upschuck
Well-Known Member
It takes more than belief, for even the demons believe.
Religion
- Thread starter wkmac
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oldngray
nowhere special
Most people I know who are like that have their own interpretations of who and what God is and tend to believe what makes them feel good or to reinforce their already formed opinions. Most seem to avoid what Scripture actually says and go with what their "own" God would do.
floridays
Well-Known Member
Organization only by how God puts it in place, if believers meet in a cornfield I know God can and will direct, and the leaders will be evident.
I truly think God can and will direct His people when they listen, meeting wise.
Which is why I believe in New Testament Christianity. There are three offices mentioned. Elders, who are apt to teach. That doesn't mean filling in for the minister when he's on vacation. That means the elders are in charge of the spiritual nourishment of the congregation. Deacons, who see to the physical needs of the Church as directed by the elders. Evangelists. This is a big one. Evangelists preach to the lost. Nowhere in the Bible does it say we must have a pulpit preacher preaching sermons to the faithful. Evangelists should be out in the community spreading the word. Pamphlets, home Bible study, tv programs, whatever it takes. And they can be supported by more than one congregation. What we essentially have in Protestantism today is a holdover from Catholicism where the minister is essentially the spiritual guide of the congregation just as the priest is in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church hierarchy didn't evolve until several centuries after the founding of the Church. It's simply not in the Bible and was a major reason for the revolt of Luther and others because eventually the hierarchy worked with rulers to enrich themselves. Power, money, and corruption.
I agree but am being told belief is enough, you can't lose your salvation. Will the devils go to heaven? They believe.
oldngray
nowhere special
Elders and Deacon roles kind of overlap. They could be combined into one position or split into two. I won't try to argue which way of looking at is more correct. A preacher/evangelist would definitely be a different role though. Not everyone has a calling to preach and they can differ from more evangelism to more teaching. Many lay preachers are very good evangelists. They don't have to be formally ordained although most are. I have absolutely no calling to preach but have taught classes and am an ordained Deacon.
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floridays
Well-Known Member
No, Van.. I'll give you a little place to start, the scripture says no man seeks God, look it up see where it leads you.
Old Man Jingles
Rat out of a cage
Exactly!
As Paul preached.
The biggest fault I find with organized churches and religions is that people use them to control other people.
The Worst moral character in a person is when they define how other people must behave outside of hurting other people.
To me, this is the essence of Libertarian thought.
If it doesn't hurt you, ain't none of your
ing business.
Old Man Jingles
Rat out of a cage
I don't know what that means.
oldngray
nowhere special
From James 2:19
the devils also believe, and tremble.
Old Man Jingles
Rat out of a cage
Yeah?
You don't think God knows what is in a person's heart?
I'll leave it in God's hands over what some control freak says. That's how I interpret it.
oldngray
nowhere special
The point is there is a difference between believing in God and believing God.
Old Man Jingles
Rat out of a cage
If that works for you ... cool.
James 4:17
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin
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OK, Libertarianism is your religion.Exactly!
As Paul preached.
The biggest fault I find with organized churches and religions is that people use them to control other people.
The Worst moral character in a person is when they define how other people must behave outside of hurting other people.
To me, this is the essence of Libertarian thought.
If it doesn't hurt you, ain't none of your
Old Man Jingles
Rat out of a cage
Not really but that’s funny.
Jesus wouldn’t engage in politics ... I hope.
Jesus freed us from all the laws of the Old Testament but humans made up plenty more.
The Golden Rule was his politics.
MAKAVELI
Well-Known Member
Was enslaving your people to build the missions moral?
Not defending that. The Spanish were extremely harsh on Native Americans. The British weren't much better. There are plenty of accounts of priests defending and protecting natives. The conquistadors in power were a different matter.
jesus did engage in politics.
UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)
Well-Known Member
He was the first community organizer.
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