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You are interpreting made as "physically fashioned" at the beginning of time.
I interpret that verse as "caused to come into existence" at the beginning of human history.
By the way your method has been around for a long time among many, many many others. You basically call all who accept more interpretative methods non-Christians.
Luther is a relatively recent figure to consider the exemplar of interpretive history. The Church through the tens of centuries has used many more interpretative methods than the one Baptists have made into an infallible article of faith.
I interpret that verse as "caused to come into existence" at the beginning of human history.
By the way your method has been around for a long time among many, many many others. You basically call all who accept more interpretative methods non-Christians.
Luther is a relatively recent figure to consider the exemplar of interpretive history. The Church through the tens of centuries has used many more interpretative methods than the one Baptists have made into an infallible article of faith.
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I'd like to say that Jesus changed the world and redeemed it from God's wrath.
Even evil now fits within God's plan for greater glory and good.
In the past God poured out his wrath on those who were evil as he was entirely justified in doing. Christ changed that relationship and reality through his death and resurrection.
As I understand it, Christ fundamentally changed the moral reality of our world's relationship with God.
Even evil now fits within God's plan for greater glory and good.
In the past God poured out his wrath on those who were evil as he was entirely justified in doing. Christ changed that relationship and reality through his death and resurrection.
As I understand it, Christ fundamentally changed the moral reality of our world's relationship with God.
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I really don't understand the problem with God killing a few children who by nature are children of Satan.
The suffering of Christ, our God, was much more important than all the suffering mankind has ever experienced. Christ suffered as a pure man while we suffer as sinners who deserve more than what we get.
The question is what sort of love does God have to allow Christ to suffer in innocence for sinners such as ourselves.
The suffering of Christ, our God, was much more important than all the suffering mankind has ever experienced. Christ suffered as a pure man while we suffer as sinners who deserve more than what we get.
The question is what sort of love does God have to allow Christ to suffer in innocence for sinners such as ourselves.
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I don't accept the idea of free will as most Americans describe it. I'm not offering an alternative but the idea of complete free will seems unrealistic and inconsistent with Christian belief.
I think the universe is a bit more complicated than either free will or destiny suggests.
I believe this universe to be the best of any possible world. That appears to me to be why God created it. All the evil that has occurred and will occur in some way contributes to later glory through the sacrifice of Christ. I don't pretend to understand that well, but I do accept it.
You are free to your own interpretation on this point DJB.
I think the universe is a bit more complicated than either free will or destiny suggests.
I believe this universe to be the best of any possible world. That appears to me to be why God created it. All the evil that has occurred and will occur in some way contributes to later glory through the sacrifice of Christ. I don't pretend to understand that well, but I do accept it.
You are free to your own interpretation on this point DJB.
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A valid perspective...
The way I see it, God created all that exists, including Satan, and since God is omnipotent, even Satan can do nothing that God does not approve. So why does God allow Satan to run around, messing everything all up? Well, I think that God's goodness could not be perceived unless there was a strong opposite, thus providing us with a choice. Even though the temptation for evil is always there, with discipline and devotion, we can come closer to God and learn more about His ways, as opposed to Satan's ways and thus become wiser and stronger in our faith.
I think it's always been this way, and I have a problem with God killing HIS children over something which they have no control over. It takes a lifetime to grow in our faith and make life choices and those kids were robbed of any opportunity to do so before they even knew that there WAS good vs. evil.
The way I see it, God created all that exists, including Satan, and since God is omnipotent, even Satan can do nothing that God does not approve. So why does God allow Satan to run around, messing everything all up? Well, I think that God's goodness could not be perceived unless there was a strong opposite, thus providing us with a choice. Even though the temptation for evil is always there, with discipline and devotion, we can come closer to God and learn more about His ways, as opposed to Satan's ways and thus become wiser and stronger in our faith.
I think it's always been this way, and I have a problem with God killing HIS children over something which they have no control over. It takes a lifetime to grow in our faith and make life choices and those kids were robbed of any opportunity to do so before they even knew that there WAS good vs. evil.
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I think it's included as an admonition to children to respect God's prophet. That had a direct application in the old covenant. Listen and respect the man of God because he represents the Word of God on Earth.
The Word of God has been incarnated as Jesus Christ according to the Gospels.
I think we ought to be careful about how we apply verses like those about Elisha to a world that has been transformed through Christ.
I'm strongly of the opinion that the world was fundamentally different prior to the Incarnation. I appreciate the season of Advent because I view Christ's entry into humanity with a sense of awe and importance.
That's how I approach the parts of the Bible that are troubling to the mindset of our current culture. Other parts of the Bible used to be troubling to earlier cultures. I assume in the future still more parts of the Bible will trouble later cultures on this earth.
The Word of God has been incarnated as Jesus Christ according to the Gospels.
I think we ought to be careful about how we apply verses like those about Elisha to a world that has been transformed through Christ.
I'm strongly of the opinion that the world was fundamentally different prior to the Incarnation. I appreciate the season of Advent because I view Christ's entry into humanity with a sense of awe and importance.
That's how I approach the parts of the Bible that are troubling to the mindset of our current culture. Other parts of the Bible used to be troubling to earlier cultures. I assume in the future still more parts of the Bible will trouble later cultures on this earth.
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So the point of the story is to illustrate the supreme importance of God's prophets.... not God's bear-assisted murderous rampage on children. It seems to be saying, "Don't mess with the prophets. God WILL mercilessly slaughter children at even the slightest sign of disrespect." I think it's illustrative, but does not accurately reflect God's true nature.
We are forgetting that while the bible is THE book of Christianity, it is just words, written by men. Sometimes it's good to take a step back and ask "what's REALLY going on here?"
But you seem like a thoughtful person, so I can respect our differences of opinion.
We are forgetting that while the bible is THE book of Christianity, it is just words, written by men. Sometimes it's good to take a step back and ask "what's REALLY going on here?"
But you seem like a thoughtful person, so I can respect our differences of opinion.
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