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I do agree with others that there is the forcing of Scripture by the opster, to say what it does not say or mean. Isolating certain words from the verses, does not change the context of the surrounding verses. There is nothing there in the passages that suggest Pilates wife even mentioned Barabbas. Matthew 27:11-22 (NKJV) 11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” 12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14 But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”

Sorry, I can't agree with you on your statement. With that said, I'll let everyone read the passages for themselves. Revelation 9:1-11 (NIV) The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. 3 And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. 6 During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. 7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8 Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10 They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).

When I read the title of the thread, the first thing that popped into my mind is John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

People are going to get tats whether it is right, wrong, or indifferent. So whether others approve or disapprove, is pretty much meaningless. Perhaps some serious thought should be given, concerning the medical aspect of them, before rushing out to get one. Contrary to a popular view point, tats from vegetable dyes aren’t necessarily safer, since they also contain pigments or plastics. Tattoo artists can’t tell you what is in those pigments or if there is or is not other unlisted ingredients. What tat artists can tell you, is the basics of what is in each color which usually, what the carriers are and that they contain one or more pigments. There are some harmful ingredients in certain pigments and dyes that manufactures are not required by law to reveal, not even to tat artists. The tat shops can only tell you what the label says on each container of dye. Because that is all the information they have, themselves. Vegetable dyes were intended for use to enhance the color of vegetables, not injected under the skin. Never mind about natural colors. Tat shops are only required to ensure that they use clean and sterile equipment. Inks and dyes used for tattoos are not regulated by the FDA, and manufacturers aren’t required to print on labels the exact ingredients or where those ingredients came from, due to “trade secrets”.

Drug abuse isn't just limited to the homeless, but also among the well to do as well. There was such a time I think back during the 1930's, there was no laws prohibiting drug abuse. It wasn't till movie stars overdosed on cocaine that drug abuse became a public awareness, and the government stepping in. It is sad, that despite the awareness of how dangerous these illicit drugs are, people still abuse drugs, alcohol, and a host of other harmful things. People do so for so many reason's that it is hard to pinpoint the direct cause of self harm. One thing I do want to say, is that not all homeless are alcoholics or drug addicts. Sometimes people become homeless through no fault of their own. The homeless need our compassion and prayers... not scorn. Christ died for these people too.

I have not read the thread yet.

In regard to man's ability to clone another human. Man can only create from what is and or are tangible and physical things of the earth. The attempt to even make the cloning of animals is man is man thinks he has the power and knowledge he can not possibly attain and that he doesn't need God. No human can create the soul and spirit. Only God. Our soul and human spirit belongs to God. Some one spoke up about twins. While twins can look physically alike at first glance, however, no twins are identical to a tee. There is always a difference between them, height and weight for example. No twins have the same personality and soul. Every human is unique and an individual in his or her own right. Most of us older folks remember the Duggers, who had 19 children, and I think we can use this as an example of what is being spoken here. While we can discern and say for a fact, just from looking at them physically, that they are all from the same parents, and in a way, look alike, none of them identical in personality. The body is the physical and material part of us, that utilizes the five senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. The soul is essentially our mind, our emotions, and our will. With the soul, we are able to think, feel, love, design, create, laugh, cry and enjoy music. Humans are not a spirit, but have a human spirit, that is able to have a deeper connection and fellowship with the Lord. Our soul by itself, is unable to express God's love for us. And we need the spirit to help us express God's love.

Yes, he is a Christian.

The only thing we can find unity in is Christ, Himself. Christ is our all. Any teaching that points us elsewhere, is to be rejected.

Benny Hinn has received a lot of valid and sharp criticism for what he preached including from his nephew Costi, who has been pleading with him to change. The others, I don't know so much about, since I stopped watching any t.v evangelists back in the 1980's when scandal after scandal were happening to all of them. False teachings and hypocrisy was exposed to the hilt. And Scripture certainly teaches we are to expose the deeds of darkness

Two wrongs, do not make a right, does it? It still does not justify, any false teaching from ANYONE or any denomination.

The rcc teaches that mary is "the" queen of heaven. And I'm being told here in this thread, to compromise with what is blasphemy? For the sake of unity. Absolutely NOT!

No matter who is preaching and teaching; We are still called to be like the Bereans, and take everything they teach and preach to the word of God. Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! Compromising for the sake of unity, leads down the path to error. This is what the rcc did early on. They compromised with pagan belief's such as accepting the doctrine of "queen of heaven", in order to make the church more appealing to pagans of their time. This happened very early in the rcc history. The early writers after the apostles died, allowed roman and Egyptian philosophy to dominate and blend in with their newfound faith in Christ. They never fully let go of their pagan beliefs. And thus, lots of error was introduced into the body of Christ.

Just because a denomination claims to be a “Christian denomination”, does not mean that they actually are truly a Christ believing church. Anyone can say... I believe there is a God, or I believe in Jesus and NOT really believe what they are saying in their heart. Just knowing about God and Jesus isn't enough, for then we must go on to fully trusting Christ with our lives. The most glaring and obvious difference lies in their Christology. When any denomination refuses to accept that Jesus' death on the cross is the perfect and complete payment for our sins, or that by faith in Jesus alone, God declares a sinner righteous, where does that leave them? Refusal to accept that Christ paid the debt, is in fact unbelief and distrust in the Savior. No one here denies, that such a denomination or individual person needs a radical change of heart, after hearing the gospel message. Realize this, that a person who claims to be a believer of Christ, but yet denies the work of Christ is unable to explain what the gospel message is about when asked of them. The conversation always points to something other than Christ. Only a believer who is “born again” and has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is able to share the gospel message as preached by the apostles in Scripture. In the OT the people of Israel and Judah, believed in God, true... but also fully embraced the gods of the nations around them too. As a matter of fact, those other beliefs crowded out God from their lives. God explicitly says.... He will NOT share His glory with another. There is NO room for any form of venerating others PERIOD. I will say it again, there is no excuse for giving anyone other than God the glory, the honor, and the praise. Church history, and tradition is NOT the authority when it comes to spiritual things and conduct. Scripture alone is.

I don't disagree, that Roman Catholics are humans who are in desperate need of hearing the gospel message as preached by the apostles in Scripture. And yes, there are some in the Roman Catholic church who have come to the truth, and have reported that they are extremely uncomfortable with what they see and hear in the rcc; and it is not long , before they leave the rcc behind. Don't be misled, Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ And what is the will of the Father? John 6:29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Roman Catholic priests preach and teach what their false institution tells them to say. If they deviate from what the institution tells them, they will lose their position, and be excommunicated from the rcc. They too, have been fully indoctrinated with error and so they can only forward the errors to the laity. They do NOT preach the gospel of the bible. They teach from the Roman Catholic catechism. Which leads away from Christ, NOT to Him. The Holy Spirit, will never direct us to put faith in mary above Christ. So no, Roman Catholic priests are NOT doing the work of God.