CNN: Passions over 'prosperity gospel': Was Jesus wealthy?

[AsburySkinsFan]

Are you saying Jesus was God?

Yes, basic tenet of Christianity is that Yahweh (The Great I Am, LORD) is Three and yet 1; Father, Son, and Spirit. Jesus is the Word made flesh, the Son of God, the 2nd person in the Trinity.

[Zguy28]

Zguy, come on you don't honestly think that I'm saying we shouldn't read our Bibles at home, or think on our own...do you?

Of course not. I know you better than that.

[Zguy28]

Are you saying Jesus was God?

Was, is, & ever shall be.

[Ellis]

please correct me if I'm wrong... but my understanding is that Jesus wasn't 'God in flesh' but that upon his death, he would inherit his fathers kingdom in Heaven. Also, my understanding is that there can be only one God in Heaven. So when jesus died and went to heaven, his 'father' did not die so that jesus could take his place... it was basically that jesus finally became the alpha and the omega. the beginning and the end. The father, the son and the holy spirit.

is this correct?

[Zguy28]

please correct me if I'm wrong... but my understanding is that Jesus wasn't 'God in flesh' but that upon his death, he would inherit his fathers kingdom in Heaven. Also, my understanding is that there can be only one God in Heaven. So when jesus died and went to heaven, his 'father' did not die so that jesus could take his place... it was basically that jesus finally became the alpha and the omega. the beginning and the end. The father, the son and the holy spirit.

is this correct?

Google Chalcedonian Creed or Hypostatic Union.

Jesus was God and became flesh. Two natures (divine and human) in one person.

[AsburySkinsFan]

please correct me if I'm wrong... but my understanding is that Jesus wasn't 'God in flesh' but that upon his death, he would inherit his fathers kingdom in Heaven. Also, my understanding is that there can be only one God in Heaven. So when jesus died and went to heaven, his 'father' did not die so that jesus could take his place... it was basically that jesus finally became the alpha and the omega. the beginning and the end. The father, the son and the holy spirit.

is this correct?

Not according to orthodox Christian teachings that date back to the 4 century that continually affirm that there are three co-existing "persons" of the Holy Trinity that are at all times; Father Son Spirit, three separate but also one, all being of the same ousia (greek for substance) not birthed, not made, but eternal. What it sounds like you are describing is called Modalism, where God takes on different roles at different times. The Son pre-existed with the Father and with the Spirit, Jesus did not "become" the Alpha and Omega as the Son of God he always was the Alpha and the Omega.

[AsburySkinsFan]

Google Chalcedonian Creed or Hypostatic Union.

Jesus was God and became flesh. Two natures (divine and human) in one person.

Nicene Creed will work well too, it predates the Chalcedonian by about a hundred years so some of the language isn't as nuanced as the Chalcedonian.

BTW, see what we're doing here? Learning in community from the community.

Jesus=Word
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

[boobiemiles]

Yes, basic tenet of Christianity is that Yahweh (The Great I Am, LORD) is Three and yet 1; Father, Son, and Spirit. Jesus is the Word made flesh, the Son of God, the 2nd person in the Trinity.

I know about Yarweh. Which leads me to my point....Man is alway trying to possess everything, so we give it a name. I use to be baptist. I use to think I would go to hell if I didn't accept Jesus as my lord and savior. That was before i started to think about things from a my point of view. I mean Jesus is God.....really? Think about God for a minute. I mean really think about it. I am not talking about the great old white guy in the sky with a long white beard, no wrinkles, and a six pack. Think about the presense that created everything. Think about the conscience that created the universe, the stars, how things came into existence. To put all that power in one man is irrational. To try and divide that power between three beings, and say that's that, how can you do that? How can you limit the power of the conscience that made conscience in the first place? All Jesus wanted to do was reform the jews. He was trying to get the high preist from bending over and grabbing his ankles. Jesus was trying to get the Roman Solidiers from baring arms in the Temple. He said he was the son of god. Not god himself. People are always trying to possess something.....give it a name so it's less alien. We give the great creator names to make it ours, and try to give it a face to make it look socially acceptable. Stop the madness.

[AsburySkinsFan]

I know about Yarweh. Which leads me to my point....Man is alway trying to possess everything, so we give it a name. I use to be baptist. I use to think I would go to hell if I didn't accept Jesus as my lord and savior. That was before i started to think about things from a my point of view. I mean Jesus is God.....really? Think about God for a minute. I mean really think about it. I am not talking about the great old white guy in the sky with a long white beard, no wrinkles, and a six pack. Think about the presense that created everything. Think about the conscience that created the universe, the stars, how things came into existence. To put all that power in one man is irrational. To try and divide that power between three beings, and say that's that, how can you do that? How can you limit the power of the conscience that made conscience in the first place? All Jesus wanted to do was reform the jews. He was trying to get the high preist from bending over and grabbing his ankles. Jesus was trying to get the Roman Solidiers from baring arms in the Temple. He said he was the son of god. Not god himself. People are always trying to possess something.....give it a name so it's less alien. We give the great creator names to make it ours, and try to give it a face to make it look socially acceptable. Stop the madness.

This is why I argue for reading the scriptures in community. Thank you for providing me with a picture perfect example.

[Jumbo]

As to the Prosperity Gospel itself, I hate (yes, hate) it for two reasons:

You continue to present values, viewpoints, personal standards, and various other cognitive processes much similar to those of a known heathen. I'd worry about your soul except you manage to arrive at enough different conclusions on signifcant matters that you're probably safe (eternally speaking).

[AzSkinsFan63]

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Ain't nothing CNN writes going to change that truth no matter how much they try.

[alexey]

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Ain't nothing CNN writes going to change that truth no matter how much they try.

How can there be an "only Son" of an omnipotent God? Cannot he make more Sons?

Also, aren't we all his Sons and Daughters?

[boobiemiles]

This is why I argue for reading the scriptures in community. Thank you for providing me with a picture perfect example.

You people and you rigid understanding of religion. I swear. I am not sure what you mean by "scripture in a community". I can't argue with you about your faith. That is what relgion is suppose to be "yours". You are suppose to have a relationship with your diety, and understanding that can with stand any trial or tribulation. If having "scripture in community" gives you the strength to face death without fear, then so be it. In the end that is what relgion is suppose to do...and that is prepare you for the inevitable. We are all going to die. When judgement comes, reciting scripture, or understanding what some one else wrote will not matter. It's on YOU!; how you treat people, what you did with the time you had, did you do what you felt you were destine to do, etc. Or you just another person wanting to be right, because you are scared to death about being wrong?

[boobiemiles]

Yes just like Bill Clinton is the first Black President.

But Barrack Obama is White though

In Nova Scotia they worship a black Jesus Christ. Really,what is more perposterous, Jesus was a white guy with flowing blonde hair and a six pack, or he was the same color as most people in the middle east?

[alexey]

I think in some ways there is a disconnect between what Christianity is and what it ought to be.

What it ought to be is represented by several knowledgeable, well studied, and humble members of this board. What it is, unfortunately, seems to be represented by a large number of our fellow Americans for whom faith has become an enemy of knowledge and introspection, for example rendering them unable to properly evaluate even basic propositions like Evolution.

It seems that the "prosperity gospel" is just another example of this. I think the question is whether Christianity can become what it ought to be, and if so, how?

(yes a communal approach to studies could address this, but not if the community only includes like-minded individuals... and at these times of individual mobility and information exchange, it seems that like mindedness is often the basis on which communities are formed)