Morgan

Sorry I don't believe in that at all except that it was written by man a long time ago. His loins are filled with a loathsome disease, please, you think that is Gods words?

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

Morgan, put on your thinking cap. The very first sin recorded was Satan whispering into the ears of Adam and Eve that they, too, could be like God. If you do not believe Satan has tempted and successfully encouraged man to sin then you are out there in some other universe. BUT free will, God given free will is so powerful that if Satan and his entire legions of demons were working on a man, all at the same time, they cannot force him to go against his free will.

You couldn't be more mistaken that there is salvation to be found outside the Church, the Body of Christ. The entire universe is a manifestation of God's perfect order. Do you honestly believe He prefers disorganized, confusing, contradictory, messages for the salvation of those He loves so much that He allowed Christ to give up His life (to suffer death in His humanity, not His Divinity) for them? When Jesus worshipped in the synagogue He worshipped in a liturgical orderly manner. God is a God of perfect order He is not going to facilitate a helter skelter worship service.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

To say God is a sinner is madness. Nothing less!

mcmlx

Susan blange has re-written the Bible; read some earlier posts and you'll understand.
Of course we forgive everyone whether they ask or not!!

susanblange Loc: USA

I am a fundamentalist and that is in the scriptures. There are a couple more. Job 30:18 "By the great force of my disease is my garment changed..." Psalm 41:8 "An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him..."

mcmlx

Forgiveness is hard because satan is prince of the earth and we are born into a world of sin.
Don't overanalyze the simple teachings of JESUS. Forgive and your Father will forgive you.
What helps me is to always remember that GOD has forgiven me, as imperfect as I am.
I, in no way, have the right to cast stones.
Unforgiveness has eaten me up inside several times. GOD will enable me to forgive, and if I start getting thoughts about if my forgiveness is real, I pray for the person and eventually the horrible thoughts are replaced by compassion.
For me, the feeling of forgiveness doesn't happen immediately. I press on, knowing GOD will change my heart.
This is what has happened to me while still growing in CHRIST.

Morgan

Ok this is where we're not exactly on the same page by definition of the church, and we do disagree here. Church for me is simply a controlled man made environment. I feel I can commune with God any time I wish, anywhere I wish...I realize part of the ten commandments is to honor the Sabbath day. What does that mean exactly? What did people do as Moses or Jesus when not near a temple, did they honor the day by praying where they were, do you think that as unacceptable to God?

But you and I are so far apart from what we both think God is, what the bible is and we'll both go on believing in our own faith. Though I do believe when stripped down to the core we both believe in the same essence of God.

But could you tell me why when people come to forgiveness, they choose not to forgive? I don't mean to get personal but without specifics if you wish, has there ever been a time when you were unable to forgive, and if you couldn't can you tell me why?

The reason I ask this is from being a physical therapist, much of the destruction in the physical body is done metaphysically by our own accord. Another words... that baggage we carry year after year, takes its toll on the human body. We can feel it when we're conscious about it. As you may notice when you get angry everything in your body tightens, but when you feel joy,contentment, inner peace of love your body reacts with ease of motion and expansion. Next time you feel either of these take notice of your body.

mcmlx

What did I tell you. Blange has re-written the Bible.
Of course GOD is perfect.

mcmlx

Good point. Anger will destroy mind, body and soul.

susanblange Loc: USA

There are only about 5000 words in the Hebrew language and each word can have several different meanings. I think that is mainly why there are so many different English translations. I take the scriptures at their plain, literal meaning and the KJV is the best English translation. There are a couple errors, but it is remarkably accurate. Proverbs 9:10 "...and the knowledge of the holy is understanding".

Morgan

Thank you mcmlx for you thoughtful response. Like I say this isn't for myself, like you I do the same and think of the other person with compassion and their difficulties. It is more on why others can't find a way to forgive and there are so many here on opp that are angry, hurtful and hateful and they only really hurt themselves.

I don't believe we are born in sin at all, I believe we are born and are perfect as we are a reflection of this perfection that was created. We fall and sin in your term is created. We are fallible that's part of being human and with that in mind, shouldn't it be easier to forgive people.

People who can't forgive, they lose time with loved ones, friends, co-workers, time that they will never get back again, possibly years on this earth not spent loving them.

I've heard others speak of Satan, and I was brought up identifying who he was. But doing that, believing that takes the power, the responsibility out of our hands and makes us more of a victim. When we see it has something we have contributed to, we than empower ourselves to be able to make those good changes within ourselves. That's just how I see it.

But thank you for what you wrote back for me to think about.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

Susan, you are an icon for every heresy, schism, blasphemy, and sacrilege concocted by the mind of man. This is not intended as an insult but as a warning that you are grievously in error.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

Just out of idle curiosity have you come to your theological "understandings" on your own or are you a member of some group or subscribe to any particular author?

Morgan

Oh boy that sounds like a loaded question I'll try not to be offended, no I don't belong to any religious group, order, or deity. It is my owned beliefs after my life experiences, prayer, research and reading and mostly listening and drawing my own conclusion for myself. I suppose it started in Catholic church, and having to learn the act of contrition, going into a dark booth to confess my sins to the priest behind the curtain. Even from that point, being in second grade, I thought...if God hears our prayers, why do I have to confess to a priest and just not straight up to God? Well it went on from there, always questions and searching for answers.

As far as God he is not a he for me, more of an entity. But you haven't answered my question, has there eve been a circumstance you could not forgive, and if you say no I believe you, but if you say yes what stops you?

Armageddun Loc: The show me state

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Susan, You will be in many prayers. Someone can be sincere but be sincerely wrong. There are many difficulties when trying to understand your doctrinal beliefs. There is a false assumption that all things and everyone who may harm you must be forgiven and forgotten. The case of King Saul is a perfect picture of what I am saying.

Saul apologized to David many times, Each time David would forgive him. Finally at their last meeting and Saul said he truly was sorry and asked David to forgive him, He said, I forgive you, I have never meant you any harm. However, even though I forgive you, you go your way, I'll go mine.

Forgiveness does not mean that you just let the act just roll off your back and say that's ok, it means that you choose to give the offense over to the one who judges righteously, God. Life is not lived in a vacuum, there are hurts, damages to one's reputation, hurtful,sinful acts and words against God and man. Jesus Christ took a stand against all evil and sin when he went to the cross. Your accusation against God saying that He sinned is as close to blasphemy as you can get. By that statement may I humbly say, you do not understand Jesus mission or the character of God. God is perfectly Holy. God according to the book of Hebrews, not only does not but cannot lie.

I don't know where you get your information on the childhood history of Jesus, it certainly does not appear in the protestant bible. If there was not an exception to forgiveness. Why did Jesus tell His disciples to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.

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