Posted on 12/23/2010 7:23:44 PM PST by lancer256
I'd like to challenge you to consider that the "good news" we celebrate during the Christmas season really is true.
You may choose to believe the Bible is merely a book of fables with nice moral lessons, but there is more abundant and accurate manuscript evidence for the New Testament than any other book from antiquity. Moreover, the number of witnesses to Christ's life, death and resurrection, as well as the nature of their testimony, is strong evidence of the reliability of the scriptural accounts, as are the corroborating secular testimony and archeological evidence.
In fact, the New Testament writers had every temporal motive to deny the resurrection occurred. Why would they fabricate and stand by a story that would lead to their being beaten, tortured and murdered?
So next time you read your Bible, consider that you're reading the inspired word of God and that Jesus really did say and do what the Bible reports, beginning with His claims about His own divinity:
(Excerpt) Read more at davidlimbaugh.com ...
Lk 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Lk 2:2 ([And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
Lk 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
Lk 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
Lk 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Lk 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
Lk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Lk 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Lk 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Lk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Lk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Lk 2:12 And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Lk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Lk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Lk 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Lk 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Lk 2:17 And when they had seen [it], they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
Lk 2:18 And all they that heard [it] wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
Lk 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [them] in her heart.
Lk 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
What an excellent column for Christmastime! Thanks for posting it.
I know exactly how you feel. I read the entire bible in a very short period of time. Much of it while on vacation. I couldn't wait to get back to it each evening, reading into the early morning hours. I assume it would be like a great novel you just can't put down, except that I am not a book reader. I read it, I believed it, and I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. I had never belonged to a church, and for most of my life had no faith. It is a “powerful” book. It has the power of God, and the saving grace of Jesus in it's pages.
“The Old Testament is true and is supported by science. I´m more unsettled by the NT.”
If you are unsettled by the NT but believe in the Old Testament, how do you reconcile Isaiah and David’s references to Christ which happened just as the New Testament records?
“I’ve been told that our late-in-life conversions are rare.”
We are known as “Prodigal Sons” and I have found that we are in fact not so rare.
Too bad David Limbaugh is unfamiliar with folks like David Koresh, who had people willing to watch things done to their children and even die, yet still held to their beliefs into violent death. People believe things that are not true.
Plus, remember that Paul--who was responsible for making Christianity into what it became--was not a witness to the events on the road to Emmaus. There is much evidence for him suffering from a medical condition that could explain his experience near Damascus. Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9...which are we to believe? If we believe Acts 22:9, then others didn't hear the voice (of course, if we believe Acts 9:7, then there's the famous contradiction). So perhaps God worked through illness, or it was just an illness...the point is, Paul would be just as earnest whether God was behind it all or it was just a focal seizure (or another condition I suspect).
Agree with the statement but confess my ignorance. Who is Tim Keller?
Thank you, Lancer. In the midst of Christmas work, hurry, hurry, and worry we believers are often taken off track and easily forget just what it is we are celebrating. You’ve centered us with your post.
Not a good analogy. The Branch Davidians were invaded, and things happened fast. The 11 apostles spent years evangalizing knowing full well the potential consequences. Of course this doesn’t prove Christian theology, the proof of that is multifaceted, and much bigger than simple historical fact.
Yes people believe things that are not true, even at the risk of eternal damnation. As far as Paul is concerned, true it may have been illness, but many people have had similar religious awakenings. You can call them all illness if you want.....whatever.
“Prodigal Son”—how appropriate! What have you heard about these conversions—is this a recent phenomenon?
How’s that search for this “inherently moral” man goin’? Just askin’.
How’s that search for this “inherently moral” man goin’? Just askin’.
Er, have you read St. Paul? That ain't no medical condition. One of the saints described his sentences as "peals of thunder."
Double-post. Just like a noob. My bad.
Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC.
Look for him on YouTube, he has some great stuff there.
Also authored several books. My 2 favs are:
-The Reason for God-
-The Prodigal God-
I knew a good man who was on transports in the Atlantic during WWII...he handled the frozen food going eastbound, and the frozen corpses headed back to the States. Using that great preparation for the real world provided by the the US military, he became an undertaker.
He kept a scrapbook through his long career--death becomes mundane to morticians--and he showed it to me. I was struck by how many suicides were conducted with hands in prayer, clasping a Bible and/or rosary. Obviously, many a person at the end of his rope (no pun intended!) was begging for strength from his Lord.
What does the Bible say about that?
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. --I Corinthians 10:13If these people were praying for that "way to bear it" and avoid the temptation of suicide, weren't they doing exactly what they should have done, what would have been needed?
(Of course, here's the trick... I later found out that Early Christians committed suicide quite often, viewing it as a demonstration that they wanted to be with their Lord more than stay here. The prohibition against suicide actually came several centuries after Christ, in a financial/political move along with supporting priests who collaborated with the Romans, excommunicating priests who refused to eat meat broth, and other things that are core pieces of Christ's message </sarc>)
So yes, a lot is asked of us. But no more temptation than can be handled...else I Corinthians 10:13 is wrong.
Mental illness is culturally defined. One culture's schizophrenic is another's shaman.
What we would call mental illness is present in both the OT and the NT. Does that mean that it wasn't something used by God?
I never said it couldn't be...but I merely pointed out the possibility that it wasn't.
???
Thanks for sharing! I have a tract that asks: “Which Church Saves?”The answer of course is; “None of them , the Church does not save, Salvation is of the Lord!” The church is made up of saved people.
Our Lord, I believe made us to hunger and thirst for His eternal Holy Word!
Praise His righteous Holy name! (Psalm 150:6)
Thanks for sharing! I have a tract that asks: “Which Church Saves?”The answer of course is; “None of them , the Church does not save, Salvation is of the Lord!” The church is made up of saved people.
Our Lord, I believe made us to hunger and thirst for His eternal Holy Word!
Praise His righteous Holy name! (Psalm 150:6)
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