JediKnight

You misunderstand the scriptures. Once Jesus paid the ultimate price on the cross, and the Gospel of Salvation was made available through the apostles and disciples, it is no longer necessary to "sell all you have to follow Christ" - for He lives in the heart and soul of each believer. We are instructed to "love our neighbors as we love ourselves" and to "care for the widow and orphans." Christ also taught that "the poor will always be with us" -so once again, literally "selling" all that one has is not required, but opening your heart and mind to Christ and being the best example of Him that YOU can be is. My peace I give unto you.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

I appreciate peace, but now you have open my eyes for the reasoning behind Mega-Preachers..begging for money in their Kings name.

Sincere peace to you too.

JediKnight

Jesus also warned us to "be wary of wolves in sheep's clothing" - He also said: "...many will come in my name claiming to preach the Gospel, be wary of them...you will know my disciples by the fruit they produce..." So, yes, you are correct -there are many Mega preachers and "prosperity preachers" - Trump employs one, and there are thousands of them out there misquoting scripture and promoting the 'false god of wealth' over all else. Thankfully, God will give "wisdom" (<discernment) to all who ask for it!

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

You kind of couldn't resist a little barb at the President.

Do you think that Obama was a moral icon to be holding up as righteousness and godly prerogative's.?

No one in our history as a nation ever pushed for more weirdos and sexual deviance as normal behavior.

Obama's agenda heavily favored perversion and a*********n as normal.

The church he claimed...has a radical preacher who wanted this nation cursed by God instead of blessed.

Is that the sort of preacher (Obama's Preacher) you believe extols a godly message of love?

JediKnight

Unfortunately, Trump doesn't consult me on his choices of who to have in his life. My pointing out the t***h that Trump has a 'prosperity preacher' is just proof that for some "the t***h hurts." I didn't tell Trump to confer with her. Obama is no longer president -so his "agenda" is actually irrelevant. However, my belief as a real Christian says: "follow the law of the land" and to "render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar while rendering unto God what belongs to God." So if the people have v**ed for those things you attribute to Obama -why aren't you blaming your neighbors who v**ed for those things instead of Obama the individual? You misunderstand God if you truly believe that any human being, even "Obama's Preacher" can curse the nation and that curse have any effect. God does not curse or punish the nation because of one person's desire to do so. I have never heard Reverend Jeremiah preach, so I cannot attest to what his message is. However, anyone who has been "called" and ordained to preach God's gospel must do so in spirit and t***h - if not -then they are not preaching "God's gospel." I see so many people today (especially on this site) who have somehow confused the frailty of man with the omniscience of God. Trump can discriminate, obfuscate, obstruct, be r****t, etc., and he can be happy doing those things -but that is no excuse for me, you, or anyone else to participate in those things because he does them. I will not support any man who claims to be "of/for God" yet daily defies God's will by perpetuating the very things God tells us to avoid. If you were to sum up the entire bible, including the teachings of Christ, it all comes down basically to this: 1) You are to love the Lord thy God with all they heart, mind, and soul, and 2) love your "neighbor" as you love yourself <which includes caring for the widow and orphans, and "treating the immigrants among you as one of your own -for you once all were immigrants..." No where in the gospel of Christ am I taught to discriminate against others simply because they don't look or talk like me- I am told to embrace them and love them all as children of God. I am not taught to belittle others because of physical handicaps, different skin tone, or different cultural upbringing. Many will be shocked come judgment day to discover that God never cared what your family name is, what zip code you lived in or what kind of car you drove. Never will I deliberately mistreat women or children simply because I am strong enough or big enough to do so. And I don't pretend its my place to tell a woman what to do with her body -for me, that's between her, her doctor, and God. My only obligation on earth is to be the best example of Christ that I can be -knowing that He will set all things in order when He returns. Peace be unto you Byronglimish -and in the words of my friend Spock: "live long and prosper."

Mikeyavelli

Even though I am well schooled in Catholicism, was studying to be a priest, I can't use religion as an argument or a political weapon or, as a moral compass as Catholicism and ensuing religions have changed into secular clubs protecting their own perversions and excusing their own sins.
Just as good to have a few friends that share and support your personal morality.

Mikeyavelli

Oh, and that means you, Lord Byron.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

I can agree with that.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

Thank you, and likewise.

JediKnight

You make some excellent points that I can agree with! However, if you understood your Catholic upbringing then you know that (sadly) we have had "evil" with us from the Garden of Eden on...and we ourselves are incapable of "stopping" people from choosing to follow the dark path. The best that we can do as individuals, or as part of a group of 'believers' is to follow the commandments of God to the best of our own ability, pray for those who are lost, and trust that God knows exactly what He is doing. We make a huge mistake, waste lots of time and energy pretending that "we are God" and its our job to "make" people conform to what we believe. God is more than capable of turning the hardest heart to kindness - our job, once again, is to be the best individual (or family) example of Christ that we can be -knowing that He will set all things in order when He returns.

Mikeyavelli

Maybe your best and most sensible post.
...maybe what we are experiencing is God's plan. I don't think man has any ability to change God's plan.
I just go along with it and pretend that it is my plan.
And God laughs.

JediKnight

Thank you, and I also admit this is the best I have seen from you! You impress me as extremely intelligent and rational -when you want to be. I really like your (best) advice of "going along with God's plan...and pretending its your own..." - that is simply brilliant!

debeda

You can't "make" anyone do anything. You can strive, tho, to be an example.

Mikeyavelli

Good thing I can make God laugh.

debeda

Mikey, you could make ANYONE laugh, God included