Tuesday, 08 January 2013
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With Christ, We are More
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 1:26-31God improves us. With him, we are ‘better’ than the normal person.
For example, a stone will have gold inside it, and another will be composed of the average sediment. The one with gold -- even though the stones might look the same on the outside -- will be far more valuable to our standards than the other stone.
Although we are all equal, God only has those in heaven with him who deserve it. Those who deserve it are those who accepted Christ into their hearts, or, to go back to my example, those who have allowed gold to fill the inside.
God changes us and makes us better. We were once that invaluable stone, but once we have Christ in us, we are worth much more. We were once foolish, but now have wisdom. We were once scared, but now courageous. With Christ we are more. But that does not give is the right to be cocky about it.
Cockiness brings glory to ourselves, where really, we did not change us. God did. We just opened our hearts and allowed him in. “Boast in the Lord,” not in who we are. We would be nothing without him. We are forever changed by his love and grace.
With God, we have something worth much more than anything we could ever find in this world -- inside us, always with us, always pushing us, and always strengthening us.
How has allowing God into your life changed who you are? What does it mean to have Christ in you, and how does someone receive Christ?
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About the Author
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- From: jordon
- Name: Jordon
- Location: Redmond, Oregon, United States
- About Me: I am a full time christian seeking to help others know more about god and to even get to know god. I am only 17 but wisdom comes through experience, and experience can come from age. But god calls us all no matter our age. If he is using us for his glory then age means nothing. I currently am apart of my youth groups worship team playing the drums. And as a future career i want to become a youth pastor just like the ones i look up to.
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Comments (8)
Your propaganda is a lie!
Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democrasies . . . . (from the (Online Source: Journal of Society and Religion.))
To sum up:
In general, higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy, and abortion in the prosperous democracies... The United States is almost always the most dysfunctional of the developed democracies, sometimes spectacularly so, and almost always scores poorly. The view of the U.S. as a “shining city on the hill” to the rest of the world is falsified when it comes to basic measures of societal health.
[…]
Although they are by no means utopias, the populations of secular democracies are clearly able to govern themselves and maintain societal cohesion. Indeed, the data examined in this study demonstrates that only the more secular, pro-evolution democracies have, for the first time in history, come closest to achieving practical “cultures of life” that feature low rates of lethal crime, juvenile-adult mortality, sex related dysfunction, and even abortion. The least theistic secular developed democracies such as Japan, France, and Scandinavia have been most successful in these regards.
i.e. ALL religions & Cults like yours are extremely detrimental to decent societies!
It was Paul who stated that All Mankind Would See The Salvation Of God. We can all pick apart scriptures to please evangelical pastors until we want to puke, but the bottom line is, you can't, I can't, nor can anybody here on earth determine who deserves a heavenly realm or not. And then we go back to Corinthians, to Paul, and his admonitions, unlike Galatia where much of the message had to do with tradition. I only choose my NIV resource to go on, although I do have other bibles and references, but it is clear that the church iwas immature and unspiritua. So that Paul's purpose for writing was to restore the church. I find it highly offensive in our day and time, to beat another over their head with a bible until they recite the magical words that make the person doing the beating feel all powerful and knowing about christianity, when, in fact, by doing just that, it makes them look like an ass. The one phrase on this planet that has driven more people away from christianity is this: "Are you saved?" It seems to me there would be only one who would know that. And whether it was necessary to begin with. God knew everything. Every darn thing in this world. Did he know Adam didn't have to sin so that a gazillian of his children could burn? Did he know that? Since we know he did, would it matter? Since we know it matters, for he is all loving and omnipotent, was it necessary? Really?
So called xtianities preferred Story book is a 100% man made fabrication containing deceptions & lies!
Take for example the claim that billions would die because of inherited Adamic disobedience - sin?
Deut. 24:16 & Ezek. 18:20 unambiguously refute that notion!
Please stop listening to your corrupt masters who make a $living from spreading their propaganda!
In reality land where I dwell Data proves those that claim to be followers of jebus OR ANY religion are LESSER people than their secular humans, because of it!
Listen to those like myself (Composer) that teach unambiguous Truth for FREE!
How has allowing God into your life changed who you are? Well, hopefully my profile pic can speak for itself! Once I let God into my life it quite literally changed everything in ways I could never have imaged.
What does it mean to have Christ in you, and how does someone receive Christ?My first instinct when seeing this question is to say EUCHARIST. I receive Him in His entirety every day at Mass; I honestly do not know how I would survive without this incredible gift of total communion with Him. But just as with receiving Christ inside of us in a purely spiritual sense, receiving the Eucharist is a choice we make, moved by grace to go to His minister as though we were a beggar, pleading for our daily bread. I suppose on the most basic level we have Christ in us and receive Christ when we finally respond to that grace planted inside of us at our very conception and given water at Baptism: our whole being yearns for Christ, and at some point we finally say, "Come, Lord Jesus!" He's never refused an invitation; not that I've ever heard of.
@Composer - "Please stop listening to your corrupt masters who make a $living from spreading their propaganda!" What about those priests and religious who take a vow of poverty? For example I teach at a high school and earn about $38K a year (I think), but I never see a dime of it. Rather my community gives me room, board, access to a car and $150 a month for other incidental needs. I'm not getting rich off of spreading "propaganda," and I never will.
Well, not the kind of rich you are speaking of, at any rate.
"In reality land where I dwell Data proves those that claim to be followers of jebus OR ANY religion are LESSER people than their secular humans, because of it!"It seems to me that if you look at the data on great minds and people throughout history, you'll find that the overwhelming majority of them were not merely religious, but intensely so. Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics? He was an Augustinian monk. Copernicus? He likely received minor orders in the Church and may even have been ordained a priest. St. Thomas Aquinas is widely considered to be one of the greatest minds that ever was, and a Benedictine monk named Andrew Gordon made the first electric motor in the 1700s. The scientific method, discovering the diffraction of light (and coining the very word "diffraction"), crystallography, acoustics, the first wireless transmission of the human voice, accounting, the first accurate measurement of the earth's diameter, geology, stratigraphy, the first self-propelled vehicle; these are just some of the more prominent contributions Catholic monks and priests have made to science and compiling all that data you seem to believe contradicts or negates religion.
Where would today's studies in evolution be without the foundation of genetics laid down by Mendel?
And how could atheists argue against creationists by putting their own faith in the Big Bang Theory which, alas, was developed and first put forward by a Catholic priest named Georges Lamaitre?
While I understand that, particularly since the days of the Enlightenment, religion and science seem to have been butting heads, this is a very recent development (compared to the rest of human history) and is, truly, an unnecessary conflict, seeing how religion and science (see above) has quite often gotten along not only famously, but for the superior benefit of all mankind.
Peace and God's blessing.
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - !" What about those priests and religious who take a vow of poverty?
What do they mean by ' Poverty? '.
Let's have a list of them whom you claim took this vow & their statement qualifying what they mean by taking this vow & how it affects them IF at all?
Also: How long does this ' vow ' last or does it fluctuate according to the choices they make e.g. weeks, months, years, lifetime, other?
Did they bring $wealth with them before they started on this ' vow? '.
IF any did, what did they bring and who received it after this ' vow ' was taken?
ANY genuine wanna-be believer is told to have nothing but food & clothing, so IF they did bring wealth etc. then they were disingenuous previously!
You for example having a Car, human provided free lodgings to name a couple of things are NOT obeying your very own Story book commandments & are thus YOU are a fraudulent & pretend believer -
i) Sell that ye have, and give alms; . . . . (Luke 12:33) KJV Story book
ii) . . . . go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: . . . . (Matt. 19:21) KJV story book
I would be pleased to receive copies of written and independently witnessed signatures in a Statuatory Declaration confirming you have strictly obeyed Matt. 19:21? (List of assets, property, Bank statements etc all reading zero?) and a similar Statuatory Declaration from those others who ' claim ' to be obedient xtians?
iii) For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (1 Tim. 6:7-8) KJV bible story book
Strong's renders:
BDB/Thayers # 4629
4629 skepasma {skep'-as-mah}
from a derivative of skepas (a covering; perhaps akin to the base
of 4649 through the idea of noticeableness);; n n
AV - raiment 1; 1
1) a covering, spec. clothing
but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. (1 Tim. 6:8) RSV catholic Edition.
In the same way, none of you may become my disciple if he doesn't give up everything he has. (Luke 14:33) Digital catholic bible -
So it is your alleged jebus' will; that you and those also claiming to be obedient jebus' followers; that you sell absolutely everything you have and own including e.g. computer(s), investments, savings, house(s) etc. give to the poor save a days food and the clothes on your back and then get a non-christian friend OR any person willing to legitimately support you in this, to email a letter to me or via PM to me or Posted in a New Thread here from you (ahem) obedient xtians, proving you have done so along with written confirmation / sworn declaration that you are ' content? ' and shall remain that way and not go back to gathering riches etc? LOL!
IF you fail and instead offer more BS excuses for your disobedience and hypocrisy as did ALL your predecessors, then that unambiguously also proves you also do not believe your jebus at all and know your jebus lied, and you wouldn't be content with only ' food & clothing ' and hence refuse to do as you are commanded!
Not only are you and your predecessors greedy for personal carnal gain, but as we have also seen and been proved, ALL so called jebus' believers also follow in its selfish lusts and greed for potential divine rewards '.
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - For example I teach at a high school and earn about $38K a year (I think), but I never see a dime of it.
Where does it go?
Who takes it?
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - Rather my community gives me room, board, access to a car and $150 a month for other incidental needs.
Who pays for your food, rates, electricity, Gas, air-conditioning, petrol, clothing etc. etc?
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - I'm not getting rich off of spreading "propaganda," and I never will.
Well, not the kind of rich you are speaking of, at any rate.
Rich is relevant! You seem to be doing very nicely at present, better than many of your gullible flock I bet!
"In reality land where I dwell Data proves those that claim to be followers of jebus OR ANY religion are LESSER people than their secular humans, because of it!"
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - It seems to me that if you look at the data on great minds and people throughout history, you'll find that the overwhelming majority of them were not merely religious, but intensely so. Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics? He was an Augustinian monk.
Copernicus? He likely received minor orders in the Church and may even have been ordained a priest. St. Thomas Aquinas is widely considered to be one of the greatest minds that ever was, and a Benedictine monk named Andrew Gordon made the first electric motor in the 1700s.
The scientific method, discovering the diffraction of light (and coining the very word "diffraction"), crystallography, acoustics, the first wireless transmission of the human voice, accounting, the first accurate measurement of the earth's diameter, geology, stratigraphy, the first self-propelled vehicle; these are just some of the more prominent contributions Catholic monks and priests have made to science and compiling all that data you seem to believe contradicts or negates religion.
The Data reflects the decline in moral society by a belief in ANY god(s) conversely Secular societies are superiorly moral when measured against religions & Cults like yours!
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - Where would today's studies in evolution be without the foundation of genetics laid down by Mendel?
And how could atheists argue against creationists by putting their own faith in the Big Bang Theory which, alas, was developed and first put forward by a Catholic priest named Georges Lamaitre?
I am not interested in discussing Creationism, I adhere to busting Cult mentalities like yours using your own Story book bible propaganda to successfully defeat you.
While I understand that, particularly since the days of the Enlightenment, religion and science seem to have been butting heads, this is a very recent development (compared to the rest of human history) and is, truly, an unnecessary conflict, seeing how religion and science (see above) has quite often gotten along not only famously, but for the superior benefit of all mankind.
Peace and God's blessing.
LOL! The legitimate evidence for ANY literal Supernatural god(s) of ANY kind remains a consistent zero!
ALL Supernatural god(s) are merely 100% speculation by some humans!
BTW your penguin suit belongs to which Cult denomination?
I am strictly heterosexual, what are you?
Does your particular Cult have a website - Statement of faith I can examine and respond to?
"What does it mean to have Christ in you, and how does someone receive Christ?" sounds realllyyy personal and I prefer not to speak of my sexcapades in public.
We do not accept God's grace when baptized as an infant. We know nothing of God at that point in our lives. As to the vow of poverty, visit some fourth world countries. While visiting the Philippines in the 70's, I spent time in my family's barrio, or place of dwelling, where at least 95% of the people lived in dirt floored huts,and spewed out at man as 16 children, all because the local priest told them they'd go to hell if they used birth control. I'd never seen a man with such power, and he lived in a beautiful house, with running water and electricity. I never saw him amongst the people, who were begging me and my husband to take their oldest child back to the states with us for a shot at education, knowing they'd never see them again. It just blew my mind, because, God does not punish people simply because they are poor and have no resources to care for a plethora of children. I guess my mind could fathom such hideous teachings if the priests in these areas actually had that many children themselves. Then, they'd know how to counsel those families. But to sit alone, in their own dwelling, reading and studying, while their flock is out there starving to death just really craps me out. And don't tell me that favorite line about how priests have to be alone and celibate to be good leaders. It just ain't so. It's been proven time and again how ridiculous it is.