texts: What does Paul mean by "witchcraft" in Galatians 5:20?

texts:
I recently came across this:

  Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Would Christianity have me believe in [the existence of] witchcraft, too!?


texts: From where does the teaching on women in ministry come?

texts:
First off, since I know this may be a somewhat controversial question in today's climate, let me just state that I'm not intending to take any part in that controversy. I'm just asking this question because I'm curious.

The position of scripture on women being ordained seems to be quite clear. I guess 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12 are the most well-known examples.

What I'm wondering is how this teaching originated. Unless I'm wrong, it is mainly the apostles who speak about it, rather than Christ himself, or for that matter the prophets, and I haven't been able to find any source in the old testament in general. Certainly, it's not like I think that the apostles just made it up of their own volition, either.

Is it part of pre-existing Jewish law, quite simply? If that is so, how come it doesn't seem to be mentioned in the old testament? Was it simply so "obvious" at the time that there was felt no need to codify it, or did the law evolve between the relevant writings of the old testament and the time of Christ? Also, has it ever been considered by any ecumenical council (or other church authority) to have been abrogated by the new covenant? (I'm thinking that if it was considered a specifically Jewish law, then it might have been considered.)

One specific thing I'm having a hard time comprehending is the seeming conflict with the fact that there have been women who have been considered prophets and saints. If women can be bestowed with such authority, how come that priesthood is considered completely beyond them?

Keep in mind that what I'm asking about is primarily about women in ministry, not "women's rights in the Bible" as some more general question.


texts: Is Baptism by Holy Sprit and Baptism by Fire the same thing?

texts:
At Matt 3: 11 we see John the Baptist speaking of Jesus:

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. "

I wish to know if Baptism by the Holy Spirit and Baptism by Fire are two different things, given that the Holy Spirit himself would later appear in the form of fire at Pentacost (Acts 2:3) . How does the Catholic Church interpret the statement of the Baptist ?


texts: Does the Orthodox Church accept the Athanasian Creed?

texts:
One of the main points of debate between the Eastern and Western churches concerns the words "and the Son" in the Nicene Creed's description of the Holy Spirit.

The so-called Athanasian Creed includes the words "and the Son" when describing the Holy Spirit.

How does the Orthodox Church view the Athanasian Creed?


texts: According to the Reformers, how does the doctrine of Total Depravity result in assurance of faith?

texts:
The doctrine of Total Depravity is a reformed doctrine that teaches that man is wholly incapable of having acts or will that is holy or pleasing to God.

According to Calvin and modern reformed denominations, how does this doctrine result in assurance of faith in the heart of the Christian?


texts: What was the point of the laws written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia?

texts:
In Acts 15, a letter was written to the beliving Gentiles. I can understand why they have to abstain from sexual immorality. However, I was wondering

What's the point of the law which state that they must not eat the meat or blood of strangled animals, nor should they eat food offered to idols?

Is it a sin to eat the meat or blood of strangled animals, or to eat food offered to idols?

Does the law (not to eat the meat or blood of strangled animals / not to eat food offered to idols) still apply to us today?

Acts 15:23-29 (NLT)
23 This is the letter they took with them: “This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!
24 “We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them! 25 So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.
28 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: 29 You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.”


texts: Does the Catholic Church allow a professor in a Catholic university to support an idea which is seemingly contrary to Catholic teaching?

texts:
Is there a Church law or doctrine forbidding professors at Catholic universities from having (or at least declaring) views contrary to Church teaching while employed at the university?

The particular case that motivates this question is a case in which a professor of philosophy claimed to have deduced that free will does not exist. But the more general question holds.


texts: How do the reformed theologians understand Hebrews 3:14?

texts:
How do the reformed theologians understand

  Hebrews 3:14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold
  our original confidence firm to the end. ( ESV )

?

Does it not imply that we can lose salvation?


texts: What is the role of a "Methodist lay pastor"?

texts: This site makes mention of a "Methodist lay pastor." What does this person do? How is this role different from the "pastor" in the Methodist Church? What type of religious training or education does this person have?


texts: The Legitimacy Of The Mark 15:34 And Matthew 27:46 Accounts Of Jesus' Words

texts:
Mark 15:34 (NIV) states :

  And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)

Similarly Matthew 27:46 says

  About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)

Why would Jesus say something that is clearly against what Scripture reveals about God never forsaking His righteous servants?

Why would the accounts of what Jesus is purported as saying be recorded in Aramaic/Hebrew when the rest of the account is in Greek?

What was Jesus' intention by His exclamation reported in Aramaic/Hebrew? Was it intentional to exact a predetermined response from all who would read the purported account over against the Scriptural record of Jesus' other statements regarding His death?


texts: Did Mormons have a "blood oath" ceremony before April 1990?

texts:
This YouTube video shows what it claims to be an "endowment ceremony" recorded using a hidden camera in 2012. The description below the video says that

  The audio portion of this video was recorded in a Mormon Temple
  "endowment ceremony" in 1984. The video portion was recorded in a
  Mormon Temple in 2012 with the 1984 audio playing over the appropriate
  part of the video in an effort to reenact one of the penalties (aka
  "blood oaths") as they were prior to April, 1990.

  This video represents what the penalty for revealing the 1st token of
  the Melchizedek Priesthood prior to April, 1990. The Mormon (aka LDS)
  Church removed the "penalties" from the endowment ceremony in April,
  1990. In addition to pantomiming their own disembowelment, all participants would also draw their right thumb across their own throat
  in a slitting motion and they would also make a clawing motion on
  their chest to pantomime having their own heart ripped from their
  chest.

At the beginning, the video says:

  Prior to April, 1990, everyone who participated in the Mormon Temple
  endowment ceremony was required to swear oaths of secrecy that were
  punishable by death.

Did Mormons actually have a ceremony as described above before April 1990? If they did, which part of the canon is the ceremony based on?


texts: Is there a Christian counterpart to practical kabbalah?

texts: Wikipedia says practical kabbalah is permitted white magic within Judaism. I know of the Old Testament injunctions against various types of sorcery, divination, etc., so this is quite a surprise to me. Is there a Christian practice that corresponds to this one?


texts: When was it established that there were 14,000 innocents martyred?

texts:
In the Orthodox Church tradition, as I understand it, the Feast of the 14,000 Martyrs commemorates the deaths of the children massacred by Herod in what is otherwise known as the 'Massacre of the Innocents'. (Matt 2:16-18).

Scholars have argued that the number was likely to have been in the 10s or low 100s. Where did the figure of 14,000 first come from? Why that number in particular?

UPDATE

At Warren's request in the comment below, here are some sources:

The Catholic Encyclopedia cites 3 figures: 64k in the Syriac tradition, 144k in the medieval tradition, based on Apocalypse 14:3 and 14k in the Greek tradition.

It's not beyond the bounds of probability that somewhere along the way 144k was reduced to 14k due to either scribal error or conservative judgement. It would be nice to trace the sources involved to check this theory out.

As far as the lower numbers go, there are some secondary sources quoted here and in this paper by Mans. The latter mentions an early low count given by Basil of Seleucia, but neither provide an answer to my question.

Mans notes the mention of a mass grave, and it seems there was a skeleton of one of the holy innocents included in Frederick the Wise's collection of relics.

I'm afraid these sources do more to widen the scope of the question than to narrow it.


texts: Is a Saint Joseph the patron of men named Osip?

texts:
In the name day tradition children are named after a patron saint according to their birthdays. A boy born in Russia on or near the feast day of some Saint Joseph might thus be named Iosif.

Osip is a Russian derived form of Iosif. I can identify no Saint Osip. Does the name Osip suggest a patron Saint Joseph?


texts: What year did the Hebrew nation with Joshua cross the Jordan river into the promised land?

texts:
In terms of our current and modern dating system, what year did Joshua and the Hebrew nation cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan? Also, based on this what year would the first Jubilee year have occurred as described in Leviticus 25:1-4,8,9

  When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the LORD. 3 Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; 4 but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the LORD. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard.’ 8 “And you shall count seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years. 9 Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound.”


texts: How how can God be loving if he lets tragedies happen to his children?

texts: My wife, whose family is devout to the faith recently lost her father to sudden brain cancer and if that wasn't enough, several unfortunate circumstances arose due to the lack of financial means for the rest of her family. I'm trying to find something in the Bible that can not only assuage her anger at God, but explain how He can be loving when he allows terrible tragedies to occur to his children. I know that tragedy stems from sin, but God still has power to stop it. This is just really shaking both of our faith.


texts: If faith is a gift from God, and atheists (might) go to hell, is God ultimately willing to send atheists to hell? (Catholic perspective)

texts:
Premise 1: Faith is a gift from God. So says St. Thomas Aquinas here. Also, according to the Dogmatic Constitution of the Catholic Church De Fide Catholica Et De Ecclesia Christi:

... the Catholic Church teaches that this faith, which is the beginning of man's salvation, is a supernatural virtue, whereby, inspired and assisted by the grace of God ...
Wherefore, faith itself, even when it does not work by charity, is in itself a gift of God...

Premise 2: Atheists (who have heard of Jesus) (might) go to hell. Related questions here and here.
Conclusion: Atheists (who by definition have no faith in Jesus and in its Body, the Church) might go to hell because they have not been inspired and assisted by the grace of God. i.e. they have not received faith.

Thus, if faith is a gift from God (i.e. it cannot be acquired through natural means but only through supernatural intervention), according to Catholic belief, are Atheists (and Agnostics and any non-Christian) not to be blamed for their lack of faith? This is, if it is not their fault, why should they, in principle, go to Hell?


texts: How do Lutherans have their sin forgiven?

texts:
If a Lutherans sins, how is his sin forgiven?
Must he confess?
Is there a distinction between venial and mortal sin?
What if he sins again the same sin?


texts: How does an unconfirmed Catholic engaged person get confirmed before marriage?

texts: I'm engaged but haven't completed my confirmation. The Church requires me to get confirmed before marriage. How do I go about getting it done?


texts: Where does the concept of "unconditional love toward others" come from?

texts:
What tradition or theology does the concept of "unconditional love toward others" derive from, and how is it reconciled with the need of repentance for absolution along with a similar process for brothers and sisters of the faith described in Titus?

Most will probably know a certain candidate thanked his mother for it recently (could indicate Baptist origins), and it was also brought up on the radio today:  http://www.keylife.org/player/works .


texts: What version of the Bible should a beginner read?

texts: I am interested in learning the true Bible story. Yet; there are so many different versions published. From general talk they all seem to have varied content and conflict with each other.  Many are said to have removed verses. Other are said to have removed entire books. Which one should I read to understand the true Bible story?


texts: Forgiveness Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

texts:
Here is a conundrum, If we take what Jesus said in the Bible I find there is a problem with this particular sin - Could it be that the early church added it to make a point about something else and unfortunately our generation ran with it.

  Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your
  heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men
  their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

  Matthew 26:28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out
  for many for the forgiveness of sins.

  Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter
  the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who
  is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not
  prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many
  mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never
  knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

  John 14:23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my
  word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make
  our home with him.

  John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and
  believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into
  judgment, but has passed from death to life.

  John 11:25 Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone
  who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in
  me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this,
  Martha?"

Versus this

  Matthew 12:31-32 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander
  can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be
  forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be
  forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be
  forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

However
If we look closely - Jesus said every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven,  Then he said that one sin will not be forgiven - How can this be?!  You cannot say every sin and then say - except one!

Further if we look at the scriptures above Jesus explicitly says that those who believe in him will inherit eternal life!  How can this be - Surely he should have put a stipulation that Blasphemy can cause one to loose this eternal life!  Considering this sin is the Greatest of All and the Only one that can catch us out it is very odd that this was not elabourated on more!  Not even by his desciples!


texts: What is the LDS Church's instruction concerning debt?

texts:
Doctrine & Covenants 64 teaches:

  Behold, it is said in my laws, or forbidden, to get in debt to thine enemies; but behold, it is not said at any time that the Lord should not take when he please, and pay as seemeth him good. Wherefore, as ye are agents, ye are on the Lord’s errand; and whatever ye do according to the will of the Lord is the Lord’s business.

This appears to suggest that officers of the church can pay or not pay a debt as they believe they are spiritually instructed.

What is the LDS Church's instruction concerning debt, especially in realation to the above verse?


texts: Do Paul and Jesus disagree on homosexuality?

texts:
Romans 1:26-27:

  [26] For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones, [27] and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Jesus said nothing about homosexuality (from what we know) yet Paul teaches strongly against it (continuing in other verses). How do Christians who believe homosexuality is wrong justify the potential discrepancy here?


texts: Are tongues a sign for believers or unbelievers?

texts:
1 Corinthians 14:22-25 confuses me. Verse 22 states:

  Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.

So, tongues is a sign for unbelievers. But then, verses 22-25 go on:

  So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

These two parts seem in contradiction. And this also applies (in reverse) to Paul's comments on prophecy.

Can anyone explain this?


texts:
In my experience, every church I've either been in or seen recorded ask the congregation to stand when they sing. Without having done a scientific study, it seems this is a near-universal practice among Christians (and please correct me if this is wrong).
Is there a biblical basis for this, or is it merely a wide-reaching convention? If so, is there anything to suggest when or how this practice may have begun?
I recognise this question may be at the border of what's on-topic. I've tried to keep in on-topic by not asking why we sing, but for the biblical basis and history of this specific Christian practice. Given this practice seems to be the same amongst many denominations, I hope it's ok not to specify a particular group.


texts: What are common ways for contemporary Christians to fast?

texts: Which ingredients are being left out? (Besides meat, maybe spices? How about salt?) Are there different fasting dishes / cooking approaches in the various denominations?


texts: Who was Jethro? What religion did he and his daughter Zipporah practice prior to her becoming the wife of Moses?

texts:
In the Hebrew Bible, Jethro is the name given as Moses' father-in-law, a "shepherd, and priest of Midian;" however, he is also known to some as one of the prophets in the Qur'an.

He seems also to be revered as a prophet in his own right in the Druze religion. The Druze believe that Jethro was the hidden prophet who inspired Moses, the recognized prophet. Timothy Hogan in 'Entering the Chain of Union' states that according to traditional Druze oral teaching, certain souls in antiquity came to earth (and by some accounts to Egypt in particular) and they all agreed to reincarnate until all humanity had attained Gnosis or Divine Knowledge of God. The names of these souls were then engraved on two tablets, which were then placed inside two hollow pillars – one to withstand fire and one to withstand water. According to their tradition, Jethro was one of these souls, and he initiated Moses into the tradition. Consequently, Jethro is revered by Druze as one of their greatest Prophets.

In Exodus 2:18 Moses's father-in-law is named Reuel, and this is repeated in Numbers 10:29 (where Hobab is described as Reuel's son). In the Hebrew version of Judges 4:11, Hobab is described as Moses's father-in-law, while in others as his brother-in-law.


texts:
"Born again" is a term most often attributed to Christians. Yet what exactly does it mean, and what does the the use of the term encompass?

What is a "born again" Christian?
Are they of a specific denomination?
Where does the term "born again" come from?


texts:
Do the two verses below signify that there are two kingdoms of Jesus Christ? If so, what are differences?
The kingdom of heaven

Matthew 16:19 (NKJV)
19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed[a] in heaven.”
Footnotes:
Matthew 16:19 Or will have been bound . . . will have been loosed

The kingdom of David

Isaiah 22 (NKJV)
The Judgement on Shebna
22 The key of the house of David
I will lay on his shoulder;
So he shall open, and no one shall shut;
And he shall shut, and no one shall open.
23 I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place,
And he will become a glorious throne to his father’s house.


texts:
Presumably all the original apostles received holy orders directly from Christ at some point (as far as I'm aware this is not explicitly recorded in the new testament).

However Paul converted to Christianity after Jesus had ascended into heaven. He also claims to be an apostle. But to truly be an apostle he needs to have received holy orders so that he is placed in the apostolic succession. It doesn't seem possible that he received holy orders directly from Christ, because Christ was chilling up in heaven at the time and so was unavailable to lay hands on Paul.

Did Peter or one of the other twelve give Paul holy orders? When did it happen?

Scoping to everyone except for Protestants: Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and any other church which recognises the sacrament of Holy Orders and the concept of apostolic succession are welcome to answer, Protestants please remain silent.


texts:
Is the placing of one's faith in Christ for salvation, a work?  - Can I produce faith on my own?
How does the Bible answer that question?


texts:
When I was a little kid, I used to listen to these tapes at night as I fell asleep. They made a big impression on me. I can't for the life of me figure out what they were (my parents have no clue) or where/if I can get them on CD.

The one song I remember most clearly is one that began with two kids talking about "forgiving 7x7x7x7x7x7x7x7..." Then, the song had the lyrics, "Be kind, one to another. Open hearted, forgiving each other. For even as God for Jesus sake, has forgiven you." Another one had the kids playing "Eye Spy" or something like that (maybe while it was raining?) and by the end of the skit/piece one of the kids spies something that's "red and yellow and orange and blue and..." and one of the kids objects that that isn't possible, and then they talk about rainbows or something. These are all vague recollections from about 25 years ago, so, I know I'm not giving a whole lot to go off of here...

We always referred to it as "the Creek Bank Kids". I found a cd online called "Down by the Creek Bank" but after contacting the publisher Agapeland, they responded to my inquiry about this and said they didn't recognize it, so it isn't them...

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!


texts: What is the "Jews' language" spoken of in Nehemiah 13:24?

texts:
“And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.” (Nehemiah 13:24, KJV 1900)

What is this Jews' language mentioned in this verse? Is it the Biblical Hebrew language or the Mishnaic Hebrew language or the Aramaic language?
What is the speech of Ashdod?
What is half speaking? Did they mix both the languages and speak?


texts: According to the young-earth perspective, when were races created?

texts: From Genesis, God created Adam and Eve. How come we have so many races on earth if we came from the same parent? Is it because people changed physically by adapting to various climates? Or races were made when different languages were introduced in Genesis 11 vs 6-8? How can I explain the human race diversity given the literal Biblical account?


texts:
We know from John 12:6 that Jesus' ministry had a treasurer, and from Luke 8:3 that his ministry accepted financial contributions.

What did they spend it on? Luke 8 indicates that they sometimes donated to the poor. The disciples behavior in Mark 8:4 suggests that sometimes the ministry fed those who came to see Jesus speak. And Matthew 17:24-27 suggests that he might even have covered the taxes of some followers, although that seems unclear.

What did Jesus' ministry do with it's charity?


texts: Why do Indian Christian women wear head coverings?

texts: It is known that many Indian Christian women wear head coverings during religious services. They may cover their heads with the end of a sari, which is a traditional garment worn by Hindu Indian women.


texts: Is virginity more meritorious than marriage, according to St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 7?

texts:
Is, according to St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 7, the state of virginity more meritorious than that of marriage? Catholics think it is, and some (all?) Protestants think it is not. Why?

For example, the Council of Trent says:

  Canon X.—If any one saith, that the marriage state is to be placed above the state of virginity, or of celibacy, and that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity, or in celibacy, than to be united in matrimony: let him be anathema.


texts: Are we unaware of something that God foresaw in appointing Paul as apostle?

texts: I have seen many question and views here on the apostleship of St. Paul. Questions like  this, this,  this and  Most recently this.  All seems to basically ask why Paul was chosen as apostle or whether he was really an apostlen. Are we unaware of what  God foresaw in appointing Paul as apostle?


texts: What is the opinion of the LDS Church in regards to unbaptized people's taking communion?

texts: In 2011, I visited a LDS church. On my visit, I noticed that bread and water were served. At the time, I merely thought they were some sort of snack for the congregation, and I gladly took a tiny cup of water and a piece of bread. The people didn't seem to care about my taking communion. Does that mean it is okay?


texts: The attitude of animals before and after fall

texts:
According to the verse below I believe this is how it was in the garden of eden, and how it should be

  Isaiah 11:6

  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie
  down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling
  together; and a little child shall lead them.

Did the behaviour of animals to man and each other changed after the fall of man and as a result of the fall of  man?

Or were they influenced by our new nature and attitudes? Or have they been like they were from the beginning?

If they have changed, what are the obvious changes?


texts: John 3:5: "Of water" refers to physical birth from amniotic sac --- who first proposed that theory?

texts:
Amen, amen, I say to you — if a man is not born of water and Spirit,
  he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Some say that the phrase "of water" refers to physical birth. Thus, one must be born in order to be born again, a logical progression of sorts. But, who first proposed this interpretation of John 3:5?

Disclaimer: This is not my belief. I'm asking who first proposed it because I'm writing a paper on the topic. Thank you.


texts: Can a Catholic eat the food prepared for the Muslim Eid al-Adha?

texts:
I am a Catholic living in a Muslim country>  All meat and stuff is halal according to their practice. When they offer Sacrifice on Eid can I consume the meat they send me?
 Since I believe it’s not a sacrifice to idols but in remembrance of Abraham.

What is the position of the Catholic Church on this subject?


texts: Why Christians wear some elaborate costumes which sometimes outshine those of the pre-Christian epoch?

texts:
What is the need to use elaborate costumes at services and on other occasions? Costumes of some Christian confessions much outshine those of some other religions, including the pre-Christian ones.

Some of the elements can hardly be traced to pre-Christian times and seem to be Christian inventions, while others can be clearly traced to polytheistic religions of Romans and Greeks or even ancient Egypt, like the Crosier:

Yet it seems that pre-Christian dress of the Roman and Greek priests were much simpler, functional and ascetic.

In Orthodox Christianity they use for service a headware called mitre .

The corresponding prayer when putting it on mentions "expensive jewels" which is probably a requirement for this kind of vestment. If it is used to show respect to God as some answerers put it, my question is whether wearing expensive Rolex watches will also show one's respect to God?

So what the purpose of those elaborate costumes, especially in Catholic and Orthodox church?


texts:
The exact date isn't important but at some point about 2000 years ago Christ died on a cross. Since that point Christians everywhere have put their faith in Him. He claimed to be the Way, the Truth and the Life and that nobody could get to the Father except through faith in Him (John 14:6).
That's great for everybody since then, but how were people saved before that? There are many more years of history before that date than after. Was there a different savior for them? Did they just believe in God but not in Jesus?
In very broad strokes, what does Christianity say on this matter (general doctrine) and more specifically, are there differing views on this held by major branches of Christianity? If so, what is a summary of the different doctrinal positions?


texts: Does Paul ever actually quote Jesus anywhere as a primary source?

texts:
"Does Paul ever actually quote Jesus anywhere as a primary source"

However, I came to that post because of my puzzlement regarding Hebrews 10:5-9.  I believe Paul is generally considered the author of Hebrews. Verses 8-9 are very recognizably in the style of the Talmud. Verses 5-7 seem to be attributed to incarnated Jesus before his resurrection. Doesn't, then, Hebrews 10:5-7 count as "Paul quoting Jesus", and, in fact, is this perhaps the only place outside the Gospels where incarnate Jesus is quoted saying something not also found in the Gospels? Possible he met Jesus prior to his Passion and Death?


texts: Why did Nehemiah need to tell us that the Queen was sitting beside the King?

texts:
What is the significance of knowing that the queen was sitting next to the king during this conversation in Nehemiah? Was there some historical or cultural significance to the queen being present that adds an element to the story?

  Nehemiah 2:5-6 ESV -  And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.


texts:
Luke 3:38 (KJV) states (emphasis added):

  which was the son of Enos, which was the son of seth, whcih was the son of Adam, which was the son of God" .

The verse uses the past tense. Does that indicate that Adam is no longer a son of God?

When Jesus was speaking to the Sadducees in Mark 12:26 (KJV), emphasis added, He said:

  God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham....

Which is present tense and shows Abraham is still alive. Since the bible is using Adam "was" the son of God, does this mean Adam is no longer a son of God?


texts: Do Roman Catholics regard Orthodox sacraments as valid and/or licit?

texts:
In the comments below an earlier question of mine the following question arose:

The Roman Catholic Church describes the administration of sacraments as valid or invalid respectively licit or illicit. Those concepts are not identical, for some reading start e.g. here.

The Eastern Orthodox Churches administer the same seven sacraments as the Roman Catholic Church does. Which poses the question, whether these sacraments can be equally described in terms of validity and licitly and whether the Roman Catholic Church does so.

  So my question is: Has the Roman Catholic Church declared the status of the sacraments administered in the Eastern Orthodox Churches
  in terms of validity and licitly and if so is it correct that those
  are regarded as valid but illicit?

Note that "no" might be a correct answer; but I do expect there to be some magisterial writing which a good answer should cite. It might also be that the answer is different for different sacraments.


texts:
Not trying to be devil's advocate or anything, but I am curious about what most denominations and Christians believe about how the devil became evil.

To go based off these two assumptions:

The wages of sin is death
Sin is creation not acting/being as God intended

It can be understood easily that humans can be held accountable to sin, because the devil can tempt them to do things that were not intended by God.

But can the same be understood about the devil?  For what would tempt him?
If all sovereign God intended for the devil to be holy and righteous, then something must tempt him for him to not act as he were intended, but there was nothing to tempt him.
However, if God intended for Satan to become who he is now, then that explains how he became evil.  And if he was intended to be evil (if that is how he was created) then is the devil actually in the wrong?

What is an overview of view points of Christians on this topic?


texts: Why do Catholics bow for icons of the Virgin Mary?

texts:
It doesn't surprise me when orthodox Christians bow for icons of the Virgin Mary, since they believe that she is present in the icon. But why do (some) Catholics also bow for icons of Mary?

There are numerous pages on the internet like this one where the author argues against this gesture. The reasoning is that it's against the commandment from Ex 20:4-5:

  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.

However, I cannot find arguments against this position. I guess there are, but what are they?


texts: Why do some Protestants divide the Blood of Christ into individual cups?

texts:
A related question asks about Catholic practice (of using a common cup).

In some Protestant Churches — I’ve experienced this myself in both Baptist and Free Churches — the wine at the Communion service is poured into small glasses and distributed amongst the congregation. Everyone drinks their glass at the same time.

The Biblical account tells us that Jesus used a single cup at the Last Supper. While it seems many Protestant Churches attach paramount importance to the Biblical account, why do they not follow suit in using a common cup?


texts: How is new humanism different from the catholic teaching?

texts:
“A global educational pact is needed to educate us in universal solidarity and a new humanism,” Francis said in a video message to launch the initiative.

Definition of new humanism. :

  a 20th century doctrine marked by a belief in moderation, the dignity
  of the human will, a sense of permanent values, and a dualistic order
  of existence.

Does the definition of new humanism contradict or go against the Catholic teaching and if so how?


texts: What does it mean that someone managed to live beyond 120 years?

texts:
God Himself limited a human's lifespan to 120 years, as told in the following verse:

  Genesis 6:3 (NLT)
  3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.”

Yet, Jeanne Calment managed to live for 122 years and 164 days, significantly more than 120 years. Does this mean that God's decree was somehow part of an old order of things that has since passed away or been overwritten, much like what Jesus did with the Law?


texts: Will mankind on earth reattain the original state of Adam and Eve?

texts:
Adam and Eve, were constituted in an original "state of holiness and
  justice".250 This grace of original holiness was "to share in. .
  .divine life" CCC375

Now, I've heard a priest say that through Christ's death on the cross all of humanity will go back to the original state. I imagine this as if mankind's goal was to return back to Adam's original state of holiness. And when looking at history, we can see that societies are becoming softer and more authentic despite all the evil happening around us. Thanks to new technologies, humans are more open and transparent, which changes our mentality.

My question is: Will this happen on Earth, or is it meant for after the Second Coming and Resurrection? What Catholic teaching is the priest referring to?


texts: Abraham's Temptation: only a matter of Faith, or also of Hope?

texts:
In Genesis 22 we read how God tested (or "put to the test", or "tempted" - the Hebrew verb נָסָה [nacah] bears all these meanings) Abraham, saying to him: "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering [עֹלָה - `olah] on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
In the end, as we all know, God (or "the Lord’s angel") stopped Abraham, and provided a ram "caught in the bushes by its horns" in replacement of Isaac, and in the end the Lord (or "the Lord’s angel") praised Abraham "because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son" and renewed His promise to make hism "the father of a multitude of nations".
In the Letter to the Hebrews, Abraham strands out in the hall of fame of People Commended for Their Faith (Hebrews 11:17-19).
In his book Fear and Trembling, the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard wrote:

But what did Abraham do? He arrived neither too soon nor too late. He
mounted the ass, he rode slowly along the way. All that time he
believed - he  believed   that God would not require Isaac of him,
whereas he was willing nevertheless to sacrifice him if it was
required. He  believed   by virtue of the absurd; for there could be
no question of human calculation, and it was indeed the absurd that
God who required it of him should the next instant recall the
requirement. He climbed the mountain, even at the instant when the
knife glittered he  believed  ... that God would not require Isaac. He
was indeed astonished at the outcome, but by a double-movement he had
reached his first position, and therefore he received Isaac more
gladly than the first time. (Fear and Trembling, by Johannes De
Silentio, alias Søren Kierkegaard, 1843, tr. Walter Lowrie, 1941 (@
religion-online.org), Chapter 2: Preliminary Expectoration -
emphasis added)

Is faith really enough to explain Abraham's behaviour, or is it necessary to consider at least another "ingredient": hope?
P.S.   I reserve to try and answer my own question later on


texts:
We all know the story of Adam and Eve causing the first original sin by eating from the Tree of Life. However, Lucifer became Satan before Adam and Eve were even created, he was casted down to Earth as described in Ezekiel 28:18. It is assumed that the serpent described in Genesis is Satan, right?

Wouldn't evil have already existed on Earth before Adam and Eve? If Adam and Eve were the ones who cursed the Earth from their disobedience, then would that mean Satan performed no evil on Earth before Adam and Eve? It seems rather confusing. If Satan did commit evil before Adam and Eve's arrival, then wouldn't the Earth have already been cursed?


texts: How do sola-scriptura adherents reconcile the role of the Holy Spirit as a teacher?

texts:
The Bible teaches that one of the many roles of the Holy Spirit is that of a teacher:

Luke 12:11-12 (NIV)
John 14:26 (NIV)
1 Corinthians 2:11-15 (NIV)

Sola-scriptura is the belief that "that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness."

How does sola-scriptura reconcile with the role of the Holy Spirit as a teacher?


texts:
In Matthew chapter 24 Jesus is describing his 2nd coming:

  For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west,
  so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass,
  there the vultures will gather.“Immediately after the distress of
  those days

  “‘the sun will be darkened,
      and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky,
      and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the
  earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of
  heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with
  a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four
  winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." *Matt. 24:27-31*

He says that a loud trumpet blast will be sounded as his angels are sent to gather his elect.

Later in the New Testament, we read St. Paul describing what seems to be the same event:

  According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive,
  who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede
  those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down
  from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and
  with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
  1 Thess. 4:15-16

Are these 2 passages describing the same trumpet blast? It appears to me that they both include:

The appearance (or reappearance) of the Son of Man.
Active participation of God's angels.
A trumpet blast.

I'm particularly concerned with the trumpet, which would logically be the connecting hinge  of these two passages.

Also, please no dispensationalism...


texts: What author gave this illustration of truth via a backyard fence?

texts:
Long ago I was told a story, which is now probably corrupted in my mind, that makes a good illustration of the relationship between rules and freedom in Christianity.

It goes something like this: a family's house has a backyard that ends in a cliff. The child, playing in the backyard, is afraid of the cliff, and therefore stays near the house. However, when a fence (think "rules") is erected around the perimeter of the backyard, the child experiences freedom to play throughout the whole yard. Moral: the truth can set us free.

I originally thought that this story was owed to C. S. Lewis, but now I cannot track it down. Who authored this idea?


texts: Do the conditions for mortal sin apply to non-catholics?

texts:
There are three conditions for a sin to be mortal:

It must be a grave sin. Eg. Anything from the 10 commandments, Adultery, Murder etc.
It must be committed with full consent of the will.
The person who commits the sin must be aware that it is a grave sin. ("Full knowledge")

This leads me to wonder, are non-Catholics who don't believe in mortal sin by that very fact, immune from committing mortal sins? My reasoning is that, a person who doesn't believe in mortal sin could be said to be "unaware" that their sins are grave, and if they are "unaware" that their sins are grave, then their sins are not mortal, therefore they won't go to Hell (I think the correct terminology is to say that they are in invincible ignorance).

Extrapolating this line of reasoning, doesn't this mean that most if not all non-Catholics will be saved? Because these non-Catholics are presumably "unaware" that they have to be part of the Catholic church in order to be saved. And if they are "unaware" of this then they are not in a state of mortal sin because they don't have full knowledge and are thus in invincible ignorance and wont go to Hell.

On the other hand, imagine that the non-Catholic has only met a single Catholic in their entire life and the only thing that the Catholic said to them was "you have to convert to my religion or you will go to Hell". In this case is the non-Catholic still "unaware" that they need to join the church or does a brief warning such as this count as being given "Full knowledge"?

Finally, it seems possible to say that all non-Catholics are in a state of invincible ignorance, because if they had full knowledge that they have to become Catholic to be saved, then they would hurry up and convert. But they don't do this, so it seems fair to assume that they are unconvinced and therefore unaware. (Who on earth would become sincerely convinced that to go to Heaven and avoid Hell they have to join the Church, and then not do it?)

In summary my questions are

How is it possible for a non-Catholic to commit a mortal sin? and
Are all non-Catholics in the state of invincible ignorance as per my reasoning above, and if not, where did I go wrong?


texts: Can a practicing Catholic who joined a Protestant church still receive communion in the Catholic church?

texts: If a person who has formerly received the sacraments in a Catholic Church now attends a Protestant church, can they still receive communion when visit a Catholic church?


texts: If Jesus's death was not eternal, then how can it be substitutionary for the eternal deaths of humans?

texts:
Sinful humans are judged and sentenced to eternal death. But did Jesus experience eternal death? If so, how?  If not, how then can it be considered substitutionary for our deaths?

How do those who teach penal substitution explain this?


texts: From where do Jehovah's Witnesses derive the doctrine that Jesus was and now is Michael the Archangel?

texts:
According to some Watchtower literature, it is taught that Michael the Archangel is Jesus and that Jesus, after He ascended into heaven, resumed the name of Michael.

  "It proves Michael the archangel is no other than the only begotten
  son of God, now Jesus Christ. The very name Michael means who is like
  God and indicates Jehovah God is without like or equal." (New Heavens
  and New Earth pg.30-31).

  Jesus is actually the incarnation of Michael the Arch angel and
  resumed the name when he ascended into heaven ( ibid. pg.30 Your will
  be done on earth pg.316 )

Do Jehovah's Witnesses still believe this, and, if so, what is the biblical basis from which these teachings are derived?


texts: Are there published testimonies from Christians who had a Christophany in which Jesus explicitly affirmed or denied his deity?

texts: Christophanies (a.k.a. encounters with Jesus) are supernatural experiences which are entirely within the realm of possibility according to Scripture. Three clear examples are Paul's (Acts 9:3-6), Ananias's (Acts 9:10-16) and Stephen's (Acts 7:54-56). In light of this, I was wondering if there are any published extra-biblical testimonies about Christophanies, in which Jesus explicitly stated his divine status. Has anyone ever published a testimony of their encounter with Christ, in which Jesus explicitly claimed or denied being God?


texts: What is the Biblical or traditional precedent or command regarding praying before meals?

texts: A very common Christian practice is to "say grace" or to "give thanks" before each meal.  What is the Biblical precedent or command for this?  In other words, why do we give thanks then and not before going to bed or going to work or any other common occurrence?


texts: Can Southern Baptists take communion at home alone?

texts:
There is an old man in our neighborhood who is a member of a Southern Baptist congregation, though for various reasons he does not attend the local church.

He asked me what I thought about the question, "Might a person read the Scriptures, remembering Jesus and the Cross, and take communion (the wine and the flat bread) alone at home, by one's self?" He reminded me that various wealthy people throughout history had their own chapels, priests and attendants that served the communion supper, "at home alone."

Do the Southern Baptists have a position on private home-communion?


texts: Why do people interpret "Lucifer" as being Satan in Isaiah 14?

texts:
In almost every case I've heard Isaiah 14:12-15 quoted or preached about, I'm told that these are the words of Satan in his rebellion against God.

Isaiah 14:12-15 (KJV):

  12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the
  morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the
  nations! 13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into
  heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also
  upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14I
  will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most
  High. 15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the
  pit.

For example, here.

Yet if you jump up to verse 4, it says

  That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and
  say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!

and continues on through the previously cited verses.  So to me, a clear reading indicates that this it the Kind of Babylon saying in his heart,"I will ascend..."

I understand that the prophetical books are often open to interpretation, but I believe I'm missing something.  Why are these quotes attributed to Satan, when it appears that they're meant to be attributed to the king of Babylon?


texts: Is there a tradition of breaking pottery in the Paschal Liturgies of the Eastern Churches?

texts:
As a Melkite deacon, I'm familiar with the liturgical practices of the Eastern Churches.  However, I've just seen a youtube video of something I've never heard of, and can't explain.

Near the end of the video titled, Easter Saturday night and resurrection, Zakynthos, Greece found here: specifically at about 25:15, the procession of the tomb apparently ended, the people can be seen gathered around a large empty space in the church courtyard.  More or less on cue, the people start throwing large clay pots, or water jugs, into the center. This continues for several minutes, with participants tossing in their contribution  when, as it were, the spirit moves them.

Can anyone explain this? Thanks!

Christ is among us!


texts: Christian Literature In the format of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

texts:
I've recently started reading Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

The format of:

two people talking
interspersed with Biblical verses

is absolutely amazing. I wish more books were written in this format.

Not that other Christian literature are dull; but this book is exciting: it's Christian literature that makes Avatar look boring

What other pieces of Christian literature is in this format? I'm particularly interested in "classical" literature -- works that have stood the test of time -- say written in Pre 1900 days. [Though great modern works are welcome too.]


texts: Were plenary indulgences issued during the crusades, as indicated by Dan Brown?

texts:
In Dan Brown's novel, The DaVinci Code, if my memory serves me correctly, Leigh Teabing asserts that Crusaders were given plenary indulgences to commit unspecified sins with impunity whilst on crusade. I have to admit that I have only seen the film, and not read the novel, but I am assuming that the film follows the novel in this respect.

My question is: was this ever official doctrine during the time of the Crusades, if indeed it happened, or was it a perversion of official doctrine, or is it just black propaganda? If the latter, who started it, and when? I understand that indulgences can only be issued for sins already committed.


texts: I know Jesus is risen and that whole story, but when I was much younger I remember hearing about some people who never actually died in the Bible. Who are these people and how did they leave this world?


texts: Is there a way to prove the God of the Bible?

texts: I understand that there is an element call faith to believe a system of belief. But my question is, are there valid arguments to prove God to someone who does not believe? Or at least to present God as logical?


texts: What exactly is "Ordinary Time" in the Catholic Church's liturgical calendar?

texts:
In the Catholic Church's liturgical calendar, there is a period known as Ordinary Time. What is it exactly and what differentiates this period from the others in the calendar.

The answer should also include the origin of the name "Ordinary?" My understanding is that the period is not called Ordinary Time just because the period is "ordinary."


texts: To the LCMS Lutherans, how is the Bible the word of God?

texts:
A. The Bible is the Word of God.
(means, all the words we read are the Words of God)

B. The Bible contains the Word of God.
(means, not all the words we read are the Words of God)

C. other than A and B.

Example :

  I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except
  Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified

The speaker is human, the Apostle.
The question is : are those words above the words of God ?

To me, the answer is no. Those words are the words of human not the words of God.

If I say that those words are the words of God, --->

then (X) the "I" in those words means God himself ---->

Then (Y) it become : through the mouth of the Apostle, God tell the hearers/readers that He (capital H) decided while He was with them, He would forget everything except His Second Person of His Trinity, the one who was crucified.

Because X and Y to me feel awkward, I conclude [not all the words we read in the Bible are the Words of God]. Then it's B. But this is only my own logic.

That's why I would like to know :
according to the LCMS is it A ? B ? or C?
If C, what is it ?

Thank you.


texts:
I am noticing that my child may earn Accelerated Reader
points for reading sections of the Student NIV Bible. We are Catholic. Is it appropriate for my child to read the Student NIV version of the Bible?


texts: What do Christians mean by a "personal relationship" with Jesus?

texts: When Christians talk about having a "personal relationship with Jesus," what does this mean?


texts: How do Mormons interpret Phillipians 2:6?

texts: In the context of the doctrine of exaltation, which says that God was a man who was exalted to Godhead, and Jesus after him, interpret Phillipians 2:6, which says that Jesus was "in the form of God" and "thought it not robbery to be equal with God"?


texts:
How could Abraham have possibly dined physically with God as suggested in Genesis 18, especially when "No one has ever seen Him"?

1 Timothy 6:16
He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honour and eternal dominion! Amen.
Genesis 18:1-8
The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs[b] of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.


texts: How many different groups are there that base their teachings on the Book of Mormon and/or Joseph Smith?

texts:
I am aware of the Latter Day Saints and the Reformed Latter Day Saints, both of which, to my understanding, recognize the Book of Mormon as Scripture and follow the teachings of Joseph Smith.  I have heard, though, that there are other groups as well.

How many groups/denominations recognize the Book of Mormon as Scripture or follow the teachings of Joseph Smith?  Also, who are they (What do they call themselves?)


texts: Is it ever possible to tell the purpose-driven purpose (in general sense) of a respected distressed disabled person?

texts:
I believe when a person is born God chooses him or her to carry out an action on this planet. And until that action is carried out they can never retreat from this world.

Paralyzed people fully from head to toe who are like so from birth and those people in life who developed some intense illnesses that they never quite got over with and can't rebuild their lives or help their family, what was that purpose-driven life for them?

I am asking this because I volunteer at an organization where broken people and people in wheelchairs come for help. I talk to them. I hear their distressing everyday life story. I want to know what was that God's chosen action that they have to carry out on this planet when they are so vulnerable themselves and are suffering so much?

I also heard on tv that a pastor saying every person's life has a grand design. So this question.


texts: According to Reformed Theology, What is the greatest assurance of Salvation?

texts:
Context

Matthew 7:21-23

  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

James 2:14-16

  What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

1 Corinthians 13:2

  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

John 14:23-24

  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Question

Thus, is the greatest assurance of salvation following the words of Christ? In that -- the teachings of Christ are so impossibly hard to follow for the non-believer that only the true believer can follow them?


texts: Is "once saved, always saved" strictly a Calvinist view?

texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  What is the difference between the doctrines of “Perseverance of the Saints” and “Eternal Security?”

I know that Calvinists believe in "Eternal Security", or "Perseverance of the Saints" as it's called in the TULIP acronym.  But are there other Christian groups that also believe in the concept of "once saved, always saved", without accepting the other four points of Calvinist theology?

And if I'm inappropriately equating "Eternal Security", "Perseverance of the Saints" and "Once saved, always saved" terms, please correct me on this.


texts: Does "Mere Christianity" represent the core of Christian belief?

texts:
I just finished reading C. S. Lewis in A Time of War by Justin Phillips.  It seems Lewis went to great lengths to ensure that everything he said in his BBC talks that became Mere Christianity was orthodox for a large cross-section of the Christian faith available in England at the time.  He consulted Anglican, Dissenting, and Roman Catholic authorities to verify that he did not say anything that would be seen as incorrect by any of these traditions.

But he did not consult Eastern Orthodox or Reformed theology experts.  It also seems to me that by leaving out controversial topics (e.g., papal authority, baptismal practices, etc.) Lewis might also have left out critical beliefs of certain faith traditions—even core beliefs in some cases.  (I think leaving out these "internal matters" was the right call at the time, but it might leave us with an incomplete view of Orthodoxy.)

My question is two-fold:

Did Lewis say/write anything in the series that would be rejected by Orthodox or Reformed Christians?
Does Mere Christianity cover enough of the bases for most Christians to be a good reference for what constitutes the core of the faith?


texts: How are the bread and wine explained by those who forbid images of Jesus?

texts:
This question is directed at those who subscribe to the Westminster Standards, particularly Westminster Larger Catechism 109, which reads:

  The sins forbidden in the second commandment are [...] the making any representation of God, of all or of any of the three persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or likeness of any creature whatsoever (Westminster Larger Catechism, Answer 109)

This language is usually understood to forbid any artwork that attempts to represent Jesus, even simple drawings or sculptures.

But it seems as though the language of the catechism should be applied even more strictly.  Couldn't the bread and wine used in the celebration of the Lord's Supper be considered a "representation of God," particularly given the language of the Westminster Confession of Faith, 29.5?

  The outward elements in this sacrament [...] [represent] the body and blood of Christ. (WCF 29)

One counterargument is that the elements only represent Christ's human body, not his human-divine person.  But the same could be said of a stone in a manger scene or a line drawing in a children's book, and these are seen as forbidden by WLC 109.

How do those who strictly hold to WLC 109 deal with the apparent conflict or tension with use of bread and wine in the observance of communion?

For general argumentation in defense of the principles found in WLC 109, see Why do some Christians object to images of Jesus?


texts: Are there examples of God forgiving without sacrifice?

texts: So far I have seen, some kind of sacrifice, direct or indirect, is required to have forgiveness from sin. So, my question is - Are there examples of God forgiving our sins without any sacrifice?


texts: What is the basis of not following Halakha?

texts:
What is the basis that allows Christians not to follow of Halakha?  Halakha/Jewish Law states that in the normal course of things we may not permit what Judaism has forbidden, nor may we repeal or abolish what is obligatory.
So, for Christians who do not keep Halakha, what is the basis of not following the law?  I get that Christians can add to the laws but to not follow all of the laws appears to be something that we cannot do.
Jesus said:
Matthew 5:17-18 New International Version (NIV)

The Fulfillment of the Law
“Do not think that I have come to
abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but
to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth
disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen,
will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is
accomplished.

Ketubah and Kiddushin (Jewish marriage) is an example of a law we don't keep but is part of Halakha.  This question is not limited to Ketubah and/or Kiddushin, I am just making an example.
There are questions on here that are similar.  There is even one about the 10 commandments.  However, Jewish Law (Halakha) has 613 commandments


texts: What is the Jehovah's Witness perspective on salvation?

texts:
What do Jehovah's Witnesses believe about salvation? For example, Protestants believe that we are saved by faith alone in Jesus Christ. Do Jehovah's Witnesses place their faith in the same place or elsewhere?

Moreover, do Jehovah's Witnesses believe in a salvation that is based on works or faith or works & faith working side by side?

Are they assured of salvation?

What are the scriptural passages used in the Bible or quotes from the Watchtower to support this?


texts: What is God waiting for before He ends the world?

texts:
I probably have this question since I'm very young. Here are some few sample answers that I've got:

He's waiting for the right time
Until the whole world bow knees and worship only God

IMHO, the longer God waits, the more people are going to hell. See how many people actually die each day without knowing Jesus. If God just ended the world now, wouldn't it be better?

So, what is God waiting for?


texts: When and why did the devil, or Satan, really emerge as a force in Christian belief?

texts:
From what I understand, the devil is not a character who appears obviously in any part of the Bible.

If this is true, when was it that Satan/the devil began to terrify people who called themselves Christians, and why?


texts:
The Catholic Church teaches that the homosexual tendency is not a sin:

  Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a
  sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic
  moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an
  objective disorder. - e.g. in  Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic
  Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons, 3, 1 October 1986
  | CDF.

What is the scriptural basis, if any, for the Catholic teaching that the homosexual tendency is of itself not a sin?


texts: Are there Old Testament references to the length of Jesus earthly ministry?

texts:
The Old Testament references Jesus death and resurrection.

I've always wondered why did Jesus have only 3 years of time (or 3 1/2 ) as a preacher and teacher. I suppose you could say the time was enough to spread God's message.

Is this duration predicted in the OT ?


texts:
In both Luke 6:34,

  And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full.

and Luke 6:35,

  But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.

it appears as though Jesus is forbidding Christians from participating in any form of debt collection.  Is this understanding accurate?


texts: Matthew 5:13-16 is for the Israelites ONLY?

texts:
We are having a discussion about how we, as a follower of Christ, are the ‘salt of earth and light of the world’ (Matthew 5:13-16).

Someone insists that the verses are for the Israelite people/disciples only and it is not applicable for us Gentiles/believers now.

We tried to explain and give them verses like 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Galatians 3:28, etc.
They also insists that certain parts of the Scripture are for the Israelites people only, this even includes the Great Commission and other teachings of Jesus.

Can you help me explain better to them the opposite position: that Matthew 5:13-16 is not for the Israelites only.


texts: Where did people who lived in Jesus's time go to when they died?

texts:
This sounds weird but when Jesus existed between approx. 6-3 BCE to 33 CE in Judea as a man (still retained His God nature) how were people living in this exact time frame judged after they died?

Did Jesus judge them, even as a man on Earth? I'm aware that He did
cast out demons and presumably sent them to hell during His exorcisms
and I'm wondering if this extended to the souls of wicked humans
Did His "God nature" perform the executions?
Or did God the Father (or possibly the Holy Spirit) do the job?

I seek an answer preferrably from a mainstream/orthodox (NOT Eastern Orthodox Christianity) Christian perspective.


texts: Does the Catholic church today require for you to pay taxes?

texts: I am a student at a private Catholic high school in New York. I am currently doing a project on the Middle Ages and had this question: does the Catholic church today require for you to pay taxes?


texts: According to the Puritans, at what time did the Sabbath start and end?

texts:
In college, many of my Presbyterian brothers wouldn't study on Sunday, seeing that as a violation of the Christian Sabbath.  But I heard that at least one of them, if he had a test on Monday morning, would wait until midnight Sunday night, and only then study for the test for a few hours before going to sleep.

The strict use of midnight in my brother's Sabbath observance has led me to wonder about the timing of the Sabbath in Puritan sabbatarianism more broadly.  So, I'd like to know – at what time did the Sabbath start and end for the Puritans?  I'm open to responses from both English and American Puritans, up to the 18th century.  If there isn't agreement, then I'd like an overview of common positions.


texts: Do the Roman catacombs confirm the early Church believed in the doctrine of the communion of saints?

texts: Do the Roman catacombs confirm the early church believed in the doctrine of the communion of saints, which includes prayer for the dead, intercession of the saints, invocation of the saints, and the threefold nature of the Church, in particular, the Church triumphant and Church penitent? If so, what are some of the archaeological evidence in the catacombs that confirms the early Church held such beliefs?


texts: How could the Egyptian magicians do what God did through Moses?

texts:
In Exodus when God performed miracles through Moses and Aaron, the Egyptian magicians did the same things that God did, How is that possible ?

The first time:

  Exodus 7:10-13

  So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord
  commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his
  officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men
  and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by
  their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a
  snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Yet Pharaoh's
  heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord
  had said.

The second time:

  Exodus 7:20-24

  Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. He raised his
  staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the
  water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. The
  fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians
  could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt.

  But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret
  arts, and Pharaoh's heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses
  and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. Instead, he turned and went
  into his palace, and did not take even this to heart. And all the
  Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water, because they could
  not drink the water of the river.

The third time:

  Exodus 8:5-7

  Then the Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Stretch out your hand
  with your staff over the streams and canals and ponds, and make frogs
  come up on the land of Egypt.'"

  So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the
  frogs came up and covered the land. But the magicians did the same
  things by their secret arts; they also made frogs come up on the land
  of Egypt.

But lastly they couldn't do like Moses:

  Exodus 8:16-19

  Then the Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff
  and strike the dust of the ground,' and throughout the land of Egypt
  the dust will become gnats." They did this, and when Aaron
  stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the
  ground, gnats came on people and animals. All the dust throughout the
  land of Egypt became gnats. But when the magicians tried to produce
  gnats by their secret arts, they could not.

  Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere, the
  magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's
  heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the Lord had said.


texts: Is there any reference to Abraham building a house of worship? Where is Bakkah?

texts:
Is there any reference to Abraham building a house for worship in the Bible?

Where is the valley of Bakkah located?

In Islam they say Bakkah and Mecca are the same word, and the Kabah is built on the original foundation that Abraham build as the 1st place of worship.

Does Christianity recognize this at all or have a different location for Bakkah?


texts: Why isn't consecrated virginity a sacrament?

texts: In Catholicism, marriage is a sacrament, so why isn't consecrated virginity a sacrament?


texts: God's presence in the temple during Jesus' earthly ministry

texts:
I am new to this site, having just found it today.

I have a question about whether God's presence was still in the temple during Jesus' earthly ministry.

In Ezekiel's vision in Ezekiel 10, God appears to leave the temple, which seems to be a fulfillment of His warning to Solomon in 1 Kings 9:7.

From 2 Kings 25:9 and Ezra 5:12, we know that Solomon's temple was destroyed by Nebudchanezzar, so it seems like what Ezekiel saw in his vision must have taken place before the destruction.

With that understanding, I am always confused when I get to Matthew 23:21 where Jesus uses the present tense to say "He who dwells in it."

Edit:  To clarify my question from Bradimus' question, perhaps I should ask how Matthew 23:21 could be viewed in light of the verses I have referenced above.

Thank you!


texts: Is the King James Version Bible in the Public Domain

texts:
I am writing a memoir and want to use some quotes from the King James Version Bible. Will this be considered Public Domain because of the age.

Thank you


texts:
Why does the Catholic church have so many Masses throughout the week? For the practicing Catholic, which Mass service is most important?

There are the weekly worship services, weekend worship services, and even holiday worship services. Where would Bible Study and devotionals fit in? Do children worship with the parents, or do they have their own little worship area/classroom setting where they learn about God and stuff?


texts: David and Milkom wore a 75 lb crown, wouldn't that have snapped their necks?

texts:
1 Chronicles 20:2 says:

David took the crown from the head of their king --its weight was found to be a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones--and it was placed on David's head. He took a great quantity of plunder from the city.

A talent of gold is equal to 75 lb, the question is, has archeology ever found crowns this heavy? Most crowns are not recorded in the Bible, so it seems like the author himself found it out of ordinary that a crown would weigh so much (that's why it was recorded). But is there any type of evidence that these type of crowns ever existed? Regardless, wouldn't such weight snap the kings neck?

To me it's just crazy that such a crown could have existed.

Addendum: While digging through the internet I found this: Can One Carry Heavy Things on Their Head Pain-Free? A Review of Geere 2010.

Apparently in rural places of Earth people carry well beyond 75 lb on their heads all the time... Ok, so one question out of the way, now, is there any evidence for such crowns ever made?


texts: What was the amount of bread and wine used when Jesus did communion?

texts:
I could imagine that times then were hard and food somewhat scarce. A whole loaf of bread divided equally would be a small meal and a bottle of wine could serve well to wash down the bread. I could not imagine that Jesus would only give a tiny peace of cracker and a thimble of grape juice.

Are there any historical writings that mention the actual quantity of these that Jesus had portioned?
How much did Jesus have himself?


texts: According to personalism, is political libertarianism compatible with the Golden Rule?

texts:
This question poses a conflict between two philosophies, but is not meant to necessarily compare their strengths.  Only if Love of Neighbor is indeed the antithesis of the libertarian philosophy.

Libertarianism as I understand it (from reading lots and lots of Robert Heinlein Sci Fi) is the idea that laws should be crafted so that personal liberties are always acknowledged.  So long as you don't hurt anyone else, whatever you do is OK.  Drugs, Sex etc... are legally OK, but it's not advocated in any way leaving a person in a state to excercise their freewill and follow God in their own way. The other side of it is TANSTAAFL (Their ain't no such thing as a free lunch) which is pretty bibilical (If they will not work, neither shall they eat) in the end of 2 Thessalonians).

Personalism as I understand it (from listening to lots and lots of Catholic radio and reading John Paul II's Love and Responsibility) says that, A person is an entity towards which the only reasonable attitude is love, as an extrapolation of the 2nd greatest commandment and the Golden Rule.  Therefore, if you consider yourself a person, then you ought treat others as you want to be treated and you shouldn't do things to yourself that you wouldn't do to others.

So, as far as I can see it, it is pretty difficult to reconcile the two ethics.  According to personalism, is there some depth into libertarianism that a Christian can delve, and then they need to pull up and get a breath of fresh air, or should it just be totally avoided?


texts: What does Mary look like in the Fatima Apparitions?

texts:
Beginning in the spring of 1917, the children reported apparitions of
  an Angel, and starting in May 1917, apparitions of the Virgin Mary,
  whom the children described as "the Lady more brilliant than the Sun".
  (quoted in Wikipedia) *.

*Was this report accurate? How did Mary really look like in the Fatima Apparitions according to trusted Catholic sources?

(We are not alone in the Universe, Konrad Kulczyk, Sixth Books 2012)


texts: Do any Christian denominations forbid pronouncing the Tetragrammaton?

texts: In Judaism it has been a taboo to pronounce the four letter name of God. It was never explicitly said when reading the Jewish scriptures. Do any forms of Christianity have a similar approach?


texts: What Christian groups do not observe or celebrate the Eucharist?

texts: Are there any groups who identify as Christian but who do not celebrate/observe the Eucharist?


texts: Did St. Thomas Aquinas deny the Holy Spirit proceeds immediately from the Father alone?

texts:
There have been many attempts from among both Catholic1 and Eastern Orthodox2 theologians to revisit the theology behind the eternal procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son in light of recent ecumenical dialogue in the past decades following the Second Vatican Council. One of the leading figure important in the dispute on the Latin theology of filioque is St. Thomas Aquinas, respected by both Catholics3 and Eastern Orthodox4.

Among the Latin fathers there are two school of thoughts on filioque:

Monarchical filioque is popularized by St. Anselm of Canterbury and Bl. Duns of Scotus. Whereby the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father alone is constituted to be principaliter and immediate while the procession through the Son is secondary and mediate.
Diarchical filioque is a popular view among neo-Thomists who reread the procession of the Holy Spirit to be identical from both the Father and the Son. There is no distinction in the procession itself, with the sole distinction is only in respect to the two spirators as they are distinct from one another.

While there is no dispute that Thomas was advancing St. Augustine's filioque, a disagreement in regards to whether or not his filioque is monarchical versus diarchical remain unresolved.  Which of these two camps did he fall into?

1 Rev. Dr. Christiaan Kappes the dean of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Metropolitan Seminary of Byzantine Catholic Church in Pittsburgh has been one among many who popularized a renewal of interest in the Thomist-Scotist debate on the filioque within Catholicism and on its impact on Catholic–Orthodox dialogue.

2 Dr. David Gilbert, an Eastern Orthodox scholar has been one among many who in the past decade is revisiting the Palamite solution on the theology behind the eternal procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son in terms of energetic procession.

3 Recognized as a Doctor of the Church in the Catholic Church.

4 Highly praised by Gennadius II Scholarius, a 15th century Greek Patriarch of Constantinople, a Byzantine Thomist, a prophet, and a saint venerated on August 25th in the Greek Orthodox church. "Would O excellent Thomas that you had not been born in the West. Then you would not have needed to defend the deviations of the church there ... you would have been as perfect in theology as you are in ethics." Oeuvres Complètes de Georges Scholarios, eds. Petit, Sidéridès, Jugie (Paris 1928–1936) vol VI, 1.


texts: Do Protestants believe that "Our Father" is on par with "Our Mother," or is Jesus strictly invoking a male symbol only?

texts:
According to some people calling God 'Father', without adding that God is also Mother, unfairly exalts one image for God above all others and ignores the culturally conditioned nature of all our images of God, but Ratzinger said:

  Christianity is not a philosophical speculation; it is not a construction of our mind. Christianity is not 'our' work; it is a Revelation; it is a message that has been consigned to us, and we have no right to reconstruct it as we like or choose. Consequently, we are not authorized to change the Our Father into an Our Mother: the symbolism employed by Jesus is irreversible; it is based on the same Man-God relationship he came to reveal to us.

My question is: Do Protestant churches have the same or a different perspective on this matter?


texts: Does the Catholic Church have to submit to an approved private revelation?

texts:
...Hence, public revelation is the deposit of faith and rule of faith
  and must be lived by all Catholics.[14] Saint Thomas Aquinas taught
  that all public revelation ended with the death of Saint John the
  Apostle. ... Private revelations cannot surpass, correct, improve, fulfill, complete, or perfect public revelation.

More...

If the Catholic Church approve a private revelation as worthy is the Church also obliged to follow the messages and requests?

I'm referring to the Fatima visions as they were approved by the Church.
In these visions, the Virgin Mary asks for the consecration of Russia. Is the Church obligated to do it or can the Church (pope) say this is a private revelation and we as the Church don't submit to its authority? Something like if God wants it the Holy Spirit would lead the Pope and the bishops the "standard" way as we know it from the tradition, similarly when they decide dogmas.


texts: Movies and Music during Lent for Orthodox Christians

texts:
Last year I was told that the Orthodox do not participate in movies and TV during Lent. Fine -- I assumed it had to do with the fact that new movies/TV are egregiously filled with sin, and Lent is the time of year to avoid sin even more so than usual. There is no canon prohibiting movies, but this practice could be inferred from the principles of Lent. However I still assumed that watching a G rating movie would be fine. It wasn't the TV/movies per se, but the sin involved in the majority of it.

Today I just heard that the Orthodox also do not participate in secular music during Lent. Initially I suspected that, yes, the lyrics in the majority of new secular music are egregiously filled with sin, so an inference could be made to prohibit secular music during Lent. However, non-lyrical music, specifically classical music, or "G rated" lyrical music, can't seem to me to fit into this category.

Has there ever been any actual proclamation made by the Church regarding music and TV during Lent? If so, is it a total fast from all movies and secular music, or simply from those which perpetuate sinful activity? Or am I missing the point here -- is it not necessarily to do with the sin in movies/music but more about denying yourself the pleasure of movies and music?

Is there any evidence at all to back up the notion that an Orthodox should avoid music or movies during Lent, aside from the fact that one should avoid sin during Lent, of which most new music and movies are deeply intertwined with?


texts: What is the Catholic Church's interpretation of 'hunger and thirst for righteousness'?

texts:
At Matthew 5:6 (RSVCE), Jesus says: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

The concept of physical hunger and thirst, as we understand today, appears to be far different from that the people of Jesus' time had. If it was spiritual hunger and thirst the Jesus was in deed referring to, the attributes would have been similar. I hope that the Church has explained at length, the deeper meaning of hunger and thirst, as would have been in the mind of Jesus when He spoke on the Mount. I wish to know what the official interpretation of Matthew 6:5  in the specific context of day-to-day life of the time of Jesus, and  offered by the Catholic Church is.


texts: Can Catholics or other Christians support ending abortion without making it illegal?

texts:
I want to end abortion. I don't believe outlawing abortion will end abortion. I believe the best way to end abortion is to put in place a social safety net which encourages women keep their children knowing the government will provide pregnancy services, day care, etc. Statistics back me up here--countries where abortion is legal but the government provides services have the lowest abortion rates.
Can a Catholic or other Christian support ending abortion but not support outlawing abortion?


texts: In the Bible, it is said that Jesus was asleep in the boat during the storm.  What is the reason?


texts:
In John 7, Jesus tells his brothers that he is not going up to the festival. Then he goes up in secret. This sounds to me like a lie.

John 7:6-10 (NIV)
6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not[b] going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.
10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.

[b] Some manuscripts not yet

Most Christians believe in Jesus' sinlessness, while believing that lying is a sin. Given those beliefs, how do such Christians explain his words in John 7?


texts: How do the reformed view the "Left Behind" series?

texts:
Are the teachings of Tim LaHaye as found in the Left Behind series consistent with the teachings of either reformed theology or Calvinism?

More generally, is the notion of "Biblical Fiction" considered as something that would help or mislead the reader?


texts: What was C.S. Lewis referring to in The Weight of Glory?

texts:
I was searching for another, unrelated quote, but I came across this one, and a particular statement intrigued me.

  The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not IN them, it only came THROUGH them, and what came through them was longing. These things--the beauty, the memory of our own past--are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself, they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshippers. For they are not the thing itself; they are the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never visited. Do you think I am trying to weave a spell? Perhaps I am; but remember your fairy tales. Spells are used for breaking enchantments as well as for inducing them. And you and I have need of the strongest spell that can be found to wake us from the evil enchantment of worldliness which has been laid upon us for nearly a hundred years. Almost our whole education has been directed to silencing this shy, persistent, inner voice; almost all our modern philosophies have been devised to convince us that the good of man is to be found on this earth.
  - C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

The bolded portion is what intrigued me. What began a hundred years before C.S. Lewis wrote this? What might he be referring to?


texts: What are full-time protestant proselyting missions like?

texts:
I'm a Mormon, and everyone knows Mormons are famous for missionary work, as pretty much every faithful young man will serve a 2 year full-time mission right out of high school, and many women will choose to serve one (or more) 1.5 year missions.

I'm very familiar with the LDS missionary program, but I'm not too familiar with many protestant programs. LDS Missions are pretty simple I think: You go through the application process with your bishop, if he thinks you're worthy then your application gets sent to church headquarters, a few weeks or months later you get a mission call to go serve somewhere in the world for 2 years (the church chooses where you go), you're set apart as a missionary–at which point you start living very strict mission rules 24/7–just before you report to the Missionary training centre for 3-12 weeks prior to being sent out into the field.

As a missionary you commit yourself 100% for 2 full years teaching people about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, no days off, no vacation, no TV or cinema or entertainment of the like, and no phone calls home except for on Christmas and Mothers Day on top of a plethora of other very strict rules (no flirting/dating, iceskating, horseback riding, etc., etc.).

That's a typical LDS proselyting mission. There are many other types of missions that you can choose to go on, but for this question I'm only interested in proselyting missions.

How do some Protestant missions compare?


texts: Where in the bible is Jesus referred to as Jesus bin Miriam?

texts:
I've heard that there is a reference to Jesus as 'Jesus bin Miriam' (may have misspelled Miriam), however I can't find the reference.  It may only be in some versions.

Any suggestions?

Citation:  The Jesus of History versus the Christ of Faith 38:07


texts: What is a Reformed substitute for Catholic Marian Doctrine in exemplifying the new dignity accorded women?

texts:
A pattern I see in scripture is that God performs a literal act in history, then makes it into the concrete support for a doctrinal principle, a fitting example.

He creates the world and all of humanity, therefore he has the right to command and judge it.
He destroys the world once by flood, therefore proves that he has the power and intention to judge it again.
He sends Peter a dream to persuade him to accept Gentiles into the church, then affirms this by giving them the Holy Spirit.
Jesus rises from the dead, proving that God can and will do this for his faithful.

There are many such object lessons from which God shaped history and the meaning of the Bible. Concerning racism, we have the Tower of Babel story illustrating the origin of the many languages and peoples, tacked onto the stories of Adam and Eve and Noah, with many genealogies to convey the fact that all people are of one blood, then the statement that in Christ there are no Jews or Greeks, slave or free, etc.
Then we get to the division between men and women. The New Testament seems equivocal here. It affirms a spiritual equality but retains a functional inequality. In looking at Church history side by side with the progress of women, I compared it to the development of Catholic Marian doctrine over the centuries. I see that as greater dignity is accorded Mary, the fortunes of women have improved. If I were a Catholic mystic (which I am not), my apologetic would be that liberating truths emanating from Christ and Mary through the mediating influence of the Catholic Church are transforming the world and progressively reversing the curse upon Eve. Mary is the example for women comparable to the other powerful examples I shared first.
My question is, as far as examples and the slow unfolding and application of Biblical truths to society are concerned, what does a Reformed Tradition have to offer in place of Mary, seeing as much of Mariology is not accepted by the Reformed church?
One specific instance: some religions said women were inherently impure and inferior to men, maybe did not even have souls. Dualistic religions said that all matter is inherently evil. Then Jesus comes and lives a perfect life, showing that a MAN, made of matter, can be perfect, not evil. For Catholics who believe in the Immaculate Conception, Mary did not sin. She is the example WOMAN who lived a perfect life. If you jettison that doctrine, you have no example perfect woman, so need some alternate way to convey the truth that women can be perfected.


texts: How did John the Baptist or Jesus fulfill Malachi 3:3?

texts:
Malachi 3:1-3

Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.
But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.
He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.

Which of the two: John or Jesus, fulfilled Malachi 3:3.
How was it fulfilled?
Why does Malachi say Levi present perfect plural "offerings" as a result of John or Jesus' ministry?

The difficulty arises in the fact that Jesus' supposedly put an end to the need for offerings and the verse appears to be speaking of Jewish sacrifices not the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.


texts:
Is it in anyway lawfully possible for the Catholic Church to one day recognize the Anglican Church as having valid orders?

If not why?

If yes?...does the present day scope and political spectrum suggest it's in the near future?

What would it take to undo the Reformation in that sense: for the Anglican order so to speak under Catholicism perhaps?

To summarise following a well put comment below:

(a) Is it possible for the Catholic Church to accept the Anglican Church back? or

(b) Is it possible for the Catholic Church and Anglican Church to merge? or

(c) Is it possible for the Catholic Church to recognize the authority of the Anglican Church?


texts: Are there any Messianic references in the OT apocrypha?

texts:
Are there any references to Jesus / the Messiah in the OT apocrypha?

(See example of book list here.)


texts: Did Luther think Israel and the Church were two different things? Did he believe in the promises made for Israel as a nation? Was he anti-Semitic when he reformed the church? Did he become one later?


texts: Who are the hypocrites associated with fasting in the Didache?

texts:
The early Christian teaching Didache states that Christians should not fast like the hypocrites:

  Your fasts must not be identical with those of the hypocrites. They fast on Mondays and Thursdays; but you should fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. [Chapter 8]

Who are the hypocrites? A rival Christian group? The Pharisees? Someone else?


texts: What is the reasoning for Latin being the official language of Catholic Mass?

texts:
The New Testament was originally written in Greek. But yet Roman Catholics held Mass in Latin for hundreds of years.

What scriptural evidence, if any, caused Latin to be picked over Greek?

Was any scriptural reasoning used to defend keeping the Mass in Latin for so long? What are the reasons?