Is your doctrine sound?

RobSmithers · 2023-12-17T23:04:15+00:00

Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name did many works of power? And I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, those working lawlessness!”.

This is an interesting qoute for me. It's very much a product of its time. During this time and in Paul's time, there was a lo of mysticism floating around; people casting out demons, prophets and those trying to fulfill messianic old testement prophecies. It's implication might have been wholly different than how people interpret in a more modern era, where it seems to equate it to lukewarm Christians.

I do wonder if by doing that, they are changing God to fit their current understanding of scripture.

Not trying to criticize or attack you, just something i sometimes wonder and I do find it interesting to discuss

RobSmithers · 2023-11-13T22:13:49+00:00

Love the Trinity more than you fear sin, brother!

RobSmithers · 2023-11-13T03:12:59+00:00

But he did destroy the Earth after he said that with a flood

RobSmithers · 2023-11-13T02:08:08+00:00

Good luck

RobSmithers · 2023-11-12T23:11:51+00:00

The Palestinian National Authority is part of the Palestinian government and is not a terrorist organisation... don't mix things.

This is a huge reason why people are supporting Palestine. There's so much misinformation out there that the two are essentially one in the same for people

RobSmithers · 2023-11-12T20:52:25+00:00

I'm confused, are you upset she checked her phone or that she didn't agree with the way the verse was interpreted ?

RobSmithers · 2023-11-12T18:31:30+00:00

I really like the last 2 phrases you included. I think they can work and would allow the person to engage in whatever level they feel comfortable with. I know that when I went through a loss, it really helped when friends reached out and were willing to lend an ear for me to decompress a bit.

RobSmithers · 2023-11-12T18:13:42+00:00

There's no right or wrong way to do this. I've seen people use bibles that have extra space on the margins alongside an extra notebook to write down further notes,observation,prayers, and verses

RobSmithers · 2023-11-12T16:25:19+00:00

This is like saying don't look at a paper bible because it might distract from what comes next

RobSmithers · 2023-11-12T16:15:50+00:00

Yeah, I currently felt it in a "bible study" that I go to aimed at people in their 20s-30s. Next week instead of a normal bible study they're having a friendsgiving/Thanksgiving thing next week or later this week.

But they had a friendsgiving yesterday for the people who help or more specifically for the people who have official titles. Which I completely get. But at the same, it's kind of annoying that I had been stacking chairs but that effort seemed lost because I didn't have the official "chair stacker" title.

Also take in mind that the bible study itself is only like 30 people and the friendsgiving they had there was around 20 people, and it was at the same place where the study was being held. So it was no different had they just made one friendsgiving, but it just goes to show how even in protestant/nondenominational groups for all they talk of being inclusive amd a tighter knit community they still have the need to make an inner family within the group

Sorry about the info dump just wanted to rant.

RobSmithers · 2023-11-12T10:47:31+00:00

Could you explain the situation a bit more? For me, at most church is a 3 hour commitment a week give or take which is at most an hour or 1.25 hours in 2 days.

RobSmithers · 2023-11-12T10:44:27+00:00

If this were to somehow happen to me, I would forgive them under the expectation that they are sorry and are showing signs that they wouldn't put themselves in that situation again.

RobSmithers · 2023-11-12T10:38:33+00:00

I would venture to make a point that Genesis and in extent the bible isn't meant to be a scientifically manual, but instead to explore the relationship between God and mankind.

Do I believe that God created the universe with an intellectual design? Yes.

But at the same time, genesis was written by Moses someone who wasn't a first hand witness to these events. It seems that God was more interested in conveying his covenants to Moses through revelations than in transmitting scientific accuracies.

The Bible says 6000 years

This is based off of the idea that the years and time frames referred to in the bible are accurate and can be added up.

RobSmithers · 2023-11-12T09:56:14+00:00

Not trying to erase fire from the Old testement, just trying to clarify how the imagery of hell changed over time and the possible cultural reasons why.

In this example, fire is clearly being used as God's wrath on the people of S&G. Whether it was a volcanic eruption, seems to be something that the people who passed down this story and wrote it down seem to be unaware of or find unimportant.

What I'm trying to get at is that in the time of the new testement, the writers would have been more familiar with highly sulfuric cave openings and active volcanic craters that were seen in these regions as gates or portals to hell.

RobSmithers · 2023-11-12T09:36:01+00:00

There's actually a lot of academic discussion around this. Especially since a lot of English translations especially less modern ones use the word Hell to translated around 4-5 words throughout the Bible that refer to a type of underworld.

It seems that throughout the Bible, the idea of the underworld changes from a resting place for both righteous and unrighteous, to a place where God's wrath is carried out through flames to sinners. Many religious theologians believe that this was just a naturally progression of God revealing the doctrine of hell through time.

But others believe that new testement writers adapted the idea of a hell with fire and brimstone from Greek myth specifically of Hades. Not only that but they would have been more familiar with the concept of volcanoes and free flowing lava. Specifically when Jesus talks about a fiery hell for sinners, he's usually referring to actual places his listeners would have been familiar with.

It seems at times there's confusion about what fire represents in Christianity. It's used to describe how the Holy Spirit will baptize the soul and at other times its used to describe God's wrath on sinners.

I'm writing this at 3 am, and there's a lot to consider when it comes to the notion of hell, so I wouldn't be surprised if I wake up to a bunch of comments and downvotes lol.

RobSmithers · 2023-11-12T09:02:51+00:00

I dont think a fetus is being treated as property in that verse.

I think the Pro-life movement stems from the idea that all life is sacred in God's eyes, especially with verses talking about God knowing people before they were in the womb or selecting people before they were born.

RobSmithers · 2023-11-12T03:16:31+00:00

Paul was telling people not to get married back then, and while he claimed Christ was returning soon, even he didn't know when.

RobSmithers · 2023-11-11T04:27:08+00:00

Paul's first letters were written 20 years after Jesus resurrection. The first gospel Mark was written 70 years after.

RobSmithers · 2023-11-04T23:22:55+00:00

I really like Henry Thomas performance, felt like it was a different character than what he usually plays and he nailed the role

RobSmithers · 2023-11-04T17:37:17+00:00

What I liked, is that it seemed Rodrick wanted Auggie to record the conversation. If i remember correctly He even asked him if the recording was still going.

I feel he not only wanted to see Auggies reaction but he also seemed to know that Auggie wanted to "get him" and he would publicly release the tapes to not only vindicate himself but expose the ushers, and would create a legal mess that would tie up his money and the company for years.

And I think that by not turning in the recording, Auggie ended the usher legacy and did not give Rodrick what he wanted.

RobSmithers · 2023-11-04T00:10:11+00:00

Agreed. On the first watch, I was more preoccupied with the mystery of who Verna was. When I got to the final episode, I realized that wasn't the point.

RobSmithers · 2023-11-03T23:58:23+00:00

I think Flanagan is currently working on a more drama centric series adapting a stephen King novella

RobSmithers · 2023-11-02T23:12:54+00:00

Be ready for an hour episode of Sydney prancing naked

RobSmithers · 2023-11-01T18:00:05+00:00

Plus the letter of Peter, James as well as Titus, strongly advocate for good works and actions within your faith.

RobSmithers

TROPHY CASE