"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 There are hopeful signs that America may yet repent and and be saved. God always preserves a remnent to lead the world back from the abyss. Jesus Movement Celebrates ‘Biggest Water Baptism’ in U.S. History https://www.breitbart.com/faith/202...celebrates-biggest-water-baptism-u-s-history/ "More than 4,000 people were baptized in a single ceremony in southern California last Sunday to mark the 50th anniversary of the Jesus Movement. Baptize SoCal was touted as “the biggest water baptism in history” as 4,166 people were baptized in Pirate’s Cove, marking their acceptance of Jesus Christ and entry into the Christian church. The mass event was organized by Oceans Church, a ministry located in Orange County, and involved the participation of more than 280 churches and 8,000 attendees on Pentecost Sunday, which marks the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. “What an amazing and historic day,” West Coast Life Church pastor Ray Gene Wilson said. “Thousands baptized at Pirates Cove. God is moving in California.” Over the same weekend, hundreds also gathered on Pensacola Beach in Florida to pray, worship, and receive Christ, and many were baptized in the ocean."
Anytime that people desire in their hearts to repent of their wickedness, live the gospel of Jesus Christ and to please God, it is a good thing.
Sure, why not? The symbolism behind Baptism is re-birth. Witches baptize too. But that does not mean baptism is not Christian ritual.
According to arguments you made regarding marriage, that means that any Christian engaging in baptism is engaging if cultural appropriation. You cool with that?
According to the arguments you have made, your arguments which amount to nothing more than baseless allegations against whomever you are addressing, your thoughts mean nothing to me. You can go now.
According to who? Is it from all that you know. And is all that you know, all that there is to know? If not, then you make a mountain out of a mole hill, and a grievous trek thru a pleasant valley, relying on the gullibility of people to sow misery where there ought to be joy. Otherwise, to say that you know all that there is to know, is to make yourself out to be a liar and a false God, or a representative of such.
Will you be a harsh unforgiving god on your planet or a kind, forgiving one for all of the kids you will have with your harem? Suppose the person you are upset with is the god of this planet. Do you think he will overlook your anger?
I don't know what you mean. My religion teaches, (and reason supports the concept), that there is one true God. And no one comes to him except thru Jesus Christ. All else is to miss the mark. Jesus Christ said that because of the requirements and narrowness of the way, very few will enter. But many will choose the wide way because of the ease of it. Therefore it is a prophecy by the King of Prophets. So when I hear people mock and dismiss the gospel of Jesus Christ, which in this instance is the command to be born again of spirit and water. I think that it is my duty to address it. To say that baptism is only the adoption of a pagan ritual is to say that Jesus Christ was only another man. And that God, if there is one, is a matter of ones own creation. This normalizes and equalizes all philosophies and religions into one, as if there were no such thing as right and wrong. And that this then is the spectacular thing, the voluminous glory of mediocrity. To ignore the gospel of Jesus Christ in the mix is to ignore the life filled blue earth in the vastness of the universe as if it were just another rock. From my perspective, this very mentality passes by the truth established by Jesus Christ, and fulfills the prophecy he spake regarding the wide, easy way, contrary to his recommendation of the former.
One true perfect God who created mankind as opposed to a multiplicity of false Gods created by imperfect men.
I think that concept falls on deaf ears for people who think nothing is more important than their own animal instincts.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints donates about a billion dollars a year to a variety of charities, along with millions of man hours of labor by members in a variety of projects worldwide. All of this goes to serve the needs of people around the world. Then there are the LDS Missionaries who fund their own living expenses, either from their own savings or from Parents, for two years while teaching the gospel. The Temples the Church builds in every nation are used by members to perform sacred ordinances for the living and by proxy for the dead. Of all members in leadership positions, all are unpaid volunteers except for those called to permanent service as general authorities. These are given a living income for obvious reasons. The President of the Church receives 120K per year. He is a renowned heart surgeon who could make much more in the private sector. He gave up a lucrative career to serve full time in the Church.
All while secretly hiding investments worth about 32 billion. https://www.nbcnews.com/business/bu...lion-investment-fund-sec-settlement-rcna71603 Donate a billion dollars, that's cute.
The concept does not hold up against the one thing that man has over the animals, his ability to reason. Humans have achieved what they have because we do NOT depend on our "animal instincts". Where we get in trouble is when we set aside our reason and engage in our "animal instincts" Religion, for example, is born of our natural fear of death and the unknown. But when we set aside those fears and use our ability to reason we can see religion for the illusion that it is. My greatest gripe with religion is that it requires we set aside our greatest asset, our ability to reason, and asks us to replace it with fear.
What's cute is your scoffing at a billion dollar yearly gift to charities that serve the needy. They filed as legally advised, and were told it was done the wrong way. They were fined five million dollars and changed their filing procedures accordingly. Nothing was stolen or misappropriated. And yes they donate a billion dollars every year to charities. What remains goes in store. It's called being wise stewards