NEARLY half the British think that religion is harmful, according to a poll carried out by YouGov. Yet more than half also believe in God “or something”.
The YouGov poll commissioned by John Humphrys, the broadcaster and writer, found that 42% of the 2,200 people taking part considered religion had a harmful effect.
“One reason might be the publicity attracted by a handful of mad mullahs and their hate-filled rhetoric,” writes Humphrys in his new book, In God We Doubt, an extract of which appears in today’s Sunday Times News Review....
Abigail Better make this the last one here, we appear to be going round in circles.
Ref your post below.
How is the sinner in their natural state - dead in sins, blinded by Satan, supposed to descern between the Christian and the hypocrite?
What would they look for and compare with, if the grace was not in them. They can't even see sin for what it truly represents in their own human condition.
Look at Matt 7:21-23 - A people who went to church yet could not clearly see that they were in effect not real Christians. Hence Jesus words "I never knew you." If it's that difficult for those who appear to try, - then how impossible must it be for the unbelievers?
Can YOU discern the "true" believer in your own congregation, from the nominal one?
Your Post Before any evil hearted sinner, - "dead in sins" as the Lord teaches, - can "see" Christ, grace and the Holy Spirit MUST open their spiritually dead heart and mind.
Eph 2:1 "And you hath *HE" quickened, who were DEAD in trespasses and sins"
2Cor 4:4 "In whom the god of this world hath BLINDED THE MINDS of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." The sinner in his/her natural estate cannot turn to God without divine help.
Eph 2:5 "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)"
Eph 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"
2Tim 1:9 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" ________________
Are you saying that the world cannot see the actions of Christians whether they are Christ-like or not because the world is dead? Don't be deceived—the world know hypocrisy better than the churches.
Abigail Your question; "How am I cutting grace and the Holy Spirit out of the picture?"
Ref:: Your previous post; "The only Christ that the world sees is in you and me. How are we exemplifying Christ to the world?"
Before any evil hearted sinner, - "dead in sins" as the Lord teaches, - can "see" Christ, grace and the Holy Spirit MUST open their spiritually dead heart and mind.
Eph 2:1 "And you hath *HE" quickened, who were DEAD in trespasses and sins"
2Cor 4:4 "In whom the god of this world hath BLINDED THE MINDS of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
The sinner in his/her natural estate cannot turn to God without divine help.
Eph 2:5 "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)"
Eph 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"
2Tim 1:9 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began"
Your Post "Does Grace and the Holy Spirit have a part to play down here on planet earth too? Don't cut them out from the picture of Remnant Salvation." _____
How am I cutting grace and the Holy Spirit out of the picture? If we are filled with the Holy Spirit by His grace, shouldn't our life manifest Christ? Doesn't the Holy Spirit within bring a change in our morals and actions?
Are we to live like the evil world, participating in all of the evils of the world, claiming ourselves to be "Snow covered dung" as someone (I don't remember who) stated.
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Frank from The Battle at Runnymede. Is the Magna Carta signed yet? As Paul teaches... Romans 9:6 "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are ***not all Israel, which are of Israel***
_______________________________________
Abigail Your "The only Christ that the world sees is in you and me. How are we exemplifying Christ to the world?"
Does Grace and the Holy Spirit have a part to play down here on planet earth too? Don't cut them out from the picture of Remnant Salvation.
Abigail Come on! You are joking. In fact I find what you said below somewhat condescending and facetious. Are you saying that Abigail is sooo perfect, that her witness alone meets with the standard of her Saviour and the rest of us poor fools are residual to say the least? According to your judgment??
No, Seaton, I am not saying that at all. The Word of God states that we are epistles known and read of all men. The only Christ that the world sees is in you and me. How are we exemplifying Christ to the world?
Love and mercy met at Calvary. The love of Jesus Christ for lost humanity is the greatest demonstration of love ever known. Love subdues the old nature.
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (Joh 13:35)
Abigail Come on! You are joking. In fact I find what you said below somewhat condescending and facetious. Are you saying that Abigail is sooo perfect, that her witness alone meets with the standard of her Saviour and the rest of us poor fools are residual to say the least? According to your judgment??
That lot out there the great mass of reprobation are all sinners of hardened heart, without hope.
But we in the church are sinners with hope transformed by the blood of Christ.
And what? - That is easy to communicate in terms of sinful human intellect and understanding???
And thats before we add the essential ingredient of Grace and the Holy Spirit.
"The YouGov poll commissioned by John Humphrys, the broadcaster and writer, found that 42% of the 2,200 people taking part considered religion had a harmful effect."
This is the guy who challenged some people to "convert" him. Then proceeded to get Liberals to do it. Thus demonstrating his ignorance of true religion.
So this poll of atheists, agnostics and "who knows" and probably liberals, - is going to be about as much use as polling Meerkats.
Why oh why do people, who don't even study religion, automatically think they know all about it???
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barry from ky from northern ky: "well, i don't see what the problem here would be,..."
