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[Date/Time]: 9/20/96 0:13:27
[Your Name] : Jerry Hsueh
[City/State/Country] : Fairfax, VA
[E-mail] : jerryhsueh@worldnet.att.net
[Your messages] :
Re : Christian Behavior (continued from Aug. 13 message) Speaking of Christian behavior, I still don't understand one question : "What is the definition of a 'good' Christian ?" I remember that when I was in college (a Christian University), we had a school rule called "4 No's" : No smoking, No Drinking, No Gambling and No Dancing. These 4 things are considered to be very bad and no one should commit it, otherwise, you will be considered to be a "bad" student, no matter how good you are in your acdemic works. But, can somebody tell me if smoking is really a sin ? then how about smoking pipes or cigar. Everybody knows that smoking will harm your health, but besides the health issue, is smoking really a "sin" ? Can a Christian smoke ? Next question is "Is Drinking wine a sin ?", can a "good" Christian drink wine ? how about just one sip ? Of course, everybody knows that drinking too much will harm the body and will cause some social problems, so everyone should avoid get drunk. But how about drinking table wines in dinner ? How about drinking wines in social occasions. If you go see President Clinton and he treats you a class of wine, will you reject him and say "I am a 'good' Christian, so I don't want to drink it ?". In a closed, conservative society, these 4 things are considered to be bad, so naturally, a 'good' Christian should not do it. But can we review these criterians again, are these 4 things really sins ? If you grow up in a western Christian family and don't know how to dance, people will think that you are lack of social skill. Everyone uses his set of standards to judge a behavior (to be good or bad), and most of time, this set of standards comes from social standards. In early this Century, all alcohol products were illegal, and girls couldn't ware short skirts, etc. But nowaday, all of these restrictions have been lifted up. So the social standards differ from place to place, also from time to time. If we use social standards to judge a Christian's behaviors, then one will be considered to be a normal Christian in one time, but he will be considered to be very bad in another time. He can be a sinner in one place and be a good Christian in another place. So we have to go back to our biblical standards. But in 1 Corinthians 14:34,35 prohibits women to speak in churches. If we want to apply that rule in our society, then women should not join the discussion in the bible study and should never have female pastors. Yes, if we take what Bible says literally, then we shoudl obey that rule. But, is it possible that there was a social concern involved when Paul said that ? if that is true, then we have to be very careful to distinguish between the purpose of Paul's teachings at that time and what Bible really want to say to us. Sometimes, these so-called bad behaviors are merely temperarily, they won't pollute our souls. For example, men may have lots of sexual fantacy while they were young, but these fantacy may just disappear once they got married. As long as these fantacies do not occupy his mind all the time, then these behaviors are just temporarily. Like eating foods when you are hungary, and you will stop eating when you are full. Cheating in an exam will only happen when you are a student. Once you graduate, you won't have a chance to cheat in class. By the same token, once you got a job, having some income, then you will be naturally not borrowing other's ID card to shop at the saving store, you will get one for yourself. Do we want to blame these people who are just temperarily in so-called "bad" behaviors ? Do we want to kick them out from churches ? Will you kick out your 5 year-old when she got wet in her bed at night ? will you feel more sympathetic or feel more outrageous when you know someone is in weak ? We are all sinners, even if we already committed ourselves to Jesus, we are still inperfect because we are still a human being in fresh. But inperfect is a sin in front of God. And that's exactly why we need Jesus's merciful hands and his comforts. Christians are merely sinners covered by Jesus's salvation, covered by Jesus's blood, so God can claim us to be righteous. Are we really righteous, No, absolutely Not. We Christians are not righteous at all when we face God. God treats us righteous only when Jesus paid the death penalty for us. I would rather claim that I am a sinner, and I need Jesus's help all the time, especially when I am in weak. So when I saw somebody who is doing something "wrong", I will understand that he is as weak as I am, he needs Jesus as much as I do. I don't want to judge his behaviors, because I will be judged by God also. Besides, we don't have any authority to make such judges. I would rather pray for him, because I know he is suffering too. Oh, God, please help us to rely on you more often and more complete. Oh, God, please have our eyes focus on you more often and more complete, Forgive us our weakness, we are not any stronger than any one else. Oh, God, please have our minds focus more on your plans and on your kingdom, becuase you are the road, the truth and the life, you are the only way that can make our lives meaningful. Oh, God, help us to understand your will, your plans and your commands, help us to share each other's yorks, since we are all in one in you. Amen
[Date/Time]: 9/13/96 16:47:45
[Your Name] : Jerry Hsueh
[City/State/Country] : Fairfax, VA
[E-mail] : jerryhsueh@worldnet.att.net
[Your messages] :
Very good suggestion, Maggie, Let me start with the domestic issue of Welfare Reform, since that's what I have been working for the last two years at work. There was an news on Yesterday's front page in Washington Post, said that there were 2 HHS officials resigned to protest Clinton's signing of Welfare Bill. This news may not be noticed by many people, but whether or not the new Welfare Bill is appropriate is a big discussion among the people who are working with Welfare issues. The baseline question is how much help is enough ? The new Welfare Bill will set up a time restrain and money limit on receiving welfare money (e.g. AFDC, food stamps, SSI, ...etc). For example, the current welfare system will assist a single mom for about $400 a month per child. So if she has 4 kids and she remain single and no jobs, she will get as much as $1600/month plus benefit from Food Stamps (free foods), and maybe will get subsidy on housing as well. She doesn't have to go to work, she can just stay home with her kids and do nothing. No commuting, no babysitting fee, she doesn't have to pay taxes. There are more than 4 millions families are receiving AFDC money (Aid to Families with Dependent Children), The total welfare money on AFDC alone is already in Billions. The new Welfare Bill (which has been largely modified by Republicans) will put a time limit (e.g. three years on system) and will reduce the money amount, and also require going to work (or school, since many of these single mom are teen). The basic idea of this new Bill is based on that (1) the assistence is temperary and limited, (2) you have to comply with certain requirement. People, then start to split into two parties : first one is for this Bill. They think that this is the only hope for them to get out of the Welfare Net, and having some "normal" life, namely, going on Jobs. The other group argued that this new Bill will just throw these people (mothers and Children) on the street after that three years of period, since most of them don't have much education and skills to find an appropriate jobs. Many of them will just go selling drugs or go prostituting, which will cause more serious social problems. Should we give help to those who are in need ? The answer is crystal clear, YES ! But the next question is "Should we continue to give them help if they are still in need after 10 years ? 20 years ? 30 years ?" What's the cause making them always "in need" ? This issue will be debating continuously maybe forever, it becomes hot especially in this election season.
[Date/Time]: 9/13/96 15:12:15
[Your Name] : Maggie Shen
[City/State/Country] : Vienna, VA
[E-mail] : mshen@grci.com
[Your messages] :
Hi, how's everybody doing today? I have a topic to suggest: as the election time is coming near, why not talk about the issues to look at for this upcoming election?! Christians live in the world, and care about our societies and nations. We not only concern ourselves with faith and salvation, but also should concern ourselves with national issues and pray for the leaders. I sure need help to make not only an intelligent but wise and 'righteous' decision. Everyone has something to say, so come on folks, drop a line and share what you've found about the various issues (help us by quoting the source) and impart to us your wisdom! As folks tend to get excited on political matters, PLEASE remember this is just a chat between friends. Share and do not judge, discuss and do not argue. Love to hear from you all :) Calvary Love Always
[Date/Time]: 9/3/96 15:59:19
[Your Name] : GWCCN
[City/State/Country] :
[E-mail] :
[Your messages] :
System Test.
[Date/Time]: 9/2/96 9:15:6
[Your Name] : holly lau
[City/State/Country] : centrville, virginia
[E-mail] : wadup@hl
[Your messages] :
Sorry, I send a message w/o realizing this is a Christian Network. Actually I'm a Christian myself. In fact, my father is the pastor of Fairfax Chinese Alliance Church. I think the hardest part in being a Christian is to keep up your faith and ALWAYS trust in Him, even when sometimes God seems to be some place else. I've had many trials cus of my father. Really is devastating seeing the church, these people who call themselves Christian acting anything but like Christians. But the imporatnt thing, at least I believe, is that brothers and sisters need to support each other and see each other through.
[Date/Time]: 9/2/96 9:5:1
[Your Name] : holly lau
[City/State/Country] : centreville, virginia
[E-mail] : wadup@hl
[Your messages] :
I wanna find some Virginian Cantonese! Everwhere there's Vietnamnese and Tawainese, but would all the Hong Kong people stand up please!
[Date/Time]: 9/2/96 9:5:0
[Your Name] : holly lau
[City/State/Country] : centreville, virginia
[E-mail] : wadup@hl
[Your messages] :
I wanna find some Virginian Cantonese! Everwhere there's Vietnamnese and Tawainese, but would all the Hong Kong people stand up please!
[Date/Time]: 9/1/96 16:56:16
[Your Name] :
[City/State/Country] :
[E-mail] :
[Your messages] :
[Date/Time]: 9/1/96 16:32:15
[Your Name] : Joanlin Hsu
[City/State/Country] : U.S., New york
[E-mail] : Sue-Ming . Peter-liu @ worldnet . att. net
[Your messages] :
HI, where are you from? Anything exciting to do there? How old are you? What are your views on other religions other than Christianity? WEll, anyway, I'm new at this. THis is my first time on the net. I'm 16 years old and I'm using my cousin (Amanda's) computer. I live in New York, but I'm writing from New Jersey. I like art, and I listen to classical, folk, and jazz music, but I also like some other artists you can't really classify. I've been a devoted fan of Tori Amos for 4 years. Have you heard of her? She's getting pretty big now. Anyway, I said too much, so bye.
[Date/Time]: 9/1/96 16:6:36
[Your Name] : Wayne
[City/State/Country] :
[E-mail] :
[Your messages] :
Hi, pals, Do you agree that a Christian is also a simple person without much pretending? For Jesus asks us to be a single minded person who truly devote to God and to our neighbours.