Pew report shows American Christian numbers in decline

[Hammster]

As I said, no terms for my existence. You don't even have to know who I am and you can make false judgments about me based on some verse you found somewhere.

You will be judged on that some day. I honestly hope and pray that God grants you repentance.

 

[bhsmte]

You will be judged on that some day. I honestly hope and pray that God grants you repentance.

If there is a God, no one knows how another will be judged. I understand some need to be convinced they have a handle on this, but no one does.

 

[Hammster]

If there is a God, no one knows how another will be judged. I understand some need to be convinced they have a handle on this, but no one does.

Is that the truth?

 

[bhsmte]

Is that the truth?

That is what I am going with, unless you can demonstrate otherwise, with reliable evidence.

 

[gord44]

If there is a God, no one knows how another will be judged. I understand some need to be convinced they have a handle on this, but no one does.

An honest answer. Sometimes I think it's people who claim to actually know how God will judge, that are the furthest from the truth.

 

[bhsmte]

An honest answer. Sometimes I think it's people who claim to actually know how God will judge, that are the furthest from the truth.

I can go along with this.

Folks who feel they know exactly how a God will judge, likely have a strong need to convince themselves of the same.

 

[gord44]

I can go along with this.

Folks who feel they know exactly how a God will judge, likely have a strong need to convince themselves of the same.

Indeed. Buy telling others of the surety of their beliefs, they are affirming it to themselves.

 

[smaneck]

Is that the truth?

Unless God is so small that He fits inside of your little head, yes that is the truth.

 

[LoAmmi]

You've not been watching the news, then, lately? And you buy into the concept that all one has to do is be offended and they can lash out? Why should Christians be any different from anyone else then? If people can lash out at us for being offended, we should be able to lash out at them. Is that what you are saying? Tit for tat? Let's be real. Grown people should know how to deal with being offended. I look at the world today and shake my head and wonder how things got so far out in left field, and then go on with my life. I don't take people to court just because what they do offends me.

What news are you speaking about? I have failed completely to find one instance in the news of a church being forced to marry two people. The sex of those two people not even entering the equation. Churches are not being forced to marry homosexuals. As for taking people to court, in theory I could sue this website for not letting me post in specific areas. I would lose, but my ability to file a lawsuit has zero to do with my ability to win that case.

 

[smaneck]

What news are you speaking about? I have failed completely to find one instance in the news of a church being forced to marry two people. The sex of those two people not even entering the equation. Churches are not being forced to marry homosexuals. As for taking people to court, in theory I could sue this website for not letting me post in specific areas. I would lose, but my ability to file a lawsuit has zero to do with my ability to win that case.

I googled it and found the following instances which remotely resembled what she is saying. There are cases in Europe, especially Denmark where churches are being compelled by the State to perform gay marriages. The reason this is possible is that there is no separation of church and state in most European countries. Ironic, huh? There is also a complaint filed for a gay marriage in the United Methodist Church, but this is an internal matter, not something being taken up in the secular courts. The third instance is a for-profit wedding chapel which refused to perform gay marriages. Its 'for-profit' status made it subject to non-discrimination laws. The latter will make for an interesting court case.

 

[Hammster]

That is what I am going with, unless you can demonstrate otherwise, with reliable evidence.

So you don't know if it's the truth. So why should I believe you that no one knows how others will be judged.

 

[Hammster]

An honest answer. Sometimes I think it's people who claim to actually know how God will judge, that are the furthest from the truth.

But you cannot substantiate this claim.

 

[bhsmte]

So you don't know if it's the truth. So why should I believe you that no one knows how others will be judged.

I didn't ask you to believe me and I would never dream of asking you that. I simply asked you, to demonstrate with reliable evidence, that how you feel God will judge people, is accurate.

 

[bhsmte]

But you cannot substantiate this claim.

What he is observing is called confirmation bias, used by an individual to substantiate their own beliefs. It is an observation, based on behaviors and one tell tale behavior, is when one makes absolute claims and sticks to them, without being able to substantiate the claim.

 

[Hammster]

I didn't ask you to believe me and I would never dream of asking you that. I simply asked you, to demonstrate with reliable evidence, that how you feel God will judge people, is accurate.

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:27-28

 

[bhsmte]

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:27-28

I don't put credibility into scripture, because I have seen no supporting evidence that scripture can be relied upon as reliable. Simply writing something in a story does not make it true, anyone can write anything in stories.

Now, if you have faith in scripture, I can completely understand your position and since I have yet to see anyone provide substantiation that scripture is reliable when it comes to fact, I am sure others can understand why some don't rely on it as being the truth.

 

[Hammster]

I don't put credibility into scripture, because I have seen no supporting evidence that scripture can be relied upon as reliable. Simply writing something in a story does not make it true, anyone can write anything in stories.

Now, if you have faith in scripture, I can completely understand your position and since I have yet to see anyone provide substantiation that scripture is reliable when it comes to fact, I am sure others can understand why some don't rely on it as being the truth.

I fulfilled the request. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the words of Christ. I'm called to accurately present the gospel. I'm not called to make you believe. But you will be judged if you reject what I say and die in your unbelief.

 

[smaneck]

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:27-28

"if you think that you are the favorites of Allah to the exclusion of other people, then invoke death If you are truthful."
Qur'an 62:6

 

[smaneck]

I fulfilled the request. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the words of Christ. I'm called to accurately present the gospel. I'm not called to make you believe. But you will be judged if you reject what I say and die in your unbelief.

He asked for evidence. Quoting a scripture passage is not evidence. And by the way, you misquoted Paul. He says faith comes by hearing the Word of God, not the words of Christ.

 

[Hammster]

He asked for evidence. Quoting a scripture passage is not evidence. And by the way, you misquoted Paul. He says faith comes by hearing the Word of God, not the words of Christ.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17