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Results from: Notes Author: Just Read Mark Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Lying justified? | Josh 2:5 | Just Read Mark | 225021 | ||
Could you check that against James 2:25? | ||||||
2 | Lying justified? | Josh 2:5 | Just Read Mark | 225017 | ||
Thanks, Steve. I understand the clarity of God's law-- but in the messiness of life, sometimes its not so clear. This story, for example, seems like performing a lesser evil in order to perform a significant good. Rahab is remembered as a hero for this act. She is listed in the list of Gentiles who have done great things for Israel. She enters Jesus' family tree (Matt 1:5) and is praised for this act (James 2:25). Is that not condoning her decision to lie? | ||||||
3 | Claiming victory too soon? | Josh 21:43 | Just Read Mark | 208800 | ||
Hi Doc. I do not question the faithfulness of God to fulfill the promises, and I understand that tension is caused by the fickleness of the tribes. But here is the question: would it not have been more honest of Joshua to say something like "look how faithful God has been --- and see that the whole of the promised land is within our grasp if we continue! Take courage, be faithful, so that we may see God's promises fulfilled!" That would be much more in keeping with Calvin's interpretation, but is strikingly different from Joshua's actual speach: "Not one of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass." (22:45) What truth or merit did Joshua have in this statement? I am beginning to wonder if it is the hubris of an aging general... | ||||||
4 | "throwing stones" or "making love"? | Eccl 3:5 | Just Read Mark | 196278 | ||
Hi Doc. Thanks for adding some scholarly perspective. Maybe I'll meet Eugene some day, and ask him a few questions. Here's my crazy link between Eugene and the real text: if the "stones" were understood as seeds, as in "the seed of Abraham", then his rendering would be reasonable. Your art discussion topic looks good. Art does not have authority like scripture --- but we do live by story. If Christians back out of the task, people will live by CSI. (Lord, have mercy.) I see part of our world-shaping task (for God gives us responsibility to shape this world, as an echo of His creative power)as an artistic one. One of my favorite verses is when Joseph says "Interpretations belong to the Lord." |
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5 | "throwing stones" or "making love"? | Eccl 3:5 | Just Read Mark | 196208 | ||
a slight correction: "covering his feet" means dropping his paints to relieve himself (not uncovering, as I had said). If you look at 1 Samuel 24:3 you will find that our Bible do not give the "literal" translation --- because it wouldn't make sense in English. The Hebrew is still there in the footnotes. There are many cases of this kind of thing, and I think it is wise to pay attention to them. |
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6 | "throwing stones" or "making love"? | Eccl 3:5 | Just Read Mark | 196206 | ||
Thanks Brad. I've known the translations of this line for many years, so that's why I was surprised at the "make love/abstain" rendering of it. I guess I'm wondering whether the Hebrew phrase would have been understood as a metaphor for sexuality somehow? Similar to how Saul "uncovers his foot" to mean uncovers his genitals to relieve himself... I wish I could ask Eugene what research he had to arrive at his interpretation. | ||||||
7 | Seems to change in stories? | Mal 3:6 | Just Read Mark | 177015 | ||
Hi Iktoose. Thanks for the response. I think we're agreeing here --- that God did change direction in response to Moses' plea. The character of God is constant. I think sometimes we answer questions quickly (like showing one text where it says God does not change) without delving into the question more deeply. If Rusty goes to his teacher with one verse, that will be much less convincing than if Rusty has thought about the passages that are more confusing. I've enjoyed the range of answers. Maybe I like the "childish" elements of how God tells his story --- I believe in living within the STORY of it, from Genesis to Apocalypse. So I try to hold that complexity in my head. Peace. JRM |
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8 | 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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9 | 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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10 | 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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11 | Is God Sovereign in the Church today? | Rom 1:22 | Just Read Mark | 168523 | ||
Hi Ocelot. Yes, my question was more to you... I thought Mark's statement was quite clear. I guess I thought the scientists you quote would probably have a more metaphorical reading of Creation etc. I guess I suspect that Jastrow, an astronomer, would be one of the ones signing the letter Mark quoted... his study of the stars, and the vast expanse of time, could draw him to the God of Genesis... rather than interpreting a 6 day creation. ..... Just found this interview on the net. GCMI: You've written that the Big Bang is at least consistent with the idea of a creator or a first cause. DR. JASTROW: The theoretical cosmologists are very active inventing various exotic ideas for a non-deist first cause, and that means, of course, the possibility of the creator. I'm an agnostic because I see the thrust of the discoveries toward the idea of a first cause, but everything else I know about humankind and the universe tells me that it could have happened without an overarching plan. And yet, when you step back and look at the whole picture that seems hard to believe. So as I've said in a number of places, I'm just stuck in the middle. |
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12 | Is God Sovereign in the Church today? | Rom 1:22 | Just Read Mark | 168511 | ||
I am confused. It seems you have written this post in support of the "Pastors' Letter" quoted above. The letter (which many find offensive) claimed that "the timeless truths of the Bible and the discoveries of modern science may comfortably coexist." Isn't that also the point of your post? JRM |
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13 | Jewish understanding of "Salvation" ? | Deut 7:9 | Just Read Mark | 168374 | ||
Let me explain the relevance of my question. It was NOT to determine the truth about heaven or afterlife. Rather, in was in the context of this whole thread on whether Jews can be "saved." I was just thinking that the Old Testament picture of what "salvation" means is quite concealed, compared to what we find in the new.... So, I was interested to discover Josephus' statements, and how they echo NT scripture, even though Josephus would have held only the OT as scripture. Thank you for pointing out Hillel. I would like to learn more about these things. JRM |
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14 | Jewish understanding of "Salvation" ? | Deut 7:9 | Just Read Mark | 168324 | ||
Thanks for the link. A very interesting read. Would you say that the views Josephus put forward were largely shaped by scripture, or by developments in thought through the inter-testimental period? JRM |
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15 | Are faithful Jews saved? | Deut 7:9 | Just Read Mark | 168301 | ||
I certainly agree with the broad sweep of your post. It is good, and clear. Could you help with the verses that indicate some special place for the Jews in God's heart, that are contained even in the same context as the verses quoted above. I am thinking of: "And so all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26) --- I recognize that it is talking about branches being pruned off, but then grafted back in. "Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:28,29) |
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16 | Music and the Presence of God | OT general | Just Read Mark | 168277 | ||
Hi Mark. A great response. Climb the soapbox any time. | ||||||
17 | How would you respond to their claim? | Romans | Just Read Mark | 168270 | ||
Sounds like a great study. I am delighted that your church is taking on these issues, and equiping the church to be effective. We have to know the times in which we live. | ||||||
18 | How would you respond to their claim? | Romans | Just Read Mark | 168269 | ||
Experiences and Scripture Of course, I am not suggesting to draw attention to ourselves. Rather, to celebrate what God has done, in our lives and the lives around us. To express that our every-day lives are formed by a biblical world-view is very powerful. There are many chances to speak about scripture in a living, connected-to-life way. When Truth claims are separated from a faith lived out, they are poisonous to the church. If we can show our neighbouring post-modernists that our lives are shaped by scripture --- rather than just quoting scripture --- good things will happen. When Paul speaks of his conversion experience, and how remarkably his life was changed (Galatians 1:11ff) -- this enables his readers to perceive God's call in their lives. We are not just to quote Paul, but follow his example (2 Timothy 3:10 ff). His example compells us to speak of our experiences in such a way as to bring people to the Lord. (by the way, I didn't read John's response as "gracious" but as honest.) |
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19 | How would you respond to their claim? | Romans | Just Read Mark | 168262 | ||
Postmodernism around us. John, I am sure "God has you in this study for a reason." As an artist in my 30's, I encounter postmodernism all the time. Maybe you will see it more clearly as you study it, for it shapes TV shows and movies and novels. I even have a children's book of "Goldilocks and the three bears" -- from one side, it tells it from the Bears' perspective; you flip the book over, you have it from Goldilock's perspective. There are two covers (front and back) so neither version is priviledged as the true account. The child must decide, or decide that there isn't enough information - thereby putting the question of "truth" aside, and just enjoy the tension in the story. Let me add: some postmodern elements aren't bad. It's ability to question abuses of power has been good for our world. It's ability to listen to outsiders is akin to our Christian call to care for the orphan, the powerless, etc. These, again, are opportunities. We must be more discerning and less reactionary in our response to Postmodernism. Postmodernism is not a systemic philosophy, but a general term for a range of traits and ways of thinking. |
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20 | How would you respond to their claim? | Romans | Just Read Mark | 168259 | ||
What does "true" mean? Hi Kalos. While I agree with your argument, it has this problem: it assumes the people care about truth. The fact is, many people feel that no one can really know what is true. When they say "this is true for me" they don't really mean "objectively true." They are making a much more modest claim: they just mean that it's at the heart of their experience. People feel bullied by "truth" -- and indeed, with so much corruption in government, media, business etc... people are right in mistrusting "official truths." Personally, I wouldn't bring up the word "Truth" until much later in the conversation... instead, compel them with meaningful experiences. It is important, I think, to start by speaking of God in THEIR OWN language (like Paul did in Athens) instead of trying to reclaim our own language (like the word Truth). Once they start asking questions -- because they are hungry -- then discussion of what "truth" means can follow. JRM |
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