Evidence for God from Science

Hi BW, You say you will ban us if we do not talk about our group. People have been asking us to talk about our group since page one and we have steadfastly refused. I even explained that we refused on the basis that talking about groups rarely brings glory to God's kingdom. We want the focus to be o...

Hi Storyteller. Thanks for sharing those thoughts. First, I think it's important to clarify that this thread isn't about singling people out or what they are or are not doing in their personal lives. We all have problem areas and none of us follows perfectly. What we're hoping to achieve is to encou...

As far as I know, in scripture, all who were called disciples, were believers. So yes, a disciple is a Christian. Hi Rick. Thanks for clarifying that. So, what I can see from scripture is that, yes, Jesus did actually command anyone who would be his disciple to literally forsake all. Luke 14:33 . I...

As we grow and trust more, our hearts are transformed maybe not like my Mum, and I don't think it has to manifest itself in that way every time but as our hearts are transformed we let go of the world, bit by bit Hi Melanie. Thanks for sharing that testimony. Your mum sounds like quite a pleasant w...

But then, you mentioned the gospel, and how it's for all people. Are you saying that forsaking material things, as what you believe is a command from God, is part of the gospel? In other words, just as we all must believe in Christ, we all must forsake material things? In order for me to answer you...

Just as we don't take Luke 14:26-27 literally, we don't take Luke 14:33 literally. These verses talk about a willingness for those who want to be disciples. This is a message to the disciples, and for us, that we should be willing to forsake our families, or our possessions, if it comes to that. Ah...

Just like the verses in Luke 14:26-27, shouldn't be interpreted literally? Hi Rick. You've brought this up a few times now so I'll try to give you a satisfying response. It's another of those "get the spirit of the teaching" verses. Yes, we should be prepared to literally hate our family....

So this isn't referring to shared treasure here on earth just individual treasures? As long as affluence and worldly desires are desired communally then it's okay? No, even in a communal setting it's not okay to be greedy. The "forsake all" teaching is designed to deal with our greed. The...

So note our concern is why you do not willing mention the groups you both are associated with? Maybe you have on another thread that I am not aware of. Even with that can you please let us know? Hi BW. Like John the baptist I'd prefer to just be a voice in the wilderness. Whatever group I am or am ...

Are we to forsake helping others? of course not BUT how does one help others when they choose to not even help themselves? By "help ourselves" I'm guessing you mean working for money, since that's what we're talking about. You suggest that the method we should use for helping people is to...

Nothing is more important than God but God does NOT ask us to live on the street naked and asking strangers for food for our children when we are able to provide for them and for ourselves and, more importantly, for others. I think another significant point to this quote from Paul is the sense that...

I know! Now, pick that sentence and replace "the article" with "the Bible". See what happens. After all, the Bible was written by men, not God himself... I liked what abelcainsbrother said about evidence. I think there's some good evidence we can test in the Bible, to know if th...

That said, having materials things ( like a home or a car for example) is NOT the same as being slave to them, not the same as being "slave" to them. Do you think it is an indication of being a "slave" to money when you believe you cannot live without it? Think about what money ...

Simply, don't serve two masters. This was your response to me asking you to explain what you mean by "distracted by possessions". I don't think you've given much of an answer. In one part of your post you say there's nothing wrong with working for mammon, so long as we don't love it, yet ...

Thank you for your honesty. :D I'm concerned about what's happening here. I don't think rain was dishonest in anything he said. You've certainly not shown any dishonesty. The purpose of his OP was not his personal life. The purpose of his OP was to talk about the teachings of Jesus. For you to make...