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When I discuss biblical topics, I just let the Scriptures do the convicting because they are clearly written for us to read and not lean to our own understanding or argue about.
But obviously that's what every single person does, is lean on their own understanding, or else we would have 1 church, 1 denomination, no different sects, no Protestants vs. Catholics, none of it!
Additionally, there would only be 1 translation, not thousands, and there wouldn't be debate among the canonicity of certain books, there would be no debate as to the canonicity of the Apocrypha, there would be no difference in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, or Western Protestant Bibles.
The Bible comprises 24 books for Jews, 66 for Protestants, 73 for Catholics, and 78 for most Orthodox Christians.
Nuff said.
Last edited by jeffncandace; 08-15-2007 at 02:11 PM..
But obviously that's what every single person does, is lean on their own understanding, or else we would have 1 church, 1 denomination, no different sects, no Protestants vs. Catholics, none of it!
Additionally, there would only be 1 translation, not thousands, and there wouldn't be debate among the canonicity of certain books, there would be no debate as to the canonicity of the Apocrypha, there would be no difference in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, or Western Protestant Bibles.
The Bible comprises 24 books for Jews, 66 for Protestants, 73 for Catholics, and 78 for most Orthodox Christians.
Nuff said.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the Life. The Catholics, The Protestants, and Orthodox Christians are all on one accord when it comes to that verse. God created us not to be robots and because of that, we all have the free will to reason as we want and to believe as we want. Each different christian denomination represents the differences in the way we CHOOSE to worship God. If I am an emotional person, then I will worship God at a pentacostal church, if I don't think that I need to whoop and holler in service then I go to a church where the service is more reserved. If I want to deny Jesus Christ all together there are other religions for that. I hope you see what I am getting at. People who are seeking spirituality are looking to get to God by ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
Unfortunately, non of us want to appreciate the fact that God does read hearts, and who am I or anyone to put down someone's faith in something or someone higher than us, especially if that person is living a better and enriching life as a result of it. Enuff Said as well.
The same reason that so many other religions do. Because they are just that a
Religion. Yes why do devoutly religious people that are anti-Christ hate and
persecute Christians and pass their little nasty judgements upon them? Because they know Christ is real and that He (Christ) is Risen and the Veil has rent,and
going to perform every word that God said he would. and deep down inside they
don't want this to take place, but the god/gods of this world has their minds blinded
to the Truth, so they can't be free to make the right choices..
That's why we pray
So that the Enemy Satan can't counterfeit and trick you into going to Hell
God wants everyone to be set free, that's why He sent His Son to pay our ransom with His Blood on the Cross...
So I feel that whether it's religion or cars or jobs,food what have you"(slang)
anyone that is dedicated to a cause will, defend it. naturally.
Of course it will appear that they are passing judgement to the opposing person,
All Law Enforcement , Prosecutors,Judges etc.
Question from my previous comment two steps up (to all Christians): Do you feel you are involved in a "Spiritual War" with the other religions?
No.
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Our battle is not with other religions, it is fought within the spiritual realm.
I think we get too caught up in trying to convince everyone that we are right. When you take this approach, the other person is rarely convinced. People are going to stick to what they are comfortable with. I think sometimes it would go alot farther to just live our lives by example. Apply all of the judgements we are thinking about those around us to our own lives. See if we even live up to those measurements. You know, "take the log out of our own eye before we inspect the speck in someone elses"? If we concentrate on our own life, and use each day as a day to try to live more like Christ, then not as many people would be turned off to Christianity simply because of the judgmental nature of the adherants.
I think that it makes them feel better to be judgemental.
there's some scripture somewhere warning us not to be "puffed up." Those good people who find it necessary to pass judgement on the actions of other good people, might want to look deeply into their own behavior and thought.
I think that it makes them feel better to be judgemental.
there's some scripture somewhere warning us not to be "puffed up." Those good people who find it necessary to pass judgement on the actions of other good people, might want to look deeply into their own behavior and thought.
I can honestly say that I don't feel good when I have to discuss religion, especially with a person who already has it in his mind to persecute me for my beliefs in the first place. What's so sad is that if I am willing to hear your points, and hear the person argue his point very well over mine. Then I am humble enough to say to the person, you know what, I was w rong, and you are right or I now see how I misinterpreted that scripture.
To me, its not about who wins the so called debate, and it's not about who's right. But it's about coming to a greater understanding of God's word so that your soul and salvation isn't at risk, if you thought what you were doing was right. The bible is very clear on one thing. We will be judged for the good and bad things we have done in our lives. We need to wake up, and smellthe Yuban so t hat we can be right when we all face God on judgement day.
Location: Somewhere along the path to where I'd like to be.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MattDen
I think its funny when people say God thinks this and God thinks that, how do they know what god thinks. Do they a superiority complex that makes them think God is constantly on the phone with God or something?
I had to chuckle when I read this part of the OP, because I have wondered the same thing, and it's good to know I'm not the only one who has thought about this.
It amazes me that people somehow think they were inside God's head, or in Paul's mind - or some other Biblical author's mind - when the words of the Bible were written. People say things like "what Paul had in mind when he wrote such-and-such was this.....blah blah blah". And I'm thinking to myself "How the heck do YOU know what Paul supposedly had in mind when he wrote something?"
I wish people would just STOP espousing all their personal interpretations of the Bible as if they were doctrine.
Location: Somewhere along the path to where I'd like to be.
2,180 posts, read 5,421,413 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffncandace
But obviously that's what every single person does, is lean on their own understanding, or else we would have 1 church, 1 denomination, no different sects, no Protestants vs. Catholics, none of it!
Additionally, there would only be 1 translation, not thousands, and there wouldn't be debate among the canonicity of certain books, there would be no debate as to the canonicity of the Apocrypha, there would be no difference in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, or Western Protestant Bibles.
The Bible comprises 24 books for Jews, 66 for Protestants, 73 for Catholics, and 78 for most Orthodox Christians.
Nuff said.
Thank you, Amen, God BLESS you, Jeff. We agree on something - again.
Alright Jeff, get up off the floor. It's not funny to fake a heart attack like that.
Jeff?
Can you hear me, bud?
Oh sheesh, someone grab some smelling salts. I really KO'd him this time!
I had to chuckle when I read this part of the OP, because I have wondered the same thing, and it's good to know I'm not the only one who has thought about this.
It amazes me that people somehow think they were inside God's head, or in Paul's mind - or some other Biblical author's mind - when the words of the Bible were written. People say things like "what Paul had in mind when he wrote such-and-such was this.....blah blah blah". And I'm thinking to myself "How the heck do YOU know what Paul supposedly had in mind when he wrote something?"
I wish people would just STOP espousing all their personal interpretations of the Bible as if they were doctrine.
I wish that too, and I also wish that when the bible is silent on any topic that comes up in this forum or any future forum, that people just say, you know what I don't have an opinion on it since no where in scripture says that we can or cannot engage in that activity.
But I will say this again, if we can't infer what God wants us to do using other scripture as proof text, then I don't think any of us should have any position or opinion on it. Here's an example. Is smoking wrong or sinful? The bible doesn't say that a christian shouldn't smoke. But some will argue that they can smoke just because the scriptures are quiet about smoking.
The way we can know that smoking is 100% wrong is from reading other scriptures that tells us that our bodies don't belong to us any more once we become a born again christian, and that our bodies are temples where God's Holy Spirit dwells. If you understand that, then the desire to smoke should wane very quickly since smoking leads to cancer and or other diseases. We don't want to deliberately damage or disease our bodies, because if we do then we are basically committing suicide knowing that smoking causes cancer.
GOD'S silence is sometimes golden on certain biblical topics of discussion. Hummmmmm? Just a thought.
Location: Somewhere along the path to where I'd like to be.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by antredd
I wish that too, and I also wish that when the bible is silent on any topic that comes up in this forum or any future forum, that people just say, you know what I don't have an opinion on it since no where in scripture says that we can or cannot engage in that activity.
But I will say this again, if we can't infer what God wants us to do using other scripture as proof text, then I don't think any of us should have any position or opinion on it. Here's an example. Is smoking wrong or sinful? The bible doesn't say that a christian shouldn't smoke. But some will argue that they can smoke just because the scriptures are quiet about smoking.
The way we can know that smoking is 100% wrong is from reading other scriptures that tells us that our bodies don't belong to us any more once we become a born again christian, and that our bodies are temples where God's Holy Spirit dwells. If you understand that, then the desire to smoke should wane very quickly since smoking leads to cancer and or other diseases. We don't want to deliberately damage or disease our bodies, because if we do then we are basically committing suicide knowing that smoking causes cancer.
GOD'S silence is sometimes golden on certain biblical topics of discussion. Hummmmmm? Just a thought.
I'm not really commenting about arguments from silence - although I can see what you're saying. What I'm talking about, however, is when Christians (and particularly contemporary authors), or a church, base their beliefs and doctrines upon assumptions. For example, in commenting about Paul's words that women are to remain silent in the churches, certain "authorities" will say something like "What Paul had in mind when he wrote that was.......", or "Paul was referring to a specific group of women......" - and the truth is, there is nothing in the Bible that clearly indicates what Paul had in mind when he wrote it. And there is nothing that says he was talking about a specific group of women. There is nothing anywhere in the NT which clarifies what Paul meant. It simply says what it says. So it's rather precarious to base a belief upon what someone else THOUGHT Paul was referring to.
And no, I'm not trying to start a debate about whether women should remain silent in church. I just used that as an example.
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Seeking God by any means Necessary
Obvious
You know, "take the log out of our own eye before we inspect the speck in someone elses"? If we concentrate on our own life, and use each day as a day to try to live more like Christ, then not as many people would be turned off to Christianity simply because of the judgmental nature of the adherants.
