Oh, I don't know that the basis for pretentiousness is low morals or values. Some of that may be true. But, I think more often people have a low self-esteem, and are fearful of rejection. So they do everything they can to not be rejected. People in America, very often, come from dysfunctional families, and don't have the the skills to be honest about who they are without the fear of rejection.
Now, this is just my opinion, but I believe it is possible to have high morals and values, and still suffer from low self-esteem.
I think the question should be, "Why do people play games?" It's not just men who play games, and it's not just women who play games. To suggest that one gender plays games and the other does not is a subjective view. At 54, I've done a lot of living, and have observed the behavior of men and women, and almost all are pretentious, putting their "best foot forward." Once the couple are married, they no longer feel the need to put their "besy foot forward." This is nothing new. This type of thing has been going on for a long time. However, in doing so, no one ever knows who they marry real well. After marriage, the partner does things that surprises the other. That's because pre-marital relationships are rarely real. The mother of the wife then comes to ask her, "I thought you said he was so wonderful?" The answer most often given is, "He was before we got married."
What does the guy do? He goes to the bar and complains to the bartender about the crazy things his wife does. The bartender asks, "So, why did you marry here?" He responds, "She wasn't like that before we married."
I am sure many of you either heard stories like this, or even have taken part of stories like this. Therefore, I conclude that playing games is not gender exclusive.
Again, prove it. And by the way - why the personal attacks. If you were in Christ, you would not condemn the presentation of the truth. Where is your proof?
You just don't get it! You are right, Christianity is not forced on anyone. Neither is "CHRISTIAN" Communism. No aspect of Christianity is forced on anyone. But, if you are a Christian, you must "fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
And, I am not anywhere close to Hell, because I do fear God, and do my best to keep His commandments. But, I am imperfect, so I thank God for atoning work of Jesus Christ. And though that atoning work, I belong to Him. I am, and all that I own, are His property."
By the way, if you feel I am forcing this on you, you don't have to read it.
Historically, you are absolutely right. But, the communal lifestyle didn't fail because the concept of it is wrong or evil. It failed because, even as Christians, people are flawed. Some heeded to the apostles teaching that the return of Christ was imminent. They stopped working expecting the soon return of Christ. They became needy, and a strain on the system. Then there were those that became greedy, and took more than they needed.
So it wasn't the communal lifestyle that failed. It was the attitudes of men.
Mike is absolutely right. I am talking about sharing.
I have a question for those who either disagree with, or don't understand what I am saying. If you were hungry, and I mean really hungry. You haven't had anything to eat for a week. And, you come to me, and tell me you're hungry. What should I do? Should I wish you well and send you on your way? Or should I call you lazy, and tell you to lift yourself up by your own bootstraps?
You're talking about government. The USSR was not a pure communist country. They were more Socialist, perhaps a little Facsist, and maybe a little Oligarchy thrown in. To my knowledge, there never has been a pure communist country.
But, the topic here is "Christian Communism." This is based on something better that government whims. It's based on the shed blood of Jesus the Christ. Those of us who are in Christ were "PURCHASED BY HIS BLOOD." Jesus paid a common price for us. That makes us of common value. And we are owned by Him. We are is His property. Therefore, all that we own becomes common property in Christ.
This does not diminish our individuality, except where the His commandments are concerned. But, in Christ is the "PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY." Simply put, when I go to the store to buy a tube of toothpaste, I don't have to consult Scripture to find out which brand I should buy. Where Scriptures are silent, there is liberty. But, where Scriptures speak, we are commonly bound to those principles, and will all be judged by them.
It's not true and pure communism, which can only be in Christ, that is evil, it is people that are evil, and that is what makes it unworkable. People are evil, full of selfishness and greed. And, that is what capitalism is. Capitalism cannot function without selfishness and greed. The root of capitalism is the LOVE OF MONEY, which is the ROOT OF ALL EVIL.
The topic is the economic system of the body of Christ. Because of this, some have to decided the attack the Bible. Non-believers, I suppose.
But, Morgan, if you are planning a gathering at your house with Pizza, burgers, etc., are we all invited?
I accept the Bible by faith. I believe God is quite capable of protecting His Word from utter destruction. Are there problems with man-made translations? Absolutely. But, most experts that I read all say the Bible is the most accurate book on the planet. The next is Homer's Illiad.
From manuscript to manuscript, there are only 28 variant words or phrases. None in critical areas. While Homer's Illiad has hundreds of variant readings.
But, that's not the issue. The issue is, does the Bible teach that communism is the system of economy taught and practiced by the early Christians? The answer is yes.
The article I posted is part of a larger article on my website. But there is a 4000 character limit in here, so I had to cut it in half. So, I have a lot more proof of what I am saying is true.
Lady, I have studied textual criticism, and a bit of hermanutics. That was long ago, and I sure don't remeber everything. But, there is one thing I know for sure. The Bible is the most accurate book on the planet. And, I dare you to prove otherwise.
What's the matter with you guys, can't stand the truth? Instaed od the personal attacks, why don't you just tell me what is wrong with what I said? It's because you can't.
If the government would mandate that all rich people sell everything they have and give the poor, what would you call that? Jesus did that. If the government would pass laws so that all the people would the same income, and that all property would be common property, what would you call that? The early church did that. If the government would mandate that the whole country was more important was more important than the individual, what would you call that. The apostles taught that.
Jesus taught the redistribution of wealth. The early church practiced community living. And, the apostles taught that the whole church was more important that the individual.
You guys should study your Bible, for it it Biblical truth that you are laughing at.
The economic system of the body of Christ is communism.
Scripture quotes come from the ESV.
Acts 2:44,45 states, "And all who belived were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need."
Acts 4:32,34 states, "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as as any had need."
The principle goal of early Christians was the edification (bulding up) of the body of Christ. There were no individual rights. Everything was done for edification.
Romans 14:19 states, "So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding." Get that! Mutual upbuilding or edification. The buliding up of one another. This is what the early church did, and this is what they were told to do.
Romans 15:1,2 states, "We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." "Build him up," or edify him.
I Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another, and abuild up one another, just as you are doing." Again, build up one another.
So, scripture teaches, by doctrine and example, that Christians are to have all things in common, and that all things should be done for the building up or the edification of body of Christ.
Acts 20:28 states, "Pay carefull attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood." Jesus obtained or purchased the church of God with His blood. That means He has ownership of the church. So, we who are in the church, belong to Him. And, since we are purchased equally, that is, He paid a common price for each of us, we have common value. None of us are more or less important than another. That is how it is established that we have all things in common. For we are commonly owned by He who purchased us with His blood.
But we are Americans. We don't believe this. We believe in individual rights. We believe the poor should pick themselves up by their own boot straps. That those who do not have a job do not deserve our help. We certainly should not help those who are suffering due to their own failings. This is the conservative view. I here it on conservative talk radio all the time. But this should not be the Christian view. Yet, the so called "religious right," mirrors this conservative view. They condemn those who agree with the concept of the redistribution of wealth. They fear what they perceive as communism.
Would you believe that Jesus taught the redistribution of wealth as a condition to inherit eternal life? Read Luke 18:18ff.
This is the story of the rich ruler. The ruler came to Jesus and aked Him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asked him about the commandments, which the ruler said that he kept all his life. Then Jesus said, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me."
The early Christians did just that, as we see in Acts 2 and 4. So, why isn't this being practiced by the church today? Is it more important to build satellite TV networks? Is it more important to build multi-million dollar church buildings? Is it more important to have new car every year? Is it more important to keep up with the latest fashions? And, I could go on and on. We are comfort creatures. Many care more about their own creature comforts, than they do the needs of others.
I am all in favor of of rich folks helping poor folks. In fact that's what Jesus taught when he told the rich ruler to sell all he had and give to the poor. I don't think Jesus was a capitalist. But, I do not believe the government should become a collective robbing hood to accomplish that. If rich people want to be greedy and selfish, they have a right to be in this stupid capitalistic system. What rich people need are changed hearts through Christ.
I am not sure I understand the point here. Is Mr. Leopold suggesting that we steal from the rich and give to the poor? It seems to me that was tried in Sherwood Forest. Did it work?
You try not to see the bad in everyone. It appears to me, you need to try harder. You apparently see bad in Sean Hannity. You apparently see bad in people that disagree with Barack Obama. You apparently see bad in FOX News. For trying not to see the bad, you sure are seeing a lot of it in just about everyone.
Then you like the US government more than I do. Our government is very corrupt. And, it goes all the way back to Abraham Lincoln, and his administration after he was gone. That administration violated the constitution big time. And it hasn't gotten any better. The government has been violating the constitution often. And, we the sheeple of the United States just take it.
As far as 9/11 is concerned, why did the buildings 1,2, and 7 pancake. That was a controlled demolition independent of the plane damage. Many experts say that.
It is not necessarily what you say, it's how you say it that bothers a lot of people. The fact is, I happen to agree with you in some of what you have to say. Esspecially about 9/11. I have many questions about that. For example, since my dad was a steelworker, I have learned a little bit about steel. But, you don't have to know anything about steel. The fact is heat rises. What then caused the buildings to pancake as they did? Plus the fact that steel melts at a higher temperature than what jet fuel burns at. And why did building 7 pancake? No planes hit it. But there was a fire in building 7. How did that get ignited?
The only thing the 9/11 Commission did was try to appease the people, and cover up what really happened.
I could go on about this, and maybe I'll start a thread about it.
"if fox news goes away. must people with common scents wont miss them. after all they spend 24 hours a day bashing Obama."
This you wrote in a thread I introduced saying goodbye to FOX News. Since I am going to miss FOX News, I took this to mean that I didn't have common sense (spelling and grammar aside). After all, I started that thread, so I assumed your comments were directed at me.
Your attacks may be suttle, but they are still attacks.
And in this thread, you are simply attacking those who like FOX News. Again, it's suttle, but still a personal attack on those who watch FOX News.
Your online demeanor comes across as a nasty, meanspirited person. So when you say something nasty about Sean Hannity, people who like Sean Hannity, right or wrong, take it personally.
No, you didn't come out and say "Son of David lacks common sense." You did insinuate it.
What a hypocrite. You can launch personal attacks, abut you don't like them. I thought not. That's exactly what I wanted to find out. You can dish it out, but you can't take it.
After your personal attacks of me in another thread, I didn't think you would mind. If you want others to follow the rules, then you should do the same, cause the next time you do it to me, I'll do like you do and report you.
Have you already forgotten what happened last fall, as the result of our credit crunch? The stock markets worldwide went in the tank. The DOW went from over 11,000 points to less than 7,000 points. Other markets in the world did the same thing. And, most of the experts agree that it was our credit crunch that caused it all. The mismanaging of Freddie Mac and Fannie May.
Here comes Obama, spending and spending and spending some more, even though we have nothing to spend. China, of all people, are telling us to get our act together. Why? China holds billions of dollars in American stock. If our economy collapses, that stock would be worthless. And China isn't the only country that holds stock in America. And, if our economy collapses, and that stock becomes useless, how will those countries get what is owed them?
All this beacause I won't watch FOX anymore, nor anything else that is wide screen. What a hoot!
This is not a perfect country. I have a couple bones to pick with it too. But, the people of this country are the most charitable. Americans support the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and those organizations are there at every disaster that happens in the world. They couldn't do that without the financial support of the American people.
I have my problems with greedy capitalists. But. that is not the majority of American people. Then you have the "Christian Children's Fund." There are many charities based in the United States. We are the most giving nation in the world.
You like it, that's fine. I don't. If you can ignore the black strip at the top and bottum, that's fine. It's not just FOX News. I won't watch anything like that. And, when CNN goes to the wide screen format, I won't watch it either.
It is true, FOX News is not fair and balanced, nor do they report and let you decide. But, then, if fair and balanced means supporting Obama, then I am not fair and balanced either. Barack Obama is probably the worst President we ever had. I guess why USA haters love him. Obama is doing his best to destroy the economic fabric of our country. Romania get's a lot of foreign aid from the United States. You should consider that. If our economy goes down the toilet, so will the economy of the rest of the world. We ahve supported so many nations in the past, and do still today. We Americans buy goods from all over the world. Where would the global economy be without the United States? If we would stop buying the world's goods, factories all over the world would close down. People all over the world would lose jobs. Who would take care of them then?
This is the greatest country in the world. We have been the most charitable to other nations. When there are disasters in other countries, we are always one of the first to respond with aid.
Don't you dare use my thread about wide scree TV to come in here and trash my country.
What Barack Obama is doing is hurting our economy. After he's through with us, we won't be able to do all those things we do for other countries and nations. Is that what you want?
But, when we are going through problems, all you USA haters do is put us down. Maybe we should stop giving and giving and giving some more to you other countries. What will you do if we did?
My TV can't do that. My TV is as old fashioned as I am. But, thanks for the suggestion. TV networks, and stations are going with the wide screen format so that people will buy new TVs.
SonofDavid Forum Posts (31)
RE: Why do guys play games?
Oh, I don't know that the basis for pretentiousness is low morals or values. Some of that may be true. But, I think more often people have a low self-esteem, and are fearful of rejection. So they do everything they can to not be rejected. People in America, very often, come from dysfunctional families, and don't have the the skills to be honest about who they are without the fear of rejection.Now, this is just my opinion, but I believe it is possible to have high morals and values, and still suffer from low self-esteem.