Sevenseas

That's bogus The offence is not in what Christ says, but in those who twist what He says for their own purposes

That's not even true Wondering how much longer this game of I ask questions and you answer will go on? Obviously, justfaith assumes he has the answers by never answering any questions...at least that is how I perceive it I thought this was a place to ask questions ? Are you saying that all the questions you ask you have an answer too ? I ask myself over and over where did God come from ? Is there an answer to that ? anyway i just ask a question thats all it was nice chatting with you all if I knew every thing i will not ask questions do you know everything ? Like I said...........

well, women and some men are definately cringing under the slander and ignorance that's all I'm going to say

well, as the previous poster stated, a false image of Christ has been created Yes, God hates divorce, but I suspect He doesn't take to highly at women being beaten, cheated on treated as though they were disposable Some of the responses in this thread are absurd...but sounds like you know that. Only God can change the extreme and unbiblical views displayed by some on occasion

The most judgemental people are the ones who judge everyone but themselves Yeah, I do read the Bible and in fact study as we are told to do. It's you personally that I don't take seriously because you do not have a clue what scripture actually states yet you are on here telling everyone that divorce is only ok for men

It's the whole picture...all the navel gazing results in inner conflict and judgement...on both a personal and global level. Do we reflect on David's imprecatory Psalms or do we take them into the NT and try to understand them through the light of Jesus' words? There can be no doubt God destroys those who oppose Him....however, we are not the hand of God. The problem with having 'freedom' as Christians lies in the attitude that decries doctrine and allows for interpretation as God 'leads' by His Spirit, while refusing to obey the injunction to TEST the spirits. Not gonna get easier. Here is an interesting observation from something I was reading on another site: Secondly, the psalms were not written with the intention of expounding doctrine to its readers. They contain song, praise and prayer, and they reflect the psalmists’ faith, but they are not doctrinal expositions. Therefore, they may not be taken as explicit doctrinal instruction in the art of cursing people. Third, they are prayers and songs addressed to God, not commands from God as to what we should do. They contain the heart-cries of a number of psalmists in a variety of situations. In joyful exuberance, desperation or guilt, the psalmists present their victories and defeats, their joy and their anger to the Lord. They are beautiful examples of honest prayer, even though many of the passages appear overly vindictive to our 21st century sensibilities. Fourth, although the psalmists list personal injuries, their calls for vengeance are born of the insults committed against righteousness itself. It is God’s honour that has been insulted, and the psalmists call for divine vengeance, not personal revenge. There is no mandate in the psalms for pronouncing curses on personal enemies. I disagree with the reference to 21st sensibilities however. I don't see the world as opposed to wickedness whatsoever. The manner of war may be less distasteful if you are not on the ground, and we may say we don't think war is ok while watching blood spurt from the screen, but really, without God, just where are we exactly? I'm kind of holding breath on world events right now...waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak.

That's what you understand when you open your Bible? That's quite a synopsis and hardly what is being said in this thread. Sounds like God has completely lost control and we had better take it back. No one has said that terrorists should be loved on; rather, what HAS been stated and ignored for some reason by some, is that the devil is active through these people and no amount of bombs is going to destroy that spirit . I think some folks need their eyes opened to see what is going on in the world that is not flesh and blood. In that realm, we find the real battle which of course spilled over in the physical a long long time ago. Why do people espouse a physical solution to what is a spiritual problem? The thing is, the Bible is still readily available to anyone of the mind to open it up and find some real answers. I will agree that spoon fed America is already choking on the baby formula and the rumblings of the ancient war are getting louder and louder. Perhaps the dust cloud is obscuring the vision of those who say they know as well. However, I don't see or hear anything that would lend me to believe we should all have a gun in the closet or drop the big one on ISIS....I don't think most people want to really take the time to wait on God and understand what HIS view is in all of this. There is no quick fix and if you have eyes to see and ears to hear, you see the cracks all around and the choices being made. But, you do have to have spiritual eyes. I just don't see any point to ranting or expressing anger at the spiritual state of the great US of A...or Canada for that matter. Grief and repentance over the whole mess would be far more appropriate IMO...and why don't people express the longsuffering nature of the Holy Spirit? Its almost as if they think their indignation comes from the Holy Spriit and I can assure anyone reading this, that the Spirit of God is NOT indignant. I think people are getting indignant and that is the wrong expression of the nature of God. God assures us of judgement...but as long as we are on the subject, where does scripture say that will begin? The point that I and several others have been trying to make is that the real enemy is the devil...you know, like the Bible states. We are not fighting flesh and blood. To state that, does not negate any other truth but it does not give carte blanche license to pray for destruction of flesh and blood either. Where is the balance and an actual understanding of what the Bible states as a whole unit rather then limited function according to what seems to be the popular swing in EITHER direction? Seriously? As catchy an expression as that may appear to some, it's hardly found in scripture and IMO, defines a very limited understanding of the nature of sin, the nature of fallen flesh and the redemption of God.

It's misapplied because Paul didn't have national foreign policy in mind when he penned those words. Paul was speaking to a church culture that was undergoing intense persecution for their faith from both Jews and from the Roman empire. Paul was speaking in those terms. What I am hearing is that any desire to see ISIS wiped out is unbiblical and I just don't think it is. You are dealing with an enemy that is irretrievably wicked and no amount of "Love" is going to change them. The situation demands that ISIS be purged from existence, otherwise they will continue to victimize innocent people not the least of which are our brothers and sisters. No...that is just not so. How is our walk as believers any different? has something changed between God and the devil that we've missed? Isn't that spirit still alive and well in the world today? Who is the inspiration for the terrorist groups? What is behind them? If you think it is just flesh and blood, then you either do not understand the real war or you think ISIS and others are a hiccup on the radar and God hasn't taken notice You are extrapolating on what I wrote. It would be easier if you simply kept on key and didn't introduce things like 'no amount of love is going to change them' because I never said that, never intimated that and don't, quite frankly, believe it. The spirit of this world is at work in them and it is not flesh and blood guiding ISIS...any more then we, as followers of Christ, are guided by our flesh. We should be filled with the Holy Spirit and not understand things as the rest of the world does. We should have a viewpoint that lines up with the Bible and the Bible is definatley clear that the god of this world is currently the devil and all those who are under his rule are in opposition to God and His Spirit. Further, I actually stated in one post that I would like ISIS wiped off the planet.* I think you are trying to get your point across while skimming over what I really said. * post 28

LOL!...now that's funny

Instead of insisting that the Bible says something is does not really say...ie no divorce no matter WHAT....it would be SO refreshing to read a defense of what the Bible actually does say about how a husband should act and how a woman should respond, instead of misinterpreting the Bible and representing marriage like a living death sentence that really nobody, wants a part of. Marriage is a relationship...like the one we are supposed to have with God. I get the impression that when someone insists on things outside of what scrpture actually states, that they just may perceive God the same way. How would that be? Like an impossible taskmaster who is ready to whip you into shape the moment you do anything wrong, instead of a loving and kind God, which is actually what He states about Himself

Paul wasn't even a believer and was not present for Ananias and Sapphira That's not even true Wondering how much longer this game of I ask questions and you answer will go on? Obviously, justfaith assumes he has the answers by never answering any questions...at least that is how I perceive it

There are many ways that God speaks to us today. Firstly, He speaks to us through His word, the Bible. II Timothy 3: 16 says: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; Second, He speaks to us through the revelation of His Son, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1: 1-2 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. Jesus was sent by God to make a way for us to be reconciled to God and reading the gospels is a good way to begin learn about God's love for His creation Third, the Bible tells us that nature itself tells of the nature of God. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Fourth, we learn about God from other believers. In I Corinthians we learn about the gifts that God makes available through His Holy Spirit to believers. This does not mean that every person who teaches or preaches has been called by God to do so however. Just as we read about false teachers in the New Testament, we have those today as well as false prophets and so on. That is why we begin with the Bible so that we can identify that which is false as God does not deviate from His written word Fifth, we learn through the Holy Spirit Who indwells believers. Unfortuneatly, some believers reject the operating of the Holy Spirit apart from what they understand with their minds. This does not mean they are not saved, but some go so far as to mock the gifts God gives through His Spirit and some go the other way and try to use the Holy Spirit and give credence to things that are false. Again, that is why it is so important to know and study the Bible. And of course prayer is another way we can get to know God better. Alot more could be said, but you can see that there are many ways that we can know God and He does speak to us today in our hearts through His Spirit, through other believers, in prayer and in order to have discernment, through His word. If something does not check out according to the Bible, that is, if it sounds way out there or promises an experience or revelation apart from what God has already said, then it is best to avoid it.

yeah sorry, but I totally agree with other one's post What were you thinking?

Yup I was thinking about that story from II kings last night and the fact that this world is temporal...what we do know is true, is that God is spirit and the devil is a spirit I find it indefensable to state that this scripture, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph 6:12 does not apply to the situation in the world today and quite literally to terrorists.

Staying in an adulterous and or abusive marriage is not a safety net. You don't go to heaven because you thought you had to stay with a man who bashed you when he had too many beers or had realtions with other women. You don't go to heaven because your wife runs around on you while you stay home with the kids. Either of those is just pure misery. What's a marriage vow? What's a broken vow? I really like what Jesus said about letting your yes be yes and your no be no. I'm not sure why this topic keeps getting slung around. It hasn't stopped one divorce yet I'm sure. It takes two hearts and One God to keep people married. The two hearts must be soft enough to 'hear'...that is not to reject but allow the truth to take root and change you from the inside out....a stubborn and religious Bible thumping never helped anyone. However, God can and does change hearts.

not gonna get better...arm yourselves with the truth

Of course I could just lob the ball back, but in all seriousness, why do you believe that passage is misapplied? I would really like to know your reasoning here please

yeah that's pretty much how it is. and LOL the KJV statement and good point

Again, I'm not a pacifist and have taken the opposite side in threads where someone will state that Jesus wants us to do nothing but pray. However, why doesn't God just wipe em all off the earth right now and save everyone the bother? I bet alot of Christians wished God would help Paul into the next world too...but that's neither here nor there The wrong questions are being asked.....why is God allowing this? the question should be why and not how do we pray because we have already been told how to pray and its really not that God would wipe ISIS off the earth So let's just disband the entire US Military, then. We don't need the military to defend us, by your logic. You are completely misapplying that passage. That passage is not misapplied. The entire situation on this planet can be summed up in that passage Failure to understand those verses causes a lack of love and justifies wishing death upon those who are in the grasp of the devil...that's what the Bible states The Bible also states that we were all once enemies of God What ISIS does is obscene but it is the spirit behind their acts that is the enemy. You are not going to get rid of them and there is worse coming People need to get some ears to hear....and some eyes to see...you cannot win this with guns and frankly, you have the same spirit controlling the country, so the devil is not going to whop his own It cannot be said any plainer....you are at war with the devil and he is using flesh and blood

Well I totally agree.

There are none more racist than those who are quick to scream racism. It's getting pathetic...that, and the 'war on women' My heart breaks for that little girl and her grand parents..... The article ends with I'm not sure about that. Apparently, blacks murdering, raping and otherwise creating mayhem against their own color, just are not newsworthy...then again, perhaps they are just acting out because of all the racist whites out there Forgive the sarcasim....it hurts to read what happened to that little girl and to know some of the slanted and heavily biased reporting that calls itself 'news'...and to know that so many people of any color just believe anything they hear or read...just so long as they don't have to bother to check it out for themselves

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 38-39 Sounds like that person has some issues that do not have any baring on your salvation. Sorry you went through that, but it could be a learning experience for you. I started to really dig into the Bible some years back when a Jehovah's Witness I worked with, started on their JW 'program' to convert me...well, I was saved, but didn't know my Bible as well as that person knew their JW beliefs. They kick started me into really studying and I have become alot stronger for it. Sometimes people put their faith in what they believe more then in the person of Jesus Christ. When a person does that, you had better not ever disagree with them!! or they will attack you and if you are somewhat lacking in knowledge of scripture, they can leave you shaken

ISIS represents a spiritual truth.....we are actually in a spiritual battle and it would do good for Christians to note that No gun is ever going to slay the spirit that is behind ISIS and I am all for wiping them off the planet, but after them worse may come

Yes. We have direct Tv and some people think God Tv is direct from God When human beings put other human beings between themself and God, they will always be disappointed. Absolutely NO exceptions and 100% true, 100% of the time

Do you think it is a book on directions on how to get even with people we don't think live up to our standards? Remember that David killed many men...actually physically killed them.....he is not the One we are supposed to follow discalimer: I'm not a pacificist or a milktoast...but even common sense would say that we don't fall on our knees to pray for death for others