Since when did a Bible study..........sm
Posted By: m on 2009-05-28
In Reply to: NOT the same thing - sheesh! - see message - just me
become a business meeting?
Bible studies, in case you didn't know, are not the same as Sunday morning meetings. They are for discussion and study of the Bible, nothing more, nothing less. Collection plates are not passed and church business is not generally discussed at Bible studies. Churches do have business meetings, however, in which church business is discussed and that is normally done in the church building. Since, as you point out, churches do not pay taxes, then that would, in my estimation, eliminate them as being a business, so therefore, a Bible study is not a business or business meeting. Apart from the subject matter, it is no different than 10 or 15 good old boys getting together on a Sunday afternoon to watch the races on Bubba's big-screen TV.
I read the article and the questions the law officer asked related specifically to a religious organization. I don't remember seeing where he asked if collections were taken during the meeting, only if they prayed, read the Bible, etc. This very much sounds to me like targeting a Christian group, nothing less. I hope the pastor asks his neighbors if they called the police because that is exactly what sounds like happened.
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Having Bible study is NOT a business.....
Are you actually so lame that you believe you have to be in a church to have Bible study? Maybe you need to go to one then.
If Bible study were a business, then having a meeting for cub scouts, girl scouts, weekly poker get togethers would be a business then wouldn't it?
Please...... you and those like you are the problem. They have no beliefs whatsoever in anything and couldn't care less if religious freedom is stripped from us or not.
What a shame! By the way, last time I checked, gays and lesbians have the same rights I do..... they are free to go to Bible study too!!
and a Bible study is not a church either sm
There is a difference. Its about CHRISTIAN persecution!
again, a Bible study at someones house sm
is not a church service. There shouldn't be collecting money, etc. etc.
If the government keeps this stuff up and the folks that support this kind of stuff keep on, it will be one day where you can't even have a family gathering at your house without a permit!
What if half your neighborhood has 15-20 people at their house for all the holidays? Going by what you have posted, that would be a dangerous situation. Aer there enough exits, proper fire extinguishers, etc. etc. People do it all the time. Its called socializing!
Again this is nothing but a serious effort to stop Christians from gathering at all. Nothing but Satan at work.
again, a Bible study at someones house sm
is not a church service. There shouldn't be collecting money, etc. etc.
If the government keeps this stuff up and the folks that support this kind of stuff keep on, it will be one day where you can't even have a family gathering at your house without a permit!
What if half your neighborhood has 15-20 people at their house for all the holidays? Going by what you have posted, that would be a dangerous situation. Aer there enough exits, proper fire extinguishers, etc. etc. People do it all the time. Its called socializing!
Again this is nothing but a serious effort to stop Christians from gathering at all. Nothing but Satan at work.
County trying to STOP home Bible study in
http://www.10news.com/news/19562217/detail.html
study up on the NDC and no, I won't do your
__
brain study
I read a study where they did brain scans on democrats and republicans and while scanning showed pictures of war. The republican brains lit up on the opposite side than the democrat brains. So, the study surmised that just maybe our brains were built to work differently and that could be why we have a take on things so radically differently. I will try to find the article and post the net address.
We all better study up on socialism..it's on its way
if people don't smarten up and look beyond the promises and pretty speeches.
I know where I live they do have to study and take a ..
test to become an american citizen, then they can legally work in America and pay taxes. I don't know what it is like where you live though.
new study states political
leanings are partially genetic. Those who startle easily are more likely to be republican. Those who are on a more even keel and do not startle at small noises or movements are more likely to be democrats. I would say this board supports those conclusions.
It seems to me that this study shows that conservatives (sm)
are MORE concerned about others than democrats. They see a picture of SOMEONE ELSE who is hurt or dead and they react more than the democrats. I used to think of myself as being fairly liberal, but if that means being associated with the type of people many of the democrats who post on here appear to be, then no thanks, I'll call myself conservative. Actually I always vote for the candidate I agree with most, regardless of party.
I love to study Revelations
I have read many, many commentaries on Revelations but I also enjoy researching and studying myself. There are some, some I know personally, who sincerely believe McCain is the anti-Christ. I don't believe that. I do believe the anti-Christ is alive in the world today. According to the Bible, even we believers will be deceived if it were possible. We are to watch and wait. Jesus tells us not to be afraid. I'm here to tell ya I expect the Rapture at any minute and I also believe that some preachers will still be in the pulpits preaching, politicians will be politicing and they'll all be trying to figure out what happened to all those people. I would urge everyone to accept the free insurance policy offered by Jesus Christ. If I understand anything in Revelations, it is that the end times are going to be so far worse than anything we can imagine, I sure wouldn't want to be left behind. Anyone can't help but see if reading the New Testament through and seeking understanding, that the very end times are even now beginning to be played out and this is only the beginning. This could not have possibly been prophysized 2000 years ago without divine intervention.......that makes total sense to me.
I used to didn't think so but I am beginning to think the U.S. will play some kind of major role in the end times, either that or we will all be brought to our knees. EVERY knee shall bow..............the thing is, will Jesus be our defense lawyer when we stand before God or will He be our prosecuting attorney? It'll be one or the other. My heart breaks for those who hear and refuse to believe.
I scored 54.55% - guess I need to study more.
:-)
Guess what - you can commission a STUDY to say whatever you want it to.
Oh, yes, the great evil VOUCHER. Let us all collectively shudder and quake.
I mean, what an outrage! Letting a PARENT determine what is in the best interest of THEIR CHILD. Oh my God! I mean, whoever heard of a country letting PARENTS make carefully-considered, informed DECISIONS? What's next! Letting women VOTE?! Heaven forbid! Good grief. Do you even understand how the voucher system works? Or do you just Google and let someone else do the thinking for you?
And your solution would be, what? Oh, I know.
Let's all just shove our kids in detention, surround them with barbed wire, and give them more free lunches.
That ought to provide a great crop of citizens, dontcha think?
I heard today that this study
was commissioned during the Bush administration. However, the timing of its release seems to be no coincidence.
what part of "Bible study" do you sm
not understand??? A Bible study is not a business meeting. This has nothing to do with taxes. I bet the people that attend the Bible study pay plenty of taxes themselves.
What next, a permit to have more than 15 people over at Thanksgiving and Christmas? Gotta pay taxes???? Please. Tupperware reps and Bible studies.........so far apart. Obviously you know nothing about a simpel Bible study.
I just read an independent study that says that only 20% of the public believe
or associate Democrats with christianity. It's actually down and has been consistently going down. Of course, I know a lot of Christian Democrats. None of them seem to post here, but I know many in my private life. They are far to the right, though, like Democrats use to be
I am plenty old to vote, study all the issues, as well
nm
I suggest YOU study up on Obama's plan...sm
and see if his plan remotely resembles national healthcare in other countries. All plans are not created equal.
UCLA released a study recently that said...
that the New Deal probably prolonged the depression by at least 7 years. Are you sure that socialism is what the market needs--it is my thought that this problem was well on its way before Bush came into office--caused by the interference in the market that was already in place.
here is a link for you JTBB, study it carefully
You think BUSH STARTED THIS WAR!!! all alone he did it all himself, that dirty b*stard! but wait, if he is so so so dumb like everyone protests he is... how did he pull one THAT BIG over everyone?? yes war sucks, but QUIT with that crap you always spew that it was all his fault
http://www.freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html
And: Study the comma rules and capitalize 'European'
You see, every day you learn something new, from me.
Hehehehe!
I forgot: Study some English grammar and spelling..nm
nm
I hope you can find that link. I'd love to read about that study.
Wouldn't poetic justice be served if it was discovered that the conservative brains lit up on the left side? 
Bible
I don't believe I ever stated that the bible supports abortion, if i did, that was a typo. I said that Christ did not teach on homosexuality, yet Christians can be quick to judge homosexuals.
I do not believe that the bible says one way or another, though abortion has been practiced for 1000s of years by midwives through the use of herbs.
As far as my belief in the bible, I don't believe every written word in the bible is the ispired word of God. It has been translated (and changed) by humans through the years to suit their needs. For many years, only the wealthy could read (and women generally were not allowed to), so the scriptures have been misinterpreted (in my opinion) often. I have studied Latin to try to gain some meaning from more ancient texts, but I truly believe that much of the bible is a praise work (as in the psalms) and historical, but not 100% the word of God.
Bible
• The Antichrist comes after a falling away or apostasy. (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
- At times forbids marriage (1 Timothy 4:3)
- At times commands not to eat certain foods that God says are ok to eat. (1 Timothy 4:3-5)
- Has other teachings that are devilish (1 Timothy 4:1; Acts 8:20; 1 John 3:8, 4) |
• The Antichrist is revealed before the second coming of Jesus. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3) |
• The Antichrist has a visible leader. (Acts 20:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Daniel 7:8) |
• The Antichrist comes from within the church. (Acts 20:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:4) |
• and then takes up residence in the church (2 Thessalonians 2:4) |
• The Antichrist rules for a long period of time. (Revelation 13:5, 12:6, 12:14; Daniel 7:25) |
• The Antichrist receives its power from the Devil. (Revelation 13:2; Revelation 12:9) |
• The Antichrist blasphemes God. (Revelation 13:5-6; Daniel 7:8,20,25) |
• The Antichrist tries to change God's law. (Daniel 7:25) |
• The Antichrist persecutes the people who keep God's law. (Revelation 13:2, 12:17, 14:12; Daniel 7:21) |
• The persecution diminishes prior to the end of the Antichrist's rule. (Matthew 24:22) |
• The Antichrist's long rule comes to an end. (Revelation 13:3) |
• The Antichrist again regains power and prestige. (Revelation 13:3) |
• The Antichrist deceives people around the world into worshipping it. (Revelation 13:3) |
• Another forces people to worship the Antichrist. (Revelation 13:11-12) |
• Miracles are used to deceive people into worshipping the Antichrist. (Revelation 13:13-14) |
• Some resist the authority of the Antichrist so economic sanctions are then used. (Revelation 13:16) |
• Some people still resist and a death decree is brought against them. (Revelation 13:15) |
• The Antichrist has a mark of authority that must be avoided at all costs. (Revelation 13:16-17, 14:9-10) |
"I think everyone had better get out their Bible
AIN'T IT THE TRUTH????
where in the bible does it say
abortion is wrong? Don't give me the murder crap, where does it actually say ABORTION is wrong? Abortion has been going on since the beginning of time and I am pretty sure there was plenty of it going on in biblical times, yet I don't recall seeing it mentioned ANYWHERE in the bible.
The Bible for one.......... sm
and I believe I have a responsibility to uphold its laws above and beyond upholding the right of perverts to access p*rn in the library while my child happens to see it.
I do believe morality has flown right out the window here. I think I need a shower now after participating in this thread with you.
Says who? Your bible, which is nothing more than
(no pun intended, of course)
no I don't. I believe the Bible is the sm
literal word of God and I believe it from front to back. There is a difference between reading a book and "studying" a book.
The Bible
is the only recognized source of even a knowledge of God. None of us would even know God if it weren't for the Bible. You go ahead and believe that. I'm not going to be in your corner.
look beyond your Bible, so that you can
see what is going on in the REAL world, not in the BIBLE WORLD.
Bible not bad book at all...
...and should have its basic tenets taught right alongside of those of the Qur'an and the holy books of all other major world religions. Students of any age who wish to read the Bible in my opinion should certainly be able to do so anytime they wish. Same for all other holy/religious writings. A person's education really isn't complete without a fundamental understanding of all of the religions that shape our world.
I would however sign any petition that forces anyone to do anything in the spirit of indoctrination or exclusion, or against any requirement that implies that THIS is the one true holy book and you WILL read it even if your negligent atheist going-to-hell-parents wouldn't force you to do it at home (and we're coming for them soon too - better join us if you know what's good for you). Unfortunately that is how this kind of requirement is perceived by many people in our current political climate - including me. And unfortunately, I believe this is exactly the attitude held by those who try to force such requirements into the public schools.
I don't think it qualifies as a "random act of kindness" - but rather as a deliberate act of religious supremacism.
The Bible says he did not "know" her
until after Jesus was born. What's your point?
If you truly have read the Bible then you know...
God makes no distinction for sin and lumps it all together except in a very few cases where the word *abomination* is attached, and homosexuality is one of those things. So I was not comparing a homosexual and a killer...I was comparing sins. And yes, we do sin, all of us, every day, and will have to account for that some day. But calling it other than a sin does not make it so, at least in my book. I did not call homosexuality an abomination...God did. So take your argument to Him. I choose to believe what He said. I do not hate anyone, I do not treat gays any differently than anyone else as fellow human beings. I have been lied to, stolen from...I don't hate those people, but I don't condone what they did. However, I do not condone homosexuality, any more than I condone lying, stealing, murder or any other sin. You can love an individual but not approve of the sin. That is what, I believe, treating others as you would be treated means. Treat the person with dignity without condoning the behavior. I don't believe in abortions, but I do not condone blowing up abortion clinics or shooting abortion doctors. I do not believe in changing laws to accept aberrant behavior, and we seem to keep trying to go down that road. Years ago, you are right...premarital sex did go on, but it was called what it was...a sin and something that should not be done. No longer the case. Same with homosexuality...it has gone on since time immemorial. But it was called wrong. There used to be laws against it in the US. No longer the case. What next? Polygamy? Bestiality? Necromancy? You say that could never happen here. Thirty years ago your parents probably would never have thought that adultery would be celebrated as entertainment news, premarital sex celebrated on prime time TV, and gay marriage becoming law. Just be careful what you wish for. You just might get it. We have experienced a big moral decline in this country and frankly, it did not begin with conservative Americans.
My opinion only...don't attack all conservatives for what I say. Opinions differ. That is mine.
What does Nostradamus have to do with the bible? sm
Besides, wasn't what Nostradamus wrote so vague that it could be interpreted to 'predict' anything and everything... or nothing at all, depending on how it was interpreted?
Read your Bible. The
antichrist will come from Rome or EU. Obama as the antichrist is absurd.
Uh, last I checked, the Bible said
to help those less fortunate than you, NOT those who just don't want to work but just want to collect money from the government for doing nothing.
VOTING ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE
I AGREE.
Like the Bible says...."many shall come in my name..."
saying you are a Christian does not make you one.
I don't read the bible
And I don't want to.
Don't get me wrong. I've read it. I decided at a pretty young age that it's a fairy tale that for the most part was written by a lot of people who weren't around when Jesus was & that didn't have all that much to do with reality. If it works for you, fine. I don't need to read in some book what the right thing to do is, & I don't assign any particular importance to Jesus. I find it irritating, condescending and naive for someone to suggest that I should "know Jesus" and have my life saved.
It's possible to think all of the above and still be a moral person, & what makes a lot of (not all) Christians narrow-minded is their belief that this isn't so, but they unfortunately can't see this from the narrow place from which they operate. Do I believe in God? I believe in the godhead; the life force; the force that drives the green shoot up, as Dylan Thomas would say; the inferno of activity in the nucleus of every cell... Do I believe this life force manifests as a person? Sure I do. The godhead is in everyone. Jesus didn't have any more of a hotline to the godhead than any of us has. The thing that makes a lot of (not all) Christians narrow-minded is their belief that "God" only speaks "Christian." This concept is too ridiculous for words. The godhead "speaks" every religious "language." I put this into quotes because I specifically don't personify the godhead; i.e., the godhead doesn't "do" the same things that a human body does, though in this instance it's a fairly good metaphor.
I believe that everything -- EVERYTHING -- came from the godhead. Because I'm not a Christian, I don't believe in "The devil," who is a big enough part of that religion that you really must accept the existence of the devil if you want to be Christian, & I don't think that kind of polarization is healthy, nor do I have any compulsion to externalize/personify every human impulse into a creature with horns or one that sits on a cloud or whatever. The universe creates trying, challenging scenarios of all sorts, which in the interest not just of survival but of enlightenment are our tasks to address, understand, & solve, & these would include ALL forms of religious extremism.
The bible is a book that simply doesn't interest me. There are spiritual books that do interest me for their complexity and illumination, but I don't need to live my life by any of them, & I don't need any of them to be a moral or spiritual person.
There are many religions much, much older than Christianity. The godhead was here long before any of it (& believe me, it was longer than 4000 years) & we as a species did not only obtain the capacity for enlightenment after the bible was written or after Jesus arrived.
If you "love Jesus," great. Go for it. Just don't end a conversation with some smug, proselytizing last word that in the end is just a way to think you are superior.
bible quotes
Yes, I am fairly familiar with Old Testament, in Hebrew, but thank you. The Psalm was written by David, not by G-d. As for Jeremiah, yes G-d does know our souls, before we are even human.
Not sure what Bible you are reading........... sm
but the quote I posted (paraphrased) is actually attributed to Joseph Dunniger. Correctly quoted, it reads "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary; for those who do not believe, no explanation will suffice."
Talk about needing to check one's sources! 
I am squeezing my Bible right now
because it is MY right to stay right here in AMERICA and squeeze my Bible ALL I WANT WHEREVER I WANT. I am also allowed to demand that PORN is not freely visible in public to my children. sex is a natural way of life SURE but that doesnt mean I want my 11 year old little girl around it. A u a MORON? What if some guy is at the library and decides to flash his nudeness in public showing all his glory? Is that OKAY TOO? May as well be. Seeing a naked person on line while walking by a computer in the library with my 11 year old is no different than seeing it in person in the library. GET A GRIP and stop trying to take MY rights away. I believe in Jesus and I am saved and I read the Bible and TRY to live by it and that is MY RIGHT. 
But the bible is not the same as the constitution
But the bible is not the same as the constitution
Nobody is stopping you from living my biblical precepts. And nowhere have I heard of any attempt to force churches to perform marriage ceremonies (interesting word- ceremony, but I degress). But I was under the impression that one of the critical differences between the USA and almost any Middle Eastern country is that we base our laws on civil liberties rather than letting religion be our guide. There are a lot of things mentioned in the bible forbids that we routinely do- I can't tell you when I last had the sabbath off, nor can I tell you when I last got to stone a harlot. My then widowed father did not step in to marry my aunt when her husband died and zoning laws prevent me from keeping a fattened calf in the garage.
My religious beliefs may not be in keeping with your religious beliefs, and neither one of us should be expected to live our life according to the other's.
I don't know about the catholic Bible sm
but have you ever really sat down and read your Bible or are you depending on a priest to interpret for you. You should sit down with your Bible and pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal his word to you.
The Bible calls
homosexual acts an "abomination." Look it up. It means "something to be hated." God tells us to hate that act. We obviously do not serve the same God. Mine teaches me to love all men and to hate sin such as homosexual acts. I believe you missed my point. Of course, it is possible to hate the sin and love the sinner but NOT if you are a member of the homosexual community. Once again, an opinion is not a judgement and it is a fact that homosexuality is abominable, ergo, disgusting if you worship the same God I do as I believe what He says. Of course, I have sinned. And I do not expect others to accept my sins as well and good. I don't even do that myself, so why should I accept that homosexuality is a good thing? My point is....We all sin, me included. You are not to accept my sin as good even though I may label myself as the sin I commit. You are not to hate me because of my sin but only hate my sin. People who commit homosexual acts and call themselves homosexuals would have us accept that sin because that is "who" they are not their sin. I don't think it's that difficult to understand.
Nowhere in the Christian bible
However, that did not limit the carnage done in the name of Christianity either. Jews and protestant ''heretics'' and suspected heretics had some fairly unpleasant things done to them in the name of God. Nor did it prevent the harm done to the indigenous peoples of this continent. KKK members often cloak what they believe and do in terms of God's ''natural order.'' Nazis were mostly Lutheran and Catholic.
Christianity, despite its well-published ''love one another'' philosophy, has been a fairly violent religion in the past. None of these misapplications of religion speak for all of Christianity. However, there has often been a fairly vocal Christian contingent denouncing these atrocities.
Religion is good for good people and bad for bad people. It can elevate the human spirit or be used to justify the most horrendous actions against others who do not share our particular vision of the almighty. Radical Muslems are just the current bad practitioners.
don't you agree that the Bible itself contains a lot
of gaps and 'mytserious', unexplained, downright illogical happenings?
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