A Christian corner. All are welcome. 😇

[Dymphna]

Hopefully, there are plenty of Christians on this website. I am looking for a safe place to fellowship with my Christ-following siblings. :)

[peter]

On 2/16/2024 at 3:15 AM, novymir said:

Why do you think he says; "...do not love the world, if you love the world the love of GOD is not in you....". Now you know!

 

He also said; "GOD IS LOVE, GOD IS SPIRIT".  "Love GOD with all your heart, mind, and being.".

 since men actually wrote the bible generations after the event how do you know what god actually said?, if indeed he/she/it said anything al all

Edited February 3 by peter

[1velocity7]

 

[1velocity7]

many times i wake at 3am. i never knew why.

 

 

[Mr H]

A question for my christian brothers.

 

Why when god gives someone a sacred task, does he make the task so hard when he has the power to make it easy?

 

2 such examples, Mose's 40 year exhile and Joseph's imprisonment.

[Dragon Slayer]

1 hour ago, Mr H said:

A question for my christian brothers.

 

Why when god gives someone a sacred task, does he make the task so hard when he has the power to make it easy?

 

2 such examples, Mose's 40 year exhile and Joseph's imprisonment.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it".

Trials and tribulations. The tougher the trials, the stronger your spirit.  

[Mr H]

26 minutes ago, Dragon Slayer said:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it".

Trials and tribulations. The tougher the trials, the stronger your spirit.  

Thank you.

 

But why does he want to make it tough or make spirit stronger, when he has the ability to make our spirit strong in the first instance? 

 

Why does he seem to like hardship, pain and suffering? Why not make it nice and perfect to begin? Or allow us to grow via peaceful and beautiful means rather than through hardships 

Edited March 14 by Mr H

[Dragon Slayer]

The closer you get to God, the closer the Devil get's to you. in the near future, individuals who refuse the 'beast system' will be removed from society; whatever way, shape or form that entails. Jesus wants soldiers and fighters, not bible thumpers who virtue signal by going to church. 

Armor of God passage in NT,Ephesians or Corinthians i think. 

[Mr H]

On 3/14/2025 at 6:15 PM, Dragon Slayer said:

The closer you get to God, the closer the Devil get's to you. in the near future, individuals who refuse the 'beast system' will be removed from society; whatever way, shape or form that entails. Jesus wants soldiers and fighters, not bible thumpers who virtue signal by going to church. 

Armor of God passage in NT,Ephesians or Corinthians i think. 

Why does Jesus need soldiers? If he is God, or son of. He would have the ability to make this place nice and no need for soldiering or fighting...

[Mr H]

Another qu.

 

If we take the bible as truth. Why doesn't God eliminate the Devil?

[Campion]

12 minutes ago, Mr H said:

Another qu.

If we take the bible as truth. Why doesn't God eliminate the Devil?

 

Got me thinking.  From the Christian pov, do you need to accept the Bible as literally true or can you have flexibility how to interpret it?  I think it's accepted that it was written by humans, not God or Jesus himself, so there's an element of different points of view. Eg John's gospel has a different style to Mark.  Then there are other Gospels which didn't make it into the Bible, which itself was compiled some time later.  As an outsider, it looks like a variety of answers can be given to questions like this, while still belonging to the Christian religion. 

[Mr H]

11 minutes ago, Campion said:

 

Got me thinking.  From the Christian pov, do you need to accept the Bible as literally true or can you have flexibility how to interpret it?  I think it's accepted that it was written by humans, not God or Jesus himself, so there's an element of different points of view. Eg John's gospel has a different style to Mark.  Then there are other Gospels which didn't make it into the Bible, which itself was compiled some time later.  As an outsider, it looks like a variety of answers can be given to questions like this, while still belonging to the Christian religion. 

No I don't think so. I know Christian who believe verbatim, allegorically, and bit of both.

 

My reference was to aide answering the question. I.e. if we assume there is a devil and a God that can do whatever.....

[Piero]

2 hours ago, Mr H said:

Another qu.

 

If we take the bible as truth. Why doesn't God eliminate the Devil?

 

I understand why people ask why God tolerates the Devil, and how he can allow confusion and suffering on earth to continue for so long, but Christ answered that question in his parable of the wheat and the weeds.

 

Here's another way of viewing this issue... our time on earth is a test. For example, if you have a class of people who want to be brain surgeons, you have to be satisfied that they've learned the skills in the first place to be brain surgeons, and that's done through lengthy educational courses that culminate in this and that exam, but it's no good setting the exam prematurely because all the undergraduates would fail the test. In other words, the test has to be set at the right time and not too soon. Likewise, although God doesn't expect us to become brain surgeons, he still expects us to attain a certain level of spiritual maturity. If he were to intervene too soon, not enough time will have been allowed for undergraduate humanity to spiritually mature to the next level of spiritual evolution, and everyone would be accusing God of being unfair in being too impatient! God wants everyone to spiritually mature, but at the end of our course on earth, it's the responsibility of each individual whether they have developed the fruits of the spirit or not.

 

The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)

 

"The Kingdom of the heavens has become like a man that sowed fine seed in the field. While men were sleeping, his enemy came and over sowed weeds in among the wheat, and left. When the blade sprouted and produced fruit, then the weeds appeared also. So the slaves of the householder came up and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow fine seed in the field? How, then, does it come to have weeds?' They said to him, 'Do you want us, then, to go out and collect them?' He said, 'No, that by no chance, while collecting the weeds, you uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest season I will tell the reapers, first collect the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them up, then go to gathering the wheat into my storehouse.' "

 

Christ explained the meaning of the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13:36-43):

 

"Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field." He answered them, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil.

 

The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

 

-

 

The weeds must grow together with the wheat until the harvest. Right now, the tares look similar to the wheat. So it is difficult to tell the difference. If one tries to pluck out the tares (wicked ones) now, you will uproot the wheat (children of God) with them.

 

When the wheat is ready for harvest, the heads become heavy with grain and begin to "bow over". When this happens, the tares (weeds) are still pointing upward and are easy to spot. Then the farmer can come in and pluck out the weeds.

 

It's interesting Jesus used the parable of the wheat and the weeds.

 

[Jason57]

On 3/14/2025 at 8:56 AM, Dragon Slayer said:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it".

Trials and tribulations. The tougher the trials, the stronger your spirit.  

Only a few find the narrow road. Would that not wake Christians or people of any religion to the fact that God or Jesus ARE NOT religious. Roughly just under half the Western population identify as Christian on some way or another, how many of them are deceived if only few find the narrow path?

 

I take Jesus words seriously, even the texts considered non Canon (by humans), I just don't believe in religion or that the Bible in the word of God, considering there are many Spirits commanding followers to commit genocide and other atrocious acts in the O.T

[Mr H]

39 minutes ago, Piero said:

 

I understand why people ask why God tolerates the Devil, and how he can allow confusion and suffering on earth to continue for so long, but Christ answered that question in his parable of the wheat and the weeds.

 

Here's another way of viewing this issue... our time on earth is a test. For example, if you have a class of people who want to be brain surgeons, you have to be satisfied that they've learned the skills in the first place to be brain surgeons, and that's done through lengthy educational courses that culminate in this and that exam, but it's no good setting the exam prematurely because all the undergraduates would fail the test. In other words, the test has to be set at the right time and not too soon. Likewise, although God doesn't expect us to become brain surgeons, he still expects us to attain a certain level of spiritual maturity. If he were to intervene too soon, not enough time will have been allowed for undergraduate humanity to spiritually mature to the next level of spiritual evolution, and everyone would be accusing God of being unfair in being too impatient! God wants everyone to spiritually mature, but at the end of our course on earth, it's the responsibility of each individual whether they have developed the fruits of the spirit or not.

 

The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)

 

"The Kingdom of the heavens has become like a man that sowed fine seed in the field. While men were sleeping, his enemy came and over sowed weeds in among the wheat, and left. When the blade sprouted and produced fruit, then the weeds appeared also. So the slaves of the householder came up and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow fine seed in the field? How, then, does it come to have weeds?' They said to him, 'Do you want us, then, to go out and collect them?' He said, 'No, that by no chance, while collecting the weeds, you uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest season I will tell the reapers, first collect the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them up, then go to gathering the wheat into my storehouse.' "

 

Christ explained the meaning of the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13:36-43):

 

"Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field." He answered them, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil.

 

The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

 

-

 

The weeds must grow together with the wheat until the harvest. Right now, the tares look similar to the wheat. So it is difficult to tell the difference. If one tries to pluck out the tares (wicked ones) now, you will uproot the wheat (children of God) with them.

 

When the wheat is ready for harvest, the heads become heavy with grain and begin to "bow over". When this happens, the tares (weeds) are still pointing upward and are easy to spot. Then the farmer can come in and pluck out the weeds.

 

It's interesting Jesus used the parable of the wheat and the weeds.

 

Thank you. I will have to re read the parable to fully digest.

 

As to your answer, yes I've heard this answer before.

 

But if this was true you'd have to question whether this God is a sane or good God. When you consider the types of suffering on offer here - just so we can spiritually evolve, when he could have made us spiritually evolved in the first place and avoided child rapes and torture. The explanation paints him as a sadomasochist.

 

 

If I had the power to create anything I would ensure it was peaceful and beautiful for all I created. 

Edited March 19 by Mr H

[Piero]

6 minutes ago, Mr H said:

he could have made us spiritually evolved in the first place...

We weren't created as robots... we create ourselves... we have to take individual responsibility for our reality, and our life. Blaming God or the Devil brings no positive gain, it just distracts us from our own development.

[Mr H]

11 minutes ago, Mr H said:

Thank you. I will have to re read the parable to fully digest.

 

As to your answer, yes I've heard this answer before.

 

But if this was true you'd have to question whether this God is a sane or good God. When you consider the types of suffering on offer here - just so we can spiritually evolve, when he could have made us spiritually evolved in the first place and avoided child rapes and torture. The explanation paints him as a sadomasochist.

 

 

If I had the power to create anything I would ensure it was peaceful and beautiful for all I created. 

This is where I get stuck with Christianty. And possibly due to not finding a good teacher.

 

I love Jesus. I love the bible.

 

I love creator. 

 

But the way Christianity anthropomorphises creator, gives rise to questions whose answers make no logical sense. Gives rise to Gnostic ideas.

 

My personal take is God/creator is nothing like human mind. It is unimaginable and nothing can be said about him. And bible stories about God should largely be ignored. 

[Mr H]

4 minutes ago, Piero said:

We weren't created as robots... we create ourselves... we have to take individual responsibility for our reality, and our life. Blaming God or the Devil brings no positive gain, it just distracts us from our own development.

we will probably disagree on this. For me there is no individual responsibility.

 

Thoughts preceed actions and we cannot choose our thoughts. Decisions are merely thoughts. This can be tested quickly. Write down now the next 10 thoughts you will have and see if it happens like that. 

[Piero]

Just now, Mr H said:

we will probably disagree on this. For me there is no individual responsibility.

 

Thoughts preceed actions and we cannot choose our thoughts. Decisions are merely thoughts. This can be tested quickly. Write down now the next 10 thoughts you will have and see if it happens like that. 

We'll probably have to agree to disagree, as I feel that I can choose my thoughts and that we do have free will.

[Mr H]

1 minute ago, Piero said:

We'll probably have to agree to disagree, as I feel that I can choose my thoughts and that we do have free will.

Can you prove you can choose your thoughts?

 

What will your next 5 thoughts be?

 

What thought will you select at 6pm?

 

What is the test?

 

It is true it feels like you can choose your thoughts, it is like the clown who takes the bow. But there is no evidence to support this theory.

[Piero]

5 minutes ago, Mr H said:

Can you prove you can choose your thoughts?

 

What will your next 5 thoughts be?

 

What thought will you select at 6pm?

 

What is the test?

 

It is true it feels like you can choose your thoughts, it is like the clown who takes the bow. But there is no evidence to support this theory.

I imagine that if you feel that you don't have control over your own thoughts, it must make you feel quite unhappy, so perhaps that's a good gauge regarding whether you feel whether you can choose you're own thoughts or not?

[Mr H]

11 minutes ago, Piero said:

We'll probably have to agree to disagree, as I feel that I can choose my thoughts and that we do have free will.

The feeling of the sense of free will is the echo of remembering your true nature.

 

Humans themselves have no free will, and you can test this with the test I provided above.

 

But sticking with experience we discover we are not humans. We are that which witnesses human experience. This one is the creator of thought and has absolute free will. In religious language we would say it, or I, is God.

 

But this revelation would be considered blasphemy in christian tradition and instead they propose the idea of a superman figure which no one has ever seen or met.

 

So in terms of explaining God. I cannot resonate with Christianty because it is in contradistinction to my actual experience. But in terms of wisdom teachings and beautiful Jesus teachings it's fantastic.

 

Just where I am with Christianty. But I would love to discuss the above ideas with an open minded knowledgeable priest to see if these ideas can be made compatible 

[Campion]

3 hours ago, Mr H said:

No I don't think so. I know Christian who believe verbatim, allegorically, and bit of both.

My reference was to aide answering the question. I.e. if we assume there is a devil and a God that can do whatever.....

 

If we assume that the devil is a very evil spirit doing very bad things, then the question is why does God allow him to exist?  But it's only a small step from there to point out that humans do some pretty evil stuff too, so why does God permit us to behave badly?  You don't need to assume the existence of the devil, as we know human evil exists, even though the devil is assumed to be more evil than us, so is it a matter of degree of evil? 

 

But then as you go on to say, we don't choose our thoughts so do we have free will at all to choose good or bad behaviour? If we don't have free will then we can't really call it good or evil can we?  So if God permits us to have free will to choose our behaviour, why shouldn't he permit the devil to have the same? 

[Piero]

56 minutes ago, Mr H said:

My personal take is God/creator is nothing like human mind. It is unimaginable and nothing can be said about him. And bible stories about God should largely be ignored. 

 

I guess you're entitled to your personal opinion.

 

56 minutes ago, Mr H said:

The feeling of the sense of free will is the echo of remembering your true nature.

 

Humans themselves have no free will, and you can test this with the test I provided above.

 

I followed your test, but if felt like I was producing my own thoughts. I don't think your test is absolute proof of anything. What I do believe is that people should take responsibilities for their own actions. If someone commits a terrible crime, they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it because they believe it's the fault of the Devil or God. Evil is the result of making bad choices, and the further we are from making good choices, the less free will we have and our ability to have control over our thoughts becomes impaired. The less control we have over our thoughts, the further away from God we become.

 

Edited March 19 by Piero

[Origin]

5 hours ago, Mr H said:

Another qu.

 

If we take the bible as truth. Why doesn't God eliminate the Devil?

Why should it destroy its own uniqueness? If it were as primitive as you humans think it is all of you vanish from existence. Or you remain forever in the realm of dreams.