Search results

The Church is the "body of Christ." I agree some people want to use the church for their own ends and own comfort or platform. Yet as John says, "How can you say you love God whom you cannot see if you do not love your brother whom you can see." Jesus' command to his disciples was, "Do you...

Isn't it God who appointed some to be preachers and teachers? Aren't these gifts of the Spirit and means by which God edifies his people? Only in modern Western Christianity is spirituality viewed as a personal, individual, experiential pursuit. In fact, this is what Paul rebukes the...

Isn't love an emotional/chemical response in the brain as well? What makes love more pure and genuine than anger? In fact, if you see a child being beaten and abused, isn't it right that love would turn to anger since one cannot bear to see injustice and evil done to those they love?

Ok. Thanks for the response. Just curious as to how you draw your conclusions. Is this something you read, your own logical conclusions or something else?

Look, you are the one who made a declarative statement, "My God never gets angry." I am just inquiring about "your God" and how you arrive at such conclusions about the nature of God. If you want to just keep answering questions with questions to sound wise, I'll bow out of the discussion. Im...

I think we live in the same world. Perhaps you should sell this computer you are typing on and give the money to these hungry people around you if that is what you feel the Lord is leading you to do. I think you are throwing around a lot of judgment towards me and you have no idea about my...

Michael, First, let me agree with you on two counts. 1). I agree with you completely that signs are not the only indicator of a true prophet. I hope you did not get the impression from me that the only thing that matters is whether signs accompany the prophet. I think that is an important...

No, it was her deception that saved the Israelites...which saved her by virtue of saving them! Consider these verses... I agree that God foreknows our futures. I am not debating that. I just think that God can really intend to do something and change his mind because of the free will choices...

shnarkle, I think one of the issues here is that the world in the 1st century is very different than the one we have today. Yes, people shared common things, but this was also a people who lived hand to mouth each day and many who were thrown out of the synagogue for their faith were...

Haha, I like your comments. Some good insights...though Im not too sure about the 1 John 4:11 (not sure what makes this nonsense...do you mean common sense?) and the 2 Cor. 6:17 one. Also not sure what you mean with the 1 John 1:3 comment.

The nature of the question is simply: Do you personally believe the Bible is accurate in its descriptions of God and contains a true understanding of God's plans and purposes int he world? I am simply asking for you to answer for yourself as I have my own assessment on what constitutes the...

Hey justaname, I would say Dr. Cottrell is correct in his assessment. I know he has read and written a great deal on the topic. So, I would say you would likely disagree with the traditional view of Total Depravity if you don't like the description of it. A great book to read in which Dr...

So you don't believe the Bible is true?

justaname, Yes, I agree these discussions are helpful and is hopefully also edifying for you as I know it is for me. I think Total Depravity as a foundational element of the Calvinistic system often gets lumped into Calvinism....although I know there are many shades of such a view. Here is...

justaname, Thanks for responding. Im tired tonight so Ill try to make this brief and hopefully coherent. :) Well, as I understand it, Total Depravity goes beyond just recognizing the Gospel or not. I believe it has to do wether or not there is any shred of goodness in man such that they...

Michael, Thanks for replying. Well, my guess is you have me confused with someone else. I believe the Bible is the Word of God and is infallible in its original autographs. I believe in one Triune God consisting of three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe Jesus died as an...

forest, First, I don't think it is accurate to say God doesn't change his mind. It seems Moses changed God's mind on multiple occasions through his prayers. I understand this poses challenges to clean theological boxes regarding divine immutability, as it does mine as well, yet I think the...

Michael, thanks for your kind reply. I agree that the "visions" of God were in some way veiled. Since the "only begotten Son," is part of the Triune God, then I would say that even if it was the reincarnate Jesus that was being seen, he was not seen in his full glory, as you infer. Even...

Hey justaname, Thanks for responding. Let me focus on those specific verses so you can see how I understand them... But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not...

Michael, you clearly understand my point...you were referring to me as part of the "perverse and wicked" who were mere sign seekers. I don't think Jesus was referring in general to human depravity in that statement, and neither were you as you quoted it concerning me. So lets not try to hide...