Christian disscussion thread

[Arkhanta]

practicing reformed baptist for 2 years now.

[Farnhamia]

practicing reformed baptist for 2 years now.

And how are things among the Reformed Baptists these days? I'm glad you guys reformed, you were getting kind of rowdy there.

[The Merchant Republics]

Discuss? It freaks me out.

Calvinism really doesnt make all that sense. If some people are elected and others not. Why do the Calvinist churches still preach. Unless the election is your reaction too the preaching?

Worth thinking about.

My church is split between Calvinism and Arminianism.

It's very interesting, since one Pastor will get up and say something to the order of "We were all chosen by God" and then the next will get up and say "We all made the choice to be with God."

I'm Arminianist, by the way. Calvinism seems too fatalistic for a God that typically lets people act of their own free will.

[New Acardia]

Calvinism really doesnt make all that sense. If some people are elected and others not. Why do the Calvinist churches still preach. Unless the election is your reaction too the preaching?

Worth thinking about.

My church is split between Calvinism and Arminianism.

It's very interesting, since one Pastor will get up and say something to the order of "We were all chosen by God" and then the next will get up and say "We all made the choice to be with God."

I'm Arminianist, by the way. Calvinism seems too fatalistic for a God that typically lets people act of their own free will.

May ask what church you go to?

[The Merchant Republics]

My church is split between Calvinism and Arminianism.

It's very interesting, since one Pastor will get up and say something to the order of "We were all chosen by God" and then the next will get up and say "We all made the choice to be with God."

I'm Arminianist, by the way. Calvinism seems too fatalistic for a God that typically lets people act of their own free will.

May ask what church you go to?

It's an Evangelical Baptist Church, of an admittedly overtly conservative rural variety.

[New Acardia]

May ask what church you go to?

It's an Evangelical Baptist Church, of an admittedly overtly conservative rural variety.

Most Baptist are both Evangelical and conservitive but good people.
I am Eastern Orthodox

[Nansurium]

Of course I believe that Jesus is God, part of the trinity.

Good. Do you believe that Christ ascended into heaven body, mind and spirit? Also, do you believe that He is the head of the Church?

You never provided specific verses from the Bible that authorize the activities of your church, no.

How about the entire book of acts?

I assume you are referring to First Timothy 3:15, yes? This verse states that the Church is the pillar and foundation of our faith. Its ashame he never used the word Catholic or Orthodox isn't it? If we view that verse in context, we find that Timothy goes into great detail about the nature and structure of God's church.

My questions above relating to your beliefs about Jesus will bring us to this particular verse in due time. When you answer next, all will be clear.

So a few things to note from this passage: First of all, we see the explicit use of the term "deacon" in this text. Yet I am not aware of the use of deacons within the Orthodox or Catholic churches.

Then you do not know much of anything about the Church from which the Bible sprang. The Deacon is the third and lowest degree of the major orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church, following the bishop and the presbyter.

Furthermore, this text clearly permits marriage and children for deacons. Yet in the catholic and orthodox church, members of the ecclesiastical hierarchy are not permitted to take wives (the Bible also explicitly permits this for Elders as well) or have children.

Once more, you are absolutely incorrect. Members of the ecclesiastical hierarchy are, indeed, permitted and encouraged to marry and reproduce.

Yes, I believe that Christ is the head of the Universal Church and ascended to heaven. Look, if you have a point to make, go ahead and make it. I don't like being led down a road via question and answer sessions when I don't quite know the direction you are taking me.

In the book of Acts, which you argue is the basis for your Church's hierarchy, only deacons and elders are authorized to be used by individual churches. No unifying church government, no pope. Only deacons and only elders to oversee and order the affairs of each individual congregation.

[Bordurian]

Just a question, who founded the Baptism movement? Sorry, don't know this one.

[Farnhamia]

Just a question, who founded the Baptism movement? Sorry, don't know this one.

It's complicated.

[Nansurium]

I joined an Apostolic church to escape the hypocrisy of life in a western democratic society and to find a more meaningful purpose in life. As much as the reaching out to others went I agree in the concept of saving souls but to do that in a Christian sense meant condemnation for those who weren't willing to be saved that day. Fly s in the face of free will doesn't it? Anyway I left. I cant say too much about Islam as I know next to nothing about Islam except to say that my children know that Christianity and Islam have one thing in common. War.

Jesus didn't go to war as far as I know? Can anyone else tell me if Jesus went to war?

The only Christians that I know of who fought a war over religion was the Catholic Church. However, you will find that most religious wars have practical, political purposes rather than spiritual ones. Religion is simply an excuse.

[Bordurian]

I joined an Apostolic church to escape the hypocrisy of life in a western democratic society and to find a more meaningful purpose in life. As much as the reaching out to others went I agree in the concept of saving souls but to do that in a Christian sense meant condemnation for those who weren't willing to be saved that day. Fly s in the face of free will doesn't it? Anyway I left. I cant say too much about Islam as I know next to nothing about Islam except to say that my children know that Christianity and Islam have one thing in common. War.

Jesus didn't go to war as far as I know? Can anyone else tell me if Jesus went to war?

Protestant movement vs Catholicism in the 30 years war.
The only Christians that I know of who fought a war over religion was the Catholic Church. However, you will find that most religious wars have practical, political purposes rather than spiritual ones. Religion is simply an excuse.

[Farnhamia]

I joined an Apostolic church to escape the hypocrisy of life in a western democratic society and to find a more meaningful purpose in life. As much as the reaching out to others went I agree in the concept of saving souls but to do that in a Christian sense meant condemnation for those who weren't willing to be saved that day. Fly s in the face of free will doesn't it? Anyway I left. I cant say too much about Islam as I know next to nothing about Islam except to say that my children know that Christianity and Islam have one thing in common. War.

Jesus didn't go to war as far as I know? Can anyone else tell me if Jesus went to war?

The only Christians that I know of who fought a war over religion was the Catholic Church. However, you will find that most religious wars have practical, political purposes rather than spiritual ones. Religion is simply an excuse.

And the Lutherans and a bunch of German Protestants and English Puritans and French Huguenots ...

[Orcoa]

The only Christians that I know of who fought a war over religion was the Catholic Church. However, you will find that most religious wars have practical, political purposes rather than spiritual ones. Religion is simply an excuse.

And the Lutherans and a bunch of German Protestants and English Puritans and French Huguenots ...

Which is pretty interesting stuff to read about, because from what I have read...a lot of times those wars were fought under the disguise of Religion but most of the time it was for political reasons

[An Slanaitheoir]

Jesus didn't go to war as far as I know? Can anyone else tell me if Jesus went to war?

The only Christians that I know of who fought a war over religion was the Catholic Church. However, you will find that most religious wars have practical, political purposes rather than spiritual ones. Religion is simply an excuse.

I watched a video about the Crusades on the History channel (which I have been told is unreliable), and I was getting mad at that part, where they were saying that Pope just wanted to regain Political power in Europe. The only Catholic they had on the show was a priest was that was about the findings of Relics, which they had mocked and he said the ability to discern true relics is a grace and a matter of Faith. Yet they had Two Arabs, one of which told a gruesome story about the Crusaders to little kids (like 8-9 years old) where the Crusaders ate the flesh of the Peaceful Muslims in the City. I have no problem with him telling that story, but it was sort of indoctrinating a hatred for the "Franks", as the Arabs experts/historians called westerners.

Oh, yea, back to the topic and my point.

Can you give me some proof how much of it was for political reasons. I am not denying that there was some political reasons for it, but he would not have been able to have been Beatified if he had sent men to war for his personal gain (part of the requirement being that a miracle must have been perform by asking for his intercession, meaning he must be in Heaven). I say that the Crusades had a spiritual purpose at it inception by the Religious authorities, but that got strayed when those that where not true Christians got involved.

[Farnhamia]

And the Lutherans and a bunch of German Protestants and English Puritans and French Huguenots ...

Which is pretty interesting stuff to read about, because from what I have read...a lot of times those wars were fought under the disguise of Religion but most of the time it was for political reasons

Heretic! *menacing guards advance toward you* A deep dungeon, lads.

[Orcoa]

Which is pretty interesting stuff to read about, because from what I have read...a lot of times those wars were fought under the disguise of Religion but most of the time it was for political reasons

Heretic! *menacing guards advance toward you* A deep dungeon, lads.

I'm being Oppressed!

[SanctusEmpire]

There are those of us who live in a stratosphere above those who dwell in the land of religion. Chingis Khan was one and so was Constantine. My understanding of Chingis Khan was when it came to religion he intrinsically had no problem with an individuals belief system as long as it didnt have a detrimental impact of the common harmony. If it did then he would kill the usurpers. He or his generals would conquer a city then determine whether or not to kill everyone with maintaining harmony in mind. Sometimes this meant killing everyone. If harmony meant killing all the Christians then so be it or killing or the Muslims then so be it also but harmony was the ultimate goal. I understand that Temujin dabbled in the 3 main religions of his time but held favour with Buddhism. I think under this perspective the world might be a better place

Constantine as I understand was simply an inept leader who had the fortune of realising that to control his ever converting to Christ army he had to become the boss of all Christians. Held a great big meeting where at the end of it he decided what was gospel and what wasn't and hence Christianity was born. I must say at this point I don't know why the Vatican is not in Istanbul today.

My point is this. Religion is relative?

[An Slanaitheoir]

There are those of us who live in a stratosphere above those who dwell in the land of religion. Chingis Khan was one and so was Constantine. My understanding of Chingis Khan was when it came to religion he intrinsically had no problem with an individuals belief system as long as it didnt have a detrimental impact of the common harmony. If it did then he would kill the usurpers. He or his generals would conquer a city then determine whether or not to kill everyone with maintaining harmony in mind. Sometimes this meant killing everyone. If harmony meant killing all the Christians then so be it or killing or the Muslims then so be it also but harmony was the ultimate goal. I understand that Temujin dabbled in the 3 main religions of his time but held favour with Buddhism. I think under this perspective the world might be a better place

So What are you saying, that we should kill those that harm the Harmony? That is a dangerous thought, as those in Power decide who is the disruptive people. I acknowledge you may have just used it as an example, but just asking if you advocate doing what they did.

Constantine as I understand was simply an inept leader who had the fortune of realising that to control his ever converting-to-Christ army he had to become the boss of all Christians.

Or, you know, maybe he actually had a vision from God.

Held a great big meeting where at the end of it he decided what was gospel and what wasn't and hence Christianity was born. I must say at this point I don't know why the Vatican is not in Istanbul today.

I think the easiest answer I can think of is that Peter was martyred in Rome and Peter is the first pope

My point is this. Religion is relative?

Can you explain that a little better

[Farnhamia]

There are those of us who live in a stratosphere above those who dwell in the land of religion. Chingis Khan was one and so was Constantine. My understanding of Chingis Khan was when it came to religion he intrinsically had no problem with an individuals belief system as long as it didnt have a detrimental impact of the common harmony. If it did then he would kill the usurpers. He or his generals would conquer a city then determine whether or not to kill everyone with maintaining harmony in mind. Sometimes this meant killing everyone. If harmony meant killing all the Christians then so be it or killing or the Muslims then so be it also but harmony was the ultimate goal. I understand that Temujin dabbled in the 3 main religions of his time but held favour with Buddhism. I think under this perspective the world might be a better place

Constantine as I understand was simply an inept leader who had the fortune of realising that to control his ever converting to Christ army he had to become the boss of all Christians. Held a great big meeting where at the end of it he decided what was gospel and what wasn't and hence Christianity was born. I must say at this point I don't know why the Vatican is not in Istanbul today.

My point is this. Religion is relative?

I agree generally with An Slanaitheoir. Constantine was not "an inept leader" by any stretch of the imagination. His father, Constantius, was a major military and political figure during the principates of Aurelian and Diocletian, and became an Augustus, one of the two rulers of the Empire on the resignation of Diocletian and Maximian. Constantine was well-educated and sophisticated. His adoption of Christianity was undoubtedly political but by the early 4th century it had permeated every level of Roman society and there was no doing away with it.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

There are those of us who live in a stratosphere above those who dwell in the land of religion. Chingis Khan was one and so was Constantine. My understanding of Chingis Khan was when it came to religion he intrinsically had no problem with an individuals belief system as long as it didnt have a detrimental impact of the common harmony. If it did then he would kill the usurpers. He or his generals would conquer a city then determine whether or not to kill everyone with maintaining harmony in mind. Sometimes this meant killing everyone. If harmony meant killing all the Christians then so be it or killing or the Muslims then so be it also but harmony was the ultimate goal.

You sound like you are condoning this. Kill those that don't go with the flow? Not a good idea.

I understand that Temujin dabbled in the 3 main religions of his time but held favour with Buddhism. I think under this perspective the world might be a better place.

Everyone dabbling in many different religions would make the world a better place? What?

Constantine as I understand was simply an inept leader who had the fortune of realising that to control his ever converting to Christ army he had to become the boss of all Christians. Held a great big meeting where at the end of it he decided what was gospel and what wasn't and hence Christianity was born.

No, Christ came to Earth, died, rose again, and hence Christianity was born.

Constantine might have actually been converted, you know. Not everyone is religious because of convenience.

I must say at this point I don't know why the Vatican is not in Istanbul today.

I do not know very much about Catholic history, so cannot answer this.

My point is this. Religion is relative?

I didn't get that point at all.

[Mavorpen]

Because he can.

I must admit playing games where you play God and can shoot lighting bolts or generate storms are really fun. When is it not fun to smite random people?

Idk, maybe when they're actual living people? Just a stab in the dark.

[Farnhamia]

I must admit playing games where you play God and can shoot lighting bolts or generate storms are really fun. When is it not fun to smite random people?

Idk, maybe when they're actual living people? Just a stab in the dark.

Stabbing them in the dark is no fun.

[Mavorpen]

No, Christ came to Earth, died, rose again, and hence Christianity was born.

Constantine might have actually been converted, you know. Not everyone is religious because of convenience.

Constantine's conversion is the epitome of convenience.

[The Merchant Republics]

No, Christ came to Earth, died, rose again, and hence Christianity was born.

Constantine might have actually been converted, you know. Not everyone is religious because of convenience.

Constantine's conversion is the epitome of convenience.

Yeah. I'd actually be disappointed to see Constantine in heaven. As you say the epitome of a man who plays the odds to get God on his side.

[Orcoa]

Constantine's conversion is the epitome of convenience.

Yeah. I'd actually be disappointed to see Constantine in heaven. As you say the epitome of a man who plays the odds to get God on his side.

He will most likely be in Limbo, since what he did was good in the long run but he did not believe it to heart.