Are you a liar?

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Israel encountered many false gods, with Egypt typifying the idolatrous nation. How many gods did the Egyptians have?

The God of Israel, the one true God, made short work of the Egyptian gods. That much is true.

Egypt has a much longer lifespan as a country than Israel

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Everybody who takes a serious look at scripture must be able to discern truth from error.

I did. It’s filled with ignorance and dishonesty.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

That's why examining it from an objective and fact-baed approach is superior.

That’s why I say, have faith but use the scientific method to make sure.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

False gods give false hope, and ultimately they prove powerless.

You mean like promising Hebrews He would protect them and then invent some excuse to torture and kill them by the next paragraph? You mean how we are to fear God because He can kill souls, meaning His promise of eternity in heaven is not rock solid?

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

and he backed this up with powerful acts of healing and with miracles.

This is the same Jesus who berated people for wanting miracles?

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Only at the appearing of Christ will they recognise their Messiah as the one they crucified

But the Romans did it?

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

The Bible does not encourage the ownership of slaves.

I honestly can’t take seriously the supposed piety of people who won’t accept the dirt on the wine glass.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

I see, for example, you criticise the Graham family, whilst overlooking the great work that Billy did as an evangelist.

I have more moral expectations than high sales numbers.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

What we cannot know is what a person would have been like had they not repented and believed!

Or I could watch them on YouTube and vomit.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

No insults intended!

In that case, no, my mom didn't name me Saint Frankenstein. Frankenstein is a nickname a friend gave to me that I use in Internet handles, and I added "Saint" as a reference to duality and struggle in faith. My mom did name me but you'll never know what it was. In sure your name isn't really Redemptionsong, either.

 

[Redemptionsong]

This is the same Jesus who berated people for wanting miracles?

There is a difference between miracles as acts of compassion, and miracles to impress.

 

[Redemptionsong]

You mean like promising Hebrews He would protect them and then invent some excuse to torture and kill them by the next paragraph? You mean how we are to fear God because He can kill souls, meaning His promise of eternity in heaven is not rock solid?

This only betrays an ignorance of the covenant under which the lsraelites lived. You should read the list of blessings and curses in Deuteronomy 28.

The promise of eternity is with those who are children of God in holiness. The challenge is to know the way of holiness.

 

[Redemptionsong]

But the Romans did it?

The Romans had the authority to put a man to death. They needed to be persuaded that there was a just cause for doing so.

 

[Redemptionsong]

I have more moral expectations than high sales numbers.

To my understanding, Billy Graham did have high moral standards. His life was constantly under the spotlight.

Let him who is without sin cast the first stone!

 

[Redemptionsong]

You also talked about miracles. I am personally skeptical of all miracle claims from all religions and do not base my beliefs on them. However, Hindu devotees regularly report many miracles that happen to them through the intervention of God. Here is one. It is a more believable claim because a) It was reported on a major newspaper b) Happened publicly c) Happened to a family whose names and identities are provided with immediate after the fact testimony and reporting. A boy who could speak for many years started to speak upon visit to a famous temple.
Miracle at Tirumala: Lord Balaji Restores Speech to Dumb Youth!

If your criteria of authenticity is the presence of miraculous healing, this should serve as very strong evidence for the reality of Hindu God(s).

The reason that the Holy Spirit has the power to 'discern spirits' is to help distinguish between the good and the evil.

We read in the Gospels, for example, of evil spirits that speak through the mouths of the possessed. Jesus confronted one such man called 'Legion', and cast the evil spirits into the 'swine'.

How do you know that the boy in your story was not possessed?

 

[sayak83]

The reason that the Holy Spirit has the power to 'discern spirits' is to help distinguish between the good and the evil.

We read in the Gospels, for example, of evil spirits that speak through the mouths of the possessed. Jesus confronted one such man called 'Legion', and cast the evil spirits into the 'swine'.

How do you know that the boy in your story was not possessed?

Perhaps your Holy Spirit is evil and possesses beings to give the illusion of healing? If you claim without evidence that our healings are from evil spirits, I can also claim without evidence that your healings are from an evil spirit.

 

[Elihoenai]

What point are you making?

Hebrews 10:9

9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

The point being made is that the First/Old Covenant cannot be taken away to establish the Second/New Covenant if the First/Old Covenant is not practiced. Due to Adam's inheritance it Must be practiced.

 

[F1fan]

This only betrays an ignorance of the covenant under which the lsraelites lived. You should read the list of blessings and curses in Deuteronomy 28.

The promise of eternity is with those who are children of God in holiness.

Where does the Bible say this, and why do you think it's true?

The challenge is to know the way of holiness.

Do you think you know the way? Or are you struggling and uncertain?

 

[Elihoenai]

I find it odd that there are numerous interpretations and translations of the Bible. But since the Christian Bible has so many copying and editing errors over the millennia that there's not way to have any original text to work with. Trying to argue a literalist interpretation of any Bible story in modern times is going to be problematic without verifiable supporting evidence. There just isn't any. Even Christianity itself has evolved vastly over millennia that the traditions of faith don't have any staying power.

Good points made above.

1) The reason why there are Millions of interpretations of the Bible and numerous translations is the work of the Devil/Satan to confuse so that truth cannot be found. And, yes, the Devil/Satan does exist.

2) I don't have a Literalist Interpretation of the Bible. The Bible teaches Esoteric and Exoteric knowledge. The Devil/Satan has given 2.2 Billions Christians Exoteric Knowledge, because with this type of knowledge it's impossible to stop Sinning.

And this is why we need to keep religious out of politics, as the Founding Fathers realized in the USA. We see the recent extremes policies by the GOP as influenced by Christian extremists, the attempts to ban gay rights, the fear and restriction of trans people, the bans on books, the bans of reproduction rights, the organized conspiracy to install judges at many levels, but mostly the Supreme Court to turn back liberties due to religious beliefs. The USA is being harmed by the power the religious right has attained through the GOP.

You cannot be a True Christian without being an Extremist. You are Totally Devoted, otherwise you are not a Christian.

America's Advents - Professor Alec Ryrie

 

[Redemptionsong]

Hebrews 10:9

9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

The point being made is that the First/Old Covenant cannot be taken away to establish the Second/New Covenant if the First/Old Covenant is not practiced. Due to Adam's inheritance it Must be practiced.

Jesus was the one that practiced, and fulfilled, the law.

Romans 9:30-32. 'What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
But lsrael, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Whereof? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;'

The covenant that preceded the Mosaic covenant was a covenant of faith, and it was Abraham to whom faith was counted as righteousness [Genesis 15:6]. It is no different for Gentiles. Gentiles do not need to follow the law of Moses as a preparation for receiving Christ. They simply accept the Spirit of righteousness by grace. Gentiles recognise that it was Jesus, a Jew, who fulfilled the law.