Today's verse from another website I belong to. VERSE: For by him [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. -- Colossians 1:16 THOUGHT: "Jesus is Lord!" That doesn't just mean that we have yielded our lives to his will and trusted in his grace. "Jesus is Lord!" This means that everything that is created is his. All angels, demons, and spirits are below him and their purpose is to honor and serve him. Even though demons have chosen not to honor and serve him, that decision does not change what their purpose should be or the fact that Jesus showed his superiority over them in his crucifixion and resurrection. The universe, with its vast expanse and glory, was made by him and made to declare his glory. As God's image to us, God's presence for us to know and see, he is our King, Lord, and Savior. If our lives are in his hands and our hearts are yielded to his will, then no one and nothing can prevent his ultimate victory for us and in us.
It seems the common theme here is, you need to ask preachers, priests, etc. for opinion on the Bible. Folks, its there for you to read.
I don't think you need to ask anyone what you should believe. I don't think they shoud feel the need to tell you that your beliefs are wrong, either. I know for sure you shouldn't care what others think. I need to work on this part. The class envy, pompous, uber-pious still grate my nerves.
I agree with you except that it doesn't grate on me though. I just find it kind of amusing that someone can believe that, out of the countless religious practices out there, including hundreds, maybe thousands, of Christian practices, only he and those who agree with him. have found the TRUTH. And such a person is also able to believe that all those who don't agree with this unique TRUTH are doomed to eternal torment. And by the way, while I'm posting, I'd like to add one more thing. There's little chance that the theory of evolution will be found lacking. But if it should happen, there will NOT be a return to the Genesis story. There is absolutely no recognized scientific support for that story. Oh, and also, for those put off by the pope's attire, I think you guys are just jealous because your preachers don't get to wear fancy colorful stuff like that on special occasions. May The Sheep Be With You
Points I was making before. People just need to learn to let others believe what they will and not impose themselves unto another's beliefs.
So you have never taken advice from anyone that might help you? I used to think this way until I realized that reproof is sometimes very profitable. (Might even save a life)
Can I give you some advice on how you're not raising your children right, Bobby? Why not? Remember BC's buzz-phrase.....circular argument? THIS is a good example. For someone to think their way is superior to another's......that their relationship with God is superior to another's.....is what I was addressing above. And I'm talking amongst believers! Why can't one believer just say to another....'Hallelujah!"?
I would take it if it does not transgress what is right. No argument here. Just trying to point out the value of having a teachable spirit. I really have never said my relationship with God was superior to another's. I just know what I know, and I continue to learn by listening and being taught. If I get to the place where I will not accept truth from another, well I will be in a bad place. You seem to have an issue with the "believer" concept. I have no issue with believers. I do however believe a relationship with God goes far beyond "just" believing.
So what is going on up in this thread? The usual for religion threads? BTW, the original post was quite funny. Was I supposed to believe this was a true story?
Many also seem to wonder why Christians in particular want to tell others about thier believes, or about salvation. While you never see Jews or Hindus doing this. Christianty is one belief, where the command to spread the word of God and the Gospel is in all 4 Gospels. Not to sit on the weath of information and keep it to yourself. One of the only commands from Christ in all 4 gospels. There are many overlapping parables, stories, and commands from God in the gospels, but the command to go out and "make deciples of all the nations, telling them to observe all My commands" is the only one that is in all 4 Gospels. Its what is expected of Christians. Where Jewish are told to pretty well exclude outsiders. And this is the big rub with Amish. So, if one truely believes in the Word of God, and truly wants to follow Christ's commands, we are going to tell you what we believe. Some feel that is pushy. But 90% of the time, these folks are fairly well not open to the Gospel. We are also instructed on how to deal with those not open. Don't spend too much time on these folks. Don't throw your pearls to swine. (I make this mistake too often), where PT, I have to say gets it right. But then again, I have came to see seeds planted years ago by what I thought was someone close minded, not open to hear the Word of God, take root to my surprise. I had people come to me 5 years later, and say "Mark, years ago, you told me about Phil 4:4-6, and all I wanted to do was to prove you wrong and shut you up, but that verse stuck with me for years". Then others, I thought was fertile ground, I planted the seeds as carefully as I could, only to be disappointed. God works in mysterious ways.
Like I have posted before, I regularly hang out with people from a Jewish family. They are the most open minded, giving people I have ever met. They do not withhold anything from anyone and do not exclude anyone from "their" religion.
I too hang out with lots of Jewish folks, and Jewish converts to Christianity. My boss is Jewish, my coworkers are Israelie. So you have seen Jewish folks go out and try to bring folks into the Jewish religion? I am talking converting by marriage of a Jew and a Gentile. I am talking about converting total strangers? Because the Torah generally never commands Jews from incorporating outsiders into being Jewish?
They don't try to convert other people not because they want to be greedy or something, it just isn't something they do. They don't feel the need to panhandle from door to door pushing their beliefs on other folks. I mean isn't that better for you and other Christians that the Jews don't try to convert people to Judaism? That leaves more people open to Christian influence and provides less competition. That should be a good thing in your book.
I never proclaimed they did it to be greedy or something, did I. If I did, I take it back. If you read though the Torah, it will dead clear why they don't. Their culture is based on the Torah. That was clearly the whole and only point I was making. Its not because Jews are just so secure with their beliefs. When I start a discussion about the Old Testiment with my Jewish boss, he is amazed that gentiles know so much about them, and many gentiles, know more than their own children going to Hebrew school about the Torah. He was shocked that we at my church study Hebrew to translate. He said, they don't even do that in the US. I don't mean to sound preachy, but what is Good is God's will. Its not a competition as you put it. The jews have and always will the the apple of God's eye. The only reason gentiles was ever able to be given salvation is still for the Jew's sake. That passage in Isaiah about provoking the Jews the jealousy by giving the gentiles salvation really angers some Christians. Like gentiles were second choice. And we are. Sure don't anger me, I will take salvation anyway I can get it.
