Sir Gareth

A variety of reasons,they do not want to have to deal with a 'jesus freak' they don't want to have to face their sins, the list goes on and on...

If it is written plainly in the bible it is NOT legalism, it is only legalism to them that wish to excuse themselves of living in a biblical manner.

I'll be honest too, when I say that the thought terrifies me. I hope that if it comes to that point, God would give me the grace and courage to make it through it, because being with Jesus is all I want. God's word tells us we will never be tempted beyond what we can bear, so i am confidant that God would give you the grace and strength you need to resit denying him.

True. How embarrassing would it be to tell your friends in heaven you died choking on a sandwich? 'how'd you die?' 'beheaded in the mission field, you?' 'Jay walking...'

most definatly, i still pray to God often that my death bring glory to him. I only have one death coming, I'd hate to waste it lol.

While I don't buy into the conspiracy theory that there is some secret orginzation out there trying to corrupt everyone through the media, I still think it very dangerous to get into unGodly, 'secular' music and movies. The language, sexuality, blasphemy and drug/drinking references are very dangerous and can easily poison us. A little leaven really does leaven the whole lump. If as Christians we're against sex scenes in movies and books that portray wizards and vampires I do not think it is so much different to be against music that glorifies sin.

I thought they had them so they could build underwater houses....

After praying about this i realized I have been taking a wrong approach. I should not be so worried about dying for the Gospel, but should be more concerned with living for it. While i still would suffer for Christ it should not be my goal. Thank you all, this has been very theraputic.

Would Harry Potter, Twilight, rated R movies with scenes of nudity;profanity and blasphemy. Should we watch horror movies or read horror books with satanic overtones or which show grissly murders? At what point do we draw the line and saw this is too unGodly? I mean i can sit around watch movies with nudity and violence and still love God right?

I don't particularly like spiders, centipides and other kinds of bugs, but my greatest fears are that i will act un christian or fall into sin, sometimes i think i have an unhealthy obessesion with those fears.

while i do not think secular music is itself sinful or evil I do personally try to avoid things that are not God honoring. 1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Be careful, for Satan will use any foothold he can get to try and bring you down, if you listen to secular music be very picky about which songs and bands, avoid anything that makes sin sound good.

and you guys are right, it is alot easier, i'd assume I know it sounds weird and maybe just a little bit more than crazy but sometimes I almost wish I were worthy to suffer for Christ in a more physical way, i just owe him so much and it seems the service i give, no matter what i do, is never sufficiant.

Can you show us any church that follows scripture 100% correctly? That would be hard to answer since some people interpert certain passages differently, so i could say that i know of churches that follow scripture 100% to their understanding. I suppose i was a bit harsh though as you are right and many churches do not follow 100% by the book, but i do have a definite problem with someone confusing the doctrine of salvation. Me too. There are other specifics that I take seriously and some I do not, for scripture is not clear on these doctrine, like not allowing instruments in worship. True, some doctrines of the church are hazy at best, luckily salvation is pretty straight forward thank God for the blood of Jesus Christ

Christ endured worse torture for us than we could ever endure for him. If it came to that I'd be happy to suffer for my Savior. Looking back at the life I once lived before Christ that is much worse than enduring any torture. Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. It is not my aim to sound arrogant or in any way better than others, i am merely pointing out the life Christ wants us to live, a life where we would give all we had, in body or in worldly good, to see even one soul get saved by Christ.

Can you show us any church that follows scripture 100% correctly? That would be hard to answer since some people interpert certain passages differently, so i could say that i know of churches that follow scripture 100% to their understanding. I suppose i was a bit harsh though as you are right and many churches do not follow 100% by the book, but i do have a definite problem with someone confusing the doctrine of salvation.

Whats the worst thing anyone could do to us when we step out in faith and share Jesus Christ? The very worst thing anyone could do to me is to kill me, but then I'd go to heaven and be honored by Christ for suffering for his Gospel, not to scary if you ask me. Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Further, there is a great danger for those who seek to save themselves rather than do God's will. Mar 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. Jesus goes on to ask us two important questions. Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mar 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? and give us a dire warning... Mar 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. its very important we not be ashamed of Jesus, or the Gospel but spread it fearlessly, even if it means death, after all death is just the begining of eternity with Jesus in heaven.

All i know of the CoC is that they say you must be baptized to be saved and this is unbiblical, therefore I could not at all say i support the church since they do not follow the bible.

Ever since I came to Christ i have never changed my mind because of something a human told me, but only because of what God shows me. I have been able to further my belief by searching the bible to find the verses i seek to prove my postion.

If salvationrested on our ability to understand the trinity no one would be saved because I don't think anyone can fully understand the trinity until we get to heaven and see things as they truly are.

I personally see no biblical examples of people losing their salvation. I see plenty of people who might have acted saved for a short time but later their fruits showed them not to be saved at all. I also believe that Onelight has summed up the doctrine of faith vs works, i would add this verse also though. Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. The Holy spirit, which dwells in each believer, leads us to works, its a very fine line really, working without true saving faith is useless labor while a simple prayer for forgiveness withouta true change of heart is a clanging gong.

wow! i really have great new respect for that gentleman thank you for sharing that, it was very uplifting and encouraging

ok, is gross before or after tax? I always get gross and net confused I always thought it best to give the before tax number because we are supposed to give to God first and ceaser second.

should we tithe 10% of our income or 10 % of our worth?

Baptism in water is an act of obedience to the Lord

Don't stop praying until their dead! Pray without ceasing!