I am Canadian, so cannot vote for Michelle. Separation of church/state was originally meant to keep the state out of the church, not the church out of the state. If we do not legislate immorality, we tend to legislate immorality. Those who push for abortion are no different than those who oppose it. We are not a theocracy, but there is no reason to default to things that harm society. Freedom of religion is not freedom from religion. Christians tolerate atheists in the public square, but Christians are generally discriminated against and silenced. Christians in the U.S. are making a mistake by thinking politics is the answer instead of the gospel that changes individual hearts, families, communities, cities, nations.
godrulz
JoinedPosts by godrulz
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96
Jesus was just a man?
by Joey Jo-Jo inaccording to this video, jesus was just a man, but were can i find these books that speak of this.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m23vv6moyf0&feature=related.
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96
Jesus was just a man?
by Joey Jo-Jo inaccording to this video, jesus was just a man, but were can i find these books that speak of this.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m23vv6moyf0&feature=related.
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godrulz
sheep: hell is a place of separation for selfish sinners, not a medieval Dante torture chamber.
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48
religion only to do with belief?
by Curtains inas jehovahs witnesses we were taught that the truth (belief) unifies every aspect of our lives and is of paramount importance.
are other like religions like this also?
do they emphasize belief to the same extent?.
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godrulz
Concerned JW: thx for your thoughtful, reflective post. I am Pentecostal by experience. This doctrinal dispute centers around cessationism vs continuance. WT is a cessationist group, while Pentecostal distinctives affirm continuance. I believe there is no exegetical basis for cessationism. WT arguments are similar to my fellow Christian anti-charismatic arguments. I agree with you in rejecting the lunatic fringe of charismania, but do not think we need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
1) Tongues were not evangelistic, gospel preaching in Acts 2. The supernatural gift was for power to be a witness and tongues is speaking to God (I Cor. 14; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4), not man. The audience did understand the dialects and heard them declaring the wonders of God in praise and worship (it does not say they were being preached to or that they converted when they heard tongues; they were converted when Peter preached in a known, natural, common language to the audience after that.
2) I Cor. 12-14 is about the use and misuse of spiritual gifts, not their supposed cessation. The proof text in I Cor. 13 does not imply that tongues would cease in the first century or with the later Catholic closing of the canon. They are for the entire Church Age/Body of Christ until He comes back for the Church (rapture) and they are no longer needed. The when they cease points to perfection at His coming (I Jn. 3:2). The Bible is paramount, but the gifts are complementary. Paul ends with positive exhortation to not forbid tongues, earnestly desire them, he practices them, etc., but to use them in love vs pride/division (I Cor. 13). Context is king.
3) In I Cor. 14, there is a distinction between private, devotional tongues for prayer, praise, worship (Acts 2 initial, physical evidence of a work of the Spirit post-conversion) and public, corporate tongues (only done by some vs all) with interpretation of tongues. This key will help avoid confusion.
There are demonic counterfeits, fleshly abuses, immaturity, idiocy, but this is not an argument against Pauline-Spirit principles. Anti-charismata is rationalism, anti-supernaturalism. Satan is not resorting to natural tools, so the Church should not resort to the arm of the flesh.
The reason JWs do not see the supernatural is because they reject the personality of the Holy Spirit, the Deity of Christ, and are rationalists who reject revelation. The consequence is that they are a dead, dry, powerless religion, though organized like a sales force with limited success. In contrast, Pentecostals are the largest, fastest growing segment of the Church worldwide with local churches (one) larger than 1 million members in some places (Korea, etc.). Due to lack of discernment, they also attribute the work of the Spirit to Satan, a Pharisaical big mistake.
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I'm scared sometimes that the WTBTS might be right about everything.
by Chemical Emotions ini wake up thinking: what if my boyfriend and i die a terrifying death during armageddon?
with no hope of any life afterwards?.
do any of you ever feel that way?.
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godrulz
WT is right about somethings (generic Bible principles), but wrong about many things (essential doctrinal truths and practices...e.g. blood, holidays, disfellowshipping, etc.).
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96
Jesus was just a man?
by Joey Jo-Jo inaccording to this video, jesus was just a man, but were can i find these books that speak of this.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m23vv6moyf0&feature=related.
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godrulz
I am not sure what you don't like about the link answers. If there is a connection and object lesson for Israel, it seems like there is not a problem. Excuse my laziness, but I did not reread the story in detail or research possible explanations. It seems like a non-issue since I trust Jesus implicitly and know there is a reason even if we don't understand it. The same goes for hell and justice. We might not understand this fully, but if we trust God, we know that His standard is higher than ours, that He is right in all His ways, that He is not a cruel monster that tortures people, that He is loving and holy, etc. God is trustworthy and our understanding is fallen and fallible, unlike His. In my mind, you need to settle issues about His life, death, Deity, resurrection. The fig tree thing has no bearing on God and salvation, the real issues.
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48
religion only to do with belief?
by Curtains inas jehovahs witnesses we were taught that the truth (belief) unifies every aspect of our lives and is of paramount importance.
are other like religions like this also?
do they emphasize belief to the same extent?.
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godrulz
Paul was strong on right belief/doctrine (orthodoxy) and right practice (orthopraxy). Often his letters were half doctrinal followed by half practical application. Head and heart, huh? Not to be paranoid (looks over shoulder), but is this on topic? Not too preachy (I did not mention the J-word)? Offensive? Politically correct? Did I offend any gays?
Funny story about scheduling tongues and using it for GPS?! Many people attending Pentecostal churches don't speak in tongues (not a good thing to be Pent. in name, but not in experience). Early Pentecostals were more experiential vs doctrinal. This led to heresies (New Rain, Oneness, etc.) coming in and causing confusion, division. Pentecostal scholarship has now caught up almost to the point of being more doctrinal and not enough experiential (does not help to know about healing and gifts if we never experience their reality). Society for Pentecostal Studies (this academic group has journals, etc. and even includes input from Charismatic Catholics, UPC oneness heretics, etc.; Holy Spirit unity is foreign to cultic uniformity, but not to Scripture).
I hope people realize it is not possible to stereotype a Pentecostal by youtube or Benny Hinn. It is probably easier to stereotype a JW or Mormon or Muslim.
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96
Jesus was just a man?
by Joey Jo-Jo inaccording to this video, jesus was just a man, but were can i find these books that speak of this.
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m23vv6moyf0&feature=related.
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godrulz
Say it aint so. When asked a direct Bible question, I assumed it would be rude to not answer. Note that it was teaching, not preaching, so I think I am safe. I hope I don't wake up dead before I can say good-bye to friends (er friend) and foes.
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96
Jesus was just a man?
by Joey Jo-Jo inaccording to this video, jesus was just a man, but were can i find these books that speak of this.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m23vv6moyf0&feature=related.
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godrulz
Good question. Lk. 24:15 Jesus himself came up and walked along with them (no evidence it was a temporary form to cover the spirit recreation of Michael; it was the risen, glorified Christ, not a temporary form; his body was not dissolved into gasses in space like WT says...sorry to mention WT); but they were KEPT from recognizing Him (NIV). Lk. 24:31 THEN their EYES WERE OPENED and they RECOGNIZED Him (he did not change, but their perception did; Jesus was Himself, but their eyes were the problem; cf. Paul's conversion experience has some seeing/hearing things, but others did not who were also present; spiritual, supernatural issues here vs natural alone). Lk. 24:36 Jesus Himself stood among them. v. 39 (refutes JW spirit recreation in favor of biblical physical resurrection/glorification...sorry again for WT allusion). Look at my hands and my feet (continuity, not illusion). TOUCH me and see; a ghost (WT spirit idea) does NOT have flesh and bones, as you see I have. Was Jesus misleading them with apparitions or was He making factual statements (glorified bodies like the saints will have can eat/drink, but not need bathroom; they are not immaterial, nor are they flesh/blood natural/mortal). Jn. 2:19-21 The temple Jesus spoke of that would be raised from the dead was HIS BODY (contra spirit recreation concept). I will raise it again in 3 days (it being the body they saw standing in front of them). I Cor. 15 is also relevant. Resurrection is always physical, bodily in Scripture, never raising of a spirit (recreation). What applies to Jesus applies to men's resurrection in the future.
It is good to let Scripture speak for itself, but I personally don't have a problem contrasting it with influential views held by Mormons, Muslims (deny resurrection of Christ), or JWs. When the right view is put alongside a wrong view, the contrast is noteworthy.
We should conform our views to the Bible instead of changing the Bible to match our views. If we don't believe in the Bible, we can at least understand and represent what it does teach. One can reject the God of the Bible, but we should at least be fair what it says about God. We can reject what it says about man's sin, Christ's death, salvation, heaven, judgment, etc., but we should at least understand and not misrepresent what it says. I would expect reading Karl Marx, etc. to be fairly represented/understood by those who reject it (vs straw man attacks).
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96
Jesus was just a man?
by Joey Jo-Jo inaccording to this video, jesus was just a man, but were can i find these books that speak of this.
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m23vv6moyf0&feature=related.
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godrulz
Are you interested in possible answers and why? Is this a trap to get me preaching/teaching? Hint: WT believes in spirit recreation, not physical resurrection. Jesus did not manufacture temporary bodies to deceive (WT assumption). Thomas confirmed that it was Jesus Himself, nail prints and all. If there eyes were fogged over, this is different than Jesus being different. The resurrection body has continuity with the physical body, but it is not identical.
How do people tell what sex posters are? I assume newchapter is a guy, but it seems others said you are gal. For the record, I am guy, part Martian.
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96
Jesus was just a man?
by Joey Jo-Jo inaccording to this video, jesus was just a man, but were can i find these books that speak of this.
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m23vv6moyf0&feature=related.
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godrulz
Is that a question and am I allowed to give my opinion or is that preaching (change a few letters and it is teaching...can I teach, but not preach?).
I believe WT is wrong on their conclusions about His post-resurrection appearances. Would you like to tell us what WT teaches (even if you don't believe it) and what the usual Christian view is on this? With this info we can make a decision which has stronger biblical merit even if we don't believe the Bible? Is this fun or what?