“Look through the thread.”
But the thing is, I HAVE looked at the thread, and yet, we’re still stuck at this impasse:
“So then, since you concede that there is no actual command in scripture to perform them, no explicit mandate, nor can you show me what it is in plain terms from the text, to what scriptures do you wish for us to read “with that understanding?,” when you have nothing whatever that could naturally lead you to your conclusion? It is the scripture which should lead someone to conclude something. You cannot read a pre-existent idea and hope to get the scripture to conform it. Either the scripture bares it out, or it doesn’t. It’s really quite simple.
If what you say is true, then you should be able to legitimately explain why there is no explicit mention of this Eternal-life dependent question, and also explain all the verses which demonstrate an extreme inconsistency with what the Apostles thought was actually important and your claims.
For example, why, again, did the Spirit catch away Philip BEFORE he could lay hands on him, if we are supposed to believe that the early Christians believed about the laying on of hands being necessary for salvation? Why did the Eunuch walk away rejoicing, and yet Luke does not take the time to assure the followers of the UCG that “But, he got sad later, when he realized he wasn’t a Christian yet, because, as you know, we teach that a person isn’t converted until they are baptized AND laid hands on.”
Why is it that the Thief, who lived a life of horrible sin, is saved with this simple statement: “Remember me, Lord, when you come into your Kingdom”? When your religion teaches that if a person is not baptized, and not laid hands on, he is not actually even become a Christian?
Out of the entire New Testament, SO MUCH is spent on talking about HOW men are saved, and yet there is not one sentence, not one little phrase, not one little suggestion,that says anything that you have said.
Can’t you explain why? Why didn’t Paul, when he was saying “ye are saved by grace,” did he not sit down and say, “But, you can’t have any grace unless you submit to the authority of the UCG, or whatever offshoot cult from Armstrong may pop up 2000 years from now”?”
If you cannot specifically address any of this, then what good do you think it’ll do you to keep repeating yourself? Do you hope to trick me into believing that you are answering me?
“Look at the wiki article Laying on of hands. It shows that it was and is used in many churches today for the exact reasons listed in the article.”
Wikipedia? A real great source! It doesn’t even provide a footnote for its assertion. So then, can you please show me one single confession which asserts what you teach on the matter?
From the United Church of Beelzebub’s website:
On the requirements for SALVATION
“The NEXT step [after Baptism] on our road to eternal life is to receive God’s Holy Spirit, which comes through “laying on of hands,” as described in Hebrews 6:2. From the Scriptures, we find that water baptism is FOLLOWED by the ceremony of laying on of hands, at which time we receive God’s Spirit... the Holy Spirit was not given until Peter and John prayed and laid their hands on them... We see that God’s Holy Spirit is given to us by the prayer of and laying on of hands by God’s ordained ministers, serving as His representatives.” (All Caps on specific words mine)
http://www.ucg.org/booklet/road-eternal-life/water-baptism-and-laying-hands/
Keep in mind, YOU are claiming that the Eunuch, for example, either received the Spirit SECRETLY, or he didn’t receive it at all, because you believe that without the laying on of hands, He has NO Spirit within him.
Don’t start trying to obfuscate and confuse your position with that of, say, the Pentecostals, or the Catholics, who do so in ordination of ministers, unless you want us to believe that these are religions which only believe salvation belongs to the clergy! Having once been a Pentecostal, not even THEY believe that a person is DAMNED or in rebellion if they are not touched. And, in either case, none of these practices actually have any explicit command to do them.
Can you please provide ANY confession which declares that your church does? You can start with the Westminster Confession. Or maybe the RCC Catechism. Good luck!
“Stop using demeaning words like “filthy” when referring to people I know and love.”
Not only are the ministers of your religion filthy, in that they rape the souls of those who come to them, deceive them about the identity of Christ, deny the trinity, and teach all manner of damnable heresies, I affirm that if the do not repent, that they are also accursed, and are on their way straight to hell! (And I don’t think the UCG’s denial of everlasting punishment is going to help them out!)
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
(Gal 1:8-9)
I also say that they are serpents, the children of Satan, whom God will crush with His foot one day!
Mat_23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Get to repenting, or you’ll be joining the Devilish leaders of your religion.
The last few paragraphs were like reading a Stephen King novel. Were you raised by wolves? Did your mother ever teach you to be courteous? If real life if someone asked you to be respectful would you go all Carrie on them? :-)