Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Amos’ Third Vision and the Plumb Line

Dr Mariottini has posted another article continuing his study of Amos. This time he looks at the word from God about a objective moral and social values - His standards - represented by a plumb line.

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Amos’ Third Vision and the Plumb Line

Related articles

• Plumb lines (jennydavidson.blogspot.com)

Common Sense is Tingling - Debunking Christianity: Quote of the Day

Here is a quote from John Loftus that must be rejected on the grounds of common sense.

The bottom line is that the odds of a resurrection from my experience are at 0%. No Bayesian analysis can multiply 0 with any other number and get any more than 0. That's what the probabilities are. So I am skeptical of the extraordinary claim that Jesus resurrected since I cannot dismiss my present experience. I must judge the past from my present. I cannot do otherwise! Coupled with the fact that when I read the NT it provides its own demise there is no reason to believe such a claim EVEN IF IT IS TRUE! --John W. Loftus

How does Loftus know that the odds of a resurrection are 0%? He says it is because of his experience. Does that mean truth can only be determined by your experience? I hope not. No one, not even Loftus, applies this idea to every area of life. Think about it. I didn't experience the moon landing. I don't personally know anyone who went to the moon or worked on the projects. Footage can be faked. Most of the evidence I have is second hand or further from the actual events. Should I throw away all the evidence I do have and conclude the moon landings were all lies? I don't think so. Neither do most people think that there isn't enough evidence to believe men walked on the moon.

Please note, I know that some folks will balk at comparing the Resurrection with the moon landing but i think the analogy works.  Just like the moon landing there were eye witnesses to the events of the Resurrection who testified to it being true . And from my point of view (being only 35 years old) they are similar because I didn't personally witness either one.

Think about what Loftus is saying. He thinks because he has never seen or observed a resurrection there never could have been one. Miracles are often not repeatable. That is why they are called "miracles".It seems simply silly to conclude that there is no reason to believe Jesus rose from the dead just because there isn't evidence you will accept and then admit that it could still be true. Does anyone really think that when you stand before Jesus to give an account for your life that will be the bottom line. Could you look Jesus in the face and say "I would have believed if you had given me the evidence that would have convinced me." We already know what His answer will be.

 ²⁷ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, ²⁸ for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

   ²⁹ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

   ³⁰ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

   ³¹ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” - Luke 16: 27-31

You might not like the answers and evidences God has given us, but I wouldn't try to tell Him he is wrong.

Debunking Christianity: Quote of the Day

Lessons in God's Sovereignty and Man's Responsibility: Joseph

James White recently gave a sermon at his home church explaining how Genesis 50 shows how Joseph could look over his roller coaster life full of all kinds of unwelcomed drama and come to the conclusions he reached and forgave his brothers when it was them selling him into slavery was the start of his problems. But it also led to the result of him becoming the number two man in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself. It cemented Egypt's place as one of the world's first superpowers. And saved Egypt, Canaan, and all the surrounding nations from a 7 year famine! Dr. White explains in his presentation how and why Joseph could tell his brothers:

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. - Genesis 50:19-21

Please note that the image on this article depicts the only reasonable and logical response created creatures such as ourselves should give to the one who made us and is sovereign over all reality - prostrating ourselves at the throne of God.

Lessons in God's Sovereignty and Man's Responsibility: Joseph

Apologist Interview: Jay Richards - Apologetics 315

Brian Auten has posted his interview with Jay Richards. I really enjoy Jay Richards work and I think he's made significant contributions to science and philosophy. The work he has done that was showcased in the video Privileged Planet is really interesting. The thought that the earth just isn't in the best
relative position that we can measure and that all the physical constants are fine-tuned for life to exist on earth as we know it, but to top all of that we live in the best possible place to be able to do scientific measurement and investigation. It is also exciting to take note of that we are also at the right time and have developed the right technology to be able to detect evidence of the Big Bang. It is also interesting to recognize that in the future the universe would have expanded too far and will have cooled down too much to detect that there ever was a Big Bang by our current technology. I don't have enough faith (defined the way the world defines it now) or evidence to conclude it is just coincidence. You can follow the link below to listen to the interview.


Apologist Interview: Jay Richards - Apologetics 315

Second MCTS Podcast with Richard Barcellos: Sola Scriptura vs. Solo Scriptura

The 2nd Podcast interview of James White by Richard Barcellos has been posted.

 White and Barcellos | Interview 2 from MCTS on Vimeo.

Second MCTS Podcast with Richard Barcellos:Sola Scriptura vs. Solo Scriptura