ICTHUS, Yes, indeed, Lucian did despise Jesus and the early church Christians and wrote about it. It violates the criteria for what an original text must prove to be inspired by God.

With everything there is choice to make given the evidence. There is sufficient evidences that God may indeed be the Creator of the heavens and earth. The existence or non-existence of God can only be left to the individual hearer/reader in their heart. The suggestion that God does or does not exist will continue. Whether science is approached from showing how God created His creation or from den...more

With everything there is choice to make given the evidence. There is sufficient evidences that God may indeed be the Creator of the heavens and earth. The existence or non-existence of God can only be left to the individual hearer/reader in their heart. The suggestion that God does or does not exist will continue. Whether science is approached from showing how God created His creation or from denying His existence, each still produces thoughtful questioning into our existence and the hows. Many Atheists setting out on this path has by their own works led themselves to a belief in God. I believe the denial of either approach would do a great disservice to many.less

gd wrote: The point is pedophilia is not homosexuality. The second point is the overwhelming majority of pedophiles identify as heterosexual. Don’t know if you’ll get this…. I agree, although, I am not sure what pedophiles identify with, but we do know 3 out 4 children abused are female.

Phoenix, I apologize, you are correct I did not read it accurately. I see what you are saying, now. While we do sin, we do not necessarily blatantly choose to.

Gd, first you imply that males are not raped by other males outside of prison, now what, you change your argument to males are not raped by other males as often as females. For what point?

You may not have said it, but it was what you were implying. Unfortunately, I have heard about few more. Although, I have seen the affects it had on my brother, and it breaks my heart. He spiralled into drugs and alcohol and disappeared. I have no idea if he is safe.

gd, please do not assume rape among males does not exist outside of prison, you do not live under a rock! And before you try to shoot back at me......my brother was raped outside of prison by another male!

We still see polygamous marriage today. While God allowed men to have more than one wife, He reaffirms through Jesus and the Apostles His desire for men to have one wife. As far as adoption, we also find the Early Church instructed to take care of the orphans. I believe we could say that adoption was spoke to in the Bible.

John, It is True that God through His Word only speaks to that of heterosexual marriage. If indeed homosexual marriage/relations were/are allowed by God, why do we not find it in the Bible?

gd, would you go?

Phoenix, I am sure you don’t really believe you don’t ever sin. You never lose your temper or envy someone? We all sin even in the seemly smallest of ways. (I wrote this sincerely and friendly. Sometimes it’s hard to tell.)

gd wrote: Forgivensinner, how is one supposed to determine who is the fraudulent teacher? Well, I’ve seen it before. Someone reads a passage or someone shares the Truth with them and a light bulb goes off. A question, which leads to more questions. You had written in a post that ‘we’ did not seriously question our faith. I disagree. Anyone willing and wanting to please God will eventually...more

gd wrote: Forgivensinner, how is one supposed to determine who is the fraudulent teacher?

Well, I’ve seen it before. Someone reads a passage or someone shares the Truth with them and a light bulb goes off. A question, which leads to more questions. You had written in a post that ‘we’ did not seriously question our faith. I disagree. Anyone willing and wanting to please God will eventually get to His Truth and His church.less

gd, I heard it once said or I may have read it, that someone must be taught to misunderstand the Bible. God warns us that there will be false doctrines and false teachings and that many will follow them. Why? It’s a good question that they will need to answer for some day.

I’ll give it a try, although, I am not as knowledgeable with much of the OT than I’d like to be. 1 Kings - During OT times, God’s people were to do as He asked or perish, on the spot. We do not know whether this was necessary to Ahab understanding God’s displeasure in surrendering Israel to a foreign King. Ahab needed to understand that if He did not take back His surrender that He, to...more

I’ll give it a try, although, I am not as knowledgeable with much of the OT than I’d like to be.

1 Kings - During OT times, God’s people were to do as He asked or perish, on the spot. We do not know whether this was necessary to Ahab understanding God’s displeasure in surrendering Israel to a foreign King. Ahab needed to understand that if He did not take back His surrender that He, too, would perish. Ahab surrendered Israel out of fear that they would not win and had forgotten to trust God’s power to bring them through.

2 Kings – Again, OT times, all, even children were not to blaspheme God and His prophets spoke His Word. These children did not believe Elijah would be taken up to heaven by God and therefore were mocking him. Because of their mocking, God takes these children to remind all that His Word is True.

God continually showed Himself to His people, His Love and power. In spite of revealing Himself, His people still disobeyed and disbelieved. This is why there was a need for Jesus.less

Gd wrote: What would that discipline be? From whom should it come? How can it be verified? I thought it better to continue our conversation in a new thread being that it is quite a ways back now. Discipline can take on different forms, but please try to keep in mind that the discipline we are talking about is a consequence to our own wrong actions. As unpleasant as it is sometimes the conse...more

Gd wrote: What would that discipline be? From whom should it come? How can it be verified?

I thought it better to continue our conversation in a new thread being that it is quite a ways back now.

Discipline can take on different forms, but please try to keep in mind that the discipline we are talking about is a consequence to our own wrong actions. As unpleasant as it is sometimes the consequences to our actions can have bodily injury usually though by our own doing or that of an evil person/people. God allows the consequences to our actions to be the discipline one might need to bring one back to choosing better. Sometimes, God will also allow for emotional hardships brought on by our doing. The discipline can come through others, a wife’s, husband’s, child’s, co-worker’s hurt and/or anger toward us. The Church is also responsible for helping someone recognize a need for change in a one’s life. This, too, can be a form of discipline. But, the best form of discipline is found in the Word, itself. The Word convicts us as we hear it or read it when we recognize ourselves in wrong behaviors or thinking.less

With Jesus, there is only one religion, His. But as to your question, yes, honest misjudgments has always fallen under grace, but that does not necessarily exclude a person from being disciplined to bring them into a better knowledge of it. While the Willful disobedient, the one that knows better, but chooses to do it anyways will incur a harsher discipline, that by no means, means that the willfu...more

With Jesus, there is only one religion, His. But as to your question, yes, honest misjudgments has always fallen under grace, but that does not necessarily exclude a person from being disciplined to bring them into a better knowledge of it. While the Willful disobedient, the one that knows better, but chooses to do it anyways will incur a harsher discipline, that by no means, means that the willful one cannot repent and turn back to God. Only if he does not heed the discipline and turn back to God will he perish and not join God and the saints in glory.less

You continue to miss the spiritual implications. Verse 40 reveals what Jesus is referring to….Himself, us and His return. Jesus refers to disciplining His in varying degrees according to their deeds. In essence the blatant and willing rejecters of His authority among us with be cut off (or dead to) Him. Maybe it would more palatable to understanding this from a Father’s perspective. A father ...more

You continue to miss the spiritual implications. Verse 40 reveals what Jesus is referring to….Himself, us and His return. Jesus refers to disciplining His in varying degrees according to their deeds. In essence the blatant and willing rejecters of His authority among us with be cut off (or dead to) Him. Maybe it would more palatable to understanding this from a Father’s perspective. A father disciplines his children because He loves them. The more willful the offense the more severe the punishment. But then again, I think you may have a hard time with this concept as well.less

Do you know for a fact that all slaves were beaten? I find that hard to believe given the fact that too many good and gentle people fought so hard to end such a practice.

gd, I find it unfortunate that the worst about this topic continues to be a source of contention and that as history as proven, thanks be to those that did in fact do right, we now see the fruits of their efforts be unrecognized. We can dwell on the worst or we can rejoice because of those that did better.

Yes, all is well. Life continues to change, but thanks to God, he never ceases to open up new opportunities to draw closer to Him.