https://tasbeha.org/community/categories/faith-issues/p47/feed.rss Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:56:21 +0000 Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community en-CA https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8163/true-repentance-please-help Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:41:03 +0000 Ashamed 8163@/community/discussions
for example, if you lived in sin for years and years, do you really think one week of repentance will count to God?

i mean, if you sinned and hurt him for soooooo many years, how can just feeling bad for a week make God forgive you?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/7789/i-am-the-finder-of-a-loop-hole-in-our-faith Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:10:10 +0000 epshiri 7789@/community/discussions
He knows what our futhur outcomes are - either heaven or hell etc. so why force us through the suffering? And for those who are going to hell, why create them in the first place if he knows that they would fail and perish in the eternal fire?

Furthermore, what love is in forcing 'his children' through the suffering of the World and all the strict Christian laws, if three-quarters of them are to be boiled in burning sulphur for eternity?

Personally, I am of the same faith as most of you but I am wondering about this. I am not proud about my 'discovery' but I would like to know that this is a simple false alarm.

-hiccup-

Thanks!

]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8230/what-does-it-mean-to-be-lukewarm Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:28:18 +0000 sodr2 8230@/community/discussions “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”

Does it mean to be:

Matthew 23:27
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.

OR

Romans 7:18
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

I'm not sure but I think Romans 7:18 implies having an addiction? If not, does lukewarm mean having some sort of an addiction that you carry out but cannot stop?  If so, then would it be bad to pray right after committing this sin of addiction that you want to stop (because God says He prefers that we be either one or the other)?

Note how it says to 'overcome'. . . .]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8207/monastism-video Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:24:00 +0000 Kimo 214 8207@/community/discussions
The Last Anchorite
Featuriing father lazarus :)
Enjoy ;)]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8224/what-to-do Sat, 01 Aug 2009 12:29:46 +0000 mikeforjesus 8224@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8170/from-a-homily-by-st-john-chrysostom Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:17:42 +0000 godislove260 8170@/community/discussions
"I am a father for you, and a brother, a bridegroom, and a home, a nurse and a dress, a root and a cornerstone. Whatever you want I am for you. I don’t want you to be in any need. I will serve you, because I came not to be served but to serve. I am a friend, and a member, and a head, and a brother and a sister, and a mother. I am everything for you. Only be in contact with me. I have been poor for you and a wanderer for you, I have been on the cross and in the tomb for you. High above with the Father I mediate for you. Down here I arrived as an ambassador sent by the Father to you. You are everything to me, a brother and a co-heir, a friend, and a member of my body. What more do you desire?"]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8211/maybe-later Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:22:07 +0000 mikeforjesus 8211@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8204/did-christ-doubt Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:34:14 +0000 gregorytheSinner 8204@/community/discussions
Now, I'm assuming this moment, is the prayer at Gethsemane (Mark 14:32 -42).  Where God was sorrowful to the point of death, and asks the Father to take "the cup" away from him.

To be honest, although I've always known this passage, I've never really put that much thought into it.  And as a member of the Orthodox Church, i also know we don't agree with our Catholic brothers about everything.

So my question is: Do we believe that Jesus, doubted?  (I'm guessing we don't)  In that case, Whats our theological stand on this story?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8192/marriage Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:58:41 +0000 Ashamed 8192@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8188/internal-vs-external-sins Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:25:47 +0000 gregorytheSinner 8188@/community/discussions
I was discussing this with my friend not too long ago:

She thinks that although it's not the best solution... if a person can 'externally' control a sin its good enough.
I argued that it would be pointless if a person controls his 'external' sin, but maintains and harbors the 'internal' form of it; if anything internal cleansing is more important than external.

Clearly the perfect solution in this case would be to kill the entire sin, both externally and internally, but this is easier said then done.

My main argument was that a lot of people, downplay "internal" sins because they are not seen, and overplay "external" ones, because they are visable, completely disregarding our belief that sin is sin.

an example would be:
i.e. If someone caused you to be angry, and you controlled your tounge [externally not-sinning] and refrained from cursing outloud, but inside, you were cursing his entire generation [internally sinning]...  you might as well curse him externally.  it's not like its going to be counted as "two" sins, because either way its the sin of anger.

is this correct, or am i mistaken?

thanks]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8177/one-orthodox-church Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:23:09 +0000 confusedsoul 8177@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6499/what-happens-if-you-don-t-confess-and-repent-a-sin Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:54:33 +0000 6499@/community/discussions
I'd like to know something:

If someone is baptised in the Coptic Church, and they believe, have communion regularly etc, and yet have forgotten to repent and confess for a particular sin (or even several sins), what happens? Do they go to heaven or hell?

How does it work? Is it based on a points system? One mistake doesn't mean you're out, but continually sinning does result in instant disqualification?

Also, how can we enter heaven if we have not repented all our sins?

How does God view our sins that we have not repented nor confessed?? How does He view us at that moment? Does He see us as far from Him, or close to Him?? Or neither??

Also, the sins we do, are they seen by everyone in heaven, or is viewing only limited to those with certain priviledges??

I mean, let's say I do something bad, really bad... and then I confess about it. God wipes away my sin and no longer remembers it. But... what if other heavenly creatures were watching... I mean, do they forget what they've seen also?? I mean, it can be pretty awkward going to heaven with a sinful record on earth... imagine going to heaven and meeting your grandparents who watched u smoke a joint at uni or something from the comfort of their heavenly armchairs in the Bossom of our Fathers Abraham, Isaac & Jacob??? It would be pretty hard to see them in heaven...


]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8029/prove-it Fri, 22 May 2009 09:07:49 +0000 epshiri 8029@/community/discussions
I'm gonna try to get striaght to the point here,

Anecdote:

"  A guy walks up to you (friend or someone you know), says to you, hey Abe (my nickname), you know you're a Christian

yes?

So you would know about god

I hope so...

Good. Then can you proove that he is there and exists.

At this point 'Abe' blushes, begins to persperate, and claims he has a musical instrumental lesson and hurries off in the opposite diretion to the music department  "

What could I have done, given him the URLs to thousands of homilies on the topic - not a chance he will watch them all - that will just convince him that I don't know and that my reaction is trying to hide the 'truth', in his eyes.

I could have desperately clawed at distant memories of miracles which had been told to me before - errm... no

I could have brought one of my parents most prized VCR tapes filming the extraction of a demon through use of holy water - on your bike mate

I could have gone for the impressionist method using 'Bruce Lee' type philosophies, which he would not understand or try to stab holes out of  - they don't really work well

I am requesting a very short reply from an expert on the topic or someone of ecclesiastic rank to reply

- - - SHORT AND CONCISE - - -

there, i got to the point, eventually.




  ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8124/exodus-23-20-21 Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:14:50 +0000 mikeforjesus 8124@/community/discussions ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8159/effect-of-coffee Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:13:29 +0000 NeedWisdom 8159@/community/discussions
What effect does coffee have on us?

does it make us feel tired..

It is clearly known in the world to help us have energy for some time and to make us concentrate.

But does it cause too much irritation sometimes and is it a sexual stimulant? can I blame some of my temptations on this..

I feel I want to have coffee everyday.

Sorry if I have caused people now to want to abandon a beneficial product.. how do I know if the devil is tempting me? I have rebuked satan many times.






]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8149/the-others Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:26:44 +0000 the_least 8149@/community/discussions
I have a question that has been on my mind for a while.

How does God deal with the others who are not of the upright faith? If there is a faithful Muslim, or Hindu, or Buddhist, or Jew, how does God deal with them when they pray or meditate?

How is it that some of them are successful in their worldly life and are nice people if it was not God that provided?

thanks and pray for me]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8143/blasphimey-blasphemy-how-ever-you-spell-it Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:00:11 +0000 deaconmark123 8143@/community/discussions
for example: if you joke with your friends and say i am the god of the sun, would that be blashphemy and is it unforgivable]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8151/jews-for-jesus-christian-orthodoxy Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:45:12 +0000 8151@/community/discussions
In terms of just understanding where the Orthodox Church stands, what is our position with respect to Groups such as Jews For Jesus - these are jewish people (as far as I know) that believe that Jesus Christ IS the Messiah.

Of course that literally makes them Christian, but they do not see themselves as "Christian" but as "completed Jews" because they feel the jewish traditions that they were raised with are extremely relevant in their Christian belief.

Of course it is good news for people like Saint Paul who was saddened by the fact that the Gentiles believed, yet God's own people did not acknowledge Him.

But, wouldn't that make these people just as Orthodox as us? What exactly divides them from us dogmatically or theologically??

Many thanks]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8142/giving-your-10ths-to-god Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:28:42 +0000 8142@/community/discussions
What is the best way to give your 10ths to God?
Should you give a standing-order direct debit to the Church each month? or do you think its best to be creative and give to different churches each month?

What are spiritual fruits we gain when we give cheerfully?

How should you give?

Thanks]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8125/youtube-video-way-of-the-master Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:14:26 +0000 mikeforjesus 8125@/community/discussions

This video is good

]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/1102/father-anthony-messeh Wed, 19 Jan 2005 17:37:20 +0000 1102@/community/discussions

R.I.P ARMANIOUS FAMILY,
R.I.P GEORGE RAGHEB.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8102/praying-in-tongues Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:54:02 +0000 8102@/community/discussions
You know in the prayers for the Pentecost, the readings of the Bible were all about how the apostles prayed "in tongues" - and something about someone "interpreting" such languages.

What exactly was all that about? What happened?

Did they find themselves speaking strange langauges that no one else understood - that was only understandable by one of them (the interpretor) - or was it a language that actually existed?

]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8090/fine-linen Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:47:22 +0000 mikeforjesus 8090@/community/discussions
Hey I realised this is the wrong forum or thread. I should have put it in random or youth topics. Its too late now.. Can you just answer it anyway

What was wrong with the man in the parable who wore fine linen everyday and ate good meals everyday? apart from rejecting poor lazarus?









]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8105/what-must-i-do-to-be-saved-acts-16-30 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:06:56 +0000 skeptictank 8105@/community/discussions
Would someone be willing to explain to me from the perspective of Coptic Orthodox doctrine the answer to the question posed in the subject heading?

"What must I do to be saved"?

Love in Christ,

Skeptictank]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/4271/why-does-god-make-us-live-life-when-he-knows-our-future Mon, 14 Aug 2006 03:39:45 +0000 epshiri 4271@/community/discussions
God loves us and all so he has given us freedom - whats the point! He knows our acts so why?

Please do not give me info sources as I have read many on this subject.
Pray for me.

]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8089/joseph-the-carpenter-or-saint-joseph-the-carpenter Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:48:09 +0000 epshiri 8089@/community/discussions
This I can understand - yes she bore christ and is therefore important etc.

But what about Joseph who provided for the holy family, fended for them and made countless sacrifices for them as a whole.

His action were hardly recorded and he practically fathered the child God.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8093/i-don-t-know-how-to-pray Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:53:57 +0000 geomike 8093@/community/discussions
        When i pray i don't know what to say, and i don't really know how to pray from the heart. People speak of how much comfort and benefits they get from prayer, but i have no idea what it feels like.


If you could help me brothers and sisters i would appreciate it.

Pray for me,
Michael]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8038/some-food-for-thought Mon, 25 May 2009 03:22:02 +0000 rpm 8038@/community/discussions                 Here is something that got me thinking during the weekend. My neighbor, is a Christian (protestant) who tragically lost her husband in January this year. Since then, she has been working hard at an average-paying job to support her children and herself. Despite the odds, she has been bravely carrying on, tying up the numerous loose ends, sending her children to high school and college, paying rent etc... People familiar with residency rules in the Arabian Gulf states will know that it is extremely hard for an Asian non-Muslim expat woman and her children to live here without the husband sponsoring the family. Hence I had assumed that she would be packing up and leaving the country for good as she wouldn’t be able to stay here with children as legal residents.

        Now, during these months following her bereavement, she has almost unbelievably taken over the reins of her family. Almost magically, God seems to be working in unbelievable ways, clearing legal hurdles, helping her children through the exams, securing a job for her elder son in these hard times…etc. Things slowly seem to be falling in place for them after all the agony and grief in losing their dear one. However, rather than drown in self-pity or drift with the tide, she seems to be guided by God in leading the family on the road ahead. She always has a word of prayer and encouragement whenever I meet her at the gate.  I tend to realize that such peace and calmness in the face of tribulations comes from being firmly grounded in the Lord, having courage to make hard choices, faithfully persevering through hardship, knowing fully well that He will not let go of us if we seek Him constantly. Such instances tend to awaken us from our complacent, judgmental and self-righteous tendencies while interacting with people from faiths somewhat different from our own. I am inclined to ask why some people (myself included) waste time and resources arguing about peripheral issues when so much can be learned from just watching certain people respond to trials that life throws at them. 

        Consider the story of the prostitute woman who was on the verge of being stoned to death. Our Lord asks him who has never sinned to cast the first stone. When we make note of how we neglect our prayer life, how much our equation with God leaves undesired, how we take His blessings for granted, that’s when we realize how less we have traveled and learned in our journey of faith.

GBU,
R

]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/7970/the-christ-arose-himself Sun, 10 May 2009 23:02:38 +0000 socoolbishoy 7970@/community/discussions
so not to interfere in other topics, I thought why not discuss this on a separate topic... openly!

lets take it one by one... The Christ... not much explanation needed... because He is The Christ...

arose Himself... when I say he arose Himself, it is because of His own will and power He arose Himself...

I do not know what to "argue" about, so I'll just leave it for those who don't like it to start with their point of view... then I will respond!

Truly, The Christ arose Himself!

nakhod el baraka... neshkor Allah! ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/7969/i-feel-angry-at-all-the-evil-in-the-world Sun, 10 May 2009 20:14:28 +0000 7969@/community/discussions