Christian talk

The future is a crap-shoot if you believe in nothing. Or there is no future. You are dead when you are dead.

Has anyone ever just tried to commune with God in a 1 on 1?

If God exists so does Satan and he is in control with his armies because the time is very short. Your thoughts -- are they you, are they God, or are they irritating demons?

OP, Satan wants you! And he is winning. Deep study is not of God.

God gave us His Son on the Cross to give us hope. The Son of God, by many names, is the only key. Or you are in a crap-shoot.

Simplicity is best.

Faith is a gift. Maybe you haven't received it yet but hurry up, time is so short.

I realize that the Rapture of the Church definitely has a purpose. People who torture themselves with the debate will definitely know for sure when the Rapture happens even if it is only for a short while.

God has not forsaken man, man has forsaken God.

"Deep study is not of God?"

I find that HARD to believe.

But then again, when a doctor rescues a child - you don't thank the doctor, no that wouldn't make any sense to you, because, you thank God. You don't thank the YEARS of deep study a doctor had to go through. You thank God.

Unbelievable.

yes i see people comment on the news all the time and people just say GOD SAVED THEM! when firemen rescued family members from burning houses

Study genesis 3 and 6. Realize God was using the Israelites to distroy the seed of satan. God said in Gen 3 that the seed of the woman (Jesus) would distroy the seed of satan. So, satan tried to distroy the seed of the woman first, hence we have gen 6. This currupted the pure DNA of God's creation (The hyprid offsping of angels and humans). God Has been systematically distroying satan's seed ever since...Flood, sodom, The israelites in the book of numbers. And off course the huge war yet to come when Jesus comes back. Please study, don't perish for lack of knowledge.

It depends on the context. You must be a doctor.

It is impossible for those of us with faith to comprehend a world without God. As far as the religion, I personally don't believe God is as concerned with what particular religion we belong to as much as He is concerned with how we lived our life and treated other people.

If you are implicating or trying to assume that many of us would rather live in ignorance than admit that God didn't exist: your hypothetical scenario implies that there is a possibility that God does not exist, which is an impossibility and contradiction for those of faith.

I have a question for you: why are you so intent on testing and trying to "stump" those who believe in God? I could be wrong in my assumption, but I believe it is because you are subconsciously uncomfortable or discontent with how you view the world as well as the notion of God's existence; therefore you need validation from other non-believers as well as the invalidation of believers to gain back a sense of "normalcy". If I am off target and wrong in my assumption, please correct me - I promise I will not be offended.

Last Edited by Rising Son on 11/28/2012 04:28 PM

Firstly, if there is a God. I would strongly believe him to be completely ignorant of which religion people follow. He'd be more concerned over morals of a person.

I wasn't actually trying to imply anything. I was just curious, because Christians that I speak to have always told me to ignore issues and stick my head in the sand. Most seem to do as they preach on this issue. It's always, speak to God, feel his love for me and trust him. Anything but touch on something uncomfortable. I already did thoughs things as a Christian, even when researching. I kept God my centre. I even baked food and taken it to the streets looking for homeless people, and when they wanted to talk I shared my belief, sat on th pavement talking through things. Even setting dates to meet in church and gave my number. I am not a confident person who would normally even be able to do that. But I did, even though other Christians in my church shunned me for suggesting it. I often walked with a clean conscience knowing I walked in no sin, speaking to God with great faith. I was a good Christian, and I managed to inspire others by being focused on walking with God. People assume I didn't have faith, but I had plenty. I was humble too. But since I'm being honest, I have to say how it was.
Anyway, I didn't expect an answer. But I would of liked one.

I'm not trying to make others stumble. But I don't want people to go through what I did.
Sorry to say, but that was a wrong assumption. I'm very content with my beliefs. My job, no. My fiance, yes. I can find plenty of people to help validate me, but that isn't like me to do that. Thank you for your message.

Hello OP,

Why did you entitle this thread: "Christian talk"?

Because that's what I wanted it to be. I opened it with were I stand and went from there with no agenda.

Because that's what I wanted it to be, Christian talk. I opened it with where I stand and went from there, with no agenda.

I see. You must do what you are compelled to do.

As a Christian whose life was dramatically changed in a moment many years ago, I can say that my experience has not been like yours.

Nevertheless, I wish you the very best in your journey. May you find whatever it is you are seeking.

God Bless OP.

peace,

I'm pleased to hear that, I hope you either stay strong in faith, if that is what is best for you.

Thank you. My "God seeking" days are over, but I won't stop seeking happiness.

I wish you well!

Thank you, my thoughts too. We are meant to turn our brains off. Never listen to anyone who suggests that, as they have probably already done that themselves or else they want your money.

religion is the worlds poison

Thank you for your civility in your response - unfortunately, that tends to be a rarity here and it is refreshing and uplifting to see.

From what I can tell based on what you wrote, it seems to me that you defined your faith by your actions without perhaps truly believing in God. Not to demean your understanding of God or your experiences by any means, but perhaps you were under the impression that you had to adopt someone else's perception and understanding of God. I could be way off track here, but to me, it seems like you never made your relationship with God unique and personal to you.

When evaluating your relationship with God, you cannot define or even judge the value of that relationship by how well you adhered to Christ's example through your actions. As I am sure you know, there are plenty of atheists who live a very Christ-like existence. However, for those who truly believe in God, your actions are derived from that belief and your love of God, not the other way around. Again, if I am off here, please let me know.

Thanks, I know what you mean. I think any meaningful talk needs to be done with respect and understanding.

I can see what you mean. Based on what I wrote, you could think that. My actions only came as a result of my faith. I spoke to God, listened to God and obeyed God. I speak in terms of how it was then of course. My actions towards people came from loving God by loving his people. As I read from his word (when I was hungry you fed me).
I really believed in prayers being answered, and it appeared that I did get answers quite often. My relationship was very personal, which is hard to put across. I felt loved by and I loved God more than anything or one. Anything else was a result of that. I was always honest with God in my thoughts and deed. I did many things in the sight of God only, after all, it was all for God and wanted humility (which I'm sure doesn't show now). I would take joy in persecution, because I knew my God was there with me.

I agree with you on that. Actions alone would be empty. And I have seen people live that way, as far as I could see.
The thing is, I couldn't live like that without knowing and trusting and having relationship with a God that is with me. Works without faith is dead. But faith should result in good deeds says Paul. I whole heartedly know mine was the latter. I hoped that has helped to explain. Even with a thousand words, I don't suppose I could describe my relationship. It was certainly unique and I had child like faith. Not to say I didn't come across other unique and strong in faith Christians. They are rare and refreshing. Not restricted to denomination, in fact they rarely would claim a nenomination, as I didn't either.
Anyway, I'm babbling on. Ha ha.

Do you think bible study is good? Or should it be restricted? I ask this because people seem to warn against reading harder to understand parts as well as encouraging parts. Shouldn't we seek to know and understand God's word?

Thank you for sharing and explaining your relationship, understanding, and faith in God - I am sorry for having misjudged you. I completely agree with your mentality that a relationship with God cannot be fully defined by any written or spoken language, nor should it. I also do not claim a particular denomination in Christianity because I believe that it restricts us from discovering and experiencing God on our own, and it also forces us into a particular way of interpreting the New Testament via a group-think mentality, without reading and interpreting it on our own.

I suppose that also states my answers to your questions - if we need another person or group to decipher and interpret the bible for us, we are essentially allowing them to live our faith for us - because we certainly would not be living it on our own at that point. As any simple book club is an example of, there can be countless different interpretations of the same text. Was the author being literal or figurative? What was the point the author wanted the reader to take away and do you agree with it? Was there a hidden meaning within the text that may not be so obvious?

Considering the age of the bible, the many iterations it has gone through, the many different authors who helped create it, the books excluded from it, the contradictions within it, and the sheer size of it - I am surprised there are not more denominations than there are now - and that's just the New Testament! I believe we should seek to know and understand God's Word - individually. As I'm sure you can attest to - there are many Christians who have never actually read and interpreted the New Testament on their own, let alone the Old Testament. Many have followed another person's interpretation of another person's interpretation of another's - and so on. Of course, to read the bible yourself is even following another person's interpretation, and I applaud you for having the courage and ambition to look even further.

I believe that you and I would agree on more things than we would disagree on, so I would ask you to consider this question: Did you ever wonder what compelled you to go as far as you did in your fervor to research the bible and it's origins so diligently? I would wager that something about your life, your faith, or both was discontenting to you, and it was not answering the questions you had nor still have. You strove to find your answers from the original source, but when you did, all you found were more questions and inconsistencies, and eventually you grew tired of this endeavor.

Have you ever considered that the answers to the questions you were asking were not found in a book, but within you and your experiences in your life? I believe that the bible is a very useful book on how we should lead our lives according to God and according to Jesus Christ, but we cannot spend our entire lives clinging to it. As I said earlier and we both have agreed on, our relationship with God cannot be confined to words, be they written or spoken. At a certain point, we must put our faith into motion, and try to figure out what God's Will is for each one of us.

And you thought you were babbling...

It doesn't depend on the context, it never does. Ultimately it's not the doctor's efforts, it's God's effort. And exactly this kind of human stupidity put me off studying to become a doctor to help people who are too stupid to understand an invisible guy did NOT save their lives. But then I'd have to treat the rich who are even bigger idiots and assholes.

Nowadays becoming a lawyer doesn't seem so bad, I mean, if stupid people think you're the devil you must be doing something good.

Doctors, firemen, paramedics or anyone who helps or saves a life should be thanked for their efforts or bravery.
Saying that, if you believe in a god that pulls strings in the favour of his followers, you'd be thankful to God also for working things together for you. Whether or not there was any input from a god.

Ah so now God is a personal God.

Do you even listen to yourself speak or read what you type? And do you give it ANY reflection?

It wasn't God that invented medical science.

Yes, I just re-read it and that's my opinion.
I don't believe in a god, but "God" is personal to each individual that believes in a god that cares about them.

Neither do I think that, obviously.

AC if you think that I contradict myself please show me. More than likely you have just misundertood me.

Certainly have to commend the OP. Having gone through a similar deep experience I have concluded the same. In my years i was conditioned, "brainwashed" not to question the dogmas and doctrines of the church, which were created by man.

Christians today do not understand that Mark was written first. Then Matthew and Luke used Mark to create there respective texts. The gospel of John was written 150 years later than the suppose death of Christ. Far removed.

The apostle Paul writings actually came before the synoptic gospels.And never even mentions Jesus Christ....

The earliest manuscripts dont even have the story about the adulterous woman that jesus saved from being stoned. That was added much later as evident in the newer manuscripts.



On and on....

My point is dont focus on the messanger but on the message. And do as jesus did if you want to follow him...

My conclusion is there is a Source, but not the God as defined and characerized by the Bible.

Fear and control will keep you in bondage.

Thank you. It was a tough battle to sort through truth and lies, but in the end it was well worth it. I feel like i'm born again, only without religion.

What you say there is very true. Also experts believe that a "Q source" existed that had some of the stuff not in Mark but found in the other synoptic gospels that was used to write them. John is years out,in fact even his belief is different. John is gnostic.

Yes, I looked that up to. Also, there was a verse put in that was taken out. It was an obvious attempt to support trinity belief (which I once held)
The truth stripped me of lies, bit by bit.

Sorry Rising Son. I didn't even notice your message until just now. Thank you for taking out the time to chat.
I haven't got time to chat now, but may find you by username to reply.

No worries :-)

Thanks