Posted on 12/16/2015 12:50:41 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o
“Every religion has some garbled fragments of truth mixed in with it -— didn’t Paul speak of this at the Areopagus?”
Indeed he did, something I remember every time I stand there. These truths, however, are usually far more than mere “garbled fragments of truth.” The Fathers called them the “sporoi tou Theou”, the seeds of God.
I dictated. “excepted” should be “accepted”.
iPhone.
Thank you for posting this. On the original thread a lot of people called the theology and methodology wrong.
You are correct, these are “seeds of God.” I only said “garbled fragments” because they are just that, fragmentary, and garbled when deprived of a Judeo-Christian context. When Paul places these in a Judeo-Christian context, they make total sense. In fact, “In Him we live and move and have our being” is, to me, one of the MOST beautiful and true statements of who we are in God.
This isn’t about the Muslims; it’s about the Jewish faith.....didn’t you get that?
Amen to that, kinsman!
**I know plenty of Jews who have excepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.**
Do you mean accepted?
I lurk on a number of different forums to see what's happening on them. I do not believe (or want to believe) them all equally.
One of these forums aligns with a fundamentalist (I do not use the term "fundamentalist" as a pejorative) Christian perspective. (This is not my current or former position, and it will probably not be my future one. My main reasons are more substantial than the observations mentioned later in this post, but neither do these observations encourage me to join this forum.)
It has a thread linked to an article that seems to share sources with that New York Times one. Since the mainstream position on that forum is that The Pope Is Eeeeeevil, naturally no one there has openly questioned the article at all. (To be fair, I should mention having seen the occasional "The Pope Is Eeeeeevil" thread in which someone posts something about not believing everything in a news article, but so far nothing like that has appeared in the most recent thread.) There's even a post about how that thread has confirmed one poster's suspicions about Pope Francis.
Elsewhere on the same forum, though, I've seen warnings about trusting the media (they may even use "mainstream media" or "MSM") on other matters.
(There is even at least one 9/11 truther, who has more than once embedded Youtube videos supporting that position. Maybe this position would be examined more critically there if this member had ever started a thread on the matter or posted at length defending the position, but even so the relevant posts are allowed to remain and even get a few positive reactions from other members.)
On a different but similar forum, I've even seen hoaxes from fake news sites posted as actual news. Although multiple possibilities occur to me, such as trolling, it's most likely in my mind that the poster genuinely believes that the "stories" are true.
I should also note that even on this very forum, people don't always check satire or hoaxes before posting them as fact. For example, one of those hoaxes mentioned in the last paragraph (it involved Pope Francis--surprise!) spawned at least two threads here. Here, though, the threads have been removed.
Part of the problem is with people “thinking” in slogans and not in ordered logical paragraphs which require close attention. There are many truths which go beyond what you can fit on a bumper-sticker.
The times of this ignorance God winked at: BUT NOW COMMANDETH ALL MEN EVERYWHERE TO REPENT: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:30,31 (KJV)
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:18)
:o}
Weird but true, ZC.
I am not Jewish and am slated to rule over no one.
No wonder you trash the New Testament so much, for it says just the opposite. It says there is going to be a millennial reign of Jesus Christ - the true Messiah of the Jews - after his second coming, Rev. 20. A Christian worldwide theocracy, a Christian "end of history," not an antichristian Judaic one.
That's good to know. But the simple fact is, it doesn't matter what the "new testament" says if it isn't from G-d. Quoting the "new testament" to someone who doesn't accept it does no more good than quoting the koran or the "book of mormon" to people who don't believe them.
G-d spoke at Mt. Sinai. That Revelation rules supreme over all claimants of further revelation . . . authentic or otherwise. It sits in judgment on them all . . . including the "new testament."
Do you have a Hebrews 11 robot that searches the innerweb for references to the Book?
LOL
Actually, I was referring to the crown of your illustrious chapter (vvs 39,40)
However, v. 6 is worth repeating (and memorizing):
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
And it is fitting to repeat because it says a person must believe that the one true God exists, AND that he will reward men's faith in him with forgiveness and righteousness. And that's just what He promises to do.
I love God's Word.
>I am not Jewish and am slated to rule over no one.
That’s right, I forgot, you have said that you are a Noahide. Being Gentile, Judaism has no place for you in their worldwide theocracy? Sounds racist to me.
>Quoting the “new testament” to someone who doesn’t accept it does no more good than quoting the koran or the “book of mormon” to people who don’t believe them.
Key words there “accept” and “believe.” That is, after all, the difference between old and new covenants/testaments. The NT being based on acceptance and belief: acceptance and belief of Jesus Christ the promised Messiah of the Jews.
You mentioned Islam and yourself disbelieving the NT, this puts both of you are in the same boat. Both Islam and Judaism (and Noahides, I suppose) claim to keep the law, yet the NT says you are all sinners: Christ said, when the Holy Spirit is come, he will reprove the world of sin...”Of sin, because they believe not on me,” John 16:7-9.
“Why do so many FReepers truest the New York Times?”
They always trust it when it distorts the Catholic faith.
I contend that Heb.11:6 is the threshold verse of the Bible. The gospel is inherent in it.
Hebrews has been a special blessing for me. God directed me initially, twenty years ago, to 11:6, and I meditated on it for two years. It's been my FR name for 17 years (note that my tagline incorporates it, in an in-your-face manner).
Speaking of memorizing: three years ago the Spirit prompted me to memorize the first half of Chapter 12; then, because that begins with "Therefore," I memorized Ch. 11, the chapter you cited. Finally, six months ago He challenged me to memorize the entire letter, which I did over four months. (By the way, the next time you read Hebrews, take note how often the author uses "Therefore" in building his sequential argument.)
Now, He's challenged me further: I'm about to tackle Romans.
The Book is Paul-like in it style and reminds me of Romans.
It is one of my favorites. Chapter 10 is especially good. Here are verses 11-14
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy
I love God's Word.
Because you love its Author.
I have a (half-baked) theory: Each believer eventually will memorize all of God's Word. I'm just getting a head-start. I do hope the version one uses is optional--I'd hate to have to start over!
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