As we approach another Christmas, I would like to reflect on Christmas before and after becoming a Christian. For Christmas before becoming a Christian was a day; to most of us it meant very little. This year, Christmas will come and go, and it may have little or no impact on your life. Christmas to many is the most depressing time of the year. Often, we live in the past, hoping Christmas will never end, thinking somehow life would be better, or have some meaning, if the Christmases when we were children could be revisited. Those are the best times to remember, we think. But as quickly as the decorations go up, they are taken down and boxed away for another year; so likewise our hopes and memories of Christmas past are revived for a moment, but then we are forced to wake up and face life in a New Year ahead. Not much has changed! But I am here to write about myself, and not others: when it comes to Christmas, things have really changed since I have become a Christian. How so?
You would think that after becoming a Christian a minister of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, Christmas would have even greater meaning, but in fact, it does not! What was Christmas like before I became a Christian? I must now pull down the box of Christmas past, and behold it is filled with many sad memories. What made Christmas so bad? Sin! Are you surprised?
My Christmas pasts were not much different from any of yours, per se. I remember the presents under the tree, the abundance of food, the time off from school. I remember when the whole family gathered together—Wait, that’s not true, I don’t remember a time when we were all gathered together, for by then, Ma and Dad had already divorced because of Dad’s drunkenness. My older brothers and sister could tell me about such times, but I don’t recall them. Then my mother remarried, and my step-Dad moved in, which was not so bad, for he was a good man, a good provider, for a family of eight. But Christmas did not change much. It was still without Christ!
As years went by, the drunkenness continued, for my whole family were heavy drinkers. But now I was old enough to enjoy and really get into the Christmas spirit. Things had really changed by the time I got out of high school. In what way? For one, My Dad had died with a beer can in his hand, and my only sister was killed during my first year of college; they called it domestic violence. It happened just after American Thanksgiving. Christmas came that year as usual, but I can say one thing for sure, my poor mother was never the same. An early Christmas present, huh? It was sin that ruined Christmas–my sin, my parent’s sin, all the way back to Adam’s sin. Enough of Christmas past!
What about Christmas present? What has changed? Christmas has not, but I have! How so? The light of the glorious gospel of Christ lit my sin-darkened heart. That’s grace! It is not true that wise men still seek Him, for the Word of God says, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:10-11). The Christ of the Bible found me in Los Angeles, California, trying to start a rock-n-roll band, deep in sin: in drugs, drunkenness, witchcraft and astrology, and immorality. Christmas then was just another day to get high, to party, and to jam, but all that would change. How so?
It was not Christmas that changed my life, nor pardoned my sins, nor gave me a new life. It was knowing Christ–The Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World–by a miracle of grace! When I think of the incarnation, the virgin birth, and the accounts of Christ’s birth as faithfully recorded in the Bible for all to read, I do not think of Christmas. I think of God’s unspeakable gift given to humanity, in the person of His Eternal Son: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).
No one really wants to talk about being a sinner and being in need of salvation at Christmas time. It is “peace on earth, and good will towards men.” Many say, “Christmas brings out the best in mankind.” But, in fact, one must not forget that Christ was born to die, and to die at the hands of sinners. Sinners like you and me! “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Christmas? I can take it or leave it. The observance of a day means nothing compared to knowing, loving and worshipping the True and Living God. You might ask, “Preacher, why be such a grinch?” You see it is not I that has stolen Christmas, but sin! I hope you come to see this, and by God’s grace to call upon the only Name “under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
I ask you not to pity me, or feel sorry for me, as I have opened up my box of Christmas past before you all. If all that you have is Christmas, and with it just a bunch of boxes of memories of Christmas past and that’s all, you are most miserable. One’s future can only be changed as one comes to trust in the Christ of the Bible. Not the Christ of Christmas past, present, or future, but in the risen, exalted Son of God, even the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ or Christmas? Which one do you have? Which one do you love and value more? I pray, as I can say by God’s grace, “It is Christ and Christ alone. He is my all and all.” It is not what Christmas means to me it is what Christ means to me!
Best wishes during this holiday season to all of you from the Newton family, and from Calvary Baptist Church.
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Hugger. It’s pretty much impossible to be all-inclusive when it comes to prayer at public functions with the multitude of religions out there. And, of course there are lots of people who don’t believe in any of that nonsense.
Newton. You’re suggesting that I’m a fool? That’s pretty funny coming from you. Netiquette prevents me from properly responding.
Well Furtz it’s easy to be all accommodating. If a religion asks to be in the rotor they should be obliged.
I don’t think anyone is a “fool” unless God through His Holy Word declares one to be by their clear demonstration of their words and actions. Your animosity and hatred towards the true and Living God, as revealed in the Bible, who gave His Son to redeem sinful mankind, is typical of the ones God declares to be a “fool”. Since the shoe fits, all I did was to convey the message.
Bad-mouth the message and the messager all you want, such will not change the reality that someday you, and all fools like you, will have to answer for your ungodliness.
Psa 9:17 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God”.
Why would a society attempt to embrace and accomplish what a mere individual cannot? No one individual can be all things to all people.
Will I believe in live and let live as a basic principle of humanity you can have your “all inclusive” society for it is only a fools dream and not reality.
Political correctness has led us into a fools paradise so I choose to live on my own island and life is good and real.
“No one individual can be all things to all people”. You are dead wrong on the David.
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord”(Luke 2:10-11).
Newton, it’s nothing other than cowardly to use an imaginary god as an excuse to trash other people and religions.
“Hey, it’s not me who hates gays, Muslims, Catholics, Mormons JWs, etc. See, it says right here in this magic book that my god will toss these sinners into a fiery lake to burn for eternity. I’m really not a cruel hater. It’s just my god that likes to judge and torture people.”
Furtz, once again I am agreeing with you. If they ever included all possible religions, etc. it woulkd take so long they’d have no time for the event. And then how do you accomodate atheists?
David Oldham…I agree on political correctness. It has run amok on anything and everything.
I remembered someone lived the same way David wrote of- “Will I believe in live and let live as a basic principle of humanity you can have your “all inclusive” society for it is only a fools dream and not reality.” —
Luke 16:23-24 “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame”.
Furtz if you think that the good Pastor is the only one who hates Catholics well you are wrong. My family is so dysfunctional (my parents that is) one Catholic and the other Anglican and the two sides of that family were like water and alcohol where they did not mix – always conflict. Muslims hate one another because there are different sects of the Moslem faith and the same with the Jews many different sects and life in Israel is as traumatic as the Arab countries except that you do not hear what is going on because the media is owned by them. There is only one true God and that is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. All others are false gods. I respect the Pastor and like his Biblical quotes and they are all real and that is coming from an RC.
Two simple and serious questions for you Newton.
Do you ever have a thought or opinion that doesn’t spring from your interpretation of the bible?
Did the drugs and alcohol you consumed as a youth do so much damage that you are not able to feel compassion or respect for people who don’t happen to subscribe to your particular religion?
Pastor Tom the Muslim religion recognizes Jesus Christ as a disciple of God therefore you only help prove that no one person can be all things to all people. Perception denies the opportunity for that to happen.
Here is a question for you Pastor Tom, is our brand of multiculturalism leading us up a modern day Tower of Babel?
Only a christian could believe: (1) the incredibly naïve 12-13 year old Mary unquestionably accepted the being standing before her as the angel Gabriel and his message that she would be the Son of God’s mother and that (Luke 1:32- 33) “God shall give (Jesus) the throne of his father David” although Jesus never sat on David’s throne. (2) Mary would have many other children (Matthew 13:55-56, Mark 6:3) instead of dedicating her life to raising/nurturing the triune Son of God. (3) Mary’s parents would have allowed the 12-13 year old Mary (Luke 2:1-7), heavy with child, to make the unnecessary seventy-five mile trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem with her fiance Joseph instead of having her baby at home. (4) Joseph knew he was of the house and lineage of David, someone who lived 1,000 years earlier. (Aside: Genetics indicates ALL Israelites 2,000 years ago were descended from King David (2 Samuel 5:13), who had many wives and concubines, and all should have traveled to Bethlehem to pay their taxes.). (5) Jesus was born in a manger (Luke 2:7) although Matthew 2:11 claims Jesus was born in a house. (6) Jesus was born in Bethlehem although retired Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong writes in Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism that “Jesus…was almost certainly born in Nazareth.” (7) Joseph was Jesus’ earthly father although Mark 6:3 identifies Jesus as “the son of Mary” instead of “the son of Joseph,” indicating the identity of Jesus’ father was unknown. (8) Wise men (Matthew 2:1-2) from the east, who had seen Jesus’ star in the east, traveled west to Jerusalem seeking Jesus. And when these wise men left Jerusalem, they followed Jesus’ star east (Matthew 2:9) although Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem. (9) A star millions of times larger than earth could stand over a Bethlehem manger. (10) Herod’s men, without birth certificates or parental assistance, were able to identify and slay all children two years old and under (Matthew 2:16) in Bethlehem and the surrounding coasts although Herod was searching for a young male who would be King. (11) This mass slaughter of children met no parental resistance and has gone unreported throughout history.
@ Larry Knight. Add to that #12: Every human on the planet is born in sin and must be saved because six thousand years ago, a talking snake convinced Eve to bite into a piece of fruit in the Garden of Eden.
Jules – one must make a difference between hating a person and hating what they believe. It is not the same is it? Even the word “hate” is not really the right word to use. Disagreements over religion, politics, social issues, etc. are all part of a healthy democratic climate. Take away free speech, and the mechanism for dialog, and we are now living in North Korea, or worse.
Today’s “hatred” for the true God, for the Bible, and for the Gospel is escalating in our secular/evolutionistic society. Some like Furtz and David, and others think that is good, but it is a sure sign of judgment from God.
The hatred towards the Word of God as the only true revelation, as the only true authority is the real issue. To say there is a God, and that sinners are accountable for their words and actions is what really such hate. To say God sets the standard is hard for all of us, until God saves us. Sinners, all of us, want to be god, and to be boss, and to be in control. No God for me, because I am too busy being god!
To make or to follow a religion of our own desire is our right as free citizens of Canada, but we must remember that whatever is contrary to the clear dictates of Scripture is idolatry and self will, and that in the Judgment Day to come, we will all have to answer for it. Just by asserting this plain fact, causes the sinful heart of man to rebel, to bad-mouth what God has indeed, has written.
Now I know there is room for difference of opinion on a lot of things. And in some ways it’s allowed to have your own opinion and yes, to express it in your own way. But when it comes to the Bible, the nature of God, salvation, and the sinner’s lost condition, etc., there is no allowance for error, or opinions. Being dogmatic about the “Truth” is part of the problem with the sinner’s hatred towards the message and the messager. There is only “One way, One truth, and One life” – reject the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word, and there is no hope for salvation, nor the possibility of escaping the damnation of Hell. Even the reception of this great grace in salvation is regulated by the Word of God –
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”(Eph 2:8-9).
So Jules I don’t hate Catholics, but I do hate what the RC Church has done to the Truth of the Gospel. Grace is a free gift; it can never be sold in such things as “Sacraments”. Salvation is not in a church, but in a person, even if it says it is the only “Christian Church”.
Larry – much secular/liberal learning immersed in wicked heart unbelief has made thy mad!
Ps. Dr.Furtz – your answer Isa 8:20 “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them”.
So Newton, If I don’t believe any of the nonsense you preach, you won’t hate me but your imaginary god will toss me into a fiery lake to burn for eternity? Is that how it works?
Furtz Furtz Furtz. What is it with you guys? If you don’t believe in Pastor Tom’s god why would you care what his god would do? Abide, go bowling…why feed the flames? And Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all!
Bowling? Shouldn’t that be curling? With all the “lovely” weather we’re supposded to get in the next week all the outdoor curling rinks will be in full swing. Yeap, okay!!
Hugger Curling is far too intense for us Dudeists. 🙂
Furtz, while there are hundreds of other inconsistencies/contradictions in the bible, I was only addressing the mythological accounts of jesus’ birth found in Luke and Matthew. The fact that anybody, including Newton, believes the theological nonsense in the bible is staggering and leads me to conclude that their christian beliefs are a form of mental illness. Two asides. First, Newton quotes from Isaiah without mentioning that bible scholars agree Isaiah had 3 authors, commonly referred to First, Second, and Third Isaiah. Second, you hit on one (original sin arising with Adam in the Garden of Eden) of three reasons why bible thumpers don’t accept evolution. A second reason is that evolution disproves jesus’ divinity. How can jesus be divine and believe (Luke 11:51)Adam and Eve’s son Abel was an historical figure.
As for Jesus, he was born in Nazareth, not Bethlehem, began his four week ministry when he was about 40 years old, not 30 years old (Luke 3:23); was half as precocious as Alexander the Great who had conquered much of the known world by the time he was twenty-five; was baptized by John the Baptist (Mark 1:7-9)for the forgiveness of his sins; followed John the Baptist into the wilderness to become one of John’s disciples, not (Mark 1:13) to be tempted by Satan for 40 days: began his ministry after John was jailed, claimed he was a prophet in Mark 6:4 and Matthew 13:57; and was later crucified for sedition. It’s incredible that christians believe jesus came for them when he says in Matthew 15:24 (Oxford Study Bible), “Jesus said, ‘I was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and to them alone.”
Jamie one more thing I wanted to ask Pastor Newton. Pastor when my husband and I got married we went to my sister’s house for our reception. Her husband who was Presbyterian (now deceased) read a piece from the KJV Bible about the Cedars of Lebanon. Do you now of that passage where I can find it in the Bible. It was very beautiful. Thank you Pastor. There is so much turmoil in the Middle East and it made my husband feel good about home. Thank you Pastor.
Just checking Jamie. If the preacher’s god is really gonna torture me for eternity, I might consider ditching the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and hopping on the Jesus train. As I’m getting older, it’s starting to worry me. Or not. I’m starting to enjoy this Pastafarian Dudeist thing. I’d hate to give it up.
Larry – It is equally spiritual mental illness for a lost man to understand and try to teach from the Bible.
“But the natural man [non-Christian, even a religiously lost person too] receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man”(1Co 2:14-15).
John 14:17 “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you”.
1Jn 4:6 “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error”.
Well Furtz, what you believe in is a very personal path. I’m sure you’ll choose what you believe in your heart. Follow the light amigo.
Don’t go down the mental illness path PTN.
Hugger, I’d make a comment about Newton taking that path, but it would be blocked.
If PTN chooses to go down that path I will be commenting.
One thing about our Furtz is that he is an incurable. I cannot help but laugh myself to pieces here and yesterday I clicked on his Deist whatever it was and roared with laughter. What a character.
I used to be the kind of person that never accepted spirituality until I got older and now at my age who knows how long I will live and I feel my age this year more than other years. I love the Good Lord and I love Pastor Newton’s Bible quotes and I have one here for Pastor Newton and everyone:
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
Read the quote folks and understand the meaning and it is so mighty true indeed.
“Don’t go down the mental illness path PTN”. – When God saved me by His grace some 35 years ago, and He let me know Christ in a saving way, this is how it’s was – from being darkness to light – Mark 5:15 “And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid”. Before the Lord rescued me I was normal, like you all, but now the Great Physician of Soul declares – “He is…in his right mind”.
Like this one mentioned in Mark 5, I to am on a mission from the Lord – “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” Mark 5:19.
“once I was lost, but now I am found, once I was blind, but now I see…” – “…and they were afraid”.
Jules – searching for Cedars of Lebanon. Only two come up: Isa 2:13, Isaiah 14:8? These two are more for judgment for Israel’s forsaking the LORD in idolatry. For a wedding – Song of Solomon 5:15 and about.
Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. And when someone tries to get everybody to take that cure, toxic as it is, and whether they need or want it or not, that’s when the problem arises. What kind of doctor would spend a lifetime vilifying and casting scorn at everyone who refuses to ingest his particular brand of snake-oil?
Why, PTN, does every comment of yours have to deal with scripture, etc.? It gets a little boring. Why can’t you leave well enough alone.
There is more to life than church and scripture.
Furtz, I know we don’t agree on everything. But your latest comments “Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. And when someone tries to get everybody to take that cure, toxic as it is, and whether they need or want it or not, that’s when the problem arises. What kind of doctor would spend a lifetime vilifying and casting scorn at everyone who refuses to ingest his particular brand of snake-oil?” were right on.
Tom Newton and other ministers reinforce the belief that god loves you with Bible verses like 3:16,”For God so loved the world…” and 13:34,”love one another; as I (Jesus) have loved you…” Yet, despite what your minister and Christianity teach, there’s compelling biblical evidence God doesn’t love the following:
(1) Gentiles. The unchanging God (Matthew 22:32) of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who encouraged Israel (Leviticus 25:44-46) to own gentile slaves forever and commanded Israel (Joshua 10) to slaughter every gentile in Canaan to purify the land, didn’t suddenly become “The God of Everybody” as Jesus confirms in the synoptic gospels. Matthew 15:24, “I (Jesus) was sent to…the house of Israel, and to them alone.” Matthew 10:5-6, “These twelve (Note: Each Jewish disciple represents one of the twelve tribes of Israel) Jesus sent forth, and commanded, ‘Go not (to)…the Gentiles…but go rather to the…house of Israel.’“ In Matthew 15:26, Jesus refers to gentiles as dogs. Matthew 2:6, ”…out of thee (Bethlehem) shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Israel.” Luke 1:33, ”And he (Jesus) shall reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever…” Zacharias says in Luke 1:68, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel…”
(2) Women. “Daughters of God” and female angels are never mentioned in the Bible, only “sons of God” and male angels. In Genesis 9:1, God blessed Noah and his sons but not their wives. Zachariah 5:5-10 claims “woman” is the personification of wickedness. In Judges 11:30-39, God accepted Jephthah’s burnt offering sacrifice of his only daughter but forbade Abraham’s sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-12) of his son Isaac. Women are excluded from fifty-five generations (Luke 3:21-34) of Jesus’ genealogy back to Abraham. Since 1 Corinthians 11:7 claims men are made in God’s image but women aren’t, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 prohibits women from speaking in church or have authority (1 Timothy 2:11-12) over a man. 1 Peter 3:1-6 requires women to submit to their husbands and call him master. 1 Timothy 2:15 denies salvation to non-child bearing women like nuns. (3) Non-believers. If He did, He wouldn’t condemn billions of good and caring people to hell for rejecting Jesus’ divinity.
(4) Babies/young children, those suffering from mental illness, and those who’ve never heard the gospel because He provides no biblical path to eternal life for them. (5) Families. Jesus says in Luke 14:26 (also see Mark 10:29-31 and Matthew 19:29), “if any man…hate not his father…mother…wife…children…brothers…sisters…he cannot be my disciple.”
(6) And for everyone else, Psalm 5:5, “you (God) hate all evildoers.”
Arghhhhh!!!!!
Larry: Here is one that fits you to a “T” – “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works”(2Co 11:13-15).
Even the Devil knows the Bible and tries, in vain, to teach it in order to deceive -“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written…”
Hey Larry. Bet you didn’t know that you have been possessed by Satan. 🙂
Do you know Larry, that I never say to someone “God loves you – personally”. I have no warrant of Scripture to do so. I am permitted to say “God loves sinners, and God loves the elect”, and even “God so love the world of lost humanity” – you missed one in your misapplication of Scripture: Romans 9:13 “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated”.
I can’t imagine God loving those in Hell right now? Did He ever really love them, in redemptive love? He was benevolent,as a faithful Creator, to them all their lives, but God was in no way obligated to love them. You see that is what grace is all about. God’s unmerited favor at Christ’s expense. Larry, even if you look at the above verse, the Holy Scriptures go on to say – Roman 9:18 “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth”. So as sinners, God owes us nothing but wrath, cursing, and eternal damnation. It is what we deserve! It is because we are sinners, and so unloving, and so unlovable. It is stated clearly that all of us hate God, so why would He love any of us, especially when He came (His Son) to show that love, and what we do? we murder Him. Grace!
Many,in so called evangelical circles, have to say to the sinner that God loves them personally, but that is a feeble attempt to “make our Jesus” more acceptable, and if he is more acceptable, then you will accept him. But God is never honored in such shabby evangelism.
When does God say I love you to an elect sinner? When He calls them by His grace by the Gospel to embrace the Living Christ by faith. It is the Lord Jesus Christ, himself, personally that says to the redeemed saint of God – “I love you, my bride, my beloved”. Only as a sinner comes in saving repenting faith, does the Lord Of Glory personally says to this one “I love you”. “I loved you so much that I would die for you and save you by my grace, and all that for my glory”.
Larry – you do error not knowing the Scriptures and the power of redeeming love.
I’m reading this and loving it, but I can’t decide if it’s a comedy or tragedy. Keep up the good work. I’m going to get more popcorn.
As an ordained Pastafarian Dudeist priest, I am offering guaranteed exorcisms to those who find themselves possessed by Satan. Special holiday rates will apply until January 15th.
Jean, of course religion is farce. As for believers, Mark Twain is reported to have made the following statement with which I totally agree, “Religion is the marriage of a con man and a fool.”
The fact that both christianity and islam are fiction is easily proven since neither provides a path to eternal life for babies/young children, those who have never heard the word, or are mentally ill. As for god’s archenemy Satan and hell, they’re New Testament inventions that didn’t exist in the Old Testament where the same destination (Sheol) awaited the just and unjust.
Larry, who said that “religion is the opiate of the masses”? Interesting that it has been mostly used to pacify and subdue large populations, while it’s also used to promote hate and violence. Thankfully for us, we live in a part of the world where this insanity is on the decline.
Larry writes – “The fact that both christianity and islam are fiction is easily proven… ” When are you going to start proving it? I got time! Millennium or two, or three? Take your time, you will need it.
Furtz, that’d be Karl Marx. Here’s something you might enjoy written by the Greek philosopher Epicurus.
Is god willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able or willing?
Then why call him god?
There are some conclusions one can draw from the mythology in the Bible that run counter to everything christians believe.
Is god good? How could god be good and lead us into temptation. Since jesus prays in Matthew 6:13, “Lead us not into temptation.” jesus obviously believes god does lead us into temptation. We also have genesis 22:1 “god did tempt Abraham” and Isaiah 45:7, “(god)created evil…”
Is god omnipotent? How could he be and be unable to kill Moses (Exodus 4:24)?
Is god omniscient? How could he be when he asked Adam (genesis 3:9-11), “Where art thou?” and “Who told thee thou wast naked?”
How could jesus be the eternal god and die for three days?
What christianity never divulges is that there are four different heavens mentioned in the bible, 14 different and contradictory paths to heaven, and 12 different end-of-the-world Judgment Days. Verily, I say unto you, christians really do live in La-La Land.
Larry: All these questions and seemingly contradictions. Forgot what I wrote a little while back. I will put in a modern translation so you can get it this time- “That’s why only someone who has God’s Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn’t have God’s Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish”(1Co 2:14.)
This applies to lost people too – Eph 4:18 “having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart”.
Kudos to the good Pastor for his “Real Christmas Carol.” I guess the real challenge for anyone who goes through a similar conversion, like his mentor Saul/Paul, is resisting the temptation to becoming a moralistic ideologue.
PJ, you are way more diplomatic and kind than I can ever be. Let’s be thankful that most who get over difficult childhoods don’t resort to trashing other people’s beliefs and religions in order to prop up their own.
Quick question for Newton.. What’s a ballpark cost for an exorcism? Is it a straight hourly rate, or is it based on the number of demons being expelled? I’m trying to set up a pay schedule for my new business, “Exorcisms Plus”, but I don’t know where to start. Any input would be appreciated.
Furtz – first look in the mirror, and then click your red rubie shoes three times and repeat after me -“there is no place like home”.
ps – don’t for get the dog.
Not always, Furtz. Don’t get me started on Harper & Co.