https://tasbeha.org/community/categories/faith-issues/p42/feed.rss Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:23:53 +0000 Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community en-CA https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8788/sex-before-marriage-the-holy-spirit-s-guidance Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:19:03 +0000 CertifiedOrthodox 8788@/community/discussions
ALthough there are many reasons (both psychological and medical) that would support not having sex until you get married, ultimately, it rests on the desire of the person to live in holiness.

This topic really upsets me when I see Christian youth, especially Coptic, unable to discern what is Holy and what is cultural and what is sinful.

The ROLE of the Holy SPirit in your lives is to be this guide. How can you neglect its voice??? What is going on????

For someone to be chaste, it emanates from the desire to love God, and want God's blessing in your life. That's it. What is stopping anyone from sleeping with anyone else? before marriage Do they not realise that this is sin?

I can find it realistic that someone who doesn't know God behaves in this way. Unless a Coptic Christian is truly angry from God, and wants to sin, there is something that is not right:

Why doesn't the Holy Spirit, that they have been graced with, at the time of their baptism, tell them whether this is right or wrong? WHy are they asking as if they are unsure whether it is right or wrong anyway!?

There is something here not right.  I just don't understand it.

I would understand it if a COptic Christian said :"Yes, I WANT to have sex before marriage, EVEN though I know this is sinful, and that is because I want to sin, and I want to be far from God, because frankly, I'm so upset with God, I want to do this".

That would be at the very least a bit understanding, but even with these bad intentions, if the Holy Spirit existed in that person, why on, or HOW on earth could they sin??

Is the Holy Spirit in me different than the Holy Spirit in someone else?? Were we not born from the same Orthodox CHurch? Do we not participate in the same sacraments?

The same with everything... how is it one priest can not sleep at night knowing that he has offended someone, and yet another can justify the most absurd acts of injustice and then give Holy Communion afterwards?? Is it NOT the same Holy Spirit that convicts the heart?? Why one person is convicted and not another??

Even if you had bad intentions, surely the Holy SPirit should have stopped you. Even the Bible says that those of God cannot sin. I mean, I know that we sin, but even if you WANT to sin, you'd find it hard to do anyway.

How comes other Copts do not?

I know very well , from my own experiences in life, that even when I am mad at God, and I WANT TO SIN, and I WANT TO REBEL, I cannot. Its hard. I find myself blocked.

I find myself stuck.. its as if , sin has lost all attractiveness - even though I want to.

How comes this same Holy Spirit doesn't work in others?? It doesnt make sense!!]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8978/genesis-3 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:30:06 +0000 Marmoura99 8978@/community/discussions
"Then the Lord said, 'Behold the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil [...]."

2. God knew that Adam and Eve would sin, so why did He create the Tree of Life, which would make them immortal?

"[...] And now, lest he put out his hand and take also fromt he tree of life, and eat, and live forever - " (second part of v. 22)

3. God created man and woman physiologically different, even before the original sin, and He knew that Adam and Eve would sin, so why is childbirth part of the punishment?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9005/my-people-and-their-god Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:49:25 +0000 Abounasarecool 9005@/community/discussions "They shall be My people and I shall be their God."

What is the spirituality behind it?

thanks]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9003/did-judas-have-the-holy-communion Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:58:39 +0000 Zoxsasi 9003@/community/discussions
Thanks]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8954/stop-drifting-from-god Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:19:35 +0000 abanoub2000 8954@/community/discussions
so my question is, how do I stay close to god while I have to deal with all this junk the devil decides to conveniently throw my way at the worst possible time? ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8933/salt-and-light-of-the-world Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:15:44 +0000 Tzegemariam 8933@/community/discussions

How can i an middle aged teenager be a light or salt in the world, in these days?
what are some examples of being a light or salt in the world and how could i accomplish doing this? What are the differences between words and idle words? I have been told that i have been more quiet lately because i have nothing to say.

This is something that i would really want to know

May God help you all and bless you ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8999/a-bit-disturbed Tue, 23 Mar 2010 05:59:36 +0000 mikeforjesus 8999@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8976/ephesians-5-5 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:17:00 +0000 Marmoura99 8976@/community/discussions and God."

How can we explain this verse using the Trinity? I'm not sure I'm wording my question properly out of fear of saying something wrong about God and His word, but I hope you understand what I'm trying to get at!]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8981/genesis-7 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:47:55 +0000 Marmoura99 8981@/community/discussions
"You shall take with you seven of each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep species alive on the face of the earth." (v. 2-3)

"Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth, two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah." (v. 8-9)


2. Is the number, one hundred and fifty, significant at all?

"And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days." (v. 24)]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8977/genesis-2 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:24:01 +0000 Marmoura99 8977@/community/discussions
"A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates."

2. At the time of Adam and Eve's creation, there were no fathers or mothers, it was just the two of them in the beginning. So, is v. 24 Moses' interpretation by the Holy Spirit as he was writing (ie. that he's explaining what happened to put into the context of the time period he was living in)?

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8982/genesis-8 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:51:27 +0000 Marmoura99 8982@/community/discussions
2. When it says "every living thing" (v. 1), does that mean all plant species as well? If not and God only created once, then how did these plant species survive the great flood?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8991/kindle Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:51:43 +0000 mikeforjesus 8991@/community/discussions
Christ Brings Division

   
49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

I am not here to teach you to fight with your parents!

]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8979/genesis-4-17 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:32:28 +0000 Marmoura99 8979@/community/discussions
"And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch." (v. 17)]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8972/the-bad-apple Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:50:15 +0000 tamoura76 8972@/community/discussions I need to understand the BAD APPLE example given from GOD?
I’ll explain why, as my previous post indicated that I was not born a Christian, so after leaving Egypt (escaping) we came to Montreal, Canada and we started our journey, but as you could all imagine we did not understand allot, we did not have the FAITH that for some odd reason is the ANSWER to all your questions from servants or priests.
We were looked at different because we questioned allot and if the answer did not make sense to us we would ask again or ask someone else.
That gave me and my 3 brothers a very bad reputation of REBELES and BAD KIDS to the point where the priest of the biggest church we were attending came to our house and ASKED US TO CHANGE CHURCHES, OR FIND ANOTHER CHURCH TO PRAY.
This priest in particular always used the BAD APPLE example and treated all the youth the same way, if you were not the TYPICAL Sunday school kid, you were out, Montreal has lost more then half of our youth to this issue.
For someone who is coming new to the faith and sees the priest treating people like this, what would you think??????
My question is: ARE WE THE BAD APPLES THAT SHOULD BE THROWN OUT OF CHURCH SO WE WILL NOT AFFECT THE GOOD APPLES????
WHAT DID GOD MEAN BY THIS EXAMPLE? ??? ??? >:(]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8967/the-boca-burger Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:44:31 +0000 andrew8345 8967@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8971/sin-vs-good-deads Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:09:27 +0000 tamoura76 8971@/community/discussions First of all do not get me wrong, I believe the church and the Bible but I find that the church since it's creation has been scaring people from GOD, in churches we mostly talk about and do Youth meetings and retreats all revolving SIN, we hardly talk about the graceness, love, compassion, forgiveness, and all might of God.
I do not feel or think that God is just waiting for us to SIN so he could keep track and punishes us later.

We seem to be focused on not being on the bad side of GOD, I do not want to be AFRAID of God, I read the VISION of Anbba Asanasious the 20th pop of our church when GOD decided to show him Heaven and Hell and the different places and levels in both.
God is strict but he is finding any excuse to get us back and forgive us, I seem to understand from the explanations of the ANGEL that was showing saint Asanasious (not sure of the correct spelling) that for people who refused God or did not believe he exists, there is no hope for them, but for us there is always hope, meaning that our sins and our GOOD DEADS will be balanced, I think it means that even if we sins (and repent) our GOOD DEADS is what's going to determine if we go to heaven or not.

My question is: SHOULD I BE FOCUSED ON SIN OR ON DOING GOOD DEADS, WHAT COUNTS FOR GOD MOST?

We are all sinners but we are not all saints
I'm sorry if it's not a valid question or maybe answered before, but just a quick heads up I HAVE NOT BEEN BORN IN THE FAITH, SO I’M TRYING TO FIND GOD ON MY OWN AND MY NAME IS THOMAS, JUST LIKE THE DISCIPLE, I NEED TO TOUCH AND REASON WITH MY HEAD TO UNDERSTAND.
Sorry for making this too long for you guys and I will be posting more questions later.
Thank you all for reading and please keep me in your prayers.
]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8980/genesis-6 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:41:05 +0000 Marmoura99 8980@/community/discussions
"There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown."

2. God is All-Knowing and He created the world, knowing the outcome. Why, then, did he see the wickedness and become upset, and regret that He created the world?

"Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart." (v. 5-6)

3. Everything that God does is precise and has meaning, so are the numbers and measurements significant in the following verse?

"And this is how you shall make it: the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits , its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits." (v. 15)]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8929/a-miracle Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:32:48 +0000 Maryilftpd 8929@/community/discussions
About 4 years ago (when I was 17) I discovered something on the side of my body, it looked to be a discolouration on my skin but was really itchy and flaky, a patch just a few shades darker than my normal skin tone, doctors couldn't really decipher what it was with certainty. Whatever it was it was about the size of a 20c peice. Anyway it grew and grew till it was about the 5 times the size to what I found it. It grew that much over a period of 3 and a half years. It would occupy my thoughts alot because something that was not meant to be there and that was not normal was sitting on the right side of my body. Doctors told me it might be a form of preliminary skin cancer because it grew in oddly similiar pattern. I was not allowed to treat it with anything until the skin specialists found out exactly what it was in case a reaction might happen with my skin. I was scheduled to have an appointment the specialists after exams in '09.

I came to a complete stop nearing the finals of my university exams. I said nothing will heal this, its been 3 and a half years; so I said the most simplest prayer to God, "God, please heal me of this thing. Have mercy upon me, a sinner, in the name of Chist. Amen". (That was the first time I had ever being vocal with God about it).

A week later after exams I came to casually check it (because I had to measure it every week for the specialists and record it in a notebook to help them with their diagnosis), checked, it wasn't there, thought to myself maybe I'm checking the wrong side, checked the left side of my body, then my right again, rubbed my eyes a few times. It was gone, no trace of it. This was about 5 months ago and still is no trace. My faith jumped a few miles ever since that because it showed me how intimate God really is, and cares about me with my small skin abnormalities even when He Himself had been scolded until His skin was in ribbons down His body for the sake of our sins.

Glory be to God Forever.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8779/benefitting-from-the-great-lent Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:50:19 +0000 user00 8779@/community/discussions As the beginning of Great Lent is this Monday, I was thinking that I really wanted to take advantage of the depth and richness of this coming fast and to transform it into a fast from sin through self-control and disicipline. I wanted ideas of spiritual practices we could employ this fast against sins we struggle and any other ways to make this fast count and to really grow and flourish spiritually from it-- after all, fasting and prayer cast out devils-- what are some practical things we can do to cast out the devils that surround us and have been tempting us?

I look forward to everyone's responses and I wish us all a most a holy and blessed fast that would be pleasing and acceptable before the Lord. ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8916/talking Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:25:58 +0000 Tzegemariam 8916@/community/discussions
I was wondering why the desert fathers always talk about silence being important
How can you be a light in the world if your always being quiet?????????

I always wonder this question

May God bless you all ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8950/blast-from-the-past-useful-threads-about-lent-and-passion-week Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:39:15 +0000 Maryilftpd 8950@/community/discussions I was just browsing the site's forum and found all these useful threads over a year old from the past concerning Lent specifically Passion Week, saving you all the time trying to find them in this huge forum; I have listed them below:

"Great Lent Resources"
http://tasbeha.org/content/community/index.php?topic=3358.0

"I assume I am allowed to study in Passion Week"
http://tasbeha.org/content/community/index.php?topic=5159.0

"Spiritual exercise during Lent (H.H. Pope Shenouda III)"
http://tasbeha.org/content/community/index.php?topic=1306.0

"Psalmos David"
http://tasbeha.org/content/community/index.php?topic=3574.0

"Computer and Holy Week"
http://tasbeha.org/content/community/index.php?topic=5123.0

"Whats the point?"
http://tasbeha.org/content/community/index.php?topic=3590.0

"Lent"
http://tasbeha.org/content/community/index.php?topic=1192.0

"Pascha Book"
http://tasbeha.org/content/community/index.php?topic=1264.0
http://tasbeha.org/content/community/index.php?topic=6436.0

"Pascha Week"
http://tasbeha.org/content/community/index.php?topic=6364.0]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8894/drawing-near-to-god Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:08:45 +0000 Marmoura99 8894@/community/discussions
There's a verse that I keep thinking about: "Resist the devil and he will flee from you, Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." I don't know where it is exactly in the Bible... this is just off the top of my head.

So, I need suggestions as to how to do just that! I appreciate that this is done by praying, reading the Bible, fasting, etc... the same standard answers, but those are not the answers I'm looking for. I need deeper answers. I need to know how to build a direct and personal relationship with God.

I heard a sermon by Abouna Antony this morning in which he explained that inside each of us, there is a "Judas" that betrays Jesus, and that the only way to get rid of that is to put our trust in God. So I was thinking that even if we put our trust in God, we won't be able to fully unless we have a close relationship with Him. Right? And this brings me back to my question: How do we do that?

Thanks,
God Bless.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8923/abba-andrawes-the-samuelite-hymns Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:19:08 +0000 kefleyohannes 8923@/community/discussions
Hi I watched the video of Abba Andrawes the Samuelite on tasbeha.org and i like the hymns alot, two especialy

The one in the 39th minute where he sing "the honest believer has precious joy and the sinner remains in sorrow when Jesus approaches him"

especially the one in the 1 hour 4 minutes that pope Kyrillos VI tells him to sing when he sings "Mariam, tell me of who did crucify your son, the hebrews killed him, raised on a cross up high....Christ my lord stood amid soldiers and officers, the governer asked him and said are you the king of the jews, pontius pilate entered and made an announcement, after much searching, i find no crime in this man, take him yourselves and judge him, because i am innocent of this pious mans blood

Does anybody know those hymns?

Thankyou for helping

Glory to God forever]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8885/how-can-i-change-someone Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:07:21 +0000 user00 8885@/community/discussions
Help? Father Peter? Anyone?

Thanks.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8910/exposing-christian-persecution-during-the-great-fast-wrong-or-right Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:14:04 +0000 kefleyohannes 8910@/community/discussions
I recently watched a youtube video about the European parliment discussing an alarming rise in the persecution of Christians worldwide, centred around Egypt....

I posted it to my friends lists and asked them to send it on because it is something we condemn as Christians and we should stand up for equality and Justice for all...

a brother who is fairly new to the Orthodox faith...responded by saying i have missed the point of the fast, which is a time for fasting and prayer and calling on God to forgive us our personal sins (which i do agree)....he calls taking notice of such things engaging in politics....

My response to the brother was that he has missed the point of the true fast as it is more than he thinks which is what our Lord describes in Isaiah 58:5-12

please express your views on whether it is right or wrong to post info about the persecution of Our Brothers and Sisters or is it contrary to the true fast?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8906/how-many-animals-did-noah-take-in-the-ark-this-is-serious Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:43:08 +0000 Marina6 8906@/community/discussions i was just reading in the bible about Noah and as i know the story, he took 2 of each animal, male and female.
but the bible says he took SEVEN of each clean animal and TWO of the unclean.
2 You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; 3 also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth. Gensis 7:2-3

How does this make sense, we were never ever taught that...

I also have another question, how many days did Noah spent in the ark?? the bible refers to so many numbers, it says

1)And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. (Gensis 7:4)
2)And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days. (Gensis 7:24)
3)The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were also stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. 3 And the waters receded continually from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters decreased. (Gensis 8:2-3)
4)Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat. (Gensis 8:4)
5)And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.(Gensis8:5)
6)  So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made (Gensis 8:6)

can someone please explain this to me, I am so lost and not sure if i understand anything
]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8903/when-should-women-cover-their-heads-in-the-church Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:12:53 +0000 Zoxsasi 8903@/community/discussions
Can someone tell me when a woman should cover her head in the Church? is it during the communion, or is it anytime when the Alter curtain is open?

What is the official answer?

How serious is it if she doesn't have it covered?

Also, for a man - what should he do/not do with respect to covering his head when the church?

Secondly, more importantly, as a deacon, do you have a role to play in correcting any of this?

For example, would you tell a man with a baseball cap on to take it off during the mass? Or is it your duty to tell a woman to cover her head during the communion? Is that the role of the deacon also, or should that be left to a priest?

Thanks]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8892/god-and-the-atom Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:05:31 +0000 geomike 8892@/community/discussions
SO PLEASE TELL ME HOW I CAN ANSWER HIS QUESTION?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8883/why-did-our-all-knowing-god-create-the-angel-lucifer-in-the-first-place Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:06:35 +0000 Marieanne 8883@/community/discussions
Keeping in mind God is All- Knowing, He knows everything before anything was created.
He knew that the angel Lucifer will become Satan and his angels will become his devils...
He knew that Adam and Eve will sin...
He knew that this would be a fallen world...
He knew that some of us will go down to hell for eternity and suffer for eternity because of our lack of repentance and confession...
He knew that He will have to send Himself to die the worst death to save us from our sins... And He also knew that some people will not believe this... And He knew that the system of this world will be under Satan’s system.
He knew that many will be cast into the lake of fire...

Then why did He create us in the beginning? And that aside, why did He create Lucifer?

It’s either this is a wisdom way over my head, or I am missing something... I’m not completely fluent with all theological concepts but maybe there is a theological concept to explain this? Perhaps we were in a worse state but this is the best state? Perhaps it’s a matter of personal choice? There is this one verse in the Bible that always comes up when I think this, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." (John 15:19) (Jesus also said that He was not from this world, "My kingdom is not from here" etc.). So does that mean that there are people of this world and people not of this world? Were we chosen? And how do we know that? Is that related to the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation?

Don’t get me wrong, I am glad He created us so we can feel the joy of family, learn and grow and there are so many benefits including a chance to enter heaven and see God. But there are not so good things about our existence also, like sin, suffering, a chance that one might end up in the lake of fire and burn and be eaten by the worms that never die that I ask myself sometimes, if God, knowing that the angel Lucifer one day and kicked out of heaven for his sin of pride and become Satan and cause the destruction of the world along with the fall of Adam and Eve and then move on to destroy the people of the world with his system, why did He create him in the first place?

I know I shouldn't be lifting heavy objects and asking huge questions, but I want to have a solid answer when this question comes up the future from children, Sunday school students, friends and colleagues.
]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8830/what-s-the-point-of-being-christian Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:15:17 +0000 CertifiedOrthodox 8830@/community/discussions
Our Sunday School teacher told us that those who keep the commandments are saved, not those that know it. He was saying that everyone who keeps God's commandments are saved (muslims, budhists, etc).

I know people that have NO idea about their Chrisitan faith, and they have forgiven very bad things that have happened to them. So, what is the benefit then of boasting about being Christian?

Christ doesn't help u forgive. Its just people want to forgive anyway.

I mean, is the being Coptic really that important when you end up with the same results (IF NOT MORE!) by not even stepping a foot inside the Church?

Thanks]]>