SoliDeoGloria4708

This may be because Egypt, Saudia Arabia, and other powerful Arab World leaders are mostly sunni, while Hezbollah is a shiite organization.

That's a very week argument that is relying on skewed interpretation due to a preconceived desire to disprove Jesus's divinity. I'll explain more later. I'm sure others can as well. I got to work now.

I really don't think it matters very much, but I agree with Ak

I agree. It would be blatant disobedience not to.

It's about time. We need to stop depending on the middleast

Romans 14 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

I respectfully disagree with your assessment of this passage. When Jesus is speaking of taking communion unworthily, He is not speaking of the actual substances taken in, but the condition of the heart of the participant.

I was raised southern baptist, so i always just had grape just, until this last year i attended a church that had wine. I personally think the best way is to have both. Although the sacrament of The Lord's Supper is just symbolism and for memorys sake, I don't see why we cant do it at least similar to the first time. The fact of the matter is, there is no good biblical argument for zero tolerance towards alcohol. The stigma most of us have about alcohol is purely a cultural thing. I go by a Romans 14 viewpoint. I don't know why a Christian adult couldn't have a glass of wine with his dinner in his own home. ROMANS 14 "14I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. "

well said

I'm 19 and I love McGee and Me, and Veggietales.

Just look to the Word. I was raised with a very wishy-washy point of view concerning God (like some other posters), but through His Word I was able to get a fuller view of the character of God, not just the "Jesus loves you, amen" part. Their's more to it than that. My old view point was very man-centered. However, the Bible is not man-centered, it's God-centered. And God is God-centered. And it's encouraging to see someone start to dig into some of the more solid food. When your not raised being taught these deeper thruths of election and the sovereignty of God, it's sometimes hard to Get your head wrapped around it. This is a book that I read that really helped me flesh out my thoughts concerning this topic. It is now available for free online right HERE. I hope it helps.

I'm not saying that's not the answer I want and I'm not saying I want a god of my own choosing. Are you saying it's somehow sinful or wrong to ask questions or discuss things? Because that's all I was interested in. I think that is actually real refreshing to hear honest questions on something a little more deep. I'm glad you are searching for better understanding. I have to go now though. I'l check the replies later.

That

Well that's good. Sometimes peoples egos get in the way of relizing whats right.

I think the first thing we need to understand, is that none are worthy of God's love. If God decides to give us what we justly deserve, we would all burn in hell. That would be our due wages. Death. We are all underneath this curse of sin. Not one of us can commit a truly righteous act. We are slaves to sin. In our sinful preregenerate state, before salvation, not one of us could even desire God. Why would we? We are a selfish evil race, that would normally run from a God who demands you to become dead unto yourself. God demands us to give up our old self. Why would anyone become a Christian? It is only because of God convicting our hearts and sovereignly saving us. We have NO part in our own salvation. As sinful humans, we are not capable of coming to God on our own power. If we became Christians because of a "choice" we made, then wouldn't that be salvation by works? When it comes to Romans 9 and other "hard" scriptures, we just have to face the fact that we are not made for our own pleasure, but for God's. I know it's hard to let go of the idea that we humans aren't in control. But when you think about it, why would WE be in control, when their's a God like our God. Isaiah 64 "6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. 7 No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins. "

I understand what your talking about. I usually try to refrain from using the label "calvinist" so that I do not appear accountable to John Calvin (I personally prefer reformed baptist). However, the term (calvinist) is practially essential now when I expound on my faith. So, to all who oppose the name, yet support the ideas, let us just call calvinsts calvinists. At least in a discusion such as this one. "I feel no accountability to John Calvin. I feel an indebtedness to him, but I'm not accountable to him nor would I wish to wear his name, nor, I believe, would he wish anyone to wear his name. Calvinism is a categorization which I don't deny if you're talking about a strain of theology. But I am accountable to the Word of God and the Gospel of Christ." Albert Mohler

As a calvinist, I defiantly stand with you on doctrine. However, it appears that you might be trying to pull a straw man argument. Thats not very good. Also, we need to realize that we will defiantly disagree sometimes, but we need to with love and kindness. Just be more gentle with your language.

I think that that's a real good point. As a reformed baptist I have talked to several friends about free will and election. It seems to me that allot of the time, the only thing that is keeping them from at least doing some studying is that they just simply don't like the idea of not being in control. I suppose that is unfortuanly natural . As self-centered, sinful, humans it is hard to get your head around the idea that you are not in control.