Results 1 - 20 of 115
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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: Parable Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Scripture alone? | James 1:5 | Parable | 192029 | ||
What IS evil? | ||||||
2 | Psalm 20:1-4 | Ps 20:4 | Parable | 192003 | ||
Its a blessing. | ||||||
3 | Would his heart not be humbled? | Romans | Parable | 191899 | ||
To the Gentiles, Paul said: "I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another." Romans 15:14 To the Jews, he said: "you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?" --Romans 2:21 The gentiles had no attachment to the Jewish law or any sense of entitlement to it or to God's grace. The Jews felt they owned the law and salvation was their due. |
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4 | Scripture alone? | James 1:5 | Parable | 191888 | ||
sorry for the repetitions, there was a server error and I send more than once thinking it had not gone through. | ||||||
5 | Stumpped by my son | Bible general Archive 3 | Parable | 191808 | ||
My apologies for the duplicate post, but I hope to ensure the original author is notified of the reply.... Regarding your son's question about evil, here's my summary of Boyd's explanation, as found in "Satan and the Problem of Evil: Constructing a Trinitarian Warfare Theodicy". Boyd's development of this is heavily referenced with extensive scripture, so I refer you to the book for his support. Basically, Boyd suggests evil is a necessary possibility in a world in which the following realities make love possible: 1. Love entails freedom. Freedom to choose otherwise is what gives meaning to choosing love. 2. Freedom entails risk. The risk is that someone may actually choose not to love. 3. Risk entails moral responsibility. People are responsible for their choices because of the consequences they bring. Choices other than love often lead to evil. 4. Moral responsibility is proportionate to the power to influence others. If you are powerful, you have more responsibility than someone who is inconsequential. In Christian theology, Satan was the most powerful agent, so he carries the most responsibility for rebelling against God. 5. The power to influence is irrevocable. God's gifts are genuine, not taken back if abused. 6. The power to influence is finite. God has established boundaries within which we operate, so the consequences of our poor decisions are not infinitely bad for everyone everywhere. Thus, if you experience evil, it is because someone, including possibly yourself, chose to follow something other than God, and that choice was close enough to you that the consequences were within your sphere of influence. Parable |
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6 | Stumpped by my son | Bible general Archive 3 | Parable | 191796 | ||
These are important questions. I found the following books helpful. God of the Possible, by Dr. Gregory Boyd. God at War, by Dr. Gregory Boyd. Satan and the Problem of Evil, by Dr. Gregory Boyd The Genesis Question, by Dr. Hugh Ross Finding Darwin's God, by Dr. Kenneth Miller |
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7 | What if it's just a feeling I get? | Matt 18:17 | Parable | 191746 | ||
Your welcome, samnlucysmom. I agree that your feelings probably reflect as much about you as about your church. Given that, perhaps it would be helpful to consider your purpose for being there. Each of us is called to be discerning: "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." -- Philippians 1:9-11 One path of action would be to make your concerns known, by speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). You could talk with the senior pastor or pastor who is charged with congregational care, or you could talk privately with individuals to see how they feel. How others respond will likely tell you what you need to know in order to decide what you will do. In any case, prayer, counsel, fasting and waiting for the Spirit's lead would be good ways to prepare yourself for whatever the next step may be. Ultimately, you will have to decide what is the right thing to do, and then do it. |
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8 | How do I let go and still love??? | 1 Cor 7:17 | Parable | 191733 | ||
The most recent research shows that when possible, and when there are no immediate hazards to the child, the best possible arrangements, under these circumstances, are what they call "equal parenting". This means the child spends, on average, an equal amount of time with each parent. Of course this is not the ideal God had in mind, but it avoids the problems of having "weekend dad" who pretty much just gets to have fun with kids, while mom has to take care of them when they're sick, help them with homework, be the disciplinarian, etc, etc, etc. (Of course, it could be the other way around, with the dad having primary custody, but the point is the same.) This requires each parent to grant the other person the authority to parent as they see fit, so the child can have an authentic relationship with both parents. It also provides each parent "time with" and "time off", so they can equally share the work of raising their kids. The biblical standards for family are that the child should honor the parents (Exodus 20:12) and the parents should adhere to Ephesian 6:4 "...do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." As for the best thing you can do for your kids, avoid ever saying anything negative to them about the other parent, and work to become a healthy, vibrant person in your own right, so they may see a good example of how to live under adversity. This involves forgiving the other person, avoiding the mistakes people so often make, and doing the right things to build a new life. Above all, put your faith in the Lord to bring you through this. The only way out is through, and remember "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 |
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9 | Should we leave our church? | Matt 18:17 | Parable | 191730 | ||
Before you decide to leave, you might attempt the procedure for addressing problems outlined in Matthew 18:15-17. This passage is about discipline with an individual, but perhaps the process applies equally well to the congregation and the leadership. That is, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." |
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10 | How do I let go and still love??? | 1 Cor 7:17 | Parable | 191725 | ||
In the divorce recovery class I lead, this question often comes up as "how do I stop loving my former spouse?" My response is, the answer is not to stop loving them, or to love them less, but to love them more by loving them differently, as God loves them. By virtue of being limited, flawed and broken creatures, our love often contains elements of selfishness and being conditional. God's love does not. Our love is incomplete, His is not. If you can learn to see the other person as God does, as someone in need of His love, His compassion, His forgiveness, His correction, that is the starting point for learning to love that person differently. This love does not depend on anything about the other person, they cannot earn it or do anything to lose it. In this kind of love, you are completely free, no longer attached to the things you have lost. Of course, you also must learn to see yourself as God does, as his cherished, beloved child. I will return to this post shortly to provide specific references, but I just wanted to respond to your most important question so you may know that there is a way through this season that is not just surviving, but leads to living abundantly. If you are experiencing separation or divorce, I recommend that you visit www.divorcecare.org and search for a class in your area, sign up for the daily emails of encouragement and even perhaps order the audio CD's of their program, which are quite affordable. In all those, you will find many, many verses to instruct and encourage you. Peace, Parable |
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11 | Origin of feelings | Phil 4:8 | Parable | 191709 | ||
As for the origin of emotions, I note Ecclesiastes 1:18 "For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief." This verse is saying that knowing about the state of the world inspires sorrow. (as I said in my other response, emotion is preceded by thought) Emotion is a response in us to how well circumstances are in-line with God's plan. Yet, a deeper question is about joy. Joy is generally regarded as a state of being in your heart, not dependent on circumstances. In Psalm 19:8, we are told "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." Joy comes from God to those who embrace His ways. Obedience brings light. |
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12 | Origin of feelings | Phil 4:8 | Parable | 191704 | ||
Great question! It seems you are asking about troubling emotions, rather than pleasant healthy ones, so I'll try to address that side of things. For context, I submit that emotions are always preceded by thoughts, yet they are not easily controlled by thought, indeed, emotions often intensify the more you think about the problem. Obviously, that kind of thinking doesn't help. The bible teaches us to think differently. In Romans 12:2, we are instructed to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind". To be transformed is to be made into something new and different. To renew your mind is to change what you think about and how you think about it. For example, in Philippians 4:8-9, we are told "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Paul is telling us to think about the good things God has done and thereby receive peace. Finally, because we are shaped by how we think, and we are called to grow into the likeness of Jesus, in Hebrews 12:2-3 Paul says to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." In other words, if you are discouraged, think about Jesus, not the problem, and you will not falter. |
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13 | is masterbation a sin | Rom 12:1 | Parable | 191656 | ||
To address this question, one must examine what the Bible teaches about sexual immorality. It is generally accepted that where the Bible gives specific instruction, we stand firm, and where the Bible is silent, we should live according to godly principles. The Bible is clear, sexual immorality is prohibited by God. A survey of scripture reveals numerous instances in which sexually impure people are described. See Gen19:5, Gen19:30-38, Gen34:1-2, Gen35:22, Gen38:9, Gen38:14-18, Num25:6-14, Judg16:1, 1Sam2:22, 2Sam11:4, 2Sam13:14, 2Sam16:22, Hos1-2, John4, John8:1-11, Luke7:36-39, 1Cor5:1 and Rev2:20. The specific issues are homosexuality, incest, rape, adultery, refusal to father a child by the wife of a dead brother, fornication, sex in the tabernacle and in public, and leading others to sexual immorality. Lev18-20 prohibit incest, adultery, fornication, prostitution, homosexuality, bestiality and sexual relations during menstruation. In all these, sexual relations with a partner are involved. Nowhere does the Bible expressly discuss solitary sexual activity, i.e. masturbation. While in some cases a failure to prohibit may imply tolerance or even permission, such reasoning can lead to serious error. Yet, in light of the Bible’s apparent silence on this topic, what conclusions may be drawn? The most obvious place to start is Jesus’ teachings about the content of our hearts. In the gospels, he taught that murder begins as anger, stealing begins as greed and adultery begins as lust. Hence, the life we give to our thoughts is morally equivalent to the sinful acts they inspire. However, most Bible scholars agree that the terms "anger", "greed" and "lust", as understood in biblical cultures and times, are not the kinds of passing thoughts all of us have at one time or another. Rather they are obsessive patterns of thinking that are indulged without regard to consequences and reduce others (or their possessions) to objects for base gratification of some fleshly desire, e.g. revenge, coveting or sex. In lust, sexual desire is indulged until it becomes grotesque and compelling, leading to sexual acts that are clearly immoral. If masturbation involves this kind of thinking, it is sinful and a perversion of God's intent for our sexuality. Hence, masturbation can cause us to fall short of God's standards and bring upon ourselves the natural consequences of disregarding His wisdom. For example, because sexual climax involves the release of very powerful chemicals in the brain, it is possible to become addicted to these chemicals. The dynamics of such addiction are the same as other forms of addiction, i.e. escalation in dependence, leading to increasing demands for more intense experiences, which can lead to the use of pornography and even promiscuity, both of which are clearly sinful. Furthermore, because addiction soon becomes the most important thing in life, it may be considered a form of idolatry, another sin. Another example is that for some people masturbation can carry with it profound shame or guilt. While shame or guilt can serve to correct error, excessive shame or guilt can prevent us from accepting God’s love, mercy and grace, hindering our relationship with him. While the Bible does not expressly address masturbation, it honors sexual purity and speaks to the content of our hearts and the life we give to our thoughts. Accordingly, masturbation should not be dismissed as trivial or irrelevant, but rather understood as a powerful experience that each person must consider in light of scripture, prayer, counsel and conscience. |
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14 | for what reason can a man divoce his wif | Matt 19:9 | Parable | 191339 | ||
Infidelity and abandonment are the two reasons for divorce expressly stated in the bible. Also, in Matthew 5, Jesus explains that lust is a form of adultery. Since adultery is a legitimate reason to divorce, it follows that lust also is a legitimate reason to divorce. Yet to many people, lust alone does not seem cause for divorce. However, in this case, the biblical word for lust does not refer to a passing thought anyone might experience then immediately dismiss, but rather “sinful longing” (Eastons’ 1897 Bible Dictionary). This refers to a pattern of inappropriate thoughts that are indulged at the expense of another person for base gratification of prurient desires. In the economy of God, such thoughts are morally bankrupt and are form of infidelity. These high standards demonstrate what marriage is supposed to mean for us by showing us what it means to God. Also, in recent times, application of biblical principles leads to the conclusion that certain patterns of abuse are also legitimate grounds for divorce. Regarding Matt 19:9, this verse is often interpreted out of the context of Jesus’ response to the Pharisee’s question about divorces that we being granted for any and every reason, as derived from Deut 24:1-4. Jesus denounces the idea that merely providing a certificate of divorce is all the law requires, and as a result, anyone who marries a person “divorced” in this illegitimate way, commits adultery and makes the other person into an adulterer. Again, we see God's higher standard convicting those who were divorcing for any and every reason. It is important to remember that God knows about divorce firsthand. In Jer 3:8, God divorced Israel for her faithlessness (abandonment) and idolatry (infidelity). We can know that God identifies with our suffering because He has experienced divorce. This divorce was necessary because the marriage with Israel was dead from a break of faith. It is in the context of faith that we are to be married, and when that is no longer possible, due to the hardness of someone's heart, (Matthew 19:8) divorce is appropriate. Divorce declares the death of a marriage, and thus releases us to grieve that loss and move on in life. |
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15 | forgiveness | Matt 18:1 | Parable | 191335 | ||
Before you can answer this question, you must know it means to forgive. This is hard to put into words, but here's what I believe is consistent with the biblical teachings on forgiveness: To forgive is to surrender your right to see justice done, or to be the one who brings justice to the transgressor. Forgiveness releases us from the mental/emotional attachment that binds us to the transgressor. Lack of forgiveness leads to resentment and bitterness, and these attachments often become a form of idolatry because they keep the transgressor foremost in your mind and heart, instead of keeping those places reserved for God. Forgiveness doesn't mean you condone or approve of what was done to harm you. It just means that you are separating yourself completely from any obligation you may feel to make things right. As Christians, we are blessed because we can forgive knowing that the Lord will address the wrongs that were committed, one way or another. By surrendering this to Him, we allow him to act according to His plan for that person. Thus, forgiveness witnesses to our faith in Him. Finally, forgiveness does not mean that you allow the transgressions to continue, and it does not mean that the other person has to apologize first, or ever,for that matter. Peace. |
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16 | why does God allow evil to exsit | Bible general Archive 2 | Parable | 138911 | ||
According to Dr. Gregory Boyd, in his book, "Satan and the problem of evil", evil is a necessary possibility in a world in which the following realities make love possible: 1. Love entails freedom. (freedom to choose otherwise is what makes choosing love so special) 2. Freedom entails risk. (the risk is that someone may actually choose not to love) 3. Risk entails moral responsibility. (people are responsible for their choices because of the consequences they bring. Sometimes those consequences are evil) 4. Moral responsibility is proportionate to the power to influence others. (if you are powerful, you have more responsibility that someone who is inconsequential. Satan was the most powerful, so he carries the most responsibility for rebelling against God) 5. The power to influence is irrevocable. (God's gifts are genuine, not taken back if abused.) 6. The power to influence is finite. (God has established boundaries within which we operate, so the consequences of our poor decisions are not infinitely bad for everyone everywhere.) If you experience evil, it is because someone, including possibly yourself, chose to follow something other than God, and that choice was close enough to you that the consequences were within your sphere of influence. Boyd derives his point from scripture. A good summary of his ideas are available in "God of the Possible" and at his website www.gregboyd.org/gbfront/ |
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17 | why does God allow evil to exsit | Bible general Archive 2 | Parable | 138097 | ||
Dr. Gregory Boyd addresses this question in his book "Satan and the problem of evil". He defends his thesis on scriptural grounds and has answered this question to my satisfaction. I will summarize his argument in my next post. (I'm out of town and I don't have those notes with me.) Peace, Parable |
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18 | King James bible only one to read? | Genesis | Parable | 123748 | ||
KJV 2Timothy 3:16-17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." This was written, and considered to be scripture, long before the KJV was translated, so certainly the original ancient scriptures are exceptions to what you neighbor says. |
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19 | how long ago was the earth made? | Gen 1:1 | Parable | 119099 | ||
Scripture tells us what science can never prove, that creation is utterly distinct from decay, which is how we measure time in the fallen world. The question "how long ago?" can be asked of the fallen world only, not about creation before the fall. That is, after creation, the world was without decay and could have existed in the same state for billions of years, before the curse introduced death and decay. All science can do is estimate how long since the decay began, and that requires an understanding of the initial conditions and the rate of decay, both of which require assumptions that may or may not hold. As a believer, I have no problem with scientific estimates that the universe is 13.7 billion years old because that estimate implies nothing about when creation occured, for with God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. Also, this apparent age teaches us something of the meaning of the word "eternity". Which raises the point that the primary message of Genesis is that in the beginning God is there and is responsible for making the world. Likewise, the primary point of Revelation is that in the end, God is there and will see His purposes come to pass. |
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20 | addicted to porn-help | Psalm | Parable | 118351 | ||
reposted for the benefit of the orinal post....sorry for the inconvenience. --- I have just finished reading an excellent book that may help you understand and address your situation. It is "Sex, Men and God: A godly man's road map to sexual success" by Douglas Weiss. Basically, his thesis is you are not addicted to porn, you are addicted to the powerful chemicals produced by your brain that are released to your brains' pleasure centers during sexual climax. This chemical response becomes associated with whatever you look at during orgasm. Weiss explains how this dynamic is established, as well as how to apply godly principles, backed by scripture, to overcome this addiction and replace it with a healthy biblically-based sexuality. Also, without endorsing or condoning masturbation, he explains how three different kinds of masturbation lead to three different consequences in a man's life. There are questions to answer that help you identify where you are on the spectrum and specific suggestions for how to stop destructive behaviors and replace them with healthy attitudes and lifestyles. The point is, there is hope, but you must be willing to confront your situation honestly and take steps to change. The first is to accept God's way and reject man's. I cannot recommend this book enough to both Christian men and women. Parable |
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