Mike,

"I would like to ask if you have ever read the Bible? If not, would you be willing to read it and examine it's claims for yourself?"

I would love to examine it.

Alter Call.

I remember those from when I was a teenager. I also remember our southern-baptist revivals. Back then, "Alter Calls" were the tool to bring someone to Christ and Revivals were to strengthen those in Christ to remain true. Both noble acts.

I know with in my congregation that there are those of very week faith and sadly even those whom seem to lose all hope and yet those who are consistent in hope and prayer. I believe every church has such people within their congregation and that we must hold true to Heb 3:10-13 & 10:23-25.
I cannot began to explain the love I have felt over the last month from my family. We just had another baby and the church took care of us for three weeks straight; bringing dinners by everyday helping my wife to doctors appointments, calling and praying with/for us.
I thank God for his work in the lives of these people to allow us to be so blessed. We didn't know what we needed, but God did. This kindness help to ease our stress so that we could focus more on God and our young marriage.
Since I do believe that a person can lose faith (meaning to "fall away" not backslide), I trust that these acts of kindness gave me more faith and commitment to God in complete gratitude.
I NEED my brothers and sisters to help me stay faithful till the end.

What is Religion? By your definition?


I believe that the "Church" is the body of Christ made up of individuals who believe in him bearing the same faith and focus.
The bible also teaches that our relationships within the "Church" is equal to How much we love God.
Maybe "Equal" is slightly strong, but it make the point.

If the above is true, then Church is important to faith, which is important to salvation.

I read up on some things about "Freewill" Baptist, but I don't think I really know much about them though. Could you shed some light?

Why non-denominational?

Happy thanks giving!!!!

What are you thankful for?
I'm thankful my family & grace. I'm also thankful for my friends and modern day technology.


Shane, I think its awsome to read the bible through, however, sometimes I like to study subjects in the bible. It often helps me to get the full picture of what God is doing. It's kinda like when your car breaks down; you don't start reading in the beginning of chapter one just to get to chapter twelve that actually deals with your car problem.
My suggestion is to start your study in the book of John.
John is a great place to start in finding out about God through the life of Jesus.
You will also find in your study that Jesus' disciples were not "Sinless" but through following Jesus they "SIN - LESS":) Get it?,.."Sin Less). Whatever, I'm trying to be funny.

You wrote: "Does God simply keep forgiving all future sins and how do you know what are and are not sins. I mean I know what a lot of sins are such as listed in 10 commands etc but what if one didnt know they were sinning? Do you have to repent each time?"

Awsome question!!!
Many christians believe that as the bible teaches that God will continue to forgive your sins, even sins you don't know about yet. But some "Christians" fail to acknowledge that continued unrepented sins will result in a unfaithful heart toward Gods gift that they well eventually forfeit. That's another subject.

The point is, the action of sin is often obvious, but there are other sins that are of omition that comes from the good you know you ought to do but don't do it. This is very important, because a person can't say that "Well, I never read it in the bible, so I'm free of that guilt." Galatian 5:19-20, Mark 7:20-23, James 4:17 - These were just some of the more specific bible verses on sin and how to identify it. I'm sure you agree that in order to deal with an issue or to change, one would need to know what they are changing from. This is why Jesus has people count the cost of following him, but at the same time call people to respond quickly to his call (seek him while he may be found).
That why I don't believe in the "Sinners Prayer" or different things like that. How could some one commit if the don't know the Terms??? God's terms??? Read Luke 9:23-26, 14:25-33.
If you read these scripture you will see that Jesus says more than three time that IF you don't....., cannot be my disciple (student, follower).

You wrote: "How much of the bible do you read at a time and how do you know which is the best type church to attend?"

Eat on the regular until your are full.
In regard to church, what you should look for is a church that resemble the 1st centry church in the bible. Read Acts chapter 2:36-47.
Email me at SSJ.31@netzero.com and if you want, depending on where your located I can make some suggestions. I here in Ohio, judging by this website and its associations I may not be anywhere near you, but I may have friend that are. That's all up to you, but just so you'll know the help is there:)

You wrote: "As a christian, what do you do when you want to sin? You seem to know a lot about the bible, did you study it before you believed it was true?"

2 Corinthian 7:8-13
Biblically explains the heart one should have when needing to repent of sin.

I learned more about the bible after I believed. I know God just revealed more and more to me through Life and Struggle. Someone can study about the street life, but it will only be intellectual until they experience it first hand. The same with christianity.
Before this I "floated" around studyign different things.

Shane: "What is the bottom line in becoming a christian, simply asking God to forgive you and thats it?"

My aswere to this has been a long debate within christianity, but rather than give you my answer I will direct you to one of the other threads I started on the forum titled: "Baptism for the forgivness of sins". I can just give you a direct answer on this, but I want to allow you to see Both sides of the argument to make your OWN faith of it. All-in-all the bible teaches the following working together:

1. Hear the Word

2. Believe the Word

3. Repent because of the Word

4. Confess Jesus (the word John 1:1-5) as Lord of your Life

5. Be batized in the Name

Some people take one or two of any of the above and set it against eachother. I believe that they all work together and has its proper place in a persons salvation. I don't believe that God is in conflict with himself on this subject. You read and question the word for yourself. Pray and gain conviction and be open.

Shane: "I really want to change my life and I feel this may be the way to do it. Sorry for all my rambling and questions. Thanks for praying for me."

Bro, if you ask God for faith and ernestly seek him you see a change. It's take effort, don't get me wrong, but its well worth it. Can you think of anything that you put your whole life into. I think for me, this is the most important thing to me in life. Though the world can be fun, it can also be hurtful. I'm not living as though this place is my home, because its not. My home is heaven.

We can study the bible through persohal email if you like.

Peace

Stefon

Yes God forgives ALL sin, if Repented of.

Shane, you MUST understand that God is not on a mission to destroy all homosexuals because he hate them more. Not at all. God hate all sin. Rather it the kid the stole the bag of chips or the woman raping another woman that's under age. It does not matter. It is forgivable, if a person repents.

I'm focused on repentance because Jesus make this point in Luke 13:4-7.

You and I don't want to "perish" in our sin, so in response to Gods grace, which is often displayed in his patience for us, we should change our live as radically as possible.

Some sins may incur swifter Judgment (put to death) than others. At times in the bible certain sins welled up so much that it got God attention and incurred His Vengeance (wrath).

You spoke of Sodom and Gommorah before, that God destroyed them because of their homosexuality. Well, that's not the specific reason that he destroyed those cities.
I read somewhere that they were neglecting, also the poor among them. Those were very wealthy cities. I'll find that scripture for you.

You wrote: "If I were to become Christian, how am I supposed to deal with being homosexual? I am tired of living at times but am too chicken to commit suicide."

Being Homosexual is not different than being Headeralsexual in regard to punishable sin outside of marriage. Both are SIN and has a price. Both are desires, that for some, don't go away until some time later, but both are overcomable (if there is such a word). I've been a Christian for a while and I still fight off sexual temptation and I'm married. It's when my heart is not protected and close to God that these temptation come.

You wrote: "If I were to become Christian, how am I supposed to deal with being homosexual?"

Well you kinda said it yourself. You WANT to believe that God really loves you, but you have a hard time because of what you blieved God to be. And I would probably guess that you had people, maybe even family that has come down on you religiously about your chosen lifestyle. People may say things to you and do things to you in the 'Name of Jesus', but that doesn't mean that they are always speaking His word to you.
I've seen people change from this lifestyle.
To change from this lifestyle you must Love God.
Well, How do I do that?
Study his word.
Understand his message to you and for you.
Get to know God like you would someone you just met to befriend them.
God is not unapproachable.
Trust takes time to fully mature, but where you can trust God you must.
Submission does not alway incorporate trust, though its important to have, it often deals with surrender and obedience.
It would be very hard for you at this point to change you life if you don't have GREAT motivation.
We are creatures that look for affection and comfort. We desire to be known. But if we live without having these things we cling to the first thing we believe to be love, and in the end getting hurt.
Read 1 John 4:13-19
"[13]We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. [14]And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. [15]If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. [16]And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. [17]In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. [18]There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
[19]We love because he first loved us.

The only reason we even come to God is because He loved us first. We must find out how and why he loved us and RESPOND to that love with love. Love is your motivation to change your life. You will be happy, because the things that mattered to you before that caused you so much stress will not be as important.
God is not like us.
There is so much to learn about him. So many questions about life.

You need help, just as I needed help 10 years ago, and still do. I don't just want to give you good information, but I want to help you learn more about this God so that you can be with him in victory.

You have my prayers. I am encourage by you opening up your life. If only some believers would do the same.

Shane,

I've been a Christian for about 10 years now and YES, I have doubted. I don't think a year goes by that at some point I question with skepticism God and his purpose.

I mean, like c'mon, I go around telling people that this guy name Jesus lived and died around 2000+ years ago - Raise for the Dead - Ascended back to Heaven and NOW lives. And He is actually the Son of the Creator of the universe that started creation with the phrase "Let there be light!".

There area allot of things that are questionable about His words in this Book. That's often the exciting part.

I appreciate your heart in your honesty. That's what God looks for in a individual seeking answers.

Let's talk about Gods love:
(1st go to Biblegateway.com. This web site has just about every English version of the Bible. You can also do word searches. The scripture that I will give will come from the New International Version [NIV])

I guess for me it's the "OLD" John 3:16 passage "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[6] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

If you have a Red Letter edition of the bible you will notice that Jesus is speaking about God Love being displayed through giving his one and ONLY son. And who ever believes in HIM will have Eternal life.

Two things:
1. The Son

2. Eternal Life.


Why would a God give up his Son for anyone. Why would you or I give up our child for anyone? To redeem the Life of another because they can't save themselves.
Well, save themselves from what? The opposite of "Eternal Life" - "Eternal Condemnation".
Why are people Condemn any way?
One word: SIN.
Well, what determines if something is sin or not?
The WORD.
Who's word, what word?
Gods WORD. (Gen 3:1-11, God gave the COMMAND, Satan tempted the Adam, Adam disobeyed God and Gave birth to SIN.)
So did sin start with Adam? Yes, for men in the world. Well, what about Eternally? What about Satan?
In John 8:44 Jesus says "
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
Satan's goal is to lie to us and get us to SIN AGAINST GOD so that we will be with him and not with God.
This is what I mean:
Was HELL created for Humans or Satan?
Matthew 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."

See Shane, Hell was prepared for Satan and his Angels (or Followers), not for us. God created us to live in peace on earth, not to die and go to hell.

When God created the institution of "Atonement" for the forgiveness of sins he had us in mind. Before by the old law of things animals were required to be sacrifice for atonement of our sins, but the blood of animals could not permanently take our sins away, but the Blood of God Righteous one could (Jesus).

God does not want to "Destroy" his creation, but save them. God hates SIN, because He is sinless and perfect He must destroy SIN. Unfortunately for you and I we are now in a world of sin. We sin everyday with any regard of Him who created us. So God in His Great Mercy and Love sent his Son to show us how to live and killed him as a atonement for those that believe in Him.

There is more that I can say on this, but, I my lunch time is now over.

Please respond.

Peace.

Why the God of the Bible?

1. Jesus! This book that proclaim the verbal, active expression of The Creator of the Universe is made up of stories through the ages recorded by different people about Jehovah.
These written accounts are brought together and when examined are in line with each other. And even the most evil sins committed by these prophets is recorded in this book.
This statement is important because, some other writings claiming to be of God omits the sins of the prophets as a "Correction" to the bible regarding Gods "Holy" Prophets.
The Quran is one of these books that makes this claim. How can a that at one time says we are all men and are not equal to Allah, but turn around and not include the faults of its
messengers who are also men. There is only one person that was perfect and that was Jesus and yet the bible says that "he was tempted in EVERY way, just as We are and yet
was without sin." This is not the only point at which the Quran appears to be more of human origin than that of a God. I have a Quran and I read it sometimes. This particular book
has language in both Aramaic and English translation with commentaries by the book "editor".

Now one thing about "gods"; any one person, object or thing could be referred to as a "god". Someone could give there Gods titles and descriptions that (to them) makes it a "god".
Individuals "God" could posses the exact same description, but that does not make them one in the same god.
No, the Christian God is not the Muslim God. Both Gods have allot of the same titles, but only on God I consistent in his communication to man kind through scripture.
Our God Recognizes Jesus the Messiah as his Son and chosen one. Because of the consistency of the bible and its Powerful claims and fulfillment's we see prophesies about
the Messiah given through Moses, David, Isaiah, Daniel fulfilled by Jesus.

There is the subject of Gods promise of His Holy One Given to Abraham through his son Isaac not Ishmael (That's another subject).

Lets read the bible and find out about this God. He is the God that created everything, so most of your practical questions maybe answered by Him within the bible.
Don't you want to know the creator of the Universe? The one who created you? Don't you want to know why and How you should live and why you should please him?

If you study the Quarn, then let me know, because I have some questions for you.

My question for you would be 'Why Not?'.

I agree that Christianity it to most a culture rather than a faith. This seems to be the same with those of other religions as well.
I experienced this while reaching out on campus. Most people that are surrounded by a primary religion growing up will either:

1. Accept it's teaching without questioning them and/or without even knowing what they are.

2. Develop criticisms with due to peoples example or the fruit the religion produce.

3. Become deeply rooted in the doctrine so much as to become closed minded and ignorantly defensive

4. Look into other things.

I don't know of any single religion that does not have poor examples of its teachings, so it would be foolish to judge a religion SOLELY on the people involved This is true of anything.

If you are on a quest for knowledge concerning our faith, you should first start with changing your approach.

Let's try: "Why the God of the bible. Why Jesus?"

If you are okay with this form of the subject then we can continue....,

(The only reason I re-worded the subject is because, unfortunately "Christianity" as we know it now is not the same as in the bible. The source of the faith is always a great place to start)