BrotherTony

I believe he already has, and he has a few posts back. I'm sure most here don't agree with him or his exegesis of scripture concerning this subject.

I'll go with the Bible, thanks. You can go with the doctor if you wish. That's between you and God.

Do you really even have to ask? I think we've established that abortion is a sin...Life begins at conception.

I have an atheist friend who was talking with me the other morning...I was talking about the blessings from the Lord that I had received over the years since I came to know Christ as my savior. He was skeptical to say the least, and was very hostile to the idea that God did anything or gave anyone anything....So, I started out with the many blessings God had given me and my wife in our local church...he was very obstinant and against agreeing to give in on anything being a gift or blessing from the Lord. I named several things from the air we breathe to the home I live in....He disagreed vehemently and was very hostile....He told me to give him proof of blessings....period! So, I started with my testimony, how I had been involved in many things before I came to know the Lord, and that I was on a pathway that would have led to an early death. I had been shot and stabbed by the time I was 20, and though in a Bible college, I didn't know the Lord. I got saved at Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, Wisconsin on April 15, 1983...forty years ago. I mentioned my changed life. This friend knew me back then and knew how my life was back then, and he also knew the many things I was involved in and things I had experienced. He couldn't refute that one thing, and he finally relented and agreed that there might be something to what I was saying. Then he asked me what blessings I had received from my local church.....I gave him a list of things...I had gained friendships with many brothers and sisters in the Lord...I had found a place to get involved corporately to witness to others....I had a support system that many in the world don't have today. He listened intently and was finally asking about the Lord... So, what blessings have you received lately from your local church...or just received with or without the church? Blessings... BT

TGL, you seem to be confused a LOT lately.

That's not "too much freedom." That was just a shift in the components in control of it.

Again, that is where context and content are helpful. Christianity was just starting out. It's been an acceptable religion for over 1500 years. You're straw man positions are wrong.

I never directly addressed Disney. I also never said to mind your own business. I did, however, make mention of not meddling in things that are not things in your own church, such as how much another church pays their pastor, or how much they make from sales of books they have written. Again, there's nothing wrong with wealth, especially if honestly earned while serving the Lord. One example is Job. He was wealthy. God allowed the adversary to test him. He lost all, but I the end he still served God and God blessed him with more. Also, remember Russell Anderson who passed away last week. He was wealthy and helped found Hyles Anderson College in Hammond Indiana. Being wealthy is not a sin, nor is it anti scriptural.

Sorry, but I have shown NO liberal tendencies at all. Please show me where I have or withdraw that accusation. This is nothing personal. Please don't try to make it so.

Sorry, but they are just colors. Just because someone appropriates them doesn't mean the meaning has changed.

That's between them, their pastor, and God... It has nothing to do with you or me. Once again, you're worrying about things that don't concern you, and it's not about drawing any "red lines." Again, does how many diamond or gold rings he wears affect your salvation or mine? No, it doesn't. This sounds more like jealousy to me.

You are misapplying scripture to meet your own ideology, TGL. Content and context. I don't doubt Warren's salvation. I do doubt the direction he's leading other people in. Concerning wealth...many of these pastors and leaders have started out poor and had to live and invest wisely, honing the gifts that God gave them. There's nothing wrong with wealth. There is however something wrong with the LOVE of the money earned.

Better check Georgia out then. They've had medical marijuana for a few years now and they're not doing it recreationally. My sister uses medical marijuana for her MS.

I'm sorry to tell you this TGL...there is nothing wrong with a preacher/pastor having money. If they're tithing, giving money to the poor and programs in the church, then what they earn and can use to invest and help to increase their own wealth isn't necessarily anti-scriptural. I see you harping on mega-churches all the time, and again, there is nothing wrong with being in a megachurch, nor being a pastor of a megachurch. You act like those who are pastors of megachurches or who have saved and increased their wealth while serving the Lord aren't "humble." This, my friend, isn't necessarily the case. I know that @Jim_Alaska believes we shouldn't listen to anyone but our pastor...that's his opinion, and he's definitely welcome to it. He's not necessarily wrong, and that's his conviction. But, there are others here who believe that yes, they should listen to their pastor's preaching and teaching, but who also glean from other pastors. I don't see anything anti-scriptural or incorrect about this, either. It's a matter of personal preference and one's ability to keep a Godly perspective in their life while gleaning from these people. From your post you make it seem that anyone who is involved with/attends a megachurch is on the wrong side of the "Lord's Army." Sorry...but, that's just plain wrong, and again, YOUR opinion. Peace to you. BT

Besides, the coupons are only good until Wednesday at any rate. I don't know if BBB will try to go on as an internet entity or not, but, I think they would be foolish to do so. They've lost a great deal of their customer base.

The Southern Baptist Convention can pass all the resolutions that they want. When it comes to politics, they cannot and SHOULD NOT try and dictate/legislate what people who attend SBC churches can and cannot do. For one, it's not their place. When two people are running for office, it's quite clear that the one who is closest to the conservative values of Christians is the one whom they should vote for. If the individuals voted for Trump did they leave their conservative and Biblical principles? Certainly not. Having only choices, the lesser of the two evils would be the only appropriate choice, unless one believed they shouldn't vote for anyone. After seeing Roe v. Wade overturned, I don't believe conservatives/Christians voted for the wrong party. Granted, this shouldn't be the only measure of whom should be in office....character counts...but, who has perfect character? Let me add this...since these are all autonomous churches, they can agree or disagree with the resolutions and act accordingly. It's not binding for individuals at any rate.

Your position sounds like something I find in many non-denominational and liberal churches.

We'd have to relinquish control first, and I don't see that happening. They won't want to give up all the money the US provides.

They can't do much without the permission of our government. They're a US Territory. They can try to split away, but, that would probably be more trouble than they want at this point. Our government wouldn't give them up so easily.

Puerto Rico is a US Territorial asset. What makes you think any of these other countries can "take advantage?"

That's your opinion, and you're welcome to it. Some don't agree with you.

The use of medical marijuana has proven to be beneficial in many situations...not everyone who uses marijuana is "getting high." With that said I pray every day that God will bless our country for the sake of those who ARE serving Christ. I just can't seem to continually post things negative about the country I live in, the God I serve, the churches I go to, the pastor I sit under, the woman I've married, or anything else. There's far too much to be thankful for. Does this mean we shouldn't be aware of the many evil things going on in this country? No. I'm aware of much of the evil that's going on in our country. Yet, I take time to remember that this isn't my final home, but, just a place I'm in to represent the Lord Jesus Christ as an ambassador toward others. It's truly a wonderful thing to get to represent our Lord and savior Jesus Christ and to present him to others.

I've never known any non-Jewish people object to being called Gentiles. It's pretty much understood that this is what we are. Being a mixture of Jewish and Gentile myself, I have no problem with being called a Gentile. I'm not saying that there aren't any who object, just that I have never known any.

Nearly all of my nieces and nephews have nose rings, tattoos, strange haircuts, and hair coloring. Those things are minor. Granted, I truly am not in favor of these things, but, I don't answer for their actions. They ask my advice, and I give them my 2 cents worth. One niece who is in the armed forces has tattoos all down her left arm...I can understand why she has them...her first husband who was in the service with her, got drunk one night, was playing cards and acting a fool, and tried to kill her, shooting her in the arm, neck, and chest. She recently got remarried to another man in the armed forces, and in her wedding pictures, against the wedding dress, these tats were very visible. Many of them used to smoke and now vape. Believe me, it's NOT a safer option...it does more damage to the lungs and throat than smoking a cigarette does. I would prefer they do neither. Now, concerning your posts sounding negative, it's just that, if you truly read your own posts, they are focusing on the negative things in life. Even if one is posting things that are distasteful, there are positive ways of doing so. I will definitely be in prayer for your children...though I have no biological children, I did help raise other people's kids and raised several foster children over the years. I know the concern for our children, just as you do. It's always a good thing to be bold about the things of God.

I always appreciated Brother Hamilton and his testimony for the Lord. He came to the church I grew up in, and he spent a great deal of time with the kids in our Christian school. We've seen so many wonderful Christian ministers pass these past few months. I'm pretty sure they got to hear, "Welcome Home, good and faithful servant."