Some questions about Christianity

[Shiranui117]

The bible itself says that there are many gods. A god/diety is usally a supernatural being and the bible reveals that there are myriads of such beings. But which one should be worship? For Jesus, there was only one worthy of our worship and that is Jehovah.

1Cor 8:5 For even though there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many “gods” and many “lords,” 6 there is actually to us one God, the Father, from whom all things are and we for him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are and we through him

No it doesn't. Where there are statements to that effect, it was because the Biblical author was still living in an Israelite culture that was wholly incapable of even conceiving of there only being one God. The Hebrews thought there were many gods, yet God Himself says otherwise in Isaiah, and He slowly gets His people to realize over the centuries that there is no god and no deity but Him. 1 Corinthians 8:5 says "so-called gods" for a reason. There is no god but God, and God alone is a god. Whether fallible and misguided humans call other things gods (such as rain, fertility, sun, moon, stars, etc.) or not is irrelevant.

 

[JM2C]

The Bible does not say that homosexuality as we know it is wrong. Those verses have been mistranslated and misinterpreted.

“those verses have been mistranslated and misinterpreted”

Are you talking about these verses?

Ro 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Ro 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

My question to you is, who did mis-translate/interpret those verses?

 

[natasha levchenko]

1. Is it possible to believe in God and other spirities/deities/entities? Most Christians I've talked to seem to be quite
adamant about how, to be a Christian, you must believe in God and God alone. They also seem to reject the idea that all
gods can be the same, just by different names, or that God/Allah/Jehovah/etc may all be different expressions of the divine.

To what extent is this true? It probably differs from tradition to tradition, but I would like to know more about this.

what if to ask: is it important which God we serve?
the Bible gives answers :
Jesus himself referred to his Father as “the only true God.” (John 17:3) God himself said: Isa.44:6*“This is what Jehovah has said, the King of Israel and the Repurchaser of him, Jehovah of armies, ‘I am the first and I am the last, and besides me there is no God.
God explains everything that people need to know through the Bible

 

[rusra02]

The Bible does not say that homosexuality as we know it is wrong. Those verses have been mistranslated and misinterpreted.

Have a look at this site: Gay Christian 101 - Affirming God's good news and Bible truth for all GLBTs.

I am not an Evangelical Protestant but that site is very good. It explains the real meanings of the words in the original contexts and their proper historical and cultural contexts. The Bible does not have anything negative to say about modern LGBT people.

The Bible is quite clear that homosexual practices are displeasing to God. For example, Leviticus 19:22 says:“‘You must not lie down with a male in the same way that you lie down with a woman. It is a detestable act." Those who claim the Bible teaches otherwise are wrong, IMO.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

“those verses have been mistranslated and misinterpreted”

Are you talking about these verses?

Ro 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Ro 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

My question to you is, who did mis-translate/interpret those verses?

Christians, centuries after the fact.

The Bible is quite clear that homosexual practices are displeasing to God. For example, Leviticus 19:22 says:“‘You must not lie down with a male in the same way that you lie down with a woman. It is a detestable act." Those who claim the Bible teaches otherwise are wrong, IMO.

I'm not even interested in anything you have to say. I've seen enough of your posts to know that. Suffice to say, you're wrong yet again.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

what do you think 'men who lay with men' means in the original language?

I'll just post this, because I don't feel like getting into this again: Leviticus 18:22 and homosexuality; all views

It's not clear exactly how those verses should be interpreted or in which category they should be in. There's multiple ways of looking at it. But I'm not a Jew, so I'm not so concerned with the Mosaic Law. Jews don't all agree on how to interpret those verses, either.

 

[Pegg]

No it doesn't. Where there are statements to that effect, it was because the Biblical author was still living in an Israelite culture that was wholly incapable of even conceiving of there only being one God. The Hebrews thought there were many gods, yet God Himself says otherwise in Isaiah, and He slowly gets His people to realize over the centuries that there is no god and no deity but Him. 1 Corinthians 8:5 says "so-called gods" for a reason. There is no god but God, and God alone is a god. Whether fallible and misguided humans call other things gods (such as rain, fertility, sun, moon, stars, etc.) or not is irrelevant.

Does not the bible name Satan as the 'god of this world'?

2Cor 4:3 If, in fact, the good news we declare is veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing, 4 among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through


Why would Satan be called the god of this system if it wasnt true?

 

[Desert Snake]

Does not the bible name Satan as the 'god of this world'?

2Cor 4:3 If, in fact, the good news we declare is veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing, 4 among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through


Why would Satan be called the god of this system if it wasnt true?

It's clearly metaphor. Satan isn't a 'god', technically s/he can't be a "god of".. anything.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

It's clearly metaphor. Satan isn't a 'god', technically s/he can't be a "god of".. anything.

Exactly. Satan's not a god. It's a metaphor. If you think so and you say you're a Christian, then you're a polytheist.

 

[Pegg]

I'll just post this, because I don't feel like getting into this again: Leviticus 18:22 and homosexuality; all views

It's not clear exactly how those verses should be interpreted or in which category they should be in. There's multiple ways of looking at it. But I'm not a Jew, so I'm not so concerned with the Mosaic Law. Jews don't all agree on how to interpret those verses, either.

its very clear what those verses mean and if anyone thinks its not clear, they are looking for loopholes.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

its very clear what those verses mean and if anyone thinks its not clear, they are looking for loopholes.

That's a cop-out, Pegg. Disagreeing on what a verse means and how it should be applied based on evidence and scholarship doesn't mean you're looking for a "loophole".

 

[Thana]

its very clear what those verses mean and if anyone thinks its not clear, they are looking for loopholes.

It's very clear what John 1 means -

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....14: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Some would say anyone who denies this truth is also looking for a loophole, But I don't say that, Because it's not my right to judge. Just like it's not your right to judge.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

It's very clear what John 1 means -

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....14: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Some would say anyone who denies this truth is also looking for a loophole, But I don't say that, Because it's not my right to judge. Just like it's not your right to judge.

Nice. I'll have to frubal you when I can.

 

[Pegg]

It's very clear what John 1 means -

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....14: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Some would say anyone who denies this truth is also looking for a loophole, But I don't say that, Because it's not my right to judge. Just like it's not your right to judge.

Jesus is a god, just as Satan is a god.

But even though both are called gods does not make either of them the Almighty God Jehovah. Jesus is a son of the Almighty just as Satan is a son of the Almighty.

If someone wants to loophole this verse, they can ignore all the rest and say that it means Jesus is Almighty God.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Jesus is a god, just as Satan is a god.

But even though both are called gods does not make either of them the Almighty God Jehovah. Jesus is a son of the Almighty just as Satan is a son of the Almighty.

If someone wants to loophole this verse, they can ignore all the rest and say that it means Jesus is Almighty God.

So now Jesus is on the same level as Satan? :areyoucra

 

[Pegg]

So now Jesus is on the same level as Satan? :areyoucra

Some would put Jesus on the same level as God Almighty. It is the bible writers who name Satan as a god, they also say Jesus is a god which is accurate.

But that doesnt mean he is Jehovah.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Some would put Jesus on the same level as God Almighty.

Yeah, God the Son. That's the orthodox view. But apparently you wish to demote Him to being on the same level as a fallen angel. Some would say that's an insult.

 

[Thana]

Jesus is a god, just as Satan is a god.

But even though both are called gods does not make either of them the Almighty God Jehovah. Jesus is a son of the Almighty just as Satan is a son of the Almighty.

If someone wants to loophole this verse, they can ignore all the rest and say that it means Jesus is Almighty God.

Doesn't that make you polytheist?

I don't understand then, Isaiah 45:5 clearly states - I am the LORD; there is no other God.

 

[Pegg]

Yeah, God the Son. That's the orthodox view. But apparently you wish to demote Him to being on the same level as a fallen angel. Some would say that's an insult.

I think you are taking my words out of context there.

The bible says Jesus is a god, and it says Satan is a god.

Do you not believe this?

 

[Pegg]

Doesn't that make you polytheist?

I don't understand then, Isaiah 45:5 clearly states - I am the LORD; there is no other God.

There is only one God that we should worship because he is the Almighty and the Creator. But recognising that there other intelligent spirit beings, ie gods, does not mean we are worshiping them.

I certainly believe in them because the bible tells us about them. That doesnt mean i would worship them though.