Jesus it is given a new meaning - love your
fellow human being. It contradicts the teaching of Jesus (and Paul) to
be racist, but some "Christian" white supremacists, Brisish Israelites
and supporters of the various forms of apartheid around the world
conveniently forget this.

>>Please do not miss the
>>point here and label me a racist, or start saying that I think
>>the Bible is racist. The crucial thing is that the Bible on its
>>own is not enough-

>Wrong,wrong, brimming over with wrongability...stop here.
>It is more than enough.

Why?

> >we need to interpret the scriptures, under the
>>guidance of the Holy Spirit, and in our own context, to arrive at
>>the truth.

>That's what my neighbour did, he prayed in the spirit for justification. He
>then interpreted the Bible how he wanted to and now calls himself Tracy.
>Do you want to talk to him(her) she has a good argument.
>It fools most people who do not understand what  the Bible is for.

What do you think the Bible is for?

>>The Bible, the Spirit, and the community which interprets (ie the
>>Church) are all essential to the process.

>It is  essential that they keep out of it.

If you think the Spirit and the Church should keep out of it, how did
you become a Christian?

>I have got a very good publication for you on the Bible..it is called ..
>The Bible without Error...it costs 5c..
>Back to the bible broadcast ..any christian bookshop.

>I note today that Graeme has quoted extensively from it. It fully explains
>my position and the position of your church when it was first formed I
>suggest.
>Start over with God Nigel I am.


You are typing in tongues again. What are you trying to say?

Cheers


N+

Nigel B. Mitchell