Not a Example of The Love of Jesus

Well, I am certainly grateful to that jury. My wife and I have attended a couple of funerals to stand in honor of fallen soldiers here in TN. Thank God for those that have given the ultimate sacrifice and hopefully the people from the Westboro Baptist "Church" will learn from this, although I doubt it. For more information about the Patriot Guard Riders, visit www.patriotguard.org

I agree with Brian, the Westboro group is definitely no form of Christianity and I would consider it more of a cult based on hate and ignorance. I watched an interview once with Fred Phelps and it totally disgusted me what that man believed in and the hate and ignorance he spewed in the name of his so called religion. He believes God hates America, gay people, and anyone else that doesn't fit his mold of beliefs. It is sad really that this man and his "cult" are given any type of attention and should be shipped to another country (aka Iraq, Russia, etc) and see how they take to his wonderful message.

Oh well, they reap what they sow and I am afraid at the end they will learn that their hate leads in only one direction and it is definitely not toward heaven.

Also, to protest at a soldiers funeral too push some hate agenda is the lowest of the low and if I was a family member, I would be hard pressed not to use them as speed bumps. No soldier or their family should be disgraced like that.

It's funny b/c in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan homosexuality is not tolerated. So is homosexuality to blame for close to a million innocent dead people in those countries? This group of religious fanatics, don't really think any differently than you do Michael. The difference is, they picketed, you write blogs. If, for some reason you think I am out of line with my comment, just remember the blogs of old...

WONDERFUL COMMENT LAURASFT...JUST AMAZING!!

So, LauraSFT I get to define for myself, or by my upbringing, what being Christian is, and I can have a mistress on the side for convenience and still St. Peter will punch my ticket. That would be great but I'm thinking my luck would be that I would get there just at the time God found out what St. Peter was doing and fired him as gate keeper.

I'm thinking we are judged by a higher power than our own standard and a true Christian doesn't live in sin and get a ticket to the pearly gates without quitting that sin and asking for forgiveness. Jesus told the woman caught in adultery to "go and sin no more". He gave her forgiveness with a commandment

If we define for ourselves what being Christian is we run a great risk of being wrong. I believe there are a lot of people who think they are Christian when what they really are is follower of a cult or a false religion.

Yes, I took the mistress literally, but I agree that there are many people that have uncontrolled parts of their lives and that's where grace takes over. Valid point bad example. Taking a mistress seems a little too premeditated to qualify.

Just because it means different things to different people doesn't mean there is not a standard to meet. It can't be anything goes as long as you claim the name.

I think there are many "sins" that God will not overlook before we should even begin to discuss homosexuality. Those sins that people commit out of selfishness, greed, and downright meanness are certainly in the first category. I believe that most homosexuals are not that by conscious choice but I do believe that they are responsible for choices stemming from their sexuality just as everyone is. We all make mistakes but only those who admit those mistakes and seek forgiveness get to claim a right standing with God.

AMEN LAURA!

Kill People Who Don't Listen to Priests

Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:12 NLT)

Kill Witches

You should not let a sorceress live. (Exodus 22:17 NAB)

Kill Homosexuals

"If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives." (Leviticus 20:13 NAB)

Kill Fortunetellers

A man or a woman who acts as a medium or fortuneteller shall be put to death by stoning; they have no one but themselves to blame for their death. (Leviticus 20:27 NAB)

Death for Hitting Dad

Whoever strikes his father or mother shall be put to death. (Exodus 21:15 NAB)

Death for Cursing Parents

1) If one curses his father or mother, his lamp will go out at the coming of darkness. (Proverbs 20:20 NAB)

2) All who curse their father or mother must be put to death. They are guilty of a capital offense. (Leviticus 20:9 NLT)

Death for Adultery

If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10 NLT)

Death for Fornication

A priest's daughter who loses her honor by committing fornication and thereby dishonors her father also, shall be burned to death. (Leviticus 21:9 NAB)

Death to Followers of Other Religions

Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed. (Exodus 22:19 NAB)

Kill Nonbelievers

They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. (2 Chronicles 15:12-13 NAB)

Kill False Prophets

If a man still prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall say to him, "You shall not live, because you have spoken a lie in the name of the Lord." When he prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall thrust him through. (Zechariah 13:3 NAB)

Kill the Entire Town if One Person Worships Another God

Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it. Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt. Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors. "The LORD your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him." (Deuteronomy 13:13-19 NLT)

Kill Women Who Are Not Virgins On Their Wedding Night

But if this charge is true (that she wasn't a virgin on her wedding night), and evidence of the girls virginity is not found, they shall bring the girl to the entrance of her fathers house and there her townsman shall stone her to death, because she committed a crime against Israel by her unchasteness in her father's house. Thus shall you purge the evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy 22:20-21 NAB)

Kill Followers of Other Religions.

1) If your own full brother, or your son or daughter, or your beloved wife, or you intimate friend, entices you secretly to serve other gods, whom you and your fathers have not known, gods of any other nations, near at hand or far away, from one end of the earth to the other: do not yield to him or listen to him, nor look with pity upon him, to spare or shield him, but kill him. Your hand shall be the first raised to slay him; the rest of the people shall join in with you. You shall stone him to death, because he sought to lead you astray from the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. And all Israel, hearing of this, shall fear and never do such evil as this in your midst. (Deuteronomy 13:7-12 NAB)

2) Suppose a man or woman among you, in one of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, has done evil in the sight of the LORD your God and has violated the covenant by serving other gods or by worshiping the sun, the moon, or any of the forces of heaven, which I have strictly forbidden. When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, then that man or woman must be taken to the gates of the town and stoned to death. (Deuteronomy 17:2-5 NLT)

Death for Blasphemy

One day a man who had an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father got into a fight with one of the Israelite men. During the fight, this son of an Israelite woman blasphemed the LORD's name. So the man was brought to Moses for judgment. His mother's name was Shelomith. She was the daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan. They put the man in custody until the LORD's will in the matter should become clear. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and tell all those who heard him to lay their hands on his head. Then let the entire community stone him to death. Say to the people of Israel: Those who blaspheme God will suffer the consequences of their guilt and be punished. Anyone who blasphemes the LORD's name must be stoned to death by the whole community of Israel. Any Israelite or foreigner among you who blasphemes the LORD's name will surely die. (Leviticus 24:10-16 NLT)

Kill False Prophets

1) Suppose there are prophets among you, or those who have dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, and the predicted signs or miracles take place. If the prophets then say, 'Come, let us worship the gods of foreign nations,' do not listen to them. The LORD your God is testing you to see if you love him with all your heart and soul. Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. The false prophets or dreamers who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of slavery in the land of Egypt. Since they try to keep you from following the LORD your God, you must execute them to remove the evil from among you. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5 NLT)

2) But any prophet who claims to give a message from another god or who falsely claims to speak for me must die.' You may wonder, 'How will we know whether the prophecy is from the LORD or not?' If the prophet predicts something in the LORD's name and it does not happen, the LORD did not give the message. That prophet has spoken on his own and need not be feared. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22 NLT)

Infidels and Gays Should Die

So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved. When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving. They are fully aware of God's death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. (Romans 1:24-32 NLT)

Kill Anyone who Approaches the Tabernacle

For the LORD had said to Moses, 'Exempt the tribe of Levi from the census; do not include them when you count the rest of the Israelites. You must put the Levites in charge of the Tabernacle of the Covenant, along with its furnishings and equipment. They must carry the Tabernacle and its equipment as you travel, and they must care for it and camp around it. Whenever the Tabernacle is moved, the Levites will take it down and set it up again. Anyone else who goes too near the Tabernacle will be executed.' (Numbers 1:48-51 NLT)

Kill People for Working on the Sabbath

The LORD then gave these further instructions to Moses: 'Tell the people of Israel to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you forever. It helps you to remember that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. Yes, keep the Sabbath day, for it is holy. Anyone who desecrates it must die; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community. Work six days only, but the seventh day must be a day of total rest. I repeat: Because the LORD considers it a holy day, anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death.' (Exodus 31:12-15 NLT

So really, you believe all that?

IF YOU NO LONGER LIVE UNDER THE OLD TESTAMENT, then why do you use it to vilify a whole entire community of people? and why does your preacher still preach out of it, if you are no longer under Old Testament law? Seems a tad bit hypocritical. SO everything in the Old Testament is a MOOT POINT except for one particular one in Leviticus that Christians like to spew out of their mouths? YEP MAKES SENSE.

So in conclusion, I can't believe ANY of the Old Testament, including Psalms and Proverbs, but I can ONLY believe that one in Leviticus...even though that particular behavior is not mentioned in the New Testament. Geez, I wish you people would make up your mind.....

If it is what I think it is. It is mentioned in 1 Corinth6:9 and Rom 1 36,27. Rember God said he wanted the laws written on peoples hearts not on stone.

No I am not saying we are under the law , but we should kep the moral laws and the laws against the harm of other people and to take care of our parents as they did us of course you have to have a conscience for that,

To Jesus loves everyone you need to add to your name with the words .but he will be the judge of all the world and every knee will bow and tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

A person does have freewill but only until God says to go here or go there I coose to listen now.

Paul chose not to, catholic priest and nuns say they can;t , the bible does not say to not be married is it a choice.

So in conclusion, I can't believe ANY of the Old Testament, including Psalms and Proverbs, but I can ONLY believe that one in Leviticus...even though that particular behavior is not mentioned in the New Testament. Geez, I wish you people would make up your mind.....

-- Posted by jesuslovesevery1 on Tue, Nov 6, 2007, at 9:08 PM

Well I'm not a theologian so I'm not going to go to deep into this subject. I do wonder if various persons who have posted similiar queries are just ignorant of the relationship between the Old and New Testaments or if they are just probing for clarification about "Christian" beliefs. The Law of the Old Testament does not constitute the entire Old Testament but only specific laws given to Israel/Jewish people. The rest of the Old Testament provides many other essentials: teaching, history, prophecy, etc. I think the telling factor when looking at the details of the Old Testament is does it pass the test of "grace" which is the New Testament law. In addition, I think most Christians believe that you can't claim grace unless you claim Christ.

So am I to understand that no matter what lifestyle you do if it teaches against it in the bible that if you profess Jesus you will be alright?

Then why don't you Mr Darrick or Mr.JLE just tell me who is going to heaven or hell or are we going anywhere at all?

Sometimes I think you are actually non-believers who come on here to try and tear down the believers.

Please tell me your side of salvation and the word repent or the phrase "sin no more". Tell me how I get to be saved or what I can or can't do or the proper lifestyle.

If there is no right or wrong , then what is the use?

My eternal soul and its resting place will be in limbo till you tell me.

Another thing. Jesus never had the easy road, did he? Everything he did, there was opposition to, there were protest, riots, and the man was crucified because of his beliefs... Right. Well, I just want to ask you, personally Michael, what difficult road do you have to show people God's love? Are you different than the status quo Christian, who sits comfortably in your pew from week to week, yet faces no real adversity or people telling you that because of "who you are", not what you believe, you are going to hell? I travel a difficult road of misunderstanding, mischaracterization, misconceptions, and stereotypes... I love God with all my heart, and I think he loves me no more and no less than he does you.

Why can't you understand, that once the issue of homosexuality has passed and you are long gone, that people will find another minority to condemn? Your never ending cycle of hate is probably an embarrassment to god. I hate that some people think they know him so well, yet can't find it in their hearts and minds to believe who someone loves, is going to keep them from the gates of paradise. I promote peace, understanding, rational and logical thinking, while you promote fear tactics, admonish war, misconceptions and hate agendas... Do you really think you are making God look good with your words? I welcome you into heaven alongside with me. Because, it takes good deeds, and the acts of kindness, with faith to enter the kingdom of heaven. I don't have the authority to tell anyone they're not going to heaven, or that God doesn't love them, and you should really understand you don't either.

Devan, there are lines in the scriptures that put some on one road and some on another, however, I don't think it is up to any mortal human to draw those lines on Earth. Maybe I grew up in the wrong church but we were taught that no one was any better or worse a person than we were. No person could tell you if you would be spending eternity in Heaven or Hell. All that was left up to God and determined by how you live your life on this planet. They taught us kindness and understanding of things outside of our "norm".

I am not speaking for Laura, she does a wonderful job of stating what she thinks and believes, BUT I don't think that it's anybody but GOD's place to judge. You can not like what someone does, you can be against it, but you cannot put yourself in God's shoes and judge that person or to tell them they are going to Hell, because unless you are God, you don't know that. I believe that putting yourself in God's place of judgement is the ultimate sin. There are lots of things that a person can be judged on, if I see you speeding down the road (an analogy used by Laura, and a good one) should I pull you over and tell you that you are going to Hell? How would you like that? If I overheard someone Coveting something that their neighbor just got, should I tell them they are going to hell? If I see you overeating, should I also tell you that you are on the path to hell?

NO because I AM NOT GOD and I am not supposed to judge. PERIOD!

So, what you are saying is you are a Christian but you do not live by the New Testament teaching, because there are specific scriptures that tell churches to do exactly what you say we should not do. There is a great misunderstanding among Christians and non-Christians alike that we are not to judge one another's sins. In reality we are told to judge but to do it with compassion, with love, with guidance from scripture, to judge ourselves first, to judge with the wise counsel of others, for correction before condemnation, etc.

As to jesuslovesevery1's point, if you confront me about my speeding you might save my life or if you confront me about my covetousness you might prevent me from falling into more egregious sins by acting on this emotion such as cheating or stealing to get what I covet. I don't think you should jerk someone out of their car and lecture them but done with the right spirit this is certainly what we should do as Christians.

Laura, what difference does it make if his wife knows or approves? Immoral behavior is offensive to God regardless of the opinions of those involved. Please do not misunderstand. I am not talking about one individual judging another. I am speaking more in the context of church discipline where using the counsel of leadership individuals are held accountable for actions that are contrary to Biblical teaching.

Devan, I also want to add something about that church that sits people down and lovingly tells them they are screwing up....church's that feel they are in any position to judge the congregation b/c they are doing so with compassion are exactly the reason that alot of people stop attending church. The guy having the affair is a sinner just like you or I, I'll also be willing to bet he and his wife had premarital sex. If you put yourself in a position to be watched more carefully, I think that you should embrace the criticisim that comes with it. On the other hand, if you are just a regular ole church going person, with no authority in the church you are out there with everyone else and not asking opinions b/c you aren't supposed to be offering opinions.

Ok in reference to a disobedient child, first and foremost that is your child. You are to raise them to be a self sufficient and well balanced adult, of course they need tough love occasionally. Other adults do not need your opinion about their morality. Since when is allowing someone to worship in your fellowship hall enabling them to have extra marital affairs. If you didn't help them into the affair by coaching them through it, then unless they ask your opinion keep your nose out of it.

NO... Until any human is without sin, they needn't tell another to obstain from it.

Then in your Christianity the Bible is a useless document. I wonder where did you learn about Christ?

Then in your Christianity the Bible is a useless document. I wonder where did you learn about Christ?

-- Posted by devan on Thu, Nov 8, 2007, at 5:57 PM

In a very close-minded church, probably similar to yours...

You still have not said whether a church through its chosen leaders has the obligation as described in the Bible to confront members who are in sin and attempt to correct them. Yes or no.

-- Posted by devan on Thu, Nov 8, 2007, at 5:41 PM

-No, not unless they ask for your two cents! I think what you are missing here is a respect for your fellow worshippers. How many times must I say IT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS WHAT THEY DO IN THEIR PRIVATE LIVES WITH THEIR PRIVATE PARTS? None, whatsoever. I mean, think about it, if they didn't ask for your opinion do you think they give a crap what you think anyway? They didn't care enough to ask. Everyone has their own personal relationship with God, and that relationship is much like a marriage that doesn't involve you. Mind your business, you'll be happier not having everyone elses junk to worry about.

My response to you is that same as to Darrick. Does the Bible have no effect in your religion?

NO... because just like the Quran, the Torah and every other religious book, it was written by imperfect humans with predisposed philosophies on how the world should work. The people who wrote the Bible supposedly received messages and insight from God. Now, I what I don't understand is why today when murderers, rapists, bigots, etc say "god spoke to me and told me to do that!" we cast them aside as insane. Yet isn't that exactly what these Biblical founders said too? I do the very same thing with the people who wrote the Bible thousands of years ago and those today who say they kill, steal, rape, torture, and start wars in the name of god. Because they are no different.

Well then we are back to the question about upon what do you base your beliefs about Jesus and other Christian precepts? It would seem as an imperfect human you are simply using your own interpretations as a basis of belief.

Well, no I guess not. You have plainly established that you have no basis for your beliefs. I can't argue with that.

I don't need a man written book to tell me how to live and that God loves me. That book will not get me into heaven no more than Harry Potter will make me a wizard or reading about Beethoven will make me a world class composer. I believe in God when I look around the world and see amazing things, I don't believe because he supposedly spoke to some people and they wrote down what they thought he might have said, maybe.

Laura is right, what someone does in their private life is between them, their partner and GOD..why does it concern you so much Devan that you feel the need to pass judgement. Take a look in the mirror and when you become perfect and sin free, then feel more than welcome to judge all of us that are imperfect people.

It's just easier to walk away from people like Devan. You see, he is one of those people who if you don't believe like him you are wrong. No exceptions.

Devan allow me to point out a hole or two in your affair scenario....#1 how do you know about this affair? Gossip perhaps? #2 There is only one sin that you can't be forgiven of, if you have not commited that one then you can be forgiven. i.e. "no one sin is greater than any other". I believe with that last sentence I (or should I say God) just took away your right to decide that anyone needs your help without their asking.

I asked Devan a question that he has yet to answer. Would your life not be alot less complicated if you only had YOUR life to worry with?

"It's just easier to walk away from people like Devan. You see, he is one of those people who if you don't believe like him you are wrong. No exceptions." Since many of my recent posts have been in the form of questions I hardly think it accurate to say that. I have simply been trying to find out what those who post here believe and why they believe it. So far I have found that Darrick and jesuslovesevery1 don't believe in the Bible and that you only believe, as you accused me, in what you want to.

"Devan allow me to point out a hole or two in your affair scenario....#1 how do you know about this affair? Gossip perhaps? #2 There is only one sin that you can't be forgiven of, if you have not commited that one then you can be forgiven. i.e. "no one sin is greater than any other". I believe with that last sentence I (or should I say God) just took away your right to decide that anyone needs your help without their asking."

#1 Since it was my hypothetical scenario, my hypothetical affair was confessed by the person involved so there was no doubt as to the truth of the situation. #2 At no point did I state or imply that forgiveness could not be granted for this or any other sin. The issue was about confronting and counseling not condemnation. (REPOST) I guess I would have to challenge you on the idea that no one sin is greater that another. All sin breaks God's law and we are all law breakers since none are sinless. However, to think that all sin is equal in consequence flies in the face of the obvious and is contradictory to scripture (see John 19:11).

-- Posted by devan on Tue, Nov 6, 2007, at 6:46 PM

To answer your question, my life would be a lot less complicated if there was some of my own issues I didn't have to worry about, but, just as I would not abdicate my responsibilities to my family, or my community, I would not abdicate my responsibility to God to make true disciples of Jesus. Part of that responsibility is to (pardon me for using this dirty word) judge whether they are producing good fruit or bad. If you would read all of Matthew 7 instead of taking one verse out of context you might see the whole picture.

And there are many books and chapters in which you should do the same.

-- Posted by darrick_04 on Fri, Nov 9, 2007, at 10:38 PM

Anytime I study the Bible I try to do just that.

I believe in looking within yourself, finding your own flaws and correcting them, before pointing fingers at anyone else. When you point your finger at any church member, me, or anyone else and feel you have the right to "confront and council" them, just rememebr there are three other fingers pointing right back at you.

-- Posted by darrick_04 on Fri, Nov 9, 2007, at 10:38 PM

That's an excellent description of how we are instructed to judge in the Biblical way. Examine our own hearts, put ourselves right with God, understand that any judgment we make must pass the "me first" test, and then do it only out of love.

I do not bleieve that God meant for people to be homosexuals or it would be in the book that it is okay. I haven't found it anywhere and if anyone can show it to me then please do. I do not agree with same sex marriages. There's only one church mentioned in the bible and if you are not a member of that church and do what you must do to be saved, then you ARE going to hell. ---Posted by jkelley on Sat, Nov 10, 2007, at 9:03 PM

God didn't talk about cars, but I guarantee you, you drive one, he didn't talk about electricity but I bet you use it, he didn't mention a refrigerator which is why "seafood WAS an abomination"... he didn't talk about airplanes, but they exist, he didn't mention many different ethnic groups but we all co-exist on ONE planet, he didn't mention a solar system, yet we've been to space... he didn't even mention that you had to read his word to go to heaven, simply believe in him, and live life accordingly...Homosexuality probably is the least of god's concerns and god never wrote a single law or scripture, people with a short attention span and extreme cognitive dissonance wrote the Bible, because their words contradict their actions.... Just because something isn't mentioned in the "Bible", doesn't mean it's wrong or that it shouldn't happen, and if you truly thought so, you should take a camel to work, you probably shouldn't even be online, because he never mentioned computers... That is the most naive and contrite thought process I have ever heard and all in the name of bigotry.

I don't think God is happy that he gave you a brain, yet you use so little of it.

I think God was a great business man... After all he has the best selling book in the world. Why does religion have to be bought?

Oh and it's a scapegoat for them to vilify ANYTHING that they find different, they just think "well let me whip out the good ole book here and let's see if it's okay" and once they find a few scriptures against something then BAM, it's wrong. Funny how slavery is still promoted by the bible, yet we no longer practice that. And the one scripture about being "effimenate" could mean any man that takes pride in himself, doesn't neccesarily mean "gay" like they think it does, that could be any man that dresses nice, gets manicures, facials etc. So even their beloved President is going to hell, because he gets manicures which is considered "effimenate"

It's an easy way to be a bigot or have prejudices because they can lay the blame DIRECTLY at God's feet and feel better about themselves.

I think they miss the fact that it is indeed called the "Greatest STORY ever written" I also think it's hilarious that Harry Potter is quickly overtaking it's position as the best selling "book" ever.

-- Posted by jesuslovesevery1 on Sun, Nov 11, 2007, at 10:31 AM

Let's at least be factual. Quoted from an article published in New Yorker magazine: "The familiar observation that the Bible is the best-selling book of all time obscures a more startling fact: the Bible is the best-selling book of the year, every year. Calculating how many Bibles are sold in the United States is a virtually impossible task, but a conservative estimate is that in 2005 Americans purchased some twenty-five million Bibles--twice as many as the most recent Harry Potter book." This doesn't even encompass the millions given away free by Christian ministries around the world or that there have already been a few billion sold to date.

There's only one church mentioned in the bible and if you are not a member of that church and do what you must do to be saved, then you ARE going to hell.

Posted by jkelley on Sat, Nov 10, 2007, at 9:03 PM

And what church would that be?

-- Posted by jesuslovesevery1 on Sun, Nov 11, 2007, at 10:17 AM

You would have to read the Bible to find out. Hint: if does not have a denominational name and only Jesus knows the names of those who belong.

Actually, your question was why does religion have to be bought. Since the person receiving the Bible gets it for free then if he chooses to follow it he gets the "religion" for free. Someone eventually paying for the printing only means that people have jobs and are able to provide for their families.

There is no "rebuttal" for the brutality of parts of the Bible. Either, as you believe, it is not true, or, as I believe, God as the creator of all has the right to work in ways that we don't understand without explaining it to us. We have no common frame of reference to debate this issue because I believe in the God of the Bible and you believe in a God not of the Bible. The question still remains where did you get the knowledge of this God since most of the ideas that you have expressed about God are based on ideas expressed in the Bible.

Please say a prayer ;)

I am not going to argue about anyone's religious beliefs or other beliefs.

I was raised by strict Southern Baptist parents and I memorized many,many scriptures and spent a fair amount of time as a rebellious teenager and young adult argueing the interpretation of those sciptures with my Dad. No matter what either one of us believed, we would never act the way the people from that 'cult' act. We both believed a true church is ordained by God and whatever anyone says about the bible, the people written about were responsible for their behavior, not God.

The God I believe in is one of love and compassion. He does not condone brutality or the war in Iraq, but he does not hate any of the people [plural] who made the decision to go and they will answer to him when the time comes--just like all the rapists, torturers, and murderers who governed Iraq will have to answer to him and just like I will also have to answer to him with my desire to bring down the dictators of all oppressed peoples.

I don't want to argue about the war, because I am not over there and I do not have a child there [at least not for a few more years], but it is on my mind and in my heart and I do not think anyone who is not there or who does not have loved ones there should be making hateful comments of any kind.

And darrick-the wording of your comments can also be interpreted as hateful.