Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Reggie on June 15, 2010 at 3:57pm

Its not as funny when you are in a crowd of these people. It is very uncomfortable. Much funnier on Youtube!

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Permalink Reply by Cara Coleen on August 10, 2010 at 9:51pm

Yeah. Not that funny. Actually quite disturbing. What's even more disturbing is having several people surrounding you, beseeching God to bless YOU with the "gift", all of them crying and wailing and pushing you to just "say whatever comes!!!" I have been quite traumatized by Pentecostals, let me tell you.

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Permalink Reply by Mick Alexander on August 10, 2010 at 9:23pm

The following video is very helpful in understanding the gifts of tongues, prophecy and knowledge and why they ceased.


God bless,
Mick

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Permalink Reply by Jon Heim on August 12, 2010 at 4:01am

well. um...the word "different" is often left out. It just means you speak another language that you didn't know you knew. lol

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Permalink Reply by Mick Alexander on August 22, 2010 at 4:25pm

Dear Fred,

I'm a Christian and can assure you that the Bible clearly shows that tongues ceased in the 1st century. When tongues as a gift from God it came spontaneously and had a purpose. What you see today is shameful, pretend nonsense coming from demons ... but as an atheist I guess you don't believe in demons.

The first two minutes of this video shows that tongues has ceased. You don't have to be a great Bible reader to understand the simple grammar which shows that tongues has long ceased. Here is the video if you are interested ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi6fIUpvZUI

God bless,
Mick

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Permalink Reply by Cara Coleen on August 22, 2010 at 5:48pm

For starters, why are you responding in letter form? Just curious.

I'm honestly not trying to be contentious, but I would like to know what relevance your claim that tongues ceased to be spoken in the first century is to someone who doesn't believe in a god or the supernatural to begin with. I personally believe "tongues" is always babble, then and now, and you can't prove what they were speaking during Pentecost was authentic... so it seems a moot point to me. It sort of adds nothing to the conversation.

I'm really not trying to be rude, I promise. I realize you believe that what certain sects of Christians are speaking is not real, but... it's not like you can explain to us what actually is real, sooo why comment? You should be trying to first convince us we should believe in god/demons/etc... (not that you can convince most of us).

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Permalink Reply by Mick Alexander on August 22, 2010 at 6:27pm

Dear Cara,

Sorry to say that I don't know what you mean about replying in letter form ... us Aussies have a lot of blood in our head from being upside down so we can't think that straight at times.

I'm simply making a comment on your forum because many Christians are deeply appalled at what goes on in the tongues speaking churches and, i guess, in a way I am apologising for their behaviour.

About trying to convince you, God witnesses to your conscience all the time. Now, if that doesn't sway you, what chance have I?

God bless,
Mick

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Permalink Reply by Cara Coleen on August 22, 2010 at 6:51pm

By "letter form" I mean you start your response off with "Dear so-and-so" and end it with "God bless" or "Sincerely" and sign your name. Not that you shouldn't do that, but these discussion forums are less formal so you don't have to start and end them the way you do. If that is your preference, by all means continue. :)

I used to be a Christian (and I'm sure you might say I was "never truly saved", but I sure was devout!) and felt the same need to apologize for the behavior of other Christians. Having "lost" my faith, I realize there is really no need for apology. Atheists see Christians as imperfect humans like everyone else and do not hold them to a higher standard (even though Christians feel they are always being watched). The frustration with Christians lies in their seeming inability to make cohesive arguments in favor of their beliefs, yet most expect those beliefs to be treated with unquestioned reverence. But that's all I'll say on that topic.

"God" had ample opportunity to witness to my conscious; discovering his will, for 89% of my life, was the one thing that drove me. I had questions though, and was absolutely positive that, not only would God approve of me asking/seeking, he would BE the answer. That didn't work out. I wanted him to be the answer, he just wasn't. He's not. There's no one out there; just our own imaginations.

I appreciate that you're a well-spoken and thoughtful Christian though. I hope T|A is positive experience for you.

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Permalink Reply by Mick Alexander on August 22, 2010 at 7:40pm

Dear Cara,

Thanks for the explanation. I always write like this, not that I'm a gentleman but I simply feel uncomfortable if I don't.

No, Cara I wouldn't say that you were never saved because the Once Saved doctrine is as erroneous as a doctrine can be - I loathe it and many who believe it are living lives that the average atheists would reel from, particularly the hypocrisy.

If you were part of a tongues speaking church or a Once Saved church then the odds are that you would have had very shallow teaching and (I say this respectfully) you probably never learnt how the Spirit witnesses to and strengthens believers, giving them the power not to go on in deliberate, habitual sin (not sinless perfection as that is another false doctrine). Even though you may sneer I can say confidently that I hear and follow the Lord's voice. I don't hear 'voices within' but the guidance is unmistakeable and I'd be a twit to believe otherwise. If I'm deluded then I am happy with that too.

God bless,
Mick

Ps I'm 61 and got saved at 46. Do you know that it took me over 10 years of personal searching to come to understand how to walk with Jesus? And I got not one iota of understanding from any personal contact with a church.

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Permalink Reply by Mick Alexander on August 23, 2010 at 5:15pm

Dear Michel,

Because the guidance is always as the Bible says it will be ... ie away from sin and toward loving God and neighbour. An unsaved person may say "Well that happens to me also" and it may be so but no one can stop habitual sinning without the power of God's Spirit. The permanent changes that have come into my life, since getting saved, prove it to me. I'm a mile from being sinlessly perfect but habitual sin is a thing of the past. Temptation is there but so is the power to resist.

God bless,
Mick

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Permalink Reply by Cara Coleen on August 23, 2010 at 5:35pm

Hmmm...

There's nothing I do on a regular basis that should be considered "habitual sin". I don't feel enslaved to any action that I feel is immoral. In fact, I'm a pretty moral person even according to Biblical standards. I don't drink or sleep around or lust after other women's husbands or kill anyone or lie (yes, I've told lies, but I generally don't... I don't like lying and I'm not good at it). There's nothing I need to stop doing... and if there's nothing I need to stop in the first place, obviously I don't need a god to assist me.

Like you, I don't claim to be perfect. Perfection, like god, is something confined to our imaginations. Of course, we can strive to improve ourselves and be the best person we can be, but we shouldn't feel guilty if we can't fully attain our goal.

I can't speak for you; I don't know what your personal struggle has been against. You can't speak for me either, nor can you speak for other people who don't believe there's a god and who claim they don't struggle with immorality. I do good because I want to do good. I avoid being a jerk or a liar because, again, I want to do good. I feel good doing and being good! What other motivation do I need?

I realize your own personal experience is a testament to your faith, but my personal experience is testament against faith in general. People can be good without a god... interview just about any atheist on this site and you'll get to know many humanitarians and philanthropists who are loyal to their spouses, loving, generous, honest and kind. This site doesn't harbor criminals or morally depraved people. I don't understand how that fact isn't proof you don't need a god to be good/moral.

Besides, sin is subjective and a matter of opinion. Of course, you'll refer to the Bible and say because it says sex before marriage is wrong, and if we're engaging in that activity, we're struggling with "habitual sin". But... not everyone believes it's wrong; not everyone believes in marriage; not everyone believes it's wise to get married to someone before you get to know them on an extremely personal level. People's cultures are different. People's experiences are different. People come to different conclusions based on thought and reflection.

If Christianity is what works for you, that's fine with me. I appreciate if it's gotten you on track and feeling good about your life. But, just because that's the case for you doesn't mean it's the case for everyone. Unfortunately, the Bible makes it impossible for you to be objective and see that.

Permalink Reply by Mick Alexander on August 23, 2010 at 8:54pm

Dear Cara and Michel,

I can't seem to find the right 'reply to this' button so I hit the first one above your replies.

I know all your arguments because I have been where you are (46 years). I have also been saved long enough to know where these debates lead so I know that there is no sense in prattling on.

I do know, that if you seek to disprove the Bible you will fail as God has left enough evidence to show that no man could possibly write, prophetically, what is written in it. But of course you scoff at that.

No to worry, I will leave it with you hoping to see you in the heaven.

God bless,
Mick

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