Actually we don't even need the Bible. The faith is older than the book.

Our understanding is much deeper with it

"The Church is like a mustard seed. Restorationists and Protestants alike want to go back to the seed of the Faith. What they don't realized, is that when they dig up the dirt, they find the roots of the Church, and when they look above they see a blossoming tree full of life." -- Paraphrased. Idk who wrote it.

Obviously there are flaws in the Church. So priest, deacon, bishop, Cardinal or Pope is not free of sin

Free of sin?

@Iakovos Have you seen the current pope? <:smuglaugh:448311843086401536>

there changed it.

Sorry.

Not free of sin.

Good ☦

Also I don't remember if I have said it, but good luck with your family today

If we weren’t meant to understand Revelations, then it wouldn’t be in the Bible.

Technically it's its own book

Sure, it’s full of metaphors and stuff. So that makes it a more difficult book.

Well all of them are their own books lol

It's not really the intent for most people to understand anything in the Bible

Metaphors were used, so the common people could understand back then

If John saw a vision of a futuristic war, he's gonna write using the terminology he knows

But, it seems we are closing in the age of revelation

either us or our kids will witness it

Maybe

But they thought that in 70 AD too

When Jewrusalem got nuked

And in 793 when the Vikings raided lindisfarne

They are trying to rebuilt the temple of solomon

Which one of the books actually talks about that? The new Christians thinking the end times were there.

when the temple finish it will be the start of the end

It was one of the letter-books that Paul wrote.

Some people are trying but there's Muslim sites where they want to put it

Well yeah. The dome of the rock is in the way 🤣

They say that the muslims sites will be destroyed before the work of solomon temple begins

Everyone is too much of a bitch to fight Islam.

Turkey is going to drag us all into a war if they keep it up, so who knows

@Deleted User explain more on “It’s not really the intent for most people to understand anything in the Bible”

Our religion existed before the Bible was written

The faith is in the soul and the people, not the paper

The Bible is just a tiny, tiny part of it

As John wrote, there's so much Jesus did that if it was all written down, all the books in the world could not contain it

Particularly in southern KJV churches they seem to almost worship the Bible itself

Which is a mere brief of what really happened. The contents are true, but they are only a piece of the story

And the Bible is not necessary to believe. Of course you must believe in the Bible, but you can also believe without it

The evidence of God and knowledge of God's existence can be reached without any books. Merely by logic, reason, and observation.

A man on an island alone with no Bible can figure out that God exists

So can the Sentinelese

Even Jesus did not generally preach to atheists or even gentiles. Most of his audience already believed in the true God

Thus the need for missionaries to convince stubborn or misled people

@Deleted User explain 2nd Peter 3:15-16

Means exactly what it says

I pledge to everyone here that my Faith is absolute. There is nothing left that can shake it, nor any temptations left.

The Great One is in control now
Gott Mit Uns

And Stormbreaker speaks. Yes, I have become Christian. And yes, I am exploring Catholicism.

@Stormbreaker Hitler is not Jesus Christ.

The Great One is the Sword of Michael

I get what you mean Rags. The Bible isn’t necessary for Christianity, but it’s contents sort of are.

I’ve read where muslims are suddenly having visions or something that convinces them to look outside of Islam for salvation.

There’s even that one muslims girl who wrote a book about her conversion. She had a sudden realization that something was odd that Allah could only understand her if she spoke in the “chosen language”. That began her journey to learning about Christianity.

Miracle of Miracles

@Iakovos to answer your question if a Christian can become atheist and back to Christian again

Most atheists aren't true atheists, they are "in denial" atheists.

I asked @Deleted User if a Christian, who has turned to atheism, return to Christianity.

I was a true atheist.

There is a feeling in the pit of their stomach that they hide from

It's the unpaid bill they have ignored

The incomplete homework

The outstanding arrest warrant

The unreleased shit

It will come due

Hebrews 6:4

But they choose to deny its very existence, remember that the evidence of God is not in the Bible or the Church, it is outside of both

It is the world. God's existence can be proven simply by logic and reason.

So when an atheist says he doesn't believe, he is usually lying.

So, I truly didn't believe.

Or did you just deny it?

I'm not sure, but I denied Christ, the sanctification of my baptism, and the existence of sin and God.

But that doesn't mean you truly knew there is no God. You lied to everyone, even to yourself

In denial of the truth

For your own reasons which aren't important to the conversation

But man knows. The law of God is written in our hearts.

And? It says that once I have fallen away it's impossible to renew me again to repentance. What does that mean?

@Deleted User

Read Hebrews 12:16-17

RIP

@Iakovos 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness. But He is patient with us, because He does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

Hebrews 12:16-17
Hebrews 6:4

Read everything

Not individual verses

Esau begged forgiveness but was not sincere

That's what it's talking about

I'm sorry, but then doing it again, you do not receive absolution

It clearly says that once a Christian falls away there is no coming back.

* [12:15–17] Esau serves as an example in two ways: his profane attitude illustrates the danger of apostasy, and his inability to secure a blessing afterward illustrates the impossibility of repenting after falling away (see Heb 6:4–6).

This is from a commentary.

Ask the priest then if you don't like my answer.

James 5:19-20 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Psalm 145:14-16 The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.

@Iakovos

You may have "fallen" as you say. But god is always there waiting for you to come back

@Iakovos right here my nigga

@Deleted User do orthodox believe Mary was sinless? Or an eternal virgin? That she never sinned?

Wasn’t Jesus the only sinless person?

Eastern Orthodox theology calls Mary the Theotokos, which means God-bearer. This term emphasizes Mary's status as the mother of God incarnate in Jesus but not the mother of God from eternity.

@Deleted User I know Catholics believe in immaculate conception, that she was sinless until she birthed Jesus

I know orthodox don't believe that. Was she eternally a virgin?

https://pravoslavie.ru/73378.html @Iakovos

We Orthodox believe that the Panagia was conceived and born in a state of sin since she is a human being just like the rest of us. Only Christ was free of sin. We do venerate the Panagia highly though. She is the holiest of all the Saints and is like a member of our families. We do believe that the Panagia committed no actual personal sins. We believe that both through God’s grace and her free cooperation with God’s grace – both go together- she committed no sin. We believe she overcame every temptation to sin and thus remained ever pure, even in her mind and soul. There is a synergy, a cooperation, going on between God and the Panagia. She exercises her free will to respond to God

@Deleted User @Ragnarok do I have to accept immaculate conception to be Catholic? I do believe the Virgin Mary to be holy and pure, hence, "Hail Mary, full of grace." However, I can't find myself to see her as without original sin. She is merely human after all.

If God can save her from original sin, why didn't he do it for the rest of us? Instead, Christ's sacrifice even sanctified her.

@Iakovos yes you do

That falls under papal infallibility

Even Aquinas rejected it.

Remember what Elizabeth said

What did she say?

@Ragnarok

http://www.newadvent.org/summa/4027.htm

Read this, this is from Aquinas

Also Rag @Ragnarok priest said apostasy can be forgiven.

Is this true? As long as one repents, despite Hebrews 6:4? The book of James says it can, too.

Then ask him why Hebrews appears to say something different

Check the scriptures higher

Technically you are not an apostate of the Church because you never left Catholicism

apostasy isn't a mortal sin

Denouncing Christ is.

Remember the 12 apostoles

Denying the sanctification of your baptism is.

one denounced christ in his time of need

True.

yet not only he was accepted in paradise

he carried on the will of Christ

And Christ did say, "Whoever denies me I will deny before my Father."

And Christ forgave Peter.

I have said before, and I will say it again

Christ will and ALWAYS wait for someone to find his way back

But even now we sleep in faith awaiting the bridegroom. The marriage between Church and Christ.

That will happen in his second coming, yet you have to understand

that your faith inside you is what matters mostly

your connection to god

I know. The lamp oil.

If you believe that your apostasy have severed the connection you have with God, you could ask a your local pastor/priest for guidance on fasting and daily prayer

But now that you have returned back to the light don't worry, god will stand with you and help you on your journey

I asked my priest to pray for me.

I may join the Catholic Church to be confirmed and partake of the Eucharist, but I will be exploring Orthodoxy.

Since Catholics believe that Orthodox are valid, immaculate conception doesn't seem necessary for Heaven.

If I get my slothful ass moving and go to church as I should do, I'll light a candle for you, if you don't mind though you could DM your first name to be more official though

So this is my understanding:

You could join the eastern branch of catholicism

Mary was conceived. At some point in the womb, she was cleansed by the Spirit.

I suppose but @Ragnarok would be better to guide you I believe

She was kept in a state of Grace

And she birthed Jesus. (She may or may not have sinned before being assumed into Heaven.)

The Pope claims that after her earthly life she was lifted into Heaven, which implies she died a natural death.

Only Christ, by will of his own power, ascended into heaven while alive.

For us, is that she never commited a personal sin but she had the original sin as only Christ was the only un-sinful person to place foot in Earth

I don't think it matters

In her prayer she claims that she will be praised for generations

It's only a small scriptural view difference

So, it's valid to look at her as the Mother of Mankind.

For us she is praised daily

Because Christ tells us she is our mother

We do venerate her highly here at least in Greece

She shouldn't be worshipped, though.

But I agree, she should be looked at as a person for guidance. Christ tells us she is our mother. If she is our mother, then we must honor her as commanded.

Worshiping is a strong word

http://theorthodoxfaith.com/article/worship-of-mary/

@Iakovos

Makes sense.

I'm off to sleep mate, cya

After reading what the Rosary is I find that its prayers might be useful.

The Rosary isn't sinful or unscriptural, but simply asking for someone to pray for us. Early Christians prayed for the dead, why can't we pray for Mary to pray for us?

God Bless Adolf Hitler
God Bless the German Empire

Lol wut

Sorry broseph but that shit ain't gonna work and communists came to America via their failure, so yea, no thanks.

The true kingdom is a Christian Kingdom, with Christ as our King.

A theocratic absolute monarchy

We can have human kings

@Stormbreaker

*sips sugar infused American coffee*

Japan is the villain turned ally/friend of the main protagonist

Mostly Lutherans

The high command were occult weirdos

@Amadeus Everyone would bend the knee if they got 2 nukes in their ass 😛

Brother wars 🙄

@Amadeus Japan is like the irl Jaime Lannister except without the incest

United Church. makes sense. They are basically the "feel good" church

10/10 would burn at stake

Anyone wanna... you know...

https://c-ucc.org/contact-form/

hahaha

c-ucc

how is this not intentional

Church of Christ was one of the first "churches" to endorse "marriage" outside male and female.

They call it c-ucc for a reason!

What a queer church

Or rather... heretical shithole

tmw you realize protestant heresies.

First they came for our women
Then they took our banks
Now they want our Faith?
Not going to happen

Which ones?

that church is disgusting

Amen

@Deleted User my church

Your church is the charity program?

Don’t think that counts. 🤔

😜🤣

@Andrules churches all throughout

My parents were once ministers in the SA....until my father banged my step fathers wife and took off out west together.

@Thornberry So your parents divorced, and your mother married a new guy, and your father copulated with your mother, or your stepfather divorced your mother and married a new girl, in which your original dad copulated with?

What?

😕

He’s his own grandpa 🤔🤣

https://youtu.be/D0xnx1Q3Kqo

For serious though... that’s fucked up.

@Andrules Salvation Army is an actual Christian denomination, not just a charity program and overpriced thrift store

Yeah I know lol

Forgot about that until I decided to post 🤣

@Andrules @Thornberry @Deleted User @Deleted User @Deleted User I want all of your favorite Gospel Hymn.

@Amadeus

This is mine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjMinJ4Seho

Sounds better in a Church.

https://mystatenews.com/pastor-arrested-for-selling-tickets-to-heaven-to-members-for-500/

We wuz scammers n shiet

@Iakovos https://youtu.be/YVowLNuV4Zk

Did you listen to the one I sent?

https://youtu.be/M0d4qM7gCH8

@Deleted User

Yeah

Did you like it?

My church sang it the other day and it brought me to tears. Rarely does a hymn do that.

Good music.

Have to think about mine. Maybe tomorrow sometime.

i am not sure

i do like the ten thousand angels one, it is interesting, not necessarily the music itself, but the lyrics/meaning

one hymn i like (but there are no real good versions on youtube) is Onward, Christian Soldiers

but it isn't really a gospel hymn

@Amadeus Christ prayed to our Father to not be crucified, but it was the will of God.

@Iakovos , my father left my mother for another woman and then my mother went with that women's husband

@Deleted User

Power in the blood? I'm protestant so we don't have any cool hymns lol

https://youtu.be/5C1-baO3pNo

Nigga I got hymns older than your country

Te Deum, 397 AD

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Phos Hilaron

https://youtu.be/tAc2KDNHEw4

This is the oldest complete written song.

This song existed before Exodus