WE AT SAINTTALK are putting our money where our mouth is. We want to encourage you to question and talk to us about religious issues! So..... If you enter into a dialogue with our HOSTESS, and you stump her with your comments or questions....(it can be done, and HAS been done), you will be sent a check for $25.00. We do NOT know it all...but she enjoys being pushed to know more and study more, and we want to make people think about significant issues....and if we've misunderstood things... we would rather know now than later.
Here are some sample dialogues from the past.
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UNPARDONABLE SINS?
ED: OK... here is a Bible contradiction. God forgives all our sins, Acts 13:39, but then in the gospels we find Jesus saying if you blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, there is no forgiveness ever.
HOSTESS: Always look at the verses before and after a given passage. They decide what is being said. The type of sin spoken of in the context of Matt. 12:31 is people saying Christ's power as he acted on earth came from the Devil. The SPIRIT in Christ, empowering Him, was being blasphemed. Once Christ returned to heaven, this sin became impossible because ... who in this age would be saying Christ's EARTHLY POWER came from the Devil, since we are not eyewitnesses to His actions. (It is easier to deny Him on some other level, for those who wish to do so...because attributing his MIRACLES to anyone implies he DID miracles.) Thus... so long as we meet the requirements stated in other scriptures (to repent and believe) there is NO sin that cannot and will not be forgiven.
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TOO MANY DENOMINATIONS!
TML: How can anyone figure what the real "truth" is when all these so-called Christians split up into all these denominations and yet all claim to be basing their ideas on the same Bible?
HOSTESS: Good question! Let's pretend we are in school and 25 students are given the same book to study...history. Then they are given a tough test. Each student's paper (presuming they don't cheat) may come up with a different variation of answers than the other students' papers. So whose fault is it? The book's fault? The teacher's fault? or the students' fault who did not carefully study?
In terms of the Bible, it is a translation, which creates some problems. But the reason for all the interpretations is (1) there is a Devil who puts phony ideas in people's heads to get them to try interpret the Bible subjectively instead of objectively. (2) Many who are interpreting the Bible are NOT FOLLOWING THE COMMON SENSE RULES. In Bible college they give you in some classes lists such as this one:
Common sense rule: If the plain sense of scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense
Culture rule: Understand the culture in which the passage is based
Context rule: Check out the verses before and after, and the overall book context
Comparison rule: Find out what other passages on the same subject say before interpreting
Clear vs. unclear: If it is an unclear passage, use clear statements from other passages to interpret
Construction rule: check out word meanings and verb tenses from the original language
In most cases, when a DOCTRINE divides churches (some are divided more on governmental form or other less significant issues), it is because one of the groups hasn't done their "homework" as stated above in their interpreting.
Of course, all I've stated is generalizations... if you wish to discuss a particular DOCTRINAL difference...feel free.
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CAN YOU LOSE YOUR SALVATION?
RUTH: OK, I know one BIG divider of churches is whether one can lose his or her salvation. Who is the one not following the interpretation rules here?
HOSTESS: You are right; this has been a big issue throughout the years. And it would require a LENGTHY answer, so I will ask you to click here and then return. If this article doesn't answer your question... write again.
(Some say once-saved-always-saved... I prefer to say once-genuinely-saved-always-saved. Many who PROFESS Christ do not POSSESS His Spirit.)
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HYPOCRITES, HYPOCRITES
!BIGGERFISH: I was involved in a church, but happened to know about the business dealings of a member of the church. He cheated on his taxes and took advantage of people in his "world". I want no part of such a kind of "Christianity."!
HOSTESS: You are not the only one. I don't disagree with a word you have said. There are many who go through the motions of being Christians... but God has said that not everyone who SAYS "Lord, Lord" is saved, but the ones who DO GOD'S WILL. The man who cheated was certainly NOT doing God's will in those actions, therefore it makes little sense to me to be angry at God because someone is DISOBEYING Him. If the man's actions were done in ACCORDANCE with scripture, you would have a legitimate gripe. I have had so-called Christians hurt me, too, and my choice was to be angry at the Devil (who wants people to disobey God) rather than be angry at God who did not cause the sin.
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