Results 121 - 140 of 1260
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: charis Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
121 | Is inter-racial marriage wrong? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 15741 | ||
Thank you, kalos! In Jesus, charis |
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122 | Where does one start who has never reall | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 15742 | ||
Dear Mark, Greetings in Jesus' name! I am a bit ashamed that no one has told you one of the most important 'things to do' in order to know God, and His will for you. Find a Bible-believing, Bible-living church, and commit yourself to fellowship and submit to the oversight of a shepherd. All the other advice is good, but you will do much better if surrounded by other faithful saints. Blessing to you in Christ Jesus, charis |
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123 | is the NIV a good bible to read? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 16084 | ||
Dear Ray, Greetings, my brother, in Jesus' name! While I can, to some extent, understand your penchant for capitalization, 'numerology' and 'theomatics' are bunkum. (or Buncombe) They DO, however, sell books, like so many other 'new' revelations and teachings :-) For while you may be able to find 'hidden' meaning through mathematical antics, you could create just as many antithetical or nonsensical meanings. In fact, anyone who has studied the 'art' of creative statistics could make the cow jump over the moon. Blessings and peace. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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124 | For Joe. | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 16247 | ||
Dear Joe! I do agree that the Bible is God's *root* means of revealing Himself to mankind. I am not sure if it would be correct to say that it is the *only* means to know His will. Friend, I am not being argumentative, but just trying to clarify something I observe. The Holy Spirit can and does reveal the things of God to man directly. These will always be in accord with the Scripture, but sometimes not directly *through* the reading of the Bible. I believe that this is evident in the history of the church, in which few people had access to their own personal copy of the complete canon, not to mention that they could not read it if they did. Not every person was completely at the mercy of the 'organized church,' without any way to know God's will. Especially in the very early church, nobody had access to the complete canon, so God must have had another means of revealing Himself. This would be the church, and more specifically the examples of other Christians. Again, these (admittedly imperfect) vessels provided a means by which God would reveal His nature and His will. Also, again, this example would be in accord with the Bible. The imperfect example would be *perfected* by the Holy Spirit. I cite the example of ourselves. We are portraying (though imperfectly) God to others. God will, by His Spirit, use us to spread His Word. Ideally, we will be in accord with His Word to effect this. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit will *cover* for our inadequacies. Please understand that I do not recommend personal experience or feelings to govern our understanding of God. Nor do I think that we should base our faith on a human *mentor.* None of these should ever supercede the written Bible! In the same way, *radically alternate* interpretation of Scripture is a great danger. This is why I believe that we need 1) the Bible, 2) the church, 3) the Holy Spirit, in order to adequately discern God's will and way. Comments, dear colleague? In Jesus' name, charis |
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125 | For Joe. | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 16251 | ||
Dear Joe! Preach it anyway, brother! In my humble opinion, the choir needs the preaching, too! :-) Amen! Try as I might, I cannot come up with one 'however' or 'but.' In Christ Jesus, charis |
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126 | Is it a sin to play the lottery? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 16674 | ||
Dear Jim, "The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly." John 10:10 ASV 1901. Friend, I believe this is your Scripture reference. Indeed, Jesus came to give us abundant life. Please note that this was not a promise to each individual, as each individual wills. We do have a responsibility to those around us, to be an example. My point is, if we say, " I am immune to greed, the lust for mammon, gambling is merely entertainment, I am amused," then are we 'free' to pursue whatever we enjoy? It would be nice if we could do what we liked without influencing children or individuals with 'areas of weakness,' but such is not the case. I find that in our walk with the Lord Jesus, we 'sacrifice' certain freedoms for the sake of His flock. Please tell me if I am misinterpreting your stance on this issue. In Jesus' name, charis |
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127 | Did we witness a miracle this week? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 16675 | ||
Dear Brian, Backwards prognostication? :-) In Jesus, charis |
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128 | Is it a sin to play the lottery? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 16698 | ||
Dear Jim, Peace upon you, friend. My, we are a bit sensitive, today, aren't we. :-) The title of Janie's original question was about the lottery. Some think this is innoucuous fun, but many (most?) are dead serious about winning a bunch of bucks and retiring. I do think that this is not a good attitude for a Christian, and a bad example for our children and peers. Thus my answer. Sorry if you felt I was butting in, but this is a forum... It seems that you think I am being legalistic or of the 'holiness' bent. I assure you this is not the case. I simply believe that we are to be aware of the image we portray, and not be ignorant of how others see us. We, as Christians, are exhorted to 'keep our behavior excellent among the Gentiles,' (1 Peter 2:12) and 'prove ourselves to be examples.' (1 Peter 5:3) I believe that these require a certain amount of responsibility. Please, do not throw away Lewis' Trilogy on my account! :-) Of course there is a balance. Same for all of your (sometimes outlandish!) examples. Please, in no way did I ever question Janie's salvation! Also, don't degrade yourself by becoming flippant about God's choice of Matthias. If I read your last paragraph correctly, the pursuit of a (Holy Spirit) perfected Christian life will split the church. Are we to just allow 'to each his own' and then say 'we are one?' Good luck, you'll need it! :-) (you really ARE a gambler!) Jim, we use (lately) Tropicana 100-percent Grape Juice. We have used Welches and Kirin. Wine is expensive here (except rice wine), and I would really have a hard time choosing between Cabernet Sauvignon and Akadama Sweet Wine. BTW, is there a point to be made? As to the bread, we use a whole loaf of white bread. Trust me, Japanese bread beats 'Wonder' any day! We literally break it and spend some time sharing our portion with others. Any other questions? Blessings and peace to you. In Jesus' name, charis |
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129 | Is it a sin to play the lottery? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 16745 | ||
Dear Jim, I'm not sure in what way I make your point, but I'll take it as a compliment. :-) 1) I was talking about gambling-lottery in general, not Janie in particular. I hope she was not offended by my comments. 2) I, too, heard the Gospel from some regular guys and gals. But I did get saved at a church (4th of July) picnic! :-) Friend, I find your comments more amusing than any form of 'innocuous' gambling or 'minor' sin. 3) Jim, one of the things I asked the Lord when I first came to serve Him in Japan was, "Please, never let me be a bore, or bored!" Though you seem to take my writing as such, I assure you that the Lord has been faithful! I am where the sinners are, and by the grace of God attempt to portray His excellence without condemning the lost. By the way, my environment is over 99-percent non-Christian. And you are correct in that (my opinion) Christian bigotry is the biggest hindrance to the Gospel. 4) Cognitive dissonance - close, but no bubble-gum cigar :-) What you are saying is that if I don't use the real (alcoholic) thing, then I'm a hypocrite to observe any other literal interpretation of the Bible. Is that right? (Ours is not a 'no-alcohol church,' but few, if any drink, and none, to my knowledge drink to excess) My reason for using grape juice is not legalistic, and if I offend the Lord for my inaccuracy, I pray for forgiveness. I, personally, don't believe that Jesus is concerned about which 'fruit of the vine' we use. 5) Something like 'Ripley's Believe It Or Not!' 6) ? I'm not sure which 'last parpagraph' you mean. I guess you mean my injection of irony, or poor attempt at humor. Please understand that my English not so good. It has been my 'second language' for over half my years, and this forum is my opportunity to try to be clear and precise. I do, however, try to keep my smile at all times, even when I disagree with another saint. True, these ARE serious issues, but serious does not mean angry, rude, pedantic or dull-witted. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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130 | Are we really "1 nation under God? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 16816 | ||
Dear dougboy, Greetings in the name of Jesus! From your personal profile, and your obvious disdain for the past and present state of American politics, I guess you are in the D.C. area (?) You are closer to the fray, but maybe a little too close for objectivity. In my calling, I live outside the US, and have been away more than half my life. However, I hold a great respect for my country, and for it's leaders past and present. Though the representation is far from perfect, "You never had it so good!" :-) I understand your desire for accuracy, and we should be aware that our leaders have, and have always had faults and lack of faith or lapses of faith, we must honor them according to the Bible. I believe this is a part of 'serving our country' and serving our temporal masters. Truly, those who live in America can be spoiled, whiny brats at times, with 20-20 vision for the faults of others, but little social or spiritual responsibility to God or country. (Please, I am not addressing you, personally, but the mostly American forum as a whole.) Friend, general observation does edify God and helps others to think and better discern, but specific 'proofs' and jabs only serve to 'emotionalize' the issue, and polarize the discussion. To be fair, 'ultra-nationalism' does not bring us any closer to God, either. Blessings and peace to you in Jesus' name, charis |
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131 | Are we really "1 nation under God? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 16822 | ||
Dear dougboy, You might be right that some were self-proclaimed Deists, but one thing is sure, almost all of them were accomplished politicians. Also, many of those who wrote about them had their own political agenda. These factors would explain the wide range of images portrayed about the same persons. In any case, 1) the final judgment of our nation's founders is in God's hands, and 2) America, presently and historically, is among the most blessed nations on earth. Friend, there is often a disparity between intent and actual result. I sense emotions, intended or not. :-) In Jesus' name, charis |
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132 | Where was God? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 16844 | ||
Dear prayon and saints, God was, and is, and shall always be completely in charge! He is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent, so none of this *surprised* Him or *got by Him.* Unbelievers can and do ask this question, because He is not where it matters, in their hearts. We cannot change the past, only repent and hope for today, and the future. Yes, this can be a lesson, but we cannot 'predict the future of the past.' Let's not 'whip ourselves,' but change. For those wh know Him, repentence is a gift from God, a chastening in love, a cleansing from sin. It is not an angry bludgeoning or wrathful punishment. May we become sensitive to His Word, and to His Spirit, and honestly look at His church, and we will be blessed. Blessings, my friends and colleagues, in Jesus' name, charis |
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133 | Are we really "1 nation under God? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 16846 | ||
Dear dougboy, This is true, but not something to *boast* about! However, you get extra points for wit and emoticon. :-) In Jesus, charis |
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134 | Is it a sin to play the lottery? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 16996 | ||
Dear Lionstrong, Greetings, my friend. I think that what you are saying could be interpreted as 'gambling is okay because the Bible does not expressly call it sin, or even hint at the dangers of overuse, as is warned with alcohol abuse.' While this may be literally true, as you wrote about 'implied command' there are plenty of warnings. "Do not worship other Gods before Me!" is pretty clear. The dangers of riches, wealth and mammon are clearly written, as is the seeking of them. Some may say that it is a matter of scale, but my experience tells me that when one starts 'wanting,' the cravings multiply. Those who are blessed with self-control are not given license to 'dabble,' as their example could be detrimental to children and those of weaker constitution. (if HE can do it, why can't I?) This is called responsibility, and sometimes requires the sacrifice of personal freedom. Please remember also that a few thousand years of drinking to excess have not changed the basics of alcohol. However, the 'face' of gambling has been altered radically over the years, especially with the advent of mass-media, and more recently, electronic devices and information technologies. Those in Biblical times did not have to worry about media 'hype' and the invasion of their homes by 'armchair' gambling. It has never been easier to 'bet a few bucks' on stakes that increase daily. The opportunities to squander *your* money are infinite! I believe it is foolish to minimize this 'new age' form of frivolous 'play.' (TV and the internet are not clearly denounced in the Bible either, but few would deny the potential danger of these modern 'tools' of 'entertainment.') While the Bible does speak of the positive side of alcohol consumption (Communion, Timothy's health), there are no Scriptures that encourage us to use our money for foolish 'fun' or entertainment, or play games for a few shekels that will benefit only one person. My point is that comparing drinking with gambling does not work. Now as to 'office pools' and 'church bingo,' I suppose that some may call this 'innocuous.' But I *bet* that the *serious* participants have a tendency to pursue 'other' forms of 'personal pleasure' as well. :-) (Note- One of my fellows here says that I use 'I bet...' often when I speak English! Fortunately, Japanese has no equivalent phrase :-)) Lionstrong, I am no prude! But to ignore the temptation of 'little' sins is to invite the opportunity of escalation to 'greater' sins. Denying this 'human condition' is not wise. Is it possible that the 'well-meaning Christians' have a point? Peace to all in Christ Jesus, charis |
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135 | Definitions - God? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 17143 | ||
Please define God. I am putting together a primer for Life in Christ Jesus. As some of you know, I serve the Lord in Japan, and need your input. Remember, don't take for granted that all people know everything about Christianity (like Americans :-)) I will be asking for other definitions in the future. Please help me to think of other things that should be defined in order to understand Life in Christ Jesus for those who do not live in 'Christian' countries. Also, though I would appreciate 'simple' Scriptures to help in the definition, know that Scripture *alone* is not understood by a good portion of the world. Use commonly understood terms and concepts, and common sense. Many thanks and blessings in Christ Jesus, charis |
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136 | how would you characterize davids mental | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 17606 | ||
Dear cher, Greetings in Jesus' name! Properly (and correctly) scolded, I will throw in my 2 yen (not quite 2 cents). There are several 'measures of man.' Intelligence, IQ, common sense, wisdom, morality, obedience to authority, respect for others, physical strength, endurance, patience...the list goes on. David was certainly endowed with a good portion of all of these positive attributes. However, we see that he failed in just about every category at one time or another. Except one! "After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.'" Acts 13:22 NASB. The Old Testament references are: "But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you." 1 Samuel 13:14 NASB "I have found David My servant; With My holy oil I have anointed him," Psalm 89:20 NASB We see that David did NOT 'do all God's will' if we define it as abstain from all sin. But David's heart was 'after God,' which is the highest measure of a man. This does not excuse sin! Some would even say, "David sinned, so it's okay." But Paul clarified the issue by saying, " May it never be!" IT'S NOT OKAY! Sin can be forgiven, through repentence, which is a gift of grace, when our hearts are turned toward God. We cannot defile this gift by having in our hearts a 'backstop' of grace. :-) (I like that!) Cher, I hope this answers the 'whole' question. And Hank, dear brother, thank you for giving courage and timely exhortation! In Christ Jesus, charis |
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137 | Possible Lockman Forum Improvement #1? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 17878 | ||
Dear Sir, Blessings, my friend, in Jesus' name! I'm sorry, but I am afraid this task is probably too much to ask. The amount of reading and correlating would be an enormous task! An A.I. (artificial intelligence, software) solution is nearly impossible, and an H.I. (human intelligence, fleshware? :-)) solution would cost the Lockman Foundation a fortune. This kind of brings us back to an editing-censoring problem, which has been thoroughly discussed. I have an alternative idea, though: Unfortunately, a great deal of the problem is in the users. Sometimes (maybe not always :-)), there are duplicates because of our own impatience with the Forum's server, our own provider, and the internet in general. Because it takes time, i.e. longer than we think it should, to process our post, we press the 'submit' button more than once. (many would prefer to think the 'machine' is at fault) If at all possible, it would be nice if Lockman could upgrade the server hardware. This, too, costs money, so be patient with our gracious hosts. Another user 'modification' would be for us to only chose to answer one of the duplicates. Granted, this would not allow us quite as much 'limelight,' but we could make a difference. Before you jump on my case, I know that sometimes it is hard to find which is the 'real' thread. As soon as both duplicates are answered, this suggestion is 'round-filed.' :-) I am certain that the saints at Lockman are aware of the problem, and are working on it to the best of their abilities and resources. Patience and peace are my answer. (p.s. I am not in Lockman's employ! I simply understand their technical situation.) Blessings on and all, in Christ Jesus, charis |
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138 | Possible Lockman Forum Improvements #2 | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 17993 | ||
Dear Sir, I agree that we all need netiquette, chatiquette, forumiquette, common sense, and Christian manners! (also, when the horse is dead, stop beating it! :-)) I'm with you! Blessings in Christ Jesus, charis |
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139 | Christian Primer Terms? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 18115 | ||
Dear Saints and fellows, Again I ask for help in creating a primer for new Christians and those 'on the brink.' The first class will be Christian-Bible terminology. I would like to give basic definitions pertinent to starting a life in Christ Jesus. Please rememeber that I am living in a country with less than 1 percent Christian population (Japan), and very little knowledge of things many would take for granted. A few terms I would like to bring up are: God, Holy Spirit, Trinity, Messiah-Christ, heaven, hell, salvation, justification, redemption, Bible-Old Testament-New Testament, prophecy, ministry, faith, baptism...etc. Please give me a definition of one or more of the above, with a clear Bible reference (Not too many!) Let me know what you might want to add to the above list. Please, do not 'wax poetic' or philosophize. Also, don't refer me to another book or web-site...tell me what YOU think. Be brief; I want to give a list of basic definitions, explain the basics, then have some free discussion, all in about 90 minutes. Think what is most important to you. Thank you all for you help. I plan on publishing the course outline on my homepage as an 'open source.' I pray that it will be a blessing to many in non-Christian nations, and maybe in some so-called 'Christian nations' as well. Blessing to all in Christ Jesus, charis |
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140 | Christian Primer Terms? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 18163 | ||
Dear Joe! Greetings in Jesus' name! One of the main reasons I do not just find a 'good teaching' or catechism and translate it is that it is hard to find one that is 'valid' in my here and now. The church in Japan has been trying to reach this land for 400 years, and has not been very successful. Especially after WWII, a great influx of missionaries and mission money saw some church growth, but there has been a steady downward curve since. Though many ministries have been claiming 'revival, restoration and-or renewal' these past 20 years (my personal Christian experience), the evidence shows a clear lack of efficacy in sharing the Gospel. Churches are failing and membership is waning. The 'tried and true' methods are NOT working here. Churches import every new wave of programs, courses, messages, and 'special guests.' So you see, my friend, they do NOT serve my purposes. Reinvent the wheel? Hardly! I thought we were to work out our salvation in fear and trembling. This is one thing that you cannot build on another's foundation. Each individual's salvation is fresh and new in Christ's eyes. Each nation has it's own 'situation.' If the wineskin is obviously cracked and leaking, it must be replaced. Trust me, Joe, I have already spent 15 years having a 'looksie' at just about every major work of catechism. In fact, I agree with most of them, as they are basic Christianity. But I seek some thing that portrays the 'success' that my fellowship has enjoyed here. My own church has grown steadily (not explosively) for 15 years, and our own kids are in church. Because of the social and educational system here, most churches lose their youth before junior high school. Please, my fellows of the forum, it hasn't 'panned out,' so I DO need your help. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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