@kellyjay saidI call it church myopia. I can bet your knowledge of history is skimpy at best. The people of the world have become far more considerate and charitable than any time since mankind was created. Much of the resources of the world are devoted to improving health, standard of living and wellbeing of all people. Hundreds of charitable organizations have sprung up to help the poor and needy. The world has become a far better place. People are leaving the churches in droves and some as a result are becoming true followers of Christ, devoting themselves to the service of others, which they could not have done previously as churches discouraged such activity. God is transforming the world and writing his laws in the hearts of all people. Churches are soon to be extinct, a dinosaur, in a couple hundred years becuase they failed to adapt to the truth that Jesus and the Apostles preached... charity is greater than faith.
Call it whatever you want.
06 Mar 22
Maybe you think there is no God, nothing at all to all of this whatsoever, no matter what. Well, the reality is either there is a good God, and we have fallen, so we are all sinners before Him standing condemned, God chose to save us by laying down His life for us, or something else.
What are some of the something else's could be?
What are some of the various views?
God would be lucky to have us believe in Him because we are worth it?
That God is looking for those, who work hard enough to get into His favor because God is impressed with human effort?
Maybe we can do enough good works because God is impressed with how we do good?
I'm not at all impressed with the human race; we do all manner of things to each other, while one of God's great commandments tells we are to love one another. So every time we fall short of that, we break His commandments, then there are those that outright deny Him, so they also break His great commandments. We are sinners coming to God who is love, justice, righteous, and so God is the standard we shoot for, and we fall short of the mark. Only in God's grace are we accepted; no human effort will or can accomplish what Christ did on the cross for us.
@kellyjay saidAnd this has something to do with why you believe the "end times" are nearly upon us?
That God is looking for those, who work hard enough to get into His favor because God is impressed with human effort?Maybe we can do enough good works because God is impressed with how we do good?
@kellyjay saidHow many of the people who were patriarchs of the Old Testament who were considered to be righteous and good and perfect and called friends of God or men after Gods own heart, had your philosophy? NONE. NOT ONE SINGLE ONE OF THEM. They were all positive go-getters, hard working, workers of good, industrious achievers. God loves these kinds of people and help them to achieve goals. All sinners' for sure but they did not wallow in their sins feeling sorry for themselves.
Maybe you think there is no God, nothing at all to all of this whatsoever, no matter what. Well, the reality is either there is a good God, and we have fallen, so we are all sinners before Him standing condemned, God chose to save us by laying down His life for us, or something else.
What are some of the something else's could be?
What are some of the various views?
...[text shortened]... s grace are we accepted; no human effort will or can accomplish what Christ did on the cross for us.
Your type, the pitiful and lazy ones ... they are cast away and burned as rubble and chaff. Jesus had a parable about people like you and they dont fare well. Your church has seriously messed up your mind, because all the qualities you mentioned are condemned in the bible.
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06 Mar 22
@rajk999 saidWorshipping the Lord is more important than your go-getter nonsense.
How many of the people who were patriarchs of the Old Testament who were considered to be righteous and good and perfect and called friends of God or men after Gods own heart, had your philosophy? NONE. NOT ONE SINGLE ONE OF THEM. They were all positive go-getters, hard working, workers of good, industrious achievers. God loves these kinds of people and help them to achieve ...[text shortened]... s seriously messed up your mind, because all the qualities you mentioned are condemned in the bible.
Read this and learn!
“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:38-42)
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06 Mar 22
@rajk999 saidNothing is more important than worshipping the Lord.
How many of the people who were patriarchs of the Old Testament who were considered to be righteous and good and perfect and called friends of God or men after Gods own heart, had your philosophy? NONE. NOT ONE SINGLE ONE OF THEM. They were all positive go-getters, hard working, workers of good, industrious achievers. God loves these kinds of people and help them to achieve ...[text shortened]... s seriously messed up your mind, because all the qualities you mentioned are condemned in the bible.
Read and learn!
“There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.”
(John 12:2-8)
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06 Mar 22
@rajk999 saidChristians don’t wallow in their sins.
How many of the people who were patriarchs of the Old Testament who were considered to be righteous and good and perfect and called friends of God or men after Gods own heart, had your philosophy? NONE. NOT ONE SINGLE ONE OF THEM. They were all positive go-getters, hard working, workers of good, industrious achievers. God loves these kinds of people and help them to achieve ...[text shortened]... s seriously messed up your mind, because all the qualities you mentioned are condemned in the bible.
All our sins have been forgiven by the blood of Christ!
“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
(Matthew 26:28)
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06 Mar 22
It’d be interesting to see if *all religions* (not just Christianity) are attracting and maintaining fewer followers and if, by natural consequence, atheism is on the rise.
Wonder if worship of Satan is on the rise as well.
Isn’t eternal suffering part of Judaism and Islam also?
06 Mar 22
@pb1022 saidApprox. 385,000 babies are born every day.
It’d be interesting to see if *all religions* (not just Christianity) are attracting and maintaining fewer followers and if, by natural consequence, atheism is on the rise.
Wonder if worship of Satan is on the rise as well.
Isn’t eternal suffering part of Judaism and Islam also?
https://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/how-many-babies-are-born-each-day
Everyone is born an atheist (that is, lacking belief in a deity). So, just as a matter of pure statistics, unless Christianity is gaining at least 385,000 new converts each day, the religion is losing ground.
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06 Mar 22
@moonbus saidDon’t you have to factor in the other side of the coin? The mortality rate of Christians and atheists?
Approx. 385,000 babies are born every day.
https://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/how-many-babies-are-born-each-day
Everyone is born an atheist (that is, lacking belief in a deity). So, just as a matter of pure statistics, unless Christianity is gaining at least 385,000 new converts each day, the religion is losing ground.
06 Mar 22
2 edits
@pb1022 saidYes, I suppose you’re right. How many Christians die every day? No clear data on that. the religion would have to convert at least 385,000 plus the number lost through death and apostasy in order to stay ahead of the game.
Don’t you have to factor in the other side of the coin? The mortality rate of Christians and atheists?
07 Mar 22
@divegeester saidJMHO - Christianity is on the downswing in America due in no small part to the rise of the political/evangelical movement that started in the 80's whose (not so) subtle message is "vote our way, or you're not a good Christian!" and well has the numerous high-profile televangelists that have been caught stealing, molesting underage boys and girls, using drugs, and living a luxurious life off the donations of their supporters.
Christianity in America is dying on its own vine.
Research in 2019 indicates that the number of Americans declaring themselves to be Christian was down 12% with the biggest swings away in Millennials, Democratic affiliation, and geographically from the Northeast. Although there are negative swings in all generations, political leanings and geographies.
The article ...[text shortened]... itical righteousness
Christianity as a religion in America is just not attractive.
Thoughts ?
07 Mar 22
@fmf saidWorld is getting smaller we are closer together as a global people I imagine. A few more global issues a push here or there a single guy maybe the preferred solution. This is just me musing.
And this has something to do with why you believe the "end times" are nearly upon us?