bobishkan Loc: Fort Myers Sunny Florida

The video is correct and right on the money and actually quite simple. Simply put, your feelings or interpretation of a verse mean nothing. Only what the writer, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, means is true. There is only one correct meaning to any one verse and one needs to find it. This is why we now have about 24,000 protestant denominations, not including all the orthodox, Roman Catholic, Coptic, etc churches all saying they believe in the Bible and coming up with different doctrines. Today many churches base their theology on feelings. Most pastors today are biblically illiterate. Like a famous detective once said, "Just give me the facts!" Blessings: Bob

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I thought it was very simple to understand also. Thanks for chiming in.

tjim Loc: Far Northern California

Ok, Ok I'm going to give the discussion to you and back out. I have a hunch that the more I try to explain myself the more you'll find wrong.

I spent many years as a conservative pastor in one of the most liberal church systems in the country. I was a vocal apologist for Biblical integrity and inerrantcy. I was embroiled in hundreds if not thousands of arguments, as the tiny conservative minority, on countless Biblical doctrines. I was tired of the arguments when I retired and I find myself tired now. And I need not apologize nor endlessly try to validate my theological view.

I feel people following this thread will only see a couple argumentative Christians making white noise in expressing the faith of the saving Grace, of Jesus Christ. Evangelism was totally lost IMO.

I am on this site to learn more about photography and fellowship with other photographers and there I am happy.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

You never "had" to come and argue about anything. I just posted a simple video showing a simple concept. A concept that should be a given for folks who study the bible. I thought it was a bit humorous but also delivered a valuable message.

You are the one who came and made your comments that had just about nothing to do with the video. I didn't ask you to do that. I just kept asking you what you were talking about because it didn't seem to have anything to do with the video...that's all.

All you have to do is hit the "unfollow" button and you won't have to worry about it again.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

I only heard one who was being argumentative .... and it wasn't you ;) I heard one that comes across more like a Sadducee with a slight twist of his belief on the resurrection of the dead.

I want to bring up the differences between King Saul and King David. Saul was given all God had to offer according to Samuel. However, Saul lack the most important thing .... compassion and a thirst for finding the heart of God in all things. Saul wanted the blessing but not the intimacy. One was tormented in his reign .... the other was extended mercy.

To me there is nothing more important in our Christian life than intimacy with God. Knowing the heart of God is the foundation of knowing how to interact with non-believing people and how best to lead them to Christ. Most come to Jesus because of extend compassion and mercy, few come because we try and chock a Bible down their throat. Long before there was the written word or seminary a handful of followers changed the course of history by simply having intimacy with God and extending His compassion ....

The older I get the less time I spend time arguing about the 5% we may disagree about. I spend more time in prayer and showing compassion.

Nuff said

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Wow.

I cannot believe you got that out of my replies. Cut and paste the part where I was being a (and I think this was the insult you were looking for) Pharisee.

I'm wondering what you mean by "slight twist"?

I believe that God has an elect people that He chose before the foundation of the world. I believe that they come and have faith because of God's actions. There isn't a "partnership" between God and man...I don't believe in a works based "synergistic" faith.


I believe that God draws them, He keeps them, He resurrects them....they are His sheep and they hear His voice.

What part of any of that is a "slight twist" on the resurrection? That's the statement of scripture, the historic faith down through the ages.



I believe that telling the truth of God's word and glorifying Him by doing what he's commanded us to do is most important.




What is the "heart of God"?

How could a person know what the heart of God is?


Don't we find out what God desires from His word?


Or is that Pharisaical to point that out?



All come to Jesus because they are chosen by God before the foundation of the world.



Really?

You haven't read the bible very closely have you?

They changed history because they told the truth about what Jesus did...they revered the word of God (written or not) and they glorified God by this.





Like the compassion you just showed me?

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

I have nothing further to say ..... again I'm not one of your subject's or a mouse you like to bat around ... have a blessed day. Respond as you will but nothing further from me on this thread.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Subjects that I bat around?

Insults aren't becoming of a professing Christian.

I post a video that should be simple and easy to understand and no Christian should even have to think before they agree with it.

So you come and call me a "Sadducee" and say that I have "subjects that I bat around" and I'm the one who's not acting like i should?

bobishkan Loc: Fort Myers Sunny Florida

Hey Rpavich: I am going to say a few things that may get you angry, but as a brother in Christ and one who totally agrees with your theology I feel I need to say the following. Remember we are very much in the minority theologically. We understand some things ONLY because God has chosen to open our spiritual eyes and ears to see what most Christians don't see. We rarely win any arguments on theology unless God choses to speak to the other person thru us. When discussing theology with other Christians over doctrines that we disagree on, rarely does anyone change their minds. Years ago I was at a Ligonier conference in Orlando with 6000 very serious reformed types. John McArthur debated Sproul on infant baptism. The debated lasted two hours. Numerous verses were quoted on both sides. In the end, no one won and no one changed their theology. As a chaplain in a prison setting, I have to deal with all kinds of Christians, non Christians, and faiths most people never heard of. We run a totally reformed worship service with numerous reformed Bible studies weekly. Rarely does an Arminian or Charismatic come to our services and change his mind. I too love to discuss the whole reformed/TULIP thing because I know how much it has increased my knowledge of what God is up to in my life, but I am very careful not to come across as trying to convert someone to my way of thinking as we might do in an evangelistic setting because usually all that does is divide the breathen. So I guess I am saying all this to say this, "speak the truth in love" Love Ya Bob

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

You know what...you are right.

That's one of my problems for sure, I get pretty cranked up sometimes and in print as opposed to in person, it looks worse than I intend it to. I do appreciate you mentioning it to me...I thank you for that. This is something I really need to work on big time and don't feel bad for mentioning it to me.


As for the other commenters...I apologize for my tone, I got a bit worked up and it was unbecoming of me as a Christian.

I'm sorry for that...please don't take offense.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I wanted to come back (since I cannot edit my other post) and say I apologize for my tone. It was uncalled for and I'm sorry for that.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

You might be gone by now but I wanted to say publicly that I'm sorry for my tone in our conversation. As I said, I get worked up and it's not a trait that I'm happy with.

bobishkan Loc: Fort Myers Sunny Florida

Thank you for your kind reply. May we all grow in the grace and knowledge of our wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as we continue to serve Him! Bob

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

No problem. Of all the lessons I've learned, I keep learning this one over and over and over and it's very frustrating.

tjim Loc: Far Northern California

I accept your apology and apologize to you but I suspect we should stay away from theological discourse.