tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post8035510410129957883..comments2023-08-04T12:00:47.012-07:00Comments on Does Air Exist?: A Hard-Working WomanDoes Air Existhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11394981462884670461noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-12891936813034780732013-02-03T13:11:31.324-08:002013-02-03T13:11:31.324-08:00So the description from Hebrews 12:23 was not of C...So the description from Hebrews 12:23 was not of Christians?<br /><br />No doubt what we practice is called heresy by others. It always was so.<br /><br />Acts 24:14-16<br />But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. <br /><br />We do not have a non-profit registration, which is for tax purposes, with the state. Congregations are autonomous and some may have registered that way, but that is not the norm, and should not be. I have many original letters where we referred to ourselves as "The Church of the First Born", "The Body of Christ", The Followers of Christ", "The Disciples of Christ", "The Church of Christ", "The Church of God", "The True Vine", and many other epithets which are nothing more than descriptions. I do not care which name we are known by, it is still the same faith, and the most common way we speak of ourselves is "The Brethren", or our way as "The Faith".<br /><br />The name in it's present form was placed upon us because the state needed one to categorize us in regards to the members who sought exemption from the draft. <br /><br />The description we use is fine, just not the only one ever used.<br /><br />Comparing the COFB with OC probably is apples and oranges. There are some similarities, but there are some differences as well. It depends on the subject broached. By THE Church I am speaking of the entire church, not a local congregation of it.<br /><br />We are separated from the world , but not so much that we have left it. We are taught to do good to all, and I see it being done, even though it is not perhaps the collective works you have described.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02668813583444666783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-60750336602375358032013-02-03T10:39:17.652-08:002013-02-03T10:39:17.652-08:00Amen! I shunned people too - my own sister! Every ...Amen! I shunned people too - my own sister! Every one of us who have left were once guilty of shunning others. <br /><br />It's not right. It's not biblical. But it's how the group tries to keep people in line and from leaving.Does Air Existhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11394981462884670461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-39730860712255779112013-02-03T08:33:27.689-08:002013-02-03T08:33:27.689-08:00I can say I am guilty of shunning people who have ...I can say I am guilty of shunning people who have left. Yes the FOC does shun those outside of the church or those who have left. I now know the error of my ways. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-56290753836501822682013-02-03T08:24:44.482-08:002013-02-03T08:24:44.482-08:00Darren,
No Church of the First Born is NOT synon...Darren, <br /><br />No Church of the First Born is NOT synonymous of all Christians. The group that goes along with that name have many doctrines than most Christians from Catholic to Unitarian would call heresy.<br /><br />I thought you belonged to the Church of the First Born. You do not? Do you not have non-profit registration with the state you reside in? The name was thrust upon you? By whom? I read letters, written by preachers, in the early 1900's using that name. If you want a better name or description for your group, change it.<br /><br />If you do not belong to a church, this conversation is comparing apples to oranges. Sorry if I misunderstood.<br /><br />I'm was also trying to define what you consider "the church" In Oregon City, it is commonly defined as those who pay their dues each month. What does "part of the church" mean to you? How can you be a believer and not be "part of the church" if the Church of the First Born is a description of the true believers in Christ or if it is just a description thrust upon you?<br /><br />Official outreach= The church goes each week to the homeless shelter and cooks/serves meals. Regularly the group goes and washes the feet of the homeless, cuts their hair and helps them with other needs. The women make blankets and send them to the hospital to send home with young mothers that don't have anything. These are just a few examples of what churches in my community of different denominations are doing. This was never done in the FOC (except the t-shirts PK made for the kids in Africa in the 80's) <br /><br />If your group is like the Oregon City FOC, your group does not, as a group, do good works regularly to ALL like other churches, mosques or temples do in our country. Good works are usually reserved for church members.<br /><br />Just trying to point out the danger of a group isolating themselves so from the world. You cannot do what Christ commanded you do towards the poor if you only help those in the group. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-67382410842944449322013-02-02T21:43:15.309-08:002013-02-02T21:43:15.309-08:00"do you mean COTFB or all Christians? " ..."do you mean COTFB or all Christians? " Aren't they synonymous? The name used for our group, in this post's case the acronym, is a label thrust upon us. Otherwise those words are our description, not our name. There are people who may qualify as believers, but not necessarily part of the church. Also there are many "so called brethren" who take upon themselves the name of Christ, but are not his. Since my earlier comment indicated we are to do good to ALL, I am not sure why you are expecting me to delineate who is or is not my brother/sister. We are speaking of doing good to others, whether someone is of the household of faith or not is irrelevant.<br /><br />Define "official mechanism of outreach". I do not belong to a church organization, I am part of an organism, the bride of Christ. Only what comes from Christ is official, we are the mechanism he uses, and he commands us all to play our part allotted us in his outreach plan. <br /><br />Yes, we do refer to those outside the church as belonging to "the world". Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02668813583444666783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-72785692688306303142013-02-02T20:09:04.653-08:002013-02-02T20:09:04.653-08:00Do you smile at them? What happens when you approa...Do you smile at them? What happens when you approach them and say hello? Is it all on them to be kind, or should you try to be kind to them? There is hostility, but they probably expect it to come from you. Just sayingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-25250668616205787452013-02-02T18:19:28.156-08:002013-02-02T18:19:28.156-08:00Oh God forbid they should leave! What a bunch of W...Oh God forbid they should leave! What a bunch of Walter White supremists! Don't think that they think they are better than people who have left their "faith" walk into a popular restaraunt on Sunday at lunch time (if you are an ex) and see how many glares you get, see how many people stare, see how many of them smile or show the love of God to you! Just take a moment to witness these godly people, thanks! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-66073192265713389132013-02-02T17:35:39.724-08:002013-02-02T17:35:39.724-08:009:20, how would you go about keeping track of all ...9:20, how would you go about keeping track of all of the good that people do? The things that you hear about are what's being done openly for the sake of those in trouble. But if you are doing your alms properly no one would know that you did them, correct? I know it's an honest question, based upon what you've read, but I have no doubt that good things are done by many people out there for a lot of people outside of the church. Volunteerism isn't forbidden to my knowledge. But now flip that around, what if you did nothing for your own brethren, but openly boasted about how you volunteered lots of time anyone but your own? Then there might be a backlash to some extent. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-81875614029334500952013-02-02T17:09:46.520-08:002013-02-02T17:09:46.520-08:00No, I'm with Suzie on that one, and others. Le...No, I'm with Suzie on that one, and others. Letting your light shine as much as possible, and giving them kind answers to their religious questions is my strategy with those that I don't know to be believers. I don't consider their fate to be irrelevant, but I have found it interesting to give them a scriptural answer to a right or wrong question. It may not matter much to them, but it's why I think what I think, so it's the only answer that I can honestly give. And to 8:47 I would have loved to be there for you, and a lot of others. By the time an individual has made it clear that they're leaving their mind is pretty well made up. They aren't looking around for the opinion of a follower to persuade them of anything anymore. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-90869793489813829112013-02-02T11:53:14.991-08:002013-02-02T11:53:14.991-08:00In my opinion, it is both dangerous and wrong to &...In my opinion, it is both dangerous and wrong to "put out fires" on nonbelievers and/or people we don't know well. Until a person accepts Jesus as savior, sin is irrelevant. Until you know someone well enough to understand them, trying to "put out their fires" will only push them away.<br /><br />If this commentor is still living in the FOC, they are not free to relate to believers outside the group.Does Air Existhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11394981462884670461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-5133418056298840232013-02-02T11:47:43.640-08:002013-02-02T11:47:43.640-08:00You are proof positive that we cannot paint everyo...You are proof positive that we cannot paint everyone with one brush stroke. Thank you for speaking out in love. It is a refreshing change.Does Air Existhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11394981462884670461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-49961458681020641402013-02-02T08:27:29.139-08:002013-02-02T08:27:29.139-08:00Your kindly sounding analogy does not match with a...Your kindly sounding analogy does not match with anything I witnessed. I'm sorry you weren't around me instead of those who were.<br /><br />Another question, would you "put out a fire" on a worldly person, or do you think the great majority of the human race are already damned because they are not in Oregon City? <br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-33587819490852983612013-02-02T08:15:12.072-08:002013-02-02T08:15:12.072-08:00When you speak of the community of believers do yo...When you speak of the community of believers do you mean COTFB or all Christians? So your church does not have an official mechanism of outreach to "those about us"? Do you call anyone outside your church "worldly people" like the FOC does?<br /><br />Thanks for the reply.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-11849797865438675032013-02-02T07:25:53.211-08:002013-02-02T07:25:53.211-08:00I'm not a good "FOC", I'm not a ...I'm not a good "FOC", I'm not a good Christian, I'm not a good person. I'm a sinner. No better than the worst criminal or infidel. But I have eyes to read with, a heart, and mind that is learning to accept that I'm not right about everything. If my comment sounds mean it's just my opinion today, not forever. If I want God to have perfect mercy on my soul I have to learn to be merciful. I am the judged, not the judge. But like any other Christian, if I see that someone's back is on fire and they can't see it, I'm going to try to put it out before they are consumed by the fire out of love. Not hateful FOC rhetoric, not out of spite because they left seeking God, it's because some lines of thinking lead to the pit. It might be the way i think, and it might be yours. When you believe it's my way, you call me out on it. When I believe it's yours, I'm going to do the same for you. Lets have a spirited debate. But don't forget your fire extinguisher, I might need it occasionally. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-90134166924258913702013-02-02T01:06:26.336-08:002013-02-02T01:06:26.336-08:00A board. No. We order our lives to be charitable t...A board. No. We order our lives to be charitable towards the community of believers AND those about us. If it is done in secrecy with us, it is because there is no desire to be noticed, not because we are worried about being censured.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02668813583444666783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-43400676296342811782013-02-01T22:32:40.262-08:002013-02-01T22:32:40.262-08:00Yes Darren the bible says you should... but do you...Yes Darren the bible says you should... but do you? The FOC and COTFB may differ. Do you have a philanthropic board at your church that helps the community? If so, good for you! <br /><br />Widows and orphans who are not members are not helped by the FOC church non-profit in Oregon City. Individual members may donate or volunteer on their own, but they will do it in secret rather than risk censure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-13811339859723800792013-02-01T22:28:30.243-08:002013-02-01T22:28:30.243-08:00If you really believe that, you are not a good FOC...If you really believe that, you are not a good FOC. Everything comes down to the chosen in Oregon City. They are the remnant and the only ones to be saved that are known of. How can God rather none would perish when according to Walters' Dream, baptism is finished and every human on the planet dammed except the FOC in Oregon City. Unless there is some remnant of the FOC in Africa somewhere. <br /><br />It always bothered me when the older ones talked about how small, innocent, worldly children would fare at the second coming. They would just be like grass in a fire, just flare quickly then burn out. Just a quick incineration. Innocent children perishing through merciful burning before they could commit some horrible sin was the example of a loving God in the FOC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-88918019269015745172013-02-01T21:21:08.103-08:002013-02-01T21:21:08.103-08:00For the record Samuel, I do believe that god loves...For the record Samuel, I do believe that god loves us all. I believe that he would rather that none should perish. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-38099442844476357302013-02-01T16:52:13.906-08:002013-02-01T16:52:13.906-08:00Smarter than our country, as in sending resources ...Smarter than our country, as in sending resources to other people, rather than taking care of your own. It wasn't a complicated statement.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-88092453118354653372013-02-01T12:34:12.683-08:002013-02-01T12:34:12.683-08:00The FOC is smarter than having no health care? Wow...The FOC is smarter than having no health care? Wow - what a load! Suzi a whiner? Funny how you ignore the posts when she tells you how much God loves you (I've never seen any of the anons telling Suzi how much God loves HER) and the posts where she reminisces about the good times and good aspects of life in the FOC.Samuel Welchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-12143025191936943192013-02-01T10:52:26.828-08:002013-02-01T10:52:26.828-08:00If someone points something out that I said that w...If someone points something out that I said that was incorrect, I will gladly fix it. That's not "erasing the evidence" that's called being humble and willing to fix and admit to accidental mistakes. The truth is I do not say mean things. I say true things and you think it's mean.Does Air Existhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11394981462884670461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-61464953759696787862013-02-01T10:36:33.978-08:002013-02-01T10:36:33.978-08:00Suzanne, you've been called out for untruths ...Suzanne, you've been called out for untruths and mean things throughout your blog and you have multiple times erased your comments and the ones that question you. So what's the point. You will either erase the comment or say you never said what your accused of because you already erased the proof. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-6310805731524513912013-02-01T09:07:03.308-08:002013-02-01T09:07:03.308-08:00"Is there a commandment in your religion agai... "Is there a commandment in your religion against helping people outside your church? "<br /><br />No. In fact we all, whether men or women should do what we can to help each other and those outside.<br /><br />Galatians 6:9-10<br /><br /> And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02668813583444666783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-34153145017709237452013-02-01T05:49:04.292-08:002013-02-01T05:49:04.292-08:00They're too busy helping those in need that th...They're too busy helping those in need that they see 2 or thre times a week. The US is happy to send money to Haiti, Africa, all over the world. Then let their own kids here go to bed hungry at night, and have no health care. The FOC is smarter rhan that. If an eye for an eye is scripture to live by, then quit whining about mean comments made about you in retaliation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4433770610584182438.post-7614216210182477072013-01-31T22:05:08.863-08:002013-01-31T22:05:08.863-08:00When the Apostle Paul said "All scripture is ...When the Apostle Paul said "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness' He was not referring to the New testament. The works that came to be the New Testament had not even been put together. Back then it took many years to "publish" a book let alone distribute it widely. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com