Opposed to Preachers Talking about Giving?

rugratz2222 »

Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:02 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

People keep bringing up TV evangelists and mega-churches as reasons NOT to give their money to the church. Those are not the only places to give God's money back to Him. Your local growing Bible-believing and processing church needs it, too. And good churches show where everything is going and you can be assured of what your contribution goes. But it does boil down to what you process and how you live your faith. Can you give your money to God's church and expect His guidance in your life? I believe you can. But it starts with a change of heart. That is the start of a change of life. When you hold onto your wallet too tight, you miss out on a blessing from God and it may not be a monetary blessing back. But it will be a blessing. In our microwave society, we just want the blessing without the giving, so we can benefit from both. Money is not the root of all evil, the LOVE of money is. I know millionaires who are trying to give away 90% of their income to God's projects revealed in their lives and live on 10% and doing it. And God just still keeps blessing the 10% more than they could have ever fathomed what to do with it.

Southern Baptists Debate Over Speaking in Tongues

rugratz2222 »

Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:45 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 0

I remember a pastor in my Orthodox Presbyterian church growing up had all kinds of language degrees, including many old testament languages, both oral and written. He told us how he had put out a challenge for anyone to give him evidence of real tongues in known languages that were unknown to the speaker. No one had ever provided that proof, including many pentacostals. Recordings sent to him were again and again repetitions over and over, with no meaning, grammar or speech qualities that would be recognizable by a person who knew that language from birth. Plus, where is Christ honored by a person speaking Swahili to an English speaking congregation and there are no Swahili-speaking people present? God's power did not peter out, when Peter died, but He uses other forms of communication. There is no revelation from these people speaking tongues and ESPECIALLY there is no interpretation from a different person that relates to scripture. Maybe estatic utterances work between that person and God, but that is a private matter, not a public one on display.

Megachurches Targeted for Pro-Gay Campaign

rugratz2222 »

Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:21 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 2

If any church could be changed from their doctrinal viewpoint by various discussions, I would be very suspect on what that church's basis for their foundation is. If it is a person, it will fall. If it is the latest poll numbers, it will also fall. If it is the Word of God, I doubt some nice discussions from a group totally opposed to the teaching will change anything. In fact, I'd be curious if this becomes a revelation to the groups trying to persuade the churches to change their own lives. I'm sure the indoctrination techniques used by the gay agenda are semi-aware of this possibility but will try to cover every possible point in the discussions to come, but they never figure on the power of the Holy Spirit to change men's hearts. And God's Word will not return to Him "void" ... should be some interesting discussions.

America's Daredevil Takes 'Final Leap' with God

rugratz2222 »

Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:12 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

Whoops ... that reply was meant for the article on "gay discussion to the megachurches" ... sorry about that.

America's Daredevil Takes 'Final Leap' with God

rugratz2222 »

Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:11 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

If any church could be changed from their doctrinal viewpoint by various discussions, I would be very suspect on what that church's basis for their foundation is. If it is a person, it will fall. If it is the latest poll numbers, it will also fall. If it is the Word of God, I doubt some nice discussions from a group totally opposed to the teaching will change anything. In fact, I'd be curious if this becomes a revelation to the groups trying to persuade the churches to change their own lives. I'm sure the indoctrination techniques used by the gay agenda are semi-aware of this possibility but will try to cover every possible point in the discussions to come, but they never figure on the power of the Holy Spirit to change men's hearts. And God's Word will not return to Him "void" ... should be some interesting discussions.

Megachurch to Kick Off Global AIDS Summit

rugratz2222 »

Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:57 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 4

I think you can be a born again, Bible-believing Christian and still support Warren's efforts and chastise sinful lifestyles and look to cure AIDS. Yes, I believe in abstinence, but I don't throw out the baby because it messed itself. I clean up the baby and try to teach it right from wrong and hope it learns those lessons. Even if it doesn't, it is not my responsibility for the baby's life led later, but I am required to show Christ's compassion and clean and protect it as I can.

I have a gay boss who is my friend and I have a gay uncle who has been with a male partner for 15+ years. Neither of them are professing Christians. But they may project a better lifestyle than many of my Christian friends, some who have been divorced and remarried several times. IF they ever want my opinion from a Bible perspective on their lifestyle, they can ask, but they never do. And I don't force my position on them either. I try to be a living Example, as Christ told us to be.

I like the one quote I heard from a noted Christian author "we are all called to be witnesses for Jesus Christ. And sometimes we have to speak."

We can preach abstinence. We can deny condoms to kids. But when the kids are pregant or now HIV positive (or AIDs), we can also comfort and try to heal and help them. God doesn't abandon us when we sin. People here seem to forget the full version of John 3:16 and Romans 5:8.

"There is nothing we can do to make God love us more, there is nothing we can do to make God love us less."
- Philip Yancey