Evangelicals: You Need to Stop Believing In Stupid Things

Jack said:
Virgin birth. Yes. Hard to believe.
Resurrection. Pretty sure once you're dead for a few days ... you won't be coming back.
Creation. From dirt?
Ark. Two of every animal. :)
God. Exactly WHERE is God?
Click to expand...

7 of some kinds of animals.
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
I've never started a thread like that, thanks for noticing. I'm merely pointing out that when it comes to death, those of us who are non-Xtian don't fear it the way many Xtians think we should. Fear of what happens after death doesn't seem to me to be a very good reason to adhere to a particular religious belief.
Click to expand...

A Christian shouldn't fear death or what happens after. The Christians that act God-fearing always confuse me. If people have a reason to fear God they may want to reflect on their life.
 
Eagle-Eye said:
Then one replies to the offenders not all Christians.
Click to expand...

It's often difficult to distinguish that with the political involvement of certain Christian groups. It's nearly impossible on a political forum like this one. The thing good Christians need to do is distance themselves from those that misrepresent the faith to show people this isn't what we as a group stand for. That thing about the "Christian" tip giver that Owl posted is a great example of this. If more good Christians spoke out against this type of stuff we might not get all the scuff from people.
 
Jade Dragon said:
It's often difficult to distinguish that with the political involvement of certain Christian groups. It's nearly impossible on a political forum like this one. The thing good Christians need to do is distance themselves from those that misrepresent the faith to show people this isn't what we as a group stand for. That thing about the "Christian" tip giver that Owl posted is a great example of this. If more good Christians spoke out against this type of stuff we might not get all the scuff from people.
Click to expand...

:good4u:
 
Jade Dragon said:
A Christian shouldn't fear death or what happens after. The Christians that act God-fearing always confuse me. If people have a reason to fear God they may want to reflect on their life.
Click to expand...

I know that in theory they shouldn't fear what happens after death... yet many still do. I was just making the point that most of us do NOT, even if we are not Xtians. However, that's the hook that some evangelists use to try to scare you to Jesus... the threat of burning in their hell if we don't convert.
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
I've never started a thread like that, thanks for noticing. I'm merely pointing out that when it comes to death, those of us who are non-Xtian don't fear it the way many Xtians think we should. Fear of what happens after death doesn't seem to me to be a very good reason to adhere to a particular religious belief.
Click to expand...

Fear of death is for the young. As we reach the twilight years we know that it is coming and it no longer scares us. I believe there is a heaven and God if I'm wrong I'll never know.
 
Jade Dragon said:
It's often difficult to distinguish that with the political involvement of certain Christian groups. It's nearly impossible on a political forum like this one. The thing good Christians need to do is distance themselves from those that misrepresent the faith to show people this isn't what we as a group stand for. That thing about the "Christian" tip giver that Owl posted is a great example of this. If more good Christians spoke out against this type of stuff we might not get all the scuff from people.
Click to expand...

Exactly. We expect police officers, physicians, teachers, nurses, etc. to police their own; why shouldn't we expect the same from members of the country's largest religious faith? Or any religious faith? After all, we (mostly) realize that not all Muslims are jihadist terrorists and ppl often state that they want peaceful, non-fundie Muslims to call out the ones who are corrupting the faith. Christians should expect the same, right?

Oddly enough, we're called "haters" if we point out that a person who has claimed to be a Christian is not behaving like one, especially around here. It has a chilling effect on other Christians who don't want to be seen as racist, bigoted, hate-filled, foul-mouthed, etc. like some of the ones on this board, for example.

In your opinion are most Christians afraid to call out a fellow Xtian?
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
I know that in theory they shouldn't fear what happens after death... yet many still do. I was just making the point that most of us do NOT, even if we are not Xtians. However, that's the hook that some evangelists use to try to scare you to Jesus... the threat of burning in their hell if we don't convert.
Click to expand...
First of all I am not one to teach fire and brimstone. I can only share my personal assessments on the matter. IMO Heaven and Hell are very real places. The bible says broad is the gate that leads to destruction. And narrow is the gate which leads to eternal life. The old expression goes "Dont shoot the messenger" - But I do understand that warning of hell actually turns people off from the gospel. The only way to go about witnessing is through love of your fellow man. NOT fire and brimstone, even if that is in fact the truth.

EDIT: Many are Called and Few are Chosen... is another one to look up...
 
StoneByStone said:
I don't see anything wrong with coveting. Acting on what you're coveting is alright depending on the context.
As for the other rules, let's say they're good rules in most situations. That's still only four.
Click to expand...

Coveting a new car you just saw advertised on TV is one thing. As you pointed out, our entire economy is based on covetousness. lol I think what the commandment refers to, however, is coveting something that already belongs to someone and that isn't for sale.
 
Iron-Merc said:
First of all I am not one to teach fire and brimstone. I can only share my personal assessments on the matter. IMO Heaven and Hell are very real places. The bible says broad is the gate that leads to destruction. And narrow is the gate which leads to eternal life. The old expression goes "Dont shoot the messenger" - But I do understand that warning of hell actually turns people off from the gospel. The only way to go about witnessing is through love of your fellow man. NOT fire and brimstone, even if that is in fact the truth.

EDIT: Many are Called and Few are Chosen... is another one to look up...
Click to expand...

That's okay, thanks. My mother was a Sunday School teacher for many years; I've read the entire Bible more than once, and had to memorize a good deal of it as well. Like you say, she also believed that Christians weren't called upon to preach at other ppl, but to show a better way by the example of how they live their lives and treat others. Therefore I have a lot of difficulty believing that certain ppl truly are as righteously Christian as they claim by the way they comport themselves, esp. in venues like this.

What is your opinion on a fellow Christian calling one of them out when he/she is behaving in an unChrist-like manner? Would you do so, even if the person acting like a jerk has the same political POV as yourself?
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
Exactly. We expect police officers, physicians, teachers, nurses, etc. to police their own; why shouldn't we expect the same from members of the country's largest religious faith? Or any religious faith? After all, we (mostly) realize that not all Muslims are jihadist terrorists and ppl often state that they want peaceful, non-fundie Muslims to call out the ones who are corrupting the faith. Christians should expect the same, right?

Oddly enough, we're called "haters" if we point out that a person who has claimed to be a Christian is not behaving like one, especially around here. It has a chilling effect on other Christians who don't want to be seen as racist, bigoted, hate-filled, foul-mouthed, etc. like some of the ones on this board, for example.

In your opinion are most Christians afraid to call out a fellow Xtian?
Click to expand...

It depends on the person. I'd say it's easier if things on the outside aren't chomping at the bit for it. For example, it's harder to call one out publicly to those whose minds seek to judge. If it's just a person to person thing it should be easier.
 
Flash said:
7 of some kinds of animals.
Click to expand...

"The story of Noah may be part of the Abrahamic canon, but the legend of the Great Flood almost certainly has prebiblical origins, rooted in the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia. The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh dates back nearly 5,000 years and is thought to be perhaps the oldest written tale on the planet.Apr 2, 2014
'Noah': Flood Myths Are Far Older Than Bible | Time
https://time.com › noah-christians-flood-aronofsky"
 
iewitness said:
Strait is the gate and few there be that find it. Broad is the way to destruction and many there be that go in thereat. Pray that ye be found worthy to escape the things coming upon the earth. Friendship with the world is emnity with God. These things are brought to my remembrance. These pearls may be disgarded and trampled under foot of the faithless. The first commandment is to love God above any other.
Click to expand...

I was paraphrasing but the actual verse is here:

Matthew 7:13-14
[FONT=&quot]Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=&quot]14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.[/FONT]
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
That's okay, thanks. My mother was a Sunday School teacher for many years; I've read the entire Bible more than once, and had to memorize a good deal of it as well. Like you say, she also believed that Christians weren't called upon to preach at other ppl, but to show a better way by the example of how they live their lives and treat others. Therefore I have a lot of difficulty believing that certain ppl truly are as righteously Christian as they claim by the way they comport themselves, esp. in venues like this.

What is your opinion on a fellow Christian calling one of them out when he/she is behaving in an unChrist-like manner? Would you do so, even if the person acting like a jerk has the same political POV as yourself?
Click to expand...

This is what the Bible tells us to do:

If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.…
 
iewitness said:
.

Sorry to inform you that is an emasculated translation. The word "strait" is key to that passage and is removed in that translation. "Strait" is also "tribulation" . One word was the fall of Adamic man( thou shalt surely die/ thou shalt NOT surely die). It matters.
Click to expand...

And the KJV? Is this wrong as well? I do read KJV for the most part...

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
 
iewitness said:
See edited post, bro. Good enough for the USMC, good enough for all.
Click to expand...

The point I was illustrating is not many people will find the truth (and that it is a difficult road). Wikipedia sums it up well

Luz notes that it could imply that the route is a hard and difficult one to follow, as the sermon has implied the proper path is one of tribulation and suffering. Another view is that the proper way is so narrow that it is difficult to find, and requires effort and searching to find.
The metaphor in this verse implies that the path of sin is an easy one to follow, and that one will do so without conscious effort not to. Davies and Allison note that the notion of vice being a far easier path than virtue is a common one to most religions. The verse seems clear that it is only a minority that will find and follow God's path. While pessimistic, this is in keeping with Jewish thought, which traditionally saw the pious as a beleaguered minority in a world of sinners.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top