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NASB | Mark 16:18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Mark 16:18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well." |
Subject: Lack of Indifference |
Bible Note: Zoe- sorry for the late reply; working two jobs. You asked: "does justification make it right?" Absolutely! By the very definition of the words. If it is just it is right; if it is right it is just. Can’t be one and not the other. As for answering how one can justify taking life in war I believe it might take significantly more space than we have here to answer that fully (considering all of the various scenarios you might respond with- so let’s not go there). Were Hitler and the Nazis just in taking lives in war? Answer- no. How do we know? We hold their actions and motivations up in comparison with God’s law and moral standard. Were the American and allied forces just in taking the lives of the Nazis in war? Answer- yes. How do we know? We hold their actions and motivations up in comparison with God’s law and moral standard. Job 19:29 NASB95“Then be afraid of the sword for yourselves, For wrath brings the punishment of the sword, So that you may know there is judgment.” I won’t attempt to address every statement you made in detail but allow me to simply say that it is a better exegesis to present that Jesus forgives and saves those He loves and not necessarily the other way around. We might rightly argue that Saul of Tarsus absolutely hated Jesus (or at least what He claimed and stood for) right up until the time the Lord saved him. Furthermore, I might argue that the lesson in John 8:7 seems to be speaking more to self-examination, repentance, and unrighteous judgment than forgiveness (though forgiveness is an unmistakable theme here). I very much disagree with your analogies of Heaven. It is neither like a driver’s license nor spandex (though the pun is appreciated). Nor is it a “right” as we do agree on. Most importantly- there is no hope that we might ever “make ourselves ready for it”. Salvation is a gift from God to those of us He chooses to bless with it independent of any “getting ready” we might attempt. Finally you ask: “Do you think Christians have the right to judge? even if that "certain law" has been broken, or not?” I see that brother Brad has already responded to that and offered sufficient Scriptural support so let me simply say this. I am convinced by Scripture that it’s not so much a matter of “right” as it is a matter of responsibility. We are required to do it. Before we ever attempt to apply reason to God’s word; we must first know what God’s word says on a topic. It never works the other way around. Much of your position is easily recognized by one who also grew up believing many of the well intended (I believe) but unscriptural sayings and teachings that has and continues to plague our churches. A good rule of thumb is to never attempt to apply your doctrine to the Scriptures. Rather, always allow the Scriptures to establish what it is you believe. For what it’s worth friend- I haven’t disagreed with a single point here that I haven’t at one point in time agreed with. Furthermore, I am not at a place (and don’t believe I ever will be) where the Scriptures do not continue to correct my thinking and refine my beliefs. God bless, Jeff |