Replies

"Since we BOTH say we accept the Bible as the word of God and authoritative..."

I accept the Bible as having some authority. Not all. And the principles taught in the Bible but be weighed against all scripture and all sources including modern prophets. This guards against error.

"then ALL our discussion should center around what we both hold as God-breated truth."

Yes but our personal interpretations are not God breathed and are prone to error. Therefore, limiting the things of God will undoubtedly produce error.

"That your standards for determining what is or isn't directly from God allows you to accept your religion's founders as also inspired by God doesn't mean I also have to accept them."

The Holy Spirit told me they were authorized and recognized by God to found His Church.

If I don't believe and in fact reject those men at the Council of Nicea as being inspired by God how can I possibly accept what grew from their teachings? Didn't the Lord say that an evil seed cannot grow good fruit?

History alone shows that Amos 8 was fulfilled.

"...as also inspired by God doesn't mean I also have to accept them."

True, you have the freedom of choice. /shrug.

"So, no, you cannot prove God the Father was once a man before He was God."

No one can prove anything to another person if the other person isn't willing to accept it no matter the proof. Your unwillingness to be convinced has bearing on whether or not something is true.

"I trust that God is powerful enough to preserve His word against any and every threat man can come up with INCLUDING the idea that some essential writings were suppressed and only discovered nearly two thousand years later."

But you're assuming that just because He has the power to do so, He will do so. God gives us the freedom to reject Him and He doesn't interfere with that freedom.

God had the power to see the future and knew the books in the Bible would be preserved and the state it would be in. He has the power to instruct a real prophet to collect the writings of the prophets that we would need to find the truth and combat the error of false doctrines.

"Sorry, but that sounds like a pretty flimsy reason to accept these extra-Biblical books."

I accept them because they actually teach truth. They add to my knowledge of God, His laws, His commandments, an actual path of how to be saved into the kingdom of Heaven.

"or must you bring Him down to your level in order to do so?"

And we get to the crux of the problem, self loathing. Do you not know that God has promise to elevate the faithful? He uses words like exaltation. To exalt. It's not lowering God by no means. It's accepting the gift of God to be lifted up. To be crowned with glory. A joint-heir with Christ. To be given a crown. This is the very promise of God.

Can you tell me why you think the passages below are not spoken by the Lord?

9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.

11 For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.