本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Again, for the Crusade events, it's just my own opinion, not what the Bible teaches. It makes no sense to discuss my personal perspectives. That's the reason why I preferred to present you what my pastor would say instead. After all, he knows Bible/Christianity far more than I do.
Regarding evidence to "back" me up, I would rather skip. It doesn't matter how I look at it. And it doesn't matter to me as well how others (such as Pope) look at it. The fact is, I don't know the hearts of the people who were involved in the Crusade events, nor am I aware of any Bible verses to justify such actions.
However, now that you admitted that you were "pushing" me on this issue (and Thank you for being honest). It'll be quite a disappointment for you if I kept my silence. I will level with you, but I will not discuss it further.
Here is what I think:
Basically, if I sinned without being aware of it, is it still a sin? Of course, a sin is always a sin. But since I didn't do it on purpose, does it make me less guilty? Probably YES (now that is where it's arguable). Let's bring this further, if I sinned without being aware of it but thought that I was doing something good for God, does it justify my wrongdoings? YES and NO (again, arguable).
Let me give you a concrete example. Is raising pets a sin? "What?! are you crazy?!" that's the answer from one of my friends (a Christian). Well, it doesn't look like a sin, does it? But it is, in the context that millions of people are starving to death while we are feeding our pets with the best food we can afford. Now do you think it's a sin? I don't think it isn't.
Now if raising pets is a sin, why don't we put a stop to it? Well, slavery is a sin, why didn't Paul put on a campaign to stop it hundreds of years ago? Instead, Paul told the masters to treat their (Christians) slaves with love and fairness, and slaves to obey their masters. Why didn't he just tell the master to free all their slaves? The short answer is, the time just wasn't right to do so, the social and political environment just weren't ready for slavery abolishment. The same idea applies: it's just not the time to fight the sin of raising pets now. Because, there are so many (important) other sins worth of working on (for a Christian). It's not exaggerating to say that a Christian might have 1000 sins. Before a Christian dies, it would not be a small achievement that he/she had ceased doing 20 of them.
Wish it helps. But again, I have nothing to back me up, and I don't need anything to back me up. For it doesn't matter if I am right or wrong. It matters what my relationship with God is. And God will reveal it to me when the time is right, that I am sure.更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Regarding evidence to "back" me up, I would rather skip. It doesn't matter how I look at it. And it doesn't matter to me as well how others (such as Pope) look at it. The fact is, I don't know the hearts of the people who were involved in the Crusade events, nor am I aware of any Bible verses to justify such actions.
However, now that you admitted that you were "pushing" me on this issue (and Thank you for being honest). It'll be quite a disappointment for you if I kept my silence. I will level with you, but I will not discuss it further.
Here is what I think:
Basically, if I sinned without being aware of it, is it still a sin? Of course, a sin is always a sin. But since I didn't do it on purpose, does it make me less guilty? Probably YES (now that is where it's arguable). Let's bring this further, if I sinned without being aware of it but thought that I was doing something good for God, does it justify my wrongdoings? YES and NO (again, arguable).
Let me give you a concrete example. Is raising pets a sin? "What?! are you crazy?!" that's the answer from one of my friends (a Christian). Well, it doesn't look like a sin, does it? But it is, in the context that millions of people are starving to death while we are feeding our pets with the best food we can afford. Now do you think it's a sin? I don't think it isn't.
Now if raising pets is a sin, why don't we put a stop to it? Well, slavery is a sin, why didn't Paul put on a campaign to stop it hundreds of years ago? Instead, Paul told the masters to treat their (Christians) slaves with love and fairness, and slaves to obey their masters. Why didn't he just tell the master to free all their slaves? The short answer is, the time just wasn't right to do so, the social and political environment just weren't ready for slavery abolishment. The same idea applies: it's just not the time to fight the sin of raising pets now. Because, there are so many (important) other sins worth of working on (for a Christian). It's not exaggerating to say that a Christian might have 1000 sins. Before a Christian dies, it would not be a small achievement that he/she had ceased doing 20 of them.
Wish it helps. But again, I have nothing to back me up, and I don't need anything to back me up. For it doesn't matter if I am right or wrong. It matters what my relationship with God is. And God will reveal it to me when the time is right, that I am sure.更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net