The good man that turned bad out of necessity

[Riven]

You posted a photograph of dead Holocaust victims on Monday evening (post #203). I’d like for you to look at it with me again.

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These are people in a foreign land. You don’t know any of them. Neither do I.

The photograph caused made me to feel something. I made the assumption at the time that the photograph also caused you to feel something.

Did you post the photo knowing at the time that it didn’t make you feel something for them, thinking only that it would cause me to feel something?

No. It was too illustrate what my point that sometimes one must do what is necessary for the greater good, regardless of religious belief.

If the photo of the dead people did make you feel something, why did the photos of suffering living people - innocent children, at that - not cause you to feel anything?

Because they're still alive, and everybody suffers in one way or another.

I’m reconsidering my answer to your question. Why did you ask me?

I was curious.

Do you think that you have? Are you concerned that you may have?

No. It wasn't something I chose. It was a choice made for me during my formative years.

Are you wanting to know if a person who has seared their conscience can be saved?

No.

 

[Matthias]

No. It wasn't something I chose. It was a choice made for me during my formative years.

That’s the answer to your question. A person with a seared conscience cannot enter the kingdom of God with a seared conscience.

 

[Matthias]

Hang in there @Riven. You’ve come to the great physician. That’s exactly where all men need to be.

 

[Matthias]

I’m in the cult of the apostles.

“A true church must be measured by apostolic teaching, not doctrines dogmatically defined centuries later.”

(Scott Roberts)

Scott Roberts (@ScottRoberts) on X

By that standard, the apostles belonged to a "false church," since Scripture never records them requiring belief in Mary's Immaculate Conception, defining her perpetual virginity, teaching Transubstantiation as later formulated, or accepting the Apocrypha as a uniquely defined

x.com

 

[Riven]

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Hang in there @Riven. You’ve come to the great physician. That’s exactly where all men need to be.

For what? It's not like things are getting any better. Have you turned on the news lately?

 

[Debp]

It's not like things are getting any better. Have you turned on the news lately?

Riven we live in a fallen world currently. But I always try to go day by day with the Lord's help and strength. I am alone, don't walk well and will be 76 in early September. So I keep praying for the Lord to give me strength to do what I need to do. And He has.

Jesus did say "in the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world". Also, I think persevering to get through the trials of life makes us stronger in our faith.

 

[Matthias]

For what?

For life.

It's not like things are getting any better. Have you turned on the news lately?

Things are going to get worse, much worse, before Jesus returns. Don’t be discouraged.

Have you turned on the good news of Messiah today? Fill your mind with it today, and every day.

 

[Matthias]

For what? It's not like things are getting any better.

For this:

”It was a choice made for me during my formative years.”

For the healing of your conscience.

 

[Riven]

For this:

”It was a choice made for me during my formative years.”

For the healing of your conscience.

I don't know of it's even possible.

 

[Matthias]

I don't know of it's even possible.

I’ve been experimenting with AI for the last month or so. I don’t trust it, and I believe that in the near future it will be used to deceive many. We should always search the scriptures to see if what we’re being told is true or not.

Having said that, let’s consider this:

What does scripture say about a good conscience?

AI Overview -

“Scripture presents a good or clear conscience as an essential part of the life of faith. It is an inner guide that helps people see right from wrong. The Bible teaches that a good conscience comes from faith in Jesus, needs ongoing care, and gives believers peace and boldness before God.

What the Bible Says About a Good Conscience

• It is tied to faith and love: A good conscience comes from a pure heart and sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5).

• It must be guarded: Believers are to hold on to faith and a good conscience, warning that some have ruined their faith by ignoring it (1 Timothy 1:19).

• It involves living without offense: The Apostle Paul made it his goal to always keep a clear conscience before both God and other people (Acts 24:16).

• It brings confidence: When our hearts do not condemn us, we have courage and peace in our relationship with God (1 John 3:21).

• It can be damaged or fixed: A conscience can be defiled (Titus 1:15) or ‘seared’ like hot iron if ignored too long (1 Timothy 4:2). However, it can be cleansed and healed through faith in the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:14).”

You’ve taken steps in the right direction. You’ve gone to Jesus. I know it’s possible for you. You can know it too.

Meditate on the scriptures. Believe what scripture says.

Call me crazy, but call on Jesus.

 

[Debp]

I don't know of it's even possible.

Riven the Bible can bring healing to the mind.

I found a good YouTube channel for listening to books of the Bible. I've been using it for a few weeks now. The man has a good voice and each book of the Bible goes fast. I'm doing the New Testament books.

It's called Blessfully.

 

[Matthias]

* What a night . *

 

[RLT63]

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* What a night . *

You’re up early

 

[Matthias]

You’re up early

Good morning! Went to bed late.

Awfully early down your way too, isn’t it?

 

[RLT63]

Good morning! Went to bed late.

Awfully early down your way too, isn’t it?

It was 4:46 am

 

[amigo de christo]

Riven we live in a fallen world currently. But I always try to go day by day with the Lord's help and strength. I am alone, don't walk well and will be 76 in early September. So I keep praying for the Lord to give me strength to do what I need to do. And He has.

Jesus did say "in the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world". Also, I think persevering to get through the trials of life makes us stronger in our faith.

Onward in the Lord my friend . We are but a day closer to forever being with the Lord .
Having all hope and affections above on Him . The LORD is our hope and our salvation . Just a few days in this vapor life
and our pilgramige comes to an end . Only for a sheep this is not the end but merely forever with the LORD we shall be ..
Whether one be twenty or eighty the signs of the times do show us that there simply is not much time .
Oh but eternal life has no end and that is only in CHRIST JESUS and in no other name . To the trenches Debp .
Its time for prayers and to be doing the things pleasing to HE who has saved us .

 

[Matthias]

It was 4:46 am

I always liked living in the Central Time Zone. Wish I still was.

I had a long day yesterday and ate Chinese food for supper, fours hours past my normal suppertime. Gave me some crazy wild dreams. That’s going to make for another long day today.

Do you work day shift or night shift?

 

[Riven]

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* What a night . *

 

[Matthias]

I was reading Spurgeon’s sermon “Idols Found Wanting, but Jehovah Found Faithful” last night. I posted a line from the sermon - “The god of modern thought is a monkey” - on the forum, then read a while longer in A Song for Nagasaki before turning in for the night.

The spicy Chinese food I ate late, C.H. Spurgeon, Charlton Heston, Nagasaki and my weary brain combined, giving me an early wake up to start my day.

 

[Matthias]

@Riven I‘m a minister of the gospel of peace. I hope you have grasped that I teach, implicitly and explicitly, Christianity is the religion of peace.

On Monday @Lambano made the astute observation in another thread, “Given our bloody hands, I don’t think you’d be believed.”

That took my mind back instantly to Isaiah 53:1 (NIV) -

“Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?“

It is quoted twice in the New Testament -> John 12:38 and Romans 10:16. (Please keep in mind that Paul’s teaching - which you presently disagree with - on the relation between the church and the state follows soon after in Romans 13:1-5.)

Christian leaders taught that Christianity is the religion of peace for the first three centuries of church history (the Apostolic and Ante Nicene era). That began to change in the 4th century, when the role of the church became mixed with the role of the state.

This is akin to the debate over climate change, in that it matters where we begin to look at the data.

Christianity is not the religion of peace -> 4th century forward, with isolated pockets of resistance.

Christianity is the religion of peace -> 1st century forward, nearly drowned out by the church-state mindset.

The day is coming when all will acknowledge that true Christianity is the religion of peace. Christianity will return to it when the Messiah - the Prince of Peace - returns to sit on the throne of his father (ancestor) David in Jerusalem. Solomon’s throne, which is David’s throne, is the Messiah’s throne, is the throne of God on earth.