Results 1 - 11 of 11
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Unanswered Bible Questions Author: proffitt_79 Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Christ, War, and Patriotism | Is 9:6 | proffitt_79 | 107364 | ||
Thank you for your reply. I too do not presume to be all knowing. In fact, at the risk of sounding ignorant, I don't think I've ever heard of Maccabees. I must say that I disagree with your statement that "Jesus is talking about a different peace". You point out that "Though He lived under Roman occupation, Jesus did not involved Himself in any power struggle (John 18:36). And He was very aware of the disciples and their environment (John 12:8 and John 17:9, 15)." You are right - Jesus did not involve himself in any power struggle, and he was aware of the Roman occupation. In fact, these were the very "enemies" that Jesus said the people were to love. (Matt 5:44) In His statement in John 14:27 "my peace I give you, not the peace of this world" Jesus is talking about peace of mind. NLT says "I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives." This is a comforting statement given to the disciples before Jesus ascention not directed at moral standards or any prohibition or justification for war and should not be used as such. I believe Jesus didn't say much about war specifically because if we, as Christians, are truly to assume the worldview of Jesus, we will not have much need to ask the question, what makes a just war? The gospel of Christ asks "that we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, chothe the naked, welcome the homeless, visit the prisoner, and perform works of mercy. War does all the opposite." - Dorothy Day We are not in Iraq "liberating" the Iraqi people. We are setting up a regime in Iraq, the second largest oil producing nation in the world, that will ultimately serve us, the largest oil consuming nation in the world. Cliche as it is, that is what is happening. This is not liberation, this is imperialism. And yet patriotism calls us to support this imperialistic endeavor while condemning those who question the motives of our nation's leaders. Many of my fellow Christians reference the Word of God in justifying their patriotism while condemning dissent. Somewhere, our ideas of national identity and patriotism have become sifted in with our Christian allegiance to Jesus Christ and His gospel. (The BIG question is "why?") But citizenship in God's kingdom is superior to the Christian's earthly national citizenship. Acts 5:29: "But Peter and the apostles replied, 'We must obey God rather than human authority'." It is true that "All authority has been placed in power by God." (Rom. 13), but do not forget that Jesus himself tells us to "...give to Cesar what is Cesar's. But everything that is God's must be given to God" (Mark 12). That includes our allegiance. I realize that this subject can go around and around, so I ask a new question: If our commitments to Christ do indeed ultimately trump the authority of the nation, then by what criteria would Christians know when the claims of the nation have intruded on the integrity of the Gospel? |
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2 | What does Hank say? | Is 9:6 | proffitt_79 | 107140 | ||
I acknowledge that my question deals with a sensitive subject but I do not wish to make a political statement or start a political debate. My question arises out of from my own experiences and I truly am seeking clarity. I am active in leading a student bible study at my church. As the group grows closer, and we find ourselves hanging out more and more, several late night discussions have arisen which are political in nature. I have found only one other person in our group that agrees with me on this subject. The more people I talk to about the issue, the more I find my views to be the minority. It's not a problem, I just wonder why. This forum has been an excellent source of insight in the past so I came here to expand my sources of input. Thank you for your concern and your answers. TO WHOM does it seem? It seems to me. President Bush has the support of the Christian Coalition. The Christian Coalition has the support of every Christian radio station I listen to and nearly every Christian I have asked in my church. Now, I realize these statements are politically charged, but please do not treat me like I am trying to start a fight. I only seek to understand. I would really like to know what Hank has to say. |
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3 | Christ and war | Is 9:6 | proffitt_79 | 107090 | ||
In Isaiah's prophecy, Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. Christians refer to his as the Gospel of Peace, and indeed, Christ's sermon on the mount promotes meekness and patient suffering in the face of threats to one's own personal security. As followers of Jesus, I would think that we would find Christians more often than liberal ideologues protesting war in the streets. Why does it seem that Christians are the most supportive of the United States' preemptive war? |
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4 | Baffled about Babel | Gen 11:6 | proffitt_79 | 103867 | ||
At the tower of babel, man was trying to build a tower "whose top was to reach unto heaven" (Gen 11:4 KJV). In v.6, God seems to respond almost fearfully saying, "this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them." I notice that He didn't say, "they have disobeyed me" or "their pride has angered me" or "those fools think they can actually build a tower to reach heaven" (which is what i was taught!)but "nothinkg they plan to do will be impossible for them." God then mixed up their languages and we all know the rest. my question is what was God so upset about? why did His response seem to convey fear of His own creation? |
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5 | genesis chronology | Gen 11:1 | proffitt_79 | 103839 | ||
Well that really opens up a whole new can of worms. Am I assume that means that the chapters in Genesis are not ordered chronologically? Was it intentionally done that way, or was it put together that way? | ||||||
6 | Language question | Gen 11:1 | proffitt_79 | 103814 | ||
Genesis ch 10 covers the geneology of the sons of Noah. Concluding each geneology is a statement saying that these nations were separated by their lands, families, and their languages (ch 10 v. 5, 20, and 31). Then in Genesis ch 11 v. 1, it says the whole earth was of one language - using "the same words" (nas) or "a common speech" (niv). How can the nations of the world be separated by language in ch 10 and in ch 11 be "unified by one language and one accent and one mode of expression" (amp)? | ||||||
7 | Partake of divine life? | 1 Cor 11:29 | proffitt_79 | 85631 | ||
Reformer Joe, I sincerly appreciate your reply to my question. Your knowledge and understanding are truly inspirational and helpful. I wonder if you could elaborate on your conclusion: "That is why I believe that I am partaking of the divine life of Christ through the sacramental union between the sign (bread and wine) and the things that they signify (the body and blood of Christ)." What do you mean by 'partaking of the divine life of Christ'? thank you |
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8 | communion: symbolic or something more? | 1 Cor 11:29 | proffitt_79 | 84898 | ||
This is an issue i have been struggling with for some time now - raised baptist i was taught that the Lord's supper is a symbolic act - a memorial - shown by the words "this do in rememberence of me". Recently i have been introduced to Lutherans that believe it is much more than that. they believe Christ's spirit is present in the bread and wine and thus taking communion imparts on us the blessings of the holy spirit and the forgiveness of sins. they draw heavily from 1 Cor. 11:29 where Paul warns about taking communion unworthily. NASB 1 Cor 11:29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. AMP For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that [it is Christ's] body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment) upon himself. my Bible says "if he does not discern the body" and the literal greek is "not judging through the body". is this a reference to Christ's true spiritual presence in communion? or is communion simply a symbolic act we participate in to proclaim "the death of the Lord until He arrives"? ive gone around and around on this one with baptist ministers and lutheran pastors. i wont explain further, but my situation is dire and i need some real spiritual guidence here. any help would be appreciated. thanks. tproffitt_79 |
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9 | Did Jesus baptize? | John 4:2 | proffitt_79 | 83994 | ||
In John 3:26, a Jewish man tells John the Baptist of another who is baptizing. He refers to him as the one "who was with you on the other side of the jordon, the one you testified about". JtB replies "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven." 1. Is the other man Jesus? 2. What does JtB mean by his reply? |
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10 | Divisions in the church | NT general Archive 1 | proffitt_79 | 83937 | ||
Paul speaks against divisions in the church. What would he say about all the different denominations of the present day? | ||||||
11 | What is sanctificatin in 1 Cor. 7:14 ? | 1 Cor 7:14 | proffitt_79 | 83527 | ||
Does 1 Corinthians 7:14 say that if an unbeliever is married to a believer, the unbeliever (by being 'sanctified') is considered a christian AND their children are also christian? |
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