Mute

Don't mute Mujus. You'll miss the day when he realizes God won't give him a medal.

That truly is the only reason why I haven't muted him yet..., anxiously awaiting that day and... aside of all the religious brainwashing he tries to do... many of his other posts really are good and thought provoking. So is life... take the bad with the good.

@Mujus
dont you think that all those quotations are vague and up for interpretation ?

Why did you make a new thread? Since you unmuted me and stopped spamming the forums with new threads like this, I took it to mean that you had decided to keep your bible to one thread. I now have about ten muted threads with your name on them. We don't need another one. If the first one died due to inactivity, take that as a sign, please. I don't like Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses beating on my door, I don't like having to mute more threads on the same topic for the tenth time.

Dumbie, I lost the last one, but muting takes only about 5% of the energy you have expended in protest. What's with that?

It's more fun to argue, remember? I'm with, uhh… everyone else on this one.

BoSox, Oh yeah, more fun to argue. Good point--lol. Then DB should be thanking me I guess!
Loowkey, yeah, some parts of the Bible are definitely not clear at first glance. You're right about that--but this book, Proverbs, starts off talking about pursuing wisdom, which can lead to a good understanding of the truths of the Bible.

Im glad you keep this thread going Mujus keep it up. I applaud you

Im an atheist. I live my life following these general principles. To me they are commen sense. Therefore whats the big deal about this Bible

dub, just mute Mujus if you don't like any of his threads.

Tell me, Mujus, if your own lack of vigilance lost the last thread and the community didn't keep it going in your stead, what makes you think the community wants this thread? Or is it a divine mission God appointed for you? That you have broken your promise to keep this to one thread MULTIPLE times and have decided to do so YET AGAIN reflects back on your Jesus and makes me not desire him all the more.

DB, you are exaggerating, and besides that, you are taking offense where none is meant. I am keeping the Daily Bible Reading to one post at a time, plus another occasional one on favorite Bible verses which you may or may not have seen. It's a shame that someone who is obviously as tender as you isn't open to God/Jesus' message though. He's reaching out to you.

Thank you for the encouragement, Nemesis! Loowkey, you are absolutely correct that the Book of Proverbs is mostly common sense--but I for one can benefit from a reminder from time to time, and there are a lot of people who don't seem to have much common sense at all, and this book can Really help them! But if you are asking how the Bible and Christianity are different from other religions, here we go:

The Bible tells the story of God revealing himself to the world through his dealings with Israel in the Old Testament, pointing out his great love for us and our stubborn propensity to go our own way and ignore or disobey God. That leads to our need for a rescue, for someone to pay the price for our sins, and that's Jesus. All other religions are about doing good to get to heaven, or nirvana, or a certain level of the afterlife, but Christianity is about trusting God and depending on him rather than on our own good works/goodness, because we can't get there from here without his help. That's it!

Wouldnt it be a more challenging adventure without Him?
What do you mean "...we can't get there from here..." where is "there"?

Loowkey, life *with* God is amazingly challenging, but in a very satisfying way, while life *without God ends up being hopeless in the end. The good thing is that you don't have to be "good" to be saved--just willing to turn to God, receive his forgiveness, and trust him both for your life and for what comes after death. "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted unto him as righteousness."

The Bible reading for August 21 is Proverbs 11
New Living Translation (NLT)

1 The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales,
but he delights in accurate weights.

2 Pride leads to disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.

3 Honesty guides good people;
dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

4 Riches won’t help on the day of judgment,
but right living can save you from death.

5 The godly are directed by honesty;
the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

6 The godliness of good people rescues them;
the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

7 When the wicked die, their hopes die with them,
for they rely on their own feeble strength.

8 The godly are rescued from trouble,
and it falls on the wicked instead.

9 With their words, the godless destroy their friends,
but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

10 The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed;
they shout for joy when the wicked die.

11 Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper,
but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.

12 It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor;
a sensible person keeps quiet.

13 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
there is safety in having many advisers.

15 There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt;
it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.

16 A gracious woman gains respect,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Your kindness will reward you,
but your cruelty will destroy you.

18 Evil people get rich for the moment,
but the reward of the godly will last.

19 Godly people find life;
evil people find death.

20 The Lord detests people with crooked hearts,
but he delights in those with integrity.

21 Evil people will surely be punished,
but the children of the godly will go free.

22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

23 The godly can look forward to a reward,
while the wicked can expect only judgment.

24 Give freely and become more wealthy;
be stingy and lose everything.

25 The generous will prosper;
those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

26 People curse those who hoard their grain,
but they bless the one who sells in time of need.

27 If you search for good, you will find favor;
but if you search for evil, it will find you!

28 Trust in your money and down you go!
But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.

29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.
The fool will be a servant to the wise.

30 The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life;
a wise person wins friends.[a]

31 If the righteous are rewarded here on earth,
what will happen to wicked sinners?[b]

Footnotes:a.Proverbs 11:30 Or and those who win souls are wise.
b.Proverbs 11:31 Greek version reads If the righteous are barely saved, / what will happen to godless sinners? Compare 1 Pet 4:18.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2011&version=NLT

@ Mujus - good stuff, buddy, keep it coming. Even if Proverbs were only common sense it'd be good...common sense isn't very common, as they say.

I agree with most of these proverbs. I just wish those people who wear religious badges would actually follow this way of life

is it true that some religious people think its ok to do harm to atheists
I have become aware that some Christians believe that atheists dont have morals

@Loowkey, I sure wish people who wear religious badges would follow this way of life too! No disagreement there at all. And there may be - probably are - religious people who think it's okay to harm atheists, but they are fundamentally unhinged from the life and teachings of Jesus.

Thanks thats what i wanted to hear.

FG, thanks for the encouragement! And Loowkey, I agree completely with what FlemGem said.

Oh wow this looks really fun I wanna play too.

If a man still prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall say to him, "You shall not live, because you have spoken a lie in the name of the Lord." When he prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall thrust him through. (Zechariah 13:3 NAB)

The LORD is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and wrath. He takes revenge on all who oppose him and furiously destroys his enemies! The LORD is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet. At his command the oceans and rivers dry up, the lush pastures of Bashan and Carmel fade, and the green forests of Lebanon wilt. In his presence the mountains quake, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles, and its people are destroyed. Who can stand before his fierce anger? Who can survive his burning fury? His rage blazes forth like fire, and the mountains crumble to dust in his presence. The LORD is good. When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge. And he knows everyone who trusts in him. But he sweeps away his enemies in an overwhelming flood. He pursues his foes into the darkness of night. (Nahum 1:2-8 NLT)



"I have wiped out many nations, devastating their fortress walls and towers. Their cities are now deserted; their streets are in silent ruin. There are no survivors to even tell what happened. I thought, 'Surely they will have reverence for me now! Surely they will listen to my warnings, so I won't need to strike again.' But no; however much I punish them, they continue their evil practices from dawn till dusk and dusk till dawn." So now the LORD says: "Be patient; the time is coming soon when I will stand up and accuse these evil nations. For it is my decision to gather together the kingdoms of the earth and pour out my fiercest anger and fury on them. All the earth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy. "On that day I will purify the lips of all people, so that everyone will be able to worship the LORD together. My scattered people who live beyond the rivers of Ethiopia will come to present their offerings. (Zephaniah 3:6-10 NLT)

"I will sweep away everything in all your land," says the LORD. "I will sweep away both people and animals alike. Even the birds of the air and the fish in the sea will die. I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble, along with the rest of humanity," says the LORD. "I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with my fist and destroy every last trace of their Baal worship. I will put an end to all the idolatrous priests, so that even the memory of them will disappear. For they go up to their roofs and bow to the sun, moon, and stars. They claim to follow the LORD, but then they worship Molech, too. So now I will destroy them! And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the LORD's guidance or seek my blessings." (Zephaniah 1:2-6 NLT)



Then, with Micah's idols and his priest, the men of Dan came to the town of Laish, whose people were peaceful and secure. They attacked and killed all the people and burned the town to the ground. There was no one to rescue the residents of the town, for they lived a great distance from Sidon and had no allies nearby. This happened in the valley near Beth-rehob.Then the people of the tribe of Dan rebuilt the town and lived there. They renamed the town Dan after their ancestor, Israel's son, but it had originally been called Laish. (Judges 18:27-29 NLT)

"Go up, my warriors, against the land of Merathaim and against the people of Pekod. Yes, march against Babylon, the land of rebels, a land that I will judge! Pursue, kill, and completely destroy them, as I have commanded you," says the LORD. "Let the battle cry be heard in the land, a shout of great destruction". (Jeremiah 50:21-22 NLT)



Meanwhile, the LORD instructed one of the group of prophets to say to another man, "Strike me!" But the man refused to strike the prophet. Then the prophet told him, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me." And sure enough, when he had gone, a lion attacked and killed him. (1 Kings 20:35-36 NLT)

If even then you remain hostile toward me and refuse to obey, I will inflict you with seven more disasters for your sins. I will release wild animals that will kill your children and destroy your cattle, so your numbers will dwindle and your roads will be deserted. (Leviticus 26:21-22 NLT)



Likewise, you wives should be subordinate to your husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives' conduct when they observe your reverent and chaste behavior. (1 Peter 3:1-2 NAB)

You [God] fixed the earth on its foundation, never to be moved. (Psalm 104:5 NAB)

The LORD then gave these further instructions to Moses: 'Tell the people of Israel to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you forever. It helps you to remember that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. Yes, keep the Sabbath day, for it is holy. Anyone who desecrates it must die; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community. Work six days only, but the seventh day must be a day of total rest. I repeat: Because the LORD considers it a holy day, anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death.' (Exodus 31:12-15 NLT)



Years before, David had gone to Edom with Joab, his army commander, to bury some Israelites who had died in battle. While there, the Israelite army had killed nearly every male in Edom. Joab and the army had stayed there for six months, killing them. (1 Kings 11:15-16 NLT)



But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence. [spoken by Jesus as a parable] (Luke 19:27 NRS)

Lo, a day shall come for the Lord when the spoils shall be divided in your midst. And I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem for battle: the city shall be taken, houses plundered, women ravished; half of the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be removed from the city. (Zechariah 14:1-2 NAB)

Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and equitable but also to those who are perverse. (1 Peter 2:18 NAB)

Slaves are to be under the control of their masters in all respects, giving them satisfaction, not talking back to them or stealing from them, but exhibiting completely good faith, so as to adorn the doctrine of God our savior in every way. (Titus 2:9-10 NAB)

"Make ready to slaughter his sons for the guilt of their fathers; Lest they rise and possess the earth, and fill the breadth of the world with tyrants." (Isaiah 14:21 NAB)

"When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property." Exodus 21:20-21 NAB

"If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her." Deuteronomy 22:28-29

"Happy those who seize your children and smash them against a rock." Psalms 137:9 NAB

Sicarius, that's a lot of food for serious thought. I found it somewhat disjointed though, there wasn't much context, either texutual or historical. Could you spell out for me a little more what you were trying to get across? Sorry if I'm a bit dense or something.

Sicarious, so you point is that God punishes those who break his commandments, break his law? That's absolutely correct--but it's only part of the story, and not the best part!
I think I can explain this in four points: 1) God is infinitely holy, a bright burning light, and darkness of any kind cannot survive in his presence. He hates sin and is absolutely just in condemning it, and the penalty is death. 2) God gave man free will, and each man and woman, starting with Adam and Eve, has chosen to disobey, except one--Jesus. 3) God loved man so much that he sent Jesus to take upon himself the full penalty for our sins, so that everyone who trusts in him, who accepts his payment for our sins, is counted as righteous--not for our own good works, but because of Jesus. 4) In some mysterious way, Jesus IS God, so God himself became human, lived a short lifetime on Earth, said "I and the Father are one," "When you have seen me, you have seen the Father." Way back in the second book of the Bible, Exodus, we see God saying "I have seen their tears and I have come down to deliver (rescue) them," and later in the Old Testament he promises a savior for Israel, Emmanuel, which means "God with us." Psalm 22 and Isaiah both foretell a suffering messiah.
Conclusion: Even knowing in advance that people would choose to rebel, to sin, God planned a way for them to come to him anyway. This shows his great love for us, and he even adopts us into his eternal family although no one in any way deserves it, because our sin separates us from God. And that's about it.

"you point" = "your point"

The Bible reading for August 22 is Proverbs 12
New Living Translation (NLT)

1 To learn, you must love discipline;
it is stupid to hate correction.

2 The Lord approves of those who are good,
but he condemns those who plan wickedness.

3 Wickedness never brings stability,
but the godly have deep roots.

4 A worthy wife is a crown for her husband,
but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.

5 The plans of the godly are just;
the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

6 The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush,
but the words of the godly save lives.

7 The wicked die and disappear,
but the family of the godly stands firm.

8 A sensible person wins admiration,
but a warped mind is despised.

9 Better to be an ordinary person with a servant
than to be self-important but have no food.

10 The godly care for their animals,
but the wicked are always cruel.

11 A hard worker has plenty of food,
but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.

12 Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot,
but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit.

13 The wicked are trapped by their own words,
but the godly escape such trouble.

14 Wise words bring many benefits,
and hard work brings rewards.

15 Fools think their own way is right,
but the wise listen to others.

16 A fool is quick-tempered,
but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

17 An honest witness tells the truth;
a false witness tells lies.

18 Some people make cutting remarks,
but the words of the wise bring healing.

19 Truthful words stand the test of time,
but lies are soon exposed.

20 Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;
joy fills hearts that are planning peace!

21 No harm comes to the godly,
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

22 The Lord detests lying lips,
but he delights in those who tell the truth.

23 The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge,
but fools broadcast their foolishness.

24 Work hard and become a leader;
be lazy and become a slave.

25 Worry weighs a person down;
an encouraging word cheers a person up.

26 The godly give good advice to their friends;[a]
the wicked lead them astray.

27 Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch,
but the diligent make use of everything they find.

28 The way of the godly leads to life;
that path does not lead to death.
Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 12:26 Or The godly are cautious in friendship; or The godly are freed from evil. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2012&version=NLT