I agree. This might be pointless right now. Maybe a couple years later we can battle it out haha. But yes, I’d be willing to take the chance, if I don’t, what does that say about my belief?
I dunno,Timo, but I suppose it depends on the location. What kind of baptism do you recommend? Will a sprinkling do, and does it need to be holy water, or do you go for a full dunk, and is it okay if it is done outside and if the water is polluted? Say if done in Chernobyl, how fast do I need to be getting out of there? And what would we do about all of that afterglow radiation effect?
as soon as you make the assumption that “something is true” - you’ve stopped investigating - you’ve stopped testing - and you have missed the point entirely.
“Looking into other religions” - is not the point - testing what (and why) you believe X is.
Well… I never said that there was no value in false things, I think.
I just said that, if I know one thing to be true, the rest must be false.
If I should boast in anything, then it should be in my belief in God.
Maybe this Proof of contradiction can be used the other way around. Maybe a person can come to God after realizing all the other false religions. (Don’t get mad, just saying)
hmmm - the Romans didn’t particularly like the practice - pretty sure that some Islamic portions don’t look kindly on it (would have to double check that) - but yeah - there are plenty that would see that “pledge to a lesser god” as something to be condemned -
I think the walk with the Lord is full of testing. He tests those who love Him. For it says in the Bible:
James 1:2-4
2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
So even if we have stopped testing ourselves, God is going to test us whether we like it or not. I’m willing to test my faith because it will only strengthen it.
Uhhhh, well in my church we do full dunks. This one kid, a full-timer’s kid if that would be more impactful, had his in like…a dirty swamp-ish-like lake. He came out with all this black slob on his legs, haha it was like black mucus. I mean, why would you want to be baptized in Chernobyl? Maybe out of desperation and terrible location to be at? I mean, think of all the other places that have water. haha.
I think, as long as God is there and approving. It shouldn’t matter, but I could be wrong.
I know that John the Baptist baptized the full body in water. Like how your whole old body is dead and you come out new.
*Full timer is a person we call in our church that gives his whole life to God.
What harm? Little, really. I wouldn’t join a church, or tithe, or go door to door (or to discussion boards.) It’d be a private thing.
No harm. But no benefit, because, well, I simply don’t believe it. Baptism would be a hollow sham. In my heart, I would know it’s nothing but water. I doubt God would be impressed by someone who just goes through the motions without any meaningful belief, and I don’t know how to boostrap belief.
Shouldn’t he have had enough faith that the water, no matter how dirty, he would come out clean? wouldn’t that be a ‘sign’ of GODS HOLY SPIRIT?
I mean, c’mon - its a spriritual cleansing and all - but what good does that do if you come out with black tar mucus stains and no one will hug you and say how good you are?
Then I guess some of us are safe. I was baptized, I was raised Christian, I had experiences like you described, I did all that, and where is God? Hiding? Why did he just go quietly away after a while? My conclusion is that your version of god isn’t real, and if there is a real one, it’s far different from yours. I didn’t even miss Him when He went away.
When we are tempted, it because of our flesh. It is because of our desires. Not God’s. It’s like we know what we want, we know what our flesh wants, our desires, but it goes against the Bible, so we are tempted to want to do something of our flesh when we may know that it is wrong because it says so in the Bible. I think that is the temptation part.
Temptation and Testing may be different, why? because of the following verses
Genesis 22:1-2 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
Ex 20:20 (NIV) Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.
Just to reiterate that the Christian life can be hard
Acts 14:22 "strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,”
But yeah, I didn’t know the difference between temptation and trials/tests either. Thanks for pointing that out.
Mm…we have this term called lackluster Christians. Not saying that you are one. But it would be more helpful if you provided more details about your Christian life.
I believe God’s always with you even when you feel that He’s gone. What happened when you felt that God left? How would you know if He went away if you never missed Him? Doesn’t that mean you never knew?
For it to be a trial or test – it must be with something ‘evil’ or ‘bad’ (queue Abraham) or it wouldn’t be much of a test, temptation, etc
So, old testemant says 'God will test you" - New Testament says “never say god tested you” - so - seems there is a conflict right there you need to figure out.
Which is it - is God testing you or isn’t he?
Whats so hard about the “Christian” life? are you being oprressed? Your quote in Acts is when the Christians (such as they were at the time) were actively being oppressed - it really doesnt apply now unless you like to put on the airs about how life for you is so hard because you have to ‘defend’ your faith on a message board…
Oh, haha I didn’t even notice that I typed river. Sorry, my focus wasn’t on where a person was going to be baptized. I was focused on explaining why taking a step to be baptized is considered faith, no matter how small.
But no…River, lake, swamp, bathtub, back of a truck…I’ve seen all those, shouldn’t matter. Correct me if I’m wrong.
I’m in TX, and buying extra ammo. We no longer fire warning shots, due to the ammo shortage.