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The LAST thing that Jesus wants to see is “ Religion”—- it’s the polar opposite of Christianity.....the Tragedy Of Christianity is that the Multitudes have “Turned” Christianity into just another Religion....they make it kinda like Judaism , replete with “ don’t do this and do do that” with a little bit of Jesus sprinkled in, where confused and Lost people are merely like the adherents to any other Worldly Religion—- trying to “ make” themselves Worthy by Turning over a New Leaf or by trying to be more Moral , as opposed to seeing that they are “ Made “ Worthy by the Shed Blood Of The Lamb Of God......
As it has been wisely put—- “Religion says “ DO”.......Christianity says, “ DONE!” .......it’s the difference between Heaven and Hell
If religion is nothing but contradictions, then it is meaningless. It would not be based upon any standard of truth. Contradictions result from lying. Why would I therefore want to have a faith based in contradicting lies? What is your belief based upon? From what you post above, it cannot be based upon the Bible, it cannot be based upon any reliable standard, uniformed truth.
You posted earlier "Hindus and Muslims can also have very impactful spiritual experiences that make them feel like their religion is correct as well".
What exactly are "spiritual experiences"? They cannot be based upon any standard of truth. Does whatever a person "feels" become that person's own standard of truth? Each person creates their own "truth" based upon their personal felt experiences? Are you suggesting that you think there is really no such thing as truth or if truth does exist, it cannot possibly be known/understood correctly?
What exactly is your beliefs based upon?
What is the difference between a Nerd and a Troll.Best way to win converts
definitely not by mooning!
Question
Jn 8:32
You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Is the opposite also true?
false doctrine enslaves men?
Best way to win converts
Offer them an attractive package or threaten them with disadvantage.
Best way to win converts
definitely not by mooning!
The church denomination I attend weekly is United Methodist. They are generally progressive with their views and theology. I can tell by how they speak on various political subjects like social justice: Last week, our pastor made sure to denounce racism and call it antithetical to Christian teachings. It’s true because the Bible says so in Galatians 3:28. However, I felt like he was preaching to the choir because nobody in our congregation lynches black people, hurts black people, or treats other races as inferior. But it’s okay: Progressives like to preach tolerance, so there is no harm no foul.
Not every United Methodist preacher is progressive, though. Some can be conservative. Nothing wrong with that (I am after all a Republican), but it can be bad when taken too far.
Years ago our congregation hired a very conservative preacher, but unfortunately he was a conservative of the fundamentalist variety. He made many unfriendly remarks about other denominations like Catholics and Mormons, saying they aren’t real Christians. One time he gave a sermon about how Islam is a fake religion and concluded that Christianity—or at least his version of Christianity—is the only correct religion “because of our experiences.” I thought this was a very weak argument given that Hindus and Muslims can also have very impactful spiritual experiences that make them feel like their religion is correct as well. No doubt our fundamentalist pastor’s thinking abilities weren’t too astute.
He quit preaching at our church after a few months. No one knows why, but I suspect it was because the elders forced him to resign for continually making derisive remarks about other Christian denominations and other religions.
His way of preaching went against Bible principles to love one another and show respect for others despite their differences. This teaching makes sense: If Christians show bigotry and narrow-mindedness, nonbelievers won’t want to convert. It’s through showing kindness, mercy, and love that we can win the hearts of nonbelievers.
You could have fooled me.....there is no "hell" in the Bible. There is "sheol", "hades" "gehenna", "the lake of fire" and "tartarus".....most of which are erroneously translated "hell".
Sheol and hades are descriptions of the same place...the common grave of mankind.(Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10)
Gehenna and the lake of fire are descriptions of the "second death"...a death from which no one returns. There is no one alive in either place.
Tartarus is a place of spiritual darkness where the devil and his demons are confined without any spiritual enlightenment from God and restrained by him so that they can no longer materialize like they did before the flood.
Read that parable in context.....it is surrounded by other parables, none of which are real stories, but illustrations about situations that Jesus' audience understood. The rich man and Lazarus is also a parable, not a real account about real individuals. Its about the Pharisees and the "lost sheep" whom they despised....these trade places when the "lost sheep" accept Jesus as their savior and Messiah. "Abraham's bosom" was a position of favor with God, which was taken from the Pharisees and given to Jesus disciples.
The truth is in the details.....Satan is not going to be tormented for all eternity......no one is. What on earth is accomplished by that?
Satan and his minions will languish in the abyss for a thousand years whilst the Kingdom re-establishes God's rulership over this earth, with Christ bringing redeemed mankind back to what Adam lost for them....everlasting life in paradise on earth.
Our Creator had no intentions to take anyone to heaven in the beginning because that is not our home......we are already living in it. Once it is cleaned up and God's pure worship is established on earth, after one final test, all will go back to the way it should have been in the first place. (Revelation 21:3-4) What God starts, he finishes.....(Isaiah 55:11)
The best way to win a convert. The way Jesus did. When people sin against you realize it's an opportunity to forgive. The forgiveness of sin is how Jesus made converts. Not only that but by forgiving our life imitates Our Savior. Forgiveness conforms our lives to His.
[QUOTE="BloodBought 1953, post: 1264938, member
/QUOTE]
Do verses done!
There is nothing we can do!
Does the will of God:
Those who hear the Word of God and do it!
Ez 36:25-27
Matt 7:21
Matt 12:50
Mk 3:35
Lk 8:21
Lk 11:28
Jn 5:30
Jn7:17
Rom 12:2
Rev 17:7
Doer of the word
James 1:22-23
Keep my commandments:
Matt 28:20
Jn 14:21
Things we must do:
Matt 5:8
Jn 15:1-5
Lk 1:4
Acts 2:38
Must repent and do penance
Matt 3:2
Matt 3:8
Matt 4:17
Matt 9:13
Acts 2:38
Acts 3:19
Must believe and continue in a state of believing:
Jn3:16
Endure to the end:
Matt 24:13
Mark 13:13
Rev 2:26
Heb 3:14
Heb 6:11
Romans 11:22
Colossians 1:21-23
Hebrews 12:22-25
Hebrews 6:4
Hebrews 10:23-29, 35-39
Hebrews 3:4-6
1 John 2:24-25
2 John 8-9
Galatians 5:2-4
2 Timothy 2:11-13
People all around the world need answers to understand the human condition. The mystery of death and the reason for suffering cause anxiety.I've only experienced Mormon and Catholic so far but I'm learning about other religions from this website. And I somewhat like some other religions. I just don't believe in hypergrace.
All “ Religions “ have at least One Thing in common.....they are all attempts to clean one’s self up in order to make yourself “ Worthy” Of Eternal Life......Christianity maintains that We can NEVER make ourselves “ Worthy” —- that’s the Bad News.......The Good News is that you don’t have to ....If you simply BELIEVE the Gospel Of 1 Cor15:1-4, God will Impute to you the Righteousness Of His Son.....you will be MADE WORTHY by the Blood Of The Lamb.....You need to abandon anything and everything that reeks of “ religion” and go with Christianity instead.....they are polar opposites...
One says “ Do” and the other says” Done” ......a wrong choice will turn out to be VERY painful....
The church denomination I attend weekly is United Methodist. They are generally progressive with their views and theology. I can tell by how they speak on various political subjects like social justice: Last week, our pastor made sure to denounce racism and call it antithetical to Christian teachings. It’s true because the Bible says so in Galatians 3:28. However, I felt like he was preaching to the choir because nobody in our congregation lynches black people, hurts black people, or treats other races as inferior. But it’s okay: Progressives like to preach tolerance, so there is no harm no foul.
Not every United Methodist preacher is progressive, though. Some can be conservative. Nothing wrong with that (I am after all a Republican), but it can be bad when taken too far.
Years ago our congregation hired a very conservative preacher, but unfortunately he was a conservative of the fundamentalist variety. He made many unfriendly remarks about other denominations like Catholics and Mormons, saying they aren’t real Christians. One time he gave a sermon about how Islam is a fake religion and concluded that Christianity—or at least his version of Christianity—is the only correct religion “because of our experiences.” I thought this was a very weak argument given that Hindus and Muslims can also have very impactful spiritual experiences that make them feel like their religion is correct as well. No doubt our fundamentalist pastor’s thinking abilities weren’t too astute.
He quit preaching at our church after a few months. No one knows why, but I suspect it was because the elders forced him to resign for continually making derisive remarks about other Christian denominations and other religions.
His way of preaching went against Bible principles to love one another and show respect for others despite their differences. This teaching makes sense: If Christians show bigotry and narrow-mindedness, nonbelievers won’t want to convert. It’s through showing kindness, mercy, and love that we can win the hearts of nonbelievers.
The United Methodist Church I attended left the denomination because of the practicing gay bishop that was overseeing them. What do you personally think about that?
Revelation is full of symbolisms. "The lake of fire" is not a literal place because "death and hades " are also thrown into this "lake"...read on. (Revelation 20:13-14) The lake of fire is also called "the second death"....so its another kind of death...one from which there is no resurrection.You say , “ Satan is NOT going to be Tormented for all Eternity” ......please explain this verse from Rev. 20:10....
Revelation is full of symbolisms. "The lake of fire" is not a literal place because "death and hades " are also thrown into this "lake"...read on. (Revelation 20:13-14) The lake of fire is also called "the second death"....so its another kind of death...one from which there is no resurrection.
If the place is not literal...the fire is not literal and therefore the "torment" is not literal. The lake of fire is like "gehenna". No one is alive in there.