|
Post by shorti on Sept 28, 2009 11:01:42 GMT -4
well at least we're on the same page about something huh???
|
|
|
Post by comeonreally on Dec 19, 2009 18:28:35 GMT -4
just found this website and read all these threads. i would like to say so funny to read that someone can post a whole educational input on wicca or whatever it is called, which i didnt read but many many other people did. and than qoute the bible...instead of leading many to christ you choice to lead the minds of many to wicca...and than qoute the bible..the devil can qoute every word of the bible as well and lead people away from christ. grace to u and peace
|
|
|
Post by falgar25 on Dec 19, 2009 18:49:55 GMT -4
just found this website and read all these threads. i would like to say so funny to read that someone can post a whole educational input on wicca or whatever it is called, which i didnt read but many many other people did. and than qoute the bible...instead of leading many to christ you choice to lead the minds of many to wicca...and than qoute the bible..the devil can qoute every word of the bible as well and lead people away from christ. grace to u and peace Being a first time poster, you should seriously consider spending time to get to know the variety of opinions and personalities on this board before criticizing them. We have some very devout Christians as well as Atheists and Buddhists. I would be very surprised to learn no one on this board was Jewish or Muslim. Since I could find no post about Wicca in this thread, I assume you were referring the thread titled Wicca. Spend some time and you will learn that we have some incredibly knowledgeable and insightful people on this board who can speak intelligently about a number of issues including various religions. The post on Wicca in the Wicca thread was not intended to lead anyone's mind anywhere. That thread was intended to educate, just as the thread on Buddhism, the thread on Quakerism, and numerous threads on Christianity. I know I was very interested in learning more about religions I have not been exposed to. It would be very disappointing if discussion of religions other than Christianity were not allowed.
|
|
|
Post by safetildecember on Dec 19, 2009 20:14:17 GMT -4
Wicca has been talked about, probably more on other threads than on the Wiccan one. When Stephadele? was here, it was often talked about. I can be a Christian and still be curious to read about Wicca. It does not make me Wiccan, just makes me curious. Now to spout off that I am Wiccan but also spout certain Christian view as well might be confusing. Many religions have some of the same values. Be good, don't hurt other people, be responsible and caring.
|
|
|
Post by speedergurl68 on Dec 19, 2009 20:31:26 GMT -4
just found this website and read all these threads. then... i would like to say so funny to read that someone can post a whole educational input on wicca or whatever it is called, which i didnt read [/u].......[/quote] Wow...they forgot to wish us a Merry Christmas. What I might suggest to this obviously confused "first time poster"...is that they actually READ the thread they are attempting to reference. I did not, nor have I ever, tried to lead anyone to Wicca ...the idea is ludicrous and without merit, validity or truth. Of course, that would require strength in their own faith, the ability to not judge, and a measurable level of intellect. Most all of you that know me also know that the small minded ramblings of the self-righteous, pious, sanctimonious, judgmental and insecure fail to impress, insult or intimidate me. They are expected and unoriginal. The paper that I wrote on Wicca was supposed to be on a subject that directly opposed my own personal views or was a topic that I was completely unfamiliar with. It was a study in objectivity and the ability to accurately state the facts without bias. The MINISTER that I turned it into....gave me an "A". My faith is not threatened by the discussions of other beliefs and belief systems. Of course, you will always find those people that are threatened very easily due to their own personal and/or spiritual weaknesses. This is not due to a short coming or error on my part.
|
|
|
Post by safetildecember on Dec 19, 2009 20:47:17 GMT -4
I would give you an A and junk too. If one has Faith, then reading something contrary to their own beliefs should not be a problem. Satan is just as likely to stomp on a bible beater as a wiccan. Merry CHRISTmas and junk.
|
|
|
Post by jimbo on Dec 19, 2009 23:46:17 GMT -4
|
|
|
Post by shorti on Mar 2, 2010 8:51:52 GMT -4
Christ is already here, within us. From Luke, chapter 17: Assuming that I believed that rapture will happen (I don't, see quote above), I wouldn't change anything. I try to live each day as if it might be my last already. I suppose the only small difference would be that I'd make it to more Meetings for Worship on Sundays, knowing that there wouldn't be any long-term effects from not getting enough sleep. I know - I know - it's been a while... but i was reading through this last night & then just finished reading the verse you are quoting here. Luke 17:20 at the end. However, if you continue to read this chapter - further down into verses 22-37 it also explains of the second coming. How one in the field will be taken and the other left - two in one bed & one will be taken & one left behind. How He will come like a flash of lightening. References Noah & the flood & Sodom, etc. How all those who were living without Him were destroyed and how it happened as they went on with their daily lives doing normal things and without warning. He was also speaking to the Pharisees who doubted He was the Messiah because they thought that the Messiah would be a militant figure or a king who would overthrow Rome and they thought it would be immediate. Christ explains that (v. 25) "But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation." So while yes, I agree, He lives in us but only when we accept His gift of grace & mercy & accept Him as Lord, His spirit will take up residence in our hearts. I'm learning that this Truth is hard to accept for many because it's very black & white and there isn't really any gray area for the way to salvation. Alot of people have issues with it because it's "restricting" or perhaps because they are doing something that in order to accept this as Truth would mean they would have to change alot of things that make them feel good in the here & now. Or look at things differently than what they currently do because by this standard it's sin & wrong and they may either be partaking in that sin or have loved ones close to them who are partaking in that sin. And then the age old question is 'who are we to judge?' We aren't to judge - we've talked about this before on other threads. We are called to love them - and sometimes that means love them enough to get down in the trenches of their lives & get dirty all the while knowing you risk losing a friend, family member, loved one because they don't agree with you and don't want to listen. We are to love them enough to tell them there's a problem. As simplistic as this may sound to make an analogy... but if we were out in public & I had a big ole piece of spinach in my teeth - hopefully you would love me enough to tell me. Or if I was trying on clothes & it looked inappropriate or too tight or I just looked really fat in those jeans - you would love me enough not to allow me to purchase those clothes because you know I'd either regret it later or look silly when i wear it.
|
|
|
Post by ljp on Mar 22, 2010 12:44:12 GMT -4
I would like to add just a little bit also Shorti, to the other mentions of the parables. You know I don't post much any more on the forum, so it has been awhile since I read this thread also.
Our God and the Holy Spirit are not authors of confusion. Just because one doesn't understand what is being said doesn't mean that everyone doesn't understand it. The parables were meant for the more mature Christians, not for the unbeliever. While yes farming is what was relevant in the time it was written, it more refers to our growth as Christians. Seeding, nurturing, growing and sowing ourselves.
When Jesus was asked why he spoke to the people in parables, He answered that it had been given to them (the person asking) to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven but to them (the people He was preaching to) it wasn't. The parables were meant for those of us who have a basis in which to understand what he meant.
For example: the parable of the sower Matthew 13. He talks about sowing seeds in shallow soil and speaks about what happens when the seed grows. No viable root system will cause the seed to sprout but be scorched when the sun hits it. Then is susceptible to thorns growing around it and cannot be saved or regrown.
If you read further He explains it. You have to remember, which the exception of Proverbs, there are very few just pearls of wisdom dropped. There is usually much more to the story, you have to read it all to completely understand it. For example: I have a friend who questions why I do not drink. He will remain nameless, but he says to me over and over, "but Jesus turned water into wine! I don't get then why you have trouble with drinking." Well, wine wasn’t nearly as fermented as it is today for one, it was the alternative to unclean water. But turning water into wine was just one story. There are other times when strong drink is discussed. He says, (I am paraphrasing) ‘be not drunk with wine… but be filled with the holy spirit’, ‘..for the drunkard…will come to poverty’, ‘Who has sorrow, who has strife, who has bloodshot eyes…it sparkles in the cup and is smooth but in the end it bites like a snake with poisons like a viper’, ‘a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him’, ‘whatever you eat or drink do to the glory of God’, ‘…your body is the temple of God…you are not your own…you were bought with a price, therefore glorify Him with your body’ (must read OT to understand that the temple was a place where God wanted to reside with men, He said over and over again, ‘build it this way so that I can reside with you’). How can I glorify God if I am drunk and not in my right mind?
There are so many verses like these I can’t add them all. While me in my fallible human state (no excuse) have not always adhered to this ‘mantra’ I do try my best and have/do not always behave in a manner that is glorifying to Him. My point is that there is more to the story than just the tidbit you have heard.
Further down in the parables, He says that for those that hear these words yet have no roots in which to comprehend them (roots meaning Christian base or maturity) the words are basically lost on them. That the evil can snatch them away and that the words they have heard only last a short while because when the heat is on the hearer stumbles. If there is no good root system then they are subject to thorns smothering the seed. But he who hears it and understands it, bears fruit and produces. This refers to many other verses discussing the Christians responsibility to bear fruit and how to go about it. After each parable He explains what this means to the Christian.
If you don’t read the rest of it you don’t get it, I guess is what I am saying.
|
|
|
Post by shorti on Mar 22, 2010 13:54:56 GMT -4
Oh you are absolutely right there ljp about needing to read the whole text & not taking it out of context which is a mistake many make - probably me at times too... but there are many who take a piece of text because that piece in itself will "validate" their point... but when you continue to read it in it's context, then you see that's not the case. and.... i didn't know that was why you didn't drink...
|
|
|
Post by funnel101 on Mar 22, 2010 17:00:08 GMT -4
About taking it in context, the Old Testament was the context from which Jesus was teaching; so being familiar with it (especially the Prophet books: Exodus, Kings II [Elijah/Elisha], Isaiah, and the minor prophets near the end of the OT) helps put things in context, too. I find this is a weakness of many Christians, that we tend to focus primarily on the New Testament and have a very limited knowledge of the OT.
|
|
|
Post by shorti on Mar 22, 2010 21:41:10 GMT -4
funnel - you are right - you need to know the OT as well... I am referring to taking verses out of context... and not reading the before & after text... I don't think many people period - know much about the Bible... sad really... they will swear on it, talk about it, have one & even proclaim to know it... but don't. The Bible is God's infalliable word - that means all of it... I'm actually in a small group currently that is going through a book called 30 days to understanding the Bible - it separates it into eras, explains the geography, hits the "major" points of certain eras in a broad sense (i.e. 1st era Creation - Adam prominent figure - God creates everything, then man/woman, Adam sins & messes up everything else for us all couldn't resist) but breaks down a little further from there... I'm over generalizing it... but it's interesting... Here's something I was not aware of... the book of Job... was written before Moses... most people think that the Bible is in order of events... it's not... It's history, poetic, prophecy in the OT & History, "Pauline" Epistles (letters) from Paul, general epistles (letters from other apostles like Peter or John) in the NT. but they all say the same thing... basically... the OT is where you can find the laws, the prediction of Christ - the NT is Christ & His teachings... another thing to always keep in mind that thruout the entire Bible... people relied on God, got fat & happy, ignored Him, He punished, they cried out, He answered, they relied on Him, they got fat & happy... so forth & so on... so when Christ came, He took the punishment for those who believe in Him
|
|