After stating during a Wednesday night devotional before class during pride month, I stated that there are only two sexes, male and female. After wards a brother angrily came up to me and said people like me were responsible for homosexuals and so-called trans people committing suicide. He told me that his daughter is now a man married to a woman. He said she loves God, and the proof was that she is a Lutheran pastor. I was removed from doing devotionals for over a year becasue I offended this man and his wife. I think the reason we never heard preaching or teaching on this was becasue one of the elders' daughters is a lesbian, who recently married a woman.
I wish I could say I'm surprised but this kind of weaponized empathy is all too common. Hurt feelings win out over the truth, and some would rather defend their family relationships than stand for what's right. Awful.
The most recent article makes some valid points, but you neglected to include any scriptures to back up your points. Human reasoning and logic alone are not sufficient for me or anyone. God's Word must always have the final, as well as the first, word. Include scriptures, please.
Each paragraph could be the subject of a whole article, complete with numerous Bible verses. And this blog has had such articles.
I see this piece as an exploration of "What is the pattern across all these seemingly different issues?"
Not an attempt to resolve each issue. It assumes the reader has already been exposed to Biblical arguments about most or all of these issues, but has not necessarily seen a pattern that ties them together.
There is a place for teaching that assumes the reader already has some background and is not starting at square one.
There is some Scripture in here, though I didn't include direct verse references. I think this practice itself can be Scriptural, as Jesus and others would say "It is written."
Did Abraham have scripture when asked to sacrifice his son? Did Cain have scripture when asked to murder his brother? Did Adam have scripture when asked to support his wife? Be careful scripture doesn’t become your idol Gwen.
I do have a question for you regarding your statement about scripture becoming an idol- quite simple, if in John 1 is it written, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." then does that not force us in some way to treat the word itself as God's words in that way she is describing? I do understand the sentiment, but I also find it hard to distinguish the word as being a separate thing from God himself- as it seems you have tried to do here. Would love to hear your thoughts though!
As to Abraham, yes, he did have a command from God to offer up his son. It was a test only for Abraham to show him the level of his obedience to God. Is that a command to us today? Certainly not.
As to Cain, there is no scripture that told him to commit murder.
As to Adam, he willingly went along with the temptation with her. In that instance, I believe he should have refused the temptation.
Needing to have a "thus saith the Lord" for all we do and believe is not wrong; rather it is the only safe way to know how to please God.
The Word is Yeshua who is Yahweh in the flesh. But He speaks to us in ways other than His Word. His Word is A way, not THE way. If it becomes THE way, it becomes an idol because you block every other way. Scripture is rife for false teachings due to faulty hermeneutics, hence why we have so many denominations. Most people read into scripture their own bias, like Israel always meaning physical Israel, or tribulation always being a future phenomenon for Israel only.
Respectfully disagree. His Word is the only way God speaks to us today. The scripture is not filled with false teachings. Perhaps you can give some examples. We have denominations becasue people do not respect the authority of the scriptures and listen to so-called other ways God speaks to us.
Well said, thank you!
THANK YOU, for telling it how it is, Jack! Sharing everywhere!
The account of Gideon tearing down the idol in Judges 6 illustrates people's reactions, not to the idol, but to the idol-breaker ('iconoclast').
🎯
Deep very deep
After stating during a Wednesday night devotional before class during pride month, I stated that there are only two sexes, male and female. After wards a brother angrily came up to me and said people like me were responsible for homosexuals and so-called trans people committing suicide. He told me that his daughter is now a man married to a woman. He said she loves God, and the proof was that she is a Lutheran pastor. I was removed from doing devotionals for over a year becasue I offended this man and his wife. I think the reason we never heard preaching or teaching on this was becasue one of the elders' daughters is a lesbian, who recently married a woman.
I wish I could say I'm surprised but this kind of weaponized empathy is all too common. Hurt feelings win out over the truth, and some would rather defend their family relationships than stand for what's right. Awful.
Brought the 🔥 to the golden calves Jack!
The most recent article makes some valid points, but you neglected to include any scriptures to back up your points. Human reasoning and logic alone are not sufficient for me or anyone. God's Word must always have the final, as well as the first, word. Include scriptures, please.
Each paragraph could be the subject of a whole article, complete with numerous Bible verses. And this blog has had such articles.
I see this piece as an exploration of "What is the pattern across all these seemingly different issues?"
Not an attempt to resolve each issue. It assumes the reader has already been exposed to Biblical arguments about most or all of these issues, but has not necessarily seen a pattern that ties them together.
There is a place for teaching that assumes the reader already has some background and is not starting at square one.
There is some Scripture in here, though I didn't include direct verse references. I think this practice itself can be Scriptural, as Jesus and others would say "It is written."
Did Abraham have scripture when asked to sacrifice his son? Did Cain have scripture when asked to murder his brother? Did Adam have scripture when asked to support his wife? Be careful scripture doesn’t become your idol Gwen.
I do have a question for you regarding your statement about scripture becoming an idol- quite simple, if in John 1 is it written, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." then does that not force us in some way to treat the word itself as God's words in that way she is describing? I do understand the sentiment, but I also find it hard to distinguish the word as being a separate thing from God himself- as it seems you have tried to do here. Would love to hear your thoughts though!
As to Abraham, yes, he did have a command from God to offer up his son. It was a test only for Abraham to show him the level of his obedience to God. Is that a command to us today? Certainly not.
As to Cain, there is no scripture that told him to commit murder.
As to Adam, he willingly went along with the temptation with her. In that instance, I believe he should have refused the temptation.
Needing to have a "thus saith the Lord" for all we do and believe is not wrong; rather it is the only safe way to know how to please God.
The Word is Yeshua who is Yahweh in the flesh. But He speaks to us in ways other than His Word. His Word is A way, not THE way. If it becomes THE way, it becomes an idol because you block every other way. Scripture is rife for false teachings due to faulty hermeneutics, hence why we have so many denominations. Most people read into scripture their own bias, like Israel always meaning physical Israel, or tribulation always being a future phenomenon for Israel only.
Respectfully disagree. His Word is the only way God speaks to us today. The scripture is not filled with false teachings. Perhaps you can give some examples. We have denominations becasue people do not respect the authority of the scriptures and listen to so-called other ways God speaks to us.
I have said what I have said.