A Good Church

[suaso]

Then I suppose you may have not quite understood what was evidently my failed attempt at humor. I was being lighthearted, applying the characteristics of a good child to a good church: " A good church takes out the trash, eats all the food on its plate, takes a bath, and does what its mother tells it to do."

I don't know any churches that run garbage disposal services, hold frequent dinners, or participate in mass-bathing, or that has a mother doling out chores. I was trying to be funny

you know...when things get too tense I like to throw in comedic relief...

 

[watchmen]

Then I suppose you may have not quite understood what was evidently my failed attempt at humor. I was being lighthearted, applying the characteristics of a good child to a good church: " A good church takes out the trash, eats all the food on its plate, takes a bath, and does what its mother tells it to do."

I don't know any churches that run garbage disposal services, hold frequent dinners, or participate in mass-bathing, or that has a mother doling out chores. I was trying to be funny

you know...when things get too tense I like to throw in comedic relief...

Yep you got me....

 

[Maddog]

I change my opinion to fit scripture, I have never changed scripture to fit my opinion.

No, you may change your opinion but it's still according to your interpretation of Scripture.

Nope, I trust God to reveal to me His truth as He said He would.

So you trust your understanding of what God is supposedly revealing to you.

What I'm hearing is that you trust your interpretation of the Bible because you trust that God is heliping you because you trust your interpretation of the Bible.

 

[watchmen]

No, you may change your opinion but it's still according to your interpretation of Scripture.

That is your opinion the truth is I believe scripture as it is written end of story

So you trust your understanding of what God is supposedly revealing to you.

I trust what I know God is saying to me.

What I'm hearing is that you trust your interpretation of the Bible because you trust that God is heliping you because you trust your interpretation of the Bible.

You need to unclog your ears so you can hear what is really being said.

 

[Maddog]

That is your opinion the truth is I believe scripture as it is written end of story


I trust what I know God is saying to me.

What happens when other faithful Christians read the Bible and try and hear what God is saying and come to a different understanding to you of what it means? Are they just wrong because you 'know' what God is really saying?

 

[watchmen]

What happens when other faithful Christians read the Bible and try and hear what God is saying and come to a different understanding to you of what it means? Are they just wrong because you 'know' what God is really saying?

Possibly, what subject are you referring to? There are some subjects that are fairly ambiguous, but very few, most of scripture is pretty cut and dry.

 

[MahogonySnail]

So ultimately watchmen, everything you say on here is only a religious statement and not a christian one.

 

[miktre]

So ultimately watchmen, everything you say on here is only a religious statement and not a christian one.

BAAAAAAMP Not true at all. Try not to let your personal feelings reflect what Gods word says. The truth that Watchmen speaks doesnt become untrue due to your hate.

 

[MahogonySnail]

I'm merely using Watchmen's own definitions of religious documents and christian ones, to help define where his opinions are coming from. Does he believe his own statements he writes on here are christian ones or religious ones? Apparently according to Watchmen, there's no such thing as a christian document, logically he must not believe there's any such thing as a christian forum post, therefore all his posts are religious, not christian.

 

[miktre]

I'm merely using Watchmen's own definitions of religious documents and christian ones, to help define where his opinions are coming from. Does he believe his own statements he writes on here are christian ones or religious ones? Apparently according to Watchmen, there's no such thing as a christian document, logically he must not believe there's any such thing as a christian forum post, therefore all his posts are religious, not christian.

BAAAAAMP A christian document is always the same as a christian post? Therefore there are are many forum posts that don't coincide with christian documents. However, you must be able to use disernment and common sense. Else God forbid, the words of God become void. There are many on here that wish to make His word null and void>

 

[Maddog]

Possibly, what subject are you referring to? There are some subjects that are fairly ambiguous, but very few, most of scripture is pretty cut and dry.

Pretty much anything and everything. There are thousands of Protestant sects precisely for this reason. There are disagreements over drinking, worship style, the role of women in the church, Calvinism versus Arminianism etc.

But there are also more serious differences that possibly have a bearing on a person's salvation. To name just a few: the necessity of baptism, the understanding of the sacraments/ordinances, Holy Communion, the relationship to salvation of faith and works, eternal security etc.

Here's the problem. While you may believe Scripture is pretty cut and dried about these things, all of those (Sola Scriptura) Christians who have a different view also think the Bible is pretty cut and dried on these matters.

Do you believe that these people just aren't understanding the Bible properly? How would we verify who's right and who's wrong if so many people who use the Bible, in honest faith, come to a different conclusion about what it's saying?

 

[Indra]

What ingredients go into making a good church?

- A mustard seed of faith ;
- The skin of an elephant if you testify the message of the Gospel ;
- A heart greater of ten people combined to love even the most unloved;
- The mind of child to rejoice in the salvation ;
- The experience of an elder to guide the young ;
- The will, discipline and faith to step back from pride and lust ;
- The courage to be honest and truthful ;
- The good grace and mercy of the Lord. ;

I think those would be a good start for any church

 

[watchmen]

So ultimately watchmen, everything you say on here is only a religious statement and not a christian one.

My statement can not be a christian can it, it is inanimate.

 

[watchmen]

- A mustard seed of faith ;
- The skin of an elephant if you testify the message of the Gospel ;
- A heart greater of ten people combined to love even the most unloved;
- The mind of child to rejoice in the salvation ;
- The experience of an elder to guide the young ;
- The will, discipline and faith to step back from pride and lust ;
- The courage to be honest and truthful ;
- The good grace and mercy of the Lord. ;

I think those would be a good start for any church

Excellent post Indra, and welcome to CC.

 

[Definition_Christ]

Jehovah's Witnesses saying Jesus is not God/ claiming Jesus is Michael the archangel/ various others. I asked a Jehovah's Witness about all this and he said thats crazy, if you want to know what a witness believes you need to ask one. Don't believe all the lies you hear about other religions, your judging them about lies, God is the only judge. Why do we do that?

(The Watchtower, February 15, 1979, p. 31),
"Jesus Christ, whom we understand from the Scriptures to be Michael the archangel"

Let's see what we can conclude from this, shall we?
1) JW's believe that Jesus is Michael the archangel.
2) Obviously if Jesus is an angel He can not be God.
3) They say He is *a* God.. But not Jehovah.. I think that is where the confusion came in.

 

[imoss]

My statement can not be a christian can it, it is inanimate.

This is pretty much the craziest thing i've ever read in these forums!!! rofl! thanks for the chuckle.

 

[Thaddaeus]

Jas 1:26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.Jas 1:27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
there is an and connecting love with holiness and it takes both not one or the other