FAITH-IN-HIM said:

How do you determine which parts of the Bible are factual? Is it possible to believe that Jesus is God—born of a virgin, crucified, and resurrected after three days—but doubt stories like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walking through fire because it seems physically impossible?

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Does scripture tell you that you have to believe in the latter? Believe in Jesus, trust in the blood and you'll be okay.

Nithavela said:

Lot of those third world countries are christian majority.

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Such as?

Most importantly, once again Congress merely appeases him when he runs roughshod over their authority. He has just boldly said he's going to ignore the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.

And that proves he can do the same thing with the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and any other law passed by Congress.

Neville Chamberlain: "Peace for our time"

Reluctant Theologian said:

Good point/question - this was common in both Greek and Roman society. Church Father Clement of Alexandria (+/- 190-200 AD) states a slave woman who is ordered by her master to prostitute herself commits no sin if she obeys, because she has no power to refuse. The guilt belongs entirely to the owner.

Historical accounts show efforts by Christians to buy these female slaves free to relieve them from this horrible situation.

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Says here he didn’t specifically adress sexual abuse of slaves:

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 NIV
[10] For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” [11] We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. [12] Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.

stevevw said:

I was just trying to work out why Kangaroos are only restricted to certain areas like other animals. Like Australia is similar to Africa in places but does not have elephants for example. Britain does not have koalas.

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Geographic isolation due to natural barriers.

In the case of Australia, it's due to the break-up of Gondawana which started about 150 million years ago and the movement of the continent away from Antarctica and South America.

Australia is biogeographically isolated from most of the rest of the world thanks to the 'Wallace Line'.

GoldenBoy89 said:

Lol a little too late to be using Trump as a threat. He’s president now and this is still happening. Seems ineffective.

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It is still happening because liberals double down on woke identity politics instead of learning their lesson. Democrats would do well to listen to James Carville. But keep it up and the DNC will be less popular than Bud Lite.

Guojing said:

To clarify, when you use words like "mandated by Jesus of Nazareth Himself" and "called by Jesus of Nazareth" are you saying the risen Christ appeared to them personally, aka 1 Corinthians 9:1?

If not, how do you know that to be true?

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When did Jesus appear to Barnabus?

N

eleos1954 said:

1 Corinthians 10:32

When looking at the Greek for church in this verse it uses the definition of the entire body of believers. The "called out ones".

ekklésia: an assembly, a (religious) congregation
Original Word: ἐκκλησία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: ekklésia
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-klay-see'-ah)
Definition: an assembly, a (religious) congregation
Usage: an assembly, congregation, church; the Church, the whole body of Christian believers.
HELPS Word-studies
1577 ekklēsía(from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2564 /kaléō, "to call") – properly, people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church (the mystical body of Christ) – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.

The called out ones are Gods people - Israel

God Bless.

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There were saints before Pentecost, do some research. Grace is older than the carnal nation of Israel. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, King David , Able, Enoch, Noah and all the prophets are part of the foundation of the church according to Paul.

eleos1954 said:

1 Corinthians 10:32

When looking at the Greek for church in this verse it uses the definition of the entire body of believers. The "called out ones".

ekklésia: an assembly, a (religious) congregation
Original Word: ἐκκλησία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: ekklésia
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-klay-see'-ah)
Definition: an assembly, a (religious) congregation
Usage: an assembly, congregation, church; the Church, the whole body of Christian believers.
HELPS Word-studies
1577 ekklēsía(from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2564 /kaléō, "to call") – properly, people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church (the mystical body of Christ) – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.

The called out ones are Gods people - Israel

God Bless.

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Gentiles were grafted into the olive tree to replace the unbelieving Israelites. James wrote to the 12 tribes scattered abroad. The elect are constantly called the church by Jesus and the Apostles. The elect in Revelation 7 & 14 is the church.

"We don't want to conquer the cosmos; we simply want to extend the boundaries of Earth to the frontiers of the cosmos." - Stanislaw Lem from his book Solaris

Guojing said:

You could have just replied with a "Yes, that was my answer to your question."

I would have replied with a thanks, and we can finally move on.

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My brother I don’t like to play games. I have engaged you argument but you have not responded other than to demand a yes or no answer. I have explained multiple times that the question is not a yes or no answer but you continue to demand that. It’s just not going to happen so yes, let’s just move on.

BCP1928 said:

Only one side sees things that way. The other side just doesn't want to be told what to do by a religious faction of dubious moral credibility.

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I assume the side that complains about being told what to do by religion are the secular progressives or those who are not religious or believe in God.

I wasn't necessarily meaning just religion as opposed to non religion. The divide and polarisation where each side sees the other as a threat and bad for society can also happen in politics and there can be more than two opposing sides like Left and Right or Conservative and Progressives.

There can be a number of groups like tribes where each thinks the other is wrong. Like at the culture wars where we have different identity and ideological groups pitted against each other.

Its interesting that you keep targeting certain groups as the only bad ones like men and religion. Its never other identity groups like women, non religion or political ideology groups like Marxist, Communists, Feminists, Humanist, Wokist ect.

Why is it only these groups you single out as the bad one. I thought all were sinners. It sounds like this is acting more like the Pharisees wanting to throw stones at certain groups. When they have a beam in their own eyes.

BCP1928 said:

Because what is really at risk is not society but merely anglo-Protestant culture.

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Most progressives are not even religious.

BCP1928 said:

That why we don't do it that way

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Do it what way. I am talking about how under a pluralistic society we have to allow all beliefs and political views even if they conflict. Its the only way under a free society.

BCP1928 said:

and why the laws of a secular state are not considered, in themselves, to be moral precepts.

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Well in reality they are and I think everyone knows that and acts like they are moral precepts. A State cannot detach itself from the moral aspects of the policies and the laws they implement.

Why do you think people protest and get angry and lobby the State. Why do you think all these social groups have rising like Me Too and BLM or the Environmental activists or proests against Isreal and rallying for Palestine. Of course its all based on morals.

When the State chnages Marriage laws, abortion law, alcohol and gambling laws, family laws, welfare policies, workplace laws re descrimination, Identity policy and law protections, policies on what is taught in education ect ect ect.

Look at all the chaos over immigration policy and laws. People are willing to use violence to stop what they think is unjust and immoral laws.

BCP1928 said:

You need to think that over. ".Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." --Abraham Lincoln.

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What does this mean for Christians living within a sinful world. The bible says they cannot be of this world and live by its ideology. We have to live Gods will on earth as it is in heaven. Which often contradicts with the world.

Yes we must be on Gods side but what does that entail. That we live Gods will and not sin. Christ forgave the adulterous women but said sin no more. So we try to live like Christ. Help the poor and disadvantaged and proclaiming the gospel.

Christ said the world will hate Christians for standing with Him. So if we are truely living as Christ then Christ church will be hated by the world. But it will also be a light in the darkness for those searching and open to God.

BCP1928 said:

I see you have completely embraced the heresy of Manichaeism.

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It doesn't matter. My point was there is a significant polarisation and culture war going on. Which is primarily divided along Left and Right, and Conservate/Christian and Progressive/secular.

In fact there are a number of divides. On the world scale its become more polarised between democratic and free nations as opposed to the rising anti democratic powers.

But this anti democratic influence is infiltrating western nations to compound the already growing polarisations between Left and Right. Hense we see the rising of socialist and Marxist leaning politicians like OAC and now a socialist Mayor.

Its a mess.

Postvieww said:

There is no truth in that statement. You have absolutely no evidence she was trying to assassinate anyone.

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She was leading the crowd which was, according to audio, intent upon assassination.

Barraco said:

Something to consider is the tabernacle layout during the Exodus and Wandering. There were four camps of Israelites around the tabernacle, a camp for each direction. Judah, whose symbol was a Lion, was the east camp. Dan, the eagle, to the north. Ephraim the calf to the west. Reuben the man to the south. The sealed scroll of Revelation 5 is essentially the tabernacle of God being spread out across the whole earth. Notice in Revelation 6 that the four horsemen proceed when the four creatures say, "Come!" These were all ways the gospel was spread across the earth. The fifth seal sees blood of saints under the altar of burnt sacrifice, which was in the outer court. This indicates that martyrdom would be another way to bear witness. Finally, the sixth seal shows signs that strike fear into the hearts of God's adversaries. This is akin to the Spirt of God entering the Temple, as in the days of Solomon's Temple. The 144,000 are represented in the tabernacle as 12 loaves of bread. The multitude of martyrs are represented by the Levites. Finally, the incense offering of the seventh seal occurs in the Holy Place. All of these serve the purpose spreading the gospel to the whole world, building up Christ's Church.

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Very Interesting! I'll have to look more into this. Incidentally, where did you find that the camps around the Tabernacle had those particular symbols, ie lion, eagle, man, etc.? I'm not sure if you're saying that the symbol of Reuben is an ox or calf? That would tie the camps of Israel around the Tabernacle to the cherubim, I should think?

lismore said:

I think in Ancient Athens and Rome slave-women would be compelled, through threat of extreme violence, to act as prostitutes. 'Slaves obey your Masters' (Ephesians 6:5). Did slaves who had no choice sin in this regard? Kind Regards.

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Good point/question - this was common in both Greek and Roman society. Church Father Clement of Alexandria (+/- 190-200 AD) states a slave woman who is ordered by her master to prostitute herself commits no sin if she obeys, because she has no power to refuse. The guilt belongs entirely to the owner.

(edit: more detailed reading shows this is an incorrect conclusion based on his text - see later in this thread)

Historical accounts show efforts by Christians to buy these female slaves free to relieve them from this horrible situation.

lismore said:

I think in Ancient Athens and Rome slave-women would be compelled, through threat of extreme violence, to act as prostitutes. 'Slaves obey your Masters' (Ephesians 6:5). Did slaves who had no choice sin in this regard? Kind Regards.

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I think that’s a dumb thought. But regardless it would be pretty shameful.

NxNW said:

Marital rape was legal for a long time.

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Can one flesh rape itself?

NxNW said:

Not gonna happen.

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Not with that attitude!

another_lost_guy said:

No U.S. law ever required a woman to have sex.

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Marital rape was legal for a long time.

another_lost_guy said:

Indeed.

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Not gonna happen.

Guojing said:

You are saying that James and Paul would be in tension, which to you will be impossible, if one were to understand Acts 21:18-25 literally.

Isn't that saying "Yes, the Acts 21:18-25 words cannot be therefore understood in their literal meaning"?

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I have explained this in many of my posts. You are obviously having problems understanding what I have posted. I would suggest that you go back and read my posts again.

BasedLutheran said:

The same applies there. The mentally ill in particular are unlikely to know the laws at all or if they do, believe they apply to them

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I wonder if we as a culture should reconsider allowing mentally ill folk such easy access to deadly weapons.

Guojing said:

You could have said yes, when I asked you this question initially Are the Jews Israel, or is the church Israel? Or does it depend on the context of the passage?

Instead, you brought in your "acts 21 cannot happen today" which was not part of the question.

Okay, so at least we got your yes to my question.

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Not a yes to your question. I already explained that which apparently you are having problems understanding.

Guojing said:

When exactly Acts 21:18-25 happened is not important, so long as you accept that it was before AD 70.

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It was before 70 ad. So how does that help your argument?