Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Experiments versus Experience... A Philosophy Thread

Maybe it's time for Christians to focus on what we have in common and let God sort out the rest. It is no witness for Christ to tear one another apart because we don't interpret every scripture in the bible in the same way.

There is coming a day when we won't care about what denomination someone is, or whether they are Protestant or Catholic. We will be standing together as renewed Christians in these last days, and as persecution for Christians becomes more and more a reality in our own country. The sifting of the wheat is taking place [Matthew 3].

Faith of our Fathers! We will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife —
And preach Thee too, as love knows how,
By kindly words and virtuous life.

Faith of our Fathers, holy faith —
We will be true to thee …

— 'til we log-in to “Hunter's Campfire.”

Yes it is and He did, but that Guide is as Gentleman, when ignored or asked to leave. Makes many believe He never conversed, though it's not hard for such to believe what they want. In fact, for the sake of their faith, it's essential.

Most excellent post. Quite true and quite sad in some aspects but exceeding joy in the aspects that should be the focus.

Yep.

I think the third book in John, covers this much better. Misinterpretation of what is so obviously being said, is a sidestep you always make over that cliff of dogma.

4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Baptizing with water is an external expression of an internal reality: baptism in the Spirit of God. It is a demonstration (work)of faith, presented as much or more for non-believers, as it is for believers. It is a very good thing to do, but not essential for salvation.

Nailed it!

Thanks. As do you.

Believing 101, but a high hurdle for the legally inclined.

RickyD,



Where were the non-believers Acts Ten? How 'bout Acts 16 when the jailer and his family were baptized in the middle of the night?

Believing 101, but a high hurdle for the legally inclined.

See also: bibliolatry, bibliolatrist, n. —bibliolatrous, adj.
/bib'lee ol"euh tree/, n.
excessive reverence for the Bible as literally interpreted.
[1755–65; BIBLIO- + -LATRY]

(Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary)

— id est, undue regard for the Bible itself — especially as privately interpreted.

RickyD,

If I remember correctly you posted Scripture in an earlier post to support your position. Did I make a mistake there?

Mistakes and you are likely, when considering the meaning of scripture.

Have you determined out if Jesus baptized anyone yet? Don't take on too much. Work on that for a while. We'll wait.

I thought that question was answered earlier by my post re baptism by fire.

Sorry Friend, I didn't see that post. It likely was.

Water baptism, like the wafer and wine, are ACTIONS which appeal to our sensible and emotional parts, they do not affect the Spiritual part of us. Because the baptism of the Spirit takes place internally, doubt as to it's Source and efficacy will plague us at times, especially when our intellect remains unsatisfied. Rattler hinted at that in an earlier post on this thread.

But.... no one can alter the fact that at a certain time, in front of at least one witness, we performed an action which duplicates externally what happened internally. Remembering that action can help cast out doubt.

The taking of Communion serves the same purpose. It is an ACTION which serves as a reminder that we are not as we once were.

Just as some benefit from organized fellowship with like minded believers, there are others - depending on their personality type, I think - who are not drawn to the sacraments or church membership.

They are not lesser or greater. They are not even different in God's eyes, I believe.

You covered it much better, whereas i thought i had given an adequate clue. Since you spelled it out there should be no doubt.

However, i suppose if one believes they will go to hell for not taking the dive, there is also scripture telling them to do so, whether He commanded it or not. One mans meat....

For how many centuries did he Catholic Church claim children went to Purgatory if they died before their water Baptism?

I dont know, AS. 2 or 3 million? I think its what He says that matters, not vain and fallacious men.

But of course, you prefer to castigate Him for the shortcomings of sinful men. Well, you just thrash Him twice to make sure He pays the price for allowing men to live who are not nice.

I didn't mention God in my above post. I just demonstrated how some of the opinions posted here where at variance with long held Church teaching, and the early teachings are at variance with the current Church teachings. Of course those teaching were some men's interpretation of God's word, much like those here who claim to know the will of God. This all just goes to beg the question, What do you really know about his will?

"For how many centuries did he Catholic Church claim children went to Purgatory if they died before their water Baptism?"

I wouldn't know. You COULD ask a Catholic, but all of 'em that I know would tell you it just ain't so, regardless of what their church said about it.