If God did exist, and burnt people because they were in a situation where they just couldn't afford to pay part of there income to the church...Is that a God I would want to worship anyway? No. I like Chulium though, but he has probably been in the church all his life and is desensitized to all the brutal things that God is supposedly planning on doing to people. Who knows for sure until we die really...
Man...so many people think that God is going to be brutal when HIS day arrives. That's not what the Bible teaches. It teaches that when HIS day does come, ALL will know it is HIM that is dealing out the punishment. The punishment is only for those who refuse to know and accept him. In other words, how their hearts respond to the message that is given to them. The punishment? It's simply this. You will not exist anymore. In other words. You will return to dust because that is where we all come from (Adam). There's no eternal burning or torture. God is a God of love. Not a God of evil. For all those who say "but the Bible talks about eternal burning and a fiery place". Jesus is talking about it being like the place called "Gehenna". Gehenna was a place outside Jerusalem. A garbage dump continually burning where dead bodies and rubbish were burned "eternally" like an incinerator. To a point of "non-existence". As far as the funding of an organization goes. Our organization I can proudly say is fully funded from donations. Sure, we pay taxes to the governments that demand taxes to be paid. Even in France our organization pays 60% tax. All because our organization is refused recognition as a "religion". That does not stop us though. We just donate more out of our own pockets to make sure people have their own Bibles and any literature to aid the study of those Bibles. We don't have the need for tithing because it is not scriptural. However, Jesus and God do take note of what we do give compared to what we can give. The example of the poor women who dropped a few coins shows how they feel about these things. Col
Your belief is still, you better believe in God or else! But not quite as gruesome I guess as burning, at least I will only be turned into ash. Comforting. Thanks
Rebecca, There's a number of illustrations I could use here. But I will use just one. Let's say that you built a house from top to bottom. You made it completely and utterly suitable for living. Inside and out. Fully painted and furnished. Then, you rented it. You go away for a few years. You come back and the house is completely trashed and not looked after at all. Your tenants refuse to acknowledge your efforts that went into creating this home for them to live in. Not only that, but they also refuse to clean it up. Would you continue allowing them to live in your house? Or, would you turf them out, repair and amend all the damage back to where it was when you built it, and find more suitable tenants? The application is no different to the earth we live on and who made it for us to live on. That's one of the ways I see God's day of judgment. I see it as an eviction. I also think that it is fair enough too. Col
Then I guess our differance is that I feel that I own my own house and you feel that you are renting. If it makes you happy to believe God is coming back and killing all the unbelievers then go ahead. I doubt the existence of God as you would describe. IF, there was a God that plans on coming back and going on a mass murdering spree, that is really not a God I would worship because he sounds evil to me.
if you are a christian, then help people. If you helped people because you want to help them, you are a true christian. if you want to help people because your God ask you to help them, you are a false christian. Stupid people think they would go to heaven if they spend enough money to charity. But if you helped people not because you want to go to heaven but because you want to help them, you will go to heaven, whatever your religion is(or if you choose not to believe). People are created to help each other. If you choose to only care about yourself, even if you are going to church everyday, then what are you? It sounds naive but I think it is the truth. The sad thing is most people talks about what is right and what is wrong but they pretend to not hear and see when they saw poor people. Stupid.
Only God knows, and it's not our place to judge them anyway. I see people trying to figure things out and decide all the ways of God, yet... why? We can't, we shouldn't try, it only wastes our time.
Real Christians don't tithe. They give what they are able from the heart as the NT states. No legitimate Christian church demands tithing. Those that do are living in the OT and abusing their influence over people. Yeah because by tithing that makes you perfect. It's a good thing you don't have countless other real sins to be judged for like the rest of us.
Here is another illustration: One person claims that they know for certain that their God is the one true God and that if you don't follow their doctrine you will never be resurrected. Another different person, but one that follows the same religion, says that you will burn in Hell forever if you don't accept the son of God as your personal savior. And yet a third person, again from the same religion, tells others that all they have to do to enter the kingdom of Heaven is to be a good person throughout their life. And this isn't even illustrating the differences between this religion and the many others found on our planet. Everyone can't be right and yet everyone believes that their way of believing in God is the right way yet there is no proof at all to back up any of the world's religions. All you are left with is arguing over philosphical ideals that can't be proven. In that case Rebecca's arguement about life is just as valid as your arguement about God. Do you agree that both of you could be wrong about your views or that Rebecca could be right and that you could be wrong?
When it comes to Christianity, you can judge all the churches by the Bible. At the end of the day it's your responsibility to know what it says. It's your responsibility to determine what the true way to heaven is or if it even exists. And if you're wrong, it's nobody's fault but your own.
I like how some Christians base their level of awesomeness on being able to do a handful of things "correctly." "I'm awesome because I tithe!" Or in relation to lusting, "I'm awesome because I don't like girls!" I seem to remember some rich guy giving Jesus that same line. What happened...oh right, Jesus pinpointed his pet sin and tossed it right back at him. Turns out he wasn't so perfect after all. Oddly enough. It's a sad thing when Christians base their awesomeness on how "sinless" they are. What's the word for that...oh right "pride."
And who's to say that your way of getting into Heaven is the right way Kalvin? Because it's the way that you were taught? Aren't you're being holier than thou too by your own statements?
Johnny Inferno, define love for me man. I want your scientific analysis of it. Now please dont tell me its undefinable. Kalvin im sorry but bible only has been proven false. jesus laid down many other clues to us.
What does that have to do with anything I said? Read. Comprehend. Respond. So then what is your basis for judging truth?
I agree because if it does, everyone will just give a 10% of their earnings without needing to attend the church, study the bible, etc. Being a Christian means accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, accepting you're a sinner, ask for forgiveness and serving him with all your heart therefore believing what the scriptures says: Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."
Right, so we should accept everything that we are told without question. It's funny how much Christianity brainwashes people.
Actually, in context with the conversation of this thread I think chulium is making a kind statement. Some christians go around telling non-believers that they are going to burn as if they know that for a fact. He is saying that he isn't going to make that personal judgement because only God can. At least that is what I made out of it. So thanks chulium. But yeah, I think christianity does kind of brainwash people. What other belief system can you have where you are indoctrinated to believe that God is just wonderful and it is ok that he may be planning on burning up your loved ones and family members...
Rebecca, OK. So what's your resolution then? I am only telling what's in the Bible. You know the saying "don't shoot the messenger"? If you want to accuse God of being a mass murderer then so be it. After all, you and I wouldn't be here at all if it wasn't for God creating us in the first place. That kinda gives him the right to choose who he wants in his new system doesn't it? When you think about it. It's not like he is randomly ending billions of people's lives. As it says in the Bible, they will all know it is Jehovah God that is executing judgment upon them. But, not before they have plenty of warning to make a choice. Just like the days of Noah. Everyone back then had a choice. Get in the ark or suffer the consequences. It's amazing how many people will obey stop signs, traffic lights, laws and so on. But when it comes to God giving a life or death warning. People don't take note, no matter how many times it is offered to them. Col