Do you have any questions about the Bible?

[magic32]

Please permit me to answer ANY questions from a Biblical perspective.
Of course there will always be scoffers, but hopefully those who wish to can have a respectful dialogue.

COMMON QUESTIONS:

1. Why is the Bible so intolerant of other religions, or why can’t there be many ways to Heaven?
2. Why do Christians claim Christ was God (father, SON, Holy Spirit) when He never actually said that in the Bible?
3. Is divorce permitted or not?
4. Does God keep the scorecard of your life, or what determines whether or not you get into Heaven?
5. Is it wrong to eat pork?
6. The Bible is supposed to be the Word of God and therefore infallible, so what about all the contradictions?
7. How can a loving God allow senseless death such as school bus accidents, Columbine, 911, Katrina, etc.?
8. Where is Heaven? Doesn’t science prove that space is above us, not Haven?
9. How can you believe in a God in light of science, aren't they in opposition?
10. How do you explain ghosts or aliens?
11. Why do bad things happen to good people?
12. Can baptism cleanse you of sin?

[goodcents]

*moving on*

[buffgator]

Is the bible complete? There are many spots that I have seen, I think 13, where it referres to scriptures that are not found in the bible. How much of the bible has been altered through the translations over the years, people leaving out or changing the things that would not work to their favor. (By the way I do believe the bible is the word of God)

[magic32]

Sup Buff.

Is the bible complete?
It is quite comprehensive, and complete in the sense of what God wanted to relate to man.
Thus any belief of incompleteness is man's impression and not His!
If you have reference questions, please cite them now or once gathered, no work worth it's salt would reference itself improperly.

How much of the bible has been altered through the translations over the years, people leaving out or changing the things that would not work to their favor. (By the way I do believe the bible is the word of God)
The purpose of translation is to communicate information to those of different languages or levels of understanding. We can believe that if something says "Holy Bible" then it is indeed what God meant and not a hodgepodge of alterations or misinformation, because it is the job of God Himself to watch over the Word which he's given man.

[goaheadandhitme]

I might, but witch Bible?

The Jewish Bible
The Catholic Bible
The Protestant Bible

[magic32]

I might, but witch Bible?

The Jewish Bible
The Catholic Bible
The Protestant Bible

Good question..."The Holy Bible" from Genesis to Revelation.

[goaheadandhitme]

Good question..."The Holy Bible" from Genesis to Revelation.

Well I'm pretty good there, except for the predictions in Revelation. Put simply, God either "Knows" the future or does not. (period) Which gives me a little distance when I read stories like the Ten Commandments, where God could have warned Moses not to break the tablets when he got back down the mountain.

Admist all of the theories of "why" Moses did it, I've yet seen one that would give a resonable explination of why God didn't warn him.

[goodcents]

oh no, I'm not getting banned on this one sticking to fish threads

[buffgator]

How come everything that paul writes is so damn confusing?

[magic32]

How come everything that paul writes is so damn confusing?

Each apostle writes from different vantage points...Paul was extremely well educated by his own account. But even that shouldn't interrupt understanding, what version do you read?

[buffgator]

Each apostle writes from different vantage points...Paul was extremely well educated by his own account. But even that shouldn't interrupt understanding, what version do you read?

king james

[magic32]

king james

The authorized King James Version is an English translation of the Christian Bible by the Church of England that began in 1604 and was first published in 1611. That's one of the primary reasons for misunderstanding and misinterpretation; another is the failure to take what is written in context. Sure it was meant for all, which is why it's in the Word, but sometimes what was said had more specific implications for the hearer (disciple, mother, shepards, etc.). It also needs to be read in succession, with adherence to what was said just prior to and directly following.

[Dizz28]

Religion and Politics are two debates I don't get involved in.

But I'll sit back and watch before this thread eventually gets locked...

[magic32]

Interesting!

Religion and Politics are two debates I don't get involved in.
Why should topics of such great importance...how the country is run and how one's life is led, be off limits among friends?

But I'll sit back and watch before this thread eventually gets locked...
Religious threads are permitted as long as it is alluded to in the title, thus this thread is legal and should not be locked.

[Dizz28]

Why should topics of such great importance...how the country is run and how one's life is led, be off limits among friends?

I'm not saying they are off limits, I was just stating my thought about not getting involved in them. I can remember back when I was in the service, we would be out doing a field op and have down time where we could sit and talk (seems we had too much down time in the field). I saw guys that were really good friends, like brothers almost, almost get into fist fights when it came to religion and, especially, Creation vs. Evolution. I know people have very strong beliefs when it comes to these things and sometimes at the slightest inkling that it's being challenged, people can get overly defensive.

It's just my stance on discussing it, I have my beliefs and you have yours. They could be the same, they could be different but I just leave it at that

Religious threads are permitted as long as it is alluded to in the title, thus this thread is legal and should not be locked.

No, I wasn't daying it going to be locked because of that, and as long as people stay respectful it shouldn't....as long as people stay respectful...but I can just see someone saying something that aggrivates another person and then it becomes a storm.

I'll continue to read this because it interests me, but I just won't participate in it.

[magic32]

I know people have very strong beliefs when it comes to these things and sometimes at the slightest inkling that it's being challenged, people can get overly defensive.

I'll continue to read this because it interests me, but I just won't participate in it.

This is quite true, these topics are very controversial and do bother some people to the brink of fighting. But that's only because both determine authority. Politics in respect to the laws that govern us, and religion even more close to home with respect to one's life. The problem is that people would much rather govern themselves than believe in a God who claims ownership of their lives, which thereby mandates accountability for the way they live it.

I've spoken to honest atheists who just came out and said, "I don't believe in God, and would never look into Him because I want to run my own life."

Well you have to applaud them for their candor, but if (and I use the word loosley) there is a God. They'll have to stand before Him and give the old Rat Pack song as justification, "I did it myyyyyyyy wayyyyy!" Sadly, their eternity rests in the balance.

Which brings to mind another common question:

HOW CAN AN ALL LOVING GOD SEND "ANYONE" TO AN ETERNITY IN HELL?

If anyone's interested, I'll address it.

[Merc..]

This is quite true, these topics are very controversial and do bother some people to the brink of fighting. But that's only because both determine authority. Politics in respect to the laws that govern us, and religion even more close to home with respect to one's life. The problem is that people would much rather govern themselves than believe in a God who claims ownership of their lives, which thereby mandates accountability for the way they live it.

I've spoken to honest atheists who just came out and said, "I don't believe in God, and would never look into Him because I want to run my own life."

Well you have to applaud them for their candor, but if (and I use the word loosley) there is a God. They'll have to stand before Him and give the old Rat Pack song as justification, "I did it myyyyyyyy wayyyyy!" Sadly, their eternity rests in the balance.

Which brings to mind another common question:

HOW CAN AN ALL LOVING GOD SEND "ANYONE" TO AN ETERNITY IN HELL?

If anyone's interested, I'll address it.

Please do Magic...


Thanks



Merc.

[goodcents]

Religion and Politics are two debates I don't get involved in.

But I'll sit back and watch before this thread eventually gets locked...

[Merc..]

Why do bad things happen to good people?

We all face difficulties at one time or another in our life.. Trials and tribulations is not some strange unknown thing its promised to us ..

Yea , and all that live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 2 Timothy 3:12 ..

We are to expect suffering , it is promised by God and will be the means of bringing Glory to Himself and preparing us so we can accomplish His plan and purpose in our lives. There is no need to worry as God is on the throne to accomplish His eternal purpose which is always for our good ( SEE Romans 8:28)

Merc.

[magic32]

Why do bad things happen to good people?

We all face difficulties at one time or another in our life.. Trials and tribulations is not some strange unknown thing its promised to us ..

Yea , and all that live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 2 Timothy 3:12 ..

We are to expect suffering , it is promised by God and will be the means of bringing Glory to Himself and preparing us so we can accomplish His plan and purpose in our lives. There is no need to worry as God is on the throne to accomplish His eternal purpose which is always for our good ( SEE Romans 8:28)

Merc.

Good post.
Those verses clearly illustrate that pain, suffering, loss and death are inherent to the human condition, and are not respecters of person.

[IronReload04]

o wow...very cool

i have so many questions...so so many

how about i start off with this

Why do Christians claim Christ was God (father, SON, Holy Spirit) when He never actually said that in the Bible?

and wasnt that kind of voted in, in a way?

[goodcents]

I got bored

[Merc..]

Rejoicing, gladness, happiness and joy are associated with suffering....


1 peter 1:6 wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season,if need be,ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ , Happy are ye, for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you ,, peter 4:14

Peter 1 : 8 Whom having not seen,ye love ,in whom,through now ye see him not, yest believing , ye rejoice with JOY unspeakable and full of glory..

James 1:2 My brethren , count it all JOY when ye fall into temptations ..



Merc.

[Information]

Reopened

[magic32]

Good question.
Do I have to tell you that you’re fired to make that clear? Could I say something like, “I need to see you in my office for some bad news, your work has not been up to par, and we’ve decided to make some cut backs. I’m really sorry but, please have your office cleared by the end of the day, your last check will be in the mail, if you ever need a reference feel free to contact HR, and I really hate to see you go, but this order came from upstairs.”

Would that get the point across?

Well Jesus said all that without coming just saying “I am God”, so His point should be clear just as well. Remember God had a specific timeline for Jesus’ life, and many Old Testament prophecies required His fulfilling, so He couldn’t die before the appointed time. And just saying “I am God” would have expedited this.

Here are some examples:

He continuously said “My father”, which was blasphemous because it made him equal with God not just one of God’s people as other Israelites.

• Jhn 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
• Phl 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Three times the bible records a voice from Heaven saying “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

• Mat 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
• Mar 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, [saying], Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
• 2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

He claimed that His miracles (which cannot be duplicated by man, leaving only room for God) were done to aid belief. And even tarried so that Lazarus would die, and be dead for three days (dispelling controversy), just so He could display His power.

• Jhn 11:41 Then they took away the stone [from the place] where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up [his] eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
• Jhn 11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said [it], that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
• Jhn 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

Cloning may be close only God controls life, and prior to the above Jesus said:

• Jhn 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Then there's the LITTLE incident in which His age came into question. Remember when Moses said who shall I tell them has sent me, to which God replied:

• Exd 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Well Jesus first claims to have been around prior to Abraham (not physically possible, as they pointed out) then uses the same vernacular that God does to describe Himself, that eternal "I AM".

• Jhn 8:55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
  
• Jhn 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad.
  
• Jhn 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
  
• Jhn 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Either He was crazy, a liar, or He was who He claimed to be.
And all evidence of His life, acts and death lead to the latter.

• Jhn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

[taiboxa]

Book of Job is my favorite lol (talk about bad things happening to good people)

[buffgator]

Book of Job is my favorite lol (talk about bad things happening to good people)

What the hell, where did you come from? I thought you where a**ucted by aliens or killed in a freak cottan candy machine accident or something.

[magic32]

Book of Job is my favorite lol (talk about bad things happening to good people)

It is a great example of the possibility of utter calamity.
It also shows, God's love and protection even in the midsts of seeming chaos.

He allowed these things to befall Job for a reason, note after Job's soliloquy, and God's rebuttal Job said:

• Job 42:3 Who [is] he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
  
  
• Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
  
  
• Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

Which is to say, "I KNEW OF God and His goodness, but now I KNOW God and his goodness." Thus God granted Job a closer walk with Him.

This is the difference, between what Jesus called the Pharisees' traditions of religion, and true spiritual worship. Traditions can be sinful.

• Mat 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

[buffgator]

That one thing I dont believe in. I believe they are three seperate distinct individuals.

[magic32]

That one thing I dont believe in. I believe they are three seperate distinct individuals.

Many ascribe to this belief, and God meant to mimic this union and separatism on earth with the family (father, mother, child) all distinct, yet one functioning unit. And though the Bible never uses the word “Trinity”, it makes this simple truth VERY clear:

• 1Jo 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

[buffgator]

My buddy is going through a divorce right now, and it seems like everything that is bad that could happen is. So he and I sat down and talked about Job and all that he whent through.

[taiboxa]

i got laid.. found me new chick she is a nurse and a super goodie goodie.. hardest drug she has ever taken is advil and she is a total sweet heart lol but she is a freakin sex fiend so im happy now,
my weiner hurts from over use

[10nispro]

Who is Adams' mother and father?

Did God put Adam on earth to fail, I know he gave him rules to follow, but, if Adam wouldn't have failed, then we all would not exist?

[magic32]

Who is Adams' mother and father?

• Gen 1:27 So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
• Gen 5:1 This [is] the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
• Isa 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, [even] my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

Did God put Adam on earth to fail, I know he gave him rules to follow, but, if Adam wouldn't have failed, then we all would not exist?

Good question?
Knowing all things and existing outside of time, God was aware that Adam would sin and fall from grace. But I wouldn’t use the term "fail". "Free will" is not privy to failure or success, only choice.

Which begs another question, “Who is to say that Adam was a good representative of Humanity?” I can easily say that I would never have eaten of the tree and would probably have slapped Eve for doing so. But, since God is just. He wouldn’t be able to provide an unjust rep for our behalf…so Adam had to be the perfect average of those who follow orders and those who don’t.

As far as our not existing, God created man and woman for reproduction (if there's a question here speak to your parents for clarity), and to go forth and multiply, so that was always His intention.

[buffgator]

yeah I dont believe in original sin. I believe that each individual is responsible for their own actions. I believe that the fall of adam was part of gods divine plan to bring about opposition into the world so that the process of knowing and learning good from evil, joy from sorrow, justice and mercey could be taught. i believe that God is perfect and there for could not be responsible for turning the world into an imperfect place (which is the only place we could truly learn for ourselves in) so he instigated a plan to teach us. That plan was the plan of salvation from creation, fall of adam, atonement, resurection, and than finaly judgment. Adam and eve pertaking of the fruit was a divine process.

[thegodfather]

The bible accounts for roughly, 3,000 years of human existence, and thus we are at about 5,000 years of human existence and recorded history. Where does the bible account for the previous 595,000 years of human existence on this planet? With over 100,000 of them being modern day Homo-Sapiens Sapiens? Where was God for these humans that lived before recorded biblical or written history?

[buffgator]

The bible accounts for roughly, 3,000 years of human existence, and thus we are at about 5,000 years of human existence and recorded history. Where does the bible account for the previous 595,000 years of human existence on this planet? With over 100,000 of them being modern day Homo-Sapiens Sapiens? Where was God for these humans that lived before recorded biblical or written history?

God has created many worlds. The bible and Christianity as we see it deals with a specific people. If science is right that people have lived on the earth for so long (Science seems to change is mind daily) I am sure that God had his own specific dealings with them also. Who is to say that they did not have their own dealings with God, just because we have no written record of it does not mean that it did not happen.

[Flagg]

Where's the elusive missing first page that states:

"All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental"

??

[magic32]

The bible accounts for roughly, 3,000 years of human existence, and thus we are at about 5,000 years of human existence and recorded history. Where does the bible account for the previous 595,000 years of human existence on this planet? With over 100,000 of them being modern day Homo-Sapiens Sapiens? Where was God for these humans that lived before recorded biblical or written history?

Superb question!
This is one atheists often point to.
The Biblical answer is quite simple, but before I get to that, and to make the answer more clear I have question for you.

What are you basing the earth's age on?

[magic32]

The bible accounts for roughly, 3,000 years of human existence, and thus we are at about 5,000 years of human existence and recorded history. Where does the bible account for the previous 595,000 years of human existence on this planet? With over 100,000 of them being modern day Homo-Sapiens Sapiens? Where was God for these humans that lived before recorded biblical or written history?

Stellar question, but let's distill it and in doing so answer them all.

HOW DOES THE BIBLE EXPLAIN THE THOUSANDS OF YEARS SCIENCE ASSERTS?

This is a question that typically bars belief for many, or if they're truly honest, gives them an EXCUSE not to believe.

Often the greatest obstacle for belief is the what appears to be Science’s problem with time. The problem stems from the variance between science’s measurement of age and the Bible’s record of it.

Firstly, let me say there is great division here even within the Church, because God doesn’t disclose exactly how He did this in scripture. That said, many take literally their subscription to the “Thousand years equals one day” formula mentioned here:

• 2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Although it’s quite possible, that it took Him 6K years to create all there is, and then to rest for a thousand on Sunday, I don't believe it. I think that the "Thousand years" is to be taken figuratively in respect that since God is outside of time a day can be like a thousand years. Also, there is no accounting for this in a place where it would have made much more sense, namely Genesis.

I personally regard the other stance more highly. It is very simply that created age is not the same as chronological age. For instance, God created Adam as a man, for the sake of argument let’s say he was between 25 and 35. Now to look at him, his facial hair, weight, height, bf (kidding), one would come up with that estimate. However, in reality he was just created seconds ago, and is thus only that old. The Bible says:

• Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

So, it was His prerogative to create them at His chosen age. For example, we know that stars have a lifespan, and since we’ve seen stars die (black holes) and can estimate their age based on brilliance, color, etc. we know that our sun would be considered a late teenager, or rather young star. Just as Adam (a fully grown man) is only seconds old, though his physical/chronological age is much greater so would the earth’s and the sun’s be. Created age is simply not equal to physical age, which plunders all geologic and anthropologic measures.

I think people often forget that we can only know what God has given us to know. If we completely understood His ways, we’d be like Him and that’s certainly not the case:

• Isa 55:8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
• Isa 55:9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.