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Christian History in 15 minutes

How quickly it became an unfruitful olive tree

Nonsense. The only unfruitful aspect is the enduring schisms which began with Byzantine and Frankish politics and which were exacerbated by later corruption in the Roman church leading to the Reformation and Counter-Reformation (nothing like that has ever happened in the Christian East, which are neither Reformed nor counter-Reformed, because the constant fruit of martyrs we bear under Islamic and Communist persecution results in us not having the time for schism and heresy).
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Mytho-History

I've always admired Orthodox Christianity. I find the mystery and mysticism appealing. However, I am still a staunch Protestant in some of my convictions like sola scriptura and justification by faith alone.
I still am decidedly Protestant in my ecclesiology, especially in embracing the priesthood of every believer. My inclination is more towards the Wesleyan quadrilateral, especially since I don't see a neat way to separate tradition(little t) from Scripture as far as determining the canon and establishing its authority without circularity.
I find the Orthodox view of the afterlife intriguing, but idk enough about it to actually have an opinion on it either way.
I'm not sure which one you're refering to, as there are a couple. The most outlandish beiing Aerial Toll-Houses
I always figured I'd make a good monk, but that's not really a thing in evangelical Protestantism.
A lot of introverts feel this way...the cenobite life has a certain appeal, and I feel like its a major missing factor in Protestant spirituality though I understand why from a doctrinal standpoint.
I guess I'd describe myself as Evangelical in beliefs, but prefer Eastern styles and aesthetics.
I'm kind of flipped, Eastern in my approach to theology and beliefs, but prefer Baptist style worship and liturgy(for lack of a better word)

The iconic view of the Bible is a big part of why I'm able to accept more controversial views like mytho-history and also why I'm able to not shy away from deconstructive scholarship to engage with secular scholars of religion.
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Nancy Pelosi to retire from Congress after nearly 4 decades in office

Wow. She's doing well that by herself? With that much power does she even need to be in Congress to "destroy the USA"
She was Speaker of the House and has been the leader of the democrats in the House of Representatives
for decades. Hakeem Jefferies is now the corrupt leader, but Pelosi still has much power and influence in the DNC.
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Thousands of College Students Respond to the Gospel, Hundreds Baptized at Unite Cincinnati

On Wednesday, Nov. 5, UniteUS, the movement that has reached thousands of college students for Jesus, held an event near the campuses of the University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, and Cincinnati State College.

Over 5,500 people attended the event that took place at Heritage Bank Center, which is directly located next to Great American Ball Park—home of the Cincinnati Reds. As they entered the arena, attendees were met with three pickup trucks filled with water in preparation for spontaneous baptisms that would follow the event inside.

ChurchLeaders witnessed Dove Award-nominated worship group Elevation Rhythm starting the night off leading worship. That was followed by Bible teacher, author, and podcaster Jennie Allen pleading with the students to follow Jesus.

Continued below.

Erika Kirk Won’t Watch Charlie Kirk Assassination Video—’I Never Will’

During a recent interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters, Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, shared that she hasn’t watched, nor ever will watch, the video of her husband’s assassination that immediately flooded social media following the shooting.

On Sept. 10, Turning Point USA (TPUSA) cofounder Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed while he was speaking during his The American Comeback Tour stop at Utah Valley University.

Charlie and Erika, 36, were married in May 2021. The Kirks have two children under the age of 4.

“I never saw the video. I never will see it. I never want to see it,” Erika told Watters. “There’s certain things you see in life that you can never unsee. There’s certain things in your life that mark your soul forever.”

Continued below.

Morality without Absolute Morality

You can't be bothered to know what was being responded, but I need to read all your conversations with several posters and assess a third party. I'm not interested in discussing a third person when I am in a dialog.
You weren't in a dialogue, you butted into a conversation that was already going.
You don't see how morals are demonstrably different in different societies? Get real.
I return to my question about the holocaust.
Do ya think someone might not want engage in examples when the very first one offered is the morality of the Holocaust? Examples aren't needed here.
They very much are, because the issue is whether or not what a given society considers moral makes that moral. The example was expressly chosen because it is assumed that it is indisputably immoral, but if morals vary depending on the society cannot be condemned.
Argue with my positions when you reply to me, not others. If you don't know what I think, ask.
You've presented nothing worth arguing about.
I commented on a post about an academic paper (one that you have twice told me in *our* conversation is irrelevant and you won't discuss) that you described. I didn't think much of the paper or what it was claiming. You then responded to me 8 MINUTES after I posted not in reply to you and included several concepts that were not in my post into your reply. This is you, not me.
Yes, I have stated that the criticisms you've lobbed aren't really relevant to the issue that was being addressed. I responded to you because the context of why that paper was even referenced in the first place matters more than the paper itself, especially given the thread topic.
Theory of mind is what psychologists call our understanding of the mental states of others. I used the term correctly in context. As I noted when I did, a theory of mind is one of the features that allows us to understand how our actions might make others feel and this is a key component underlying the construction of moral systems.
I'm not up on psychologists lingo, so my confusion was more general regarding how "theory" is used.
Those are the moral instincts. Moral systems require the addition of values and principles placed on top of the instincts.
Sure
"oughts can only be determined after the goals have been.
Sure thing, but such artificial oughts render the whole enterprise suspect.
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Ghislaine Maxwell’s move to ‘country club’ prison smacks of special treatment, experts say

Great news, everybody!

Ghislaine Maxwell's prison emails show she is 'happier' at minimum-security Texas facility

Within days of her arrival at a Texas prison camp in early August, Ghislaine Maxwell gushed in emails to her friends and family over the cleanliness and safety of her new surroundings.

Maxwell’s unexpected move to the all-women’s Federal Prison Camp Bryan, which houses inmates convicted of nonviolent offenses and white-collar crimes in dormitory-style quarters, drew immediate condemnation from current and former federal Bureau of Prisons employees. They said it was very unusual for prisoners with sex offenses on their records to be incarcerated in such an unconstrained setting, indicating Maxwell was receiving preferential treatment.

... a Wall Street Journal report last month describing special accommodations for Maxwell’s visitors and other perks, such as meals sent to her dormitory room, late-night workouts and her ability to shower after other inmates were already in bed for the night.
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Does Regeneration Precede Faith?

It is relevant, because it takes time to look up the correct Greek of each of your claim. It is simply not worth the time if you got no training.


The underlined is incorrect! Please substantiate with references.
Again he just ignored my post about John 12:36.
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Appointed to Eternal Life - Acts 13:48

The Book of Life

Ephesians 1 indicates that we are chosen to be in Him before the foundation of the world. Predestined. Whether we choose to or not is of our own free will.

Ephesians 1:4-6 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Revelation 3 indicates that all names are in the book of life until they are blotted out.

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Why are they blotted out? The wicked are unrepentant, have rejected Him, and worship the beast. Revelation 13:8, Revelation 17:8 and Revelation 20.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

John, in describing the New Jerusalem made this statement at the end.

Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Conclusion: If names have to be blotted out of the book of life, then every name is written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, until it is blotted out. The book of life shows that we are all appointed to eternal life, but we have free will to choose Him or not.
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Work

Hello could I please get someone to pray about my work. I’ve been struggling with bad mental health this past year and have taken unexcused time off work. My boss is getting mad and I genuinely could loose my job tomorrow. I only finally support myself and my finances are already messed up from taking the time off. I really don’t know what I would do if I got fired. I just want some grace and understanding as I’m trying my best to get better. Thank you for taking the time to read this

Who then can be saved?

We need to make the distinction between the two types of people in the world. Gods people, the elect can't do anything to obey the gospel unless God gives us the ability to obey.
Likewise, the reprobate can't do anything to obey the gospel, because God does not give them the gift of grace and faith, because it's not His will that they be saved.

But you need to understand that God is not responsible for the evil which the reprobate do. He allows them to do it and it does serve His will because He will show Hi hatred of sin by punishing them with eternal torment in the lake of fire. If they didn't sin, then there would be no way for God to demonstrate His wrath and justice. So yes Gods will will be done, even through the wicked.
You’re basing this on 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 which was written to believers who were not spiritually appraised. They couldn’t understand spiritual things because they were setting their mind on the flesh instead of setting their mind on the Spirit. Paul says this in the next 5 statements. So it doesn’t make any sense at all to say that someone who isn’t spiritually appraised can’t believe the gospel when Paul was addressing people who weren’t spiritually appraised WHO BELIEVED THE GOSPEL.
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More Americans are now reading the Bible but fewer believe it’s 100% accurate: study

I suppose I would be in the camp that doesn't believe the Bible is 100% accurate but rather 99% accurate. There are spurious verses and a few scribal errors that have made their way into the text but it doesn't impact my belief on it being the word of God. I think the writer of the article would have done better to explain if accuracy is meant by scribal errors and spurious verses or if people truly do not trust it as the word and inspiration of God.


Overall it's really nice to see that the younger generation and especially the men leading the way in spiritual renewal. A shame about the women, though. I would venture to say that's because they're going to university and droves and depending on the university they are being taught anti-Christian ideologies.
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The Final Experiment (Flat Earth Bites The Dust)

I hadn't heard that phrase before; thank you for telling me. :)

I legitimately thought it was a particular American Christian thing. I mean it might be, but I only found out about it from The Simpsons.
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Bill Gates Says Climate Change ‘Will Not Lead to Humanity’s Demise’

You are supposed to get that anything that doesn't wipe out all of humanity is no problem at all and does not need adressing.
Maybe I am a simpleton that needs everything clearly spelled out.
Or
I think that @Landon Caeli is a conservative and conservatives are known for strongly believing in personal responsibility. Of course, if Landon Caeli finds it acceptable that 6 of the 8 billion people die, he will have no problem to take personal responsibility for it and stating so.
But above all, dear @Nithavela , let us not put words in other people's mouth. Let us not speculate. I am quite confident that Landon Caeli has been thinking this thoroughly trough and will astonish us with his insights.
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How to evangelize who resist the gospel

Many Christian missionaries that come from the first world have a reputation of insulting the religion, faith, culture, and ways of life of non-Christians living in the developing world. This is one reason many people groups dislike Christians. In the villages we work in, missionaries have been known to mock the people's cultural practices, call their god a product of satan or a moon god, and tell them they have to give up their traditions in order to be saved. I have personally witnessed this, and worse.

Before any Christian goes into a village that is foreign to them to evangelize, they need to first take at least a year to study the religious beliefs, language, and culture of the people. They also need to spend time in the village and immerse themselves in the culture and participate in the daily lives of the people for a while before sharing the Gospel. Chances are the people that are going to be evangelized have already heard the gospel at least once, so a missionary who takes the time that is necessary to form a meaningful relationship with them shows that they truly love them and care about them. Going into a village and sharing Christ's love through action will go a lot farther in leading people towards Christ than rushing into a village spouting out a bunch of scripture and pointing out the people's errors without knowing much, if anything, about them and their culture beforehand.

I've shared the following on this forum in the past, but I think it is relevant to this thread.

Sharing the gospel is about planting, watering, and faith. When it comes to us sharing the Gospel, our job is to plant and water seeds. It's God who makes things grow.

"What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building." (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)

It's the Holy Spirit that's doing the work of reaching the unbeliever, not us. We are simply the ones who share the gospel. In many cases the results may seem disappointing, but we should not be discouraged. God has not called us to convert people but to share the gospel. No one expects a seed to produce a harvest the same day that seed is planted, so in the same way, we should not expect to see immediate fruit from our evangelizing.

We can only do our part, which is to share the gospel and love the people as Christ loves us. We have no idea what God is doing in the lives of all the people we encounter and/or share the gospel with, and we may never know. Someone we share the gospel with today may or may not come to Christ, but they may share what we have told them about Jesus with someone else in the future, at which time the Holy Spirit convicts that person; a person we have never encountered or may never meet.

In addition to sharing the gospel, we need to also remember as personal witnesses to Jesus Christ and the gospel, living our lives in a Christlike manner and treating others with a Christ-like attitude is of utmost importance. The simple acts of showing kindness, love, and compassion towards those who are lost may be all it takes to eventually lead them to the Truth. Living by example is at the foundation and perhaps one of the most crucial components of our personal witness to Christ to others. Most everyone in the unbelieving world has heard about Jesus, some many times over, but they may not have seen Him in action even once.
Hi Brother, Thank you.

I checked your wall, and I knew you write through the context of Asia. Yes, our culture and context is similar to what you said.

First of all, I see you are living at Philippians, the Fung Wong Typphoon is badly hitting right now? Are you safe? Our prayer is to the safety of people there.

To get back to the topic, I totally agree to what you said. Sharing the gospel to the first take or the first hearers are the best to share about Christ. While I was in Bible school back to many years ago, as practical class for requirements we used to share about Christ every Saturday. When we asked them "If they ever heard about Jesus?" They replied, "We never heard the person name, Jesus, if a thing or person or male or female?". Sharing about Christ to these people, challenge about life, witnessing, showing kindness is the great achievement we ever had sometimes. They willingly wanted to hear us. They expect the next visit.

Sometimes when we were sent to the wolves as a sheep, we have to be be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves (Matt. 10:16). But sometimes the past missionaries did the wrong witnessing like they did as they wished and left with a bad reputation. Buddhist believers had idols or kind of worshipping at home. A missionary the past rented their home, and throwed their gods, as they considered their sacred god, at the street to bin. When they found out, they had some problems then chased him out of the village. A second time, a lady came to the village some years later. She act wisely, and taught their kids as preshool students, showed them kindness. Later, as she was also in a rent, she has some problem with the landlord, then had a mean to leave.

This village is another way that they don't like Christian that they did every kind of indirect way. Giving something with showing kindness is also considered that we persuaded them to become Christian. This is the biggest mistake that they did the past.

When I situated this village, they considered me as I would do the same. But to this day, I never give anyone but I tried to involved with community work like we are poor village, I helped them repaired the road, or help need of school tables or some other works. They acted weird before but when I slowly did some community works, they talked me or greet me.

As our country is in a bad situation, if they report in a bad way about me to destroy me, then military easily come to arrest or torture me. This is happening everywhere. So I am very carefully to take any step further. As far as the situation concerns, I need to show some kindness, like involving some help for the community, not to individual but a whole so that they knew our care, love and act of Christ. This required physical needs, but challenging my condition. I knew the Lord would do some transformation one day.

I would like to ask to pray for us. God bless you.
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Israel-Hamas Thread II

Part of the first phase of Trump's peace plan for Gaza has been completed. All living hostages are now back in Israel; some bodies of hostages have also been returned, and some 2,000 "Palestinian" terrorists in Israeli prisons, including hundreds of convicted murderers, have been released to Gaza, Judea and Samaria. The war is far from over, but many inside and outside Israel believe otherwise. This is a terrible plan, especially since it invites Qatar and Turkey directly into Gaza, strengthening their evil influence. Saudi Arabia and moderate Arab nations are already pulling back because of this. Only by G-d's grace will Israel not have to pay an even higher price than if it had continued fighting until Hamas was completely destroyed.
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The Schumer Shutdown

Well yes, I can understand if that is your reaction.
So was that post of yours resembling yours?
But come on, your post was just a screenshot from Reddit with a bunch of conspiracy nonsense and lies in it.
It’s not nonsense, everyone sees what the Democrats are doing, even the democrat voters know.
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Charlie Kirk and Our Christian Founding

Sounds like Charlie could have put an amendment on that above return to our Christian roots close: “it's America's best hope for revival and for a great future.” For note, in one of his last speeches,“two threats are combining forces to come after us”, our Christian founding.​

Charlie Kirk "Protect the Spiritual and Cultural Foundations of the West."​

“The Spiritual battle is coming to the west, and the enemies are wokism or Marxism combined with Islamism to go after what we call the American way of life. And the American way of life is very simple; I want to be able to get married, buy a home, have kids, allow them to ride bikes till the sun goes down. Send them to a good school. Have a low-crime neighborhood. Not letting my kid be taught the lesbian-gay, transgender garbage (applause) in their school. While also, not having them to hear the Muslim call to prayer five times a day. That’s important! We want the American way of life, which is by the way – Christiandom, Christian! Our sacrifice, or toil, our vision. The outgrowth of the scriptures gave us western civilization. And this is where I think it is a great rallying-cry. Doesn’t matter if your Hispanic, doesn’t matter if your Asian, doesn’t matter if you black or white, everybody, if you are Christian and Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, these two threats are combining forces to come after us. And its time the Church stands and rises up against it.”​
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The Dedication of the Archbasilica of Our Holy Savior/Twenty-second Sunday After Pentecost (EF)






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