New guy

[FeistyFawn]

Hello baptists,

I am Jonathan, a rational person with a free mind.
My opinions are based on research of information from different sources (to avoid being biased) and on logic. I thoroughly enjoy the freedom of thinking for myself.

I'm not that fond of the bible, but here is my verse:
"Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart."

Please be aware that many false prophets and pastors will abuse the name of your god to push their views onto you.

I am raised by my conservative christian parents. At a young age I became aware of the fact that no person is perfect. If you obey a certain person without critical thinking, he gets too much power over you and there is a high risk he will abuse his power.

Please think for yourselves and decide what you believe. Don't let anyone scare you away from information. Information gives you the possibility to determine what really matters and what's the real truth.

Thank you.

[FeistyFawn]

Re: New guy

A little addition. Another verse from the bible that understates my point is the following:
1 Thessalonians 5:21; "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

It means that you should not restrict yourself to very limited ways of life or very limited sources of information. Research other views and other opinions and keep the good things. That way you'll open your mind and find wisdom.

[James Hutchins]

Re: New guy

Welcome friend.

I take issue with you 'interperting' the Bible. It is a plainly written book, it means what it says and says what means.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Simply means verify everything, trust what is proven.
For example, if your son is going to get married and the girl claims to be a virgin, you must check and confirm it. If she is in fact a virgin, you can trust her and allow her to subjugate herself to your son.

[Youth Pastor Marty]

Re: New guy

A little addition. Another verse from the bible that understates my point is the following:
1 Thessalonians 5:21; "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

It means that you should not restrict yourself to very limited ways of life or very limited sources of information. Research other views and other opinions and keep the good things. That way you'll open your mind and find wisdom.

The Bible warns us about people like you.

2 John 7-11

7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

It's supposed "free thinkers" like you that are slowly tearing apart the foundation of our great country and allowing Satan to sink his red claws into the fabric of what we call real freedom. Every one of you secular humanists that turns your back on God takes the world one step farther from Him, and one closer to your doom.

We know what we believe, and so does the Lord God. In the Name of Jesus I rebuke you!

[ExGay Alex]

Re: New guy

Well, clearly you are here as a God mocker. You cite the verse from Jeremiah as if you are trying to send some kind of "message" to us. I come to this conclusion from your statement that you are "not fond of the Bible" and that you base your opinions "on research of information from different sources (to avoid being biased) and on logic" and that you "thoroughly enjoy the freedom of thinking for [your]self.

This means you are some kind of atheist who has come to give us "what for."

Your Bible verse is Jeremiah 14:14. In Jeremiah 14, Jeremiah is concerned that there is famine in the land, and he asks God about it. God says, in essence, "you people have started to turn your back on me. You are started to do whatever it is that you want, and I have every intention of punishing you very, very badly." So Jeremiah says, "But wait, God. There are people out there who say 'Don't worry about it, nothing will happen. God is cool with what we are doing'" But, God replies "Those people do not speak for me, and believe me, I have every intention of kicking some butt here."

So then you come to us, with your "free thought" and your "not fondness" for the Bible, and I do not want to jump all over you, but it seems to me that YOU are the very type of false prophet that Jeremiah spoke to God about and that your attitude is precisely the view that God says NOT to listen to in Jeremiah 14:14.

It is those people who do not follow the Lord who will burn in the fires of Hell because God tells us right there in Jeremiah 14 not to pray for people like you and "So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:49-50.

So, welcome to the forum. We really do want to work with you in a constructive and open minded way. If you actually are telling the truth about seeking different sources of information, I suggest you find some fondness for the Bible and read it with an open mind. However, I might gently suggest that you not quote Bible verses in a sanctimonious and condescending way until you know what they mean.

God Bless!

[FeistyFawn]

Re: New guy

If you actually are telling the truth about seeking different sources of information, I suggest you find some fondness for the Bible and read it with an open mind. However, I might gently suggest that you not quote Bible verses in a sanctimonious and condescending way until you know what they mean.

I'd rather not see myself as a mocker, because I seriously try to understand your opinions and I try to express my opinions in a respectful way. I'm new to this forum and I am not fully aware of your habits, but I am saying what I think and I'm being honest with you.

I have read the bible cover to cover. Saying I'm not fond of the bible would not have a meaning when I did not read it. My main concerns with the bible, in each and every translation, is that it's multi interpretable. This means that someone with bad intentions can twist the bible verses to fit his view. Another thing I'm not fond of is the timeliness of the bible. I can not find how to deal with internet, cars, digital copyrights based on the bible.

The point I was trying to stress is that people having their own opinions really improves a (christian) community in a way that you will not get narrow-minded or get off the right path because you didn't have full knowledge of certain areas.

I am aware of the fact you'd see me as a false prophet before you'd see a real christian as a false prophet. I'm not saying you should believe me on my words, please do not. But verify what you hear from other people, even if they're real christians. Research other cultures and beliefs before you judge them, that way you will get clear of prejudices or narrowmindedness.

[Redeemed Papist]

Re: New guy

21Because 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.

22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

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

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

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

26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Let's have a big lump of the Bible in context.

What's your take on it? Especially the bit I bolded but didn't take out of context. Is Paul telling us God loves everyone or is he spelling out to us who God hates and why; and as a bonus warning us about people like you?

[FeistyFawn]

Re: New guy

....

32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Let's have a big lump of the Bible in context.

What's your take on it? Especially the bit I bolded but didn't take out of context. Is Paul telling us God loves everyone or is he spelling out to us who God hates and why; and as a bonus warning us about people like you?

My take on this is that god judges people by their actions. God does not love all people without conditions.
This implies in my opinion that you should not judge people by the geographic region they are from, but on the way they live.

[Redeemed Papist]

Re: New guy

My take on this is that god judges people by their actions. God does not love all people without conditions.
This implies in my opinion that you should not judge people by the geographic region they are from, but on the way they live.

Where do we judge individual people in such a way? Look, you should stop being quite such a bigot and assuming I judge you as an individual in any way other than for your insufferable trying to seduce us with false doctrines like checking out other faiths, for example, just because I am a True Christian™.

We are, however, free to judge a country for being a haven for hideous Catholics, for example, and it is smart to make an assumption that all Catholics think they are really eating the body of Jesus when they munch on their magic wafers because their Pope tells them they are to believe just that.

Catholics are free to deny the doctrine of their church if they don't really believe this and then we are in turn free to judge them for being apostate liars.

So... how about you tell us why you hate God and want Him to change to meet your needs instead of presuming to judge us for not wanting Him to change one little bit?

[FeistyFawn]

Re: New guy

I didn't state I hate god and I didn't state I hate you people.

You asked me for my take on a bible verse and I tried to give it as honestly as possible.
I see in some threads that you have an aversion to people from, for example, Sweden. What I did not mean to say is that every man from Sweden lives a holy life, I meant to say that people from Sweden could be real christian, even if you did not find them yet.

I am not aware of the 'checking out of other religions' being false doctrines. If you understand another view, you can point out exactly what's wrong with it.

If you limit your opinion to what you've heard from other real christians, your view of another religion might be incomplete.

[Redeemed Papist]

Re: New guy

I didn't state I hate god and I didn't state I hate you people.

You asked me for my take on a bible verse and I tried to give it as honestly as possible.
I see in some threads that you have an aversion to people from, for example, Sweden. What I did not mean to say is that every man from Sweden lives a holy life, I meant to say that people from Sweden could be real christian, even if you did not find them yet.

I am not aware of the 'checking out of other religions' being false doctrines. If you understand another view, you can point out exactly what's wrong with it.

If you limit your opinion to what you've heard from other real christians, your view of another religion might be incomplete.

We have an aversion to Sweden for what it does to people. We love the people of Sweden and want them to realise God hates them and wants them to change or He will burn them. How is that not showing God's love?

[FeistyFawn]

Re: New guy

We have an aversion to Sweden for what it does to people. We love the people of Sweden and want them to realise God hates them and wants them to change or He will burn them. How is that not showing God's love?

Could you elaborate on what Sweden does to its people? Do you mean the government or national church of Sweden that has a bad influence? Or the country as a geographical location?

In my opinion some of the people in Sweden will be hated by god for their sins. Other people in Sweden are loved by god because they live a good live according to the bible.

[Redeemed Papist]

Re: New guy

Could you elaborate on what Sweden does to its people? Do you mean the government or national church of Sweden that has a bad influence? Or the country as a geographical location?

In my opinion some of the people in Sweden will be hated by god for their sins. Other people in Sweden are loved by god because they live a good live according to the bible.

Brainwashing people that they don't have to follow the Bible to be Saved is an act of mental cruelty.

[FeistyFawn]

Re: New guy

Brainwashing people that they don't have to follow the Bible to be Saved is an act of mental cruelty.

Yes, that sure is. I miss the connection between your comment and my last post though.

It's nice meeting you all. I get the impression that it is with mixed feelings on your side, but I'm sure I will find my place on this forum.

[James Hutchins]

Re: New guy

Friend, you seem to miss the point, which is a shame as the point is simplicity. The Bible/God says 'Jump' so you jump. As high as you can. Not a hop a skip or a leap. If the Bible says 'Leap forward 20 iniches" that is what you should do. Not leap one foot or two. Twenty inches. Very simple.
All we do is expose the Bible to those that do not or think they have it 'down pat'. Direct and to the point.