Christian Forums

I recently moved to a new city and I've been checking out a lot churches in the area and I'm curious why it is acceptable to dress like a slob at so many of them. People wear flip-flops, pajama pants, sweat pants, graphic tees that make them look like a billboard, athletic shorts, or shirts that actually might be parachutes I'm not sure. Stuff that doesn't even fall into the casual dress category, just straight up lazy slob.

Clearly it is not a money problem. Everyone has a $2-600 cell phone in their pocket they pay ~$60 or more a month for data, they can afford to go buy a collared shirt and some nice pants. Even designer stores have really nice clothes for ~$20-30 during their seasonal clearance sales which seemingly go on all year...

could this date be the start of the tribulations?

I'm wondering if the Holy Spirit still lives inside of believers who have fallen away. Does Jesus never give the Holy Spirit to believers whom he knows will fall away? Because, Jesus says in John 14:16:

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever"

so when we receive the HS he is with us forever. But, believers who have fallen away have either never been given the HS or it's still living inside of them. Those are the only two options. What do you think?

There are those, like me, who believe Jesus is God in flesh. Others believe he is the Son of God, a separate being.

This scripture would seem to suggest that I am right:

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and his name shall be called Emmanuel"
(which means, God with us). Matt 1:23 RSV

However, I suspect there is biblical evidence that I am wrong.

What do you think?

Since God created everything can He be accused of creating bad? Psalms 148:1-2

My jobs that is... I made 500, gave my mom 200 put gas in and she's mad bc I didn't pick my brother something up to eat...when I went out and she's mad at me.

I do get him something when he rides with me to when I drop my other brother off at work...

It just makes me mad because its like my mom is evaporating and she doesn't even care... She's sitting up there asking what my brother wants ... Saying, " oh u want that's that's fine ..I don't care" when I'm gonna be paying for it :/

Idk I feel so wrong like I should have gotten my brother something today
And been more inclusive ....

But my brother is 19 capable of working...but idk....I'm so confused...I feel angry because my money is leaving me so fast... I just want to scream and...

Have you ever heard someone tell you that because Jesus gave His life for you, the least you can do is give Him 10% of your income?

I used to think that way when I was a member of a denomination caught up in legalism. When you look at the statement closely, salvation by works is at its core. It's as though these people expect you to offer Jesus payment for the sacrifice He made. That's not the gospel, but a man-made tactic used to manipulate people into giving money to the church.

I have looked into the Scriptures to see what the Bible really says about tithing. There is no biblical support for the belief that God requires believers to hand over 10% of their gross income to the church. It is a man-made doctrine.

Before you jump on me...

Sundown has occurred in Israel and the new moon has just recently been sighted (Current Report of New Moon Crescent Sighting for a Biblical Calendar).

For those on the rapture watch this year concerning the Feast of Trumpets (as Paul foretold) and the accompaniment of the Rev 12 sign (as John foretold), the 48-hour watch time has begun.

Door-to-door, church bbq's with a handshake of "Jesus loves you", steering conversations to make sure they hear the gospel, helping the needy while waving a banner. Whatever happened to loving our neighbour, whatever happened to being so discreet with giving that our left hand doesn't know from the right. Whatever it is we turn the gospel into a product and we are the salesmen. I don't want it so why should I expect my neighbour to want it to? If I'm honest and truly love my neighbour the way I love myself then I need to stop selling the gospel and start loving my neighbour.

Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the LORD God had made. Gen 3:1a

Satan, apparently, is a clever fellow. Do you suppose sometimes he tricks us into doing his will?