If God appeared to you in a series of vivid and moving dreams...

Johnny - posted on 10/29/2010

I think that should be on Wikipedia Laura.

Isobel - posted on 10/29/2010

yeah...I'm all proud of myself and stuff ;P

Chatty - posted on 10/29/2010

I second that!

Krista - posted on 10/29/2010

Laura, that is the BEST explanation for anything that has ever existed, anywhere.

Isobel - posted on 10/29/2010

The only difference between you and the Jews is that when Jesus showed up and said "I'm the son of god, forget what my dad said, cause he was a tight ass, follow me and it'll be all peace and luv brutha" You guys believed him and the Jews didn't.

That is LITERALLY the only difference.

Then when Mohammad showed up with his message from God, you guys didn't believe HIM.

And that's the difference between you and the Muslims.

Jakki - posted on 10/28/2010

I think it would be reasonable to wait until the email from God arrives confirming the flight details and the travel insurance is paid for before making a decision.

C. - posted on 10/28/2010

"Then why do New Testament believers (Christians) still eat pork while Old Testament believers (Jews) don't?"

If I'm not mistaken, that law was made b/c pork, in those days, was not a 'clean' meat. And Christians and Jews have different views on different things, that's why one crowd follows one way, the other crowd follows another way.

Georgia - posted on 10/28/2010

Yeah, that is confusing, but since it was written by a lot of different people at different times, who are relaying stories they were told, it's bound to be.



I'm not fond of #3 myself... Thou shalt not eat chocolate after 7pm is one I just don't like! Oh wait, those are my dieting commandments. Thankfully I can covet all the chocolate I want. :-)



*edit: I know, they must have remembered to ask for ID!

Johnny - posted on 10/28/2010

Still perplexed. The ten commandments are great and all (well, I'm not a big fan of #1-#4 but the rest are excellent). However, there are many biblical stories that tell of God supposedly directly instructing people to take actions that contravene the 10 commandments. So how did those people know to follow what God told them when it went against the 10 commandments?

Alison - posted on 10/28/2010

Yeh, I was actually thinking of the ten commandments in relation to dreams that encourage killing. I take the ten commandments over a dream anyday. I don't want to turn this into a deep theological discussion, but basically the Christian keeps all the ceremonial laws laid down in the OT by believing in Christ as the ultimate sacrifice that fulfills the law.

Chatty - posted on 10/28/2010

*ducks as this shit flies right over her head*

Georgia - posted on 10/28/2010

Then why do New Testament believers (Christians) still eat pork while Old Testament believers (Jews) don't?

I know this is totally off topic and I'm sorry, but I had thought that perhaps the New Testament would have made the "new" way rules versus the "old" way, as in the burning down a witch's house. I find this totally interesting! But have been proven myself to be a bad former bible studying Christian.

Hang on, wouldn't the "law" be in reference to the ten commandments? Nothing about burning down houses, or moving to the Red Sea in them. So perhaps the New Testament is the reference tool to anything non-commandment related?

Johnny - posted on 10/28/2010

Oh, the bible actually covers that New Testament vs. Old Testament bullshit too. "It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for the smallest part of the letter of the law to become invalid." (Luke 16:17)

Georgia - posted on 10/28/2010

Hey sis! ;-) I like the way you think!

I would have thought that since the New Testament supersedes the Old, you would be using that as your reference tool rather than the entire bible. Otherwise, all those faithful better stop eating bacon!

Johnny - posted on 10/28/2010

"No I wouldn't do these things, because my bible warns me not to trust every message or dream. If ever a person recieves a message claiming to be from God, they are to test it with his word to see if it's consistant. If it's inconsistant with God's word it is NOT from God. I would probably book myself into a mental facility if I was recieving such messages."

Okay, I am trying to understand where the faithful are coming from on this. It's a bit confusing for a non-believer. From this statement, it seems that you take the entire bible as being the literal word from God (breathed I think they call it). So if you felt that you had perhaps received a message from god (through a dream or premonition or appearance or perhaps an e-mail?) that you would check to make sure it was consistent with God's word in the bible? Have I read that correctly?

So, in that case, if you had a dream in which God appeared to you and instructed you to burn down the home of your neighbor, a wiccan who is trying to convert neighborhood children, would you? Such acts are supported by the word of God in the bible.(Deuteronomy 13:13-19)

Georgia - posted on 10/28/2010

How would you know it was god? I mean, does he come up to you and say, "Hey there, I'm God. Nice to meet you!" and then tell you to move to the Red Sea? Or maybe I should have asked for identification?

If this happened to me I would be checking the leftovers from dinner the night before, because something was WAY past its expiry date!

The funny thing is that I also have very realistic, vivid dreams and have had some premonitory ones. Since I'm not a real believer of god being a human form, I'd probably just see it as a sign that I need to take a dive trip to the Red Sea for some AWESOME scuba diving.

Alison - posted on 10/28/2010

No I wouldn't do these things, because my bible warns me not to trust every message or dream. If ever a person recieves a message claiming to be from God, they are to test it with his word to see if it's consistant. If it's inconsistant with God's word it is NOT from God. I would probably book myself into a mental facility if I was recieving such messages.

Toni - posted on 10/28/2010

Christina, why do you need to be able to swim to live by the sea or even to be a fisherwoman (you are not jumping in the water to grab the fish bare handed - you'd have a boat)? God could be testing your bravery by overcoming the fact you cannot swim to become a successful fisherwoman - just a thought.

Julie - posted on 10/27/2010

I'd go to the doctor and tell him I thought my medication levels needed to be adjusted.

If I was told to sacrifice my child, I'd say kiss my @ss, you had your shot at him! (he was given a

Good Day! - posted on 10/27/2010

Being a fisherman, sure. Why not? Some of His disciples were fishermen. But like Becky said, I'd pray and wait it out a little while. I've known some couples (more than one couple that this has happened to) go into the mission field. One spouse would feel like God was telling them to do so, but knew it wasn't God unless the partner was also being told the same. So they would wait it out until the partner felt God wanted them to as well. @Becky, from what I understand it's much more common for children to go to the mission field with their parents now, which I like better than the boarding school!

Jenny - posted on 10/27/2010

I have pretty intense, vivid dreams right down to feeling temperature changes or having an orgasm so I wouldn't follow anything awake that my brain is feeding to me asleep. I consider them my night time entertainment. Who needs 3D movies when you have wicked dreams?

C. - posted on 10/27/2010

"well...you guys covered the killing of your child...but would you move to the sea? or built an arc the size of a football field with your bare hands?"

Would I move to the sea? No. I can't swim, so again I would know it wasn't God.

Build an ark? Sure, if God really wanted a lop-sided ark built for all his creatures.. Again, the one good arm thing comes into mind. I don't think it would be God asking me to do something like that..

Becky - posted on 10/27/2010

I might build an ark, that'd be kind of fun! :)

Becky - posted on 10/27/2010

Well, I do believe that God can appear to people in dreams and visions, although he never has to me. If I had those specific dreams, well, I'd definitely discount the sacrificing your child one, because I believe that would go against God's nature, and I don't believe he would ask us to do something against his nature. The other one, seems weird and pointless, so I would definitely seek some counsel and wait it out to determine whether it was indeed God speaking to me.
I will say, my parents gave up, maybe not everything, but a lot, to go live in Africa and be missionaries because that was what they felt God wanted them to do. They even sacrificed their children, in a manner of speaking, sending us to boarding school so "we wouldn't be a hinderance to their ministry." (The missions' words, not my parents') I don't think they regret going, but I know my mom regrets and feels very guilty for "sacrificing" us in favor of their job.

Chatty - posted on 10/27/2010

You ladies are HILARIOUS! I ♥ YOU!

Krista - posted on 10/27/2010

Well, I already live near the sea, so that's moot.

An ark? Well, it'd keep the husband busy, but God would have to pony up for what would be a really big bill at the Home Hardware.

Dana - posted on 10/27/2010

I might move to the sea because it would be fun. ;)

Isobel - posted on 10/27/2010

well...you guys covered the killing of your child...but would you move to the sea? or built an arc the size of a football field with your bare hands?

Good Day! - posted on 10/27/2010

awww thanks Teresa! =)

Teresa - posted on 10/27/2010

I'll just let Sara answer for me on this post. She's way better at it. Here's a tip (that is only helpful if you believe in God and the Bible though): If it goes against the Bible (ex: human sacrifice NOW)... it's not from God. :)

Jenn - posted on 10/27/2010

How would I know it was really God? How does anyone really know when they say God told them to do something or that God was guiding them. I can honestly say I would NOT do that based off of a dream I had.

Good Day! - posted on 10/27/2010

Also, I just did a little quick search and it forbids human sacrifice in Deuteronomy. Yes, He asked Abraham to do it, but that was pre-law in Genesis. And I should mention, that it wasn't just a test of obedience. It was a picture and foreshadow of what God did for us through Jesus.

Good Day! - posted on 10/27/2010

I've already explained it. =) Four posts back.

Chatty - posted on 10/27/2010

Yes, I'd also like to know why not?

Good Day! - posted on 10/27/2010

I don't doubt that God or angels can give instructions during dreams. I never said that. I just said that I doubt God would ask someone to sacrifice their child. There would be no point in that.

Johnny - posted on 10/27/2010

Okay, but suppose for a second that it is actually God appearing for you with his instructions. According to the bible, it has happened, and according to many since who are believed by the faithful, it has happened. So why couldn't it happen to you?

Good Day! - posted on 10/27/2010

"Just a question to the believers...you seem to imply that in this day and age it could never happen, that it only happened in the bible and that God asked it to see if there was obediance...well wouldn't now, a time when so many dont believe be a great time to test the believers faith and obediance? He did it in the bible, why wouldnt he do it again,for that is the /god of the bible? Not fighting, honest question."

We don't do sacrificial (as in animals) giving anymore. Not since Jesus. That's why it wouldn't happen now.

Hannah - posted on 10/27/2010

speaking of dreams....one night i took some valerian root because i couldnt sleep....and ended up dreaming that i was being chased by a life size t-rex made of jello!! do you know how friggin terrifying that was?!!! you can bet i threw those pills out, lmao!!

Erin - posted on 10/27/2010

Umm... tell him to jam it. That's just retarded lol.

C. - posted on 10/27/2010

Iris.. Why are you still up? It's after midnight :)

Ah, that's Ok, Jessica.. I'm a little hormonal. I think it's about that time (AGAIN!) so I apologize for being a little sensitive.

Iris - posted on 10/27/2010

No Christina, she just wanted me to style it differently before I started on the make up. This dream has got me giggling all day...

Jessica - posted on 10/27/2010

I'm not mocking your religion, it's simply my opinion. I apoligise if you've taken it that way, it's 4 in the morning and my munchkin won't sleep, sometimes my words get away from me.

C. - posted on 10/27/2010

Why do you feel the need to mock someone's religion?? I didn't give you a straight answer b/c quite honestly, I've never had anyone ask me something like that before. It really never came to mind until this thread. I could do some research and whatnot, but by the time I get all my research together, you would have gotten an answer from Sara H (which is a good thing b/c she's far more knowledgeable than me). But by then, there would be no point. I gave you what I thought was the best answer possible. I'm sorry if it wasn't good enough :/

Jessica - posted on 10/27/2010

No offence taken, I'm amused when the answer can't really be given. I imagine back in that time there were crazies who did things in the name of being told by a higher power to...So because we are an advance or what..more mature society now...god himself must think he ways are crazy and arcaic to.
I think back in the day of the bible those people were just lacking the good pychiatrists of today, lol.

C. - posted on 10/27/2010

Hahaha! Oh my gosh, Iris.. So did she shave it off? :P

C. - posted on 10/27/2010

Ugh.. I really hate when people come to 'believers' with those types of questions, no offense.

Anyway, there are more ways to prove your obedience to God now than there was back then with the rapidly increasing number of non-believers and people that are still on the fence about it. I honestly doubt that God would ask someone now to sacrifice their child. Especially with all the crazies anymore that claim something was telling them to do it and they did it, and lookey here, the child wasn't saved. I know someone had said it before on here (can't remember who), but if they claim God came to them in a dream and asked them to sacrifice their child, they should get checked out by a doctor or psychiatrist.

Iris - posted on 10/27/2010

I wouldn't rule out a dream like that atm since I'm on chantix to help me stop smoking.
Last night I was a make up artist, I asked the woman in my chair if she wanted me to shave her beard off or if she wanted me to just kinda get around it. She had a face full of red beard.
Any other time, I'd still consider it one of those crazy dreams.

Jessica - posted on 10/27/2010

Just a question to the believers...you seem to imply that in this day and age it could never happen, that it only happened in the bible and that God asked it to see if there was obediance...well wouldn't now, a time when so many dont believe be a great time to test the believers faith and obediance? He did it in the bible, why wouldnt he do it again,for that is the /god of the bible? Not fighting, honest question.
As for me, this is another reason amoung many why I dont believe in this god, I get up, get some yummy munchies and watch a movie cause to belive that crap I must be high!

Amy - posted on 10/27/2010

i'd probably just roll over and go to sleep and consider it as another weird dream. As the word 'God' has no meaning to me at all and i would certainly not sacrifice my children for anyone or anything.

JuLeah - posted on 10/26/2010

If Moses lived today we'd give him little blue pills and ask him to please stop talking about the bush that is burning.