Greg;
Nice to hear from you. I will take things in order. First off Emile. I attend a Messianic Jewish Synagogue and Emile simply does not like anything Jewish. I really don't pay him much attention and if you read this thread much you must not either.
I will go with your use of the word faith but am not sure I understand the subtleties you are trying to convey. I certainly cherish my faith and science as well. As I have shared with you my coming to the Lord was not based on intellect or really much faith. It was simply me challenging God to show himself and he did. How do you suppose I should examine this very real event in a scientific manner. I know it happened as my life changed and my understanding grew from that moment on. Since I cannot replicate the event in a scientific way I will have to be happy with Faith. However it is faith based on a real event. Christianity is like that. It is faith in a real person. It is a faith that can be based on knowledge and history. Christianity has very little to fear from either.
<<Here's an example of puzzlement: Matt. 16:28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27, and Luke 21:30>>
Let us look at the incident you cited in Matt. 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Mark 9:1 ads he will come with power.
In John 14:18 Yeshua promises the disciples that he will not leave them orphans but will come to them. This indeed happened on the Day of Pentecost in the 2nd. Chapter of Acts. From my point of view, he had spoken to them about the coming of the Holy Spirit and the start of the Church. If you read the account in Acts 2 you will see that the Spirit was poured forth with power. In my opinion this was the beginning of the Kingdom of God on earth. Before that day the Apostles were confused and did not understand really what was going to happen. This is consistent with Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Here he also was not talking of a physical entrance of his own body, but the Spirit of God, which he promises will come into you when you believe. Isn't it interesting that all three-gospel writers recorded this incident in such similar terms? What do you think?
If you really want to approach the Bible in a logical and evidential way, there is a book I can recommend highly. EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT By Josh McDowell. Mr McDowell set out to study Christianity as a skeptic and to prove that the Bible was in error. Many people have made this same attempt and most come away believing. Mr. McDowell gathers from many extra Biblical sources and packs a lot of logical analysis into two volumes. Based on our conversations so far you would find this book fascinating. Start with Vol. 1. Vol 2 is drier and is mostly about textual criticism. This book has tremendous evidence surrounding the resurrection. I would be very interested to hear what you think of it.
<<The standards that you show the Bible sets for itself are classic standards set by all such texts of Faith. >>
I must ask you to back this statement up as I do not agree. I have studied many other religions and have found none that make the claims that Yeshua made about being God. What other scripture makes the claim to be the in errant Word of the Living God?
I would like to end on a scientific note. I am sure you know that if the Sun did not rise, the T.V. won't work either. I am sure it will be a cold day in May or the hottest on record.
I think I have shared many of my beliefs with you. How about a more clear presentation of your beliefs. To be fair you really should include a hint or two of scientific evidence. At least a logical theory to make things clear.
In Yeshua's love for you - DLL |
