Well, quite frankly Timmy, it seems foolish and unprofitable to me to ask these questions with any degree of seriousness. We have the Bible. It's a reality - to me at least.
I think most of the people of the world do not have the Bible, most of the people who ever lived never saw one or heard about it in their lives. For those billions of people, perhaps it's not such a foolish question?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
I think most of the people of the world do not have the Bible, most of the people who ever lived never saw one or heard about it in their lives. For those billions of people, perhaps it's not such a foolish question?
Oops....the perceived foolishness of your question just went right out the window, didn't it? I suppose we should postpone the shopping for new cars, new clothes, and new houses and start getting bibles out there to all the world. Ok God, forget that prayer meeting we had when we prayed for each other's "needs". Crud, I can't go to that hot conference with all those amazing preachers.
It's disconcerting that people seem to complicate the simplicity of the gospel - I will agree to that. The good news is that Christ saves those that come to the foot of the cross, regardless of the religious muck they go through to get to HIM.
Still, ONE way. ONE destination. It's about Jesus.
If there is no heaven and no hell? Then there is no Jesus and we are all deceived along with Lennon.
I'm not sure if Lennon was deceived or fed up. I believe we can learn much about the culture that surrounds us by studying songs like "Imagine". There's much to be learned from it. Lennon was on to something.
He saw religion as a place of agendas and he saw heaven and hell attached to those agendas. And those religious agenda resulted in wars an hunger, in his opinion. Did he have a point? One could argue strongly that he did.
Contrary to what many defensive Christians think, he wasn't taking a shot a Christianity, he was taking a shot a world religion, and hopefully we could all admit that world religion has a history of really messing things up.
If the Christian culture is to reach people who write songs like this, it would do us good to be in touch with the song.
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Contrary to what many defensive Christians think, he wasn't taking a shot a Christianity, he was taking a shot a world religion, and hopefully we could all admit that world religion has a history of really messing things up.
...
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We Christians have certainly done our share of "messing things up."
Look at the religious war in Northern Ireland.
Look at the anti-semitism practiced by Catholi and Protestand Europeans over the years culminating in the Holocaust.
Look at what white Christians did when they believed in Manifest Destiny and practiced genocide against the Native Americans to promote their Christian Nation.
Look what exclusivist holiness preachers, churches, and organizations are doing right now against all who don't accept their narrow interpretation of Christianity.
We Christians have certainly done our share of "messing things up."
Look at the religious war in Northern Ireland.
Look at the anti-semitism practiced by Catholi and Protestand Europeans over the years culminating in the Holocaust.
Look at what white Christians did when they believed in Manifest Destiny and practiced genocide against the Native Americans to promote their Christian Nation.
Look what exclusivist holiness preachers, churches, and organizations are doing right now against all who don't accept their narrow interpretation of Christianity.
I'm not sure if Lennon was deceived or fed up. I believe we can learn much about the culture that surrounds us by studying songs like "Imagine". There's much to be learned from it. Lennon was on to something.
He saw religion as a place of agendas and he saw heaven and hell attached to those agendas. And those religious agenda resulted in wars an hunger, in his opinion. Did he have a point? One could argue strongly that he did.
Contrary to what many defensive Christians think, he wasn't taking a shot a Christianity, he was taking a shot a world religion, and hopefully we could all admit that world religion has a history of really messing things up.
If the Christian culture is to reach people who write songs like this, it would do us good to be in touch with the song.
Yeah it's a pretty kewl song - I admit... just a few pesky lines... I am sure "religion" was a target, but it also left no room for God did it?
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
Thanks, Sam, for the quotes. I suppose you'd agree with Paul, that even without the Bible, at least some people would know right and wrong. What about Bishop Haywood? Is that what is known as "light doctrine" and/or UR? Do you agree with it?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Thanks, Sam, for the quotes. I suppose you'd agree with Paul, that even without the Bible, at least some people would know right and wrong. What about Bishop Haywood? Is that what is known as "light doctrine" and/or UR? Do you agree with it?
The passage in Romans could mean that those who have not heard or those who have not understood the Bible will be judged by how well they lived up to their conscience or to what "light" they had.
That is called the Light Doctrine by some and is what Bishop Haywood taught. Actually, Bro. Norris at the Apostolic Bible Institute and Clyde Haney at WABC as it was called back then, taught it also.
Yes, I believe that. In my opinion, Matthew 25:31-46 is that second resurrection that Bishop Haywood spoke about and some folks receive eternal life there who did not seem to realize that they had been serving Jesus in their lifetime.
Suppose the Bible didn't exist. What would happen? Would every one who was ever born end up in hell, since nobody would know how to be saved?
There was a time when there was no written revelation of God. Word of mouth passed down from Adam. General revelation...the heavens tell of the glory of God. All of creation attests to there being a Creator. Our conscience given to us by our creator to know the difference between good and evil. God has always made himself and his will known to man.
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His banner over me is LOVE.... My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
To be a servant of God, it will cost us our total commitment to God, and God alone. His burden must be our burden... Sis Alvear
After the Exodus in 1445 BC, Israel as a nation had written Scriptures and were God's covenant people. About 700 something BC the prophet Jonah went to Nineveh and preached. The people repented and God forgave them. We don't read about them coming to Jerusalem and taking part in the Temple rituals and sacrifices. They were just forgiven and continued on in some form of monotheism but not Judaism. In Luke 11:32 Jesus said that the people of Nineveh repented and by their attitude and actions would condemn those who heard Him but did not respond. Sounds to me like they'll make it to Heaven outside of Judaism which was God's revealed way at that time. Some of us Apostolics are real sticklers for Acts 2:38 and other stuff that we make up as we go along. We consider ourselves God's covenant people. Aren't there others out there that have turned to God but have not come to us and become part of our group just like those Ninevites did not come to Jerusalem and become part of organized Judaism?
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Sam also known as Jim Ellis
Apostolic in doctrine
Pentecostal in experience
Charismatic in practice
Non-denominational in affiliation
Inter-denominational in fellowship
I suppose we should postpone the shopping for new cars, new clothes, and new houses and start getting bibles out there to all the world. Ok God, forget that prayer meeting we had when we prayed for each other's "needs". Crud, I can't go to that hot conference with all those amazing preachers.
My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. 
Hybrid Mode
