Quote Is it not possible to be saved if you are a soldier?Is it a sin to feed soldiers?Is it a sin to dress the wounds of wounded soldiers?Just out of curiousity, what if that soldier that came to you, starving, bleeding, was from the other side (the “bad, evil other country” side). Would you feed that soldier, dress his wounds?To do so would be…[Read more]

Quote God does not change.His gifts are for all generations surely. “But whether there are prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease.” 1 Cor 13It appears his gifts are not “for all generations.”This is turning into a conversation we had in the “tongues” thread.I really would rather discuss the “good…[Read more]

Quote Hi david,So there are thought to be other important teachings from Jesus for the church that have not reached us but were known to the early christians. We are not to be in the army is one apparently. Are there any others we need to be aware of? I am showing you what the early Christians believed because you are having trouble interpreting…[Read more]

Actively supporting killing is wrong.Nick, I believe smoking cigarettes if a filthy habit that defiles the body. Now, to decide to make it your business to open up a cigarette stand (and yet not smoke them yourself) still seems wrong, doesn't it?Quote So, from your moral standpointNick, it's not my “moral standpoint,” but rather the beliefs of…[Read more]

Quote Did Jesus, the great Physician, ever refuse to heal when asked?Neither you, nor I are a Jesus, Nick.His miraculous healing work served as a visible sign to his generation and gave added evidence of his Messiahship, as prophesied. (Mt 8:16, 17) Quote What gospel do the JWs share when they preach?Do they tell men they must be born again to…[Read more]

Quote Hi david,Did Jesus ever teach not to join up with the armed forces?The early Christians must have believed so. Nick, there are many principles (as opposed to specific laws) in the Bible. Nowhere does the Bible specifically say not to drop a nuclear bomb on New Zealand. Yet, I feel doing so would contradict many Bible principles.Did Jesus…[Read more]

Quote Hi david,Do you follow them? No, but they followed Jesus. And I think it's a great deal better to look to their example than the examples of the blood thirsty worldly leaders or those who came later and claim to be Christian, but disown that claim by their actions, don't you?Nick, just as the early Christians didn't believe in the trinity…[Read more]

It seems like you want to move away from the subject of the “gospel,” or good news and discuss healing.I was really hoping to discuss how this good news would reach people and how the work is being accomplished and the Bible examples given. That's why I was trying to emphasize that people considered Jesus was known for being a “teacher,” and…[Read more]

Nick,What do you make of the early Christians? Were they wrong to reject such things?

But killing people for a worldly government does impress God? I think not.Quote Would you be painting their roof while your friend's house was burning?Putting out someones fire is a good thing.Shooting bullets at the people inside the fire, not so good.Give them water Nick, not bullets.Nick, does God take sides on football games? On any…[Read more]

Quote Quote (david @ May 02 2006,04:24)Was Jesus known as a teacher or a healer?Both david,hmmm. I count about 50 times where he is specifically called “teacher,” but can't find anywhere where he is called a “healer.”He was clearly “known,” as I said, as a teacher.”For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should…[Read more]

Quote All I am saying is making moral judgements on the lives of other people and what they are called to do in serving God is a luxury we should not waste too much time on. ANd all I'm saying, is that the Christians that lived before the apostasy really began, believed it a “violation of their faith” to enter military service and were even…[Read more]

Quote BY your logic we should have no police, after all we are to forgive others and not resist evil.HI seeking truth,the world will do what it will with or without Christians. Jesus said his true followers would be “no part of the world.” Whiile this system lasts, there will always be men leading other men to kill other men. But must YOU be…[Read more]

Was Jesus known as a teacher or a healer?

Speaking of the early Christians, the book World History, The Story of Man’s Achievements says: “Zealous Christians did not serve in the armed forces or accept political offices.” “Early Christianity was little understood and was regarded with little favor by those who ruled the pagan world. . . . Christians refused to share certain duties…[Read more]

Some try to justify today’s religious wars by noting that God approved of the killing of Canaanites by ancient Israelites. Yet, that is no justification for professed Christians to wage war today. The Israelites were DIRECTLY instructed by God to act as executioners of his righteous judgments against demon-worshiping peoples, whose worship i…[Read more]

“Origen . . . remarks that ‘the Christian Church cannot engage in war against any nation. They have learned from their Leader that they are children of peace.’ In that period many Christians were martyred for refusing military service.”—Treasury of the Christian World Edited by A. Gordon Nasby, p 369Do you think the early Christians were wron…[Read more]

I don't think the early Christians were wrong. I think the thinking became twisted after the early Christians on this subject–as with so many other subjects.

Quote Was it wrong for Israel to fight for the land that the bible says is theirs?Kenrch, if you march around a city 7 days and it falls, I will believe that God is fighting with you.Quote Amen,They killed men, women and children in the days of Joshua under God's instructions. So under whose instructions do men today kill? Which war today was…[Read more]

Quote Do you recognise the authority of the Government?I recognize the authority of the Governments that has been given them BY GOD. Any authority they have is because God allows it. Jehovah God is the ultimate authority Nick–do you recognize that?So if these two authorities disagree, whom do you choose to disregard Nick?Rom. 13:1, 5-7: “Let e…[Read more]