Results 1 - 5 of 5
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | "...these necessary things: ..."??? | Rev 17:5 | Hank | 64562 | ||
Pastor Glenn, warm greetings, and may I butt in? Not that I have all the answers, but your question interests me, and being from Arkansas, when the subject of pigs comes up, I perk up my ears because I'm an avid Razorback fan and don't want the genetic scientists monkeying around with 'them hogs' as we fondly call them! ..... Back to the serious topic addressed by your question. Some questions are easy, some pointless and trivial, while others -- the best kind, the kind Socrates posed -- are designed to make us think. Yours falls in this latter category, for it is indeed an excellent one. The fear of the unknown is common to man, and even Christian believers are not immune to this fear; but believers have access to mighty resources that are denied unbelievers, chief among which are faith in the absolute sovereignty of God and prayer..... Each milestone of change has been accompanied by dire predictions that this or that new invention, discovery, theory or philosophy signaled the beginning of the end of life as we know it. When the automobile was invented there were naysayers who were convinced that the human body would never be able to withstand sustained travel at the reckless speed of 25 miles an hour. When Charles Darwin published his "Origin of Species" the talking heads of that day predicted the death of the Christian faith because the book, so they said, put to the lie the Genesis story of creation. In the wake of the discovery of atomic energy and the manufacture of nuclear weapons came those who saw this event as the prelude to the utter annihiliation of mankind..... But people travel far in excess of 25 miles an hour; Darwin's theory is now viewed as bunkum by vast numbers in the scientific community and it has not wiped out Christianity by any means; and nuclear weaponry, while still posing a serious threat, has not done away with life on this planet..... Genetic engineering, even human cloning, looms ever nearer on the horizon, and I believe it (parts of it at least; I would exclude human cloning) like nuclear energy, has at least an equal potential for good as for evil. While I would never promote the idea that the Christian should take the ostrich approach to human problems, hiding his head in the sand and hoping a weak hope that somehow the problem will either solve itself or go away, neither would I promote the idea that Christians must become activists to the extent of taking matters into their own hands. We must surrender first and foremost to the sovereign Lord. It is He, not we, who is in charge. We can be instruments for change in the world, but we must be His instruments. We must seek His will through much prayer.... We know not what the future holds for us on this earth -- whether cloning or wars, whether plagues of terrorism or pain of persecution, whether sickness or health, whether fortune or famine.... This much we do know: If God is for us, who is against us? Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord..... Not genetic engineering. Not cloning. Nothing. [Scriptural extracts from Romans 8] --Hank | ||||||
2 | "...these necessary things: ..."??? | Rev 17:5 | knucklehead | 123848 | ||
Glenn: I read Hank's comments and didn't see anything difinitive, but I agree that Christians "have access to mighty resources that are denied unbelievers, chief among which are faith in the absolute sovereignty of God and prayer." Like the 3 Hebrew boys in Babylon, we must say: "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace (or faced with death for upholding God's commandments), the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Actually, I've done some research on surgery without blood and the facts are quite encouraging for those who would "abstain" from blood for Scriptural reasons. Thanks for responding. |
||||||
3 | "...these necessary things: ..."??? | Rev 17:5 | Pastor Glenn | 124092 | ||
Knuck, I share your concern about blood as shown in Acts 15:20, 29. However, there are more important issues to consider first. Please go to my question at ID # 92778. Also consider what the blood of communion represents to you. Pastor Glenn |
||||||
4 | "...these necessary things: ..."??? | Rev 17:5 | Sister Maria | 124204 | ||
Glenn: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 18:3) If a father tells his child not to touch something, will he think it alright to have a friend take the forbidden item and hand it to him. No, the conscience of a child instinctively tells him that would not be acceptable. Even an alcoholic would find it difficult to tell his doctor that he thought injecting alcohol in his veins would not violate the doctor's strong warning against "drinking" booze. Ah, the imperfect flesh and how it will rationalize the most egregious errors! Jesus said of those who would perform miracles in his name: "Get away from me you workers of lawlessness." (Matt 7:21) The Red Cross even uses such terms to solicate donations - "Give the miracle of life." Sounds enticing and good, but how does God view it? Speaking of children, tell a child: This is my boss and this is my boss's son Bob. Now ask the child which one is your boss. Will he not be able to distinguish the two? Will the worldly wisdom of adults confuse the child to the point where he can no longer see this simple truth so clearly? Woe to the one that tries! "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." (Matt 18:6) The Bible teaches about God and the son of God. Islam teaches that God has no son. So does Christendom. But to deny one of these "two" is to deny both. Jesus states: "In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me." (John 8:17,18)Not "one" nor "three" but "two." I do not see how JW's can be accused of fitting the description of the "antichrist" provided by John, but it would not be difficut to make a case that trinitarians do. "By their fruit you will recognize them." (Matt 7:16) The fruits of false prophets are laid out by Paul at Galatians 5:19-21: "sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." Although, as individuals, JW's are no more immune to sins of the fallen flesh than first century Christians or any one alive today, it is refreshing to see an "organization" able to shepherd the flock of God as it deserves and requires. How has it been able to do this and achieve a true internationally united brotherhood, spreading the good news of Gods Kingdom the world over? Not on its own merit! All honor and credit goes to the Almighty God Jehovah and to his reigning King and congregation head, Jesus Christ. His powerful holy spirit is evident to all who are serious about worshiping God with spirit and truth. To an outsider, this is incomprehensible. The identity of the "Great Harlot" can be seen by the fruits, just as "the bride of Christ" can be discerned. I hope you are disgusted by the things being done in the name of God and Christ, and will honestly and with an unprejudiced mind examine the facts. Best wishes. P.S. I'll be booted for making this reply, but you and everyone else deserves to hear a defense for the hope in me. |
||||||
5 | "...these necessary things: ..."??? | Rev 17:5 | Pastor Glenn | 124646 | ||
Sister Maria, Please go to my question at ID # 92778 and respond point by point, scripture by scripture. Sincerely, Pastor Glenn |
||||||