Results 201 - 220 of 294
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Just Read Mark Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
201 | Freedom from what? | Luke 4:18 | Just Read Mark | 114790 | ||
Thanks. It seems we agree perfectly. The reason I mentioned Luke 5 was that Jesus addresses BOTH the physical needs AND the spiritual needs of the paralytic --- indeed, Jesus presents these as inseparable. Sometimes Christians use the "freeing the captives" passage in a way that ignores the call to help people here and now, to work for "shalom." yours JRM |
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202 | Freedom from what? | Luke 4:18 | Just Read Mark | 114791 | ||
Hmmm?why did this appear times? | ||||||
203 | Freedom from what? | Luke 4:18 | Just Read Mark | 114792 | ||
Duplicate note | ||||||
204 | Greet no one on the road? | Luke 10:4 | Just Read Mark | 179771 | ||
Why does Jesus instruct his followers not to greet anyone on the road? Isn't this advice rather unlike the "Good Samaritan" story? What does this mean for the mission of the 72, or our mission today? | ||||||
205 | Blocked Thread? | Luke 12:7 | Just Read Mark | 119524 | ||
I have been trying to sort out a question from Nehemiah. Unfortunately, the thread has been blocked. I don't understand why, when it has been a thoughtful discussion. The ID # is: 119266 Perhaps someone could explain the censorship to me? Better yet, perhaps a wise voice could help with the question? JRM |
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206 | Blocked Thread? | Luke 12:7 | Just Read Mark | 119614 | ||
Thanks, Ray. Some more to think about. It puts Nehemiah in a broader context. More to think about (some new questions, too...) God, indeed, understands all the details, even when we are confounded. ---JRM. |
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207 | The Ground Cries Out... | Luke 19:40 | Just Read Mark | 170114 | ||
I will express a thought that has been a worshipful subject for me yesterday and today. I am looking for other scriptures that relate to the theme of "the ground crying out." ... Our church has just finished a lenten series, looking at the Fall. Yesterday, we were looking at Cain and Abel. I was interested that God says that Abel's "blood cries out to me from the ground." (Genesis 4:10) So, as the effects of the fall shape the 2nd generation, with the first murder, the ground is crying out with outrage and loss. The effect is that the ground no longer helps Cain... this is the exile from the Garden, pushed even further. With Paul, we see that "the creation was subjected to futility." (Romans 8:20) The universe is broken by the Fall, and yearns for redemption. So, this verse about the ground crying out with Abel's blood connects to the verse in Luke -- where, if the people's praises were silenced, the STONES would cry out in praise (Luke 19:40). The stones that suffered the Fall, recognize their Creator and Savior, and yearn for redemption. ... So, I have shared this "meditation" with you. My only question is: are there other scriptures where the earth cries out? Are there other verses that would enrich the theme I have begun exploring above? Thanks. JRM |
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208 | The Ground Cries Out... | Luke 19:40 | Just Read Mark | 170125 | ||
Thanks, Kalos. Of course, it is the blood that cries out... but it cries out from the ground. Blood, in the ground, BECOMES the ground -- resulting in the contamination Guzik speaks of (although any sinful behaviors contaminate the land). I think the imagistic structure still works -- you have inanimate creation, broken by our sin, and crying out. I want to follow the blood/earth connection a little further. Still interested in the "voice" part, and looking for further references. |
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209 | The Ground Cries Out... | Luke 19:40 | Just Read Mark | 170126 | ||
Blood Polluting the Land Kalos' message made reference to this: "So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it." (Numbers 35:33) -- Wow. What a dire situation, beyond hope of redemption until Christ's blood brings healing. Even so, creation groans until the fulfillment of time. I thought I would seek out other verses like this: 1) don't echo the actions of the Canaanites, for those (sexual) actions pullute the land... "For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants." (Leviticus 18:25) 2) "... and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was pulluted with blood." (Psalm 106:39 --- a Psalm recounting the history of Israel as a litany of unfaithfulness) 3) ISAIAH 24 Wow... this whole chapter reveals the Earth as suffering under human folly. It begins with the Lord making the earth empty and waste, as he "distorts its surface and scatters abroad its inhabitants." ..."The earth mourns and fades away, The world languishes and fades away; The haughty people of the earth languish. The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants Because they have transgressed the laws, Changed the ordinance, Broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the curse has devoured the earth..." - then we see the consequence work out in human culture. - then: not vomit this time, but an earthquake: "The earth is violently broken, the earth is split open, The earth is shaken exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall totter like a hut; Its transgressions shall be heavy upon it, and it will fall, and not rise again. 4) And first I will repay double for their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land; they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable idols. (Jeremiah 16:18) So, interesting to see the line from Cain's murderous act drawn through all of these texts. |
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210 | The Ground Cries Out... | Luke 19:40 | Just Read Mark | 170127 | ||
The Earth's Praise. So, there are many scriptures that speak of the ground - or more generally, nature - praising God. These are the clearest anticedents to Jesus' statement during his grand entrance into Jerusalem. "Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord." (Psalm 98:8) "The mountains and the hills will break forth into singing before you" (Isaiah 55:12) "Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted" (Isaiah 49:13) So, if this type of verse could be called called "the Earth's Praise" --- what verses would be "the Earth's Lament" ? |
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211 | Can one accept Christ but not the Bible? | Luke 24:27 | Just Read Mark | 86745 | ||
How to read the Word? Thanks, Radioman, for an excellent question. I look forward to reading other responses. In fact, I have been wishing to read a good book about this topic: not a "what is the Bible?" -- but a comparitive "Here are 4 attitudes to the Bible, and the fruit of each way within the life of the believer.." From the phrasing of your question, I suspect you already hold your answer firmly. I see myself having a few traits from the "dubious" side of your question ---- and yet I hold the Bible as my authority. I think a literalist interpretation is a narrow criteria for holding the Bible as authoritative -- God can give us metaphors as well as history. I also think knowing the context is important for interpretation. The finer points of interpretation can be a struggle -- wrestling with the text, with our fallen nature, listening for the Holy Spirit's guidance. There is much, however, that is quite clear. We can be very firm believers, grow in maturity and effectiveness, and still wrestle with the Bible. Wrestling is part of growing. Trust is part of growing as well, obviously. My relationship with the Bible is characterized by both. I have seen communities that believe like I do blossom, produce fruit of servanthood and accountability and deep prayer lives, worship deeply grounded in the Bible -- not sentimental, but rich. There is one area that makes me wonder about the effect of engaging the Bible daily as I do: these communities tend not to experience dramatic physical healings or the "signs and wonders" of the book of Acts. I certainly embrace these things as possible -- and relevant for the people of God today. I just haven't seen those specific gifts developed in the communities where I have been fed. Is this because these communities focus on other concerns (servanthood, justice, etc) or is there something inherent about reading the Bible literally that aids in miracles? The exception -- where I was fed in a way that expectantly prayed for the miraculous -- was a small group led by a man who had seen many miraculous things (with Jackie Pullinger, Hong Kong -- see her book "Chasing the Dragon"). And this man holds a more literalist view of the Bible than I do. To sum up: I think the Bible is crucial for every Christian. The Bible is the principle way we discern Truth from error, learn the character and will of God, and submit ourselves to God's plans. People who reject the Bible create a religion other than Christianity (see Spong's books, for instance, for the invention of new religions under the guise of Christianity.) There are, however, different ways of interpreting the Bible --- as any survey of the history of the Church will show you. These differences needn't be a source of fear: we are all Christians growing in the grace of our Lord. In fact, the differences within Christendom is a strength -- for the different streams within the faith develop depth in different areas of understanding God. May the grace of God surround us all. In Christ JRM |
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212 | did we pre-exist as a spirit being? | John 1:2 | Just Read Mark | 136075 | ||
Hank: I really appreciate the contrast between Adam and Eve's creation (molded and breathed into being), and Christ's incarnation. What an amazing book. JRM. (too bad these threads are not kept together, but I see the reason for it.) |
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213 | "Word of God" - always written word? | John 1:14 | Just Read Mark | 86865 | ||
When we discuss the Bible, we often call it the "Word of God." I understand the texts about inspiration (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21). My question, rather, is about the phrase "Word of God" in scripture. When John's Gospel begins with Jesus being the Word, this is clearly a reference to Genesis. But when people link this to the Bible, is that accurate? Is that what is intended, or a later metaphorical interpretation? With Hebrews 4:12, does the Word of God refer to scripture? How does that work within the context of "God's rest" etc? How about Hebrews 11:3? Hmmm.... 1 Peter 1:23 (and following) is interesting. Wow : there is a wealth in this book, this Word of God. Your help in unpacking it would be appreciated! |
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214 | Apostolic Proof-texting? | John 7:18 | Just Read Mark | 86184 | ||
Yes, let's dig into the Word. I have a question about how scripture is to be used -- especially about "proof texting." The authors of the New Testament frequently quote the Old -- celebrating Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecies, and using Old Testament texts to develop and bolster their New Covenant understanding. Often, however, they employ these texts in a way that gives little weight to the original context. It seems they are just seeking phrases that prefigure Christ, even if the quote's setting is incongruous. What do you make of these strange readings? Is this a special knowledge (that Christ imparted on the road to Emmaus)? Or does this show a different mode of reading the Bible -- one that we no longer find acceptable? OK: it's late, and I'm going to bed. So I can't find the examples I was looking for. Some of the texts in Hebrews seem weird. How about, for instance, Hebrews 1:5b? This passage points back to 2 Samuel 7:14. The context seems to point to Christ "The King" --- until it mentions "When he does wrong...." Not "if," .... This is just one example - not the best example. So what do we make of apostolic prooftexting? |
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215 | Do you know Him? | John 14:8 | Just Read Mark | 110915 | ||
Thanks, Ray, for linking these texts. Beautiful. Here are some of my reflections on these passages... Jesus, thankfully, is not a series of axioms we can type out. We must meet this living God in person. This also says something about how we introduce others to the Covenant God. The answer to Moses was all about relationship (God of Abraham, Isaac, etc..) Jesus' answer is also about relationship: "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still don't know me?..." Jesus is the perfect embodiment of the Father. But we, too, are to live incarnationally - with God within us. The promise of the Spirit follows closely (verse 26). Jesus shows us the Father... and, by our "doing greater works than these," we introduce others to Jesus. God depends on embodiment, where language fails. Let us be faithful to that call. Yours, JRM. |
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216 | Is there intelligent life on earth? | John 17:17 | Just Read Mark | 142951 | ||
How about the Message? Sometimes the religious language of the Bible stunts our ability to aprehend for our whole lives. I think the Message is very good, even taking into account the original languages. My respect for the message jumped up a few notches when studying Isaiah. The traditional rendering of Isaiah 28:10 goes like this: "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little." But the commentary I was reading acknowledged that we really don't know what this passage means, and that the traditional rendering is on loose ground. The commentary then mentioned that many scholars think the text is not actually a sentence at all, but an immitation of baby sounds..... OK, now look at the message: "Da, da, da, da, blah, blah, blah, blah. That's a good little girl, that's a good little boy.'" So, Eugene Peterson is not only sassy, he's done his research. Paraphrases, done well, have an important but subserviant relation to the Real Thing. JRM |
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217 | John21:1-14 , Luke 5:1-11 | John 21:1 | Just Read Mark | 83834 | ||
Catch of Fish. I think these stories intentionally echo each other. In Luke, Jesus is calling the disciples. This miracle calls them into the life of following Jesus. The miracle in John happens after the resurrection. The disciples are still unsure of how to proceed -- they have no direction since the crucifixion. They have returned to their old lives of fishing in Galilee. But Jesus calls them again, echoing the way he called them in the first place. This is, then, a second miracle that intentionally recalls the details of the first one. The resurrection appearances often echo things Jesus did during his ministry -- for example, he is recognized by how he breaks the bread at Emmaus. (Luke 24). Also -- the element of "calling" in this John text is strengthened by what follows: Peter is forgiven for his betrayal, and is called to build the church. In my reading of the gospels, I always find that the miracles function at a symbolic level. Not to say that Jesus didn't perform the miracles, but rather that Jesus is so concerned with meaning that his miracles provide symbolic views of God's character. Thus, the feeding of the masses reflects the feast of heaven... the healing of the blind man in John's gospel becomes a teaching opportunity about spiritual blindness, and so on. The miraculous catch of fish point to the abundance and effectiveness in serving God. Does that make sense? What do you think? |
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218 | John21:1-14 , Luke 5:1-11 | John 21:1 | Just Read Mark | 84064 | ||
"Peter, do you love me?" Hello Mommapbs -- thanks for your note. I have thought about the Christ's dialogue with Peter a fair bit. I still think that forgiveness is part of it. Of course, we are all forgiven when we turn to Jesus, as you say. But sometimes it is hard for us to accept it, to truely take on the freedom. God does some work - different for each of us - to draw us into wholeness. I guess the main reason I see it as forgiveness is the threefold repetition. It seems like an unsaid acknowledgement of Peter's threefold denial. Peter, I think, was crushed by his denial of Jesus. Now, the risen Jesus is saying "I know what you did, and I still want you to feed my sheep." While the gospels only show Peter receiving this treatment, I think it relates to all of us. Mommapbs -- as for your comments about "The Rock," I do agree. Peter was called the rock because he professed Christ as the Messiah --- and it is that proclaimation that is at the heart of the church. Still, Peter is a significant figure at the beginning of Acts, so it works both ways. |
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219 | John21:1-14 , Luke 5:1-11 | John 21:1 | Just Read Mark | 84137 | ||
Art and Faith Dear Mommapbs, you asked about art and faith through history. I have started a thread dealing with this --- perhaps you'd like to chime in? See note #84119 |
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220 | need help .spiritual dryness | John 21:16 | Just Read Mark | 85735 | ||
Traits for growth. Thank you, Scribe, for an inspiring description of what preaching can be. I'd like to add another thought -- which is about balance. We need to hear the Word, but if we don't ACT on it, things will indeed be dry. Looking at the Great Commandment (Matt 22:37-40), and the Great Commission (Matt 28:19,20), these traits are shown to foster church health: Servanthood. Evangelism. Worship. Discipleship. Fellowship. Each of these things is key, and they function in tandem. They grow simultaneously. These ideas, and their scriptural basis, is explained by "Purpsose Driven" Ministries. Check out their websites. I do work with youth, and the book "Purpose Driven Youth Ministry" has really helped me. Yours, JRM. PS__ Let's not lay it all on the minister. Different people have different gifts, and so often we expect the minister to be everything. Growth happens as a community, and perhaps God wants to use your current frustration as the seed for a new vision. |
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