Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community https://tasbeha.org/community/categories/faith-issues/p27/feed.rss Mon, 22 Jun 2026 07:22:01 +0000 Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community en-CA Sick of rude shows https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12848/sick-of-rude-shows Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:44:00 +0000 user157 12848@/community/discussions
It is sad that some of these people could have been better but now they seem to be lost. I pray that they return to their original state and be able to completely regret their sins

If they continue this way perhaps they deserve to be lost or perish if they can not be made righteous

I am afraid after making so many sins people will never be able to regret these sins truly.

I am also sick of these sins being taken lightly in public.

I may enter some bars with my friends and I am not responsible for people going astray and I hope people learn to be ashamed of these sins and look upon the cruicified christ for salvation. It is time the whole world repents

I don't want to see adult stuff anywhere on the internet or tv if I come by it by accident. It is not enough to accept christ but you must strive to enter through the narrow gate and bear fruit worthy of repentance

This world needs to learn to blush for their sins.

many of these people are also arrogant and do not love any people

I don't know how I will get over any of this behaviour



perhaps this post just makes the world even worse but I think the church should be able to comment on this

most likely those who delay repentance never will]]> Self righteousness https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12855/self-righteousness Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:37:05 +0000 user157 12855@/community/discussions The parable of the Pharisee and tax collector is interesting
The Pharisee actually used to fast and do good deeds to the poor I thought they neglected the poor and the Pharisees were among them which gave from their abundance unlike the poor widow because they wanted to earn their place in heaven for it seemed that He even blessed God by thanking Him he was a blind man who thought he was right with God and though he had a little love to God it is not like the sinner woman the Pharisee was condemned because he thought he was not like other men he thought he could never be so but it is not because of his own goodness he ever stood but because of Gods mercy
So we are never to look down on sinners for we are just as bad as each of them
Salvation is not earned by good deeds or even the sacraments if they are performed without using it to be closer to God as an empty ritual but it is a free gift to all who truly seek to be reconciled with God and bear fruit]]> Sex, Marriage & Fairytales https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12844/sex-marriage-fairytales Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:23:48 +0000 Zoxsasi 12844@/community/discussions I just came across this video about sex and marriage.

To be honest, I agree with every word of it, yet I'm wondering what the Coptic Orthodox Church thinks of this as they seemed to have disagreed with this guy's 1st video:

image
]]> Marriage? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12803/marriage Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:56:13 +0000 orthodox4ever 12803@/community/discussions Jesus died for sinners https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12838/jesus-died-for-sinners Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:17:13 +0000 user157 12838@/community/discussions ]]> Salvation https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12829/salvation Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:54:25 +0000 mark.naguib7 12829@/community/discussions Confession https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12834/confession Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:20:44 +0000 user157 12834@/community/discussions More trustworthy if they confess regularly it is used for spiritual growth so a person feels ashamed to do a sin because he feels rude to tell the priest he sinned again
]]> Epiphany https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12826/epiphany Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:18:34 +0000 12826@/community/discussions
A question:
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”
(John 1: 29-34) [Emphasis mine]

How can John say, "I did not know him"? They were second cousins, and when St. Mary met St. Elizabeth, John leaped in the womb. He must have know him. How then can he say, "I myself did not know him."?

Secondly, John says that he knew who it is that would baptize by Spirit by seeing the Holy Spirit descend on the person. However, he called Christ the lamb of God as Christ was coming toward him (ie. before baptizing him.) This would imply that the dove came before the Baptism. This however is inconsistent with the gospel of Matthew.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him.
(Matthew 3:16)

So whats up with this? How can the two be reconciled? Thanks

ReturnOrthodoxy]]> Why apostolic succession may have to be true https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12817/why-apostolic-succession-may-have-to-be-true Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:42:06 +0000 user157 12817@/community/discussions I guess god could help the Protestants guard the bible]]> Need help from priests https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12815/need-help-from-priests Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:14:47 +0000 user157 12815@/community/discussions I trust a priest is not affected spiritually from people's problems and he wants to stay faithful to God when it gets difficult do not be afraid to refer to another priest]]> Abu Sefein Icons and Books https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12804/abu-sefein-icons-and-books Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:38:32 +0000 Ioannes 12804@/community/discussions
I would appreciate any help in getting Icons of him especially. I ordered one from St Antony Monastery, but I would like a few more. Please this is very important and soon will explain why.]]> A message to atheists https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12778/a-message-to-atheists Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:15:06 +0000 user157 12778@/community/discussions
Now the questiion to the possibility of an atheist or more correctly the agnostic going to heaven. I say completely yes. If an atheist really can not believe then he is not accountable to God and possibly he will go to heaven no matter what he does as long as it is within his conscience.. but he is not to sear his conscience.. the problem is the atheist wants the darkness and does not want to come to the light which is why he can not see

Jesus said if you were blind you would have no sin but now you say you see therefore your sin remains. And if I had not come and done among them the works which noone else did they would have no sin.

so if you see an atheist stranger welcome him and love him and pray for him

Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my father who is in heaven. Is there someone who has never experienced an answered prayer even?

The bible says there is a veil over the heart, but when one turns to the LORD it is taken away. Seek and ye shall find. Follow him and he will manifest himself to you
if you tried all this and you still do not believe my own sense of justice and the scriptures seem to suggest you are not accountable to God. You should not be expected to follow him if he has not made an urgent necessity on you. It is wise to fear death as it can happen any day. The fool has said in his heart there is no God.
If God has drawn you to him then come to him. If you have been thirsty drink from the water of life
Behold he stands at the door and knocks. If anyone hears and opens the door I will come in to him and dine and sup with him

I believe if a person has labored for a long time to see God then they will see him, he will come not after too long a time. Just seek him for a reasonable amount of time and he will not leave or forsake you

The bible says that was the true light which gives light to every man which comes into the world which is why people are accountable to God. If you could not see you would not be accountable


]]> Addiction to sins https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12789/addiction-to-sins Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:36:33 +0000 owengent12 12789@/community/discussions
]]> Pope shenouda Christmas message https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12779/pope-shenouda-christmas-message Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:55:18 +0000 user157 12779@/community/discussions  
My greetings and love to you, wishing you all goodness from the Lord.  Hoping that you are all growing in grace and in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
I congratulate you on the Feast of the Nativity and for the beginning of a New Year, may it be new for you in all things and especially for your spirituality.
 
Amongst the words that I remember on the occasion of the Feast of the Nativity, is what was said about Him during His Incarnation, that He “went about doing good.” (Acts 10:38)
 
It is a lesson to us in our lives, to be like Him, going about doing good.
 
Goodness is not only leaving sin, for this is only the negative aspect. The most important aspect however, is the positive side. That is, doing good with everyone, in order that everyone who meets us on the path of life will gain goodness, by any means. The Bible said about this positive goodness, that, “to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)
 
Hence, sin is not merely committing evil or impurity, but not doing good also is a sin. This is not the case in the New Testament only, but also in the Old Testament, for the Bible says “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,' when you have it with you.” (Proverbs 3:27-28)
 
Goodness is not only in materialistic giving, but in spiritual giving also: in the ministry, in a good word, in a word of advice, in a word of benefit, in a word of sympathy, in a word of kindness and compliment by which you gain friends. Doing good is leading people to goodness, and in the soft answer, which “turns away wrath.” (Proverbs 15:1)
 
You can do good by comforting wearisome souls, as the Lord said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)  You can do good by having a happy and smiling appearance. By this, people will be pleased when they see you.
 
You do good if you are able to share in mission work, or by conveying the word of God to those who do not know it, or by conveying the faith to unbelievers.
 
Ministry in the Church is doing good, there do not let Satan plant tares in it by the way of division and love of the self.
My beloved children, place this principle in front of you in this New Year: that every day you do not do good, do not count this day as day of your lives.
 
God created you in His image and God is the Beneficent One. So you also be likewise, in the image of Your Heavenly Father, beneficent as He is.  Let this not only be when people ask from you to do good to them, but rather do not wait for them to ask. May you possess the sensitivity by which you can comprehend what will make people happy and try to make them joyful.  In this manner, you will go about doing good.
 
May the Lord be with you, and may He make us always hear all good about you.
 
Pope Shenouda III
]]> Almost finished university https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12784/almost-finished-university Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:48:17 +0000 user157 12784@/community/discussions
First off I am careful about my beliefs because of my mum and dad and I do not want to lose their love for their beliefs have been seriously contrary to mine and preaching my beliefs maybe the reason for the ruin of their souls, for they do not exalt God as loving enough

First I would like to say that God is not a terrorist, God is love but is it possible for him to damn a soul for all eternity the answer to that is unfortunately yes but only to those who are not capable of loving him again and especially for demons who would rebel against him for all eternity

I had to come to this state because of being born a coptic orthodox, that is  those which eternal damnation

How could you manage to see a demon that evil stand before God and be in heaven, just wanting to betray God if he gets the chance

The problem is the devil using our weakness or my weakness to lead others to eternal damnation.

I may be the only one but I want to fight for God forever even though He does not need me

back to the beginning of my post which was that I am taking advantage of the state I am in, it is because I am glad that I am almost finished uni and I feel it could be because the teachers do not have anything against me but have marked me possibly with good scaling

Now I believe from what I am saying I expect many people to want to stone me if they could or they are offended and they will fight against me and make me fail

For it could be that many christians just because of their beliefs are forced to never be successful in their life, for you are not welcome if you teach eternal damnation to their loved ones

I do believe God will treat the damned mercifully but they will never see light but it may not be possible since this teaching can lead many others to be sinners

Now I feel I have to serve God and not man

I do not want them to fail me but these are my core beliefs and I want to believe that our church is an apostolic  church, teaching the truth. It is good that many of our members teach that God is the judge and not us which makes it seem more apostolic but they also deny purgatory. How can a church of God not know the full truth. Unless God does not want to teach the full truth to the church

Now the question of who will be damned to hell for all eternity is not that simple because of the evil works of the devil which is sometimes through people such as us

I believe God will remove all the evil influences which cause people to be treated unfairly, he may raise them all to heaven first and seperate them as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats

Is it possible for a coptic orthodox to really succeed in life with these beliefs which make sense to be true? I am not ready to be a failure, but kind of I am if I can count this loss as rubbish that I may gain christ and serve him properly

How can anyone preach the gospel if this matter is not solved properly here?

I want to say more but this thinking is a bit tough

I hope God removes all the evil influences, such as even this post if it causes people to be lost otherwise He is not as powerful or caring as I was hoping He was. It could be that you never really saw this post, God just makes an illusion that you saw it so I can learn things so that God speaking to me

so much for the church being on my side and helping me succeed in life]]> Wouldn't it be great https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12777/wouldn-t-it-be-great Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:30:08 +0000 user157 12777@/community/discussions
I say this because I know it is possible that a lot of people go to church, they seem to have accepted Jesus but I don't know if they care too much about His commandments

I think it is a requirement to go to heaven to do good all the time not some of the time. I know if you really repent of evil treatment towards others in your heart God will accept you. But why do people even the sight of them, they just judge them?

I want to know that everyone who is on their death bed who accepted Jesus from their heart and who told me this (not their mind) is going to heaven.

I hope these people go to heaven when we die if they have accepted Jesus but im not sure they will. Can God just overlook this sin that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life?

Why is salvation a mystery, i.e what happens after death. People go to God in the state that they were in with him

]]> Why we should continue praying for the lost https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12773/why-we-should-continue-praying-for-the-lost Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:04:06 +0000 user157 12773@/community/discussions ]]> Original Bible https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12765/original-bible Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:37:00 +0000 marmar357 12765@/community/discussions
Can someone tell me something about the original Bible? I am pretty sure that our Bible is true, but I just would like to know it, with reference with a videos someone sent me: [urlimage see part: 2:17

I think his arguments are weak, but how do I "prove" to an unbeliever (a muslim) that the Bible is correct and correct transalated?

I also find this link: [urlhttp://www.raptureforums.com/forum/bible-study-q/3476-where-original-bible.html][/url]

Just out of curiosity.
So what do you think?]]> Striving to enter through the narrow gate and sin https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12749/striving-to-enter-through-the-narrow-gate-and-sin Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:56:18 +0000 user157 12749@/community/discussions Surely if I let myself fall in lust once a week I won't be cast out of heaven right?
why does it feel that there is always tommorow? I know excuses can partially be made for them which are sick but even they may have ability to control themselves.
I know lust is bad when I do it but do I really have to stop it completely?

And how bad will it affect our eternal state in God's kingdom if I am let in? surely the good must be rewarded in God's kingdom.
I feel when I sin that I am choosing to seperate myself from God
I just feel I am not thinking right
I expect when I die God will ignore my sins but the bible says God will bring every work into judgement. Therefore if we have sinned we must have proof we have repented.
I want to stop sinning if I can have a deeper relationship with God by doing so but sometimes I feel there is always conflict between doing right and wrong and I become an unbalanced person and impossible to be around

Unfortunately it is true that  broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be that go in thereby

]]> Living in the Wilderness https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12761/living-in-the-wilderness Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:29:58 +0000 TITL 12761@/community/discussions
He's the greatest born among women, yet we're only exposed to 6 months of his 30 years. I just wish I could learn more about him. ]]> Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever. https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12766/jesus-christ-the-same-yesterday-today-and-forever Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:02:47 +0000 abrahamf 12766@/community/discussions
This verse confused me a little.

Yesterday signifies before time began and forever, until the end of time. But, what about the incarnation?! Jesus at one point took human flesh and became man! Isn't that a change?!

Or does that mean that Jesus was always the Incarnate God before He came on earth and took flesh from the Virgin Mary???

Or does this verse have nothing to do with the Incarnation and is simply saying that the attributes of God (love, mercy, compassion..) never change.]]> Oriental Orthodox Library https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12748/oriental-orthodox-library Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:02:31 +0000 peterfarrington 12748@/community/discussions
If you are in the US then use the discount code ONEMORETHING.

If you are in the UK then use the discount code ONEMORETHINGUK

If you are elsewhere then the site will usually autodetect your location and provide the appropriate code.

The Oriental Orthodox Library is listed here..

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/orthodoxlibrary]]> Was Hades emptied when Christ descended into it? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12760/was-hades-emptied-when-christ-descended-into-it Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:18:05 +0000 metouro 12760@/community/discussions
a) all who were in it?

b) All the O.T. Saints including Adam & Eve, but left the sinners and unbelieving gentiles

c) Anyone who believed in Christ when He preached to them, good or bad, leaving behind those who would not believe?

2)  Why does St. Peter specifically mention that Christ went to preach to the spiriys in prison who were disobedient in the days of Noah?  What about those spirits who were disobedient at other times, before and after the flood?]]> Happy New Year to all https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12754/happy-new-year-to-all Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:59:56 +0000 mikeforjesus 12754@/community/discussions Where did jesus go between when he was 12 and the beginning fo his teachings? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12750/where-did-jesus-go-between-when-he-was-12-and-the-beginning-fo-his-teachings Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:10:33 +0000 mark.naguib7 12750@/community/discussions 'Speaking in tongues' https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12746/speaking-in-tongues Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:30:22 +0000 mark.naguib7 12746@/community/discussions Problem https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12739/problem Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:02:01 +0000 Curios 12739@/community/discussions I kinda have this problem and need quite a bit of help and advice
Ive known this about myself for a while but kept denying it but now im just sick of it and need to overcome these problem. firstly I completely believe in God and everything but (as terrible as it sounds) Ive just stopped caring about my spiritual life and God. I've tried to pray and read and ask for guidance and support from God, but every time I try to get close to Him, i fall worse then i ever have before and literally every aspect of my life gets worse and worse. I try to pray to get closer to God and to cut off sins and desires, even though part of me deep down doesnt wawnt to get rid of these sins, so I ask to have this desire cut off, and still nothing. I have committed sins in the past week i would have never even thought about and at this point i just feel as if i have been abandoned by God- every time i ask for help and try to change everything gets worse, so mentality has reached the point of who even cares anymore basically. My life is going nowhere- i dunno what to do in life, in fact there is nothing i want to do, nothing i care for anymore. I have nothing to look forward to. I have no close or real friends, I dont even have God to lean on at this point. Another major problem that may have lead to this problem is that i have felt, and still kinda feel more attached to the church than to God. I dunno im honestly just sick and tired of this and I dont really know what to do,
anything would help at this point
thanks]]> "Foolish" ??? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12728/foolish Sun, 25 Dec 2011 11:27:44 +0000 abrahamf 12728@/community/discussions
In Matthew 5:22 Christ preaches, "that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire"
And in Ephesians 4:29 St. Paul says to "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

However both in 1 Corinthians 15:36 and Galatians 3:1 St. Paul admonishes the people by calling them "Foolish". So, is it ok to say the word foolish (and the like), if it is for the "edification" of the Body of Christ? Does anyone know what the Holy Fathers say about this? Am sure am missing something.

Also in Matthew 23:33 Christ calls the scribes and Pharisees "Serpents, brood of vipers!." Isn't that an insult? Please correct my erroneous thinking! ]]> Do some Church Fathers believe in Soul Sleep? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12723/do-some-church-fathers-believe-in-soul-sleep Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:07:35 +0000 metouro 12723@/community/discussions
"Behold how both the soul and the body attest to one another: even as the body must have the soul as to live, so must the soul have the body to see and hear." St. Ephraim the Syrian, Hymn Eight on Paradise

"Accordingly, when the soul is separated from the entire body, it no longer is able to operate, because it operates through the members of the body." St. Athanasios of Sinai, Answer 89

"For as in the case of a yoke of oxen, if one or other is loosed from the yoke, neither of them can effect anything, if they be unyoked from their communion...For what is man but the rational animal composed of body and soul? Is the soul by itself man? No; but [only] the soul of a man. Would the body be call man? No; but is called the body of a man...neither of these is by itself man, but that which is made up of the two together is call man." St. Justin Martyr, On the Resurrection

The soul is not a prisoner of the body, as Plato and the Gnostics suggest. Nor does the soul wander alone under its own power without the body, as this too is gnostic and against the teaching of the Fathers."



This is frightening.  Does this mean that some fathers believed the soul to be unconscious and inactive after death?


]]> Focussing on the Intermediate State and not the Resurrection. Is this wrong? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/12722/focussing-on-the-intermediate-state-and-not-the-resurrection-is-this-wrong Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:02:47 +0000 metouro 12722@/community/discussions
I often feel this way because the departure from the body is more imminent whereas the bodily resurrection may come thousands of years from now.

The Disciples and the main message of the Gospel is Christ's Resurrection and our ultimate resurrection (bodily). The departure from the body will come first, the resurrection later. Most of my thoughts during my prayers, during the liturgy, during my daily contemplations are on the moment of death and my conscious life in Paradise. I give very little thought about the resurrection because I know it is much further away in time than the departure from the body. This is analogous to a student working hard and looking forward to graduation then worrying about finding a job later.

I often focus more on St. Paul saying, "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better" than Christ saying, "...I will raise him up on the last day."

As an Orthodox Christian, is it wrong to feel this way?

]]>