Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire What Does Declining Church Attendance Mean for Our Society?

So, you're walking in the woods and a pack of vicious pit bulls is coming up behind you at high speed, obviously intent on rendering your backside useless. Someone yells at you about them. Is that a threat or a warning?

You're going through life ignoring what Christians know to be true and hell's fires are getting hotter as you get older. Someone yells at you to take steps to avoid getting burned. Is that a threat or a warning?

A threat is saying I'm going to do something to you if you don't comply. A warning is telling you something that I have no control over is going to happen to you you don't takes steps to avoid it. There's a difference.

Yes.

Most of the churches I’ve been around done work for or been associated with had to many chiefs and not enough Indians and there funds have been either embezzled or sent to places not of their choosing kind of like taxes and politics I’d just as soon go fishing or work in the garden on Sunday

When you're down, and out, we don't go to a bar, or a golf course for help.

The reason that I asked is that Paul makes a comment to the Corinthians that if our only Hope for Christ is in this world we are to be pitied above all men.

Since Christianity isn't a system or philosophy it isn't a code for living. Devoid of Christ Christianity is useless. Were there an absence of the God Who is there Christianity would fall far down on the list of ways to live life.

Now. I didn't say that "as a Christian" if find no value in the Faith apart from Scripture. I'm not asking questions with a hook in them. Not sure about your questions so I'll take them at face value.

You deny being a Mystic or Gnostic. As I have read your posts on these threads I find your position confusing at best. If I remember your posts you put no emphasis of importance on what is recorded in the 66 books. Do you hold that you have personal communication with God? If so, what is that like?

I believe the movement that Jesus started is most definitely a way of living. I do ‘not’ believe the movement that Jesus started is a legalistic set of propositions, rules, or religious rituals.Clearly. And that’s OK with me. Some find comfort within the confines of legalism. I’m not one of em’.Wrong. I just put ‘much more’ emphasis of importance on the resurrection of Jesus since it is the foundation of Christianity. The Bible isn’t.Do ‘you’ not...?’You’ don’t know what personal communication with God is like...?

How did you test what your grandfather taught? How did you know if he was right or wrong?

I was just a boy, you think I should have tested what my grandfather taught me then...? I was just a boy, you think I should have known if my grandfather was right or wrong then...?

He who healed the sick and cast out demons when He walked among men is the same
mighty Redeemer today. Faith comes by the Word of God, then grasp His promise:
"Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37

Cast yourself at His feet with the cry; "Lord; I believe, help Thou mine unbelief."
You can never perish when you do this -- never.

I certainly do not. Nor do I know anyone who makes the claim.

Not even the most devout among my dearest family members have ever made the claim that they have heard God speak to them.

They all pray multiple times/day. But "communication" is inherently bidirectional.

And He walks with me and he talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

- T Whitson

Prayer is personal communication with God. Prayer is personal interaction with God. Communication and interaction are important in any relationship. And God can express Himself to us by any means He chooses...through nature, a sermon, experiences, even through other people. And guidance from the Holy Spirit is communication from God.

Can you provide examples of ways, times, means, messages that God has spoken to you?

I have many conversations related to religion with people throughout the year. Many people hold the view that you and p weed are sharing. I have yet to find sound answers from anyone regarding what this communication looks like and how it happens.

This man has the answer.

I think I made it pretty clear just fine, previously:
Many people choose to have a living vibrant relationship with a living resurrected Savior. Some...such as yourself, apparently...choose not to. Some...such as yourself, apparently...choose the shackles and confines of legalism instead. Clearly. It’s telling (and sad) that someone/anyone who professes to be a Christian and has the very Spirit of God living within them that raised Jesus from the dead, but they have no personal communication with Him...! Jesus Himself promised that this Spirit would guide us and that we would be led by Him. We are not left on our own to wonder what God desires to communicate.

Do ‘you’ believe that God can speak to you separately, one on one today, rather than you just getting all of your answers from what He told somebody else 2000 years ago...?

I’m trying to express to you that experience has informed me that there are a blue million ideas about how people communicate with God be they Christian or any other religion. Many people who identify as Christian “communicate with God “ in the same and or similar ways as non believers.

I am not asking for you to recount your view of how you believe that this happens. Neither am I saying that this doesn’t happen for you. I am asking for specific examples.

Considering the nature of religion, regional, family, ethnic and any other such influence, people often use the same words and concepts but with different understanding of the context and meaning. Examples of what one believes aids in the ability to actually understand what someone is saying. That is why I am asking you for specific context and example. Your answer is general enough to be a statement from a practitioner of quite a few religions.

OK. So what...? If it seems that way to you, then why do ‘you’ seem to struggle with that...?Through prayer is a specific example. Through God’s creation is a specific example. Through a sermon is a specific example. Through life experiences is a specific example. Through other people is a specific example. Through guidance from the Holy Spirit is a specific example.

?

sometimes I put on a religious show on tv for the fun of it.....it is disgusting what the preachers say and how they act

asking for money so they can upgrade their jets....you now so they can spread the gospel and not have to fly with demons and all that.....if there is a hell thats where they need to be.....

organized religion is the biggest scam going.......bob