[Alex Murphy]

Of course I believe God transforms lives through the hearing of The Word.

That Word also teaches that the world will wax worse and worse and lawlessness will increase until the Great Tribulation . . . etc.

To believe both, you must conclude that either A) Transformed lives don't accomplish jack squat when working in groups, meaning groups can't be transformed B) God doesn't plan on transforming lives in the future, or b) The "transformed life" is but a temporary phenomena.

[Uncle Chip]

To believe both, you must conclude that either A) Transformed lives don't accomplish jack squat when working in groups, meaning groups can't be transformed B) God doesn't plan on transforming lives in the future, or b) The "transformed life" is but a temporary phenomena.

or C) God meant what He said in II Timothy 3 --

I'll take C)

[Dr. Eckleburg]

To believe both (the "Gospel transforms lives for the better" and the "world is waxing worse and worse") you must conclude that either

A) Transformed lives don't accomplish jack squat when working in groups, meaning groups can't be transformed

B) God doesn't plan on transforming lives in the future, or

C) The "transformed life" is but a temporary phenomena.

AMEN!

"So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." -- Acts 19:20

Prevailed at what?

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." -- Isaiah 55:11

This earth is not corrupt. Matter is not corrupt. That's the belief of gnostics, and wiccans and Al Gore. Man's nature is corrupt. And that's an important distinction.

This earth was created by God for His glory. And as the word of God is preached through the world to all men, the earth itself will benefit.

If one man on the side of God can move mountains, what can 100 men on the side of God accomplish?

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." -- Mark 11:22-24

This is why, too, the dirt of Israel is no more holy than any dirt on earth. It is the Holy Spirit which indwells men according to the will of God that counts as what is holy and what is not.