Had an intersting conversation with a Jehovah's Witness who came to my

[GreenPartyVoter]

door.

Now I don't agree with everything they think but I thought I should be polite since she had a magazine in her hand that had the title, "Homelessness, will it ever end"?

She was flipping through her Bible to give me scriptural proof of a promise that homelessness will one day come to an end. (Isaiah 65:21,22) She asked me why I thought people go hungry. It was cold standing out on my deck in a tee shirt and light pants so I didn't go into detail, just went with my fave answer "Greedy corporations and corrupt governments".

Anyway I was very frank with her and told her that quoting scripture to me was fine but that I am not a literalist. She took that in stride and was also rather interested in the fact that identify fairly closely with UU churches and started talking about how we had something in common in that JW's don't believe in the trinity. I tried to explain that it isn't that I deny a divinity in Christ but rather that I think we are all divine children of God. Just that Jesus seemed to walk in the Father better than the rest of us. (Or so we have been told.)

I did confess to her that I wonder what Jesus thinks of the church as it is now. Did he ever intend for us to worship him? Would he enjoy the little worship choruses we sing in the morning at my evangelical church or would they creep him out?

I dunno, really. What do you think? :)

[Maat]

1. Interesting.

That's what we believe in Religious Science - that we are all equally divine, and that Jesus of Nazareth was a Master Teacher ("walk in the Father better than the rest of us").

I also am a member of the local UU church, which is about 40 minutes away - I visit there several times per year.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. I sometimes wonder too

In the OT it's mentioned that God is a jealous god and likes to be worshiped so that wouldn't be weird but Jesus in the NT once was called rabbi and said to not please call him that (I sensed he was shy about that :shrug: ) and people tried to glorify him there but you can just sense he was uncomfortable with it. I think he was more of just a person who would preach his sermons and didn't like to be idolized so he probably wouldn't be a big fan of Christmas. ;) At my church we don't necessarily glorify Jesus like we do God. We remember him with Communion and sermons and there are some songs that have him glorified of course. The songs all really depend on the sermon and they revolve around whatever the preacher is going to preach about. If you're wondering I go to a Church of Christ.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

3. This was my response to another thread.

Point missed! Did Jesus call himself a Christian? No! There are many who call themselves Christian, myself, being one. My, definition, is following the commandments of Jesus Christ, by my interpreters definitions, the Sacraments: 1). Baptism 2). the Holy Communion, period!

Everyone, comes here with their own ideology of being Christian, and NO ONE knows the TRUE definition. There is no one here, who IS GOD!

The joke among serious Lutheran's (which we are called by our own faith), is that Martin Luther would turn over in his grave, because we are called Lutherans (that is my same feeling, and I think Jesus Christ would have the same reaction). How dare WE HUMAN's come up with a term for God!

How dare we pretend to know God's will, and his plan for us! Who are we?, but servants of the Father and nothing else.

You may think I come off as Holier than thou, and yet I am so humbly his servant that you would change your opinion (I am a PROUD DOORMAT, because I serve a greater Power!)

[JVS]

5. Hey Have you ever read this book?

On Being a Theologian of the Cross: Reflections on Luther's Heidelberg Disputation, 1518

by Gerhard O. Forde

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080284345X/103-8090723-0101435?v=glance&n=283155

My pastor lent it to me, and I thought it was really good.

[no name no slogan]

4. Check out this book

"Beyond Belief" by Elaine Pagels has some very good information on the pre-Nicaean Christian churches, many of whom actually believed that Jesus was not "the Son of God" but "A Son of God". In fact, IIRC there are still some "Christian" churches still existant from that time in Asia and/or Africa.

My own belief is very close to the gnostic belief that we all posses the ability to know God, but that we need to learn how to find this ability and use it to the best benefit of humankind. I suppose it is somewhat akin to the "Inner Light" that Quakers believe in, although I've never been a member of the Society of Friends, so I cannot say for sure.

However, I do largely reject the trinity concept. I do believe in a holy spirit and in a divine Creator; however, I don't believe that Jesus is "God's only begotten son". And I still consider myself a Christian.

[More Than A Feeling]

6. I think He accepts us just as we are

and also thinks we could do better.;)

I know you said you are not a literalist, but I've always liked the quote "Wherever two or three are gathered in My name, there I am." So, yeah, my guess is that, for all our faults, Jesus does appreciate church services, as well as the honor we offer Him when we do good to the least of these.