God

[05Ivory]

Originally Posted by DoubleEdgeSword

You think you're safe from religious extremists in this country? Really? Where were you on 9/11?

True. I could walk into church tomorrow and have some random nut blow my brains out. Of course I could go almost anywhere anymore and have that happen.

But I still feel more safe than I would in other countries.

[db44]

Originally Posted by oldernow

Why cant we have a building for a meeting place? If we meet at someones house it would have to be large enough to fit all the people that attend. We would still have to chip in for expenses for said house that we are using. We meet once a week to gather. Like a family. We love and care for one another we share a common belief and enjoy being in the same company. You don't have to go to church to be or talk with God, you go to be with people who share the same faith as you. You bond. It's like you going out with group of friends that you enjoy being with. We are a family. You do not have to give any money to the church if you don't want to or cant. Every week there are three different people who count what was given and we have full access to where the money goes to.

True re: still costing money, and you can. The way I look at the NT though, I wonder if a large, sometimes ornate house of worship is necessary. It seems to me Jesus would have backed away from the altars and temples described in the OT for something more of a community setting, a sermon on a mountain for instance, or perhaps in a park. The way Jesus seemed to be about property and charity, I think he'd be more happy seeing money go to things other than buildings in his name.

I'd disagree to some extent about not having to give money: True, you may not have to, but having seen this for Jewish and Christian holidays, your experience is better the more you are willing to spend. Buying tickets to Rosh Hashanah services or Easter Mass for instance. Plus recognition, either for being devout if you give or stingy if you don't. Gossip travels through all families.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Originally Posted by db44

True re: still costing money, and you can. The way I look at the NT though, I wonder if a large, sometimes ornate house of worship is necessary. It seems to me Jesus would have backed away from the altars and temples described in the OT for something more of a community setting, a sermon on a mountain for instance, or perhaps in a park. The way Jesus seemed to be about property and charity, I think he'd be more happy seeing money go to things other than buildings in his name.

I'd disagree to some extent about not having to give money: True, you may not have to, but having seen this for Jewish and Christian holidays, your experience is better the more you are willing to spend. Buying tickets to Rosh Hashanah services or Easter Mass for instance. Plus recognition, either for being devout if you give or stingy if you don't. Gossip travels through all families.

What? People buy tickets to attend services at church and temple? I paid to see a Klezmer band at a synagogue once, but I understand that.

[db44]

Originally Posted by tiger_rascal

This is ridiculous. As if worshipping one day a week is taking away from anything or "stopping us from progressing foward".

I do not see Dave questioning commandments or beliefs, but down right telling certain believers that their belief is a big contradiction. Even if he does believe that way, he should not judge or cast stones by telling believers they are wasting their life by fulfilling a superior beings ego.

Whatever Chad, re: me being out to get you. At this point you seem to be singular on that, and quite focused just on what I've had to say and how bad it was.

Thank you Pinky, for understanding.

A for one day a week, I stand by that. One seventh of our life, sitting around, talking about the same thing each time? In the strictest Judaism faiths, you only go to temple, otherwise stay home and do nothing. This is progress? I'd rather take a more Roman-Greek view of it: Expand the mind or the body. The adage is "so much to do, so little time," so why throw one seventh of that away when you'll end up not doing things you wanted or had to do in the long run?

I'm all about community, and I believe in faith, but I don't see why faith is the only way to help community, as I feel is one of the notions coming out of here. My school, our students, did plenty forthe community, 60 hours was the minimum requirement to graduate (120 summer hours, 60 while class was in session). The complex I used to live in used its meeting area to do things for under privilaged children, and the Yankees (when I was there at least, so likely this is still going on) had at least one annual food drive. Besides my thoughts of baseball as religion, there's no religious group necessarily promoting all this. Look at sports in general these days:The NHL and NFL doing what they did for Cancer Awareness Month, Baseball's using pink bats and waring blue ribbons to help raise awareness and funds to help fight breast and prostate cancer. The Jackie Robinson tributes, and all they do to raise funds for scholarships and help combat racism.

Why does helping the community have to be in God's name, and why can't you do it outside of your church? Would you partake in any of these things outside of church? I'm okay doing my work in the name of God (not necessarily Jesus, even though as a man he's worthy of respect, I don't see him as God), but it's not necessarily why I do what I do.

[db44]

Originally Posted by 05Ivory

We're on the same page then. lol.

Though biblically Jesus won't return until the gospel is global. There are countries that are closed to Christianity so it'll be interesting to see how far the underground church gets in my lifetime.

I find this to be disheartening on so many levels. For one, it goes strongly against what I believe was Jesus' desire for tolerance and understanding. For another, it means some are fighting a lost cause, because this will never be the case. It means if you're doing what you can for judgement day, it will never come. The only way it will would be by force, and if that's the case, it's not Christianity.

[db44]

As for knowing what Christianity is Chad, I always laugh at the notion one has to be a part of something to understand it. There are plenty of things I'm not part of that I think I have a good grasp on. I think I know more about true Christianity than said Westboro Baptist, or the reverand in AZ that prays for Obama's death and promoted his followers to bring their weapons to Obama rallies.

[db44]

Originally Posted by DoubleEdgeSword

What? People buy tickets to attend services at church and temple? I paid to see a Klezmer band at a synagogue once, but I understand that.

Yep, the way it's always been described to me, it's two-fold: One, it's because these are the days everyone want to attend and they don't have room. Two, because of the demand, they can get some cash inflow.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Originally Posted by db44

I find this to be disheartening on so many levels. For one, it goes strongly against what I believe was Jesus' desire for tolerance and understanding. For another, it means some are fighting a lost cause, because this will never be the case. It means if you're doing what you can for judgement day, it will never come. The only way it will would be by force, and if that's the case, it's not Christianity.

I have to agree with you there, Dave. If Christians are waiting for the gospel to be global, I think they're going to have a long wait. Even in this country, more people are turning away from religion. According to a Pew Research Poll, 25% of citizens 18-24 say they are not affiliated with any religion. Nearly 16% of all Americans claim no religious affiliation, a number that has doubled over the past 20 years.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Originally Posted by db44

Yep, the way it's always been described to me, it's two-fold: One, it's because these are the days everyone want to attend and they don't have room. Two, because of the demand, they can get some cash inflow.

That's just strange. Shouldn't it be first come, first served? Somehow I can't imagine Jesus charging people to come hear him speak.

[ronniechoate34]

Originally Posted by DoubleEdgeSword

I have to agree with you there, Dave. If Christians are waiting for the gospel to be global, I think they're going to have a long wait. Even in this country, more people are turning away from religion. According to a Pew Research Poll, 25% of citizens 18-24 say they are not affiliated with any religion. Nearly 16% of all Americans claim no religious affiliation, a number that has doubled over the past 20 years.

The gospel has already gone global. It's been majorly rejected in these latter days. Some Christians refuse to wake up and see the reality of what's happening. They are a blind bunch.


Isn't it odd that homeless people have frozen to death outside churches? Church buildings are not needed. What is needed is the pure unadulterated truth and people who are willing to follow the Holy Spirit.

[Nix]

Originally Posted by ronniechoate34

The gospel has already gone global. It's been majorly rejected in these latter days. Some Christians refuse to wake up and see the reality of what's happening. They are a blind bunch.


Isn't it odd that homeless people have frozen to death outside churches? Church buildings are not needed. What is needed is the pure unadulterated truth and people who are willing to follow the Holy Spirit.

Yes, we need that but we're not getting it till we're all dead. Means we have to work it out ourselves on this planet.

[tiger_rascal]

Originally Posted by db44

The adage is "so much to do, so little time," so why throw one seventh of that away when you'll end up not doing things you wanted or had to do in the long run?

I'm all about community, and I believe in faith, but I don't see why faith is the only way to help community, as I feel is one of the notions coming out of here. Why does helping the community have to be in God's name, and why can't you do it outside of your church?

Have you read any of my posts?

One day a week is not wasted. For you it would be, but for others it can be well spent.

Of course helping the community does not have to be through church or in Gods name. But often times it is, and thats one of the positives from having very active churches in a community.

[tiger_rascal]

Originally Posted by db44

As for knowing what Christianity is Chad, I always laugh at the notion one has to be a part of something to understand it.

Im not saying you do not understand Christianity. Im saying you would not know if I was doing something Christianly or not. Afterall, you clearly have a different idea of what Christianity is than I do.

[tiger_rascal]

I think this is going a little off topic, but whatever.

The gospels can and is being spread through-out the world in many different languages. It does not have to be accepted for Revelations to start. Just as long as it is in every corner of the globe, which its nearing that already.

DES, you posted about a poll and how this country is becoming a little less religious. Thats completely different than not having the gospels available at all. In this country we all have the ability to read the gospels or not. It wont matter if its accepted or not. The end will happen anyway.

[tiger_rascal]

I just did a quick search. According to one site the Bible has been translated in whole or part in over 2300 different languages! Over 90% of the worlds population has access to the Bible! If Im not mistaken, its still the #1 book in the world with over 1 million Bibles being distributed every week!