While most of our pastors are men of God, the majority of church-going “Christians” are not godly people, judging from their words, actions and dress. Their faith is lukewarm; they are unwilling to even lift their hands in the service of God or their voices in praise of Him. Very few will tithe, a tithe being 10 percent of your income and time; nor do most people acknowledge that everything they have comes from God. Very often, the way they treat other Christians and unbelievers alike is disgraceful and there is as much sin within our churches as outside them. While our churches are hospitals for sinners, not hotels for saints, anyone should be able to see a difference between Christians and unbelievers. Many of our Baptist churches have become little more than social clubs.
If you love God, you will obey the Ten Commandments and put God first in your lives.
DELIA A. THIBODEAU, Aragon
I think it's more dangerous when people shell up their ideology only to release it in the voting booth.
Our only chance is to discuss and compare ideas, otherwise you end up with young earth believing senators, and congressmen quoting the bible as evidence against global warming. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5yNZ1U37sE&feature=player_embedded)
I want to let you know that your habit of copy / paste comments I have made doesn't bother me in the least. Maybe I need to do the same so these people can read both sides to your statements.
Once again you take something out of text and twist it. When i said "When someone is open to it" i meant that a conversation is already in progress, or a question has already been asked. You misunderstood what i meant, maybe i should have explained that more clearly when I wrote it.
As far as your experiencing my being "less than gracious and down right cruel and offensive," well that was all due to the comment you made, or should i say accusational question you made as to my playing some sort of a "game" with you by not contacting you about learning German from you. Then you said in another post that I attacked you when i could have kept quiet but instead I chose to attack you. I DID keep quiet until you made your comment with the accusation on a comment I made that didn't even involve you in any way.
That's just my feelings. I learned a long time ago if someone tries to "beat someone over the head" with their beliefs on ANY subject, that "someone" is going to tune you out and sooner or later not want to be around you or have anything to do with you. Don't get me wrong, I will gladly share my personal relationship with God IF the other party wants to hear about it or discuss it. But I am not going to tie them down and "force" it on them by any means. When someone is open to it, I can plant a seed, whether that seed grows or how much it grows is up to the other person. But like I said, I am not going to cram it down their throat. Every human being has the right to choose their own destiny, right or wrong things to do, life style etc. and in my opinion religion or lack thereof is part of their choice. The Bible even says man has his choice.
Great response and I thank you for it. It echos my sentiments exactly. I only have issues when that line is crossed.
Rhuidean
Good question and I will be happy to answer it,(speaking only for myself of course.) I too have several friends of other faiths, and also several of no faith at all and a couple who strongly do not believe in God or any other supreme being at all. I have stated in several posts in the past that i have no problem with that. I do not try to push my faith on people who do not want to hear about it. As you say, you and your friends of faith get along fine, and i and my friends are the same way. We sometimes have an occasional conversation concerning our personal beliefs but never "cross the line" so to speak. I have one friend who lost his faith after his wife died shortly after they married many years ago. He was very religious but after her auto accident, he turned away. I also know some very Christian people who I would rather not even go around. When I look at a person, or meet a person I do not look at their skin color, or what their religious beliefs are, whether they are the same nationality as I am or not. I look at their personality, integrity, honesty and all around factor of whether that person is a pleasure or a pain to be around so to speak.
I have no issue with your faith and wish you luck with your worship.
I do have a question for your both. I read all the below and would ask you how do you interact with Atheists or other faiths?
I am not asking to have an argument. My reason for asking is i am that atheist. I did not reach this point of my life lightly. I was raised Baptist and have read the old and new testaments plus the king James version of the bible twice.
I usually clash with Christians when i perceive that they are weakening the church state wall.
I have friends in the DC area who are fine with my lack of faith and i am fine with theirs.
I know Rome is conservative but is their not room for us to coexist?
Rhuidean
The New Testament was:
Matthew was written by Matthew
Mark was written by John and Mark
Luke was written by Luke
John was written by John
Acts was written by Luke
Romans, 1st and 2nd corinthians, Galatians, Epesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1stand 2nd Thessalonians, 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon and Hebrews were written by Paul.
James was written by James, 1st and 2nd Peter were written by Peter, 1st, 2nd and 3rd John were written by John, Jude was written by Judas
Revelations was written by John.
As to who knew and knows what happened and what is going to happen, God knows this.
Regarding authorship:
I find it funny that Moses wrote the first five books yet described his own death, and referred to himself as the most humble man on Earth. but whatever.
To answer your question, the Bible was written by God. God used several people to write different books of the Bible throughout the time. I have them listed in order for you.
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy were all written by Moses.
Joshua was written by Joshua.
Judges, Ruth, 1st and 2nd Samuel were written by Samuel.
1st and 2nd Kings were written by Jeremiah.
1st and 2nd Chronicles, and Ezra were written by Ezra
Nehemiah was written by Nehemiah.
Esther was written by Mordecai.
Job was written by Moses
Psalms was written by David
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs was written by Solomon.
Isaiah was written by Isaiah.
Jeremiah and Lamentations were written by Jeremiah and Baruch
Ezekiel was written by Ezekiel
Daniel was written by Daniel.
There is no disagreement that mankind has taken God's Word and perverted it to their own advantage. When The Lord JESUS walked among us it was the religious crowd that had him crucified.If it were possible to get all this right on our own Jesus would not have had to exist. As a believer in Christ I actually recognize more of the hypocrisy than you. I also recognize that mankind is fallen and God is wholly.Taking scriptures out of context and not recognizing that the word Of God is meant to be seen thru spiritual eyes is a large mistake on your part. Mankind is fallen and much of what took place in the old testament was carried out by God to show mans depravity.God is God and you can not judge him by your standards.I believe the word of God and actually know people who walk it out.In the last month have seen two people miraculously healed in the church I attend. I invite you to come to a service and see for yourself.And please to not give me that tired old line of I was raised in church,I have seen it all or science says this that or the other thing.
Sincerely I can show you the real deal.
Great posts.
Rhuidean