Opinion: Losing the Bible

I am glad you disagree.

I assume you are not very old because you do not seem to know what was going on about 30+ years ago.

In my earlier years as a Christian it was amazing how misled some people were. Context was seldom talked about. It is evident if one reads his Bible or not. If he does then he realizes problems he has. If he does not read his Bible he often repeats what he heard somewhere else.

How would you answer the same question I was once asked, "if the day was 24 hours after Gen 1:7 then how many hours was it before Gen 1:6?"

 

Just before I started seminary an elderly man told me that I would have to study some things I probably was not going to like but they would help me. Church history and Baptist history were two of those classes. I believe that if people were to study church history and Baptist history they would find it as a guide to see where their actions may lead because most likely someone else has gone there before them.

Most of the same things being talked about in 2009 have been talked about in the past. So many think inerrancy is a new issue. It is not. It has been talked about for centuries. By looking at history we can see the results of their actions and discussions. History serves to provide a guide both theologically and practically.

 

It has nothing to with hatred. It has everything to do with your lack of knowledge. Did you read post #23 and 25?

 

None. I agree with you. I responded to post #24.

 

I think you have a valid point. One of the local issues I wrote about included some local pastors, the local SBC agency, the state SBC agency and one of the past presidents of the SBC. In every case I got basically the same answer of non-participation except one pastor who stood by me and addressed the church. In addition some in the congregation addressed the issue. In 2005 one of those same deacons shot and killed himself.

My Bible teaches that better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. Are you suggesting otherwise? Seems to me from what I read that your love for the SBC is concealed.

I think it was yesterday where I wrote that there are some godly folks in the SBC. I do know some personally. When trustees openly lie about something publicly does that not say something about the boldness of the convention people when few if any come against such unrighteousness? What kind of righteousness is that? It presents itself as the idea that any leader can do as he pleases without any accountability. When one SBC agency sues another (such is happening in MO) and few if any say anything what kind of righteousnes is that?

Scripture teaches that leaders and teachers are held to higher standard. Shouldn't the SBC do that openly? Some of my friends are professors who attend the same church I do and I hear about them from some of my students. I am glad that my students think well of the church and the professors. Some of my students work for the company who built a building last year on the church property. I heard nothing but good things about the church people and how they treated the workers. I worked on the home of a well known doctor whose family treated all of the workers well and I was able to witness to almost everyone of the job. In contrast I have known some Christians who have cheated their clients and Satan used them.

The first thirteen years of my life were spent under excellent leadership. My first pastor was a man who preached the word and clearly lived it out. Many times I saw him knocking on doors in the city. My second pastor was a great man of God. I had spent several times with him and found him to be a godly man intent on reaching people and preaching the word. In fact I recently called him. That is the kind of respect I still have for him. In that church nobody was just voted in as a deacon, elder, or pastor. When more leadership was needed it was brought to the attention of the congregation first. Then if someone was nominated by writing a name on a piece of paper the pastor met with the person to ask them if they wanted to serve and also made the person aware of the responsibility. Once the person agreed to serve then it was made public. If there were any objections then the pastor was to be contacted privately. If there were no objections then there was a time with a moderator to ask questions of the person. Then the person was put up for a vote. By the time that person was put before the congregation in that way it was obvious what that person was truly like. Their financial books were always open to anyone who wanted to see where money was being spent and how much was spent. People are informed. I am confident that if a non-Christian were to ask they could find out the same information.

I had worked for one of the top businesses in America and they were the same way. Everything was above board. They won the Phillips ethics award among businesses in America. It was owned by a Christian man.

When I was in construction I never saw or ever heard about my employer ever cheating or misleading anyone. He got me started in business. When he died his funeral had about 1200 people present in a church that held slightly over 600. Some of the local businesses closed down and a number of the city officials came. That was my introduction to Christianity and it has gone with me everywhere I have gone.

In regards to issues such as the Republicans and Democrats there are times when I ask questions to draw someone out to show them things are not so simple as they may think. It is not necessarily an effort to discuss my personal theology. I believe there are times when you have made statements such as naming people as liberals which is not even close to true. Personally I think you are less conservative than you think you are. I also believe that you have bought into some religious practices that are not the best.

I cannot remember one time where I asked you to quote me on something that you actually ever did. So again I am asking you to quote me where I ever wrote such a thing. I do believe your view of SBC conservatism is much more liberal than I am comfortable with personally. I am not in favor of a conservatism that is apathetic and allows unrighteous leaders and issues to prevail without anyone saying anything. What else would you call that kind of practice?

When one SBC agency is suing another in MO how is that being a doer of the word? Some are deluded into thinking differently. Satan is using them. Some people are more interested in buildings than God. How do their actions apply to what James teaches about suing your brother. Where is their faith? In their buildings and money? I believe what we are seeing today is the truth being revealed. God is fully capable of doing what He did to Job. While you call others liberals how are you any different if you let the SBC go on with that kind of clear unrighteousness and say nothing.

FYI I do know one senior outstanding Christian Republican Senator personally and have spoken with him a few times about some issues. He and I went to the same church until I moved recently. He knows there are problems. I cannot think of one time that he ever coupled his Christian life together with the success of the Republican party.

I get the impression that you think you know where I stand, but it is clear that you are only making an assumption. It is evident that you have not read all of my posts about Democrats and Republicans. Apparently you did not read that I do not like either one. My God does not live or die on who is in power.

 

John 15:1, 2 in action.

 

What do you mean? Jesus called publicans and zealots. Today the names have changed. In America most of them are called republicans and democrats.