It Is Full Of Violence Genocide Prejudice And Injustice Often Commanded By Godand Its Been Used By Christians To Justify More Violence And Oppression
Yes, the Bible is full of prejudice, violence, attempted genocide, and injustice. The Bible, after all, gives us the brutal truth about sinful human beings.
Of course, people who bring this charge against the Bible dont have these instances of human violence and injustice in mind, but rather they are thinking of those many stories where God brought violence on people either directly or through the agency of his followers. Think of the flood story , the killing of the Egyptian soldiers at the Red Sea , or the Conquest . But, while it is hard to get our 21st century Western minds around it, these are stories of justice, bad people receiving the judgment that they deserve. God brings the Flood against violent humanity he closes the Red Sea against Egyptian soldiers who were trying to kill the Israelites, and he commands Joshua to fight the Canaanites because their sin had reached its full measure .
Its only people who live in relatively peaceful circumstances who have the luxury of being turned off by such stories. The hard truth of the Bible is that people who reject God and harm other people will eventually receive punishment for them. Thats also the message of the New Testament, in the teaching behind heaven and hell.
Why Are More People Choosing Cremation
A common reason why more people are choosing cremation is to avoid the expenses related to funeral services and burial. A traditional funeral can often cost around $8,000 to $10,000 while the average cost of cremation is $1,500 to $2,500. Theres also the cost of digging a grave and purchasing funeral plots as well. Both run around $1,000 each.
A new growing trend developed in Italy is the Capusla Mundi project. The cost of these biodegradable urns is around $500. Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretzel have developed an organic, biodegradable burial capsule that will turn the deceaseds body into nutrients for a tree that will grow out of their remains. After being encapsulated in the fetal position, the deceased is buried and either a tree or tree seed is planted above their capsule. As of right now, the project is waiting to gain clearance of burial laws. If it is approved, the goal is to create memorial parks full of trees instead of tombstones.
Trees hold great symbolism and meaning across many different cultures. In many ways, a trees life cycle mirrors the human experience. God starts us from a seed in the womb. We grow from young and small to strong, tall, and firmly rooted in the ground of his Word. Eventually, we grow old and pass from this earth to heaven.
What Is The Difference Between Climate Change And Global Warming
It is worthwhile to mention that global warming is distinct from climate change. Climate change and global warming are not the same issues. According to NASA, climate change, encompasses global warming, but refers to the broader range of changes that are happening to our planet, including rising sea levels shrinking mountain glaciers accelerating ice melt in Greenland, Antarctica and the Arctic and shifts in flower/plant blooming times.
Likewise, NASA describes global warming as the long-term heating of the Earths climate system observed since the pre-industrial period due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in the Earths atmosphere.
From this definition, it is mankinds fault that we are experiencing global warming today. People are divided on whether or not it is mankinds fault that we are experiencing global warming and as noted earlier, many people deny we are experiencing global warming at all.
Nonetheless, it is important for all people to take care of the environment as God has given us dominion over the earth . Since God has given us this great responsibility and privilege, we do need to care about the way we treat the environment.
Activities, such as recycling, cutting down on fossil fuels, and simply buying energy-saving light bulbs are small ways to help take care of the environment.
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What If The Person We Need To Forgive Is Not A Believer
We are called to love our neighbors and our enemies and pray for those who hurt us:
“You have heard the law that says, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
We learn a secret about forgiveness in this verse. That secret is prayer. Prayer is one of the best ways to break down the wall of unforgiveness in our hearts. When we begin to pray for the person who has wronged us, God gives us new eyes to see and a new heart to care for that person.
As we pray, we start to see that person as God sees them, and we realize that he or she is precious to the Lord. We also see ourselves in a new light, just as guilty of sin and failure as the other person. We too are in need of forgiveness. If God did not withhold his forgiveness from us, why should we withhold forgiveness from another?
What Does The Bible Say About Generosity
Sponsored child 11-year-old Rocio receives a package from her sponsor in Colomi, Bolivia.
World Vision helped a Rwandan community build a milk processing plant to buy surplus milk and sell it to the market. But the community decided to take it a step further. They began to generously give free milk to orphans to boost their health. The milk saved lives, including Mosess. Noel brought Moses to the milk center regularly after finding him starving on the side of the road. Today, the little boy is healthy and loved.
Church, community, and World Vision volunteers all generously give their time freely to unload and distribute relief supplies for victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas.
John Nalukobo, 74, is surrounded by the orphaned grandchildren he and his wife raise, plus one of the goats they were given from another family in the community. That family first received goats from a World Vision donor who purchased the animals through the Gift Catalog. Last year, John was also able to donate goats for another family in need. I was really excited because I was also helped, and I needed to help another family.
Fifth-grade teacher Susan Depascale, left, and special education para-educator Marianne Papastavaros hold boxes of school supplies in the World Vision Mobile Teacher Resource Center outside their school in Bridgeport, Conn. Women of Vision distributed school supplies to children at various schools in Bridgeport in October 2015.
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Vaccines And Aborted Fetal Cells
Christians should also be aware, while the COVID-19 vaccines do not contain aborted fetal cells. Fetal cells were used during the research and development of these mRNA vaccines.
I feel taking vaccines associated with abortion in any manner is promoting sin. One of the seven things God hates are hands that shed innocent blood, . Destroying an unborn child is shedding innocent blood. A baby is an innocent life, a baby is flesh and blood.
The womb of our mother was never intended to be our grave, . A womans womb brings forward life, it should never be the place to bring about death through murder.
Therefore, Christians should not partake of any vaccines produced, researched, or developed using aborted fetal cells.
How Can We Not Worry
It is easy enough to say dont worry but I have found that to be so much easier said than done. Simply to command dont worry just doesnt seem enough, does it? After all, if I tell you not to think of a pink elephant, whats the first thing you do?
Right. We need something to replace that with something else to do with those frets and fears. We need something on the positive side–if we are not to worry, what is our alternative?
The Word of God gives us that answer. Each time we are told to not worry, to not be anxious, we are indeed taught what to choose instead. Trust God. Trust Christ Jesus.
But in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus .
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you .
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you .
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy .
And the promises of Jesus include:
Peace I leave with you my peace I give you. I do not give to your as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid .
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls
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Yes For Some No For Others
What if you came to the Christian faith from a background in the occult? What if, before you became a Christian, you did practice some of these dark deeds? Perhaps refraining from Halloween and its activities is the safest and most appropriate response for you as an individual.
In all probability, the dilemma over Halloween is a Romans 14 issue, or a “disputable matter.” These are matters that lack specific direction from the Bible. Ultimately, Christians must decide for themselves and follow the convictions of their own heart.
It Is Full Of Contradictions And Discrepancies
Its not very hard to convince someone that the Bible is full of contradictionsthat is, if they dont know the Bible very well. All you have to do is cite Proverbs, where the author tells us not to answer or is it, answer a fool according to his folly . Or maybe point out that Matthew places the Sermon on the Mount, on a mountain , while Luke says Jesus spoke on a level place . Is Abijah a good king or a bad one ? Were humans created last or first ? Of course, these are just samples from countless others that people like to bring up.
A little digging, however, will show that proverbs arent written to give us universally valid principles , but rather they are true only when applied at the right situation. Depending on the fool you are talking to, you have to determine which proverb is relevant to the situation.
The Gospels are not meant to be simply factual reports, but bring out the theological significance of real events for their intended contemporary audience. So Matthew places Jesus sermon on a mountain in order to bring out a connection all his original Jewish Christian readers would recognize immediately. Namely, Jesus speaking on a mountain about the law would remind them how God gave Moses the law on Mount Sinai : Luke, written primarily for Hellenistic Christians, would not pick up on that connection so readily.
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Be Generous With Time And Money
This does not mean we are obligated to share our time or money with people who are clearly not in need but just want to use or abuse us ” rel=”nofollow”> 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).
Other references: What Does the Bible Say About Generosity and Duty to the Poor?, What Does the Bible Say About Using Time, Talents and Wealth?, What Does the Bible Say About Money and Wealth?
What Does The Bible Say About Self
The Bible does support self-defense. While Christ does denounce retaliation and revenge, He does not prohibit acting in self-defense. Therefore, believers are not sinning when they defend themselves or others from harm and suffering.
- Sophia BrickerContributing Writer
- 202111 Nov
Security is important in the modern world. Cybersecurity, advanced technological home safety systems, and knowledge of self-defense tactics are abounding in society. Christians also seek security in their churches and home, with self-defense classes sometimes offered by churches.
Although it can be easy to make assumptions about safety, the first concern for the follower of Christ should be what the Lord says about any subject, including personal safety and defense.
Relevant passages about self-defense can be found in Scripture, which includes specific statements and examples of faithful followers of God engaging in the protection of themselves and others.
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God’s Perspective On Suicide
The following is a true story about a Christian man who committed suicide. The experience lends an interesting perspective on the issue of Christians and suicide.
The man who had killed himself was the son of a church staff member. In the short time he had been a believer, he touched many lives for Jesus Christ. His funeral was one of the most moving memorials ever conducted.
With more than 500 mourners gathered, for nearly two hours, person after person testified how this man had been used by God. He had pointed countless lives to faith in Christ and shown them the way to the Father’s love. Mourners left the service convinced that what had driven the man to commit suicide had been his inability to shake his addiction to drugs and the failure he felt as a husband, father, and son.
Although his was a sad and tragic ending, nevertheless, his life testified undeniably of Christ’s redemptive power in an amazing way. It is very difficult to believe that this man went to hell.
The fact is, no one can truly understand the depth of someone else’s suffering or the reasons that could drive a soul to such desperation. Only God knows what is in a person’s heart . Only the Lord knows the extent of pain which might bring a person to the point of suicide.
What It Means To Be A Christian
The word Christian was given to the early followers of Jesus, and the name has ‘stuck’ to this day.
Being a Christian is not about keeping rules and regulations, performing rituals, or even going to church. It’s about a friendship – a friendship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said that knowing him is the doorway to a special relationship with God.
Jesus says that we can begin such a special relationship with God by committing ourselves to follow him. Millions of people today have discovered a relationship with God in this way.
Along with some words from the Bible, here’s what five people have to say about themselves and what it means to be a Christian.
John is married with four children and nine grandchildren, and is a word-processing operator.
I used to think a Christian was someone who was born in England, been christened as a baby and did nobody any harm. And that’s how I tried to live my life.
One day my typing teacher said, “Well John, you are a Christian aren’t you?” And I said, “I think I am.” She said, “You don’t sound too sure.” And I found I couldn’t sleep that night. I was really worried. I thought, “Am I a Christian? Does it really matter if I am a Christian? What if I’m not? Will I go to heaven? Is there a heaven? Is there a hell? What will happen when I die?” And all these questions started going round inside my head.
Whereas before I used to worry what will people think about me, now all that matters is: what does Jesus think about me?
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Christians Cant Even Agree On What Its Saying So Who Cares If Its True Or Not
Christians often come to different conclusions on what the Bible teaches on a whole host of subjects. All we have to do is drive down the street and see a Baptist Church on one corner, then a Lutheran Church on another, then a Catholic Church, a Presbyterian Church, and on and on to come to the conclusion that there isnt one, but a host of different Christian messages.
Christians disagree on many things, such as as how to interpret Genesis 1-2, how to understand the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of humans, what happens during communion, when someone should be baptized, how the gifts of the Spirit manifest themselves in us, when Christ is going to return, and on and on. Such differences may lead some people to conclude that if Christians cant agree on what the Bible teaches, then why bother with it all.
Bible Verses Of Encouragement For The Poor
In the Bible, it is clear that those in poverty are close to Gods heart. Jesus himself was born into poverty and gave up his heavenly riches when he came down to earth. Constantly, the poor are said to be blessed and we are instructed to value integrity over riches. God has not forgotten the poor and instead calls all believers to join in his restorative work to bring hope and opportunity to them.
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? James 2:5
You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge.
Proverbs 19:1Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
Psalm 72:12-14For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy.From oppression and violence, he redeems their life precious is their blood in his sight.
2 Corinthians 8:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
Proverbs 22:2The rich and the poor meet together the Lord is the maker of them all.
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