To all: what would you hope to find amongst a group of Christians, or in a "church" ?

A New Dawn · May 26, 2015

smaneck said:
It is because of the truth being taught that I am a Baha'i. Church is something I do for my mother's sake. All I ask is that it no be spewing bigotry and lies.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. You don't believe in Christianity because they taught the truth, or you became Baha'i because you believe they teach the truth?

francus · May 26, 2015

A New Dawn said:
I think a non-believer is looking for fellowship and all the brighter aspects of discipleship. A true believer is looking for the truth to be taught, as well as fellowhip and the brighter aspects of discipleship. Being a follower of Christ is not all butterflies and flowers. It is often storms and persecution.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil. My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

My heart song and it came to me to create and post a link to the Psalm of my heart!

FATHER Help!

HE DID! and HE does.......

smaneck · May 26, 2015

A New Dawn said:
I'm not sure I understand what you mean. You don't believe in Christianity because they taught the truth, or you became Baha'i because you believe they teach the truth?

i became a Baha'i because I believe the Baha'i Faith teaches the truth.

Llewelyn Stevenson · May 27, 2015

Oh well, it looks like I'm going to be lonely in my church. That's sad.

Its very hard to say what I'd expect to see because the church I attend may not be of my theological persuasion. Of course I do like churches that agree with me and allow the operation of the 9 gifts of the Spirit amidst free flowing praise and worship and a good gospel message that calls a spade a spade, but I'm not always in the position to pick and choose. Kind of like going home to the family after 20 years, nothing is as comfortable as it used to be.

If I were in a Baptist church I suppose I'd expect to see Baptist behaviour; if Anglican, Anglican. Its no good going to a Catholic church and expecting it to be like the Assembly of God. They just don't operate the same.

However I am a bit choosey as to who I will allow to influence the way I serve God and therefore allow others their differences to a point.

ViaCrucis · May 27, 2015

SaintJoeNow said:
sounds like you have a lot of vile hatred in a vial, and it's full of venom to spit at Christians.

In many circles they call this projection.

-CryptoLutheran

ViaCrucis · May 27, 2015

SaintJoeNow said:
. The Bible says we can be sure our sins are forgiven and we are saved from Hell, and many Christians are not sure their sins are forgiven and they are not sure they are saved from Hell. Christians who know their sins are forgiven and they know they are saved from Hell generally want all other Christians to have the same confidence, and they generally want non-Christians to become Christians because Jesus excludes all religions apart from Him as paths to heaven or paths which can avoid Hell.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, burned the t-shirt, became Lutheran instead.

-CryptoLutheran

Denyse · May 27, 2015

You should find love. True mature Children of the Living Father God - extend love - acceptance, forgiveness, non-judgmental - pointing and showing you Gods love in a real and practical way. The Word is very clear that religious and charity works and even Gifts from the Spirit of God not motivated by love that brings glory to God are nothing more that motivated for the wrong reasons and worth nothing. In a church you will find people calling themselves Christians because they believe in God [bible says so do the demons], people who are still filled with hate, un-forgiveness and still as the bible says baby Christians on milk. But there will be those who are mature and you can identify them by the Love of God radiating from their words, actions and life. Seek those out and forgive the rest. Look at 1 Corinthians 13 New International Version (NIV) - can't be more simpler than this.

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a that can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient , love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not keep a record of wrongs, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

francus · May 27, 2015

TRUTH IS! There is Only One "Pure Religion and Undefiled"....... (James 1:27)

"Pure Religion and Undefiled before Our FATHER and GOD is this! To visit The FATHERless(those who have no relationship with The GOD and FATHER{Creator} of ALL), and widows (those whose "bridegroom" has not risen from among the dead)in their affliction and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world!" (James 1:27)

Not a system but The Active Faith of those who, in TRUTH, have been "Born Again" of The Holy, Set Apart, SPIRIT! Those "sons of Our FATHER and GOD" who have their portion !NOW! in HIS Family, of "WHOM the whole Family in Heaven and ON EARTH is named".......(II Thessalonians 2:10-12, John 3:3,7, I Peter 1:23, I John 3:1-2, Philippians 2:15, Ephesians 3:15)

http://asimpleandspirituallife.blogspot.com/2008/10/religion-is-way-of-this-wicked-world.html

And notice that "Pure and Undefiled" religion is "oneself (personal)", The Brethren of The Messiah desiring and seeking to share with others that which they have both "seen(experienced)and heard (received)" as they are led of The Holy, Set Apart, SPIRIT that IS Our FATHER and GOD....... (I John 1:3)

Simply, corporate "religion" is pagan and of this wicked world!

In the u.s.a. they are naught but 501(c3) Not-For-Profit corporations, not for anyone's profit Spiritually, indeed and TRUTH!

catholicism, christianity, judaism, islam, buddhist,,,, etc.......

History has revealed, and yet reveals, that multiplied billions have been killed and enslaved(in physical chains at times, yet primarily in the chains of "strong delusion" that are the commandments and doctrines of men) in the name of the god(s) of this, or that religion!

Proving that the fruit of death and enslavement are bore of religion's way,

Because life is but a pawn in the wicked game they play.......

Once again, there IS Only One "Pure Religion and Undefiled"! (James 1:27)

Not a system! But the "Born Again" brethren of The Messiah who have their portion !NOW! in The Spiritual "Family of Our FATHER and GOD".......(John 3:3,7, I Peter 1:23, Ephesians 3:15)

ALL other religions but carry on the legacy of the pharisee's and are of "the father of lies", he who is "the god of this evil world"! (John 8:44, II Corinthians 4:4)

Continued @ http://asimpleandspirituallife.blogspot.com/2008/10/pure-and-undefiled-religion.html

smaneck · May 27, 2015

francus said:
TRUTH IS! There is Only One "Pure Religion and Undefiled"....... (James 1:27)

"Pure Religion and Undefiled before Our FATHER and GOD is this! To visit The FATHERless(those who have no relationship with The GOD and FATHER{Creator} of ALL), and widows (those whose "bridegroom" has not risen from among the dead)in their affliction and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world!" (James 1:27)

What??? I'm sorry, but you have completely twisted and interpolated this verse. Here is what it really says:

27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

I am shocked and astounded that someone would do this to their own scripture. You've turned the meaning of this passage on its head.

ALL other religions but carry on the legacy of the pharisee's and are of "the father of lies",

You've not exactly shown yourself to have any interest in truth.

pastor marty · May 27, 2015

Catherineanne said:
Love. Nothing more or less. A very real demonstration of Christ's sacrificial love for one another.

I would not care if the church said that God was called Henry McHenry and lived on the moon; theology is nothing like as important as following Christ. What matters is living Christ's love to one another, and to the world.

AMEN !!

pastor marty · May 27, 2015

Catherineanne said:
That would be a bonus, yes. : )

OH my, I'm glad I havn't been snakebitn yet then (re: venom & stuff )GOD loves us in spite of ourselves (I hope)

pastor marty · May 27, 2015

smaneck said:
What??? I'm sorry, but you have completely twisted and interpolated this verse. Here is what it really says:

27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

I am shocked and astounded that someone would do this to their own scripture. You've turned the meaning of this passage on its head.

You've not exactly shown yourself to have any interest in truth.

I always liked that Bahai-guy.Too bad the Fanatics martyr his people to. Love becomes conspicuous by its absense.. PAX !

pastor marty · May 27, 2015

francus said:
YES! "When two or three are gathered together in His Name", "the unsearchable and unspeakable Riches of The Messiah" are manifest"!

And liken unto The Messiah His brethren evermore REALize, "i can do nothing of my own self", as "The Light" reveals how "poor and in need" of Our FATHER and GOD we Truly are.......

FATHER Help!

HE DID! and HE does.......

You kids make me proud !& GOD 2 !!

iam13 · May 28, 2015

One word, "WORKS".

James 2:14-26New International Version (NIV)
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

pastor marty · May 28, 2015

A New Dawn said:
I'm not sure I understand what you mean. You don't believe in Christianity because they taught the truth, or you became Baha'i because you believe they teach the truth?

THE "Baab" believed in Jesus and found some love in all religion (am I right about that ??) I havn't read him since '68' so things get fuzzy.

smaneck · May 28, 2015

pastor marty said:
THE "Baab" believed in Jesus and found some love in all religion (am I right about that ??) I havn't read him since '68' so things get fuzzy.

I think you are referring to an incident that occurred in Tabriz soon before the Bab was executed. Dr. Cormick had been brought in to examine the Bab . Here is his account of meeting the Bab:

"You ask me for some particulars of my interview with the founder of the sect known as Bábís. Nothing of any importance transpired in this interview, as the Báb was aware of my having been sent with two other Persian doctors to see whether he was of sane mind or merely a madman, to decide the question whether to put him to death or not. With this knowledge he was loth to answer any questions put to him. To all enquiries he merely regarded us with a mild look, chanting in a low melodious voice some hymns, I suppose. Two other Sayyids, his intimate friends, were also present, who subsequendy were put to death with him besides a couple of government officials. He only once deigned to answer me, on my saying that I was not a Musulmán and was willing to know something about his religion, as I might perhaps be inclined to adopt it. He regarded me very intently on my saying this, and replied that he had no doubt of all Europeans coming over to his religion. Our report to the Sháh at that time was of a nature to spare his life. He was put to death some time after by the order of the Amír-i-Nizám Mírzá Taqí Khán. On our report he merely got the bastinado, in which operation a farrásh, whether intentionally or not, struck him across the face with the stick destined for his feet, which produced a great wound and swelling of the face. On being asked whether a Persian surgeon should be brought to treat him, he expressed a desire that I should be sent for, and I accordingly treated him for a few days, but in the interviews consequent on this I could never get him to have a confidential chat with me, as some Government people were always present, he being a prisoner.
"He was very thankful for my attentions to him. He was a very mild and delicate-looking man, rather small in stature and very fair for a Persian, with a melodious soft voice, which struck me much. Being a Sayyid, he was dressed in the habits of that sect, as were also his two companions. In fact his whole look and deportment went far to dispose one in his favour. Of his doctrine I heard nothing from his own lips, although the idea was that there existed in his religion a certain approach to Christianity. He was seen by some Armenian carpenters, who were sent to make some repairs in his prison, reading the Bible, and he took no pains to conceal it, but on the contrary told them of it. Most assuredly the Musulmán fanaticism does not exist in his religion, as applied to Christians, nor is there that restraint of females that now exists."

Of course, all Muslims believe in Jesus though not that many read the Bible.

ViaCrucis · May 28, 2015

smaneck said:
What??? I'm sorry, but you have completely twisted and interpolated this verse. Here is what it really says:

27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

I am shocked and astounded that someone would do this to their own scripture. You've turned the meaning of this passage on its head.

You've not exactly shown yourself to have any interest in truth.

This reminds me of the way some people want to interpret the Beatitudes in Matthew's Gospel (to the exclusion of their form in Luke's Gospel); where because Matthew has it written "blessed are the poor in spirit" it doesn't actually mean "the poor" (as in Luke's version). Ergo, it isn't the poor themselves, but a specific class of spiritually poor only.

Of course if Matthew was interested in denying the importance of the poor in the scheme of God's kingdom, then the entire rest of Matthew's gospel becomes rather meaningless, in particular Matthew ch 25.

-CryptoLutheran

pastor marty · May 29, 2015

smaneck said:
i became a Baha'i because I believe the Baha'i Faith teaches the truth.

Even the library of Congress doesn't have all the facts/truth about everything.A Hobbit knows Hobbit truth; a Catholic;the Vatican truth etc. etc. GOD knows all the truth and smiles at us who presume to equal Him..

pastor marty · May 29, 2015

francus said:
My heart song and it came to me to create and post a link to the Psalm of my heart!

FATHER Help!

HE DID! and HE does.......

"Be still & know that I am GOD,"-GOD.{quote}(Bible) B/good,love your neighbor & the Lord will find U. (I'd add a smiley but I don't know how)

pastor marty · May 29, 2015

smaneck said:
I think you are referring to an incident that occurred in Tabriz soon before the Bab was executed. Dr. Cormick had been brought in to examine the Bab . Here is his account of meeting the Bab:

"You ask me for some particulars of my interview with the founder of the sect known as Bábís. Nothing of any importance transpired in this interview, as the Báb was aware of my having been sent with two other Persian doctors to see whether he was of sane mind or merely a madman, to decide the question whether to put him to death or not. With this knowledge he was loth to answer any questions put to him. To all enquiries he merely regarded us with a mild look, chanting in a low melodious voice some hymns, I suppose. Two other Sayyids, his intimate friends, were also present, who subsequendy were put to death with him besides a couple of government officials. He only once deigned to answer me, on my saying that I was not a Musulmán and was willing to know something about his religion, as I might perhaps be inclined to adopt it. He regarded me very intently on my saying this, and replied that he had no doubt of all Europeans coming over to his religion. Our report to the Sháh at that time was of a nature to spare his life. He was put to death some time after by the order of the Amír-i-Nizám Mírzá Taqí Khán. On our report he merely got the bastinado, in which operation a farrásh, whether intentionally or not, struck him across the face with the stick destined for his feet, which produced a great wound and swelling of the face. On being asked whether a Persian surgeon should be brought to treat him, he expressed a desire that I should be sent for, and I accordingly treated him for a few days, but in the interviews consequent on this I could never get him to have a confidential chat with me, as some Government people were always present, he being a prisoner.
"He was very thankful for my attentions to him. He was a very mild and delicate-looking man, rather small in stature and very fair for a Persian, with a melodious soft voice, which struck me much. Being a Sayyid, he was dressed in the habits of that sect, as were also his two companions. In fact his whole look and deportment went far to dispose one in his favour. Of his doctrine I heard nothing from his own lips, although the idea was that there existed in his religion a certain approach to Christianity. He was seen by some Armenian carpenters, who were sent to make some repairs in his prison, reading the Bible, and he took no pains to conceal it, but on the contrary told them of it. Most assuredly the Musulmán fanaticism does not exist in his religion, as applied to Christians, nor is there that restraint of females that now exists."

Of course, all Muslims believe in Jesus though not that many read the Bible.

Thank you for explaining that.I hope/pray that JESUS will let a whole bunch of us in on sincere intentions & love for our human cousins even if we get all dislexic/dumb about doctrine, dis' & dat' .Illiterate w/faith has gotta' b/better than genius w/out any.

To all: what would you hope to find amongst a group of Christians, or in a "church" ?

God is bigger than the boogeyman!

FATHER Help!

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