Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community

Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community https://tasbeha.org/community/categories/faith-issues/p55/feed.rss Mon, 22 Jun 2026 20:26:39 +0000 Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community en-CA Summer is Here or almost here for some https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6692/summer-is-here-or-almost-here-for-some Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:26:57 +0000 PopeKyrillos 6692@/community/discussions
I would like to congratulate everyone on tasbeha.org on finishing their school-year whether college or high-school. As for those who haven't finished yet, I wish you good luck on your remaining finals or your last few days of school. Whether you've started summer or not, I would like to say a few things. We need to remember to focus more on God in our lives these next few months. We don't have the excuse of not praying or reading the bible enough because of school-work and studying. We are absolutely free of studying and school which means we should basically double if not triple the time we read the bible and pray during the summer. Summer is also a bad thing for some of us too including myself since we spend too much time on TV and im'ing people on MSN and AIM. AIM and MSN are really not bad, but they can be because they cause us to sin by talking too much with people. We should use our time wisely. I'm not saying we shouldn't touch the computer, but we shouldn't dramatically increase the time we spend on it over the summer. Same with watching TV. Most people tell themselves that they will pray more in the summer and read the bible more but once summer comes, they find that they've barely prayed or read the bible. Some people read the bible and pray more in the School Year than they do when they are off. I hope everyone increases spiritually this summer since especially these days, the world needs Christians more than ever to keep the word of God alive on earth. The world is entering a stage of crisis and I think we all need to start praying if not fasting for things to get better such as Gas-Prices, War in Iraq and Afghanistan, Countries which stand as a threat to us, a Good Christ-Loving President for the United States who helps out our Country and the rest of the world and the poor people who are especially increasing these days and just so God has mercy on us since his wrath is definately starting to flare up. It seems that we are nearing the end of the world and I think this is the time where we need to hold hands as Christians and show the entire world who we are and Our Mighty God who desires the repentance of everyone of us. I hope this summer is peaceful and relaxing and I also hope that it's a lot of fun too. But always put God as your first priority.

PK ]]> Sin (leading/not leading) to death 1 John 5:16-17 https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6488/sin-leading-not-leading-to-death-1-john-5-16-17 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:30:16 +0000 f753789 6488@/community/discussions can some1 pls explain to me wat the bolded part means? i find it kind of confusing and contradicting itself in a way..i dont understand it..pls help me with it..

1 John 5:13-21

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

thank u in advance..

pls keep my weakness in ur prayers
-sister in Chirst
]]> Punishment for our sins https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6669/punishment-for-our-sins Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:53:53 +0000 6669@/community/discussions
I'd like to ask a question concerning the punishment for our sins.

Let's say that someone sins.. (whetever sin), and he repents. Does God punish him/her still despite repentance of that person?

For example... King David sinned. He committed adultary & killed someone (Uriah). Now, someone raped his daughter, and his own son tried to kill him. Also, his 1st born from Bethsheba was taken from him (he died). Is all this punishment for his sins?? Or is it just co-incidence?

Lets assume there are 2 possible outcomes:
Case 1) You are punished on earth for your sins
Case 2) You are not punished on earth for your sins.

Questions on Case 1)
* This leads to several questions. What happens if someone literally gets away with murder. They die. They repent, but they haven't been punished in anyway for it.
What's their outcome? Spiritually?

* Does this imply that our repentance is futile?

* Does punishment reciprocate into the family? So, for the example of David, his son died. His son somehow was punished for his father's sins.

Questions on Case 2)

OK.. so let's say that there is no punishment - but a person repents for his/her sins. But they've just basically gotten away with murder. They've repented and confessed it. How does God deal with that?

* What can they expect to receive from God?
* Is this in anyway just?
]]> Liturgy! What does it mean? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6686/liturgy-what-does-it-mean Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:05:05 +0000 topdawg 6686@/community/discussions
I want to learn more about the liturgy in church and what everything Abouna does means. I know everything has a meaning and I know a little but I would like to learn a lot more so the liturgy can mean more to me as I sit through it. Any idea as to where I can get information on what the liturgy means step by step from the blessing of the bread to communion and why everything is done the way its done?

Thanks

Pray for me

C]]> The Bible in Greek https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6657/the-bible-in-greek Thu, 29 May 2008 20:28:30 +0000 6657@/community/discussions
This is the version published by Αποστολική Διακονία της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος, which is the version used by all Greek speaking Orthodox churches around the world.

Παλαιά Διαθήκη - Old Testament

Καινή Διαθήκη - New Testament

Hope this will be of help to people.]]> Modern day beggers https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6607/modern-day-beggers Fri, 16 May 2008 23:20:57 +0000 mikeforjesus 6607@/community/discussions

]]> Greek Text. https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5982/greek-text Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:57:38 +0000 Meena_Ameen 5982@/community/discussions
God Bless]]> Bible study https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6489/bible-study Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:31:35 +0000 Marmoura99 6489@/community/discussions I just a Orthodox Study Bible so I'm very excited about it! I'm wondering if any of you (or ALL of you) would be interested in having an online bible study. We'd set a number of chapeters to read per week and then we'd discuss them here. What do you think?

I thought it'd be nice to go in chronological order, so we can start on Genesis and make our way throughout the Bible from there. Let's say we read Genesis 1 - 7 this week.

Let me know if this is too much to read in one week or if you're just not interested!

I already went ahead and read a couple of chapters last week, but I'll read them again to stay with the group.

I do have a question, though, to start us off:
"earth was invisible... the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the water." Genesis 1: 2-3

How can earth and water exist before God began his creation? When did God create them? What existed before the earth and the water?]]> Beauty Contests https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6654/beauty-contests Thu, 29 May 2008 07:32:45 +0000 6654@/community/discussions
Here's one topic that no one has ever really discussed yet.

WHat is the orthodox view on Beauty Contests? Is that immoral? Is it vanity?
Or is it just, as the Brits would say, "havin a laugh"? "A harmless bit of fun?"

THanks
Pray for me,]]> Inspirational story https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6656/inspirational-story Thu, 29 May 2008 11:04:50 +0000 flexmd 6656@/community/discussions Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come” John 2:4

Due to cut in budget, everyone, where he worked at a residency program, felt changes are coming and there is an obvious plan to cut down on the staff. He started whispering “my time has not yet come”. Unexpectedly, the program director called him to her office and he kept repeating “my time has not yet come”. When he walked to her office she started asking him who we should get rid of? He whispered again “Dear woman, why do you involve me?"

Long story short, he explained the strength every one has and how the entire program will be affected by losing anyone. Two months later he was promoted to chief resident even he wasn’t the most senior resident.

I thought I would share his story; please feel free to share yours.
]]> Why???? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6630/why Sun, 25 May 2008 05:45:59 +0000 abosefien 6630@/community/discussions What should I do? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6610/what-should-i-do Mon, 19 May 2008 06:13:55 +0000 helpmelordjesus 6610@/community/discussions Apostle's Fast https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6589/apostle-s-fast Tue, 13 May 2008 13:39:12 +0000 yousiegtennis 6589@/community/discussions Did anyone here use the islam.com forum b4? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/274/did-anyone-here-use-the-islam-com-forum-b4 Fri, 21 May 2004 23:08:33 +0000 mike_henain 274@/community/discussions Father of Confession (FoC) https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/676/father-of-confession-foc Tue, 05 Oct 2004 20:54:59 +0000 youst718 676@/community/discussions
i recentyl had a problem that iw as keeping between me and God and a couple of close friends... i was too embarassed/scared/ashamed i gues to tell abouna... but one of these firneds (older/advisor/sunday school teacher type) encouraged me and motivated me to go ahead and tell abouna about it... im veryyy happy to say that simply getting it out made such a big differnece in the way i feel about life ... it was like an immense weight off my shoulders and im soo thankful that God has granted us the wonderful opportunity to redeem ourselves through confession.. so heres a thank you to abouna yacoub and all abouna's around the world for taking up such responsibility and thank you to God for giving them the right to abolve us and us the privelage to be absolved... :)]]> 666 anyone? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6579/666-anyone Mon, 12 May 2008 10:21:05 +0000 6579@/community/discussions
What does the Church say about this number?? Apparently its the sign of the anti-Christ. What do our Church fathers say this sign is?

I was just taking a look at history to see what was going on around 666 AD, and i couldn't help notice something really weired:

It was the rise of Islam. In fact, the period when Islam flourished was in 678 AD (the Siege of Constantinople) - this really butchered the Christianity.

If i subtract 678 AD from the Date that Christ died, i get 666 (i mean, more or less).

But, perhaps i'm just speculating... or thinking aloud, i'll wait for the Professionals to write and explain the meaning behind 666.

Thanks,]]> Our Divinity https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/5832/our-divinity Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:14:05 +0000 5832@/community/discussions
However, protestants and baptists do not see this. They see themselves as Divine. And what gave them that right to think this way? (even though they are baptised by men, not by priests?)

They read Saint Peter's words in 2 PETER 1 to 4:

2Pe 1:4 by which means He has given to us the very great and precious promises, so that through these you might be partakers of the divine nature, escaping from the corruption in the world by lust.

They think they are partakers of the Divine nature in that they have become Divine. But how can they say that? What does Saint Peter mean here when he says that we become partakers of the divine nature?? They have ALL understood this as they are all Godly and like Gods, and absolutely Divine.

Please tell me what u think.

Below are the passages that talk about adoption.

Romans 8:12

So, then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to flesh,
for if you live according to flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the practices of the body, you will live.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery again to fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba! Father!
The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God.
And if children, also heirs; truly heirs of God, and joint-heirs of Christ, if indeed we suffer together, that we may also be glorified together.

Galatians:

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, having come into being out of a woman, having come under Law,
that He might redeem the ones under Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba! Father!
So that you no more are a slave, but a son, and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ.
But then, indeed, not knowing God, you served as slaves to the ones by nature not being gods.
But now, knowing God, but rather being known by God, how do you turn again to the weak and poor elements to which you desire again to slave anew?
]]> Apsotles' Fast History https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6595/apsotles-fast-history Wed, 14 May 2008 21:00:01 +0000 marmar_marmoora 6595@/community/discussions Romans https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6570/romans Fri, 09 May 2008 02:31:39 +0000 6570@/community/discussions
I was reading the Acts of the Apostles, and i found it very easy to understand. Then I came to Romans. I began to understand it, and then it lost me... then I understood a verse, then whatever I thought I understood, i realised i didnt understand anything...

Its hard to say from which point I'd like an explanation, but if there's ONE verse I have to chose from, it would be this:

Romans 14:23 (now, u can go a few verses back to get the full context, but look at what St Paul says:)

But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Thanks for any explanation, or even if someone can just send me a link of the homilies of the fathers for Romans 14. (or for the entire book of Romans even).]]> Church youth going down a hill https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/84/church-youth-going-down-a-hill Sun, 08 Feb 2004 19:49:15 +0000 wfhanna1 84@/community/discussions I have more of a concern than anything
I am in a Coptic Orthodox Church and my concern is that the church and the parents gave the teenagers in my church a circle of allowed things to do but then they start shrinking (making smaller smaller) that circle to the point that the kids just got fed up and started to do stuff behind their parents back
If i tell the kids go talk to your parents they will tell me ooh you are one of them now and i will loose their trust and if i tell the parents they will punish their kids in which case i will loose the kids trust and the parents will just stay the same
what should i do??? i am very sad to see the church youth start going down a very steep hill
:-\]]> Toll Houses https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6562/toll-houses Thu, 08 May 2008 02:40:45 +0000 LOVER 6562@/community/discussions How can we do good acts? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6573/how-can-we-do-good-acts Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:30 +0000 6573@/community/discussions
Im in Turkey this week. SOmething happened that made me think of this issue. Something really bad in fact. I honestly regret not doing more. Praying for people silently sometimes is not enough. If u see something wrong, I truly think you should speak out. Even saying :"that's wrong". I know it could make u unpopular by speaking out, but the other alternative is much worse. The alternative is what i'm feeling now: in need of an absolution for not doing more.

I found myself in a situation just this week where I was praying for someone who proposed something very indecent. I honestly regret not doing more than just praying for them.

Perhaps I'm zealous.. i don't know, but prayer without action isn't good. Its like if I see a man going to kill someone, and all I do is pray that no one is injured... i feel that my prayer is just an excuse to not do any good acts sometimes.

I'm pretty sure now that me not doing more was wrong because of how I feel now. I have no peace in my heart. I was saying to myself :"its none of my business what people do, so i'll just pray for them". Despite the fact that I tried to draw their attention that its wrong, it wasn't enough to make me feel absolved. I'm still searching for an absolution in my heart for what I didnt do, and I find no comfort in the justification that "i prayed for them silently".

Prayer, without any action is not good. Its like meeting someone who is poor and needs food, clothing,money and love, and all you have to say or offer them is the well known cliché :"I'll pray for you". It seems really dishonest. ]]> Christ's descent into Hades https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6569/christ-s-descent-into-hades Thu, 08 May 2008 22:14:53 +0000 Hezekiel 6569@/community/discussions
I have a very simple question. What was the purpose of Christ's descent into Hades? Is Hades or Sheol another word for Hell? Apart from the following verse " 1 Peter 3:19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison",are there any other exact refernces in the bible that declare Christ's descent into the nether world?
]]> Saints' Prayers https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6548/saints-prayers Sun, 04 May 2008 21:50:18 +0000 PopeKyrillos 6548@/community/discussions
so pretty much all coptic people ask for the intercession of Pope Kyrillos during finals week which is the same for pretty much most Americans. Does Pope Kyrillos really pray for EVERYONE that asks for his intercessions during that week? Can he really keep track of all the people asking for his help? I am in no way doubting the power of the saints but isn't that a little too much even for them? Cuz they definately aren't equal with God as far as their capabilities.

PK]]> HOW TO MAKE AN ORTHODOX PRAYER ROPE https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/3969/how-to-make-an-orthodox-prayer-rope Fri, 02 Jun 2006 22:18:03 +0000 bentelkenesia 3969@/community/discussions How to tie an Orthodox Prayer Rope knot
i watch a video for only 5 minutes but it's not that clear
i didn't half way and i couldn't fellow after that i get confused couldn't continue :'(
is there a full video but cheap which means a video that it's show step by step
i get the materials and i get two different color so i don't get confuse when i start to work on it.
so guys do you have any idea :-\
]]> The Shroud of Turin. Fake? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6374/the-shroud-of-turin-fake Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:00:49 +0000 abflab91 6374@/community/discussions
Doesnt this then show that The Shroud of Turin is not the actual linen of Christ since it is one large piece of linen showing the whole body and the face, and in the gospel it says that the linen that covered his head was folded and put away seperate from the linen that covered His body?]]> sCienTifiC eVIdEnCe=?? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6540/scientific-evidence Thu, 01 May 2008 17:34:36 +0000 6540@/community/discussions
/
mahraeel
plzz p4m sister in Christ]]> Coptic Bible https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6447/coptic-bible Sat, 05 Apr 2008 10:17:24 +0000 Schoyen 6447@/community/discussions
I'm currently working very hard to read Coptic. I've managed to translate Matthew's Gospel all the way through, and have also translated some of Mark as well. I use a critical edition of Sahidic and Bohairic Coptic produced back at the beginning of the 1900s by a non-Copt scholar named Horner. Unfortunately, only the New Testament is available.

What do Copts use for their Bible now? I searched the forum some and found one thread which recommended New KJV (NKJV) and NIV, and even RSV. But what do scholars of the Coptic church read? Surely they don't read the English versions. Surely they read from their own Coptic Bibles!

If so, I really need a copy for myself, but cannot find one.

This is especially critical for me in regard to the Old Testament, since I only have access to about 25% of the Old Testament books through scattered manuscripts published in various books hither and yon.

I would appreciate any help!

Thanks]]> EVOLUTION! https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6421/evolution Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:28:02 +0000 icocbechristos 6421@/community/discussions well I would like to know who has a pdf. file or other computer
document about EVOLUTION BEING FALSE! & if he can send it to me because I am with
a fight about my Faith of christian against evolution if anyone could help me, it would be appreciated!
my e-mail is (icocbechristos@hotmail.com)
God bless you All! amen.
]]> Pacifism https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6500/pacifism Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:34:19 +0000 clay 6500@/community/discussions
It seems based on fictitious ideas of what it means to:
- love your neighbour
- to forgive your neighbour
- the corporate will versus the individual will

It also insults:
- the Old Testament
- Any Law in the history of time
- the duty and the dignity of those of our courageous troups

I can go on forever. It just puzzles me why such a great man, such as the Bishop of Rome, seems to be railing about this.]]>