archimedes - I just read you post on Calvinism and the fact that you see to be arguing that it is all a cosmic joke because you are proof that once a believer not always a believer. Why do you fine Claivinism so compelling or so representative of what a true Christian should believe that you can now say you are a walking indictment of Christianity. I just see you as a guy who is currently a non follower or non believer. You had a right to back slide away and perhaps someday you will slide back in. Also do you have any proof that you will not be given a choice after you die to believe in Christ? ( I have never gotten a satisfactory answer on that one for any branch of Christianity.)
The example i gave was from my own church. Here is another example of what i am talking about. These people steal the money in the name of Jesus. Jesus does not seem to mind though: Joyce Meyer A recent series of investigative articles in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch revealed Meyer's ministry purchased for Joyce and Dave a $2 million home, a $10 million private jet, and houses worth another $2 million for the couple's children, who also work for the ministry. The articles also outlined Meyer's recent personal purchases, including a $500,000 vacation home. Meyer, 60, lives in Fenton, Missouri, near St. Louis. Meyer's ministry withdraws program from Channel 24 By BILL SMITH Post-Dispatch 01/02/2004 Joyce Meyer's âLife in the Wordâ TV show will no longer be aired on the Rev. Larry Rice's KNLC (Channel 24). Rice said he had told Meyer two weeks ago that he was canceling her Sunday evening program and was considering canceling her weekday show when the ministry notified him Friday that it was pulling off the station. Rice said his actions were prompted by Meyer's lavish lifestyle and what he saw as teachings that often went âbeyond Scripture.â Rice said he had become increasingly worried about what he views as the âexcessive lifestyleâ of Meyer and her family. He said Friday that the ministry's $2.5 million home in south St. Louis County where Meyer lives, and the $100,000 Mercedes-Benz owned by her husband, Dave, âcrosses the line.â
Is not this a true representation of christianity today? the Calvinists say the other denominations are not true christians, the Baptists say the Catholics are going to hell, the Jews say they are still waiting for the messiah. A person would think that all of these people who claim to have talked to God would have gotten a consistent message.
I think one could actualy conclude that the message is, in fact, clear and consistant .... EVERYBODY (and their dog) is going to hell. Religeon was God's prank call.
Or nobody is going to hell. Hell isnt even mentioned in the Old Testament. The concept of hell was formulated later probably as a way to scare the sheep into submission. http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/beliefs/hell.htm Hell in the Old Testament The idea of hell (as understood in Christianity) is virtually absent from the Old Testament, which has very little to say about the afterlife at all. A possible mention hell in the Old Testament is this prophecy about the end times:
"private" paralel web even. Wow, hell sounds like a prety exclusive snoby club... probably a publicity stunt by satan
Actually the place Jesus calls hell does exist. Here is a picture of biblical hell. It is a place called Gehenna: http://www1.christianforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=26264
You are obviously smart enough to know that your relationship with God does not depend on what some other human being (who is not God) tells you about God. If there is a God -- when you tell him that you realized Calvinism was wrong because you live was proof Calvin was incorrect. Would you expect God to say -- hey compelling argument. You are correct Calvin was speaking for me -- therefore you were right to reject me. --- And while I suspect that you are proof that once saved always saved is not correct - (something I never really accepted anyway) I will say that your salvation is between you and God. Since physics tells us time is an illusion perhaps the time you spent acting on Gods word will be sufficent for you to merit salvation.