Random Questions; Bible-based answers
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You mean animals will stop behaving like humans?
Excellent finds! I will add them to the Key OT Teachings lesson and thread.
Isaiah 65:23 might be understood in connection with Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 & 22-23.
Well, denominations are groups of individuals sharing a similar fallible interpretation of the Bible.
Here is what I added to our website:
IS 11:1-9. This passage indicates that after the Judgment, Christ will reign on earth and the will of God will be done, as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10). This vision is also described in IS 65:17-25. The reference (in v.23) to toiling in vain reminds the reader of Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 & 20-23.
TOJ #34 - ...Although Jesus spoke in spiritual terms, there are a couple of passages in Isaiah (Isa. 11:1-9 & 65:17-25) which describe God's will being done on earth in physical terms. (The reference in Isa. 65:23 to toiling in vain reminds the reader of Eccl. 2:10-11 & 20-23.)
Okay, I am going to assume that the sound of silence indicates everyone believes recreation is right
as long as it does not include obvious sinning, such as getting drunk, gambling debts, cursing when one loses the game, etc.
I will go beyond this assumption to propose that right recreation is approved by God as a means of dating,
having a fun honeymoon until kids come, and bonding as a family with the kids.
I guess I would say that the amount spent on fun activities should not exceed the amount donated to church
and charity, which might be the tithe.
What do y'all say?
Very true.
1 Corinthians 12:8-11
For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge
according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing
by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another
the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation
of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually
just as He wills.
Though not all receive that gift of the word of wisdom.
Sounds like they need a league for mature Christians if they could find enough.
AI says that in the first century fun activities included attending chariot races, gladiator contests, and plays, socializing at public baths, festivals and feasts, or making music, dancing, reading, and playing games, but I find no mention of these in the NT other than Jesus attending the wedding banquet in Cana (John 2:1-11) and referring to children playing a flute and dancing in Matt. 11:16-17/Luke 7:32; and Paul referring to athletes in 1Cor. 9:24-27, Phil. 3:14 and 2Tim. 2:5 & 4:7-8.
Can you think of other relevant NT references to recreation?
I cannot think of references to recreation, but perhaps occupations such as soldiering are comparable.
By cooperating with GW = HS we can be a “good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2Tim. 2:3), spiritually trained and
“equipped for every good work” (2Tim. 3:17). Speaking of being a soldier and good works leads us to address
the following question: Is military soldiering a good work? Can we be both a good soldier of Christ and a military soldier?
The Bible does not condemn any occupation other than prostitution, and both Paul here and Jesus in Matthew 8:5-13
spoke of soldiering without condemning it. Such silence speaks volumes and leaves us with the freedom and consequent
responsibility to evaluate vocations including soldiering--and avocations or recreational activities.
By cooperating with GW = HS we can be a “good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2Tim. 2:3), spiritually trained and
“equipped for every good work” (2Tim. 3:17). Speaking of being a soldier and good works leads us to address
the following question: Is military soldiering a good work? Can we be both a good soldier of Christ and a military soldier?
The Bible does not condemn any occupation other than prostitution, and both Paul here and Jesus in Matthew 8:5-13
spoke of soldiering without condemning it. Such silence speaks volumes and leaves us with the freedom and consequent
responsibility to evaluate vocations including soldiering--and avocations or recreational activities.
The white flag of surrender is the reason for the war ,
Which is a never ending war the battle is until the end of mans fallen nature for God, he could end it all tomorrow but because everyone's days are allotted and he has decreed how many new people shall be born untill the day of the lord comes, hes also decided every new birth will have his inherent will Romans 9:18, until then, through which he will speak to them and will them. With, the inherent will of God for everyone.
However this is Gods will that can only be done through Romans 9:18 the internal conflict between the will of God and the inherent will man now's lives with, untill his will works in a Person.
The white flag of surrender is the reason for the war ,
Which is a never ending war the battle is until the end of mans fallen nature for God, he could end it all tomorrow but because everyone's days are allotted and he has decreed how many new people shall be born untill the day of the lord comes, hes also decided every new birth will have his inherent will Romans 9:18, until then, through which he will speak to them and will them. With, the inherent will of God for everyone.
However this is Gods will that can only be done through Romans 9:18 the internal conflict between the will of God and the inherent will man now's lives with, untill his will works in a Person.
Yes, God has given every normal human adult soul MFW, and God wills to have mercy on those who choose to cooperate with His
plan of salvation by accepting Jesus as Messiah and the incarnate Lord.
And yes, God hardens or does not save whomever He wills, which are those souls who ignore His POS/Messiah/incarnate Word and instead choose to believe Satan's lies, from A&E through the omega point.
Here is the immediate context for Rom. 9:18:
29. In Romans 9:1-5 Paul notes how sad it is that those who are part of the human ancestry of Christ reject him as Messiah, but being a member of Abraham’s spiritual children is what is crucial (#17).
30. Romans 9:6-13 states that God had chosen which one of Rebecca’s sons (through whom Messiah’s lineage would be traced) before they were born (cf. Mal. 1:2-3). The word translated as “hate” (miseo) is the same as in Luke 14:26 with reference to family, so a better translation would be “preferred”: loving Jacob/hating Esau refers to God preferring that Jacob’s descendants serve as the heritage for Messiah rather than to individual salvation.
31. Romans 9:14-16 stresses that s/e depends on God’s mercy rather than being achieved by human effort (#12), although the preceding context has shown that (the non-meritorious condition of) faith is involved, which truth can be stated as “God initiates; sinners cooperate—or not”, because of MFW.
32. Romans 9:17 refers to pharaoh in Exodus 9:13-35 as an example of someone whom God allowed to oppose His will so that His power might be manifested by the plagues. The OT passage indicates that pharaoh was conscious of his sin but “He and his officials hardened their hearts” (v.34b).
33. Romans 9:18 says that God “hardens whom He wants to harden”, which raises the question asked in v.19, “Why does God blame sinners who cannot resist His will?” Paul’s response (Rom. 9:20-21) is that God has the might and thus the right to determine what is right. Then he speculates (“What if”) that God might have patiently endured evildoers (#20) as evidence of His glory toward recipients of His mercy (Rom. 9:22-23).
34. In Romans 9:24-33 and 10:1-4 Paul notes that God elected to choose Gentiles with saving faith instead of Israelites who sought salvation by works and stumbled over the Gospel of Christ, even though “everyone who believes” receives righteousness or s/e.
35. Romans 10:9 states God’s requirement for s/e as “confess Jesus as the resurrected Lord”, v.10 clarifies that the condition of faith (#31) precedes the work of confession, and vs.11-13 reiterate that all sinners who call on the name of the Lord will be s/e.
36. Romans 10:18 cites Psalm 19:4, which hints that God’s s/e has been possible for everyone in the world. This implication may also be seen in Gal. 3:8, Col. 1:23 and Tit. 2:11 as well as Rom. 1:20.
37. Romans 11:5-7a refers to an elect “remnant chosen by grace”, which indicates that sinners may cooperate with God’s calling to be s/e “or not” (#35).
38. Romans 11:7b-8 needs to be understood in the context of pharaoh (#32), whose heart God allowed to be hardened. “God gave them a spirit of stupor” echoes what Paul said in Romans 1:24 & 28, that God gave fools over to perversion and a depraved mind (cf. Matt. 23:37).
Yes, I believe in a just God, so every war He commands us to wage (cf. post #695) is just.
Of course, life is rarely simple, so discerning the justness of wars not commanded in Scripture is complicated.
Often a cause may be just, but the means of accomplishing it are not. Also, often what is most just is to prevent war.
For example:
orld War II
Mistake #1 – Allowing Japan to attack Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Mulligan #1 – Maintain vigilance at all times by monitoring movement of Japanese aircraft carriers with our submarines.
Mistake #2 – Causing too many of our soldiers to die in the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944.
Mulligan #2 – After defeating Rommel in Africa in 1942 and Mussolini in Italy in September of 1943, continue attacking Germany from Rome along the Mediterranean coast into France and also along the Danube River from the Black Sea into Hungary. Then invade from England into the Netherlands or Belgium instead of onto the cliff-lined beaches of Normandy.
Korean War
Mistake #1 – Withdrawing our troops from South Korea in 1948, which allowed the communist attack in June of 1950.
Mulligan #1 – Maintain sufficient troop levels, especially along the border, to deter an invasion and insure secure elections (as we did in Germany after winning WWII).
Mistake #2 – Allowing the Chinese to invade Korea in November of 1949 almost to Pusan.
Mulligan #2 – Command General MacArthur to defend Korea by surging overwhelming support along the northern border (which he had reached by November of 1950) and then to bomb invading Chinese troops as soon as they crossed, if they dared to do so (which they did in November of 1951).
Vietnam War
Mistake #1 – Supporting the French in 1945 when it tried to reassert its subjugation of Viet Nam.
Mulligan #1 – Support the Viet Minh’s attempt to liberate the colony, thereby preventing or obviating the need of Ho Chi Minh to seek communist support.
Mistake #2 – After Vietnam was divided by the Geneva Accords in 1954, allowing the South to reject elections and then the North to infiltrate until we joined the war in 1965.
Mulligan #2 – Instead of gradually escalating or increasing our military effort and secretly trying to prevent infiltration from Cambodia and Laos, surge military support along the entire border in 1955, and bomb invaders immediately (cf. The Korean War). Then recall General MacArthur to lead the conquest of the North (preparing to bomb Chinese invaders if necessary–i.e., they did not learn from the Korean War).
War in Afghanistan (2001-21)
Mistake #1 – Failing to prevent the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Mulligan #1 – Prevent the 9-11 attacks by means of FBI and CIA involvement, and punish anyone who contributed to the tragedy because of their incompetence, beginning at the top. (President Bush had been briefed about a credible threat of aircraft hijacking by al-Qaeda.)
Mistake #2 – Failing to win the war in Afghanistan quickly with minimal casualties and cost.
Mulligan #2 – After the Taliban were defeated in November of 2001, continue surging military support especially along the borders to prevent the escape of Bin Laden and infiltration from Pakistan. Insure that the Bonn Agreement in December calls for increasingly locking down the country, holding secure elections by the end of 2003, and implementing something like the Marshall Plan by 2004. Do not depart until Afghanistan is stable for two years, but leave an adequate military presence to monitor the situation and deter terrorist attacks.
War in Iraq (2003-11)
Mistake #1 – Failure to prevent the need for active war in Iraq.
Mulligan #1 – Fire warmongers including Rumsfeld and Cheney. Utilize sanctions to prompt Saddam to allow inspections of suspected WMD locations. Punish his murderous behavior with appropriate consequences, such as no-fly zones or targeting him with precision guided missiles.
Mistake #2 – Failing to win the war in Iraq quickly with minimal casualties and cost.
Mulligan #2 – Using the win in Afghanistan as a model, after the initial invasion continue to surge military support until the country’s border with Iran cannot be infiltrated, weapons (or materiel for making IEDs) cannot be stolen from armories, key infrastructure is protected and insurgency is prevented. Instead of disbanding the Iraqi army, transform it with the help of cooperative officers into a peace-making mission between Sunnis and Shiites. After the capture of Saddam in December of 2003, continue surging support in order to prevent insurgent attacks (such as in Fallujah), insure secure elections (held in the fall of 2005), and implement something like the Marshall Plan by 2006. Maintain the surge (not begun by General Petraeus until 2007), until the country is stable for two years (giving PTSD to enemy elements), then withdraw except for an adequate military presence to monitor the situation and deter terrorist attacks.
The Cold War with Fascism-Communism-Globalism (FCG)
Mistake #1 – Failure to win the hot wars quickly (within 3 years each) in Afghanistan and Iraq with minimal loss of lives and materiel cost over 6,800 service members’ lives and 8 trillion dollars.
Mulligan #1 – Fight to win hot wars within 3 years and maintain stability for another 2 years, thereby saving many lives and trillions of dollars that can be spent on the Cold War.
Mistake #2 – Failure to minimize the risk of subversion of our country by FCG after WWII (thru 1964).
Mulligan #2 – Congress should have investigated whether America was being undermined in at least three ways. First, universities hiring FCG professors who promoted or advocated seditious ideology of FCG people like Marcuse and Alinsky, whose teachings encourage students to favor socialist policies over our Constitution. Second, FCG billionaires and oligarchs including George Soros and Klaus Schwab trying to undermine American values in an effort to create an authoritarian one- government world. Third, the FCG Chinese Communist Party subverting of our society by stealing technology, spying and bribing elected officials in order to achieve hegemony without firing a shot (“boiling the frog slowly”) by the year 2049.