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In that case I guess I have a confession to make.... I murdered Gordan Brown.
Nah I think he's still alive it defines us as such (ie a murderer) just not in the outward act of literally killing a person. But ofcourse I dont believe its "limited to" it if you actually did (then you'd have a dead body). In this case Gordan Brown
If hatred towards another person is a sin, then do you think alot of us wil die with unrepented sins?
I never question things like that, its just given us "to know" that he that hateth his brother is defined as a murderer and that no murderer (one who hates his brother) has eternal life (which is defined as "Knowing God") in him.
Sorta like knowing where they "abide"
1John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Like passing from death unto life its where we abide after spiritual truths. But we were all in death but know that we have passed from death unto life evidenced by our love for the brethren, whereas its just given us "to know" that he who does not love (even hates his brother) where he yet abides (which is in death) until now (after that truth). He has yet passed from where we all start is all.
I see what you are saying. Like when Jesus took a child and said that if you cannot love this child then you will not know my Father. Loving others is a sign of grace.
I don't think you read what I said. I am not promoting anyone being an island but that we do have a responsibility for a home congregation. You can read scripture and see that yourself.
As for "fellowship" I don't know what you are talking about. We the body meets more than once a week and we see each other constantly, and if we are not seeing each other, we are in constant talk to each other through social media or phone calls, so we know what is going on with each other. Many of us do hang out with each other, a fellowship is 2 or more Christians coming together--there you will find Christ. As for the idea that fellowship is being only once a week, I don't know what church you attend but please don't make that generalization for everyone else.
My church put on a bible camp in the summer, we attend other bible camps (I don't because of work, but others do), do mission works and go internationally for mission works, we also put on other events just so we can be with other Christians in different congregations all the while trying to spread the gospel (and I hope this doesn't sound like bragging, I'm just saying what the church do through because of Christ that is in us). So, I'm sorry that you feel that people in church only fellowship once a week, but I for one know that is not the truth. Please don't think that's all we do, I am only thinking of things that involves fellowship with other Christians.
We understand that there are Christians all over the world and we have meet them from all over the world and when we come together we have a common love for each other because of Christ. But take a look at the scriptures and read about the churches, and you can truly see, that these people meet daily (meaning there were the same people meeting each other--think about it, someone from Jerusalem couldn't meet up in Corinth daily, the walk would have been too long, but no one said it is wrong for someone to go and visit each other from time to time.
And as for being effective, there is no way in the world you can tell me that someone who go from church to church every Sunday, meeting only once a week, is being very productive in every church they go to.
But you seem to think that we Christians are someone ignoring each other if they are not in our own congregation, that's not the case, I've hung out with many Christians who do not attend my congregation, we are still bound together by a common love for Christ.
Call for references.
*sigh*
Here's an idea: just ask God to help you find a good church home that teaches the bible. Do you think He won't?
With all do respect, I'm getting tired of way too many christians talking and complaining about all these churches that have something wrong with them. Has it ever occured to anyone that maybe.....just maybe...the problem is not the church, but it could very well be you and your way of thinking?
Yeah, I know there are churches out there that teach lies but there's also churches that teach the truth. I know because I happen to attend one that does and I'm thankful to God for that. Unless God wants to take me elsewhere and I end up moving to a different state, I'd be a fool if I ever left that church.
If we (christians) complain and find fault with church, then should it be any wonder that the world looks at us and really won't take us or God seriously because they see that we're, somehow, not even satisfied!
The reason some of us aren't satisfied is because we simply don't ask God for help in things that are important to Him........like going to church on a regular basis. Why? Because we (christians) need each other! Its good and necessary for us to fellowship with one another and all the more as we're seeing prophecy being fulfilled right before our very eyes!
Besides, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. IOW, we need to quit making all these excuses and take our butts to church. We make time for everything else in our schedules, right?
I love ya'll.
Some churches, sadly, are hard to break into, fellowship-wise. In general, though, I've found that you get out of it what you put into it.Why is it necessary to "fellowship" with eachother at church? I've attended many churches and I didn't see any fellowshiping going on. You just sit there, listen to the sermon, drop your money in the pot, and then leave.
The number one way in which we need to grow is the ability to show God's love. This is the greatest manifestation of the presence of God in our lives. If we keep our Christian circle limited to family and friends, we never learn to love people who have different personalities and backgrounds. Learning to love is not always a relaxed, happy experience. Sometimes we fall down and get back up. Sometimes the Lord uses others to bring out the worst in us, so that we realize it's there.Why not just read, study and pray on your own? Many people here say that you need to be part of a church to grow. Every church that I've ever attended didn't help me grow, it actually helped me to stumble.
I find that even after forty years as a Christian, when I don't have any input from outside myself and when I do not worship WITH other people (especially, now that I live in a foreign country, WITH people whose primary language is English), I quickly either dry up or stagnate. Also, Lisa, deception thrives on isolation. I'm not saying you are walking in strong deception, but I'm saying that Christians are easily deceived when they are isolated. Strong leader-type Christians often become deceivers - Jim Jones, David Koresh.....Many here say that the church is needed to preach, and christians need to be part of that. Well, my husband and daughter are not christians, and I spend alot of time preaching to them, they need me.
The point of church is not your personally talking to God. Hopefully we all do that, whether we go to church or not.So again, what's the point? I talk to God myself on a daily basis.
Why is it necessary to "fellowship" with eachother at church? I've attended many churches and I didn't see any fellowshiping going on. You just sit there, listen to the sermon, drop your money in the pot, and then leave.
Why not just read, study and pray on your own? Many people here say that you need to be part of a church to grow. Every church that I've ever attended didn't help me grow, it actually helped me to stumble.
Many here say that the church is needed to preach, and christians need to be part of that. Well, my husband and daughter are not christians, and I spend alot of time preaching to them, they need me. I also spend alot of time building up my mother, on a daily basis. I see this as more important then attending a social function on sunday mornings that I probably won't get anything out of other then maybe a few new friends, which isn't really likely anyway because I"m somewhat antisocial anyway. Other couples wouldn't want to associate with me and my husband because he's an agnostic and most single women are either way younger then me, or way older then me.
So again, what's the point? I talk to God myself on a daily basis.
What's the point of it? My church is in my home, my backyard, my car, my mother's house, my daughter's house, my church is wherever I am because the kingdom of god is inside me and god is literally everywhere.
The gospel of Thomas recorded Jesus words as "Where there are two or one, I am with him." Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there."
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Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, eh?
So how was the movie Stigmata?
What's wrong with the Gnostic Gospels? The words I quoted were Jesus's words.
The Gospel of Thomas was not written by Thomas, it was a forgery, written by a person who had a peculiar (gnostic) viewpoint.
Do you have any proof of that claim? If so, please show me because I'd like to know.
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