The comments you hear from your Anglican friends could be viewed as a manifestation of the revival of Gnosticism…

An interesting (and timely)treatment on this very subject can be found at:

http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/index.php?p=2813

Incidentally, the blog “titusonenine” is authored by Kendall Harmon, an orthodox Bishop of the Episcopal church…

Additionally, an interesting series of articles on both Christian inclusion and exclusion, particularly as they relate to human sexuality, can be found at:

http://www.markdroberts.com/

Dr. Roberts is the Sr. Pastor of a Southern California Presbyterian church…

LaShawn…

The Gospel of John is my favorite book of The Bible… Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us…

Regarding creation, La Shawn has links to “Answers in Genesis” and “Truth Be Told” (TBT archives Jun/Jul & Sep), both sites cover the question in detail.

Regardless of the “24hr” days or “millenia” days theories, the sequence is clear, as laid out by Gen 1. And yes that includes the dinosaurs which walked the earth in OT times. Job 40 (behemoth), Job 41, Psa 74 & 104 and Isa 27 (leviathan) covers their attributes, sustenance from God and extinction.

thanks

If this is true, then the earth and all it’s creatures were created at the same time, and evolution of the planet Earth followed by the evolution of life on its surface, would be false.

What is your understanding of Gods creation.

Although I am a writer (recently completed a politically inspired quick read on the grass roots of our great country) this blog stuff is new to me. As a committed Christian, how exciting to know someone like you exists for the rest of us! Just sitting here listening to a lib talking about how his new book claims that Jesus was a liberal!? We need folks like you to remind us of the truth! Thanks loads… Deb

I’m wondering: if God was once a man, then where did original man come from? Who was the original man? Why would Lucifer volunteer to save the children of Adam & Eve? Was it because of sin? If so, who sinned first?

In contrast, followers of Christ believe that the trinity of God has always been in existence (I Am), but that angels were created, not born, to serve God, therefore they are not equal to him — to be blunt, they are inferior to the Godhead. Furthermore, angels are subservient to the bride of Christ/children of God that is the church, as embodied by the believers.

At some point in time before creation, Lucifer (the most beautiful of all creation) had a case of God envy that lead him his fall from grace and, in the ensuing clash, was cast out of heaven along with a third of all angels. Lucifer’s sin was that of vanity leading to jealousy and culminated in open revolution — in fact, the 7 abominations that God hates the most are the same that Lucifer/Satan relished.

After the fall of Lucifer, God in addition to creating heavens & earth (universe), created Adam & Eve, along with the original life forms in the Garden of Eden, and on the 7th day, God said it was all good and rested. Every creature that came thereafter that were born of his or her parents in kind, not created.

Herein is what I believe to be the most fundamental dichotomy between the Bible and other theological tomes — the origin of God, creation and sin. Judaism and Christianity share a common ground founded on these three points. Beyond this, several Judaic denominations, ie Jehovah’s Witness, Hasidic etc, then branch out according to varying interpretations.

The next significant fork, which now defines the Christian, concerns the deity and incarnation of Christ and the blood redemption. This is the common ground shared by “Christian” denominations. For all other religious groups, if Christ is not the raison d’être, then they simply cannot be considered as Christian, however noble or “similar”.

This is not to simply dismiss any other as positively wrong or evil on the basis of faith. By comparison, Islam splits off at Abraham via Ishmael and only acknowledges Jesus as a prophet, even tho they claim that Jews and Christians are also people of the Book. The notion of any Messiah is also rejected; instead the koran demands that all others be subjugated to their belief system. This is a concept that is neither found in the OT nor NT.

However, as pointed out by La Shawn, since most belief systems claim to be the ONE & ONLY truth, it is only logical that; either only one can be the truth or none at all, in which case atheists would be right. Sincerely misplaced faith still misses the meaning of life, and there can be no 2nd place. That said; there is no reason that civil people of differing beliefs can’t meet on some common ground to reason out the truth as they see it, to perhaps persuade one another of the validity of their faith, or agree to disagree.

I don’t say this to be sanctimonious. My beloved grandmother was a devout Tibetan Buddhist who could teach some preachers a few things about the Bible. Yet after considering all things, she decided that life is endless misery until one finally reaches nirvana. If her way IS the truth, then she has since been reincarnated into who knows what or who, while I’m doomed to reincarnation as probably a gnat.

Either that or Osama is now enjoying his 72 virgins. Or Madeline O’Hara is nothingness, or that UFO suicide cult is surfin’ with the alien on some galactic starship.

In any case, it is simply not logical that all belief systems are equally true, or that all paths lead to heaven. It then becomes the responsibility of the individual to seek out the truth for himself.

However, I can’t stress enough that there is no such thing as a stupid question as pertains to the Bible. After all Nicodemus asked Jesus if being born again was meant to be literal. We Siblings-In-Christ who hang out at La Shawn’s corner will do our best to reason with you from the Scriptures.

Have no fear, we won’t bite and rest assured, we only save our sarcasm for inane politics

Act 17:11 These (Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word (from Paul & Silas) with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
(IOW, the Bereans put Paul & Silas on the spot to ensure that their testimony was true to the Scriptures — if you’re not familiar with the verse, you should read the whole chapter)

Hi, Shannon!

To begin your relationship with God and to establish your place in heaven, you must begin by praying (talking to God). Below is an example of a simple prayer that will help you know what to say when you talk to God.

“God, I realize I need a Savior. I confess that I have sinned and I know that my sin will keep me out of heaven. I realize there is not one single thing I can do to earn my way into Your heaven. Right now I am placing all, 100 percent of my trust, in Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection from the dead as payment for my sin. I now accept you as my Lord and Savior, and I commit my life to you. Thank you for forgiving me and giving me your Holy Spirit.”

This is from Charles Stanley’s website, Intouch.org. If you prayed this prayer or want more information please visit intouch.org.

Love in Christ,
Shannon