Prayer and Medicine

I don't believe God wants or needs "glorifying" from us. I know, I know...you can provide biblical quotes galore against that one. In this case it's just what I've determined based on thinking about the nature of an allpowerful deity and the message of Jesus.Actually, I CAN provide a scriptural background for my point of view. Jesus told us not to pray out in public, but to go and do it in secret where only God can see. I take this to mean that God doesn't care one bit how you do good, as long as you do it. I don't donate to any church because, frankly, there aren't any churches that agree with my take on the Bible and the nature of God. I'm a non-denominational Christian. I would agre on this. Easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God, and all that.Live comfortably, sure, but not to excess while you drive by the homeless guy every day. Faith is a personal thing, and I'll not deny that God could be giving you a helping hand. I'm not so sure I would feel the same in a similar position, but you're entitled to your beliefs.All I know is that when I directly help people (in person, not giving to a nebulous charity), I feel a lot better about myself, and I feel like God is a lot happier with me, too.

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Every time a fundy breaks the laws of thermodynamics, Schroedinger probably kills his cat.

But if you give money to people, because you believe it is a good thing to do, and it pleases God, how are the people you give money too, going to know about God? They are only going to look up to you, well maybe not 100%, but it depends on the circumstance. If you do not claim to those people that you are doing for God, then they won't know, or will it help them to know the Lord for themselves.I think you are not interpreting correctlyt what Jesus said to us about praying in private. Ther is another part to that verse, and he is comparing us praying in private to the hypocrites on the street. In other words he wants you to be in private, so that you can hear from the Lord, and have a personal relationship with him. Praying and giving money, are 2 completely different subjects, why you would use that verse to compare to giving away money.And if that's not good enough for you, I will use your own analogy. Your saying to do it in private(pray), well I compare that to being anynomous, which is more along the lines of first giving your money to the church. And that to me in todays world is ok. I mean I might be wrong, but it's what I feel. I was the same way for many years, and tried several churches. Instead, I hope that you do indeed find a church one day, that you feel comfortable with, and is filled with genuine people, that you can relate too, and together you can accomplish great things. Many hands make light work. The harvest is full, but the workers are few. Me too.

When you do good, give money, help someone reach something, learn something new or any other act, GOD is reflected in your behavior. It's by the life you live, not what you say, that GOD will be known.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

On tithing. If one thinks that if they tithe they are making themselves right with God then I believe they are deluded. If however, one tithes out of a genuine love for the goodness of God and for his/her neighbour, then I believe that their heart will be changed.On prayer. I wish I hd an easy answer but I have no doubt that we are called on to pray. I will continue to pray knowing that I may not see the result I want in this world, but at the same time realizing that this life in time is nothing compared to eternity. I think that the idea that we can find out how effective prayer is by controlled test is absolutely ludicrous.In the final analysis,IMHO, God is concerned about the condition of our hearts. There is no theology test that gets us into the next life with Him.

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Everybody is entitled to my opinion.

Good stuff.Yes, I tithe as a recognition to God, that the money is from him in the first place. I do not think I can buy my way in heaven, but I offer my faith instead.

I'm not a walking advertisement for Christianity. That's not what Jesus called people to be. It's not what I believe God wants of anyone.It certainly doesn't work. Many people resent Christians for their heavyhanded "God-in-your-face" methods. Nobody likes to have another religion shoved in front of them - it can even make people avoid Christian charities in favor of a similar charity not associated with religion.I try to help people when I am able. If someone asks about why I do it, or what I believe in, I'll tell them. I will not wear an "I do good stuff becuase of my God, and you should too" t-shirt. I don't think so. Jesus was telling us not to broadcast our faith to make us feel better and more righteous than others. I'm sure you are well aware that some philanthropists and charity workers let things get to their heads, and like to brag about their charitable works. I just think that we aren't supposed to brag about the things that we should do anyway, and we shouldn't be so aggressively vocal about our faith. It comes across as "I'm more religious than you," and leaves some people with a bad taste in their mouths with regards to Christians. My assistance does not always come in the form of money. It never comes in the form of giving money to a charity. I prefer up-close and personal - it's far more rewwarding, and you can be sure that you made a difference rather than just hoping that someone in the charity doesn't embezzle or misappropriate. I just don't talk about my religion and don't brag about the times I've helped people - if someone is interested, thay'll ask, and I'll tell them. If they don't want to hear it, I wong make them. That would be arrogant, and like attaching a price to my help (if you want help, you're going to have to sit through a sermon). Jesus didn't make people come to listen to His teaching to be healed - all people had to do was come up to Him and ask. Horribly unlikely, but I appreciate the sentiment. Besides, I don't like working with others (I'm not a people person), and I don't feel the need to accomplish "great" things. I just want to help people as I am able, like Jesus did (except of course without the miracles ).

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Every time a fundy breaks the laws of thermodynamics, Schroedinger probably kills his cat.

Well I go on and start in with bible verse wars with you, when
the bible tells us to go out into all the nations and preach the Gospel.But I agree with you. It's all about the love. Love wins.