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ThePilgrim

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  1. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to John81 in Opinions On Atheists?   
    Considering so many atheists take offense at even the thought of God, and many go to lengths to try and tell everyone there is no God, why not put forth evidence which proves atheism correct?
  2. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to LindaR in Opinions On Atheists?   
    https://www.thebereancall.org/content/july-2013-in-defense
    In Defense of the Faith
    Hunt, Dave
    Jul 1 2013
    Biblical Answers to Challenging Questions
    Must I Believe God Exists Before I Seek Him?
    Question: In my daily Bible reading, I came across a verse that really puzzles me: “Without faith it is impossible to please him [God]; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews:11:6). Rather than God revealing Him-self to a seeking heart, it sounds as though one must already believe in God before seeking Him. How can that be the case?
    Response:  Would someone seek God if he didn’t already believe He existed? It would be a waste of time. In fact, everyone, including you, knows that God exists.
    The true story is told of a London street preacher who announced to his audience that every atheist was a fool because the Bible said so. A well-known atheist in the crowd shouted back at him that it was a slanderous insult, which he took personally, and that he would sue the preacher for damages. The preacher responded, “It’s not slander to tell the truth.”
    The atheist countered, “And it’s not truth unless you can prove it! You’ll have to prove in court that I’m a fool, or I’ll take every pound you’ve got!”
    “I don’t have to go to court to prove it,” said the preacher calmly. “You say you’re an atheist?”
    “Yes, and not just a casual one. I’ve spent my life proving God doesn’t exist. It’s a pernicious myth!”
    “Spent your life proving God doesn’t exist, have you?” replied the preacher. “Tell me this: if a man who spends his life fighting against something that doesn’t exist isn’t a fool, who is?”
    Likewise, one would have to be a fool to spend any time at all seeking to know a God without being convinced that He exists. God expects every person, as the first step in knowing Him, to admit the obvious fact that He exists. Furthermore, God expects each person coming to Him to have a proper concept of who He is. He won’t honor prayers to an idol or to some “force” or “higher power.” Each person is accountable on the basis of the evidence to come to a proper understanding of God and not to be seeking some false god. God also requires that those who come to Him truly believe that He is not a God of caprice or trickery but a God who “rewards those who diligently seek Him.”
    What is it that any sincere seeker should already have concluded about the God he wants to know? Reason and evidence dictate the following: To create the universe, God must be all-powerful (omnipotent) and all-knowing (omniscient) and in touch with every part of the universe at once (omnipresent). He would have to be at least as personal a Being as we are in order to create us. He would need to perfectly embody all that we recognize as the highest qualities to which mankind could aspire—love, truth, justice, patience, kindness, compassion, etc.—or there would be no explanation for our admiration of such attributes. Furthermore, He would have to know the future consequences of every action in His universe. Otherwise, He could make some terrible blunders. And of course He must have existed eternally as God. He certainly couldn’t have evolved or developed out of something or someone that was less than God.
    The true God must also be able to create everything out of  nothing  and not just build or manufacture His universe out of materials already available. Not energy, not matter, not gravity or electricity, but  God alone  must be self-existent in order to be the cause of all. Finally, He must be perfectly good and just, or there would be no explanation for the common recognition of right and wrong written in the conscience of all mankind all over this earth. These are the minimum qualifications of the true God, without which we couldn’t trust and worship and love Him.
    Although we can understand the necessity of the above abilities, it is also completely beyond our capacity to comprehend such a Being: a God who has  always  existed and thus is without beginning or end; who not only created everything out of nothing but in order not to lose control of His creation must know where every subatomic particle in every atom ever was or ever will be; who must also know what every person who ever lived or ever will live has ever thought or ever will think or say or do, etc. Obviously, such a God is beyond our ability to fully comprehend.
    At the same time that God is beyond our comprehension, however, we have seen that both reason and evidence demand such a God as the only explanation for our own existence and that of the universe around us. To deny this God, though He is incomprehensible, would fly in the face of reason and common sense. It is both impossible and unreasonable for there to have been a time when nothing existed and to have everything, including God, somehow arise out of that void of nothingness. It is totally unreasonable to suggest that life and intelligence sprang unaided from dead, empty space and thereafter evolved by chance.
    Having come to these conclusions about God on the basis of the evidence all around him and in his own conscience, the seeker is now in a position to cry out to this true God to reveal Himself. The precise steps and circumstances and inner convictions through which God will reveal Himself vary with each individual. It is through His Word, however, that the fullest and clearest revelation of God comes. And in this Word, God has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, who declared, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John:14:9). Jesus also said, “No man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John:14:6). Whoever wants to know God must get to know Jesus. He is revealed in God’s Word, and He reveals Himself to those who open their hearts to Him. As He said, “Behold, I stand at the door [of every human heart] and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation:3:20).
    —  An excerpt   from  In Defense of the Faith (pp. 47-49)  by  Dave Hunt
     

  3. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to DaveW in Free Will: An Atheist's Question   
    You have stated that your purpose here is to cause doubt.
    Your replies to my post prove the truthfulness of my post.
    Therefore there is no point answering your questions, as you will continue to dismiss the answers you are given based on your presuppositions and your directive intent.
    Any answer given is deemed by you to be irrelevant as it "makes the experiment null".
     
    Further, if you were "brought up in the southern baptists" like I think you said elsewhere, then you have all the background you need. You know the answers to the questions you are asking.
    Therefore, your questions are not to gather information, but to cause trouble.
    It is therefore incumbent upon you to prove that there is value in your questions - convince such as NN and I that it is worth answering your questions.
    Or you will get less and less replies as other people come to the same conclusions.
    Do you actually want to grow from your time here, or is this a game for you?
  4. Thanks
    ThePilgrim got a reaction from EKSmith in Free Will: An Atheist's Question   
    Professor, are you searching for Truth?  Are you searching for God?  Are you searching for a life long never ending logical argument?  The latter is a total waste of your time and mental capacity.  The two former can be done quite easily and here is the best method for finding both . . . . for the two are really one
    From God's Word:    Matt 7:7-10
    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
    8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
    10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  KJV
     
    A little explanation from a very wise man:  Matthew 7:7-8
    The promise is made, and made so as exactly to answer the precept, v. 7. Ask, and it shall be given you; not lent you, not sold you, but given you; and what is more free than gift? Whatever you pray for, according to the promise, whatever you ask, shall be given you, if God see it fit for you, and what would you have more? It is but ask and have; ye have not, because ye ask not, or ask not aright: what is not worth asking, is not worth having, and then it is worth nothing. Seek, and ye shall find, and then you do not lose your labour; God is himself found of those that seek him, and if we find him we have enough. "Knock, and it shall be opened; the door of mercy and grace shall no longer be shut against you as enemies and intruders, but opened to you as friends and children. It will be asked, who is at the door? If you be able to say, a friend, and have the ticket of promise ready to produce in the hand of faith, doubt not of admission. If the door be not opened at the first knock, continue instant in prayer; it is an affront to a friend to knock at his door, and then go away; though he tarry, yet wait."
    It is repeated, v. 8. It is to the same purport, yet with some addition. (1.) It is made to extend to all that pray aright; "Not only you my disciples shall receive what you pray for, but every one that asketh, receiveth, whether Jew or Gentile, young or old, rich or poor, high or low, master or servant, learned or unlearned, they are all alike welcome to the throne of grace, if they come in faith: for God is no respecter of persons." (2.) It is made so as to amount to a grant, in words of the present tense, which is more than a promise for the future. Every one that asketh, not only shall receive, but receiveth; by faith, applying and appropriating the promise, we are actually interested and invested in the good promised: so sure and inviolable are the promises of God, that they do, in effect, give present possession: an active believer enters immediately, and makes the blessings promised his own. What have we in hope, according to the promise, is as sure, and should be as sweet, as what we have in hand. God hath spoken in his holiness, and then Gilead is mine, Manasseh mine (Ps 108:7,8); it is all mine own, if I can but make it so by believing it so. Conditional grants become absolute upon the performance of the condition; so here, he that asketh, receiveth. Christ hereby puts his fiat to the petition; and he having all power, that is enough.
    (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, PC Study Bible Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All Rights reserved.)
    And a verse for others in this discussion:
    Matt 7:6
    Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.  KJV
    Matthew 7:6
     It is not every one that is fit to be reproved; Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, v. 6. This may be considered, either, (1.) As a rule to the disciples in preaching the gospel; not that they must not preach it to any one who were wicked and profane (Christ himself preached to publicans and sinners), but the reference is to such as they found obstinate after the gospel was preached to them, such as blasphemed it, and persecuted the preachers of it; let them not spend much time among such, for it would be lost labour, but let them turn to others, Acts 13:41. So Dr. Whitby. Or, (2.) As a rule to all in giving reproof. Our zeal against sin must be guided by discretion, and we must not go about to give instructions, counsels, and rebukes, much less comforts, to hardened scorners, to whom it will certainly do no good, but who will be exasperated and enraged at us. Throw a pearl to a swine, and he will resent it, as if you threw a stone at him; reproofs will be called reproaches, as they were (Luke 11:45; Jer 6:10), therefore give not to dogs and swine (unclean creatures) holy things. Note, [1.] Good counsel and reproof are a holy thing, and a pearl: they are ordinances of God, they are precious; as an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is the wise reprover (Prov 25:12), and a wise reproof is like an excellent oil (Ps 141:5); it is a tree of life (Prov 3:18). [2.] Among the generation of the wicked, there are some that have arrived at such a pitch of wickedness, that they are looked upon as dogs and swine; they are impudently and notoriously vile; they have so long walked in the way of sinners, that they have sat down in the seat of the scornful; they professedly hate and despise instruction, and set it at defiance, so that they are irrecoverably and irreclaimably wicked; they return with the dog to his vomit, and with the sow to her wallowing in the mire. [3.] Reproofs of instruction are ill bestowed upon such, and expose the reprover to all the contempt and mischief that may be expected from dogs and swine. One can expect no other than that they will trample the reproofs under their feet, in scorn of them, and rage against them; for they are impatient of control and contradiction; and they will turn again and rend the reprovers; rend their good names with their revilings, return them wounding words for their healing ones; rend them with persecution; Herod rent John Baptist for his faithfulness. See here what is the evidence of men's being dogs and swine. Those are to be reckoned such, who hate reproofs and reprovers, and fly in the face of those who, in kindness to their souls, show them their sin and danger. These sin against the remedy; who shall heal and help those that will not be healed and helped? It is plain that God has determined to destroy such. 2 Chron 25:16. The rule here given is applicable to the distinguishing, sealing ordinances of the gospel; which must not be prostituted to those who are openly wicked and profane, lest holy things be thereby rendered contemptible, and unholy persons be thereby hardened. It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to the dogs. Yet we must be very cautious whom we condemn as dogs and swine, and not do it till after trial, and upon full evidence. Many a patient is lost, by being thought to be so, who, if means had been used, might have been saved. As we must take heed of calling the good, bad, by judging all professors to be hypocrites; so we must take heed of calling the bad, desperate, by judging all the wicked to be dogs and swine. [4.] Our Lord Jesus is very tender of the safety of his people, and would not have them needlessly to expose themselves to the fury of those that will turn again and rend them. Let them not be righteous over much, so as to destroy themselves. Christ makes the law of self-preservation one of his own laws, and precious is the blood of his subjects to him.
    (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, PC Study Bible Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All Rights reserved.)
    I am not wise enough to know when a discussion becomes an argument and it becomes obvious that one should just turn a debater and doubter over to God.  I just thought I would give some things to contemplate.
     
  5. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to John81 in Free Will: An Atheist's Question   
    If a person claims to be an atheist it makes me wonder why they wonder so much about something (Someone) they claim to believe doesn't exist (God).
    Atheists don't believe Odin or Zeus exist yet I don't see them spending time trying to disprove the Eddas or what we now call Greek mythology.
    Why aren't atheists denouncing and trying to disprove the boogie man, tooth fairy or various mystical or spiritual beings/creatures and gods/goddesses many actually believe in?
    It's also curious that atheists are quick to question and/or attack the God of the Bible but rarely do the same towards the gods of various religions.
    Could this be a matter related to what God points out in the book of Romans that all men have an understanding that God exists but some refuse to accept that innate knowledge?
  6. Thanks
    ThePilgrim got a reaction from EKSmith in Atheists and delusion   
    Since the Constitution is no longer in force in this country due to the actions of the three branches of government, Freedom of Speech as given in the Constitution does not really apply.  You have freedom of speech as long as they think no one is listening to you.  Take for instance a teachers or a professor in a college who says something that does not fit the point of view of the academic agenda of the school can he speak out and keep his position?  
    A government or corporate employee is free to say what he thinks as long as he speaks where no one will hear his speech.  For instance whistleblowers cannot speak without being persecuted by the IRS or prosecuted by the Justice Department.  
    You are allowed to demonstrate in front of a government building as long as you apply and pay for a permit to do so. . . . and you can be refused the permit. 
    I can say about anything I want because I am just a Fundamentalist Christian Nut Job and Conspiracy Theorist also.  I can be marginalized and and once marginalized I am just as good a silenced . . . . no one listens to a Nut Job.
    No we don't really have freedom of speech.
  7. Thanks
    ThePilgrim got a reaction from Invicta in Atheists and delusion   
    Since the Constitution is no longer in force in this country due to the actions of the three branches of government, Freedom of Speech as given in the Constitution does not really apply.  You have freedom of speech as long as they think no one is listening to you.  Take for instance a teachers or a professor in a college who says something that does not fit the point of view of the academic agenda of the school can he speak out and keep his position?  
    A government or corporate employee is free to say what he thinks as long as he speaks where no one will hear his speech.  For instance whistleblowers cannot speak without being persecuted by the IRS or prosecuted by the Justice Department.  
    You are allowed to demonstrate in front of a government building as long as you apply and pay for a permit to do so. . . . and you can be refused the permit. 
    I can say about anything I want because I am just a Fundamentalist Christian Nut Job and Conspiracy Theorist also.  I can be marginalized and and once marginalized I am just as good a silenced . . . . no one listens to a Nut Job.
    No we don't really have freedom of speech.
  8. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to John81 in Atheists and delusion   
    Good for what people? Iraqi Christians have been raped, plundered, abused, murdered and run out of their homes by the tens of thousands. Iraq has become a nation of strife, a battleground for control of the Middle East and the direction of Islam.
    Many Iraqis didn't like Saddam but they did like the peace and prosperity they enjoyed under Saddam. Those who posed no threat to Saddam were pretty free, especially as far as the Middle East goes, and Iraqi citizens had a higher standard of living than their neighbors.
    Saddam was only a real threat to political enemies, Iran and militant Islamists.
    One of the biggest mistakes America makes over and over again is failing to take history into consideration and failing to acknowledge all people are not the same. Just because we (Americans) tend to forget and ignore history we think all other people do to. However, history in the Middle East, even what we would consider ancient history, is for them as if it were yesterday. We also tend to think if we show some kindness everyone will embrace us and once we show others the wonders of democracy they will become just like us. The reality is that most Muslims in the Middle East don't want democracy, they don't want a Western life, they do view the West as the enemy and Christianity as a false religion and America and Europe as corrupters of morality with their promotion of porn, homosexuality, etc.
    The reason Great Britain, America and other Western nations have often had good relations and done business with strong arm dictators is because their leaders once recognized in some places that was the only way to have stability and hope of accomplishing anything.
    We live in a fallen world, with fallen leaders and governments. There will be no peace on earth until Christ establishes it Himself. No country, including America, has a mandate to police the world or attempt to turn every nation into a democracy (which we would do well to remember that democracy is a man-made, flawed form of government, not something given as God's perfect form of government).
    Governments are continually deceptive, supporting one another in lies, hungry for power and control. If this were not true there would be little or no need for the massive psy-ops in governments and the military; or for covert special forces operations which are kept hidden from public knowledge; or for massive spy agencies; or black operations budgets.
    Since the end of the Cold War many aspects of such things have become known (assassination attempts, coups, government infiltrations, creating civil unrest and wars, etc.) and yet so many people think such isn't going on today.
    If we truly want to help a nation or people, even our own, we need to take the Gospel to them, get the Word to them in their own language, make disciples, help them to walk in the Spirit rather than the flesh.
    Our wars and attempts to control and manipulate people and events according to our worldly desires will only reap more of the same.
  9. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to John81 in Didn't Know This   
    No, there should not be black churches, Hispanic churches, Asian churches, white churches, etc., but the reality is they do exist. Realizing many of these churches are secular in nature rather than actual followers of Christ, that's understandable. However, for those churches which are made up of believers and they purposefully choose to disassociate with other believers based only upon their race or ethnicity, that's a heart problem Scripture calls sin.
    It was common for early Baptist churches in America to refuse to have a flag in the church due to their strong beliefs of keeping government out of the church. For similar reasons, the Pledge of Allegiance was originally rejected by not only Baptists but many other Christians in America as well.
    Being that churches are, or should be independent I leave it to each church to decide whether they wish to have one or more flags in their church. If, as in some churches, the flag becomes an idol, sound men of God should address the issue and the flag should be removed.
  10. Thanks
    ThePilgrim got a reaction from heartstrings in Patriotism   
    The music is beautiful and moving however there are a large number of people including me who might not agree with the the War of Northern Aggression is depicted.  So I offer this depiction to bring balance:
     
  11. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to Invicta in Atheists and delusion   
    Saddam was a terrible dictator, but we had no business replacing him.  The US have supported meny worse dictators than him, in South America and Viet Nam.
  12. Thanks
    ThePilgrim got a reaction from Alan in Didn't Know This   
    ​This was not a pagan flag. The SPQR stands for: , Senātus Populusque Rōmānus or in English . . . . The Senate and People of Rome.  Nothing pagan on the banner.
  13. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to Covenanter in First confession   
    A Priest was being honoured at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish. A leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and to give a little speech at the dinner. However, the politician was delayed, so the Priest decided to say his own few words while they waited. 

    ‘I got my first impression of the parish from the first confession I heard here. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place. The very first person who entered my confessional told me he’d stolen a television set and, when questioned by the police, lied his way out of it. He stole money from his parents and his boss; had numerous affairs: taken illegal drugs. Lurid details of other moral failures followed.’ 

    I was appalled that one person could do so many awful things. But as the days went on, I learned that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people." 

    Just as the Priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies at being late. He immediately began to make the presentation and give his talk: 

    ‘I'll never forget the first day our parish Priest arrived,’ said the politician. ‘In fact, I had the honour of being the first person to go to him for confession.’
     
  14. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to robmac68 in Revival.......why No Revival In America? Why More And More Takeover By The Ungodly?   
    ​Yes, but the right kind of judgement.  There is a lot of judgement going on at the house of God, too bad it is judging those that are without, then those that are within.  If a pastor wants a lot of "amens" in his sermons, all he had to do is preach against sodomy, adultery, fornication, drunkenness,etc and don't forget Hollywood...you know, the kind of sins that mostly go on outside the church.  If he were to pick a topic such as Christians sending kids to public school and how it is sin, he wouldn't be hearing "amens" but most likely "get out"!  
  15. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to 282Mikado in Revival.......why No Revival In America? Why More And More Takeover By The Ungodly?   
    I read a little Spurgeon this morning (from his New Park Street Chapel Sermons) and thought what I read applied here:
     
    "There is no attribute of God more comforting to his children than the doctrine of divine sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that sovereignty overrules them, and that sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children of God should more earnestly contend than the dominion of their Master over all creation—the Kingship of God over all the works of his own hands—the throne of God, and his right to sit upon that throne. On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by unbelievers, no truth which they have kicked about so much, as the great, stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on his throne. They will allow him to be in his workshop to fashion worlds and to make stars. They will allow him to be in his treasury to dispense his alms and bestow his bounties. They will allow him to sustain the earth and bear up its pillars, or light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean; but when God ascends his throne, his creatures then gnash their teeth; and when we proclaim an enthroned God, and his right to do as he wills with his own, to dispose of his creatures as he thinks well, without consulting them in the matter, then it is that we are ridiculed, and then it is that men turn a deaf ear to us, for God on his throne is not the God they love. They love him anywhere better than they do when he sits with his sceptre in his hand and his crown upon his head.
     


    For meditation: Do you have to think twice before addressing Jesus as Lord? Judas Iscariot could never bring himself to do it—the other disciples could say “Lord” (Matthew 26:22); Judas could only say “Rabbi/Master/Teacher” (Matthew 26:25, 49)."

  16. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to Salyan in Covenantor's charge against me.   
    Enough. Just.... enough. I have not been following the thread in question, and I will have to review that, but threads posted just to 'get' someone like this are just not cool. They remind me far too much of what happened last year and that was quite enough for one lifetime. I do not agree with Covenanter's theology, but so long as he does not push it beyond certain limits he is welcome to be on this board. DaveW and Covenanter - you both need to stop this picking at each other. Dave tells off Covenanter, Covenanter reports Dave, and our reports section is full to the brim with your contention. Like it or not, you are both welcome on this board so long as you follow board guidelines. You both need to accept that.

    "Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" You two are not in doctrinal agreement, and could not dwell together in the local church. Bu, like it or not, agree or not, you are both (to my knowledge) born again believers and you are thus brethren. Could you at least try to live peaceably on Online Baptist?
  17. Thanks
    ThePilgrim got a reaction from John81 in Happy Birthday Magna Carta   
    Today is the birthday of the Magna Carta, a 12th century document which sought to place control on the powers of the king.  More than 5 centuries later those men who formed the Constitution of the United States had read and studied the document in arriving at their ideas of what controls to place upon the government to assure freedom for the citizens of the land.  The Magna Carta as well as the Constitution of the United States have both become museum pieces over the ensuing years since the writing of the Constitution.  The government in all it's branches have usurped powers that once belonged to the people and at first slowly, but now quickly, it is becoming the tyranny that the founders sought to avoid.  Nothing of human origination lasts forever in this world it seems.  Men have gotten comfortable with their freedom and relaxed their vigilance and freedom is fast disappearing from our land.  
    We all seem to have so many more important things to do other than watching what those in power are doing . . . . after all they have so much more pertinent information than we do.  It is fallacy that just because they have pertinent information that they can be trusted to make the correct decisions.  Good decisions come from one having wisdom and knowledge alone does not guarantee a wise decision. 
    Let me ask you a question.  Where does wisdom come from?  Does it not come from God?  Did Solomon attain to his wisdom by study only?
    2 Chron 1:10-12
    10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
    11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
    12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.   KJV
    And Ezra where did his wisdom come from?
    Ezra 7:25
    25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.   KJV
    So who are the people who have true wisdom?
    Ps 37:30-31
    30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
    31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.  KJV 
    So what kind of a man has the right qualities to lead a nation?  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge"                                                                                                                    And what kind of man is not?  "but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
    Prov 1:1-7
    1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
    2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
    3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
    4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
    5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
    6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
    7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  KJV
    Our freedom is fast disappearing because we do not demand righteous leaders.  We continually assume that the system will somehow put the best men forward for us to choose from.  We all know in our heart of hearts that this is not so.  We continue to choose unrighteous men from among the unrighteous choices given to us by the unrighteous.  God gives the righteous wisdom, not the unrighteous.  We know that from God's word.  The unrighteous may have worldly knowledge but they do not have God knowledge, and certainly not true Godly wisdom. Please tell me, how can they lead with righteousness and be just?  They can not, and they do not.
    2 Cor 6:11-18
    11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
    12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
    13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
    14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
    15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
    16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
    17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
    18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.   KJV
    For a righteous man to place a man in a leadership role over you and your nation who is not a righteous man, is that not yoking the righteous to the unrighteous.  Can it eventually end in any other way but disaster for righteous as well as the unrighteous.  
     
     
     
     
     
  18. Thanks
    ThePilgrim got a reaction from Invicta in Happy Birthday Magna Carta   
    Today is the birthday of the Magna Carta, a 12th century document which sought to place control on the powers of the king.  More than 5 centuries later those men who formed the Constitution of the United States had read and studied the document in arriving at their ideas of what controls to place upon the government to assure freedom for the citizens of the land.  The Magna Carta as well as the Constitution of the United States have both become museum pieces over the ensuing years since the writing of the Constitution.  The government in all it's branches have usurped powers that once belonged to the people and at first slowly, but now quickly, it is becoming the tyranny that the founders sought to avoid.  Nothing of human origination lasts forever in this world it seems.  Men have gotten comfortable with their freedom and relaxed their vigilance and freedom is fast disappearing from our land.  
    We all seem to have so many more important things to do other than watching what those in power are doing . . . . after all they have so much more pertinent information than we do.  It is fallacy that just because they have pertinent information that they can be trusted to make the correct decisions.  Good decisions come from one having wisdom and knowledge alone does not guarantee a wise decision. 
    Let me ask you a question.  Where does wisdom come from?  Does it not come from God?  Did Solomon attain to his wisdom by study only?
    2 Chron 1:10-12
    10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
    11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
    12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.   KJV
    And Ezra where did his wisdom come from?
    Ezra 7:25
    25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.   KJV
    So who are the people who have true wisdom?
    Ps 37:30-31
    30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
    31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.  KJV 
    So what kind of a man has the right qualities to lead a nation?  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge"                                                                                                                    And what kind of man is not?  "but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
    Prov 1:1-7
    1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
    2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
    3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
    4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
    5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
    6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
    7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  KJV
    Our freedom is fast disappearing because we do not demand righteous leaders.  We continually assume that the system will somehow put the best men forward for us to choose from.  We all know in our heart of hearts that this is not so.  We continue to choose unrighteous men from among the unrighteous choices given to us by the unrighteous.  God gives the righteous wisdom, not the unrighteous.  We know that from God's word.  The unrighteous may have worldly knowledge but they do not have God knowledge, and certainly not true Godly wisdom. Please tell me, how can they lead with righteousness and be just?  They can not, and they do not.
    2 Cor 6:11-18
    11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
    12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
    13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
    14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
    15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
    16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
    17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
    18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.   KJV
    For a righteous man to place a man in a leadership role over you and your nation who is not a righteous man, is that not yoking the righteous to the unrighteous.  Can it eventually end in any other way but disaster for righteous as well as the unrighteous.  
     
     
     
     
     
  19. Thanks
    ThePilgrim got a reaction from Covenanter in Happy Birthday Magna Carta   
    Today is the birthday of the Magna Carta, a 12th century document which sought to place control on the powers of the king.  More than 5 centuries later those men who formed the Constitution of the United States had read and studied the document in arriving at their ideas of what controls to place upon the government to assure freedom for the citizens of the land.  The Magna Carta as well as the Constitution of the United States have both become museum pieces over the ensuing years since the writing of the Constitution.  The government in all it's branches have usurped powers that once belonged to the people and at first slowly, but now quickly, it is becoming the tyranny that the founders sought to avoid.  Nothing of human origination lasts forever in this world it seems.  Men have gotten comfortable with their freedom and relaxed their vigilance and freedom is fast disappearing from our land.  
    We all seem to have so many more important things to do other than watching what those in power are doing . . . . after all they have so much more pertinent information than we do.  It is fallacy that just because they have pertinent information that they can be trusted to make the correct decisions.  Good decisions come from one having wisdom and knowledge alone does not guarantee a wise decision. 
    Let me ask you a question.  Where does wisdom come from?  Does it not come from God?  Did Solomon attain to his wisdom by study only?
    2 Chron 1:10-12
    10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
    11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
    12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.   KJV
    And Ezra where did his wisdom come from?
    Ezra 7:25
    25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.   KJV
    So who are the people who have true wisdom?
    Ps 37:30-31
    30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
    31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.  KJV 
    So what kind of a man has the right qualities to lead a nation?  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge"                                                                                                                    And what kind of man is not?  "but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
    Prov 1:1-7
    1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
    2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
    3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
    4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
    5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
    6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
    7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  KJV
    Our freedom is fast disappearing because we do not demand righteous leaders.  We continually assume that the system will somehow put the best men forward for us to choose from.  We all know in our heart of hearts that this is not so.  We continue to choose unrighteous men from among the unrighteous choices given to us by the unrighteous.  God gives the righteous wisdom, not the unrighteous.  We know that from God's word.  The unrighteous may have worldly knowledge but they do not have God knowledge, and certainly not true Godly wisdom. Please tell me, how can they lead with righteousness and be just?  They can not, and they do not.
    2 Cor 6:11-18
    11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
    12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
    13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
    14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
    15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
    16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
    17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
    18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.   KJV
    For a righteous man to place a man in a leadership role over you and your nation who is not a righteous man, is that not yoking the righteous to the unrighteous.  Can it eventually end in any other way but disaster for righteous as well as the unrighteous.  
     
     
     
     
     
  20. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to John81 in Is There Anywhere To Hide?   
    Warnings should be issued, but the mainstream media and governments tend to drown out and obscure warnings. Even among those who hear the warnings most won't take them seriously, others have no means to prepare or change anything in their lives based upon the warnings, some will go to extremes due to warnings and a tiny few can and will take some reasonable actions.
    For myself, the warnings don't bring about fear or desires to run and hide or to fight the man or any such thing; but they do serve as points of consideration and prayer.
    I know the Lord will care for myself and my family just as His Word says, but I also know many are without Christ and there are those weak in the faith who may act in haste, so there is much room for prayer and in some cases opportunities to help some prepare as they need to for what may be coming our way.
    Sounding the alarm is good, it's those who take such warnings to one extreme or the other which can bring about problems but that's on them, not the watchman which gave proper warning.
  21. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to TheSword in A more Biblical Theology.   
    Mike,
    While I agree that people tend to overcomplicate the Bible and especially in trying to put together a systematic theology, I think it's unwise to completely dismiss the idea or study of hermeneutics, especially for those of us who preach/teach the unlearned. Everybody engages in hermeneutics whether they realize it or not. Simply put, it's a fancy word for "interpretive principles" which guide the way we understand what we read. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel fairly confident in assuming that when you sit down to read one of the New Testament epistles, you don't take much of it figuratively or prophetically like you do when you read Isaiah and you assume the original readers had more familiarity with Jesus Christ than they did with the Assyrians. I'm assuming that you take those factors into account and it affects the way you understand the passage of Scripture you're reading. I also assume you read the entirety of the Bible in light of divine inspiration as opposed to a collected work of various men writing for their own purposes.
    Whether stated or not, these are interpretive principles that drive your understanding of the text. Where we seem to have so much error is when people either have a faulty set of interpretive principles or apply them inconsistently. New/unlearned and spiritually immature Christians are the most prone to misinterpret their Bible and come way with false and even heretical conclusions because they just read a passage and took it in whatever way that made them feel good about it. When you boil down the problem, most major doctrinal deviations or cults are a result of poor hermeneutics. Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are prime examples of how apply a bad interpretive lens leads to spiritual blindness.
    I'm not saying every Christian needs to pick up a hermeneutics textbook and get busy, but we ought to teaching them the principles which means we ought to know and understand them ourselves. Everyone who reads the Bible is going to employ some type of hermeneutic and so it is important that we're using the right one.
  22. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to Ukulelemike in A more Biblical Theology.   
    As Billy Sunday used to say, I don't know any more about theology than a jackrabbit, but I know the Bible. Maybe we should just read the Bible, consider the contexts, and believe what it says, rather than putting together often confusing exegetical and hermeneutical samoflanges? We try so hard to make everything nice and simple and end up overcomplicating it all. We can have 20 different scholars interpreting prophecy, and have 20 different ideas of what it all means. Let's read and consider what applies, look at fulfilled prophecy and let it edify us., and be prepared for what the Lord does next as best we can. I know I have a different position on the rapture than most here, but I also know that I am a man and the Lord will do as He pleases. Thus, while I will discuss it, if someone desires, I don't want to fight-it doesn't matter that much. Let God be God and fulfill as he will. And so also with everything else. The Bible isn't rocket surgery-its God's word for man-thus we don't all have to be, or follow, scholars and masters of hermeneutics, or hermanmunsters, or whatever. Just read it, study it, pray over it, attend to the assembly and believe what it says.  
  23. Thanks
    ThePilgrim got a reaction from No Nicolaitans in Pandamonium   
    A panda walks into a restaurant, sits down, and orders a sandwich. He eats the sandwich, pulls out a gun, and shoots the table.
    As the panda stands up to leave, the manager shouts, "Hey! Where are you going? You just shot my table and you didn't pay for your sandwich!"
    The panda yells back at the manager, "Hey, man, I'm a PANDA! Look it up!"
    The manager opens his dictionary and sees the following definition for panda: "A tree-dwelling marsupial of Asian origin, characterized by distinct black and white coloring. Eats shoots and leaves."
    drum riff
  24. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to Invicta in Is There Anywhere To Hide?   
    ​Or to study church history.    The wife of a retired Baptist pastor who lived near here, was told she had cancer.  He reply was "Many other people have cancer, why not me?"  She died two weeks later.  I just read a post I made on the inquisition on a recently revived thread.   If for them, why not us?  If we faithfully preach Christ   the beast from the bottomless pit will rise up against us.  Jesus said "In this world ye will have tribulation."  
    Unfortunately many Christians today are so soft they think it will to happen to them. 
  25. Thanks
    ThePilgrim reacted to swathdiver in Revival.......why No Revival In America? Why More And More Takeover By The Ungodly?   
    Americans don't think they need God.  They have everything they need and need not God to get it.  Or so they think.  They believe in God and see churches all across America.  They see Benny Hinn and Tammy Faye and Oprah and Jimmy and Billy and say we're a Christian nation.  They have over 200 bible translations, rock music turned into christian music and concerts at their community churches, they don't need God.  The megachurch will see hundreds walk up at the end and pray a prayer and go on living like the devil, they don't need God.  The people will watch Benny or Billy from their television set and send in their money for blessings, healings and more money, they don't need God either.  So what if their kids go to government school, dress like the world and get tattoos?  They're christian tattoos, they go to church and church rock concerts and don't do drugs, why do they need God?
     
    The United States as a whole has turned her back on the Lord and the Founders, who with God's blessings established this once great nation.  Today's corrupt and evil, self-serving government is a reflection of the people and their will.  Even the staunchest conservative republican politician (if you accept any as genuinely born-again) is a wimp for the cause of Christ.  
     
    Will this nation return to her former glory?  Nope, the scriptures say so.  But that doesn't mean we quit contending for the faith and winning the lost, indeed we must work even harder for the hour is late and the return of our Risen Savior is nearer than ever!   
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