Would Jesus go to Church?

[Hugh Jorgan]

I thought you would understand...

Yeah, yeah... I do. Just please, could you be very ocean-specific in your prayer? No hurricanes for the mid-pacific, please

 

[USMCAirWinger]

Wait a sec....are we talking about prayer...TB will come out and call us a bunch of ______________!

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I really agree with what TB said here:

"A religion replaces the idea of being obedient to God with being obedient to Man, through rituals and prepared prayers that are always the same which Man has devised as a structure of worship."

This is why it is so important to strictly separate Church and State. All religions/churches are set up by people, based on their interpretation of something. They are human institutions, and, or course, because of that, are fundamentally flawed.

Usually, religions are set up by people to support the right of a leader of a group to rule. They add to the leader's legitimacy, and help to surpress all opposition.

In a democracy, people are free to express their opinion. When we let a religion into government, we then have specific people telling the rest of us what is right and wrong, and they can make all of us do stuff we don't want to do.

In that way, the old-line communist governments and theocracies like Iran and Afghanistan are very similar, they tell you what to do, what to think, and how to behave.

People need to be free to evolve spiritually, and oppressive governments prevent this.

Keep the Church out of our government. No 10 commandments in government buildings, no preaching in schools or at official government funtions.

Cliff
DTW

PS-TB is trying, which is what we're all supposed to do to improve in God's eyes. If U don't agree with TB, all U need to do is try and improve in your own way.
"Go in peace, earthling."

 

[Timebuilder]

It is important that we follow the founder's vision given in the first amendment.

While we should make no law that establishes an official religion of the united states (which would probably set the idea of religious thought back a milennia or two), we need to be certain to uphold the idea that the free exercise of religion by a free people should not be restricted, regulated, infringed, or legislated against. We have already proceeded a mile or so down that same road, by restricitng observances by teachers, students, and government employees. No such restriction was even intended by the founders.

10 commandments in a courthouse? Is that a law passed by congress establishing a religion? No, it is not. Should the government infringe on a religious observance in any way? No, that too is prohibited, since free exercise is guartanteed.

Better that government not be involoved at all in these decisions about commandments or school prayer. That is the TRUE separation of church and state: the state having no standing to regulate the observances of the church, nor suspend the freedom of the American people to have such observances, even in public.

 

[Timebuilder]

He is...but so are the rest of us.

I mean, aren't you always right? I know I am!

If I hadn't considered these ideas over a long period of time, and found them to be sturdy, I probably wouldn't share them with others.

People throughout time have constructed religious systems, even when the truth was so close to them that they could reach out and touch it, as was the case with the Pharisees. Caiaphas stood so close to Jesus that he could smell His sweat, yet was blinded by what he imagined the Messiah should be; dressed in fine clothes, a mystical man of means, exhibiting great power, ready to topple all Rome with a wave of His hand.

What a disappointment to the Jewish leaders that God decided to come as a man of humility, showing the heart of a servant, not a conquering hero. What a mindbender.

Here's what happened when Moses went up to the mountain, and didn't come back soon enough to suit the people back at camp:

"3 So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, "This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!"

So, the people were satisfied worshipping a golden calf, instead of God. Instead of following truth, they construced a false religion.

 

[dash8driver]

now, even going deaf wont save you from the likes of TB...

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Midwest/03/20/deaf.bible.ap/index.html

 

[crowbar]

Jesus is a big myth, might as well ask Zues what church he likes.

 

[Timebuilder]

CNN mentioning a story about people being reached for Christ.

What's next? Hillary endorses Bush?

It boggles the mind...

 

[Typhoon1244]

Jesus is a big myth, might as well ask Zues what church he likes.

Funny you should say that. Isn't it interesting that most (if not all) artistic representations of the Christian "God" look an awful lot like images of Zeus? Ever wondered why that is?

Christianity is not a pure as one might think.

 

[sqwkvfr]

Funny you should say that. Isn't it interesting that most (if not all) artistic representations of the Christian "God" look an awful lot like images of Zeus? Ever wondered why that is? [/QUOTE


Ever wonder if artistic impressions of Zeus look a lot like the Christian "God."

I don't think that it has anything to do with whether Christianity is "pure." (although they are "guided" by God, humans still run the Christianity show here on earth, so it's certainly not and you're gonna find chinks in the armor of ANY instituion that's been around for thousands of years) I'm pretty sure that the two artists renderings simply depict what the majority of westerners would see as a very powerful man.

 

[Timebuilder]

Funny you should say that. Isn't it interesting that most (if not all) artistic representations of the Christian "God" look an awful lot like images of Zeus? Ever wondered why that is?

Because at that time, people from Nazareth, along with a great many other people, wore their hair and beards in a manner almost indistinguishable from one another.

No conclusion could be brought from a visual similarity between Christ, any other man from His location, or any number of greek citizens of gods. You might as well compare depictions of Christ to Bob Seger.

 

[Super 80]

Funny you should say that. Isn't it interesting that most (if not all) artistic representations of the Christian "God" look an awful lot like images of Zeus? Ever wondered why that is?

Because it's a human conception of God. The guy on the mountain top hurling thunderbolts goes all the way back to Elijah's time with Baal. This image has been repeated through the ages. This is not how God is portrayed in the Bible, but then considering the source; how would you know?

There is nothing Biblical about this kind of representation for God, but it doesn't stop the average lay person from trying to put God into that kind of mental picture. Ditto for Jesus. He did not look like a hippy-Englishman either. The style in that age was a full beard with close cropped hair. He would have a horizontal cross-section of the skull that would be rounder and not narrow like is often depicted which is much more northern European in nature (but then that's who depicted Him for centuries so it's become an accustomed "look"). In fact, Jesus probably looked more like Peter in 'The Passion of the Christ' movie than the actor they chose for the role of Jesus (who looks much too European).

 

[Super 80]

Oh, and when Jesus comes back to Earth, He won't be attending Church; He'll be gathering His Church.

And after the best Halleluiah service you've ever seen, (or maybe you won't see it at all) -all Hell is going to break loose on Earth.

 

[Capt. Caucasian]

TB, Super80, ATPCLIFF, and anyone else I failed to mention yall are obviously filled with the Spirit. It is refreshing to see people stand up for the Word and witness the Gospel in the face of so much critizism. Unfortunately, I am very bad at relaying my thoughts via typing or I would be right there with you. Now in person...

Frats,

PS: I am also a "Liberal" which has absolutely nothing to do with my knowledge of God's word. Politics and the Bible don't mix well. Also, Christianity is not a religion. I have been saying that for years.

Have fun!

 

[Timebuilder]

Politics and the Bible don't mix well

On the whole, that's correct.

That said, the ideas of individual caring and responsibility, a moral life, and objective truth seem to gather folks of similar heart and mind.

 

[slide33]

Originally posted by Timebuilder:

A good thing indeed. I might have to dislocate your arm. Then I'd turn the other cheek.

that's my favorite.

 

[USMCAirWinger]

TB is a dork! do yourself a favor and go computer free for a week. If anything that would be refreshing to the rest of us.

 

[Typhoon1244]

Politics and the Bible don't mix well.

I don't know how you can say that, since the Bible is political.

 

[Jmmccutc]

i think jesus wouldn't go to church he'd go to abercrombie and get one of the west virginia bashing shirts and a bottle of everclear, take 20 people up on a mountain get the pissed drunk and fornicate....

 

[skyking1976]

i think jesus wouldn't go to church he'd go to abercrombie and get one of the west virginia bashing shirts and a bottle of everclear, take 20 people up on a mountain get the pissed drunk and fornicate....

Remind me to send him "130 Ways To Impress Your Girlfriend."

SK

 

[wms]

I don't know how you can say that, since the Bible is political.

There are only two types of involvement in government mentioned in the NT for a Christian. The extent of that involvement is prayer for those in authority, and obedience to them in the Lord.


These are two of the references:

1 Timothy 2
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

1 Peter 2
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

A good thing indeed. I might have to dislocate your arm.

Then I'd promptly turn the other cheek.

And I'd bitch-slap the other cheek with me one good arm.