Yes, there is something to be said for tradition.
It gives us reference and association.
I recall watching a football game ...and when a commercial came on, it wasn't one of those stupid ones, nor the ones that you send your young one out of the room to get you a glass of water. I felt it was a really good commercial. It appeared like it was a homeless man, rather tattered ...walking to a large gathering around the town's Christmas tree.
The man had an iPhone, or something like that ...and I always wondered how such a large number of the seemingly poorest people have gadgets. Admittedly, I was still thinking about the game, as I'm one of those strategists ...having grown up on football, and having played it in high school. So, I could be wrong, as I was not paying strict attention to the commercial as I do that game ...but suddenly, I saw the commercial was a longer version than I'd usually had glimpses of, and I noticed the supposed homeless man pick something up out of the snow. I suddenly commented, "So, that's where he got that!" This was my comment which answered my own question in my head ...of where he got the gadget.
But, it created another question ...of how he was so quickly able to figure out how to use it. I had no choice but to conclude that he was smarter than me. I guess our country has been saying for a long time there are lots of smart people who could have jobs if jobs were available.
I was touched by the commercial, and stated aloud, "That's one of the best commercials!" Then I commented that I wished they wouldn't shorten it.
Another keen observer in the room, mentioned that they'd seen the full length commercial before, but once they run the full version enough times, they can shorten it, and our minds fill in the blank part which is not seen, but which we've seen before ...and it doesn't cost the advertiser as much for that expensive air time.
Tradition does much the same thing ...as when we've heard or seen something enough times, it gives us immediate association.
And that can be a good thing.
Yet, though it may not necessarily be a bad thing ...it can be wrong.
For instance, the majority of people probably would say the wise men were at manger scene when Jesus was born. Most manger scenes purchased for part of our Christmas decor, whether as outdoor scenes, in children's books, or table scenes and on the mantle ...include the wise men.
The Gospel According to Luke, Chapter 2, clearly puts the shepherds in the scene ...but the Gospel According to Matthew, Chapter 2, clearly does not put the wise men there until much later. Tradition is so strong, that it has imprinted a slight inaccuracy in our mind ...though, in this case, it is not something to be overly concerned with. And most people can read these verses and more clearly see how it actually was.
Yet, there are traditions or traditional ways of thinking that are not clearly seen, nor stated. And what can we say of that??
Monday, January 2, 2017
Yes, what can be said of those traditions or traditional ways of thinking that cannot clearly be seen, nor stated??
Tradition has a preserving quality ...and much good can be said of preservation. Much care was taken to translate and copy the Bible ...preserving it so we can read it today.
Here is a little background on that:
At this point, perhaps I should differentiate between mere tradition and a much less cultural traditional thinking. I see no harm in some enjoyable traditions, such as is the case with the Christmas tree. We can have a healthy understanding of Christmas as a celebration of the birth of Jesus, while still putting up a Christmas tree. Hopefully that will not rile anyone's fir (fur, or hair ---if you're a human; feathers ---if you're a bird) when your fir stands on end, with all its decorations. What can be really wrong with trying to spruce up your living area!?!
Now, traditional thinking, in reference to God, and His Word ...what can be said of that? The Bible does not need to change. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Now, that does not mean we are taught the same lesson the same way. As a youngster, I was not forbidden to eat certain fruit ...yes, my home, like most homes, encouraged their children to eat fruits and vegetables. But, early on, my hand may have been slapped if I touched the TV controls when I was told not to.
Yes, my parents did their best ...and raised me in obedience, and with a good measure of respect.
Later on ...let's say, today, if I breach that respect, they may shake their head. But, that little nod of disapproval affects me. No, my hand does not still get slapped. I love my parents, so I am inclined to quickly remedy anything I detect as disappointing to them.
But, back to the traditional thinking ...in reference to God. Aside from the core belief that God's Word to us, is the Bible, we are at times told different and additional things by different faiths or denominations. And we don't always know the motivations behind why certain ways of traditional thinking began. Also, it is difficult at times to decide whether we are too quickly challenging those things, or too easily accepting them.
Here is a little background on that:
When we think of a
patriarch from the Bible, Abraham certainly comes to mind. As he left his birthplace, many may have
viewed him as a wanderer, but he was directed by God into the land of Canaan
Around 1000 BC, at the time of King David, scribes and
copyists were writing on papyrus and skin scrolls, know as early Hebrew. Then a couple hundred years more found the
northern kingdom conquered by the Assyrians, and later the southern kingdom
fell to the Babylonians.
It wasn’t until much later, under King Cyrus of Persia , that
repatriation began. King Cyrus
encouraged the Jewish people to return to the land and restore the temple. Though the Scriptures continued to be written
in Hebrew with great care to ensure the accuracy of the sacred text, Aramaic
began to replace Hebrew as the common language.
A couple hundred years later, Alexander the Great’s
conquests (300s BC) were paramount with helping make Greek the prominent
language of the Mediterranean . The visionary
ideas that emerged from Alexander’s campaign brought the notion of the
“brotherhood of man” and was seen partly as a missionary effort of sorts aimed
at the advancement and conversion of the pagan world. The Scriptures were translated into Greek for
the non-Hebrew speaking people. The work
of 70 legendary scholars was called the Septuagint. But, some rabbis saw it as more helpful in
Hellenizing the Jewish people than being effective in converting the
Hellenes. Some rabbis held the view that
the day the Septuagint was completed was “as unlucky a day for Israel as the
day of the fabrication of the golden calf.”
There were many good priests, and John the Baptist’s dad,
Zacharius, was one of them. But, there were also many who were not good. At the time Jesus began His ministry, you’d
think they’d be pleased with the many wonderful things Jesus did, but many
chief priests were very displeased.
Scribes and Pharisees were constantly attempting to twist or trip up
Jesus with their questions and His answers.
They felt they were the authority, and would not accept Jesus. Matthew
26:3-4 sums up their conclusion of their thoughts about Jesus …”Then assembled
together the chief priests, and the
scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who
was Caiaphas, and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill
Him.” (And the same attitude towards the
apostles is expressed in the Book of Acts …challenging them, Acts 4:1-7. Most
of the apostles also died horrific deaths, including being stoned, beheaded,
burned, and crucified.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the 4 Gospels did
not appear as a collection until over a hundred years later. The Epistles of Paul were gathered together
much before that. There were many
writings in circulation, some of which brought much confusion, so in AD 367, a
Bishop from Alexandria
established 27 New Testament Books. Pope Damasus
I.
Though I am focusing mostly on how the English Bible came
about (for me to read), the struggle did not just exist in one small area …it
was throughout Europe . In 1229, a church council in Toulouse , France
In the Middle Ages, several thousand
monasteries were established throughout Europe ,
with the chief task of monks being to copy the Scriptures. But, by the late Middle Ages, with the growth
cathedral schools and an increasing number of universities, a new group called
‘professional copyists’ made profit as booksellers and setting up shop near the
areas of the advantaged. Though, aside
from these privileged who could afford to further an education, most of the
people were illiterate …so there was more a need for the picture Bibles, full
of wonderful illustrations to tell the story.
Although the New Testament had reached England around
AD 600, hundreds of years elapsed before a complete English Bible was
available. In the 1300s, John Wycliffe
tried to introduce his English translation, but he and his followers were
branded heretics.
In 1455, Johann Gutenberg’s printing press produced its
first important book, a Bible, the Latin Vulgate. In 1534, Martin Luther came out with his
work, including also an artistic rendering of the ancient text …giving even the
illiterate a picture or glimpse of the
awesomeness of God. The push for an English Bible continued. William Tyndale tried to convince church
authorities of the need of a printed English Bible, and he found means to print
it outside the country, then shipping it to England . But, Henry VIII had the copies seized and
publicly burned. In 1536, Tyndale was
arrested by Dutch authorities, and executed.
Though, about that same time, Coverdale published his
complete Bible, dedicating it to Henry VIII, now head on an independent church
in England . The Bible did not get royal approval, but at
least this one was spared burning. Then
4 years later, Coverdale was instructed and instrumental in making sure a copy
was placed in every church.
Yet, when the Queen Mary came to the throne several years
later (succeeding her half-brother Edward VI), she forbade the printing of any
English Bible, and she condemned its use in parish churches, stating the Bible
had to be in Latin and explained by the clergy.
Though in 1558, Queen Elisabeth saw things differently,
ordering an English translation in each parish church. Then in 1603, King James assumed the throne,
and in 1611 the King James Version was published.
It seemed that each ruler had their own version of ‘Game of
Thrones’.
An argument from
ignorance, or appeal to ignorance
is a fallacy in informal logic. It says something is true because it has not
yet been proven false.
To make an argument
from silence is to express a conclusion that is based on the absence of
statements in historical documents, rather than their presence.
Direct observation showed that the sun revolved around the
earth …so, it can be seen how difficult Copernicus’s task must have been in
attempting to convince respected scholars who believed he was in error. Only about a hundred years earlier Galileo
Galilei was tried for heresy for similar ideas.
Likewise, when discussing the Bible, a popular phrase is:
“…the text simply does not say.” But,
there are occasions that the text does say something …yet, we are faced with a
similar argument, as it often does not say enough. Or perhaps it says just enough to get the
mind working …or for someone to work your mind for you.
Evolution, stating that approximately 14 billion years ago
the ‘Big Bang’ took place …and here we are today (of course, filling in some
blanks with chosen data presented as facts) borrows both from the ‘argument
from ignorance’ and the ‘argument from silence’. Yes, take your pick …they
did!!
Many Christians are stating that in reading the Bible, there
are those who use the argument from silence approach, when really it appears
that it could be more accurately an argument for who spoke first …and leaning
upon the majority, or how longstanding is the acceptance.
Isn't it quite clear that history shows that 'silence' is what many leaders wanted ...and they would go to extreme lengths to achieve it??
Isn't it quite clear that history shows that 'silence' is what many leaders wanted ...and they would go to extreme lengths to achieve it??
In summary, I contend this has been very effective in
steering the church. The very thing we
should all have is reverence towards God …but, it often is influenced by those
who feel they have supreme understanding about the very things that are not
written in God’s Word. And in
understanding the reverence that we must have ---authority and guilt go
hand-in-hand, the church having the authority ---and we know we are all guilty.
Sin is separation from God …and I believe we need to make a
conscious effort not to be separated from Him, as we are naturally
sinners. The first separation from God
most believers would say was instituted by Lucifer. And with God’s righteousness, He could say we
are all going to be judged by that very act of rebellion …as we all do rebel in
some fashion or another. Yet, Lucifer
was sent to this world …and it was Adam who was set apart to choose whether to
act in separation from God, or not.
Of course, Adam failed on that note, called sin, and we all
fail in that way. But, God did not fail
to make a way for us. Jesus came to
earth to provide the way, the truth, and the life.
Why is there a need for the Apostle Paul to write, “For the
invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so
that they are without excuse.”
And Romans 3:23 reminds us, “For all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God;” …along with Romans 5:12-13, “Wherefore, as by one
man sin entered the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men,
for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is
not imputed when there is no law ...”)
Yes, there was need for Paul to write to those in Rome , Corinth , Galatia , Ephesus ,
Philippi , Colosse, and the Thessalonians …and
to individuals as Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
How quickly they often went astray!!
And the most open believers became martyrs …no longer being
around to help the church stay on a straight path. Yes, there was much care to preserve the
documents which have become the Bible …yet, it was not initially available to
all, and many were illiterate. Today,
that is not true at all …the Bible being the best-selling and most read book of
all time.
Today
we are pretty casual about this great treasure, so readily available to us. Still, there are those who feel that we cannot
read with understanding, though the majority of us can read. And if we challenge the understanding of
others, they make it seem we are challenging God.
Some people like challenges, and a certain group has also said that we should rewrite the US Constitution ...saying that it was written for a time that we are now far removed from. (For the record, I disagree.)
Others have said that the Bible is similarly outdated. (I wholeheartedly disagree.)
Whether it's the US Constitution, or the Bible ...we may do ourselves well to attempt to look at the intent and meaning behind what is being said, and the motivation. Interpretation should not be solely based upon past precedents, as traditions are not always grounded in truth, and too often there are ulterior motives in the establishment of those traditions.
Whether it's the US Constitution, or the Bible ...we may do ourselves well to attempt to look at the intent and meaning behind what is being said, and the motivation. Interpretation should not be solely based upon past precedents, as traditions are not always grounded in truth, and too often there are ulterior motives in the establishment of those traditions.
At this point, perhaps I should differentiate between mere tradition and a much less cultural traditional thinking. I see no harm in some enjoyable traditions, such as is the case with the Christmas tree. We can have a healthy understanding of Christmas as a celebration of the birth of Jesus, while still putting up a Christmas tree. Hopefully that will not rile anyone's fir (fur, or hair ---if you're a human; feathers ---if you're a bird) when your fir stands on end, with all its decorations. What can be really wrong with trying to spruce up your living area!?!
Now, traditional thinking, in reference to God, and His Word ...what can be said of that? The Bible does not need to change. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Now, that does not mean we are taught the same lesson the same way. As a youngster, I was not forbidden to eat certain fruit ...yes, my home, like most homes, encouraged their children to eat fruits and vegetables. But, early on, my hand may have been slapped if I touched the TV controls when I was told not to.
Yes, my parents did their best ...and raised me in obedience, and with a good measure of respect.
Later on ...let's say, today, if I breach that respect, they may shake their head. But, that little nod of disapproval affects me. No, my hand does not still get slapped. I love my parents, so I am inclined to quickly remedy anything I detect as disappointing to them.
But, back to the traditional thinking ...in reference to God. Aside from the core belief that God's Word to us, is the Bible, we are at times told different and additional things by different faiths or denominations. And we don't always know the motivations behind why certain ways of traditional thinking began. Also, it is difficult at times to decide whether we are too quickly challenging those things, or too easily accepting them.
Primarily, I don't want to dismiss what I do read ...and if it is not clearly stated, I don't want to be clearly confused..
I can say, that if something in the Bible is not clear, it could be that it was not the most significant part to focus on ...or it was not what was being stressed.
Yet, some of us do stress ...and we find it difficult to answer those who try to stress a certain point. Some people may want us to stumble, and like certain scribes and Pharisees, they may somehow feel good about themselves for not being as ridiculous as those of us who do want to sincerely seek the truth.
But, more often it is not the case that others want us to stumble, but rather they themselves could be stumbling ...and perhaps they do sincerely want an answer. Uncertainty can make people very uneasy, and it may be comforting to them that someone has the confidence and authority to clear up their misunderstanding.
Yet, often it is not true what they are told ...for any number of reasons.
But, more often it is not the case that others want us to stumble, but rather they themselves could be stumbling ...and perhaps they do sincerely want an answer. Uncertainty can make people very uneasy, and it may be comforting to them that someone has the confidence and authority to clear up their misunderstanding.
Yet, often it is not true what they are told ...for any number of reasons.
Here are some of those points ...and I don't think your points are unworthy of attempting to answer. You may actually recognize some of your points here:
Why can't we simply know about Jesus ...why do we need any of the Old Testament Books, or any of the prophecies ...if we already believe??
Why does the Old Testament even exist ...if we just need Jesus??
Well, with the internet as our teacher (yet, I suggest it not be), we can easily find a number of sites which focus on what they call discrepancies of the Bible ...secular (supposed) scholars attempting to disprove the Bible. And if we can simply believe in Jesus, that would be great, if we can simply believe the truth about Him?
The fact is, a large number of these internet sites focus on their perceived inconsistencies of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John ...so, with that, how are we to know the truth of Jesus if we doubt the accuracy of what we read about Him??
Well, when we do read the accounts of Jesus ...it should be noted that Jesus always points us to the Father, and states that He and the Father are One.
In 2 Timothy 3:16, we are told that all Scripture is inspired. The word used for inspiration is 'theopneustos' which means "God-breathed", implying that what was written had its origin in God Himself. In 2 Peter 1:2 we read that the writers were "carried along" by God. Thus, God used each writer, including his personality to accomplish a divinely authoritative work, for God cannot inspire error. (From: 101 Cleared-up Contradictions in the Bible ---by: Jay Smith, Alex Chowdhry, Toby Jepson, James Schaeffer)
So, why do we find what some call error?? Well, let me say this. On occasion my older brother has mentioned an event in our childhood ...and he has not taken advantage to brag about it as he may have other things, but the truth is, he saved my life. We were floating boats in a large water trough for cows ...and when I reached for the boat that was floating from my reach, I fell in. Now, I would not just assume I'd become like one of those water babies ...and just begin swimming, and not need my brother's help. For all practical purposes of discussion, my brother saved my life ...as my Dad tells it. Now, we were both so very young ...and perhaps my brother can't recall the details as clearly as he told them to our Dad that day. Likely our Dad recalls quite accurately the event as it was told by my brother that day. Yet, if Dad, my brother, and myself were going to write it down ...there would likely be some differences in the story, maybe we were floating sticks instead of toy boats. And I don't know if I fell all the way in, or just head-first with my legs kicking upwards. The fact remains, that I fell in ...and he pulled me out. Any slight differences in the story, I would not call error. An error would be if I said I pulled him out. Yet, if I wrote that, and no person wrote their version of the story ...that is all you'd have to go on. It's great that we have four Gospels, and they virtually say the same thing.
Similarly, if you read the Old Testament, it is a rich history which sets the stage for His story.
Charles Wesley summarizes this high view of inspiration brilliantly when he says, "The Bible must be the invention either of good men or angels, bad men or devils, or of God. However, it was not written by good men, because good men would not tell lies by saying 'Thus saith the Lord'; it was not written by bad men because they would not write about doing good duty, while condemning sin, and themselves to hell; thus, it must be written by divine inspiration." (McDowell 1990:178)
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Here are some other points that should not be ignored, though are not clear enough for many people ...so, they accept confusion over attempting to pray for God's guidance in understanding. Yet, I know many of us could pray for God's leading and the result may be much more than just mild differences.
In fear that this may happen, many of us just take the safe route ...and accept traditional thinking. People did this in Columbus's day and stood firm with the fact that the earth was flat. It was not a fact though ...and is not a fact.
May it also be noted that Columbus lived during a time where they needed to emerge out of wrong thinking. We see through history, that when people believed in God, they made significant progress to improve their lives ...including many life-saving medical discoveries and advancements.
People also formed new thinking without God in mind, minimizing God, or not acknowledging Him at all. So many young minds were taught evolution ...and have come to reject anything that does not align with that (wayward) theory, or any other number of combined workings of the imagination, promoted as fact.
There are also those who find evolution compatible with a belief in God.
There is sort of a Deist point of view that has been prominent with even some of the Founding Fathers of our nation ...but, it is not what our Heavenly Father has shown us in His Word.
By definition, deism is: 1) belief in the existence of a God on the evidence of reason and nature only, with rejection of supernatural revelation (distinguished from theism ). ...deism is the belief in a God who created the world but has since remained indifferent to it.
If we personally adhere to a belief system similar to this, do we also believe that God has approached Satan this way?? Do we believe God created Satan (or Lucifer), and then remains indifferent to what he does??
One of the oldest Books of the Bible, Job, states that the angels sang at Creation ...not stating when the angels were created, but it appears rather convincing that it was before the stated Creation of the first Chapter of the Book of Genesis ...there having to be 'beings' behind the singing.
And if the angels existed before, what was their habitation??
Well, with the internet as our teacher (yet, I suggest it not be), we can easily find a number of sites which focus on what they call discrepancies of the Bible ...secular (supposed) scholars attempting to disprove the Bible. And if we can simply believe in Jesus, that would be great, if we can simply believe the truth about Him?
The fact is, a large number of these internet sites focus on their perceived inconsistencies of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John ...so, with that, how are we to know the truth of Jesus if we doubt the accuracy of what we read about Him??
Well, when we do read the accounts of Jesus ...it should be noted that Jesus always points us to the Father, and states that He and the Father are One.
In 2 Timothy 3:16, we are told that all Scripture is inspired. The word used for inspiration is 'theopneustos' which means "God-breathed", implying that what was written had its origin in God Himself. In 2 Peter 1:2 we read that the writers were "carried along" by God. Thus, God used each writer, including his personality to accomplish a divinely authoritative work, for God cannot inspire error. (From: 101 Cleared-up Contradictions in the Bible ---by: Jay Smith, Alex Chowdhry, Toby Jepson, James Schaeffer)
So, why do we find what some call error?? Well, let me say this. On occasion my older brother has mentioned an event in our childhood ...and he has not taken advantage to brag about it as he may have other things, but the truth is, he saved my life. We were floating boats in a large water trough for cows ...and when I reached for the boat that was floating from my reach, I fell in. Now, I would not just assume I'd become like one of those water babies ...and just begin swimming, and not need my brother's help. For all practical purposes of discussion, my brother saved my life ...as my Dad tells it. Now, we were both so very young ...and perhaps my brother can't recall the details as clearly as he told them to our Dad that day. Likely our Dad recalls quite accurately the event as it was told by my brother that day. Yet, if Dad, my brother, and myself were going to write it down ...there would likely be some differences in the story, maybe we were floating sticks instead of toy boats. And I don't know if I fell all the way in, or just head-first with my legs kicking upwards. The fact remains, that I fell in ...and he pulled me out. Any slight differences in the story, I would not call error. An error would be if I said I pulled him out. Yet, if I wrote that, and no person wrote their version of the story ...that is all you'd have to go on. It's great that we have four Gospels, and they virtually say the same thing.
Similarly, if you read the Old Testament, it is a rich history which sets the stage for His story.
Charles Wesley summarizes this high view of inspiration brilliantly when he says, "The Bible must be the invention either of good men or angels, bad men or devils, or of God. However, it was not written by good men, because good men would not tell lies by saying 'Thus saith the Lord'; it was not written by bad men because they would not write about doing good duty, while condemning sin, and themselves to hell; thus, it must be written by divine inspiration." (McDowell 1990:178)
*******************************************************
Here are some other points that should not be ignored, though are not clear enough for many people ...so, they accept confusion over attempting to pray for God's guidance in understanding. Yet, I know many of us could pray for God's leading and the result may be much more than just mild differences.
In fear that this may happen, many of us just take the safe route ...and accept traditional thinking. People did this in Columbus's day and stood firm with the fact that the earth was flat. It was not a fact though ...and is not a fact.
May it also be noted that Columbus lived during a time where they needed to emerge out of wrong thinking. We see through history, that when people believed in God, they made significant progress to improve their lives ...including many life-saving medical discoveries and advancements.
People also formed new thinking without God in mind, minimizing God, or not acknowledging Him at all. So many young minds were taught evolution ...and have come to reject anything that does not align with that (wayward) theory, or any other number of combined workings of the imagination, promoted as fact.
There are also those who find evolution compatible with a belief in God.
There is sort of a Deist point of view that has been prominent with even some of the Founding Fathers of our nation ...but, it is not what our Heavenly Father has shown us in His Word.
By definition, deism is: 1) belief in the existence of a God on the evidence of reason and nature only, with rejection of supernatural revelation (distinguished from theism ). ...deism is the belief in a God who created the world but has since remained indifferent to it.
If we personally adhere to a belief system similar to this, do we also believe that God has approached Satan this way?? Do we believe God created Satan (or Lucifer), and then remains indifferent to what he does??
One of the oldest Books of the Bible, Job, states that the angels sang at Creation ...not stating when the angels were created, but it appears rather convincing that it was before the stated Creation of the first Chapter of the Book of Genesis ...there having to be 'beings' behind the singing.
And if the angels existed before, what was their habitation??
And later we read of a much earlier event, a qute dramatic heavenly rebellion ...actually it is often referred to, but finally in the Book of Revelation, Chapter 12, we read: "the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who was called the devil and Satan.
So, the last Book of the Bible references the first, as the serpent is cursed to crawl on its belly and eat dust the rest of its life ...yet, certainly this is not what we see as Satan doing. In the Book of Job, God asks Satan to report what he's been doing ...and he doesn't say crawling on his belly throughout the earth, he says 'walking up and down' in the earth, not 'to and fro' on his belly (the rest of his life, remember).
Chapter 24, the Book of Jeremiah, refers to the people of Israel as fig trees, some bearing fruit (in faith) and others not. And He shows us what happens by the example of that particular fig tree, as he likewise shows us with the cursed serpent.
And it also should be noted that Satan asks God permission to test Job. That certainly is not a picture of an indifferent God. And all through the Old Testament bears evidence that God wants us to know Him, and understand His character. Jesus encourages us to pray also ...not so He can respond with indifference, but because He wants us to have a personal relationship with Him ---the kind we look forward to having in Heaven.
Then there's the often mentioned Kingdom of God, and Kingdom of Heaven. There is the reference to Sons of God ...not just listed in one place.
And Pastor mentioned that Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden, not mentioned that he was formed there ...but assumedly formed outside the Garden in order to place him into it?? And what would be shown him outside the Garden, or told and explained to him ...before he was placed in the Garden??
And did God create man ...giving him no standards, only one condition of not eating a fruit? Or was the knowledge of good and evil, the knowledge that not only told them they were naked, showing them evil ...or was it more that they were for the first time also realizing true goodness, and in comparison, felt naked. Both do seem to apply.
We can see how evil influenced Cain to kill Able ...again, with consequences, yet were the fallen angels allowed to do continually unimaginable things much worse than telling Eve a lie to get her to eat the fruit ...without intervention?? And if mankind's consequence for eating the fruit was to leave the Garden to be subjected to such superior conniving ...then what would have been the purpose of God providing skins for them to be covered??
God's way clearly points to correcting and setting us on the right course ...yes, correcting us as a reminder of what He has already told us. I believe we were given a definite direction ...and we sinned. I don't see God letting us go so wild, that He has to then intervene ...and then, and only then, after coming down hard, attempting to domesticate us. That's the error of parents who approach their children wrongly ...certainly not God's way.
There are many more questions ...but, sadly, there are way more answers than there are questions. The answers to these questions can be very interesting ...but shouldn't be so interesting that we get so creative that our ideas surpass God's purpose for sharing it with us.
And what is not clear, is perhaps because God was focusing on telling us what He told us, instead of the part we don't quite understand ...which He was not telling us. It is interesting how we often seem more interested in what He hasn't revealed to us ...more so than that which He has made clear over and over again.
Then there's the often mentioned Kingdom of God, and Kingdom of Heaven. There is the reference to Sons of God ...not just listed in one place.
And Pastor mentioned that Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden, not mentioned that he was formed there ...but assumedly formed outside the Garden in order to place him into it?? And what would be shown him outside the Garden, or told and explained to him ...before he was placed in the Garden??
And did God create man ...giving him no standards, only one condition of not eating a fruit? Or was the knowledge of good and evil, the knowledge that not only told them they were naked, showing them evil ...or was it more that they were for the first time also realizing true goodness, and in comparison, felt naked. Both do seem to apply.
We can see how evil influenced Cain to kill Able ...again, with consequences, yet were the fallen angels allowed to do continually unimaginable things much worse than telling Eve a lie to get her to eat the fruit ...without intervention?? And if mankind's consequence for eating the fruit was to leave the Garden to be subjected to such superior conniving ...then what would have been the purpose of God providing skins for them to be covered??
God's way clearly points to correcting and setting us on the right course ...yes, correcting us as a reminder of what He has already told us. I believe we were given a definite direction ...and we sinned. I don't see God letting us go so wild, that He has to then intervene ...and then, and only then, after coming down hard, attempting to domesticate us. That's the error of parents who approach their children wrongly ...certainly not God's way.
There are many more questions ...but, sadly, there are way more answers than there are questions. The answers to these questions can be very interesting ...but shouldn't be so interesting that we get so creative that our ideas surpass God's purpose for sharing it with us.
And what is not clear, is perhaps because God was focusing on telling us what He told us, instead of the part we don't quite understand ...which He was not telling us. It is interesting how we often seem more interested in what He hasn't revealed to us ...more so than that which He has made clear over and over again.
Just the same, I like to discuss those things which I feel has been messed up by the imaginations of others ...and instead of approaching it as fact, to just consider perhaps what God is really saying.
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