raspy, I believe you hit something on the head there. No body is perfect, I sure aint, everyday I realize that more and more. And it's not my job to judge anybody. That is one thing I'm trying to work on with God's help. Being a Bible College student you get all this theology and religious jargon thrown at you every day. And sometimes when you get into situations you just want to spew everything you've learned, for my case I forget it and get it all mixed up, lol. So what I've tried to do is just love everyone and just be friends. I think thats one of the biggest things the Church has forgotten to do, is to just be a friend to those out there who just want to be friends. And who knows being a friend just might be the door that God opens to someone to know him. This is one reason I love this site, is the fact that everyone is a friend to everyone else. Theres no trashing others, there's commrodery among people who are from drastically different backgrounds and thats what the Church was suppose to be, a body, different parts that are all working together for a common goal. On this site, its to improve our vehicles and friendship. But I believe theres a lot more going on than may meet the eye, there are doors opening and lives being changed by people just being friends.

God Bless.

 

This may be stupid and off topic, but if evoulution actually happened or is happening ( i.e coming from a monkey), then why do we still have monkeys and apes? Wouldn't they have become "extinct" in the process?

 

I went to a Baptist church every week, several times a week, when I was younger. I haven't been regularly in a long time. When I was 10 years old I sincerely accepted Jesus as my savior and was baptized shortly thereafter.

That said, sometimes I now feel like Britt does. I wonder if there is a Heaven and a Hell and a God as I was taught to believe.

When I was in college a number of years ago, I took this course called "comparative religions". That was either the best course (or the worse) I ever took. It made me look at other religions around the world. After some thought, I realized that because I was raised in North Mississippi (the South), I was brought up to believe in Baptist Christian doctrine and "hell, fire and brimstone" taught by the preacher. You accept Jesus or spend all of eternity in Hell!!

Had I been raised in New Delhi, India would I have been taught the same doctrine? Probably not. I would probably be a hinduist.

Had I been raised in Shanghai, China.....would I not be a confusionist or buddist?

Anyway.........according to Christian Doctrine....there is a Heaven and a Hell. You either going to one or the other. The only way to Heaven is thru Jesus and your acceptance of him. Otherwise you are going to the other place. I just find it hard to believe now that all the Millions of people around the world are all so wrong..........and that "The Way" I was brought up is the ONLY way. What makes US feel that our way is the only way?

Well I got down on my hands and knees and begged Jesus to come into my heart at one point in my life. It is my understanding that once he knows your name........you are in. So if Heaven does exist as I have been taught to believe it does...........I should have a ticket.

Even though I still pray occasionally, time has changed my way of thinking.

I believe in the golden rule. I believe in doing the right thing. Helping others when I can. But otherwise, I am not currently looking for any answers from a God. Any God. I just plan to live out my life the best way I know how and carry on. When I die I will find out what, if anything, is waiting for me on the other side. I am not saying my way is the right way....so please don't follow me. I know not where im going. If Hell exists as I was taught to believe, I hope im not going there.

 

I liked the poems that yall posted, I printed them out I wanted to show them to my Youth Group tomorrow at Church. I am glad to see this thread is staying civil.

 

That is a very good question. It has been proven through DNA that we have 23 genes and apes have 24. Where did the other gene go? Well two genes combined into one. That has been shown in the DNA between us. I am not an expert in this just an enthusiast.
Evolution has been proven beyond a doubt, with fossil remains and DNA of other species. Darwin put his theory to us and had no idea of what DNA was. His theory has been proven through DNA.
We are a hybrid of the apes. But as I look into the world I wonder if we are really a lowbrid of the apes.

 

For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the son quickeneth whom He will. John 5:21
Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. John 6:65
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the ame lump to make noe vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? Romans 9:21
....according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of your selves: it is a gift of God: Ephesians 2:8

 

Clayten, could you explain how fossils came about? If evolution is true, then we wouldn't have fossils. Think of what happens when something dies now a days. It is eaten, decomposed, rotted, but no remain are left.

The Flood in Genesis, was very catastrophic. Think of huge tides. When everything drowned, it was buried in silt. When it was buried, it was protected from the natural decomposition. Hence the fossils we find now.

What about the layers of time in the rocks? Well, the Flood happened and now the earth is covered with water. But it is still subject to tides. So the waters move back and forth sorting the rocks, from the lightest to heaviest. Also the same with the animals. Little ones first and one that couldn't move as fast, to the bigger ones the that could move faster.

Evolution is NOT proven without a doubt. Wait, let me take part of what I said back. MACRO-evolution (dog to cat) is not proven without a doubt. MICRO-evolutions is proven (Fish to catfish to walleye).

If we had 1 gene combine, then we are the lower species but that is not the case. We are superior in every way. How can you explain thought, morals, being able to communicate to other people of different languages? I do not see a ape talking chimpanzee, do you?

Sorry for the long post.

 

Well reasoned post dieseljon. Good work!

 

Master of the Board

Thousands of years ago there was a great man. With the lift of his finger, nations would be conquered and kingdoms fall. He was a man of power, wealth, and stature. Cicero once wrote "Octavian is a talented young man who should be praised, honored and eliminated."

Yes Caesar Augustus.

Who would guess him lifting his finger in Rome, to send thousands of people back to their homelands to be counted and taxed would lead to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. That would be leading Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. This would fulfill OT prophecy of a savior being born. Jesus Christ.

Although many would think Cesar Augustus would be the Master of the Board, the people he sent to be counted would bring about the true Master of the Board. A savior who is in more countries and in more people hearts than any has ever seen. He is the true Master of the Board.

No matter what you gain, or what you leave behind for others, it all goes back on the box when the game is over.



paraphrased from John Ortberg.

 

The key to understanding why we are correct in our religion as Christians is simple...its called the BIBLE. Gods word given to us so that we may learn about him. Everything that happens in our lives, happens through Gods hand. Good or bad, everything happens for a reason. Us being born into the greatest nation in the world where we have the right to worship our God was also a blessing from God and was in his plan. We are talking about the man who created everything and knows each of us intimately.


"Well I got down on my hands and knees and begged Jesus to come into my heart at one point in my life. It is my understanding that once he knows your name........you are in. So if Heaven does exist as I have been taught to believe it does...........I should have a ticket."


I don't think that once he knows your name you are in. There is no ticket. Don't you think that God knows Satans name, he was after all an angel, but he chose to go the way of the wicked. We are saved by Gods Grace and if you are truly saved, you will want an intimate relationship with him, which comes by going to church, praying and studying his word.

I pray that each person who reads through this thread will be touched and want to know more. If you do, there are plenty of guys here that would be happy to tell you more.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!

 

I just want to say that it is very heartwarming to read what most of you have to say. In a society that is fighting tooth and nail to remove God from schools, and any other place possible, it is very comforting knowing that there are a few out there that will still voice their minds.

It is sad that in a democratic country, which is said that majority rules, the minority rules. By majority and minority I am referring to Christians. This is not directed toward race by any means. This is directed towards the majority (I believe somewhere in the 70% range), that is Christian. Why is God being pushed away when they vast majority are socalled believers?

 

This one is getting close to being shut down. Don't start debating or trying to prove the other person wrong. If you want to debate, take it to all-politics.net.

 

Since religion is a question that will never be resolved to everyones satisfaction by logic, faith, or bible quotes, it seems that it's unneccessary to use those tools to make a point. Each one can be debated endlessly and never convinces anyone.

But one thing that is argued over and over, and shouldn't be, is evolution. Whether it is true or not.

To me it's not a matter of is it true, it's when it started. We can see it in affect in the lab over a matter of hours, it can be seen in the Galapagos over a matter of seasons. There are endless examples of it. But the real question for me is what happened way before that. I don't care about recent history, it's the bigger question. What was there before the big bang? Where did all the matter in the Universe originate? What is nothingness? Evolution is just very recent history with respect to life here on Earth.

Alas, it's too big of a question. Oh well. That's where faith kicks in. If the question cannot be answered, then faith substitutes as a reasonable answer. Then human nature kicks in to defend the decisions with debates, arguments, etc.

For me it's just not enough to say God made it. OK, so whos that?

If I'm just an ant in the parking lot, and a Dodge runs over me, how much do I know about the metalurgy of the pistons in the engine that propelled the truck?

See, it's just a question that is too big for me to know. And yelling at me doesn't help.


John

 

Well this is sure getting interesting.

Okay this is not the first time science and god have disagreed. In the 17 teenth century, Galileo Galilei proved Nicolaus Copernicus's theory that the earth traveled around the sun not the reverse. This was rejected by the church. If Galileo had not been a man of influence he would have not fared well. 350 years latter the church apologized to Galileo.
This has not dis proven God ,and neither does the theory of evolution. But it does show that not all is what might be thought. I can't tell you why things are the way they are such as fossils, and genes. All I am doing is putting the science side of the equation into this very interesting conversation. Which gives others the chance to agree or disagree and post their opinions. I entered this thread with great fear and in trepidation. I am not trying to judge others or hurt others, but someone has to bring in the other side of the argument. This then gives all interested a chance to prove their belief. I hope this can stay open as it is a very good thread.

 

Religion is mans way to God by way of his shortcomings. So in essence, you are right.

What is so great is we all have the right to choose what we want. Although many of our beliefs are scrutinized and are taken out of the public forums. But then again, thats prophecy. It will only get worse for Christians..