Queston, did you know about some of those things I mentioned about the architecture and the National Motto? I just wasn't sure if you understood my point that just because the symbols are there doesn't mean that other symbols didn't exist nor do they signify some sort of union between God and state.

 

I understood your point.

Thank you for the advise. Nonetheless, I'll live my life as I see fit and you of course can do the same for yours. You don't judge me and I won't judge you. If on Judgment Day, I don't get admitted, then I'll only have myself to blame.

 

Please don't take this as I fear it will come across but I think as Christians the bolded is us taking an easy way out. And Jesus indicated a path following Him will be anything but easy. In fact, he said this world will hate us because of Him.

 

If I didn't care about someone that was living a life contrary to what it seems Jesus calls us to do, (NOT SAYING YOUR ARE) then it would be easy for me to say okay to the bolded and go on.

 

But I don't think that is the example that Jesus called us to do.

 

Now, we don't do a good job of doing it in a loving way, but I think the examples he set was pointing out to people (ESPECIALLY those who called themselves religious and I think there is a BIG difference here) points in their lives (MINE INCLUDED, I think of the Joel Osteen thread where Hearsay and Hounds encourages me to run away from their view of Joel Osteen being a false teacher) where we run the risk of stepping away from what Christ indicated in Scripture.

 

At times, it is pretty clear on what we should do and other times it ain't.

 

Abortion, I think that one is pretty clear.

 

Helping the poor on whether it is the government's job or the church's, not sure that is as clear.

 

I don't see it as judging but rather being held accountable. Just as your wife holds you accountable for your actions in your marriage, other Christians that are seeking Christ should hold us accountable for that relationship.

 

If I don't, than I fear I am saying I care more about not making you or another Christian angry than whether you or the other Christian spends eternity in Heaven.

 

Now, back to the part of we don't do a good job of it, too many times we do it or come across as doing it as making sure everyone knows we are right rather than doing it out of love for the other person.

 

Not much difference from me flashing my lights at a speeder when police sits 1/2 mile down the road.:sssh:

I think the Supreme Court also has the 10 commandments in the carved etchings around the building.

 

I think you can learn a lot by the actions of people and it sure seems that this country's ancestors felt stronger about the importance of God being a foundation of this country than we want to admit today.

 

Good info LN.

 

Of course they did. They needed that foundation to supress the slaves and the women of the times. That is what that was based on. They might have put the 10 commandments and other like stuff on these buildings and money and such but we have never really lived it as a country. How about the genecide we did to the Native Americans? Just becasue they were savages and did not believe Christianity.

LBBC, please don't take offense at this, but exactly what makes you more qualified to point us in the right direction than another person?

LBBC, please don't take offense at this, but exactly what makes you more qualified to point us in the right direction than another person?

 

If it was based on what I say, then I think you have a right to be concerned.

 

I think what I would try is to point to Scriptures, discuss it with you and see where that leads us.

 

If it is based on what LBBC sees as the way things should be, then you have every right to be gravely concerned.:sssh:

 

I am trying to based my view based on reading Scripture and then discussing those Scriptures with other Christians seeking the Lord and see where that leads me.

 

And I have had my view changed based upon discussing Scripture with other Christians. I do not hold that I know all about Scripture.

 

You have changed my view on Catholics. Others have changed or reinforce my view on other matters.

Please don't take this as I fear it will come across but I think as Christians the bolded is us taking an easy way out. And Jesus indicated a path following Him will be anything but easy. In fact, he said this world will hate us because of Him.

 

If I didn't care about someone that was living a life contrary to what it seems Jesus calls us to do, (NOT SAYING YOUR ARE) then it would be easy for me to say okay to the bolded and go on.

 

But I don't think that is the example that Jesus called us to do.

 

Now, we don't do a good job of doing it in a loving way, but I think the examples he set was pointing out to people (ESPECIALLY those who called themselves religious and I think there is a BIG difference here) points in their lives (MINE INCLUDED, I think of the Joel Osteen thread where Hearsay and Hounds encourages me to run away from their view of Joel Osteen being a false teacher) where we run the risk of stepping away from what Christ indicated in Scripture.

 

At times, it is pretty clear on what we should do and other times it ain't.

 

Abortion, I think that one is pretty clear.

 

Helping the poor on whether it is the government's job or the church's, not sure that is as clear.

 

I don't see it as judging but rather being held accountable. Just as your wife holds you accountable for your actions in your marriage, other Christians that are seeking Christ should hold us accountable for that relationship.

 

If I don't, than I fear I am saying I care more about not making you or another Christian angry than whether you or the other Christian spends eternity in Heaven.

 

Now, back to the part of we don't do a good job of it, too many times we do it or come across as doing it as making sure everyone knows we are right rather than doing it out of love for the other person.

 

Not much difference from me flashing my lights at a speeder when police sits 1/2 mile down the road.:sssh:

If it makes you feel better about following Jesus' path, then preach on Brother. Just be tolerant of me when I'm not responding.

If it makes you feel better about following Jesus' path, then preach on Brother. Just be tolerant of me when I'm not responding.

 

:thumb:

 

I prefer to think of it as planting seeds. There is a Scripture that we are called to plant seeds.

 

But there is no guarantee that I will cultivate or ever harvest that seed. I am just called to plant the seeds.

 

The other view is that we are called to witness and the Holy Spirit is the one that convicts. I can't convict anyone of sin, I just witness on the Lord's message. The Holy Spirit is the best prosecuting attorney in the world and will be the one to get that conviction.:thumb:

:thumb:

 

I prefer to think of it as planting seeds. There is a Scripture that we are called to plant seeds.

 

But there is no guarantee that I will cultivate or ever harvest that seed. I am just called to plant the seeds.

The other view is that we are called to witness and the Holy Spirit is the one that convicts. I can't convict anyone of sin, I just witness on the Lord's message. The Holy Spirit is the best prosecuting attorney in the world and will be the one to get that conviction.:thumb:

 

LBBC, that was so hard for me to understand when I first started witnessing to others. I thought it was going to be a piece of cake but when people would reject the gift of salvation (I like to think of it more as they were rejecting me, and I still pray for the hope that they found the light of life).

 

I like to think that Matthew 7:1 should say critique not that ye be critiqued but I am not a Bible writer. I know that whenever I get to Heaven I am glad that God doesn't look through my past and critique me because I would certainly fail.

 

God looks at the heart, just as we should. He sent us the Holy Spirit as a comforter and a guide. Whenever we do something wrong, hopefully, our heart bothers us. That is God telling us we messed up. I try to do that with others, if I know they are slipping, I try to catch them on it. I know from experience that turning back to God is easier if someone is there to rotate you.

 

Anyway, the e-mail was pretty neat

OK, why, for instance, when someone has admitted that they are a member of a religion, and consider themselves to have a relationship with God, do some people of other denominations choose to continue to persuade that person that their "way" is wrong and they will not be "saved"?

OK, why, for instance, when someone has admitted that they are a member of a religion, and consider themselves to have a relationship with God, do some people of other denominations choose to continue to persuade that person that their "way" is wrong and they will not be "saved"?

 

I think some Christians make the mistake of trying to get into their way.

 

My view is that Christ is not limited to a denomination. If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Lord and Savior and the only way to eternal salvation and in turn you follow that up with baptism, then I think Scripture indicates you are in pretty good shape.

 

Men then get involved with their views on what is baptism? Should you have drums and guitars? When should you take communion?

 

Some are very good questions but not eternal salvation questions. And so personal preference on non-eternal questions leads to splits of churches.

 

There was a church that I heard once that split over finances. Seems some money was misappropriated. One side said press charges. Other side said Christians don't do that to each other. Led to a split. I could easily see how it is.

 

Is this wrong? To a degree, NO. Why? Because we as Christians shouldn't just accept things as they are because they have always been that way but rather is it grounded in Scripture.

 

I think it is a fair debate on the nature of the Pope and whether he can add to the Scripture with Papal edicts. But that should not lead to hatred between the two sides.

 

I think it is a fair debate on whether Joel Osteen is a false teacher or not because his main messages don't hammer away at sin.

 

I think it is a fair debate on whether homosexuality is some sort of evil sin more than the others or whether it is a sin just like a heterosexual committing adultry or two teenagers in the backseat of a car.

 

I think those issues and other like them need to be debated to help Christians come to a view that Jesus would want us to have on issues.

 

BUT THEY NEVER should lead to Christians hating each other on them.

 

There does have to be times though, that we do stand firm to our beliefs and if the world hates us for them, so be it. Jesus told us that it would happen, so we shouldn't be surprised if it does.

 

That DOES NOT give us a free reign to not use tact and not love when we need to love and when we are hated blame it on the above Scripture.

 

We should expect to be hated for the message BUT WE SHOULD NEVER BE HATED FOR HOW WE DELIVER THE MESSAGE. I think too many times, hatred comes from the latter and not the former.

 

Just my 2, 3, 25 cents.

I think some Christians make the mistake of trying to get into their way.

 

My view is that Christ is not limited to a denomination. If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Lord and Savior and the only way to eternal salvation and in turn you follow that up with baptism, then I think Scripture indicates you are in pretty good shape.

 

Men then get involved with their views on what is baptism? Should you have drums and guitars? When should you take communion?

 

Some are very good questions but not eternal salvation questions. And so personal preference on non-eternal questions leads to splits of churches.

 

There was a church that I heard once that split over finances. Seems some money was misappropriated. One side said press charges. Other side said Christians don't do that to each other. Led to a split. I could easily see how it is.

 

Is this wrong? To a degree, NO. Why? Because we as Christians shouldn't just accept things as they are because they have always been that way but rather is it grounded in Scripture.

 

I think it is a fair debate on the nature of the Pope and whether he can add to the Scripture with Papal edicts. But that should not lead to hatred between the two sides.

 

I think it is a fair debate on whether Joel Osteen is a false teacher or not because his main messages don't hammer away at sin.

 

I think it is a fair debate on whether homosexuality is some sort of evil sin more than the others or whether it is a sin just like a heterosexual committing adultry or two teenagers in the backseat of a car.

 

I think those issues and other like them need to be debated to help Christians come to a view that Jesus would want us to have on issues.

 

BUT THEY NEVER should lead to Christians hating each other on them.

 

There does have to be times though, that we do stand firm to our beliefs and if the world hates us for them, so be it. Jesus told us that it would happen, so we shouldn't be surprised if it does.

 

That DOES NOT give us a free reign to not use tact and not love when we need to love and when we are hated blame it on the above Scripture.

 

We should expect to be hated for the message BUT WE SHOULD NEVER BE HATED FOR HOW WE DELIVER THE MESSAGE. I think too many times, hatred comes from the latter and not the former.

 

Just my 2, 3, 25 cents.

 

 

You wouldn't happen to have 10 cents I could borrow, woudl you?

You wouldn't happen to have 10 cents I could borrow, woudl you?

 

PM me an address and I will mail you a dime.