[Scooter]

does religon effect us that much? doesn't the king james verson of the holy bible say there are three sins god wont forgive? if so , aint this contradicting the bible to begin with? Is a tattoo or piercing going to send u to hell? What about the part is says about marking up the temple. We are the temple right? Are other religions going to hell? Are all relgions wrong?Heres some more is it wrong to take someone to court?
What about where it says about a woman wearing her hair up? Should a woman not wear pants? Is that a sin? What about men is it a sin for them to have long hair? My friend believes in Koran is she going to hell? How do you keep from offending people when talking about religon/

[bebop]

we just had a lesson on the tattoo thing at our church. what the pastor said about this was it was a sin to get tattoos that depict cult or following of false Gods.
I don't think it says in the bible anything about women wearing their hair up. it does say a woman's hair is her glory. also says women should wear a covering on their head to go into temple. it says a woman should not dress as a man.
people tend to translate things the way that suits them sometimes.

[January]

There is only one unforgiveable sin according to the Bible. It is blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

January

[seeker1950]

I don't think appearances are important...It's what's in one's heart, one's intentions that matter.
Patty

[bebop]

I completely agree Patty! if your heart is good!

[kimmydawn]

I agree with Jan about the one sin that's unforgivable.

This can be so confusing and difficult, can't it? I know I had such difficulty with it when I was younger and continually failing to do everything I was taught I needed to do.

HOWEVER,

I've come to the understanding that my relationship with God allows for me to have HIS understanding FOR ME when reading the Bible and applying it to my life and situations. I don't believe He wants me to follow each specific doctrine of the church. We all have a separate path that God has laid out for us and they vary greatly. Likewise, we all have specific gifts that enable us to follow that path.

I do not believe one specific church goes to Heaven and others don't. I believe that those who believe in accordance with the plan laid out for us will achieve Heaven.

Even in the Bible, there were different gifts given to different people when the Holy Ghost descended. I believe that true today. Times have changed so I don't think every specific instruction in the Bible applies to our time today, but if we listen closely while reading, God will show us what He's to have us do and what actions are important for us to mind.

I personally have no issue with tattoos for myself. I don't have any, but I don't think God would disapprove of that for me for what He's having me do in my life. He might not that for someone else for reasons we don't even know.

I firmly believe if we listen closely, our guide per His plan lets us know...some people call it conscience. I call it my guiding spirit.

One exception to my belief as being individual is the Ten Commandants. I believe those to be global for all.

KD

[SeptemberMorn]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
What about where it says about a woman wearing her hair up? Should a woman not wear pants? Is that a sin? What about men is it a sin for them to have long hair?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I think these are simply "cultural" Christianity. Like KD said, times have changed. I agree with January; the only unforgivable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

[(JD)]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
does religon effect us that much? doesn't the king james verson of the holy bible say there are three sins god wont forgive? if so , aint this contradicting the bible to begin with? Is a tattoo or piercing going to send u to hell? What about the part is says about marking up the temple. We are the temple right? Are other religions going to hell? Are all relgions wrong?Heres some more is it wrong to take someone to court?
What about where it says about a woman wearing her hair up? Should a woman not wear pants? Is that a sin? What about men is it a sin for them to have long hair? My friend believes in Koran is she going to hell? How do you keep from offending people when talking about religon/


</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

What is your real purpose for posing these questions?

Actually, in one portion of the Bible God speaks of the 7 deadly sins. The only sin God can't forgive is the rejection of His Son's payment for our sin: rejection of the Holy Spirit's indwelling.

You pose questions that aren't true to the what the Scripture says, but rather culturally skewed. If you wish accurate response, please quote the actual scriptures.

My advice is not to talk about religion. That will keep you from offending others.

If you wish to talk about the Love of God, at least when people are offended, it's really towards God and not you

[kimmydawn]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
How do you keep from offending people when talking about religon

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I apologize for not seeing this (what I feel is a) very important question.

I'm speaking solely for myself and in regards to my own experience...

I think the key to not offending is RESPECT to the other person(s) regardless their beliefs or lack thereof...whatever they are. When I speak of my spirituality and religious beliefs, I'm ever mindful that not everyone believes the way that I do and I specifically ALWAYS use statements based on experience or personal belief...alot of "I statements"...as I did in my prior post.

When I speak of my belief system and spirituality, I've ever mindful to never put down another religion or belief in the process by using the I statements, but by also refraining from absolutes and generalizations (this also ties into my personal belief that everyone is led on an individual journey).

Whether or not I respect another's religion or belief, I maintain respect for them as a person and their freedom to believe and practice as they do.

Bottom line, I think I always try to show respect to *anyone* who might be reading. Once in a habit of considering all in a conversation, it's easily done really.

A good and generally safe way of not offending is to speak personally. I further personally believe that not offending is the LARGEST voice we have in bearing witness to our individual beliefs. If we walk around offending others, while claiming a specific belief, are we actually pushing those we're trying to reach further away from what we feel is true and right? In that respect, does that make our actions "true and right" and in accordance with our individual religion and beliefs?

I would never want someone to look at me and say, "Wow, she claims this religion/belief? I'm getting the heck outta Dodge." What would I have just done?

Love & respect,

KD

[Scooter]

so what is blasphemy of the holy spirit?

[Scooter]

I am asking because i am confused and was taught one way and I just dont know what to believe anymore. I guess Im just so tired of hearing that everything i dont feel will send me to hell is going to. I dont rally know. Im scared to go to hell but i cant live like them either.

[Rapunzel]

My understanding is that "blasphemy against the holy spirit" would be for someone who knows the truth and knows that the spirit has borne witness to them of the truth, to then lie about what they know and deny God. I don't believe that it is possible for anyone to commit that sin who doesn't know that God is real, or who hasn't received a personal witness from the spirit. It is not a sin that can be committed by mistake or unknowingly. It is a choice that very few people would make, especially among those who are in such a position as to be capable of committing that sin.

[Scooter]

I dont deney there isa god or that he is the only way i just say that I dont like my religion and I dont feel it is the church for me and I wish people would not look at me like I am part of them cause I feel like a hypocrite but I aint allowed to leave the church until I am 25 according to my parents.

[altonwoodsdrphil]

in the book of mark,chapter 3 verse 28/29 it says Verily i say unto you,all sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men,and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme. but he who blaspheme against the holy spirit hath never forgivness,but is in danger of eternal damnation. what i get here is that all sins are forgiven because thats just what men do.but to continually resist the urgings of the holy spirit or to "greive" the holy spirit certainly will put you in the "i'm going to hell" line. thanks for asking the question, i hope my answer makes sense to you

[mlyn]

From what I understand the unforgivable sin will be when the false one will come and we do not allow the Holy Spirit/His Word to speak through us. As for the dressing of the man we are not to take the place of man sexually. And the veil over our head is to have God over our head. Is what I've been taught. Goes aginst all I was taught before. Is why we need to read his word and not depend on man.
Hey Yahweh Hey Yahweh Hey!

[(JD)]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
The unforgivable sin of speaking against the Holy Spirit has been interpreted in various ways, but the true meaning cannot contradict other Scripture. It is unequivocally clear that the one unforgivable sin is permanently rejecting Christ (John 3:18; 3:36). Thus, speaking against the Holy Spirit is equivalent to rejecting Christ with such finality that no future repentance is possible. 'My spirit shall not always strive with man,' God said long ago (Genesis 6:3).

…In the context of this particular passage (Matthew 12:22-32), Jesus had performed a great miracle of creation, involving both healing and casting out a demon, but the Pharisees rejected this clear witness of the Holy Spirit. Instead they attributed His powers to Satan, thus demonstrating an attitude permanently resistant to the Spirit, and to the deity and saving Gospel of Christ" [Henry M. Morris, The Defender's Study Bible (Iowa Falls, Iowa: World Bible Publishers, 1995)

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Any one sin can be enough to cause an unbeliever to end up in hell. However, someone who has accepted Christ's payment on the cross cannot commit the "unpardonable sin" of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

Why not quit your focus on your sin, and focus on God's gift, and accept His love.

[bebop]

you are an adult at 18 but if you are living in your parents home then I think to a degree at least you have to follow some rules. this said I don't think they can force you to go to church til 25. that would not be up to them. I would want my child to continue going to church however but heck I can't make them go.

[(JD)]

IN some faiths, yes, parents do require (because their faith/worship place does) children to continue with the family faith. Perhaps it's with an idea that no one younger than 25 really can make those big decisions????