Ask a Christian

Do you give change to tramps
 
I have looked at that. I have accepted that I am powerless on my own to help me off my feet. I have honestly and truthfuly brought Jesus into my heart. I acknowlage that I am a sinner and have truly and honestly accepted him as my lord and savior. However I am going to have to wait untill I make my first confession to truly repent all of my sins I have comitted since baptism (I am a Roman Catholic and I believe that my priest as "in persona Christi" can absolve my sins).


Well, great! That is settled once and for all. Settled for all time, and doesn't not need to be questioned. You don't need to worry about it ever again. Don't even think of it.

The act of FAITH is actually NOT worrying about it, trusting it.

"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God". So, don't be shy about reading the Bible! Especially the little books of Paul: Colossians, Philippians, Ephesians, Galatians. They are perfect for you.

God bless you. And don't worry. You did all that is necessary. Now, just try to enjoy it. Perfect love casts out all fear!
 
I have trouble believing that all events that you pray to occur, then occur (unless, of course, you've wisely stopped actually praying for unlikely/impossible events to occur). But, regardless, I think it's fair to say that the majority of Christians don't have their prayers (for events) answered or fulfilled. So, the question is more directed to them.


What is odd is that you assume that the answer "NO!" or "WAIT!" doesn't exist as an answer to prayer. It does. God says, "No" quite often. He says, "Wait!" even more often.

Well, my knee-jerk response would be to state that murdering non-Christians for their faith is worse, if we assume that the Christian world-view is correct. I'd think that would be obvious. To any believer, the death of a Christian is not nearly the tragedy than the alternate.

My answer was obviously too brief. What I meant was that the Christian community would have more difficult accepting a man into their ranks, in leadership especially, who persecuted their own.

And yes, persecuting those for their beliefs, is very heinous.
 
why do christian charities refuse to help homosexuals? (or so ive heard...)
 
What is odd is that you assume that the answer "NO!" or "WAIT!" doesn't exist as an answer to prayer. It does. God says, "No" quite often. He says, "Wait!" even more often.

We're going in circles.
You earlier stated that someone of sufficient faith would be intune enough with God that they would not pray for things that God would deny. If you don't have sufficient faith to do this, why assume you have sufficient faith in Jesus to be saved?
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I can present another challenge; how much scriptural support do you have to show that believers will commonly (or almost always) have their requests denied by God? In the real world, we assume that most prayers won't be granted (especially if they're improbable); but that's just a memetic survival trait. Why should a believer, who places his trust in the god described in the Bible, NOT expect to have their request granted? edit: for example; any instances of a request being denied for reasons other than a lack of faith?

(and, to prevent people from putting the cart before the horse; it's not that a person gets their prayers granted to give them faith. Jesus promises that people's faith will lead to prayers being granted, a completely different scenario)

And I'd like people's answers to focus on scriptural support. Any additional doctrine is as meaningless as my statement "God does not answer prayers. The God of the Bible does not exist"
 
Thanks for the answers regarding Scripture interpretation.

Firstly, I think that Homie seems to be an anomaly with regards to prayer; he does not experience the same 'intensity' of connection that others do. Compare his answers regarding prayer to the others who've answered my question (as well as Homie's experience with his friends, who feel more 'certain' about a spiritual response).

I have a second question; first to Katheryn and then maybe to the group. Katheryn: you've stated elsewhere that Bush is not a Christian, but merely pretending to be one. Now, I know that you've collected information that allowed you to come to this conclusion: observervation of his policies, reading that expose book, etc. However, your statement is rather inflammatory, and I wonder if you've become 'certain' of your position on this matter due to prayer? Would you say that a major portion of your certainty in this is due to an "answer" to your intercessions for him?

The Bible teaches us how to evaluate our leaders, how to tell if they are wolves in sheep's clothing.

We are told not to judge our brother. That is referring to the rank and file. But we are responsible for our leaders. These can be removed and must be removed as leaders if they do not show "fruit".

Here is the passage:

A Tree and Its Fruit

15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

As you can see, this passage is referring the LEADERS, not rank and file.

I am in the middle of a huge debate on another forum about this exact passage in regards to Pat Robertson. People say he is a false prophet, etc. But we are given direct instructions on how to discover if someone is a false prophet.

2 Peter discusses it extensively:

http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=2 Peter+2&version=31


and the book of 1 John also discusses it.

http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=1 John+4&version=31

Basically, it has to do with encouraging sexual immorality, and how they raise their own children, a man is not allowed to have any any esteem in the church without having children that are raised as Christians, not as hellraisers who get arrested for underage drinking, attending the #1 party school in America, etc. A leader must show that he generally respects authority, that he does not USE the gospel to further his ambition.

A conservative Christian news website that I know complained in 2000 that one of the first things that Bush did when he gained office, is to raid with a military force operation, a church in order to shut it down. They did not believe in the 501(c)3 restrictions and they were penalized by the IRS. They were raided for not paying taxes. This was seen as an egregious act against the church, and did not auger well for the future.

Here is the website where you can get the gist of it:

http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=1 John+4&version=31


Plus, this guy wrote a book about Bush using Evangelicals:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15228489/


which was what we all suspected.
 
why do christian charities refuse to help homosexuals? (or so ive heard...)

Some do, some do under certain conditions, some don't. I imagine, I don't have specifics.

Why do you ask Atheists why they don't believe in God?

Probably because believing in God comes naturally to us, and seems to be the natural human condition, so they find exceptions odd.
 
Katheryn: I didn't need your additional proofs, though thanks. I needed you to answer the question "Would you say that a major portion of your certainty in this is due to an "answer" to your intercessions for him?"

You think he might not be a Christian due to his actions; are you certain because of your prayers?
 
Again, I haven't checked it out. But from what I've been told they believe that every holy book of every religion is correct, which is a bunch of bull.

Why would that be bull?

From the Bahai web page: "Some people view the world’s religions as opposing groups competing for supporters. Bahá’u’lláh did not see it that way. He said they were all one. Their central truths are harmonized; the social laws, however, change according to the times. Recognizing this unity among religions will help us create a peaceful global society. You are invited to join us."

They join a long line of seekers who are looking for what unites people instead of what divides people, and try to find the golden thread of truth in all of the holy writings of the past.
 
How cán you not believe Bush is a christian? He doesn't act like one? Oh, I believe that is quite common, he just happens to be a president.

I'd say alot of people are poor Christians, it's not an easy religion to follow, it still makes you a Christian, but somewhat more in name only.

Saying that your a Christian because you go to church is no more correct than saying your an automobile because you go to a garage.

I forget who said that.
 
How cán you not believe Bush is a christian? He doesn't act like one? Oh, I believe that is quite common, he just happens to be a president.

If you believe without a doubt in Jesus and God, you are Christian enough for me. I don't take the liberty of grading others level of faith. That's not my place.
 
Veritas said:
Why would that be bull?

From the Bahai web page: "Some people view the world’s religions as opposing groups competing for supporters. Bahá’u’lláh did not see it that way. He said they were all one. Their central truths are harmonized; the social laws, however, change according to the times. Recognizing this unity among religions will help us create a peaceful global society. You are invited to join us."

They join a long line of seekers who are looking for what unites people instead of what divides people, and try to find the golden thread of truth in all of the holy writings of the past.
Their central truths are harmonized? Again, I state, BULL! Have these people a clue what they are talking about? Islam, Christianity and Hinduism have harmonized central truths? Do I honestly need to utterly destroy this claim by picking apart the religions and showing how their central tenets are opposing?

Wish-wash hippy nonsense with no substance and no Veritas. Doesn't veritas mean truth? So going by your nick, you should be appalled at this religion's "tenets".
 
why do christian charities refuse to help homosexuals? (or so ive heard...)
Some do, some dont. Cant get into detail about that.

Why do you ask Atheists why they don't believe in God?
Because we find it wierd not to believe in God because we find that it is natural to believe in God.
 
El_Mac said:
Given that we'll all agree that belief either seems to have a gradient of intensity or an 'all or nothing' component, why do all Christians seem to assume that the level of 'belief' required to fulfill John 3:16 is less than the faith required in Mark 11:23?

We don't. The "level of belief" required would be the same, I assume. So why don't more Christians move mountains? Because we find it way easier to fully, 100% believe that we will be saved by faith in Christ than that a mountain will move if we command it. So its just easier to reach that level of faith in Christ.
 
Question for protestants, from a catholic. Do you really dress up for mass? I dont think ive ever seen anyone wear their 'sunday best' to mass, even a holiday.
 
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