__________________
His banner over me is LOVE.... My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
To be a servant of God, it will cost us our total commitment to God, and God alone. His burden must be our burden... Sis Alvear
Thanks, yes these look interesting. Have read just the first page of the first one, so far, but this jumped out at me:
"Though certain OT texts present challenges and difficulties, navigating these waters is achievable with patient, nuanced attention given to the relevant OT texts, the ancient Near East (ANE) context, and the broader biblical canon."
That is very true! It is hard work to understand what God is really telling us in His "word", apparently. And with enough hard work and consultations with other hard-working, smart people, one can explain any challenges and difficulties in the Bible. Or in any book, for that matter. Funny, though, when different hard-working, smart people come to very different conclusions.
I dunno, would it have been too much to ask that God, the infinitely wise, powerful, loving Creator of the entire universe, who so desperately wants to save us all from His own wrath, could "write" us a clear instruction manual? One that is neither hard to understand nor easy to misconstrue? One that tells us plainly which laws, if any, we can start to ignore and when? One that's not open to countless interpretations, leading to endless arguing over what this or that scripture really means, and from there leading to the inevitable doubt and fear that you may have got it wrong after all (or slipped up in some detail of the obedience thereof) and will therefore end up in hell forever? Somebody's gonna say "Lord, Lord" only to hear "Depart from me", after all!
Back to reading. Maybe he'll answer.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
I dunno, would it have been too much to ask that God, the infinitely wise, powerful, loving Creator of the entire universe, who so desperately wants to save us all from His own wrath, could "write" us a clear instruction manual? One that is neither hard to understand nor easy to misconstrue? One that tells us plainly which laws, if any, we can start to ignore and when? One that's not open to countless interpretations, leading to endless arguing over what this or that scripture really means, and from there leading to the inevitable doubt and fear that you may have got it wrong after all (or slipped up in some detail of the obedience thereof) and will therefore end up in hell forever? Somebody's gonna say "Lord, Lord" only to hear "Depart from me", after all!
.
He did make it simple. Several times. Shall we begin ?
Adam and Eve -- Dont eat the fruit from THAT tree !........ simple enough you would think, but, nooooooo. We can't even do that.
10 Commandments --- All ten, simple as can be. Most are one liners, no complexity there. ........ Yet for some reason after they were given there is chapter after chapter of laws and by-laws. Why ? Doesn't say really, but, that warning on Preperation H about not taking it orally, yup, someone had to try it.
God came down HIMself-- told childrens stories face to face to make us understand.. ..... nope, diciples still didnt have a clue.
Finally!!! God returns to infill us, cant beat that.. cant write down for them, cant explain it to them then hey, I'll just dwell within them and guide them.. and HE did, filled them all, gave Peter the message of salvation, he told it to the people.........nope, whole rest of the NT is God's teachers having to go back to the churches and correct their understanding, put them back on the path.
Jesus spoke of the scripture and said, "Thy word is truth." The Bible itself is therefore not opinion. So there is by definition a correct understanding of every scripture -- and that means every scripture communicates a TRUTH that is not just someone's opinion. We've all met people who were more interested in being doctrinally correct than in being Christlike, and I recoil from that. I think you do too, and that's the impetus behind this thread. To me, the real issue is summed up in two questions:
1. Is the Bible the Truth?
2. Can the Bible be rightly understood?
If anyone answers the first question "no," there's not really anything to talk about. If they answer the first question "yes," and the second one "no," it's a pretty bleak outlook -- God gave us truth, but not the ability to grasp it. The Bible then becomes a book with precious little utility. All that content spread over 66 books...and not that much essential truth? Talk about vanity and vexation of spirit!
But are the answers supplied truth...or just opinion? How badly flawed do we think the translations are? I would also ask this -- if no English translation is inerrant, but God's inerrant word has been preserved, WHERE has it been preserved? Who has it? Who has access to it?
The word is rightly understood. It says so itself. So where does man keep going wrong ? Answer that one and your eyes will truley be opened.
__________________ You can't reach the world with your talents. People are sick and tired of religious talents. People need a Holy Ghost annointed church with real fruits to reach out and touch their lives. ~ Pastor Burrell Crabtree
In fact I think that the insinuation of "hateful" Pentecostals is coming mostly from the fertile imaginations of bitter, backslidden ex Apostolics who are constantly trying to find a way to justify their actions. ~ strait shooter
Thanks, yes these look interesting. Have read just the first page of the first one, so far, but this jumped out at me:
"Though certain OT texts present challenges and difficulties, navigating these waters is achievable with patient, nuanced attention given to the relevant OT texts, the ancient Near East (ANE) context, and the broader biblical canon."
That is very true! It is hard work to understand what God is really telling us in His "word", apparently. And with enough hard work and consultations with other hard-working, smart people, one can explain any challenges and difficulties in the Bible. Or in any book, for that matter. Funny, though, when different hard-working, smart people come to very different conclusions.
I dunno, would it have been too much to ask that God, the infinitely wise, powerful, loving Creator of the entire universe, who so desperately wants to save us all from His own wrath, could "write" us a clear instruction manual? One that is neither hard to understand nor easy to misconstrue? One that tells us plainly which laws, if any, we can start to ignore and when? One that's not open to countless interpretations, leading to endless arguing over what this or that scripture really means, and from there leading to the inevitable doubt and fear that you may have got it wrong after all (or slipped up in some detail of the obedience thereof) and will therefore end up in hell forever? Somebody's gonna say "Lord, Lord" only to hear "Depart from me", after all!
Back to reading. Maybe he'll answer.
I get frustrated with all the junk too, but I don't blame God. I believe the testimony He has given to us in His word. His desire is for everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. He isn't mean and doesn't play games. If someone seeks Him with their whole heart, they will find Him and He will show them his salvation.
Psalm 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
__________________
His banner over me is LOVE.... My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
To be a servant of God, it will cost us our total commitment to God, and God alone. His burden must be our burden... Sis Alvear
__________________ You can't reach the world with your talents. People are sick and tired of religious talents. People need a Holy Ghost annointed church with real fruits to reach out and touch their lives. ~ Pastor Burrell Crabtree
In fact I think that the insinuation of "hateful" Pentecostals is coming mostly from the fertile imaginations of bitter, backslidden ex Apostolics who are constantly trying to find a way to justify their actions. ~ strait shooter
The new atheists have made a mistake. They think the descriptions of Bible heroes' failures (David's adultery etc.) constitute endorsement of those behaviors. Um... I didn't catch that in the quotes provided. But onward. I'm only on page 4. (Interruptions.)
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
After discussing the slaughter of the Canaanites: "What then of the children? Death would be a mercy, as they would be ushered into the presence of God and spared the corrupting influences of a morally decadent culture."
Ah. Then why are human child murders so reviled? They should be heroes! Yes, I know, it's because they're human, and not God. Got it.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. 
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