From www.answering-islam.org : "As we examine this topic we note that a recent Sunni publication has criticised the Shi’a community for their use of, amongst other things, ‘Taqiyya’ (not manifesting the faith openly). It states: "Contrary to the universal and basic teachings of all religions, Shiaism teaches its followers to conceal their faith and hide their belie...more

From www.answering-islam.org :

"As we examine this topic we note that a recent Sunni publication has criticised the Shi’a community for their use of, amongst other things, ‘Taqiyya’ (not manifesting the faith openly). It states:

"Contrary to the universal and basic teachings of all religions, Shiaism teaches its followers to conceal their faith and hide their beliefs. Two of their basic beliefs known as ‘Kithman’ and ‘Taqiyya’ are primarily designed to achieve just such a purpose. The belief in ‘Kithman’ commands the Shias to conceal their religion from the non-Shias. The following two Hadith from the sixth Shia Imam clearly elaborate this point:

Imam Jafar Sadiq (R) said: "One, who exposes something from our religion is like one who intentionally kills us." {Ft. #1 Usool al Kafi, p.88}

Imam Jafar Sadiq (R) said: "You belong to a religion that whosoever conceals it, Allah will honour him and whosoever reveals it, Allah will disgrace him." {Ft. #2, Ibid, p.522}

Furthermore the belief in ‘Taqiyya’ commits the Shias to put up a hypocritical show and to act in such a way that the non-Shias may never be exposed to the real Shiaism. It even allows them to tell a lie if their intention is to hide their religion from the non-Shias.less

Good! I'm glad they're investigating this 'church' (in name only). Considering their 'pastor' praises Louis Farrakhan (the black equivalent of a Grand Dragon or Nazi), claims that America got 'what it asked for' on 9/11, and insults the memory of murder victim Natalee Holloway by insinuating she was a drunken slut (and therefore personally responsible for...more

Good! I'm glad they're investigating this 'church' (in name only).

Considering their 'pastor' praises Louis Farrakhan (the black equivalent of a Grand Dragon or Nazi), claims that America got 'what it asked for' on 9/11, and insults the memory of murder victim Natalee Holloway by insinuating she was a drunken slut (and therefore personally responsible for being murdered) ... sounds more like a racist rally than a church anyway.less

I certainly hope that this is not the case for America. Thanks to the "non-religious trend" in Europe, Islam is taking the whole continent over without firing a shot.

Just say no to dhimmitude, folks...

I would like to vote for Huckabee, but he's not a strong candidate. As for the rest of them - Democrat and Republican - I don't like anyone. This is going to be a bad election for our country, especially since nobody seems to want to identify the cause of the terrorists' attacks - the Qur'an. With Obama winning so much, I fear that he may end up as President. I know that we&...more

I would like to vote for Huckabee, but he's not a strong candidate. As for the rest of them - Democrat and Republican - I don't like anyone. This is going to be a bad election for our country, especially since nobody seems to want to identify the cause of the terrorists' attacks - the Qur'an.

With Obama winning so much, I fear that he may end up as President. I know that we've been told ad nauseum that he's a Christian, but the 'pastor' of the 'church' he attends (Rev. Jeremiah Wright) repeatedly praises Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan (Wright calls Farrakhan a "pillar of integrity", says he "epitomizes greatness", and even gave him a "Lifetime Achievement Award" named after himself - even though Farrakhan calls whites "blue-eyed devils" and Jews "bloodsuckers"), and gives racist and anti-Israel sermons that sound like they are straight out of the Qur'an (he has said that "white America got what it had coming" in regard to the 9/11 attacks). A true Christian would remember that God blesses those who bless Israel, and curses those who curse Israel.less

* sigh * This is probably going to fall on deaf ears... For the LAST TIME, people ... Harry Potter is NOT a Christian allegory, and was NEVER meant to be one. It is a story, PERIOD. Just like Aesop's fables (yet I don't see anyone getting bent out of shape because a scorpion stung a fox in the river - oh, but animals can't talk without MAGIC, so I guess maybe everyone SHOULD deno...more

* sigh * This is probably going to fall on deaf ears...

For the LAST TIME, people ... Harry Potter is NOT a Christian allegory, and was NEVER meant to be one. It is a story, PERIOD. Just like Aesop's fables (yet I don't see anyone getting bent out of shape because a scorpion stung a fox in the river - oh, but animals can't talk without MAGIC, so I guess maybe everyone SHOULD denounce Aesop as well).

Harry Potter isn't here to teach morality. On the contrary, it documents morality as it stands now. If you don't like the current world, DO something about it ... other than sit back and whine incessantly about a fictional children's book. (Funny, I seem to recall something Jesus said about "Going and teaching ...", yet according to the "Church Decline" article, apparently the people making most of the Harry Potter fuss are too concerned with getting their own needs met than following Christ's example or commands.)

And as for the quote: "In contrast, Rowling's story shows a disregard for the "muggles," the humans in the story who do not possess magic, Rialti observes." The witches and wizards who show disregard or disdain for Muggles are pretty much written as either DETACHED, IGNORANT or INSENSITIVE. On the other hand, those who care deeply about Muggles (i.e., Arthur Weasley) are shown to be KIND, INQUISITIVE and COMPASSIONATE. The fact that this was left out of the article suggests that, perhaps, the article's author has never read the books. I may be wrong about this author, and if so I apologize. I hope that I am wrong, since Proverbs 18:13 says those who speak without reading first are shameful fools.

Quote: "In Rowling's stories 'we are told that, at the end, some things are not bad in themselves, if used for a good purpose: violence becomes good, if in the right hands and [used by] the right people, and maybe in the right dose.'" Yes, and the LORD commanded the Israelites to destroy every living being in the Promised Land, yet it was also for "a good purpose." Jael stuck a tent peg through Sisera's head while he slept in her tent (Judges 4) and was praised as a hero. Ehud plunged a sword into King Eglon's gut and ran away (Judges 3). There's plenty of "violence for good purpose" in the Bible as well.

Or are we just going to gloss over all of this, the way many do with Solomon ... who eventually became a practicing WITCH and attempted murderer who never repented (1 Kings 11:4-8, 40), yet who is touted as a 'hero' in Sunday Schools to this day?less

Wow, up for 5 minutes and already a downward thumb. Guess people just can't take the truth. If you'd like verification of everything I just wrote (and not be a "shameful fool," as in Proverbs 18:13), please visit some of the following websites: http://www.jihadwatch.org/ http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/ (New article today about the new Muslim "Jesus" m...more

Wow, up for 5 minutes and already a downward thumb. Guess people just can't take the truth.

If you'd like verification of everything I just wrote (and not be a "shameful fool," as in Proverbs 18:13), please visit some of the following websites:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/

http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/
(New article today about the new Muslim "Jesus" movie - the one in which Allah saves him before he's crucified, assumes him to paradise, and puts Judas on the cross instead.)

http://www.joels-trumpet.com/

Also take a look at Joel Rosenberg's book, "Will Islam Be Our Future?" for more info linking the Imam al-Mahdi and Issa to the Antichrist and False Prophet. Link here:

http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/JR/Future/index.htmless

Finally, somebody gets it! There is no "common word between us and them." The Quran says that followers of Allah are to love death more than life, to corner Jews and Christians if they see them in the street, to extort them under Jizyah, to subdue them, and to ask Allah for guidance (read: how should I kill them) if they refuse to become dhimmitized (second-class citizens with little, if...more

Finally, somebody gets it! There is no "common word between us and them." The Quran says that followers of Allah are to love death more than life, to corner Jews and Christians if they see them in the street, to extort them under Jizyah, to subdue them, and to ask Allah for guidance (read: how should I kill them) if they refuse to become dhimmitized (second-class citizens with little, if any, rights).

While Jews and Christians are called "people of the Book" in the Quran and Muslims are told to "respect" them (in other words, not to respect their beliefs, but rather to offer them Islam peaceably at first instead of by force), later on they are referred to as "apes" (Jews) and "pigs" (Christians).

There is also the idea of Taqqiyah, which says that in a time of war (which we are in right now), it is perfectly acceptable for Muslims to LIE about what they believe. The Quran is a peaceful, enlightening book of love? Big lie there.

Even their so-called messiah, the "Imam al-Mahdi", is demonic. When comparing the hadiths describing him to those in the Biblie regarding the Antichrist, the similarities are shockingly similar. Muslims even tell Christians that the Mahdi is in the Bible - the rider on the White Horse. And their version of Jesus - "Issa" - is quite similar to the False Prophet.

Point blank, Islam is a satanically inspired religion of death and hate, whose sole purpose is to destroy the Jews and Christians.less

Not offensive to me. I won't buy the book; therefore, I won't be bothered by the addition of a clearly stupid card meant to give insensitive people a few chuckles at Christians' expense.

*** Sarcasm Alert *** Oh, LOL. A private organization - NOT the government funded by the people, mind you - purchases Christmas cards for a married couple to mail out (and last time I checked, sending them was NOT a mandatory activity), one of which is a politician, and someone in liberal media gets politically offended, due to the 'religious' nature of the card. Yet -- When ...more

*** Sarcasm Alert ***

Oh, LOL.

A private organization - NOT the government funded by the people, mind you - purchases Christmas cards for a married couple to mail out (and last time I checked, sending them was NOT a mandatory activity), one of which is a politician, and someone in liberal media gets politically offended, due to the 'religious' nature of the card.

Yet --
When a homosexual couple sends out a card with a religious image on it, it's not offensive, because it didn't specifically SAY anything religious.

I'm offended. Now Baba Wawa has insulted illiterates, because she apparently believes they can't determine that angels are found first and foremost in RELIGIOUS TEXTS.less

Farscry, being "arrogant, overfed and unconcerned", who do "not help the poor and needy" was ONE reason that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, but the other was perverted sexual practices: "And don't forget the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with sexual immorality AND EVERY KIND OF SEXUAL PERVERSION. THOSE CITIES WERE D...more

Farscry, being "arrogant, overfed and unconcerned", who do "not help the poor and needy" was ONE reason that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, but the other was perverted sexual practices:

"And don't forget the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with sexual immorality AND EVERY KIND OF SEXUAL PERVERSION. THOSE CITIES WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE AND ARE A WARNING OF THE ETERNAL FIRE THAT WILL PUNISH ALL WHO ARE EVIL." Jude 7

Please note that the warnings of Jude were written to BELIEVERS, not UNBELIEVERS, so that they would not wander into sin and be eternally condemned. [There is no such thing as "Once Saved, Always Saved."]

You say that it "saddens" you that the church is not concerned about "ensuring their church community is being the caretakers of mankind that Jesus tells us to be." Well, if you try to preach the gospel to sinners while you yourself are living in sin, you have no testimony. Paul's admonition to "expel the wicked one from among you" was written so that the Christian testimony of the church could be preserved.

And besides, if you allow someone to think that they are just fine spiritually while they are living in outright sin, you share in not only their sin, but their punishment:

Ezekiel 3:18 - If I warn the wicked, saying, `You are under the penalty of death,' but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I WILL HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE, DEMANDING YOUR BLOOD FOR THEIRS.

A true, caring Christian exhorts fellow believers to repent for salvation's sake.

If you have a problem with expelling people from the church for living in willful sin, you need to take it up with Paul.less

And one other thing ... 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 - It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but IT CERTAINLY IS YOUR JOB TO JUDGE THOSE INSIDE THE CHURCH WHO ARE SINNING IN THESE WAYS. [See verse 11 in post below.] God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, "YOU MUST REMOVE THE EVIL PERSON FROM AMONG YOU."

Why is this so difficult for these people? 1 Corinthians 5:11 - What I meant was that YOU ARE NOT TO ASSOCIATE WITH ANYONE WHO CLAIMS TO BE A CHRISTIAN YET INDULGES IN SEXUAL SIN, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. DON'T EVEN EAT WITH SUCH PEOPLE. I don't think the spirit of the verse would be lost if someone wrote in a prohibition of po...more

Why is this so difficult for these people?

1 Corinthians 5:11 - What I meant was that YOU ARE NOT TO ASSOCIATE WITH ANYONE WHO CLAIMS TO BE A CHRISTIAN YET INDULGES IN SEXUAL SIN, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. DON'T EVEN EAT WITH SUCH PEOPLE.

I don't think the spirit of the verse would be lost if someone wrote in a prohibition of posting pictures of practicing gay couples.

Titus 2:10-12 - For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. AND WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO TURN FROM GODLESS LIVING AND SINFUL PLEASURES. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God, while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 - God has called us to be holy, not to live impure lives. Anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human rules but is REJECTING GOD, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.less

If some guy went around saying that his "Heavenly Father" was originally a man from another planet orbiting the star Kolob, who has eternal polygamous sex with his many goddess wives, you'd probably call him a kook. And for sure you wouldn't elect them President of the United States - and by implication, the Free World. Yet here is Mitt Romney, a Mormon, who believes just th...more

If some guy went around saying that his "Heavenly Father" was originally a man from another planet orbiting the star Kolob, who has eternal polygamous sex with his many goddess wives, you'd probably call him a kook. And for sure you wouldn't elect them President of the United States - and by implication, the Free World.

Yet here is Mitt Romney, a Mormon, who believes just that. (Of course, the LDS church instructs their missionaries and representatives NOT to divulge this little tidbit until AFTER a person is adequately converted ... so most people just think of their Mormon neighbors as being "just another denomination of Christians.")

Thank God for Sandra Tanner (great-great-granddaughter of Brigham Young, who left the cult and warns Christians and non-Christians alike about what the Mormons REALLY believe) !!!less

"I believe that the doctrines of grace (Calvinism) will help us restore true evangelism," said Jeff Noblit, senior past or First Baptist church in Muscle Shoals, Ala. Calvinism - including the so called "one-point" variety of the Southern Baptists - DOES kill evangelism, because: Total Depravity says that man can not ever choose to follow God, despite all the verses in Sc...more

"I believe that the doctrines of grace (Calvinism) will help us restore true evangelism," said Jeff Noblit, senior past or First Baptist church in Muscle Shoals, Ala.

Calvinism - including the so called "one-point" variety of the Southern Baptists - DOES kill evangelism, because:

Total Depravity says that man can not ever choose to follow God, despite all the verses in Scripture where God commands us to make a choice. Disproved by Mark 8:34.

Unconditional Election says that it doesn't matter what we choose anyway, because God's already decided who He's going to save and who He's going to damn. Disproved by 2 Peter 3:9.

Limited Atonement says that Jesus did not die for ALL sinners, only the ones on "the list". Disproved by 1 John 2:2.

and not to mention that

Irresistible Grace says that even if you don't WANT to be saved, if you're on "the list," God's going to save you anyway. Disproved by Revelation 3:20.

Perseverance of the Saints says that even if you turn your back on God through willful sin and denial, you are still saved. Disproved by many verses, including 2 Timothy 2:11-13 and 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8.

Why evangelize, when God's already got His list together, and salvation isn't for everyone?

I'll tell you why ... because the BIBLE (which proves Calvinism of all varieties to be heresy) commands us to!

"Therefore GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and TEACHING THEM TO OBEY everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: PREACH THE WORD; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST, discharge all the duties of your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:1-4less

Quote: “I think conservative CHRISTIANS ARE BECOMING MORE LIBERALIZED in the sense of, I guess, MAKING MORE ROOM FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE,” said Mark Galli, Christianity Today magazine's managing editor, according to Religion News Service. “You’ll see a lot of churches that plunge right in and have divorce ministries. ... Marriage is a really difficult...more

Quote:
“I think conservative CHRISTIANS ARE BECOMING MORE LIBERALIZED in the sense of, I guess, MAKING MORE ROOM FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE,” said Mark Galli, Christianity Today magazine's managing editor, according to Religion News Service. “You’ll see a lot of churches that plunge right in and have divorce ministries. ... Marriage is a really difficult thing in our culture right now.”

Biblical response:
"For the time will come when MEN WILL NOT PUT UP WITH SOUND DOCTRINE. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say WHAT THEIR ITCHING EARS WANT TO HEAR." 2 Timothy 4:3

"You adulterous people, don't you know that FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD IS HATRED TOWARD GOD? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." James 4:4

Sound Doctrine:
"But I tell you that ANYONE who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an ADULTERESS, and ANYONE who marries the divorced woman COMMITS ADULTERY." Matthew 5:32

"He answered, “ANYONE WHO DIVORCESwife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” Mark 10:11-12

“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery." Luke 16:18

"So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man." Romans 7:3

"To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife." 1 Corinthians 7:10-11less

One more thing... Since the ordination was of a practicing lesbian, I'm assuming that when the congregation "welcomes people of all sexual orientations and gender identities," that they are currently ones who are still practicing their sins. I may be wrong, the article did not say specifically. But if this is the case, the Bible clearly says: "But now I am writing you t...more

One more thing...
Since the ordination was of a practicing lesbian, I'm assuming that when the congregation "welcomes people of all sexual orientations and gender identities," that they are currently ones who are still practicing their sins.

I may be wrong, the article did not say specifically. But if this is the case, the Bible clearly says:

"But now I am writing you that YOU MUST NOT ASSOCIATE WITH ANYONE WHO CALLS HIMSELF A BROTHER BUT IS SEXUALLY IMMORAL or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. WITH SUCH A MAN DO NOT EVEN EAT." 1 Corinthians 5:11less

Sport, no. The verse means that God simply allowed them to do the wicked, shameful homosexual acts that they wanted to do with each other. He had already warned them in the Law that it was wrong, but they didn't care. (Much like it is today.) Unless they repent, they will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), or enter the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:15). They will not hav...more

Sport, no. The verse means that God simply allowed them to do the wicked, shameful homosexual acts that they wanted to do with each other. He had already warned them in the Law that it was wrong, but they didn't care. (Much like it is today.)

Unless they repent, they will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), or enter the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:15). They will not have access to the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:14). In the end, they will reap destruction (Galatians 6:8), which will be the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8).

*****
Quote:
"This is who we are and this is what we do," said Kathy Young, a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church, as reported by The Chicago Tribune. The congregation welcomes people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, according to its website.

Biblical response:
"And that is what some of you WERE. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:11
We are to leave our sins behind when we come to Jesus.

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5
We are to put our sinful natures to death.

Our sinful ways are to be our PAST history, not our present reality. "Sinners" - that is what we WERE. But if we ARE Christians, we need to imitate Christ (Ephesians 5:1-2). Christ and the Father are one (John 10:30), and wrote the Law, including Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, which state:

"Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable ... If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."

*****
Why are so many people shocked at this, anyway? We've known for some time that abominations like this were coming. When the ordination of celibate homosexuals is authorized in a 'church' (and I use that term VERY loosely), how long did you think it will be before one of them decided - like this one did - to refuse celibacy?


“Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything. “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”–but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.less

If you want information about this subject - and how it is readying the Mideast region for the Antichrist - I suggest you go to www.joelstrumpet.com. Also, Joel Richardson's book "Will Islam Be Our Future?" is available to read online at http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/JR/Future/index.htm . The major players/participants in this Mideast "Peace Conference" who are ag...more

If you want information about this subject - and how it is readying the Mideast region for the Antichrist - I suggest you go to www.joelstrumpet.com. Also, Joel Richardson's book "Will Islam Be Our Future?" is available to read online at http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/JR/Future/index.htm . The major players/participants in this Mideast "Peace Conference" who are against Israeli sovreignty, and the ones that are shouting from the sidelines right now (i.e., Iran, Turkey) are the same as the major components of the Antichrist's army. Jesus said to stay awake and look for the signs. This would be a big one, people.less

Well, I'm not worried about this. Sometime soon, everybody's going to see Jesus, and the idea of hating/denying the supernatural will be a thing of the past. Just keep preaching the Gospel so that the seeds will be planted. God will do the rest.