LindaR

I would run from membership from such a church. No one should know what we give, and giving would be from my heart, not forced.

To be honest, there is no such thing as a 3.5 or 4 point Calvinist. The points define each other, and must be taken as a whole. For example, some people think they are only a 1-point Calvinist because they think that 'Perseverance of the Saints' means the same thing as the Biblical belief of Once Saved, Always Saved. The truth is, though, that Calvinism redefines terms by itself. Calvinism teaches that the saints persevere because as they had no choice to be saved, they have no choice to be unsaved (Irresistible Grace). Not quite the same thing that the Bible teaches.
And yes, since believer's baptism by immersion is what defines Baptists, there can certainly be Baptists who are Calvinist, as there are Baptists who are Arminian and Baptists (including the owner of this site) who are neither - Biblicists, as my pastor calls us.  This site is not a Calvinist site, and that pernicious doctrine is not permitted to be aggressively promoted here.

Hello All, I grew up in the majority Muslim nation of Malaysia, where I was saved and heard about Jesus when I was a young child. I was baptized when I was 15 years old in a Bethelic Church in Malaysia as well. This was a water baptism with immersion, done in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believed in Christ first then was baptized. I saw no saving power in the water and did this simply out of obedience to the Word of God. I am about to join a local IFB church and was asked first to give a testimony of my relationship with Christ and then where I had been baptized. After hearing my response, the pastor of this church told me I would have to be baptized again to become a member, as my previous baptism would not be accepted. Reasons given were that my church, Bethelic, was a charismatic church, and lacked not only the biblical authority to do a baptism, but also was in doctrinal error concerning the Word of God, as they practiced speaking in tongues and therefore based on this again, my baptism was invalid. Was my baptism really not valid before? I believed in Jesus and all the words the Bible says about Him before I was baptized, and trusted in Him to present me blameless before the Father. Just because the pastor of my Malaysian church and others in the congregation practiced speaking in tongues, does this really make my baptism invalid? Please help me to understand as I am so confused. I am starting to think this is some kind of denominational thing that says it's our way or no way. This church also practices closed communion and is of course KJV only. Thank You! :o

The public school system is corrupt, therefore homeschooling is probably the only option for parents who want their children educated "in the way they should go". (Proverbs 22:6)
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
 

On Ebay yesterday I came across one of his books, called Hymns to the Gods, which included hymns and poems to such pagan gods as Jupiter. He was definitely not a believer in Christ as his Saviour, though many claim masonry to be Christian. Its actually Luciferian, but one doesn't find that out until reaching the 30th degree.

Just my "two cents."
I myself have never believed that Eve misrepresented God's Word on the matter.  If she had, then this falsehood would have been the first sin of humanity; and it would have been a sin of willful falsehood, not of deceived transgression (as 1 Timothy 2:14 reports concerning Eve's part "in the transgression").  
Now, the timeline of the creations, commandment, and temptation has been given already, as follows:
1.  The Lord God created Adam.
2.  The Lord God commanded Adam not to eat of the forbidden tree.
3.  The Lord God created Adam's wife, Eve.
4.  The Serpent, the Devil, tempted and deceived Eve.
However, I wish to bring forward a grammatical element in relation to this timeline, as follows:
1.  In Genesis 2:17 the Lord God delivered His commandment unto Adam, saying, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."  Herein the Lord God employed the pronoun "thou" three times.  This pronoun is a singular pronoun; therefore, in delivering this command the Lord God was only speaking to a single individual.  Even so, this would be appropriate in the context since Adam's wife Eve had not yet been created, such that the Lord God was indeed only speaking to Adam himself.  
2.  In Genesis 3:3 Eve delivered her report of the Lord God's command, saying, "But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."  Herein Eve employed the pronoun "ye" three times.  This pronoun is a plural pronoun, indicating a command that was delivered by the Lord God Himself (as per the phrase, "God hath said") unto more than one person.  Since there is no indication within this context or within the Lord God's rebuke against Eve that she had falsely misrepresented God, and since there is no indication in 1 Timothy 2:13-15 that Eve had transgressed by speaking falsely, I would contend in accord with the plural pronouns that Eve employed that the Lord God reiterated His command unto Adam and Eve as a group sometime after Eve was created.  Furthermore, I would contend that Eve reported the Lord God's command with perfect accuracy.
Some thoughts to consider -- Did "the voice of the LORD God" regularly meet and walk with Adam and Eve "in the cool of the day"?  If He did, then there is a significant amount of communication between them that is not recorded in the Scriptures.  As such, is it likely that Eve was directly quoting out of that unrecorded communication?

Its also a basic modesty issue, which, while mostly addressing it to women in the NT, yet the basic issue applies to men and women.
Modesty is more attitude than dress, though the right attitude with bring about good dress.  Modesty is an attitude of not seeking to draw attention to one's self with excess of clothing, skin, decoration, hair and actions. The Bible also refers to 'shame-facedness', or a humble attitude. So a woman can wear a nice, loose-fitting dress down to the ankles and up to the neck, but still be immodest when she is loud and obnoxious, or seeking approval for her clothes or hair or whatever.
We can draw attention to ourselves by extreme styles in hair, jewelry, clothing, or lack thereof, speech, actions, etc. That's one of the issues I have with contemporary Christian music-it tends to be more about the performers and the entertainment than about God or the word.
A modest person will dress and act in a way that doesn't bring about undue attention to them. That's why a lot of IF Baptists tend to dress kind of alike, men in suits and ties, women in dresses-not seeking to stand out from the crowd, because that's what modesty is. The world says "The squeaky wheel gets the grease", but the Bible says that promotion cometh from the Lord-we let the Lord lift one up, as we humble ourselves.

Might be worth keeping as an oddity. I suspect not too many Masonic items make it out to the general public. I have tried to get the masonic writings of Albert Pike, but can never seem to succeed on Ebay. I suspect they try to keep them out of people's hands.

Professor was pointed to Christ many times but he had no interest in the Gospel, no interest in the state of his soul, his only interest was in wanting people to debate with and even then he didn't want to actually debate, he simply wanted to present his opinions and then reject out of hand anything opposed to them.
He fled because he didn't want to face the most important matter in his life. Seeds have obviously been planted in him by others, it seems like there has been watering in his life, and he received both again here as well.
 

I agree with Saintnow. 
It really doesn't matter what our "opinions" are about atheists and atheism.  God's definition of who they are is what matters.  God defines them as "fools" (Psalms 14:1; 53:1).

I agree with Saintnow. 
It really doesn't matter what our "opinions" are about atheists and atheism.  God's definition of who they are is what matters.  God defines them as "fools" (Psalms 14:1; 53:1).

yep...he left with a blanket insult against Christians blaming them for not entertaining him enough for him to hang around....acting like we want him to leave and burn in Hell rather than to listen to God and be saved from it.  He doesn't want to hear what the Bible says about him and his beliefs, he heard enough of it in his fundamental upbringing.  He's only trying to work up the nerve to come out of the closet among his family and fundamental friends as an atheist.  Sooner or later they will find out his unbelief by his own words and actions. 

Evolution and the Bible do not mix at all.  I don't see how anybody can honestly believe Jesus is God who died for their sin and rose bodily from the grave at the same time they believe evolutionary doctrines.  Maybe I'm wrong and a person really can be saved and still believe in evolution...but I can't help being skeptical of people who are skeptical of the Bible as they incorporate evolutionary doctrine and uphold it over the Bible's rejection of it.

From what I read and here, increasing numbers of honest scientists lean toward believing in intelligent design due to their own studies.  This still does not make them better than any other evolutionary atheistic fool.  Until they fear God, they know nothing worth knowing and they have nothing to teach Christians.  When an agnostic says "we don't know", they need to be rebuked rather than applauded.  The agnostic does not know because he rejects knowing God.  Christians know by the word of God.  Agnostics try to speak for Christians when they say "we don't know".  Whenever they tell me "we don't know", I can simply say "YOU don't know, I know".  They want to convince themselves that nobody can know God in order to justify their own rejection of Him.

There is a link to the site Ex-Masons for Jesus on http://www.gotquestions.org/Eastern-Star.html that might answer your questions about Freemasonry and the Order of the Eastern Star.

Again with "logic"...
Here's your logic. You admitted to believe in evolution. What do you base that belief on?
Have you personally performed each and every experiment (from each of the sciences) that supposedly proves evolution and the beginning of the cosmos?
Did you personally make sure that all of the instruments were calibrated prior to performing each and every one of the experiments?
Did you personally ensure that fresh standards were used (if needed) for the calibration of all of the instruments needed to perform each and every experiment from each of the sciences?
Did you personally follow standard procedures while performing each and every one of the experiments from each of the sciences?
Can you verify whether a proper chain of custody was followed (to avoid contamination and tampering) in bringing you any samples used for each and every experiment that you personally performed from each of the sciences?
After you performed each and every experiment from each and every one of the sciences, did you record the actual and truthful results of each experiment and publish your findings?
I could go on, but I think you get the idea. The answer is "no" to each question. Therefore, you are accepting (by faith) what you have been told about evolution and the beginning of the cosmos without even proving whether it's true or not. Therefore, you're a logic-hypocrite. You're not using logic at all; all that you're doing is choosing (with free-will) what the object of your faith is.
Your logic is very faulty, and you are actually living by faith.
As has been mentioned, discussing anything other than your need for salvation is fruitless.
Acts 20:21
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23a
For the wages of sin is death;
Revelation 20:14-15
14   And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15   And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Romans 6:23b
but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1   Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2   By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3   For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4   And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Romans 10:8-13
8   But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9   That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10   For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11   For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12   For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13   For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

His answers will be rhetorical self-deceptions designed to steer anything you say into never-ending rabbit trails as he tries to keep himself convinced that he has the right to live outside of the fire of Hell.   He's idolized his school teachers or favorite rock and roll singers or somebody or something, and he wants to be like them rather than be like Jesus.  He wants to be unholy rather than holy...like a lot of Christians today who love pornographic indulgences.
People chose to be atheists because their deeds are evil, they love darkness rather than light and will not come to the light lest their deeds be exposed.
 
I'm hoping that by telling the truth about what he is doing, he will fear God and get saved...but Pharaoh never did, no matter how much God showed Himself to Pharaoh.
How in the world our culture can raise children to believe they are better than smarter than God, or at least as good and as smart as God.....amazing

Atheists believe they are smarter and better than God, or at least as good and as smart as God...that is how they put Him below themselves as long as they think they are exempt from the fire of Hell.  They will twist everything around as they flatter themselves in their pride, fooling themselves into thinking they are wise when in reality they are fools drawn to the fire of Hell like moths to the flame.
Modern culture pumps up atheists in their pride the same way Hitler pumped up youths to turn them into the murderous "Hitler youths".   Smarty pants atheist will intellectualize the torture, persecution, and execution of Christians and look coldly on them the same way Hitler youths looked coldly on people who suffered like the Jews under Hitler, or were punished for opposing him.  I believe that once they have made up their mind to reject God, He hardens their hearts the same as He did Pharaoh's, and the best thing you can do for them is what Jesus did with the Pharisees when He said to them, "Woe, to you..." and called them children of Hell.....and say it loud and clear so everybody around can hear it.  It won't do the Hell bound proud person any good, but others who are listening may take heed and get saved....and who knows, maybe the apparently Hell-bound hard hearted atheist we give some Hell fire and brimstone to is not quite as hard hearted as they seem.

I have already answered all your questions if you want answers.  You want confusion, and you invent enough of that for yourself.  I'm not interested in atheism.  If you want to discuss the answers I have given you, fine.  If not, I won't be toying with you.  An atheist is a fool, plain and simple, with one foot in the grave and the other foot on thin ice melting over the fire of Hell.  That's pretty much all Jesus had to say to the Pharisees who thought they were too good to be left in the Lake of Fire forever, and I don't see why I should say more to you.

Professor_Physika,
That response means that you have to believe in God. The word "universe" is made up of two parts...."uni" meaning ONE and "verse" meaning TO SPEAK.  If there is a universe, it came from ONE SPOKEN WORD.  Only an Intelligent Being can speak...that Intelligent Being is none other than God Himself.

Since an atheist "claims" to deny the existence of God and since those who "claim" to be atheists believe in the existence of the some type of "spiritual" being, those persons are not "true" atheists and neither are those persons "false" atheists.  They are non-atheists making false claims about God and the Bible. The existence of God is proven in the Bible and creation (Psalms 19:1).  Even the devils believe in God AND tremble:

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Professor_Physika, do you believe in a universe?

If a person chooses to reject God, therefore rejecting the only means of not only salvation but understanding the things of God, they can't understand spiritual matters so there is no point in continual back and forth over issues other than salvation.
Unless one is born again in Christ, whereupon the Holy Ghost comes to teach the saved person the things of God, there is no way for a person to grasp the things of God.
Arguing, debating, discussing matters of evolution vs creation and other things is pointless.
Unfortunately, Professor chooses to reject God, reject salvation through Christ, and therefore rejecting the Holy Ghost and the wisdom and teaching He provides.
Professor, unless you are willing to consider the Gospel there is nothing else to talk about because it's impossible for you to understand anything else.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14

Of course you say no, but you know exactly who God is when you say He is not there.  You don't want Him to be there, because you hate Him and you love your sin all the way to death and Hell.  You made that choice, and you can change your mind about it.  The truth is not a matter of opinion.  The truth is, you are talking like you have decided to never admit the truth and it seems to me that God is hardening your heart so it's a waste of time to try to reason with you.

I spent around two hours trying to reason face to face with an 84 year old man who was like an atheist but not quite an atheist.  He simply didn't want to believe on a God of Judgment who has the right to condemn by the fire of Hell confining sinners forever.  That discussion was by far the most civil and respectful I have ever had with an atheist.  The man believes he is as good as God, or at least good enough for God, and truly is a pleasant man to spend time with.
It's really sad, he listened well for almost two hours, patiently and attentively as I explained the gospel of God's promise of eternal life for all who admit they are sinners who deserve to burn in Hell forever, believe Jesus is God the Son sent by God the Father to die for their sins and rose from the dead offering them forgiveness, and call on God the Father in the name of the Son to save them from Hell.  "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved".  The sparkly eyed old man who thinks he is so wise and is happy enough in the pride of his wisdom said "I don't want a God who says to one person, you have to burn in Hell forever and to another person, welcome to heaven".   Too bad for the old man that God is who God is and the old man can't have God any other way.  The old man is his own god, and no god is good enough for God.  It's really sad....knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.  I see that old man around town from time to time and it's sad.  
Atheists simply choose to believe Hell is not eternal punishment.   I think that even in Hell, they believe that they will get out of it someway, somehow......and all they can do is scream when they think they are stuck.

I enjoy debating with atheists because it challenges me to develop my usage of Bible teaching and philosophy.   I believe that we can have an impact of sowing seeds for the Word of God by being skillful in answering atheistic methodologies.   I think a large part of why our culture and the whole world has become increasingly ungodly is due to Christians throwing their hands up in the air and withdrawing from the discussions.  Public schools, popular music, television, gaming, movies....all have been relentless in promoting the pleasures of sin and the appeal of pride to be independent from God.   Christians have for the most part relented.  Far too many Christians are attending Charles Dickens Christmas plays when they should be focusing on loving the Lord with all of their hearts, strength, mind, and soul.  Christians have become friends of the world rather than occupiers in enemy territory trying to pull people back from the gates of Hell.
Atheism is taught boldly to little children, with poisoning statements promoting prideful hatred against God and I think it's a shame that most Christians today are incapable of standing toe to toe with them in a debate.  Most atheists are incapable of standing toe to toe in a debate and resort to verbal abuse trying to provoke an emotional fistfight.  (Actually, they are incapable of standing toe to toe in debate with a child of God even if they are well mannered and eloquent enough to continue until one or the other drops in death, because the atheist falls into Hell in eternal death to be cast into the Lake of Fire, while the Christian stands in eternal life)  I will engage them for the sake of others who are listening and always believing it is possible that saying the right thing, the right way, at the right time will trigger something to flip that light switch for the Lord so they can see the truth of the gospel and repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved from Hell and know it.
Any fruit is from God, and I believe He has rewards for all who work in His fields trying to sow seeds for Him.  
I type these things prayerfully for any unbelievers who might happen to read them.