The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

[Billinsd]

With that educational background should be aware of mainstream scientific support for evolution in the fossil record, genetics, anatomy and embryology.

My geology professors told me when they were students “plate tectonics theory” was in its infancy and mainstream science ridiculed and denied it. They also were taught that dinosaurs were cold blooded and like reptiles and moved very slowly. I question the science like my professors did. Geology is extremely esoteric, which is what I disliked the most about it.

 

[Beagle1]

No, not at all!!! Christians are not commanded to “show” why the Bible should be “trusted”, we are taught to “spread” the word. Christianity is a belief.

If you’re putting Christianity in the same basket as every other faith all claiming truth, none with a monopoly, fine.

 

[Beagle1]

It works for millions and millions over the world

Yes of every religion and boutique faith.

 

[Beagle1]

My geology professors told me when they were students “plate tectonics theory” was in its infancy and mainstream science ridiculed and denied it. They also were taught that dinosaurs were cold blooded and like reptiles and moved very slowly. I question the science like my professors did. Geology is extremely esoteric, which is what I disliked the most about it.

If you’re a serious student, you know scientific inquiry works by questioning, testing, and changing when the evidence changes.

 

[Yoder]

Tithing is in the Bible. My Lutheran Pastors have explained that the purpose of it trusting in God to give until it is uncomfortable. The purpose is a greater trust in the lord. It’s a big leap of faith!! My Pastors have said our church is wealthy don’t give for the church, give for yourself and if you don’t it’s ok! Tithing is big with Lutherans, because Martin Luther emphasized it greatly. I like being Lutheran, because we believe we are ALL sinners unworthy of heaven, and there are no works or deeds to get us into Heaven. The ticket is belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior who died on the cross for our sins. Faith is not analytical by definition. There is plenty of vagueness and some mystery. You pick a Christian religion and/or church you are comfortable going to is my advice. Stay away from the cults and false prophets or you’ll go to Hell!!!! Bill

I don't remember anything in the Bible saying you have to give to the church. It says to give freely, lovingly. Give to the poor, the elderly, those less fortunate. Not so some scumbag preacher on TV can buy a private jet or build a new mansion. I donate to my church but I give more to children's hospitals and organizations that help children.

 

[JackButler]

It works for millions and millions over the world

Islam works for over a billion…

 

[go_deep]

For all of you that do not believe, I've been praying for you and will continue to pray for you. I do not believe you'd be here, in this thread continuing to partake unless something wasn't drawing you here.

 

[dylanvb]

“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

As followers of Christ we are called to be servants.

 

[go_deep]

For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love.
Galatians 5:13

 

[Plainsman79]

How does evolution fit within the Church?

It’s not by coincidence that there was a new book released yesterday called Darwin and Doctrine. If you’d like to read it, but don’t want to buy it-shoot me a message and I’ll send a copy to you.

Darwin and Doctrine: The Compatibility of Evolution and Catholicism

In

book.wordonfire.org

 

[JGRaider]

It's obvious this thread is infected with trolls, and they are easy to identify. This is nothing new though, but like I said previously, some day we will see who is right.

Before Jesus says, “Do not cast your pearls before swine,” He says, “Do not give dogs what is sacred.” An analogy mentioning dogs is also used in Proverbs: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly” (Proverbs 26:11). A dual reference to swine and dogs is also found in 2 Peter 2:22, “Of [false teachers] the proverbs are true: ‘A dog returns to its vomit,’ and, ‘A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.’” In His sermon, Jesus uses dogs and pigs as representative of those who would ridicule, reject, and blaspheme the gospel once it is presented to them. We are not to expose the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have no other purpose than to trample it and return to their own evil ways. Repeatedly sharing the gospel with someone who continually scoffs and ridicules Christ is like casting pearls before swine. We can identify such people through discernment, which is given in some measure to all Christians (1 Corinthians 2:15–16).

 

[go_deep]

It's obvious this thread is infected with trolls, and they are easy to identify. This is nothing new though, but like I said previously, some day we will see who is right.

Before Jesus says, “Do not cast your pearls before swine,” He says, “Do not give dogs what is sacred.” An analogy mentioning dogs is also used in Proverbs: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly” (Proverbs 26:11). A dual reference to swine and dogs is also found in 2 Peter 2:22, “Of [false teachers] the proverbs are true: ‘A dog returns to its vomit,’ and, ‘A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.’” In His sermon, Jesus uses dogs and pigs as representative of those who would ridicule, reject, and blaspheme the gospel once it is presented to them. We are not to expose the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have no other purpose than to trample it and return to their own evil ways. Repeatedly sharing the gospel with someone who continually scoffs and ridicules Christ is like casting pearls before swine. We can identify such people through discernment, which is given in some measure to all Christians (1 Corinthians 2:15–16).

I was a dog and or a pig at best in my late teens, glad some people and God did not give up on me. While I understand your frustration with some of the people and posts on here, I do think those parables mean that we as Christians need to not return to our old ways once we truly understand the faith. Whether that was drinking, drugs, porn, gambling, lying, stealing, adultery, or whatever your vomit or mud was, you can not return to that intentionally as a true servant of God.

 

[JGRaider]

We are to share the gospel, but, when it becomes apparent that the gospel is not welcome, we are to move on. We are responsible to share the good news; we are not responsible for people’s response to the good news. Pigs don’t appreciate pearls, and some people don’t appreciate what Christ has done for them. Our job is not to force conversions or cram the gospel down people’s throats; there’s no sense in preaching the value of pearls to swine. Jesus’ instruction to His apostles on how to handle rejection was to simply go elsewhere. There are other people who need to hear the gospel, and they are ready to hear it.

 

[go_deep]

We are to share the gospel, but, when it becomes apparent that the gospel is not welcome, we are to move on. We are responsible to share the good news; we are not responsible for people’s response to the good news. Pigs don’t appreciate pearls, and some people don’t appreciate what Christ has done for them. Our job is not to force conversions or cram the gospel down people’s throats; there’s no sense in preaching the value of pearls to swine. Jesus’ instruction to His apostles on how to handle rejection was to simply go elsewhere. There are other people who need to hear the gospel, and they are ready to hear it.

I agree, Jesus told the disciples to dust off your sandals and move to the next town.
I would be very cautious in telling someone that they're a pig or swine because they won't except what you just told them, that can come off as a arrogant and condescending, and that's the last thing we as Christians want to do while spreading the message.

 

[WV Mountaineer]

I

agree, but replacing Christ and Christian with 2 words from any other religion would also be the same.

To a non believer, yes it would.

People who don’t know Christ are looking for a certainty before they place their faith in him. That’s not the way it works. The commitment has to be made first. Then comes the certainty.


That goes for eating a delicious steak to certifying your eternal existence. You first recognize God. Then you chose to pursue him or set back and wait on him. Ones a sure road to eternity in heaven and ones a sure road to never developing a relationship with him.

Free will. It has its perks and it has its responsibilities. The choice is each of ours to make. That’s the way God intended it.

 

[Yoder]

I was raised Christian but this belief of humans having a soul & therefor superiority never jived with me. How am I supposed to rationalize it with the theory of evolution?

I've seen a lot of scientists questioning the theory of evolution lately. There's even a video of someone asking the new version of Gronk AI what the odds are that life created itself out of random elements. According to Elon, Gronk is the most advanced AI to date. Gronk replied the odds were similar to taking all of the atoms in the entire universe and picking one specific atom, on the first try, blind folded. They then asked, what were the odds of one species evolving into another. Like dinosaurs into birds for instance. The odds of that were like picking a single grain of sand out of all of the sand on earth blind folded on the first try. Gronk came to the conclusion that not believing in creation was foolish. I agree. The first single celled organisms still have DNA. Think of the complexity of DNA. Do you really think that created itself in a puddle of goo?

I believe in adaptation, like wolves to poodles by breeding for specific traits or a specific bird who's beak shortened over thousands of years because it was able to find food more easily.

 

[Yoder]

If you’re putting Christianity in the same basket as every other faith all claiming truth, none with a monopoly, fine.

Archeology and historical records prove at least some of the Bible is based on real people and places. All of it can't be proved but a lot of the New Testament is backed by history. Lord of the rings isn't a fair comparison. For a non believer it would be more like a historical fiction based in Isreal, Egypt, Syria.

 

[Yoder]

Islam works for over a billion…

Does it?

 

[rabbithuntr]

So is salvation is like getting paid at work except your paycheck isn’t based on doing the job well, showing up on time, or helping your coworkers It’s entirely about whether you believe the boss exists. And if you get it wrong, you’re fired forever, even if you were the best employee in the company.

Salvation is more like you are a thieving murdering orphan and the king says he will adopt you as his child. You can accept or decline his invitation into his family.

 

[rabbithuntr]

I've seen a lot of scientists questioning the theory of evolution lately. There's even a video of someone asking the new version of Gronk AI what the odds are that life created itself out of random elements. According to Elon, Gronk is the most advanced AI to date. Gronk replied the odds were similar to taking all of the atoms in the entire universe and picking one specific atom, on the first try, blind folded. They then asked, what were the odds of one species evolving into another. Like dinosaurs into birds for instance. The odds of that were like picking a single grain of sand out of all of the sand on earth blind folded on the first try. Gronk came to the conclusion that not believing in creation was foolish. I agree. The first single celled organisms still have DNA. Think of the complexity of DNA. Do you really think that created itself in a puddle of goo?

I believe in adaptation, like wolves to poodles by breeding for specific traits or a specific bird who's beak shortened over thousands of years because it was able to find food more easily.

In the end it comes believing in Evolution is placing man’s authority above Gods authority, the Bible.