Posted on 01/03/2002 11:19:13 AM PST by ArGee
A very rich man decided that he wanted to show kindness to the people of the fair city where he lived. Since he was very rich indeed, he decided to throw a banquet for the entire city. He rented the largest sports arena in the city and began his plans. He planned for huge amounts of the best food possible, making allowances for every religious and medical diet. He advertised the banquet in every possible manner - television, radio, billboard, door-to-door canvassing. Considering that there might be some who could not travel, he arranged for free bus transportation to and from the event, and some special-needs vehicles for all who could not ride busses. He even scheduled the banquet to run for 24 hours a day for several days so that everyone could be sure of being served.
He planned long and hard and finally the big day came. The rich man ate quickly and then went about wishing all his guests well and personally making sure that all had every need met. After a while he went outside to tour the grounds and talk with those who had not yet gone in, and those who had already left. Everyone was happy. Many were profusely thankful. It was a glorious occasion.
At one point the rich man noticed a group of people sitting outside a locked door with most unpleasant looks on their faces. Sensing they were not happy, he went over to them. He did not introduce himself but simply asked them if he could be of service.
"We want to go in through this door," one of them replied.
The rich man explained to them that the hall was arranged to feed a large number of people as quickly and effortlessly as possible. This required order inside, and the entrances and exits had been carefully planned to be as efficient as possible. He then offered to go call one of the golf carts that were avaialbe to help people who could not walk far to take them to the entrance. But the man replied, "We do not want to go in the entrance. We want to go in this door. We don't understand why we can't go in any door we wish. We think the man who set this banquet up is mean and hateful for insisting we go in through the entrance. He has tried to bill himself as a very kind man by offering this banquet, but he is not kind at all if he will not indulge us and let us go through this door.
The rich man was distressed at these words, but still attempted to please these people. He tried once more to explain to them what was behind this particular door, and how if they went in this door they would disrupt the meal service being offered inside. He offered to drive them himself, not only to the door, but inside the hall to their tables if they would only go through the entrance to enjoy the meal. Again the man said, "No, but only a hateful man would keep us from going through the door of our choosing. And we will sit here and tell anyone who will listen to us what an awful man he is until he lets us in."
At that the rich man was enraged and he shouted, "Enough." Then he called a police officer to have them thrown off of the property and ordered that they not be allowed to return until the banquet was over and all the scraps had been hauled away. Then, mourning for their loss, he turned to visit with other guests.
You Do NOT have Biblical 'Faith' period!
The Devil and devils believe too, but they Do Not have 'Biblical Faith'.
They call God a liar!!
It is IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie!!
(Titus 1:2,......Hebrews 6:18,.....etc.)
All 'righteous' things are 'possible' with God!!!
BUT,......God CANNOT 'do' any 'unrighteosness' or, 'sin'.
SEE, Romans 10:17
Shalom.
But you must admit that G-d is your savior and He alone. It is repeated in the Tanak. Let me know if you need references.
Perhaps I phased it wrong when I said "I prefer to go it alone." I prefer to go with God and have Him judge me worthy through my work. If that is not sufficient for Him, then I am content to have made the effort.
If you are counting on your effort, then you are attempting to save yourself. This is contrary to the Tanak which says your only savior is G-d. You can not save yourself.
We can discuss the issue of Yeshua later, if you want. Right now we are simply discussing the Jewish Bible and the G-d of Abraham.
Shalom.
Then why aren't you rectifying that situation? Is there any knowledge that is more profitible to you than knowledge of G-d and His ways?
Shalom.
I will not abandon the view that the truth is what is best for everyone.
I know, I know. You do not believe it to be a universal truth. But I know it to be one. Therefore, I know it will "work" for everyone.
BTW: Christianity is not an electric circuit. It isn't something that can be said to be working or broken. It is a relationship with the G-d of all. To say it "works" or "doesn't work" is silly. It is either true or it isn't. That is the only language that makes sense.
Shalom.
If you will answer two questions for me, then I will answer the burning issue of those who never had a chance to hear the name of Jesus for you. I will answer it from the Bible so that you will know it is Christian doctrine.
1. Are you an atheist?
2. If I answer that question, will you believe in G-d?
Shalom.
If a Jew believes in an after life (not all Jews do - particularly the partially secular ones) the above belief is universal including the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform.
It is a comfortable belief, but it violates the Tanak. I am also talking with Celtjew Libertarian about this. The Tanak clearly states that G-d and G-d alone is your savior. It states that you have no other savior. If you go to Heaven by your good works, then you are your own savior. But if G-d is your savior, you go for another reason.
Do you believe the Tanak? Does the Talmud teach differently? I have only read "Everyman's Talmud" and I don't remember if it covered this issue or not.
Shalom.
Focus on G-d. Forget the other people. G-d has given you His word so that you may read it for yourself. Don't allow yourself to be distracted.
Come to the Table.
Shalom.
All you've proven is that you don't understand anything about prayer.
Shalom.
Is this a sticking point for you, wai-ming? If so, I can prove Scripturally that none were excluded, even those born befor Christ. Would that satisfy you?
BTW: Are you Chinese? If so, let me recommend a wonderful book that I just finished. It's called "Safely Home" by Randy Alcorn. It deals entirely with the church in China, and there's even some stuff to speak directly to your question. Randy is so much better than I at this.
Shalom.
Outstanding statement that bears repeating. Your entire explanation was outstanding. That's why I can claim to be eating right now and claim, "The fellowship is divine." Heaven isn't somewhere you go after you die. It's where you are right now if you are in fellowship with Jesus.
Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom.
If you wish to be the judge of that, you have my permission.
Shalom.
Thank you for your kind comments. Your point above is well made. Also, don't assume seeing is believing. I used to do a little magic. People would see what I had done, and then ask, "What's the trick?" They would not believe what they had seen with their own eyes.
Because they knew better.
Shalom.
Forgive me for being dense, but I just couldn't figure out what you meant by that.
Shalom.
So, I do everything I can to tell you how wonderful the feast is and you accuse me of desparately trying to convince myself that something is there. What would you say about me if I said, "Go away. This food is for me. I don't want you to have any of it." What would you say abou tme if I said, "Suit yourself. I don't care if you burn in hell forever. It's no skin off my nose. Why should I care." Would one of those responses make me a good person?
I tell you there is food on the plate. You can ignore it, pretend not to see it, or even not see it if you like. But I would rather you did not. I would rather that you eat the food. It is good and good for you. It is made for you and you for it. Deride the food, deride me, do whatever you need, but take a bite. For whatever else you may say about me, I care about you and do not wish you to starve.
Shalom.
I will grant you the second, but not the first. If you post contradictions to this thread, I will ignore them. But if you create another thread you will get plenty of answers, some from me.
As to the issue of misinterpretations, I have found that those who are reading the Bible to support their own agendas often disagree. But those who approach it with a humble heart, searching for what G-d would say, tend to agree strongly even when they have never spoken with each other about the topic before.
That's my experience. Yours may vary.
Shalom.
You have faith that the god of the bible doesn't exist, for you cannot prove that he doesn't.
You have faith that the god of the bible does exist, for you cannot prove that he does.
The above are the original statements, lacking any conclusions about them.
Given: GOD either exists or HE doesn't (T or F)
True, can't be anything other than these two possibilites, so the combination is true.
Given: You state that there is no evidence either proving or disproving the existance of GOD,
is this not correct?
Therefore, my point is, since you claim there is no evidence to PROVE the non-existance of GOD, you have to take that on Faith, which is what you claim to not have.
You asked me how I know. I know because I trust that the Bible is the Word of G-d. I don't require for you to accept the validity of that statement for me to stand upon it.
Jesus has been to both Heaven and Hell. You have not. I have not. I will trust His word on the subject.
Shalom.
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