| Feb 9 @ 10:49 AM |
Accountability
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ServantOfChrist2
Posts: 4,180
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Each of us, at one time or another, have been treated unfairly by others. Some more often than others.
Most of the time though, we're generally regarded as accurate reflections of our efforts.
You can fool some of the people some of the time. But you can't fool all of the people all of the time.
Through our daily lifestyle and conduct, each of us creates a personna. Some individuals have a bit of a talent for acting. They're able to create a false impression of what truly lies within them.
I confess that in my years growing-up I've done this. I've tried to be the kind of person I've had some sort of respect for.
Is this authentic? No, not usually. It's only acting...pretending to be someone you're not.
In the N.T. sometimes the term fruit of the Spirit is used. Galatians 5:22--"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23--gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24--Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25--Since we live with the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26--Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." Here fruit can be applied to the products of Christian behaviour.
In another place however, fruit is used to describe a person's actions. Matthew 7:15--"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are feroscious wolves. 16--By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17--Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18--A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19--Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20--Thus by their fruit you will recognize them."
Some of us--even though we at the time are "bad fruit" have developed the ability to mimic "good fruit".
However, the fruit of the Spirit as described In Galations, is generally responsible for producing the sort of fruit referred to in Matthew 7.
"By their fruit you will recognize them."
To varying degrees of accuracy, we've been given a means of detection here.
This isn't to advocate a general distrust of people. Just the opposite in fact.
But after some practice using our gifts of discernment, such detection becomes easier and more accurate. These are gifts of God.
And He always holds us accountable for our actions.
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| Feb 9 @ 12:10 PM |
Accountability |
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yashaenka
Posts: 4,639
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SOC, Beating mind on mind is a waste of time whether you feel picked on or whether as a process of human nature you pick back.
The true fact of the matter is that everyone is a duality in masks that they present in different forums and situations. Whether each of us accepts it or not there resides within us all a little child just asking to be let out at times.
But usually it is fearful as children often are of the unknown.
So we live one life in the confines of our individualized caves we call home, then adjust ourselves to the realities of the outside world and don another brave mask to face the world....We all do this in the best way possible that is comfortable to us uniquely.
You can fool some of the people some of the time. But you can't fool all of the people all of the time. Better to think, you can fool yourself some or all the time because fooling others is much less than fooling yourself!
A Zen person would say when walking I see the Universe in everyone eyes a person of faith may say I see God or Jesus there, are not they both just labels.
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| Feb 9 @ 4:30 PM |
Accountability
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Jankia
Posts: 9,171
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I dont see giving a different reflection of ourselves be it good or bad as any kind of false impression no matter where its given.Accountability of ourselves given in a positve way isnt any more false then those we give in a negative way.Thats who we are as individuals.
Nobodies really ever fooled by who we are because what you do isnt really an act,its how you adapt to lifes many different circunstances....change.
I've tried to be the kind of person I've had some sort of respect for.
Is this authentic? No, not usually. It's only acting...pretending to be someone you're not.
But you "tried" SOC,if you hadnt even tried then that would be just as real an acountability of yourself as putting effort into it,like you did.
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| Feb 9 @ 5:03 PM |
Accountability |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 15,360
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I've tried to be the kind of person I've had some sort of respect for.
Is this authentic? No, not usually. It's only acting...pretending to be someone you're not.
It's also called 'fake it until you make it'...and also emulation. We choose our role models, emulate them, and eventually, if that's what we really, really value...become like them. Be it Christ, or Gandhi, or Buddha, or as in my case, my dad and grandma. That's part of what learning's all about. Not all education comes from books, by a long shot.
Accountability's something else. It's taking responsibility for the choices we make, including our choice in role models. As for God holding us responsible for our actions - obviously that's your belief, but in mine, I hold myself accountable. What I do, what I say, and especially what I think, will shape my future. It's a moot point if that future will include another existence after this one, but I fully believe that if there is one, who I am here will still affect who and/or what I become.
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| Feb 9 @ 6:23 PM |
Accountability
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hunt4luv
Posts: 1,234
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We arent called to FAKE it till we make it. We are called to grow.
As we grow we will acknowledge our downfalls , repent and grow on learning from our mistakes.
If We arent real in Our dedication and Desire we Should be silent because our motives will be impure.
For All have sinned and Come short Of THE GLORY OF GOD.
It isnt falling short that is the problem. Its the embracing of a wicked lifestyle.
These People Honer me with Their Lips But their Hearts are far from me.
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| Feb 9 @ 6:48 PM |
Accountability |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 15,360
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We arent called to FAKE it till we make it. We are called to grow.
I'm gonna give this one a shot but doubt that he'll hear what I'm saying...here goes: 'fake it till you make it' has nothing to do with christianity or any other belief. It's about the fact that nobody can walk the walk right away, or are you the perfect person who doesn't need to practice before he starts getting it right? Faking it till you make it is about deciding who and what you want to be, then acting the part until you really become the person you want to be.
Sheesh. 
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| Feb 9 @ 7:02 PM |
Accountability
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sail_dancer
Posts: 8,601
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Don't let him get to you Heaven. Your posts have been clear to most of us but obviously just mud to him.
Peace
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| Feb 9 @ 8:07 PM |
Accountability |
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loisday
Posts: 1,333
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It's about the fact that nobody can walk the walk right away,
Heaven......as usual your words touch my heart. We all stumble along the path of life attempting to get it right. The ultimate explaination of "faith" is: fake it 'til you make it.
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| Feb 9 @ 9:30 PM |
Accountability
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ServantOfChrist2
Posts: 4,180
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I truly understand what you are saying Heaven. And I totally agree with you.
But I also hear what Hunt4luv is saying, and although the 2 ideas are not really compatible with each other, I do agree fully with him also.
I believe you both are addressing different groups of people.
While the idea Hunt4luv has put forward equates to an incredibly difficult lifestyle, I believe that lifestyle is the one a true Christian must accept. The Christian is not of this world.
That is to say...The Christian is called to follow a different path. Not a path that should result in a series of boasts. But rather if that person is to lead an authentic Christian-life...If that Christian is to mimic Jesus Christ, (which is what we are asked to do); then that person must be prepared to suffer a little bit in this world. Not necessarily suffer physical pain or anything too dramatic. But the Christian should be completely willing to forgo many of the niceties so common to the secular world.
Heaven, I totally agree with what you say too, and I admire those people who have no real formal ties with Christianity yet still remain filled with good morals + ethics and try to do the right thing.
Honestly...in the day-to-day world where I live, I have great respect for such individuals. Sail_Dancer, kjac, and yourself spring to mind as people who also fit this description.
But the true Christian is on a different path.
A path where the greater service is not so much in looking after yourself. The greater service is in serving others. Treating others as if better than yourself. Matthew 6:25--"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26--Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27--Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28--And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. 29--Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30--If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31--So do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32--For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33--But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34--Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
I haven't mastered this myself; but I'm working on it. 
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| Feb 9 @ 10:25 PM |
Accountability |
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Angel54214
Posts: 14,074
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Servant, I believe the "key" word in those great scriptures is ....Worry.
When we worry, we validate no trust in the common nature aspect. If we worry about where our next meal comes from, we do not plan it or prepare it. If we worry about what we will wear tomorrow in clothing attire instead of mending and washing what we have, we can go naked.
But when we seek (look) for His Kingdom (eternal place of refuge), and Righteousness (holyness and truth) first we will continue to be worry warts in boasting about and fretting over the little things and therefore we be forever hungry and naked of the important things that are beofe us.
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| Feb 9 @ 11:02 PM |
Accountability
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ServantOfChrist2
Posts: 4,180
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Yes. I completely agree with you Angel. But I believe He means for our faith + our trust in Him to even go farther than simply not worrying.
I think most of us take for granted that we're going to wake-up the next morning. We likely don't even think about the waking-up process. Most of us probably begin in our imaginations with leaving the house. Or arriving at the place where a certain event is to take place.
But the waking-up part of the whole process is simply skipped.
We believe we will waken the next morning.
I think that's a very simple example of faith. I've got an idea that the type of faith Jesus often talks about is much less simple-in-nature than this. Yet I think He wants us to be just as confident in the realization of that thing. Whatever the action may be.
 Sorry. This is a little too complicated for me to outline right now. (The time of night doesn't help too much. Although I'm really not sure that the clear light of the morning will be of much help. Ask hammer...he'll be more than happy to tell you about my wee, insignificant little brain. )
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| Feb 10 @ 12:33 AM |
Accountability |
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hunt4luv
Posts: 1,234
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Take no Thought for Tommorow for suficiant to the day is the evil thereof.
Be ye anxious for nothing
Trust in the Lord and Lean not to your own understanding.
faith isnt faking anything.
Its beleiving in and Trusting our maker.
Casting our worries aside knowing
all will be well with our eyes fixed on God.
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| Feb 10 @ 10:24 AM |
Accountability
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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faith isnt faking anything. Faith is faking everything. Faith is believing without examination. Faith is blind. Faith is a hope and a wish but not of fact or of anything with veracity. Faith is not knowledge. Its an opinion and not even an educated opinion. Its an assumption that one can only wish is true. Faith implies ignorance since one could never know the object of one's faith is real. What good is faith when one has evidence? Faith is the weakest of experiences yet ignorant psychopaths use their faith to condemn and destroy the lives of others. They will be held accountable.
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| Feb 10 @ 10:37 AM |
Accountability |
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Jankia
Posts: 9,171
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Heres your second grade english lesson for today.
Faith-Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing. Faith is trust.
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| Feb 10 @ 10:57 AM |
Accountability
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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More evidence of a home skewld educashun. My post does not conflict with this definition. Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing. One missed the word belief. Belief is not knowledge and faith is belief without that knowledge. This is not confident knowledge. Schizophrenics and those with dementia have this kind of faith. They too believe with confidence in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing they are deluded about. Time to wake up!! Faith is belief...
Why wasn't the second part of the definition for faith posted?
Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.
When it comes to religion, its mostly belief, blind belief. The facts do not support the belief just as any novel has facts do not make the characters in a novel actual historical figures. Blind belief is ignorance.
[Edited on 2/10/2008 11:04 AM]
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| Feb 10 @ 2:04 PM |
Accountability |
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Jankia
Posts: 9,171
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Whatever you say bossman.I see you really partnered up with your friend Bimbo.It sure didnt take him long to train you about his no schooling being better then anyone home skewld .  You two are a real pair.
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| Feb 10 @ 3:10 PM |
Accountability
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Snappygoddess
Posts: 3,827
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I have a great deal of faith... faith in God.. faith in mankind... faith that I am loved...I could go on and on.... I would much rather be held accountable for having "too" much faith then not having any at all.
We all have to have faith in something otherwise we wouldn't strive to have a better life. Even those who have given up have the faith to believe it will be better once they are gone from this earth. Faith can be negative or positive.. depending on what you are believing in and everyone should have the right to have faith in anything without being insulted, persecuted and being labeled " ignorant" and "psycho" for having such faith.
It drives people crazy when they can't "prove" faith exists. Much easier to label it a crazy mans dream complete with delusions, voices and insanity. I consider myself to be an intelligent woman and not given to psycho events, delusions or whatever....and I do possess a great deal of faith in a lot of things.
Accountability? Yes..I am accountable for my actions in this life..Yes.. I am a spiritual woman with a good heart.. Yes.. I try my best to live my life in a manner that becomes me.. sometimes I fail but I never give up.
"Faith is the substance of hope and the evidence of things not seen"
You choose to believe it's not there because you cannot see it.. I choose to trust that it is there because I have seen the evidence of it's existence.
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| Feb 10 @ 3:12 PM |
Accountability |
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Angel54214
Posts: 14,074
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| Feb 10 @ 3:13 PM |
Accountability
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Jankia
Posts: 9,171
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I choose to trust that it is there because I have seen the evidence of it's existence Exactly snappy!
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| Feb 10 @ 3:22 PM |
Accountability |
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ServantOfChrist2
Posts: 4,180
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Snappy Goddess--"Accountability? Yes..I am accountable for my actions in this life." Well said.
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