I wish they could lose the cheesy reverb effect in their video. It does nothing to add to the credibility and actually makes some of the words unintelligible.

One thing that really bothers me is that preachers think they have some kind of mandate to prostitute the son of God like a common twenty dollar whore. Nowhere in the bible does it give preachers a mandate to pass the collection plate to buy a house, or a car, or pay for their children's college. If you read the Bible you will notice that Jesus threw the money changers out of the Temple. Jesus did not tell anyone to "Go forth and become wealthy as my representative. Charge people a percentage to attend your church (tithe) and regularly fleece your congregation by passing the plate to enrich yourself."

As a matter of fact, tithing was NEVER paid to the priest or anyone associated with the temple. It was a sacrifice of the finest yield of the fields to be made at a specified place and time. If you could not for some reason make it to the place of tithing, you were instructed to sell your offering and use the money to buy what your heart desired. Preachers have distorted this to enrich themselves at the expense of believers.

[edit on 10-11-2009 by groingrinder]

Originally posted by groingrinder

Preachers have distorted this to enrich themselves at the expense of believers.

[edit on 10-11-2009 by groingrinder]

Completely agree. What's even more baffling is that some are completely unaware as to the hypocritical nature of their actions.

I think the scriptures about the blood slinging was pretty interesting and I don't think many christians realise that Moses often slung blood on people to "bless" them. As a matter of fact, that is where the word "blessing" originates...."blet".

Bless
O.E. bletsian, bledsian, Northumbrian bloedsian "to consecrate, make holy," from P.Gmc. *blothisojan "mark with blood," from *blotham "blood" (see blood).

(online etymology dictionary)



[edit on 11-10-2009 by Alethea]

Originally posted by randyvs
Well the video is really stupid.
Sorry.
I am a Christian.
Tell some of the members here on ATS that belong to wicca, that Witches
don't exist.
Wizards are for the most part Warlocks and go hand in hand with Witches.

Demons well

The video is stupid and you're sorry you're a Christian? Fair enough - you're forgiven for being a Christian.

Its not really your fault that you can be fooled by an old book, and some fast talkers who want your money.

I understand, its a lot easier to believe what your told - and live in fear of eternal damnation than think for yourself and be free of all fears.

So, these wiccan's - have you hunted down and killed any lately?

As for the demons, have you had occasion to exorcise any? Did they fly off and inhabit any handy livestock?

Originally posted by groingrinder

One thing that really bothers me is that preachers think they have some kind of mandate to prostitute the son of God like a common twenty dollar whore. Nowhere in the bible does it give preachers a mandate to pass the collection plate to buy a house, or a car, or pay for their children's college.

Actually it does, Jesus said in Math 10:7-10NIV "As you go, preach this message: 'The kindgom of heaven is near'. Heal the sick, raise the dead,...Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep."

Paul says in 1 Cor 9:12NIV "If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more....v13-14 "Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."

HOWEVER, Paul does say throughout 1 Cor 9 that he works for a living (he was a tentmaker.) and that v 15-16 "But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"

But you are right as far as "getting rich", throughout the Bible in regards to this, it says "make a living," not get rich. The moneychangers were stealing from the people because they were charging for profit and personal gains, exactly like those preachers who drive all these fancy cars, wear wild suits, etc.

As a matter of fact, tithing was NEVER paid to the priest or anyone associated with the temple. It was a sacrifice of the finest yield of the fields to be made at a specified place and time. If you could not for some reason make it to the place of tithing, you were instructed to sell your offering and use the money to buy what your heart desired.

In Numbers 18, it describes all the duties, daily and otherwise of the priests and Levites, the priests' helpers. In v9 it says, "You are to have the part of the most holy offerings that is kept from the fire. From all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain or sin or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons." And it continues on and on about what they are to take. Sacrifices were done daily, therefore they got their tithe daily. In v21 "I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting...[v24] instead I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord...[v26b still speaking to the Levites] you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord's offering."

In Hebrew "tithe" is ma'asar ah meaning "tenth".

Preachers have distorted this to enrich themselves at the expense of believers.

Absolutely agreed. They should be "making a living", not getting rich and exploiting the believers.

I believe that people should think and believe what makes them happy, with one rule: respect and love each other. It is that simple.

A WHOLE LOT can happen to a book or work of literature as it is passed down through the ages...and through many hands. There were periods in history when few people were educated enough to read or to write. The people who were could tamper with any documents they wanted to, adding or subtracting anything they wanted.

No doubt the written bible has its roots in things which are very important for us...but at this point how can anyone really pretend that they KNOW for sure what is original and what is not? No human is omniscient enough to know. To claim that we do is to almost play God ourselves. Whole committees have been to together to debate over what is Gospel and what is not. Many such committees (um, psst...they're called CHURCHES) and they don't all agree. It may be that someone intended to preserve some kind of important "divine" information about our destiny or our purpose at one time...but how can ANYONE be sure it still is what it is SUPPOSED TO BE? I would say it most undoubtedly isn't. No matter what its origin, the Bible has simply passed through too many human hands to be 100%authentic. There were also simple matters of imperfect translation through the ages which became compounded over time.

Nations tamper with the history books.
Churches can too.
Already some people believe that the Holcaust wasn't real, yet there is photographic evidence and human bones for reference. Lets go back a few hundred years and look at how easy it would be for people alter what they want other people to believe. We were a superstitious lot back then too, and we would easily let our beliefs get warped by anything we didn't understand. Oh, and then we'd WRITE ABOUT IT.

Has anyone here ever received a bible from anything other than another pair of human hands?

Then shut up!
...and face up to the fact that you don't really know anything. None of us do. But the power of faith itself may be as powerful as you ever want that book of paper and ink to be.