Where is bbyrd009/ Mark

[amadeus]

Amen!
Well said. Some are so speedy in condemning others....thus declaring themselves as righteous. And presuming that 'they' never offend anyone with their opinions or beliefs ...
I am praying that the Lord helps us to see the positive in each other and warm the atmosphere up a little. ✟

I guess that God led us here, you and I and Mark and a few others, but this is not the end of the road, not yet.

 

[brakelite]

When someone calls Christians *the cult of Sol Invictus* he has no business on a Christian forum. He could always join some Muslim forum, since Christians for them are infidels.

Sol Invictus = Unconquered Sun, and the pagan Romans had such an official cult, alongside other cults. But Augustine wrote against this cult. To throw this term at Christians is reprehensible.

We are all fully aware of how much the cult of Sol infected the early church. A brief glimpse inside the Saint Peters Basilica in Rome would reveal how far it progressed since then. The question we must then ask, had Protestantism fully come out of that mindset and doctrinal and practical malaise? I agree with bbbyd. No.

 

[amadeus]

We are all fully aware of how much the cult of Sol infected the early church. A brief glimpse inside the Saint Peters Basilica in Rome would reveal how far it progressed since then. The question we must then ask, had Protestantism fully come out of that mindset and doctrinal and practical malaise? I agree with bbbyd. No.

Yes, some of those who came out saw a need, but some probably saw only a selfish opportunity. Just because some saw Catholicism as wrong does not mean that all of those "coming out" were right. Most people cannot even begin to see the line running between those who really please God and those that do not. To presume that it lies even generally somewhere between the C's and P's is probably just that for many, a presumption.

 

[Nancy]

Amen Nancy.
I just wish that you could be around as much as you used to be.
BUT, that said, I don't wish you another broken foot to give you more time to post!!

Bless you...H x

Lol Helen! I would love to be on more, you know what has been keeping me busy ;), and, I do try to get on as often as I can. Just really miss what we all had on here for a while- for a season. I do not see myself ever leaving this forum totally! ♥♥♥

 

[Nancy]

Amen!
Well said. Some are so speedy in condemning others....thus declaring themselves as righteous. And presuming that 'they' never offend anyone with their opinions or beliefs ...
I am praying that the Lord helps us to see the positive in each other and warm the atmosphere up a little. ✟

You and me both H.!!!

 

[brakelite]

Yes, some of those who came out saw a need, but some probably saw only a selfish opportunity. Just because some saw Catholicism as wrong does not mean that all of those "coming out" were right. Most people cannot even begin to see the line running between those who really please God and those that do not. To presume that it lies even generally somewhere between the C's and P's is probably just that for many, a presumption.

If you run a line between the Cs and Ps I think you would find that those who please God anywhere along the continuum, including beyond. Those who search for and live up to what light they receive.

 

[Acolyte]

I miss him too. And like post #10. Lol
He scared me when I started here. Not a social media person so I had to ask grand daughter what it meant when someone follows you.
Hope he had a blast ski-ing and comes in more often.
Blessings @bbyrd009

 

[Blueberry]

I should be more um...circumspect I guess is the word

Naughty bits less abundant?? ;)

 

[Acolyte]

And what of those who treat God like Nehushtan?

I don't know what/who that is, and afraid to google it. Is it satan?:

 

[farouk]

I miss him too. And like post #10. Lol
He scared me when I started here. Not a social media person so I had to ask grand daughter what it meant when someone follows you.
Hope he had a blast ski-ing and comes in more often.
Blessings @bbyrd009

I'm still not knowledgeable about computers either...

 

[brakelite]

I don't know what/who that is, and afraid to google it. Is it satan?:

It basically means scrap metal.
Read the story of what Hezekiah did with the brazen serpent that Moses had made in the wilderness, and what Israel had been doing with it up to then.

 

[Enoch111]

I don't know what/who that is, and afraid to google it. Is it satan?:

You could say that. Nehushtan was originally the Brazen Serpent which was set up on a pole in the wilderness by Moses at God's command. Sinning Israelites who looked upon it were saved from dying of venomous snake-bites. Later on the Jews made this into an idol, which had to be destroyed. And serpents and snake-worship ultimately do point to Satan. This is a good example of something which was beneficial but became an idol (and applicable to all Christians who are told "Little children, keep yourselves from idols

 

[farouk]

You could say that. Nehushtan was originally the Brazen Serpent which was set up on a pole in the wilderness by Moses at God's command. Sinning Israelites who looked upon it were saved from dying of venomous snake-bites. Later on the Jews made this into an idol, which had to be destroyed. And serpents and snake-worship ultimately do point to Satan. This is a good example of something which was beneficial but became an idol (and applicable to all Christians who are told "Little children, keep yourselves from idols

Good application...

 

[amadeus]

I don't know what/who that is, and afraid to google it. Is it satan?:

In the KJV Bible the word, Nehushtan, is only used once... It simply means, "a thing of brass" which is what it was, but when Moses made it in obedience to God it was much more, was it not?

"And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." Numb 21:8-9

About seven hundred years later King Hezekiah had it broken into pieces because the people had changed the saving serpent back into an empty mindless powerless idol of brass.

"He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan." II Kings 21:8-9

From a thing of Life, it was made by the people into a thing of death. Does anyone today do the same thing with Jesus?

Our friend @bbyrd009 first brought it light for me on this forum many months ago.

 

[bbyrd009]

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived."

the impetus for the serpents also plays into this imo, and briefly the Snake on a Pole was a remedy for their self-inflicted "snake-bit" condition, which can be compared (rather than contrasted, iow) to most Christians' initial understanding of Jesus' role for them too. To put it bluntly, "Jesus" is a like a magic talisman or amulet that functions on their belief, rather than their faith.

So iow even the Snake on a Pole was not a good characterization of a life-giving relationship with Christ, as one might often hear repeated; it is a terrible one in fact, employed by the self-centered for their self-inflicted problems, which describes all of us at a certain stage I guess.

Extreme examples will suggest that it is better to be dead than alive or other Cult of Sol yack, and can quote Paul as saying "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord," etc

 

[Helen]

I don't know what/who that is, and afraid to google it. Is it satan?:

Like others have said...in a nutshell. "A God of our own making"
..and image of God or Jesus that we believe and made 'our God'.

We know most Christians have in the belief system an image of Jesus..
Long brown hair , white robe, and sandals. The have him "stuck" in the three years of His known ministry here.
But, The Jesus Christ which IS is shown in Rev 1.
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. ...
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. "

Not quite "Gentle Jesus meek and mild, look upon this little child."
But, man prefers what is 'comfortable' for him...he chooses as it were..to make an image rather than reality. As other have said, Nehushtan is the idol created from the Brazen serpent that originally saved Israel in the wilderness. It was obviously 'of God' but man made it into an idol. As they do today ...

A god of their own making...

But then again...bbyrd, amadeus, and other will give you how they view 'Nehushtan worship'...this is just mine. :)

 

[Helen]

Agree @bbyrd009
How they love the images they have created...which even covers 'sacred doctrines' ....maybe I said before...when I read some posts I think of a line from Alice In Wonderland. "Jam yesterday, jam tomorrow, but never jam today. "
Which seems to be some peoples view of their relationship with the Father , and their view of life 'in the kingdom.'
The Kingdom starts here, in our hearts.
What we have on our inside ( the door of kingdom life) leads the full endless realm of the Spirit...we are bigger inside than we are outside... inside 'the Christ within' is so vast...without end... we cannot plumb the hight, depth or width of what God is trying to reveal to us...line upon line, precept upon precept...here a little and there a little...

The call is inward, now, "Further up and deeper in! ".

 

[amadeus]

the impetus for the serpents also plays into this imo, and briefly the Snake on a Pole was a remedy for their self-inflicted "snake-bit" condition, which can be compared (rather than contrasted, iow) to most Christians' initial understanding of Jesus' role for them too. To put it bluntly, "Jesus" is a like a magic talisman or amulet that functions on their belief, rather than their faith.

So iow even the Snake on a Pole was not a good characterization of a life-giving relationship with Christ, as one might often hear repeated; it is a terrible one in fact, employed by the self-centered for their self-inflicted problems, which describes all of us at a certain stage I guess.

Extreme examples will suggest that it is better to be dead than alive or other Cult of Sol yack, and can quote Paul as saying "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord," etc

The serpent made by Moses, while effective for the natural children of Israel in their natural trouble, was still only a very rough shadow of the reality of Jesus for anyone who see better than that. It is like a hint given to the reader [of scripture?] by God that there is a better more permanent in God's reality. Who can perceive God's reality?

The difference between the shadows often seen in scripture and that reality may be seen again very roughly by comparing the shadow cast by a man [dark outline or silhouette with no internal details] with the image he sees when he looks in a mirror. But even the mirror image is still only a better shadow and the backsides and insides of the man still cannot be seen.

What can we see with eye [the carnal eye]? What can we hear with the ear [the carnal ear]? What can we understand with the mind [the carnal mind]? To even accurately express it to someone without the same perception God has given to us, is difficult or impossible.

"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27

"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." Rev 3:18

 

[amadeus]

Agree @bbyrd009
How they love the images they have created...which even covers 'sacred doctrines' ....maybe I said before...when I read some posts I think of a line from Alice In Wonderland. "Jam yesterday, jam tomorrow, but never jam today. "
Which seems to be some peoples view of their relationship with the Father , and their view of life 'in the kingdom.'
The Kingdom starts here, in our hearts.
What we have on our inside ( the door of kingdom life) leads the full endless realm of the Spirit...we are bigger inside than we are outside... inside 'the Christ within' is so vast...without end... we cannot plumb the hight, depth or width of what God is trying to reveal to us...line upon line, precept upon precept...here a little and there a little...

The call is inward, now, "Further up and deeper in! ".

"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

"Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken." Ezek 39:8

 

[farouk]

I miss him too. And like post #10. Lol
He scared me when I started here. Not a social media person so I had to ask grand daughter what it meant when someone follows you.
Hope he had a blast ski-ing and comes in more often.
Blessings @bbyrd009

For some things I guess one needs to learn how to be media-savvy, right? ..... :)

(The young generation seems to know all about it anyway...)