In Reply to: Re: Bible Questions posted by ilovethebible on February 18, 2006 at 23:42:21:
Hi & tx for taking the time to reply, I know I've said that to everyone but thats because I mean it.
However, I do find some of the stuff you said disturbing.
You said:
'Of course, God knew this, which is why to really understand the meaning of scripture it is best to be born again and filled and baptized with the Holy Spirit, as Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth and teach us all things.'
Yes the Bible does say that but thats the verse along with whatever other verses they quote that every fringe Christian group will quote to help prove their loony beliefs. 'Ah yes' I hear someone say, 'but they are wrong because only we have the right interpretation'. Christian splinter groups will be with us always because someone will always have their axe to grind and peopple will disagree.
You said:
'The difference between that and King Herod killing all the babies was that one action was to ensure the Messiah would be born of pure Hebrew LINEAGE.'
Also:
'Remember they were still under the Laws Of Moses and many of the crimes were punishable by death, even if they were children. Goddoes not unmercifully kill people. They make that choice themselves according to how they receive or reject the Word of God. Man is a free moral agent. If someone knows the rules and still breaks them.'
So its OK to kill babies & children because God said so. Thats the same HS that guides you into all truth. So it follows that God at any time today could command His people to slay entire nations because of their disbelief, or some guy to be the sword of The lord & kill prostitutes or people that have abortions.
I can't believe for one moment that anyone can think its OK for the all knowing, all loving, all forgiving, super-duper uncomprenssibley smart & wise God would condone killing babies in some ethnic cleansing blood bath or children just because they called some prophet 'baldy'.
If you justify this with faith in spirits (of which there is no proof) spawning giants as some diabolical plan of a mythical satan then to you all things are possible as far as how far God would go to destroy, kill & mutilate all that stand in His way. Just like the Muslim fanatics. 'Ah but they are wrong & we are right, we know because God said so, besides they are fanatics.'
Back to Elisha, he did kill them by default because he knew he had power from God and what would happen if he cursed them. Even if the kids had been taught the law surely such a sentence is harsh to say the least. Besides I thought common Christian thought was that as humans we are not accountable until we are adults?
You said:
'Form that time forth in the OT all who believed in this promise and showed the fruits of it in their life were saved,all those who did not were not saved.'
This was in a small corner of the earth. What about the majority of the human population who had never heard?
You said:
' Your last two questions seemed to be answered by the verses which follow them.'
They are not answered at all they contradict and disagree with each other.
Some of my comments are a bit sarcasticbut this is meant as a way of underlining the point and not as a personal insult.
Fred