Random Questions; Bible-based answers

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Eli1

Eli1

Well-known member
#41
Apr 5, 2022
4,542
1,857
113
46
#41
GWH said:
Question #5: Is there a connection between the Bible and Halloween?

Your answer?...
Click to expand...
lol.
Yes, it's called All Saint's Day.
https://orthodoxwiki.org/Halloween

But this is the wrong question. :D
The right question is: Why do some Christians have problems with certain actions?
Well, it's because we all have strengths and weaknesses (myself included).
So, for some, a Halloween party may be very bad for them for many reasons i can't think of.
Some have problems with music.
Some have problems with movies.
Some have problems with alcohol.
Some have problems with porn.
Some have problems with money and gambling.
I mean the list is endless because there are a variety of things we can become a slave of in this fallen world (myself included).

So, when you know your weakness, then avoid your weakness. That's your first defense.
Then if you're caught in the middle of the weakness or habit, pray and ask others to help you too, if you have people to help.
Learn from your mistakes and don't repeat it again.
That's all we can do and keep trying because we're not perfect.

As far as Halloween is concerned for me it seems like a stupid holiday because i wasn't even born in US, but i did take my kids out when they were little for candy with their friends, because i wanted them to have a normal childhood and have fun with their friends.
Now that they're teenagers, they can't stand Halloween either like their old man. :ROFL:
 
G

GWH

Groovy
#42
Oct 19, 2024
523
157
43
#42
Aaron56 said:
The Bible speaks of "wisdom from above" as a standard of reason for the sons of God. So, I will employ what I have gained from my connection with God to answer your questions. I won't have room to unpack everything but I invite further discussion. ("And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much debate...")

Is God free?

Since God is all-powerful, power cannot be used to understand His nature. His will will always be done. However, He limits Himself in this manner: God is love and truth. Since He has decided to be known by love and truth then love and truth constrains His will. He decided this as it is His prerogative to do so.

If God is constrained in any way it is because He decided to be so. And, because of His eternal nature, He is not free to vacillate between positions that change His character. He is. And He has not changed. Now, His positions might change on a number of things but no position will change His character. He cannot be "good" and then "evil" from an eternal p.o.v.

In short, no, God is not free. He is constrained by love and truth. As a son of God grows in wisdom and maturity he becomes less free, as well.

Can God be evil?

Only from man's point of view.

Is the Father able to change His will?

Yes, as long as He remains in love and truth. He limited Himself in this way.

Is God the Son free to sin?

If you mean Jesus, yes. Like Adam he was free to sin. But, unlike Adam He did not sin. If He had then He would not have become The Christ with all authority in heaven and on earth. There is no sin in Him and there never will be.

Could the Holy Spirit become demonic?

A fallen angel and the Holy Spirit are two different beings. Only fallen angels are demonic. And, because the Holy Spirit shares the same nature as God (love and truth) He cannot be evil or take part in evil.
Click to expand...
I agree that God limited Himself to being love and truth, so although He could choose not to limit Himself in this way, He promises that He never will (ML 3:6), and we trust His Word. In this regard we must seek to understand RM 9:18f. juxtaposed with 1TM 2:3-4.
The passage begins by saying, "God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden." And the second passage starts off with "God our Savior wants all men to be saved...". The harmonization seems to be that although God determines what is right and could decide to harden and condemn whom He pleases, He decided to save everyone who exercises their free will by choosing to seek and please Him.

Yes, Jesus being incarnate Immanuel was free to sin but did not, which qualified him to atone for the sins of humanity per HB 2:14-18 as the unblemished Lamb, thereby fulfilling and ending the Mosaic sacrificial law.

I agree that the Holy Spirit is not described as a separate being such as an angel, but rather as God Himself, so what is true of the Father applies to His Holy Spirit.
 
G

GWH

Groovy
#43
Oct 19, 2024
523
157
43
#43
Eli1 said:
lol.
Yes, it's called All Saint's Day.
https://orthodoxwiki.org/Halloween

But this is the wrong question. :D
The right question is: Why do some Christians have problems with certain actions?
Well, it's because we all have strengths and weaknesses (myself included).
So, for some, a Halloween party may be very bad for them for many reasons i can't think of.
Some have problems with music.
Some have problems with movies.
Some have problems with alcohol.
Some have problems with porn.
Some have problems with money and gambling.
I mean the list is endless because there are a variety of things we can become a slave of in this fallen world (myself included).

So, when you know your weakness, then avoid your weakness. That's your first defense.
Then if you're caught in the middle of the weakness or habit, pray and ask others to help you too, if you have people to help.
Learn from your mistakes and don't repeat it again.
That's all we can do and keep trying because we're not perfect.

As far as Halloween is concerned for me it seems like a stupid holiday because i wasn't even born in US, but i did take my kids out when they were little for candy with their friends, because i wanted them to have a normal childhood and have fun with their friends.
Now that they're teenagers, they can't stand Halloween either like their old man. :ROFL:
Click to expand...
Yes, some denominations relate Halloween to All Saints Day, but that is not the zeitgeist.
And yes, Halloween becomes problematic/sinful when it moves beyond innocent children playing trick or treat for candy and becomes an excuse for adolescents and adults doing or portraying evil, such as witchcraft.
 
G

GWH

Groovy
#44
Oct 19, 2024
523
157
43
#44
The reference to All Saints Day raises another random question.

Question #6: What is God's requirement for sainthood?

Your (Scripture-referenced hopefully) answer?...
 
G

GWH

Groovy
#45
Oct 19, 2024
523
157
43
#45
GWH said:
The reference to All Saints Day raises another random question.

Question #6: What is God's requirement for sainthood?

Your (Scripture-referenced hopefully) answer?...
Click to expand...
All we have to do is use a concordance to come up with the answer to this question.

My NIV lists these verses in the OT: 1SM 2:9, PS 16:3, 30:4, etc., DN 7:18.

Relevant NT verses include: RM 8:27, 1CR 6:2, EPH 1:15&18 (cf. 6:18), PHM v. 7, and RV 5:8 & 19:8.

What do these teach is GRFS?
 
G

GWH

Groovy
#46
Oct 19, 2024
523
157
43
#46
Saving faith! No miracles or papal approval necessary.

Do any of y'all have a random question?
 
G

GWH

Groovy
#47
Oct 19, 2024
523
157
43
#47
Aaron56 said:
You're okay. But I doubt I can teach you much about this. No worries. Carry on brother.
Click to expand...
I have been carrying on on other threads, but I'm baaack and want to revisit what you said, sibling:

1. "The Bible is not a moral book. It is spiritual and to be understood spiritually.": The Bible contains BOTH moral instructions AND spiritual truth, nicht wahr?

2. "That means without the Spirit of God in a man, that man cannot understand what God is saying through the scriptures." Because man is made in God's image we are able to understand much truth beginning with His command not to eat forbidden fruit and including our need for salvation via right reasoning and God's requirement for salvation via learning Scripture. Then, after accepting Christ and receiving God's loving Holy Spirit we are able/have power to cooperate with His will/manifest the fruit of the Spirit, especially by loving everyone including enemies.

3. "To treat it as a moral book would be to make it another Law of Sinai where the people, because they did not know God, would follow the text thinking they, through it, obtain a superior position in the earth. Such reasoning keeps men in darkness." True, but that involves MIStreating God's Word/law, even though they may have known God to the extent He revealed Himself pre-NT, which I view as the 5 talents in the parable of Jesus.
 
G

GWH

Groovy
#48
Oct 19, 2024
523
157
43
#48
GWH said:
Saving faith! No miracles or papal approval necessary.

Do any of y'all have a random question?
Click to expand...
This random question was raised on another thread, and I thought it might properly be discussed here if anyone finds it as interesting as I do: What does the absence of clear and concise pronouncements by Scripture on various issues such as abortion, war and whether the Sabbath law is part of the New Covenant indicate?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.