February 21, 2009 7:57 AM
Sam wrote:
These parables are so common to me now, after hearing them in sermons and lessons the past 13 years (THIRTEEN YEARS!!!!??? It has been THIRTEEN YEARS since I was baptized?????? GOD, where DOES the time go?), that nothing, as Rik says, 'jumped out at me' this morning. However, I did have at least one comment before I dig deeper: Have you ever heard of the expression, 'don't answer a question with a question'? When I do that with my wife, she tells me to answer hers FIRST. Drat. That's probably what the Pharisees were thinking ('Drat!') when Jesus responded to their question with one of His own. They knew they were 'trapped' by His question, and this was very simply that they just did not have enough faith in their own beliefs to stand up to Jesus in His. You would think that people who believed in what they do as much as these folks, that they would have countered with some response, even if it were ...... er, well, male cow dung.
We watched two 30-minute each FANTASTIC movies Thursday night at our Bible Study, one of which was about standing up to others with 'facts' about Christianity. In that movie, a professor of a post graduate course called Humanities, was 'professing' his views of aethism on his students, one of whom was a 'devout' Christian---THE one he belittled the most. This person was not able to stand up to him with facts, as all she knew was her beliefs. She got a little 'help', however, when she met this other 'person' on campus and explained to him what was going on. He got himself invited to the class and did a superb job in defending Christianity to this professor and to the other students. Well done movie, as well.
My question for thought today is "Can you defend your beliefs with fact, to include historical proofs, when non-believers (or believers of other religions) 'attack' Christianity?"
Please don't counter with a question of your own, but rhetorically, can you? Reply to this
February 21, 2009 11:42 AM
Rich wrote:
My answer to Mac's question would be NO - at least not in the adequate manner I know it deserves. I know a lot about the Bible. I have read out of it and heard others preach for many, many years (even more than Mac). Yet, after all that time, I do not consider myself capable to "defend my beliefs with fact, to include historical proofs, when non-believers (or believers of other religions) 'attack' Christianity?" I am ashamed to admit this, but I have being honest.
One reason might be that I had a similar thought that Mac expressed above about today's reading - I have heard and read the stories in this chapter many, many times. I read today with almost a yawn in my mouth. So, I went back and read again.
Jesus is so awesome. He is so confident. If you lack confidence, read about Jesus! He accepts praise from children and adults alike. He is also incredibly bold. Did anything scare Jesus? I don't think so. He does not back down to anything. He faces his accusers directly and deals with what is at hand. He stands up to adversity and stares it down. He represents justice with power and authority. These guys ask him by what authority he does these things. Would anyone ask me by what authority I do things? Is there anyone in the world who is so amazing, so bold, so powerful, so awesome, so confident, ..., that you find yourself asking "by what authority" does he do these things? I cannot think of anyone.
Jesus is also clever, witty and intelligent. Also, I believe that EVERYTHING that Jesus did had a reason. That is, it was done for a specific purpose. Why did Jesus curse the tree and why did it wither so quickly? Did Jesus not like the tree? Was he really just angry that the tree did not have any fruit? This is the guy who turned a few loafs of bread and fish into enough food to feed 5000+ people! Jesus did this for a reason. He used the situation to communicate a specific lesson. If nothing else, the disciples remembered the incident. They told it to others and others told others enough to the point that the story appears in the Bible! The event burned the notion deeply into their minds that faith and prayer works!!! Maybe that is why we see so many references to times of prayer in Acts.
Jesus is awesome! Same tired old stories are not so tired when you open your eyes to see Jesus in action. I love Jesus and I wish I could become in just a little way more like him. I guess that is really what it is all about - becoming more like Jesus. What an awesome, incredible opportunity we have - we get to read the Bible about Jesus whenever we want. Reply to this
These parables are so common to me now, after hearing them in sermons and lessons the past 13 years (THIRTEEN YEARS!!!!??? It has been THIRTEEN YEARS since I was baptized?????? GOD, where DOES the time go?), that nothing, as Rik says, 'jumped out at me' this morning. However, I did have at least one comment before I dig deeper:
Have you ever heard of the expression, 'don't answer a question with a question'? When I do that with my wife, she tells me to answer hers FIRST. Drat.
That's probably what the Pharisees were thinking ('Drat!') when Jesus responded to their question with one of His own. They knew they were 'trapped' by His question, and this was very simply that they just did not have enough faith in their own beliefs to stand up to Jesus in His. You would think that people who believed in what they do as much as these folks, that they would have countered with some response, even if it were ...... er, well, male cow dung.
We watched two 30-minute each FANTASTIC movies Thursday night at our Bible Study, one of which was about standing up to others with 'facts' about Christianity. In that movie, a professor of a post graduate course called Humanities, was 'professing' his views of aethism on his students, one of whom was a 'devout' Christian---THE one he belittled the most. This person was not able to stand up to him with facts, as all she knew was her beliefs. She got a little 'help', however, when she met this other 'person' on campus and explained to him what was going on. He got himself invited to the class and did a superb job in defending Christianity to this professor and to the other students. Well done movie, as well.
My question for thought today is "Can you defend your beliefs with fact, to include historical proofs, when non-believers (or believers of other religions) 'attack' Christianity?"
Please don't counter with a question of your own, but rhetorically, can you?
Reply to this
Not at this point. i would need some of the other brothers and disciples to help with that fight.
Reply to this
My answer to Mac's question would be NO - at least not in the adequate manner I know it deserves. I know a lot about the Bible. I have read out of it and heard others preach for many, many years (even more than Mac). Yet, after all that time, I do not consider myself capable to "defend my beliefs with fact, to include historical proofs, when non-believers (or believers of other religions) 'attack' Christianity?" I am ashamed to admit this, but I have being honest.
One reason might be that I had a similar thought that Mac expressed above about today's reading - I have heard and read the stories in this chapter many, many times. I read today with almost a yawn in my mouth. So, I went back and read again.
Jesus is so awesome. He is so confident. If you lack confidence, read about Jesus! He accepts praise from children and adults alike. He is also incredibly bold. Did anything scare Jesus? I don't think so. He does not back down to anything. He faces his accusers directly and deals with what is at hand. He stands up to adversity and stares it down. He represents justice with power and authority. These guys ask him by what authority he does these things. Would anyone ask me by what authority I do things? Is there anyone in the world who is so amazing, so bold, so powerful, so awesome, so confident, ..., that you find yourself asking "by what authority" does he do these things? I cannot think of anyone.
Jesus is also clever, witty and intelligent. Also, I believe that EVERYTHING that Jesus did had a reason. That is, it was done for a specific purpose. Why did Jesus curse the tree and why did it wither so quickly? Did Jesus not like the tree? Was he really just angry that the tree did not have any fruit? This is the guy who turned a few loafs of bread and fish into enough food to feed 5000+ people! Jesus did this for a reason. He used the situation to communicate a specific lesson. If nothing else, the disciples remembered the incident. They told it to others and others told others enough to the point that the story appears in the Bible! The event burned the notion deeply into their minds that faith and prayer works!!! Maybe that is why we see so many references to times of prayer in Acts.
Jesus is awesome! Same tired old stories are not so tired when you open your eyes to see Jesus in action. I love Jesus and I wish I could become in just a little way more like him. I guess that is really what it is all about - becoming more like Jesus. What an awesome, incredible opportunity we have - we get to read the Bible about Jesus whenever we want.
Reply to this