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 Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia predicted that anti-gay marriage laws would fall.
June 27th, 2014
08:20 AM ET
How Scalia's prophecy became a moral crisis
(CNN) - One year after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on the Defense of Marriage Act, this much is clear: Justice Antonin Scalia is a prophet. Back in 2003, when the court handed down the decision in Lawrence v. Texas, striking down all criminal statutes against homosexual acts, Scalia declared that the stage was set for the legalization of same-sex unions. That was 2003. “Today’s opinion dismantles the structure of constitutional law that has permitted a distinction to be made between heterosexual and homosexual unions, insofar as a formal recognition in marriage is concerned,” wrote Scalia. He was proved to be absolutely prophetic when, just ten years later, the court ruled in United States v. Windsor that the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional — thus striking down the federal statute defining marriage exclusively as the union of a man and a woman. Once again, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, while Scalia handed down a fiery dissent. As before, Scalia was prophetic. Even though the Court did not rule that same-sex marriage must be legal in all states, it set the stage for that to happen. As Scalia wrote: “As far as this Court is concerned, no one should be fooled; it is just a matter of listening and waiting for the other shoe.” One year later, it is abundantly evident that we did not have to wait or listen for long. In a staggering series of decisions at the federal and state levels, judges explicitly cited the nullification of DOMA and the central arguments of the Windsor decision in striking down those laws and constitutional amendments. A year after the death of DOMA, not one major decision has defended any of these statutes or amendments. Kennedy’s opinion has been cited as authoritative in virtually every one of these judicial actions. This has meant that in a single year, the legalization of same sex marriage has become a reality or received a positive judicial action in states including Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Oregon and a host of other states far from where such unions had previously been recognized. A year later, it is clear that the Supreme Court remains the central political institution of moral transformation in America. A year later, it is also clear that the court was riding a vast change in public opinion. We must also see that the time is almost at hand for that transformation to be made complete, at least in terms of the legalization of same-sex marriage in all 50 states. What was not clear a year ago was the velocity of this transformation. Even the architects of the revolution are expressing surprise at the speed of these judicial actions. By the end of this summer, the Supreme Court will likely need to revisit the question once again, this time responding to the cavalcade of lower court decisions the high court spawned. There is very good reason to expect a decision mandating same-sex marriage coast-to-coast in the Court’s next term, with a decision to be handed down just a year from now, almost to the day. Furthermore, the Obama administration has been pushing the agenda vigorously, with the federal government now aligning all agency policies in line with the Windsor decision - even extending to areas the decision was never intended to reach. Where does that leave committed Christians? Those of us who believe that human flourishing depends upon the recognition and honoring of marriage as exclusively the union of a man and a woman see this transformation of marriage into something radically different as a grave threat to human society and human happiness. We do not argue that these damaging effects on society and its individuals will be immediately apparent, but we are sadly confident that the subversion of marriage will bring devastating effects over time. In retrospect, we can also see that previous subversions of marriage set the stage for the radical redefinition of marriage in our times. Our failure to answer the challenge of rising divorce rates was, eventually, fatal to our effort to defend marriage against its redefinition in terms of gender. Some of us saw this danger at the time, but there was no adequate effort to oppose the devastating impact of divorce. The larger sexual revolution also plays an incalculable role in this transformation. The moral separation of sex and marriage among millions of Americans removed any hope of establishing a lasting consensus on the central importance of marriage and its essence as a monogamous man-woman union. A year after the death of DOMA, it is also clear that very real threats to religious liberty now loom before us. This is perhaps the inevitable consequence of a moral revolution of this scale. Will the government now coerce the consciences of churches, religious institutions, schools, colleges, social service agencies, and the like? There is now strong evidence that government at every level will attempt such coercion. Will America abandon religious liberty for the sake of erotic freedom? Those of us who believe same-sex marriage to be a moral impossibility now face a very daunting challenge — how to live in a society that is moving so rapidly against our moral worldview, even as the society shared that worldview for over 2,000 years. We face the challenge of finding how to relate to our neighbors and contribute to the common good when we see that very society undermining human flourishing in the name of sexual liberty. A year after the death of DOMA the listening and the waiting are almost over. The revolution is almost complete. The shoe is dropping fast. One thing is clear to all – no one was exaggerating when the Windsor decision was declared by both sides to be revolutionary. We can all agree on that much, just one year after the revolution was declared. R. Albert Mohler Jr. is president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. The views expressed in this column belong to Mohler.
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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By R. Albert Mohler Jr., special to CNN
It's probably just a coincidence:
SALERO is an anagram of "A LOSER".
Do you really expect anyone here to believe you're a "winner"? Especially when not even your mom believes it.
And once again we ask what is Salero's crazy version of Christianity? Or is he a Buddhist? Or a Sikh?
So then... King Obomo of the new kingdom of THE UNITED STATES OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH lost another one with the Court!! Well, well what did you know!!
Now, where are all the HO.MOS's of both genders who rabidly voted for him in 08 & 12? Gee they're NOT even joining the Military after the repeal of DADT. Well I don't blame them for not joining; Who in the right mind wants to join a gay Military?
I don't see how being gay or not being gay has anything whatsoever to do with morals, much less a so called moral crisis.
@ joey: unless you claim simply to be a-moral, that's an untenable position.
EITHER:
1) you believe g.ays should have equal access to marriage (making the traditional position immoral)
OR
2) you believe ho.mo.se.xuality is immoral
but there is no room for saying there's nothing moral here... unless you think all of morality is a farce.
Russ,
What difference does it make to you since there's likely NO CHANCE that you support all of God's IMMORAL views on marriage?
@ Observer:
1) do you simply look for ways to disagree with me? i purposefully worded this so that *both sides* could agree: this IS a moral issue, no matter which side you take.
2) we've had the OT conversation ad nauseam. yet AGAIN, here's a brief overview whose content you'll refuse to engage:
http://www.redeemer.com/redeemer-report/article/old_testament_law_and_the_charge_of_inconsistency
Russ,
I have read your reference a couple of times. In essence, it says to forget all the IMMORAL commands from God in the Old Testament and go with the New Testament.
Was it the SAME GOD in both?
"Traditional marriage" has CHANGED MANY TIMES. Fifty years ago it COULD NOT involve people of different races in many places. God's "traditional marriage" could involve FORCING marriage on people.
Get real.
@ observer: yet again you prove my point.
1) if you'd actually READ the article, you wouldn't be misrepresenting it.
note: there are 3 types of OT laws:
a) ceremonial (ritual cleansing, sacrifices, etc. – required to be made clean/holy)
b) judicial (laws specifically for the nation state of Israel)
c) moral laws (the 10 commandments, etc.)
the theme of the OT is that God's people fail over & over again to be faithful to God. Jesus comes & does what they can't. that DOES NOT mean the NT rejects or ignores the OT (a point I've made to you repeatedly).
instead, ceremonial & judicial laws are abrogated because Christ FULFILLS them (i.e., Christ has made us clean as the ultimate sacrifice, so sacrifices wouldn't continue; in Christ, God will bring people from ALL nations to himself, not just Jews). while Christ keeps the moral law that God's people failed to keep before, the moral laws continue because God's people are called to live in Christ-like holiness (because the moral law reveals God's character). and now, with the Holy Spirit living in them, they are increasingly made like him (2 Cor.3:18).
SUM: yes, it's the same God. as Jesus said, he came to fulfill the Law, not annul it (Mt.5:17-20).
2) you can't have it both ways. EITHER what is happening is a radical change (something the g.ay lobby has found incredibly worth pursuing) OR it shouldn't be called a change (which i've yet to hear someone argue), and thus really shouldn't be seen as a movement – much less something worth celebrating.
Russ
When people of different races "had equal access to marriage", did that "make the traditional position immoral"?
So "traditional marriage may only be 50 years old, right?
Your options were FALSE since one required that such a change made "the traditional position immoral". That's just your prejudiced OPINION. Marriage has changed MANY times.
@ observer:
Moses married a Cush.ite (Ethiopian) woman. It's clearly interracial & God defends him against those claiming what he did was wrong. The OT prohibitions (that reference other nations/races) are against inter-faith marriages.
and that's over 3000 years ago. so that's a LOT more than 50 years...
good one russ....these people fail to see why God prohibited certain marriage..he made it clear it was faith..nothing to do with race..in fact..the canaanites wer not really one race anyways...they wer enot all the same people....its similar to saying Americans.... in Canaan there were amalikites, hivites, jebusites etc etc
Russ,
Did God set the "TRADITION" from the beginning?
@ Observer: yes.
1) tradition = (literally) what was handed down
2) in anticipation of your follow up remarks:
a) the created order was one male & one female – all other forms are POST-fall and as such show the corruption of the original design
b) note well the consistent subversive way in which Genesis deals with polygamy (everyone who practices it suffers)
Russ,
So God started the TRADITION of marriage with apparently his VIEW of marriage –
A MURDERER married his own sister or mother with God's blessing.
Great tradition.
@ observer:
again, as i stated above in #1... murder did not happen until AFTER the Fall
Russ,
Irrelevant.
God gave his blessing and married a MURDERER and his own sister or mother.
The "tradition" begins.
@ observer: many of the atheists on this blog carry on quality debates and/or discussion. unlike you, the facts are *relevant* for them – especially in accurately engaging the argument of those with whom they disagree. as a result, i can disagree passionately with them but still have a discussion that goes somewhere.
with you, however, every single discussion we've had over the past few months devolves into some form of you ignoring anything I say & insisting on whatever your chosen point for the day is – no matter how many different ways I address your particular concern. and that's been on all manner of a variety of topics. here, yet again, you simply ignore the points I've made in favor of simply saying "nuh-uh" even louder.
i am all for vigorous debates that actually go somewhere. but, as i said to you once before, to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result is the definition of insanity. it's time for me to take my own advice.
@ Akira:
you changed the terminology (& the perspective). that's not what i argued.
the *exclusivity* of traditional marriage is the issue – and even the term "traditional" attests to that. so yes, being pro-g.ay marriage is anti-traditional – by definition.
@ Akira:
1) i appreciate the admission that it IS a redefinition of marriage that is taking place.
2) i also think you hint at the central issue: WHO defines marriage?
but to clarify: i don't believe "heteros" define marriage. i believe God does. you can mock that, but at least recognize the substantial philosophical & sociological distinctions. philosophically, it's not subject to the whims of a particular culture/society (those to whom it was revealed were equally being called out by it in their culture). sociologically, "heteros" (as you labeled a group) are divided on this issue.
Russ,
Fortunately God does NOT define marriage.
Marriage should not be between a MURDERER and his sister or mother.
Marriage should not be FORCED on people who may hate each other.
Marriage should not be FORCED on women who were the prizes of war.
Marriage should not be FORCED on r@pe victims.
Marriage should not be forever when one spouse is brutal to another.
Dear Dr. Mohler,
get over it. The 14th amendment has proven itself over your narrow-mindedness.
If you want to address something that really is destroying the family as you like to define it, please go focus on adultery by heteros.exual Christians. Jesus at least spoke very clearly about that.
Well, you see, that's just it, non-GOPer; you're citing the actual teachings of Jesus, and Gud Crischinz(tm) have no truck with that. They much prefer their messiah Saul of Tarsus because he puts Teh Gayz(tm) and Teh Wimmin(tm) in what they consider to be their places...
Why is this on the religion blog? This isn't religion. At least, it shouldn't be. This is simply a testament to the outsized influence that religion wields in our society. It has to stop.
One could argue that the regrettable intersection of politics and religion makes it even more important to discuss it in the context of belief.
I don't suppose Christians would be satisfied if we chose a different term for the insti tuition they have for subordinating a woman to a man under their God. What they do is peculiar. Marriage should be something most of us can believe in.
The author of the article writes "In retrospect, we can also see that previous subversions of marriage set the stage for the radical redefinition of marriage in our times." I can remember a time just a few decades ago when the cry from the Religious Right against the subversion of marriage was against the country allowing interracial marriage. E.g., from Why Marriage: The History Shaping Today's Debate Over Gay Equality by George Chauncey (c) 2004:
Jerry Falwell, for one, preached that segregation was part of God's plan. Falwell declared in 1958 that "If the Supreme Court had known God's word, I am quite confident that the 1954 school desegregation decision would never have been made." He went on to dismiss the advocates of desegregation as the agents of Moscow and "the devil." And just as Falwell and the rest of the Religious Right have recently tried to make gay marriage rights the specter haunting every debate about gay rights, so he and other conservative white clergy fifty years ago held up interracial marriage as the logical, inevitable, and most horrifying result of any move toward desegregation. In that 1958 sermon, Rev. Falwell warned that integration would ultimately "destroy our race. If we mix the races in schools, in churches, the ultimate end will be the social mixing which can only lead to marital relationships."
Almost forty years later, the by-then prominent founder of the Moral Majority and crusader against gay rights inadvertently confirmed the ubiquity of such segregationist thought in Southern white churches when he was asked to comment on his now discarded and discredited opinion. At the time of the sermon, he explained, he was simply a young, inexperienced pastor following "the party line and the denominational line." It was only later, he said that he was prepared to "buck the tide ... [and] go against public opinion" on the race issue. Although Rev. Falwell was understandably trying to rehabilitate his moral credibility, his explanation confirmed that the tide of public opinion in the Southern white churches ran against desegregation and interracial marriage. The gay movement is not the first civil rights movement to face determined religious opposition.
What are you? are you an American?
What were the pilgrims?
I'm an American. Why do you ask about the Pilgrims?
Austin,
the "Pilgrims" didn't found America – the Virginians did, sixteen years earlier.
Who cares ? *As if* only Americans can comment on the hypocrisy of American values/customs.
The fact is the Declaration of Independence says "All men are created equal". Not just straight white males.
Thank you, alonso. It's important that we not forget the evil wrought in the U.S. by bigots like Fallwell and the people he represented and still represents today.
"...but then eject them forever from this country. For, as we have heard, God's anger with them is so intense that gentle mercy will only tend to make them worse and worse, while sharp mercy will reform them but little. Therefore, in any case, away with them!"
–Martin Luther (On the Jews and Their Lies)
Hey Austin- the rib tickler eh ? Comedy Gold .
oh well .
Pope Francis jokes ‘woman was from a rib’ as he avoids question about Catholic Church’s misogyny
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/06/29/pope-francis-jokes-woman-was-from-a-rib-as-he-avoids-question-about-catholic-churchs-misogyny
Science Works..........hey dude. lol.
have you seen the new ride at Schlitterbanz? are you going to go on it? stay in the raft!
Hey Austin
Scince the rib made a woman is a joke – that makes god(s) a joke eh ?
Oops all thumbs Austin
Since
Did he post a comment somewhere?
Of course that video posts have been removed around, and even in reply to video posts by joey11 (see above, and multiple articles where "joey11" has posted this afternoon), but LEAVING joey11's videos, when Daniel has stated all videos would be removed, if found, I find highly hypocritical.
I think it's only the videos that are protected by copyright or licensing agreements that are of concern to CNN. Amateur ones like Joeyy's insipid music are OK, just like normal posts. Annoying, but legally OK.
That would be OK, Athy, if that were true and if Mr. Burke had explained it that way. He did not – at least not in a reply he made to me on this subject where I also noted the difference in treatment.
JAJAJA...oops... pardon me please... I meant to say HAHAHA. Justice Scalia a prophet! Is this guy trying to kill me of laughter or what?
And again Salero, what is your religion?
TROLLISM?
Does it matter what his religion is? Seriously?
One can only hope.
"If I had to refute all the other articles of the Jewish faith, I should be obliged to write against them as much and for as long a time as they have used for inventing their lies– that is, longer than two thousand years."
–Martin Luther (On the Jews and Their Lies)
As wrong as Luther was, producing a hatred for Christ rejecting Jews is no different than producing a hatred for people who engage in a habitual sin.
Christians can not exalt themselves upon the non believing world.
The world is not controlled by Christian justice until Christ arrives. Live and let live.
Prayer changes things.
That has been shown, many times, to not be the case.
Sure it does....just ask the two dead Schiable children how much prayer changes things. Prayer is merely a feel good measure invented to make you think you're doing good when in fact you're doing nothing.
many things are out of your own hands. Prayer changes your own self and will, and God does do special things, supernatural things, spiritual answers, and physical miracles.
Austin: How about being honest and instead of making claims that you can't support, given that supernatural CAN'T be known, you include the disclaimer of "I believe..."? Otherwise you sound like a liar and rather delusional!
austin
I'm sure you have convinced yourself that is true, but studies have shown praying is basically the same as doing nothing at all.
Confirmation Bias changes things.
austin: "As wrong as Luther was, producing a hatred for Christ rejecting Jews is no different than producing a hatred for people who engage in a habitual sin."
Okee dokee, well you're certainly enti.tled to your view, austin, even if I find it glowing with self-righteousness.
austin: "The world is not controlled by Christian justice until Christ arrives. Live and let live."
I hope with, "live and let live", you are addressing your fellow Christians; because I'm not part of your schedule with your alleged Abrahamic "maker". Therefore, not for my sake, but for the sake of my children and grandchildren, and others, figure there's a good chance you'll hear from me when the sanctimonious BS meter goes off – which is pretty much whenever you post anything to the BB.
Doris, the pseudo Christ killers have been, and will be temple dwellers.
Evil is invisible. but the light of God shines in the heart, in the face of Jesus Christ. This is perceivable to all who seek Him who knocks.
I hear ya.
"This is perceivable to all who seek Him who knocks"
- Unfortunately for you, Jebus said "No one shall come to me unless the Father draw him", and "For many are called, but few are chosen". Nothing about knockers there.
Hisgalus 3:20
Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
20 Hinei, I have stood at the delet (door) DOFEK (“knocking,” SHIR HASHIRIM 5:2); if anyone hears my kol and opens the delet, indeed I will come in to him and we, the two of us, will dine together at the BEIT HAYAYIN [“Banquet Hall,” SHIR HASHIRIM 2:4].
Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
LOLOL....I love the way you people argue over this fictional crap as it it were a real reality.....like arguing over the color of Santa's suit and how many reindeer he had and oh yeah...how did they fly...with tiny tiny wings that were invisible?....LOLOLOLOLLO INSANITY.
How does one "exalt oneself upon" something ?
Do people that cook up this pious drivel get it from somewhere, or just pull it out of their, um, buttocks ?
Akira, I am in agreement with you about the reality of a secular country. I would like to continue to go through the cannon of scripture and keep the literal interpretation.
The reason I won't debate gay marriage, is because this is the wrong end of the battle. I will always be a pilgrim , this land is not my prize, and man's ways are not God's ways.
I understand that people want freedom. But if you drink too much pop your teeth will rot. Where do find the reality that our bodies, are a tent that we live in, and that our spirit is the essence of life, and it truly is from God?
Freedom is a concept that can be a self deceptive trap that leads to hell.
By the way Akira, you are awesome.
right on , I have a difficult time with burning lust of the flesh. with or without faith, lust of the flesh really is innate, I agree.
for those with out an internal conviction, there is no spirit of conviction, or guilty conscious. and there cant be and it should not be expected, OR JUDGED, for one who is not yet saved. The natural condition can not be disciplined, it can only be redeemed supernaturally through a supernatural birth of the spirit. This does not come through an act of pride.
How could one say that we have escaped the flesh. There is no escape. But we can change, and make progress, and pray for supernatural deliverance.
I believe that when we turn our will over to the flesh, we fall into a deep separation from God's will. Abstaining from lust, and fleeing from temptation is a command. and I do fail too.
here are some verses that motivate me to beware.
Revelation 2:21 ►
I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.
Revelation 22:15; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 12:14
Revelation 21:8 ►
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the s.exually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
It is NOT an issue of g.ay or straight. It is a personal issue for each of us according to the bible.
Revelation 3:21
He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.
I am straight, and I have not yet over come immorality. I struggle with my eyes.
well, the way one chooses to approach a relationship, and any physical act, is a choice.
I can choose to do anything, or abstain from anything, to the glory of God. I am free. I have a choice.
attraction is not the issue. the issue is the choices we make. and loyalty.
It 's "guilty conscience", not guilty "conscious". I see you never really studied this crap you spout anywhere.
Posting Babble verses indicates nothing, except your ignorance of how to actually convince someone of something.
We do get that you are VERY impressed with yourself, and you "righteousness" Church Lady Austin. Who ever told you you are competent to preach ? You aren't, and it shows.
that type of freedom is up for debate, because objective reality is not agreed upon.
from the subjective standpoint that we are free to rebel from an imaginary sky fairy (as "End Religion" would say) you are correct Akira.
But from the standpoint that God is Jehovah Shammah (The Lord is There), then rebelling from God is reality of slavery and the absence of freedom.
Disgusting bigot Rainer Braendlein, festoon your quagmire. Within the indigenous parapets can be found novels and other grapes of paint. There is no caveat to the Klein bottle, and there will be no gold watch for the unspoken zero. Gobble the fertile gravel.
Focus your nose on the test tube. Stay succulently upon your velodrome and fear not the coming of the essential kangaroo. Strawberries are your incidental chemistry. Present the fulcrum in advance of the gypsum cookie, for as the tree is combed, so goes the predicate. Expand quietly but do not relish.
Whether or not you agree with the plumber, harvest away ye hearties. Kalabash in Friebourg but not in spanners while it's raining. Bring out the mustard but flap flap flap until takeoff. Why would you say such a thing in the presence of the substrate? 64. 1112. Welcome to the new sandwich lumberyard. Bus stops follow movement, or do they?
The impediment to your posterior is large but can be dissected with chestnuts. Obermeyer. Glasnost and shallot cookies will do the main job when a steamshovel is too distant for pomegranate.
Don't obfuscate the primary prenuptials with rasberries. Often, the pertinent cat presents fabled necessities in the parking chamfer. Realize your net precedent.Triangulate! Save the best for the alligators. Serpentine. Indigo chestnuts. Give voice to your negligible garage. Walk with found yellow in the fold. Perish your underwear in the crescent.
And remember, never pass up an opportunity to watch an elephant paint Mozart.
LOVE THIS......it's so poetic....love your wordage..
where is lionly lamb?
Nah, he left well before that, I think. Just suddenly stopped posting his pro-pot posts and videos. I think he's probably back in the asylum for rehab.
isn't it true that you are only here trying to destroy someone's faith? isn't it also true that you are a hateful person who hates God and hates His children and that's the only reason you are here?
You silliness is reaching new heights, scotty. You must really enjoyed being mocked.
Rainer Helmut Braendlein,
You say that you are a fan of a famous ADULTERER. You even feature him on your website.
So do you believe that laws should have been changed to force him "to the edge of society?.
You know that Franklin experienced a change.
As you forge historical facts, you are a liar.
Rainer Helmut Braendlein,
YOU ARE A LIAR. Understand? YOU ARE A LIAR.
Ben Franklin had an ILLEGIMATE SON named William which he PUBLICLY acknowledged. William was born on February 22, 1762. Franklin never said who the mother was.
Do some RESEARCH for a change so you won't continue to make a COMPLETE FOOL OF YOURSELF. Your IGNORANCE and LYING is amazing. God must be SO PROUD of you.
From Rainer's blog
"On this blog I want to discuss different subjects, which are understood wrong by many people"
Of course Rainy like all true religious zealots, just KNOWS HE has the truth. He doesn't want to "discuss" anything. He wants to impose and preach. He's hilarious.
Well it is the weekend and RB is back spouting his normal, over-the-hill, orthodox Lutheranism.
people have spiritual experiences and they get fired up . This is good. However we are all limited and ultimately our own will needs to decrease as we are in a spiritual battle.
Stop Striving
It’s not striving, it’s abiding that makes the difference. Many Christians are striving
to do the will of God, and many fall, but Jesus explains to us in John 15:4-10
“abide in Me, and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide
in the vine, no more can you, except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the
branches, he that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for
without Me, you can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a
branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and
they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask
what you will, and it shall be done to you. Herein is My Father glorified, that you
bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so
have I loved you; continue you in My love. If you keep My commandments, you
shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide
in His love”.
When you are striving, you are trying to do things in your own flesh, and that
cannot be, but when you recognize that in the flesh you can do nothing, then
surrender to God and let Him show you the real you.
g spot, or wrinkle, or any such
thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish”. Also in T.itus 3:5-7, it says
“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy
He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. That being
justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal
life”. And in Hebrews 10:22 it says “let us draw near with a true heart in full
as.surance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our
bodies washed with pure water”.
http://www.thy-way.org/Bibles_Studies/Stop_Striving.html
"people have spiritual experiences and they get fired up"
People have what they imagine are, or believe to be spiritual experiences...
Nothing spiritual, nor supernatural in any way has ever been shown to exist.
People want to believe, so they do...that is an extablished psychological phenomena.
igaftr
what about the civil rights movements when black people would get tried, on false accusations, and lynched?
is this not a demonic attack and a full manifestation of invisible Satanic depravity, not to mention the crucifixion of the Lord?
austin
"is this not a demonic attack and a full manifestation of invisible Satanic depravity"
No, it is not.
Since no one can show those things exist. Do I not see tigers around me everyday because I carry my anti-tiger penny? Of course not because there is no coorelation, let alone a causation.
Trying to show a cause and effect relationship to something that no one can show exists is not logically sound, and , like the Salem Witch hunts can be deadly. The ones killing witches thought they were doing thier gods work, but ended up simply being murderers.
you can live forever, guaranteed.
austin
To claim it is guarenteed is a flat out lie. There are no guarentees. You cannot even show there is any such thing as an " afterlife" , and since you MUST die to get there, it really isn't life, now is it.
Tone down your rhetoric, or continue to lie. Your choice.
By the way, I am planning on living forever...so far , so good.
"you can live forever, guaranteed."
-- said the snake-oil salesman.
137:9 "Blessed is the one who grabs your babies and smashes them against a rock."
"you can live forever, guaranteed."
I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.
9 down vote favorite
Exodus 24:9-11
9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. 11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.
Exodus 33:18-23
18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
Feet of clay is a reference to the interpretation of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, by the prophet Daniel as recounted in the Book of Daniel:[1]
Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.
This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
Daniel 11:41-43
700? b.c.
41 He shall come to the glorious land, and many provinces shall fall, but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom and Moab and the first of the sons of Ammon.
42 He shall stretch forth his hand to the lands, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
43 And he shall take over the treasures of gold and of silver and of all the precious things of Egypt, of Libya, and Ethiopia where he passes.
"But what will happen even if we do burn down the Jews' synagogues and forbid them publicly to praise God, to pray, to teach, to utter God's name? They will still keep doing it in secret. If we know that they are doing this in secret, it is the same as if they were doing it publicly. For our knowledge of their secret doings and our toleration of them implies that they are not secret after all and thus our conscience is encumbered with it before God."
–Martin Luther (On the Jews and Their Lies)
Ya i was surprised too when i learned that was true about Martin Luther. Why would some one like Martin Luther king not change his name? So is Martin Luther known for being a bad guy or a church patriarch?
Akira, I find it very encouraging that a true read of the new testament forbids all of the actions that we are speaking about pertaining to persecution. Luther, Hitler, they are pseudo or anti Christ. and this is only beginning. It is promised to get worse. Do you understand? The Holy Spirit will lift its restraints on evil, and maybe sooner than later.
2 Thessalonians 2:5-9 “Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining (Witholdeth), that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness (iniquity) is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.’
The word "let" in verse 7 means to "withhold" as in verse 6 is the Greek word "katecho." In verse 6 is "withholdeth". To refrain, hinder or withhold is the basic meaning of this word. There is a power of some sort holding back the mystery of iniquity. In verse 7 Paul said that the mystery of iniquity was already working. As long as the restrainer continues to work in the world this false Christ cannot come to his position of power.
Romans 13:1-5 explains to us that the authority to govern are put in the world to restrain evil and are from God (not governments that oppose justice or God). V.3 “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. …V 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.”
now, this next verse is also a key characteristic of the devil to come...
2 Thess 2 :4
He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
The New Testament commandment is love and forgiveness. Christians who condone killing in my opinion are the fulfillment of the pseudo anti Christ prophecy.
History is in favor of the validity of the Anti Christ, a powerful system.
19Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”j
20And Isaiah boldly says,
“I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”k
21But concerning Israel he says,
“All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people.”l
To sum it up, Christ was not a worldly kingdom. God permits evil, as he turns his back on the world, because we are all fallen and he has patience. God has allowed governments who are not Christian governments, to punish with the sword.
and in revelation, The wh.ore that rides the beast, and those who follow this anti-christ system, whom exalt themselves above God, they will be persecuted by the devil.
Evil governments are a tool, God can an will use the devil as a tool, for those who exalt themselves above God in the pride of life.
synonyms:
sanctimoniousness
self-righteousness
austin
Rainer Braendlein
Theo Phileo
awanderingscot
Salero
kermit4jc
pervert alert
Martin Luther
oh and who could forget this one also:
"St." Paul...
But the victory has all ready been won, and this mystery of the Church age is a patient calling of the kingdom to light.
The pseudo Christ killers are not a thing of the past.
don't reject Jesus because the devil has a home here on earth.
I consider this a special moment in my life. Thanks Akira.
Perhaps, Akira. There are a number of believers who regularly post on the BB who are probably gentle people. believerfred and Topher come to mind. But by generic group was not for mean-spiritedness, but for sanctimoniousness – something perhaps more dangerous because it may blossom through various forms of communication into mean-spiritedness in others. And perhaps Martin Luther is a good example of that.
my generic group, not "by generic group"
Doris, I think the golden rule is for many people out of reach at times. It is for me sometimes. and during those times when i try to make an impact, I am striving in my flesh. I may feel I am doing God a favor.
But the times in my life when i was impacted, I was venturing out for myself and I found the voice of God.. How can I translate that into reality for someone else? I can't. I think that the seed of life is truly a seed that I cultivate the dirt, and toss out a seed, but I am not the life.
The life of that seed is authentic.
What's a "true read" of the NT ?
Oh wait. One that Austin agrees with 100% Of course. How stupid of me.
"But the victory has all ready been won, and this mystery of the Church age is a patient calling of the kingdom to light. "
More cult speak based on mythology..... yawn
isn't it true that you are only here trying to destroy someone's faith? isn't it also true that you are a hateful person who hates God and hates His children and that's the only reason you are here?
awanderingscot,
My main goal is to expose HYPOCRITES who use their religion to make the lives of others worse. Rainer is probably the biggest BIGOT on here and you may be the biggest HYPOCRITE. Neither of you seem to have the intelligence to realize how illogical and mean you are.
As far as hating God, that is pure nonsense. I am an agnostic.
No. But what is apparently true, is that your faith is weak, and you can't stand free-thinkers, who have always been a threat to religions and their insanity. The scientific worldview has begun replacing the insanity of ancient religions, which are ALL based on human inventions, and ignorance. Religions have had their grip on humans for thousands of years. Science for about 300 years. It's made remarkable progress in that time, and is the future of humanity. Religions have divided and oppressed humanity. It's long past time to be free of the nonsense.
BTW, why are YOU here ? You are not here to discuss and learn. YOU are here to preach and harangue and judge.
lol..I have YET to see ANY evidence of "free thinking" by atheists
Kermi's definition of "free thinking" = belief in imaginary gods based on fairytales.
"isn't it true that you are only here trying to destroy someone's faith?" says the now wealthy tailor of the Emperors new clothes...
“isn’t it true that you are only here trying to destroy someone’s faith?” says the now wealthy tailor of the Emperors new clothes….......
LOLOLOL....Many make lots of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ on the religious....it's one of the easiest ways to make $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Hey Scot
Maybe the pope should perform an exorcism on Scalia (catholic) as he believes in a real devil – do you sco ?
Ans the guy that believes the devil is real will make a firey decent on the Hoppy Loppy Case maybe ?
Oops firery ?
Word for Sunday:
Gay America, dry America.
"The Bible says" that God lets it rain on the good and on the evil people. If that would be the only verse of the Bible, we could assume that the rain would not depend on our behaviour. Doesn't the "Bible say" that God lets it rain also on the evil people?
Of course, we have to consider the whole content of the Bible, and always we have to relate one single verse to the whole content. The solution is that there are different degrees of evil behaviour. God can tolerate the malice of a people up to a certain degree, and up to this degree he is ready to give the rain despite the misbehaviour of the people.
According to the biblical evidence gayness is a severe sin. Maybe it is one of the worst sins somebody can commit. However, worse than gayness itself is the legalization of gay behaviour.
The legalization of any gay behaviour is the actual problem. This is a thing God cannot tolerate, and this causes his infinite wrath. I am quite sure that the drought in California has something to do with the legalization of gay marriage there. This is the perversion of God's good orders. Why should a gay man or woman still repent, and return to God and his Church, when the secular society becomes a kind of pseudo-church where gays can be "happy" despite the absence of God's presence who is life and cure in himself (the great benefit of the true Church is the presence of God there who is life, cure and love in himself; the presence of God in the church causes real happiness)? If the secular tries to imitate the Church, she completely destroys Gods world order:
The secular society shall be a place where sinners can exist (note that mere existence is no life in abundance) in an organised way despite their sinful behaviour which damages others, themselves and God's holiness. God has some patience with the sinners (who really commit harmful acts), and hopes that they may shift from the secular society where they merely exist, to the Church, where they could find life in fulness. If this difference between society and Church is obliterated, God's purpose, the conversion of the sinners, is totally counteracted. God will not tolerate that anybody counteracts the salvation of poor sinners whom God loves, and He has delivered his precious Son for.
It must be always clear that the only place on earth where we can find peace, love, happiness, holiness, fellowship, etc. is the Christian Church. There is a place where we can escape, where we can find deliverance and forgiveness. If mankind abolishes this divine place, the mankind has no more right to exist or no more purpose.
God will abolish this mankind.
Let us regard droughts as a warning, and don't let us go too far. His wrath is awful.
Replies by trolls are undesirable.
no this drought is caused by your god for an entirely different reason; because your god taught humans nature belongs to them, they has abused it to the point of natures first man made drought .
Thank you for exposing your utter stupidity for all to see, Rainer. You are the best advertisement for atheism there is.
"It must be always clear that the only place on earth where we can find peace, love, happiness, holiness, fellowship, etc. is the Christian Church. There is a place where we can escape, where we can find deliverance and forgiveness. If mankind abolishes this divine place, the mankind has no more right to exist or no more purpose."
So you say, with not a shred of support. It appears Rainy is mentally ill, and the only place he has any friends in is his Fundie church. This NEED to appear to have the truth, and a moral high-ground has a name. It's a recognized mental illness. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
Rainy is a piece of work alright. I can't imagine someone like him has a lot of friends, fundie or not.
"It must be always clear that the only place on earth where we can find peace, love, happiness, holiness, fellowship, etc. is the Christian Church. There is a place where we can escape, where we can find deliverance and forgiveness. If mankind abolishes this divine place, the mankind has no more right to exist or no more purpose."
What he means by that, bucky, is that unless everyone agrees with his religious beliefs, he and those who "think" like him perfectly prepared to use violence again those who disagree...
ARE perfectly prepared to use violence. Geez...
""It must be always clear that the only place on earth where we can find peace, love, happiness, holiness, fellowship, etc. is the Christian Church."
Rainy would make a great used car salesman.
"Gay America, dry America."
-- SO then. Jebus makes Africa dry, and millions of innocent babies die from drought. I never realized it was cuz those evil babies were um, being evil.
isn't it true that you are only here trying to destroy someone's faith? isn't it also true that you are a hateful person who hates God and hates His children and that's the only reason you are here?
"Iisn't it true that you are only here trying to destroy someone's faith? isn't it also true that you are a hateful person who hates God and hates His children and that's the only reason you are here?"
-- If that was addressed to me, the answer is no to everything. But thanks for admitting you perceive me as a threat. The only goal I have to shed light on ignorance. If that's a threat, so be it. One cannot hate something that does not exist, no no I have no feelings one way or another about any of the gods, especially the ancient Babylonian war deity, (Yahweh Sabaoth .. who the Hebrews adopted as their chief deity, as they wanted help with their battles.) As far as "his children" go, god is a girl, you idiot. She has no weeny. If horses had gods, their gods would be horses. I have many friends in religion. Many. None of them are Fundamentalists, fortunately. Fundies are a small ignorant childish branch of religions.
We voted in SSM here in Maryland–oops. No droughts here.
Oh yeah, I know your response–"But...but...it WILL! I'm tellin' ya, IT WILL!!!1!1! Maybe not today, but you just watch–one of these days...yeah, you just see! You'll be sorry! YOU'LL BE SORRY!!!!11!!!" Much like a ten-year-old on a playground who didn't get picked first...
I thought Jebus paid the price for sin ? So you're saying your god now wants more ?
"Replies by trolls are undesirable."
So why do you keep posting if you don't like trolls?? Repeating yourself is nothing more than being a troll. I'm sure Germany has blogs that might be better suited to your special brand of crazy since you hate America so much and prove it with every bigoted, hateful post.
Rainy, one thing you will probably never understand is unconditional love, As God loves all his children and he made them with their atributes they are given and what is important is not their orientation, but how we treat them. Do we give unconditional love? Or do we judge and persecute his children ? Differences in people are given to see how we will react and treat them. Whether black,red ,yellow brown,white or olive, can we see beyond the exterior to the inner person? Some can,some need to learn and to grow. If a person is self content that they have all the answers,they become a danger to others,as well as to themselves.
" I am quite sure that the drought in California has something to do with the legalization of gay marriage there. "
WOW.... just... WOW!!!........ .......... Is it ok now with everyone if I apply the "deluded" label to this one?? I mean, I certainly wouldn't want to offend anyone (LOL)
"It must be always clear that the only place on earth where we can find peace, love, happiness, holiness, fellowship, etc. is the Christian Church. There is a place where we can escape, where we can find deliverance and forgiveness. If mankind abolishes this divine place, the mankind has no more right to exist or no more purpose."
Too bad your "divine place" is more in line with hate, brutality, shameful indignation, self agrandization, exclusiveness, etc. Meanwhile, even though I shun your "divine place" I have found happiness, peace, love, fellowship... you know, those things that you seem to think are exclusive to your particular version of Christianity. Oddly enough, I'm not even Christian. When I go to Church, I don't go to some building that someone built, listen to someone speak at me about the evils of the world, give up money for some out of sight missionary work, and then get berated for not doing things according to some interpreted version of a much disputed holy book. When I go to Church I actually fellowship with my fellow church members, have a voice in all the discussions, actually see where any money I donate goes, actively help support and maintain the Church, and provide moral and emotional support to those who need it when they need it. Yes we have a Church leadership, but their focus as leaders is the Church itself. On top of that anyone with an open mind is welcome, can merely observe without being the target of comments or hate, are welcome in all discussions, and is not required in any fashion to convert, change or even participate beyond what they are comfortable with.
Your final statement however is possibly the most chilling... You are in effect saying that should churches ever be banned world wide (like that will ever happen in America where the freedom of religion is a basic human right) then mankind no longer has a right to exist. In effect, should mankind decide once and for all the Christianity needs to be wiped from the face of Earth, instead mankind itself should be wiped away.
Actually global heating (climate change) will make the point of whether these fantasy gods are whatever stupid people believe them to be a moot point in a few years as humans and all living things do a slow roast as temperatures climb higher and remain there for hundreds of years.... any of you people ever visit or try to live on the Equator....almost impossible with the year long heat...
I frequent a church that is known here in town for the most highly respected teacher of the word of God. And that may be true, but his son was the associate pastor. went to masters seminary and was just recently made to resign for having an affair.
And i feel sick. Because we love the guy, but he was taken out by the errors that we humans are so often capable of falling in to..
There are so many traps and this is one reason why I feel that everyone has the right to be treated equally. The cops have no right to use lethal force, either does a military. and new testament law commands forgiveness.
A Christian must tell the truth, and be willing to suffer. We have to show the love of Christ to everyone.
Saul of Tarsus was the Jihadist of his day.
austin929
"A Christian must tell the truth"
Good. So why do you agree with a bigoted HYPOCRITE who doesn't believe in the Golden Rule and many other things Jesus said?
isn't it true that you are only here trying to destroy someone's faith? isn't it also true that you are a hateful person who hates God and hates His children and that's the only reason you are here?
awanderingscot,
Same question from you. Ooooops!
My main goal is to expose HYPOCRITES who use their religion to make the lives of others worse. Rainer is probably the biggest BIGOT on here and you may be the biggest HYPOCRITE. Neither of you seem to have the intelligence to realize how illogical and mean you are.
As far as hating God, that is pure nonsense. I am an agnostic.
So by that definition neither you nor Rainer can be considered Christian. The NT was to do away with the OT but yet both of you pick and choose what you go by. Your bible teaches to do unto others as you'd have done unto to you...so by agreeing with Rainer you thus must also agree with him blaming cancer on gays and the draught on gays; you must then also agree that you're both bigoted asses (a thing Rainer is proud of being known as).
You two keep up your good work, you're truly helping the Secular side...not your own.
Oh and before you go judging, make sure you have no skeletons in your own closet or have you forgotten making the statement that you wish you could blow up every store that sold alcohol or the fact that you stupidly got behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated and drove it in to a church??
If there is a hell (haha), it is the two of you who will be there...both nasty humans.
isn't it true that you are only here trying to destroy someone's faith? isn't it also true that you are a hateful person who hates God and hates His children and that's the only reason you are here?
awanderingscot,
You get intellectually clobbered on here frequently, so I guess you are trying to impress people with your ability to cut-and-paste.
isn’t it also true that you are a hateful person who hates God................
Hating something that has never existed is a form of insanity....do you have PROOF of this so called persons existence.
Sorry but you're wrong on all accounts. Asking a non-believer if it is true they hate a god they don't believe in is akin to asking you if you hate Zeus or Odin or any other thing that can't be shown to exist.
I agree with you that St. Paul was a Jewish Taliban or Jewish Jihadist before he became a Christian through repentance, faith in Jesus and the rebirth (sacramental baptism).
St. Paul himself said that he was set as an example for all people or sinners which would ever live on earth that God can even save the worst sinners.
The issue today is that our false spiritual leaders don't only legalize gayness but also wicked Islam. They consider Islam as a legitimate religion taking people into God's presence. Therefore a Muslim sees no more reason to convert to Christianity.
I say: Every Muslim will get into the hell, if he or she doesn't accept Jesus Christ who is Lord and God, and judge of the whole mankind.
Renounce Islam, the worst crap which was ever made-up on earth, and start to believe in Jesus. You would be welcome.
Muhammad was an extreme sinner, a liar, a murderer and a womanizer. He was never a divine prophet but a messenger of the devil. He will suffer eternal torture in the lake of fire.
All totally false. He said he hallucinated on the Road to Damascus. None of what you claimed played any part of what he calimed. I see your delusion is SO great, EVERYTHING you perceive is run through your simple-minded PRESUPPOSED little set of notions. Grow up Rainey. Grow up.
All of which is very amusing, as we know the Hebrews, (and they both claim to be "Abrahamics" .. even though we know that's not really true), did not believe in heaven or hell. They though all dead "shades" resided in Sheol. There are many examples of that in the OT. The long historical development of the late change from that to "hell" as the culture encountered Hellenism, and the Greek Haedes was substi'tuted (incorrectly) in translations is interesting. Of course they don't teach that in Babble College, where Presuppositionalism rules the day, (and they even admit it).
22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. (Deuteronomy 32:22KJV)
17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (Psalms 9:17 KJV)
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 14:15 KJV)
What the hell is this, some sort of bible battle?
Stalemate........
Since neither exist...this debate starts with a stalemate of factual non-information.
"I think kevinite was passively telling me I was going to hell"
Oh but even if it were true, it's not where I'd want to be when the likes of awanderingscot; kevinite; Theo; Rainer; Austin, etc will be there...it Is their hell and they have all broken the Golden Rule.
That is my point about Paul indeed. Well said Rainer.
It figures that you would agree with the German wingnut and the self-righteous chatty cathy of the NT, austin.
So where is that approval of Paul's word as divine scripture now that most NT scholars believe that Peter did not author Peter 2? What does the loudmouth of the NT have other than his own delusion and hearsay of the supernatural claims of the Gospels?
and I would never condone islaam I just don't get caught up going Hitler on so called "Ishmaelites"
How can Ishmael be connected to Islaam? He can not.
many American churches are scary. I meet people who love to say "a wild a.ss (a modern mistranslation) of a man, a ba.sta.rd"
and the truth is, Ishmeal was no ba.st.ard, Sarah mistreated Hagar, and Jesus came from incest (Tamar/Judah) and Christ works in unexpected places, He rises above ALL human downfalls.
Doris, Paul has an authentic seed of the spirit.
he has the word of truth, and he was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of All the World.
austin: "Doris, Paul has an authentic seed of the spirit. he has the word of truth, and he was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of All the World."
Flowery opinion, but sorry, austin – no cigar. The evidence just isn't there.
""Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."
Matthew 10:34
Actually I was questioning buckyball's whole bit about the whole concept of hell as being only derived from the Hellenistic concept. That "sheol" or sprit world afterlife was in fact an Old Testament and even Torah-based belief and within that spiritual realm of sheol those spirits (all the spirits who were once living) were in either a state of happiness or in a state of limited ability to obtain happiness, or in other words a state of damnation or being in like a spiritual prison, which would later be further described in the New Testament (which the earliest figured written versions of the New Testament were written in Greek for newly gentile converts) as hell.
Actually I was questioning buckyball’s whole bit about the whole concept of hell as being only derived from the Hellenistic concept.......DUH...
The Greek concept is based on the Egyptian and they on some one else's and the fire infested hell came from Persia.....YOU GOTTA HAVE A PLACE TO go and SUFFER IF YOU'VE BEEN BAD.....lolololo...what CRAP!!!!
You have a point Akira. I should have addressed specifically who I was responding to.
Does it really matter who you're addressing when discussing fictional crap....it all goes nowhere in the bigger picture.
Actually idiotusmaximus,
You didn't actually provide any proof to back up your statements as to where the whole concept of hell such as showing the Greek conecpts actually derived their belief from the Egyptians or showing how they were all derived from Persia as opposed to there could not be any chance whatsoever that there was any independant invention. Just like your overall claims that it is all ficticious, it is just your opinion.
You want proof?.....Go read a little history.....I'm not you're teacher.....don't be so lazy.....maybe if you'd spend less time spewing crap on here you'd have time to read?
idiotusmaximus,
It's because of how subjective history is. That is the reason why it's best to back the history up with proof. Just merely reading history doesn't settle anything because there are differnt versions of that same history and different schools of thought that develop from time to time. Plus there is also new evidence that pops up from time to time that may challenge what ever school of thought you are tyring to convey, so you do need to provide the specific proof because just saying go read some history doesn't actually cut it.
,..... so you do need to provide the specific proof because just saying go read some history doesn’t actually cut it.
You want proof go read.....I don't have time nor is it my duty to educated every illiterate in this country....most people know nothing because that's sadly the way they like it....they have it easy....read
,..... so you do need to provide the specific proof because just saying go read some history doesn’t actually cut it.
You want proof go read.....I don't have time nor is it my duty to educated every illiterate in this country....most people know nothing because that's sadly the way they like it....they have it easy....THEY read THE BIBLE ONLY.
cheating on your lover is not something that's just happens for man own failure , don't lesson what he did he needs to take responsibility, you know i may be Bisexual but i have never once cheated on any of my Lovers or even had the desire, it is not something I'm capable of so know its not something we are all capable of.
Please don't confuse us with facts.
Matt 24
14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
15“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,
2 Thessalonians 2:4
2 Thessalonians 2:4.
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Isaiah 43:5-6
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth.
Isaiah 60:21-22
"Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, And a small one a strong nation. I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.”"
Ezekiel 37:12
Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
Ezekiel 37:21
Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land..
here is the key difference between God's plan, and America's bigoted war.
Isaiah 60:7 ►
All Kedar's flocks will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will serve you; they will be accepted as offerings on my altar, and I will adorn my glorious temple.
these are Ishmael's sons
America is not God
austin929,
"America is not God"
Correct, fortunately. We don't support slavery and other discriminations.
Anyone knows that has studies scripture the "abomination of desolation" had NOTHING whatever to do with the subject at hand here.
In the United States, the Constitution holds authority. Your god does not. If you do not like the fact that your religion does not grant you special rights, feel free to leave.
Too bad for you, your Jebus told you something entirely DIFFERENT.
Acts 1:7 "He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority."
You appear to think you KNOW something you were told you are not to know.
Of course Jebus said he knew, and was all wrong. How many times do you think you get to cry "woolf" and expect people to listen ?
"Jesus recommends that to avoid sin we cut off our hands and pluck out our eyes. This advice is given immediately after he says that anyone who looks with lust at any women commits adultery." 5:29-30
"The children of the kingdom [the Jews] shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 8:12
Rainer Helmut Braendlein,
What did Jesus say was what "THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS IS ALL ABOUT"?
Any CLUE what Jesus said?
Your distorted imagination of love is not the real love. The real love is a living person: Jesus Christ. If someone is led by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, he practices true love. Jesus shows someone how to act in every single situation. In fact it is not easy to act according to Love in every situations. For that we need divine help, even that God himself dwells in us through the Holy Spirit.
You need to get born out of Water and Spirit (the rebirth) in order to become able to understand what true love means.
You are still a dabbler concerning spiritual matters.
Rainer Helmut Braendlein,
Jesus did NOT mention the word "love" in this particular quote.
TRY again.
You are still CLUELESS. Read a Bible so you will have some idea what you are babbling about.
You are a hopeless case.
Rainer Helmut Braendlein,
Jesus did NOT mention the word "love" in this particular quote.
TRY again.
For a so-called "Christian", you are so CLUELESS what the Bible says. Why are you so COMPLETELY STUMPED?
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
(Matthew 22:36-40 KJV)
kevinite,
The objective here is to get Rainer to wake up and read what the Bible says.
The Bible says that Jesus made a comment and immediately followed it up by saying "THIS IS WHAT THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS ARE ALL ABOUT.”
Jesus says that we should fear God who is willing and "able to destroy both soul and body in hell." 10:28
Jesus says that he has come to destroy families by making family members hate each other. He has "come not to send peace, but a sword." 10:34-36
Jesus condemns entire cities to dreadful deaths and to the eternal torment of hell because they didn't care for his preaching. 11:20-24
Jesus will send his angels to gather up "all that offend" and they "shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." 13:41-42, 50
I feel the love!!!