Is Adam Lanza’s reported devil worship a missing link that could help explain what motivated the Sandy Hook gunman to carry out the school house massacre?
Was Lanza part of a larger Satanic or ritualistic subculture locally or online in which he could have revealed his plans or could have even received support in preparing for the killings?
Although largely underreported, Satanic subculture and so-called devil worship has been a factor in numerous other mass killings, including the recent Batman shooting massacre.
Trevor L. Todd, a former classmate of Lanza’s, told media that Lanza worshiped the devil and had an Internet page dedicated to Satan.
...
If the value of an item is determined by what someone is prepared to pay for it, then I and all believers must be of inestimable value to God, that the purchase price should be the death by crucifixion of his dearly beloved Son. The words, "His blood was shed for me" should cause us to look up to heaven and say, "I am so valuable to you, Lord. Thank you."
You are correct. Neither is Profit godly or ungodly. The methods used to get that profit could be classified as godly or ungodly.
How much profit is too much and how should one arrange his pricing?
1 Corinthians 10:23 23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.
We need to remember what one's primary concern as a Believer:
Matthew 22:36-40 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Only when a society, economy, government, or people embrace that can it or they truly thrive or flourish as a whole. And the "world" is headed in the opposite direction.
John Beechy wrote: Maybe you fellas could clarify if there is godly money and ungodly money.
agree with Mike, people are godly or ungodly. Money has no soul, so it is none of the above. Apologize John Beechy if we are not going where you want us to go. Maybe you could clarify exactly what you are asking.
John Beechy wrote: Maybe you fellas could clarify if there is godly money and ungodly money.
How do you see it? Matthew 6:24-30 KJV 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mike wrote: Sometimes we see as unjust things that are not in themselves unjust. What we might be thinking is, some things are not fair. The principle put forth in the example in Matthew 20:1-15 is- if both parties agreed to the wage, it is just, regardless of what the individual laborer's wage per hour turns out to be. It points out that there is no ground for complaint if some worked more than others in the attaining of the same wage. Although Jesus used the wage metaphor to make a point about something else, we need accept the validity of the example, unless of course, one disagrees with his using it. Likewise if someone agrees to pay a certain price for an product or a service, and someone else agrees to pay more or less for the same product or service, neither has grounds for complaint about unfairness. "Fair" happens when the outcome of that which is agreed upon is settled.
You are correct. I mixed up my parables. I thought he was refering to the parable in Mat. 25 My apologies to every one.
Note however, in Mat. 20:15 he was being generous, not taking advantage. They were upset at his generosity.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Republic wrote: The ultimate end will be rule by the powerful, and persecution of saints. That is why Socialism, Communism and even ultimately ungodly Capitalism will not work.
Sometimes we see as unjust things that are not in themselves unjust. What we might be thinking is, some things are not fair.
The principle put forth in the example in Matthew 20:1-15 is- if both parties agreed to the wage, it is just, regardless of what the individual laborer's wage per hour turns out to be. It points out that there is no ground for complaint if some worked more than others in the attaining of the same wage. Although Jesus used the wage metaphor to make a point about something else, we need accept the validity of the example, unless of course, one disagrees with his using it.
Likewise if someone agrees to pay a certain price for an product or a service, and someone else agrees to pay more or less for the same product or service, neither has grounds for complaint about unfairness. "Fair" happens when the outcome of that which is agreed upon is settled.
Question wrote: That is what happens when you step into the arena with little or no knowledge.
What country do you live in where the entire population is godly and ruled by godly principles?!! Or what country can you point to that has relied on such to make free enterprise work? Besides which, what you state begs the question viz. that godliness is required to make free enterprise work. It demonstrates that you have no clear conception of what a free market is.
Dear Question, Even though I do not write or present my case well it does not mean I have no knowledge. I would say that the only way that a country will truly flourish is if they are abiding under Gods principles both in their personal lives in business. As a rule the United States did abide according to Godly principles for some time. I believe that is why it climbed to be the World Giant that it is. Those principles are no longer valued as a whole and I think that without repentance the strength is going to come to an end. Without God neither a Democracy, nor a Society, nor an Economy will be able to flourish. The ultimate end will be rule by the powerful and persecution of saints. That is why Socialism, Communism and even ultimately ungodly Capitalism will not work.
Yes, let us think about supply and demand, something the American guv is very good at manipulating. What are they currently doing, you ask, with regard to this in terms of oil?
They are sitting on homegrown "supply" on four big oilfields until the "demand" becomes such that their prices can go sky high, and they make a HUGE profit.
Do you know what we pay in the UK for petrol and diesel? The petrol is £1.33/litre and the diesel is £1.40/litre. Are you outraged? I can assure you that if that happened in America, strikes would occur all over the country. Who are the money-grubbers who cause such high prices? Not the poor garage owner, who makes about £0.03/litre. That's right, £0.03/litre or less. It is the guv, who have taxed us until many are turning to "red diesel", a fuel which is reserved for farm vehicles or boats. It is illegal to put this fuel into a normal car or van, but many are doing it today to survive.
People "demand" fuel for their cars, because the guv have closed so many little train stations, which once served rural communities, forcing people to have their own vehicles to get to work. So they "supply" it, at a price. And there is NO negotiating the price.
Republic wrote: Boy, have I stepped into a hornets nest.
That is what happens when you step into the arena with little or no knowledge.
Republic wrote: Question, I guess it depends on what you mean by “flourish” and what you mean by “free.” Capitalism unchecked by Godly principles will lead to control by the largest most powerful companies. Monsanto is flourishing. Other seed companies are dead or dying at monsanto's hand. The dairy industry has successfully made it to difficult for small dairy farms to survive through heavy legislation and regulations. There will be a demand and there will be a supply. However, it wont be flourishing. I have no problem with people making lots of money. It is wonderful. May they get it honestly and use it for God's Glory.
What country do you live in where the entire population is godly and ruled by godly principles?!! Or what country can you point to that has relied on such to make free enterprise work?
Besides which, what you state begs the question viz. that godliness is required to make free enterprise work. It demonstrates that you have no clear conception of what a free market is.
Neil, I think that I would say that the difference would be when one's ultimate goal is to make money and not to bring “Glory to God” (The chief end of man). If a company is not governed by the Word or principles of God it can and often does lie (false advertising), manipulate (Lobbying & Propaganda) and coerce (Legislation). In order to accomplish that you generally have to be a “monster” or huge company or organization. Small business can be just as corrupt as very large ones. The difference is that you have much more power in a large company. By the way there are many wonderful large companies.
Question, I guess it depends on what you mean by “flourish” and what you mean by “free.” Capitalism unchecked by Godly principles will lead to control by the largest most powerful companies. Monsanto is flourishing. Other seed companies are dead or dying at monsanto's hand. The dairy industry has successfully made it to difficult for small dairy farms to survive through heavy legislation and regulations. There will be a demand and there will be a supply. However, it wont be flourishing.
I have no problem with people making lots of money. It is wonderful. May they get it honestly and use it for God's Glory.
Republic wrote: However, that is totally different than where this conversation started. We are talking about monster companies taking advantage of the "little people." Totally different.
How so? They, like you, charge for goods & services, which people are free to accept or reject. Where's the exploitation? BTW, you use loaded adjectives like "monster" & "little," just like Progressive/Socialist propaganda. What difference does size make? The principle's the same.
And as I asked John UK, do you know enough about the costs of pharma biz in order to analyze their prices? I seriously doubt you're any more competent than he is, or I am. What you don't understand, you have no business critiquing. And as I said, business has to make money in this, which these days is very costly because of FDA rules, legal liability etc., or they won't bother doing so. How can you be self-employed & not understand these things?
Neil wrote: My motive is to discover & share truth. Why should my motives otherwise matter? My witness is shot by negotiating prices? How so, unless there is a price set in Heaven that we must charge? And what if you charge more than a customer likes for your products? Isn't that a "poor witness," too? Negotiated vs. fixed prices has no bearing on the matter. True, Matt. 20 is not primarily about economics, but its whole purpose is defeated if it was somehow unjust for the landowner to negotiate[!] whatever wages he wished with ea. worker. You in effect accuse God of injustice, since He is the landowner in the parable. So it is Christ-like to emulate the landowner here.
I have no problem with negotiations. I have my set prices. If somebody wants to negotiate, ok. Either we work it out or he goes somewhere else. However, that is totally different than where this conversation started. We are talking about monster companies taking advantage of the "little people." Totally different.
Democracy can only survive if governed by the Word and principles of God. Likewise, Capitalism can only survive if governed by the Word and principles of God.
It is very hard to believe the Global Pharmaceutical companies are doing that.
Republic wrote: Neil, I do custom screen printing. Very easy to charge one more than the other. Your witness however, is shot if two people talk to each other about their prices. I believe that Matt. 20:1-15 speaks to being a good steward with what is given to you.. If the good steward had made his profit by taking advantage of the sick and elderly would the master have congratulated him? A believers primary concern should be to bring glory to God by emulating Christ-likeness ... I will ask you a question. What is your primary motive in this conversation?
My motive is to discover & share truth. Why should my motives otherwise matter?
My witness is shot by negotiating prices? How so, unless there is a price set in Heaven that we must charge? And what if you charge more than a customer likes for your products? Isn't that a "poor witness," too? Negotiated vs. fixed prices has no bearing on the matter.
True, Matt. 20 is not primarily about economics, but its whole purpose is defeated if it was somehow unjust for the landowner to negotiate[!] whatever wages he wished with ea. worker. You in effect accuse God of injustice, since He is the landowner in the parable. So it is Christ-like to emulate the landowner here.
61
There are a total of 80 user comments displayed | add new comment |
COMMENTS | 
christopher000 from rhode island: "thanks for helping me to make some sense of..."
