Quote by kingray100IYour
right,that the rest of the things mentioned are mostly guidelines,but guidelines to a better christian life.We should
understand that even though the guidelines are optional and nobody forces us to do them,they are good things that should
be added to one's life.Every guide line is very positive mentioned in the bible.Now you mention the old
testament,and i only count myself as very educated in the new testament.Its said that the new testament is pretty much
reliable altogether,but the old testament,seems to be dragging the evidence and belief of some people.Its probably
because it says things that we arent familiar with,and things that we doubt,such as a god making the entire universe,or
special miracles done in the old testament.
I really don't have much to say to this that I haven't really said already but I'll do my best. I'll
summarize some of what I've said though. If most of what is in the Bible are guidelines that implies that they are
not needed to get into Heaven. This means that you can be downright evil so long as you do not do anything that prevents
you from entering Heaven. So long as you have belief. Sure you can argue that you won't be a "good
Christian" unless you do these things but the point isn't really about being a good Christian now is it?
It's about getting into Heaven and avoiding Hell.
I want to make a note that both the Old and New Testaments feature the same exact God. Irregardless of how cruel some
events in the Old Testament are you have to realize God is the same in both of them. Since God is perfect he cannot
change. He is already the best you can get. If he changes that implies that his former self was imperfect. That simply
just doesn't make sense. Therefore the Old Testament should be equally reliable as the New Testament. If God is
perfect in both cases then he should have created or inspired works that were equally reliable.
Quote by kingray100Lastly,people will always have opinions and try to disprove
things,even things that seem to be right already.There will always be people who hate,despise,ignore,or forbid the words
of the bible,and to this day,we see this.We can only hope for the best.
Simply because they seem to be right does not mean they are right. It "seems" that the earth is flat but
it's not. It "seems" that the sun goes around the earth but it doesn't. Only with concrete evidence
can one support any conclusion. I can say that there "seems" to be an invisible dragon in my room that no one
can see but without proof then how would anyone know I'm telling the truth?
Furthermore there are countless other religions that "seem" to be right. Are they any more correct than
Christianity? There is nothing about Christianity that makes it "seem" more right that other religions. In
fact, Christianity borrowed a lot of stuff from pre-existing religions. I can honestly say that I do not hate, despise,
ignore, or forbid the Bible. Forbidding a book does not make the superstitions go away. I'd much rather have
someone believe because they come to the conclusion by rational means.
Quote by kingray100But in
other words,You will have to experience it for yourself if you truly want to know.Its why we christians feel so strongly
about this.You may look at me and say,well other people feel strongly about their religion too!but the things that drive
them are different.Christians thrive on The word of God and these personal experiences,while other religions are strong
from what they are told and the people who enforce the religion.
I really mean no offense but that's foolishness. I can tell you about a number of people who have had
"personal experiences." Not a one of them believe in the Christian God or Jesus. If personal experience is all
you need to prove the existence of a god then every god in existence would be "real." Furthermore some
religions access god in different ways. Simply because their manner of accessing god are different from
Christianity's does not make them wrong and Christianity right. If a Hindu finds the divine through meditation that
does not make them more wrong than a Christian finding God through prayer.
Also your very last comment about other religions is patently false. If anything I've heard that statement about
Christianity more often that other religions. Don't you see? You have been talking about the Bible all this time
yet you don't seem to know it very well. You don't know the Old Testament as well as you do the New. You
don't seem to be able to show why the verses I have used are not really about killing and stoning. In fact you want
to consult professionals. When you do you'll simply tell me what they told you most likely. Does that not make
Christianity as guilty as those other religions by being "strong from what they are told and the people who enforce
the religion." Moving on...
Quote by kingray100I see
what you mean...religions may do things like help others and provide needs to the needy,and that makes God happy,but
there is no thanks to God or belief in Him during these events.Its like God rewarding people who dont care about him yet
they help a few people....He just asks to be acknowledged by us....so its not a hard concept or process.Again,these
people doing good things...they might as well believe the bible.The bible supports these good behaviors and ect.Just add
God to the equation is all he wants you to do.thats all.
Of course there's no thanks or belief in God. Those other religions are doing those events because they think
it'll please their own deities. Why would another religion pay homage to a God they do not believe in? That's
like you holding a fund raiser for cancer research in the name of Thor. Their own holy books and bibles support their
actions so there's no need in their minds to switch to the bible. It simply makes no sense to ask that of
them.
Quote by kingray100Nowhere
in the bible does it say,follow the old testament's mistakes and murder techniques.
It's been a while since I last read the New Testament thoroughly but I'll do my best to refute this.
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. In truth I
tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even the smallest stroke of a letter will pass away from the law.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in
the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of
heaven."
In Matthew 5:17-19 Jesus's seems to suggest that he approves of the Old Testament laws. He claims that the old laws
as well as Moses and the other prophets were right. Even the smallest law should be followed. Although later in the
chapter he says that anyone who kills is in danger of judgment I have already shown that killing is ok in some cases.
Therefore if you kill then you are in danger of being judged but you might not be judged harshly at all.
"And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses
said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:"
In Mark 7:9-10 Jesus seems to be criticizing the Jews for not killing their disobedient children as is required by the
Old Testament laws.
"But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before
me."
Here in Luke 19:27 Jesus seems to be saying that anyone who does not believe in him (ie heathens) he wants killed before
him. I'm not entirely sure though so look into it.
"For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like
unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul,
which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people."
In Acts 3:22-23 Peter seems to claim that a prophet (such as Jesus) will come. Anyone that will not listen to him (ie
heathens) will be destroyed. This is similar to the verses I've mentioned previously.
"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that
which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one
toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error
which was meet....Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:Who knowing
the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in
them that do them."
Here in Romans 1:26-32 which I have taken excepts from Paul claims that lesbians and homosexuals are worthy of death
because they have unnatural affections. While not directly related to the Old Testament it reinforces the fact that to
God some deaths are okay.
"He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment,
suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the
covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Here in Hebrews 10:28-29 it seems to say that anyone who didn't follow the Old Testament laws died and the
punishment is worse for those who didn't like Jesus.
Check that last one because I'm running out of time.
That's all for now.
