i'm not christian but i do have some questions

[awelight]

i am an agnostic, basically meaning i don't believe we can know whether there is a god or not, but for the most part i live my life like an atheist. below i will list a few questions i would like answered to better understand where you all are coming from, and feel free to ask me anything too. (this is a repost, i was told it would fit better here)

1) how did you convert to christianity or were you christian since childhood?

2) what is your opinion on the LGBT community?

3) what is your opinion on atheists?

4) have you ever questioned your faith?

5) do you believe media like harry potter or pokemon to be problematic? why or why not?

Hi there. Let's get to your questions, although I suspect you have gotten many responses already.

1) how did you convert to Christianity or were you Christian since childhood?

This is a loaded question. You will here everything under the SUN on this question. It should not be this way but it is nevertheless true.

A person being a Christian from childhood, is very unlikely, regardless of what they say. It could happen but again, not likely. If someone says that they are a Christian from Childhood - what they are more likely saying, is they grew up in a Christian household and have always been religious. A religious person (Goes to church, reads the Bible and sings hymns), does not indicate a true believer, any more than the Pharisees or Scribes of Jesus day were. They were very religious and very wrong! A true believer - believes the God and the Christ of the Bible as revealed in the Bible. Religionist, have had the wrong idea about God and Jesus the Christ for centuries because of manmade doctrines.

As to my conversion and what part did I play. Well... I did the sin 'in and God did the sav 'in. I was going along, much like yourself it would seem, perfectly happy in my sinful nature and building my material kingdom... when God, at some point... Regenerated me and out of nowhere I gained a hunger for the Word of God. This drew me to His Son - Jesus Christ, my Savior. It took years of study, after that, to come to understand what and how that had happened.

2) what is your opinion on the LGBT community?

My opinion on the subject does not matter because I have no authority on moral standards. God sets the Moral High Ground. So what says the Scriptures? It is a sin and an abomination before God. See for yourself what God says:

Rom 1:24- 27 Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves: for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.

3) what is your opinion on atheists?

Again, my opinion does not matter. However, Scripture says there is no such thing. Again, read what the Scripture says:

Rom 1:18 - 22 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness; because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools

Every human being knows there is a God - Even I knew that when I was in my sinful bliss. I just didn't care. I may have not known the God of the Bible, in all of His revealed glory but I knew there was a supreme being. I sensed this when I gazed upon the wonders of Creation. You cannot honestly say you do not believe in God because you are here asking questions. You know He exists, even if it is in the recesses of you mind.

4) have you ever questioned your faith?

This is an interesting question and somewhat difficult to answer. In one way, I would say - yes. In the other, I would say - no. Let's start with - YES. Because of my own abiding sins, I have questioned whether or not I was truly one of God's Elect. My faith did not wane nor did it fail but my intellect was questioning my position in Christ or put another way, was my faith my own or was it truly God given faith. There is a difference. As to the - NO - I have never, ever stopped believing that the Scriptures are the True Words of God and in them is the only objective truth and the Words of life.

5) do you believe media like harry potter or pokemon to be problematic? why or why not?

This can be answered simply. If one is outside of Christ, they most likely will believe anything. UFOs, Aliens, Ghosts, the moon landing conspiracy, etc...etc. It really does not matter. If one is in Christ and deeply rooted in the Doctrines of Scripture, then they know the truth and these things would have no sway over them. I watched Harry Potter and enjoyed it for it's entertainment value but certainly do not believe in the magic, ghosts and so on, presented therein.

The most dangerous of the movies and television shows, are the ones based on Biblical accounts. Hollywood is no preacher of Biblical truth. Movies like the "Ten Commandments", "King of kings", "The passion of Christ."...etc. do not follow the Scriptures. They leave things out and add things in. This is very dangerous and could mislead a new believer and the untaught; not to mention the lost individual and don't even get me started with these PTL shows on television - what a mess.

 

[Magenta]

Hi there. Let's get to your questions, although I suspect you have gotten many responses already.

OP has been banned...

 

[awelight]

1) I believed in Jesus as a young child.

2) I believe people in the LGBT community ought to feel welcomed and loved in the church. I think that many in the LGBT community has felt hurt and not welcome at church which is unfortunate and I can understand that . I don't believe people can help who they feel attracted to. I believe Jesus loves people in the LGBT community.

3. I get the impression that many atheists don't believe there is any proof of a God. I think many atheists don't believe in an afterlife though some do. I think there are atheists who ask good and challenging questions about Christianity. I believe Jesus loves atheists and that we as Christians should love atheists too.

4) Yes. Many doubts about mine own acceptance with God. I have read Scripture which often has been a comfort to me in this though I find I still wrestle with this insecurity. I've had questions regarding hell. I've talked to a friend once about Jesus death on the cross and how far in the distance it felt to me . I never stopped believing in Jesus and his death and resurrection as far I can remember. I have looked into apologetics.

5) I personally like Pokemon Indigo League and grew up with that one. I haven't watched as much of the newer episodes. I don't know too much about Harry Potter. I've only watched and enjoyed one Harry Potter Movie. I tend to enjoy the fantasy / sci-fi genre in general. I have heard negative feedback on the books though having not read them myself I cannot make a personal judgement on it .

I cannot believe you answered what you did in question number 2. You should be ashamed to imply such a thing. Homosexuality is not only a sin but the Old Testament says it is an abomination before the Lord. It is still an abomination in the New Testament. (Rom 1:24-27)

The only way a someone from the LGBTQ community should be welcomed is if they repent of this lifestyle.

 

[awelight]

I was open and honest without provocation in my reply to him. He didn’t come here seeking to learn about the Lord; he came here to wave a pompous middle finger at those of us who believe in Jesus Christ.

Why do you respond in such a manner to one who is outside of Christ? They should be most pitied. You act like one that has something to boast about or is privileged. If you have received God's Grace then you have nothing to boast about. This person you are calling a troll and an idiot, could have been you. This is not loving one as you would desire to be loved.

 

[Snacks]

Why do you respond in such a manner to one who is outside of Christ? They should be most pitied. You act like one that has something to boast about or is privileged. If you have received God's Grace then you have nothing to boast about. This person you are calling a troll and an idiot, could have been you. This is not loving one as you would desire to be loved.

I was nothing of the kind in my original response to him. Troll and idiot were after the fact. However you are right about one thing; there but by the grace of God go I.

 

[Komentaja]

i am an agnostic, basically meaning i don't believe we can know whether there is a god or not, but for the most part i live my life like an atheist. below i will list a few questions i would like answered to better understand where you all are coming from, and feel free to ask me anything too. (this is a repost, i was told it would fit better here)

1) how did you convert to christianity or were you christian since childhood?

2) what is your opinion on the LGBT community?

3) what is your opinion on atheists?

4) have you ever questioned your faith?

5) do you believe media like harry potter or pokemon to be problematic? why or why not?

1. I became a Christian after being healed of a condition and feeling convicted of my sin, I was around 17.

2. Abomination. Especially how they are recruiting the yougn people into their crowd.

3. Very neutral, I wonder how they can NOT believe in a God?

4. Yes, about a year after salvation I started to look into different churches and denominations, I had no idea the differences were this big. I was questioning it when I started thinking "How can this be of God when people cant even figure out simple things like WHO is God or who is Jesus?"

5. I believe Harry Potter in particular is sinful due to its promotion of witchcraft. Most of the media today is just LGBT, globalist agenda driven garbage. Stay away.

 

[CherieR]

I cannot believe you answered what you did in question number 2. You should be ashamed to imply such a thing. Homosexuality is not only a sin but the Old Testament says it is an abomination before the Lord. It is still an abomination in the New Testament. (Rom 1:24-27)

The only way a someone from the LGBTQ community should be welcomed is if they repent of this lifestyle.

I believe it is sin to do homosexual acts but the op did not ask what I thought of homosexuality as a whole but of the community. I believe the LGBT community ought to feel loved and have a safe community in the church but often times they are hurt by the church which is unfortunate. Jesus himself welcomed sinners. We all are sinners and I believe Jesus welcomes everyone to come to him in faith.

 

[Eli1]

I believe it is sin to do homosexual acts but the op did not ask what I thought of homosexuality as a whole but of the community. I believe the LGBT community ought to feel loved and have a safe community in the church but often times they are hurt by the church which is unfortunate. Jesus himself welcomed sinners. We all are sinners and I believe Jesus welcomes everyone to come to him in faith.

Amen !

 

[kleronomos]

I was open and honest without provocation in my reply to him. He didn’t come here seeking to learn about the Lord; he came here to wave a pompous middle finger at those of us who believe in Jesus Christ.

It could be, but the QUESTION and the TEST may NOT have anything to do with him at all. We are the SHEEP. If he is coming here to do just that it doesn't STOP Judgment day for him, does it? NO, he becomes MORE responsible for what he does with EVERY WORD. But what happens if you and/or I seek to recompense? We are taking it away FROM GOD who NEEDS IT for judgment. WE are fighting a spiritual battle but no one seems to understand that we are soldiers FOR GOD, not our ownselves. THE WOLVES are HERE and coming for us. The many antichrists ARE HERE to deceive. We need to make sure GOD has what HE needs for judgment, not what our FLESH wants for judgment.

WISE AS SERPENTS gentle as doves. Working for GOD. God loves to RECOMPENSE us for the TROUBLE others give us. If WE do that ourselves we not only take from what God needs THEY by doing what they do TAKE FROM OUR FUTURE REWARDS.

It isn't about today. OUR WORKS do follow us and our works are REWARDED. Do you really think you get to recompense and then God will again? MAKE A WISE CHOICE. Fight the flesh feeling, and treat those who have been TAKEN in the snares of the devil appropriately WHEN EVER POSSIBLE, which I say because I DO the same things myself and personally appreciate when someone gives me a 'reminder' so I can get back to the task at hand.

Christians today seem to have forgotten or maybe have never know what the game plan is. But remember WE are being refined, WE are learning THROUGH the things that we suffer. Persecution feels a lot less like persecution once you have gotten a hold of THE END GAME, the end result, the REWARDS. Just trying to help those who are WORKING to make sure that not only are they doing so but that they are getting the most 'bang for the buck'. Wouldn't it be awful if all this time spent here WAS THE ONLY REWARD when you could double it by having GOD give it to you for having done it HIS WAY rather than not?

If I offended you somehow, I apologize, I go where I feel lead and some times, many times don't know why. Just working for the Lord the best way I can. I have come a long way but know I have a long way yet to go. Again, I am sorry if I gave an offense

 

[kleronomos]

I believe it is sin to do homosexual acts but the op did not ask what I thought of homosexuality as a whole but of the community. I believe the LGBT community ought to feel loved and have a safe community in the church but often times they are hurt by the church which is unfortunate. Jesus himself welcomed sinners. We all are sinners and I believe Jesus welcomes everyone to come to him in faith.

Amen !

All those in Sodom were more than OPEN and didn't SEE it as any sort of a PROBLEM either.

What DID GOD SAY?




Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Leviticus 20:14 And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.

Leviticus 20:15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.


UNLESS I've misunderstood and you are saying to bring them in hopes they REPENT, if so this is for someone else.


1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

1 Corinthians 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

1 Corinthians 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

1 Corinthians 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?



1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.


It is hard sometimes to be a servant of God, but I BELIEVE WHAT IS WRITTEN, and so I defend it and HEED the warnings. Mine is not to reason why, mine is but to do or die.



Ezekiel 33:4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

Ezekiel 33:5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

Ezekiel 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

THAT IS US, or should be.

Ezekiel 33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

Ezekiel 33:8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Ezekiel 33:9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Ezekiel 33:10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Ezekiel 33:12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

Ezekiel 33:13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

Ezekiel 33:14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

Ezekiel 33:15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Ezekiel 33:16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

Ezekiel 33:17 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.



Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.


Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Matthew 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.


THAT, to me, is a big price to pay for your place in the eternal kingdom.


Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Revelation 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.


Now you have been given what I have been given.

 

[CherieR]

All those in Sodom were more than OPEN and didn't SEE it as any sort of a PROBLEM either.

What DID GOD SAY?




Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Leviticus 20:14 And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.

Leviticus 20:15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.


UNLESS I've misunderstood and you are saying to bring them in hopes they REPENT, if so this is for someone else.


1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

1 Corinthians 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

1 Corinthians 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

1 Corinthians 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?



1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.


It is hard sometimes to be a servant of God, but I BELIEVE WHAT IS WRITTEN, and so I defend it and HEED the warnings. Mine is not to reason why, mine is but to do or die.



Ezekiel 33:4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

Ezekiel 33:5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

Ezekiel 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

THAT IS US, or should be.

Ezekiel 33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

Ezekiel 33:8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Ezekiel 33:9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Ezekiel 33:10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Ezekiel 33:12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

Ezekiel 33:13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

Ezekiel 33:14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

Ezekiel 33:15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Ezekiel 33:16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

Ezekiel 33:17 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.



Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.


Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Matthew 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.


THAT, to me, is a big price to pay for your place in the eternal kingdom.


Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Revelation 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.


Now you have been given what I have been given.

Hello, the way I look at it is that people cannot help who they are attracted to. That part is not something one can help. Actions on the other hand are different. For example one can remain single though I can imagine that can be difficult but it is possible. In my opinion, faith in Christ and love for Jesus can lead to repentance in that because you love Jesus, you want to follow him. Just like other sins one can slip up and fall into temptation and do wrong. It doesn't make someone not saved. What counts is faith and love for Jesus. I believe faith and love for Christ go hand and hand. Keeping God's commandments can be a expression of faith and love for God though at the same time, we sin and fall short often as Christians in different ways.

 

[awelight]

I believe it is sin to do homosexual acts but the op did not ask what I thought of homosexuality as a whole but of the community. I believe the LGBT community ought to feel loved and have a safe community in the church but often times they are hurt by the church which is unfortunate. Jesus himself welcomed sinners. We all are sinners and I believe Jesus welcomes everyone to come to him in faith.

I want to expound upon my original post just a bit.

Anyone and everyone should be welcomed to come into a church, if they so choose, to hear the message preached. My response was dealing with one joining the church from the LGBT lifestyle. No church, of our Lord Jesus Christ, should welcome one into membership unless they have shown proper repentance and a true work of grace Therefore, if one from the LGBT community is convicted of their sinful lifestyle and repents, then and only then should membership be offered and that one baptized.

Sadly, we have churches and denominations, today, that are allowing and receiving those in this lifestyle with full acceptance of it. This is not only anti-Bible but sends the wrong message to those in the world. It changes the message from: Being saved from sin to being saved in sin. The clarity of this message, has already been damaged, by the churches who teach that God loves the sinner but hates the sin. This message is logically impossible because the sin is done by the sinner and no sin is committed apart from the sinner. When one sins - God hates the sinner and the sin. God is able to love and hate at the same time. In a similar way, that any father might feel about his own children when they do wrong. For example... When king David committed his heinous sins, do you think God was loving David while he was doing this? NO! God exposed his sins and punished David greatly for them. However, Scripture still records that David was a man after God's own heart.

Anyone visiting an assembly of Jesus Christ should feel welcome but they cannot join a local assembly until they repent of their sins and change the way they think. If they have received God's Grace, this will be accomplished.

Luke 8:35 And they went out to see what had come to pass; and they came to Jesus, and found the man, from whom the demons were gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus: and they were afraid.

I hope this better clarifies what I was getting at.

 

[ResidentAlien]

is it really possible to know that? how so? also you saying evolution is a farce reminds me of this video responding to hank hanegraaff's videos on that acronym.

Keep looking for the Truth. I don't have anything more to offer you than that.

 

[AndrewMorgan]

i am an agnostic, basically meaning i don't believe we can know whether there is a god or not, but for the most part i live my life like an atheist. below i will list a few questions i would like answered to better understand where you all are coming from, and feel free to ask me anything too. (this is a repost, i was told it would fit better here)

1) how did you convert to christianity or were you christian since childhood?

2) what is your opinion on the LGBT community?

3) what is your opinion on atheists?

4) have you ever questioned your faith?

5) do you believe media like harry potter or pokemon to be problematic? why or why not?

I'm not sure how certain terms relate to me - I'm not secure in my understanding, but I'll try to state my experience.
1) I wasn't born into a family with strong beliefs about religion and my thoughts varied as to these topics. In my teens I was a vehement atheist, even mocking a Christian who was in my class.
I was vaguely curious from about 21 to 26.
When I was 26, I met a group of people teaching in the town in which I was living. We talked and they told me they had the answer to life's issues. I went home with them (a move which may not seem wise on reflection) and they talked about their take on things. It turned out they were from "The Way Ministry" - I don't know if you're aware of them. They're unitarians (small "u"), who strongly emphasise positivity.
It was my first introduction to the Bible (King James Version). I soon became terrified because it was the first time I seriously encountered the doctrine of Hell - particularly the concept of the "unforgivable sin".
From then on (I'm now 63), I've gone through my life, at various times and to various intensities becoming involved in Bible-study, trying to discern the truth.
2) I didn't think a lot about the LGBT community before I met the Way. Through the Bible and talking to Christians, I "learned" that homosexuality was a "sin", punishable by death, in the Old Testament era (Leviticus 20:13). As a person born in 1959 AD, I had (rightly or wrongly) a "live and let live" attitude toward the subject and have largely the same attitude toward them now.
3) I see atheists as people who, at least as yet, have not come to believe in the Christian God.
4) It would be unrealistic to deny that I have and I don't suppose I would fool God. One thing I, perhaps too regularly, do is watch "The atheist experience" (I don't know if you're familiar with it), which strongly challenges God's existence.
I sometimes, as now, wonder if I'm sinning by listening to it.
5) As someone somewhat acquainted with the Old Testament and fairly acquainted with the New, I'd have to say the Potter books are. It may well seem to out 21st Century selves to be silly, but I know how strongly wizardry and such like are condemned, especially in the OT. People were put to death in ancient Israel for such activities. Having said that, I am aware of how I fail to adhere to the strictness of the Bible and it concerns me.
I'm unaware of what Pokemon entails.

 

[Eli1]

I'm not sure how certain terms relate to me - I'm not secure in my understanding, but I'll try to state my experience.
1) I wasn't born into a family with strong beliefs about religion and my thoughts varied as to these topics. In my teens I was a vehement atheist, even mocking a Christian who was in my class.
I was vaguely curious from about 21 to 26.
When I was 26, I met a group of people teaching in the town in which I was living. We talked and they told me they had the answer to life's issues. I went home with them (a move which may not seem wise on reflection) and they talked about their take on things. It turned out they were from "The Way Ministry" - I don't know if you're aware of them. They're unitarians (small "u"), who strongly emphasise positivity.
It was my first introduction to the Bible (King James Version). I soon became terrified because it was the first time I seriously encountered the doctrine of Hell - particularly the concept of the "unforgivable sin".
From then on (I'm now 63), I've gone through my life, at various times and to various intensities becoming involved in Bible-study, trying to discern the truth.
2) I didn't think a lot about the LGBT community before I met the Way. Through the Bible and talking to Christians, I "learned" that homosexuality was a "sin", punishable by death, in the Old Testament era (Leviticus 20:13). As a person born in 1959 AD, I had (rightly or wrongly) a "live and let live" attitude toward the subject and have largely the same attitude toward them now.
3) I see atheists as people who, at least as yet, have not come to believe in the Christian God.
4) It would be unrealistic to deny that I have and I don't suppose I would fool God. One thing I, perhaps too regularly, do is watch "The atheist experience" (I don't know if you're familiar with it), which strongly challenges God's existence.
I sometimes, as now, wonder if I'm sinning by listening to it.
5) As someone somewhat acquainted with the Old Testament and fairly acquainted with the New, I'd have to say the Potter books are. It may well seem to out 21st Century selves to be silly, but I know how strongly wizardry and such like are condemned, especially in the OT. People were put to death in ancient Israel for such activities. Having said that, I am aware of how I fail to adhere to the strictness of the Bible and it concerns me.
I'm unaware of what Pokemon entails.

What a wonderful post from the heart.
‘Since the OP is now banned I’d like to ask you a question regarding Fear.
‘In your post I notice a fear of God that your have because you learned of Hell etc.
But Why do you fear God? I personally Love God.
I mean God is the Creator of this reality so just by that attribute alone He is all powerful so when I am faced with such a powerful presence who can annihilate or create at will, I am left in Awe not in Fear.
‘Then to add to this the fact that He sent His only son here to share in our suffering … this is confirmation for me that He is a Loving God.
So why do you fear God?

Also you’re not sinning when you have doubt.
In the Bible a father brought his sick child to Jesus so He could heal him. Jesus said That “he who believes will be healed”.
The father said “I believe O Lord help my unbelief”.
So imagine, this man was in the presence of Jesus who was performing miracles and had doubt.
‘Doubt is normal And an honest thing to say.

 

[AndrewMorgan]

What a wonderful post from the heart.
‘Since the OP is now banned I’d like to ask you a question regarding Fear.
‘In your post I notice a fear of God that your have because you learned of Hell etc.
But Why do you fear God? I personally Love God.
I mean God is the Creator of this reality so just by that attribute alone He is all powerful so when I am faced with such a powerful presence who can annihilate or create at will, I am left in Awe not in Fear.
‘Then to add to this the fact that He sent His only son here to share in our suffering … this is confirmation for me that He is a Loving God.
So why do you fear God?

Also you’re not sinning when you have doubt.
In the Bible a father brought his sick child to Jesus so He could heal him. Jesus said That “he who believes will be healed”.
The father said “I believe O Lord help my unbelief”.
So imagine, this man was in the presence of Jesus who was performing miracles and had doubt.
‘Doubt is normal And an honest thing to say.

Thanks for your input.
I don't know why the OP was banned - I don't see anything problematic in what he was saying.
Re. fear: - first, at the time I was very new to the Bible and Christianity. I'd never seriously considered the subject. All I knew was I'd come across the idea of an unforgivable sin. I didn't know if I'd committed it and it made me terrified.
Re. doubt: - have you come across the likes of Sye Ten Bruggencate and others like him. He says "Everyone knows that God exists. Those who claim otherwise are suppressing the Truth in unrighteousness." He also says doubt is a sin.

 

[Eli1]

Thanks for your input.
I don't know why the OP was banned - I don't see anything problematic in what he was saying.
Re. fear: - first, at the time I was very new to the Bible and Christianity. I'd never seriously considered the subject. All I knew was I'd come across the idea of an unforgivable sin. I didn't know if I'd committed it and it made me terrified.
Re. doubt: - have you come across the likes of Sye Ten Bruggencate and others like him. He says "Everyone knows that God exists. Those who claim otherwise are suppressing the Truth in unrighteousness." He also says doubt is a sin.

Users on the internet can be banned at any time for any reason at any site depending on how the Boss of the site sees things. That’s just how the internet works.

I don’t know who Sye Ten Bruggencate is but I guess there’s a difference in interpretation of the Bible I guess , something which I don’t share but Thank you for answering my question and making your position more clear.

 

[ZNP]

i am an agnostic, basically meaning i don't believe we can know whether there is a god or not, but for the most part i live my life like an atheist.

I believe we can know there is a God and that it would be unrighteous of God to judge man for rejecting His Son if we couldn't.

According to the Bible only God can predict the future.

The Bible told us the day and the year that Jesus would be crucified.

It told us He would be killed as the Passover lamb.

The procedure you were to follow before killing the Passover lamb is very precise and they followed it.

I also believe that the resurrection is a very powerful testimony to all the world. When Jesus rose from the dead He left the grave clothes behind as physical evidence of the resurrection. I think the physical evidence of the Sudarium and the Shroud of Turin is irrefutable.

The Bible says that God tells the end from the beginning. The first word in the Bible is translated as "in the beginning". There is a Youtube video on this where they go through the Hebrew letters that make up this word and how they tell the entire gospel story of Jesus.

There is also something known as "the Bible code". They discovered that words were coded into the Bible by a equal spacing. For example Torah is written in Genesis and Exodus with equal spacing and then written in reverse in Numbers and Deuteronomy and in Leviticus you have the name of God written. The message being that the torah points to God and reveals God. However, once we had computers we were able to really explore this and about 40 years ago they published the findings in a Journal of Statistics. The only way the journal would publish is if they got the most prominent Atheist in the world to coauthor it (he was also very highly respected Statistician). He said they had to do the same analysis on War and Peace, the unabridged Dictionary, a set of encyclopedias, and 1 million other volumes. It took them several years but they were able to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the Bible codes they were finding were not simply the result of random chance. So they began searching for famous people and they were able to find every person they searched for, ultimately they concluded that everyone's name is in the Bible. I wanted to check this out because I wanted to see what Bible verses would have my name.

So they found my name which is 17 letters long (first, middle and last name). My name was intersected by my Mother's name, my Dad's name, my wife's name and my daughter's name, another 22 letters. They also found the year I was born and USA in the very near vicinity. Since there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet the odds of this is greater than 22 raised to the 38th power. Since they have found hundreds of other names in the same way you can raise those odds to the hundredth power. People misunderstand and think there are secret messages in these codes. No, the Gospel of John says 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. That includes you and me.

When I looked at the verses where my name was found that was the message to me, it was very, very meaningful to me.

I could go on. The bible tells you that the Balfour declaration would be made in 1917, it tells you the year that Israel would be reborn in 1948. It told you that 10 Nazi's would be hung in 1946 and that one would commit suicide. It also told you that Israel would regain Jerusalem in 1967 and it said that Trump would put the embassy in Jerusalem in 2017. Only God can do that.

 

[AndrewMorgan]

I believe we can know there is a God and that it would be unrighteous of God to judge man for rejecting His Son if we couldn't.

According to the Bible only God can predict the future.

The Bible told us the day and the year that Jesus would be crucified.

It told us He would be killed as the Passover lamb.

The procedure you were to follow before killing the Passover lamb is very precise and they followed it.

I also believe that the resurrection is a very powerful testimony to all the world. When Jesus rose from the dead He left the grave clothes behind as physical evidence of the resurrection. I think the physical evidence of the Sudarium and the Shroud of Turin is irrefutable.

The Bible says that God tells the end from the beginning. The first word in the Bible is translated as "in the beginning". There is a Youtube video on this where they go through the Hebrew letters that make up this word and how they tell the entire gospel story of Jesus.

There is also something known as "the Bible code". They discovered that words were coded into the Bible by a equal spacing. For example Torah is written in Genesis and Exodus with equal spacing and then written in reverse in Numbers and Deuteronomy and in Leviticus you have the name of God written. The message being that the torah points to God and reveals God. However, once we had computers we were able to really explore this and about 40 years ago they published the findings in a Journal of Statistics. The only way the journal would publish is if they got the most prominent Atheist in the world to coauthor it (he was also very highly respected Statistician). He said they had to do the same analysis on War and Peace, the unabridged Dictionary, a set of encyclopedias, and 1 million other volumes. It took them several years but they were able to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the Bible codes they were finding were not simply the result of random chance. So they began searching for famous people and they were able to find every person they searched for, ultimately they concluded that everyone's name is in the Bible. I wanted to check this out because I wanted to see what Bible verses would have my name.

So they found my name which is 17 letters long (first, middle and last name). My name was intersected by my Mother's name, my Dad's name, my wife's name and my daughter's name, another 22 letters. They also found the year I was born and USA in the very near vicinity. Since there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet the odds of this is greater than 22 raised to the 38th power. Since they have found hundreds of other names in the same way you can raise those odds to the hundredth power. People misunderstand and think there are secret messages in these codes. No, the Gospel of John says 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. That includes you and me.

When I looked at the verses where my name was found that was the message to me, it was very, very meaningful to me.

I could go on. The bible tells you that the Balfour declaration would be made in 1917, it tells you the year that Israel would be reborn in 1948. It told you that 10 Nazi's would be hung in 1946 and that one would commit suicide. It also told you that Israel would regain Jerusalem in 1967 and it said that Trump would put the embassy in Jerusalem in 2017. Only God can do that.

I've read "The Bible Code"
In it, Drosnin says he checked various people and events, including things happening in the future. He pointed out that similar "revelations" had been sought in great works such as "War and Peace" and none were found, rebutting the idea that this was just an algorithmic trick, which would work in any large work. Notwithstanding all the intricacies, 'though, I don't believe it's genuine, because the "information" seems not to add anything useful to the Bible. It seems the Bible is a straightforward book in a way, and such silly word games would be incommensurate with its solemn message.

 

[Magenta]

I don't know why the OP was banned - I don't see anything problematic in what he was saying.

Mod said to OP: Unfortunately, the post above is all I needed to determine
that you are here to promote your unbelief rather than look for answers. Here