Posted on 12/09/2008 2:39:05 PM PST by My Favorite Headache
Which is why Steven Hawking impressed me.
Bush is simply reflecting standard Methodist thinking. He is a Methodist, you know. Methodists have distanced themselves from their Wesleyan roots. The Wesleyans of the 19th century here in America were very fervent and conservative in their beliefs.
It's very difficult to talk to someone when you don't know whether they actually want an answer, or are just goading you.
Thanks for the positive reply. I strongly believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word, but I do believe we need to approach it with a reverence of asking for the most meaningful interpretations. Those ultimate interpretations will elude us until we meet God.
This does not mean in my view forfeiting debates to atheists and agnostics who clearly seek to annihilate the text. I think people should argue over whether they have a more or less meaningful view of the text rather than pretending they have a perfectly focused view of the text. We are constantly learning and inspired by the Bible if we are indeed creatures of faith.
I have found this view to be helpful in many many debates with all manner of intellectual stripes.
No sarcasm...truly want to know what you believe.
Just a thought...
It might do us all well to go back to those days when there was a single “denomination” where men and women weren’t basing their selection of a gathering on how it lined up with one’s own understanding (Prov. 3:4-5), but on the directing of the Holy Spirit (see the early chapters of the book of Acts).
Is God divided? (We know that men are...)
I would hazard against tossing off scripture based on the faulty interpretation of one or more churches. Instead I would endeavor to independent study. You can still be a literalist and eschew conventional church dogma.
The one found in the Book of Acts...
I will faithfully and respectfully disagree that being in a church implies “tossing off scripture.”
McKinsey’s book is easily answerable.
Enlighten me...
It's written Christ called himself the "son of man"
Eze 37:16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
These "sticks" are the old and new testament.
Zec 11:7 And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
Zec 11:8 Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.
Zec 11:9 Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.
Zec 11:10 And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.
Zec 11:11 And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.
If then the sticks can be broken. . .
We will one day, but until then I will base my understanding on what God, through His Spirit, reveals to me.
Seems like an effort by AP to taint Bush before he leaves the White House.
I don’t usually find myself in very strong agreement with others. (Make of that what you will). However, we seem to be on the same page. From adolescence (a long time ago) I was always impressed by my Pastor’s reasoning on “Free Will”. Life is tougher that way, but maybe that’s why God made us in his own image.
BTW, “Nobama” is very likely a troll on this subject.
OK, I guess I didn’t say that right. What I meant to say was that I wouldn’t let the difference in the teachings of the various denominations disuade me from believing. We are all fallible.
Fair enough.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.