09 Feb 2012, 9:23 am
AngelRho
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09 Feb 2012, 10:45 am
Vexcalibur wrote:
Why is it that every single basement dueller who claims to be discriminated about the MSM ignoring the real truth provides actually no evidence for his claims other than this massive conspiracy theory about evil MSM?
Curse those Satanistic atheist Muslims!
---
I will not argue with the fact that Christians are the pansies who feel the most persecuted. The bible puts value on feeling martyred rather than on being proactive. A persecuted Christian is a happy Christian.
Quote:
And Muslim nations are among the main sources of this global persecution of the church. “The recent Muslim attacks on Egypt’s Christian Copts caused the military to intervene against the Christians, killing dozens of them, which action the military government then blamed on the ‘inexperience’ of the soldiers involved. (Unlimited experience is not required to foretell the consequences of firing automatic weapons and rifles at unarmed demonstrators at point-blank range.)
Curse those Satanistic atheist Muslims!
---
I will not argue with the fact that Christians are the pansies who feel the most persecuted. The bible puts value on feeling martyred rather than on being proactive. A persecuted Christian is a happy Christian.
I rather think the Bible warns Christians of what can happen to them because of what they believe. Yes, the Bible places noble value on those who are persecuted, but it doesn't necessarily follow that persecution is essential to Christianity. I personally think that if you're NEVER criticized or ridiculed for your faith, you might want to consider which side you're actually on. For the most part, however, I've rarely gotten any outright animosity towards me from many people here. I think more people than not display some semblance of decency towards people of all beliefs, agree or not. But that's not to say it NEVER happens, either.
In a sense, the largely accepting attitudes we tend to see have largely weakened Christianity more than it has strengthened it. The ultimate test of faith is keeping that faith in the face of death. Because western society values the freedom to choose how to worship God as one wishes and because there isn't an established religion anybody has to adhere to, death is not something Christians regularly have to face as a faith challenge. It is then therefore comfortable and convenient to just go along with what everyone else is doing when they go to church. That's good for winning converts; bad for making BELIEVERS. All that has to happen is for professing Christians to abandon their faith is to learn about some alternative that their non-Christian friends are into and for Christianity to become unfashionable. All you have to do in order to find out who the real Christians are is make them all believe they are about to die if they do not renounce their faith and see how many are left at the end of the day with the guns still pointed at their heads.
The first Christian churches would accept new members but not baptize them for as much as a year later. Baptism was a very public display and would mark the participant for death. The year-long waiting period was a test not just of the proselyte's faith but to be sure he understood what it all meant. That way, you'd have a chance to drop out without facing persecution. A baptized convert could assure his church he would not back down in the face of opposition to the point of death. And stronger believers make a stronger church.
09 Feb 2012, 10:47 am
09 Feb 2012, 11:34 am
It would be nice if certain people in PPR could get some enlightenment.
Persecution is a word that can be applied to the systematic discrimination, murder and the burning down of churches.
Persecution is not a word that can be applied when an atheist points out that all the evidence contradicts your assertions.
Persecution is not a word that can be applied when you make the same assertions five minutes later, only to find you still have no evidence.
Persecution is not a word that can be applied when you carry on doing this for 150 years.
09 Feb 2012, 1:02 pm
DC wrote:
It would be nice if certain people in PPR could get some enlightenment.
Persecution is a word that can be applied to the systematic discrimination, murder and the burning down of churches.
Persecution is not a word that can be applied when an atheist points out that all the evidence contradicts your assertions.
Persecution is not a word that can be applied when you make the same assertions five minutes later, only to find you still have no evidence.
Persecution is not a word that can be applied when you carry on doing this for 150 years.
Persecution is a word that can be applied to the systematic discrimination, murder and the burning down of churches.
Persecution is not a word that can be applied when an atheist points out that all the evidence contradicts your assertions.
Persecution is not a word that can be applied when you make the same assertions five minutes later, only to find you still have no evidence.
Persecution is not a word that can be applied when you carry on doing this for 150 years.
+1
Oodain
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09 Feb 2012, 1:03 pm
Kraichgauer
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09 Feb 2012, 1:06 pm
09 Feb 2012, 1:27 pm
Kraichgauer
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09 Feb 2012, 1:31 pm
09 Feb 2012, 1:37 pm
AngelRho wrote:
The first Christian churches would accept new members but not baptize them for as much as a year later. Baptism was a very public display and would mark the participant for death. The year-long waiting period was a test not just of the proselyte's faith but to be sure he understood what it all meant. That way, you'd have a chance to drop out without facing persecution. A baptized convert could assure his church he would not back down in the face of opposition to the point of death. And stronger believers make a stronger church.
Have you ever read The Acts of the Apostles? People are being baptized right and left.Acts 8 wrote:
An angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get ready and go south[b] to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This road is not used nowadays.) So Philip got ready and went. Now an Ethiopian eunuch, who was an important official in charge of the treasury of the queen of Ethiopia, was on his way home. He had been to Jerusalem to worship God and was going back home in his carriage. As he rode along, he was reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to that carriage and stay close to it."
Philip ran over and heard him reading fromthe book of the prophet Isaiah. He asked him, " Do you understand what you are reading?"
The official replied, "How can I understand unless someone explains it to me"? And he invited Philip to climb up and sit in the carriage with him.
The passage of scripture which he was reading was this:
He was like a sheep that is taken to be slaughtered,
like a lamb that makes no sound when its wool is cut off.
He did not say a word.
He was humiliated, and justice was denied him.
No one will be able to tell about his descendants,
because his life on earth has come to an end.
The official asked Philip, "Tell me, of whom is the prophet saying this? Of himself or of someone else?" Then Philip began to speak; starting from this passage of scripture, he told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled down the road, they came to a place where there was some water, and the official said, "Here is some water. What is to keep me from being baptized?"
The official ordered the carriage to stop, and both Philip and the official went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. The official did not see him again, but continued on his way, full of joy.40 Philip found himself in Azotus; he went on to Caesarea, and on the way he preached the Good News in every town.
The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to that carriage and stay close to it."
Philip ran over and heard him reading fromthe book of the prophet Isaiah. He asked him, " Do you understand what you are reading?"
The official replied, "How can I understand unless someone explains it to me"? And he invited Philip to climb up and sit in the carriage with him.
The passage of scripture which he was reading was this:
Quote:
He was like a sheep that is taken to be slaughtered,
like a lamb that makes no sound when its wool is cut off.
He did not say a word.
He was humiliated, and justice was denied him.
No one will be able to tell about his descendants,
because his life on earth has come to an end.
The official asked Philip, "Tell me, of whom is the prophet saying this? Of himself or of someone else?" Then Philip began to speak; starting from this passage of scripture, he told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled down the road, they came to a place where there was some water, and the official said, "Here is some water. What is to keep me from being baptized?"
The official ordered the carriage to stop, and both Philip and the official went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. The official did not see him again, but continued on his way, full of joy.40 Philip found himself in Azotus; he went on to Caesarea, and on the way he preached the Good News in every town.
The baptism occurred at that very moment--not one year later.
09 Feb 2012, 1:52 pm
09 Feb 2012, 2:18 pm
Kraichgauer
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Location: Spokane area, Washington state.
09 Feb 2012, 2:32 pm
pandabear wrote:
AngelRho wrote:
The first Christian churches would accept new members but not baptize them for as much as a year later. Baptism was a very public display and would mark the participant for death. The year-long waiting period was a test not just of the proselyte's faith but to be sure he understood what it all meant. That way, you'd have a chance to drop out without facing persecution. A baptized convert could assure his church he would not back down in the face of opposition to the point of death. And stronger believers make a stronger church.
Have you ever read The Acts of the Apostles? People are being baptized right and left.Acts 8 wrote:
An angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get ready and go south[b] to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This road is not used nowadays.) So Philip got ready and went. Now an Ethiopian eunuch, who was an important official in charge of the treasury of the queen of Ethiopia, was on his way home. He had been to Jerusalem to worship God and was going back home in his carriage. As he rode along, he was reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to that carriage and stay close to it."
Philip ran over and heard him reading fromthe book of the prophet Isaiah. He asked him, " Do you understand what you are reading?"
The official replied, "How can I understand unless someone explains it to me"? And he invited Philip to climb up and sit in the carriage with him.
The passage of scripture which he was reading was this:
He was like a sheep that is taken to be slaughtered,
like a lamb that makes no sound when its wool is cut off.
He did not say a word.
He was humiliated, and justice was denied him.
No one will be able to tell about his descendants,
because his life on earth has come to an end.
The official asked Philip, "Tell me, of whom is the prophet saying this? Of himself or of someone else?" Then Philip began to speak; starting from this passage of scripture, he told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled down the road, they came to a place where there was some water, and the official said, "Here is some water. What is to keep me from being baptized?"
The official ordered the carriage to stop, and both Philip and the official went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. The official did not see him again, but continued on his way, full of joy.40 Philip found himself in Azotus; he went on to Caesarea, and on the way he preached the Good News in every town.
The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to that carriage and stay close to it."
Philip ran over and heard him reading fromthe book of the prophet Isaiah. He asked him, " Do you understand what you are reading?"
The official replied, "How can I understand unless someone explains it to me"? And he invited Philip to climb up and sit in the carriage with him.
The passage of scripture which he was reading was this:
Quote:
He was like a sheep that is taken to be slaughtered,
like a lamb that makes no sound when its wool is cut off.
He did not say a word.
He was humiliated, and justice was denied him.
No one will be able to tell about his descendants,
because his life on earth has come to an end.
The official asked Philip, "Tell me, of whom is the prophet saying this? Of himself or of someone else?" Then Philip began to speak; starting from this passage of scripture, he told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled down the road, they came to a place where there was some water, and the official said, "Here is some water. What is to keep me from being baptized?"
The official ordered the carriage to stop, and both Philip and the official went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. The official did not see him again, but continued on his way, full of joy.40 Philip found himself in Azotus; he went on to Caesarea, and on the way he preached the Good News in every town.
The baptism occurred at that very moment--not one year later.
Exactly. And as whole families and even their slaves were baptized, it's very possible that infant baptism was already being practiced.
-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer
Kraichgauer
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Posts: 47,851
Location: Spokane area, Washington state.
09 Feb 2012, 2:35 pm
Master_Pedant wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
Abgal64 wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
ruveyn wrote:
iamnotaparakeet wrote:
................. delete most of the wailing and the whining .............................
Quite right. If the secular left MSM is reluctant to cover this vitally important story, then I for one will cover it. We need to get the word out about our suffering brothers and sisters around the globe. There are many things we can be doing on their behalf, but at the very least, we all should be regularly praying for them.
www.nationalreview.com/articles/290498/ ... nrad-black
www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/02/ ... world.html
Quite right. If the secular left MSM is reluctant to cover this vitally important story, then I for one will cover it. We need to get the word out about our suffering brothers and sisters around the globe. There are many things we can be doing on their behalf, but at the very least, we all should be regularly praying for them.
www.nationalreview.com/articles/290498/ ... nrad-black
www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/02/ ... world.html
Payback for the Crusades.
Revenge is a b*tch. And so is schadenfreude. Which is why I will shed no tears for Christians.
ruveyn
You're holding a grudge against people for offenses committed by their ancestors? Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that like Medieval Christians holding the death of Christ against Jews of their time? None of these people ever persecuted you or any Jews or Muslims. Whether you have any love for Christianity itself isn't the point - the point is, these are innocent people who are being hurt simply because others hate them, and no other reason. I sort of thought maybe because of your particular background, you might show a little sympathy.
-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer
"Unsubstantiated conspiracy theory?"
-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer
Jesus Christ! Was it really that hard to fix up the f*cked up quote? Three replies in a row and nobody thought it necessary!
My only response can be:
.
I guess I'm just dull not to divine a direct answer to my question.
-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer
iamnotaparakeet
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09 Feb 2012, 2:42 pm
AngelRho
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09 Feb 2012, 3:28 pm
pandabear wrote:
AngelRho wrote:
The first Christian churches would accept new members but not baptize them for as much as a year later. Baptism was a very public display and would mark the participant for death. The year-long waiting period was a test not just of the proselyte's faith but to be sure he understood what it all meant. That way, you'd have a chance to drop out without facing persecution. A baptized convert could assure his church he would not back down in the face of opposition to the point of death. And stronger believers make a stronger church.
Have you ever read The Acts of the Apostles? People are being baptized right and left.Yes, but that was before persecution became so widespread. The more established churches in larger cities outside Jerusalem and Judea would have had a greater cause for concern. At least the Jews figured out early on that the acts of persecution they committed against Stephen and his contemporaries appeared to only fuel the movement.
