@ missluckie26 and Esquilax, I apologize for upsetting both of you, that was never my intention, nor was I being holier than thou or anything else you believed I was being. I was trying to point out what the Bible teaches about being a Christian, I've yet to read where a person is to only rely on prayer for medical needs. I would never suggest a person refuse the help of qualified doctors, I believe God has given them talents to do good for mankind. When my dad's life was coming to an end, I asked God to heal him if it was within His will and if not, not to let him suffer in pain and take him so he would not have to suffer. Before you go over board, that is exactly what he wanted, even though I knew that it was not easy to pray for his death, I did it with him in mind and heart, the last thing I wanted to do is go against the will of dad or God. When Dad took at bad turn and we knew the end was coming we took him to the hospital so the doctors could give him the pain medicine that would make him comfortable. We used the things God had provided to help. He past away late on a Friday night and Sunday morning I and my wife were in church grieving our loss and worshiping God and if you had been there that morning you would have seen God at work. This is a story that began thirty years prior, lots of times we thought he would die lots of trips to the hospital and doctors, I thought when he died I would get a call saying he was gone, nope God allowed us time together at the end. Enough on that I wanted to show that God gave us doctors for a reason.
I know the scripture teach that Christians will suffer, but I do not know where it says that we are to inflict suffering on ourselves. God promises to provide for us when we give of ourselves, so when one keeps giving and giving and never see God work and provide, then we should be asking what's wrong, are we outside of God's will, have we misinterpreted His word, God being omniscient can't be the one who is wrong. Missluckie, I'm curious as to what denomination you belonged to.
I'm a deacon and giving is a expected thing to do and I do, I also see God working and providing in my life, if I didn't I would have to question what I was do wrong. At the risk of have you two go off again I'm going to say this, being baptized will not bring salvation it's not even a requirement for salvation, if it were that would be doing a work for salvation and the NT teaches against that. Giving your life to Christ by accepting Him as the Son of God and savior is the only requirement. Until this is done all else is futile, why, because you are doing it on your own. Spiritual work must originate with a spiritual being, ( a being that's spirit, as God describes Himself ) we like to think of ourselves as spiritual when in reality without God we are just flesh trying to get through life, if any of this is upsetting to you I'm sorry, I'm telling this as I see what God through scripture teaches.
I also would like to say I was trying to understand you plight, and said I couldn't even imagine what you suffered. Trying to insult you was the farthest thing from my mind. I do not take medicine for any physical reasons, my physical problem has no solution by the hands or knowledge of doctors it will continue to get worse until I die, though it's not in itself life threatening it could be possibly debilitating. I can not remember all you two said, if there is anything else let me know, and I truly wish both of you the best in your future.
I know the scripture teach that Christians will suffer, but I do not know where it says that we are to inflict suffering on ourselves. God promises to provide for us when we give of ourselves, so when one keeps giving and giving and never see God work and provide, then we should be asking what's wrong, are we outside of God's will, have we misinterpreted His word, God being omniscient can't be the one who is wrong. Missluckie, I'm curious as to what denomination you belonged to.
I'm a deacon and giving is a expected thing to do and I do, I also see God working and providing in my life, if I didn't I would have to question what I was do wrong. At the risk of have you two go off again I'm going to say this, being baptized will not bring salvation it's not even a requirement for salvation, if it were that would be doing a work for salvation and the NT teaches against that. Giving your life to Christ by accepting Him as the Son of God and savior is the only requirement. Until this is done all else is futile, why, because you are doing it on your own. Spiritual work must originate with a spiritual being, ( a being that's spirit, as God describes Himself ) we like to think of ourselves as spiritual when in reality without God we are just flesh trying to get through life, if any of this is upsetting to you I'm sorry, I'm telling this as I see what God through scripture teaches.
I also would like to say I was trying to understand you plight, and said I couldn't even imagine what you suffered. Trying to insult you was the farthest thing from my mind. I do not take medicine for any physical reasons, my physical problem has no solution by the hands or knowledge of doctors it will continue to get worse until I die, though it's not in itself life threatening it could be possibly debilitating. I can not remember all you two said, if there is anything else let me know, and I truly wish both of you the best in your future.
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.