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 Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 5:55 pm
Okay, I’m mad, confused and I’m about to go nuts. If someone doesn’t explain some things out for me, I’m really guna snap. I have some questions that I really don’t get. In Hebrews it says if you accept God and continue to sin, you will stop receiving his grace. That being said, I have some questions..
In Lev. It talks about not cutting your hair, not cutting your arms because it harms your body, no tattoos ext. Those are all old testament laws. So answer me this, why is it that people will say now, “it’s a sin to cut, its harming your body” yet they’ll say “its okay to get a tattoo caus its an old testament law” Their both old testament laws!!! Whats the difference?? On top of that, why is smoking not a sin, but cutting is? And will all of that, what if I don’t want to stop cutting, will God send me to hell for that? (Hebrews, continuing to sin, you’ll stop receiving grace) someone tell me. Am I going to hell? After all the years that I’ve prayed to God, God being there for me…if I can stop cutting but I don’t wan to, I’m not ready to…will I go to hell? Would God do that to me? Why is tattoos and smoking okay but not cutting…their both old testament!
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Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:29 pm
I tried looking up the verse from Hebrews that you were talking about, but I can't find it. I did find one in Romans, however, that says, "But where sin increased, grace increased all the more."
Now, there are two parts to your question: do Old Testament definitions of sin count, or are we free from those rules because of Jesus (I believe that we are free from all 613 (I'm pretty sure it's 613, but Silver Wingling can correct me if I'm wrong)) laws in the Old Testament because we were given two new ones to replace them, and one Way in which to achieve full obedience of God's expectations: Love God above all else and love our neighbor as ourselves- we can do this by following Jesus' example of fidelity towards the Father, and His servant's heart towards His people.
The second half of your question regards sin and grace, and where that grace ends. First of all, it doesn't. God's grace is the strength to carry us through when we ourselves cannot do it, it is the love He shows when He forgives us for our constant transgressions against Him, it is His permanence in our lives, even when we don't want Him. Now, your issue is with cutting. It is an unfortunate fact of life these days that so many young people are struggling with this, because our lives are becoming increasingly out of control and chaotic, and to be honest, kids need an out. Self-injury feels good, it gives a sense of accomplishment, however spiteful, it allows for control, it releases endorphins. It's no shock that it's happening more often. However, the second commandment Jesus gave- loving one's neighbor as oneself- implies that you are going to take care of yourself, to do good for yourself, so that you can in turn show this love toward your neighbor.
You may not be ready to give up cutting, especially if you're under alot of stress, if your life is changing, if you don't know how to deal with whatever feelings are rising up in you. And that's okay. However, the Bible tells us that "If anyone would come after [Jesus], he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow [Him]" (Matthew 16:24). What this means is denying ourselves inappropriate pleasures of the flesh, of the world. The urge to cut comes from your flesh, your mortal body. It is of the world, not of God. This has nothing to do with Levitical law- those laws have more to do with associating with pagans (those who did not follow God) than anything. By cutting yourself, you are in essence saying to God that you feel your desires in your flesh are more important than God's desires for you.
You won't go to Hell for holding on this one part of you. The only reason you would go to Hell is if you make this problem your god, if you rely on it more than you rely on God, if you're looking to it to solve your problems and make you feel better, rather than looking to God to solve your problems and make you feel better. Once you start worshiping your cutting, you have a spiritual problem. And that's where grace comes in. God will not withhold His grace from anyone who genuinely and sincerely wants it. You just have to remember what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians: But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (12:9a). It is sufficient. It is all you need.
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High-functioning Businesswoman
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Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:38 pm
Speaking from personal experience, all I can tell you (other than what Fushigi already told you) is that you're not going to stop until you WANT to stop. That which you can tolerate you cannot change. But, I can also say that, no matter what your addiction, enough time spent with God will change you. All of a sudden, you just won't WANT all those things that you felt like you couldn't live without before. I know we'll all keep you in our prayers, but you remember to pray for you too. You're not going to hell because you're a cutter. Trust me, I felt the same way once. But one day you'll be able to move above and beyond that, look back on a dark time and realize that you really weren't alone after all. God IS with you.
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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:28 pm
I agree with the other two.
We have to give up EVERYTHING. We can't pick and choose what we give up, we give everything up for God. Does cutting yourself show God that you trust him to ease your pain? No it doesn't. You may not be ready to give it up, but you have to. If you ask god for help, he will help you. He helped me through a bad time in my life, where I had gotten to the point of cutting myself. He told me that I had to give up, because my body is his, I cannot hurt myself anymore. My body is his tool, do you harm things you borrow from others? Then why harm yourself when God owns you?
I don;t know if that made sense or not.
Also, I can tell that cutting yourself makes you guilty, because you are asking the question. You feel convicted, which means it is a sin. When you are convicted like that, God is telling you that you are sinning.
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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 6:23 pm
I'm going to do something rather unconventional for me. I'm going to quote the Bible without criticizing it: 1 Cor. 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body, You interpret thatt however you want.
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:51 am
Look at it this way. Tattooing is not harming ur body in a way withs going to kill u. Now tattoos back then were mostly warn for something bad. Like something to show for satian but now there are still many for satian but also many in memors of people and for God. Cutting ur hair is also not hamring ur body. Cutting on the other hand is used for the reliogon most people kno as Gothic, now there r people who dress goth and people who r goth. gothics worship satan and they cut them self and give there blood to him. Now i kno just cuz u cut doesnt mean u r a gothic. but its harming ur body and if u cut in the wrong place it can kill u. This is why its still not tallorated and some people see tattoos r form satan
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High-functioning Businesswoman
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:28 pm
Erm ... "goths" don't worship Satan. confused Most Satanists don't even worship Satan. Those who do, are Satanists. "Gothic" is not a religion, it's a trend/style/scene.
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:32 pm
Fushigi na Butterfly Erm ... "goths" don't worship Satan. confused Most Satanists don't even worship Satan. Those who do, are Satanists. "Gothic" is not a religion, it's a trend/style/scene. you have a answer for everything dont you? I this Butterfly hit the nail on the head for your question and i can testify to her statment about his never ending grace because if it ended i would be so fal down in darkness idk where i would be
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High-functioning Businesswoman
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Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:11 pm
Music Drew7 you have a answer for everything dont you?
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Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:08 pm
Fushigi na Butterfly Erm ... "goths" don't worship Satan. confused Most Satanists don't even worship Satan. Those who do, are Satanists. "Gothic" is not a religion, it's a trend/style/scene. You're talking about the LaVey satanists, right?
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High-functioning Businesswoman
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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:22 am
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Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:07 am
xXxMikamoxXx Look at it this way. Tattooing is not harming ur body in a way withs going to kill u. Now tattoos back then were mostly warn for something bad. Like something to show for satian but now there are still many for satian but also many in memors of people and for God. Cutting ur hair is also not hamring ur body. Cutting on the other hand is used for the reliogon most people kno as Gothic, now there r people who dress goth and people who r goth. gothics worship satan and they cut them self and give there blood to him. Now i kno just cuz u cut doesnt mean u r a gothic. but its harming ur body and if u cut in the wrong place it can kill u. This is why its still not tallorated and some people see tattoos r form satan On another day I would find this mildly offensive, seeing as I am an active member in Gaia's primary goth guild. However, today I helped a sixteen year old girl who had been kidnapped, blindfolded, gagged and tied to a table so an exorcism could be performed. The reason she "needed God's salvation" was she had decided to become a wiccan and owned a copy of The Satanic Bible. So rather than be offended, I am just bemused. I honestly do not understand how someone could hold such ignorant and bigoted beliefs in this modern world that should allow everyone to see they are no different than the next person.
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Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:44 am
Ok, here's the deal. Leviticus is all about keeping your body pure and clean. 1 Corinthians 6: 19 says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own." Harming your body is, essentially, harming God's temple. That is why it says not to do all that stuff outwardly to your skin as well as saying things like don't eat unclean meat, etc. God made us and it's kind of like an insult to him if we try and destroy his creation. I don't think it's necessarily like a sin but I know it is disrespect. I had a roommate my freshman year who was clinically depressed and when I wasn't around she used to cut herself. Once, she even tried to slit her wrists. I understand that you cut to get rid of those feelings of anguish and despair inside of you but no matter how many times you cut, those feelings are still going to be there. Bleeding them out doesn't make the problems go away. I don't know what you are struggling with and I won't pretend to but what you have to do is put your faith in God. He can see you through any struggle and he will. Just ask him! He can truly take away all your pain, not just temporarily numb it.
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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 10:24 pm
zz1000zz xXxMikamoxXx Look at it this way. Tattooing is not harming ur body in a way withs going to kill u. Now tattoos back then were mostly warn for something bad. Like something to show for satian but now there are still many for satian but also many in memors of people and for God. Cutting ur hair is also not hamring ur body. Cutting on the other hand is used for the reliogon most people kno as Gothic, now there r people who dress goth and people who r goth. gothics worship satan and they cut them self and give there blood to him. Now i kno just cuz u cut doesnt mean u r a gothic. but its harming ur body and if u cut in the wrong place it can kill u. This is why its still not tallorated and some people see tattoos r form satan On another day I would find this mildly offensive, seeing as I am an active member in Gaia's primary goth guild. However, today I helped a sixteen year old girl who had been kidnapped, blindfolded, gagged and tied to a table so an exorcism could be performed. The reason she "needed God's salvation" was she had decided to become a wiccan and owned a copy of The Satanic Bible. zz1000zz So rather than be offended, I am just bemused. I honestly do not understand how someone could hold such ignorant and bigoted beliefs in this modern world that should allow everyone to see they are no different than the next person.
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Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 12:57 am
Priestley zz1000zz xXxMikamoxXx Look at it this way. Tattooing is not harming ur body in a way withs going to kill u. Now tattoos back then were mostly warn for something bad. Like something to show for satian but now there are still many for satian but also many in memors of people and for God. Cutting ur hair is also not hamring ur body. Cutting on the other hand is used for the reliogon most people kno as Gothic, now there r people who dress goth and people who r goth. gothics worship satan and they cut them self and give there blood to him. Now i kno just cuz u cut doesnt mean u r a gothic. but its harming ur body and if u cut in the wrong place it can kill u. This is why its still not tallorated and some people see tattoos r form satan On another day I would find this mildly offensive, seeing as I am an active member in Gaia's primary goth guild. However, today I helped a sixteen year old girl who had been kidnapped, blindfolded, gagged and tied to a table so an exorcism could be performed. The reason she "needed God's salvation" was she had decided to become a wiccan and owned a copy of The Satanic Bible. No she was not in the same guild. I had only met her that day, and I had known about her for less than a month. It was mostly just a case of her needing somebody, and I was there. As for the person I quoted, I was not associating this particular incident with his viewpoint. Rather, the same underlying mentality exists in both situations. Narrow and close minded mindsets are what allow incidents like that to happen. Mostly I just found the timing of things to be rather interesting. Priestly zz1000zz So rather than be offended, I am just bemused. I honestly do not understand how someone could hold such ignorant and bigoted beliefs in this modern world that should allow everyone to see they are no different than the next person. I assumed it would be clear when I said people "are no different" I was not referring to a literal interpretation. Obviously each person is an individual, and nothing I said was meant to dispute such.
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