Today's Scripture Reading

[vamjok]

Christianity's dying wish
Imagine yourself in a court room, going through a hundred witnesses. At first glance, they all appear to be presenting concordant evidence; but there is one thing you cannot help but notice: They all strongly disagree with all the others on one fundamental part of each of their stories. Essentially, they are all accusing everyone else of lying about one detail or another. To make this even more complicated; everyone swears to be telling the truth, only the truth. How plausible is this? How utterly suspect would this make their testimonies? On what basis could one possibly decide who to trust, without giving special consideration to one over all others, and for entirely subjective reasons? Is this not how Christians pick their denomination? Besides, how useless would these witnesses be to our current case? You might as well not have summoned any of them.


Galileo: Christianity's first encounter with reality.
Considering its history as a worldwide power structure, it would be quite an understatement today to say that Christianity has seen better days. The fact that it is literally divided in thousands of denominations — each exhaustively convinced that all the other ones are wrong about something — is much too striking to be left ignored. Nonetheless, when their faith gets compared with others' in terms of numbers, Christians are ever willing to take refuge under the same comforting and quite unsubstantial umbrella of Christianity. Its symbolic membership of a billion+ scattered around the globe, and divided on questions fundamental enough to justify separate denominations, is certainly a symptom of how clueless people really are about what to make of Jesus and the New Testament. We are talking about close to 38,000 denominations. At this rate, one may want to create his own.

It used to be that the Catholic Church could dominate people's minds and actions to an extent that it cannot even dream of emulating now, and never again will. On the political scale, it was powerful enough to be taken seriously by the smartest of scholars when it publicly challenged testable natural phenomenons using scripture and dogma. Today, any scientifically literate person, religious or not, would find the idea completely laughable. Historically, whenever archaeologists, historians or scientists from other domains realized that parts of the Bible previously thought to be factual were false or couldn't have possibly happened, Christians plainly denied everything until they were finally forced to reason. In fact, many are still stuck in denial. As a last resort, they declare it conveniently obvious that the faulty parts were no fairy tales, just a few more harmless allegories.


Evil "atheists" having a little chat.
For nearly a hundred generations, the death of Jesus Christ, by far the most important theme of Christianity, had been thought to redeem humanity for an "original" sin committed literally by our oldest ancestors: Adam and Eve. The couple who, according to evolutionary biology, could never possibly have existed, had reportedly performed the very immoral act of snacking from a Tree of Knowledge. How paradoxical does it sound to you that people would write an allegorical story, claim it to be factual, then make its central point the doctrine that we are all doomed because our most distant parents committed the unholy act of seeking knowledge? For a holy book, it surely starts on a bad note. Without anyone presumptuous enough to challenge those teachings, how could people ever possibly have gained knowledge that it was nothing short of a baffling metaphor?

Even the awfully poignant story of baby Moses is now understood to have been fabricated. Modern Jewish historians believe quasi-unanimously that none of their ancestors ever escaped from Egypt. Basically, the book of Exodus is a shameless lie. The walls of Jericho never came tumbling down and nobody conquered Canaan; the Jews were simply not there at the time. God never had to split the sea for them and whoever wrote Psalm 74:13 is just another victim of this mythology. As we enter a new era of enlightenment, scholars are now doubting that Paul of Tarsus wrote half of the New Testament. That's too bad because he is the only one who wrote in it prior to the year 70 at the very least. His writings barely make mention of the many miracles and events that believing in later became a Christian obligation. He even seems unaware that Jesus came as a physical being.


Don't even count on it...
Over the last half-century, we have uncovered many ancient apocryphal manuscripts that could very well have been part of the canonical gospels. Obviously, they are not. The sole reason for this is that back then, self-proclaimed authorities one-sidedly determined which ones should be. These are the same geniuses who would rely on scripture to determine the age and shape of our planet. Please consider that since biblical times, people have spent thousands of years reiterating lies and spreading them through conquest, intellectual subjugation and control of the political as well as educational systems. They may claim for their defense that back then, nobody knew better, but to this we can respond: "What then were you for?" It is not becoming obvious that day by day — as a consequence of their repeated incompetence — we pay less and less attention to their opinions?

A few centuries ago, Christianity would not admit any wrongs; it would just torture people for disagreeing. Then it started apologizing to some; after they had died. More recently, Catholic authorities have started asking people forgiveness for raping away their childhood... yet many of them are still alive. At this rate, perhaps we will reach a point where it asks forgiveness for things it is doing right now, or so I remember Hitchens saying. Christianity is on its last stand; it was supposed to help the world but somehow contributed to much of its misery. Today, without the threats and the lies, indoctrinating children is just not as easy as it used to be. As Christianity draws its last breath, it may look back at its past glory, thinking in silence: "If only we had stuck to the program, exactly like the Islamists do, we wouldn't be in this mess, now would we, God? ... God...?"

 

[Psalm23]

kam lan chee bye kia, playing around with words again. You use the word EARTH NOT GROUND. shake head. as usual trying to twist around with words. Even lets use the word ground, plasma can exist as well in nature for short instances appearing and disappearing, due to frictions and charges. even deeper down the ground, with radiation decay of elements heating things up, this is even more common. this one you still dare to peng, i respect how thick your face and head is. really i salute u.

of cos your dumb dog cannot create plasma technology and tv. just look at your dumb level of intelligence, how great can your leader be.

"it is also questionable by some real scientists whether plasma is really the 'fourth state' of the matter"

again question your lan jiao! fuck you understand, there is no such thing and being in science field for almost 10 years this is the first time i heard about this. I FUCK U cheebye useless uneducated xtain fool. say tons of time already, you want to spread your own theory of science, do it in your own chee bye church where everyone is uneducated like you. go impress them at how dumb you are with your groundbreaking nobel prize winning statement. Out here, you want to talk about science, pls fucking do your homework and not just play with words.

For your info, Secondary sch only teaches 3 states does not means there is really only 3 states existing in nature. its just that its out of the learning syllabus. really stupid to use this to establish your faith. i really see this as a joke. i bet the person who comes up with this analogy and linking it to xtain faith did not make it past A level and his learning stop there. well, what to do religion is the easy way out for stupid people to understand things.

Sorry to keep you awake but I hope you really learn something about plasma. If you really want to find out more, you can go a read more about the history of plasma. But just add some of my comments. Plasma used to be called ionized gases rather than treated as 'plasma - the fourth state of matter.' In fact, when the term 'plasma' was first coined (and only in the 1920s), it apparently did not find immediate widespread use in the scientific community because many scientists than still considered plasma as mere collection of gas. [By the way, do you know the name of the real scientist who coined the term ‘plasma’? A little clue – his name with a letter ‘L’.]

 

[gymkhana]

Forget about plasma and three states of matter. All that is never in the bible. Especially the concept of trinity or anything to do with trinity. This was added by scribes at a much later date. Amongst other things in the bible. If you have ppl adding their own words and mixing them with the truth then how do you know which words are from God and which aren't??
If God intended to give mankind His words, why did he not protect them?
Ans: the gospels given to Jesus(peace be upon him) was only meant for His ppl i.e the lost sheep of Israel. and only for that period of time. Wasn't it said by Jesus himself that " I have many things to say to you , but ye cannot bear them now" saying that God will be sending another.

Similarly the Torah given to Moses and other scripture like the Psalms given to David , and others given to Solomon Abraham (peace be upon them all )etc. if the followers were meant to get the last revelation , God would not have revealed and sent further Scripture.
That is precisely why there isnt any original bible or even copies of the original or copies of the copies of the copies.


Resolved Question: Top 10 verses that were not originally in the New Testament?

The following are due to scribes just adding stuff into it later

1 john 5:7-- There are three that bear witness in heaven, the father, the word, and the holy spirit, and these three are one

John 8:7-- Let the one who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.

John 8:11-- Neither do i condemn you. Go and sin no more.

Luke 22:44-- In his anguish Jesus began to pray more earnstly,a dn his sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.

Luke 22:20-- And in the same way after supper jesus took the cup and said, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."

Mark 16:17-- These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons and they will speak with new tounges.

Mark 16:18-- And they will take up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any poison it will not harm them, and they will lay their hands on the sick and they will become well.

John 5:4-- For an angel of the Lord went down at certain times into the pool and disturbed the waters; and whoever was the first to stepin when the water was disturbed was healed of what ever disease he had.

Luke 24:12-- But peter rose up and ran to the tomb, and stoopinf down to look in, he saw the linen clothes by themselves. And he went away to his own home, marveling at what had happened.

Luke 24-51-- And when Jesus blesses them he departed from them and he was taken up into heaven.

These scribal additions are often found in late medieval manuscrpts of the New Testment, but not in the manunscripts of the eariler centuries.

-Bart D Ehrman

What do christians think

Bart D Ehrman received his Ph.D and M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary

 

[Psalm23]

Forget about plasma and three states of matter. All that is never in the bible. Especially the concept of trinity or anything to do with trinity. This was added by scribes at a much later date. Amongst other things in the bible. If you have ppl adding their own words and mixing them with the truth then how do you know which words are from God and which aren't??
If God intended to give mankind His words, why did he not protect them?
Ans: the gospels given to Jesus(peace be upon him) was only meant for His ppl i.e the lost sheep of Israel. and only for that period of time. Wasn't it said by Jesus himself that " I have many things to say to you , but ye cannot bear them now" saying that God will be sending another.

Similarly the Torah given to Moses and other scripture like the Psalms given to David , and others given to Solomon Abraham (peace be upon them all )etc. if the followers were meant to get the last revelation , God would not have revealed and sent further Scripture.
That is precisely why there isnt any original bible or even copies of the original or copies of the copies of the copies.


Resolved Question: Top 10 verses that were not originally in the New Testament?

The following are due to scribes just adding stuff into it later

1 john 5:7-- There are three that bear witness in heaven, the father, the word, and the holy spirit, and these three are one

John 8:7-- Let the one who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.

John 8:11-- Neither do i condemn you. Go and sin no more.

Luke 22:44-- In his anguish Jesus began to pray more earnstly,a dn his sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.

Luke 22:20-- And in the same way after supper jesus took the cup and said, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."

Mark 16:17-- These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons and they will speak with new tounges.

Mark 16:18-- And they will take up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any poison it will not harm them, and they will lay their hands on the sick and they will become well.

John 5:4-- For an angel of the Lord went down at certain times into the pool and disturbed the waters; and whoever was the first to stepin when the water was disturbed was healed of what ever disease he had.

Luke 24:12-- But peter rose up and ran to the tomb, and stoopinf down to look in, he saw the linen clothes by themselves. And he went away to his own home, marveling at what had happened.

Luke 24-51-- And when Jesus blesses them he departed from them and he was taken up into heaven.

These scribal additions are often found in late medieval manuscrpts of the New Testment, but not in the manunscripts of the eariler centuries.

-Bart D Ehrman

What do christians think

Bart D Ehrman received his Ph.D and M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary

It is interesting you are putting a question mark on your topic: Top 10 verses that were not originally in the New Testament ?

the question mark itself speaks volume. Since the death of Jesus, the diety of Christ, His resurrection, His ascension, and just about anything mentioned in the New Testament are being questioned by people of diverse backgrounds and even by Christians themselves. Really, no one can come out with any convincing answers and it takes a strong and steadfast faith to believe many of the stories and the events mentioned in the NT, especially those about Jesus. But faith is not just confined to Christianity or it's doctrine. You need faith to be a Muslim, Hindus, Buddhists too, and in fact, you need a bigger faith to be an atheist!

Having said all these, I find it difficult to reconcile three points on your message:

(a) If there is no original copy, how do people compare and come to the conclusion that some of these verses were added. Which documents did they comparied with?

(b) You mentioned that the scribes added them. But in the NT, we are told that scribes hated Jesus and all His teachings. They couldn't wait for Him to be hung; they couldn't wait for His disciples to perish and yes perish they did. With the exception of Apostle John who lived till old age, all the other disciples died of persecution - they were either beheaded or burnt to death. All the gospel writers were not scribe and in fact, many were just common people with no outstanding social credential - except only Apostle Paul who was a Jewish religious leader and was 'dead' against Jesus until one day God opened his eyes to see to the truth. Can you imagine at one point, the scribes hated Jesus, then they turned 360 degree and started to add words to the manuscripts to improve - supposedly - the crediential of what Gospel is. It just doesn't make sense. Furthermore, who were these scribes who added the words to the original copy of the manuscripts?

(c) You say why God doesn't protect His word.

This is not true In fact, God has protected His word. The Bible was the literary object for destruction. Many sought to destroy the Bible. Even today with modern civilised world, there are countries that banned Bible and even behead or kill anyone who found to have a copy of the Bible. Yet, the Bible - year after year - is the best-seller. Quite literally, if you stacked up all the Bibles printed to date in one single stack, I think it can go up higher than most mountains - perhaps not as high as Mt. Everest! Furthermore, if this book contains so much 'descepancies, errors, etc. etc..." why this Book is so feared by so many countries. The answer is simple: This Book is about our struggle against the power of darkness, the prince of the air, the dark forces - Satan. In order to 'win' the battle, Satan is trying every effort to destroy the Bible. It's about how our lives going to end, where our final destination, and the eventual tragic fate of Satan and his angels and those workers of inquities - the evildoers!

 

[Psalm23]

Today’s Scripture Reading [February 19, 2012]

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. [1 Corinthians 1:18-21. KJV]

As we read and listen to the daily news and those things that are taking place each day, we can easily sum up the value system of the world in these few clichés:

• Money really does buy happiness
• If it feels good, just do it
• The one who dies with the most toys wins
• Might makes things right even though they may be wrong
• Survival of the fittest – we have to be tough, ruthless to survive
• Man is basically good and sin is relative

Whether you believe it or not, knowingly or unknowingly, everyone of us probably subscribe to one or more of those values. Because of this value system that is so entrenched in the world around us, many of us are not sensitive to what is going around us, and even sometimes within us. It may be unfair to keeping bringing up contaminated food fiasco in China but it looks like the Chinese government is fighting a losing battle to get the situation under control. Just couple a days ago, it was reported that some evil businessmen were injecting questionable substance into prawns just to inflate the weight of the produce in order to sell at a higher price. These businessmen must be thinking that they have come out with a very ‘wise’ plan to make profits. The news media is never run out of such news and they are fast becoming routine but hopefully we don’t end up that one day that such news are considered not more news-worthy to be reported. It could come a time that we simply ‘get use to it’ and I believe many people in China are now getting used to news on food contamination that are being done on purpose by businessmen all in the name of generating more profits for their companies. I can be quite sure that very few readers here read about the prawns that were being injected with questionable substance, and the reason is quite obvious. It was merely a minor report.

It is interesting to note that for most of us living in city we find that the drinking water from our taps is nothing unusual. It just tastes like any bottled water we bought from supermarket. However, this is not so for others who have been drinking water from well all their lives. I had encountered many people who came from remote villages where they drinking water source was mainly from the well and they found that the water from our taps is very different. They could literally vomit when they first tasted the tap water. Why? City-water around the world is treated with chemicals and the most commonly used chemical is chlorine. Like most chemicals, it has unpleasant taste and odour. Although the quantity used may be very small just enough to kill those harmful bacteria found in the water, for people who are not used to tap water, it can taste horrible because they are sensitive to it. But why are we not sensitive to it at all? The question is very simple – we have been drinking tap water since that day we were born and our taste bud has accustomed to it, hence it is now not sensitive enough to detect the chlorine. We have just got use to it. If you don’t believe that our water is chlorinated, just go to any chemist and buy a chlorine test kit and test the water yourself. You will be surprised at the test result!

Jesus has told His disciples that they were in the world and not of the world (John 15:19). He told them this knowing that He was to leave them soon to His Father. This too is a warning to us. We must not be numbed by those things around us. They are many things that are considered to be wise in man’s sight but remember, the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:25). Just like we are not able to detect the chlorine from our tap water, it does not mean that chlorine is not present in our tap water.

Everything that people do, every news that we read or listen, every commercial that sent to us via newspaper, TV, Internet, SMS, every coarse conversation that we had with our colleagues, friends, every entertainment that we participated, may look all but normal to us. And just like the chlorinated water we drank everyday may taste normal which could in fact affect our cells to turn cancerous, those things from the world that we encountered daily could slowly cripple us to the point that we could also suffer from some form of ‘spiritual cancer.’ The bad news is that we may not even know of it and it may be too late by the time we realised it. But there is a piece of good news! Once we go and examine against the word of God, those things that could make us sick and could cause spiritual cancer will be revealed to us in minute details. Just go and do a test on the tap water for the presence of chlorine, you will be surprised at the test result! We too need to be test by the word of God and the word of God is like our spiritual CT-scan and spiritual MRI machine. They can effectively detect and indicate to us whether we are suffering from any form of spiritual cancer with pin-point accuracy just like a medical CT-scan or an MRI machine would to a cancer patient.

Have you been to the word of God, our spiritual CT-scan and spiritual MRI machines lately? If you have not, you need to do it right away. The word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). But take heed! The gospel message can only make sense when we humble ourselves and submit ourselves willingly to God. Pride of our eyes can act like a veil that keeps us from seeing God's glory and His goodness, chose to do what we could not, pay for our evil, give us new life, and make us good and righteous like Him through the cross of Jesus Christ, and if we put our weight down on Him, He will lift us up to be with Him forever. This is what the Gospel of Jesus is all about. To the ‘wise’, to those who are relentlessly conforming to the world value system, this gospel preaching to them is foolishness because the world system dictates so. The world at large believes that only the smart can succeed and succeed on their own accord without God’s help. We must not get into the trap of conforming back into the world’s value system. We must remind in our steadfast faith and to continue to trust that what Jesus said and did was right and let Him make us appear foolish to the world so that His power might flow through us to bring others from darkness into His marvelous light.

 

[Psalm23]

Today’s Scripture Reading [February 26, 2012]

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. [Romans 1:28-32. KJV]

The signs of societal disintegration and degeneration are so apparent that we can see and read them in the daily news media. These signs of disintegration and degeneration are not new. Since the fall of man when man chose to obey the instructions from Satan, these plagues are already the big portion of our daily struggles. The plagues of alienation, meaninglessness and despair that everyone one of us struggled with are like a vicious cycle, and all that we all ended up is a baggage full of bad emotional experience. These societal plagues take plenty of forms: suicide, drug abuse, reckless relationships, sexual promiscuity, random acts of violence, corruption at high places, injustice are being experienced by everyone at one time or another. And why are we in such a mess? The answer to this question is simple but yet profound. We are in this mess because we are seeking to carry a load we were never meant to carry. We are seeking to climb a mountain that is not meant for us to climb. We are kicking God out of the rightful place in the universe and we are trying to replace God with ourselves and refuse to accept that only He and He alone is the source of all meaning and of all purpose. Yet many people are very proud to admit that they are not a created being made by God. Instead, they have would be very proud to tell you that human are just merely slaps of meat! They couldn’t wait for scientists one day to have discovered to tell that the world that ‘based on all the scientific evidences and beyond reasonable doubt that “There is no God!” Thankfully, we know that this day will never come!

Attached below is an article: Creation Proves the Bible is The Living Word of God. I pray that this article can strongly encourage and remind us that we are indeed the proud creation of God’s handiwork. We must continue to make God, the God of the Bible, as the center of the universe, as the center of our lives, and only He and He alone can give us the meaning and the purpose of life.

----------Creation Proves The Bible Is The Living Word of God By Dave Hunt-----------​

Inspired of the Holy Spirit, Paul declared, "For the invisible things of him [God] from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). God has provided to humble observers of the universe ample evidence for His existence, evidence available in every culture and time in history. Thus there is no excuse for rejecting the witness of creation. No wonder the psalms twice declare bluntly, "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God" (Psalm 14:1; 53:1).

Christians have long pointed to the works of creation as proof of design and thus of a designer, i.e., Creator. Atheists have insisted that science would solve all questions about the cosmos and thus do away with the need for a God to explain anything. And they have persisted in this delusion in spite of the fact that, with each discovery science makes, the evidence for God becomes ever more irresistible.
Every door science opens reveals ten as yet unopened doors. While knowledge of the universe is expanding exponentially, the unknown expands even faster, like receding images in a hall of mirrors. Scientific discoveries overwhelmingly necessitate a power and wisdom, without beginning or end and infinitely beyond human comprehension, which alone could have brought all into existence.

Nowhere is the evidence for God stronger than in life forms, especially since the discovery of the electron microscope and invention of computers. Investigating the molecular level of life, we have discovered that its intricate design and ingenious function are beyond imagination. Reflecting that fact 3,000 years in advance, David said, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works..." (Psalm 139:14). Observing the astonishing design and function even of microbes or insects, let alone human bodies, one is forced to admit that David was right: we could not have evolved, we could only have been created.

Even such a determined proponent of evolution as Richard Dawkins confesses that living things "give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose." He even admits that the nucleus of every cell (the smallest living unit, of which there are trillions in the human body) contains "a digitally coded database larger, in information content, than all 30 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica put together." Just the mathematical odds of getting millions of letters lined up in the right order by chance is off the possibility chart.

For life, something even more amazing is involved than chance aligning billions of chemical molecules in the right order. Dawkins refers to a digitally coded database! This is recent terminology never imagined by Darwin. Not only must the DNA molecules be put together correctly, but they must, like letters, express information in a language providing instructions to be followed.

Each person at the moment of conception begins as a single cell. How does that cell know what to do to construct a body composed of trillions of individual cells of different kinds and different functions? Most school children know the answer: imprinted in that original cell are instructions for the construction and operation of the human body - instructions which will be followed unerringly. DNA replicates this blueprint onto every cell produced. And every cell, amazingly, will know which part of those directions it is to follow.

Today's school child also knows that DNA has an incredible capacity for storing information. The information contained in DNA the size of a pinhead would fill a stack of books 500 times as high as the distance from earth to the moon! It would take tens of thousands of desktop computers to store and process that amount of data.

The world's fastest supercomputer is now being completed. It is called "Blue Gene" and will perform one quadrillion (1 with 15 zeros after it) calculations per second! It is being built to map the three billion chemical letters in the human genome, equal to a 100,000-page run-on sentence of operating instructions for a human being. All put together by chance?

Blue Gene's first task will be to figure out how the body makes just one protein molecule. To solve that problem it will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for a full year! Yet the body, following the instructions imprinted in DNA, creates a protein molecule in a fraction of a second. Were the instructions which this computer will take a year to understand arrived at by random processes? All this for just one protein molecule! "The probability of the required order in a single basic protein molecule arising purely from chance is estimated at one chance in 1 followed by 43 zeros. Since thousands of complex protein molecules are required to build a simple cell, probability moves.outside the realm of possibility.

It takes many different kinds of enzymes (made of protein) to decode/translate the genetic information encoded into DNA – and the enzymes are independently encoded to do this. So it would do no good for evolution (even if it could) to imprint genetic information on DNA; at the same time it would have to independently encode the enzymes to translate it. DNA and the enzymes to decode it could not "evolve" over a period of time. All must be in perfect working order from the start. At the molecular level evolution is a bad joke!
Years ago the conundrum was, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" Now it's "Which came first, protein or DNA?" It takes protein to construct DNA, but it takes DNA to make protein. Obviously, both were created at once; neither could have evolved.

But the lesson of DNA points far beyond the statistical impossibility of it all somehow falling together through random processes over great time. The three billion chemical letters express information in a language which must be read to be usable! A language necessarily involves ideas framed within grammatical rules and can be created and expressed only by intelligence. This moves us beyond statistics and matter into another realm, involving issues - and issues cannot be comprehended by tissues.

Language expresses thoughts - and thoughts are not physical! They may be articulated in physical form, such as sounds or words and sentences on a page or the coded chemical letters in DNA. Obviously, however, the thoughts being conveyed by the language are independent of the material upon which they are expressed. A sentence may be written on paper, wood, sand, a computer chip, or audio tape, but none of these originated the message. It must have an intelligent, nonphysical source independent of the physical means of storage or communication. The Bible, of course, says that the God who encoded the DNA is a spirit (John 4:24).

The fact that life is created and functions by language originating from an intelligent, nonphysical source forever finishes evolution. There is no way that chemicals could put together intelligent thoughts in a language that contains the instructions for constructing and operating even a single cell, much less the trillions of cells in the human body! The fact that DNA is designed to replicate itself precisely and only fails to do so through destructive error eliminates even theistic evolution.

We are driven by science and logic to admit that life in any form can have its source only in a God who is independent of the material universe. That there cannot be more than one source is proved by the uniformity and universality of the language. These inescapable facts refute not only atheism but pantheism and polytheism, the major delusions of paganism.

DNA, of course, does not understand the information encoded into it. It is a mechanism built and programmed by the Originator of the encoded language to follow His instructions automatically. And the most complex mechanism built by DNA is the human brain. More advanced than any computer yet built by man, it contains some 100 billion nerve cells connected by 240 miles of nerve fibers involving 100 trillion connections.

For all of its complexity, the brain no more originates or understands what it is doing than does DNA. The brain does not originate thoughts. If it did, we would have to do whatever our brains decided. On the contrary, we (the real persons inside) do the thinking and deciding, and our brains take these nonphysical thoughts and translate them into physical actions through a connection between the spirit and body that science can't fathom.

Wilder Penfield, one of the world's leading neurosurgeons, describes the brain as a computer programmed by something independent of itself - the mind. Science cannot escape the fact that man himself, like his Creator, must be a nonmaterial being in order to originate the thoughts processed by the brain. But man did not originate thought itself. He did not create himself nor give himself the capacity to think. The Bible says that God, who is a spirit, created man "in his own image" (Gn 1:27), that man is a "living soul" (2:7), i.e., a nonphysical being made like unto his Creator, capable of thinking thoughts and making decisions. This ability makes him morally responsible to God. To escape that responsibility is the sole reason for atheism.

Not only has science failed to do away with God, but the latest data from computers and the examination of life at the molecular level confirm what the Bible has always said. Christians have wondered for centuries what was meant by the Word of God dividing even between "the joints and marrow" (Hebrews 4:12). Now we know that the language God has encoded in the DNA in the act of creation does exactly that. But God communicates to man in his spirit in a higher language which "is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). This Word of God is "for ever...settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89).

Long before modern science, David wrote, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world" (Psalm 19:1-4).

It becomes ever more thrilling and increasingly glorifying to God to allow Scripture to expound upon the essential role language plays in all creation. Genesis 1 tells us that God said, "Let there be light," etc. The New Testament tells us that "the Word was God. All things were made by him..." (John 1:1-2). Later we read, "the worlds were framed by the word of God" (Heb 11:3). And the universe is "by the same word... reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (2 Peter 3:7). Jesus said, "the word that I have spoken...shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).

Man's capacity to study and understand DNA language is proof that he is a nonphysical being like the Originator of DNA, thus capable of a spiritual relationship with the Creator which is far different from that of any part of man's body. His ability to form conceptual ideas and express them in speech allows man to receive communication from his Creator in language which man (but not animals) can understand and obey. And conscience tells us when we disobey. The Bible says that believing and obeying this communication from God is absolutely essential for spiritual life. Moses declared 3,500 years ago, "[M]an doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live" (Deuteronomy 8:3)

Since Adam's rebellion, his descendants are by nature all "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1) and must be born again to spiritual life by the Word of God through the Spirit of God into the family of God: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6); "Being born again...by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever....And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (1 Peter 1:23, 25); "the word of faith, which we preach" (Romans 10:8). The psalmist said, "thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name" (Psalm 138:2).

Miraculously, the children of their "father the devil" (John 8:44) can become the "children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26). Yes, "now are we the sons of God..." (1 Jn 3:2). After receiving spiritual life from Him through believing His Word, we are capable of and "must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). One can see the serious error of looking to physical things like baptism and the communion wafer for spiritual life. Yes, Jesus said, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you" (John 6:53). Clearly, by eating and drinking He meant believing: "he that believeth on me shall never thirst ...every one which ...believeth on him, may have everlasting life" (John 6:35-40). As He explained to those who could not understand, "...flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63).

Man's existence as a nonphysical being does not end with the death of his material body. For the Christian, death means a temporary separation for both soul and spirit "to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). That separation ends when "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven [and] bring with him" the souls and spirits of those who have been in His presence while their bodies have been asleep in the grave. "With a shout" He will call their bodies from the grave to rejoin their souls and spirits, the living believers shall be transformed and "caught up [raptured] together with them...to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:50-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Fantastic? No more so than creation!

His bride, snatched from earth and taken to His Father's house as He promised (John 14:1-3), after the "judgment seat of Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:10), will be "arrayed in fine linen, clean and white" and married to her Lord (Revelation 19:7-8). The One who returns triumphantly to the Mount of Olives (from which He ascended - Acts 1:9-12) leading the armies of heaven as "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS,"...wearing "a vesture dipped in blood,...is called The Word of God" (Revelation 19:11-16).

------------End of Article: Creation proves The Bible Is The Living Word of God-----------

[Note: Because of my other commitments, regrettably, this is my last weekly message that I am writing for the Today’s Scripture Reading readers. I started this thread more than 3 and half years ago and I am encouraged to note that there are quite a few readers who are reading the threads here. I will continue to share, hopefully as often as time permits, on the topics concerning our eternal life, about the word of God and more importantly, about the finished work of our Lord Jesus. May God bless you all richly as you continue to meditate upon His words.]​

 

[GOD IS MY DOG]

“How well we know what a profitable superstition this fable of Christ has been for us”

— Pope Leo X (1513-1521)

 

[greedy and cunning]

attention to Psalm23 ,

you have been posting countless quotes from your bible ,
here are some of your latest quotes :

Today’s Scripture Reading [February 5, 2012]

Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. [James 1:16-17. KJV]

Today’s Scripture Reading [February 12, 2012]

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. [Jeremiah 29:12-13. KJV]

Today’s Scripture Reading [February 19, 2012]

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. [1 Corinthians 1:18-21. KJV]


Today’s Scripture Reading [February 26, 2012]

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. [Romans 1:28-32. KJV]

IF you can teach me how I can become a better person ( less greed , lust , anger , etc) by reading or studying all your quotes , i may consider following you to the church.

you keep quoting this and that , what is the point ? just ask yourself are you a better person now compare to 5 years ago. you need not tell anyone of the answers.
just answer in your heart.

 

[Psalm23]

attention to Psalm23 ,

you have been posting countless quotes from your bible ,
here are some of your latest quotes :

Today’s Scripture Reading [February 5, 2012]

Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. [James 1:16-17. KJV]

Today’s Scripture Reading [February 12, 2012]

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. [Jeremiah 29:12-13. KJV]

Today’s Scripture Reading [February 19, 2012]

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. [1 Corinthians 1:18-21. KJV]


Today’s Scripture Reading [February 26, 2012]

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. [Romans 1:28-32. KJV]

IF you can teach me how I can become a better person ( less greed , lust , anger , etc) by reading or studying all your quotes , i may consider following you to the church.

you keep quoting this and that , what is the point ? just ask yourself are you a better person now compare to 5 years ago. you need not tell anyone of the answers.just answer in your heart.

You are right! We don't need to tell anyone whether we are 'better' person now or before. Whether we are a 'better' person or not, whether we continue to live in sin, it's between God and us. We should not and must not let anyone come in between us. Unlike other religions, each time you sin, you go to confess to your priest, as believers of the God of the Bible, we don't need to do this, although we are told to pray for one another for God and His spirit to strenghten us to walk the way He always wanted us to walk. We all live in a fallen world with all the temptations, and everyone - including me - are tempted again and again and again. Often we are helpless and we need to go to the word of God, the Bible, to ask God for help. Believe me. It helps. So you asked me to teach you how to become a better person, I am afraid to tell you I can't, neither any man on earth can. Only God can teach you and just have an open mind and read the Bible, He will teach you. As Psalmist, David wrote Psalm 139:23-24): "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." And trust me, there are plenty of wickednesses in us, me included. The only Person can lead us in the way of everlasting is Jesus. Trust me, go and read the word of God, the Bible seriously, God will teach you how to be a better person. No man can do this.

God bless
Psalm23

 

[gymkhana]

You are right! We don't need to tell anyone whether we are 'better' person now or before. Whether we are a 'better' person or not, whether we continue to live in sin, it's between God and us. We should not and must not let anyone come in between us. Unlike other religions, each time you sin, you go to confess to your priest, as believers of the God of the Bible, we don't need to do this, although we are told to pray for one another for God and His spirit to strenghten us to walk the way He always wanted us to walk. We all live in a fallen world with all the temptations, and everyone - including me - are tempted again and again and again. Often we are helpless and we need to go to the word of God, the Bible, to ask God for help. Believe me. It helps. So you asked me to teach you how to become a better person, I am afraid to tell you I can't, neither any man on earth can. Only God can teach you and just have an open mind and read the Bible, He will teach you. As Psalmist, David wrote Psalm 139:23-24): "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." And trust meU, there are plenty of wickednesses in us, me included. The only Person can lead us in the way of everlasting is Jesus. Trust me, go and read the word of God, the Bible seriously, God will teach you how to be a better person. No man can do this.

God bless


Excuse me. Which other religion is it that you sin you have to confess to he priest? It is the only religion that does this. The Official Christian religion. (by the way if you don't already know , the word catholic means official).
Please do not end your work by misleading ppl.

 

[vamjok]

Excuse me. Which other religion is it that you sin you have to confess to he priest? It is the only religion that does this. The Official Christian religion. (by the way if you don't already know , the word catholic means official).
Please do not end your work by misleading ppl.

that is what he is always trying to do, and i bet that is the only thing he is good at.

 

[greedy and cunning]

You are right! We don't need to tell anyone whether we are 'better' person now or before. Whether we are a 'better' person or not, whether we continue to live in sin, it's between God and us. We should not and must not let anyone come in between us. Unlike other religions, each time you sin, you go to confess to your priest, as believers of the God of the Bible, we don't need to do this, although we are told to pray for one another for God and His spirit to strenghten us to walk the way He always wanted us to walk. We all live in a fallen world with all the temptations, and everyone - including me - are tempted again and again and again. Often we are helpless and we need to go to the word of God, the Bible, to ask God for help. Believe me. It helps. So you asked me to teach you how to become a better person, I am afraid to tell you I can't, neither any man on earth can. Only God can teach you and just have an open mind and read the Bible, He will teach you. As Psalmist, David wrote Psalm 139:23-24): "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." And trust me, there are plenty of wickednesses in us, me included. The only Person can lead us in the way of everlasting is Jesus. Trust me, go and read the word of God, the Bible seriously, God will teach you how to be a better person. No man can do this.

God bless
Psalm23

i told you to answer the question in your heart not for the reason you gave above.
it is simply that you can lie to others but you cannot lie to yourself. you know truly well what years of reading the bible has taught you.

you did not answer the simple question how those quotes of yours can teach one to be a better person.
you don't have the answer and you got temerity to say this : I am afraid to tell you I can't, neither any man on earth can.
for once , can you answer a simple question without quoting the bible , without mentioning the word god.
if every answer that you give you have to reference to the bible and god , then we are only going round and round in a circle.

eg ; ah meng believes in A , but the majority believe in other thing.
if the majority tell ah meng that A is false , yet ah meng counter argue A is the only truth and go on to give example taken from A.
this is surely irrational.
if ah meng think that A is true , the he should proof it without reference to A.

 

[Psalm23]

......Excuse me. Which other religion is it that you sin you have to confess to he priest? It is the only religion that does this. The Official Christian religion. (by the way if you don't already know , the word catholic means official).Please do not end your work by misleading ppl.

Besides RC, in Mormonism, confession of sin is taught as part of an important doctrine to an authorised priesthood leader. (sorry - but you may say Mormonism is Christianity. No. Mormonism is not because besides the Bible, Mormons have another 'bible' of their own and Bible that Protestant Christians believe is not a final word of God, according to Mormon's teaching.

Also in Buddhism, confession of one's fault to a superior (like a senior monk) is an important part of the Buddhist practice.

It must be noted that the practice of confession of sin to priests is adhered or at least practice more often in the RC than in other religions and hence we relate this more to the practice by the RC. But this is not always true. It also practices by other religions and also so-called Christian sects. For protestants, we do need to 'confess' our sins to one another (and not necessary to the priests, pastors, or elders) and to pray for one another but this is not a doctrinal requirement. The doctrinal requirement is that we must confess our sins only to God and God alone because only God can forgive our sins. No man can. Confessing our sins and faults to one another is a very good practice because often we find ourselves got trapped in some sins that we simply find them difficult to break. As Christians, we need to share (or confess) our faults, our sins to one another and that others can share with us how they could break the sins that may be a big burden to our daily life. In many instances, our sins are so great that we just find ourselves helpless, and we need to pray (together with our Christian brothers and sisters) asking God to help us to break our sinful habits.

The word catholic (note: in small 'c' and not capital "C") means universal. In fact, this word (in small 'c') is found in the Bible. So, catholic Church means the universal Church of Christ. However, when used as capital 'C' like Catholic Church, it refers to the Roman Catholic Church. I don't think the word mean 'official' because there is no such thing as official church but the universal Church of Jesus Christ. This universal Church of Jesus Christs consisted of true believers who believe in His virgin birth and His finished work on the Cross. Collectively we are His body, and individually, we are the temple of God where His Spirit dwells.

 

[gymkhana]

Besides RC, in Mormonism, confession of sin is taught as part of an important doctrine to an authorised priesthood leader. (sorry - but you may say Mormonism is Christianity. No. Mormonism is not because besides the Bible, Mormons have another 'bible' of their own and Bible that Protestant Christians believe is not a final word of God, according to Mormon's teaching.

Also in Buddhism, confession of one's fault to a superior (like a senior monk) is an important part of the Buddhist practice.

It must be noted that the practice of confession of sin to priests is adhered or at least practice more often in the RC than in other religions and hence we relate this more to the practice by the RC. But this is not always true. It also practices by other religions and also so-called Christian sects. For protestants, we do need to 'confess' our sins to one another (and not necessary to the priests, pastors, or elders) and to pray for one another but this is not a doctrinal requirement. The doctrinal requirement is that we must confess our sins only to God and God alone because only God can forgive our sins. No man can. Confessing our sins and faults to one another is a very good practice because often we find ourselves got trapped in some sins that we simply find them difficult to break. As Christians, we need to share (or confess) our faults, our sins to one another and that others can share with us how they could break the sins that may be a big burden to our daily life. In many instances, our sins are so great that we just find ourselves helpless, and we need to pray (together with our Christian brothers and sisters) asking God to help us to break our sinful habits.

The word catholic (note: in small 'c' and not capital "C") means universal. In fact, this word (in small 'c') is found in the Bible. So, catholic Church means the universal Church of Christ. However, when used as capital 'C' like Catholic Church, it refers to the Roman Catholic Church. I don't think the word mean 'official' because there is no such thing as official church but the universal Church of Jesus Christ. This universal Church of Jesus Christs consisted of true believers who believe in His virgin birth and His finished work on the Cross. Collectively we are His body, and individually, we are the temple of God where His Spirit dwells.

Ok thanks for that. I have read many books that says Catholic is the official religion of christianity. Your explanation is without any foundation because it Protestantism is a very late development long long long after the dust had settled. Who founded your religion. And which denomination out of the tens of thousands is the right one? Also which version of the bible is correct. They can't all be correct. Hmm perhaps I shall answer my own question here, none of them are correct because Esau spoke Aramaic so Youd be lost in translation when You do not have the original.

 

[fishbuff]

Besides RC, in Mormonism, confession of sin is taught as part of an important doctrine to an authorised priesthood leader. (sorry - but you may say Mormonism is Christianity. No. Mormonism is not because besides the Bible, Mormons have another 'bible' of their own and Bible that Protestant Christians believe is not a final word of God, according to Mormon's teaching.

Also in Buddhism, confession of one's fault to a superior (like a senior monk) is an important part of the Buddhist practice.

It must be noted that the practice of confession of sin to priests is adhered or at least practice more often in the RC than in other religions and hence we relate this more to the practice by the RC. But this is not always true. It also practices by other religions and also so-called Christian sects. For protestants, we do need to 'confess' our sins to one another (and not necessary to the priests, pastors, or elders) and to pray for one another but this is not a doctrinal requirement. The doctrinal requirement is that we must confess our sins only to God and God alone because only God can forgive our sins. No man can. Confessing our sins and faults to one another is a very good practice because often we find ourselves got trapped in some sins that we simply find them difficult to break. As Christians, we need to share (or confess) our faults, our sins to one another and that others can share with us how they could break the sins that may be a big burden to our daily life. In many instances, our sins are so great that we just find ourselves helpless, and we need to pray (together with our Christian brothers and sisters) asking God to help us to break our sinful habits.

The word catholic (note: in small 'c' and not capital "C") means universal. In fact, this word (in small 'c') is found in the Bible. So, catholic Church means the universal Church of Christ. However, when used as capital 'C' like Catholic Church, it refers to the Roman Catholic Church. I don't think the word mean 'official' because there is no such thing as official church but the universal Church of Jesus Christ. This universal Church of Jesus Christs consisted of true believers who believe in His virgin birth and His finished work on the Cross. Collectively we are His body, and individually, we are the temple of God where His Spirit dwells.

there is catholicism and there is protestanism. among the protestantism, there are several other branches of theologies, so do you follow the theology of lutheranism, calvinism or arminianism?

most are following calvinism, so what are the 5 pillars of calvinism?

and who is this john calvin and what was his relationship to Servetus? look it up...

 

[Conqueror]

John Wesley And The Methodists

there is catholicism and there is protestanism. among the protestantism, there are several other branches of theologies, so do you follow the theology of lutheranism, calvinism or arminianism?

most are following calvinism, so what are the 5 pillars of calvinism?

and who is this john calvin and what was his relationship to Servetus? look it up...

[video=youtube;lCt1s44cfMM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCt1s44cfMM[/video]


Nobody talks about the Methodist founder - John Wesley. And not to forget his brilliant brother, Charles Wesley, a great hymns composer. So, enjoy this ...

 

[fishbuff]

Re: John Wesley And The Methodists

Nobody talks about the Methodist founder - John Wesley. And not to forget his brilliant brother, Charles Wesley, a great hymns composer. So, enjoy this ...

that is the point!
someone found some religions; mohamed found islam, joseph smith found moronism, ah kao found tua pek kong...

man invent god.... not the other way around!

 

[Conqueror]

Mine Is Very Different

that is the point!
someone found some religions; mohamed found islam, joseph smith found moronism, ah kao found tua pek kong...

man invent god.... not the other way around!

The real one should be practiced as close as what was written in the bible by the first batch of believers who once met Jesus when he was still alive. Many churches were not practicing what was listed in Acts and the Corinthians when speaking in tongues was the main feature of the church at that time just after Jesus death. Methodist, Lutheran and many were not the ones practicing speaking in tongues. So, the tongue in the cheek excuses were ...

1) no more in fashion, modern people don't need it anymore

2) speaking in tongues are for the gifted only. So, it is still alright for those who do not speak any.

No Spirit = No Speaking in Tongues ? But, many forgot that ...

No Spirit = No Sign = No Salvation.

This is akin to the blood of lambs that were painted on the doorway of every Jewish or non-Jewish households to prevent the destroyer (spirit of death) from killing their first born child in Egypt.


[video=youtube;k2R07EbLjSU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2R07EbLjSU&feature=related[/video]

 

[Psalm23]

there is catholicism and there is protestanism. among the protestantism, there are several other branches of theologies, so do you follow the theology of lutheranism, calvinism or arminianism?

most are following calvinism, so what are the 5 pillars of calvinism?


and who is this john calvin and what was his relationship to Servetus? look it up...

There are many 'ism' of religions and these 'ism' come with 'founders'. Perhaps the full name of the initial 'ISM could better be described as "Is Simply Misleading". From Christians' perspective, we must not be bothered with all these 'ism' and who are their founders. Christianity - in fact I prefer to call it 'believers of Jesus' (rather than identify myself as protestant or a Luteran, or a Methodist) - is based on our faith in Jesus. Christianity is not an offshook of the Roman Catholic, neither this was founded by Paul, John, Luke, Matthew, Timothy. We believe our faith in Jesus because of the Holy Scriptures that were written by the 40-odd writers. None of these writers of the Holy Scriptures should be considered as founder or founders of Christianity. Our faith in Jesus is founded based on the true revelation from God through His Holy Scriptures. These writers were God's servants. They were not founders of Christianity. So, keep hubbing on Paul, John, Calvin, John Wesley, Pope, etc, etc that they ere founders of Christianity can only confuse others and also ourselves. Yes, some of these servants of God like John Wesley, Hudson Taylor plus thousands of other saints who had served God and went to all the four coners of the world to preach the gospel must be remembered because their testimonies and their messages have inspired many sinners to repent, and in turn became faithful servants of God themselves.

We are really going in circle when we started to list down all the religions and call this "ism' and that 'ism'. This is simply misleading. These 'ism' of religion is created by man and not from God. Pillars of Calvinism? What are they....I really don't know....Rather, for believers of Jesus, we based our faith on the doctrine of the Bible, notably: God became man, through His Son, Jesus, to redeem man, and only the precious blood of Jesus can save all sinners from eternal separation.

Just as an analogy. Often we heard that Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore. Did he really found Singapore? The island of Singapore has been here even before Sir Stamford Raffles was born! He merely landed, perhaps earliest than most British or other Europeans. Likewise, the faith of our belief in Jesus was not founded. Rather, the life of Jesus, who He is, what He did when He was on earth, etc. are recorded by God's handpicked writers and collectively they were compiled into one book, the Bible. In reality, it is a collection of many manuscripts written over several thousand years. Our faith of Him is based on those collective manuscripts - the Bible.

God bless

 

[fishbuff]

Re: Mine Is Very Different

The real one should be practiced as close as what was written in the bible by the first batch of believers who once met Jesus when he was still alive. Many churches were not practicing what was listed in Acts and the Corinthians when speaking in tongues was the main feature of the church at that time just after Jesus death. Methodist, Lutheran and many were not the ones practicing speaking in tongues. So, the tongue in the cheek excuses were ...

1) no more in fashion, modern people don't need it anymore

2) speaking in tongues are for the gifted only. So, it is still alright for those who do not speak any.

No Spirit = No Speaking in Tongues ? But, many forgot that ...

No Spirit = No Sign = No Salvation.

This is akin to the blood of lambs that were painted on the doorway of every Jewish or non-Jewish households to prevent the destroyer (spirit of death) from killing their first born child in Egypt.


[video=youtube;k2R07EbLjSU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2R07EbLjSU&feature=related[/video]

oh now you have to depend on cartoon to illustrate those supernatural act.
and you watch this cartoon with no feelings? the white ghosts went around to kill every single first-born!! and you condone the genocide against the egyptian?
so how can you say you are just?? it is like taking sides with Hitler to exterminate the Jews!