Christianity- do you have a question we can help with?

[Deleted]

An open thread for those who want to know what our views are scripturally on anything at all.

For the guests, for us, for anyone.

For those who dont want to post, or to interfere, but want answers that we may have some of the keys to.

Just a thought.  Wonder if anyone will respond....

I'm sure the larger topics will come up as new threads.

-Trinity

[Deleted]

Oh hell hon. You know I am going to respond. I just can't help it. I spent my whole life looking for a rhymes and reasons.

Ok so one question is why is the Bible so important? OK so no disrespect to you or anyone else that is Christian. I consider my self Christian but of a more mystic type. I am scared of the Bible because I believe a lot of it was manipulated by the roman Empire. Well not scared of it but kind of cynical of it. I have seen a lot of words and laws manipulated by men. This is my greatest fear of the legacy of the Bible. Again no judgement from me on what anyone believes. Just what if some of God's Laws were manipulated by an Empire that ruled the world and tried it's best to conquer the world?

Another question is who was Christ? Personally from a Gnostic point of view is that Christ is a Direct Creation from God. I believe that most of mankind are indirect Creations through the Elohim. But Christ's message is it doesn't matter because we are all family. We are all brothers and sisters in Spirit so when Jesus or Yeshua is called the Son of God and the Son of man, the biggest message to me is that we are all God's Offspring whether directly like Christ or indirectly like humans. No more or no less important or loved than Yeshua himself.

Another question is what happens after the body dies? The body is of this planet with the same Chemistry of this planet. What is the Soul or Spirit? Is that truly Eternal. this body will never survive long out of this earthly type environment but our Spirit can survive anywhere. What about the Essence of Adolph Hitler? In his last moment he could have prayed for forgiveness. Does he still have to pay Penance. Is he in hell? Was he forgiven if he asked for it? My dad loved me but if I messed up I was punished but not forever. Just until I learned my lesson.

OMG Trinity this isn't a jab at anyone, you or Shan. I love you both but questions like this is what sent me looking for other answers. Questions like this is why I was condemned from churches that I use to attend. I have heard stuff like, "I'm sorry but I can't answer those question and it may be better if you find another belief". I was told this one time when I was 12 by a Pentecostal pastor at my mom's church. These are some really honest questions that I have been asking all my life. No Malice behind them at all. Everyone needs something to believe in. Whatever we believe is sacred to our own self. My answers are mind just like yours are yours. We are in the age of Christ though. You can call the Essence Jesus or Yesua.

This is the whole thing in a nutshell. There is no right or wrong when it comes to Divinity. As long as your beliefs or thinking is as pure as you can muster then it is not wrong. But evil is evil. We aren't that different in thinking. Our perceptions may be way different but Devine is devine and Evil is evil. Good is good and bad is bad. I don't believe much different than any mainstream religion but the way I perceive God and Jesus is a little different but not that much so I'm still not welcome at any churches. This really hurts me. I hold the utmost respect for both or one or all three depending on what you believe. A lot tend to forget about the Holy Spirit.

But no dear. I am not welcome in most religious circles. I perceive a little differently. But it isn't their job to judge me even though most will say that I'm going to hell. My ex father-in-law believes I am going to hell but he hates so many people. Blacks, Hispanics, trans but surprisingly he don't mind gay people because his brother is gay. So .... Just a lot of questions and no insult to anyone other than myself. I will say right now that there is no way in hell that I am worthy of the heaven in the Bible. I don't even care about heaven as much as I do other peoples pain. If the most common concept of heaven is a reality then I am no where near good enough.

[Deleted]

Not one for the phone ...

Will respond probably later, for my part.

Yes let's chat on it here.:-)

I need a pc for this.

[EchelonHunt]

I have one question... but it's not to do with the Bible.

I visited a church in Detroit, Michigan. The speaker used a microphone and in the background, there was music. It wasn't just any music, it was hypnotic music.

I felt like I was losing myself, my memories, my sense of self slowly fading away into nothing and this terrified me. So I turned my hearing aids off. Lol.

I understand the use of hypnotic music to calm and stir certain emotions in people but isn't it... in a sense, manipulative?

Using hypnotic music to stir a person into a relaxed state, opening their mind to suggestive content, such as the speaker's words. Isn't it possible to use the speaker's words to speak human to human, rather than using music as a bridge to get to that point?

[Deleted]

Love of money.

More later, no time yet...

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2015 11:58:21 GMT 8 EchelonHunt said:

I have one question... but it's not to do with the Bible.

I visited a church in Detroit, Michigan. The speaker used a microphone and in the background, there was music. It wasn't just any music, it was hypnotic music.

I felt like I was losing myself, my memories, my sense of self slowly fading away into nothing and this terrified me. So I turned my hearing aids off. Lol.

I understand the use of hypnotic music to calm and stir certain emotions in people but isn't it... in a sense, manipulative?

Using hypnotic music to stir a person into a relaxed state, opening their mind to suggestive content, such as the speaker's words. Isn't it possible to use the speaker's words to speak human to human, rather than using music as a bridge to get to that point?

Thank You Jayce. I mean we have all heard of  Subliminal messages. I mean the movie industry used to us it all the time. 1 frame with a box of popcorn or a Coca Cola logo in it and your conscious mind will never pick it up. 1 frame our of 29 frames per second you will never notice but your subconscious will. Check out the song Stairway to Heaven and some of the so called subliminal messages there. OK another thing and this isn't taking shots at anyone's beliefs or religion but I have dated a girl in my younger days whose dad was a preacher of some kind of offshoot or Pentecostal. they diodn;t call themselves Pentecostal but something else. The only reason I went to the church was because of her. But I noticed that when they started talking in "tounges" and started dancing in the Isles and getting loud it kind of sparked something even in me. A type of energy. Not good and not bad but energy nonetheless that seemed to emminate from the pit of my stomach. Mass hypnosis maybe, subconscious picking up on the other's energy. They would say they were drunk in the Spirit. So with the background I have with paranormal investigating, yes I was doing it back then, I can't say what it is. It could be a mass sharing of energy from others, it could actually be a divine spirit coming over the place or some kind of mass hypnosis. I can't say and won't say because I just don't know but there is some kind of rise in energy. I think that is where people's faith have to kick in as to what is causing it.

On the other hand I have seen wheelchairs brought into a revival tent, yeah tent revivals are big or were in Arkansas, and right before people get there from the various churches I have seen people walking up and sitting in these chairs. Again no disrespect to people or what they believe but I am very wary of wolves in sheep's clothing. No one is perfect, everyone can fall. But when you make millions and claim falsely that you live a humble life and beg people for money and it becomes known that you live in a multi million dollar mansion with 10 cars and not Hyundais either then you are a false prophet especially if you claimed visions before and God has talked to you and moved you. Yeah you are forgiven but give it up. One right now still has a ministry and people keep the money flowing. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

I have seen some of these traveling preachers through my mother and this girl I dated call people up because God moved them to call these people. I even got called up at one when I went with her and her family. God if she wasn't as beautiful as she was, ain't no way. But then again maybe because stuff like this really interest me. Paranormal and supernatural are not much different animals to study. But any way, OMG the fishing this guy was doing. He told me I almost died. Well a roll of the proverbial dice decides if we live or die. But this was in the past year. Nope. Nada. When I told him no. He told me I may not have even been aware of it. Really? That's al you got? We always have one foot in the grave everyday. We drive and one moment of distraction from the road can seal our fate. He could have used that on 100% of the people. I even asked the girl I was dating's Dad about it and he told me it could have been a Spiritual death. Really? Really vague on that one.

I am not saying there aren't true priests, preachers, ministers and so on out there. But I am wary. I have met many good ones and I have met a few Charlatans and more often than not I have met many that are just as confused as myself and ponder the mysteries or the Divine. The ones that admit to not knowing I have great respect for. I liken it to the highway system. For example her in the US. I can take a direct path from Jacksonville Florida to Los Angeles California. I 10 all the way. But I can also take I 95 to New Jersey then take I 80 to Nebraska and catch I76 and then I 70 and then I15 back to I10 in San Bernardino and the I 10 to LA. It is longer but you meet so many more people, You see a lot of different country and so on. Both routes will take you to LA. I think we end up getting caught wanting the shortest route when the longer one give us so much more experience with different people and so on. The I10 Route is mainly Swamp and Desert and a few hills or bare mountains. But the other route? You see swamp, woods, ancient mountains filled with hardwoods, flat plains, majestic mountains, desert and you meet so many more people. Both routes take you to the same place eventually but with the longer route you experience so much more. I know this anology sounds kind of stupid but it is about the best I can think of tha may explain different paths.

[Deleted]

Mar 23, 2015 7:30:24 GMT 8 Laura J said:

Mar 22, 2015 9:06:35 GMT 8 @jamie said:

Oh hell hon. You know I am going to respond. I just can't help it. I spent my whole life looking for a rhymes and reasons.

Ok so one question is why is the Bible so important? OK so no disrespect to you or anyone else that is Christian. I consider my self Christian but of a more mystic type. I am scared of the Bible because I believe a lot of it was manipulated by the roman Empire. Well not scared of it but kind of cynical of it. I have seen a lot of words and laws manipulated by men. This is my greatest fear of the legacy of the Bible. Again no judgement from me on what anyone believes. Just what if some of God's Laws were manipulated by an Empire that ruled the world and tried it's best to conquer the world?

Another question is who was Christ? Personally from a Gnostic point of view is that Christ is a Direct Creation from God. I believe that most of mankind are indirect Creations through the Elohim. But Christ's message is it doesn't matter because we are all family. We are all brothers and sisters in Spirit so when Jesus or Yeshua is called the Son of God and the Son of man, the biggest message to me is that we are all God's Offspring whether directly like Christ or indirectly like humans. No more or no less important or loved than Yeshua himself.

Another question is what happens after the body dies? The body is of this planet with the same Chemistry of this planet. What is the Soul or Spirit? Is that truly Eternal. this body will never survive long out of this earthly type environment but our Spirit can survive anywhere. What about the Essence of Adolph Hitler? In his last moment he could have prayed for forgiveness. Does he still have to pay Penance. Is he in hell? Was he forgiven if he asked for it? My dad loved me but if I messed up I was punished but not forever. Just until I learned my lesson.

OMG Trinity this isn't a jab at anyone, you or Shan. I love you both but questions like this is what sent me looking for other answers. Questions like this is why I was condemned from churches that I use to attend. I have heard stuff like, "I'm sorry but I can't answer those question and it may be better if you find another belief". I was told this one time when I was 12 by a Pentecostal pastor at my mom's church. These are some really honest questions that I have been asking all my life. No Malice behind them at all. Everyone needs something to believe in. Whatever we believe is sacred to our own self. My answers are mind just like yours are yours. We are in the age of Christ though. You can call the Essence Jesus or Yesua.

This is the whole thing in a nutshell. There is no right or wrong when it comes to Divinity. As long as your beliefs or thinking is as pure as you can muster then it is not wrong. But evil is evil. We aren't that different in thinking. Our perceptions may be way different but Devine is devine and Evil is evil. Good is good and bad is bad. I don't believe much different than any mainstream religion but the way I perceive God and Jesus is a little different but not that much so I'm still not welcome at any churches. This really hurts me. I hold the utmost respect for both or one or all three depending on what you believe. A lot tend to forget about the Holy Spirit.

But no dear. I am not welcome in most religious circles. I perceive a little differently. But it isn't their job to judge me even though most will say that I'm going to hell. My ex father-in-law believes I am going to hell but he hates so many people. Blacks, Hispanics, trans but surprisingly he don't mind gay people because his brother is gay. So .... Just a lot of questions and no insult to anyone other than myself. I will say right now that there is no way in hell that I am worthy of the heaven in the Bible. I don't even care about heaven as much as I do other peoples pain. If the most common concept of heaven is a reality then I am no where near good enough.

Ok so one question is why is the Bible so important? OK so no disrespect to you or anyone else that is Christian. I consider my self Christian but of a more mystic type. I am scared of the Bible because I believe a lot of it was manipulated by the roman Empire. Well not scared of it but kind of cynical of it. I have seen a lot of words and laws manipulated by men. This is my greatest fear of the legacy of the Bible. Again no judgement from me on what anyone believes. Just what if some of God's Laws were manipulated by an Empire that ruled the world and tried it's best to conquer the world?

1.~ I'm also critical of parts of the bible, because yes its been translated so many times, and words used today like homosexual were never invented until only 100 years ago, so you have to be very careful of the meanings you take from scripture. Context is so important, who was the author writing too, what was society like back then, and what meaning was it intended to have to those who it was written for.? You can get a much more accurate sense of the meaning if you keep these things in mind. Was the author writing in metaphors or parables as they often did, and how does it relate to the much different society now.? But there is still parts of the bible that appear timeless, and relate to everyone of any society, those parts are usually the life changing words that can enlighten your spirit, and change your life. John is a good example, its mind blowing and life changing, and is timeless..~

Another question is who was Christ? Personally from a Gnostic point of view is that Christ is a Direct Creation from God. I believe that most of mankind are indirect Creations through the Elohim. But Christ's message is it doesn't matter because we are all family. We are all brothers and sisters in Spirit so when Jesus or Yeshua is called the Son of God and the Son of man, the biggest message to me is that we are all God's Offspring whether directly like Christ or indirectly like humans. No more or no less important or loved than Yeshua himself.

2.~ Christ is the son of God, Jesus is God, as is the Holy Spirit.. These three persons within God are called the Trinity, and are as one, and are God. You can spend a lifetime trying to figure this out, but it's beyond our understanding. Here's the heart of it all, Jesus was born to fulfill a prophecy, to pay the price for your sins. Jesus gave his life for you, Jamie, personally just for you, so you will never again be burdened by your sins, they are washed clean by the blood of Christ. You only need accept this most awesome gift anyone will ever give you, and believe that Jesus is son of God, and died for your sin. Its free, you need do nothing to earn it, your past sins are gone forever in Gods eyes, and you are a new creature, you are born again. Its not the same Jamie as thinking we're all brothers and sisters in spirit, you have to believe that Jesus is your savior, and you are now his forever to be blessed. You are different from others who think like you used to, you will feel it, you'll feel differently inside.. ~

Another question is what happens after the body dies? The body is of this planet with the same Chemistry of this planet. What is the Soul or Spirit? Is that truly Eternal. this body will never survive long out of this earthly type environment but our Spirit can survive anywhere. What about the Essence of Adolph Hitler? In his last moment he could have prayed for forgiveness. Does he still have to pay Penance. Is he in hell? Was he forgiven if he asked for it? My dad loved me but if I messed up I was punished but not forever. Just until I learned my lesson.

3.~ Thats just too complicated to answer all those questions, some no one knows.? But Gods promise of eternal life with him stands, to whosoever believe in him, and truely give Jesus they're heart, and ask him into they're heart. Our place is not to judge, or be bogged down with uncertainty, but just to love each other, and know we are saved. The rest is out of our hands.~

OMG Trinity this isn't a jab at anyone, you or Shan. I love you both but questions like this is what sent me looking for other answers. Questions like this is why I was condemned from churches that I use to attend. I have heard stuff like, "I'm sorry but I can't answer those question and it may be better if you find another belief". I was told this one time when I was 12 by a Pentecostal pastor at my mom's church. These are some really honest questions that I have been asking all my life. No Malice behind them at all. Everyone needs something to believe in. Whatever we believe is sacred to our own self. My answers are mind just like yours are yours. We are in the age of Christ though. You can call the Essence Jesus or Yesua.

4~ that's why I'm very critical of churches, and usually won't go. I just can't stress this enough, that Christianity is not a religion or church of bricks and other people, it is simply a " Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ". You cant get it from choosing the right denomination of church, or no matter how nice the people there are, even if it were a trans pastor and all trans congregation, it wouldn't matter. Christianity is a relationship, very personal and intimate, and God will guide you through all the crazy churches and dopey people, and you'll be confident regardless, because you already have God, you're not looking for him anymore. ~

This is the whole thing in a nutshell. There is no right or wrong when it comes to Divinity. As long as your beliefs or thinking is as pure as you can muster then it is not wrong.

5~ you're purity no matter how pure you can muster, are like filthy rags to God. There is no book where you can earn red checks for doing good deeds, you are not capable of good deeds in Gods eyes. Your life's deeds sentence you to death, no matter how good you believe they are. Only believing and openly admitting that Jesus paid the price for your unworthy deeds as you say, asking him into your heart as your personal savior, and just accepting that wonderful free gift, can save you. There's no way anyone can save themselves. ~

But evil is evil. We aren't that different in thinking. Our perceptions may be way different but Devine is devine and Evil is evil. Good is good and bad is bad. I don't believe much different than any mainstream religion but the way I perceive God and Jesus is a little different but not that much so I'm still not welcome at any churches. This really hurts me. I hold the utmost respect for both or one or all three depending on what you believe. A lot tend to forget about the Holy Spirit.

6~ Yes, we are a world apart in our thinking, as I explained above the best I can. ~

But no dear. I am not welcome in most religious circles. I perceive a little differently. But it isn't their job to judge me even though most will say that I'm going to hell. My ex father-in-law believes I am going to hell but he hates so many people. Blacks, Hispanics, trans but surprisingly he don't mind gay people because his brother is gay. So .... Just a lot of questions and no insult to anyone other than myself. I will say right now that there is no way in hell that I am worthy of the heaven in the Bible. I don't even care about heaven as much as I do other peoples pain. If the most common concept of heaven is a reality then I am no where near good enough.

7~ Jamie, you're judging Christianity by some bad churches, and people that hurt you, and by very bad past experiences you have had. Thats the whole point dear, Jesus is here, and wants to come live inside you, and heal you from all that, and all those bad things .
All you have to do is invite him in, and believe in him. ~

~ I'm so sorry in anyone found my words offensive, but the truth is truth. No matter how a person explains a given religion, it's going to sound a little preachy, but I hope i didn't do that so much as to turn anyone away from this topic or God.~

love and blessings.

You know Mark. I am unoffensible.

I definately agree with number 1. I mean you love who you love. OK so I know several gay and lesbian couples. There always seems to be a more feminine and a more masculine in the relationship. Even with lipstick lesbians there does seem to be one that is more masculine than the ohter. Same with two effiminate gays, one seems to be more masculine than the other. This to me and what I have learned seems to be the same as cis and that is that the female compliments the male and the male compliments the female to make a whole. I have gay friends and one likes hunting and fishing and is really effiminate the other likes fashion and watching Sex in the City and is the mascuiline. That's a thinker. Homosexual. I don't think so. More like Homosapien. We love who we love and True Love should be a Spiritual thing and not a physical thing.

Number 2.
I kind of agree with and kind of disagree with. It sounds crazy I know. I do believe in the Seven Elohim. I believe they are our direct Creators. I do believe they are direct creations from God. I believe they created this used to be Garden and our Spirits. OK so this is really complicated but I believe jesus and other teachers that come around every 2000+ years are direct Creations form the One God. I believe that the whole message of Christ was that either indirectly or directltly Created by God no one is more or less important. We are all bound to one another by the One. We are all family and one is no more important than the other in God's Eyes. We are all loved Equally. We were all created by the same Spark. Call it the God Genes. but that part is in us no matter how far we may fall into a physical or material existance. I do believe Yeshua's message took a lot of power from the church and laid our own Spiritual destiny or Salvation in our own hands. Totally idndependant of any man. But rather in our ownselves by that Sacred Spark of True Life, that same Image that was created by God in the beginning. Grandparents love grandchildren just as much as the mother and father love them. I believe we are all connected but are also our own Unique Spirits.

Number 3.
Not really hard. Our Eternal life is not tied to this planet. Our material life is but not our Eternal Existance. I belive that God created the Spirit and agian either directly Created by God or Idirectly Created by another of God's Creations. We are no less important than those directly Created. This is why I believe in reincarnation. We have to learn. We have to be able to overcome those sins or animalistic urges. We have to be Spiritually pure before we can live an Eternity with God or within God's kingdom. Remember all Satan has to do is ask forgiveness. Satan has purpose and Satan's purpose is to tempt us. We encessantly need polarization. We need Right and Wrong. We need Good and Evil because we have to choose which polarity to follow. Most follow both. I know I am not worthy of the percieved Heaven. I would never claim to be. I never pray for forgiveness. I pray for learning and understanding so if this is just a single incarnation then I will accept the consequences. I want to understand the Mind of God. If I got to walk through Hell to accomplish that then so be it. I don;t want to worship but I would rahter understand. Understand why there is evil in the world. Understand why there are Hitlers in the world. Understand why there are John Gacys or Ted Bundys and other ignorant people and what their purpose is in the whole scheme of things. I want to try and understand why little children starve to death. Why people are murdered in cold blood because of someone's twisted ideas. Why people die way too young in car crashes and war or anything else. I think I have learned that though. It is not God. God loves that of us which is God's offspring. The body is of this planet. The body will stay on this planet. Our Spirits are what contains the Spark of God.

Number 4.
I couldn't agree more. We will not find God in a building or through friends or anywhere else. I think we find God in our hearts and our minds.

Number 5
We will never be pure of heart, Soul, Spirit or mind as long as we are physcially incarnate. This is why I believe the most in reincarnation. Even from a half butted Christian point of view. Notice How I didn't cruse.  But I don;t think it will be over and we can occupy heaven for a long time yet. We have eternity or infinity to learn. No I am not pure of Spirit or heart. I have many more things to learn. I have a purpose or job to do and those are whatever. What? I can't answer. But even when the physical incarnations are over then it will be some other purpose. and that Purpose is Divine and leads the way back to God. So a lot of work to do still to make ammends. But so be it.

Number 6. Not really. We have different perceptions. This is what is the saddest part for me. This is the part that hurts me the worst. We both believe in God. We both believe in Jesus. We both believe that Godd is stronger than evil and will eventually overcome. Where the difernce is between our thinking lies is that for me if we all start believing in the power of Good and Divine Love then that will herald the Return of Yeshua. Not physically but consciously. The way I believe, we aren't quite ready for that yet. We are getting close because the world seems to have no hope left. But we have to make that conscious shift and out of billions of people call for help no matter what belief as long as it is Divine Hope. Perceptions should never seperate us. Just like sexual orientation shouldn't seperate us. Just like Gender ID shouldn't separate us either. We are all brothers and sisters in Spirit. As long as we see the V or the P or the way we dress or the way we act we are still stuck in a physical world. All we have to do is ask with one voice, 7-8 billion strong and really believe, then it will herald in the new time.

Number 7.
Nope. I never judge. Yes I have been hurt but I can forgive. It isn't about me but about everyone. Chruches can't hurt me. People can't hurt me. They can only hurt me if I allow it. You know how many times I have been told I am going to hell? More than you have fingers and toes. This hon is my hell. Right mind and wrong body. So a little fire which I really don't think is hell because that was the trash pits outside the cities of the time. Hell is gnashing of teeth and torment. Kind of sounds like being Trans, don't it. I am in hell. I have been in hell since I can remember. So if there is a fiery hell, then I will ride down to Fire Lake with Uncle Joe on his Chrome three wheeler for anyone. Burning will never hurt as much as I hurt all the time. So Yeshua died for our sins. I wouldn't mind dying for everyone else's happiness or comfort. Even tried but my tolerance is way too much and I am Chickenshit. Way too much to kill myself. I would have died by the spear before crucifixion. But that is me. I would have went out fighting but I am nowhere near the entity Christ was. But if it ever took for me to die for everyone else to be happy with themselves. Such a small price to pay. I don't mind death but I don't want to suffer. Hell, ain't I suffered enough already being trans?

OK now I am in tears. It sux.

What is the truth though? Does it really come from a book? Does it come from a teacher? Does it come from any outside source? Or does our truth come from within ourselves?

The Truth. Some find it in a church. Some find it in a book. Some find it within themselves. I am not wrong or right. What is right or wrong is what you believe. That is your's. For me I am not wrong but not right because God is sar far above me I can't even comprehend. It is everything. It is life from the smallest to the largest. From a fly to an elephant to us. It is so freakin' complicated but everything has a purpose. The lowly houselfy that breeds maggots has it purpose. Maggots clean the rotting from a wound. Sounds disgusting but a mountain man in the early 1800s that was attacked by a bear was left for dead by Jim Bridger and anohter less famous mountain man. Maggots healed his wounds to keep him from getting Gangreen. He crawled and then walked and vowed to kill both of them. He forgave them. That is something. That is the truth. Love and Forgiveness is Divine. This does sound stupid and crazy and I never claimed to be sane. But.... If you think about it though. I don't care what anyone believes but I love when people think.

[Deleted]

Mar 24, 2015 10:35:30 GMT 8 Laura J said:

Thanks for the reply Jamie.. It's okay, your views are as valid as anyone elses.. I just stated mine as I know them.. They are true for me..

I have nothing else to reply to the topic..? Just that I love you always, and care very much about you..

Bless..

What is true for you is everything to you. You have plenty to add. Your knowledge and beliefs are invaluable when the question still remains. Unanswerable or not. Different views will give you a whole different perspective and prompt questions within yourself. These questions my do to you like they did to me and lead to more questions. Or they may provide a stronger bond between you and your beliefs. I'm always looking for answers though. Even if I find and answer I will question it.

Luv ya too and blessings back Mark.

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2015 11:58:21 GMT 8 EchelonHunt said:

I have one question... but it's not to do with the Bible.

I visited a church in Detroit, Michigan. The speaker used a microphone and in the background, there was music. It wasn't just any music, it was hypnotic music.

I felt like I was losing myself, my memories, my sense of self slowly fading away into nothing and this terrified me. So I turned my hearing aids off. Lol.

I understand the use of hypnotic music to calm and stir certain emotions in people but isn't it... in a sense, manipulative?

Using hypnotic music to stir a person into a relaxed state, opening their mind to suggestive content, such as the speaker's words. Isn't it possible to use the speaker's words to speak human to human, rather than using music as a bridge to get to that point?

the strikes me is rather weird

I haven't been in a church like that in a long time except some Pentecostal churches the head background organ music which I personally don't like

music in church is supposed to be about us joining in song intimate worship the Lord

sadly in many churches turn to entertainment and lose sight of the original intent

good music brings us closer to God

the thing I like to do personally in the mornings is to put on Gregorian chants along with incense.  it puts me in a wonderful mood and I share these moments with my ciswife.

unfortunately manipulation is frequently used in the church.

it makes me sick.

but not all churches are like this.it all depends.

I'm sorry you had that bad experience.seems we are not that positive about much of to church.  it's amazing how human beings can really screw up that which is spirit born and God gifted by introducing their own flesh and their values superimposed over the top oo something very pure.

we search for that purity and that core

noise and emotion often distort something beautiful.

it's all about the core in my opinion.

deep inside we all feel something and we want to know what it is we feel.

[Deleted]

Not to negate, but no it doesn't work that way for me personally.

It is an outside connection wired in, like a phone line, source connections deep in heart and mind, in a special place, for me.

It is not my spirit grieving when it does, not my voice when He speaks, not my knowledge when a future moment is shown or better stated known.

Not from me when I feel a person's spirit half a world away, though that is not a Christian thing

Gender is me, my flesh, my nerves, my personality. My feelings.

No for me it is different. Hard to explain. Not book knowledge either, though I have it. Being wired in is contact to a power source, one that has will and intelligence and feeling. The Godhead. For me, that is Jesus outside, the Holy Spirit inside, the Father far above, yet one, body, spirit, soul. Triune.

But trans folk are so badly hurt by the ignorant that I think it's way harder for them to want Christ. Raw Christianity appeals to me more, one on one communion with God, and cross centered.

Just me on this one.

I have no idea what it's like for others here or out there.

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Mar 22, 2015 19:38:33 GMT 8 Laura J said:

But as for your question.?

I think churches all are mans works, and attempts to get closer to God.. And as works of man, they always have some flaw, some alterior motives..
I'm very suspicious of churches, as they must make money to survive, and like we all know, money is the root of all evil..

Yes, more correctly it says, "The love of money is the root of all evil!" Nothing inherently wrong with money, it's the medium of exchange, but the love of money becomes problematic!

Talking about preachers and churches, you may recall that Sampson slew thousands with the jawbone of an ass, unfortunately there are more than a few preachers that do that too! The verse that says "Many are called, but few are chosen" should be applicable to preachers and church pastors too because I suspect there are many who have called themselves and ought to consider a different line of work. Yeah Jamie, I'm thinking of your favorite subject Jerry Lee Lewis's cousin.

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Mar 29, 2015 4:43:59 GMT 8 Laura J said:

I have a question..?

It would seem so natural to trans folk to be open to having the holy spirt and actually Jesus Christ living inside them, as a literal person.?
It seems not too different than having both genders, or dual or different feelings of identity within your one self.?

For me it was a very natural feeling, and not unlike sensing one of various gender identities, but with a much better love filled feeling that didn't change.?

Hmmmm.. Just wondered...??

I have an answer.