Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
He didn't say anything about building a church either but in about 1600 years the church has grown so much that they control more wealth and real property than any other entity in the world except the governments.
Which is true. The evangelicals have hijacked the religion, and turned it into a hate breeding cash cow.
The sermon started out great today. The pastor was talking about how all living things, and even non-living things such as mountains, sing praises to the Lord just by being what they are meant to be.
Then he turned an excellent sermon into a political rant.
He started to say that humans are responsible for global warming, when this is still a controversial topic.
He mentioned Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth and even conceded that global warming has occurred in periods before fossil fuels, as Gore states in his book.
He said that Gore was mainly concerned with our own civilization - not the Earth - which will regenerate on its own - which makes it rather clear that Gore just wants to sell books and expand control and regulation, which is the wet dream of all liberals.
The pastor even mentioned Earth Day.
I thought that was the final straw, until he gave the benediction and said these words:
"Think globally, and live liberally".
I am sure it is very hard for our clergy to stay neutral when doing their weekly sermons, but if they can't they are in the wrong profession. We actually changed religions about 4 years ago, over exactly what you are talking about. We were on the fence anyway, the only church that was the religion I am referring to was about a 20 minute or so drive and the service we liked was 8am, meaning we had to leave pretty early anyway. The straw that broke the camels back was the sermon the Sunday before the 2008 election. He did all but tell us we should vote of Obama. No, it wasn't blatant but it was obvious enough. Our now, chosen, religion is a little closer to our way of thinking (sometimes to right wing for us) but if I didn't know better I would never dream our pastor was conservative. He does a great job of giving objective, meaningful sermons without any evidence of his personal, political feelings. I will add we have members from both sides of the fence.
That's just the point: The environment is religion. No habitable living space; no religion; eh?
I think mentioning Earth Day (which was LAST Monday, not today, no?), and saying we have to take care of God's creation is fine. I go to a church with a lot of University of Colorado professors as members, some in the science field. There are also a number of members who work at the federal science labs, and probably the majority of the rest of the men in the church anyway work in IT, as do some of the women. I think most would prefer the pastor leave the actual science up to the scientists.
One can always make a case such as the above for one's own causes.
This whole story centers around salvation. It begins talking about entering God’s kingdom and ends with proclaiming that all things are possible with God. Here is the complete account from Mark (NIV): [SIZE=1]MK 10:15[/SIZE] I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." [SIZE=1]16[/SIZE] And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. [SIZE=1]MK 10:17[/SIZE] As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" [SIZE=1]MK 10:18[/SIZE] "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. [SIZE=1]19[/SIZE] You know the commandments: `Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.' " [SIZE=1]MK 10:20[/SIZE] "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." [SIZE=1]MK 10:21[/SIZE] Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." [SIZE=1]MK 10:22[/SIZE] At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. [SIZE=1]MK 10:23[/SIZE] Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" [SIZE=1]MK 10:24[/SIZE] The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is[SIZE=1]n[/SIZE] to enter the kingdom of God! [SIZE=1]25[/SIZE] It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." [SIZE=1]MK 10:26[/SIZE] The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" [SIZE=1]MK 10:27[/SIZE] Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
Most can understand the idea that one must love God over money and everything else. While this is true, it certainly is not all that we should learn from this. Let’s looks closer at what is really being addressed here.
While walking through Judea, the topic was "entering God’s kingdom." After Jesus tells us we must be like children, then comes the "rich man," but we don’t yet know he is rich. What we do know is this- he fell on his knees before Jesus. This act demonstrates this man’s faith and desire toward Jesus. This man, like all mankind, wants to know how to inherit eternal life- God’s life. Jesus first corrects the man by telling him that only God is good. Jesus here was simply saying that any good he produced was from His Father in heaven- His words, His miracles and His knowledge came from God, the Father.
After correcting the man, Jesus reminded the man of the commandments. The man, with a sincere heart, believes and says that he has kept the commandments since he was a child. We know that no one, but Jesus has ever lived without sin. Yet, Jesus did not disagree with or correct this man for saying this. Instead Jesus looked at him and loved him! Jesus knew that man’s heart and he loved it! What Jesus says next, I believe, is misunderstood by many.
Jesus tells the man that he only lacked one thing. He tells the man to give all that he has to the poor and follow Him. But look at this again. Jesus did not tell the man that by giving away his wealth that he would earn the right to enter God’s kingdom. This was not the "ONE THING" he lacked. He says that this man would have riches in heaven as a reward for letting go of his worldly possessions. Then Jesus completely answers the man’s question on how to inherit eternal life. He says, "follow me."THIS is the answer to the man’s original question! The only way to be saved is by following the living Christ in us. It is by Jesus Christ’s power and will that we are perfected! We need Him living in us for us to overcome sin and this world. Of course we must surrender all that we have and are to God and giving away his money was a necessary step towards God. Nothing in our life can come before God. If something is in your life or heart ahead of God, He will ask you to surrender it. He will turn the heat up until we do let go. He must be our first and ONLY love. Our jealous God will NOT stand for anything to come between us. Who Then Can Be Saved
You know, when I make organic beans, I go through the beans and pick only those that look great, that are the perfect shape, and I throw out the rest, any rocks, etc. You do the same with Jesus' words. You pick and choose those you want and throw out the rest. What? The rest aren't Jesus' words? Hmmm? Well???????
Jesus was worse than a liberal he was more like a socialist...he firmly believed in the re-distribution of wealth!!!
We really can't judge that as 2000 years ago, life was very different. We can't even be sure what our forefathers had in mind: they would never have believed what the country would be like in the 21st century.
The true Church of God are his people..not a building . The temple of God is his people where the Holy Spirit lives in them.
What I'm getting at is the fact that Jesus didn't say a word about building a church but his message about taking no thought for tomorrow and caring for the poor was plain. He also had little use for the rich. With nearly a billion, mostly children by default, starving and suffering from malnutrition the folks in the church couldn't care less. The only thing which exceeds their greed is their ignorance about the bible. They accept a few verses and ignore the rest.
Which is true. The evangelicals have hijacked the religion, and turned it into a hate breeding cash cow.
Absolutely not true: there are probably much fewer evangelicals now than ever. It just used to be religion was off topic when it came to politics. Why would you say this: What are you judging this on?
What I'm getting at is the fact that Jesus didn't say a word about building a church but his message about taking no thought for tomorrow and caring for the poor was plain. He also had little use for the rich. With nearly a billion, mostly children by default, starving and suffering from malnutrition the folks in the church couldn't care less. The only thing which exceeds their greed is their ignorance about the bible. They accept a few verses and ignore the rest.
Absolutely. Cafeteria Christians.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
