₦airaland Forum

frank317:
Lol... I can only something that is real bro. I can only miss something I am sure is true. U will only feel u miss it because u believe it. Not because it is real.

Don't gamble with the future, play it safely, don't call it a bluff. It'll be a win win situation, because if there is eternal life, then you win if you've bet on it. If there apparently is no eternal life, you don't lose anything even if you did bet on it, but if you didn't bet at all, on it and there is eternal life, then you're toast and fairked. Ouch and there'll be gnashing of teeth etcetera, sorry.

FOLYKAZE, whilst you are busy behaving like a fireman frantically putting out fire all over the thread, like I earlier said, I know you're very well conversant with the bible, so I'll again ask and request that you look it up, find James 1:27 and then paste here in as many translations you fancy, for all to see and read, what James 1:27, says about religion please, hmm?

Let's find out and know what religion is, as in, find out and know what is religion that is true, pure and without any fault whatsoever FOLY. Go ahead please, let's have some research from the Bible thats talked about this particular and specified religion FOLY

You were provided with what you asked for, the benefits, but you rather stamp on them and pooh pooh all over them, denying their benefits, what we enjoy from having their influence.

You of all people should know when false religion is practised

frank317:
Lol...believing there is God bring in something Good? I don't believe there is God,pls what something good am I missing?

Eternal life perhaps.

frank317:
If I may ask... What exactly is the benefit of believe their is God or God... Why is that last paragraph important to u?

It is obvious that it is because he doesnt want to miss out on something good.

Ihedinobi3:
The problem usually is with the poor teaching of the Gospel by many would-be evangelists.

Cheers

Magnoliaa:
I really wish there are more teachers. Knowledgeable ones, just like the Apostles, the very first Christians.

A lot of doubts, disbeliefs, questions and misconceptions will be cleared if there are more passionate preachers who really understands the Bible...

"Look, the days are coming--this is the declaration of the Lord GOD--when I will send a famine through the land:
not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD"
- Amos 8:11

"He said to me, "And now, Daniel, close the book and put a seal on it until the end of the world.
Meanwhile, many people will waste their efforts trying to understand what is happening.
(i.e. many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased)"
- Daniel 12:4

Even if you know a thousand and one things, ask the man/woman, who knows the one thing you don't know about, then that person can open the door, and its up to you to decide if you must enter and to enter, by yourself, you must. Close your mind, then the door will shut and nothing will be gained.

Unless one asks the questions, answers will not come, Consider seriously and answers,serious answers will come.

Most of our thoughts are pointless because they lack any real foundation. If you want to gain wisdom you need to let go of everything you now believe, because they mostly are all foundationless

The Bible says, famine in the end times won't be for food but for the truth, of hearing the words of the LORD. It also, as can be seen in Daniel 12:4 reproduced above, said that knowledge would increase. Having knowledge (i.e. Gnosticism) is not necessarily having truth. You can have much knowledge, but they'll be truth diluted with lies, as people are more susceptible to prettier, neatly wrapped up lies than the truth.

Truth never decreases by being shared, but truth has become something unimportant and falsehood, for means sake, instead reigns supreme. As you know Magnoliaa, we have all inherited and propagated lies, perhaps innocently, but lies none the less, as the needle of truth, is often hidden in haystack of lies, it'll take real eyes to see the truth, after as a matter of fact, of becoming fully aware of the lies.

FOLYKAZE:
They should have oti sewon for displaying crass ignorance and vomiting garbage?

You should help them out instead of cheering them.

It's you who need help out here, more than anyone else

FOLYKAZE:
List the benefit of religion to Africa as a whole.

FOLYKAZE, I know you're very well conversant with the bible, so I'll ask and request that you look it up James 1:27 and then paste here in as many translations you fancy, for all to see and read, what James 1:27, says about religion please, hmm? Let's find out and know what religion is, as in, find out and know what is religion that is true, pure and without any fault whatsoever FOLYKAZE. Go ahead please, let's have some research from the Bible thats talked about this particular and specified religion FOLYKAZE

FOLYKAZE:
Give me ten example of how religion has benefited us here.

1/ The barbarous killing of twin babies and eating of human’s flesh among the Calabar people in Cross River state in the Eastern part of Naija stopped. Defying the customs (i.e.''aṣa-ilẹ'') and so therefore, the village chief’s decree, hundreds of baby twins abandoned in forests, were saved from death. This particular benefit of religion, came about, via Scottish missionary, Mary Slessor.
2/ Fighting against and/or opposing the sub Saharan Africa Atlantic slave trade, that culminated to the abolition of the sub Saharan Africa Atlantic slave trad, is another particular benefit of religion, which came about, via people like William Wilberforce dubbed the "Conscience of Parliament" and John Newton, himself, a former slave trader, and composer of the famous "Amazing Grace" song with the "I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see.'" lyrics
3/ The African health landscape changed for the better, leading to an increase in the life expectancy of Africans, decline in child and maternal mortality rates. as the causes of mortality among infants and young children were reduced because missionary religious works often came with health care, health facilities, medical dimensions and training of Africans as medical auxiliaries.
4/ The founding of the first schools that provided the ability to read and write and so Western education to Naija were by courtesy of Christian missions and their missionary religious works. For example, CMS Grammar School in Bariga, founded on 6 June 1859 by the Church Missionary Society, is the oldest secondary school in Nigeria. Methodist Boys' High School, formerly called Wesleyan Boys’ High School, located in Victoria Island, Lagos, founded 1878, and the second secondary school established in Nigeria. Igbobi College, Yaba Lagos, founded through collaboration of the Methodist Church Nigeria and the Anglican Communion in Nigeria, in 1932. Baptist Academy, Obanikoro,Yaba, established in 1855 by the American Baptist Missionaries. Eko Boys High School Lagos, founded 13 January 1913 by Rev. William Benjamin Euba, former principal of Methodist Boys High School, Lagos, for seventeen years before establishing Eko Boys High School. Queen’s College, one of the foremost Secondary Schools for girls education, established 1927. Saint Teresa’s College, Ibadan. Saint Annes School was established in 1869 by the Church Missionary Society (CMS). The school was established specifically for girls. It was initially called CMS Girls School and later became CMS Girls’ Seminary. Thus, it can be said to be the oldest girls’ school in Nigeria. It was, however, moved to its present site from Lagos and having been merged with Kudeti Girls School, Ibadan, it metamorphosed into St. Annes School in 1950. Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar, Cross River State, founded by missionaries from the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1895. Nigeria's first primary school at Badagry, established by the Methodist mission in 1843, etcetera
5/ Missionary religious works contributed towards eradication of the negative and harmful "Osu" caste system practices, which is an ancient practice in Igboland that discourages social interaction and marriage with a group of persons called "Osu," when translated from Igbo, "Osu" means outcast
6/ The English language brought by the missionary workers is now being used as the main language in Nigeria and the benefit is that it makes communication and interaction easier among the many and diverse ethnic groups in the country
7/ We benefited from the orthography of indigenous languages in the country efforts of missionary workers, the likes of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther etcetera
8/ Produced elites who were equipped to fight the political system and lead the nationalist struggle for the country's independence
9/ The emergence of African-initiated church (AIC) which is church independently started in Africa by Africans (e.g. RCCG, Christ Embassy, Winners Chapel, Deeper Life, Celestial Church of Christ, Cherubim and Seraphim Aladura) created opportunities to head and lead a religious group
10/ Benefited from the foundational roles put in to build in the country, civil people with civil behaviour and in a civil society.

FOLYKAZE:
What is the contribution of religion to our national development?

I have already attended to this request and given the answers above to it

FOLYKAZE:
With religion, esp the foreign ones, we have more social vices and instability than ever witnessed in African history. Is this what you call benefit?

Maybe they are doing religion that isnt true, pure and without faults then

FOLYKAZE:
I been dey think say you don kpain o. Sniper no dey ur side? Seriously, I do not wish you death but trying to show you the fallacy in the concept of Heaven with that line of argument

"Do not excel at wickedness, nor be a fool. Why die before your time?"
-Ecclesiastes 7:17

"and so that you may live long in the land the LORD swore to your ancestors to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey."
- Deuteronomy 11:9

"... God doesnt condone nor condemn suicide..."
- Re: Jesus' Commandment To Love Our Neighbors, Even Our Enemies by MuttleyLaff: 3:48pm On Jul 15

Even if you wish me death, I have more sense wiseness to ignore your wish. Look at Ecclesiastes 7:17 above for the reason why. Do you at all, understand the implication of the above Deuteronomy 11:9b idiomatic expression, hmm? (i.e. ''a land flowing with milk and honey'') I can shed light on ''a land flowing with milk and honey'' if you're inclined to know more about, but suffice to say, its about and has to do with pain and gain, as in, "luctor et emergo," that's latin, meaning "struggle and emerge"

There is nothing to show as fallacy in the concept of Heaven. The concept of Heaven is about a kingdom, a domain, as in, an area of territory owned and/or controlled by a particular ruler or government. Case in point, Nigeria and other commonwealth countries owned and/or controlled by Britain, the former British Empire.

Do you know that the devil is the only person that suggested to another person to go kill themselves, hmm?. I think I am right on that. Also, are you aware that anyone who actually goes through and commits plain straight and undiluted suicide, had at that moment of doing the act gone wacko, as in, a temporary madness gone too far, hmm? So from that and especially from what, I've got to learned about the subject, I am not one to judge persons who have died by committing plain straight and undiluted suicide.

One's life is the property of God and it is a gift. Life is to be perpetuated for as long as it possibly can be. You keep alive, stay alive, keep on going, keep in existence, preserve yourself. Life is for enjoying the moment, not hating. In spite of whatever and whether one likes life or not, you don't just like that, destroy it or be egging anyone on, urging them ahead, to go take their lives FOLYKAZE. God forbid such person already was nursing and playing around with suicidal thoughts in his/her mind

Death is a universal truth that can never be defied. Death will come, it is mandatory too, so why rush to or chase after it. Why carelessly shorten life by bad or foolish actions?

FOLYKAZE:
That aside, Ogbeni, you are now becoming more of Emperor Musiwa. Na simple question I dey ask you wey you dey yarn opata.

Look at this funny man. You get jokes abi, hmm mister funny bones?

FOLYKAZE:
Tell us how religion has benefited human.

Tell us 10 contributions of religion to Africa.

What are the contributions of religion to human development and growth?

I have already attended to this request and quite easily given the answers to them above.

FOLYKAZE, my guy, doing a knee jerk reflex and scattering everything in sight, as if like a bull let loose in a chin shop.

Sin "Hebraically" speaking means missing the mark, like, missing the mark, as in, missing the centre of shooting at a bullseye target. Now the $64,000 question to be asked is whose bullseye target is being missed here.

So Righteousness89, is right, that the problem of the world is sin and not religion, EmperorHarry, rightly noted how some are making and taking religion as an excuse. orisa37 and desiredhome are not fooled

PS: I'll find time sooner or later, to revisit that suicide convo we were having. OK?

Magnoliaa:
All of the things that aren't right in the world are God's plan for perfecting man? That's kind of hard to believe. War, famine, trying to acquire but never having enough etc...

Of course, its hard to believe, but yeah it doe mean, its all of God's plan for perfecting man. As it were, out of chaos, emerges harmony and beauty. Good enough isn't good enough, if it can be better. And better isn't good enough if it can be best, perfecting man.

Magnoliaa:
One, It doesn't make sense. That we are going through things we aren't even aware of for we don't know about.

"Experience shapes character, and character determines action
a character totally without experience is all but a contradiction in terms"
- excerpt from page 87, GOD - A BIOGRAPHY by Jack Miles

Magnoliaa, dont worry, you will become aware. With time, you will know about each and everything

Magnoliaa, let me here, shed light on that a bit, as far as I know, human beings as a creation, are born and begin life, initially without character, and if at all any, not very much of it, so in time, we are on earth to acquire, build character and stock up on it. There's no doubt that, we all begin life on earth, with innocence and/or start it with lack of experience. We acquire learning from experiences, well, even kids soon figure out that if you dont learn from experience, you get your fingers burned. So the character development on our individual blank canvases happens or occurs afterwards from our individually separate distinct painful and exhilarating experiences

Incidentally, the Earth is a market place and school, while experience is its hardest kind of teacher of all. We are here on earth to be tested first and then have the lesson with character forming, after the test. You definitely have heard the phrase "out of character," know the implication and understand what is meant by using the phrase

Magnoliaa:
And two, does this plan to right all things include every single human? Is it all human that'll benefit from or partake in perfect life? Because why should one suffer for things that in the end they won't have salvation or eternal life or such? Humans should only be going through the "perfecting phase" if all will have/reach that perfect state.

"For we are God's masterpiece.
He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,
so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago"
- Ephesians 2:10

Ephesians 2:10 above implies you're destined or your destiny is to, do good works, things God had plans for us long time ago to do

Magnoliaa, a person often meets his/her destiny on the road he/she took or was put on, trying to avoid it (e.g. Joseph, Moses, Jesus etcetera)

Ephesians 2:10 above implies you're destined or your destiny is to, do good works

Elsewhere, the bible states that: "Many, however, that live as enemies of the cross of Christ, their destiny is destruction"

You are the captain of your soul, intertwined with the flesh and spirit, hence expectedly the master of your destiny Magnoliaa.

Every human has been given the right to decide his/her own destiny Magnoliaa. So you're the designer of your destiny. You're the author. You write the story. The pen is in your hand and the outcome is whatever you choose

So watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny Magnoliaa.

Magnoliaa:
Hmm, okay...

You dont sound convinced

Magnoliaa:
What is the image of God? And what's His likeness?

"²⁶And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
[s]and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.[/s]
²⁷So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
- Genesis 1:26-27

This is a very good inquiry question. I like it and lurve how you asked it.

What do you think is the image of God and what's His likeness is Magnoliaa? Well in an oversimplified way "image of God" and "His likeness" are "Hebraism". They are a Hebrew idiom or expression. The image of God is God expressing Himself Magnoliaa. It is God projecting Himself and the Godhead.

OK, let's do it this way, I am quite sure you're familiar with how artists express themselves with their particular form of art, even you too, do express yourself with specific hair styles or hair do etcetera, but if taking this image and expressing oneself thing seriously, then as regards, the "whats the image of God" question, the image of God, is about God uninhibitedly expressing Himself through giving some insight into what the Godhead is all about, with and through using the creation of man as the art form. Man is meant to be the image of God, as in, be a creative self-expression of the Godhead, this is God showing who He is, but this image got marred after the fall from grace, as in, the quality or appearance of the image got spoiled. The image got spoiled after Adam & Eve rejected and opposed God. The wholeness and godliness of the image got lost and broken after the fall, though fragmented pieces of it still remained

"Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God (i.e. image that exactly reflects its source)..."
- Colossians 1:15a

"Christ is the exact likeness of the unseen God (i.e. the visible likeness of the invisible God)
He existed before God made anything at all, and, in fact, Christ himself is the Creator who made."
- Colossians 1:15

"He is the reflection of God's glory (i.e. mirror-like representation) and the exact likeness of His being"
- Hebrews 1:3a

"His Son is the reflection of God's glory and the exact likeness of God's being (i.e. the exact representation of His nature)
He holds everything together through his powerful words.
After He had cleansed people from their sins, He received the highest position, the one next to the Father in heaven."
- Hebrews 1:3

"Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.
They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.
They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."
- 2 Corinthians 4:4

Now about "what's His likeness" question, well Jesus is the exact likeness of God. The likeness of God is the visible spiritual attribute of the moral qualities of God, which are wisdom, power, compassion, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.

I previuosly said that, I am sure you made the observation that, God in Genesis 1:26 had said "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" but in Genesis 1:27, man was only made in His image, nothing about the other half, likeness is mentioned. That, it wasnt until Genesis 5:1, that the subject "likeness of God" ever surfaced, and even that likeness is shortlived, because by Genesis 5:3, when Adam had his son, the son is in Adam's likeness, after Adam's image and not anymore God's. The likeness of God because of the fall from grace, is no more there already Magnoliaa.

Colossians 1:15a, Hebrews 1:3a and 2 Corinthians 4:4 profoundly, have a sudden realization and great revelation because the trio, are talking of the living embodiment of God, about the road that leads to perfection, the road that leads to all and what is good, what God is and what God is about, Magnoliaa. Each day with Christ in our lives, we are becoming that exact likeness of God

Magnoliaa:
That excludes other people then. Other sects etc

"³¹When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.
³²All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
³³He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.
³⁴Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
³⁵For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,
³⁶I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’
³⁷Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?
³⁸When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
³⁹When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’
⁴⁰And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
⁴¹Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
⁴²For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink,
⁴³I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
⁴⁴And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’
⁴⁵Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’
⁴⁶And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
- Matthew 25:32-46

Magnoliaa, you can see from Matthew 25:32-46, that God is not a respecter of persons. Whoever follows the commandments of Jesus is included, sects or no sects.

Magnoliaa:
Thanks. I'll go through the rest of your post.

A candle loses nothing, by lighting another candle

Magnoliaa:
I'm not Asian. I understand Pidgin, I'm a Nigerian.

I realised all that, that you are not Asian, you understand Pidgin, you're Naija, all by myself

MuttleyLaff:
Magnoliaa, just go at your pace, if there is an extraordinary purpose to your existence on earth you'll find and know it. To be truthful with you, the basic purpose of every human being is to daily become a better person.

The whole of life, from the moment you're born to the moment you kick the bucket, is a continuous learning process. We never stop learning because life never stops teaching. The purpose of life, is to experience life towards understanding life and from that become better people, better human beings from existing or living the experience on earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V80-gPkpH6M

Magnoliaa, the above YouTube clip features Jim Carey, known for his role as Bruce in the 2003 Hollywood movie "Bruce Almighty," where in, God (i.e. Morgan Freeman acted as God) actually contacts Bruce and offers him all of His powers, if Bruce thinks he can do a better job than God. Try and watch the movie, if you never have watched it. Good movie. Another good movie with Jim Carey in it, is "Liar, Liar" It's about a kid, who prayed and wish that his dad, a lawyer, will stop lying for a whole day and the wish was immediately put into practice.

Jim Carey is not acting in the above displayed YouTube clip Magnoliaa, but actually is making an inspiring speech which I think, Magnoliaa, might give you a filled, deep, full, reverberating sound and so resonate with you.

Please continue, if necessary, to freely ask questions, maybe ask, even if just to more light shed on something or do just a plain rfi (i.e. request for information). I am online 24/7. Have a good plus blessed day and week Magnoliaa.

Somebori please give these guys, Righteousness89, desiredhome, orisa37 and EmperorHarry an "oti sẹwọn" chilled cold bottle of orijin and a truckload of kolanuts.

vaxx:
the question the op posted is very logical...let me repeat and rephrase it here again ...why are African native born obsessed with the Christian Bible....


Christanity just like islam was also sholved down the belly of our forefathers...christanity was introduce to africa through a combination of gun, education and old fashion pride.....it goes thus

The first thread of Christian convertee were the free slaves who came along with Christian missionary

The second thread were the second class citizens of the society (OSU in Igbo language or the very poor family)who converted massively to Christianity just to cover their shame...


Why the last thread was the establishment of a centralized education....

Africans were not lliterate as the west may made you to think.. Though we may not have centralized system like that of the west, but we are actually not dumbed..... The west found a balance system of governance and administration in Yoruba land when they came ......we have our house of parliament which are the oloyes , we have judicial system which are the ogbonis.....this judicial system check and balance the power of oba(the president) and so on....

Why is donjazet, OP obsessed with writing and setting up this thread in English, the white man's language, hmm?

vaxx OP just managed a string of disjointed series of impressions in his mind, thats all, there was nothing logical at all in the OP jor apart from the overdramatizing act. Modern day slavery exists. People are still getting shafted up the arse, discrimination and persecuted of minorities still exists etcetera

donjazet, OP claimed he started studying the bible word for word, would spend hours a day reading all commentaries for all the verses he studied, yet seems to be oblivious of black presence in the Bible before "oyinbo man came to Africa".

There already are black presence from either side of the OT and NT Bible before "oyinbo man came to Africa". Many of the patriarchs, like Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses etcetera married or had children with women from African tribes. Simeon called "Naija" and Lucius of Cyrene, were African prophets and teachers in the founding church and the Ethiopian eunuch obviously is African too

Anas09:
Again, I will rise above you and pass.

I know you're tough but just always remember, I mean, please learn to be kind hearted, especially to other persecuted minorities, like for example, gay people, as in, two consenting adults enjoying and living a strictly monogamous same sex attraction relationship union lifestyle, that harms no one, not children, not animal and not any human being. That has no cheating, no sleeping around, no etcetera involved, nor has anything to do with idolatry, promiscuity or ritual sex worship acts but they are continued to be persecuted by state authorities and wider societies.

You can rise above and pass, thats your prerogative, just know that, if you can't run with the big hounds, to stay under the porch then please.

Anas09:
Can you pls post my lies?

Why should I post them? You should know the lies, especially, if you have a working conscience

Anas09:
All these because I will not take sides with you on your Christian homosexuality stance.

You're making as if I solicited for people to take sides

Anas09:
Bros, pls help me here.

You dont need nor require my help. Its the Holy Spirit, you need, who will convict you in regard to sin (i.e. missing the mark about certain set of people) and righteousness and judgment

Anas09:
If I were to support you in this campaign, pls give me scriptures on which I can stand to defend my position.

I dont need support in any campaign. I am just a solitary candlelight

Anas09:
The Anas09 you've always known is the Worded one, so, if you want me like in the old times to stand with you and say 'Homosexuality is of God'. He sees nothing wrong with it, pls give me scriptures upon which I can stand on.

That bridge has long been passed under and besides, I have been until when told otherwise, taken off that assignment

Anas09:
You can go back to your thread and respond to me there, I wld come.

I have no thread. I dont personalise threads as mine

Anas09:
Since I got my moniker back, and refused to agree with you, you've been attacking me even when I have made all efforts to respect you and not engage you, but you follow me about with taunts and subtile and direct insults.

You type veiled comments and subliminal messages, yet you expect me to pretend not seeing and reading them, hmm? To suck them up and not respond back erhn?

If you have evidence(s), please post examples of the alleged taunts and subtile and direct insults I've made at you, hmm?

Anas09:
... pls oblige me with scriptures let me support your stance, because my eyes have not seen from the scriptures where I can stand to support men having sex with other men.

Most people start showing sign of caring when its too late

mrZENographer:
You're implying that when the Bible say "who gave you birth," it's referring to God's gender characteristics. That's VERY WRONG.

"So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."
- Genesis 1:27

The personification of God usages is awash in the Bible, so nothing is very wrong. Giving birth is both a masculine and feminine distinctive characteristic, but biologically giving birth, obviously is a feminine distinctive characteristic and one that only mothers have

I put on different attire colours to reflect my mood and image I am trying to project across. I could put on a red dress to make a statement that I am fiery, vibrant and lively. The colours are not me, they are images reflecting certain aspects of me. It's the same with God, the maleness and femaleness is not God, they are just constructs made in the image of God. God really isnt male nor female

We all know what kind of image one is projecting when wearing black colours, could be mourning or trying to look sexy

mrZENographer:
It's like saying the only begotten Son means God gave birth to a Son (as a mother)

The "the only begotten" means the only person uniquely gotten this way. The phrase has nothing to do with God biologically giving birth to Jesus, as a mother, like you've put it.

mrZENographer:
2) God is not formless. Its pagans think God is formless. But the bible cleared it that God made us in his own image and likeness.
Also in book of Daniel, When Nebucadnezzer looked in the fire he said "we cast three into the fire, but I see 4 people and the fourth has an appearance of the Son of God."

Revelation 1:13 "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man,..." (John sees the Son of God)

Genesis 1:25 "LET US create man in our image".

Jesus is a spirit. Jesus is God.

I see you slipped on my "God is formless" banana skin comment. I am sorry, I should have made myself clearer with such a comment like that by adding to it that God is shapeless and formless like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. When you pour water into a drum, it becomes the drum of water. That is why when Moses asked God who should he say sent him, if asked by the Israelites, God said say, I AM I AM sent, I AM I AM, means I shall be that I shall be, also means whatever it is necessary for God to be that God will be. God willl be a pillar of cloud in the day and become a pillar of fire to give them light at night. God is formless, yet God can take on any form. I know it sounds like an oxymoron thing to say it that way, but God, though truly is formless, can manifest Himself in any form, just as in that Nebucadnezzer fiery furnace and etcetera

Graduateacher:
Revelation 12

The Woman and the Dragon

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.

Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.

The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.

The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach.

Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent.
But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Footnotes:
a. Revelation 12:5 Psalm 2:

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time
- Revelation 12:10-12
Pray tell, who do you think this woman is?

In spite of all your amusing proof-texting strange behaviour, the answer is that the woman is Israel and not Mary. Sorry Graduateacher.

Now which Israel you want to associate the woman with, is your choice, but I'll ask you though, which woman, is Jesus coming back to take as His bride Graduateacher?

LastDays777:
Many believe it's the church/believers

I believe it's Isreal.

On her head a garland of twelve stars. The twelve tribes of Israel and we all know the Messiah (male child) who will rule all nations with a rod of iron will be from Isreal.

Who do you think she is?

LastDays777 you believe its the historical Israel, right? Well I beg to differ because this is about a different or another Israel. I think I've already left a hint which Israel it is

Graduateacher:
Let me clarify my point, Jesus redeemed the world but Mary played a crucial role in which the church can't afford to ignore.

"My name is the LORD! I won't let idols or humans share My glory and praise"
- Isaiah 42:8

"Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me"
- Isaiah 44:6

"What I do is done for My own sake
--I will not let my name be dishonored
or let anyone else share the glory that should be Mine and Mine alone"
- Isaiah 48:11

No one is taking anything away from Mary that she played a crucial role in which the church cant afford to ignore. Of course she played a positive function and a crucial role in which the church can't afford to ignore, but she is by no means a co-redeemer of man.

Now, if talking about partakers and people who played crucial roles in which the church cant afford to ignore, I can give you a list of such people, and it will be spanning from the infamous Judas Iscariot, to the high priest Caiaphas, who said, it would be better for Jesus to be murdered than for the whole of Israel as a nation to perish at the hands of Rome, and Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who condemned Jesus Christ to die on the cross

Graduateacher, Mary, just any of the guys above, whether a positive or negative crucial role played a part in the redemption story, in which the church can't afford to ignore, but nobaggar can take the credit or share with Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, what God did through Him, for the salvation and/or redemption of the souls of man.

Do you see Mary mentioned anywhere in the Bible as a co-redeemer with our Lord Jesus Christ, hmm? Does Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 44:6 or Isaiah 48:11 reproduced above, at all, make you have a rethink, hmm Graduateacher?

Graduateacher:
I disagree.

I expected you to disagree

Graduateacher:
What if she had refused to receive Him into her womb?

She'll be passed over, to the next person in queue to be asked

Graduateacher:
We see so many destinies cut short through abortion, we see women/girls refusing to bring forth a life into the world. Do you think she couldn't have aborted or even commited suicide before He was born?

"No one can take My life from Me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded."
- John 10:18

Are you having a laugh or merely messing about just for the fun of it, hmm?. Good try though.

Graduateacher:
What I'm saying is that, the fact that she knew who she was carrying, accepted, carried and gave birth to Him, shows that she is a partaker in the story of redemption.

"²⁶In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,
²⁷to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.
²⁸Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
²⁹Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.
³⁰“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!
³¹You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
³²He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
³³And he will reign over Israelf forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
³⁴Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
³⁵The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
³⁶What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.
³⁷For the word of God will never fail”
³⁸Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her."
- Luke 1:26-38

I am sorry to say, you've got some truth decay thing going on from not properly brushing up on your bible. Mary was not carrying nada. It wasnt until after persuasion reassurance and her show of acceptance and readiness, as in, willingness to do, that Holy Spirit was despatched to fall on her to conceive.

Mary wasnt carrying anything when Angel Gabriel appeared to her at Luke 1:28. Angel Gabriel was sent by God to Mary to get her consent in being the passage through which God will come to earth. That is God for you, in this respect, a perfect gentleman to the core. So Angel Gabriel turns up and tells Mary, that guess what Mary, you're one privilege woman, you're going to conceive, carry and give birth to God. If Mary, at Luke 1:38 had said anything opposite to all that was said in that verse, she would have been passed over for a next person and she would have missed an once rare and golden opportunity

Mary, no doubt, she is a participant and/or partaker in the story of redemption, but she in no means is a co-Redeemer. The only person that redeemed us with His blood and death on the cross of Calvary, from the curse, from sin and from death is God, is Jesus Christ

What suffering did Mary do for you hmm? What life did Mary put down in place of yours, hmm? What did Mary give up, in order for you to have life and not death, to have health and not sickness, hmm?

Graduateacher:
Why will God have a gender though when He doesn't need it, gender seems a worldly existence

That is why I told Dafemich, He is used, because of patriarchy, because of convenience and patriarchal reasons.

Graduateacher:
Although His form is of a male being (we are made in His image) but I don't think he's got a pp..

"You have forgotten the Rock who fathered you, and put out of mind the God who gave you birth.(i.e. mother)"
- Deuteronomy 32:18

"²⁸Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
²⁹Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?"
- Job 38:28-29

C'mon Graduateacher, tsk, tsk tsk. God is formless. God is a Spirit, and so has no form. God however does have masculine and feminine distinctive personalities plus characteristics associated with man and woman

What an unselfish act, the innocence of the child is amazing

blueAgent:
Yes.....ooooo.
Is there anything I wrote that is not the truth?

Everything you wrote issa truth, truth truth, truth, issa truth.

Graduateacher:
Who gave birth to Jesus? Did Christ appear on earth out of the blues? If she was a partaker in bring Him to the world then she's included in the story of redemption automacally.

If say by some strange twist of fate, Mary was here, she'll be the first to admit and say you guys dont understand that she sure she was a participant or partaker iin bringing or permitting Jesus through her into the world and so included in the story of redemption automatically but she isnt a co-Redeemer.

Mary didn't redeem anyone or anybody, only Jesus Christ did. Mary didnt get anything back for anyone or anybody. Mary personally didnt have anything to with reconciling anyone or anybody back with God, the only person who did all those things like that is Jesus Christ.

frank317:
Ooops, sorry, never knew I was responding to u when I replied to that post... Didn't look at the name and assumed I was still replying to maximus... No vex, because I didn't reply accordingly

Its alright

frank317:
Pls respond accordingly if u must barge into our discussion.

My bad. I am sorry, I didnt realise the discussion was by invites only

frank317:
This respond has nothing to do with the post u quoted...

Nobi you ask whether or not Jesus had a joystick ni?

frank317:
Isn't that obvious? Well, its because boobs are one of the feminine features I like admiring... Stop allowing ur mind to run wild and try to assume what would have felt if I had said they had hot legs.

Please dont take it personal. Dont take yourself too serious. I was just curious. Yeah, just say, its all because you're a boobs man, like you've admitted to. I am a back and front man. I admire women too, just the way I go to auto shows, motor shows or car shows to go admire cars. Sometimes I just go to the high street and start to admire all God's pièce de résistance, the best, most important and exciting thing created by God walking by. I am that kind of cat I can be given a bowl of milk to guard without licking it. I regard with respect and warm approval the seductive curves, the powerful alluring bends, the shimmering arcs fearfully and wonderfully made exquisite delicacy feminine works of God

frank317:
No.. But God has not been proven, not in any way.

So you're saying you always first have all things 100% proven that you've ever appreciated hmm? You've physically seen the face behind everything you've ever appreciated? I still dont think so why as I keep on saying, I know you're too smart and cleverer than do that

frank317:
how
mind blowing fact? this is something u dont have and i have been asking all these while
but did he have a joystick?

Of course, yes Jesus did have a joystick

frank317:
carried away to where? i said they have nice boobs, whats carried away there? is this how u read minds? i can admire anybody i want. if some lady is good looking, there is absolutely nothing wrong with saying it. this is how ur religion make u think women shouldnt be admired.

You are being twitchy here. No one has said there is anything wrong in admiring God's handiwork, His pièce de résistance, the best, most important and exciting thing created by God or complimenting women. I too was curious to know why its just the boobs alone you only mentioned, why not any other feature than boobs, what are all the reasons, why it was only boobs you were fascinated about, hmm? Its not just only me me that noticed your fascination with just boobs alone

frank317:
classic... so therefore worshiping ur faceless god has no advantage, its just a usless venture u prefer to undertake. this is what i just want to confirm.

How do you mean faceless God? Do you hold back appreciating anything imaginable until you physically see the face behind it? I didnt think so because I know you're too smart and cleverer than do so

Hungry4sex:
thanks this is really helpful to me right now. I have a housemate that's been trying to get me angry for a while now. Anytime he succeeds he becomes very happy. I've tried everything I can think of to get him to stop annoying me. Do you have any ideas

The best defense is a good offense, so instead of waiting for your housemate to get you angry again, attack and paralyse your housemate with the question, by asking him, why is he always trying to get you angry. Such unexpected and surprise attack question is a good form of defence from receiving future unfriendly behaviour from your housemate, besides he gets to know you are aware of his antics and you might learned, from his answer, a thing or two the reason why he's being behaving like that towards you.

Dafemich:
Ok. thanks

You're welcome
A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle

alBHAGDADI:
Don't mind him

It is dont mind her because Anas09 is a she.

Gracealone:
British Govt Report: Christians Number 1 Persecuted Religious Group in the World, Persecution Still On The Rise

An independent report by the British government says Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world, and that persecution is still on the rise.

The report's publication was marked in Rome Monday by a meeting organized by the British Embassy to the Holy See in the Basilica of St. Bartholomew.

The report found a variety of factors behind the anti-Christian oppression, including aggressive nationalism and a rise of Islamic extremism.

"The treatment of Christian minorities is a bellwether for how all minorities are treated," said Sally Axworthy, British ambassador. "So if Christians suffer, that usually goes together with the abuse of human rights more generally.

The report recommends the UK government should be prepared to impose sanctions against countries that persecute Christians.

It also says the British government should adopt a definition of anti-Christian discrimination and persecution, similar to those that are applied to Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. British diplomats should also be trained in religious literacy in order for them to better understand the scale and significance of the issue.

The report also recommends that Britain push for a UN Security Council resolution urging governments in the Middle East and North Africa to protect Christians and other persecuted minorities.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt commissioned the report to examine the extent and nature of Christian persecution and access the UK government's response, according to The Guardian.

Hunt said he would order all of the recommendations in the report if he becomes prime minister. He also agreed with the report's findings that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world.

The foreign secretary believes the UK must take a firmer stance on the persecution of Christians.

"The sense of misguided political correctness that has stopped us standing up for Christians overseas must end," he told the newspaper. "At home, we all benefit from living in a tolerant, diverse society and we should not be afraid of promoting those values abroad. It is a sad fact that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in modern times. I am determined to show that we are on their side."

Open Doors USA, which monitors Christian persecution around the world estimates that on average 345 Christians are killed every month for their faith.

Other persecuted minorities, like for example, gay people, as in, two consenting adults enjoying and living a strictly monogamous same sex attraction relationship that harms no one, not children, not animal and not any human being. That has no cheating, no sleeping around, no etcetera involved, nor has anything to do with idolatry, promiscuity or ritual sex worship act continue to be persecuted by state authorities and wider society.

They have become unloved, victims, marginalised, ostracised, discriminated against, bullied, beaten up, shunned, abused, maltreated, mistreated, shamed, abandoned, feel unsafe, imprisoned, rejected, have fear for their lives, etcetera. Even to date, some, as we speak, are still being discriminated against, bullied, beaten up, shamed, abandoned, imprisoned, rejected and fear for their lives.

Anas09:
Persecution grows the Church.
Without persecution Christianity dies. I mean, the fire cools down because men becomes too at ease. When there's no fire, false prophets increases.

Watch where there's fierce persecution, false prophets are few.

True Christians are not afraid of persecution. If we are alive, we shall preach the Good News, If we die, we wait resurrection.

Only those without Christ have a reason to worry.

"... I will build my congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones}, (i.e. build My church)
and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against her.(i.e. shall not overpower it or will not withstand it)"
- Matthew 16:18b

Watch where falsehood, lies and lying reigns, false prophets are plentiful and obviously of little value

Dafemich:
Yes, you get faith and increase your faith by hearing the word of God, but hearing the word of God alone doesn't mean we overcome sin.

It is the beginning, it is one of the fundamental principles on which everything about how to overcome sin is based.

Dafemich:
You are saying that I must hear the word of God to be able to overcome sin, which is good. I am not disputing that.

Good, however, do I sense a "but" soon coming round the corner

Dafemich:
... but I am saying that what you need to know to overcome sin in the flesh is one thing. Just like the Lord Jesus Christ told Martha, one thing is needful, and that is believing in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe because He rose from the dead as a human being, we also can live above sin as a human being. This is what is needful.

"³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, who also, having sat down at the feet of the Lord, was listening to His word.
⁴¹And the Lord answering said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;
⁴²but one thing is necessary, only one; for Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”"
- Luke 10:39, 41-42

Aah, good ol' "but" is here. Dafemich, Dafemich, Dafemich notice from Luke 10:39 reproduced above, what Mary, as in Martha's sister did. She sat down to listen to the word and Word, then look at what Jesus said at verses 41 and 42. He said that Mary made the right and good choice of listening to the word and Him.

Dafemich is it possible believing in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ without any word, information or knowledge about it, hmm? What you've learned from hearing the word of God provides you with defensive mechanisms that serves a protection against sinning, against attack, gives you power to overcome sin, gives you reasons to have the fear of God in you that wants to make you flee from committing sin, just like Joseph fled from Potiphar's wife who tried to have illicit sex with him etcetera because he had the fear of God in him.

Dafemich:
I cannot know all the Bible verses, because I want to grow my faith. If I can just know this, I am good. This is my point. I don't think there is any need continue arguing on this. if you are not satisfied with this, no problem, but this is my point

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
- Romans 10:17

No one has said, prescribed nor recommended knowing all the Bible verses before one can grow in faith Dafemich.

Romans 10:17 is a simple straighforward and non intimidating verse. In a simple and easy fashion, it expresses the essential features of faith in a brief and clearly revealed manner. Dafemich, is it faith that has to do with overcoming anything like sin for example, then that faith comes or is built up from listening to or hearing a message and the message is the word of God. We never stop learning because life never stops teaching

frank317:
Huh? Mr intelligent zombie?

It's a sure sign of insecurity and weakness when a person begins a conversation with another engaging person by name calling the other person using demeaning and/or pejorative names, merely just for psychological reasons or just to get an advanced edge.

frank317:
What is this? His work is just make sure I exist? To what end my brother.

The whole of life, from the moment you're born to the moment you kick the bucket, is a continuous learning process. We never stop learning because life never stops teaching. Now the end is to you and each one of the rest of us, to experience life towards understanding life and from that become better people, better human beings from existing or living the experience on earth.

frank317:
Good luck

Save the good luck and have it for yourself. You need the good luck far more than I'll do

frank317:
I like boobs... Don't u like boobs?

We seem to have something in common we both like. I like boobs too. I love boobs, since from when I was a baby to date
Now I asked those questions, because I was wondering, why out of all other options, did you zero on the bustiness aspect? You focused your attention only on the boobs after complimenting the ladies as nice chicks, so was curious why just the boobs, why not any other feature than boobs, why all the reasons, was it only boobs you were fascinated about?

frank317:
Are u gay?

Nope, I am not gay. Why are you trying to deflect my desire to know or learn why its just the boobs alone you only mentioned, why not any other feature than boobs, what are all the reasons, why it was only boobs you were fascinated about, hmm?

Anas09:
Too many acclaimed Christians speaking heresies these days. One said Jesus does not love all people so Christians can hate sinners. The other one said God approves homosexuality, yet another one said Jesus shd not be believed in or worshipped.

This place has turned upside down. Where is everyone? Shd we leave the place for charlatans?

alBHAGDADI:
@Bold

I guess you are referring to the thread below

https://www.nairaland.com/5268515/why-christians-should-not-fall

None of you guys could counter the thread with scriptures. All you guys did is use words from your own emotions.

Christians are encouraged to hate those who hate God. It was so in the Old and so today because the God we serve doesn't change neither do his ways.

Below is Prophet Jehu telling King Jehoshaphat that the wrath of God will be upon him for HELPING and LOVING those who hate God.

2 Chronicles 19:2
And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.

What you foolish and rebellious people actually want is for God's wrath to be upon we christians. That's why you tell us to love everybody which includes those who hate God.

I just smh when I read people like Anas09 begin to fabricate a pack of lies about what someone really has said

Magnoliaa, just go at your pace, if there is an extraordinary purpose to your existence on earth you'll find and know it. To be truthful with you, the basic purpose of every human being is to daily become a better person.

The whole of life, from the moment you're born to the moment you kick the bucket, is a continuous learning process. We never stop learning because life never stops teaching. The purpose of life, is to experience life towards understanding life and from that become better people, better human beings from existing or living the experience on earth.

ThothHermes:
Hunger.
No food to chop so I come convert am to fast.

[img]https://s3/images/FacePalmSmh.gif[/img]

[img]https://s3/images/MuttleyHappyB.gif[/img]
Belated Happy Birthday budaatum!
One man I perfectly understand
I hope you had a phenomenal day. Pray you henceforth get all your bread and all the crumbs too.
Be like real men, strong man, stand on the word of God, eat meat and not just milk. And yeah "Ankh Wedja Seneb"
In fact, 3 John 1:2, "Beloved, I pray you, to prosper concerning all things and to be in good health, just as your soul prospers."

CaveAdullam:
old man. That oil in your head ehn...... You funny gan. This response funny die. Loooooool.

Nwanne, I am not old man, I am a classic specimen of a human being

PrecisionFx:
Which means u don't get triggered in ur house....Only outside wen u travel

I used to have it at my house and when I travel on hols to my other homes but as you rightly observed my auto immune system seems to have stopped reacting to bringing on asthma and realigned itself to whatever it is that used to trigger the asthma when I am at my various homes that I used to be asthmatic in.