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I do believe that everything you do that is good is done for God and that everything bad you do, even if you say you are doing it for God, is done for evil instead. God can tell our true motives.
God is not weak, petty and needful. God is awe inspiring.
Keith
Re: Question for Christians and an explanation
[Re: white marlin]
#8585140 2 hours ago2 hours ago
I agree with your statement truth lies in the scriptures but what version? Who says Lutherans, Baptists, Catholics, etc. are right or wrong? When we read anything we interpret it, whos' interpretation of the word is correct? Who are we to judge (other than actions specifically) according to your own beliefs of the word?
I know that Catholics do/believe things that aren't in The Bible, for one example. Not my place to judge, but there's that.
Here we go...
Honor a Soldier. Be the kind of American worth fighting for.
Re: Question for Christians and an explanation
[Re: Bear Tracker]
#8585150 2 hours ago2 hours ago
If God desired for everyone to believe exactly the same and worship him an exact way, he is more than powerful enough to make that happen. God is not petty like we are. He made us, we didn't make him. God is good.
Keith
Re: Question for Christians and an explanation
[Re: KeithC]
#8585157 2 hours ago2 hours ago
In C.S. Lewis's "The Last Battle" Emeth, who basically represents a Muslim and Aslan, who represents Jesus meet and have a conversation. Emeth is a goodly man who serves an evil god.
"Then I fell at his feet and thought, Surely this is the hour of death, for the Lion (who is worthy of all honour) will know that I have served Tash all my days and not him. Nevertheless, it is better to see the Lion and die than to be Tisroc of the world and live and not to have seen him.
But the Glorious One bent down his golden head and touched my forehead with his tongue and said, Son, thou art welcome.
But I said, Alas, Lord, I am no son of Thine but the servant of Tash.
He answered, Child, all the service thou hast done to Tash, I account as service done to me.
Then by reason of my great desire for wisdom and understanding, I overcame my fear and questioned the Glorious One and said, Lord, is it then true, as the Ape said, that thou and Tash are one?
The Lion growled so that the earth shook (but his wrath was not against me) and said, It is false. Not because he and I are one, but because we are opposites, I take to me the services which thou hast done to him. For I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted."
Later in the dialogue, after Emeth admits he has sought Tash all his days, Aslan replies:
"Beloved, said the Glorious One, unless thy desire had been for me thou wouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they truly seek."
Yes, the "Chronicles of Narnia" was written in large part for a young audience, but it is inarguable that C.S.Lewis is one of the greatest Christian theologians of all time. His books touched me when I first read them when I was 6 years old and still do. That passage is one of the most powerful explanations of what God likely feels ever written.
Keith
Just finishing this book with my kids. I’m reading it for the first time. I don’t believe this series is just for kids. There is so much depth to what is written. I’m taken back by C.S’s description of Aslan. It almost brings me to tears in his description of God. I’m gunna start reading more of C.S Lewis where we’re done.
Re: Question for Christians and an explanation
[Re: Bear Tracker]
#8585171 2 hours ago2 hours ago
Ill open the can of worms, remember when people were told to convert to christianity or be killed? Use to be a somewhat bloody religion. I know its not the only religion like that. I do believe on a higher power, dunno if its god, odin, or some other superior being. Just know im not in a hurry to find out yet.
I remember an experience where I was judged. Maybe 45 years ago, in a coal mine. I got sent out that dayshift with the belt cleaning crew, shoveling loose coal onto the conveyers. There was about six guys, and I noticed they were all wearing a leather pouch on their belts. Normally a pouch that size was worn by foreman, to carry an anemometer.
Well lunch time came, and we all sat down in a crosscut. That’s when I found out what was in those pouches….Bibles. Lunch time was transformed into a prayer meeting. I’m kinda sitting off by myself, and I got my can of Skoal out, and put in a chew. Suddenly, I had six cap lights shining in my face ( that’s a no no in the mines ). The leader chimes in…..I see the devil has Mr. XXXXX in his grip! I’m kinda took off guard, and I start looking around. Did my brother slip in to the mine? Surely he’s not talking about me. I endured a five minute lecture about the evils of tobacco, and how my body was a temple.
Turns out this gang was out of some kind of fundamentalist church. A buddy at the mine clued me in about the leader….he was the biggest thief in the mine and had a 17 year old girl move in with him.
Re: Question for Christians and an explanation
[Re: Bigbrownie]
#8585195 1 hour ago1 hour ago
I remember an experience where I was judged. Maybe 45 years ago, in a coal mine. I got sent out that dayshift with the belt cleaning crew, shoveling loose coal onto the conveyers. There was about six guys, and I noticed they were all wearing a leather pouch on their belts. Normally a pouch that size was worn by foreman, to carry an anemometer.
Well lunch time came, and we all sat down in a crosscut. That’s when I found out what was in those pouches….Bibles. Lunch time was transformed into a prayer meeting. I’m kinda sitting off by myself, and I got my can of Skoal out, and put in a chew. Suddenly, I had six cap lights shining in my face ( that’s a no no in the mines ). The leader chimes in…..I see the devil has Mr. XXXXX in his grip! I’m kinda took off guard, and I start looking around. Did my brother slip in to the mine? Surely he’s not talking about me. I endured a five minute lecture about the evils of tobacco, and how my body was a temple.
Turns out this gang was out of some kind of fundamentalist church. A buddy at the mine clued me in about the leader….he was the biggest thief in the mine and had a 17 year old girl move in with him.
That's funny, lol.
Gotta find a way, a better way, I'd better wait
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you
To answer the first question, I try to base my beliefs on what the Bible says and the life Jesus led while on this earth. We could go into weeds for a million different theological arguments, but what matters at the end of the day is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The second one is harder, because it hurts more as a Christian. Our goal is/should be to live a life like Jesus led. Selfless, caring, loving, giving, etc. But we are humans that are born into a sinful world and continually fall short of the Glory of God. If we as Christians could live out what we preach, we wouldn't need a Savior. But we are sinners just like unbelievers, and that is why we needed Jesus to die in our place.
There will always be pretenders that preach, and are worse than even non Christians. Only thing to remember is Jesus is the way! God gave each of us free will. Believe what you want!
As far as God in the old testament , saying kill all unbelievers. Was changed when the flood , and later when Jesus rewrote the Bible, in the New Testament . No one is perfect, not even Jesus. That's why God put Jesus on earth to save us! And the old Testament is just a prelude to Christianity.
We have met the enemy and the enemy is us!
Re: Question for Christians and an explanation
[Re: Bear Tracker]
#8585243 37 minutes ago37 minutes ago
Thank you for the civil responses. Next question. Around our area has grown a Chritian church group. They state to others. You do not know God, You are not Christians. Thoughts on this?
Re: Question for Christians and an explanation
[Re: Bear Tracker]
#8585248 22 minutes ago22 minutes ago
Thank you for the civil responses. Next question. Around our area has grown a Chritian church group. They state to others. You do not know God, You are not Christians. Thoughts on this?
There's no good reason to care what they think about your religious beliefs. They don't represent God, they just believe they do.
Keith
Re: Question for Christians and an explanation
[Re: Bear Tracker]
#8585256 14 minutes ago14 minutes ago
The only people Christians are supposed to judge in certain situations are other people who call themselves brothers; we are not to judge non-believers. 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 NIV - I wrote to you in my letter not to - Bible Gateway https://share.google/5yNAazp6g3eY6wfwI
"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: Question for Christians and an explanation
[Re: Bear Tracker]
#8585257 12 minutes ago12 minutes ago
Some of the nastiest ppl I have met were ministers at our church. One minister was preaching from the pulpit one Sunday about how the US had no business telling Saddam Hussein that he couldnt have nuclear weapons. At that time there were 3 young men from our church in Iraq fighting Husseins bunch. I walked out and never went back.