LPTSTR

Hi! As I wrote in my first post, I am not talking about USA. Looks like some just read the title and then hit the reply button without further reading. But I am happy to see that some have actually read it. I was interested to know in general about country where governments treat their people poorly but where any protests officially illegal. One example was Belarus but of course there other countries as well so lets just assume that there is some country X where protests are illegal. What should Christians do in that case? While the fact that Belarus government is illegal kinda justifies it morally, where does exactly Bible say that government has to be legal in order for Christians to submit to it? If I look at Rom 13:1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Then to me it does not leave room for interpretation that there are some authorities that have not been established by God. But from the other hand we have governments such as North Korea, China, Belarus. That kind of makes me ask: Is Bible lying when it says that all governments are established by God? Or how to interpret it then if there are some governments that are not established by God? That is true. But lets assume that you are not directly required to go against God's commandments, but it is just some government that treats people brutally and that has made law that forbids any protests. Should Christians obey that law then? Where from the bible does this idea come from? For example roman government was kinda illegal government in a sense that it occupied Israel's territory but Bible still teaches that they should submit to authorities. That's how I have understood it. Therefore Biblical conclusion would be that in case of Belarus Christians should stay at home? Not that I currently see it otherwise but just want to hear others.

Hi! I have wondered to what extent does Romans 13:1-2 and other verses from the Bible that tell Christians to submit to authorities apply? Rom 13: 1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. As many of us may have heard from news about Belarus - people are out there protesting against President. I am interested to know if Christians who live in Belarus are allowed to go there? Romans 13 and also other parts in the Bible tell us to submit to authorities which means we as Christians have to obey the law. Now if Christians happen to live in country where protesting is illegal, then according to Bible Christians should obey that law and stay home. Therefore would it be allowed for Christians to protest in the Belarus? From the one hand Belarus government has been quite hard on it's people but from the other hand no where in the Bible are any exceptions for cases where government is too bad. And other question I have is is it ok for Christians to call Belarus government corrupt? Because if governments are established by God then you basically blaspheme God by calling what He did bad. Would be interested to hear your opinions.

Hi! Are Christians allowed to buy items from factory whose owners are muslims? In my opinion some of the profit might go from the hands of the owners to support the islam either in form of donations or in any other way. And as I have understood Christians should not finance other religions. But from the other hand the Bible doesn't seem to explicitly warn against buying from other religions. Specially if items themselves are not related to any religion. For example, fans, lights, etc... What's your opinion and what bible verse(s) is it based on?

Hi! Exodus 21:24 says I have seen Christians say that it was to limit retribution. However I m interested to know it it allowed to give mercy also or if it required of you that if someone knocked your eye out you also are to knock attackers eye out? Like I personally see this part as commandment. Is there any biblical grounds that would have allowed to offer mercy to attacker instead of knocking attacker's eye out also? I know that NT allows Christians forgive attacker but were people at OT times (when Christ and His teachings had not yet been revealed to people, and the sermon on the mount had not yet took place) allowed to forgive someone who knocked their eye out?

Hi! I was listening to dramatized ESV audio book. At Rev 5 about verses 9 and 10 it has nice song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgtp8Vg-Ymw&feature=youtu.be&t=1026 (at time 17:06 on that linked video). I was wondering if anyone knows how to find full version of that song?

I's good you pointed this out. It's certainly one thing that makes Christianity different. It's useful to point this out when talking about Christianity.

What about having to keep 10 commandments, having to go church, having to pray, having to believe? Is this not what religion also has? Could you be more specific please? I mean point our what you exactly mean by trappings and blinding? Do you have some manipulation tactics in mind that Christianity doesn't use or what? True, but from the other hand, if you continue to live in willful sin you can still go to hell so some sort of repentance is still required in order to get to heaven. Also Bible tells you must believe in God. Religion also often has believing in God. Could you find any sources that support this idea? And that there is no other religion where God reached down to man? Ok, that makes understanding more difficult for me. If Christianity is not a religion why are these religion then? I have heard that JWs and Mormons are wrong way. But Catholicism should be pretty similar to Christianity except that hey have some extra books and praying to saints and Mary and angels. Yes, it's different but is it only relationship? Isnt it religion also? Like believing that God exists (believing in something supernatural) and doing what Bible tells us to do? What makes you say that it is not a religion and no that it's just different religion? But if I stop reading the bible, going to church, praying, seeking God and so on. If I stop doing all Christian activities, I can still end up in hell even after accepting Christ and maybe even being a Christian for a few days. So in that sense I still need to do some works, I still need to abide in Him. You say we do it out of love but from the other hand if we dont do these at all anymore we can end up in hell according to my understanding. There is even verses like if we dont abide in Him we will be cut off and thrown in fire. It's not that I accept Christ and now live however I want because Christ will forgive. Something still must change - some works must be done.

Hi! Recently I have ran into people who say that "Christianity is not a religion". When you google this claim you will find multiple blogs/posts on that. When I did my research to find out what religion is I found many things in Christianity are also present in religion. People who say that Christianity is not a religion point out that religion tells people what to do in order to reach God but in Christianity God has already done everything for us Himself. Some say that it's not a religion because it's simply loving Jesus. Since I find any good answer to that my self I decided to create poll to see what other Christians say. Below I point out some religious things I found to be true for Christianity also (source: Wikipedia). Designated behaviors - 10 commandments world views - Christians are right, others go hell faith, supernatural being, prayer, music, public service - Christianity has it too Christianity has the Bible which gives the meaning for our life - to glorify God. Based on that I would conclude that Christianity is a religion. It's just different for it's grace and that God has already done everything but I would still call it a religion. Whats your opinion? Why or why not is Christianty a religion?

Let's see. If God exists anything is possible, if God doesnt exist then it's just a hope and nothing more...

I understand you. I dont believe/hope in prayer answers anymore but I pray for you and me anyways just in case God exists.

I know you feelings but I can not help you. I also feel lonely with no real real life friends. God can. But from my experience I can tell that God only answers prayers of those who already have nice social life and not of people like me. My only hope is that one day I somehow manage to rise my status so high that I wouldnt depend on God anymore. I can tell from experience, that I have wen through in my life that hoping on God in such situations is last thing you want to do. You can never be sure that it is His will to help You.

But I get alot of it for every smallest thing I say in my anger against God for every little sin that I do in my disappointment. And if it's some bugger sin then the punishment is all the more. But when I obey Him I dont even feel His presence.

From my personal experience I can tell that He never has and never will answer any of my prayers but as soon as in my disappointment I have have said something bad to Him or sinned against Him in some way, He is always there to punish me with plagues and curses and so on. When I turn to Him and pray Him, then it best He only stops punishments. But He never answers my prayers because He wants to keep me in disappointment so that He can keep punishing me.

1 Samuel 2:25 If one person sins against another, God[a] may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death. I am just wondering.... In this verse we see that son did not repent because God wanted to kill him. I have kinda the same situation. I know what is right to do but I am not interested in doing that. Ciuld it be because Lord wants to put me also to death? And thats why I have not turned from my disappoibtment? Because His will is to kill me just like the son mentioned above was planned to be put to death? And the should I try repent of it at all? Because if it is the Lords will to put me to death then trying to be good would just be fighting against the will of the God for my life which is the lake of fire.

Could you please explain me, why is it ok when she attacks me first, but why am I not allowed to stan up for myself? Why do you so kindly accept all the offences that she says to me as if they were no offances at all?

What did he do? It happened because I never received any prayer answers. I started to doubt and care less and also reald less bible. In bible, God always has power. But in real life he doesnt. So to answer your 2nd question. Eternal life is most important. But first I need to find out if God actually exists or not. By reading the Bible I would say yes He exists but the fact that in real life there is no miracles tell that He doesnt exists. And if God doesnt exist then Bible and Christianity is nothing more than just a good moral standard. But then basically I still have no guarantee that I am not one of them...

Thanks. One more question: because of years of unanswered prayers, I have stopped feeling passion for Christ. He no longer makes me happy. I no longer hope in Him and so on. I still like worship songs and the way christians think but my desire no longer burns for God. Does this mean that God has stopped drawing me?

Thanks. I can safely assume that even though I originally cam to God for wrong reason I am still been drawn? Just asking to clarify because wanting to have relationship and actually drawing seem to be two different things to me.

No, I havent.

You are clearly pharisee in Luke 18:9-14. I am nit taking it out of context. You are woman and if the Bible tells woman shall not teach or have authority over man then that's it You dont teach here. Full stop. Not only are you teaching man but you are also looking down on me like this pharisee looked down on tax collector. You are assuming to have authority over me right now. But I want you to remember that it was not man who was deceived but woman who then also deceived man. Man is not created of woman but woman of man. You are only here to be some one. but you still havent answered my question. (I have edited my original post to make my question more clear.)

Please read 1 Timothy 2:12. Copy-paste answer is not loving. They way you talk is not loving. If I merely look at your behaviour I dont see how you would inherit the kingdom of God any more than I do. PS you still didnt answer: " if I came to God for wrong reasons, can I still assume that I have been drawn by God?" Instead I received proof of your self righteousness.

I have tried it few times but I have not been able to do it truly. Sooner or later I would feel the pressure of loneliness. And then feeling that God isnt doing anything about me robs my desire for Him. As I mentioned before. My end is lake of fire and there is nothing I can do about it. I simply cant forshake the idea of finding wife. I have tried and failed.

Hi! John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. What if original reason why I first came to God was not because I knew about my sinfulness and wanted forgiveness but because I seeked supernatural help with finding wife? Does that mean that God used this difficulty of my life to draw me or is there any possibility that I came with my own initiative and that God has not actually drawn me? In other words if I came to God for wrong reasons, can I assume that I have been drawn by God?

Professional help can only help me with words. They cant bring prayer answers closer. What shall I do if that is answer to " What drew you to GOD..........why did you come . try and remember. " ? no I wanted God and His truth. But I also kept praying to find wife. Years passed and no prayer answer received. I find that it's not loving from God. God who is not loving should resign and give His throne to someone more worthy of it.

I know and understand this. But to me it's till even after knowing it all just a theory. Well I do believe in that but for some reason it still leaves me cold. I have already accepted the fact that God has nothing for my life and my end is hell. I know that it is the will of God for me because why else, after knowing it all I still dont have any real desire to follow Jesus... Like I wouldnt doubt whether God would has given up on me but know it? Or that I wont be even asking for help here? Just having difficulty with this sentence as english isnt my first language, and this sentence is a bit unclear. I have read it entirely 2 times and now am 3rd time. in addition I have read New Testament for 5 times or so. I have also read study guides and commentaries. So really lack of factual knowledge. In small groups I am no worse than others. I am sometimes even better at bible knowledge and understanding than someone who has been christian longer than me. But this factual knowledge doesnt help me to hope on God. How? When? What happened? But it's nothing special. Everyone who live are breathing. Even animals or people of whom God already knows that they are going to burn in hell. And btw, I would be much happier if tomorrow morning I wont be breathing anymore. Done this. Kinda relapsed to some sort of worldly thinking as nothing followed to when I did what you told me to. I know. I go to church on that day. But I wish that God would still be like He was on old testament days. Then I would go to gather wood on sabbath day just to have God strike me dead.