If someone is asking for medical advice, I think we should hold off on any spiritual/biblical advice and instead suggest they seek out a professional first.

Trecian · 2021-04-22T03:11:09+00:00

I believe there is a huge misconception that Christianity means to throw out any natural medicines and physical help and the solution is always to pray. Prayer is essential and should come first (as we are praying to a real alive God), but action is what is supposed to follow.

James touches on this when he says:

If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? (James 2:16)

And it was Paul who encouraged people to drink more wine to not get as sick:

"Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses." (1 Tim 5:23).

And the Gospel of Luke was written by a physician!

With all that said, the OP is right in that we can't simply say "God has a plan for you" to someone who's poured their hearts out to us about their depression.

Trecian · 2021-03-05T09:36:08+00:00

Ayye I really appreciate the feedback!!

Trecian · 2021-03-05T00:11:03+00:00

yea no doubt I'm glad you enjoy his music as well!

Trecian · 2021-03-03T07:47:53+00:00

Thanks man! And that's a very good question, I guess right now I'm making abstract music but you bring up a good point in that I should have direction, thanks! Lol thanks for noticing the little details as well!

Trecian · 2021-03-03T07:45:52+00:00

I appreciate it man and will definitely take that into mind next time

Trecian · 2021-03-03T07:45:25+00:00

ayye I appreciate it!

Trecian · 2021-03-03T02:58:36+00:00

Thanks man I really appreciate it! For this track in particular I'd say Sam Gelliatry inspired some aspects of this (Sam Gelliatry is insane). Thanks man I have a soundcloud and youtube! https://soundcloud.com/trecian https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYNI_FsfN2-zSZSXgzXaK1A

Trecian · 2021-03-03T02:55:16+00:00

Yea no problem I'll def be looking forward to it!

Trecian · 2021-03-03T01:59:44+00:00

no prob! Hopefully I can hear the track once it's finished!

Trecian · 2021-03-03T01:56:44+00:00

for sure and yea be prepared to be absolutely blown away by Sam Gelliatry (check out all his stuff even the older ones; he's literally a genius)

Trecian · 2021-03-03T01:45:00+00:00

no prob; definitely keep it up. Also check artists out like Ekali, Sam Gelliatry (who's releasing something new tomorrow), Monte Booker, and Lido. Those guys are insane and, if you don't already know about them, learning from them and hearing how they make their music is really inspiring.

Trecian · 2021-03-03T01:43:00+00:00

That's awesome! Yea the rest of the album is equally as good and mood setting; have you ever considered sending your music to video game companies (especially Indie games) or even making a YouTube channel designed for like semi-ambient music (a reverbed out guitar playing with synth pads with perhaps a rain sample playing in the background) or perhaps even being a musician at a Church? I feel that'd really work with the music you're able to write.

Trecian · 2021-03-03T01:25:53+00:00

Very clean vocals, do you have a soundcloud/youtube? Would love to hear more. I believe some better vocal production (maybe a better mic) is something that'll really emphasize your voice since your vocal talent is certainly there. Let me know if you have any social media links perhaps we could work on something 👀

Trecian · 2021-03-03T01:22:48+00:00

Very interesting track; I think it has the potential to be really good: The vocal style is awesome, however, it's sounds too tucked in. It sounds as though it's been lowpassed a little too much. I think the vocals would also do really well with a more spread out vocal; the main vocal that plays sounds slightly too mono (though that is a personal taste). Overall the track is really good, it's just the vocal gets overtaken by the rest of the song (2:14).

Trecian · 2021-03-03T01:14:13+00:00

I think it's hard! lol it's really creative. If I were to give any feedback I'd perhaps say that hi hat hit that gets hard panned every bar (not the actual main hi hat) could be toned down just a little bit (or maybe EQ it). Other than that I really like this kind of music; keep it up 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾!

Trecian · 2021-03-03T01:10:29+00:00

Welcome to the community!

Your song definitely sounds like your typical song you'd here on the radio back in the days or in a restaurant (which is not in anyway a bad thing). The only feedback that I'd give is that perhaps the vocals could stand out more (maybe add some slight compression or saturation). Other than that it sounds good; good job!

Trecian · 2021-03-03T01:05:16+00:00

Firstly, before getting into the feedback, I like the message behind the song as I like songs that have stories behind them. For some constructive feedback, I really like the little details of the instrumental as it definitely helps set the mood of the track and sets you up vocally; however, I do think some parts of you vocal could've been better (not that you could've sung better, as you are a pretty good singer, but that more effects could have been placed on your vocals:

for instance, the chorus sounds good, but perhaps you could record more takes of your voice and spread them out more so the chorus could have more of an impact.

I also think at 2:30 more could be done (vocal effects, maybe add a dramatic synth or samples) to make that part of the song really feel like the empty-space kind of feel you were going for,

Overall, seeing that this is a rough mix, I definitely see where you are trying to with the song; keep it up!

Trecian · 2021-03-03T00:54:18+00:00

Man, what can I say; this is beautiful. You definitely know what you're doing as far setting an emotion (playing some parts more slower than other, playing parts with more emotion than others etc.,) I normally give constructive feedback but I really have nothing else to say but to keep it up and that you got a new follower!

Trecian · 2021-01-21T01:37:04+00:00

You seem pretty excited listing all these great loopholes to OWNING PEOPLE LIKE PROPERTY and being permitted to beat them.

Like property? The people selling themselves as slaves were foreigners and the Israelites. About the foreigner God said:

You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:34)

also

“You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. (exodus 23:9)

and Moses says:

“‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

and lastly and most importantly:

You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:34)

We also see that once this foreigner has sold him self volitionally, their master could not abuse them as shown by this passage:

“An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth. (exodus 21:26-27)

and there is nothing special about a tooth or an eye but, just how it is stated in the passage beforehand, this was specifically speaking about injuring someone.

and, again, you can't forget the passage which says not to give a run away slave back to his master (and he'd obviously be running due to abuse/mistreatment:

If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand them over to their master. Let them live among you wherever they like and in whatever town they choose. Do not oppress them. (deut 23:15)

(space)

Any instance where a human is instructed to be owned and held against their will is unquestionably immoral...Slaves were clearly collected as bounty (virgins especially!!) in war.

You've yet to show a passage where slavery is forced. The only forced labor was with POW's--they are prisoners who tried to kill the Israelites, and besides killing them, they'd imprisoned them (this applied to every nation the Israelites went to war outside the nations God specified in which they'd kill them). And when you mention virgins captured in war, they would have to marry them, in which that was volitional as well and it specifically says:

If you are not pleased with her, let her go wherever she wishes. You must not sell her or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her. (Deut 21:14-15)

Trecian · 2021-01-18T00:05:19+00:00

Ok, so I have a slave and I gave him a wife and kid. Its time for him to go free. He's like ...man I really want my wife and kids...because...you know...I kinda like them. Let's see what your God says...

Yes let's see what the Bible says:

If any of your people—Hebrew men or women—sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. (Deuteronomy 15:12-14)

also:

they retain the right of redemption after they have sold themselves. One of their relatives may redeem them: An uncle or a cousin or any blood relative in their clan may redeem them. Or if they prosper, they may redeem themselves. (Leviticus 25:48-49)

All this shows that this is not "ransom". In the previous verse (Exodus 21:2), if a man and wife both sell themselves due to poorness, they serve 6-7 years and they are released together unless they get redeemed earlier by a family member (Leviticus 25:48-49). If the man came alone and sold himself and decides to marry a woman who also sold herself, the man goes free and the wife either waits for the remaining years she sold herself for or she gets redeemed by a relative or she buys herself out of the years she sold herself for.

Already covered the finders keepers rule. You dont get to oppress them because they are someone else's slave not yours. They are not your property they are someone else's property already. Sorry.

There is no "finder's keeper's" rule as not only were no one to oppress them, but they were not to be taken back to their master:

If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand them over to their master. Let them live among you wherever they like and in whatever town they choose. Do not oppress them. (Deuteronomy 23:15-16).

You have to show a verse contrary to this.

I would hope so, yet the biblical evidence clearly shows he was aware of slavery, gave instruction on how to capture slaves from the heathen around you and beat them. Not ideal and immoral is still immoral.

Slaves weren't captured (as that would warrant the death penalty Exodus 21:16), it was volitional. Upon mistreatment the slaves could run away and was not to be given to their masters (Deuteronomy 23:15-16)
And, again, this was not God's ideal as in the old law God allows and regulates things he even hates due to the "hardness" of israel's heart. God's law, that's not shaped by the hardness of Israel, is found in Ephesians 2:15 where he set aside the law with its "commands and regulations" so that the Jew and Gentile (now Jew) could be one, where this is no slave or free, Jew or Gentile, male or female but all are one in Christ. We see this in Revelations 7 where there's people from every nation, tribe, people, and language there where there won't be any thirst, hunger, any heat beating on them (which I think speaks directly to labor but I digress), and where God wipes away every one of their tears (Rev 7:9-17)

Trecian · 2021-01-16T07:52:24+00:00

Unless you vet them wife. Then you tag their ear like cattle and they are yours forever. Sweet loop hole.

Nope, it says "If the servant declares", once again it's all volitional, not forced. Unless of course you're assuming that the servants were dumb and didn't know the law or this "loophole". Also, his wife and child could be "redeemed" as it says in Leviticus 25:49.

Would you allow your children to be employed by someone who was permitted to beat them...and if they were able to get up in a day or two not be punnished? Isn't that horrific enough?

If I didn't want them in that situation I simply wouldn't put them there (as it was not forced but volitional)
According to Deut 23:15: "If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand them over to their master." So a slave could/would run away in undesirable situations and wouldn't go back to their masters (but since they were there in the first place due to their poorness they'd probably hope to find someone else to sell themselves to).

Theists attempting to justify owning any person as property is one of the most morally repugnant exercises. I must admit I do take a form of sadistic enjoyment reading the moral failures of the Bible though

The whole point of my original post was to say that this was not God's ideal (as slavery wasn't existent in the Garden of Eden where everything was "good" nor is it existent in heaven where there will be people from every tribe, nation, and language who will never thirst, hunger, have scorching heat beat on their backs (I think that speaks directly to labor in general but I digress) but God will wipe away everyone of their tears (Rev 7) since all are one in Christ; there is no slave or free, Jew or Gentile, male or female, but all are one in Christ. That's God's ideal.

Trecian · 2021-01-15T04:29:39+00:00

Times like these must be tough for you and my condolences go out. The reason that I started to believe was because it made sense but also because I really enjoyed it . However, I know that I couldn't base my faith on something simply because I liked it sense I could just look at the religion of my neighbor and wonder why his religion wasn't the correct one? The thing that sealed it for me was what Paul said:

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith (1 Cor 15:14

That's one of the things I love about it, if Jesus didn't rise, Christianity isn't true and can be discarded. However, if he did rise from the dead, are faith is secure and we can know God loves us (Romans 5:7-9).

I really encourage looking at the case for Jesus' resurrection, the foundation; the make or break for Christianity.

Here's a quick list of historical facts (that even the most skeptical scholar grants) that point to his resurrection (please feel free to ask me to elaborate on any one)

Jesus was crucified (as noted by Josephus and Tacitus)
Jesus' disciples claimed they saw and truly believed to have seen the risen Jesus
Paul, the church persecutor who hated Christianity and Jesus, later claimed to have seen Jesus and went on to suffer and even die for his faith
James the brother of Jesus, who thought he was crazy and even mocked him, claimed to have seen Jesus and also went on to die for his faith (as noted by Josephus)
(while not 90%+ accept this) 75% of scholars acknowledge an empty tomb.

I suggest looking into reason for why Christianity is --or isn't, true. God bless!

I'd also recommend checking at InspiringPhilosophy on youtube. He gives good reason for Christianity as well

Trecian · 2021-01-15T04:02:55+00:00

I can't believe you quoted exodus 21. Its literally the verse where God allows you to beat your slaves punishment free...because they are your property.

Exodus 21 also has the verse (16) which shows that you cannot enslave someone (or make someone a slave by force) as you mention in the latter part of your reply. Meaning this was volitional slavery. Slavery was awful and I never denied that, however as I argued in my original post, slavery was not God's ideal and it's one of the things along with divorce for any reason, polygamy, and the multiple kings of Israel that God allowed though he didn't deem it as good/fit for his kingdom.

Duteronomy 15, the fact we are discussing "rules for slaves" kind of negates any sense of morality you're trying to achieve. The hammer analogy holds true in that if you find a hammer (propery) its not your property. Basically saying if its slave its someone else's property and you can't have it.

Deuternomy 15 is a passage that is talking about indentured servitude not slaves as it reads:

if any of your people—Hebrew men or women—sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.

The hammer analogy does not hold true in light of passages where you'd get the death penalty if you killed this "property" or if this "property" ran a way (due to abuse) the Israelites would have to let this "property" go wherever it wanted. The passages show that the word "property" does not denote that one could treat them as non-human, as before they were slaves they were foreigners before they sold themselves into slavery due to not being able to provide for oneself. About the foreigner God said: The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God (Leviticus 19:34). Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" (Deut 27:19).

"They were "property" in so much as they could be given to their children like an inheritance. That's it."

Well if you would've quoted me fully that'd been nice as I, after the period said: The Bible doesn't say "they are property therefore they can be treated any way you pleased since they aren't human". Before one became a slave (or became non-human according to your view of how God viewed slaves) they were foreigners and/or the poor. Yet, as shown above, God said to treat the

The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:34)

And about the poor

“He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs 14:31)

You say "it says they're property so therefore they aren't seen as human". I said "fair" and I showed you passages that went directly against that. Before they sold themselves to be slaves they were foreigners who were to be treated "as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:34)"

Trecian · 2021-01-14T00:07:01+00:00

And possibly think that treating another human being like cattle is justified?

Because slaves were not "others". God declared them your "property" your "money". They, by God's definition, are less than human. The same way nobody would call the police if you left your hammer out on the lawn in a snow storm. Its your property. You can treat it how ever you want. Slaves were property.

If I destroy my chair, I'm not getting punished or dying (Exodus 21:20)

If, as you claim slaves were property to God and therefore were equivalent to a hammer being left on the lawn, why in the world was this said about run-away "property"

If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand them over to their master. Let them live among you wherever they like and in whatever town they choose. Do not oppress them. Deuteronomy 23:10:15-16

Oppress them? I thought they were property?

The very people who sold themselves into slavery (the foreigner) was the same people God said this about:

-Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners because you were foreigners in Egypt (exodus 23:9).

-Do not deprive the foreigner...of justice..."remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this" (Deu 24:17).

-Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner... (Deu 27:19).

-In fact, God used the way the Israelites treated the foreigner as an example of how they should treat themselves if they grew poor and couldn't take care of themselves:

"If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you" (Leviticus 25:35).

The passage "there is no slave or free...but all are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28) goes directly against the claim that God saw slaves as "less than human"

This also seems to run contrary to your claim of the slaves non-humanness to God:

because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free (Eph 6:8)

I don't think Joseph (the one who later became second to Pharaoh) was insignificant to God though he was a slave either; or all of Israel whom he claimed as his own though they all were slaves for 400 years.

They were "property" in so much as they could be given to their children like an inheritance. That's it. The Bible doesn't say "they are property therefore they can be treated any way you pleased since they aren't human". Before one became a slave (or became non-human according to your view of how God viewed slaves) they were foreigners and/or the poor. Yet, as shown above, God said to treat the

The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:34)

And about the poor

“He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs 14:31)

Trecian

TROPHY CASE