Replies

I certainly don't exclude myself from what I'm saying - I never have. My opinions about the meaning of the Bible are just that - my opinions. I don't hide behind the idea that the Bible is "saying" something, and I'm just reporting it. That, however, is exactly what I hear you doing and defending doing, and I don't accept it, from you, Daniel1212 or anyone else. People hide behind their religions, as if the religion is just stuck to them and they have nothing to do with it. They conveniently forget that they choose that religion, and they also choose their own personally accepted interpretations of the Bible. That they are fully responsible for their own beliefs, just as you and I are. The difference is that I accept my beliefs AS my beliefs, and I don't claim that they're anyone else's.

Also, I've found that the narrower the door, and the higher the barriers people demand for accepting someone else's beliefs as "valid", they more they claim the Bible is speaking on its own, and religion is speaking on its own, and they are just the humble messenger. IMO, to such people, Jesus says "I know you not."

And really, how hard is it to simply say that your religious beliefs are yours? And why should that be such an outrageous thing to demand? After all, it's so obviously true.

I certainly don't exclude myself from what I'm saying - I never have. My opinions about the meaning of the Bible are just that - my opinions.

On the contrary, you have expressed the strongest of views, going so far as to make accusations against James Dobson, Daniel and myself. When you said "what Dobson did was wrong," for instance, what did you believe your standard was for that? Your own, in disagreement with God's, or did you believe you were only stating and upholding God's standard? And if you believe that you were in agreement with God to say what Dobson did was wrong, on what basis? How did you come to that judgment?

You have also omitted, once again, any mention of how familiar you are with the Bible.

I don't hide behind the idea that the Bible is "saying" something, and I'm just reporting it. That, however, is exactly what I hear you doing and defending doing, and I don't accept it, from you, Daniel1212 or anyone else.

See above. And I will also add that it isn't "hiding behind the idea that the Bible is 'saying' something" to say something like "the Bible says..." or the "the Bible teaches." Go back to what I wrote to you about Hillary Clinton and Jesus saying "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him."

People hide behind their religions, as if the religion is just stuck to them and they have nothing to do with it. They conveniently forget that they choose that religion, and they also choose their own personally accepted interpretations of the Bible. That they are fully responsible for their own beliefs, just as you and I are. The difference is that I accept my beliefs AS my beliefs, and I don't claim that they're anyone else's.

Well what you've said here then begs the question, do you acknowledge any way to judge whether or not someone is faithfully applying the Bible?

Since you have rejected Hillary Clinton's claim that she is a "person of faith," then apparently, you do. So what is it, then?

And again, you've gone beyond merely offering your opinion here and "your own beliefs," to judge others.

I also have to say here, that your continued avoidance of just outright saying how well you do, or don't, know the Bible, makes it very hard to discuss much of this with you, and that is on you. It's a problem that you've created here.

And considering how you have accused me, including through the use of Bible passages, I demand to know what your knowledge of the Bible is.

Also, I've found that the narrower the door, and the higher the barriers people demand for accepting someone else's beliefs as "valid", they more they claim the Bible is speaking on its own, and religion is speaking on its own, and they are just the humble messenger. IMO, to such people, Jesus says "I know you not."

Again, there's no real discussing all this since you haven't said how well you know the Bible, which isn't something that should be hidden.

And really, how hard is it to simply say that your religious beliefs are yours? And why should that be such an outrageous thing to demand? After all, it's so obviously true.

Again, much of what I've already said in this reply applies here. But I will add that the ultimate standard isn't what seems to be "so obviously true," but the Bible, which shows us that sometimes what seems obviously true to us is indeed true, and other times, it isn't.

the Bible doesn't SAY anything. The Bible is a book of words. PEOPLE say what THEY THINK the Bible means

My opinions about the meaning of the Bible are just that - my opinions. I don't hide behind the idea that the Bible is "saying" something, and I'm just reporting it... '

Consider the absurdity of your liberal position, for it excludes anyone from saying anything is Biblically right or wrong, which means they cannot obey such injunctions as "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them," (Ephesians 5:11)Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Timothy 4:2)

For since the Bible really does not say anything so clearly that one can assert "Scripture states," but it is all a book of words out of which people only say what THEY THINK the Bible means, so that it is only their opinions, then no one can assert a Scripturally substantiate case, and as seen in my case, such can be blithely dismissed as merely being their opinion.

And which is just what prohomosexual apologists and the like contend, echoing the hiss of the serpent, "Hath God said.."

And here we are not dealing with some abstract theological problem, but with the manifest testimony of Scripture as to what born again conversion basically effects in word as well as in deed.

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:14-15)

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; (2 Corinthians 4:13)

Yet outspoken Trump says nothing about a conversion, and hardly ever even mentions the name above every name, and while you and others make Trump to be a miracle worker by God, why does not he himself even clearly ascribe the things you call miracles to God?

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? (Acts 4:7)

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (Acts 4:10)