The good man that turned bad out of necessity

[Matthias]

I've found that many atheists and agnostics know the Bible well

Bart Ehrman immediately came to mind as an example.

@Mancunian have you ever been a Christian?

 

[Mancunian]

Bart Ehrman immediately came to mind as an example.

@Mancunian have you ever been a Christian?

Yes I have been a Christian, I was raised in the faith and yes I've read the Bible.
I haven't studied the Bible and there's probably a massive difference between the two.

Things that have happened in my life have shaped the way I am and how I think, I won't go into detail because this thread isn't about me and my struggles.

 

[Matthias]

Yes I have been a Christian, I was raised in the faith and yes I've read the Bible.
I haven't studied the Bible and there's probably a massive difference between the two.

Things that have happened in my life have shaped the way I am and how I think, I won't go into detail because this thread isn't about me and my struggles.

I notice that you are in the United Kingdom. Were you raised in the Church of England? (I was raised Southern Baptist.)

 

[Mancunian]

I notice that you are in the United Kingdom. Were you raised in the Church of England? (I was raised Southern Baptist.)

Yes I was.

 

[Matthias]

Yes I was.

If you could manage the world and fix its problems, would you do it?

 

[Mancunian]

If you could manage the world and fix its problems, would you do it?

That very much depends upon your definition of the word problems.
You and I both know that we are not going to agree on what is or what isn't a problem.

I'm guessing that your stance on abortion will differ from mine for example.

If I were to fix the worlds problems (as I see them) I don't think that I'd be flavour of the month in many people's eyes.

 

[Matthias]

That very much depends upon your definition of the word problems.

Well, let’s take war for example. If you could manage the world and fix the problem of human beings killing one another, would you be interested in doing that?

You and I both know that we are not going to agree on what is or what isn't a problem.

While we will have differences, I think we’ll be able to agree on a great number of problems of the world.

I'm guessing that your stance on abortion will differ from mine for example.

Then let’s set that particular issue aside for now.

If I were to fix the worlds problems (as I see them) I don't think that I'd be flavour of the month in many people's eyes.

Jesus isn’t going to be the flavour of the month in the eyes of the world.

 

[Mancunian]

I would love to be able and have the power to end war and needless killing. It's pie in the sky of course because humanity will never manage to get along.

 

[Matthias]

I would love to be able and have the power to end war and needless killing.

Excellent. Step inside my recruiting office, please.

It's pie in the sky of course because humanity will never manage to get along.

You’re absolutely right about man left to himself not being able to fix the problem. That’s never going to happen.

The Messiah will fix this problem when he returns. His coming government, comprised of his followers, will put an end to it. They will have the ability and the power to do what you would love to do.

 

[Matthias]

@Mancunian. Occupation: Caretaker.

Potential occupation: Caretaker of the world; in his majesty the Messiah’s service.

 

[Mancunian]

Excellent. Step inside my recruiting office, please.



You’re absolutely right about man left to himself not being able to fix the problem. That’s never going to happen.

The Messiah will fix this problem when he returns. His coming government, comprised of his followers, will put an end to it. They will have the ability and the power to do what you would love to do.

My question would be, why didn't it happen the first time around? This is the son of God that we're talking about here.
2000 years and a lot of death and destruction later we are no closer to seeing his return.

There have been predictions of dates for this much anticipated event but no accuracy as yet.

Are we taking decades, hundreds or maybe thousands of years?

 

[Mancunian]

@Mancunian. Occupation: Caretaker.

Potential occupation: Caretaker of the world; in his majesty the Messiah’s service.

The perks would certainly be better.

 

[Matthias]

My question would be, why didn't it happen the first time around?

That’s the right question to ask. It didn’t happen because that’s not why he was sent. It will happen because that’s why he’ll be sent back. This is what the unbelieving Jews haven’t understood.

This is the son of God that we're talking about here.

That’s right. The one whom the prophets spoke about.

2000 years and a lot of death and destruction later we are no closer to seeing his return.

We are 2,000 years closer to his return than we were when he left.

There have been predictions of dates for this much anticipated event but no accuracy as yet.

There are many false prophets in the world. God alone knows the date.

Are we taking decades, hundreds or maybe thousands of years?

I don’t know, but I’m fully persuaded that he is returning at the time set by God. In the meantime, the followers of Jesus are to wait patiently and carry out the Great Commission.

 

[Matthias]

The perks would certainly be better.

Infinitely. The Messiah wants you.

 

[Matthias]

@Mancunian when is the last time that you read the Bible?

 

[RLT63]

That’s the right question to ask. It didn’t happen because that’s not why he was sent. It will happen because that’s why he’ll be sent back. This is what the unbelieving Jews haven’t understood.



That’s right. The one whom the prophets spoke about.



We are 2,000 years closer to his return than we were when he left.



There are many false prophets in the world. God alone knows the date.



I don’t know, but I’m fully persuaded that he is returning at the time set by God. In the meantime, the followers of Jesus are to wait patiently and carry out the Great Commission.

The way it was explained to me is that in the Jewish tradition when a man became engaged he would add a room on to his father's house. The father would check his progress and decide when he could go get his bride. This is what Jesus meant when he said I go to prepare a place for you

 

[Mancunian]

That’s the right question to ask. It didn’t happen because that’s not why he was sent. It will happen because that’s why he’ll be sent back. This is what the unbelieving Jews haven’t understood.



That’s right. The one whom the prophets spoke about.



We are 2,000 years closer to his return than we were when he left.



There are many false prophets in the world. God alone knows the date.



I don’t know, but I’m fully persuaded that he is returning at the time set by God. In the meantime, the followers of Jesus are to wait patiently and carry out the Great Commission.

Do you not worry that if his return is not imminent and the world carries on as it is, we could easily nuke the planet into a man made oblivion?
What is the reason for God's delay?
How bad do things have to get?

I worry for future generations, no lessons seemed to have been learnt from the past, I'm thinking about the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, the needless loss of life and the displaced people.

Does the fact that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the west worry you at all?
The Nones as they're called are not taking up their traditional Christian religion, this is quite rare in the Muslim population. Why do you think that this quiet revolution is happening?

I know that there's a few questions there but I'm interested in your thoughts.

Are you a pastor by any chance?

 

[Matthias]

The way it was explained to me is that in the Jewish tradition when a man became engaged he would add a room on to his father's house. The father would check his progress and decide when he could go get his bride. This is what Jesus meant when he said I go to prepare a place for you

That’s an interesting explanation. I would ask a Jew where the Messiah’s place will be that he is preparing for his bride to rule with him. (The answer I would be looking for is Jerusalem.)

 

[RLT63]

That’s an interesting explanation. I would ask a Jew where the Messiah’s place will be that he is preparing for his bride to rule with him. (The answer I would be looking for is Jerusalem.)

This is why only The Father knows the day and hour of Jesus' return

 

[Mancunian]

@Mancunian when is the last time that you read the Bible?

I dip in and out from time to time. It's mostly when I have things going on in my life, I've attended church recently too just to be nosey really and see if anything has changed with the general feeling I get in a place of worship.