Results 41 - 60 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# | |||
41 | Cannot mix different cloths in O.T.? | OT general | Just Read Mark | 168043 | ||
Hi Trigger. Too bad about the lost questions. I have had things go missing, sometimes, too -- especially if I was going back and forth between screen to edit what I'd written. A "thread" is simply a chain of messages --- so, when you ask a new question, it starts a thread. When someone answers that question with a scriptural reference, the thread gets placed at that verse --- and all the responses follow after. So, to reply to my answer, you just click on my answer, and write a "follow-up on this note." I tried to find your post by clicking on your name (beside your other posts, in this thread...) That takes me to a screen where I can see what questions you've asked, or what answers you've given. I don't see your missing post in that list, so it must be lost. (By the way --- clicking on a name like that can be a good way to use the site. If there is someone you learn a lot from, you can find what other topics they are writing about.) Some people write their responses on their own word processor (like Word, Word Perfect, etc) and then -- after a spell check even -- past it into this website. That works well -- plus, if something weird happens, you still have it saved on your own computer. I look forward to your questions, if you're up to re-typing them. JRM |
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42 | Inspired or not? | OT general | Just Read Mark | 168062 | ||
What does inspired mean? Hi Trigger, and Brad. The Bible is inspired by God. It is God's Word. I agree with these statements. There are a range of opinions about what those statements mean, however... so I may not mean the same thing as others on this forum. Also, there will be a diversity of view within the forum --- although they are hard to see at first. It is critical to read the whole Bible. All its parts. Over the centuries, this amazing book has been formed -- with so many voices and histories and songs -- yet it is one Story. To interpret each part, I believe, you need to see where it falls within the great arc between the Creation and the New Creation. Like Paul, I believe our wisdom will pass away as God reveals ultimate reality at the end. (see the end of I Corinthians 13). Our understanding is partial. The Bible is reliable, but there is more to come. The Bible celebrates a union of God and creature --- that we are given physical bodies... that physical creation is celebrated... we are not over-riden by God, but shaped and used by God. The writers of scripture, then, bring their personalities and experiences to bear on their writing. Luke's character and insights are different than Matthews --- they tell the same Gospel story, but in different ways. Those ways enlighten us. We are seeing God WORK THROUGH his creatures. I do not believe their hands were taken over, and God wrote through them like possessed people.... rather, God's Holy Spirit worked through all that they had lived and learned - to produce something true. Sometimes, in this process, we see these faithful people struggling to find the right response for their culture and time. We will find things - wearing certain clothing for instance - that make little sense for today. But we can ask ourselves: what was the motive for that instruction? Where is their faithful heart in this? And then that can be applied today. It is applied as we live within the complete story of scripture, not just isolated verses. Sometimes we will see traces of the Fall in scripture. This can happen a few ways. First, the Bible can show an accurate representation of a fallen thing. The Old Testament often describes scenarios that are horrific, and leave us to draw the conclusion of whether they were right or not. It's often hard to tell, just like in life. The Bible is not a polite book at all. Another thing, however, is that God can move people within their historical context --- not to an ideal position (timeless) but to an improved position from where they were. The slavery question is probably one of those... the cultures around them sold their children into slavery, and so Moses is inspired to put limits on that practice. To the first listeners, it would be radical justice.... to us, it seems like condoning the slavery. But, when we see it in context, we can see the steady advance of the Kingdom of God. I believe God intends every word in the Bible to be there for us, to shape how we think, how we ask questions, how we pray. God has given us every word of it. Even parts that may be culturally "tainted". God's Word is perfect, in that --- as we immerse ourselves in it --- it shows us the direction of God's plan, including the direction we are headed in our future as a planet. Some parts of scripture can "critique" other parts, so we need to look at the big picture of the whole Bible. (For example, Jonah functions as a critique of Nehemiah, I'd suggest. We need to read both, to get the balance right. God made sure both were in there...) We see this plan more accurately, then, by tracing the large themes through the whole of scripture, rather than looking at specific instructions given at a particular point. You asked how I can have a vibrant faith despite the degree of questioning I live with. I have a relationship with the Living God. God is not afraid of questions. My questions do not stop me from loving God, serving God, listening to God. They make me fall into Christ's everlasting arms, knowing that my mind is not enough.... only God can save me. I am His. Also, and this is important.... if you read throught the questions I have posted, those are just the questions. There is so much I am confident about, each day, as I walk the faith. Obviously, if you look over the questions I've posted over several years, you'll get a bit of a slanted look at how I think. I live in the confidence of Jesus my Lord, repenting of my broken ways, walking in his Spirit, attempting to be a slave in love, and enduring in the hope of resurrection. Peace. JRM |
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43 | What say you? | OT general | Just Read Mark | 168257 | ||
No Private Interpretation. Hi Kalos and Lionheart. You suggest I spend 90 percent fo my time looking for Old Testament doubts. That surprised me, as my main point was to read the entire Bible... so I looked at my posts. My questions have been half new testament, half old. I'm not looking for doubts or trouble, but posting questions from my prayerful and studious reading of the Word. I wasn't saying that the Bible isn't God's Word. I agree with every scripture Lionheart quoted. We will differ, it seems, in the tools used to interpret the scripture. For sure, the Bible is not for "individual interpretation" --- there are interpretations that violate the text, and God's intent for us. I won't say there is only one interpretation, because God has used the same texts in different ways, over the centuries, to his own Glory. My deepest desire is to live in accordance with God's will for my life, and to see other lives called into relationship with Him. Hopefully I'm communicating more clearly than I have been : ) Given our different interpretive tools, I would be interested in your response to the website in Triggers' question, that started this whole discussion... Like, maybe the "daughter-slavery" question that I used in my answer. While we don't have to justify God to human standards... it is our task to witness clearly to the character of God, to spread his Kingdom. The website shows how God is perceived, due to our actions and interpretations. JRM |
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44 | Music and the Presence of God | OT general | Just Read Mark | 168277 | ||
Hi Mark. A great response. Climb the soapbox any time. | ||||||
45 | Authority of Tobit? | OT general | Just Read Mark | 176202 | ||
I just read Tobit. I really enjoyed the narrative power of the tale, and the picture of family life it presented. I also thought the angel and healings were very cool. Certainly, there are some odd things in there. So here's the question -- Why do protestants no see it as canonical? |
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46 | Authority of Tobit? | OT general | Just Read Mark | 176203 | ||
Ok --- having read and thought about it a bit more, I feel more comfortable phrasing the question the other way around. Why is it included in the Canon for Catholics? | ||||||
47 | Family Values Acts 18, where?? | NT general Archive 1 | Just Read Mark | 84747 | ||
Wow. What a moving description. I have been reading Acts lately (just read about Peter's vision of the animals) -- so as I get further in, I will pay more close attention to this couple. Thanks. |
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48 | Christmas-Is It Christian? | NT general Archive 1 | Just Read Mark | 106738 | ||
Most Christians believe that God continues to communicate with believers. We are to test our listening against the Scriptures. The celebration of Christmas is a fruitful way to honour the birth of our Savior. It draws people together as a group to honour God, as opposed to our individual devotional patterns which may lead us to consider the Incarnation at various points in time. Focusing on Christ corporately is so important. The date of December 25th is not in the Bible, but it is not arbitrary. It is just past the shortest day in the year. I am not saying it is a pagan festival --- I am saying that the date reiterates Isaiah's prophesy "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light." As for the magi, we know that the Bible doesn't say how many there were. Perhaps a dozen started, and only 4 had the conviction to finish? It is speculation. But, on the other hand, look at the symbolism of the 3 -- from different continents (often portrayed as Europe, Asia, and Africa) thus symbolizing the whole world.... or 3 different ages (young, mature, elderly.) These are rich ideas, though not literally Biblical, they are consistent with the message of the Gospel. Don't many Christian authors imagine themselves into the Biblical drama to edifying results? Of course, we don't treat these cultural productions as authoritative. But prayerful production is an important way to serve our Lord. Every time I see a nativity scene, I celebrate. Especially on private lawns. People are making a public declaration of their faith. How much easier to put up a banal snowman or Santa! But no, some people put their faith on display to their neighbours. Let us be flamboyently celebratory this Christmas, stealing the attention from the capitalist frenzy. Let us find ways, united in faith, to celebrate the incarnation on the streets, not just in private devotion. Sing carols door to door that explicitly proclaim who Christ is. I plan to lean into it, for Christ is here and people need to know it. |
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49 | Christmas-Is It Christian? | NT general Archive 1 | Just Read Mark | 106889 | ||
Thanks, Taleb. Very cool. I have never heard that before, and the connection to the Temple is very rich indeed. |
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50 | Studying O.T. is creating problems. | Genesis | Just Read Mark | 84688 | ||
The Bible is very strange, and very wonderful. I find that people often "rationalize" the weirdness out of the Bible, but often those explanations can feel very thin. God does not fit in our boxes. I see part of the Old Testament as a challenge to me: will I worship God, even though my sensabilities are shocked? I think God can speak to us in all kinds of cultural situations, and in the midst of our brokeness. So practices that are less than ideal (ie. polygamy) didn't seem to block people's relationship with God the way we might expect. There is grace there, I think. Looking at historical context can help too. The story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son is a total shocker. But I've heard that child sacrifice was quite common, and this was God's way of putting an end to it -- substituting the sheep. This, then, becomes a profound (and still troubling) act of grace. Of course, that sheep was a prefigurement of Jesus -- the ultimate sacrifice. I think that, in some ways, seeing the violent justice of the Old Testament (in the prophets as well as histories) helps us to understand how merciful the Gospel of Jesus is. I read the Old Testament with armed with both wonder and an acceptance of ambiguity. So many parts of it I still don't understand, or I find morally difficult, but God still meets me in the text. I pray that God will open his word to you, Skip. I ask that, for myself, all the time. Do you pray through what you read? |
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51 | Are we all descendants of Adam and Eve? | Genesis | Just Read Mark | 84808 | ||
The meaning of Adam and Eve. A consensus seems to be expressed about the literal interpretation of the opening chapters of Genesis. As a Christian who believes the Bible is God's inspired word, I would like to present another interpretation. There are, in fact, many Bible-believing Christians who interpret these chapters differently. I find that the opening chapters of Genesis contain a mythic language that suggests we are not to interpret these texts within the "scientific/rationalistic" mode. The language moves away from mythic writing, and into much more concrete history, with the story of Abram and Sarai. It is easy to get hung up on questions of "who married who" etc, and get distracted from the real meaning of the passage. The God-given story of Adam and Eve tells us essential things about what it means to be human. That's why Adam's name isn't a proper name, but a generic term meaning "man." It tells us, for instance, that all humans are of one family, from all races cultures. It tells us that men and women are made in God's image. It tells us about how God intended intimacy between humanity and God, but we chose rebellion instead. It tells us about the relationship between men and women, and the communal character of being human. The expulsion from the garden speaks to our sense of loss and alienation in the world -- and also about the discipline of work and toil. There are so many profound themes wrapped into these short chapters. We don't need to know what literally or scientically happened, to embrace this Word as foundationally true. Focusing on difficulties in literal interpretation prevents us from getting to the substantive meat that can feed our souls. I would suggest that there is a danger in using a literal lense on these passages of scripture. If we claim mythic passages as literal, we lose credibility when we claim other difficult passages are literal. The language of the resurrection accounts, for instance, talk about witnesses and proofs, specific places and times. It is clear that the gospel writers and early Christians believed the resurrection to be a historic, literal occurance. If we sully our credibility with Genesis, it makes it harder to make the case for the resurrection. I do not intend to be divisive or difficult. Instead, I hope that we can allow for some diversity in the reading. In fact, I don't want to discuss the "literal vs. mythic" issue -- but rather, to shift the emphasis to "what does this text say to us, anyway?" Peace. |
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52 | Are we all descendants of Adam and Eve? | Genesis | Just Read Mark | 84880 | ||
I was not promoting a highly subjective approach that says "this is MY reading." You will notice my post began with "THE MEANING of Adam and Eve." At the same time, Radioman, I have found no objective platform from which to read the text. We study, and we pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us. It is hard work. As for the Elders, they do not always agree. Take a longer look at Biblical interpretation, and you will see that passages are sometimes taken one way, sometimes another. This is not spurious rebellion --- this is the faithful reading of committed Christians. Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Barth, Bonhoffer..... You mention "superficial interpretation." I guess I was trying to move the conversation away from questions of lineage (a superficial issue) to the deeper aspects of the text. Of course I am after Truth with a capital T. But it seems to be a messy business, even with the Word of Truth in our hands. Yours, JRM. |
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53 | Are we all descendants of Adam and Eve? | Genesis | Just Read Mark | 84885 | ||
Genres in the Bible. I think most students of the Bible agree that there are different genres and modes of communication in the Bible. To say that one section is myth, another is allegory, and another is history in no way reduces the authority of the Book. In fact, to flatten out these differences is to misinterpret them. Yes, this does become difficult (who said truth was easy?) Perhaps we don't know the genres, or the cues to how they shift. It is easy to say that the Psalms are poetry, Kings is history, etc. --- but it gets trickier because genres change within individual books. For example, Paul uses hymns in his writing -- which is beautiful, powerful, and provides us with a glimpse of the faith of the earliest Christians. I am not suggesting something beyond the "normal understanding of language." I'm sure we both shudder to see books that "reveal a secret code revealed in the Bible that predicted 9/11." But we do use language in complicated, subtle ways all the time --- why wouldn't the Bible? Look at the complicated theories people work out to explain the literal interpretations. I find the mythic reading less cluttered, and more straight forward --- more akin to "the normal understanding of language." But "straightforward" is not the criteria for Truth either. We need to read the text closely, study the history and the genres, and pray. And commit to live by what we learn. |
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54 | Why would we de-value story-telling? | Genesis | Just Read Mark | 84886 | ||
Why does our culture de-value story-telling? Jesus told parables -- do we not see them as authoritative? As words to live by? Why, then, do many Christians resist finding story and myth in other portions of the Bible? John MacArthur says: "Allegorizing means to say that the historical meaning is not the real meaning, and in fact may be nothing but a fabrication." ---- but if the text IS an allegory, it should be read as one - no? ---- why is anything other than "historical meaning" rejected as fabrication? Can God inspire stories as well as history? Can a story convey truth more clearly than historical details? |
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55 | Are we all descendants of Adam and Eve? | Genesis | Just Read Mark | 84894 | ||
Thank you, Tim, for your good questions. The first question is essential, and frankly I will have to look into it again. It has been a while since I have worked it through. Off the top of my head, there are things like the poetic structure of the days in Genesis 1, the fact that there are days before there is a sun, the 2nd version of the creation story that has a different emphasis... Basically, there is a huge symbolic resonance - and lack of historical data - to everything that happens. The tower of Babel. The ark. I realize I am presenting a generalized case here. But when it gets to Abram and Sarai, there is so much more particular information about their travels, their characters, their ethical choices. Please understand -- when I suggest certain passages are intended to be mythic, I am not diminishing their value. I believe God has presented these myths for us to live by. Secondly -- New Testament references to Adam and Eve. I don't see any trouble here, actually. The New Testament writers lived by the Adam and Eve story just as we should. Those passages still make sense either way. I do believe that rebellion against God is a key part of being human (as Adam and Eve show us) and that Jesus reconciles us to God -- so Romans 5 is a concise and powerful explication of this. The geneologies (ie. in Luke 3) pose interesting problems. The fact that the 2 geneologies for Jesus (Matthew and Luke) are different is a problem anyway - aside from Adam and Eve. So I have taken them to make a point like this -- Jesus is a descendent of David (how exactly doesn't matter) and thus fulfills the promises of God; -- the structured number of generations (whether they are literal or not) express that God is the God of history, and is in control. -- Jesus is not some upstart, but is the fulfillment of the entire history of Israel. So some geneologies are Jewish record keeping, but others (like at the beginning of the gospels) are freighted with other significance. These other meanings were so urgent, that discrepancies in the details pale in comparison. Turning back to the early geneologies in Genesis (and quotes elsewhere) -- their function is to emphasize "all of humanity is one family." Would you permit me a moment of conjecture? Perhaps the geneologies around Abraham are historical -- especially since the Hebrews identified themselves as followers of the "God of Abraham." Perhaps the earlier chapters where contributed later -- but adopted the structure of geneologies elsewhere in Genesis. Thus linking the mythic truth of origins to the particular lives of specific people. To put this digression in perspective -- I will reiterate my main point. It doesn't really matter whether these bits are historical or mythical, so long as we really commit ourselves to live by the message it conveys. |
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56 | Why would we de-value story-telling? | Genesis | Just Read Mark | 84896 | ||
Thank you for the story. Obviously, this kind of story is not substitute for pouring over the Scriptures --- but it does help to clarify the major structure. Plus it's fun to read. It is good to put the gospel in our own words, because it helps us to internalize it deeply. (Like when the angel tells John, "Eat this scroll.") Is the story you summarized called "The Divine Romance"? My sister read a book by that title and like it, but haven't read it. |
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57 | Studying O.T. is creating problems. | Genesis | Just Read Mark | 85138 | ||
Ideas on how to grow. Hello Free Thinker. I haven't entered conversation with you yet, but have listened in a little. I hope you will keep seeking -- and I have found this forum to be a helpful element for me... There can be "argument" -- and I've contributed some of that myself, I guess -- but there is also a love of the Bible that is encouraging. I think the format of this forum can tend to focus on the smaller issues - and this can contribute to argumentiveness. Apparent contradictions in the text, rival interpretations of the book of Revelation, who married who after Adam and Eve.... These questions can bog me down, and probably you as well. I encourage you to seek the big questions. Who does Jesus claim to be? What does it mean to be a disciple? How can I open myself to God's love? Also, I find it best to pray even amid doubts. Perhaps that sounds "hypocritical" to you, but it's not. We don't need to have it all figured out -- God understands our state of confusion. We need God's help to figure it out! So I often pray a prayer found in the gospel of Mark: "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24) I have two more thoughts to offer. First, it is good to get a systematic sense of what Christianity is -- and books are better than this website for that. The forum encourages us to bounce from topic to topic -- which is good in some ways, but doesn't get very deep. So I encourage you to read the book mommapbs mentioned (Evidence that demands a verdict). John Stott could be another author to look at. Secondly -- if you have a Christian friend you feel comfortable talking to face to face -- that is so much more fun and deep than the forum. I have loved being in weekly Bible studies, where tough questions can be asked -- and people are ready to live what they learn. I am sure there is a group like this meeting near where you live --- pretty much anywhere in the world! Just dig a little, and you'll find one. I hope you don't think I am discouraging you from the Forum. It's just that I sense your real hunger -- and I too am hungry -- and so I'm sharing some ideas about how to grow. Ask the big questions through prayer, books, and studying in community. From my experience, I'd say that God is pursuing you, even as you are seeking God. Peace. |
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58 | Are we all descendants of Adam and Eve? | Genesis | Just Read Mark | 85159 | ||
Myth, Genesis, Paul. Hello Kat. Please understand that, when I say myth I don't mean "falsehood" or "fairytale". God's myth is as different from the myths of other cultures, as the authority of Biblical history is different from reading human historians. I believe the opening chapters of Genesis are authoritative --- what the meaning of the text is true, but not to be taken literally. It is pretty hard to know what Paul meant, when we only have his words. Someday, we'll be able to ask him face to face. If Paul understood the story of Adam and Eve as mythic, he would still write the same passage --- just as I would say "with Adam and Eve, humanity entered into sin." Since I allow this story to shape my entire view of human nature, and humanity's relationship with God, I speak the language of the myth. I don't need to double-think about it --- I embrace the story as the truth about people. When Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me..." (Galatians 2:20) he is not saying that Paul has been crucified --- yet it is true that he has "died to himself." So we accept his language as a powerful metaphor. But we don't fear that people we say that Christ's crucifixion is a metaphor, do we? So just because one part of a passage is literal doesn't mean the other part is. The same with the passages you quoted. I would further add that, until the last few hundred years, people blended mythic thinking and analytic thinking much more fluidly. I think our concern with literal reading has only been so intense since the "Enlightenment" advanced empiricism as the only way of knowing truth. So, in a way, taking the early accounts of Genesis literally is adopting the enlightenment's criteria for truth. I don't mean to cloud the issue. It's just that I find taking the opening passages of Genesis literally clouds the issues for many people -- and we spend our time talking about DNA and incest and theories that can't be proven. I find it clearer to say: "I won't trouble with those controversies -- I will diligently seek what the text says about God's plan for us." Other people responding to my post have suggested that I must be an evolutionist. I don't really know either way --- but I do know it is complicated. The universe does seem to be very old --- and I can either react to that by saying "No, that's not what Genesis says." --- or I can say "Wow, IF that's true, then God's creative power is so fantastic!" --and get on with the gospel. In University, a Christian students group set up a debate about creation and evolution. As convincing as either side was, the impression I left with was, "both sides are missing the point." I would put that kind of debate in the "how many angles on the head of a pin" category. I left wondering how many could have been reached with the gospel -- even using the same passages. If Christian's can't agree on how the passage should be read scientifically (6 days, metaphorical days, mythic, etc) then the scientific reading doesn't make a great evangelistic tool. I think the different streams of Christians do, however, agree on the inspiration, importance, and meaning of the passages. Embrace the meaning. |
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59 | Why is Eve only in the Bible one time? | Genesis | Just Read Mark | 122261 | ||
Here are a few mentions of Eve. There could be more.... Genesis 1:27 --- creation of first humans, although names are not given. The name "Eve" doesn't appear until 3:20. Genesis 2:22 --- creation of Eve from Adam's rib. Genesis 3 --- Whole chapter involves Adam and Eve (and the snake, and God). This is the Fall. Genesis 3:20 --- Eve's name. 2 Corinthians 11:3 --- talking about the tempter's craftiness, and using Eve and the snake as an example... 1 Timothy 2:13 --- extrapolating from Adam and Eve, to justify roles for men and women in the church. Yours, JRM. |
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60 | Dinosaurs (Life before Adam and Eve) | Genesis | Just Read Mark | 135158 | ||
I have a question about your theory. Do I have this right: In order to weave Dinosaurs into Genesis, you are willing to make Noah disobey God's instructions. Noah is clearly told to bring representatives of "all flesh" into the ark. He would have needed to put two of each dinosaur on the ark. It certainly changes the meaning of the story, if such amazing creatures were excluded. (Unless they were being destroyed on the same moral grounds as the rest of humanity?) JRM |
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