What Happened to God?

a reply to: StallionDuck

Did the disciples lead saintly lives prior to meeting Jesus? Jonah was a pretty bad example of being saintly yet he was used by God. Those aren't the only examples.

God uses everyone towards his greater purpose, believers and unbelievers alike, but that doesn't mean we should pray to them or ask them to pray for us. Just asking them to pray for us IS praying to them as if it serves some kind of purpose, and it doesn't.

a reply to: Deetermined

God uses everyone towards his greater purpose, believers and unbelievers alike, but that doesn't mean we should pray to them or ask them to pray for us. Just asking them to pray for us IS praying to them as if it serves some kind of purpose, and it doesn't.

God does not use EVERYONE for His greater purposes. There are way too many serious sinners thar serve no purpose in God’s plan for redemption.

As far as asking people to pray for us being considered a sin, that simply is untrue. How many folks reach out for prayer on ATS ? We all need prayer and asking others to pray for us or people we care about is hardly something the heavenly Father and His Son could look down upon as sin.

a reply to: Sheye

God does not use EVERYONE for His greater purposes. There are way too many serious sinners thar serve no purpose in God’s plan for redemption.

When I say greater purpose, I mean that even evil and wicked people can scare the hell out of or convince others to change their ways or lives before they become just as wicked, so yes, even they can be used by God.

As far as asking people to pray for us being considered a sin, that simply is untrue. How many folks reach out for prayer on ATS ? We all need prayer and asking others to pray for us or people we care about is hardly something the heavenly Father and His Son could look down upon as sin.

Good heavens, there's a huge difference and a big leap between asking living people to pray for you rather than asking those who are dead and moved on to pray for you. That's a silly statement.

a reply to: Deetermined

Good heavens, there's a huge difference and a big leap between asking living people to pray for you rather than asking those who are dead and moved on to pray for you. That's a silly statement.

Since when are people in heaven dead ? Their prayers matter as much as those who pray for others on earth. You may be ‘determined’ to make your point, but in my opinion you are the one coming off as silly.

a reply to: Sheye

Learn your Bible. I can't put it much simpler than that. We have it for a reason.

originally posted by: Deetermined
a reply to: Sheye

Learn your Bible. I can't put it much simpler than that. We have it for a reason.

Considering you didn’t even acknowledge the biblical quotes from Jesus on Him saying He came to bring division, I’d say you are the one who needs to actually learn your bible.

Where in the bible does it say not to ask for prayers from believing loved ones passed on ?
I can see why he disagreed with those who wanted to communicate with those passed on , in a lengthy way ( nemocrancy) .. but show me in the bible where He states asking for prayer from deceased loved ones is a sin.

a reply to: Sheye

Considering you didn’t even acknowledge the biblical quotes from Jesus on Him saying He came to bring division, I’d say you are the one who needs to actually learn your bible.

You're going to make me address that a third time? If you go back and look, I'm the first one who pointed out the verses about Jesus saying he came to bring division, not peace. Division among ourselves is what finally draws/drives us back to God. How did you miss that....again?!

I'll be back later to answer your last question.

a reply to: EdgeofParadise

The Jehovah religon, is a very cold religon. How do I know? My mum's two brothers married two sisters who were Jehovah. My mum basically lost two brothers. Slowly they distanced themselves from my mum and their other brothers.

One of their sons turned out to be gay, so they disowned him. One thing has stayed with me, and that is the time their was a funeral in the family. I remember the son was at the bar, and his mum was right next to him, and she looked at him, and that was it! Like two strangers at the bar.

It was weird and strange. I could not stop thinking about the fact that she, and my uncle disowned their own son, over a "loving god"

A couple of years ago, about 20 years after he disowned his son, my uncle got cancer, and he started to regret how he treated his son, and wanted to see him before he died.

My cousin gave a simple answer. He said " to me, you died a long time ago" so he died without seeing his son.

It was really sad, but this is what religon can do, esp that religon. It's a very weird and cold religon, and more like a cult.

originally posted by: Deetermined
a reply to: midicon

Maybe you're not understanding what I'm saying. Anyone who follows a doctrine to a point where they cut off family members for life for leaving the religion, do not have their hearts right with God.

What does Luke 14:26 say?
Jesus said that you should hate your mother, father, wife, sisters and brothers..to be his disciple.

originally posted by: Itisnowagain

originally posted by: Deetermined
a reply to: midicon

Maybe you're not understanding what I'm saying. Anyone who follows a doctrine to a point where they cut off family members for life for leaving the religion, do not have their hearts right with God.

What does Luke 14:26 say?
Jesus said that you should hate your mother, father, wife, sisters and brothers..to be his disciple.

I think we need to understand the context that was given in. We’re talking about a time where the majority of Jews were against Christ, and many were family members of His followers. The incredibly cruel ways some of His followers died.. was probably at times perpetrated by family members.

It’s also very difficult to trust every translation of the bible. It can also be a very confusing and contradictory book as the commandments tell us to honour our mothers and fathers.

I do not see a single prophecy that has come true. I don't know what you are seeing here.

originally posted by: Lucky109
I do not see a single prophecy that has come true. I don't know what you are seeing here.

It's like being in a room with an elephant and looking around and saying: 'I don't see an elephant. I don't know what you're talking about.'

a reply to: EdgeofParadise Okay, sure. Why wasn't there prophecies that would be blatantly obvious for those of us that have trouble seeing? Or are you just calling me a liar?

originally posted by: Lucky109
I do not see a single prophecy that has come true.

That's because there are none.

originally posted by: EdgeofParadise
...
Rarely are people given convincing proof of God's existence in their educational studies, in mass media, or other means.


The search for God ...

I was just thinking the other day how telling it was that the documentary "The Story of God" with Morgan Freeman is endlessly repeated on the Discovery Channel (or was it National Geographic?) while I've never seen the documentary "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" by Ben Stein on any channel in my country. I wondered on what obscure channel that documentary was shown in the US if it was shown on TV at all.

The former documentary being primarily a promotion of false religion and describing falsehoods about God and spirituality* and the latter documentary actually being rather informational, educational, beneficial and interesting. *: without any hint at those being falsehoods or even any hint at that being a possibility (worthy for the audience to consider).

I guess they have to cater to the market described at 2 Timothy 4:3,4:

“For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the wholesome* [Or “healthful; beneficial.”] teaching, but according to their own desires, they will surround themselves with teachers to have their ears tickled.* [Or “to tell them what they want to hear.”] They will turn away from listening to the truth and give attention to false stories.”

It helps with getting better viewer ratings I guess.

Does anyone know on which channel Ben Stein's documentary was aired in the US, if at all?

originally posted by: EdgeofParadise

originally posted by: Lucky109
I do not see a single prophecy that has come true. I don't know what you are seeing here.

It's like being in a room with an elephant and looking around and saying: 'I don't see an elephant. I don't know what you're talking about.'

Talking about another elephant in the room (3:05):

To the OP.

The three men I admire most,
The father, son, and holy ghost.
They caught the last train for the coast,
The day the music died.

And they were singing...

originally posted by: Itisnowagain

originally posted by: Deetermined
a reply to: midicon

Maybe you're not understanding what I'm saying. Anyone who follows a doctrine to a point where they cut off family members for life for leaving the religion, do not have their hearts right with God.

What does Luke 14:26 say?
Jesus said that you should hate your mother, father, wife, sisters and brothers..to be his disciple.

No, he didn't. That's absurd. He said that anyone who loved their father or mother more than him wasn't worthy, but that certainly doesn't mean to HATE them. Remember, Jesus said that the first and greatest commandment was to love the lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind. The second greatest commandment was to love others, not hate them. The twisting of scripture is getting ridiculous here.

a reply to: Deetermined
Which Bible are you reading?
Please share (quote) your version of Luke 14:26...... I would be very interested in reading it.

I read all these versions:
biblehub.com...
The majority state that one must hate mother, father, wife etc.


It also says to hate mother and father in the Gospel of St Thomas.

a reply to: Itisnowagain

To some this passage is quite difficult, for it appears to contradict other biblical injunctions which require love for family, both physical and spiritual (cf. Ephesians 5:25; 1 John 2:11).

In ancient times, however, the term “hate” was frequently employed idiomatically to denote simply the preference of one thing over another. For example, in Genesis 29:31 it is said that Jacob “hated” his wife Leah, and yet, the context makes it very clear that he merely loved his other wife Rachel “more than” Leah (v. 30).

Accordingly, when Jesus demands that we must hate our family members, He is not suggesting that we must literally have ill feelings for them. Rather, the Lord is stressing that we must love Him more than all others, even those dearest to us. This is borne out by a comparison of Luke 14:26 with a parallel in Matthew 10:37, where Christ declares: “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me ...”

Underline, therefore, the word “hateth” in Luke 14:26 and in your margin write: Literally, love less; see Genesis 29:29,30; Matthew 10:37.

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