tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post3709121453999144214..comments2023-10-25T14:20:11.408-05:00Comments on RHOBLOGY: Intervention-2Rhologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14245825667079220242noreply@blogger.comBlogger191125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-58464288638129044422010-11-23T11:01:23.028-06:002010-11-23T11:01:23.028-06:00Fair enough. Not worth pursuing. Thanks for answer...Fair enough. Not worth pursuing. Thanks for answering.Paul Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-54292742181509987762010-11-23T06:41:57.904-06:002010-11-23T06:41:57.904-06:00This is pure gold. What exactly are the "qual...<i>This is pure gold. What exactly are the "qualitative differences" between Christian martyrs and martyrs from other religions that makes all those others not martyrs? See if you can give an answer without making up a new definition for the word "martyr". I bet you can't do it.</i><br /><br />The differences were explained in the context of my comment.<br /><br />My use of the word martyr was in line with the primary dictionary definition which is a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion.<br /><br />In Him,<br />CDCoram Deohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03504564435400500996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-28076734076856523642010-11-22T11:31:35.450-06:002010-11-22T11:31:35.450-06:00Reading that last comment back, it's far more ...Reading that last comment back, it's far more offensive than I intended. I apologise. I intended it to be an encouragement for you to actively engage in discussion rather than take your usual apologetics-by-the-numbers approach.Paul Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-64977383378572306822010-11-22T11:08:37.304-06:002010-11-22T11:08:37.304-06:00It surely hasn't escaped your notice that the ...It surely hasn't escaped your notice that the discussions on your blog are more intelligent, interesting and constructive when you're not actively taking part?Paul Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-26558736871913177172010-11-22T11:05:39.030-06:002010-11-22T11:05:39.030-06:00Right, attention. On my own blog. Gotcha. I'...Right, attention. On my own blog. Gotcha. I'll work on that.Rhologyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14245825667079220242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-61765165861901075042010-11-22T11:00:45.479-06:002010-11-22T11:00:45.479-06:00That the martyrs for Christ died for the True God,...<i>That the martyrs for Christ died for the True God, and the other martyrs for lies from Satan.</i><br /><br />Go back and read the actual comments made by Brabble and Coram, Rhology. That way you might contribute something that actually adds to the discussion, rather than just trying to get some attention.Paul Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-70858615049419087872010-11-22T10:44:04.632-06:002010-11-22T10:44:04.632-06:00That the martyrs for Christ died for the True God,...That the martyrs for Christ died for the True God, and the other martyrs for lies from Satan.Rhologyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14245825667079220242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-10972526878568608472010-11-22T10:42:45.918-06:002010-11-22T10:42:45.918-06:00So says you, but you fail to distinguish the quali...<i>So says you, but you fail to distinguish the qualitative differences between Christian martyrs, and the so-called martyrs of the false world religions.</i><br /><br />This is pure gold. What exactly are the "qualitative differences" between Christian martyrs and martyrs from other religions that makes all those others not martyrs? See if you can give an answer without making up a new definition for the word "martyr". I bet you can't do it.Paul Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-49020802762817242982010-11-21T22:36:59.459-06:002010-11-21T22:36:59.459-06:00I deny that being born imperfect is the same thing...<i>I deny that being born imperfect is the same thing as being in unremitting rebellion and shaking my puny fist in God's face. BTW, why do you guys ALWAYS mention the "puny fist" thing? By citing puniness, you're revealing your "might makes right" paradigm: "You'd better do what he says, because he's a lot bigger and stronger than you. You're puny."</i><br /><br />Yes, the truth stings I know; but you and I are finite creatures and the One true and living God is the infinite Creator and judge of the universe, and therefore He is free to dispose of all His creatures precisely as He sees fit.<br /><br />This is why it's unwise, even suicidally insane, to shake one's puny fist in His face. Even blasphemy is permitted by His infinite patience for awhile, but the bills will come due someday, and then you'll realize that you've written many, many, many spiritual IOU's presuming on God's grace that you can't pay Him back for, but it will be too late.<br /><br /><i>Ah, love the reasoning here. You believe the Bible is God's word because it's God's word. Can't argue against that.</i><br /><br />Actually it seems that you missed my reasoning altogether. God's Word would be God's Word even if no one believed it. My belief, or lack thereof, doesn't make it one iota more or less true. It's true by its very nature, not by human consent.<br /><br />Christians are mercifully allowed to recognize God's truth by the illumination of His Holy Spirit, however, which is an amazing, undeserved, and gracious gift.<br /><br /><i>So have the founders and early followers of other faiths.</i><br /><br />So says you, but you fail to distinguish the qualitative differences between Christian martyrs, and the so-called martyrs of the false world religions.<br /><br />For example, what were the "martyrs" doing that earned their martyrdom? <br /><br />What caused him or her to be a target?<br /><br />What were the actual reasons for martyrdom?<br /><br />If we're talking about Muslim "martyrs" you must know they're actively seeking their own death, and the deaths of their enemies, in hopes of attaining heaven since their false religion offers absolutely zero assurance of redemption. <br /><br />If the "martyrs" are Hindu or Buddhist, we know that many of these false religionists are actively engaged in violent and/or revolutionary activities against human governments and/or other religions, therefore they are not truly martyrs, but are revolutionaries killed in armed struggle. <br /><br />It's also possible that Buddhists and Hindus may be killed during such struggles directly and indirectly as "innocent by-standers", which is true also of hapless Muslims.<br /><br />These deaths are not martyrdom, but rather are casualties of war, or possibly genocide due to political/governmental/tribal factors, not because they won't relinquish their faith. <br /><br />Clearly "religious" people kill other "religious" people, but these killings are primarily nationalistic and territorial in flavor, not martyrdom in the true sense. <br /><br />Apart from Islamists who are highly lethal to both Muslims and non-Muslims alike, the killing of non-Christians solely because of their deeply held religious beliefs, and their steadfast refusal to convert to another religion or die, is rare to the point of being almost non-existant.<br /><br /><i>Anyway, I think our discussion has run its course. Feel free to have the last word. I've got more important things to do right now, like ironing my underwear. See ya!</i><br /><br />It's too bad that you care so little for your own soul.<br /><br />In Him,<br />CDCoram Deohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03504564435400500996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-32253127580154196962010-11-21T20:25:20.587-06:002010-11-21T20:25:20.587-06:00So, I go away for the weekend, I come back, and .....So, I go away for the weekend, I come back, and ... still no answers to my questions. So it goes.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03798437859699719795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-91652803763914939922010-11-21T17:29:02.680-06:002010-11-21T17:29:02.680-06:00In either case it's compassionate of God to of...<i>In either case it's compassionate of God to offer warnings and grace to any of His sinful, wretched, hateful, undeserving creatures who shake their puny fists in His face, while breathing His air, eating His food, and squandering the life He gives them in one continuous act of rebellion.</i><br /><br />I deny that being born imperfect is the same thing as being in unremitting rebellion and shaking my puny fist in God's face. BTW, why do you guys ALWAYS mention the "puny fist" thing? By citing puniness, you're revealing your "might makes right" paradigm: "You'd better do what he says, because he's a lot bigger and stronger than you. You're puny."<br /><br /><i>God's Word is the ultimate authority whether anyone believes it or not.</i><br /><br />Ah, love the reasoning here. You believe the Bible is God's word because it's God's word. Can't argue against that. <br /> <br /><i>"...all the disciples except one were murdered for teaching and preaching God's Word, the church has for centuries been subject to persecution and martyrdom because of the offense of the cross, and Christ Himself was murdered for bearing testimony of the One true and living God."</i><br /><br />So have the founders and early followers of other faiths.<br /><br /><i>"The reason you don't believe is because deep down you hate God, and you love your sin."</i><br /> <br />Do have any idea how silly that sounds? No ... you don't.<br /><br /><i>Your problem isn't intellectual, it's moral.</i><br /><br />Well, you got me there. I admit, I like to play the horses with my mom's retirement money. But is that SO bad?<br /><br />Anyway, I think our discussion has run its course. Feel free to have the last word. I've got more important things to do right now, like ironing my underwear. See ya!Brabble Frabbitznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-44510779537495706832010-11-21T16:50:20.350-06:002010-11-21T16:50:20.350-06:00This canard that you, Steve and Alan trot out cons...<i>This canard that you, Steve and Alan trot out constantly is so tiresome. First of all, just for the record, I'm not an atheist (not that I expected you to know that). Second, it makes no sense to affirm that only those following an ancient collection of writings by desert nomads have any legitimate sense of morality. Horsecrap! If that were true, we'd have nonchristian nations like Japan steeped in rampant murder, mayhem and sex orgies in the streets ... and that is NOT the case. People work out morality, whether or not they can prove technically it's absolute, objective and valid in any time or corner of the universe.</i><br /><br />It should give you pause that the moral anarchy you've mentioned isn't happening to the level described in your imaginary dystopia.<br /><br />Since God created men in His image, all men are His image bearers. That image has been horribly disfigured and corrupted by man's plunge into sin, but there it is nonetheless.<br /><br />It's only by God's common grace, and the residue of His image in men that restrains them from being as evil as they possibly can be.<br /><br />God's law is written on men's hearts, which is why everyone knows he or she abides under the wrath of God.<br /><br />All are lawbreakers with a conscience constantly wagging its accusing finger in their face crying guilty! Guilty!! GUILTY!!!<br /><br />You have an accusing conscience within you, an angry, wrathful Creator God above you, and a yawning hell beneath you; and in your quiet moments when you're all alone with your thoughts you inescapably, unavoidably know it.<br /><br />You must be born again.<br /><br />Repent.<br /><br />In Christ,<br />CDCoram Deohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03504564435400500996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-51135742546767361972010-11-21T16:25:43.595-06:002010-11-21T16:25:43.595-06:00By your own admission, it doesn't do any good ...<i>By your own admission, it doesn't do any good to warn people of hell, because they're dead in sins and won't listen. So how are such warnings a display of mercy, grace or compassion. And what kind of "compassion" watches someone fry forever in a lake of fire??</i><br /><br />Hell is one truth among many. God may use the truth of hell to cause some to flee the judgment to come by flying to the cross of Christ for remission of sins.<br /><br />In another case God may use the amazing truth of the Eternal Son stepping from His throne of glory and taking on flesh, to live a life of humble servitude, and to die an agonizing and shameful death on a cruel Roman cross for His enemies to draw men to Christ.<br /><br />In either case it's compassionate of God to offer warnings and grace to any of His sinful, wretched, hateful, undeserving creatures who shake their puny fists in His face, while breathing His air, eating His food, and squandering the life He gives them in one continuous act of rebellion.<br /><br />But some will listen, because He has mercifully, graciously, and compassionately purposed to save some from the judgment to come.<br /><br />God wasn't (and isn't) obliged to save <b>anyone</b> - because <b>everyone</b> deserves to <i>"fry forever in a lake of fire"</i> - and the truly amazing part is that they will choose to go there because they stubbornly refuse His free offer of mercy, just like you.<br /><br /><i>You pretend it's obvious that the Bible is God's ultimate, authoritative word. But it's only obvious to people who willfully decide to believe it wholesale, ipso facto, regardless of whether it lives up to that belief.</i><br /><br />God's Word is the ultimate authority whether anyone believes it or not. God's Word doesn't become authoritative because people believe it, it is authoritative in and of itself.<br /><br />Obviously if we were to appeal to something else to validate God's Word then that something else would be the ultimate authority. <br /><br />Ultimate authorities are funny like that.<br /><br /><i>If it were plainly and unmistakably the Word of God, then I *would* be a rebel for not accepting all of it. But that's not the case. For example, it's not obvious to the average, rational person that a story about a talking donkey or a woman becoming a pillar of salt must be true -- quite the contrary. And most people nowadays don't find it obvious that a woman should have her hand cut off (even in and Old Covenant setting) for grabbing a guy's nuts during a fight. THIS is what you contend for, and frankly, it makes you look a bit like a dunce.</i><br /><br />Mmmm hmmm...it was far more likely for the backwater rubes of ancient times to believe God's Word than for sophisticated modernists...oh wait a minute; all the disciples except one were murdered for teaching and preaching God's Word, the church has for centuries been subject to persecution and martyrdom because of the offense of the cross, and Christ Himself was murdered for bearing testimony of the One true and living God.<br /><br />Maybe there's something else going on with the irrational hatred of the One true and living God, His Word, and His people? <br /><br />The reason you don't believe is because deep down you hate God, and you love your sin.<br /><br />Your problem isn't intellectual, it's moral.<br /><br />You know it, and I know it.<br /><br />In Christ,<br />CDCoram Deohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03504564435400500996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-87575684408350968072010-11-21T14:48:52.643-06:002010-11-21T14:48:52.643-06:00"Mercy. Grace. Compassion. All undeserved, by...<i>"Mercy. Grace. Compassion. All undeserved, by the way."</i><br /><br />By your own admission, it doesn't do any good to warn people of hell, because they're dead in sins and won't listen. So how are such warnings a display of mercy, grace or compassion. And what kind of "compassion" watches someone fry forever in a lake of fire??<br /> <br /><i>"As a dead-in-sins rebel you would think that dismissing the parts of God's Word that you find offensive, and picking out the parts that you think - for some indefinable reason - have 'moral value' (whatever that's supposed to mean) is a 'good thing'. But you are spiritually deluded being a slave to sin:"</i><br /> <br />You pretend it's obvious that the Bible is God's ultimate, authoritative word. But it's only obvious to people who willfully decide to believe it wholesale, ipso facto, regardless of whether it lives up to that belief. <br /> <br />If it were plainly and unmistakably the Word of God, then I *would* be a rebel for not accepting all of it. But that's not the case. For example, it's not obvious to the average, rational person that a story about a talking donkey or a woman becoming a pillar of salt must be true -- quite the contrary. And most people nowadays don't find it obvious that a woman should have her hand cut off (even in and Old Covenant setting) for grabbing a guy's nuts during a fight. THIS is what you contend for, and frankly, it makes you look a bit like a dunce. <br /><br />"...'moral value' (whatever that's supposed to mean)"<br /><br />This canard that you, Steve and Alan trot out constantly is so tiresome. First of all, just for the record, I'm not an atheist (not that I expected you to know that). Second, it makes no sense to affirm that only those following an ancient collection of writings by desert nomads have any legitimate sense of morality. Horsecrap! If that were true, we'd have nonchristian nations like Japan steeped in rampant murder, mayhem and sex orgies in the streets ... and that is NOT the case. People work out morality, whether or not they can prove technically it's absolute, objective and valid in any time or corner of the universe.Brabble Frabbitznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-76318263753972165552010-11-21T13:45:50.894-06:002010-11-21T13:45:50.894-06:00Brabble Fratz asked:
So why EVER warn ANYONE about...Brabble Fratz asked:<br /><i>So why EVER warn ANYONE about hell?? What's the point?</i><br /><br />Mercy. Grace. Compassion. All undeserved, by the way.<br /><br />And said:<br /><i>I take the Bible at face value. Some of it IS stupid by modern standards, exactly what we'd expect from ancient, Middle Eastern nomads. Some of it, on the other hand, is profound and morally lofty. <br /><br />That approach is called "intellectual honesty." I consider it a good thing.</i><br /><br />As a dead-in-sins rebel you would think that dismissing the parts of God's Word that you find offensive, and picking out the parts that you think - for some indefinable reason - have "moral value" (whatever <i>that's</i> supposed to mean) is a "good thing". But you are spiritually deluded being a slave to sin:<br /><br /><b>9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.</b> - 2 Thess. 2:9-12<br /><br />But God doesn't think what you are doing is a "good thing", and He will righteously and inflexibly judge you on the last day for your high treason, and consign you to eternal punishments lest you repent and turn to Christ as your Lord and Savior.<br /><br /><b>How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?</b> - Hebrews 10<br />:29<br /><br /><b>For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”</b> - Romans 10:13<br /><br />In Christ,<br />CDCoram Deohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03504564435400500996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-31845496122649280042010-11-21T09:58:53.316-06:002010-11-21T09:58:53.316-06:00As was also pointed out earlier in this thread, wh...<i>As was also pointed out earlier in this thread, when Jesus told the rich young ruler to "follow" him, he meant that literally, not figuratively. To accompany Jesus the way the Twelve were called upon to be with him day in and day out.</i><br /><br />I assumed that Jesus was talking literally, and we know what that meant, since Peter exclaims “We have left everything to follow you!” Jesus was asking the young man to literally give up everything – including wealth – if he wanted to be perfect.<br /><br />Jesus gave the young man three separate instructions: to follow the commandments, to give up his wealth, and to physically follow Jesus. Obviously nobody living today can obey the last instruction, but the first two instructions are entirely possible.<br /><br />I assume that you follow the first instruction – why then do you not follow the second instruction?<br /><br /><i>And even if he were, that's irrelevant to the context of the original passage, where several variables are in play–such as the young man's self-deceptive sense of rectitude.</i><br /><br />You have literally no evidence that the young man suffered from “a self-deceptive sense of rectitude”, and there are no other variables in play. You're right about context, of course – and the context couldn't be clearer. Here's Jesus on wealth:<br /><br />"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth”; “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”; “But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation”; “whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”<br /><br /><i>There's nothing in the passage to indicate that the rich man was rich by 1C "global" standards. Even by 1C standards, there were undoubtedly far wealthier individuals. He was simply "rich" in relation to the average Palestinian Jew. He represents the upper echelon of 1C Palestinian Judaism. By contrast, Alan does not represent the upper echelon of 21C America. Indeed, he's not even rich by Oklahoma standards.</i><br /><br />And so the argument falls apart under its own weight, point on top of incoherent point. The rich man wasn't that rich even by C1 global standards! Jesus was only instructing the “upper echelon” to give up their wealth! Rhology isn't even that rich, compared to that family down the street!<br /><br />No doubt had you been present at the time, you would have gone to the young man and said “don't worry – you're not rich compared to Carlus Slimmus, so you don't have to give it all up.” You'll do anything to avoid facing the simple truth, pharisee; that you love your wealth just a little too much.Paul Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-38689816262717173762010-11-21T09:57:41.264-06:002010-11-21T09:57:41.264-06:00As was also pointed out earlier in this thread, wh...<i>As was also pointed out earlier in this thread, when Jesus told the rich young ruler to "follow" him, he meant that literally, not figuratively. To accompany Jesus the way the Twelve were called upon to be with him day in and day out.</i><br /><br />Yes, I assumed that Jesus was talking literally, and we know exactly what that meant, since Peter exclaims “We have left everything to follow you!” So Jesus was asking the young man to literally give up everything – all his wealth – if he wanted to be perfect.<br /><br />We've established that Jesus gave the young man three separate instructions: to follow the commandments, to give up his wealth, and to physically follow Jesus. Obviously nobody living today can obey the last instruction, but the first two instructions are entirely possible.<br /><br />I assume that you follow the first instruction, to obey the commandments. Why then do you not follow the second instruction?<br /><br /><i>And even if he were, that's irrelevant to the context of the original passage, where several variables are in play–such as the young man's self-deceptive sense of rectitude.</i><br /><br />You have literally no evidence that the young man suffered from “a self-deceptive sense of rectitude”, and there are no other variables in play. You're right about context, of course – and the context couldn't be clearer. Here's Jesus on wealth:<br /><br />"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth”; “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”; “But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation”; “whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”<br /><br /><i>There's nothing in the passage to indicate that the rich man was rich by 1C "global" standards. Even by 1C standards, there were undoubtedly far wealthier individuals. He was simply "rich" in relation to the average Palestinian Jew. He represents the upper echelon of 1C Palestinian Judaism. By contrast, Alan does not represent the upper echelon of 21C America. Indeed, he's not even rich by Oklahoma standards.</i><br /><br />And so the argument falls apart under its own weight, point on top of incoherent point. The rich man wasn't that rich even by C1 global standards! Jesus was only instructing the “upper echelon” to give up their wealth! Rhology isn't even that rich, compared to that family down the street!<br /><br />No doubt had you been present at the time, you would have gone to the young man and said “don't worry – you're not rich compared to Carlus Slimmus, so you don't have to give it all up.” You'll do anything to avoid facing the simple truth, pharisee; that you love your wealth just a little too much.Paul Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-56288093483076123182010-11-21T08:46:26.476-06:002010-11-21T08:46:26.476-06:00"...asked God's forgiveness and not ended..."...asked God's forgiveness and not ended up in hell forever - similar to your response to hell - oh wait a minute..."<br /><br />So why EVER warn ANYONE about hell?? What's the point?<br /> <br />"Sticking with the thesis 'The Bible is stupid and I don't believe it' I see."<br /> <br />I take the Bible at face value. Some of it IS stupid by modern standards, exactly what we'd expect from ancient, Middle Eastern nomads. Some of it, on the other hand, is profound and morally lofty. <br /> <br />That approach is called "intellectual honesty." I consider it a good thing.Brabble Frabbitznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-36713718749507982992010-11-21T08:22:04.202-06:002010-11-21T08:22:04.202-06:00Brabble Fratz said: OK, Coram, so you're fine ...Brabble Fratz said: <i>OK, Coram, so you're fine with people having no warning whatsoever about hell -- during a period of ample revelation -- but knowing plenty about chickweed and crabgrass. We've got that much straight.</i><br /><br />Because if they'd had the sort of ample warnings about hell that, for example, you've had; they would have repented of their sins and asked God's forgiveness and not ended up in hell forever - similar to your response to hell - oh wait a minute...<br /><br /><i>And no, I'm not complaining about the way God reveals things. On the contrary, it seems clear that the doctrine of hell was a later theological development, possibly the result of contact with Persia.</i><br /><br />Sticking with the thesis <i>"The Bible is stupid and I don't believe it"</i> I see.<br /><br />Okay.<br /><br />Well, off to church!<br /><br />In Him,<br />CDCoram Deohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03504564435400500996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-83940653381062108822010-11-21T00:39:19.273-06:002010-11-21T00:39:19.273-06:00OK, Coram, so you're fine with people having n...OK, Coram, so you're fine with people having no warning whatsoever about hell -- during a period of ample revelation -- but knowing plenty about chickweed and crabgrass. We've got that much straight.<br /> <br />And no, I'm not complaining about the way God reveals things. On the contrary, it seems clear that the doctrine of hell was a later theological development, possibly the result of contact with Persia. <br /> <br />If that's mind-boggling blindness, I'd say your mind is too easily boggled.Brabble Frabbitznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-30910926757597294642010-11-21T00:20:57.368-06:002010-11-21T00:20:57.368-06:00I also posed a question in light of your many ster...<i>I also posed a question in light of your many stern hellfire warnings. Why did God announce to Adam and Eve that weeds and painful childbirth would be consequences of their sin ... but never utter a syllable about hell? You snorted something about "progressive revelation." But that doesn't get you off the hook in the slightest. You still have numberless throngs -- people with no inkling of post mortem hellfire -- going down to perdition century after century after century. And yet, God takes the time to articulate the coming of weeds into the soil instead of warning them about hell.</i><br /><br />Why are you complaining to me about how God decided to reveal His truth? <br /><br /><i>When I call you on this profound difficulty, you simply tell me the problem is my spiritual blindness.</i><br /><br />LOL! <br /><br />God reveals the truth about hell, and many other things, in His Word, as He sees fit, but you point to Adam and Eve and claim that because didn't reveal things in the way you'd like that it's a <b>"profound difficulty"</b>?!?<br /><br />Bwah ha ha ha ha ha!!! <br /><br />That's rich! And extremely silly.<br /><br /><i>Really, Coram, I think "I don't know" is a much more acceptable answer than *that.*</i><br /><br />I've never claimed to know why God chose to reveal His truth in the Bible as He did.<br /><br />I hope you don't fault your favorite human authors and/or filmmakers for not giving away the end of the book during the introduction; or for generally not adjusting their work to satisfy your personal preferences.<br /><br />Can't you see your own hubris in this thinking? Your blindness is truly mind-boggling.<br /><br />In Christ,<br />CDCoram Deohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03504564435400500996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-75557467047924868762010-11-21T00:12:34.550-06:002010-11-21T00:12:34.550-06:00Coram, of course we agree that Islam is a false re...Coram, of course we agree that Islam is a false religion. It's an ugly one, too. My point was that you make assertions without proof just as Muslims do. And when I asked why your assertions should be assumed true, your answer was, "Because my faith is true and theirs is false." I think you can appreciate the weakness of that answer.<br /> <br />I also posed a question in light of your many stern hellfire warnings. Why did God announce to Adam and Eve that weeds and painful childbirth would be consequences of their sin ... but never utter a syllable about hell? You snorted something about "progressive revelation." But that doesn't get you off the hook in the slightest. You still have numberless throngs -- people with no inkling of post mortem hellfire -- going down to perdition century after century after century. And yet, God takes the time to articulate the coming of weeds into the soil instead of warning them about hell. <br /> <br />When I call you on this profound difficulty, you simply tell me the problem is my spiritual blindness. <br /> <br />Really, Coram, I think "I don't know" is a much more acceptable answer than *that.*Brabble Frabbitznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-67044797329364803962010-11-20T23:36:19.329-06:002010-11-20T23:36:19.329-06:00Brabble Fratz said:
Maybe that's true, but sim...Brabble Fratz said:<br /><i>Maybe that's true, but simply asserting it doesn't make it so.</i><br /><br />So you're allowing for the possibility that Islam is the one true faith? If so that's definitely interesting...surprising but interesting.<br /><br />I thought we would at least agree that Islam is a false religion. So much for that assumption.<br /><br />And again:<br /><i>Yes. And you think that invoking "progressive revelation" dispenses with the difficulty? God tells Adam and Eve that weeds are consequence of their sin. But he waits thousands of years -- during which time countless multitudes descend into hell -- before mentioning anything at all about endless torments after death. Again, we have clear warnings of dandelions and crabgrass, no warnings of hell. Does that *really* make any sense? <br /><br />Simply playing the religious blowhard and consigning us to the pit isn't the same thing as presenting a compelling case for your point of view.</i><br /><br />I don't expect the truth of the Bible to make any sense to you because, as I've repeatedly pointed out, you are spiritually dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; which fact you have repeatedly confirmed.<br /><br />Insulting me may satisfy you, but it really does nothing to further your argument either, which is essentially, "The Bible is stupid and I don't believe it."<br /><br />As I've also pointed out, I don't expect you to believe my words when you won't believe the Word of God.<br /><br />You love your sin, and you love spiritual darkness, therefore you hate the light, thus you abide under the wrath and condemnation of the One true and living God.<br /><br /><b>18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”</b> - John 3:18-21<br /><br /><b>Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.</b> - John 3:36<br /><br />You make yourself an enemy of your Creator, and He will justly destroy you forever lest you turn from your sin and rebellion against Him, and flee to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.<br /><br /><b>Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.</b> - Matt. 11:28<br /><br />Lay down your sin, and take up your cross.<br /><br />In Christ,<br />CDCoram Deohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03504564435400500996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-70865399593637428152010-11-20T21:46:27.166-06:002010-11-20T21:46:27.166-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Coram Deohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03504564435400500996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13358611.post-54518483336815047572010-11-20T21:39:57.778-06:002010-11-20T21:39:57.778-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Coram Deohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03504564435400500996noreply@blogger.com