Iamachildofgod wrote: And I don't believe in the bible. And God loves me. How does one believe in God apart from the Bible?

gd wrote: It didn't happen that way for me or my wife. Ok, so you’re not gay? I thought I read you say you were.

I enjoyed Gary Chapman's book. It has helped me understand many of my loved ones love language.

gd, so now you're married to a woman and a porn addict? ;o)

John wrote: Facts are facts, and that "book" you refer to called the Holy Bible never condemns homosexuality. Does the Bible approve of or condone homosexuality? Does Paul instruction homosexuals in Romans to not be promiscuous, but monogamous?

Alafoli, while I do agree to some extent, Ted Bundy did point to pornography…… The night before he was executed, Bundy granted a taped interview to Dr. James Dobson, psychologist and founder of the Christian evangelical organization Focus on the Family.[101] During the interview, Bundy made repeated, previously unclaimed statements regarding the pornographic "roots" of his crimes. Bundy stated...more

Alafoli, while I do agree to some extent, Ted Bundy did point to pornography…… The night before he was executed, Bundy granted a taped interview to Dr. James Dobson, psychologist and founder of the Christian evangelical organization Focus on the Family.[101] During the interview, Bundy made repeated, previously unclaimed statements regarding the pornographic "roots" of his crimes. Bundy stated that while pornography did not cause him to commit murder, the consumption of violent pornography helped "shape and mold" his violence into "behavior too terrible to describe." He alleged that he felt that violence in the media, "particularly sexualized violence," sent boys "down the road to being Ted Bundys." In the same interview, Bundy stated: You are going to kill me, and that will protect society from me. But out there are many, many more people who are addicted to pornography, and you are doing nothing about that.[102] Source:Wikipedia.less

Jerome, communism is not the same as seen in Acts. Communism has a ruling power that creates a class of people who are subject to the labor and living dictated by the ruling power. There is no room for charity. Acts while a unique scenario given the fact that on this Pentecost, many were witness to Christ’s new covenant being established through His Apostles. Thousands of people stayed in Jeru...more

Jerome, communism is not the same as seen in Acts. Communism has a ruling power that creates a class of people who are subject to the labor and living dictated by the ruling power. There is no room for charity.
Acts while a unique scenario given the fact that on this Pentecost, many were witness to Christ’s new covenant being established through His Apostles. Thousands of people stayed in Jerusalem and therefore began selling their property and possessions, it does not say all, to stay or help folks stay. They did return home as seen in the different churches in different areas also recorded in Acts. While the idea of meeting our brethren’s needs is indeed a concept to grasp from these passages it by no means is suggesting we sell everything we have for another, that would be in contradiction to being good stewards.

Capitalism is not the problem, it can allow someone to build a business that then benefits their family, workers, the church and community. Christians can be benefited and be of benefit in a capitalistic society and not fall to temptation of love of money, but rather love of charity and be thankful capitalism allows them to do good. Capitalism allows for one to seek and possibly succeed in a business sense and charity gives the opportunity to do good with what God has blessed one with. Jesus said we will always have poor among us.

As with almost everything, we have a choice to use capitalism for good or evil. Perhaps, instead of painting capitalism with a broad stroke as evil, we should be encouraging people that they do not have to fall for the temptation of love of money, but rather give them opportunity to know the mind of Christ.

Communism does not allow for innovation and professional growth, but leaves too many people in need and not enough people able to be charitable.less

Yes, we do not live in a theocratic society where, in its purest meaning, our president is divinely chosen as in the example of Moses. We do though live in society that was intended to adhere to Godliness, the values that produce good and right results. A person, then, cannot be of use to society through political service without the very values needed to produce the results necessary to a good so...more

Yes, we do not live in a theocratic society where, in its purest meaning, our president is divinely chosen as in the example of Moses. We do though live in society that was intended to adhere to Godliness, the values that produce good and right results. A person, then, cannot be of use to society through political service without the very values needed to produce the results necessary to a good society. In God we trust. No, we do not have leaders chosen from God, Himself, but we were/are to choose leader servants that are Godly as a safeguard that whatever is produced from DC is not self-serving from greed or power.

George Washington declared in his farewell address; “And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education…reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

John Adams stated; “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government to any other.”less

SB, I gave it a go....although, some are not motivated strictly by heaven v hell, but by Christ, Himself.

hu wrote: First, nobody claims marriage is a right. The right in question is the right to be treated equally by the law regardless of sexual orientation. Period. And that can be achieved by strengthening civil union and domestic partner laws currently existing on books. Unfortunately, the problem exists that if marriage is indeed redefined and becomes Law of the Land, then it makes it a crimina...more

hu wrote: First, nobody claims marriage is a right. The right in question is the right to be treated equally by the law regardless of sexual orientation. Period.

And that can be achieved by strengthening civil union and domestic partner laws currently existing on books. Unfortunately, the problem exists that if marriage is indeed redefined and becomes Law of the Land, then it makes it a criminal offense for any Church to adhere to their right to not marry. You want protection, so do some Churches.less

SB, yes, and I say this with sincerity, only a loving God would protect those that love Him from spending eternity with those that do not.

I do not believe Clover was saying that interracial marriage was wrong or should not have happened. What I see stated is that the homosexual community is using the civil rights movement as their premise to gain equality based on their sexual orientation. Clover, also clearly states the homosexuals should not be denied the right to share/transfer their resources. Interestingly though, it was...more

I do not believe Clover was saying that interracial marriage was wrong or should not have happened.

What I see stated is that the homosexual community is using the civil rights movement as their premise to gain equality based on their sexual orientation. Clover, also clearly states the homosexuals should not be denied the right to share/transfer their resources.

Interestingly though, it was the involvement of churches in the Loving v. Virginia case, that made the difference. The churches got behind the couple and supported their right to marry as well as disputed that the Bible taught they could not.less

SB, both. We all have a choice to make, yes. Whether one puts that choice in believe or not, it does not change that God wants everyone to love Him and live as He has asked, because He knows better for us, how to live in the world He created and in the world which is now in decay. He is God, our Father, and again has the right to ask us to live as He has asked. He has asked us to, He is not forcin...more

SB, both. We all have a choice to make, yes. Whether one puts that choice in believe or not, it does not change that God wants everyone to love Him and live as He has asked, because He knows better for us, how to live in the world He created and in the world which is now in decay. He is God, our Father, and again has the right to ask us to live as He has asked. He has asked us to, He is not forcing us. He has left the choice to us. He wants us all to come to love Him not of compulsion, but because we recognize Him as God, Creator of this world. And isn’t this world (and universe) amazing? It all works dependent on each other.

I did not grow up “churched”. My mother was a proclaimed atheist. Although, she was raised in the Catholic church. I remember as a small child recognizing God was something people referred to in the oddest of situations. I would hear; Oh, thank god, say a prayer to god, and many of the derogatory phrases yelling out God and/or Jesus’ name. I realized He was something. One day, when I was very small, I saw a commercial for a children’s Bible. I remember thinking I want to know about this God. So, I wrote down the address and set out to save my money. I think it took about a month. I addressed an envelope, put my money in it and asked my mother to send it for me. I never received that children’s Bible.

As I grew God become something that was there, yet, he was whatever you wanted Him to be. And I will admit, it did not reconcile in my mind. I saw people so despicable and wondered why someone so despicable when died went to heaven along with everyone else. Just being honest. I saw people living like hell, no pun intended, but yet believed they would go to heaven. For me, it was the question, how can a loving God allow these despicable people to go to heaven with the very people they hurt. I must tell you, I have seen or been aware of some very brutal and disgusting, vile people and some that were just mean.

continued below.less

Part 2 I became very protective. I became skeptical of people’s motives. I got myself in a lot of trouble as a young teen and young adult. I wasn’t a so called saint by any means, but I certainly put myself in some pretty bad situations for the sake of protecting another. My mother never understood. She would ask, why do you get yourself involved? Or why do you have to resort to violence?...more

Part 2

I became very protective. I became skeptical of people’s motives. I got myself in a lot of trouble as a young teen and young adult. I wasn’t a so called saint by any means, but I certainly put myself in some pretty bad situations for the sake of protecting another. My mother never understood. She would ask, why do you get yourself involved? Or why do you have to resort to violence? Well, truth be told I almost never started violence, but I sure never backed down because of the threat. Honestly, I am so surprised I never got my butt kicked, severely.

I met someone that went to church. Finally after a while, I was asked to go. Roughly, a year later, I was sure I had found God and that He left us and preserved His Word over all these thousands of years. I began my journey to be better, to live better, as God has asked me to. I had found a loving God, but I had also found a just God. I knew without a doubt, only those that love Him will go to heaven, while those that do not will not. It was freeing and comforting.

Sorry, this became so long.less

SB, I realize it is a difficult concept to see God is loving, yet also just. As in law, there is a Judge that hands down a sentence to someone that has broken the law, which by the way is pretty much predetermined based on the crime. Prison is not pleasant, it is suffering and torturous. So is it with God as the ultimate and final judge of His Law. He will judge all, but only those that have Jesus...more

SB, I realize it is a difficult concept to see God is loving, yet also just. As in law, there is a Judge that hands down a sentence to someone that has broken the law, which by the way is pretty much predetermined based on the crime. Prison is not pleasant, it is suffering and torturous. So is it with God as the ultimate and final judge of His Law. He will judge all, but only those that have Jesus as their lawyer will be pardoned and thus rewarded.

In the same vein, a criminal knows the law, but chooses to disregard it. Many people know there is God’s Law (or at least knows there is a claim) and choose to not seek it or simply disregards it.

PS. Jesus, Himself, had the power to stop the crucifixion. He didn’t, because He is also just.less

SB, It has been very nice chatting with you so thank you as well. But, I must comment on your post at least one more time. You wrote: “…but I still find killing without good reason morally wrong”. Ahh, although, God really sacrificed Himself through His Son, Jesus, who went to the cross willingly for the same purpose. To save any and all of mankind that would choose Him and to give them ete...more

SB, It has been very nice chatting with you so thank you as well. But, I must comment on your post at least one more time. You wrote: “…but I still find killing without good reason morally wrong”. Ahh, although, God really sacrificed Himself through His Son, Jesus, who went to the cross willingly for the same purpose. To save any and all of mankind that would choose Him and to give them eternal life with Them.less

SB, no, silly. That is a fictional book. :o)

SB, I get it, really I do, but let’s assume for a moment God did indeed create us (which we both know I do believe), He is then our Father. He has a say in how we should act, behave, and treat others, ourselves and Him. He created each of us with a soul, which is eternal. Now, those souls will either enter into heaven or hell. You may not like it, but heaven is a reward for those that love Him w...more

SB, I get it, really I do, but let’s assume for a moment God did indeed create us (which we both know I do believe), He is then our Father. He has a say in how we should act, behave, and treat others, ourselves and Him. He created each of us with a soul, which is eternal. Now, those souls will either enter into heaven or hell. You may not like it, but heaven is a reward for those that love Him while, yes, hell is a punishment for those that do not. Call it cruel if you must, but given the fact that he has given us all the opportunity to seek Him, find Him, love Him, I know you will not like this word, obey Him and finally live with Him, He is a loving God.less

SB, Why would God eliminate hell for those that deny Him? Although, He has eliminated hell for those that proclaim Him through His sacrifice on the cross. He loves everyone enough to wait patiently for them to love Him back not wanting anyone to go. But, it is our choice.

It is nonsensical to ask a Biblical question, but require a non-Biblical response. God did not create anything imperfect. He did though create us to love Him of our own accord. I wouldn’t call that imperfect, though. Although, we did decide to take what He created as good and make it imperfect.