What had happen' was.....

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Who Killed Goliath? – Part 2 | Dr. Claude Mariottini – Professor of Old Testament

Here is the second part of an essay in which Dr Claude Mariottini gives us his thought processes of stepping through the various ways people have answered the question: "Who Killed Goliath?" This really cool. I can't wait for the next part. Read the post at the following link:

Who Killed Goliath? – Part 2 | Dr. Claude Mariottini – Professor of Old Testament

THE INTERSECTION | MADNESS & REALITY: Uninsured Man Robs Bank for $1 to Get Access to Medical Care via Prison

Okay, when a man is so desperate for health care coverage that he can only get coverage by being convicted for bank robbery, our society is sliding towards rock bottom!! This is a wake up call. Rock bottom is staring us in the face, America.

STON, N.C -- A North Carolina man suffering from an undiagnosed growth on his chest and two ruptured disks walked into an RBC bank and handed a note to a teller demanding $1. He then sat by the door and waited for police to arrive.

Richard James Verone says he needs medical attention and hoped that by getting arrested, he would have access to health care in prison.

"I'm sort of a logical person and that was my logic, what I came up with," Verone told WCNC. "If it is called manipulation, then out of necessity because I need medical care, then I guess I am manipulating the courts to get medical care."

Three years ago, Verone was laid off from Coca-Cola after 17 years on the job. He says he has had part-time work since then, but nothing with health insurance.

He is hoping for a three-year sentence, enough time to collect social security and obtain the medical help he requires, Verone says.

"If you don't have your health, you don't have anything," he says.

The 59-year-old was unarmed at the time of the incident.

He is being charged with larceny and is held on a $2,000 bond. He will appear in court June 28. (source)

THE INTERSECTION | MADNESS & REALITY: Uninsured Man Robs Bank for $1 to Get Access to Medical Care via Prison

Stark Wars | MandM

I've often posted articles in relation to Paul Copan's theodicy found in his book Is God a Moral Monster. It's been endorsed by both Dr William Lane Craig and the Flannagans. I have yet to really make up my mind about whether I agree with them or not, but Madeleine Flannagan has posted a really good summary article linking to the back and forth conversation between Thom Stark, Copan, and many others. When one has the time to start looking into the issue of where or not the conquest of Canaan involved suicide, this article linked below is where you wanna start.

Stark Wars | MandM

Former Congressman Uses Famous 'Green Lantern' Scene to Attack Political Enemies - ComicsAlliance | Comic book culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews

Anyone who uses a vintage Green Lantern comic book story to make a political point does deserve some props. Alan Grayson, former U.S. Representative for Florida's 8th district between 2009 and 2011, posted the following:

The movie Green Lantern opened on Friday, to mixed reviews. Maybe the reviews would have been better if the movie had included this powerful exchange, from Green Lantern #76:

I may never have the chance to talk to George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, or any of the other Masters of the Universe who led and misled our country for eight long years. Nor may I ever have the chance to speak to Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, or any of the other savage right-wing loons who want to finish the job that Bush et al. started. But if I could, I might say:

Me: I've been readin' about you . . . How you work for multinational corporations like Big Oil. . . . And how you say you built all those roads and schools and bridges in some country in Asia. And in some other country in the Middle East someplace you got rid of some dictator. Only there's one country you never bother with -- America! I want to know . . . how come?! Answer me that, Mr. Flag-Waiving Patriot!

Them: I . . . can't . . . .

Well, I can answer that. For a generation now, we have seen the heartless, callous erosion and destruction of all the things that make you a member of the middle class in America:

A job.

A home.

A car.

The chance to see a doctor when you are sick.

A pension or retirement account.

Social Security and Medicare.

And we've seen them replaced by endless war, falling home values, no pensions, lower wages, and now what Karl Marx called a "reserve army of the unemployed" -- to keep wages down forever.

Even after only two years in office, as one out of 435 in the House, I can point to a lot of things that I did to preserve, protect and expand the middle class in America, and to help those of us who were falling through the cracks.

I look at our so-called leaders on the other side of the aisle, and I see nothing like that. Only a perverse delight in eliminating programs that help my fellow Americans in need. They'll lead us, all right -- they'll lead us straight to ruin.

The next time you see one of them -- at a town hall meeting, in their plush offices, or just on the street -- ask them this: "What have you done to help the people? Answer me that!"

If they're honest, they'll say what Green Lantern said: "I can't."

Courage,

Alan Grayson

In brightest day,
In blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power: Green Lantern's Light.

Too many of our people in society are serving evil rather than good.

Read More: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/06/21/congressman-alan-grayson-green-lantern/#ixzz1Py89wcjW

Former Congressman Uses Famous 'Green Lantern' Scene to Attack Political Enemies - ComicsAlliance | Comic book culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The Historic Alliance of Christianity and Science | Reflections

Kenneth Samples has posted an essay he wrote about how science and Christianity are related to one another. He wrote:

Conflicts between scientific theories and the Christian faith have arisen through the centuries, to be sure. However, the level of conflict has often been exaggerated, and Christianity’s positive influence on scientific progress is seldom acknowledged.² I would like to turn the tables by arguing for Christianity’s compatibility with and furtherance of scientific endeavors and by arguing against the compatibility of naturalism and science.

Read his essay using the following the link.

The Historic Alliance of Christianity and Science | Reflections

President Obama and Video Games

I've made no secret that I don't agree with President Obama on everything and video games and their value appears to be one of those things. He has recently been quoted as saying:

"We know that every father has a personal responsibility to do right by their kids – to encourage them to turn off the video games and pick up a book; to teach them the difference between right and wrong; to show them through our own example the value in treating one another as we wish to be treated. And most of all, to play an active and engaged role in their lives."

Read more: http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/713854/obama-kids-should-pick-up-books-put-down-games/#ixzz1PxwFTUSD

I disagree but it could be because of my age verses his. I? know quite a few people his age. My older siblings are his age and my sister (in particualar) is only one month younger than President Obama. One things I've noticed about their demographic is that they don't see video games, comic books, or other digital entertainment as art or worthwhile intellectual endeavors like any other art. I know that there is a lot of disagreement on this but I think that video games can be as engaing and intellectually stimulating as books. I'm going to teach my children it's important to read, reat to them, read in front of them, and teach them to play videogames. I think a great way to combine the two is to read books on tablets and computers.

Obama: Kids Should Pick Up Books, Put Down Games - G4tv.com

Fiber Optic Cables: How They Work [Video]

The Internet is a wonderful new world. When I was in College, I had a few classes in college covering optic cables technology but this would have really helped me then! I love this stuff.

Fiber Optic Cables: How They Work [Video]

U.S. Soldier Isaias Hernandez Re-Grows Leg Muscle Using Pig Bladder Hormones (VIDEO)

Quite frankly, I see nothing wrong with science such as this. IT is just a matter of understanding the creation and harnessing it a good way. All healing comes from God. It's just an impressive use of medication. It's a gift from our creator!

U.S. Soldier Isaias Hernandez Re-Grows Leg Muscle Using Pig Bladder Hormones (VIDEO)

Monday, June 20, 2011

Dr Ben Witheringing III on "Who Wrote 2 Peter"

Image via WikipediaYou may or may not be aware of a comment thread a few weeks ago between myself and Ryan Anderson regarding whether or not 2 Peter was written by the Apostle Peter. Anderson argued that Peter could not have written the epistle and because it says he did, the letter is a lie and unreliable. He quoted Dr. Ben Witherington III as a source and an example of a scholar who is a Christian who does not believe 2 Peter was written by the apostle. He later backed off it a little bit and conceded that Wirtherington actually believes the Peter wrote the first part of the letter. I decided to see if I could get in contact with Dr Witherington himself and see what he thought. I sent him to the following e-mail:

Hello, Dr Witherington.

I am a great fan of your work regarding Jesus and your apologetic material. Thank you!!!

A few weeks ago I responded to a blog post that asserted that Jesus told his disciples that he would return in their lifetimes and because he didn't Jesus is no better than Harold Camping. You can see my post on that here: http://mmcelhaney.blogspot.com/2011/05/facepalm-of-day-81-debunking.html

Of course I disagreed and an atheist kept the conversation going in the comments. To make the story shorter, one of the arguments I gave was that Peter in 2nd Peter explains what Jesus meant by "soon" and that he didn't understand Jesus to be saying what the atheists were saying Jesus said. The atheist argued against me by saying that most Biblical scholars, including you, don't believe that the Apostle Peter wrote most if not all of the epistles attributed to him. He then concluded that who ever wrote the letters lied and both epistles should by tossed because the author was a liar. Of course I disagree. I was wondering if you could point out any papers/books you have written about 1 & 2 Peter's authorship, reliability, and if you consider these letters scripture every bit as much as the rest the New Testament?

On another blog, there was a good article about why some Biblical scholars think that there is good evidence that Apostle Peter wrote the epistles written for them: http://beggarsallreformation.blogspot.com/2011/06/good-evidence-for-2-peter-as-written-by.html

I was wondering what your take on that is? Thanks for your time and I thank God for how God has used you. You have been a blessing to me and many, many others!

Marcus McElhaney
Thankfully, Dr Witherington was gracious enough to respond.

Hi Marcus:

Thanks for this. You can always read my Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians Volume 2 on 1-2 Peter for more info. The short answer is that 2 Peter is a composite book. It contains a large chunk of Jude in it, it contains Pauline traditions in chapter three, and it contains some authentic Petrine material in Chapter One. It follows the tradition of attributing a document to its first and most famous source, in this case Peter. I think the story of the Transfiguration does go back to Peter himself. I would say this document was assembled at the end of the first century when there was actually a collection of Paul's letters circulating in the church (see 2 Peter 3). If you want to see my rebuttal to Ehrman's Forged, I posted a whole series of blog posts on this on my blog back in the spring. A composite document attributed to one of its genuine sources is no forgery. But the ancient concept of what counted as authorship is different from ours.

Blessings

Ben W.

Dr. Ben Witherington, III
Amos Professor of NT for Doctoral Studies
Asbury Theological Seminary
Wilmore Ky.
Doctoral Faculty St. Mary's College, St. Andrews University, Scotland

I've heard of much the same argument made for authorship of Isaiah and other Old Testament texts. I think that this explanation is viable, buyt I believe I need to do more research into this. Witherington is not by any means saying toss out 2 Peter or calling it worthless as Andrerson seemed like he was trying suggest. If anyone else is interested in Dr Witherington's rebuttal of Dr. Ehrman's "Forged" use the link below.

http://www.patheos.com/community/bibleandculture?s=forged

Thank you, Dr. Ben Witherington III.

Obama impersonator crosses the line - Jonathan Martin - POLITICO.com

Did comedian Reggie Brown cross the line?

This is a wake up call for me. Had a white republican said such things, I'd be incensed. However when George Bush was President the jokes were coming fast and furious. I think there is a double standard. Just like black people can call each other the "N-Word" but white people can't use it. Fair? No. I think the best way to handle this just like the. N-Word, no one should use it. You can criticize another person's policies and opinions, and decisions without personally attacking their race and character. It seems like our society has forgotten how to do that.

Obama impersonator crosses the line - Jonathan Martin - POLITICO.com

FacePalm of the Day #93 - Debunking Christianity: William Lane Craig: "This is a Delightful Brainteaser"

So what is the confusion here? Okay, before I get ahead of myself read John Loftus' post

Craig agrees with and "wholeheartedly endorses the bizarre...conclusion that the universe had a beginning and yet there was no time at which the universe did not exist.” What is this delightful brainteaser?

In his weekly Q & A is this question he seeks to answer:

The Law of Contradiction states that two mutually exclusive statements cannot both be true at the same time and in the same respect. The statements "God exists and the universe does not exist" and "God exists and the universe exists" are mutually exclusive statements and do not differ in respect. The only way to avoid a contradiction, if both are to be asserted, is to assert that each is true at a different time. But if we take the word "universe" to mean both space and time, and affirm that time itself had a beginning, then time only exists provided that the statement "God exists and the universe exists" is true, and time does not exist provided that the statement "God exists and the universe does not exist" is true. And if time does not exist, provided that the statement "God exists and the universe does not exist" is true, then there is no time at which that statement is true. But if that is the case, then must we not conclude that each of these statements cannot be true at different times, and so that to maintain that God existed at a time before the universe existed is self-contradictory? Would it not also lead to the conclusion that if God is the cause of the universe, the universe must co-exist eternally with Him and therefore has no beginning? Or would that only lead one to the bizarre but not necessarily self-contradictory conclusion that the universe had a beginning and yet there was no time at which the universe did not exist?

Travis
USA

Link.

Here is the confusion. Of course there was no time at which the Universe did not exist because Time itself has a beginning. Space and Time came into being simultaneously. God is not subject to Time. How can you be subject to that which you created? Remembering this will avoid such mistakes in the future.

Debunking Christianity: William Lane Craig: "This is a Delightful Brainteaser"

Who Killed Goliath? | Dr. Claude Mariottini – Professor of Old Testament

Dr. Mariottini has begun a discussion on who was it that killed Goliath. He discusses multiple theories to explain the Biblical texts. This is part 1. I can't wait for part 2!

Who Killed Goliath? | Dr. Claude Mariottini – Professor of Old Testament

Same Sex Marriage Is Destroying Marriage…… | The Angry Black Woman

I agree that Charlie Sheen, Kelsey Grammer, Larry King, Britney Spears, Jesse Jams, and Tiger Woods profane and denigrate marriage. They and all who fail to live up to the responsibilities of their marriages should be forced to give an account and held responsible. They certainly fail to meet the standard. However, just because we, as a society, have failed does that mean we should lower the bar? Is the standard so high that people can't stay committed to their spouses? I don't think so. So for what reason, and I have never seen a good reason for doing it, is there for changing the definition of a "marriage"? And further where do we stop? Is it okay to marry a sibling? Multiple people simultaneously? Pets? Children? If not why not? What is to keep "marriage" to be redefined by who ever has enough money and political power? Nothing.

Same Sex Marriage Is Destroying Marriage…… | The Angry Black Woman

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Dr James White on Pastor Ron Armstrong's Sermon on Predestination

The Dividing Line has a series called "Radio Free Geneva" in which arguments against Reformed Theology are examined. In the latest review, Dr James White reviews a sermon on Predestination by Pastor Ron Armstrong. The original sermon can be watched below:

7 Topics ::: Predestination on Vimeo

The first part of Dr. White's review was broadcasted on the Dividing Line on Thursday June 9, 2011

Part 2 from June 14, 2011 on the Dividing Line

Dr White finished up his review on June 17, 2011 on the Dividing Line.- Part 3

Dr James White review of the sermon was very instructive. I agree with Dr White's opinions and facts that he brought up. The one thing is that I think Pastor Ron Armstrong deserves a little bit more credit for his Gospel presentation. I got the feeling that he didn't go into a lot of detail about salvation because the audience he was speaking to already knew about how to be saved. However Armstrong butchered the Biblical teachings of Predestination and the way our responsibility is related to God's sovereignty. Fortunately, by God's grace, Dr. White straightens all that out. I highly recommend watching Armstrong's presentation and then listening to Dr. James White's analysis.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

FacePalm of the Day #92 - Debunking Christianity: Quote of the Day

John Loftus is always good for an example of a FacePalm worthy comment. He seems to have millions of them! Case in point:

All religions have the same faith-based foundation. When faith is a foundation anything can be believed. --John W. Loftus

To which the following comment was added by renolize:

Faith is the foundation and fear is the stick in Christianity. It is true, however, that with faith anything can be believed. One can look forward to any sort of an afterlife. 72 virgins? Streets paved in gold? Life in other dimensions? Gods and goddesses of their own worlds? Xenu will welcome you in person? The list goes on and on.

What will you do for your faith? Murder an abortion doctor? Fly into a building filled with unbelievers? Enslave a population? Torture heretics? Burn the unrighteous at the stake? Go to war for god?Faith is the path to blindness. Reason is a reality check. This world could use more reality checks and a lot less faith.

I am convinced that Loftus and those who agree with them are described in Romans 8:5

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. - Romans 8:5-8

IF you are unable to reason correctly, and we know for a fact that we are not perfect in that (we all know what it is like to reason incorrectly), why would anyone of us think we can trust our reasoning to know what is right and wrong? WE cannot. None of us is that smart or awesome enough to know the right things and hit it every single time. We need God's help. This brings us up the Loftus misunderstanding of what "faith" is. Loftus is not describing Biblical faith, he is describing a faith that is not commended in the Bible at all. In Greek the word is "Pistas" and Pistas is not the reason why people murder abortion doctors, fly planes into building filled with believers and unbelievers, enslave populations, burn people we think are unrighteous, torture heretics, or start wars. This is why we have the gifs of the Bible. It is the check and balance that tells us objectively if we are living out the faith as we ought. Faith is not found on just anything and everything. Faith isn't something that is true just because you believe it. The Bible was true before I was born and it will true after I die too. Biblical faith can only be a part of your life as a gift from God of his self revelation. It is based in part on this evidence - as well as history, science, archaeology, and as well as many other things. Before Loftus criticizes faith, he should understand what "Faith" is correctly.

⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:6-10

Debunking Christianity: Quote of the Day

Shadeism (New Documentary) Not something I’m unfamiliar… | The Angry Black Woman

This documentary short looks specifically at how ‘shadism’ affects young women within the African, Caribbean, and South Asian diasporas. Through the eyes and words of 5 young womyn and 1 little girl - all females of colour - the film takes us into the thoughts and experiences of each. Overall, ‘Shadeism’ explores where shadeism comes from, how it directly affects us as womyn of colour, and ultimately, begins to explore how we can move forward through dialogue and discussion.

Shadeism from Shadeism on Vimeo.

Shadeism (New Documentary) Not something I’m unfamiliar… | The Angry Black Woman

Islam and Christianity A Common Word: Protestant Christian Locks Son in Box for 2 Months!

thegrandverbalizer is amazing to me. On one hand he decries the way Christians misrepresent Islam and give misleading information about what Muslims believe. He's right about that. It happens a lot. However he does the same things regarding Christianity. It's just as bad.

This is actually quite sad to hear about this. However, once again why are we not shocked? We are not shocked because Christians and in particular Protestants are in the news because of their rejection of central leadership that can guide them in their interpretation of the Bible.

It's really no more shocking than when we hear about a Muslim suicide bomber in Israel or Afghanistan. Or how a young girl can be raped by her cousin and die from being lashed for adultery. Or how about chopping off the right hand of thieves? Or what suggesting that it is women's responsibility to act and dress in ways that don't tempt men to rape them because they have such poor self control? Or how about marrying a 10 year-old girl? Are these acts and situations indicative of what it means to be a Muslim? Are these examples of fringe nut jobs who are not following what Islam truly is or are they really living up to what Islam is?

I am a Protestant and I do not reject the central authority of scripture. I believe that the Bible is clear enough and a revelation from our creator to understand His nature and His will for our lives. What central authority do Muslims have so that they can get the "correct" interpretation of their scriptures and pick through their textual variants? Whatever or whoever that central authority is doesn't seem to be working, given that Muslims can't seem to decide what "Jihad" is supposed to be in the world today and whether or not they should tolerate us or kill us.Just who does thegrandverbalizer thinks should be ultimate Christian authority and why?

Because Protestant Christianity is the ultimate Pandora's box. The thousands of Protestant Christian sects are free to use individual hermeneutic, interpretation, and understanding of the scriptures to understand the Bible.

As long as Islam has sects that outright contradict each other on life/death issues, I see no reason why Islam is not a "Pandora's box:" filled with whatever you want to fill it with. As for Christianity, just because people can claim to be Christians, yet totally ignore what the Bible says does not mean that we free to use whatever hermeneutic or interpretation we fancy. Either the Bible supports us or we are in outright rebellion against God and we need to realign ourselves with God. The Bible is right and all of us are wrong and a great many things (some more than others)?

You see because they believe that the Holy Spirit will guide them into all truth (not necessarily the Bible). To some degree even though the Protestants claim to rely upon the Bible the problem is in the fact that many things in the Bible are nuanced or subject to a great range and deal of interpretation.

Believers who believe that the Bible is the word of God know that the Bible is all truth and that we cannot seriously think that the Holy Spirit will lead us in anyway contrary to it. Therefore we know when we are hearing the Holy Spirit and when it's us or Satan. I also loved how thegrandverbalizer writes "the problem is in the fact that many things in the Bible are nuanced or subject to a great range and deal of interpretation" as if his description does not better describe the Qur'an. I sure would like to see an example of a single "nuanced" passage in the Bible "subject to a great rand and deal of interpretation."

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (John 16:13)

So as we can see if you believe that you have the Holy Spirit (and there is no way to really tell) and Christians such as John MacArthur have failed to give legitimate litmus test. So Protestant Christianity contains with in it the seeds of it's own destruction.

We don't need John MacArthur to give us a litmus test to know if you have the Holy Spirit. The Bible gives it to us. For example, again that the Holy Spirit would never lead you in a way contrary to what the Bible says given that the Bible is the Word of God and God does not lie or change His mind. Let's not forget that some Muslims try to twist Jesus' words to says that He is speaking of Muhammad not the Holy Spirit. Just who is using a strange hermeneutic? In addition.

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^[b] ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[c] you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.-Galatians 5:13-16 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

This of course is the sovereign will of the Creator. They have rejected truth and the Creator has let them to wallow in their own darkness. The thousands of Protestant sects will eventually wear one another down.

I wonder how many of these various denominations have thegrandverbalizer studies and compared to one another. I've visited many other Christian churches who belong outside of my denominations and read about several of them about what they believe and what they practice. Yes there are stark differences in many of them but very few are so different and so alien that I can't worship with them or find common ground. What groups do thegrandverbalizer consider are mutually exclusive and why? He gave no examples.

So this brings us to this particular Mennonite Christian sect which goes back to the Protestant Reformation.

So here you have it a man who no doubt believes that the world outside has no business to tell him what he believes would be a Biblical and justified punishment for his 21 year old son goes and locks his son in a box for 2 months!

Given that the son was a 21 year-old adult, I think that a better way to punish him would have to kicked him out of the house and tell him to fend for himself if he would not submit to the authority of his parents - not to lock him in a box for 2 months. Notice what thegrandverbalizer is doing. He is trying to equate locking the man in the box as the same as corporal punishment. It is not the same at all.

Of course the Bible says it's o.k to beat your children (male and female) with a rod!

Yes, it does. And I thank God for a mother and father who didn't just let me act any kind of way and whipped me when I rebelled. This is why I'm not in jail or dead now. I thought that Muslims believe the same thing,,,oops...I got confused...a husband can lightly beat his wife if she disobeys him just not in face.

The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (Luke 12:46-48)

Yup! And? Jesus was talking about servants not children.

If thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire (Matthew 18:8-9)

Of course our Christian friends who under the influence of more benign liberal influence will say this means spiritual hands and spiritual feet!

Sure I bet Jesus is saying cut off one of your spiritual feet and one of your spiritual hands, because it's better to go through life with one spiritual hand or one spiritual foot than two! When will these people come clean!

If Thegrandverbalizer wants to take this passage literally that if your hand or foot causes you to sin, you should cut it off, that's fine, but I think he's missing the point Jesus is making. I would not say that Jesus is just talking about spiritual hands and feet. Jesus is referring to ANYTHING that causes you to sin and blocks you from God. Again the passage is not about beating Children or locking them in a box.

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. (Proverbs 23:13-14)

Ever heard the saying, "I'll beat the hell out of you" So now you got it!

And it works too. I'm living proof of it. It's referring to not just avenging a wrong a child does. It's referring to correcting and training a child so they not only know what to and what not to do but also why. This will teach a child to reverence and obey God - keeping you out of hell. I'd think most traditional Muslims would agree with this.

He that spareth his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chasteneth him betimes.(Proverbs 13:24)

I agree. My parents whipped me and showed me right from wrong so that I wouldn't go out and act like a fool and become a danger to society and end up getting shot. I thank God for them.

So here you have yet another Protestant Christian (Holy Spirit filled nonetheless) dishing out extreme punishment to his son!

So what else does the Bible say about how to chastise and correct Children? Here is a fundamental truth: the way we see God is influenced by the relationship we have with our fathers. Look at this parallel:

⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. - Hebrews 12-8-10

There is much in the Bible on this subject and what I would have loved to have seen is a single Biblical passage that could be used to show that a father has the right to lock his son in a box for 2 months. Instead we have a scripture that says:

⁴ Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.- Ephesian 6:4

Surely no one can disagree with that. Sometimes that means handing out whipping when appropriate.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/bolivia/8581677/Father-locks-son-in-wooden-box-for-two-months.html

The link above is a link to the news article about a Christian parent locking his son in a box for two months. And the link below is to thegrandverablizer's post on this subject.

Islam and Christianity A Common Word: Protestant Christian Locks Son in Box for 2 Months!

Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Good Evidence for Historical Reliability for 2 Peter as written by Peter Himself

Over at Beggars All blog, Ken has posted a very interesting article that will be very helpful to me and a lot of people. You may know that I've had sharp disagreement with Ryan Anderson regarding whether or not 2 Peter was really written by the Apostle Peter. Anderson uses the idea that because a consensus of scholars don't believe that Peter wrote 2 Peter, Peter did not write it. He accepts their arguments and therefore it's proof to him that the Bible is not inspired and not true. He went as far as calling 1st and 2nd Peter lies because the letters say they were written by Peter but he didn't write them. Of course I disagree. Ken has summarized a lot of good evidence and comments from scholars, like Dan Wallace and James White, who disagree with the "consensus" and affirm that these letter were written by the Apostle himself.

Dr. James White has a little article with an excellent graphic of an ancient manuscript of P-72
which has both I and 2 Peter (and Jude) in it. One of the pages of this manuscript shows the end of 1 Peter and the beginning of 2nd Peter and this manuscript called P-72 is dated at around 200 AD. That is very good early dating for a copy of one of the most attacked books of the NT by skeptics, atheists, and Muslims and others, sometimes by good scholars. (the Muslims like to use Bruce Metzger as authoritative evidence that 2 Peter was not written by the apostle Peter. But many other conservative scholars and all Christians who believe in inerrancy believe that 2 Peter is "God-breathed" and was written by Peter. ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ; 2 Peter 1:20-21 )

So what about scholars like Bruce Metzger and Ben Witherington III? Are they wrong to conclude that Peter did not write 2 Peter? I'm not sure. Does that mean that they are going to hell ("went" in Metzger's case given that he died) because they did not think that Peter wrote all of 2 Peter? Nope. What one believes about authorship is not a litmus test for orthodoxy. What is important is what you believe about Jesus - is He Lord of your life or not? Do you accepts his propitiatory sacrifice on your behalf and live submitted to Him? That is how you know you are born-again.

I highly recommend this article and hope that anyone who has doubts that Peter wrote 2 Peter or that the Bible is in anyway reliable will read this article along with their own research for the truth.

Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Good Evidence for Historical Reliability for 2 Peter as written by Peter Himself

The Dunamis Word: The UN Declares "Homosexual Rights" A Human Right

Before I saw this post from Elder Burnett, I did not know that the United Nations has taken such steps:

This week, in an action specifically linked to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60th anniversary, France and The Netherlands initiated a proposal aimed at changing the laws of at least 77 countries that outlaw homosexuality, 7 of which require the death penalty as the ultimate punishment for the act. Reuters Reported the following:

"The European Union-backed document, noting that the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was marked this month, said those rights applied equally to all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
It urged states "to take all the necessary measures, in particular legislative or administrative, to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests or detention."
Opposition on the council noted the facts that regulation of these issues were associated with member states rights and would have some potentially devastating effects on all human rights process and understanding. See if this doesn't sound familiar:

"But the opposing document said the statement "delves into matters which fall essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of states" and could lead to "the social normalization, and possibly the legitimization, of many deplorable acts including pedophilia."..."We note with concern the attempts to create 'new rights' or 'new standards,' by misinterpreting the Universal Declaration and international treaties to include such notions that were never articulated nor agreed by the general membership," it added. This, it said, could "seriously jeopardize the entire international human rights framework."

The things that bothers me even more is that the leadership of my denomination, The Church of God in Christ, has endorsed the United Nation's Declaration Of Human Rights. Now that it's clear what it is, I cannot see how we can support it yet claim we believe the Bible. I have to say that I agree with Elder Burnett's conclusion:

Question: Now that it is CLEAR without argument or speculation, or obfuscation that the UDHR creates, endorses and defends what are considered to be homosexual rights, including the right to pursue marriage and relationships, will the leadership of the greatest church in the world, the holiness, Pentecostal fire, Church Of God in Christ Inc. of Memphis, TN. withdraw our endorsement of the document?

The question should be rhetorical and the answer should be that we should withdraw the endorsement. Prayer changes everything. We need to pray that we all obey God and seek to please Him and not what other people think.

The Dunamis Word: The UN Declares "Homosexual Rights" A Human Right

Apologetics Video Clips for Small Groups - Apologetics 315

One of the big problems with bringing in Apologetics our churches is knowing what good materials provide good introduction to help people who haven't been studying to get up to speed quickly. Thankfully Brian Auten has posted a summary of great material one can start with! Check out his post.

Apologetics Video Clips for Small Groups - Apologetics 315

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

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