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Those two are nothing more than con artist, and those who buy into this con are looking for material goods not spiritual gifts. If they had read and studied scriptures then they would have seen that those two were not teaching truth of scripture, the ones who gave reaped what they sowed, nothing, they got exactly what scripture teaches. It is always smart to research those thing one invests in, people who do not read and study scripture will always wind up disappointed. They are not true christians, if they were they would have taught sacrifce instead of prosperity. Scriptures do not give a truth of material prosperity, it does teach of spiritual prosperity in a relationship with Christ. It is true that God does grace some christians with great wealth, that comes from His will for their lives.
God loves those who believe and those who do not and the same goes for me, you have no choice in this matter. That puts the matter of total free will to rest.
(March 26, 2012 at 5:37 am)Godschild Wrote: Those two are nothing more than con artist, and those who buy into this con are looking for material goods not spiritual gifts. If they had read and studied scriptures then they would have seen that those two were not teaching truth of scripture, the ones who gave reaped what they sowed, nothing, they got exactly what scripture teaches. It is always smart to research those thing one invests in, people who do not read and study scripture will always wind up disappointed. They are not true christians, if they were they would have taught sacrifce instead of prosperity. Scriptures do not give a truth of material prosperity, it does teach of spiritual prosperity in a relationship with Christ. It is true that God does grace some christians with great wealth, that comes from His will for their lives.
And do you think these are the only two engaged in this behaviour?
I could name plenty more, starting with the catholic church.
And god doesn't grace ANYONE with wealth, that comes from their own efforts, dishonest or otherwise.
If you're not supposed to ride faster than your guardian angel can fly then mine had better get a bloody SR-71.
(March 26, 2012 at 5:37 am)Godschild Wrote: Those two are nothing more than con artist, and those who buy into this con are looking for material goods not spiritual gifts. If they had read and studied scriptures then they would have seen that those two were not teaching truth of scripture, the ones who gave reaped what they sowed, nothing, they got exactly what scripture teaches. It is always smart to research those thing one invests in, people who do not read and study scripture will always wind up disappointed. They are not true christians, if they were they would have taught sacrifce instead of prosperity. Scriptures do not give a truth of material prosperity, it does teach of spiritual prosperity in a relationship with Christ. It is true that God does grace some christians with great wealth, that comes from His will for their lives.
March 26, 2012 at 5:50 am (This post was last modified: March 26, 2012 at 5:53 am by Zen Badger.)
(March 26, 2012 at 5:48 am)aleialoura Wrote:
(March 26, 2012 at 5:37 am)Godschild Wrote: Those two are nothing more than con artist, and those who buy into this con are looking for material goods not spiritual gifts. If they had read and studied scriptures then they would have seen that those two were not teaching truth of scripture, the ones who gave reaped what they sowed, nothing, they got exactly what scripture teaches. It is always smart to research those thing one invests in, people who do not read and study scripture will always wind up disappointed. They are not true christians, if they were they would have taught sacrifce instead of prosperity. Scriptures do not give a truth of material prosperity, it does teach of spiritual prosperity in a relationship with Christ. It is true that God does grace some christians with great wealth, that comes from His will for their lives.
No true Scotsman.... How many drinks is that?
Well, I'm getting pretty pissed
Isn't it strange how on the one hand GC can proclaim that all that matters is that you accept jeesus and that your actions don't count.
Yet we bring up shit like this and suddenly they're not "true" christians.
As if their actions DO count.
Strange that
If you're not supposed to ride faster than your guardian angel can fly then mine had better get a bloody SR-71.
Zen Badger Wrote:Yet we bring up shit like this and suddenly they're not "true" christians.
As if their actions DO count.
Expect an answer somewhere along the lines of if they had truly accepted Jesus into their heart they wouldn't do something like that. Sometimes I think I would make a good fundie, but then I remember that I have a brain.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
March 26, 2012 at 9:16 am (This post was last modified: March 26, 2012 at 9:34 am by The Grand Nudger.)
You managed to squeeze in "con" and "spiritual gifts" in the same sentence. We're getting closer.
Prosperity doctrine, since you seem to be so blisteringly oblivious to the mechanism of the con, does rely on sacrifice. It does rely on "the truth of scripture". Adherents are urged to give increasingly larger sums of money away (to the church, of course) so that they might "reap what they sow". It's a hilarious form of sympathetic magic and perceived reciprocity (and reciprocity is one of the strongest cons, sympathetic magic one of the strongest human urges to the spiritual- double threat). The more you believe, and the more you give, the more "gifts" you will receive, both spiritual and material. They can and will quote chapter and verse (it's a big book remember, there's something for everyone), and they are true christians. I didn't realize that bigotry was a christian virtue (that's not entirely true, lol).
It's not entirely unthinkable that some of the people engaged in this con are engaged unwittingly, that they interpret the mansion and the Rolls as part and parcel of gods gifts. They spend a substantial amount of money on the church (which they see as a service to the parishioners) and charitable outreach programs (which offer credibility and further tax evasion opportunities). Many also perceive our government agencies as minions of the devil himself, and surrendering assets to them seems very much like allowing the serpent to seize the gifts of god (and what christian soldier would allow such a thing). That's the power of a deeply held faith.
When you itemize the reasons that you find their denomination to be absurd, you'll have a list that roughly parrots the reasons that I find your denomination to be absurd.
"The teaching is often based on non-traditional interpretations of Bible verses,[3] the Book of Malachi often being given special attention.[10] Frequently quoted verses include:
Malachi 3:10: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (KJV).[6]
Matthew 25:14–30: the Parable of the talents[11]
John 10:10: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (KJV).[6]
Philippians 4:19: "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (KJV).[3]
3 John 2: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (KJV).[12]"
Now, you may disagree with the "non-traditional" approach, but christianity itself is a "non-traditional" reading of hebrew scripture, so you don't even have a wobbly leg to stand on in that regard. Givin the interpretations used, is it any wonder that this particular denomination became a magnet for con artists? There is money to be had in faith, doubly so when there is money to be had both by faith, and from it (or so the faithful are led to believe).
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
March 26, 2012 at 12:55 pm (This post was last modified: March 26, 2012 at 12:58 pm by Anomalocaris.)
(March 25, 2012 at 12:43 pm)Minimalist Wrote: You can't think that their gullibility is only related to bible bullshit, can you?
But which came first, the chicken or the egg?
(March 26, 2012 at 5:37 am)Godschild Wrote: Those two are nothing more than con artist, and those who buy into this con are looking for material goods not spiritual gifts. If they had read and studied scriptures then they would have seen that those two were not teaching truth of scripture, the ones who gave reaped what they sowed, nothing, they got exactly what scripture teaches. It is always smart to research those thing one invests in, people who do not read and study scripture will always wind up disappointed. They are not true christians, if they were they would have taught sacrifce instead of prosperity. Scriptures do not give a truth of material prosperity, it does teach of spiritual prosperity in a relationship with Christ. It is true that God does grace some christians with great wealth, that comes from His will for their lives.
Your kind are the shit that fertiizes the con, god's child.