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Friday, June 23, 2000
Courtney Myers | 6/23/2000 03:15:09 PM | link
Hey Thad, awhile ago you wrote "I could list so many topics that I think about, but most of them can't be answered with just the little time we have here." What kind of things were you thinking about? I'd be interested to hear. :)
Free will is an interesting thought. It can make your head spin. We were all predestined, "for you did not choose Me, I chose you," (John 15:16), and yet we all have free will, a choice to follow God, or to reject HIm. How does it work? Is it a paradox? I always slowed the spinning of my head by considering the thought that God, in His omnipotent-ness, knows who will choose Him, or who would be likely to choose Him and believe in Him, and those are the ones He predestines. He knows how the future is going to play out, and He knows how we're going to use our free will to "choose" the path of our lives (whether or not to follow Him.)
Another thought on the issue...
And another...
It can be quite confusing. But then again, it's not one of those things that's necessary for us to completely understand - kind of like the theory of relativity or something. :) (uggghh... flashbacks to physics class...) It's kind of comforting to know that God will take care of us, and when we finally do finish our tasks in this world, He'll take us home to heaven, which I would assume will pretty much blow earth out of the water. :D
Thursday, June 22, 2000
Courtney Myers | 6/22/2000 02:27:55 PM | link
Hey hey hey! A response to the Catholicism/Christianity issue. I'll have to check out some of the resource links he posted. And... another response! Thanks! :) Has anyone read "A Woman Rides the Beast" by Dave Hunt? It's an excellent resource on the topic.
This is quite a touchy issue... especially for those with a background in Catholicism. It's always bound to make people upset. I'm almost afraid to break out the arguments... but "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..."
Of the many differences between the two, there are a couple that really stand out in my mind. First and foremost, Catholicism is not dependent upon Jesus for salvation. Have you ever noticed in Catholic churches, whenever there's a cross anywhere, Jesus is still hanging on it? He's not dead anymore. the work is done... He died and rose again 2000 years ago. Yet he is depicted only halfway through his task.
Catholic faith is more dependent upon Mary, Jesus' mother, for salvation. In Catholicism, it is Mary who provides grace, and it is Mary they pray through to receive intercession from. Note the Rosary, and the "Hail Mary, full of grace," and the various statues/amulets of Mary. It is believed that saying a lot of "Hail Marys" or praying the Rosary one can lessen his or her time in Purgatory, where it is believed Catholics will "burn off" their earthly sins in a kind of "temporary" hell. These things are typically done for relatives after they have died along with special Masses, to speed up their time in purgatory. Sounds a lot like... working your own salvation, eh? Not quite the "by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast" of the Bible. (Eph. 2:8-9)
And there are many, many, many, many other differences between Catholicism and true Christianity... these are just the ones that came to my mind at the moment. I'm focusing on Catholicism mainly because it is commonly mistaken for true Christianity, and that is the cause for much confusion amongst skeptics. I did a lot of studying on this issue a few years ago, and I would like to review my studies before I say much more, to be sure I am getting everything correct.
Laurel mentioned she might be posting her testimony on here a little while ago, because it really applied to the debates that were going on before. She became a Christian last year after growing up in a very un-Christian home, and has a lot of good things to say. :)
Wednesday, June 21, 2000
Courtney Myers | 6/21/2000 02:59:11 PM | link
I've been reading a lot of other webpages lately, and I've noticed that a lot of people tend to mix up true Christianity with Catholicism. It's one of the more common errors I hear when listening to people debate one or the other. There are differences, and very large and crucial ones at that. They are most definitly not the same thing. Just the other day I was reading something somebody wrote on their webpage about why they didn't believe in Christianity, and they mentioned something to the effect of "I don't listen to the pope." Well, neither do I. He has absolutely no influence on my life or my relationship with God. On another page, the webmaster was also discussing their reasons for unbelief, and talked about how the pope condoned so many horrible acts and persecutions, and how he was an awful man. Catholicism is being mistaken for true Christianity, and I think that's the basis for a lot of the misunderstanding and confusion.
If anyone is interested in a full discussion about how exactly the two are so different, I'd be glad to talk about it, but I don't want to just launch into it if no one's interested. :)
Monday, June 19, 2000
thad smith | 6/19/2000 12:34:29 AM | link
well hello all again, sorry I haven't even touched the Puter for the last few days, let alone have enough time to respond to your awesome posts. I really quicky wanted to talk about the roles of Males and Females, and I really can't add anything to what you have said, Court and Jeannine. one thing though, is what you said about agreeing with your husband. I too think that you can disagree with him, but I feel that you should still listen and submit (I hate saying it, it sounds so negative). I think each person has their purpose, they are equal yet different. I like to think of it as a business, you have the boss, and workers. the boss works, and the boss pays bills and runs the business, he makes hard decisions of things to do, he provides the need for the employers, like money. that is his job. but yet without the employees, there is no business. neither work harder, just different.
A man has his obligations; my mom told me once that she is glad she doesn't have to make the decisions, because she knows that she can trust in my dad to actively strive to be right in his decisions. and many think that when we say "submit," we mean it to say "we are better than you." that isn't true. when Jesus was "courting" his bride (the church), yes he gave everything, but he also guided her, making sure that what he did didn't benifit himself, but was purely for her benifit.
You see, men are to take in all aspects before making a decision. when my family was thinking about moving up to WA, my parents were trying to decide whether to move to WA or northern CA. in WA we were to buy a bakery, and in CA we were to work in a bakery company (dad). when I was asked, my answer was that I didn't care. when my mom was asked, she said she didn't want to get tied to another bakery. now even though it was a 25-year dream of my father's to move up to WA, he made the decision to move to north CA, because he was looking at the best interest of her and not just at himself. he was willing to put that dream aside for another 2 years (we didn't know this at the time).
so we each have roles and we need to do them happily. you think that it is easy; I would rather be told then have such a great responsibility. but yet I am called to, so I WILL rise to the need of my future wife, Lord willing, Jeannine. I am sorry if that causes you embarresment Jeannine, but it is true. ok I have to get to bed - I will write more later. good night all and God bless you.
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