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Misc All Things Religious

I never knew he laid "hands for healing" on anyone? I listen to his radio broadcast every week. You might be confusing him with someone else. Ravi is an extremely intelligent born again Christian who is of Indian decent. He is one of the most intelligent evangelists I know. Look up RZIM and see if this is the man you are referring to.
Here are a couple articles for those interested.

Never heard of him laying hands, he wasn't a "faith healer" if that's what the poster meant. I have heard of Ravi reaching out to people around the world in moments of natural disasters, hunger, being present with those on deathbeds, visiting and helping in prisons, and eloquently and compassionately sharing hope and encouragement to millions around the world. He was human, and no doubt had flaws, but he touched more people than most of us ever will. Nothing but respect here.
 
I want to be clear that I respect other orthodox interpretations of Revelation. But in my experience, I have found that those who have been influenced by the Scofield Bible; the Left Behind series; Hal Lindsay, et al, have not been so gracious, which has been evident in this thread even. Such an ungracious spirit is usually indicative of a desire to hang onto tradition rather than an earnest desire to keep an open mind in matters that we should avoid being so dogmatic. There is room for gracious disagreement in how Christians interpret aspects of Revelation. If you hold dogmatically to any one view, you should at least be prepared to defend it with sound biblical interpretive methods.
 
I want to be clear that I respect other orthodox interpretations of Revelation. But in my experience, I have found that those who have been influenced by the Scofield Bible; the Left Behind series; Hal Lindsay, et al, have not been so gracious, which has been evident in this thread even. Such an ungracious spirit is u sexsually indicative of a desire to hang onto tradition rather than an earnest desire to keep an open mind in matters that we should avoid being so dogmatic. There is room for gracious disagreement in how Christians interpret aspects of Revelation. If you hold dogmatically to any one view, you should at least be prepared to defend it with sound biblical interpretive methods.
What does scoffield study bible,left behind series, have to do with being dogmatic?
Not trying to be aurgumentive with you . Just confussed why you are saying that.
To me Its very simple , Gods word is clear on all matters and with the Holy Spirit its easy for me to understand it for reproof,correction,guidance and discernment of Gods will in my life. Dont think God intended for his word and its interputation to be divided up into several camps of thinking,interputation. His word is word. Hes the same yesterday,today,and forever.
I am influenced by the Holy Spirit and when I read Gods word , thats what molds my piece of clay between the right and left ear.
 
I want to be clear that I respect other orthodox interpretations of Revelation. But in my experience, I have found that those who have been influenced by the Scofield Bible; the Left Behind series; Hal Lindsay, et al, have not been so gracious, which has been evident in this thread even. Such an ungracious spirit is usually indicative of a desire to hang onto tradition rather than an earnest desire to keep an open mind in matters that we should avoid being so dogmatic. There is room for gracious disagreement in how Christians interpret aspects of Revelation. If you hold dogmatically to any one view, you should at least be prepared to defend it with sound biblical interpretive methods.
I agree that knowing who is correct in regards to the interpretation of Revelation is difficult for all involved. It is entirely possible God has revealed it to someone but how we know who that someone is would be the big question. My advice is to pray earnestly and ask God for discernment in how to interpret his word but remember sometimes the answer from God is not always the one you want. Shouldn't keep us from trying though, mainly through prayer
 
What does scoffield study bible,left behind series, have to do with being dogmatic?
Not trying to be aurgumentive with you . Just confussed why you are saying that.
To me Its very simple , Gods word is clear on all matters and with the Holy Spirit its easy for me to understand it for reproof,correction,guidance and discernment of Gods will in my life. Dont think God intended for his word and its interputation to be divided up into several camps of thinking,interputation. His word is word. Hes the same yesterday,today,and forever.
I am influenced by the Holy Spirit and when I read Gods word , thats what molds my piece of clay between the right and left ear.

There are many people who take the above interpretations as absolutely the only correct reading of Revelation. In reality, it is but one of several interpretations that have been considered orthodox throughout church history.

I agree that God's Word is in general very clear. But that begs the question: what is the clear message of Revelation? The answer to that, I believe, is found in the letters to the churches of Asia. Over and over and over again, John tells those Christians to remain faithful to Christ no matter the cost, because eventually Christ wins in the end. Aside from those points, it is not so easy for an audience 2,000 years removed to discern with certainty what all the symbols contained in the book may or may not mean. This is where grace and charity is a must.

In my view--and again this is just my view--there is a much more satisfying way to understand Revelation than the above references. But I don't disrespect those who hold opposing views.
 
There are many people who take the above interpretations as absolutely the only correct reading of Revelation. In reality, it is but one of several interpretations that have been considered orthodox throughout church history.

I agree that God's Word is in general very clear. But that begs the question: what is the clear message of Revelation? The answer to that, I believe, is found in the letters to the churches of Asia. Over and over and over again, John tells those Christians to remain faithful to Christ no matter the cost, because eventually Christ wins in the end. Aside from those points, it is not so easy for an audience 2,000 years removed to discern with certainty what all the symbols contained in the book may or may not mean. This is where grace and charity is a must.

In my view--and again this is just my view--there is a much more satisfying way to understand Revelation than the above references. But I don't disrespect those who hold opposing views.
I don't disrespect you. I have heard every interpretation imaginable when it comes to the Revelation. My beliefs parallel those of most KJV fundamentalist. There will literally be a rapture, a seven year tribulation period, 21 earthly judgments, an anti-Christ, a mark of the beast, a Judgment Seat of Christ, a Great White Throne judgment, a lake of fire, The Lamb's Book of life, and a Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ. Trust me, these are not symbolic. To believe that they are symbolic, would be completely dismissing the Book and the message it is conveying.
 
I never knew he laid "hands for healing" on anyone? I listen to his radio broadcast every week. You might be confusing him with someone else. Ravi is an extremely intelligent born again Christian who is of Indian decent. He is one of the most intelligent evangelists I know. Look up RZIM and see if this is the man you are referring to.
yep, I was confusing him with Benny Hinn. My apologies.
 
Is There a God?
Does God exist? Here are six straightforward reasons to believe that God is really there.
By Marilyn Adamson


Just once wouldn't you love for someone to simply show you the evidence for God's existence? No arm-twisting. No statements of, "You just have to believe." Well, here is an attempt to candidly offer some of the reasons which suggest that God exists.

But first consider this. When it comes to the possibility of God's existence, the Bible says that there are people who have seen sufficient evidence, but they have suppressed the truth about God.1 On the other hand, for those who want to know God if he is there, he says, "You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you."2 Before you look at the facts surrounding his existence, ask yourself, If God does exist, would I want to know him? Here then, are some reasons to consider...

1. The complexity of our planet points to a deliberate Designer who not only created our universe, but sustains it today.
Many examples showing God's design could be given, possibly with no end. But here are a few:

The Earth...its size is perfect. The Earth's size and corresponding gravity holds a thin layer of mostly nitrogen and oxygen gases, only extending about 50 miles above the Earth's surface. If Earth were smaller, an atmosphere would be impossible, like the planet Mercury. If Earth were larger, its atmosphere would contain free hydrogen, like Jupiter.3 Earth is the only known planet equipped with an atmosphere of the right mixture of gases to sustain plant, animal and human life.

Photo showing the earth's relative size and perfect distance to the sun as evidence of God's existence in creating the universe.
The Earth is located the right distance from the sun. Consider the temperature swings we encounter, roughly -30 degrees to +120 degrees. If the Earth were any further away from the sun, we would all freeze. Any closer and we would burn up. Even a fractional variance in the Earth's position to the sun would make life on Earth impossible. The Earth remains this perfect distance from the sun while it rotates around the sun at a speed of nearly 67,000 mph. It is also rotating on its axis, allowing the entire surface of the Earth to be properly warmed and cooled every day.

And our moon is the perfect size and distance from the Earth for its gravitational pull. The moon creates important ocean tides and movement so ocean waters do not stagnate, and yet our massive oceans are restrained from spilling over across the continents.4

Water...colorless, odorless and without taste, and yet no living thing can survive without it. Plants, animals and human beings consist mostly of water (about two-thirds of the human body is water). You'll see why the characteristics of water are uniquely suited to life:

It has wide margin between its boiling point and freezing point. Water allows us to live in an environment of fluctuating temperature changes, while keeping our bodies a steady 98.6 degrees.

Photo from underwater in a lake or ocean to illustrate one more property of water that God designed, that water freezes from the top down, allowing fish to live in the winter.
Water is a universal solvent. This property of water means that various chemicals, minerals and nutrients can be carried throughout our bodies and into the smallest blood vessels.5

Water is also chemically neutral. Without affecting the makeup of the substances it carries, water enables food, medicines and minerals to be absorbed and used by the body.

Water has a unique surface tension. Water in plants can therefore flow upward against gravity, bringing life-giving water and nutrients to the top of even the tallest trees.

Water freezes from the top down and floats, so fish can live in the winter.

Photo of rain falling on plants, showing the process of evaporation and water distribution on our planet critical to life, another evidence that God exists.
Ninety-seven percent of the Earth's water is in the oceans. But on our Earth, there is a system designed which removes salt from the water and then distributes that water throughout the globe. Evaporation takes the ocean waters, leaving the salt, and forms clouds which are easily moved by the wind to disperse water over the land, for vegetation, animals and people. It is a system of purification and supply that sustains life on this planet, a system of recycled and reused water.6

The human brain...simultaneously processes an amazing amount of information. Your brain takes in all the colors and objects you see, the temperature around you, the pressure of your feet against the floor, the sounds around you, the dryness of your mouth, even the texture of your keyboard. Your brain holds and processes all your emotions, thoughts and memories. At the same time your brain keeps track of the ongoing functions of your body like your breathing pattern, eyelid movement, hunger and movement of the muscles in your hands.

Photo of a woman thinking, to illustrate the human brain's ability to process a million messages a second, an amazing ability that answers the question, 'Is There a God?'
The human brain processes more than a million messages a second.7 Your brain weighs the importance of all this data, filtering out the relatively unimportant. This screening function is what allows you to focus and operate effectively in your world. The brain functions differently than other organs. There is an intelligence to it, the ability to reason, to produce feelings, to dream and plan, to take action, and relate to other people.

The eye...can distinguish among seven million colors. It has automatic focusing and handles an astounding 1.5 million messages -- simultaneously.8 Evolution focuses on mutations and changes from and within existing organisms. Yet evolution alone does not fully explain the initial source of the eye or the brain -- the start of living organisms from nonliving matter.

2. The universe had a start - what caused it?
Scientists are convinced that our universe began with one enormous explosion of energy and light, which we now call the Big Bang. This was the singular start to everything that exists: the beginning of the universe, the start of space, and even the initial start of time itself.

Photo shows an explosion of light to illustrate the start of the universe, compatible to when God said, 'Let there be light.'
Astrophysicist Robert Jastrow, a self-described agnostic, stated, "The seed of everything that has happened in the Universe was planted in that first instant; every star, every planet and every living creature in the Universe came into being as a result of events that were set in motion in the moment of the cosmic explosion...The Universe flashed into being, and we cannot find out what caused that to happen."9

Steven Weinberg, a Nobel laureate in Physics, said at the moment of this explosion, "the universe was about a hundred thousands million degrees Centigrade...and the universe was filled with light."10

The universe has not always existed. It had a start...what caused that? Scientists have no explanation for the sudden explosion of light and matter.

3. The universe operates by uniform laws of nature. Why does it?
Much of life may seem uncertain, but look at what we can count on day after day: gravity remains consistent, a hot cup of coffee left on a counter will get cold, the earth rotates in the same 24 hours, and the speed of light doesn't change -- on earth or in galaxies far from us.

All of the sciences--molecular biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, etc.--hinge on the consistent laws of nature.

Dr. Emily Baldwin commented, "One of the most important numbers in physics, the proton-electron mass ratio, is the same in a galaxy six billion light years away as it is here on Earth…"11

Photo of mathematical equations on a blackboard to illustrate the mathematical nature of our laws of nature, another evidence that God exists.
How is it that we can identify laws of nature that never change? Why is the universe so orderly, so reliable?

"The greatest scientists have been struck by how strange this is. There is no logical necessity for a universe that obeys rules, let alone one that abides by the rules of mathematics. This astonishment springs from the recognition that the universe doesn't have to behave this way. It is easy to imagine a universe in which conditions change unpredictably from instant to instant, or even a universe in which things pop in and out of existence."12

Physicist Paul C. Davies, comments, "…to be a scientist, you had to have faith that the universe is governed by dependable, immutable, absolute, universal, mathematical laws…”13

All of our ability to discover, solve problems, create is made possible by the orderly laws of the universe that never change and can be measured with precision.

Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize winner for quantum electrodynamics, said, "Why nature is mathematical is a mystery...The fact that there are rules at all is a kind of miracle."14

4. The DNA code informs, programs a cell's behavior.
Photo shows a wall of computer binary code of zeros and ones to illustrate that the 3 billion DNA molecules that God created in every human cell is much like a computer program.
All instruction, all teaching, all training comes with intent. Someone who writes an instruction manual does so with purpose. Did you know that in every cell of our bodies there exists a very detailed instruction code, much like a miniature computer program? As you may know, a computer program is made up of ones and zeros, like this: 110010101011000. The way they are arranged tell the computer program what to do. The DNA code in each of our cells is very similar. It's made up of four chemicals that scientists abbreviate as A, T, G, and C. These are arranged in the human cell like this: CGTGTGACTCGCTCCTGAT and so on. There are three billion of these letters in every human cell!!

Well, just like you can program your phone to beep for specific reasons, DNA instructs the cell. DNA is a three-billion-lettered program telling the cell to act in a certain way. It is a full instruction manual.15

Proof God exists - Photo of closeup DNA letters of CGTA with a magnifying loop, to illustrate the ordered 3 billion chemicals of DNA within each human cell.
Why is this so amazing? One has to ask....how did this information program wind up in each human cell? These are not just chemicals. These are chemicals that instruct, that code in a very detailed way exactly how the person's body should develop.

Natural, biological causes are completely lacking as an explanation when programmed information is involved. You cannot find instruction, precise information like this, without someone intentionally constructing it.

5. We know God exists because he pursues us. He is constantly initiating and seeking for us to come to him.
I was an atheist at one time. And like many atheists, the issue of people believing in God bothered me greatly. What is it about atheists that we would spend so much time, attention, and energy refuting something that we don't believe even exists?! What causes us to do that? When I was an atheist, I attributed my intentions as caring for those poor, delusional people...to help them realize their hope was completely ill-founded. To be honest, I also had another motive. As I challenged those who believed in God, I was deeply curious to see if they could convince me otherwise. Part of my quest was to become free from the question of God. If I could conclusively prove to believers that they were wrong, then the issue is off the table, and I would be free to go about my life.

Photo of sunset on an ocean short to illustrate the warmth of God's love toward us.
I didn't realize that the reason the topic of God weighed so heavily on my mind, was because God was pressing the issue. I have come to find out that God wants to be known. He created us with the intention that we would know him. He has surrounded us with evidence of himself and he keeps the question of his existence squarely before us. It was as if I couldn't escape thinking about the possibility of God. In fact, the day I chose to acknowledge God's existence, my prayer began with, "Ok, you win..." It might be that the underlying reason atheists are bothered by people believing in God is because God is actively pursuing them.

I am not the only one who has experienced this. Malcolm Muggeridge, socialist and philosophical author, wrote, "I had a notion that somehow, besides questing, I was being pursued." C.S. Lewis said he remembered, "...night after night, feeling whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all of England."

Lewis went on to write a book titled, "Surprised by Joy" as a result of knowing God. I too had no expectations other than rightfully admitting God's existence. Yet over the following several months, I became amazed by his love for me.

6. Unlike any other revelation of God, Jesus Christ is the clearest, most specific picture of God revealing himself to us.
Why Jesus? Look throughout the major world religions and you'll find that Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius and Moses all identified themselves as teachers or prophets. None of them ever claimed to be equal to God. Surprisingly, Jesus did. That is what sets Jesus apart from all the others. He said God exists and you're looking at him. Though he talked about his Father in heaven, it was not from the position of separation, but of very close union, unique to all humankind. Jesus said that anyone who had seen Him had seen the Father, anyone who believed in him, believed in the Father.

Photo of a man reading the Bible to illustrate that God has revealed his existence to us in the Bible.
He said, "I am the light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."16 He claimed attributes belonging only to God: to be able to forgive people of their sin, free them from habits of sin, give people a more abundant life and give them eternal life in heaven. Unlike other teachers who focused people on their words, Jesus pointed people to himself. He did not say, "follow my words and you will find truth." He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me."17

What proof did Jesus give for claiming to be divine? He did what people can't do. Jesus performed miracles. He healed people...blind, crippled, deaf, even raised a couple of people from the dead. He had power over objects...created food out of thin air, enough to feed crowds of several thousand people. He performed miracles over nature...walked on top of a lake, commanding a raging storm to stop for some friends. People everywhere followed Jesus, because he constantly met their needs, doing the miraculous. He said if you do not want to believe what I'm telling you, you should at least believe in me based on the miracles you're seeing.18

Jesus Christ showed God to be gentle, loving, aware of our self-centeredness and shortcomings, yet deeply wanting a relationship with us. Jesus revealed that although he views us as sinners, worthy of his punishment, his love for us ruled and he came up with a different plan. God himself took on the form of man and accepted the punishment for our sin on our behalf. Sounds ludicrous? Perhaps, but many loving fathers would gladly trade places with their child in a cancer ward if they could. The Bible says that the reason we would love God is because he first loved us.

Jesus died in our place so we could be forgiven. Of all the religions known to humanity, only through Jesus will you see God reaching toward humanity, providing a way for us to have a relationship with him. Jesus proves a divine heart of love, meeting our needs, drawing us to himself. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, he offers us a new life today. We can be forgiven, fully accepted by God and genuinely loved by God. He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."19 This is God, in action.

Photo of a woman, drinking a cup of coffee and reading the Bible, in order to know the God who exists on a personal level.
Does God exist? If you want to know, investigate Jesus Christ. We're told that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."20

God does not force us to believe in him, though he could. Instead, he has provided sufficient proof of his existence for us to willingly respond to him. The earth's perfect distance from the sun, the unique chemical properties of water, the human brain, DNA, the number of people who attest to knowing God, the gnawing in our hearts and minds to determine if God is there, the willingness for God to be known through Jesus Christ. If you need to know more about Jesus and reasons to believe in him, please see: Beyond Blind Faith
 
For those that believe there is no God! Explain to me how living humans like me and you exist? And don’t tell me the Big Bang theory that’s just laughable


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I give atheists immense credit for their beliefs. It requires an infinite more amount of faith to believe that life and all its intricancies just happened by an amazing series of consequences, than was done by a superior being with an omnipresent mind.

Unfortunately for atheists though they get to experience hell when they pass away.


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Unfortunately for atheists though they get to experience hell when they pass away.


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Hell doesnt exist. In the words of a athiest rapper.........you cant scare an athiest with hell.......

I've never sinned not 1 single time in my life so how can I go to hell?
 
Hell doesnt exist. In the words of a athiest rapper.........you cant scare an athiest with hell.......

I've never sinned not 1 single time in my life so how can I go to hell?

But if you die a non believer without knowing Jesus and being saved you go to Hell. Isn’t that what the Bible teaches. Jesus is the only way into heaven


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Hell doesnt exist. In the words of a athiest rapper.........you cant scare an athiest with hell.......

I've never sinned not 1 single time in my life so how can I go to hell?

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Matthew 25:41


Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.


So yeah Jesus is the only way into heaven. Your either going to heaven or hell when you die.


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