Why Dont Christians Accept the Book of Mormon as Valid?

[sojourner]

The Bible is a finished book.

And you know this how?

Because it fell out of the sky that way?
Actually, the Bible is a library -- not a book. Is a library ever "finished?"

 

[sojourner]

How do we know that the Bible is complete? Because the Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in the New Testament. The New Testament reveals the fulfillment of man's reconciliation with God. Christ came to redeem His sheep and He paid the complete price upon the cross.

I think that's a little myopic. "Complete" isn't an attribute I'd use to describe the Bible.

Also, why in the world would God have suddenly stopped communicating with His children. What kind of a parent would leave his children with a list of instructions and say, "Read these. I'm no longer going to be in touch"?

You think God's not in touch with us in any way other than scripture?! Wow! God's always in touch with us through the Spirit.

And why would He not have spoken to people other than those who lived in one small part of the world when He could have just as easily spoken to His children everywhere?

This is one of the bigger problems I have with the impetus behind Mormonism. Jesus was fully human -- a man, living in time and space, like the rest of us. To lost sight of that is to lose sight of Xy, itself. Jesus appeared among us in a certain time, in a certain place, to a certain group of people.

In fact, Mark doesn't have the disciples going out into the world. He has the women telling no one, because they were afraid. Matthew has a different picture. Matthew prepares the community to spread from laos to ethne. But, for Matthew, that was the work of ekklesia, not Christ, himself. It's our job to speak to the ethne.

 

[sojourner]

I guess it gives you as much as you're looking for. But if it alone were sufficient for mankind to know what God wanted us to know, it seems to me that it would unite Christians in their understanding and not be the source of contention that is undoubtedly is. After all, more than 30,000 different Christian denominations all interpret it differently. Maybe that's because it contains the basics and leaves enough unanswered questions that men are left to their own devices to come up with the answers.

I think you're off here. The aim of Xy is not to unite us in belief, but to unite us in Christ. The great thing about the Bible is that it can (and does) stand up to multiple interpretations. As a scholar once said, "The Bible hasn't stood the test of time because it's true. It has stood the test of time because it can handle multiple interpretations."

You are right in saying that the Bible alone is not sufficient for humanity to know what God wants us to know. The story has to be told. It has to be lived out. It has to be demonstrated. And that happens in a multiplicity of ways, through a multiplicity of beliefs.

 

[sojourner]

Sorry but there's nothing in the BOM or Mormonism that I'd find inspiring,

Book of Mormon,Abra.1:20-27- "Negroes in this life are denied the priesthood; under no circumstances can they hold this delegation of authority from the Almighty.

Mormon Doctrine, Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, pg. 114- "Cain, Ham and the whole Negro race have been cursed with black skin, the mark of Cain, so they can be identified as a "caste apart". A people with whom the other descendants of Adam should not intermarry."

And plenty of church leaders and Christian lay people found plenty of evidence in the Bible to support slavery, and, in fact, used that support in the propagation of slavery of blacks in America during the 18th and 19th centuries. What's your point?

 

[sojourner]

By the laying on of hands by one who already holds that authority, as the scriptures say must be the case?

I had hands laid on me when I was baptized, by someone who had hands laid on him, by someone...etc.

 

[LittleNipper]

Because it fell out of the sky that way?
Actually, the Bible is a library -- not a book. Is a library ever "finished?"

The Bible is the story of why, how, where, when, and what is yet to come concerning CHRIST. All the events are not complete, but the finish has been proclaimed. CHRIST won.

The book of mormon is about an extinct race that can not be proven to have ever existed. The Jews are still here and that is Biblical. We already have GOD's WORD, we don't need man's word.

 

[LittleNipper]

I had hands laid on me when I was baptized, by someone who had hands laid on him, by someone...etc.

The HOLY SPIRIT indwelled me and does still. I'd say that that is far better than the work of the hands of men.

 

[LittleNipper]

And plenty of church leaders and Christian lay people found plenty of evidence in the Bible to support slavery, and, in fact, used that support in the propagation of slavery of blacks in America during the 18th and 19th centuries. What's your point?

If the Southern Christians fully excepted slavery, the Underground Railroad could not have worked. And if there were no GOD, the Civil War likely would never have occurred. The Bible clearly says that CHRISTIANS are to treat CHRISTIAN SLAVES as BROTHERS. I don't imagine that there were even many Mormons who did that before the 1970's................................

I'm not trying to be nasty or mean ------------ just making a point that seems to be overlooked far too often.

 

[LittleNipper]

One doesn't need the other. They are independent, but used together each becomes a stronger testimony of the Savior.

Stronger? In what way exactly, besides making Joseph Smith the "pope" of his own church... Without the bom, how is the LORD JESUS CHRIST any inferior to what the Bible clearly presents.

 

[idea]

Thank you for your comments sojourner, you are one of the more polite posters here

I think that's a little myopic. "Complete" isn't an attribute I'd use to describe the Bible.

Do you expect to get more scriptures? What criteria will you use to determine what is scripture when they come?

You think God's not in touch with us in any way other than scripture?! Wow! God's always in touch with us through the Spirit.

That is sad for those who do not understand how to be led by the Spirit....

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(New Testament | Matthew16:16 - 18)

the rock the church is built on was more than just Peter, Peter was chosen because he understood revelation, undertood being guided by the Spirit. This is what the church is built on: "flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" it is built on spiritual guidance/revelation from God.

This is one of the bigger problems I have with the impetus behind Mormonism. Jesus was fully human -- a man, living in time and space, like the rest of us.

Jesus is much more than just another human like the rest of us. Yes, we are in the image of God, Heavenly Father, Jesus, have arms/legs/hands/feet etc. Jesus inherited some traits from his mother, but also inherited His Father’s traits, and His Father was God, not Joseph. Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born, Jesus is the only begotten of God, this is not just a spiritual feel good poetic wording, (yes we are all sons and daughters of God, God formed our spirits and so He is our Father, but Jesus was physical and spiritual child of God, in utereo fertilization through HG? in any event, he was not just another spiritual child) Jesus was literally the Son of Heavenly Father, and as such was divine. He walked on water, healed the sick, turned water into wine, fed the multitudes, had life within him, could have lived forever, he arose from the dead after being crucified. This is stuff most humans cannot do.

He appeared to many people, like Saul:

1 AND Saul, yet breathing out athreatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him aletters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a alight from heaven:
4 And he afell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, bSaul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am aJesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to bkick against the pricks.

(New Testament | Acts9:1 - 5)

Here are another 500 who saw him…
4 And that he was buried, and that he arose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
(New Testament | 1 Corinthians15:4 - 8)

These are not parables, these people actually saw Jesus, an actual resurrected being.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
(New Testament | John10:16)

The “other sheep” that Jesus tells everyone that he would personally bring and teach are those in the Americas.

21 And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
(Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi15:21)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
two peoples, two records, two testimonies meant to be gathered together as one in our hands.
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
(Old Testament | Ezekiel37:16 - 17)

The stick, or scroll, of Judah is the Bible. The stick, or scroll, of Ephraim is the BoM.

 

[ἀλήθεια]

That is sad for those who do not understand how to be led by the Spirit....

Unless one has the Spirit of Christ, he doesn't belong to Christ. If you belong to Christ, He is your Shepherd and you follow Him.

16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
(New Testament | Matthew16:16 - 17)

Amen!

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
(New Testament | John10:16)

The “other sheep” that Jesus tells everyone that he would personally bring and teach are those in the Americas.

He was speaking to Israel. His other sheep are gentiles.

two peoples, two records, two testimonies meant to be gathered together as one in our hands.
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
(Old Testament | Ezekiel37:16 - 17)
The stick, or scroll, of Judah is the Bible. The stick, or scroll, of Ephraim is the BoM.

The word translated sticks does not mean books or scrolls. It actually does mean stick and is used elsewhere in the Old Testament. Ezekiel was predicting the reuniting of Judah with Israel. They had been separated since the time of King Rehoboam.

 

[sojourner]

The Bible is the story of why, how, where, when, and what is yet to come concerning CHRIST. All the events are not complete, but the finish has been proclaimed. CHRIST won.

The book of mormon is about an extinct race that can not be proven to have ever existed. The Jews are still here and that is Biblical. We already have GOD's WORD, we don't need man's word.

I think you're making an argument that you can't back up. Plus, you're infusing both documents with "stuff" that, really, is not helpful to the argument.
Don't you know that "GOD'S WORD" is Humanity's word? We wrote it, we compiled it, we canonized it. We.

The whole of the Biblical story cannot be correctly said to concern Christ. The NT does, but not the OT. Ask any still-existing Jew, and they'll be happy to tell you that.

Much of the OT is allegorical, and never "existed." Doesn't mean that the allegory doesn't point us to truth. Can the BOM not do that for those who espouse it?

 

[sojourner]

The HOLY SPIRIT indwelled me and does still. I'd say that that is far better than the work of the hands of men.

Baptism could not have occurred without the work of the hands of men. I'd say that's a pretty significant piece of the action -- that the Holy Spirit is embodied, both by your body, and by the work of human hands. That's how sacraments work.

 

[sojourner]

If the Southern Christians fully excepted slavery, the Underground Railroad could not have worked. And if there were no GOD, the Civil War likely would never have occurred. The Bible clearly says that CHRISTIANS are to treat CHRISTIAN SLAVES as BROTHERS. I don't imagine that there were even many Mormons who did that before the 1970's................................

I'm not trying to be nasty or mean ------------ just making a point that seems to be overlooked far too often.

I didn't say "all," I said "plenty," which is what necessitated the Underground Railroad.

Many slaves were Christian. I'd be willing to bet that many, many of them bore the scars of the whip until the day they died, branded by the hand of Christian "owners."

Your argument carries no weight here. We can't point the racism finger without three pointing right back at us.

 

[sojourner]

Thank you for your comments sojourner, you are one of the more polite posters here

Hoping to remain objective and impersonal. That's the only way we can argue this stuff effectively.

Do you expect to get more scriptures? What criteria will you use to determine what is scripture when they come?

The canon is closed. It is the standard. Therefore, there can be no more "scripture." But, we can always have more writing that enlightens us. We can always glean new and deeper meaning out of what we have. In that way, how can the Bible ever be considered "complete?"

That is sad for those who do not understand how to be led by the Spirit....

I think we all know how to be led by the Spirit. It's innate, because we were created in the image of God. But not all of us know we know.

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(New Testament | Matthew16:16 - 18)

the rock the church is built on was more than just Peter, Peter was chosen because he understood revelation, undertood being guided by the Spirit. This is what the church is built on: "flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" it is built on spiritual guidance/revelation from God.

Your interpretation is arguable, and it's not quite how I see it. Matt. was using the character of Peter in his story as a symbol for the community of believers to whom he was telling the story. The confession and vision of that community in seeing Jesus as the Messiah is the rock upon which it is built.

Jesus is much more than just another human like the rest of us. Yes, we are in the image of God, Heavenly Father, Jesus, have arms/legs/hands/feet etc. Jesus inherited some traits from his mother, but also inherited His Father’s traits, and His Father was God, not Joseph. Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born, Jesus is the only begotten of God, this is not just a spiritual feel good poetic wording, (yes we are all sons and daughters of God, God formed our spirits and so He is our Father, but Jesus was physical and spiritual child of God, in utereo fertilization through HG? in any event, he was not just another spiritual child) Jesus was literally the Son of Heavenly Father, and as such was divine. He walked on water, healed the sick, turned water into wine, fed the multitudes, had life within him, could have lived forever, he arose from the dead after being crucified. This is stuff most humans cannot do.

He appeared to many people, like Saul:

1 AND Saul, yet breathing out athreatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him aletters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a alight from heaven:
4 And he afell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, bSaul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am aJesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to bkick against the pricks.

(New Testament | Acts9:1 - 5)

Here are another 500 who saw him…
4 And that he was buried, and that he arose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
(New Testament | 1 Corinthians15:4 - 8)

These are not parables, these people actually saw Jesus, an actual resurrected being.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
(New Testament | John10:16)

The “other sheep” that Jesus tells everyone that he would personally bring and teach are those in the Americas.

I understand fully Jesus' divinity. But, my point was that Jesus was also fully human, and lived in a certain time and place. Therefore, he cannot have magically appeared in other times and places, according to the Bible.
The post-resurrection appearances can lend no credence (IMO) to the appearance in ancient America, for they are theologically quite different in the way the gospel writers present them as a literary device.

And, actually, he didn't "appear" to Paul. Paul heard a voice.

Neither can Jesus' miracles be used as a valid argument, for his miracles are of several natures, none of which is time/place travel. He heals, he exorcises demons, he calms storms, he changes water to wine. He does not teleport.

Your citing of John's "sheep not of this fold" most likely refers, not to Americans, but to gentiles living in the immediate area.

Sorry. I just don't buy it. Which is why I'm not Mormon. I make no judgments here, other than a more "creative" use of Biblical passages than I think is valid or prudent.

 

[LittleNipper]

I think you're making an argument that you can't back up. Plus, you're infusing both documents with "stuff" that, really, is not helpful to the argument.
Don't you know that "GOD'S WORD" is Humanity's word? We wrote it, we compiled it, we canonized it. We.

The whole of the Biblical story cannot be correctly said to concern Christ. The NT does, but not the OT. Ask any still-existing Jew, and they'll be happy to tell you that.

Much of the OT is allegorical, and never "existed." Doesn't mean that the allegory doesn't point us to truth. Can the BOM not do that for those who espouse it?

"And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Peter 1:18-21).


The Pre-Existent Christ

The One theologians call “the divine Logos (Word),” the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, our Savior Jesus Christ, did not come into existence when He was born of the virgin Mary. That was His Incarnation (coming in flesh). He was, as the prophet Micah said, “. . .The One to be ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting . . .” (Mic. 5:2, NKJV) He was pre-existent.
Christ’s pre-existence is obvious from His Godhood. As God, He is Eternal and Immutable (Isa 9:6-7; Rev 1:8; Heb 13:8; Heb 1:12; Psa 102:27), so He always existed. There was never a time when He was not. “ . . .In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. “ (John 1:1) Christ’s pre-existence is amply testified by Scripture-- John 8:58; 17:5; 17:24; Col. 1:17; Heb 7:3; Rev 22:13; Phil. 2:5-11--the Bible continually emphasizes it. We also see Him in the Old Testament, as His pre-existence is demonstrated by theophany, or Christophany . These two words, one applying to God generally speaking, and the other to the Son in particular, refer to a visible appearance of God in the Old Testament.
Since it is a Bible teaching that no one has seen, or can see the Father Himself, (Ex 33; John 1:18; 1 Tim 1:17), most evangelical teachers ascribe all visible appearances of God in human or angelic form to the Son manifesting Himself prior to His incarnation. Judges 13:15-22; Zechariah 3:1-5; Exodus 3:16; and Genesis 18:1-33, are among many passages that Bible scholars believe are Christophanies. How do we tell from the Scriptures if a particular angelic manifestation is merely an angel, or if it is an appearance of the pre-existent Son? The following passage is a classic one that illustrates this.
Joshua 5:13-15 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (NIV)
The underlined portion of the verse is the key to understanding this passage as an appearance of Christ before the Incarnation. The Commander of the LORD’s army uses the same words that Jehovah uses when Moses came before the burning bush. That, and the Person’s acceptance of worship, which is reserved for God alone, (Ex 20:1-3) prove this to be a Christophany. There are many Christophanies in the Old Testament. Christ has always been--our Savior did not come into existence on the day of His birth--He came into flesh on that day.


The reality is that GOD utilized the right men at the right time to achieve HIS perfect will. The Bible exists as it does because GOD ordained it and not becasue man somehow messed it up.

 

[sojourner]

"And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Peter 1:18-21).

So what? Does'nt speak to my point. Not all of the Bible is prophecy.

The Pre-Existent Christ

The One theologians call “the divine Logos (Word),” the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, our Savior Jesus Christ, did not come into existence when He was born of the virgin Mary. That was His Incarnation (coming in flesh). He was, as the prophet Micah said, “. . .The One to be ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting . . .” (Mic. 5:2, NKJV) He was pre-existent.
Christ’s pre-existence is obvious from His Godhood. As God, He is Eternal and Immutable (Isa 9:6-7; Rev 1:8; Heb 13:8; Heb 1:12; Psa 102:27), so He always existed. There was never a time when He was not. “ . . .In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. “ (John 1:1) Christ’s pre-existence is amply testified by Scripture-- John 8:58; 17:5; 17:24; Col. 1:17; Heb 7:3; Rev 22:13; Phil. 2:5-11--the Bible continually emphasizes it. We also see Him in the Old Testament, as His pre-existence is demonstrated by theophany, or Christophany . These two words, one applying to God generally speaking, and the other to the Son in particular, refer to a visible appearance of God in the Old Testament.
Since it is a Bible teaching that no one has seen, or can see the Father Himself, (Ex 33; John 1:18; 1 Tim 1:17), most evangelical teachers ascribe all visible appearances of God in human or angelic form to the Son manifesting Himself prior to His incarnation. Judges 13:15-22; Zechariah 3:1-5; Exodus 3:16; and Genesis 18:1-33, are among many passages that Bible scholars believe are Christophanies. How do we tell from the Scriptures if a particular angelic manifestation is merely an angel, or if it is an appearance of the pre-existent Son? The following passage is a classic one that illustrates this.
Joshua 5:13-15 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (NIV)
The underlined portion of the verse is the key to understanding this passage as an appearance of Christ before the Incarnation. The Commander of the LORD’s army uses the same words that Jehovah uses when Moses came before the burning bush. That, and the Person’s acceptance of worship, which is reserved for God alone, (Ex 20:1-3) prove this to be a Christophany. There are many Christophanies in the Old Testament. Christ has always been--our Savior did not come into existence on the day of His birth--He came into flesh on that day.

I don't see anything underlined, except for scriptural references.
Of course Christ has always been. But it's not good reading to read Jesus into OT writings. That's simply not what they meant. We Christians may see it as such, but I think that we're treading on dangerous ground when we do.
Christophanies have no place in Biblical exegesis.

None of this really addresses my rebuttal to your earlier post. You might try something germane.

The Bible exists as it does because GOD ordained it and not becasue man somehow messed it up.

I don't think it's quite that simple or mythic.

 

[LittleNipper]

I didn't say "all," I said "plenty," which is what necessitated the Underground Railroad.

Many slaves were Christian. I'd be willing to bet that many, many of them bore the scars of the whip until the day they died, branded by the hand of Christian "owners."

Your argument carries no weight here. We can't point the racism finger without three pointing right back at us.

Wide is the path which leads to destruction. Christians are not perfect, they are being perfected ---- yet the saved are saved. Also GOD turns around all things to good for those that love the LORD.

The reality is that most blacks were saved under slavery and not back home in Africa. GOD certainly took an evil and made the best of it. I would rather be a saved slave bound for freedom than a freeman headed for bondage in hell.

 

[sojourner]

Wide is the path which leads to destruction. Christians are not perfect, they are being perfected ---- yet the saved are saved. Also GOD turns around all things to good for those that love the LORD.

The reality is that most blacks were saved under slavery and not back home in Africa. GOD certainly took an evil and made the best of it. I would rather be a saved slave bound for freedom than a freeman headed for bondage in hell.

That's awfully arrogant for a follower. How do you know that their religions in Africa were not as acceptable to God as an imperial Christianity that allowed them to be enslaved?

 

[LittleNipper]

So what? Does'nt speak to my point. Not all of the Bible is prophecy.
I don't see anything underlined, except for scriptural references.
Of course Christ has always been. But it's not good reading to read Jesus into OT writings. That's simply not what they meant. We Christians may see it as such, but I think that we're treading on dangerous ground when we do.
Christophanies have no place in Biblical exegesis.

None of this really addresses my rebuttal to your earlier post. You might try something germane.

I don't think it's quite that simple or mythic.

And you would be wise to read those scriptural references. The entire Bible is GOD preaching to humanity. Preaching and prophecy are one in the same.