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Do you really care?
Topic Started: Nov 30 2007, 12:09 AM (879 Views)
T-O
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There has been a lot of comments on here about religious beliefs.

My question is... Do you really care what Almighty God Jehovah requires of you? Be honest.

Feel free to comment by all means. But dont be crude. It only degrades yourself in others eyes that you are unable to express yourself without barroom talk.

We have all heard it many times before anyway and it doesnt mean a thing in an otherwise intelligent conversation.
Thanks
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bostonfanatic87
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Well, no because I'm not a member of a Christian faith. Do I try to be a good person, of course, but I don't think you need a fear of an almighty being to be a good person.
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hankaaron44
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I do care because when you do grow up, who tells you what is right or wrong? Some of you may answer "my parents" or "I grew up as a bad kid and I don't give a crap about anybody and I do whatever the hell I want!!" But how do those people base their right from wrong on? My answer would be good or following even the basic teachings of the Bible (you don't have to get too religious) because the simpliest things like not stealing or not taking things for granted and found in every major religion.

If you don't base it on some God or religious scripture, what else is there? The media? Pff, like they're trustworthy.
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Telegraph-operator,Nov 30 2007
12:09 AM
My question is... Do you really care what Almighty God Jehovah requires of you? Be honest.

T-O, I'm not sure what exactly you mean by your question. Do I obey the Ten Commandments? Do I accept His son Jesus as my Lord and Savior? What do you mean by what God "requires" of me?
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I never married because there was no need. I have three pets at home which answer the same purpose as a husband. I have a dog that growls every morning, a parrot that swears all afternoon, and a cat that comes home late at night - Marie Corelli (19th century author)

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Element
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I have morals, but I don't have faith.
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kyyankgrrl,Nov 30 2007
01:49 AM
Telegraph-operator,Nov 30 2007
12:09 AM
My question is... Do you really care what Almighty God Jehovah requires of you? Be honest.

T-O, I'm not sure what exactly you mean by your question. Do I obey the Ten Commandments? Do I accept His son Jesus as my Lord and Savior? What do you mean by what God "requires" of me?



KY.. Thanks..Good questions. Very applicable..

If we say we want to do the will of God we would naturally have to find out what God requires of us in order to do His will. Like do we really care? If we do, then we have to find out what that will is.

Isaiah 48: 17,18 puts it this way.. “This is what Jehovah has said, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit [yourself], the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk. O if only you would actually pay attention to my commandments!”

Here are a few examples of what Jehovah God requires of man in order to gain His favour. Things that we would have to learn the truth about.

How can you find out what God requires?..

The Bible is a precious gift from God. It is like a letter from a loving father to his children. It tells us the truth about God—who he is and what he stands for. It explains how to cope with problems and how to find true happiness. The Bible alone tells us what we must do to please God.

1. Who is the true God, and what is his name?

Psalm 83:18… “That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah,
You alone are the Most High over all the earth.”

2. Who is Jesus Christ?
Why is he called “the Word”?
Why did Jesus come to earth as a man?
Why did he perform miracles?
What will Jesus do in the near future?

3. Who is Satan the Devil? And how did he come to be known as such?

4. What is God’s purpose for the earth?
Jehovah created this earth so that humans could enjoy living on it forever. He wanted the earth always to be inhabited by righteous, happy people.

Psalm 115:16 “As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong,
But the earth he has given to the sons of men.”

5. What is the “Kingdom of God”? .
When he was on earth, Jesus taught his followers to pray for God’s Kingdom. A kingdom is a government that is headed by a king. God’s Kingdom is a special government. It is set up in heaven and will rule over this earth. It will sanctify, or make holy, God’s name. It will cause God’s will to be done on earth as it is done in heaven.

Mathew 6:9,10 part of the “Lords prayer”…
“You must pray, then, this way:
“‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.

There is more but I am trying to keep it a brief as possible.
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bostonfanatic87,Nov 30 2007
12:38 AM
Well, no because I'm not a member of a Christian faith.  Do I try to be a good person, of course, but I don't think you need a fear of an almighty being to be a good person.

Boston.. The fear of God that you mention is often mistaken for what it really is.

Basically it boils down to a situation like this… It is not fear in that one would want to run and hide in case God throws a lightning bolt at you or something.
But it is a fear of doing something that would displease God.

But rather the fear expressed here is this type of fear… For instance, if you have a father or mother that you love very much and have great respect for. You would never want to do anything that would really displease them or bring them any shame. This is a healthy fear brought about by love and respect.

That is the same fear that the bible talks about, for instance in Ecclesiastes 12:13.. “Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man.”

In the same way, you would try and live by the wishes of the parent that you love.

Even Jesus had this type of fear of his Father Jehovah.
Hebrews 5 verse 7 states this… “In the days of his flesh [Christ] offered up supplications and also petitions to the One who was able to save him out of death, with strong outcries and tears, and he was favorably heard for his godly fear.”

Thanks for your comments.
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hankaaron44,Nov 30 2007
12:50 AM
I do care because when you do grow up, who tells you what is right or wrong? Some of you may answer "my parents" or "I grew up as a bad kid and I don't give a crap about anybody and I do whatever the hell I want!!" But how do those people base their right from wrong on? My answer would be good or following even the basic teachings of the Bible (you don't have to get too religious) because the simpliest things like not stealing or not taking things for granted and found in every major religion.

If you don't base it on some God or religious scripture, what else is there? The media? Pff, like they're trustworthy.

Hank.. You are correct. The bible does contain the “rights” and the “wrongs”. These are the guidelines in order to ascertain what is right and what is wrong.

Think of it this way.

If the bible had never been written.. we would be entirely on our own as to what course of action we would take in any given circumstance. Would we even think of what would be right, or what would be the wrong thing to do?

All we would have is our own judgment, or that of someone else, or like you mentioned the media, or any other source. We would be relying entirely on someone else to give us an idea as to what is right and wrong.

Yet the bible lays it out very plainly. Certain things are right, and certain things are wrong. But why is it right or wrong? It all comes down to what is good or what is bad in God’s eyes.

Good thoughts..Thanks

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Element,Nov 30 2007
03:41 AM
I have morals, but I don't have faith.

Element.. Think about moral qualities for a moment.

Where did the idea that a person should have morals actually come from?

Evolution perhaps? Not likely.. It is true that most people have a sense of right or wrong. Many lose their focus on this as they live their lives, but that doesn’t change the fact that there is right and there is wrong.

A loving creator instilled these senses in every human being. And then, in His written letter to mankind, the bible, He keeps reminding us of these qualities.

Jehovah hates what is bad, and that is why we are constantly reminded of this in His word.

O you lovers of Jehovah, hate what is bad.” (Psalm 97:10) Likewise, we read: “Hate what is bad, and love what is good.”—Amos 5:15.


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Element,Nov 30 2007
03:41 AM
I have morals, but I don't have faith.

Yeah, me too.

What remains is the question, "Why?"

See, most agnostics and atheists are selfish and hedonistic individuals. Why not? If there is no afterlife, why not maximize pleasure in this one short life that we receive? Why worry about a future after we are gone? Why not invest everything in disgracefully huge stone statues to decorate our personal shrines on Easter Island or disgracefully huge SUVs to adorn our driveways in suburbia or cocaine and whores to fill our nights with endorphin rushes that leave us breathless and shaking, then woozy with dizzying bliss?

I know my answer...but first, Element, what's yours?
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kyyankgrrl
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Telegraph-operator,Nov 30 2007
04:30 PM
kyyankgrrl,Nov 30 2007
01:49 AM
Telegraph-operator,Nov 30 2007
12:09 AM
My question is... Do you really care what Almighty God Jehovah requires of you? Be honest.

T-O, I'm not sure what exactly you mean by your question. Do I obey the Ten Commandments? Do I accept His son Jesus as my Lord and Savior? What do you mean by what God "requires" of me?



KY.. Thanks..Good questions. Very applicable..

If we say we want to do the will of God we would naturally have to find out what God requires of us in order to do His will. Like do we really care? If we do, then we have to find out what that will is.

Isaiah 48: 17,18 puts it this way.. “This is what Jehovah has said, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit [yourself], the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk. O if only you would actually pay attention to my commandments!”

Here are a few examples of what Jehovah God requires of man in order to gain His favour. Things that we would have to learn the truth about.

How can you find out what God requires?..

The Bible is a precious gift from God. It is like a letter from a loving father to his children. It tells us the truth about God—who he is and what he stands for. It explains how to cope with problems and how to find true happiness. The Bible alone tells us what we must do to please God.

1. Who is the true God, and what is his name?

Psalm 83:18… “That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah,
You alone are the Most High over all the earth.”

2. Who is Jesus Christ?
Why is he called “the Word”?
Why did Jesus come to earth as a man?
Why did he perform miracles?
What will Jesus do in the near future?

3. Who is Satan the Devil? And how did he come to be known as such?

4. What is God’s purpose for the earth?
Jehovah created this earth so that humans could enjoy living on it forever. He wanted the earth always to be inhabited by righteous, happy people.

Psalm 115:16 “As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong,
But the earth he has given to the sons of men.”

5. What is the “Kingdom of God”? .
When he was on earth, Jesus taught his followers to pray for God’s Kingdom. A kingdom is a government that is headed by a king. God’s Kingdom is a special government. It is set up in heaven and will rule over this earth. It will sanctify, or make holy, God’s name. It will cause God’s will to be done on earth as it is done in heaven.

Mathew 6:9,10 part of the “Lords prayer”…
“You must pray, then, this way:
“‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.

There is more but I am trying to keep it a brief as possible.

Learning what the Bible says - reading it, studying it - is crucial for knowing what God requires of us. I agree completely.

But we are also humans - flawed, weak, humans who make mistakes, who often find "the rules" hard to follow. Not to mention the daily obstacles we face. Faith is a hard road....sometimes nearly impossible. It was recently discovered (in her letters) that even Mother Teresa had times of questioning her faith.

So, I don't think it's a question of if people of faith "care" what God requires of us. I think it is more a case of trying our best to follow God's will, while allowing for our human weaknesses. That is, I believe, where God's mercy comes into the picture.
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In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman. - Margaret Thatcher

I never married because there was no need. I have three pets at home which answer the same purpose as a husband. I have a dog that growls every morning, a parrot that swears all afternoon, and a cat that comes home late at night - Marie Corelli (19th century author)

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
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kyyankgrrl,Dec 1 2007
02:22 AM
Telegraph-operator,Nov 30 2007
04:30 PM
kyyankgrrl,Nov 30 2007
01:49 AM
Telegraph-operator,Nov 30 2007
12:09 AM
My question is... Do you really care what Almighty God Jehovah requires of you? Be honest.

T-O, I'm not sure what exactly you mean by your question. Do I obey the Ten Commandments? Do I accept His son Jesus as my Lord and Savior? What do you mean by what God "requires" of me?



KY.. Thanks..Good questions. Very applicable..

If we say we want to do the will of God we would naturally have to find out what God requires of us in order to do His will. Like do we really care? If we do, then we have to find out what that will is.

Isaiah 48: 17,18 puts it this way.. “This is what Jehovah has said, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit [yourself], the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk. O if only you would actually pay attention to my commandments!”

Here are a few examples of what Jehovah God requires of man in order to gain His favour. Things that we would have to learn the truth about.

How can you find out what God requires?..

The Bible is a precious gift from God. It is like a letter from a loving father to his children. It tells us the truth about God—who he is and what he stands for. It explains how to cope with problems and how to find true happiness. The Bible alone tells us what we must do to please God.

1. Who is the true God, and what is his name?

Psalm 83:18… “That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah,
You alone are the Most High over all the earth.”

2. Who is Jesus Christ?
Why is he called “the Word”?
Why did Jesus come to earth as a man?
Why did he perform miracles?
What will Jesus do in the near future?

3. Who is Satan the Devil? And how did he come to be known as such?

4. What is God’s purpose for the earth?
Jehovah created this earth so that humans could enjoy living on it forever. He wanted the earth always to be inhabited by righteous, happy people.

Psalm 115:16 “As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong,
But the earth he has given to the sons of men.”

5. What is the “Kingdom of God”? .
When he was on earth, Jesus taught his followers to pray for God’s Kingdom. A kingdom is a government that is headed by a king. God’s Kingdom is a special government. It is set up in heaven and will rule over this earth. It will sanctify, or make holy, God’s name. It will cause God’s will to be done on earth as it is done in heaven.

Mathew 6:9,10 part of the “Lords prayer”…
“You must pray, then, this way:
“‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.

There is more but I am trying to keep it a brief as possible.

Learning what the Bible says - reading it, studying it - is crucial for knowing what God requires of us. I agree completely.

But we are also humans - flawed, weak, humans who make mistakes, who often find "the rules" hard to follow. Not to mention the daily obstacles we face. Faith is a hard road....sometimes nearly impossible. It was recently discovered (in her letters) that even Mother Teresa had times of questioning her faith.

So, I don't think it's a question of if people of faith "care" what God requires of us. I think it is more a case of trying our best to follow God's will, while allowing for our human weaknesses. That is, I believe, where God's mercy comes into the picture.

Very well put KY.. Thanks

I will reply later.. Not up to it this morning.

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KY.. I appreciate your comments here. You are right on the mark.

Let’s look at a couple of things.

Your quote..
But we are also humans - flawed, weak, humans who make mistakes, who often find "the rules" hard to follow. Not to mention the daily obstacles we face. Faith is a hard road....sometimes nearly impossible. It was recently discovered (in her letters) that even Mother Teresa had times of questioning her faith.

Reply.. Very true. There isn’t a person who has ever been born that didn’t have these shortcomings, other than Christ of course.
No matter how good a life we try to live, no matter how hard we try to live up to God’s requirements, we all fall short many times and even come to doubt our ability to actually do God’s will.

Romans 3:23 puts it this way. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
And I might add, we still sin, probably in some way, almost every day.

What is sin? In God’s eyes, it is the missing the mark of His righteous requirements, in other words going against His will.

But what is the good part about this? The bible says that God’s love covers a multitude of sins. That doesn’t mean that He just ignores anything bad that we do.

The bible points out that we have to be really repentant of our errors. Look at the example of King David, who committed a grave sin in God’s eyes. David felt this way about it..

“My own errors have passed over my head,” wrote the psalmist David. “Like a heavy load they are too heavy for me. I have grown numb and become crushed to an extreme degree.” (Psalm 38:4, 8) David knew how heavy the burden of a guilty conscience could be. But he found comfort for his troubled heart. He understood that while Jehovah hates sin, He does not hate the sinner if that one is truly repentant and rejects his sinful course. With full faith in Jehovah’s willingness to extend mercy to repentant ones, David said: “You, O Jehovah, are . . . ready to forgive.”—Psalm 86:5.

Forgiveness is a facet of Jehovah’s great love. In his Word, he assures us that when we manifest genuine, heartfelt repentance, he is willing to forgive.

Look at Proverbs 28:13 for example.. “He that is covering over his transgressions will not succeed, but he that is confessing and leaving [them] will be shown mercy.” (By the way, not to take a poke at MO, but confessing to a priest is not acceptable. The bible says there is ONE mediator between God and man, that is Jesus Christ)..

And Jehovah’s readiness to forgive sin does not mean that a repentant sinner is exempted from all consequences of his wrong course? Not at all. We cannot sin with impunity. Paul wrote: “Whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

Your quote..
So, I don't think it's a question of if people of faith "care" what God requires of us. I think it is more a case of trying our best to follow God's will, while allowing for our human weaknesses. That is, I believe, where God's mercy comes into the picture.

Reply.. Again you are right on. The crux of the situation here is, just what IS God’s will and how do I find out what it is?

John 17:3 says this.. “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.”

Taking in knowledge of God and Christ is how one gets to know what God’s will is. I will post more items soon about what God requires of each of us. But I want to keep this post as brief as I can at the moment.

Obviously the only place we can get accurate knowledge about God and Christ is from God’s word. Certainly church dogma won't do it.. Church dogma is man made and not found in God’s word.

Thanks again for your post.


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Here are a few things that Jehovah requires...

God's servants must be clean..

Why must we be clean in every way?

What does it mean to be spiritually clean?

morally clean?

mentally clean?
physically clean?

What kinds of unclean speech should we avoid?

1. Jehovah God is clean and holy. He expects his worshipers to remain clean—spiritually, morally, mentally, and physically. (1 Peter 1:16) It takes real effort to stay clean in God’s eyes. We live in an unclean world. We also have a struggle against our own tendencies to do wrong. But we must not give up.

2. Spiritual Cleanness: If we want to serve Jehovah, we cannot hold on to any of the teachings or customs of false religion. We must get out of false religion and not support it in any way. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Revelation 18:4) Once we have learned the truth about God, we must be careful not to be misled by people who teach falsehood.—2 John 10, 11.

Rev 18:4,5... speaking of false religions..
"And I heard another voice out of heaven say: “Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues.  For her sins have massed together clear up to heaven, and God has called her acts of injustice to mind."

3. Moral Cleanness: Jehovah wants his worshipers to behave as true Christians at all times. (1 Peter 2:12) He sees everything we do, even in secret. (Hebrews 4:13) We should avoid sexual immorality and other unclean practices of this world.—

1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
"What! Do you not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men,  nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God’s kingdom."


4. Mental Cleanness: If we fill our minds with clean, pure thoughts, our conduct will also be clean. (Philippians 4:8) But if we dwell on unclean things, it will result in wicked deeds. (Matthew 15:18-20) We should avoid forms of entertainment that could soil our minds. We can fill our minds with clean thoughts by studying God’s Word.

5. Physical Cleanness: Because they represent God, Christians should keep their bodies and clothing clean. We should wash our hands after using the toilet, and we should wash them before eating meals or handling food. If you do not have a proper sewage disposal system, toilet wastes should be buried. (Deuteronomy 23:12, 13) Keeping physically clean contributes to good health. A Christian’s home should be neat and clean both inside and outside. It should stand out in the community as a good example.

6. Clean Speech: God’s servants must always speak the truth. Liars will not enter God’s Kingdom. (Ephesians 4:25; Revelation 21:8) Christians do not use bad language. They do not listen to or tell dirty jokes or unclean stories. Because of their clean speech, they stand out as different at work or at school and in the neighborhood.—Ephesians 4:29, 31; 5:3.

More.. Thanks for listening. Comments welcome..


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How should you feel about things that God says are bad?

What kinds of sexual conduct are wrong?

How should a Christian view lying?

Gambling? stealing? violence? spiritism? drunkenness?
How can a person break free from bad practices?

1. Servants of God love what is good. But they must also learn to hate what is bad. (Psalm 97:10) That means avoiding certain practices that God hates. What are some of those practices?

2. Fornication: Sex before marriage, adultery, bestiality, incest, and homosexuality are all serious sins against God. (Leviticus 18:6; Romans 1:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10) If a couple are not married but are living together, they should separate or else get legally married.—Hebrews 13:4.

3. Lying, Gambling, Stealing: Jehovah God cannot lie. (Titus 1:2) Persons who want his approval must avoid lying. (Proverbs 6:16-19; Colossians 3:9, 10) Every form of gambling is tainted by greed. So Christians do not take part in any kind of gambling, such as lotteries, horse racing, and bingo. (Ephesians 5:3-5) And Christians do not steal. They do not knowingly buy stolen property or take things without permission.—Exodus 20:15; Ephesians 4:28.

4. Fits of Anger, Violence: Uncontrolled anger can lead to acts of violence. (Genesis 4:5-8) A violent person cannot be God’s friend. (Psalm 11:5; Proverbs 22:24, 25) It is wrong to take revenge or to return evil for the bad things that others might do to us.—Proverbs 24:29; Romans 12:17-21.

5. Magical Spells and Spiritism: Some people call on the power of the spirits to try to heal sicknesses. Others cast spells on their enemies to make them sick or even to kill them. The power behind all these practices is Satan. So Christians must not take part in any of them. (Deuteronomy 18:9-13) Staying close to Jehovah is the best protection from spells that may be cast on us by others.—Proverbs 18:10.

6. Drunkenness: It is not wrong to drink a little wine, beer, or other alcoholic beverage. (Psalm 104:15; 1 Timothy 5:23) But heavy drinking and drunkenness are wrong in God’s eyes. (1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 1 Timothy 3:8) Drinking too much can ruin your health and disrupt your family. It can also cause you to give in very quickly to other temptations.—Proverbs 23:20, 21, 29-35.

7. Persons who practice things that God says are bad will “not inherit God’s kingdom.” (Galatians 5:19-21) If you really love God and want to please him, you can break free from these practices. (1 John 5:3) Learn to hate what God says is bad. (Romans 12:9) Associate with people who have godly habits. (Proverbs 13:20) Mature Christian companions may prove to be a source of help. (James 5:14) Above all, rely on God’s help through prayer.—Philippians 4:6, 7, 13.

More..
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What kind of beliefs and customs are wrong?

Should Christians believe that God is a Trinity?

Why do true Christians not celebrate Christmas, Easter, or birthdays?

Can the dead harm the living?

Did Jesus die on a cross?

How important is it to please God?

1. Not all beliefs and customs are bad. But God does not approve of them if they come from false religion or are against Bible teachings.—Matthew 15:6.

2. Trinity: Is Jehovah a Trinity—three persons in one God? No! Jehovah, the Father, is “the only true God.” (John 17:3; Mark 12:29) Jesus is His firstborn Son, and he is subject to God. (1 Corinthians 11:3) The Father is greater than the Son. (John 14:28) The holy spirit is not a person; it is God’s active force.—Genesis 1:2; Acts 2:18.

3. Christmas and Easter: Jesus was not born on December 25. He was born about October 1, a time of year when shepherds kept their flocks out-of-doors at night. (Luke 2:8-12) Jesus never commanded Christians to celebrate his birth. Rather, he told his disciples to memorialize, or remember, his death. (Luke 22:19, 20) Christmas and its customs come from ancient false religions. The same is true of Easter customs, such as the use of eggs and rabbits. The early Christians did not celebrate Christmas or Easter, nor do true Christians today.

4. Birthdays: The only two birthday celebrations spoken of in the Bible were held by persons who did not worship Jehovah. (Genesis 40:20-22; Mark 6:21, 22, 24-27) The early Christians did not celebrate birthdays. The custom of celebrating birthdays comes from ancient false religions. True Christians give gifts and have good times together at other times during the year.

5. Fear of the Dead: The dead cannot do anything or feel anything. We cannot help them, and they cannot hurt us. (Psalm 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) The soul dies; it does not live on after death. (Ezekiel 18:4) But sometimes wicked angels, called demons, pretend to be the spirits of the dead. Any customs that have to do with fear of or worship of the dead are wrong.—Isaiah 8:19.

6. Cross: Jesus did not die on a cross. He died on a pole, or a stake. The Greek word translated “cross” in many Bibles meant just one piece of timber. The symbol of the cross comes from ancient false religions. The cross was not used or worshiped by the early Christians. Therefore, do you think it would be right to use a cross in worship?—Deuteronomy 7:26; 1 Corinthians 10:14.

7. It may be very hard to abandon some of these beliefs and customs. Relatives and friends may try to convince you not to change your beliefs. But pleasing God is more important than pleasing men.—Proverbs 29:25; Matthew 10:36, 37.

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How should we view life? abortion?

How do Christians show that they are safety conscious?

Is it wrong to kill animals?

What are some practices that do not show respect for life?

What is God’s law on blood?

Does this include blood transfusions?

1. Jehovah is the Source of life. All living things owe their life to God. (Psalm 36:9) Life is sacred to God. Even the life of an unborn child inside its mother is precious to Jehovah. To kill such a developing baby on purpose is wrong in God’s eyes.—Exodus 21:22, 23; Psalm 127:3.

2. True Christians are safety conscious. God’s servants do not take unnecessary risks with their lives just for pleasure or excitement. So they do not share in violent sports that deliberately hurt other people. They avoid entertainment that encourages violence.—Psalm 11:5; John 13:35.

3. Animal life is also sacred to the Creator. A Christian may kill animals to provide food and clothing or to protect himself from sickness and danger. (Genesis 3:21; 9:3; Exodus 21:28) But it is wrong to mistreat animals or to kill them just for sport or pleasure.—Proverbs 12:10.

4. Smoking, chewing betel nut, and taking drugs for pleasure are not for Christians. These practices are wrong because (1) they make us their slaves, (2) they harm our bodies, and (3) they are unclean. (Romans 6:19; 12:1; 2 Corinthians 7:1) It can be very hard to give up these habits. But we must do so to please Jehovah.

5. Blood is also sacred in God’s eyes. God says that the soul, or life, is in the blood. So it is wrong to eat blood. It is also wrong to eat the meat of an animal that has not been properly bled. If an animal is strangled or dies in a trap, it should not be eaten. If it is speared or shot, it must be bled quickly if it is to be eaten.—Genesis 9:3, 4; Leviticus 17:13, 14; Acts 15:28, 29.

6. Is it wrong to accept a blood transfusion? Remember, Jehovah requires that we abstain from blood. This means that we must not take into our bodies in any way at all other people’s blood or even our own blood that has been stored. (Acts 21:25) So true Christians will not accept a blood transfusion. They will accept other kinds of medical treatment, such as transfusion of nonblood products. They want to live, but they will not try to save their life by breaking God’s laws.—Matthew 16:25.

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Are all religions pleasing to God, or is just one?

Why are there so many religions that claim to be Christian?

How can you identify true Christians?

1. Jesus started one true Christian religion. So today there must be just one body, or group, of true worshipers of Jehovah God. (John 4:23, 24; Ephesians 4:4, 5) The Bible teaches that only a few people are on the narrow road to life.—Matthew 7:13, 14.

2. The Bible foretold that after the death of the apostles, wrong teachings and unchristian practices would slowly come into the Christian congregation. Men would draw away believers to follow them instead of Christ. (Matthew 7:15, 21-23; Acts 20:29, 30) That is why we see so many different religions that claim to be Christian. How can we identify true Christians?

3. The most outstanding mark of true Christians is that they have real love among themselves. (John 13:34, 35) They are not taught to think that they are better than people of other races or skin color. Neither are they taught to hate people from other countries. (Acts 10:34, 35) So they do not share in wars. True Christians treat one another as brothers and sisters.—1 John 4:20, 21.

4. Another mark of true religion is that its members have a deep respect for the Bible. They accept it as the Word of God and believe what it says. (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17) They treat God’s Word as being more important than human ideas or customs. (Matthew 15:1-3, 7-9) They try to live by the Bible in their everyday life. So they do not preach one thing and then practice another.—Titus 1:15, 16.

5. The true religion must also honor God’s name. (Matthew 6:9) Jesus made God’s name, Jehovah, known to others. True Christians must do the same. (John 17:6, 26; Romans 10:13, 14) Who are the people in your community that tell others about God’s name?

6. True Christians must preach about God’s Kingdom. Jesus did so. He always talked about the Kingdom. (Luke 8:1) He commanded his disciples to preach this same message in all the earth. (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20) True Christians believe that only God’s Kingdom will bring true peace and security to this earth.—Psalm 146:3-5.

7. Jesus’ disciples must be no part of this wicked world. (John 17:16) They do not get involved in the world’s political affairs and social controversies. They avoid the harmful conduct, practices, and attitudes that are common in the world. (James 1:27; 4:4) Can you identify a religious group in your community that has these marks of true Christianity?

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What must you do to become a friend of God?

How do you make your dedication to God?

When should you be baptized?

How can you gain the strength to stay faithful to God?

1. To become a friend of God, you must obtain a good knowledge of Bible truth (1 Timothy 2:3, 4), put faith in the things you have learned (Hebrews 11:6), repent of your sins (Acts 17:30, 31), and turn around in your course of life. (Acts 3:19) Then your love for God should move you to dedicate yourself to him. This means that in a personal, private prayer you tell him that you are giving yourself to him to do his will.—Matthew 16:24; 22:37.

2. After you have made your dedication to God, you should be baptized. (Matthew 28:19, 20) Baptism lets everyone know that you have dedicated yourself to Jehovah. So baptism is only for those who are old enough to make a decision to serve God. When a person is baptized, his whole body should be put under the water momentarily.—Mark 1:9, 10; Acts 8:36.

3. After you have made a dedication, Jehovah will expect you to live up to your promise. (Psalm 50:14; Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5) The Devil will try to stop you from serving Jehovah. (1 Peter 5:8) But draw close to God in prayer. (Philippians 4:6, 7) Study his Word each day. (Psalm 1:1-3) Stick close to the congregation. (Hebrews 13:17) By doing all of this, you will gain the strength to stay faithful to God. For all eternity you thus can do the things that God requires of you!

Thanks for putting up with me.. As we can see there is much more to doing God's will than just attending church once in a while.

I wonder how many who do go to church every Sunday actually have heard the preacher talk about these things, especially things like God's kingdom that Jesus prayed for to come, which is now in operation and that will bring an end to this old wicked system and make God's name Jehovah sacred in all the earth.

Knowledge of Him and Christ is essential, and that knowledge leads you to what God's will really is.
The apostle Paul said that we have to "make our minds over", and abandon our former course.
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Jayhawk Bill
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Element,Nov 30 2007
03:41 AM
I have morals, but I don't have faith.

You also appear not to have the guts to answer my previous question, "Why do you have morals if you do not have faith?"
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