Are giving up your medical coverage then? You know, it just weakens everyone's faith in the healing power that is still available for us today every time you go to a doctor.
I don't believe there were 400 billion animals on the ark.
One teacher broke it down this way:
Species of Land Animals
larger than a sheep, 290
Between sheep and rat, 757
Smaller than rat, 1,359
Species of Birds
birds 10,000
reptiles, etc, 2,231
insects, 100,000
According to him there was room for all the animals in the lower deck which had 33,750 square feet of floor space which could have been partitioned off into stalls, cages, and rooms. The second floor could have held the food in its 500,000 cubic feet of space. The third floor also contained 33,750 square feet making room for over 200 rooms, each about 12 feet square.
True, but the bible has never been under the scrutiny as it is now. It needs to be able to survive the test of simple common sense if it is to be accepted. It is impossible to get someone to the cross of Jesus Christ (the only place that matters) if they keep tripping over whales eating people, arks carrying 2 billion elephants, and God ordering people to kill people.
After all, why don't we believe in Santa Claus? Well, for starters, it's impossible for one guy to visit every house on earth in one night. How can one guy be in that many malls across the U.S.? Enquiring minds wanna know. And as insulting as that may sound, we're up against a culture that sees Noah like Santa Claus. If the best line we can come up with is, "Because the bible says so", we're gonna lose, and statistically, we are losing. Big time. The American Church is sliding numerically just like the European church did a few decades ago. We're headed toward dormancy. If we don't step up our game, the "latter rain" is going to become a drought.
Following this line of logic we end up in a place that is far more detrimental to someone believing in Jesus Christ. If they cannot believe the miracles of the OT and we water them down to being parables... the logical conclusion is that when they arrive at Jesus they'll take his miracles as parables or exaggerated linguistic devices. For example liberal theologians already believe that the feeding of the multitudes is a parable about sharing, not miraculous provision for over 5,000 people using five loaves and two fishes. And if the miracles of Christ are parabolic or linguistic devices... what of the resurrection? Maybe that is a parable or linguistic device also. Maybe Jesus didn't rise from the dead on the third day after being crucified... maybe it's speaking of Christ's "spirit" or "teachings" in his followers. Christianity becomes a philosophy of anointed myth from start to finish.
Sure, its own terms. If you were to pick up a Mad Magazine (I haven't in years but I assume that it's still the same) you will approach that "literature" on its own terms. You expect something silly and nonsensical. You might groan at some of the "jokes" rather than laugh, but you are engaging the writers on their own terms.
I chose a rather extreme example to prove my point here.
However, the same approach should be used for the Bible. Is the Bible a book intending to tell the Natural History of the earth and cosmos? No.
The Bible is a collection of books written over a large period of time and so it's safe to say that there were many different local and immediate motivations behind its words. But throughout, we find the overall message is one of God's supernatural dealings with mankind.
Thus, it would be as wrong to look for a full and "accurate" Natural History of our planet from within the pages of the Bible as it would be to seek serious information regarding the U.S. Constitution on the pages of Mad Magazine.
There is no evidence whatsoever in the geologic record that the entire continental surface of the planet was covered by water withing any period in the past 6,000 years - or even a million years - or a billion!
The dimensions of an entirely wooden vessel such as the Ark of Genesis 6 could not have stayed afloat for the 4 months to a years as required by the various interpretations of Genesis.
The animals described could not have been kept alive for that time period given the dimensions and conditions of such a wooden vessel.
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that this literally happened anyway, so why should we insist that it did? Our insistence serves no purpose and actually harms the faith of those who may be turning to Bible for helpful answers in this modern age.
It says it happened. It doesn't say it literally happened, nor does it say it was all just a parable (or whatever). The Bible also says Jesus was resurrected. Was that a literal event? How do we know what to take literally, and what not to? If there is no physical evidence of something, do we assume it was figurative? Where's the physical evidence of Jesus' resurrection, today?
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
True, but the bible has never been under the scrutiny as it is now. It needs to be able to survive the test of simple common sense if it is to be accepted. It is impossible to get someone to the cross of Jesus Christ (the only place that matters) if they keep tripping over whales eating people, arks carrying 2 billion elephants, and God ordering people to kill people.
After all, why don't we believe in Santa Claus? Well, for starters, it's impossible for one guy to visit every house on earth in one night. How can one guy be in that many malls across the U.S.? Enquiring minds wanna know. And as insulting as that may sound, we're up against a culture that sees Noah like Santa Claus. If the best line we can come up with is, "Because the bible says so", we're gonna lose, and statistically, we are losing. Big time. The American Church is sliding numerically just like the European church did a few decades ago. We're headed toward dormancy. If we don't step up our game, the "latter rain" is going to become a drought.
Manifestations.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Noah and biblical history isn't the reason for dwindling numbers in churches. The reason for dwindling numbers is because a lot of churches, possibly the majority of christian churches in america have no power. Lives are unchanged, people can go clubbin' and bump n grind on friday and saturday then sing in the choir on sunday. You can live life and party like a rockstar and still be on the church board or in a church ministry. Churches have become centers for so-called "social justice" and have become politically correct. There is not black and white; no naming sin as such. Instead sin is tolerated as merely being human and fallible. There is no hell, no judgement for sin.
Fortunately I believe there will be a day when some churches finally wake up, shake off the dust, get back to the Bible and there will be a final great awakening.
In most churches I've attended or visited sinful lifestyles are called sinful. I think it's that people aren't affraid of God and desire the pleasures of sin. Think about it... if the ark and the stories of the OT are myth or parable... why live a separated life wherein one deprives themselves of the pleasures of this world? If the authority of the Bible is undermined... why live by it's teachings??? The evolutionary mindset and philosphy of humanism being embraced by the masses (and now the church) is more likely the reason for decline. Not to mention that all of this was forseen...
Luke 18:8
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Falling away from faith in God's Word and Christian living go hand in hand. If you can't trust the Word you can't live by it. For example some pro-gay churches are already arguing that Paul's teachings on the subject were cultural and are outdated given our modern understanding.
We can compromise all day long on six day creation, global flood, whales swallowing prophets, and the dead rising... but in the end the Bible will stand true and those who doubted will be put to an open shame.
Then why aren't Pentecostal churches bursting at the seams? We believe in the infilling of the Spirit, our churches are alive, lives are changed, etc. etc. We lose people just as quickly as other churches do. Our teenagers are hitting the door just as quickly as the ones at the other churches.
I don't personally think Noah and the Ark is what's keeping them out, either, but something is missing. Something more than just lack of 'power' and 'changed lives'.
(I personally think what is missing is true relationship with Jesus....somehow a lot of people just aren't getting that)
One of the issues I can see is that "church" today is a corporation, a money making enterprise. It's business. Those who attend house churches are far more satisfied with their spirituality than Christians who attend church. Why? The fellowship is deep, private, and intimate. Church is a Sunday show with entertaining music and message. Sadly, the way we do church doesn't lend itself to "intimate relationship" between each other or Jesus.
One teacher broke it down this way:
Species of Land Animals
larger than a sheep, 290
Between sheep and rat, 757
Smaller than rat, 1,359
Species of Birds
birds 10,000
reptiles, etc, 2,231
insects, 100,000
According to him there was room for all the animals in the lower deck which had 33,750 square feet of floor space which could have been partitioned off into stalls, cages, and rooms. The second floor could have held the food in its 500,000 cubic feet of space. The third floor also contained 33,750 square feet making room for over 200 rooms, each about 12 feet square.
I heard or read something along those lines too. I believe that in the end we'll see that it wasn't so implausible.
One of the issues I can see is that "church" today is a corporation, a money making enterprise. It's business. Those who attend house churches are far more satisfied with their spirituality than Christians who attend church. Why? The fellowship is deep, private, and intimate. Church is a Sunday show with entertaining music and message. Sadly, the way we do church doesn't lend itself to "intimate relationship" between each other or Jesus.
I think that when people first come, they are looking for a true relationship with Jesus. And they start out that way. But for many, it quickly deteriorates into merely religion. They start walking the walk, talking the talk, and pretty soon the relationship with Jesus falls away.
I do agree that the way we do church does contribute to this problem.
But, this is a hijack, not really on topic for this thread.
Then why aren't Pentecostal churches bursting at the seams? We believe in the infilling of the Spirit, our churches are alive, lives are changed, etc. etc. We lose people just as quickly as other churches do. Our teenagers are hitting the door just as quickly as the ones at the other churches.
I don't personally think Noah and the Ark is what's keeping them out, either, but something is missing. Something more than just lack of 'power' and 'changed lives'.
(I personally think what is missing is true relationship with Jesus....somehow a lot of people just aren't getting that)
This is probably the biggest reason of all. Second, I don't see the power in our churches we should be seeing. I believe every service when someone comes for prayer there should be miracles of healing. Deliverances. Signs and wonders.
But I believe it is coming, I'm not sure what is holding it back.
__________________
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
Linear Mode
