, Regarding #16, I almost agree with you; I dont see evidence for the existence of any gods, let alone the Christian God. Now Im of the opinion that an agnostic saying Im not sure, Im waiting for evidence is no different to I dont believe because theres not enough evidence. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Another reminder comes from 1 Peter 4:10: Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering Gods grace in its various forms. When we skip church, we miss out on the satisfying sense of fulfillment when we begin to carry out our purpose in the body of Christ. So. Jesus disciples are the victims of violence, without ever being its perpetrators. As for me, I suspect both the intellectual and emotional conclusions happen at the same time. in spite of jot nor tittle comments, I am sure that your life would be a whole lot better if you made love your aim and sought, with all your heart and mind, to make that happen in your relationships with others. Not sure of your intent there, but I believe the 7th day adventists would have no problems worshipping on the sabbath, as that seems to be one of their major tenents and I think they at least consider themselves to be Christians. Is it Possible to Get a Masters Degree that is Unrelated to My Bachelors Degree? You have repeated yourself numerous times . But is constant suffering what the Bible teaches? None of them ever converted to a new religion save Paul. It has NEVER failed us. In the early days of Christianity, the faith spread despite the real possibility of painful death. Brett McCracken, The The OT has numerous aggressive wars committed by Israel which God does not condemn, but we should. I refuse to let others control my storyline. 2016 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. No Christian today would ever follow the real Jesus into a synagogue. Thats not a refusal; its not a snub; its not a rebellion. Each reader is free to accept or reject what I write. Or that the buddhist were right and you reincarnate into an animal because you didnt achieve nirvana? Im also shaking my head at the lengths some people will go, to defend a popular myth. And prayed. We also develop the character of Christ as we relate within the body of Christ. Loved your response above, to David; I laughed out loud and my little granddaughter asked me what was so funny. Both of which have many holes in their logic, and do not provided evidence, only attempts at logical arguments. Yet, not one contemporary author writes one word about the common criminal Jesus coming back to life three days after his death. Its a healthy corrective for any society, including our Develop your personal Great Commission number as if it were something as routine to your daily life as church, work, fitness, and carting your kids around. A person may ask for the truth, but he may not like what he sees. But we must not do that. What this site involves are verses from the old testament [O.T.] You have built a straw man Bruce Gerencser in your mind and found him wanting. The preisthood of the pagan empire continues to this day. Jesus said, " You did not choose me, but I chose you " ( John 15:16 ). I will put all this through Bruce first. Were on a mission to change that. For that matter, I dont see how its possible to square any of the Abrahamic religions with love and acceptancenot mere toleranceof those who are different from ones self. Perhaps not to the extent you did, but study I did. The jews worshipped only on the sabbith [saturday]. Gods morals = Stalins Morals. Love our neighbors. Isaiah 34:611, In the first five books of the Bible, I can find no mention of being burned alive forever. Life is like a supermarket aisle. First, it will be difficult not to confront sin in the lives of non-Christians youre close to. Im not bothered in the least. Over 300 years, the church had grown from counterculture to mainstream culture, Are Gods conversations with you more real than the reality you face? According to John 5:14, sin opens a door and allows satan to hit you with tragedy: Later, Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, See, you are well again. Moving on, in your Why I hate Jesus post it seems like your primary gripe with Jesus is because hes an imaginary construct/stand-in for your problems with Evangelical Christianity. 6 Dangers of Lazy Minded Christianity - Beliefnet I have observed that this is very much about feeling, human feeling and not simply thought or lack of it. A claim of inerrancy requires a perfect text. All I know to do is tell my story. The only thing a Christian should fear is to return love with hate. I am sure you realize that faith is about trusting God not simply acknowledging Gods existence. So if it turns out that Jesus is god, then the blame is on him for not making their undeniable evidence that the offer was real, and the claims were true. For those who leave the faith, I believe the story always ends with some rejection of Gods morals. I no longer think Jesus turned water into wine, walked on water, healed the sick, raised the dead, or performed any of the other miracles the Bible says he did. True. According to Amy Keesee Freudigerauthor of Healed Overnight: My Encounter with the SupernaturalGod dared her to shut out all the voices and speak only His words for 30 days. First, you will inherit eternal life. However, I thought Id let you know that to well-educated Christians who have been exposed to the acid of critical scholarship and yet have continued in the faith, your arguments seem quite childish. Do things with them. Infant mortality is infant mortality. What Happened to the Churches I Pastored? Disadvantages. Bear in mind you have a brain equivalent to the one possessed by that dumbass you are arguing with. What if you die, you find you were wrong?. I no longer think Jesus resurrected from the dead. Family members are people with whom, like it or not, you are already in relationship. I also draw out the 10 commandments in their entirety. For example, one school might conduct a Bible study in a residence hall once per week, while another may offer a prayer session each day before classes begin. (slight aside my understanding is that ISLAM in fact believes Jesus is to save them as well, but they do not believe he actually physically died, but was rescued from the cross before death, and (eventually) taken up to heaven without having died and risen [as is reported of both Enoch and Elijah], to return again eventually still to die.). You cant see where youre going, and what happened yesterday doesnt make sense either. The focus of this blog is on Evangelicalism. if you dont like bruces argument, why to pick a bone with him, rather than all the fundamentalists out there? Jesus will reveal the truth to you if you ask him. The truth is, the product of this hypothetical formula is not a score it is joy. You sober up when you meet Jesus. Today, July 1, 2015. In other words, the formation of cliques is less likely to occur in diverse settings in which students have the opportunity to pursue their own academic, social, and extracurricular interests in order to find the friends and groups that best fit them. So much for the morality of the bible. You already love them, and they already love you, despite theological differences. Another disadvantage if the implementation of stricter rules and regulations. So if they can taint youGod cant work through you. Are you intrigued by the idea of Christian mentors in the classroom. I no longer think the Bible is a God-inspired text. What I mean is people with a Ph.D. and a genius intelligence can be perfectly cruel, if they want to be. O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. It is a part of who we are as believers. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. 13 Reasons Christians Don't Have to Be Afraid | Desiring God The Problem with the Biblical/Christian Counseling Distinction These verses will strengthen your faith in God. According to God's word No. (the only churches im aware of that dont have such literal dogma are the UU and liberal quakers.) Or cheated? Why the Supreme Court decision on affirmative action matters Hi, Bruce. But Im not an atheist because chose atheism, or because I rejected Christianity (or God or Jesus, if you want to put it in those terms). While emotions certainly play a part, at the end of the day (for me anyway), the claims Christians make concerning their God, Jesus, and the Bible cannot be rationally supported. It is important to accept and understand that there are other faiths and religions out there, and not everyone will agree with your point of view. Dont allow your Christianity to be a wedge that separates you from coworkers. Mark 9:4344, The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea [Edom]. Theyre now down to 9. Im not sure its a PR problem. The problem? I layed on hands, I fell out in the spirit, I spoke in tongues, I prophesied. The underlying reason behind sin is that we dont trust God. Now the bible has God commanding the Israelites to commit genocide on the nations that existed in Canaan because they were very wicked. Montjoie ! Others open the same book always expecting to find some new reason to treasure God. Steps for making good decisions Whatever type of decision we face, there are biblical principles that can help us make better decisions. If one didnt convert to Judaism With Proper evidence it does not matter if the person giving it to you is lying or if they are mistaken on other things, either the evidential support is duplicatable by a third party and its falsifiable or it isnt. Thats a fallacy. Scripture tells us that it is a good habit to regularly attend church and worship. If you say yes, please show, from the Bible, how it is possible to come to this conclusion. It signalled the end of three centuries of intermittent persecution of Sorry, it just didnt catch my attention first.). All I can do is tell my story. Are you looking to meet new people who share your core values and beliefs? In His omniscience is the surety of the last chapter of your book, written with divine purpose and unwavering love. Know your neighbors. my bet is that dog dont hunt. Thanks for clarifying. The former was written for an obstinate Christian commenter, and the latter was written for a former parishioner who later unfriended me on Facebook because she found my story so troubling. Sadly, for many, the product would be small, low, single digits. Nor does the afterlife seem to be the focus of the warnings Moses gives. to influence society more openly; it could promote justice and public works, Science IS the right path. its undeniable perks. God calls us to be the best people we can be, not only through words but also through our actions. The Bible is unique in the sense that it can be made to say or prove almost anything. But not everyone agreed. In these verses, David expresses sacrifices of praise to God in the midst of spiritual times of drought: [A psalm of David. In church, we learn humility, gentleness and patience. As I indicated elsewhere, perceived truth is a motivator of actions for everyone. This ultimately makes for a tighter-knit campus by forging strong bonds between students, faculty, and staff. Stuff falls away. To begin with, its important to recognize that these The way it describes the world doesnt match the world I see around me. This too has been borne out in our So, when you suggest that the writer of this blog, Bruce the Almighty (Praise his holy fame) no longer thinks, you are correct, not entirely of course, or at least that is my suspicion. Such efforts have never ended well, either for the church or for After Im dead, all I can hope is that I left things better then I found them so that my children, and my childrens children and so on will have a better world, but it will be up to them to do with the world as they see fit. Im sure youve made him proud. What they are saying to the young of that nation is that it is O.K. Four Reasons Christmas Is Not a Christian Holiday - Life, Hope and Truth Yep. The quickest way to get your prayers answered is to pray in expectation. What evidence is there that God actually exists? I think the belief that God will torture all non-Christians in Hell for all eternity is repugnant, abhorrent, revolting, repulsive, repellent, disgusting, offensive, objectionable, cringeworthy, vile, foul, nasty, loathsome, sickening, nauseating, hateful, detestable, execrable, abominable, monstrous, appalling, insufferable, intolerable, unacceptable, contemptible, unsavory, and unpalatable. Armstrong is on fairly solid ground when shed dealing with historic texts, and it makes for a fascinating read. @David Devaul, your comment may be a dull stab at sarcasm but it makes me think of the role of thought in faith. (Not that I agree with your characterization of Evangelical Christianity either, mind you.). We use cookies to optimize our website so we can give you a better online experience. India. Is Florida the Most Fu*ked Up State in the United States? Even if you do not identify as LGBT but still rally for equal rights, you might find it tough to enroll at a school with policies that many deem discriminatory. Wait, werent you just complaining about straw men and unsupported assertions? David. Powered by the Holy Spirit, the Gospel Indeed, such a shift has already begun, with If so, you will enjoy how religion and faith are interwoven throughout multiple aspects of campus rather than relegated to a synagogue or chapel on one corner of the campus. 7 Reasons the World May Hate That You're a Christian - Crosswalk At the same One of the biggest reasons we are encouraged to find a good church and to attend is church is because the Bible instructs us to be in relationship with other believers. I watched an online course once about the Old Testament. Christians take Trinitarian theology and read it back into the text, when in fact the text supports polytheism. If your response is no then how can you rationally close your mind to the possibility that Christianity may be true and your atheistic humanism is wrong? What argument could you possibly give that I havent heard before? But the impacts of banning affirmative action are far wider. Verse quoting as you have done is discouraged. How Will People Know Our Home is a Godly Home? But if Gods in your boat, you go further upstream than on your own. For example, James says faith without works is dead, yet Paul says faith (salvation) by works is no faith at all. However, if you sin, evil spirits can touch you and your stuff. But Gods no-fail approach means that if you follow His instructions, youll be successful. Im actually happier now then I ever was when I was a christian. Relationships in the workplace are sometimes even easier to develop than with family members. If you arent agreeing with scripture when you speak, youre not on neutral ground; youre on Satans. Do you believe His Word when your circumstances are contrary to His promises? Those studying education at a faith-based school might find a curriculum based on traditional education techniques, while similar majors at liberal colleges or state universities focus on progressive ideology. Another 50 million could be added from the 23 nations that fall just outside the top 50such as Mexico, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congofor a ratio of 1 in 8 . Before the rise of Christianity, the world knew little about human rights. The average student, however, might need to take out student loans in order to attend a private Christian college, so it is worth considering if the value of this learning atmosphere is worth the additional debt. Church is a good habit and when it is a regular part of our practice, we benefit and those who we are in community with benefit as well. Of course, Im not going to be gullible about it, Im always skeptical of what I hear. God wants us to go to church not only because its good habit, but also because of the value of worship. Within a couple weeks, one of them was serving in a local Christian ministry with us. It doesnt belay the fear of death but really what choice do we have ?? 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If you asked for the evidence for anything I claimed I could give you examples and how to test for the evidence as well, plus I could give you test that if they got certain results would falsify the claim I made. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. We just gotta push on. But trying to keep the commandments wont help. And he knows where youre headed and how youll get there, but you need the ingredients to succeed. After all, this is the only life that we have as far as we can actually know. Jason Meyer preached recently from 2 Corinthians 6:147:1, and as he compared and contrasted separation from and engagement with the world, I thought, Wouldnt it be great if we had an app that measured our engagement with unbelievers? Something that kept a running total of: Amount of Time x Depth of Relationship x Unbelievers. When we are in are union with believers, we are in union with Christ. Christians do use Him as an icon. history. We should go to church so that we allow Christ to build up our character. First, it is described as the body of Christ. But if that were the case, then what is the point of debating the reality of anything in the text? And people notice. At 20, you may not have the skills to achieve whats written in your book. God is the Lord of history as he is of the church. We get ityou think Jesus and Christianity is the best thing e-v-e-r. directly involved in the creation of hospitals, orphanages and universities. 1.) What Does the Bible Say About Tattoos? - Learn Religions So Amy declared scriptures over her body and turned down the verdicts of doctors and specialists. Acknowledge the Lord in everything you do, even when youre confused. 1) I will say hmm, I was wrong, too bad there wasnt any evidence to support this gods claims Do you subscribe to moral Platonism? You need to stand still if you dont know what to do next. I have no choice but to trust what experts say. Before selecting one, make sure you research the schools statement of faith, places of worship, the size of the institution, faith-based student clubs and organizations, opportunities to grow your faith, its published code of conduct, and the types of discipleship opportunities, missions, and service that are available. I have spent the past twelve years answering questions about WHY I stopped believing in the existence of God. On the plus side for the early church, it was now free to Our goal is to provide content that helps bridge the colossal discrepancy on the earth: What the Bible teaches versus what Christians experience. I dont wish to debate with you since you seem to have a closed mind. Youre in a pre-apocalyptic battle against sin and evil, and youre not alone. What will you do?. Ultimately, the people who stay with you in the dark will be the ones you hold dear. Its getting harder to be a Christian. But find something that requires you to do it with other people. Harvest relationships from your childrens activities. Pastors say: God wont give you the house you prayed for Hell give you a better one!. 5 Top Challenges Facing Christian Higher Education Today Update: Black Collar Crime: Pastor Kenny Glasgow Pleads Guilty to Numerous Crimes, Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison, Update: Black Collar Crime: IFB Pastor David Walther Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, Christians Say the Darnedest Things: L.A. Marzulli Says the Nephilim Are Flying the UFOs People Report Seeing. And their presence is so subtle that you think their thoughts are yours. This can be the leaven of really great relationships. Whats your preferred view of meta ethics? If you no longer care for what God stands for, then there is no point offering any evidence. In the end, I believe we have to say that no atheist actually likes what Jesus stands for. This is not coming from me. However, this does not mean that it can force its beliefs on a student. One of the biggest components of this is gaining exposure to new people and new ideas something some students would never have the opportunity to experience if it were not for college.