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What are we doing wrong in the church to push away the crowd we aim to draw? Joh 18:37b ....To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Jer_17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Music appeals to the emotions (feelings). The mind responds to truth. If a "crowd" is drawn by the opportunity to stimulate good feelings, how is this different than an opium den? Since feelings are transient and deceptive, perhaps a de-emphasis of that which stimulates them directly is a good thing. Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Perhaps the single greatest thing one can do is abandon selfishness. (the flesh). 2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

If the gift of God is eternal life, why would it be given to the unsaved?

Here is a link to a short article about what is called artificial intelligence that highlights the improved ability to lie. https://christianpioneer.com/blogarchieve/blog326.html

How would one differentiate between assuming that commonalities prove descent as opposed to commonalities proving a single designer?

However, my experience (and disappointment) is primarily with those who pose as preachers and teachers of prophecy. Act_18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. Sadly one effect of seminary exposure is often the deadening of youthful inquiry. Similar to collegiate education, one often becomes hardened in the defense of what one has been told rather than growing in wisdom and truth. It is rare that one can recover from such damage to regain the enthusiasm and openness to learning.

It is difficult to try to "prove" evolution is false. They are very adaptive in their response to criticism. The argument from the fossil record is often explained away using "punctuated equilibrium". This invention describes some magic event where a lot of evolution happens in a sort period while most of the time nothing is observed. Those who feel the need to cling to a reason to support their rejection of God are usually not interested in questioning or seeking to understand.

If one considers that the genetic code is the blueprint for the body, one would expect similarities for respiratory system, neurology, musculature, and things like the metabolization of carbohydrates and the disassembly and fabrication of proteins. I am not sure I would agree with the 2% number as it implies a level of accuracy that I think exceeds actual understanding. Even less well understood are epigenetics and their influence. However, I would not disagree with a statement like, Genetically we are closer to an ape than to a daffodil. Perhaps a focus on the physical distracts from things like the soul and spirit. The complexity and beauty of the machinery of life point undeniably to the hand of the creator.What amazes me is that so many of those whose career is studying this machinery, deny the one that created it.

There are many different ways people approach prophecy. Some allegoricze everything, while others may read themselves into every prophecy. Some take a more analytical approach like trying to guess how many beans are in a jar. Some may plant an emotional "flag" in a particular interpretation. The closer one gets to truth, the more clear things become. However, one should allow that some are less further along in their search for truth. Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Most demonic activity that hurts humans is the result of their acting through other humans. For this reason it is best to protect yourself from any influence that they might exert over you. This would mean increasing things like bible reading and prayer and decreasing things like much of rap music or other worldly influences (James 4:4). From a physiological perspective, you may have vulnerabilities that result from mental health issues. You might experiment with supplements like Insotitol (for OCD) or GABA (for intrusive thoughts). However, if your issues are more pervasive, you may have to seek the help of a psychiatrist for medication. Sadly some psychiatrists are a little lazy and just throw a tranquilizing drug at someone instead of trying to find out what might actually help. To increase your odds of finding a good one, you may want to visit a mental health group and see if someone recommends a doctor that really helped them.

The word used for covenant breaker in Romans is asunthetos which simply means breaking an agreement. This in context is used in a general sense of one who would break a contract or other agreement and is simply not trust worthy. It is used in a general sense and not specific to some particular agreement with God.

The Romans chapter one reference to covenant breaking is one of a number of defining characteristics of the group of people described as those who reject even the knowledge of God. In context Paul uses chapter one to describe two groups of people that both fall into the category of those upon whom the wrath of God comes. The reason is that they hold the truth in unrighteousness. The first group are those who worship the creation more than the creator. Homosexuality is described as a consequence for this. The second group are those who do not even retain the knowledge of God. They are described as having received a "debased mind". The covenant breaking is just one of the characteristics the define the debased mind. If you read the list of manifestations of this condition, it sounds like what is increasingly happening in the US today; Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

The word "love" is defined in 1 Cor 13:4-7. One might see it as selflessness. Lust can be a consumptive selfishness and burning desire.

1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Paul told the Romans that some of his fellow Jews had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. He also says that this was why many stumbled at Christ. Zeal is not bad except when it is not a result but sought for or put first. In a way it is like alcoholism. A person that seeks feeling good directly can end up in all sorts of trouble. How we feel should be the result of what we do, how we live, what we say, and the love of God demonstrated in our life. If we try to go directly and get the good feelings, we can blind ourselves to truth and actually harm our relationship with God.

Our problem may not be so much a lack of the Holy Spirit, but an excessive amount of self. If we are not filled with the Holy Spirit, it may be that we walk too much after the flesh such that we are unable to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Galatians chapter five contrasts these two paths.

At a 10 year high school reunion one sees many with worldly "glory" arrogance, pride, etc. strutting around trying to impress. At a 20 year reunion, most have found the grind of life to have opened their eyes to the tawdry "glory" of self-importance. It says something about Satan that he thought Jesus might be swayed by such "glory". It says something about Jesus (who is truth) who rejected such an offer. Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

I see this as for the nation of Israel in contrast to their collective wanton behavior that at some future time they will be gathered and restored. Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Eze 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. Having the spirit place within them sounds sort of like Jeremiah; Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. To me it sounds like the new nature that Israel gets is coincident with their having received the kingdom that Jesus offered previously. Jesus offered them their new covenant and at some time in the future Israel will finally receive it.

Perhaps on this Easter morning we should praise God for the gift of his son. 1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

I see two aspects to forgiveness. The first might be considered judicial such as God forgiving us our sins through the blood of Christ. A secular analogy might be a court ruling by a judge dismissing 100 parking tickets. The second aspect of forgiveness I see as relational. I think this is what Jesus means when he tells Peter about forgiving his brother. I see 1 John 1:9 also in this relational aspect. For example, if we "confess" (homologos = say the same words) our sins, God is faithful to forgive us. I see this confession not so much as work we do to earn judicial forgiveness, but a surrender to truth that brings humility that can restore a relationship. We are told to draw near to God and humility is key to that process. Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Jas 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. One element that can be overlooked is that a person has to request forgiveness. Just as a relationship requires two people, a restoration of relationship requires two people to be in agreement this requires one to ask for forgiveness.

There can be generational consequences such as the suffering a family has with an alcoholic father or mother. However, I see a case to be made that the passing on of judicial sin consequence from father to son stopping earlier in the history of Israel. Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

The fullness of the gentiles I see as defining a point in the future. From what I read in Revelation, I get a picture of a faithful remnant of Jews supernaturally protected by God for 3 1/2 years. At the return of Christ I see a "nation born in a day" where all of Israel (those who have survived) will be saved. Ungodliness will be banished as part of the transformation that happens with the changes to the people of Israel when the receive the new covenant, king, and kingdom. Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

It is an interest subject if the "Great Commission" is applicable to all Christians. Jesus told his disciples that this would be expected of them (perhaps in their anticipated role in Israel in anticipation of the establishment of the kingdom and Jesus ruling on earth from Jerusalem). If one considers this a universal admonition to all of Christianity, it would seem such an important topic as to not be relatively left out of Paul's epistles. Paul asks for prayer for his own evangelism and admonishes Timothy to do the work of an evangelist (perhaps indicating the gift he was neglecting that he had received through the laying on of hands).