I'm sorry if it came across like I was trying to blindly rake you over the coals, OJ. I didn't mean to come across like I was personally attacking you. I was addressing what sounded to me like an attempt to claim that either you are a model Christian or you're completely amoral or immoral, an attitude that has personally needled me for a long time. Reading your post has given me a much better insight as to your views, and I certainly didn't mean to start a chain reaction of viciousness.
The Old Judge wrote:1). The concept that it would be edifying to teach that you can love God and be faithful to Him with absolutely no change is horrendous.
And you are quite right; it is. I think we'll have to agree to disagree on the whole punk thing, but then again perhaps my perspective is skewed because I'm the sort of person who just wears clothes because they look good, not necessarily because they reflect my personality. I wear dresses and skirts and lacy clothes fairly often, but I wouldn't say I'm particularly girly or "preppy"; I just like how those clothes look. However, you have had a different experience, and I respect both your personal knowledge and your point. I guess I've just never really considered clothes and musical tastes to be a major indicator of a person's morality; it's the heart that counts to me and whether the person has been changed by the Holy Spirit, not whether their hair is a natural color or their body has never known a tattoo needle.
The Old Judge wrote:Yes, Tiger, I was addressing Audrey's comment about the punk. I also thought at the time that the people on this topic were agreeing that that would be a wonderful idea.
The phrase "at the time" indicates that you already know this, but that's not at all what we were saying, or at least in my case; I just quoted that as part of an overall point about wanting to see characters who don't fit the "perfect Christian" mold (I myself am unsure as to the whole punk rocker thing; the reason I've been fairly defensive about it is because, again, judgment of morality based on outward appearance is a bit of a sore point with me). The conflict that arose out of this was a misunderstanding, and I'm sorry if I was too harsh in response to it.
(I feel like this might seem a bit petty in a post that's trying to be conciliatory, but quoting Audrey's post would have been helpful if that was all you were going to respond to.)
it's not about 'deserve'. it's about what you believe. and i believe in love