Results 181 - 200 of 465
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Parable Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
181 | I'll wait on God, there's always a way | Deut 5:16 | Parable | 47863 | ||
No, there is not ALWAYS a way. With God all things are possible, but you must accept that sometimes His answer is NO. If you don't accept His answer, you are going nowhere, ON YOUR OWN. You cannot agree and disagree at the same time. You are not being honest when you say you don't understand how you are disobedient to your parents. Not only that, you are disrespectful to the owners of this webpage who clearly require that you be 18 years old in order to be granted the PRIVILEGE of posting to this forum. Basically, you have STOLEN this privilege and broken trust with them. As Jesus said, give to Cesar what belongs to Cesar and give to God what belongs to God. In this case, you need to give the webmasters their due respect by obeying their "term thingys" and give to God your obedience to his command that you honor your parents. If you disobey your parents, you are dishonoring them and God. You don't want to call a pastor because you don't want to be accountable to anyone for your decisions, which you know are selfish and unwise. This is the kind of pride that leads to the notion that YOU are in charge. Don't wait to see what you THINK God is telling you, read the Bible and KNOW what God is telling you. But knowing is not enough. You must have faith and that faith will bear fruit. Jesus explains it quite simply: "if you love me, you will obey my commandments". If you don't like these terms, that's too bad. No one ever said being a Christian was easy. Finally, don't do it. You know what I'm talking about. Just don't. You're wrong. Let it go and don't pick it up again. |
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182 | Was David up? | 2 Sam 11:2 | Parable | 84530 | ||
I don't believe scripture supports imparting this motive to Bathsheba. Clearly, she was bathing after David's normal bedtime. Also, to see Bathsheba, David needed to be on the roof of his house. Then David sent for her, and she responded to his summons. Then David slept with her. This story is all about David and his choices. The scriptures hold David accountable for his actions, not that he was the victim of a setup. "2One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her." |
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183 | Does God ever change his mind? | 2 Kin 20:6 | Parable | 84287 | ||
Does God ever change his mind? | ||||||
184 | Does God ever change his mind? | 2 Kin 20:6 | Parable | 84410 | ||
Wow. This thread witnesses to the importance of the forum guidelines. Clearly, any question about biblical truth is meaningless if one holds that the bible is not true. It never ceases to amaze me how we can become blind to God's truth by clinging to our own understandings. | ||||||
185 | Does God ever change his mind? | 2 Kin 20:6 | Parable | 84515 | ||
I have trouble accepting your interpretation that scripture contradicts itself. I think rather that it is hard for us to understand God's nature in simple terms. As a result, in some places scripture imparts one description that is revealed in one circumstance and in other places scripture imparts another description that is revealed in other circumstances. This does not necessarily imply God changes, but rather what He reveals about Himself is taylored to meet our needs and his nature embodies more than we can understand in one way at one time. | ||||||
186 | Does God ever change his mind? | 2 Kin 20:6 | Parable | 84572 | ||
I respond: 1. This thread was restricted for the simple reason you failed to comply with the conditions set by the owner for the privilege of posting to this electronic resource. Of course, it is a judgement call on their part after someone reports abuse, but as owners, they have the right to exercise this kind of discretion. They also have the right to terminate subcriptions, which they have not done, to their credit. 2. There is no doubt I am a hypocrite. I continually fall short of living the ideals I aspire to live. As Paul says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." -- Romans 7:15 3. Regarding following blindly, I agree that from the outside, it appears this way. But again "so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Cor 4:18. Have you ever looked at one of those Magic Eye Posters that have a 3D image encoded in the pattern? To the untrained eye, it appears abstract and meaningless, but to those who know how to fix their eyes, the 3D image jumps right off the page. The first time I tried it, I saw nothing, but after encouragement from others, and faith there was something to see, I persevered. Then, after much effort, I was able to control my focus and suddenly the 3D image jumped right off the page. All it took was learning how to use my eyes in a different way. 4. Regarding our study, it is because truth is important that we strive to understand it accurately and sharing our insights is one way we "work out" (Php 2:12) our salvation, participating in God's work in us. 5. I believe your confusion may be a result of trying to derive faith with logic. The problem with that is logic depends on faith. That is, there is no logical reason to use logic; we do so because we believe it is the best way to make decisions. There are some truths that cannot be derived and if we cling to logic as our only means of understanding truth, there are many truths we will not be able to understand or accept. God's truth is like that. That doesn't mean God is not logical; indeed, as scientist, I see His perfect order in creation. But there are aspects of His nature that we cannot capture with our limited intellect, so we must use other aspects of our nature in order to relate to Him. We must employ that part of ourselves that leads us to trust logic, intuition, insight. That part of ourselves we experience when we are convicted by truth. 6. Regarding Satan, you seem to agree with scripture. But, Satan is not the author of Christianity. Jesus explained why this makes no sense when he said "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand." -- Mat 12:25 7. Regarding your church, there may be problems working behind the scenes, leading to an unhealthy situation. Perhaps you might visit other churches, talk to other pastors about your concerns. You may not be the only person who feels this way about your church. If so, it may be the problem is with them, and not so much with you. |
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187 | Does God ever change his mind? | 2 Kin 20:6 | Parable | 84622 | ||
I pray He answers you gently. Along those lines, perhaps you might find Quakerism more to your liking. The Society of Friends have jettisoned almost everything associated with Christianity, except a deep mystical relationship with God and a devoted service to mankind. Some scholars consider Quakerism a third form of Christianity, not catholic nor protestant, while others consider them to be heretics. Just a thought. Peace, Parable. |
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188 | Does God ever change his mind? | 2 Kin 20:6 | Parable | 84726 | ||
Christians don't have all the answers. Peace, Parable |
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189 | suffering is God's will? | Job | Parable | 98972 | ||
So, suffering is God's will for us? Wasn't it Satan that did all those nasty things to Job? In his book "God at War", Dr. Gregory Boyd discusses the book of Job. His conclusion is markedly different from the idea that bad things that happen are somehow part of God's divine blueprint. Rather, those things are in direct conflict with God's will, but they don't deter Job from having faith in God anyway. |
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190 | God is not the author of evil. | Job | Parable | 98979 | ||
"Nothing happens that God did not intend to happen" is a good summary of Augustine's theology, but not scripture. Did God intend for man to disobey and fall into sin? NO. He intended that man would enjoy harmonious fellowship with Him. Man freely chose to disobey, God did not make this choice for us. Does God intend for children to be kidnapped, raped and killed? Please say no. Stop ascribing to God what can only be explained as moral free agents acting in opposition to God's will. God is not the author of evil. Read Boyd's books "Satan and the Problem of Evil", "God at War" and "God of the Possible". |
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191 | God is not the author of evil. | Job | Parable | 99038 | ||
Coming from you Hank, this is indeed high praise. Thank you for your encouragement. Parable. |
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192 | God is not the author of evil. | Job | Parable | 99039 | ||
I concur. By His resurrection, Christ has won the war against darkness, death and evil. What remains to be worked out is the mopping-up operation, that is, for us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to identify remaining pockets of enemy activity and be victorious over them through faith, prayer and love. | ||||||
193 | God is not the author of evil. | Job | Parable | 99045 | ||
I think so. Nothing can prevent God's will from being realized in the fullness of time. Perhaps this is because while He has given us genuine freedom to choose or reject him, He has not given us unlimited or eternal power/authority with which to act. So, if we choose to rebel, we can expect to have only a limited impact on His creation and His divine plan. | ||||||
194 | God is not the author of evil. | Job | Parable | 99049 | ||
If we believe that everything that happens is God's will, then we cannot escape the conclusion that He is the author of evil and that we cannot influence anything through faith or prayer. On the other hand, if we accept that scripture teaches us that God has left some things up to us, and other free agents He created, then we are immediately faced with the responsibility for our thoughts, words and deeds, and that our faith and prayers can make a meaningful difference in the war against the enemy. If Satan, the enemy, is really just God's hired henchman, then God is ultimately responsible for all that Satan does. Scripture is clear that this is not the case. This is why we find so little comfort in the platitudes offered when something bad happens, that is, "it must be part of God's mysterious divine plan for us." That simply doesn't hold up against what scripture teaches about how Jesus responded to demons and Satan. |
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195 | God is not the author of evil. | Job | Parable | 99051 | ||
I acknowledge these verses describe God's supreme authority, but not that he micromanages every detail. There is a difference between saying that what God has ordained will come to pass and that everything that comes to pass has been ordained by God. From our experience, do we not feel that leaders who cannot delegate are insecure and ultimately less respected because they feel they must dictate every little thing? On the other hand, do we not respect those who empower others, don't we feel they are secure, strong and wise? |
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196 | God is not the author of evil. | Job | Parable | 99052 | ||
The greatest love is when we give our lives for the sake of others. Love is not an emotion, it is a command. Love is the greatest spiritual gift, without it, none of the others mean anything. Love is the fullfillment of the law. God is love. Love is doing for others what you would have them do for you. Sometimes loving others means accepting their indifference, rejection or hatred, allowing them to remain as they choose to be, however unjust, mistaken or tragic. The result is that nothing they think, say or do will hinder treating them as you would be treated by them. Love is a state of being, thinking and doing, not something we put on and take off like a garment. |
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197 | God is not the author of evil. | Job | Parable | 99055 | ||
In Romans 10:9, Paul said "...if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." This is what scripture says is the meaning of being Christian, not that we adopt Augustine's exhaustively defined blueprint theology in which God is the author of evil for purposes beyond human understanding. Read scripture for what it clearly says, not what others have said it means. Clearly, the bible teaches God is eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, transcendant and immanent. Scripture also teaches that it is the very real EXPERIENCE of Jesus' life, death, resurrection and ascension that give our faith its meaning. |
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198 | God is not the author of evil. | Job | Parable | 99060 | ||
The idea God does not micromanage is first and foremost scriptural. With my example, which was not intended as a foundation, I was just trying to show why God's truth makes sense, to clarify what I meant. If we examine Mat 10:29 in its context, Jesus concludes His discussion in verse 31 with "So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." His point is that we are worth more than the sparrows, not that sparrows die because God kills them. |
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199 | God is not the author of evil. | Job | Parable | 99066 | ||
Perhaps the difference in our understanding is this...I hold that God has the capacity to do whatever he wants, including giving us a world in which our decisions and freedom to act are genuine because "possibility" has real meaning. Of course, He is sovereign over these possibilities and they provide authentic opportunity for us to choose Him. These possibilities are governed by His sovereignty, so overall His plans will be fulfilled. If I understand you correctly, you seem to be saying that each and every flap of each and every wing on each and every sparrow is specifically and exhaustively determined by God's meticulous control. This necessarily implies that each and every demon or wicked person is just a puppet exhaustively controlled by God, which makes Him an accessory to evil. Scripture denies this. |
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200 | God is not the author of evil. | Job | Parable | 99069 | ||
It's not liberty that is our downfall, but rather the abuse of liberty. If we had no liberty, we could not respond to God's love with anything but a mindless programmed routine. Hardly the kind of a passion that God wants from us, right? The "higher" view of God's sovereignty that cannot be understood nor explained is no view at all. We are called to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." God's truth, as revealed by a comprehensive reading of scripture, is coherent, understandable and practical. You said not to wait around for an answer to your paradoxical conundrum. Instead, I believe Dr. Gregory Boyd has exposited scripture to yield a satisfactory answer. See "God at War" and "Satan and the Problem of Evil". In my opinion, Boyd is right that our thinking has been influenced too much by factors outside scripture. |
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