God

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Originally Posted by 05Ivory

He is jealous for us. And who wants a God who isn't? Who wants a God that doesn't care?

That's not how I read it, Ivory. Don't worship any other God but me because I'm jealous. That's how I read it. In fact, that's how it's written.

Now, imagine some man saying something like that to you. Sorry, I'd be running the other way.

[ronniechoate34]

Joe:2:17: Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
Joe:2:18: Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
Joe:2:19: Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
Joe:2:20: But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
Joe:2:21: Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

[ronniechoate34]

Proverb:6:20: My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Proverb:6:21: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
Proverb:6:22: When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
Proverb:6:23: For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Proverb:6:24: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
Proverb:6:25: Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
Proverb:6:26: For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
Proverb:6:27: Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
Proverb:6:28: Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
Proverb:6:29: So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
Proverb:6:30: Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
Proverb:6:31: But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
Proverb:6:32: But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
Proverb:6:33: A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
Proverb:6:34: For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
Proverb:6:35: He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.



Does that mean anything to any one of you? I know I get the picture.

[05Ivory]

Originally Posted by DoubleEdgeSword

That's not how I read it, Ivory. Don't worship any other God but me because I'm jealous. That's how I read it. In fact, that's how it's written.

Now, imagine some man saying something like that to you. Sorry, I'd be running the other way.

God's not a sinful man that's going to abuse me. So God saying he's jealous because he wants me to worship him alone doesn't scare me.

Idols are never going to bring me happiness. In my life I eventually turn it over to God or I lose my mind.

[Nix]

Originally Posted by tiger_rascal

You are hateful lately, Dave.

Alright, we get it. You think the Bible is a big fat book of contradictions.

You have your faith, your beliefs, I have mine.

Well. It is.

[tiger_rascal]

Originally Posted by 05Ivory

God's not a sinful man that's going to abuse me. So God saying he's jealous because he wants me to worship him alone doesn't scare me.

Idols are never going to bring me happiness. In my life I eventually turn it over to God or I lose my mind.

Thats just it. I dont get why the non-believers are trying to make God out to be equal to a mortal man.



I thought better of some of the posters. Have we not made any progress in 7 years in this forum? Have we not learned anything?

I dont know what is up with the current posts, its like stepping into an alternate forum where things were turned upside down and posters are acting like we just started having these discussions.

[oldernow]

Originally Posted by tiger_rascal

Thats just it. I dont get why the non-believers are trying to make God out to be equal to a mortal man.



I thought better of some of the posters. Have we not made any progress in 7 years in this forum? Have we not learned anything?

I dont know what is up with the current posts, its like stepping into an alternate forum where things were turned upside down and posters are acting like we just started having these discussions.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Originally Posted by 05Ivory

God's not a sinful man that's going to abuse me. So God saying he's jealous because he wants me to worship him alone doesn't scare me.

Idols are never going to bring me happiness. In my life I eventually turn it over to God or I lose my mind.

So, you admit that God does demand that you worship him and only him, but why? That's what I don't understand. Why isn't a simple "thank you" enough?

As far as it scaring you if you don't worship him alone, it should. The Bible says if you don't, you'll end up in eternal damnation. That's pretty scary, don't you think? I mean, there are consequences in the Bible for not worshiping God, am I right?

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Originally Posted by tiger_rascal

Thats just it. I dont get why the non-believers are trying to make God out to be equal to a mortal man.



I thought better of some of the posters. Have we not made any progress in 7 years in this forum? Have we not learned anything?

I dont know what is up with the current posts, its like stepping into an alternate forum where things were turned upside down and posters are acting like we just started having these discussions.

Perhaps we're just asking different questions now, Chad. I have questions, Dave has questions, oxymoron has questions. This isn't a forum just for Christians, it's for anyone who has questions.

[db44]

I really don't see what is so hateful about my post or out of character. You have to tell me. It's all stuff I have said before: I don't believe in church (still impartial), but for all everyone says about attending or watching, why is it a multi-billion-dollar business in which some people get rich?

The only thing new in is from me is that I'm now accusing the crucifix of being an idol of God, which is condemned in the Bible.

Let's try it in the scientific method:

If: God says in the Bible not to make an idol of him: true (Exouds 20:4, 20:23, 34:17 the middle more about said televangelists)

And: Jesus is God: true (various posts here)

And: Idols are made in Jesus' likeness: true (cucifixes, trrptychs, manger scenes)

Then: Idols of Jesus are idols in the form of God, which are by God's words illegal.

Right there in the Ten Commandments, next to thou shalt not kill.

Maybe I have to go read more closely, but as of yet, the only response to this has been name-calling and slights directed at me and you taking pot shots at Oxy in my name. The latter is not a Christianly thing to do. No answer to the my theory though. But I stand by my original interpretation: Having idols of Jesus throughout churches are in direct violation of God's words in the Bible against the most sacred rules he/she/it supposedly gave to us.

Chruches too are idols in the name of God, if not a depiction of him/her/it. And some churches still rank among my favorite buildings in the world (Koln Dom is the most beautiful building I have ever stepped in and I love going to cathedrals wherever I travel in Europe). I don't hate the concept, but am pointing out how duplistic they are and my belief that religion is best served as a personal experience.

Thats just it. I dont get why the non-believers are trying to make God out to be equal to a mortal man.

To quote yourself: Are you for real? You're the one proudly giving him human characteristics in this thread. My version of God is above us in this aspect. You're happy he's jealous and egoistical? I wouldn't want to worship anything that has such human flaws, some of our most negative traits that lead us to our most heinous acts. You're the one making him equal to mortal man. I'm the one putting him on a tier so much higher than us, yet a tier we should be trying to acheive, and I believe is reachable.

I turn once again to the esteemed philosopher Dr. Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy:" I doubt any God who inflicts pain for his own pleasure." To strike one down out of jealousy is just that.

[db44]

Originally Posted by 05Ivory

When I do give money to a church it's so they can pay their bills. I use the heat and air conditioning and their bathroom and the building. My pastor used to work outside the church but lost his job so now I give for his family.

My church isn't rich like the ones on TV.

Then why spend for a building instead of renting a school gym or a common meeting place? Or why not just go to somebody's house in a smaller group? And why do you need somebody to lead you in prayer in the first place? Everyone seems capable of prayer on their own. Look at the posts all over LD: "pray for my friend" "I'll pray for you" "you'll be in my prayers."Are you going to tell me you run down the block to your pastor each time you post this? That you need a pastor to lead you in discussion? Because we discuss ideology here, without a priest or rabbi or cleric, and it's free. And you can definitely find such boards of people less unsavory than myself elsewhere if you wanted. And you should be able to do this in th comfort of your own home with your truest friends if you really wanted to.

[ronniechoate34]

Joh:4:23: But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

The truth is that God has preserved his word with no help from man. We have not been involved in the process save that men
were used as tools by the Holy Ghost in order to fulfill His promise.


Another truth is that we have no idea what Jesus looked like and we should never bow to anything other than God.


With that being said let me add that unbelievers will hold it against a Christian if they discover that one is worshiping outside the truth. Even with their limited knowledge they can plainly see the errors. Even Muslims use the "Christian" use of the NIV and such against us. They are right to call us on it. It should make more people think about their use of these "new age" bibles.

[ronniechoate34]

You either believe and worship in the truth, or, you don't believe and you worship a god that you do not know.

[tiger_rascal]

Originally Posted by DoubleEdgeSword

Perhaps we're just asking different questions now, Chad. I have questions, Dave has questions, oxymoron has questions. This isn't a forum just for Christians, it's for anyone who has questions.

It does not look like Dave is asking questions. More like bordering on bashing the Bible and churches.

And as for your question about worshipping. The Bible states to not worship any other gods. It does not state that you have to worship God all the time or you will burn in hell.

[tiger_rascal]

Dave, as Ivory stated a few pages back, church is for fellowship. If Christians want a place to gather together in fellowship and worship, and call that building a church with pictures depicting Biblical scenes, so be it. Who are you to judge them?