Concerning the article by Lt. Col. Mark Thompson: I beg to differ with what he said about the Bible.
God's word in 2nd Timothy 3:16 states: Every scripture is God breathed (given by His inspiration), is profitable for instruction, reproof and conviction of sin: for correction of error and discipline in obedience, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
God's word is most important for us to live a victorious Christian life. Jesus made it so clear when He said "I am the way, the truth and the life: no one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Knowing that the word of God is alive and powerful today as it was when it was written, Psalm 138:2 says I will praise You, for your lovingkindness and your truth, for You have magnified your word above all your name.
We are to obey the truth by loving one another with a pure heart, being born again not with corruptible seed but with incorruptible seed through the word of God, which lives and abides forever! It would be wonderful if those in authority over many would take this mighty word and know that it will not return void or empty but will accomplish what the Father pleases and it shall prosper where it is sent (Isaiah 55:11).
I would encourage all to read the word with an open heart and know the Spirit and the Word agree, so let the Spirit of God lead and guide you into all truth. It most assuredly is not a metaphorical narrative as stated, but words that will change your life forever!
Tess Galloway
North Augusta, S.C.
Amen Tess, your life is an example of the power of the Word
Tess Galloway, etal, give us concrete, irrefutable evidence that, as you suggest, "Every scripture is God breathed..." And please, refrain from citing "fairy tale" references.
GGpap
The problem with so many hard core bible literalists is that when they approach the bible with an "open heart", they do so with a closed mind. In our modern culture faith has collided with reason, causing the more enlightened in the various faith communties to approach the bible from a more critical and a more historical perpsective.
This is the point of Col. Thompsons article. He has come to realize, as have I, that a mind is not only a terrible thing to waste, but nearly impossible to open. I wish him luck.
I see three posters who feel they have a better answer than the one suggested by the bible. Now THAT'S choice.
Poodie says :- The problem with so many hard core bible literalists is that when they approach the bible with an "open heart", they do so with a closed mind.
That has unfortunately been my experience. Memorize and quote scripture, but do not think about what it means.
GGap: you do realize her beliefs are based on faith? And she's responding to another faith based statement?
Here is irrefutable proof:
http://thetrumpet.com/index.php?page=book&q=1294.6.0.1
Another religious letter to the editor. Instead of balanced feelings of the community we're taken to Sunday School every morning.
I think the AC needs to review it's LTE policy. I do not see where these "god" letters it publishes each and every day do anything to address public interests or issues. They get pretty tiresome. Religion is an issue which most readers have already made up their minds about so these letters do nothing to inform, influence, or serve the public interests in any way. All they do is open up a forum for the "yea for my side" comments or comments that ridicule and inflame. No public interest is served by publishing individual religious beliefs. I suspect the AC just uses them as space fillers.
Um that's why they call it "faith"? Because you have to believe without conclusive evidence? What a different world this would be if God manifested himself to us frequently so we could live without doubt and fear. Instead, we have to have faith that He exists and cares for us...life's greatest challenge.
Dixieman that is why our Saviour came to this earth the first time to spread the word of the coming kingdom of God to this sick twisted and upside down world that since the beginning has been ruled by the "prince of the power of the air" or in other words God's cherub angel who defied his laws and government. We do need faith but we all need to have living faith not just faith that he exists and is God but that he is a living God and he can heal and protect us if we come to him.
Here is an article I think should be read about religion:
A previous post says, "give us proof, irrefutable evidence...".
Do we live demanding this "irrefutable" evidence for everything in life? The things that can be proven beyond doubt are actually not all that important when it comes to the meaningful things of life.
2+2=4, but what does that get you? Can you prove beyond all reason that your wife/husband loves you? You can give evidence, but it will always require faith in another. How can we find a man guilty of a crime if the jurors were not personally present? It requires evidence, laid out in an understandable way so that one can make a determination.
God requires faith, but He doesn't ask that we throw out reason. The things that seem so impossible to man are effortless to God.
If one acknowledges a superior being/intelligent designer for our world, why would that same person have such a hard time believing He could inspire men to record His Word and acurately preserve it? If He gave life, does He not have the right to take life? Horrible in our finite mind! That requires that we cede control, something most are not willing to do. And it's your choice. While He could, He won't force you to believe.
If you deny the existence of God and subscribe to a Big Bang theory or some other theory, that is your right, but one question always remains unanswered. Why? Why are we here? If there is nothing after death, Why worry about how you live now if there are no ramifications after death? Did nature keep trying until wonder of wonders, life could survive? Or is there an order that was planned? I'm afraid I don't have the faith to believe we just popped into being, and all of the universe works against staggering odds to sustain life.
My faith to believe in God is minute to the faith it must take to believe otherwise.
I agree whole heartedly with the letter to the editor. Christ changed MY life, and I have seen so many others whose lives have been changed for the better. I have never known someone to follow Christ, only to have regrets for doing so. Excellent letter, Tess!
Take the gun away from your heads, atheists. You are not forced to read these articles any longer.
What about eating shellfish and and pork? Is this a sin? Just wondering.
In the New Testament, God changed the rules because they were no longer necessary. Jesus' birth, death, and return to life changed everything. Major portions of the old Mosaic Law, such as the sacrifices, were no longer in effect. The dietary laws were changed, and God indicated this to the Apostle Peter during a dream. The event is recorded in the book of Acts.
Acts 10: 9-16
9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
14"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
15The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
The anti-God crowd doesn't appear to be a very happy bunch.......now that I think about it, I guess that does make sense. Christians stay strong and keep loving the lost; they need Jesus pretty bad. Be bold and live life without regrets and carry as many to heaven with you as you can. Having it all together without Jesus is like restoring an old car to perfection and then pushing it off a cliff.
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