If evil is the absence of God, what explanation is there for cancer, starvation, poverty. etc? By my definition, these are evil, and while I don't certainly believe God causes it, it doesn't seem to fit that definition.
Believing & Faith If only I had the time to write on my life time situations where God was present, I would write and describe how God made himself present, not visually but mentally, with healing with out the aid of a doctor. All by faith and prayer, so many times has he aided me in Mission's. This is the best subject I've read on these forums in some time. Love it Bigcountry, and thank you Tony, for the story that got this all started. Takes a person with humility to stand up for Christ. Rocky
What I find a turnoff about religion.......is close mindedness of some Christians....towards other CHRISTIANS! This is "humility"?
What I find a turnoff about religion .... is the "everyone did that which was right in his own eyes" mentality .... there is a God in Heaven that has given us direction like ANY good father would .... there is ONLY one way to God and that is thru Jesus Christ ...... ALONE. So I guess you can say true Christianity (as the Bible defines it) is a narrow-minded belief system powered by faith.
Agreed T. While my faith is my own, it's not written or directed by me. There are alot of people that consider themselves Christians, who pick and choose which parts of Christianity apply to "their" version of religion. That's not a judgement by me, just stating an observation.
I don't disagree with either of you. But, I'm never the one to tell others their belief system is wrong. Why do I have to understand YOUR relationship with God? I'd rather people open their minds......in lieu of closing them. See.....I won't tell you your faith and belief system isn't good enough to stamp your ticket to the promised land. But, I don't seem to get the same in return. BIG, big turnoff. Who's close-minded? Who's showing humility?
you say it turns you off and have stated things like people that believe a certain way are close minded and have insinuated worse ... and as far as my way ..it's my way .. what I believe to be The Bible way .... not something I dreamed up myself .. Jeff ..... according to the Bible ..... CHRIST is the ONLY way ... and it commands me to proclaim it ... so I humbly obey it .... you saying anyway that fits ya .... is NOT humility, but pride ... you can be sincere ... the terrorists that flew planes into the World Trade Centers were sincere .... but they were sincerely WRONG!!!!!!!!!
Quote me saying that (or anything of the sort). You can't. It never happened. Try again. Terrorists? WTF?
you said this: whether you want to admit it or not ... you insinuate ALOT, Jeff ..... and it isnt by mistake ... I used that to show that someone sincere belief system doesnt mean squat ..... what matters is what GOD says...
Meaning...."amongst us Christians". You see, PT.....it seems there's no shortage of Christians who wish to elevate their faith above the faith of others who've ALSO accepted Jesus Christ as their saviour. I see it all the time. Heck....I see it in this forum. And no. There's no mistake if I inisinuate that. But, I do better. I come right out and say it.
I know where you are coming from Jeff. I do. Really. I have chosen to believe that God's word is infallibly the truth of all truths. I will not change that. If He says He did it that way, I believe His word. That is the only "box" I will put God in. (Figuratively speaking of course, as I know, our God can not be contained in a box) The only definition of Religion the Bible speaks of is defined as "to visit the fatherless and widow in their afflictions". I know people have confused religion with spirituality, but these 2 are far from the same. Without believing there is only one true Word of God (The bible as originally translated as far as I am concerned), people will continue to create their own "denominations". According to the Bible their is only one Church. We are the members and He is the head. If there is only one body, how can we all believe different doctrines? If the body contradicts (goes against itself) it will fight a losing battle. Does that make sense? Again, these statements are how I believe.
The foot has different priorities than the finger. The tooth different from the hair. I think the real problem is that I sit here as a toe wondering why all of the other body parts aren't toes. There is a huge difference between cooperation and uniformity.
Not different priorities, just different offices or jobs. There is only One whom the rest of the body must be in cooperation and uniformity with. He is the Head of "all" the body. If His word said "let this mind be in you", then He must have been talking to the body. (entire)
How pompous.....to feel that your beliefs are more pious than another's......that your interpretation of God's will and way trumps that of another's (another BELIEVER'S!). Is his relationship with God somehow "less" than yours? Or, might you just not be able to comprehend that he and God have reached their own understanding (that includes accepting Jesus Christ)? Rhetorical.
