₦airaland Forum

musKeeto:
Smh. Read the post I quoted earlier from thoniameek. She essentially said witches and wizards exist to show us the consequences of choosing to do wrong.

She said

There're witches and there're wizards and demons and satan and his cohorts... Better believe that!

Why are they there? To make you understand what choice is all about, what choosing and choosing right is.....

What she meant by this is that people have taken paths, dark, diabolic paths that are in violation of the commandments of God by their exercise of choice. Everything is about choice. Being a saint or a satanist boils down to choice of who to serve.

Btw, I'm still hoping for an answer to my earlier question.

The bacteria question? I have given an answer to that already.

musKeeto:
I'm sure you know better. Language doesn't tell you the only acceptable way of showing respect is the English form "Good morning". How you could compare a dictionary that makes no claims about any existential beings with a book that does is beyond belief. Stop being disingenuous.

Exactly why your reasoning falls flat on its face. About the existence of supernatural beings, even the universe testifies of God's existence. How did the creation of man come about? Evolution? If evolution, then tell me why evolution has not adhered to the scientific principles of reliability, predictability, being testable and repeatable?

I haven't made any claims to how the universe was made. I don't know, no one knows. All we can do is speculate. I believe Zeus more likely created the Universe. HE was here before Yahweh anyways.

And don't apply common sense to the trinity. Bullshit can never be rationalized logically.

How can you rationalize Zeus logically?

musKeeto:
Like God created bacteria and viruses so that we will choose health. Abi?

This post doesn't make sense. Bacteria and viruses are not objects of choice or freewill in pleasing God or disobeying Him. They are not objects or actions of right or wrong from which a choice must be made.

musKeeto:
2015. A time of great knowledge and technological growth. And we still take texts that were written, edited, copied,twisted falsified, had so many versions created serious. A book that wasn't written in Africa, isn't about Africa and wasn't written for Africans.

Have fun in your small world. I see no Juju phones or Juju technological devices. Juju, witches, wizards, the world moves on. Our stories don't trouble them, they trouble us.

An amazing universe we live in and the lens by which you detect reality tells you it was all created by the words of an invisible being. who was the son of a Jewish carpenter.

The Oxford English dictionary has been edited, copied, twisted, falsified, had so many versions created. It is a book that wasn't written in Africa, isn't about Africa and wasn't written for Africans yet you read it religiously.

Glad you know the universe is amazing. At least, you know it didn't come from nothing. Yes, Jesus created the universe and its planets. He also created the carpenter. How can He then be fathered by someone whom He created? This is common sense.

Oh now I get it. Good job.

fearlesschicken:
yes i have given my life to Christ, like i said i don't believe in the bible anymore like i used to. i find that part of the bible questionable.

so what is your view now?

btw avoid that troll abeg and am female not male.

Okay. Good to know your gender. Also good to know that you've given your life to Christ. This is the most important step to take in life.

Yes, you're a Christian if you've done that. You're a child of God, His beloved and precious daughter. God understands you more than you know yourself and He understands your doubts about His Word.

Doubting His Word is normal. It is not a crime. In fact, it is God's grace upon you to grow in Him. He will help you all of the way to bring you to the point of total trust and obedience in Him.

Having said this, I need to tell you something about the Word of God. Since the time of Jesus Christ to the present and even beyond, anyone who kills his fellow man saying Jesus or God told him to do it is a very great liar and murderer. Even hating someone is tantamount to murdering that person in the eyes of God.

The God of judgment in the old testament is the still the same God of mercy in the new testament. There are no contradictions. But for the sacrifice of Christ we would still be living in the time of the judgment of God. So this is what happened, Christ took upon Himself God's judgment on sinful mankind. This act of Christ brought grace on mankind.

Jesus stands between God's judgment and grace. God did not change. He hasn't. He is still the same. Remember, this world is reserved for judgment, but until then, His grace through the finished work Christ on the cross must run its course to separate the elect, the true Israelites from the rest of the world. In the end, God and the saints will return to fight the last battle of the earth, battle as in the days of the old testament but much worse, with much bloodshed and death as never before happened. This battle will close the chapter of the fall of man and usher in the new age of Christ's reign with His saints. This has been God's plan all along.

Very nice write-up, Thoniameek. Like I always say, no one like Jesus. Actually, I came in expecting to read a poem by Bethke. On the whole, your article is a good read.

Linda means beautiful in the Spanish language. Of course, everybody has repeated that over and over again. Another variant of the meaning of Linda is the old German language in which it means serpent. Why did people turn a blind eye to this meaning? Just to accuse the op of hypocrisy?

Although, I disagree with ProphetUdeme's story of Linda, I strongly agree with his point about keeping names befitting one as a follower of Christ. Some kinds of names do have spiritual impact on their bearers, positive or negative. In addition, if you claim to be in Christ and you are dead to the world and the things of the world, then let it reflect in everything about you including the name by which you are known. Or do you think that when God gives us new names in heaven there will be anything like sexy rita, kissable lips, sexy jenny, etc etc?

Certainly, names may have spiritual impact on their bearers but they don't have any significance in qualifying or disqualifying one for eternity in heaven. This doctrine is not scriptural. Not even in the least.

What is more important in life is to fear God and keep His commandments. This is the whole duty of man.

ByfireByfire:
Op, Sincerely the problem is not with pastors as a whole rather the problem is with the gospel of this very church in question.


Pastors of churches that preach loose and liberal gospels are generally wayward & sinful while pastors of churches that are thorough righteousness preachers are more disciplined.

How can you expect a church that preaches eternal security "once saved, forever saved" gospel to produce righteous pastors and members?

Their gospel gives them authorisation to sin since they believe God has already forgiven them for all sins they can ever commit.

Good point. Nevertheless, there are pastors without this doctrine who still consume the sheep whenever they are hungry to satisfy their belly. The root of this is selfishness. The destruction caused by selfishness is inestimable and far greater than the destruction caused by the combination of any known deadly plague and fatal diseases the human race has ever suffered.

Selfishness lies in the heart of the untrustworthy nature of many shepherds of God.

The truth is that God has so many shepherds like king David of the Bible, shepherds after His own heart, shepherds who will risk their lives to save the sheep they have been entrusted with. They are numerous but not popular or well known in the world.

mamboroo:
I always look at my life...from past todate!
Am always sad despite off all the effort of knowing and loving God
I always ends living as if I don't have God or even a little angel to protect me in this world
I wish to live a decent and happy life because I know for sure that the God am serving is real sure real but unfortunately I can't reach my goals.
I don't want to live in bad life ways like prostitution or what what but every door in my life is closed!
Why is God so silence why Is he tired now
Or is he not real now!!! Nooo HE can't be fake for sure I know HE really exist but why HE can't help me ...why?
I know am not that much righteous but he always forgives our mistakes
Yes HE sometimes a punisher!and I know I deserve punishment but this is too much I see.a father will not punish his child forever
Pls all naira member can you pray for me maybe GOD will change his mind for me
.
Am suffering a lot

Along with other pieces of advice that you should dust yourself up and start again, I will advise you to stay strong. That is all you need to overcome. Be a good soldier of Christ that doesn't faint in hardship.

We all have difficulties and problems in life. Life is unfair but you can do something about it. While you lament about your situation, there are millions all over the world that will be extremely glad to fill your shoes.

The road to success has many steps, so walk this road a step at a time. You're not alone. God is taking those steps with you whether you know it or not. Make a plan of your goals in a list, work towards them, be determined, forget others who have made it and work for yourself. Tell life you are stronger. Be an inspiration to the world with this golden opportunity of hardship. If life takes something from you take it back with interest, then you'll see that life is beautiful no matter what you've been through.

Above all, seek God seriously. Take it as the greatest business of your life pursuits. You have no idea who you are. You're greater and stronger than you can imagine. Don't peg a time frame on God's answers to your prayers. That is not faith. Don't expect God to answer your prayers within six or ten months. Faith stays with the requests no matter the length of time till they manifest physically. That's why you'll always have the desires of your heart even if your faith is as small as an orange seed. Nobody will give you the satisfaction you need in life apart from God.

Your story is titled From Prison To Palace. On this note, I'll say see you at the top.

boboLIL:
oboy go to hell.....and ur devil ur father there

I really don't understand this response. Will you be satisfied and happy to see him in hell? Is that how you show love to people? This is not Christlike, my brother.

Fearlesschicken, many people believe in God but that doesn't make them Christians. The Bible says even the demons believe God exists and they tremble.

Who is a Christian? A Christian is a follower or disciple of Christ. To be a follower of Christ, it means you have surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, and that you believe in His death and resurrection as recorded in the Bible.

The questions now are: have you given your life to Christ, and do you believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

A Christian is different from a passive believer of the existence of God. Your calling yourself a Christian depends on the answers to the questions above.

This is one among many reasons why people should not delay giving their lives to Jesus Christ today. Death may come knocking at your door that time you least expect it or when you've a million reasons not to expect it.

RIP to the dead. Hope they died in the Christ, otherwise...hmmm...otherwise...

Dreams play a very important part in our lives. They are images that represent our thoughts, our present, our past, and sometimes our future, reminding us, warning us, replaying our thoughts or present state of affairs. Dreams happen when we sleep. True, dreams have their source in the brain, but a lot of dreams have proved to the contrary the scientific theory of the brain as the only source of dream.
For example, when Jesus was but a child and Herod tried to kill Him, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and directed him to take the child to Egypt. That was before the massacre of children in the same age bracket of Jesus. If these images were seen as illusions, Jesus would have died as a baby. However, the dream warned the parents ahead of time to secure Jesus' safety. In the book of Acts, God, through a symbolic dream, told Peter that His salvation extends to the Gentiles as well. There are numerous personal and non-personal experiences that disprove the idea of the brain as the only source of dreams though I can't narrate them all as that's not my focus.


The only way in which dreams exemplify the nature of death is that they show that consciousness is not entirely related to or dependent on the brain. Therefore, if the brain is not the only source of consciousness or awareness, then it is very possible that consciousness continues after the brain has ceased all activities, then the belief in nothingness after the cessation of brain activity (or death) is false.

Weah96:
But every immoral action in the bible is regarded as sin. The final step could be the fifth consecutive murder, or it could be as simple as telling a lie.

Your next lie might just be the one to convict you.

No one is perfect. Sin we must even though we have surrendered our lives to the leadership of Christ. We can count on the shed blood of Jesus Christ to wash our sins away whenever we need it.

But, there is such a sin, a grievous sin that seals a person for judgment. This kind of sin is evil, calculated, done regardless of the knowledge of the consequences, willful, very wicked, devilish, destructive, against what God holds very sacred. Not all sins fall under this category. The ones that do are so few in number that when they are carried out there is no question of remorse. Whoever is guilty of any of such sins has sealed his fate before God. Examples are blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, receiving the mark of the beast on the right hand or forehead, bowing down to the image of the beast, rejecting the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ by willfully renouncing them forever from your life or making a formal statement to that effect, committing willful murder to satisfy your need for revenge or bloodlust even after you have given your life to Christ, knowing that life is held very sacred before God...and the likes. Whoever does any of these in ignorance, with the exception of taking the mark of the beast or bowing down to the image of the beast, will still be pardoned. But where they are done after having knowledge of the Word of God, then their fate in hell is sealed.

"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment..." Hebrews 10:26-27

"If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death." 1 John 5:16-17

Weah96:
What if the murderer is truly remorseful? He intended to outsmart the system, but felt real remorse after doing the killing?

Grace not deeds. Who are you to convict someone?

I don't think his belated remorse has that power to overwrite his action because he already had knowledge of the truth before committing the act. He already knew the Word of God concerning that act. He already knew the consequences but he willfully did it. There's such a fatal step a man will take that will make him reserved by God for judgment even though he later shows remorse for his actions.

However, who am I to judge? It is between him and God. I've only said what I know as written in the Word of God.

kolajamesjnr:
Atleast stick to ur arguement kindly explain "whatever a man sows he shall reap"

See my post above.

fearlesschicken:
He sows murder and reaps heaven after forgiveness? Nice reply dude

It would have been better not to reply that than saying such!

Let me put it this way. If the evil deed was done in ignorance of the Word of God, there is forgiveness of sins. If, however, after knowing the truth of the Gospel, knowing the commandments and love of God, you decide to take advantage of grace by perpetrating murder to your satisfaction with the intention of asking forgiveness later, you've willfully sown destruction and you'll reap eternal destruction in hell. In this case, there no longer remains any sacrifice for sin - Hebrews 10:26.

Now do you understand my answer to him?

TheDauraMallam:
I can't believe you just wrote the bolded.


So, in essence, you're saying if I decide to kill all the moslems alive right now, both singles, married, pregnant women and children, I am saved onxe I acknowledge Jesus as the Lord and savior, right?

I weep for humanity.

Don't be deceived. God is not mocked for whatever a man sows he will reap.

Anas09, quite true. Similar to what I said. Many are already doomed for eternity in hell, not because they did not hear the gospel preached to them but because their minds are already made up not to let any ray of light of the gospel into their dark hearts. Their path leads to destruction. Unless God is merciful to them, their condemnation in hell is just a matter of time.

Jozzy4:
Brainwashed ! Did scripture go ahead to say the people of sodom and Gomorah died and went to hellfire ? Did it ? Uhm , did it ? Ask urself : did i read that Ananias and Saphira died and went to hellfire or it just my imaginations ?

Is there anything like King Herod went to hellfire after his death in the scriptures ? Is there anything like pharaoh and the egyptians drown in the sea after which they were taken to hellfire ?

Answer those questions.

I know your kind. You're one of those who preach eternal security and eternal love of God that can never condemn anyone in hell. Wishful thinking. I have news for you - not breaking news but gospel news. Hell is a reality, a real place somewhere in the spiritual realm where souls who find themselves there are doomed for all eternity. The Bible talks about hell, old testament and new testament. The bible talks about a rich man in hell and also about God condemning the unbelievers and sinners in hell. Be wise.

krattoss:
so u believe in god out of fear??


I seeee..


Tell him he is a slowpoke and a scumberg..

One day, you will stand before Him, then you can tell Him that. Your appointment wih God has already been booked even before the creation of the world. You will surely meet Him, good or bad. It's a guarantee.

It is better to serve God out of fear so that you will be wise than rebel against Him and be the historic fool. No insult intended.

musKeeto:
Hi CaptainJune. Nice user name.

Would you define righteousness as acting according to God's will?

Thanks for the compliment but, seriously, it will be most unfair to the creator of this thread to entertain questions not related to the op. So, I believe you will understand if I decline giving any answer to your question.

oneda:
Don't worry bro you don't have too long to find out whether its true or not. At most 100 years out of which I believe you've spent at least 20.
then reality will dawn.

Hahaha. This is very funny. Eventually, they will not only find out, they will also confess that Jesus is Lord, willingly or unwillingly.

Tydies:
There can never be a hell when there is a God. He will never allow his children to go thru torment and torture. He is ever loving,ever dependent and ever forgiving.

Mehn, you are deceived to think that God is only a God of love. He is also a consuming fire. Sodom and Gomorrah, the world during the time of Noah, Pharaoh and the Egyptians during the time of Moses, Ananias and Saphira, King Herod, and so many many more were examples of God's wrath. Hell is real.

johnydon22:
Pheeew ok i think there is need for me to break it down since obviously my choice of words confuses you entirely..

There is a difference between:

Morality is the basis of eternity and
Eternity is the basis of morality..

Just like there is a difference between "Gold is the source of silver and silver is the source of Gold"

I believe you can now correct yourself accordingly and stop rubbing your own confusions on someone's assertions. . Alas it all boils down to what you choose to understand

Lolzz. Johnnydon22, don't push me to give you lessons in the English Language. Don't. I have the time and energy but not the desire, my desire being checked by my sense of propriety. I don't say this with any sense of pride but to let you know I'm not new to literature of any format or subject. You don't just go accusing people of misapprehension when you're the source.

Besides, if I did that your thread will be cluttered with so much irrelevant posts that your op will be buried in their accumulation.

Like I said, needless argument is not my thing. Have fun.

Weah96:
How do u know who a believer is as opposed to a non believer?

Well, let's see if the much vaunted bible has anything to say:

Mark 16:15-17



Can you perform any of these signs? Say the truth.

Answering this will only result in shifting the focus of the thread's message further.

johnydon22:
I think it is obvious the mistake rests on you for not knowing when a post implies or the difference between..

Morality being the basis of eternity and Reward or Punishment being the basis of morality...

So why don't you educate yourself to have a better cognitive ability so as not to always swim in your own mistakes..

My post implied people taking Reward and punishment as basis for their morality..and this includes every branch of theism every religion and not addressing one.

I am responsible for what i write, what you understand is totally your responsibility

Here you go again. Reward and punishment in heaven or hell, are they not eternal? You know what, whatever makes you sleep better. Could counter your post by quoting more statements from the op that contradict this post of yours but I'd rather not. It is not my desire to draw or to be drawn into needless argument. Besides, your article doesn't have this idea as its central focus; it is just a sub topic so why bother prolonging the issue?

Aaah, of course, the lazy writer's creed. Anyway, have fun.

johnydon22:
And captainjune just proved you to be very very very right.!!!

Lol. The truth has to be said even if it has been repeated over and over like a national anthem.

johnydon22:
I need not even add or say anything on this... Your post says it all...

You can now read the post again to understand what it really says because clearly you are lost to the topic..

While I addressed your underlying theme of morality as the basis of eternity, you'll do well to expunge the following from your article to avoid misleading
your readers.

johnydon22:
The idea of it from the questioners perspective is

"Since you have no God who will burn you in hell or reward you in heaven then why do you bother being good?



"So without the idea of religion coming up with the concept of a God who is willing to roast you in a literal fire forever these people won't bother to be good?"





Before i proceed on why an atheist, agnostic, deist or pantheist are good without adhering to the idea of threats to do so


e.g1
If you are good because you want to make heaven, you are not good because you want to be good but because you want to earn a reward after all, you only are good for your own gain... We call that selfishness... Is that goodness in entirety??

e.g2
If you are good because you fear hell, you want to escape hell. You are only good because you want to escape punishment, you just want to save your own skin after all..
that still is a selfish reason... is that goodness in entirety??

e.g3
One that is good not because they want a heaven or fear a hell but because they want good to happen, because they care and because they are empathic and compassionate towards others?

Anybody reading this wouldn't want me to go any further to see that One be it a believer or an unbeliever do not need the promise of a heaven or the threat of a hell to be good..One can be good for goodness sake.


If you are good to others because of the promise of heaven, it shows how little you think of others.

if you are good because of hell, it shows how little you think of yourself. . .


I have once told a pastor "You cannot tell me about morality until you and i agree on what we think is moral, because subjecting a little child to the psychological abuse and fear by threatening with a horrifying burning flames in order to instill morality is horrifying, disturbing, wrong, wicked and immoral to me..."

Sometimes, when you guys put up a topic or make a comment, it baffles me that you don't look at it objectively to edit sentences or statements that may imply a meaning other than what you intended to pass across yet you take offense when someone points those statements to you.

frank317:
Nice one there John.
Unfortunately Christians will purposely misunderstand all you wrote. They will tell you your goodness is like a filty rag to their vengeful and murderous God.

You've just successfully confused yourself since your post suggests that you cannot tell the difference between goodness and righteousness.

Johnnydon22, God does not condemn or reward on the basis of your goodness or wickedness. Faith in the death of Jesus on the cross is the basis of salvation, not morality.

You can be the kindest, meekest, humblest person in the world but still end up in hell because your spirit is still dead because of sin. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can wash the sins away, make your spirit alive, make you righteous through belief in Him, not through your works of goodness.

Religions of the world strive to attain righteousness through good deeds, but to God, man's righteousness is filthy rags before Him. The righteousness that qualifies one for heaven is simple belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As you can see, that righteousness is not ours, it belongs to God. It is not of works of goodness but by grace. That is the message of the Gospel.

No matter the amount of revelation given by God to persuade men to repent, no matter the number of people who unexpectedly rise from death, after being declared dead medically, and testify of the reality of hell and heaven, no matter the flood of testimonies all saying the same thing, stiff-necked people doomed from the beginning, who are destined for destruction by their unbelief will still refuse to believe eternal perdition. They'll say it's hallucination, a figment of hyper active imagination, that there's no evidence to prove the existence of hell or heaven and the likes as if there's anything scientific about the commandments of God or surrendering one's life to Christ.

I do understand that while they still have life, they have hope. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to change them. If they resist the Spirit of grace, it is solely their choice. Our work as believers is just to act as messengers of the Gospel. If they believe it or not is not our problem. We've done our duty by informing them. That's all that matters.