rehydrated_for_Christ

I sorta disagree with some of that like "the key of our religion". I happen to believe that Christianity is not a religion. It's a relationship with the Creator God and it's only by His grace and love that we can be called His children. And also, I believe it takes more faith to believe in evolution because we see people create things all day long, so we know it's possible for a God to create something. But for things to just happen out of nothing and no one doing it is way harder to believe, at least it seems that way to me. I have to respond to this just so I don't get misrepresented by silence. I do, in fact think that relationship with God is the most important, but faith that our God is THE GOD is the key to our religion-Christianity, and that our God-The God- sent His son Christ to die for us. Relationship is a personal matter, but religion is governing. We can get kind of messed up if we rely on relationship without religious leaders ordained by God to help lead us. So religion is important and faith is the crux. Now, on having faith in evolution, I see your point and I in no way want you to think that I blindly go around saying "Well, God did it, so you can't be right". I never claimed to know how God did anything, especially in creation. I don't just think He twinkled His nose or waved a magic wand, I just know that He orchestrated it. Who knows how long Adam and Eve stayed in Eden before the infamous apple? The earth may very well be millions of years old,etc. I don't try to know God's mechanisims, I just know He's pulling the strings.

Oh goody! This really opens me up to ask for some helpful advice on this subject. I do have a friend who is gay, and we are very close. I love him very much and it breaks my heart to know that he will never truely be happy until he finds Christ and abandons his current lifestyle. he always knew my position on homosexuality but i also allowed hiim to be very open and tell me about his life. Now that I am finally where I should be and growing in Christ it is very hard to listen to his stories, but I CANNOT push him away. We have been friends for a very long time and he has always been there for me. I have decided to invite him to church, to introduce him to my true best friend-Christ, and when the time is right God will put it on his heart that his lifestyle is sin and there will be an opening for me to witness. Did I mention that my friend is very interested in church and God? Yea! But as of now I don't know how to address my disomfort with his openess without pushing him away and losing that area I have available to make a difference (his curiosity about God). I am really struggling because this is the kind of thing I would usually go to him with if it were anyone else. Ack! I'm kinda stuck and don't know where to go! Any helpful ideas?

This is a it confusing for me also. I think that you are baptised in the Spirit when you truely give your life over to Christ. I personally feel that this is why the Bible states that you are saved and baptised in the same sentence. Now, please no one jump on me, it is only my opinion. I just feel the word baptism gets too caught up with water baptism when there are several types of baptism and all of them are important to different aspects of your walk with Christ. Does that make any sense?

Ah let me have a shot at this since I am the one who posted said thread. When I said morals, I meant Christian morals. I doubt that there are very many on this forum who are pro-choice. Now, there may be some who would vote for a candidate that is pro-choice if it came down to the lesser of two evils, etc. basically, what i mean is that as a whole, this forum represents a group of people who are very similar in views on basic issues-abortion, homosexuality, etc. Our tolerance of these issues and the ideas we have on what should be done about them is waht separates us as well as our prioritization of the issues. I do know that my assertion has basically already been proven correct by looking at responding opinions, so obviously morality isn't nill when spoke of in the context I applied it.

thanks..glad to know someone can focus around here. J/K. I am really glad to have someone who is close to the heart of the matter give an opinion. I knew he looked good on paper, but I am glad for a close-to-home opinion in his favor.

I found this on biblestudy.org. Maybe it will clear up baptism by fire, but it was just one writer's view. Do You Want the Baptism by Fire? Are you sure you know what it is? The common belief that we should desire that baptism with FIRE springs from texts showing God will purify and cleanse those who are His, by purging away the dross. And the Scriptures speaking of this purifying process usually speak of it as "purge away," or "take away the dross," rather than burning it away with fire. But in Ezekiel 22, God does speak of burning away this dross with fire. Before we examine the words of John the Baptism about being baptized with the Holy Ghost and with FIRE, let's see, if we want even to have this dross purified by FIRE. Here it is! Listen! "Son of man, the House of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver. Therefore thus saith the Eternal God; because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in Mine ANGER and in My FURY, and I will leave you there, and melt you. Yea, I will gather you and blow upon you the FIRE of My WRATH," Ezekiel 22:18-21. Now do YOU want to become DROSS? Do you want this kind of FIRE? Do you want to become so wicked -- so rebellious, stiff-necked, hard-hearted, as God says Israel was, that you PROVOKE GOD'S ANGER to the extent that He has to chastise you in the FIRE of His WRATH? Those here purified in this fire were those so wicked, so rebellious, in such a wrong spirit that God is punishing them in ANGER, and in FURY. He is not here speaking of CHRISTIANS at all, but with unregenerate, stiff-necked, rebellious, sinning, ISRAEL.

So we get a lot on here about who we don't like, it is pretty obvious considering most of us have at least one thing in common-morals! So how about an informative thread on who you back and why? Cool link to candidates stands on the issues: http://www.issues2000.org/default.htm Make sure a look at the bottom of the page on each candidate to see how they are rated. It is neat. I personally like Fred Thompson as of now. This will be my first election so any input would be appreciated.

Thanks for your input damo! I just want to add before anyone gets angry at me for reopening this can 'o worms that I believe that there is a huge amount of Biblical evidence that baptism is important in salvation. My only question is, how do we know what kind of baptism God means? I would think that the whole act of being "saved" would cover repentance and Holy Spirit baptism as we are renewed by the Spirit. So I guess I would say that baptism is essential to salvation, but is also part and parcel with it? Not sure?

I know that two posts on baptism have been shut down, and I am not trying to revisit the "baptism as a must for salvation debate". I just want to know what you think about the types of baptisms mentioned in the Bible and where your beliefs lie in regards to the different "types" of baptism. There are at least 5 types of baptism mentioned in the Bible: 1-baptism by repentance 2-baptism in water 3-baptism into the Holy Spirit 4-baptism by fire 5-baptism into the Body of Christ What do these mean to you and your ideas of baptism and salvation? Can we not agree that there are different types of baptism and the all Christians by way of our basic beliefs have been baptised in at least one way? I am genuinly curious and would like to learn more about different baptisms.

Ah, that is the beauty of our God-the only God. He supplies us enough evidence to know something is behind it all, but let's enough go unanswered that we must go out on that limb of faith. Faith is the crux of Chrisitianity (he he, look up the def of crux and see how well that fits ) If you ever meet a "Christian" that offers 100% proof of anything, they are seriously misled. Faith in God is the key of our religion. Until you experience assurity of God in your life it is not possible for anyone to explain or express to you how we "know" there is a God. It is simply knowledge from God that He so wants to give each one of us.

Not sure. One of my friends told me about it. I'm not sure if it is the biggest. That's just what she said, but she also said it was one of the most moving events she has ever attended. This will be my first year. I'm taking my teenage sister and cousin. I hope it is as awesome as I've heard.

The biggest youth conference in the country is scheduled for 2007. Onething is also teaming up with The Call and doing a 12 hour prayer for our country. I have added a link to the website for the conference: http://www.ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?id=1000008176 Remember-it is free!!! Message me if you are planning on going. I'd love to meet people if you go!

I wouldn't say. Isn't that the usual response? If you disagree with my view of this important issue, you are not following the real Jesus. How quickly our 'ism divides brethren bought by the blood of Jesus! I am not dismissing your issue, nor dismissing the scriptures, I am saying that to drag your idea (no matter how bright or right) into the gospel is to cheapen the message of the gospel, lowering Christ to your level of beliefs, and (tragically) discluding other Christians as following another Jesus should they disagree with you. To package Christianity with (fill in the blank) is to dilute the message of the cross of Jesus Christ, and to elevate your 'ism at the expense of Christianity. I have to agree here..how about simple Christian-ism? It includes support of all things that God does and all people. As a Christian, we are already "Zionists" without the extra label. Also, we should support God's chosen people in everything since the Bible clearly states that we are His choosen people now: Romans 11 Ingrafted Branches 11Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! 13I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. So any support for God's choosen people would be support for us as well And it is part and parcel to Christainity to support the Jews as they are our root. We need not muddy the water by giving it a new title. It is Christian doctrine by default.

I have to disagree. I do not think it is Christian to enable people. My daughter has government health care simply because I am in school and I will certainly repay that many times over after I graduate. It is pathetic though how very close we fall to the line of not recieving anything when my husband works 6 twelve hour shifts a week to keep us going but if neither of us put up any effort they would give us food stamps, insurance, and cash benefits. How messed up is that system? I know that if we didn't recieve health benefits for our child, we would sacrifice all we had to to get it for her, most parent's would. The parent's that wouldn't sacrifice for their kids have far bigger problems and will damage their children in the long-run anyway. So, why enable them now? As a soon-to-be healthcare worker I run and scream at even the hint of socialized health care! Down with Hillary! So let me get this right. Your taking advantage of the SCHIP program (or something like it) to provide health-coverage for your daughter because you don't really have the means to do so right now because your in college. Yet, your against the SCHIP program? Expand your mind for a moment....yes, I do get coverage for my daughter, but the program is so far from perfect that I would not be sad to see it go. I certainly don't want more funding for it. Like I said, we barely qualify and we work our butts off. It is not set up to help those who want to help themselves...it is set up to reward laziness and unproductivity..so I am against it. And if you would read, I said that if it wasn't available I would sacrifice what I had to to provide for her, but that would mean hardly seeing her for the next year if I had to work full-time. Things aren't always black and white-I can take advantage of a resource, but still wish to see it reformed, or even gone if that's not feasible.

I have to disagree. I do not think it is Christian to enable people. My daughter has government health care simply because I am in school and I will certainly repay that many times over after I graduate. It is pathetic though how very close we fall to the line of not recieving anything when my husband works 6 twelve hour shifts a week to keep us going but if neither of us put up any effort they would give us food stamps, insurance, and cash benefits. How messed up is that system? I know that if we didn't recieve health benefits for our child, we would sacrifice all we had to to get it for her, most parent's would. The parent's that wouldn't sacrifice for their kids have far bigger problems and will damage their children in the long-run anyway. So, why enable them now? As a soon-to-be healthcare worker I run and scream at even the hint of socialized health care! Down with Hillary!

Ok, this may get long-winded. I want to be very specific in the advice I am trying to gather because this is very important to me. First, I am in no way at all saying that I don't think attending church is a very important thing-it most definately is! But... in my current life, I have to make very important decisions on how I spend my freetime. I am a full time student, the mother of a two-year-old, and my husband works 6 twelve-hour shifts a week with Sunday as his only day off. Now-to the good stuff-I have at the very least 2 spiritual mentors who live very closely with Christ. I talk to both of them daily. I am currently engaged in three different independant Bible studies that I do at home (all of which my mentors have previously done, so I get input from them), I am starting a chapter of Nurses' Christian Fellowship at my school, I read nothing but Christian material with the only exception being books released in series' that I am already involved in, I listen to only Christian music if it is my choice at all, and I attend every conference/retreat/etc that I can possilby fit into my sched (including one full weekend in Nov, one weekend in Dec, and a full week in Dec already planned). BUT...on Sundays...if my husband wants me to spend time with him, I do choose to forgo church services to get in that family time. Ok, so my questions are: What am I missing from regular ordained messages? (I have been a Christian all my life but have only recently fully submitted my ENTIRE life to Christ) It seems that God answers my prayers to this with something along the lines of "its okay, you need to spend time with your husband to show him the importance of submitting his life to me, and I know you are devoted to Me", but I doubt from time to time if that is really God or if it is me trying to soothe my own conscience-any thoughts? Now, this is not an issue about "works". I'm not bragging or so forth, simply giving you the facts of my lifestyle. I know my relationship with God is in good standing, I just want to know if Im missing anything or opening up an area of my life for Satan's influence-get me? Thank you for any advice you have to offer.

No, God does not punish us for the sins of others. We can, however, experience negative consequences because of the sins of others. Cajunboy::::Really eric, I will ask you to reread Exodus 34:7 and tell me what you think ? The reason I asked this question on this topic Eric, is because I have sensed that I was condemned with the sin of a father and his father on up a few generations. That was the fartherest I could trace the same (sexual) sin of this nature, and it's not a common one, so it's easy to spot if you know how and where to look for it. BUT IT STOPPED WITH ME, Eric. Only by the grace of God was I able to bury my cross before God, and only through God. That's why I'm alive and still here today. I knew it had to be stopped and I was the only one at the time that had the strength and wisdom to do it! Praise God! Thanks for your input Eric I noticed you only respond to the more difficult ones, I think? In God's Love Cajunboy Beth Moore addresses this very question in her Breaking Free study. She talks about "sin heredity". We can unknowingly and unwillingly "inherit" sinful or destructive behaviors from our ancestors. She talks of a woman at the turn of the century who was married off to an older man. Her failure to bear him sons made thier relationship very tumultuous. Several generations later, women who did not even know the story of their great-great-grandmother all exhibited trust issues and were involved in bad relationships. The women of the family had unknowingly passed down a mistrust in men. The only female in the family that was involved in a healthy relationship was also a very devout Christian and was close to God. So what else can we inheirit or pass on that is sinful or even just painful?

"The probability of life originating from accident is comparable to the probability of the unabridged dictionary resulting from an explosion in a print shop"-Albert Einstein He may have been agnostic, but this is good basis for Christain belief-especially since one of the most widely accepted intellects of all time saw and believed in some form of purposeful creation. Ha Ha We are one up on Einstein-we know His name-Elohim!