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I think having a sword is very relevant to our discussion here, because it relates to how the scriptures are handled. so before we talk about the details of John 3, the Bible says to buy a sword. have you followed that instruction?

I hear what you're saying, at the same time, is John 3 the only place the Bible talks about entering the kingdom of God? if we are going to focus on the exact wording of John 3, then my first question for you is: do you own a sword? this story also came to my mind after reading your post 11...

when I first started here on Christian chat, there was a thread about yoga. some people said it was based on Hinduism, and that it was idolatrous and demonic. other said it was simply a set of stretches, and if a person didn't associate the names involved with Hindu gods, it didn't matter...

earlier on this thread I was talking with someone about "slaves obey your masters". their position was that it actually meant respect those in authority. (as I remember, that was yourself, but I could be wrong.) anyways, that would be an example of interpretation, imo. this example might be...

myself, I like the idea of believers no longer on this Earth being part of the body of Christ! I also like the idea of believers on Earth being called the church militant and those in heaven the church triumphant. I used to attend a Presbyterian Church where when someone passed from this...

yes, I think this is kind of the idea of pagan traditions are okay as long as they have been "Christianized". myself, I wouldn't worry about deception coming from asking members of the body of Christ no longer on this Earth to pray with you. I think the reception comes in when we move away...

That's true! However, the celebration of his birth on December 25th is not in the Bible. I'm not completely sure, but it seems to me that other than feasts listed in the law, no days are celebrated in the New testament except for the first day of the week.

that's true! I responded to the ones that I thought would make for the most interesting discussion. was there a question you asked that I didn't answer? I wouldn't say so much unreliable as open to interpretation. which to me is one of the key differences between Catholics and Protestants...

it sounds to me like a very loose interpretation to say that Mark 13:21 means that the book with the most copies must therefore be the word of God. about historical accuracy, The book of Daniel says that Nebuchadnezzar ruled over everyone on Earth at that time. a loose interpretation comes in...

what is the test of time? is it something spoken of in the scriptures? 48. He who rejects me, and doesn`t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day. (John, 12) is Jesus referring there to the entire Bible? or to the words he...

do you agree, then, that celebrating Christmas is something not talked about in the Bible, yet many people, both Protestants and Catholics, do it?

sounds like we have had different experiences! I'm not Catholic, but I too have experienced many Catholic masses. my sense was that there was at least two or three Catholics there gathered in Jesus name. sure you can say that many Catholics don't gather in Jesus name. but it seems to me the...

that's correct! so, do you (or the Christians you got there with for fellowship) have any practices that are not found in the Bible? like celebrating Christmas. do you have a special service on Christmas?

yes, there are many examples that could be used! I love that exhortation in 1 Timothy 2!

I'm not sure why there would be a question about why it wouldn't be called tradition? once the last scripture was written, the practices of the churches were no longer recorded in the scriptures. any reference to them would qualify as tradition, imo.

I think praying to God would be a practice of something stated in the scriptures 9. Pray like this: `Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. (Matthew, 6) are there Christian practices not stated in Scripture that you or the Christians you gather with have?

my impression was that the peshitta had a different canon then the common 27 books of the New testament. if the peshitta is a translation, then the people who decided what books to translate, following those people would be following a kind of tradition, imo.

well, and again I don't mean this to sound snarky in any way, if their decision was not recorded in the scriptures, then their decision would be part of tradition, it seems to me.

I think this would be a good example of tradition. starting at the first book in the New testament, who wrote the book we call Matthew? the Bible doesn't say. the traditional author is Matthew the apostle.

yes, I agree. then a very similar question arises: without tradition, how does a person decide what documents are God-inspired? okay, now I don't mean this to sound snarky in anyway, "...the church developed..." is an appeal to tradition.