Results 381 - 400 of 465
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Parable Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
381 | Searching for the truth | Eph 5:21 | Parable | 76562 | ||
Further thoughts on potential problems in small churches. The best solution is prevention. The main issues are misconduct, in the following areas: money, sex and political power. MONEY: Because they often lack resources, finances can be a source of strife. Proper accounting practices and sound budgets are vital. The books should be open to anyone who wants to see them and the church should be audited each year by an independent CPA. Also, the accountant should be the only one who knows how much each person gives. The pastor should not seek to know who gives what. Such knowledge can lead to favoritism, even in the best of us. SEX: The pastor should observe strict rules regarding where, when and how time is spent with members alone. Such rules preclude opportunities for accusations and temptations for either party. When people know these rules are in place, they are more likely to address accusations rationally rather than emotionally. Even so, any appearance of impropriety should call for immediate action, although it need not always be public. POWER: Mechanisms for accountability and an atmosphere conducive to open dialogue are fundamental to smooth operations. The pastor must encourage people to share their concerns and address them in a meaningful way. The pastor must delegate authority and tasks to others, then let them serve in their own way, intervening only if there is a real need. |
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382 | Searching for the truth | Eph 5:21 | Parable | 76628 | ||
I believe the following will serve well: extreme professionalism, competence through extensive preparation, documented policies and procedures, opportunities for continuing education, consensus building, creative progressive leadership, transparent organization, striving for quality in everything, focus on biblical truth, tolerance of different Christian traditions, unconditional love for all sinners, invited speakers from other churches, community outreach, support for missions, always have a project for people to work on, celebrations for little successes, thoughtful challenges to spiritual pride, formulate a well-articulated statement of purpose, summarize the foundational truths, and finally, the pastor needs to cultivate friendships and a life that don't depend on him being a pastor. |
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383 | Origin of feelings | Phil 4:8 | Parable | 191704 | ||
Great question! It seems you are asking about troubling emotions, rather than pleasant healthy ones, so I'll try to address that side of things. For context, I submit that emotions are always preceded by thoughts, yet they are not easily controlled by thought, indeed, emotions often intensify the more you think about the problem. Obviously, that kind of thinking doesn't help. The bible teaches us to think differently. In Romans 12:2, we are instructed to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind". To be transformed is to be made into something new and different. To renew your mind is to change what you think about and how you think about it. For example, in Philippians 4:8-9, we are told "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Paul is telling us to think about the good things God has done and thereby receive peace. Finally, because we are shaped by how we think, and we are called to grow into the likeness of Jesus, in Hebrews 12:2-3 Paul says to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." In other words, if you are discouraged, think about Jesus, not the problem, and you will not falter. |
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384 | Origin of feelings | Phil 4:8 | Parable | 191709 | ||
As for the origin of emotions, I note Ecclesiastes 1:18 "For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief." This verse is saying that knowing about the state of the world inspires sorrow. (as I said in my other response, emotion is preceded by thought) Emotion is a response in us to how well circumstances are in-line with God's plan. Yet, a deeper question is about joy. Joy is generally regarded as a state of being in your heart, not dependent on circumstances. In Psalm 19:8, we are told "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." Joy comes from God to those who embrace His ways. Obedience brings light. |
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385 | How has God sanctified you? | 1 Thess 4:3 | Parable | 41738 | ||
This is for believers who have been experiencing sanctification by the Holy Spirit. Aside from being made a new creation in Christ, how has sanctification changed your life, your outlook and your relationships with others? |
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386 | What does the Bible say about masterbati | 1 Thess 4:3 | Parable | 41781 | ||
I know of no place in the bible that discusses masterbation. The bible does indeed prohibit sexual immorality and identifies several specific acts as such: fornication (a single person having sex with another single person), homosexuality, incest, bestiality and adultery (a married person having sex but not with their spouse or a single person having sex with a married person). By the way, sexual immorality is sin because it is a form of idolatry, i.e. putting something before God. Where the Bible gives specific instruction, we stand firm. Where the Bible is silent, we have freedom to live according to the principles in God's Word. I suggest you consider Jesus' teaching on the contents of our hearts. Jesus taught that murder begins as anger, stealing begins as greed and adultery begins with lust. Most Bible scholars agree that the terms "anger", "greed" and "lust", as understood in biblical cultures and times, are not the kinds of passing thoughts all of us have, but rather they are the obsessive patterns of thinking that are indulged without regard to consequences and reduce others (or their possessions) to objects for base gratification of some fleshly desire, e.g. revenge, coveting or sex. In lust, sexual desire is fed, nurtured and exploited until it becomes grotesque and compelling, leading to sexual immorality. If masturbation involves this kind of thinking, then it is a serious problem, a perversion of God's intent for our sexuality. Also, masturbation can become an addiction like gluttony or drunkenness. Again, a perversion of God's gifts to us. So, masturbation, like many other things, is definitely one way we can fall short of following God's laws. Yet, I believe it is not clear from the Bible that masturbation, in itself, is necessarily sexual immorality. After all, eating is not necessarily gluttony and having a glass of wine is not necessarly drunkenness. I believe the Bible teaches that right actions are important, but the content of your heart is the point. (of course, having a righteous heart does not permit us to commit sexual immorality as defined in the Bible) If masturbation is an addiction, pray that God may release you from this form of slavery. Self control is a gift of the Spirit. If you experience terrible feelings of guilt over masturbation that make you want to turn away from God, pray that He grace you with a more real understanding of His love and forgiveness and guide you in your sexuality. Guilt is a gift that guides us to righteousness. But, guilt, when unchecked and excessive, can be used by the enemy to steal our attention away from God's grace. All of us stumble, and that keeps us humble. Christ gives us the ability to get back on our feet. As we must be compassionate to others, forgiving them, so also must we offer ourselves to God, including all our shortcomings, knowing that He loves us anyway as we strive to become like Jesus. |
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387 | How has God sanctified you? | 1 Thess 4:3 | Parable | 41860 | ||
Thanks for the offer, but I'd rather have just the highlights. Can you sum it up for the 3 ways I mentioned, i.e. your life, outlook and relationships? |
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388 | The definition of porneia | 1 Thess 4:3 | Parable | 77412 | ||
no further clarification seems needed. what are you asking for? |
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389 | Should I Look For Another Church? | 1 Thess 5:12 | Parable | 76492 | ||
We are called to respect the judgment of church leaders. "Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you." - 1Thess5:12. There may be good reasons your pastor is not yet willing to marry the two of you. If so, those reasons won't change if you go to another church and it would be unwise to get married anyway. The decision to look for another church should be based on severe problems that cannot be resolved, rather than one decision that you don't like, especially if that decision relates to something as important as marriage. Parable |
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390 | "This subject of election...." | 1 Tim 2:4 | Parable | 48437 | ||
Perhaps this analogy illustrates what you have said: Imagine that we are a crop grown by God. He prepares the soil, plants the seeds, waters them and warms them with the light of His love. Some of the seeds open to germanate. Some that germanate send out roots to take in water and food. Some that establish roots grow enough to break through the soil to the surface, where the light can shine directly on the seedling. Some of those seedlings survive to maturity. Then God harvests them. The question of election is, did God decide which to harvest only after they were mature, or, before, at the time of planting did he select which ones would reach maturity? If the former, our freedom to choose God out of love is real and meaningful. If the latter, we have no real choice and as a result, we do not have what God wants from us. The parables in which the Kingdom is described as a crop or fruit harvest depend on the idea that it is up to the crop or fruit to grow, albeit not on its own. How can we justify the idea that the work of sowing is just a formality? What is the point of sowing if the harvest is already established? I have no problem accepting that God can make these arrangements for us, even if He knows and/or somehow determines in advance who of us will choose Him. After all, in Christ He was able to become fully human yet retain His divine nature; this is one of the great mysteries of our faith, that He could experience every temptation and have each of them be as real for Him as they are for us. Yet, He did not fall into even the smallest one. Finally, election becomes relevant only if we think it matters to how we should respond to God's call. Do we believe that it is right for people to think that their rejection of God can be justified by the belief they are not among the elect? Or, that to justify unbelief, faith is a gift and God has not given it to them? I see no love nor justice in either of these. Parable |
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391 | C harles Stanley abusing the Bible? | 1 Tim 3:2 | Parable | 75800 | ||
I believe it is wrong to use scripture in the way you describe, i.e. to judge others. See Matthew 7:2. In my opinion, the highest test should be this: Does waging war with Iraq demonstrate love for God and love for others? See Matthew 22:37-40. A case can be made that it does and a case can be made that it doesn't. It depends entirely on the motives behind the actions, the contents of our hearts. If the President is lead by the Spirit to wage war in an effort to end tyranny and bring justice, peace and love to an oppressed people, then he should wage war. But he should do so in the most just and righteous way, including the occupation/rebuilding afterward. In this case, protestors would do well to examine what drives their actions. If protest is for selfish reasons or out of fear, then the peace they seek is not possible. On the other hand, if the President is driven by impure motives, such as arrogance, economic self-interest or revenge, then any actions taken would be made in vain, including efforts to wage peace. In this case, protesting his motives would be proper. Parable |
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392 | Vain Babbling | 2 Tim 2:16 | Parable | 191967 | ||
"The condition of man... is a condition of war of everyone against everyone." -- Thomas Hobbes | ||||||
393 | Vain Babbling | 2 Tim 2:16 | Parable | 191970 | ||
No, that is not correct. This thread is "Vain Babbling", not "Scripture Alone?" In that thread, which I proposed, the instructions were "..if you are willing to try something different, for this thread and only this thread..." Indeed, it was precisely to avoid vain babbling that I proposed scripture alone. |
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394 | Vain Babbling | 2 Tim 2:16 | Parable | 191976 | ||
"Everyone must acknowledge, therefore, that Christian tradition had precedence, chronologically and even logically, over Christian Scripture; for there was a tradition of the church before there was ever a New Testament, or any individual book of the New Testament. By the time the materials of the oral tradition found their way into written form, they had passed through the life and experience of the church..." -- Jaroslav Pelikan, from Jesus Through the Centuries: His Place in the History of Culture, p. 10 Respectfully, do you agree or disagree? Parable |
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395 | Vain Babbling | 2 Tim 2:16 | Parable | 191982 | ||
I agree that such an extension would be absurd. Pelikan said tradition preceded what was written, not that all things written were derived from tradition. |
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396 | Vain Babbling | 2 Tim 2:16 | Parable | 191985 | ||
Psalm 46:8-9 "Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth" Psalm 55:20-22 "My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords." Isaiah 2:4 "He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." 2 Corinthians 10:3 "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does" Your turn, please do likewise for Mr. Calvin's remarks. |
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397 | Vain Babbling | 2 Tim 2:16 | Parable | 191986 | ||
Consider the book of Acts. The events therein happened before the book was written, correct? To argue otherwise is to suggest Acts is fiction, not history. Acts itself records traditions that were established at the time of the very first christian community, before the book was written, no? Is that logically necessary or merely speculation? |
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398 | Vain Babbling | 2 Tim 2:16 | Parable | 191989 | ||
Sorry, my mistake. Its late and I have miles to go before I sleep... |
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399 | Vain Babbling | 2 Tim 2:16 | Parable | 191994 | ||
There was nothing intended to be hermaneutic in my apology to you, which it seems, you have not accepted nor forgiveness granted. As for forum guidelines, your reminder to the initiator of this thread is conspicously absent... |
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400 | Vain Babbling | 2 Tim 2:16 | Parable | 191997 | ||
As I said, that would be absurd. Hence, I conclude it must not be what Pelikan intended, for he is a historian of good repute, as well as a seminarian with advanced degrees, as reported here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaroslav_Pelikan As is commonly understood in the field of hermaneutics or literary criticism, one's reading of an author reflects more about you than the author. On a happy note, I offer this quote of Pelikan's "If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen -- nothing else matters." For those who want scriptural support for this quote, see 1 Corinthians 15:14 "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." |
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