tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558253513796745662.post8510982034598843010..comments2023-08-13T07:09:16.921-04:00Comments on Contextual Criticism: No Christian can vote for Obama says Xtian right extremistLowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305748075301453010noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558253513796745662.post-1101872917367531732008-11-08T22:24:00.000-05:002008-11-08T22:24:00.000-05:00This is for Bob Poris. While you seem to know part...This is for Bob Poris. While you seem to know parts of the Bible, you seem to have a lot of questions about it. <BR/><BR/>"I was under the impression that the Old Testament was the basis for the New Testament and was the original word of God."<BR/><BR/>Bob, that is not entirely correct. The Old Testament is history from creation until about 400 years before the birth of Christ and focuses on God's favor on the Jewish people. The New Testament is the history of Jesus' ministry, the founding of the Church (which now included non-Jewish people), the teachings of the Apostle Paul, and the prophecy of the end times and the Return and Reign of Christ. The Old and the New are all one and there is no discrepancy in the teachings between them.<BR/><BR/>"Where is it written that God changed the rules and allowed His followers to pick and choose from Leviticus etc?"<BR/><BR/>God never allowed the Israelites to "pick and choose" from Leviticus--God spelled out what was required to be holy before him and this was the Old Covenant. The "problem" was that there was no way for anyone to keep the law perfectly (therefore all the sacrifices that were needed in order to make things right). God "changed the rules" with the death of Jesus. Since Jesus was not only God but also man (and the Messiah), and he kept the law perfectly, his death was the ultimate sacrifice over breaking the law, and that ushered in a New Covenant. (See <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%208:13;&version=50;" REL="nofollow">Hebrews 8:13</A>). Part of this New Covenant is actually an expanded scope of the Old Covenant, for example, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." (Matthew 5:21-22). This New Covenant will continue until Christ returns again to rule and usher in final peace.<BR/><BR/>"Go back to the source and get an accurate translation, then tell us what God meant and wanted.... Does she read or speak Hebrew or Aramaic? How about Greek and then Latin and then English?"<BR/><BR/>So seem quick to cast stones without providing any clarity on the issue. You are so upset with Poter's "selective" and "faulty translation" she uses for her argument, yet you provide no proof you know what you're talking about. Why don't you expound on what the proper meaning is and what the original text means? What is the proper translation (if any) we should be using?<BR/><BR/>"In any event, the world has kept turning even with abortion, murder, genocide, etc. it will continue after the election." and "God can stop any action, I am told."<BR/><BR/>Things will keep going on, however not because there is nothing wrong, but because God is waiting. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)<BR/><BR/>You say: "Most moral questions are up to each individual to decide and act upon."<BR/><BR/>The Bible says: "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558253513796745662.post-31545022313388404272008-11-01T10:36:00.000-04:002008-11-01T10:36:00.000-04:00Porter quotes Deuteronomy freely. I was under the ...Porter quotes Deuteronomy freely. I was under the impression that the Old Testament was the basis for the New Testament and was the original word of God. I would assume that God meant people to obey His words. Why not quote all of Deuteronomy and Leviticus if one wants to follow the original words of God? Where is it written that God changed the rules and allowed His followers to pick and choose from Leviticus etc? Why are we eating pork? Why are we not following the rules in our daily life as written in Leviticus? Who decided we could ignore some but not others? If God wanted to revise the rules, I am sure He could have done so over the centuries. The only written words of God seems to have been on the tablets he gave Moses Perhaps because they were written in a language other than English, many have a bad translation. Go back to the source and get an accurate translation, then tell us what God meant and wanted. Who is Porter to ignore the rest of Deuteronomy? Does she have a written message on the lintel of her doors as required? Does she follow the rules re food; killing of food; ways to worship that seem strange to modern day Christians, yet are God’s words, we are told. Does she read or speak Hebrew or Aramaic? How about Greek and then Latin and then English? Words have meanings within a historical context. Only God really knows what He meant and He might have changed His mind. Most intelligent beings do if they see a change in circumstances. I think the earth is different than it was when God gave the tablets to Moses.<BR/>I could be wrong, but I do not question God and have only the words someone tells me He wrote long ago. Either one believes or one doesn’t. In any event, the world has kept turning even with abortion, murder, genocide, etc. it will continue after the election. Most moral questions are up to each individual to decide and act upon. God can stop any action, I am told. <BR/>Bob PorisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558253513796745662.post-59276041095427540992008-11-01T09:57:00.000-04:002008-11-01T09:57:00.000-04:00Dear byfaith1...You reiterated Porter. And you ha...Dear byfaith1...<BR/><BR/>You reiterated Porter. And you have a right to your opinion as does she. It is, however, the height of presumptuousness to assume that you know the mind of god, or that you can determine what is a "moral" issue in a secular country like the US of A. <BR/><BR/>It appears you would feel much more at home in the Middle Ages where the Church decided the "moral" issues for everyone.<BR/><BR/>Some Christians, while believing abortion is serious, do not consider it a "moral" issue but a matter of choice after serious reflection and consideration of other options. <BR/><BR/>Who the hell does Porter think she is to say those people are not Christians?<BR/><BR/>That kind of character-assassination is a moral issue. The war in Iraq is a moral issue. An economy that feeds the rich and starves the poor is a moral issue. The lack of health care for children and the poor is a moral issue. <BR/><BR/>Do you really think McCain is a "moral" man? From day one he was a bimbo-chaser. He ran out on his disabled wife to have an affair with the blonde, but very rich, bimbo to which he is now married.<BR/><BR/>He has waffled on the issue of abortion, which you would know if you had truly studied his career.<BR/><BR/>He has waffled on 187 issues at last count. Changing your mind is one thing, but the evidence is clear he changes his mind which it is of benefit to him. Most egregious was his waffling on torture, where he voted in favor of it in spite of all his yammering against it. <BR/><BR/>His campaign has consisted mostly of scurrilous attacks against Senator Obama - lies, in fact.<BR/><BR/>His vice presidential running mate is not only not prepared, but a liar and a cheat as recent events in Alaska bear out, and belongs to a dangerous, extremist religious group who believe prayer will put her in the White House.<BR/><BR/>Now, that's a moral issue. <BR/><BR/>Sorry, but your argument fails on both ends. For many of us, abortion is not THE moral issue or not a moral issue at all. To make it the sine qua non of the election is to close your eyes to the real "moral" issues facing our country.<BR/><BR/>And, you must always remember that whether you like it or not, this is NOT a fundamentalist Christian country. It is not your right to determine for the rest of us what is "moral" and make laws accordingly.<BR/><BR/>And finally, why would you quote the KJV - the version of the Bible based on a previous translations that we have long known to be horribly inadequate and simply wrong?<BR/><BR/>Actually, why quote the New Testament at all? You can believe all that stuff if you wish. That's fine. But please don't try to foist it on the country as a whole. <BR/><BR/>If your god needs something done, I'm sure he/she can do it without your help. If not, you need a new god.<BR/><BR/>JacobLowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15305748075301453010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558253513796745662.post-45776306718145258162008-11-01T03:22:00.000-04:002008-11-01T03:22:00.000-04:00In my Opinion, if we would look more at the moral ...In my Opinion, if we would look more at the moral issues instead of the finacial issues in choosing who to vote for in this race the choice is easy. Its Mcain all the way. fix the moral issues and the financial will fall into line.<BR/>Mat 28: 19,20 should be for front in the decision.<BR/>KJV1WoRDFaithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05810722719407161106noreply@blogger.com