only one correct religion with the truth?

[Matthew_Light]

1. Obviously, “the Word of God” can say “I am God!” Who else would say “I am God”, other than the Word? After all, God spoke to humanity through Jesus!
2. Moses spoke to a burning bush on Mount Sinai. Is God a burning bush or not?
3. Why did Jesus say “why do you call me good? There is none good but God.”?
4. What does “God is a spirit and must be worshiped in spirit and in truth” mean?
5. What kind of body did Jesus of Nazareth have during the time of Abraham?
6. How exactly does one kill God, the Creator of the universe, the Being through which all reality exists and is made manifest? Everything that is, is like unto a grain of sand in the palm of his hand!

I say these things not to argue with Catholics. I say these things to provide an alternative way of viewing Jesus that is compatible with Islam because ending the hatred between Christians and Muslims and Jews is imperative for humanity at this point in history. We cannot afford to view one another as the spawn of the Devil any longer!

 

[stewstew03]

…
I say these things not to argue with Catholics. I say these things to provide an alternative way of viewing Jesus that is compatible with Islam because ending the hatred between Christians and Muslims and Jews is imperative for humanity at this point in history. We cannot afford to view one another as the spawn of the Devil any longer!

The only widespread hatred that exists is that between Muslims and Zionists…

 

[Per_Crucem]

1. Obviously, “the Word of God” can say “I am God!” Who else would say “I am God”, other than the Word? After all, God spoke to humanity through Jesus!

The Muslims do not believe the word IS God, but that the word - Isa - was created by God, of a virgin, with a word. “Allah says to a thing, ‘Be’ and it is,” etc. Of course, there is a prophetic connection to speaking God’s word in the Qu’ranic understanding as well. However, that is not what the Bible means by the Word. The Word is not a concept, speech act or prophetic utterance. It is a divine Person, who existed before time and is, in nature, God.

1. Moses spoke to a burning bush on Mount Sinai. Is God a burning bush or not?

Actually, he spoke to an angel in a burning bush. Be that as it may, the burning bush was not a person or being but an object.

1. Why did Jesus say “why do you call me good? There is none good but God.”?

To make a point about the assumptions of the rich young ruler and his understanding of goodness.

1. What does “God is a spirit and must be worshiped in spirit and in truth” mean?

The Father and the Spirit are immaterial, of course.

1. What kind of body did Jesus of Nazareth have during the time of Abraham?

He was not yet incarnate.

1. How exactly does one kill God, the Creator of the universe, the Being through which all reality exists and is made manifest? Everything that is, is like unto a grain of sand in the palm of his hand!

God in his divine nature was not killed. Yet the God-man was. Death, however, is not non existence.

I say these things not to argue with Catholics. I say these things to provide an alternative way of viewing Jesus that is compatible with Islam because ending the hatred between Christians and Muslims and Jews is imperative for humanity at this point in history. We cannot afford to view one another as the spawn of the Devil any longer!

All it does is emphasize what a radically different concept Muslims and Christians have of God. And that there is no way to reconcile the differences in our understandings of it. Of course, neither side should hate nor kill the other. That doesn’t mean embracing relativism, however.

 

[stewstew03]

This is what I mean by reading more into his words than he he actually says.

Umm… aren’t you doing that here:

Just because he did not say there is no equivalent, does not mean there is not.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[marywarfield]

1. Obviously, “the Word of God” can say “I am God!” Who else would say “I am God”, other than the Word? After all, God spoke to humanity through Jesus!
2. Moses spoke to a burning bush on Mount Sinai. Is God a burning bush or not?
3. Why did Jesus say “why do you call me good? There is none good but God.”?
4. What does “God is a spirit and must be worshiped in spirit and in truth” mean?
5. What kind of body did Jesus of Nazareth have during the time of Abraham?
6. How exactly does one kill God, the Creator of the universe, the Being through which all reality exists and is made manifest? Everything that is, is like unto a grain of sand in the palm of his hand!

I say these things not to argue with Catholics. I say these things to provide an alternative way of viewing Jesus that is compatible with Islam because ending the hatred between Christians and Muslims and Jews is imperative for humanity at this point in history. We cannot afford to view one another as the spawn of the Devil any longer!

Haha the devil you say!! Better out of your mouth than mine.

Is it your suggestion here that Christians change their thinking about God,
exchange their truth for a lie, to make Christianity compatible with Islam
and if we just do that we will gain world peace?

Puts me in mind of:

"8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10*Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”. Matthew 4:1-11.

Devil indeed Matthew!!! to which I can only tell you your odds
are better in praying for whirled peas!

 

[PRmerger]

I am just saying that it is not necessary - 6:54 does not say you will not be saved if you don’t partake.

Either way you present it–even with your interpretation that you are proposing–John 6:54 does indeed say that the Eucharist is absolutely necessary.

Without it, we don’t have “real life”, as you acknowledge.

Thus, the Eucharist is absolutely necessary to have “real life”.

 

[openmind77]

Either way you present it–even with your interpretation that you are proposing–John 6:54 does indeed say that the Eucharist is absolutely necessary.

Without it, we don’t have “real life”, as you acknowledge.

Thus, the Eucharist is absolutely necessary to have “real life”.

“Real life” just means a truly spiritual one - so if you don’t partake then you life is essentially a secular one not truly spiritual.

But as I said before, there are equivalents for the Eucharist in other religions.

But that still does not mean it is required for ‘eternal’ life - it just facilitates ‘eternal’ life

 

[PRmerger]

“Real life” just means a truly spiritual one - so if you don’t partake then you life is essentially a secular one not truly spiritual.

Ok.

What you have described above is, indeed, a necessity then.



One cannot be saved unless one partakes of the Eucharist.

Otherwise, we are left with a secular life, a life in which there is no…

eternal

life.

 

[PRmerger]

Also, can you please tell me how you know that Jesus actually said the words in Matthew 25, but that He didn’t actually say the words in John 3?

Openmind, would you please answer the above?

 

[PRmerger]

He is indeed talking about about your mortal life on earth. It does not mean life would not exist without the communion, but that it would be enhanced by it - that is all.

You don’t get to pick and choose Jesus’s words, but you should not read into them something which is not clearly stated.

You are correct that we should not “read into” the Words of Scripture, but the Scriptures state that there are lots of things that we believe that are “not clearly stated”.

Not everything we believe must be “clearly stated” in Scripture.

In fact, your statement is not “clearly stated” in the Bible. Unless you can tell me where the Bible says this: “You don’t get to pick and choose Jesus’s words, but you should not read into them something which is not clearly stated”

Also, can you tell me where the Bible “clearly states” that we should only follow the words of Jesus, and not the words of any of the other inspired writers? Book, chapter and verse, please!

Hey, there, openmind!

Would you mind giving us the verse(s) in the Bible that “clearly state” that we should only follow the words of Jesus and not the words of any of the other inspired writers?

And also where the Bible says “You don’t get to pick and choose Jesus’s words, but you should not read into them something which is not clearly stated”.

 

[openmind77]

Hey, there, openmind!

Would you mind giving us the verse(s) in the Bible that “clearly state” that we should only follow the words of Jesus and not the words of any of the other inspired writers?

And also where the Bible says “You don’t get to pick and choose Jesus’s words, but you should not read into them something which is not clearly stated”.

I have not answered this question before, because it seemed like a silly question.

Why would any book say that you should follow only parts of it? Obviously no book would say such thing.

The reason I follow Jesus’s words is because he alone is divine - nobody else in the Bible is similarly divine.

Also since he is divine, we should follow all his words especially Matthew 25:35-46, which encapsulate his main teachings.

 

[openmind77]

Ok.

What you have described above is, indeed, a necessity then.



One cannot be saved unless one partakes of the Eucharist.

Otherwise, we are left with a secular life, a life in which there is no…eternal life.

This is a Christian belief (and conceit) that only believers are saved, which is ridiculous.

Warren Buffet one of the biggest philanthropists of our time (maybe all time) is reportedly an atheist (I don’t know this for sure). If you think he does not have eternal life or he won’t be saved, you are kidding yourself. He will definitely be far ahead in the line to get into heaven compared to you or me (if I can get into that line, that is),

 

[PRmerger]

I have not answered this question before, because it seemed like a silly question.

Why would any book say that you should follow only parts of it? Obviously no book would say such thing.

Egg-zactly.

Except that is what you have been proposing. That you only follow some of the book.

And, I would add, you only follow the words that you like.

That exactly amounts to creating a god in your own image.

The reason I follow Jesus’s words is because he alone is divine - nobody else in the Bible is similarly divine.

Except that the only way you know that Jesus is divine is because of someone else’s words.

It is the Church which has told you that Jesus is divine, and that his words are actually words that come from the Godhead.

You would not know that any other way.

Also since he is divine, we should follow all his words especially Matthew 25:35-46, which encapsulate his main teachings.

Amen!

This is very Catholic of you to say!

 

[PRmerger]

This is a Christian belief (and conceit) that only believers are saved, which is ridiculous.

Yep.

God is a gentleman and will never force himself upon anyone who doesn’t desire him.

Warren Buffet one of the biggest philanthropists of our time (maybe all time) is reportedly an atheist (I don’t know this for sure). If you think he does not have eternal life or he won’t be saved, you are kidding yourself.

I have no idea whether he will have eternal life or not. That’s beyond my paygrade.

But if he does have it, it’s because he believed, was baptized, and received Him.

He will definitely be far ahead in the line to get into heaven compared to you or me (if I can get into that line, that is),

You are always welcome to get into the line! Come join us at the Table! Repent, and be baptized!

Remember, the Bible says that baptism saves you!

 

[Matthew_Light]

There was a Carpenter once. And More than a carpenter.

He also was accused of working for Satan.

This Carpenter I follow. If I too am accused of following Beelzebub, my Lord faced the same and far worse. How can I complain?

 

[PRmerger]

There was a Carpenter once. And More than a carpenter.

He also was accused of working for Satan.

This Carpenter I follow. If I too am accused of following Beelzebub, my Lord faced the same and far worse. How can I complain?

Not that I am accusing *you *of following Beelzebub…but is it possible for someone to accuse another of following Beelzebub, and…it’s actually true? He actually is a follower of Beelzebub?

One would think that in this world that there are indeed followers of the Evil One…and that one ought to be able to acknowledge that someone is following him…

and that make the fact that Jesus, too, was accused of working for Satan irrelevant, as it applies to your statement here.

 

[openmind77]

Yep.
…I have no idea whether he will have eternal life or not. That’s beyond my paygrade.

But if he does have it, it’s because he believed, was baptized, and received Him.

If he is an atheist then he does not believe.

I thought you just said before that anyone who leads a purely secular life does not have eternal life and now you say it is beyond your paygrade.

Actually you are right I do think it is beyond your paygrade to say what is required for eternal life

 

[marywarfield]

If he is an atheist then he does not believe.

I thought you just said before that anyone who leads a purely secular life does not have eternal life and now you say it is beyond your paygrade.

Actually you are right I do think it is beyond your paygrade to say what is required for eternal life

Pretty much what is required for eternal life is Christ in His fullness
not your dilute form, OR to desire that fullness sincerely, OR to have the
intercession of someone in Christ act on your
behalf whether or not you are aware of it.

 

[Servant19]

Not that I am accusing *you *of following Beelzebub…but is it possible for someone to accuse another of following Beelzebub, and…it’s actually true? He actually is a follower of Beelzebub?

One would think that in this world that there are indeed followers of the Evil One…and that one ought to be able to acknowledge that someone is following him…

and that make the fact that Jesus, too, was accused of working for Satan irrelevant, as it applies to your statement here.

…Except that I have never heard or seen a rational explanation for the existence of this so called Evil One/ Beelzebub.

If God made everything in His image, then all evil amounts to a narrowing of His goodness in its manifestation, not sourced from “someone” who is Evil…

…

 

[Servant19]

Haha the devil you say!! Better out of your mouth than mine.

Is it your suggestion here that Christians change their thinking about God,
exchange their truth for a lie, to make Christianity compatible with Islam
and if we just do that we will gain world peace?

Puts me in mind of:

"8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10*Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”. Matthew 4:1-11.

Devil indeed Matthew!!! to which I can only tell you your odds
are better in praying for whirled peas!

Goodness me…

.