Messages

61

General Discussion / Re: I am just curious

« on: July 16, 2006, 10:11:17 pm »

The way you speak of how you practice your religion sounds more like the Friends' form (anyone may commune with the Spirit) rather than a Christian/Jewish form (where only certain people can commune [preachers, rabbis, etc...]).  Hm.

We commune with the God, and the Spirit aids us in this. We are all called to prayer (conversations with God), and we are all (true Christians) baptized with the Spirit. Perhaps some Jewish (not all Jews believe in Christ) think that they are the only ones able to speak to God, but it is certainly not so with true Christians. I am part of a Christian fellowship, I just am not confined to one specific physical Church (be it Catholic, or Baptist). The Church, as far as Christianity is concerned, is the entire body of Christ. That is me and all of my fellow believers belong to the Church of Christ.

62

General Discussion / Re: I am just curious

« on: July 16, 2006, 09:33:32 pm »

Mathew wrote mainly directed towards the Jews, Mark wrote for the sake of non-Christians (or even people who didn't know the Old Testament so well), Luke wrote in chronological historical reference, and not necessarily targeted any specific group, and John wrote specifically targeting unbelievers of Christ.

So pretty much what I said in this reply:

No the four Gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke, John) present in the Bible all tell of the events and promises surrounding the life and death of Jesus from a different perspective. Mathew was mainly directed towards the Jews, Mark talked about Jesus’ Ministry, Luke was an exact historical reference, and off the top of my head I cannot remember exactly what John relates to but if there is interest I could look it up.

I do however appreciate the clarification that pertains to the Gospel of John.

Anyway, I never said I was agnostic.  I have a "modified" belief as a Friend.  I follow my religion wholey (sp?), but I do not believe in everything I am told.  And as per your praying for others, good for you.  If your religion or belief structure provides ways to do non-violent good for others (whether it may or may not work), I say go for it.

I did not think that you were agnostic, based on the knowledge present in your replies. I would however like to say that I would consider myself Spiritual before Religious, because none of my beliefs come from a preacher. I have gone to a physical Church one time since I became a believer. All of the knowledge and wisdom I possess comes from God himself through the Holy Spirit. He guides me in my studies, and speaks for me when the time arises.

I am not here to discredit anyone’s beliefs, but only to edify my own.

63

General Discussion / Re: I am just curious

« on: July 16, 2006, 09:23:32 pm »

Honestly, religious debates can go on forever and ever. It's basically, someone points out a "flaw" in the Bible and someones contradicts what they say. A common characteristic of skeptics, agnostics, and atheists are, they ask boat loads of questions that criticize Christianity and discredit it with them, even though they themselves do not have answers to the essential questions of life. To me, it seems rather pointless to try and argue with someone in such a state. Instead, just begin to pray for the person.

Incidentally, I, myself am a devout Christian.

You are correct that it is pointless to argue with a person in such a state, but posting that, which contradicts what they are saying, may be beneficial to someone else reading the topic. So it seems that even though they can not answer the question themselves, there is a point to answering it for them. [Titus 2:15(AMP)] “Tell [them all] these things. Urge (advise, encourage, warn) and rebuke with full authority. Let no one despise or disregard or think little of you [conduct yourself and your teaching so as to command respect].”

From this point I will pray for them, and hope that my words can be seen by those that are passively reading. Possibly sparking some interest, and leading them to spiritual awakening. If the accuser cannot continue on questioning in a sensible fashion, his questions will go unanswered.

I am glad to hear you're a devout Christian though.

64

General Discussion / MOVED: Jesus in Canada or just some crazy dude that heals people???

« on: July 16, 2006, 09:04:51 pm »

This topic has been moved to Religious Discussion.

http://www.x86labs.org:81/forum/index.php?topic=6664.0

65

General Discussion / MOVED: I am just curious

« on: July 16, 2006, 09:04:07 pm »

This topic has been moved to Religious Discussion.

http://www.x86labs.org:81/forum/index.php?topic=6693.0

66

General Discussion / Re: I am just curious

« on: July 16, 2006, 09:03:03 pm »

Tub, before I start reply, I would just like to say: please edit and/or use "Insert Quote" when posting.  That is all.

I do use quotes, and I do edit my posts. I just choose to post a separate reply, when I am replying to a separate person. I like doing things this way, and it does not bother me that you may do things differently.

John wrote to unbelievers.

All four Gospels are directed towards unbelievers from a different perspective, so I fail to see what you mean by this.

My first question is this: if God gave Man free will, why would He punish those who choose not to believe in Him or His son?  That is not free will, that is "worship me and my son or go to hell".  That is a God I cannot believe in.

“Believe in God and Christ, or go to Hell” would better describe it, but yes, I suppose this is a choice we all have to make. The benefits of believing are also present on this world as well. It’s not as if you only receive the gift of eternal life by believing.

My second question is: not really a question.  Christians slayed those who disagreed.  Remember the incident with the first 10 commandments?  Moses went up, and half his followers started praying to a golden cow statue.  Moses was then ordered by God to mercilessly slay all those who had anything to do with the statue.  That is pretty much saying "if you don't worship God, you will be stabbed in the throat", which is close enough to saying "God rocks, your religion sucks".

All of this happened before Christ came to earth, so the ancients were not Christians. They could not be Christian because they did not follow the examples of Christ. I do not remember things happening exactly as you describe, so I will have to get back to you on this one.

And finally (I do not mean to be offensive or anything here, please don't get too mad): What would have happened if you picked up the Q'uran or the Torah instead of the Bible?  Or maybe the Ramadan, or possibly a Buddhist doctrine or the Book of Kama Sutra?  It sounds like you latched on to something because you were in jail.

One of the biggest changes in my attitude, as of late, is that I do not get offended or mad. If I would have picked up one of those books, it is plausible that I would have done with them as I did with every other book. Toss it aside and continue to live a miserable life. The point of my testimony was that nothing I myself ever did changed my life for the better, and after a simple act of faith everything about me was changed. I have latched onto many things, but this is the only thing that has not abandoned me. That is all the farther I am going to take it. Perhaps on a later date I can elaborate more on the different religious doctrines in comparison to the Bible.

67

General Discussion / Re: I am just curious

« on: July 16, 2006, 08:35:10 pm »

That's a good thing to hear. 

I have already stated that I don't believe in the Christian god.  In my life, that is non-negotiable.  But keep it in mind. 

I love Christianity, as a religion.  It teaches goodness and forgiveness and love of the fellow man.  Then 10 commandments are great, and something that everybody ought to live life by.  In that respect, I think that Christianity is great for the community and world as a whole, and that it does a lot of good in the world, even thought I don't believe in it.

Catholicism, on the other hand, I take great exception to.  Catholicism takes stories from the bible and interprets them in the way that benefits the Church.  They also make up new facts and stories to support their Church.  People who are strong catholics believe very strongly in the Church and in what the Church teaches, but they often seem to miss the point: they don't have a strong belief in the God.  They believe in the structure and following the rules and everything, but they don't actually have faith in the God.  For that reason, I think that Catholosicm is bad and dangerous, though perhaps not by intent. 

Yes and this is why the different factions are futile, because people are not really doing what they are supposed to. Everything will come naturally over time, by means of the Spirit if you are a true Christian. Preachers are only meant to encourage, and give advice to believers, nothing else. Catholicism is not intentionally bad, but it does not do what God wants them to do. Everybody is so caught up in the original laws of the Old Testament, but we are not able to live by these laws and God knows it. Christ was born, and died for our sins, freeing us from these laws. If you believe in Christ with all of your heart you will naturally (instinctively) start to live your life the way God always intended. We are all subject to sin, and lusts of the flesh. Belief in Christ and faith alone is all that can save us. From that point on God will do everything else for us, all we have to do is remain loyal.

My testimony: I am a recovering methamphetamine addict. I was an intravenous user at that (meaning I stuck a needle into my arm). I was violent, negative, and pissed off at the world. I would run around, gacked out of my mind, and rob industrial areas, people I didn’t know, and on rare occasions towards the end I even started robbing people who were once friends. I pushed away what little family I still had, and I even turned my back on my own daughter. All I could see in this world was negativity, so I figured why not fight for my piece of the pie. I could never keep any friends, because it was just a matter of time before I would find something wrong with them and tell them about it. I could not stop cheating on the only girl in this world that has really been there for me, and was the mother of my child. I have done just about every drug on the market today. Despite all the God given talents and abilities I possessed, I still turned my back on him. By the grace of God, I beat two counts of Assault With a Deadly Weapon 2nd and only got charged with Weapons Carrying and Handling. Just recently I served a small amount of time on a warrant issued for a TMVWOP 2nd (Taking a Motor Vehicle Without Owners Permission). I have various Malicious Mischief, Theft, Assault, MIP’s charges on my record as well. While in jail I decided to pick up, and honestly start reading the bible for the first time. After a week of this I full heartedly accepted Christ as my savior and immediately I got this feeling throughout my body that was better than any hit of dope I had ever done. From that point on I have been completely dedicated to the Lord, and just about every area of my life has changed in about two months. All I did was take a chance with something I could not see, and now nothing anything can say will ever lead me to believe God is not real. Was it easy at first, no, but because of my diligence and perseverance I am now starting to see God for that which he really is.

In the end it all comes down to this, we are either going to see God for that which he really is or we will not. It is not my job to force you to believe. I am only here to encourage, and point you in the right direction. You have to do the rest.

68

General Discussion / Re: Jesus in Canada or just some crazy dude that heals people???

« on: July 16, 2006, 08:05:38 pm »

I was simply saying that the laws of physics can be broken and that healing isn't always a placebo.

If the laws of physics can't be broken, then how does God perform miracles?  God and Physics don't quite get along. 

God created this world and all the rules that apply to it, so it only makes sense that he alone has the power to break those rules if he should so choose, doesn't it?

69

General Discussion / Re: Jesus in Canada or just some crazy dude that heals people???

« on: July 16, 2006, 08:02:05 pm »

If any of you feel up to it, go to this man and ask him he he believes in Jesus Christ, does he believe that he is our Lord, and does he believe that he is coming back. If he does then he is from God, and if he does not than he is not.

70

General Discussion / Re: Jesus in Canada or just some crazy dude that heals people???

« on: July 16, 2006, 07:54:52 pm »

Christianity says that people DON'T have powers, God does.  Jesus had powers because he was the son of God.  If some other fellow has them, then he's either:
a) Son of God
b) Son of Satan (anti-christ, anybody?)
c) Proof against christianity
d) A fraud

I tend towards (d). 

Christianity does state that people are given divine talents and abilities (this could be translated into powers). Some of our talents are without repentance [meaning that we do not have to change our ways and come to Christ], and others are given to us by the authority of Christ our Lord and the Father. Prophetic abilities, the ability to pray for ones healing [God ultimately heals the person in the end, but at the request of an authorized believer], divine visions, my new found understanding and knowledge of the word [whether you choose to believe it or not] could all be considered powers. Some of us are here to set the way for the coming of the Lord, others to mislead and steal from the Lord.

There are also false prophets, and antichrist, which will perform miracles on behalf of the Evil one. Satan is in control of this world, and he knows that half truths are more powerful than full blown lies, so it only makes sense that he would heal people in an attempt to lead people away from the Lord.

The prophecies however have not been fulfilled, and when the Lord returns to this world you will know it. May God have mercy on our souls?

71

General Discussion / Re: I am just curious

« on: July 16, 2006, 07:14:53 pm »

Joe, several letters have conflicting stories about Jesus' crucifiction, so they can't all be true, which means that some of them are false, which makes me doubt all of them.  Also, were you there?  There is no proof anything in the Bible is true or false.

And yes, the Romans loved everyone in their empire until the Christians came.  When the Christians came, they said "you suck" so the Romans killed them.

Anyway, I'm agnostic.

And when did Tubey turn into a fortune cookie oO?

No the four Gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke, John) present in the Bible all tell of the events and promises surrounding the life and death of Jesus from a different perspective. Mathew was mainly directed towards the Jews, Mark talked about Jesus’ Ministry, Luke was an exact historical reference, and off the top of my head I cannot remember exactly what John relates to but if there is interest I could look it up.

As many of you know, I was at one time, one of the most confrontational and negative minds present in this community. I have only come to accept Christ as my savior about two months ago. With that being said you can take my new outlook and attitude towards life as you will. You will either see it for that which it really is or you will continue to be blind towards the subject. This was all meant to be, and I just pray that you are all able to see the truth someday.

72

General Discussion / Re: I am just curious

« on: July 16, 2006, 07:07:41 pm »

There is physical proof that lots of people (tens of thousands?  More?) were given the crown of thorns and crucified, then buried in a shroud (you aren't crucified in a shroud, and there's no way to identify a shroud as the "Shroud of Turin".  But big deal, the Romans crucified slaves that tried to escape, and theives, and just about everybody else who pissed them off.

This was at the time, the worst, punishment one could receive for his crimes. Christ, the son of God and man, walked blamelessly in the eyes of God. He walked in righteousness, and did everything that was asked of him. He also died for our sins, in the worst way imaginable, even though he did nothing to deserve such a fate. The point is that he suffered for our sins, and all who believe in him shall be forgiven of their sins. We are no longer bound to the laws of the Old Testament, but we have entered into a new covenant with Christ.

Interestingly: the Romans did NOT crucify (or even hate) people from most other religions.  If you wanted to worship your own god or God, that was fine.  The only reason they eventually started hating Christians is because Christians were running around declaring that their God was better and Rome's gods suck and everybody else was wrong.  The Romans took exception to their intolerance.  But in general, Romans loved other religions.

And this promotes good or evil? We were all given free will, and we all (good and evil) have a role to play in this world. Christianity at its fundamental doctrines state that we are to love everyone as ourselves, believe and love the one true God, and be lowly and meek people. We are not to boast, so I do not think our ancestors went around stating that our God is the best and the rest suck. They simply went around and taught what was given to them by divine inspiration, and God did the rest. You are either meant to see Him for what he is or you are not.

And incidentally, if Jesus was destined for heaven, and his body disappeared as a result, why don't ordinary people who go to heaven have their bodies disappeared?  That doesn't seem to make sense to me.

Human bodies do not disappear because the Day of Judgment has not arrived. When Christ was raised from the dead, people from the ancient world were raised and they entered Heaven. We on the other hand have not reached our divine appointment, and thus our bodies remain in this world.

73

General Discussion / Re: I am just curious

« on: July 16, 2006, 06:50:24 pm »

Crappy topic title, but No.

I believe in the possiblity of being a god, I just don't believe in one specificly.  I sure hope I phrased that right, or I'm going to get semi-flamed.  =-o

As a matter of opinion, I think the topic served its purpose well. Curiosity is one of the fundamental behaviors of the flesh and it has allowed this conversation to take place without preemptive thoughts forming in your minds before you even read what it is that I have to say.

I personally will do my best to keep all flames from entering this topic. I also hope that someday God will open your eyes to that which is him.

74

General Discussion / Re: I am just curious

« on: July 16, 2006, 06:44:21 pm »

Yes.  However I don't believe in what many denominations teach, especially things that are clearly stated in the Bible.

You should not align yourself with any specific denomination other than that of Christ’s Ministry, often times referred to as Christianity. Factions within the Church (assembly of believers, not necessarily a building) lead to futility, and are not what has been taught to us. You will however naturally [thanks to the Spirit] start to live your life according to the divine words of wisdom found inside the Bible, if you whole heartedly devout your life to Christ. This does not however mean that you will live a boring, uneventful life, which has been portrayed by much of society. The way I dress, the types of music I listen too, the things I like to do for fun has, for the most part, stayed the same since I accepted Christ as my Lord. The only real difference is I no longer have conflict of conscious going on inside of me, and this has lead to my overall happiness and well-being.

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General Discussion / Re: I am just curious

« on: July 16, 2006, 06:35:01 pm »

I personally feel that there MIGHT be a higher power out there. But until he makes himself known, I will just stick to that when I die I will come back as a tampon.

Unfortunately without complete faith in that which you do not see, when he comes back it will be to late.