Now, For Something Completely Different

[MoreCoffee]

It's a legitimate concern, you know at Sunday School today, the topic dealt with prayer. Part of Pastor's lesson made it absolutely clear that we Christians are to pray to God in all circumstances and for all whom we encounter. He also made it abundantly clear that God hates false doctrine and we pray against those who would pervert the Law and Gospel of Our Blessed Lord for their own agendas. It was also made perfectly clear that God heeds only those prayers of Christians and those who would be Christians ( if they hadn't yet been baptized in the name of God the Father, God the Son + and God the Holy Spirit). Non- Christians might pray all they like, but it isn't God to Whom they are praying.

I think God "heard my prayer" before I had faith in Jesus Christ.

 

[Imalive]

I think God "heard my prayer" before I had faith in Jesus Christ.

Yes He heard me too. Of course He hears unbelievers. I was taught in church that God only answers a prayer if you're christian, so I always wondered if a christian prayed for me then, because He listened and it weren't very christian devote prayers.
'If I don't get an A for French I don't believe in God' 'If I dont win w tennis now I dont believe in God' My then atheist dad didnt really teach me to have some respect for God. A year long. Everything I more or less demanded happened. Then with that last game of tennis where I was playing bad and losing and then all of a sudden ploop I won, I was like: this can't be coincidental anymore. Then I promised God I'd go to a church and I did and got saved a few months later.

 

[faramir.pete]

Only if a chap doesn't confess their own sins. That isn't very likely with my post.

Spoken like a true RC .

You do realise that the confessional is one of the things which divides us?


Pete from Peterborough UK

 

[Imalive]

Spoken like a true RC .

You do realise that the confessional is one of the things which divides us?


Pete from Peterborough UK

Why? Confess each other your sins. It's always best to pick a spiritual person for that like a leader, otherwise you can get gossip and jerkish behavior.

 

[faramir.pete]

Why? Confess each other your sins. It's always best to pick a spiritual person for that like a leader, otherwise you can get gossip and jerkish behavior.

I am not making comment upon the rights or wrongs of the listed items or upon confession, but I am just pointing out that one of the reasons the Protestants split from the RC church was the use and abuse of the confessional by RC priests.

And yes I have experienced this personally. But obviously much later than the reformation.


Pete from Peterborough UK

 

[MoreCoffee]

Spoken like a true RC .

You do realise that the confessional is one of the things which divides us?


Pete from Peterborough UK

I only occasionally take to a "confessional". I said and meant confess their sins and that is confessing to God with or without a confessional.

God bless your cotton socks

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

...I find it fascinating that this sort of thread is often started in good faith, but...

Pete, the first dissenting voice in the thread was yours with this post. There will be splits and dissensions, of course, but how about taking time to set those aside and celebrate those things that do unite us?

Another thing I find revealing in the list, is the absence of the one person who does unite us - Christ!

Thank you for adding it. Although certain things seem obvious, we often need to be reminded of foundational truths.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Today I was in church doing accounts and counting money but because I spend the morning with a friend who is eager to learn and was curious about why so many Italians are Jehovah’s witnesses here in Perth I brought along a large print NEW WORLD TRANSLATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES for her to see. The front material is extensive containing questions and bible answers tailored to teach the doctrines of Jehovah’s witnesses. It is nicely printed and presented. I am sure some of you will have had one of Jehovah’s witnesses knock on your door with a grey bible in hand and maybe a watchtower magazine (or if they are young then an iPad in hand). So you will probably have seen the book I took along. Maybe you have a copy since JWs give them away to anybody who asks. Anyway, I suspect that one thing nearly all of us have in common is the occasional knock on the door by one or two of Jehovah’s witnesses who have come to tell us about their view on the kingdom of God.

 

[faramir.pete]

Pete, the first dissenting voice in the thread was yours with this post. There will be splits and dissensions, of course, but how about taking time to set those aside and celebrate those things that do unite us?



Thank you for adding it. Although certain things seem obvious, we often need to be reminded of foundational truths.

I am sorry you see me this way, perhaps you would rather I did not comment at all.

Personally I feel any attempt, such as this thread which has to try to focus upon things which 'unite' us simply focuses attention on things which do not. And in any case I would point out that someone said certain listed items would cause discussion prior to my first post.

But in keeping with your wish I shall withdraw from here.

Ironic isn't it that to maintain unity we have to suppress honest opinion.


Pete from Peterborough UK

 

[Imalive]

I am not making comment upon the rights or wrongs of the listed items or upon confession, but I am just pointing out that one of the reasons the Protestants split from the RC church was the use and abuse of the confessional by RC priests.

And yes I have experienced this personally. But obviously much later than the reformation.


Pete from Peterborough UK

Oh. I haven't. I experienced that it's unwise to be honest in church except to a leader.

 

[Imalive]

What unites us?
Baptism.
No joke this time. We are all baptized into one Body.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I am sorry you see me this way, perhaps you would rather I did not comment at all.

Personally I feel any attempt, such as this thread which has to try to focus upon things which 'unite' us simply focuses attention on things which do not. And in any case I would point out that someone said certain listed items would cause discussion prior to my first post.

But in keeping with your wish I shall withdraw from here.

Ironic isn't it that to maintain unity we have to suppress honest opinion.


Pete from Peterborough UK

It would be ironic. For my part I know that unity is not a reality. There are hundreds of denominations and tens of thousands of independent non-denominational groups and that would not be so if unity existed. I guess that disunity is one thing we all have in common too, though it is not a good thing that we ought to be proud of.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Oh. I haven't. I experienced that it's unwise to be honest in church except to a leader.

That is probably close to the truth. Being too honest in chat forums leads to blistering hot debates.

 

[user1234]

Doesnt anyone ever get tired of dishonesty...deception...phony baloney, lies and liars.
In the world, on computers, websites and chatforums, and especially religion?

 

[MoreCoffee]

Doesnt anyone ever get tired of dishonesty...deception...phony baloney, lies and liars.
In the world, on computers, websites and chatforums, and especially religion?

When people really do have differences of opinion about a matter then the ideal of one simple truth that all can see, understand, and accept vanishes like a fog on a hot day.

 

[Lamb]

What unites us...sometimes it's catastrophes where churches will band together to assist neighbors in need. They might hold fundraisers together to gather money or go to the locations to help rebuild.

 

[user1234]

When people really do have differences of opinion about a matter then the ideal of one simple truth that all can see, understand, and accept vanishes like a fog on a hot day.

Lol, my question stands, not anywhere close to being answered oundont ppl get tired of dishonesty and deception, phonies lies and liars ... Especially in religion?

Btw, I thought fog lifting was supposed to be a good thing.
Your analogy seems backwards.
So you're saying that the simple truth vanishing is a GOOD thing?? opworm:

 

[MoreCoffee]

I like cool morning fog. We rarely get it where I live. It's a nice thing when it happens here.

 

[Confessional Lutheran]

I like cool morning fog. We rarely get it where I live. It's a nice thing when it happens here.

So, it's that arid in Perth? It sounds like you might not be that far away from the Outback?
[MENTION=378]Imalive[/MENTION], I tend to agree that our baptism incorporates us into the Body of Christ, as it is God doing the baptizing through the Word and the water.

 

[MoreCoffee]

So, it's that arid in Perth? It sounds like you might not be that far away from the Outback?
[MENTION=378]Imalive[/MENTION], I tend to agree that our baptism incorporates us into the Body of Christ, as it is God doing the baptizing through the Word and the water.

It is not too arid, but it is warm. Even in winter fogs are unusual.