Times

The word hate in the Bible does not mean the same as it does in modern english. In the Bible it means "to love less." so God "Loves all workers of iniquity less." So Psalm 5:5 could read "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou 'lovest less ' all workers of iniquity.

How many are going to church today?

Hi Alchemy, I base my view that men or women having sex with each other is a sin entirely on the New Testament. In fact the New Testament spends more time talking about the importance of sexual purity than the Old Testament does, and talking about specifically about men having sex with men and women with women. But this sin is no greater or less than any other sins. I think it is a current hot social issue, and it has an interest group, so we see much discussion. There is no interest group saying that adultery should be normalized for example. But after gay marriage is recognized and it will without a doubt happen, I think this discussion will fade from view. It will be like divorce, which was once considered a big deal, and in fact was illegal, but now is normal and accepted, to our harm I think. This doesn't make either any less sin!!!!!!!

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Why Go To Church? A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all." This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: "I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this .. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

Why Go To Church? A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all." This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: "I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this .. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

Their marital status should have nothing to do with their service in the church. I am aware that there are those who use the verses in Timothy and Titus that "...an elder should be the husband of one wife" to mean that a pastor should not be divorced. But that is a gross misinterpretation. What it means is that in that day when polygamy was a common practice (even among some who became Christians) the church leader should have only one wife. But there are still those in the Church who try to make second class citizens out of divorced people. AMEN

I don't think it should be considered a commandment. In a non-Christian setting I have prayed and the people around me didn't even know it. At times I have asked if they minded if I pray over the meal. A lot of times in a non-Christian setting someone will ask me to bless the food. For me it depends on the situation. On other occasions I have had people ask me to "pray that Baptist prayer." Which I do. It is a memorized prayer that is short and to the point. Some do not like memorized prayers. I pray them anyway. Good question. I look forward to some of the replies.

We are by nature, but we are supposed to be wroking toward perfection, which we will never reach in this lifetime. Just work- ing toward that end. I think 9 times out of 10 when a person makes that statement it is just an excuse to run from God.

How about the "New King James Version" or the New American Standard." They all say they are translated from the original manucsripts, or as some say the "best manuscripts."

God has a command about this. 2 Corinthians 6:14-Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has rightousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? This should answer the question hands down.

Pick up a copy of "How to Read the Bible for all it's Worth" by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart. This book answered a world of questions for me. Not just about versions either. A very good book.

I don't know the answer to your question. I have an opinion, but that's all it is, an opinion. I do believe suicide is a selfish act. For some it is an easy way out of their problems. God has the answer to all our problems. Forgiveness is another thing. Forgiveness is an act of our will. You tell God, satan and yourself that you forgive the person that has wronged you. Satan will try to bring it up to again. Tell him to shut up, that you have forgiven that person and that is the end of it. The Bible says if we resist satan he will flea from us. And he will. Peace will come. Give it to the Lord and peace will come. Stop dwelling on it, let it go. Everytime satan puts it in your mind tell him to shut up. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood...Stop feeling sorry for your self, concetrate on your 5 year old and go forward. If you need forgiveness from God ask Him and go forward. If you need forgiveness from another person, ask them and go forward. Don't be concerned with feelings, know in your heart you have forgiven and are forgiven. Hope this helps. We will pray for you.

Can we use smoking as an example. God convicts you of smoking. When you realize your body is the temple of God it becomes sin to you. So now want to quit. Your old nature doesn't want you to quit because it is satisfies the flesh when you light up. Satan doesn't want you to quit because you are dying a little everytime you light up. God delivers some, and others have to work at quitting. It takes a conscious effort to stop. For me God didn't deliver me from smoking. I had a hard time quitting. I made a conscious effort to stop. I realized I was in a war and I decided to fight. I believe God helped me with the strength to quit, but I had to fight the flesh and satan. I understand there is a physical addiction, but that lasts only 72 hours. The rest of the battle is in your mind. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph. 6:12 (KJV) The NIV says it this way. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." So, no matter what your "sin or addiction" happens to be you cannot quit on your own. God has provided a way out and you have to want it and make up you mind you are going to have. It is a spiritual war and we have to fight to win.

The reason I believe true believers will not go thru the tribulation is that the church is not mentioned after Rev. 4.