God is a deadbeat Dad

Says you. Clearly my experience proves otherwise. After all, if you had met me at the time you would have found my beliefs indistinguishable from your own in terms of the depth of my faith. Or do you claim to know my mind better than I do myself? Nonsense. There's the same comfort you "saved" have - whatever comfort we can find for ourselves. You're just mistaken about where your comfort comes from. Along with, apparently, free will? And what kind of ridiculous god determines our eternity based on a choice we make in a period of our time that's infinitely short in comparison? Ludicrous - and not biblical, I suspect. Naw, I'd rather you spoke with the humility and sincere concern and affection for your fellow man that Jesus showed you in the bible, and that you claim to follow. But that's just me, I guess. As is civility and love, for others. Oh, I must have missed that part. What I heard was "If God ignores you it's probably because of something you did." The same logic used to be used to defend wife beaters and rapists, you know. It's called "blaming the victim" and it's abhorrent in any situation. Here's a new idea - try living for your beliefs instead. Sell your belongings and give the money to charity. Take a vow of poverty. But arguing about following Jesus on the internet while the poor starve around you is the height of religious masturbatory conceit.[This message has been edited by crashfrog, 08-18-2003]

Hi Crash,
Since your question appears to be overlooked: Comforter is the name of the Holy Spirit and Jesus, in these references:
John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7.It appears once in 1 John and 4 times in the Gospel of John as the term ‘paraclete’, which is a Greek word that means ‘advocate’ or ‘helper’, and possibly counsellor. The term normally is used only when a full description of the nature and function of the Holy Spirit is given.In John’s letters and Gospel, the spirit is described as being sent from the father to be in and with believers, teaching them, and reminding them of Jesus’ words and actions. The paraclete is identified with Christ and with the Holy Spirit, with the Holy Spirit proceeding the father as the ‘spirit of truth’, and will guide the believer to the truth.Here is the biggy as far as the comforter is concerned. Although the Bible doesn’t explicitly define the relations between the three entities of the Trinity, the passages by John imply that after his death and resurrection, Jesus’ continuing presence in the community is through the Holy SpiritExternal to the Gospels, the word ‘paraclete’ is used in the sense of a ‘mediator’ or ’comforter’, or as someone who pleads for someone else. The concept may have been Gnostic in origin with their belief in heavenly messengers or ‘helpers’, but the primary source of the New Testament idea is the frequent Old Testament references of humans or angels acting as advocates for others before God.
So essentially the ‘comforter’ is the Holy Spirit who defends believers and condemned sinners before God on Judgement Day.The Lutterworth Dictionary of the Bible says on page 13, Entry Advocate/Paraclete that: Many translations of the NT simply use ‘paraclete’, the English form of the Greek word. ‘Helper’, ‘supporter’ or ‘counsellor’ are appropriate English translations, but ‘comforter’, while a popular rendering in later Christian history, is a less accurate version of the NT Greek’ Brian.

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The Bible says alot more than that----and would you rather go to Hell without a clue?

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I'd rather God didn't create Hell, threaten to send me there, and still try to say he loves me.Good thing you can't go to an imaginary place, or I'd be pretty scared.

Dan Carroll:GOD has provided a way for you. It is presently your desire not to
follow and attempt to make a way for yourself. One doesn't go to
heaven when one dies because one must be perfect. If you are not
perfect, clearly it is due to faults of your own and not of GOD.The Christian is perfected during his life and is glorified at death.
Clearly, this is not the way nor the desire of those in rebellion.

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If you are not perfect, clearly it is due to faults of your own and not of GOD.

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Didn't God make me? Why would he make me knowing that I would turn out imperfect, and knowing that eternal damnation would be the result of my imperfection?He must not like me very much, let alone love me.I dunno. Just seems to me that the imperfection of God's creation doesn't speak too well of God's abilities to create.

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The Christian is perfected during his life

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Isn't this a little at odds with what Jesus said? I thought we were all sinners?Sin of pride, A Christian. Felled Lucifer, don't forget.[This message has been edited by Dan Carroll, 08-18-2003]

I'm made perfect through Christ who lives in me. He can live in
you also...

I generally prefer to not let guys find their way into me. It's cool that you're comfortable with it, though.Regardless, how does Christ's desire to live in me change anything I said?

No response to me, A Christian? Might that be because if I couldn't tell the difference between my apparently "fake" faith and a true enduring one back when I was in the fold, you might not be able to, either? And that you're at least a little afraid to confront that possibility?Or did you sell your possessions already? Including your computer?

have you ever witnessed God for yourself? if so how? Another thing why to you are the Hindus and any other religion wrong?(you said all christens are saved) they have Just as Much Basis as your religon.hmmm lets see which one will save me? If God sends Someone Of another faith to Hell he is one Evil God isn't He? They where raised that faith. Just like you where Most likely raised into yours..... is it right for them to be damned? Is it right For me to be Damned for not believing in God at all? If so why? He didn't exactly Show me he was there or Even love me.... Is this not an Evil God? Personally If this is what God is I want nothing to do with him . I hope my soul is Destroyed when I die I want nothing to do with this Evil God

No offense, and I'm not trying to evangelize, but you may find atheism a more peaceful alternative than this raging anger against god.You sound like a good person (even if your grammar/spelling aren't always top-notch ) so I'd hate to see you wasting your energy being pissed at something that doesn't exist.

If you are perfect than you should not have any trouble addressing the posts directed to you in the Evolution thread that you have thus far avoided i.e. mark24's Evolution for A Christian....and having never met a perfect person before could you tell me the secret as to where the missing sock goes after doing laundry?

I never claimed that I was perfect. What I stated was that I am
being perfected. I am being conformed to the image of Christ.
Evolutionists are not interested in TRUTH (perfect or not), what they want is conformity.Crashfrog, it would seem Brian answered your question. There are
also the poor in spirit---they need to be fed. I don't own a
computer.

No. That's not true. I value truth, that is why I believe in evolution.

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I never claimed that I was perfect. What I stated was that I am
being perfected. I am being conformed to the image of Christ.
Evolutionists are not interested in TRUTH (perfect or not), what they want is conformity.

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You claim that supporting a myth with no testable or falsifiabe hypothesis that is based zero evidence and contradicts all real world observations (unless you are going to show us all the genetic bottleneck in all living species that is a requirment of the world wide flood myth) is interest in the truth?Evolutionary biologists hardly conform...we attack each other constantly to look for faults in each others work and hypotheses. Evolution has withstood all such assaults and is therefore a theory.You conform to whatever your religious sect tells you to conform to and use as evidence unsupported assertion...it would seem you are a hypocrite with absolutely no interest in the truth.

A_Christian,Hope you don't feel that I am picking on you but you are again posting unsupported assertions.As well as not supporting your statements you are not having respect for the other members of the Forum.Please do not make general, insulting statements like Evolutionists are not interested in TRUTH (perfect or not), what they want is conformity. .The responses that claims such as this produce are not condusive to a good debate.I understand that it is difficult not to become emotionally involved when discussing something that has such great value in your life, but if you are going to insult other people whilst defending your stance you are lessening the chances of them listening to you.People will value your opinion more if you put it across in a polite and friendly manner, sounding off only puts a barrier between yourself and your audience.Think before you post!AdminBrian.