Originally posted by Paul DiracEver watch Pam Crouch..the purple-haired lady with false eyelashes?...now that's what I call a 'stage face'...😲
If you have access to Trinity Broadcasting, you can listen to plenty of sermons on how God will bless you with material things and good health if you "give to God," which is their way of saying to donate money to them.
Originally posted by Paul DiracThe way I am blessed the more by God is, my Church has a mens prayer meating every wed. and praying for others is a blessing.
If you have access to Trinity Broadcasting, you can listen to plenty of sermons on how God will bless you with material things and good health if you "give to God," which is their way of saying to donate money to them.
Originally posted by ianpickeringIt is written that God grants us all that we need. If we need to do much, then we are granted much to do with which may indeed be "material wealth". While this is easy for me to state as this point is written numerous times, it is only relevant so much as the purpose of the material wealth is relevant in the biblical sense.
Does God bless believers with material wealth or is this a distortion of the biblical message?
I find your statement very curious indeed, being that you are specifically asking for reflection from a biblical standpoint whereas the Bible states abundantly that man should not concern himself with the accuruement of material wealth for its own sake. Moreso, it is written consistently and abundantly that man should concern himself with the proverbial wealth of heaven (i.e. the blessing of the Lord, service unto God, following Gods laws, etc., etc., etc., etc.).
Is there a particular passage/passages/etc. that brought about this query? I could answer much more clearly if such is the case and you point out the specific passage(s). If your question is abstract in nature, then I beleive the answer would depend upon far more than your listed criteria. For instance, no where is it said that God shall grant abundant wealth upon every believer to the extent that they would be considered "rich" in the material sense. Thusly, if I were to say, "Yes, the Lord grants material wealth to his children." It could then be disputed on the basis that not every believer is "rich" and that there are non-believers that are "rich". Hence, the answer is highly subjective due to the ambigiousness of the question.
Best Regards,
Omnislash
Originally posted by ianpickeringIt is rare for fundamentalists, who harp on about sexuality immorality, to vocally condemn the most obvious forms of earthly materialism--wealth and greed--even though there is, as omnislash points out, no shortage of direct statements from Jesus, and other biblical authors, stating that the pursuit of material wealth is antithetical to salvation.
Does God bless believers with material wealth or is this a distortion of the biblical message?
Hence, you have a website called godhatesfags.com but not godhatescorporatefraudsters.com.
The Calvinists believed that God gave hints to the minority who would later be "elected" for eternal bliss. These hints were conspicuous signs of material prosperity in the here and now. Isn't rationalization a wonderful thing?
Originally posted by OmnislashAnd yet religions like Catholisism are heavily steeped in trappings, finery and the display of ceremony. The vatican has more money than you could shake a stick at. Tele-evangelists are forever asking for contributions to their cause and we often hear of those that are caught out spending it on themselves. And in fact not just christianity, there is greed and pride in many forms of religion. I wonder if the pope considers himself from time to time and thinks of the enormous display of power that his public appearances have, or the pride his cardinals take in their position. Pride, let us not forget, is also a sin.
It is written that God grants us all that we need. If we need to do much, then we are granted much to do with which may indeed be "material wealth". While this is easy for me to state as this point is written numerous times, it is only relevant so much as the purpose of the material wealth is relevant in the biblical sense.
I find your statement very ...[text shortened]... ive due to the ambigiousness of the question.
Best Regards,
Omnislash
I think what it comes down to is that all humans are subject to what religion would call sin and what I would call natural instinct. Some believe it is a sin to sin and live in fear of sinning, others think that the collection of wealth is a way of improving your situation in life. You can be a very, very good person and be rich, lustful, polite, helpful, forgiving, angry etc. and it doesn't matter one whit whether you are reigous or not. It's how you treat others that is important. How you spend the wealth, how you respect those around you. Not that you believe in a god.
Originally posted by StarrmanWell said my friend. You are absolutely correct that "what" we do in regards to treatment of our fellow man is what is important. Now, I really don't want to sound preachy for it is not my intent to further my belief system with my statement here, but I would like to point out that biblical doctrine supports much of what you said here (pretty much everything except for the part about belief in God not mattering, naturally).
And yet religions like Catholisism are heavily steeped in trappings, finery and the display of ceremony. The vatican has more money than you could shake a stick at. Tele-evangelists are forever asking for contributions to their cause and we often hear of those that are caught out spending it on themselves. And in fact not just christianity, there is gree ...[text shortened]... nt. How you spend the wealth, how you respect those around you. Not that you believe in a god.
It is written that we cannot judge another man by his beliefs, only by his actions. It is also written that we are to be good stewards with the wealth and power we are entrusted with. The ONLY reason I say this in regards to your post is to reaffirm what you have said. This being a core and basic value inate to people (in my opinion) would make it a "universal truth" quote-un-quote (again, in my opinion).
Best Regards (and reminding people that any religios observation in my post exists only to affirm the non-religios point to which this post is in response to, thusly NOT entertaining debacle about theological doctrine in any sense other than to support widely held morals that are not theologically dependant in nature, and hence providing this disclaimer so that I do not spend the next day refuting assumptions and inflammatory refutations in regards to said theological commentary be it upon premise or otherwise),
Omnislash 😉
well...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4034787.stm
'Virgin Mary' toast fetches $28,000
The toast is not intended for consumption
A decade-old toasted cheese sandwich said to bear an image of the Virgin Mary has sold on the eBay auction website for $28,000.
An internet casino confirmed it had purchased the sandwich, saying it had become a "part of pop culture".
Goldenpalace.com says it will take the sandwich on world tour before selling it and donating the money to charity.
Diane Duyser, from Florida, says the sandwich has never gone mouldy since she made it 10 years ago.
By the time the sandwich auction closed on Monday the sale had received over 1.7 million hits on the auction site.
'Mystical power'
"We will definitely use the sandwich to raise money for charity, and we hope it will raise people's spirits as well," said Richard Rowe, the casino's CEO.
"With the... thousands of search engine queries, it is obvious that this is something people want to know more about... and Golden Palace will help spread the word.
"We believe that everyone should be able to see it and learn of its mystical power for themselves."
Last week, Mrs Duyser told reporters the sandwich had brought her luck - including winnings of $70,000 at a casino near her Florida home.
I went to take a bite out of it, and then I saw this lady looking back at me. I hollered for [my husband]. It scared me at first
Diane Duyser
Mrs Duyser says she noticed the image burned into her sandwich as she was about to tuck into it in autumn 1994.
"I went to take a bite out of it, and then I saw this lady looking back at me," she said, according to the Chicago Tribune newspaper.
"I hollered for him," she said, gesturing to her husband, Greg. "It scared me at first."
She says she has done nothing to preserve the sandwich except keeping it in a plastic box, but "it doesn't fall apart or crumble or anything".
Nevertheless, before auctioning her sandwich Mrs Duyser cautioned buyers that it was "not intended for consumption".
The item has inspired sellers to place dozens of spin-off items on the online auction site, including attempts at replica burnt toast, T-shirts, ornamental plates, and domain names.
One seller is even offering a "Virgin Mary" sandwich toaster - though the item description includes the caveat that the item "may or may not reproduce the Virgin Mary image".