The Ressurectin DID NOT happened according to...

bmerr here. Sounds like another Bible critic got a website. From what I read on the first page, the whole article bases it's postion on the premise that since the Bible has been misused to support evil practices in the past (slavery, oppression of women, etc), it must be wrong in it's claims of the resurrection of Christ.

While it is true that the Bible has been misused repeatedly throughout history by those with evil intentions, it does not negate the truth of the Bible itself.

Each and every false claim and misrepresentation of the Scriptures made by the author of the refernced article is easily refuted, and if called upon, I will be happy to do so.

In Christ,

bmerr

 

Sad to say, Bishop Spong has taken wrong interpretations of the Bible and has made them into allegations that the Bible itself was wrong. The interpretations he cites all betray the assumptions of past eras, and the issue both then and now is that we so easily take those assumptions with us when we open the Bible. We seem to want it to justify our ways.

To go to Bishop Spong's allegations about the resurrection -- let us grant that there are differences in the gospel accounts; let us grant that the thing being described is beyond scientific proof, because it cannot be replicated. But these things do not destroy its reality, which has been examined and found vital many, many times.

I for one do not find the notion that resurrection is a metaphor for God's willingness to bring life and vitality out of negativity to be very powerful or very convincing. I need, with Paul, to know Him and the power of His resurrection -- and transforming power does not come from metaphors.

Written on Easter Sunday 2007. the 60th anniversary of my baptism!!

 

1 Corinthians 15
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!

If Christ is not risen, we're in big trouble.

 

Spong has abandoned all the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith yet still seems to want to wear the name Christian.
from http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=13-06-013-v

Spong preaches that the Bible is basically mythology written in the Jewish tradition of story telling, a theory that doesn’t sit well with fundamentalists. He doesn’t believe Jesus was literally the son of God, and consequently, his statistics also include 16 death threats, enough hate mail to fill a shed and countless protests against him.
from http://www.anchoragepress.com/archives/documentee4d.html

Spong describes himself as a "God-intoxicated human being" who feels as though he "breathes the very air of God." However, even a cursory reading of his book is enough to inform any Bible-believing reader that Spong is a Christ-rejecting heretic who completely rejects the scientific and historical accuracy of the Bible. On a recent television interview, Spong said the idea of Jesus as Redeemer "has got to go." Spong rejects the Apostle's Creed and Nicene Creed, saying, "If the God I worship must be identified with these ancient creedal words in any literal sense, God would become for me not just unbelievable, but in fact no longer worthy of being the subject of my devotion."
from http://www.feasite.org/NewsViews/fbcnv002.htm

Shelby Spong, Episcopal bishop of Newark, New Jersey, is one of the chief blasphemers of this hour. Like all Modernists (regardless of what label they lay claim to) he is "deceiving, and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:13). Spong believes the Bible is merely a collection of myths and religious fables, yet he claims to love God's Word. He denies the virgin birth, deity, miracles, vicarious death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, yet he claims to honor and serve Him. He believes sexual relations can be holy outside of marriage and that homosexuals can live together in holy unions, yet he claims to believe in biblical morality.
from http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/fbns/fbns59.html

There's tons more. Spong is not someone any Bible believing Christian would take seriously about anything theologically.

 

Take this from someone who has read from some of J. Spong's writings.

J. Spong is a pro-homosexuality advocate. He is NOT being a compassionate person seeking compassion for those tempted by homosexuality -- he goes beyond this: he IS urging Christians to approve such deeds. This is a pervasive theme in his doings.

He recognizes that the Bible prohibits us from this. Therefore, he hates the Bible, wants it brought into disrepute, and wants no one to follow it.

A speech I once saw him give at a university suggests that he believes ancient religions, which he considers Christianity to be, should be relegated to the past. I also believe that he wants to convince Christians not to be Christians anymore, but rather turn to some post-modern `spirituality' -- although I doubt he would admit that. Not only would that eliminate his audience among Christians, but it would likely cost him his job.

 

GE:

And here in South Africa -- we're always behind times -- we have too many 'Professors' and heads of their faculties at various universities, who with their pea-brains have come to the fore as champions of the 'Jesus Seminar'. They leave a bad impression of the state of higher education in this country. Instead of being respected they deservedly are despised for their 'learning' -- which is no learning nor faith, but plain and very stupid own opinion and unbelief.

Anyhow, they say no body is necessary for a resurrection, I pray you!

 

I read the whole thing.....until I hit Spong's name at the top of the page, then I just rolled eyes and closed the tab :laugh:

 

Spong and The Jesus Seminar are way out there in heresy, if not blasphemy land. To go back to Helen's post (#5), just plug in the name of any cult where you see the name Spong. Mormon, Jehovah Witness, Roman Catholicism (especially the brand mixed with cults from Mexico and points south) .... even a few personal names come to mind.

Through it all, :jesus: :godisgood: , He wins.

 

GE:

And they are the one-eyed kings in that land of the blind.

Not to believe in the bodily resurrected and exalted and glorified Christ is not to believe in Jesus Christ at all, but to commit the unforgiveable sin even the sin against the Holy Spirit.