I hope you are getting to my other post.
Dee Dee,
Can someone lie by an action?
Previously you said YES to this. Are you changing your stance?
I have NO idea what you are saying in this post.Originally posted by Jaltus
Man, my point is that you are assuming a bunch of stuff.
1) Since denial can be nonverbal, even verbal denial must be ongoing in order to be real denial.
I think 1) is false. I think you assume 1) in your argument.
2) Actions show true intent.
I deny 2), saying that people can lie through action as well as through words.
3) Intent is what makes a real denial.
We are arguing 3) in the first place, which makes your assumption of it a circular argument.
Does that make sense? I really cannot make it any more plain.
I have NO idea what you are saying in this post.
It could be the most unclear post I have ever read.
I have read it six times now because I wanted so badly to respond to it but......Originally posted by Dee Dee Warren
I was beginning to think it was just me. It was more confusing than one of those Left-Behind charts.
Oh man this is great stuff!Originally posted by Jaltus
Knight,
The strawman is that you are equating lying with denying Christ, which I believe is an illegitimate equation.
Before I answer your situation, answer this: is it wrong for a Christian actor/actress to swear during a performance or use the Lord's name in vain?
If a human denies Christ i.e.: a man remains dead in his sin that is the most serious error a person can make and he is destined for hell. I am assuming we all agree about that?
But that isn't what is up for debate!
What IS up for debate is....
What if you can thwart a wicked act and save lives by deceiving the wicked force? Even if it means you have to "act" that you deny Christ even though in your heart you truly do NOT deny Christ.
Do you really think God knows us so little He wouldn't know we were only thwarting the wicked act?
Is our relationship with Christ so shallow it's only based on mouthing words? Don't you think our heart and how we REALLY feel is what makes the "words" have meaning?
The fine distinction became (and if you would like to discuss the point, I invite you over there) - if lying about denying Christ always wrong. Of course actually denying Christ is wrong, since that is what separates the saved from the unsaved... but is there ever a righteous reason for a believer to lie and deny they are a believer. Does that really amount to a "denial" of Christ in every situation?? And is it sinful in every situation?? If so, is it sinful because it is a lie, or because of the subject matter of the lie?? I could go on.... It is really quite easy to just lay down a black and white rule without regards to circumstances, while thinking it is the "tough" road (i.e. Flipper's comment that following Christ is not "easy." However, I think being able to wrestle with a genuine moral dilemna applying the dynamics of Biblical ethics is much more difficult.
Originally posted by Dee Dee Warren
CORRECTION: The position has been that there are rare occasions when it would be morally permissible to LIE about denying Christ. All others occasions would fall into the other category... quite obviously.