I hesitate to respond to this because it is late and I won't have time to come back here until at least Saturday. I will not respond to this article point by point for now but will offer a rather simplistic explanation as to what I see from the Bible.
I do not subscribe to free will doctrine firstly because Genesis 1:26-27 states that mankind was created in the image of God. How can an image not be a slave to its source? There is also what Paul wrote in Romans. (especially chapter 9) Many professing Christians seem to believe in free will because they want to in spite of what is clearly communicated in the Bible.
Adam (and Eve) were told not to eat of one tree or else they would die. When they (and us with them) believed in Satan who in essence said that we would do better by disobeying God than staying within his boundaries, mankind no longer reflected the image of God and became the slave of Satan. I believe this is the reason it seems like there is more pressure within us to do what we think will benefit ourselves than to do what we know is good and honorable. When we do this, we are in essence trying to suppress God lower than ourselves. We use words, which he gave to us to glorify him to bring him down. If we did not love ourselves more than we love the truth, would we lie? Does anyone lie to not get a perceived personal benefit?
If no one can fulfill our purpose which is to reflect God's image, we remain dead and await the final judgment. There is no choice; the only thing we earned is death. God is offering us life through the one person that truly reflected his image while on earth.
Posts by Chap
-
16Free will- Divine blackmail?
by nvrgnbk indivine blackmail .
free will in the theistic worldview.
when confronted with the problem of evil - i.e., why a loving god allows pain and suffering to exist - theists of the western traditions often invoke the "free will" defense, that god wanted us to be truly free and that such freedom necessitates evil; we must have the option to either choose him or reject him.
-
-
Chap
-
19
A Pivotal Question For Those Who Believe The Bible
by bjc2read ina pivotal question for those who believe the bible.
jehovah's witnesses and many other religions believe jesus is the "seed" of the "woman" spoken of in genesis 3:15. in addition, the jehovah's witnesses believe this "woman" pictures the heavenly organization (angels) that produced jesus.
given that premise, i pose this question:.
-
-
Chap
I think he meant it from the perspective of Adam. Obviously, from our perspective, Christ's resurrection was in the past.
-
5
DAMNABLE CHRISTIAN CULT HERESY OF FORSAKING FAMILY FOR THE LORD
by FormerMormon inmatthew 19 (kjv- sorry, i don't know what version jw's use).
29 and every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my names sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
i had to sit and listen to this blather on sunday.
-
-
Chap
Hi Gopher,
If I am not mistaken, the text that FormerMormon brought up is one of the accounts of the story of the rich young ruler. This man asked what he must do to get into heaven. Jesus said basically to keep all (his) commandments to which the man replied I have already done that. This seems to be a reply out of arrogance and instead of Jesus arguing with him, he gave the man a commandment that revealed to everyone who hears about this story the condition of his heart.
Jesus was portrayed in the Bible as being in agreement with God the Father. God being the highest authority can command whatever he wishes. I think had the rich young ruler shown humility by saying something to the affect of "how can I do that?" or "I failed many times, how can I do better?", Jesus would have brought him along as one of his sheep giving him commands he can handle until he progresses to becoming more like God.
Psalm 138:6 (KJV)
Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
Doesn't doing good at times in its purest form requiring forsaking everything else. For example, if a man is on a rural road, on the way to his church to get married and sees his enemy speed by him on a motorcycle then wipes out, doesn't good require him to stop and help out where he can and take him to a hospital or wait for an ambulance. If he does not forsake his bride to be and their families to help his enemy, he has forsaken God because God requires that we "love our enemies". -
5
DAMNABLE CHRISTIAN CULT HERESY OF FORSAKING FAMILY FOR THE LORD
by FormerMormon inmatthew 19 (kjv- sorry, i don't know what version jw's use).
29 and every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my names sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
i had to sit and listen to this blather on sunday.
-
-
Chap
Hi FormerMormon,
I disagree with your interpretation of the Matthew passage. Here is a passage written to Timothy and a quote by Jesus concerning divorce. I don't think these are in agreement with the passage and interpretation you quoted.
1 Tim. 5:7-8 (KJV)
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. [8] But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Matthew 5:32 (KJV)
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. -
62
God and Evolution
by BurnTheShips induring the second half of the nineteenth century, it became common to speak of a war between science and religion.
but over the course of the twentieth century, that hostility gradually subsided.
science should not try to become religion, nor should religion seek to take the place of science.
-
-
Chap
How do Theistic Evolutionists reconcile the God of the Bible with evolution? If the creation was good and mankind was made in the image of God, God must have thought that sickness, destruction, and death reflect his image. It seems that in this view, God is figuring out the blueprints of the universe left by Chance so he can steer evolution along. After all, if mankind didn't actually fall, God is doing the best he can. Maybe we should be praying for God to better understand the laws of the universe and how to raise us from the dead so we can have eternal life with everyone being in agreement with one another.
-
27
Top Ten Signs You're a Fundamentalist Christian
by Homerovah the Almighty intop ten signs you're a fundamentalist christian.
10 - you vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.. .
9 - you feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the biblical claim that we were created from dirt.. .
-
-
Chap
Here's a quote from the evilbible site:
" Bible Quote for January 18
Laws of Rape
"If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her." Deuteronomy 22:28-29"
I don't know what translation they used but here is the King James Translation:
Deut. 22:28-29 (KJV)
If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; [29] Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.
Here is the actual law of rape.
Deut. 22:25-27 (KJV)
But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: [26] But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: [27] For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her. -
23
Help? Bible question
by skyking ini was asked today to explain this verse, a man at lunch said i have been told you are knowledgeable of the bible.
he asked me to read ezekiel 20:25 which say's "wherefore i gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live".
he asked how could we know if what is in the bible is good.
-
-
Chap
I have heard that old testament Hebrew is a very hard language to translate because the exact (dialect?) is no longer spoken. Has anyone else either heard this or can offer any thoughts?
As for the text, if the people were so bad that God either gave them over to or gave them bad commands, would there be any difference? I don't think the passage is referring to people who were ready to repent so there would essentially be no difference what commands were given. They weren't going to comply. Just something else to throw into the mix. -
54
YOU are bound to be like God, KNOWING good and bad
by nicolaou inlet's assume for the moment that god decides what is good and what is bad.
does he 'a' choose what is good because it is obviously good or 'b' is it good simply because he says so?
if 'a' then what is good is independant of god and he has no choice but to accept it as good.. if 'b' then the definition of what is good is arbitrary - god could decide that child abuse was good and it would be because he said so.. clearly this is ridiculous because we all recognise child abuse to be a bad thing and that is why god would never label it as good.
-
-
Chap
"Let's assume for the moment that God decides what is good and what is bad.
Does He 'a' choose what is good because it is obviously good or 'b' is it good simply because He says so?
If 'a' then what is good is independant of God and He has no choice but to accept it as good.
If 'b' then the definition of what is good is arbitrary - God could decide that child abuse was good and it would be because He said so."
God as described in the Bible IS good so that negates both "a" and "b".
This would mean everything good originates from God and everything not originating from God is not good. If God is good and good is arbitrary (bad) how is God free to do anything?
Why do we recognize child abuse as a bad thing? If God is good and child abuse is bad, us stating so would only be agreeing with God. If we are created in the image of God and God decides that child abuse is good, we would agree with God if we are not corrupt. -
54
YOU are bound to be like God, KNOWING good and bad
by nicolaou inlet's assume for the moment that god decides what is good and what is bad.
does he 'a' choose what is good because it is obviously good or 'b' is it good simply because he says so?
if 'a' then what is good is independant of god and he has no choice but to accept it as good.. if 'b' then the definition of what is good is arbitrary - god could decide that child abuse was good and it would be because he said so.. clearly this is ridiculous because we all recognise child abuse to be a bad thing and that is why god would never label it as good.
-
-
Chap
Gopher wrote:
"How would we know if God is giving an order these days? How can we trust any human who says they understand what God's orders are, and so we should follow this supposed spiritual leader?"
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. [9] And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. [10] Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. [11] But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. [12] And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
As for Abraham: The Bible records that God first revealed himself to Abraham some 35 years before God gave the order to put Isaac on the alter as a sacrifice. It wasn't as if some stranger told him to do it. I think he was certain it was God otherwise he wouldn't have done it. -
54
YOU are bound to be like God, KNOWING good and bad
by nicolaou inlet's assume for the moment that god decides what is good and what is bad.
does he 'a' choose what is good because it is obviously good or 'b' is it good simply because he says so?
if 'a' then what is good is independant of god and he has no choice but to accept it as good.. if 'b' then the definition of what is good is arbitrary - god could decide that child abuse was good and it would be because he said so.. clearly this is ridiculous because we all recognise child abuse to be a bad thing and that is why god would never label it as good.
-
-
Chap
Genesis 1:26-27 (KJV)
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Luke 18:18-19 (KJV)
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? [19] And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.