• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

Why do people hate ICE...

Let's see the pathetic excuses from trump supporters for this one.

And before they repeat the lies being proffered by a DHS spokesnazi that "Figueroa's vehicle blocked agents and struck an unmarked government vehicle.", the video showing the Ice scumbags doing a U-turn in the middle of the road and hitting the victims car can be seen as plain as day in the video on the page.



That's what fascism looks like.
I think there is more to the story than this. It could very well be that rhe agents believed she was blocking them in. You could see at the very beginning someone trying to prevent them from leaving by standing in front of their vehicle. You can't see whats going on behind their vehicle. The first time you see anything regarding rhis woman is when she drives around their vehicle and they hit her. Perhaps she was blocking them in. I don't know, I can't see.

It is a possibility they were completely in the wrong here and she wasn't actually intentionally blocking them and they over reacted. If thats the case then they should suffer the consequences of that over reaction. However, if she was blocking them intentionally that's a different matter. The fact that she wasn't charged with anything is totally unacceptable and in fact supports her story because I would think if she did they would charge her. So at this point im a big "I don't know what really happened" because we dont have enough information. But I'm leaning on her side since no charges were given.

And if the agents screwed up they should suffer consequences for it.
Upvote 0

Prominent Northern Ireland cleric calls for King Charles to abdicate after prayer with pope

People publish that stuff all the time within Christianity. Catholicism is pretty much the number one topic of critique but it trickles down through all Christian sects from everything I have read.
Yup. Since we are the largest and oldest Church, we get picked on the most. That doesn't surprise me in the slightest.
Upvote 0

The truth about exorcists

Way back when I was a new Christian (Protestant) I was having a few spiritual issues. I went to see a couple of people who had "deliverance" ministries.

Nothing happened in my case, as the "issues" I was experiencing were just just demonic harassment. But some of the the things they told me were an eye-opener for a new Christian. Only a year or two before that I'd been atheist with no belief in the spiritual world whatsoever.

But that started to change once I became Christian.

Both of them said they'd had the occasional "patient" floating around the ceiling. One said "They (demons) don't want to go!" They'll use any hold they have on the person to stay there.

The demons don't want to go back to Hell either, and they're determined to stay in a more comfortable place as long as they can.
Your final paragraph is what I've read in many Catholic demonologist books. The exorcism is pure agony, but they're still not content being in hell. They're miserable and hate God's creation.
Upvote 0

Prominent Northern Ireland cleric calls for King Charles to abdicate after prayer with pope

It is a problem, and Mr Paisley is right to object.
Why would he care if he's part of an Independent Presbyterian Church that King Charles isn't governor of? That what I don't completely understand.

Many anti-Catholics aren't fond of Lutherans, or Anglicans, or Episcopalians because they are often referred to as "Catholic Lite."
Upvote 0

Prominent Northern Ireland cleric calls for King Charles to abdicate after prayer with pope

Well, if his views are "a direct continuation of his father's", then you can be very sure that they are bigoted, hate-filled rants against Catholicism with viewpoints so incredibly distorted that they would be laughable if they were being presented as ridiculous parody instead of earnest seriousness.

The elder Paisley used to publish screeds against the Catholics that made Julius Streicher's Nazi rants against the Jews look mild by comparison. :mad:
Yikes! I wasn't aware of that at all! Lord have mercy!
Upvote 0

I was today years old when...

I learned Tarsus is in present day Turkey and is still around, so the apostle Paul is from there and technically would be a modern day Turk. I don't know why that has never pieced together for me after the 30 some odd years I have in Christianity.... LOL
But I know that Tarsus was controlled by the Romans, which is where Paul got his citizenship from and the ancestors of present day Turks came from the Ottoman Empire, but still... Never knew it was present day turkey and this whole time was thinking Italy because of The Romans = Rome. :ahem:

What have you learned recently that seemed to have passed you by?
St. Paul was ethnically Jewish from the tribe of Benjamin, even if he was living in modern day Turkey. Is my understanding correct? So he wasn't technically Turkish? Hmmm...
  • Like
Reactions: Daniel Marsh
Upvote 0

Is there a Christian political philosophy?

Christian teachings give us moral values, but it's reasonable for Christians to disagree about how best to implement those values in public policy.

An obvious example is that we are commanded to care for the poor. That's throughout the prophets and the teachings of Jesus, so I hope it's something we agree on, as Christians. But is it best for the government to do this, or churches, or nonprofit charities, or private individuals, or a combination? If the government should be involved, how? through what government policies or support organizations or tax laws or direct payments, etc.? Which policies are actually effective in helping people, and which sound good in theory but aren't effective in practice? All of that is political philosophy; it's about strategies and public policies through which to implement one's moral values, and those are things about which reasonable, faithful Christians can disagree.

Your warnings about force and control are important. Governments have been known to use religion as a means of power, and even faithful Christians who originally meant well can be tempted by power once they are elected to public office. I don't have a good answer here. I think we probably need government, to hold back the crimes that would result if we had anarchy, but wielding power over others is not the path that Jesus showed us.
Would you say you are a minarchist?
Upvote 0

Chicago principal claims teacher who made sick Charlie Kirk gesture is the victim

Do you honestly think that 16 middle-aged and elderly men and women thought they could run up on them and overthrow the government of the United States of America?
Did anyone really think it was a planned armed overthrow of the government? If someone told you that, tell him from me that he's an idiot.

You do realise that Trump and the Republicans were in power at the time? Who were they going to overthrow? His plan was to overturn the election. And there is a galactic amount of evidence that he tried to do that and it was also the plan of some of the morons who stormed the Capital.

If Pence had been a rusted on MAGA supporter instead of an honourable man holding to his promise to uphold the constitution then you'd have seen blood on the streets.
Upvote 0

Trump third term

-

Mr President Trump is going to need at least 8 more years to finish the addition he is adding to the White house.
That is if he lives to 87. He's not young. Time isn't on his side.

But no. I highly, highly doubt there will ever be a third term. That's against our constitution.
Upvote 0

Is there a Christian political philosophy?

Christian teachings give us moral values, but it's reasonable for Christians to disagree about how best to implement those values in public policy.

An obvious example is that we are commanded to care for the poor. That's throughout the prophets and the teachings of Jesus, so I hope it's something we agree on, as Christians. But is it best for the government to do this, or churches, or nonprofit charities, or private individuals, or a combination? If the government should be involved, how? through what government policies or support organizations or tax laws or direct payments, etc.? Which policies are actually effective in helping people, and which sound good in theory but aren't effective in practice? All of that is political philosophy; it's about strategies and public policies through which to implement one's moral values, and those are things about which reasonable, faithful Christians can disagree.

Your warnings about force and control are important. Governments have been known to use religion as a means of power, and even faithful Christians who originally meant well can be tempted by power once they are elected to public office. I don't have a good answer here. I think we probably need government, to hold back the crimes that would result if we had anarchy, but wielding power over others is not the path that Jesus showed us.
Upvote 0

What commandments?

For those who might be interested in looking a little deeper of the context because we do not want to be cheated

Col2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

More context that no one seems to look at for some reason.

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

The Ten Commandments was written by the finger of God Exo31:18 which is the Holy Spirit Luk 11:20 Mat 12:28 Moses is who hand wrote the ordinances that were outside the ark of the covenant where all the annual feasts days, that some were annual sabbaths drink and food offering the context of the passage.

2 Cor 33:8 and I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land which I have appointed for your fathers—only if they are careful to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.”

Is the Sabbath commandment against and contrary to us

Lets look at what Jesus said:

Mat 2:28 The Sabbath was made for man

The Sabbath was made for man, what God makes for man is not against us. The Sabbath is blessed and sanctified by God, its not the definition of contrary and against

Sadly, this interpetation of Pauls writings places God against man. It makes God the Creator and our Sanctifier a shadow, It’s why we need to be careful with Pauls writings as we were told what some people would do to them as they do with the rest of Scriptures 2Peter3:16


So looking at the immediate context shows clearly Paul is not speaking of the Sabbath commandment. Nor does Paul have the authority to change God's written and spoken Testimony Exo 31:18 the words of the covenant Exo 34:28 that God promised He would not alter Psa 89:34 they went from written on tables of stone to written on tablets of the heart 2 Cor 3:3 Heb 8:10 because God keeps His promises.

Right here is enough to know Paul is not referring to the Sabbath commandment, but lets keep going.

This is what Paul is quoting the law he is referring to is from

Deu 31:24 And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
Deu 31:25 That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,
Deu 31:26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

The laws that were beside the ark of the Covenant handwritten by Moses, there as a witness against, the context of Col 2:14


But lets look at this verse closer

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
The Greek word for sabbath here is plural not singular. So its not speaking of "The" Sabbath day "The holy day of the Lord" as already seen in the context.

Paul is quoting Ezekiel all of the sacrifices and offerings.

Eze 45:17 And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and theburnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.

What was predicted would end when Jesus came?

Dan 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."

So this is not about any of the Ten Commandments but about the food and drink offerings, feast days that some were also sabbath(s) that were handwritten by Moses placed besides the ark of the covenant that came after the fall of man. The Sabbath started at Creation before sin Exo 20:11 so can't be a "shadow" of anything as it is part of God's perfect plan before sin took over and a need for a plan of salvation and the Sabbath points to our Creator Exo20:11 who is not a shadow. .

Why if you look at the next verse it clearly shows what it is referring to which works in perfect harmony with the context

Col 2:17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

Heb 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
Heb 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
Heb 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. (contrary and against)
Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Heb 10:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU DID NOT DESIRE, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME.
Heb 10:6 IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES FOR SIN YOU HAD NO PLEASURE.
Heb 10:7 THEN I SAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME—IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME—TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.' "
Heb 10:8 Previously saying, "SACRIFICE AND OFFERING, BURNT OFFERINGS, AND OFFERINGS FOR SIN YOU DID NOT DESIRE, NOR HAD PLEASURE IN THEM" (which are offered according to the law),
Heb 10:9 then He said, "BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD." He takes away the first that He may establish the second.

Exo 12:17 43 So the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: This is the ordinance of the Passover:
1Co 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.


Ai understood this too



Guess all will get sorted out at His soon return.
You are adding your legalistic twist to what should be a relatively easy read.

First, why was this epistle written? What is Paul fighting in the first part of this epistle?

In Cor. 2:8-10 Paul is battling the gnostics of the time which argued that Christ never had a body of flesh but was just spirit. These were the ones attempting to deceive the believers with philosophy and empty deception.

“See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority;”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

As with all the early churches, the issue of Jewish legalism in Colosse was of great concern to Paul. So radical was the concept of salvation by grace apart from works that those in the law found it very difficult to grasp. Consequently, there was a continual movement among the legalists to add certain requirements from the law to this new faith. Primary among them was the requirement of circumcision which was still practiced among some of the Jewish converts. Paul addressed this error in Col. 2-11-15 in which he declares that circumcision of the flesh was no longer necessary because Christ had come. Christ’s was a circumcision of the heart, not the flesh.

“and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭15‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Therefore, verse 16, when taken in context and in the interpretation intended by the writer, is a warning about both the gnostics and the legalistic Jews. The Jews were trying to add the requirements of the law like the dietary laws, thr festivals, and, of course, the sabbath and all the laws that went with it.

“Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day— things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Take care that no one keeps defrauding you of your prize by delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding firmly to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬


Paul is battling legalism NOT defending legalism.
  • Like
Reactions: Clare73
Upvote 0

At U.S. ‘supermax’ prison, foreign-born Muslim with no arms files religious liberty suit

I would think that anyone put in prison for committing crimes against citizens, should have their own citizenship revoked for the duration of their incarceration, thus they have none of the civil or religious 'rights' afforded to law abiding citizens
I agree.
Upvote 0

An EBT Crisis?

There have been various studies that have supported this.
You could be right, but the portion of the video I watched did not support that.
You may have a good heart and be sympathetic, but that's not the case for everyone. It's not even so much about having a good heart, it's about the stories and narratives people hear about others and believe when they don't have personal relationships and lived experiences to counter those narratives. Everyone thinks their one friend of xyz race is the exception to all the negative rules, they don't ever question if the rule is true in the first place.
"Lived experiences". I'm glad you brought that phrase up. Would you like to hear some of my lived experiences? I warn you, if I post them, it will probably sound to you like I'm a total white racist, but they are only honest anecdotes. :)
The commentary around here recently has been tame, but In the past there has been a lot of racial tension on this forum, especially during the height of the BLM movement, the Obama years, Trump’s first term and anytime there were racially charged news stories. I'm also seeing negative comments on social media from semi high profile people referring to SNAP beneficiaries as ghetto (always code for Black in modern usage), and an attempt to weaponize social media to turn public opinion against poor people in need.

In addition, those videos give some background on our country's history, including history around issues such as chain migration, which was originally intended to keep the majority of new immigrants from white countries. (I think that was mentioned in the last video, if not it's another one from their series.) Also, it addresses some of the stereotypes and narratives around out of wedlock births, and how the difference in stats between races is based more on economics than race. As well as how jobs leaving and public transportation being limited have affected some communities more than others.
If you're not going to tell me specifically what's important in the videos, I'm not going to watch them
Many of the present day political clashes have some roots in not wanting to help certain segments of our society.
Which political clashes are you referring to?
That's why so many people from other countries don't understand why things such as universal healthcare is controversial here. Aside from money and profits, which are HUGE, certain segments of our society don't deem other segments as "deserving" so they don't want everyone to benefit equally.
I don't deem anyone "deserving" anything from other people. The Christian idea is that you love the unlovable, and give to the undeserving. But St. Paul said "if you don't work, you don't eat".
Upvote 0

The Thing Most Sabbath Keepers Do not Talk About.


Man didn't replace God, he was given the freedom to value the days or not as he pleases - and no one should be judging him for it.

This is what Romans 14 is saying - read it as a whole...

14 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not to have quarrels over opinions.
2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but the one who is weak eats only vegetables.
3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.
4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5 One person values one day over another, another values every day the same. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 The one who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and the one who eats, does so with regard to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat, and he gives thanks to God.
7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;
8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

10 But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you regard your brother or sister with contempt? For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God.
  • Like
Reactions: Hentenza
Upvote 0

Filter

Forum statistics

Threads
5,879,188
Messages
65,430,117
Members
276,429
Latest member
Mika101