join christianity = go islam hell, join islam = go christianity hell

give up = go to hell just the same

do nothing = go to hell

same one la hellelujah

This post has been edited by hotjake: Feb 22 2012, 02:31 PM

To be precise this verse must be taken into context.

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

religious here means piously observant of the external duties of the faith (amplified & greek). So in proper context (and to paraphrase in layman language); If you really think of yourselves as piously observant of the external duties of the faith but cant even contain your tongue you mess up...if you wanna be religious fine, start from the basics loving the orphans and the widows who need your help and live a righteous life.

No. in Matt 27:51 it describes Jesus's death. You are partially correct that it was an atonement of sin for in that instance He who knew no sin took upon the sins of the world...but when He died the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. This is terribly significant. The Veil that seperated the Holy of Holies in the Temple of God was ripped in two...man has direct access to God now. Reconciliation through death which is why we can call him Abba Father and friend.

Again this is basic doctrine. Should be discussed in another channel though.

I do agree though that yes just because we have right standing before God doesnt mean we continue to use it a passport to continue to sin.

This post has been edited by stefanong: Feb 22 2012, 02:46 PM

Nice deductive logic!!

Nice.

But your context is from verse 26-27, The context should be from verse 21-27

James was not saying "if you wanna be religious", he is saying this is religion. He gave an example of those people who claimed to be religious in verse 26 then move on to say "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this" (NKJV)

On the account of Matt 27:51, I agree. But it is all due to sin right? If no sin, no broken relationship with God, no deaths, etc. That's what I meant when I said "not relationship". In another words by Christ death what was destroyed by sin was restored.

God is merciful....

May I recommend this thread for you all to continue your discussion: http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2176065
I think if we further this discussion here, it will come under serious religious talk which is not allowed in Kopitiam.

Polygamy was never allowed by God. The patriarch (Abraham, David, Solomon) all sinned in this area. However God save them and forgave their sin

Yahweh can take life whenever He wants using whatever methods because all life belongs to Him. He created and gave life and he has the power to take it back and destroy. God gave the 10 commandments to men, the 1st 4 of them is our duty to God and the rest 6 our duty to fellow man.

He did not fail, Ephesians 1:3-7 tells us God choose and save those belongs to Him before the creation, He choose to save us through Jesus Christ when the creation was not

He knew sin would enter the world but He allowed it. In fact He told Adam & Eve not to eat of the fruit yet they disobey. The fault lies on them not God.

He never failed, we failed and now we are paying the price. The devil failed and they too will pay the price.

even from verse 21 -27 still doesnt negate what ive said. Pure and undefiled outward expression of your faith is this which is merely the definition of religion. thats all.

again you are partially correct. Sin yes but also restoring relationship back to God. The original reason why man was created from the Garden.

Agreed. This is doctrine and theology pretty heavy stuff and not suitable for a channel like this.

Okay, let's continue there.

Yes you are right polygamy is never allowed by God. The kings of the time because of their failure to abide to scripture and followed the local culture ended up paying for it most severely. Sorry for the confusion.

As much as I would like to; I fear that the results will be unacceptable to you. You desire to be convinced with compelling justification. But I am no spokesperson or representative for God. Im neither Judge or Jury. What I can do is merely answer questions with the little that I know from what has been written. I have avoided the Religious thread like a plague because really at the end of the day it is all a question of faith. If you do not believe it is your perogative no amount of arguing will convince you otherwise. It is not my place to win you over or judge. Everyone is entitled to what he/she believes. So if its ok I would prefer to keep discussions light and more Q&A.

God Bless

Favouritism + All-Loving = Contradiction

Actually what you stated isnt proof that the OT is a collection of Jewish myth but a statement that God is dicriminatory and practises favoritism. Again who am I to justify who gets forgiven or not? Matt 20:1 (well the whole passage actually).. its is His perogative. I dont understand it frankly but again it doesnt change a thing.

This post has been edited by stefanong: Feb 22 2012, 05:15 PM

OT & NT = irreconcilable

many versions of bibles, chapters get thrown out to "reconcile", meaning lost in translation, selective interpretations breed many denominations etc etc

deep sea scrolls must read, mother of god i tell ya

This post has been edited by hotjake: Feb 22 2012, 05:26 PM

i share your thoughts and dilemma and i believe many others do as well

This post has been edited by hotjake: Feb 22 2012, 05:28 PM

Fortunately for us mere mortals, your intellect is just as much mine, a mere mortal.

Trying to define ALL acts of God is an impossibility.

We can only look at the macro purpose of God and not look at its finer details less we become HIM.
IF we CAN acess to Being HIM, whither God?

In my opinion, and its only my opinion, in the greater measure of things, there is ONe main purpose of this god named YHWH, that is to prepare and ensure the way of His appointed Saviour called Jesus whom
he purpose to come through the nation of Israel and through the lineage of David.

The many 'atrocities' that you mentioned where nations were destroyed was because

a) they were evil, practcing idolatory, eg The Canaanites were known to engage in bestiality, incest, and even child sacrifice. Deviant sexual acts were the norm. This was a thoroughly evil culture, so much so that the Bible says it nauseated God. They were into brutality, cruelty, incest, bestiality, cultic prostitution, and even child sacrifice by fire. They were an aggressive culture that wanted to annihilate the Israelites.

b) they were trying to destroy Israel

c) Does God give a chance for repentance?

It must be remembered that God gave the Canaanite people more than sufficient time to repent of their evil ways—over 400 years (Genesis 15:13-16)! The Book of Hebrews tells us that the Canaanites were "disobedient," a phrase that implies moral culpability on their part (Hebrews 11:31). The Canaanites were aware of God's power (Joshua 2:10-11, 9:9) and could have sought repentance. The example of Rahab and her family is a sure proof that the Canaanites could have avoided their destruction if they had repented before Israel's God (Joshua 2). God's desire is that the wicked turn from their sin rather than die (Ezekiel 18:31-32, 33:11).

Whatever you read in the OT all points towards this sole purpose, which is the greater purpose
that the billions of christians will have come to faith in Jesus their saviour.

God could have destroyed creation from the beginning and started again but He did not.
He showed them love, mercy and salvation.

A Greater purpose than what out mere mortal minds could ever comprehend to explain.


Peace

The Problem of Evil gets selective interpretation all the time. Who was evil? the tribe? the person? the innocents who get slain along the big measure of God's mysterious plan? Israelite the chosen ones? See how much eveil they do today? God has no guilt, hence no punishment for this chosen people nor redemption for their victims, namely the Palestinians

Its not selective if you care to read the OT.
The Israel of the OT is quite different from the nation of Israel today.
That Israel was theocratic in nature.

i guess you are a Palestinean sympathizer...from your previous posts, thats why you are here to bash christianity?

This post has been edited by prophetjul: Feb 23 2012, 09:40 AM