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How far should we take Inspiration
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Franklin Graham on CNN
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Has P&P be hacked again?
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Pearls before swine.
Well, Xulon, I know that you stand somewhere off to my left, politically speaking, but I have grown more sympathetic and understanding of those on my left. You're right, I think there is much coming from that direction that we should be listening to…
No, believing God did the right thing for us and the best thing for us is not an insult to God. However, as I see it, Rory, YOU are the one demanding scripture fit into what you want it to be. You are demanding that God perform to your standard, ins…
It could just be a database error.
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Fatal error: require_once() [funct…
I got that message a few days ago but I haven't tried it today
Ditto.
Daniel, I so agree with that last paragraph.
One of the errors we can fall into is the false thinking that if the Bible can't be believed in every detail, it can't be trusted at all. That's just foolishness, forcing a standard on the Bible that we…
Rory, I'm still curious. The Sermon on the Mount - exact words of Christ or a summary? Or Luke's account of Peter's denial. Exact or an approximation?
Xulon, this is the kind of stuff I've been wrestling with. God breathing is not an uncommon concept in scripture. It's found in Genesis, Job and Revelation and generally is referring to God giving life. Then we see Hebrews 4:12 and that concept make…
My position, based on what the Bible says about itself, is that whether words are God-breathed directly by Christ, or breathed by Him through Bible authors by the Spirit (though maintaining the integrity of their human personalities), the quality of…
I do not deny that children inherit a sin nature, but God is about providing choice. A small child doesn't have any choice. They cannot be held accountable for their actions because they are yet incapable of understanding the difference between righ…
There is no exception for babies in Ephesians 2:8 or Romans 3:23 or other similar verses. We have scripture which clearly states infants too are afflicted by sin (Psalm 51:5, Genesis 25:22,26)) and scriptures which clearly show infants can have fait…
David, I agree, the character of God is the determining factor. If something seems unjust to us, there's a very good chance it really is. After all, we get our sense of Justice from God. I think it's part of the Imago Dei.
Faith has nothing to do with it.
Example. An infant son and his father both die in a tragic accident. They never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Are they condemned to the same fate? Let's look at the at the state of each.
One is too young to eve…
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- How would you describe yourself theologically?
- Evangelical
Comment Wall (16 comments)
- At 6:29pm on October 1, 2009,
xulon said… - Thanks for the birthday greetings, David.
- At 1:47am on September 30, 2009,
Char said… - I don't have much time these days so sorry this is a little late.
You didn't offend me. If you were telling the ugly truth, then so be it. I mean I can take that on the chin.
It's not like my feelings were terribly terribly hurt by PJ either-I'm used to that kind of junk from him. I do get tired of his veiled attacks and call him on them though. And he knows I'll do it. It's a thing with us. See there's history there-I offended him at some point early on or something and he's been trying to repay the favour ever since. Now I am not someone who looks for offence in other people's words or actions. But I am aware when someone intends it, even subconciously. It may surprise you that I have tried to get along and virtually every attempt I have made has been snubbed. So yeah. I'm not carrying the grudge here.
I elaborate on that not to go on the defensive, but because it's the perfect example of what I'm talking about. The one who thinks he is wronged must forgive for the perceived slight or there is no relationship, regardless of whether there is an apology or not. Can two walk together unless they be agreed? Many times the right hand of fellowship may be extended, but if it is never taken there will never be fellowship. Period. This is why I say it's a problem for the offended rather than the offender-there is nothing the offender can do if the offended decides he will remain offended. I don't mean it in the sense of "it's not my problem so whatever".
That said, I've been in situations where saying "I'm sorry you were offended" is not enough because the offended wants an admission of intentional or meanspirited wrongdoing-but to admit to this would be dishonest. Can't do it in that case. There's one of my character flaws.
You know the saying from Sherlock Holmes that false modesty is as much a departure from the truth as arrogance? I am in line with that thought. I don't think it's a virtue to pretend. That said, Sherlock Holmes was a brilliantly rational prick. So there's that.
Do stick around.
- At 1:43am on September 23, 2009,
Char said…
- You really shouldn't have laid awake. Who wants to be tired on their birthday??
Seriously I thought I should give an explanation on that. I own that I am a sinner because I am not sensitive to people's feelings, but if I apologize I want it to mean something both to me and to the other.
My sense of humour gets me into trouble more than it helps I'm afraid.
- At 8:18pm on September 21, 2009,
H said… - Not by you, but it's OK. Doesn't matter. I really don't have a horse in this race. ;)
- At 10:40am on September 21, 2009,
Jack said… - Happy Birthday, David. I'm glad you are contributing to our site!
- At 8:57am on September 21, 2009,
H said…
- Happy Birthday, David. I see I was zinged for apologizing to any whom I may have offended on Rata...whatever's thread (spelling)...but I didn't mean it as an act of hypocrisy, simply because I often do not know my own heart - how desperately wicked it is, and how easily deceived I am by its intent. I am a sinner, and I sin as a result. I may have given offense and it may have been unknowingly done, or I may only THINK it was unknowingly done. In any event, I see no harm in owning up to that fact.
- At 7:13am on September 21, 2009,
Kim said…
- At 2:07am on September 21, 2009,
Ray Nearhood said… - Happy Birthday
- At 11:56pm on September 20, 2009,
Char said…
- David,
In that thread you may have noticed I kept asking something that no one ever answered. I'd be interested if you would like to answer. Who is at fault when no offence is intended, the offender or the offended?
I asked because I think the person who takes offence when none is intended is the one with the problem. They are the one who must get over it in order for there to be a relationship. Excepting trolls (I own that I am mean to them) and my sarcastic nature, on the occasions I have intended insult, I have apologized-to the person whom I wronged directly, not all and sundry. I have apologized more for taking offence where none was intended however. If someone did not intend to insult me, how are they sinning? If they explain themselves, whose problem does it become? That is the rub.
I see blanket apologies as false and promoting of a pretend sort of nicety rather than actually mending relationships in a genuine manner. That would simply cheapen the apology to meaninglessness so that you never know if I am really sorry or if I'm just saying it to placate you. So no I do not do this because I see it as hypocrisy. It would be dishonest for me to do this.
The thing that I find interesting is that you think this is ungracious. That's part of my point exactly-not everyone thinks this way. I don't think such apologies are a sign of graciousness. I think they are meaningless.
If I have offended you, come and tell me what was so offensive (this is what I find particularly odious about the thread-it was transparently attacking about 4-5 of the most regular posters without saying so nor coming to us first). Here's the thing-if I intended offence, you will get an apology. But if didn't mean to offend, you probably won't-what I will do is explain to you what I was really saying and how it was not intended to be what you think it was. One thing I can say is that I will never ever lie to you.
All that said, I find that people very frequently read sub-texts into my posts that are quite surprising, and even after I make efforts to word them in a non-offensive manner, still take offence and then proceed to insult me. I understand that they are upset and I forgive them for that, but I am not waiting for some apology to do it. I simply understand that's how that person is. Thing is, I am a rational person. I really don't know what will set off the more sensitive than I. About the only thing I can change is my sarcasm. But I can word my posts as best as possible and then there is nothing else I can do short of lying. As I said, I won't do that. Perhaps that is wrong, but I think lying to people shows less love and respect than anything.
- At 2:45pm on September 18, 2009,
H said…
- Hey,
Don't go!!! We need you!
Peace & grace,
Holly
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