There is a lot of violence, and generally I dislike that. However, the mini-series needs to be true to history and the fighting that the ancient Israelites endured is a foreshadowing of the enemies that surround and constantly attack the state of Israel today. The Israelites needed to follow God's instructions in order to get to the Promised Land. They faced fierce opposition, including armies (the Philistines) much larger than themselves and bullies (like Goliath) throughout their journey to the Land that God gave them as an inheritance forever.
These early episodes demonstrate how great a struggle they went through. Along the way, those who rejected the false gods of that day, believed in the power of the Israelites's God, namely - God Almighty - and helped them along the way were spared (e.g. Rahab & family after destruction of Jericho).
Read more about it Here.
You can also see a video clip of last Sunday's broadcast about King David. There are 29 more video clips on that page.
You can also pre-order the mini-serie at Christian Book.com. It will be released on April 2, 2013.
There are comments at the Christian Book.com site. Several of them are, unfortunately, negative. I can understand that Christian believers want total accuracy. However, that would be an impossible goal in a 7.5 hour, 5 week series.
Some of the mistakes pointed out by commentators at the site are valid. However, the yet-to-be seen episode of Jesus Christ's suffering for the sins of mankind, his sacrificial death on the Cross at Calvary as "a ransom for many," and his ultimate Resurrection to Life Everlasting will be the key to this entire series. If it is not accurate, then I will be severely disappointed along with the rest of those stating objections to the epic mini-series. It would end up being just another human attempt to re-write (which should be discouraged by all born-again Christian believers) not only history, but the entire point of Scripture itself - the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It was interesting to read through the comments. I thought that the following one was really good because the writer stresses the immense need these days to reach this current generation and all of those who are lost because they don't know Jesus Christ "and Him crucified."
~ Christine
Copy of comment:
Hat tips to all links.
5out of 5
Only what we do for the kingdom will lastDate:March 7, 2013
Location:New York, NYAge:25-34Gender:femaleQuality:5out of 5Value:5out of 5Meets Expectations:5out of 5What God wants more than anything is that ALL may be saved and NONE will be lost. The number one audience for this movie is NOT Christians. "I did not come for the saved but for the lost." Don't miss understand, this movie is for Christians too, we also will get value out of this movie, it's Entertaining, Fun, and Thrilling....exactly why it's great for non-christians. This can be used to minister to someone...to give your testimony.From what I've seen so far, this could have been released in the theaters....it may not be 100% accurate....maybe 90%....but AGAIN, it's a MOVIE NOT A DOCUMENTARY about the Bible. I think this movie will accomplish its mission.Everyone PLEASE stop putting down efforts of people to reach the lost. Stop being negative, send Prayers out into the world that this movie will prick someone's heart, that it will remove the scales from their eyes, and they will want more of the gospel...Praise the Lord...We all should pray when we see this is being aired...the devil hates that anyone is even watching this...I mean it's called THE BIBLE...nothing more makes him happy than to see us as Christians bashing this movie....do u think the lost will put any value to it after seeing some of things written about the movie. Stop being negative, if it's not 100% accurate it doesn't need to be...it was 90% accurate and the Devil HATES that...all the more we should love it and support it.I pray for those who are against this show that they will understand that this is only the FIRST STEP to open the doors of people's hearts, NOT the only step but one of many. When Paul went to the gentiles, he became as one of them before revealing the entire truth in how they should change their ways....same here...people LOVE these types of movies...Troy, Alexander the Great, now they can say they loved The Bible and if they can come away thinking hey, the Bible really isn't that boring after all, maybe I'll try going to church...please don't have services bashing the one thing that brought them into your church in the first place and making them feel incompetent and stupid for enjoying the show.God is love, we should all love and encourage each other and this is a MAJOR win to get this movie done and I will support it and promote it to everyone I know. It now gives me a great entry way to invite them to church, to teach a Bible study, to tell them even more about Jesus and how to be saved.
Posts
28 comments:
While exploring the pages at the BIBLE - History Channel website, I found a film clip of Pilate's encounter with Jesus.
Bible Series Resources: Episode 9 film clip.
From the site:
Teachable Concepts:
This scene provides a contrast between the two authorities in life: The Authority of God versus The Authority of Man.
Pilate was the representative of the Roman Empire, the invading force, in Jerusalem. He held the power to sentence Christ to death.
Yet, Christ, the representative of God’s kingdom on Earth, truly held the power over life and death.
Christ’s authority superseded Pilates and was demonstrated by not needing to defend himself to Pilate.
Jesus said “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting.” Jesus references his claim to divinity here as well as to his ultimate power as the Son of God.
Christ also says “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world–to bear witness to the truth.” Christ reaffirms his purpose in coming to Earth.
Christ’s statement that he came into the world “to bear witness to the truth” echoes his claim in John 14:6, “I am the Truth, the Way, and the Light.” Christ did not just claim to be a great teacher. He instead came to be the source of Truth and Light and the only Way.
Questions to reflect upon:
How is Christ’s kingdom different that earthly kingdoms?
Pilate responds to Christ, “What is truth?” How would you answer that question?
Writer C. S. Lewis said of Christ that his claims were so extraordinary that Jesus was either a “liar,” a “lunatic,” or “Lord?” How were Christ’s claims extraordinary?
Judas called Christ only “teacher.” How does this title not truly reflect Christ’s own claims about himself?
I found this clip and "teaching points" encouraging that the episode will be accurate and true to Scripture!
Questions to reflect upon:
How is Christ’s kingdom different that earthly kingdoms?
People often revere dead kings (or statesmen). There are many; Cincinnatus,Washington, Bolivar, Garibaldi, Bismarck, Attaturk. AFAIK however, there is no Church of Washington, no Temple of Bismarck.
When you are dead, you are beyond the State's reach. Not so with the kingdom of Christ.
Civil wars have been more frequent—and more bloody—in Christ's kingdom than any other. Catholics vs Eastern Orthodox; Catholics vs Protestants; Methodists vs Baptists, Protestants vs Catholics; Anglicans vs Quakers; I could go on and on. A good and just ruler would seek to end such discord in his kingdom...hasn't happened yet.
Pilate responds to Christ, “What is truth?” How would you answer that question?
“Truth is both fragile and invincible. Truth doesn't need guile or force to support it. Truth is what we know that holds up under examination...and as we learn more, truth changes.” That's how I'd answer.
Writer C. S. Lewis said of Christ that his claims were so extraordinary that Jesus was either a “liar,” a “lunatic,” or “Lord?” How were Christ’s claims extraordinary?
I assume that Jesus was a real person. I don't assume that the stories about him are all true. If so, then so are the stories I've heard of other famous men: Davy Crockett, for example, who supposedly killed a bear at age three. Lewis gives us a choice of three, but I'd add a fourth: ”Legend”.
One of Jesus's (often-repeated) claims was that his followers would be able to do all of the wondrous things he did, and more (Matt 18:19~20, Matt 21:21, Mark 11: 23~24, John 14:12~14, and others).
You've had a standing invitation for years to prove the truth of these claims. Hasn't happened yet.
Judas called Christ only “teacher.” How does this title not truly reflect Christ’s own claims about himself?
Well, what were Jesus' claims about himself?
“I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.” Mat 12:6
“...and now something greater than Jonah is here.” Mat 12:41
“...she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.” Mat 12:42 This is Jesus describing himself.
“For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'” Mat 10:35~36 My, my--Satan couldn't have made a more thorough mission statement!
So we know that “teacher” is far too modest a description for what Jesus thought of himself. For most of his ministry he was a bit more modest, but toward the end he became grandiose—not the messenger, but the message itself. Apocalyptic preaching, which was interpreted as the imminent overthrow of Rome, was what got him pinned to a plank.
Next.
Oh, by the way:
How is Christ’s kingdom different that earthly kingdoms?
Shouldn't "that" be "from", instead? A discriminatory preposition makes more sense.
It was a typo, GM. The sentence should have read, "How is Christ's kingdom different than earthly kingdoms?
The answer is:
Because it is eternal.
Free will is the reason why evil, sin, wars, and death remain.
Christ is "not of this world" as he stated in the following verses:
Jhn 8:23 And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
Jhn 8:24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am [He], you will die in your sins."
Jhn 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
When Pilot asked, "what is truth?" it is ironic that he had the Truth standing right in front of him. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Each person has the choice to believe or disbelieve.
It is also ironic that Jesus answered his question about truth before Pilot even asked it!
Jhn 18:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say [rightly] that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
Pilot obviously ignored Christ's words. He either didn't like Jesus' explanation or chose not to believe it.
Your definition of truth is a worldly one and typical of one who holds to relativistic beliefs (e.g. moral relativism etc.). God's Word reveals the unmistakeable fact that there is such a thing as absolute truth. Again, whether one chooses to believe it or not is up to them.
GM wrote:
One of Jesus's (often-repeated) claims was that his followers would be able to do all of the wondrous things he did, and more (Matt 18:19~20, Matt 21:21, Mark 11: 23~24, John 14:12~14, and others).
You've had a standing invitation for years to prove the truth of these claims. Hasn't happened yet.
I think that the best "proof" claims are those that lead to someone being saved. The Bible says, "without faith, it is impossible to please God." It doesn't say, "without proof."
I have all the proof that I need. Just because you don't doesn't make my faith any less than your unbelief.
con't...
GM wrote:
This is Jesus describing himself.
“For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'” Mat 10:35~36 My, my--Satan couldn't have made a more thorough mission statement!
We have been through this before, yet you still bring it up as if you think you will prove something about Christ that isn't genuine.
Have you ever heard of the term allegory? Look up the definition! Better yet read this cultural dictionary explanation:
Cultural Dictionary
allegory [( al -uh-gawr-ee)]
A story that has a deeper or more general meaning in addition to its surface meaning. Allegories are composed of several symbols or metaphors. For example, in The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan, the character named Christian struggles to escape from a bog or swamp. The story of his difficulty is a symbol of the difficulty of leading a good life in the “bog” of this world. The “bog” is a metaphor or symbol of life's hardships and distractions. Similarly, when Christian loses a heavy pack that he has been carrying on his back, this symbolizes his freedom from the weight of sin that he has been carrying.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
GM wrote:
So we know that “teacher” is far too modest a description for what Jesus thought of himself. For most of his ministry he was a bit more modest, but toward the end he became grandiose—not the messenger, but the message itself. Apocalyptic preaching, which was interpreted as the imminent overthrow of Rome, was what got him pinned to a plank.
Jesus GAVE HIS LIFE WILLINGLY as a ransom for many. He could have called down legions of angels to "rescue" him from that cross. But he didn't. He accomplished the greatest act of love in history! As the Messiah, he bridged the gap between sinful man and Holy God.
But you already know all the details. For those visiting and reading this thread who want more information, please see this page:
Becoming a Christian
I love it when the simplicity of the Gospel confounds the sages of this world!
Christ's kingdom differs in every way from "earthly" kingdoms ... however, I believe it is written: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
So it would be vain to attempt a reasonable answer considering any description of Christ's kingdom hasn't even entered the heart of any living human.
~~~~
When Pilate asked Jesus "What is truth". Jesus didn't reply. In my ever-so-humble opinion, Jesus didn't bother answering him because the Truth was standing right in front of him and he couldn't see it. It is written again: "Answer not a fool according to his folly."
~~~~~~
I don't recall Judas calling Jesus "Teacher". I only remember him saying "Hail Master". I could be wrong, but I'm at work and don't have time to look anything up right now.
~~~~~~~~
gotta go!
CJW: ”It was a typo, GM. The sentence should have read, "How is Christ's kingdom different than earthly kingdoms?
The answer is: Because it is eternal.”
No, Christine: a typo is a spelling error (“too” instead if “to”). This error was grammatical—you used a whole different word. Didn't you say you worked in education?
You said nothing about the Christian civil wars, I see. How do we know who were the True Christians© and who were the heretics? As always, the winners tell us that. The Anabaptists and the Millerites and the Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Predestinarians and the Shakers are all extinct, or nearly so; but they were all part of the Body of Christ, once. Maybe they were the hangnails; I don't know.
”I think that the best "proof" claims are those that lead to someone being saved. The Bible says, "without faith, it is impossible to please God." It doesn't say, 'without proof.'”
If you have faith, you don't want proof; if you have proof, you don't need faith. I know from experience. But I still think moving Mt. McKinley to Nebraska for 24 hrs would be evidence (not proof) that even I couldn't dispute. You god supposedly knows just what it would take to cause me to believe. Since I don't believe, either this God doesn't know, doesn't care, or doesn't exist.
"When Pilot asked, "what is truth?" it is ironic that he had the Truth standing right in front of him. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Each person has the choice to believe or disbelieve.”
But you always get upset whenever someone chooses not to believe! I've read the things you've written about those who believe in other gods as passionately as you do...and they weren't pretty.
”Jhn 18:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say [rightly] that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
Pilot obviously ignored Christ's words. He either didn't like Jesus' explanation or chose not to believe it.”
Notice that Jesus never comes out forthrightly and says “I am a king.” He always replies, “Thou has said,” “You say,” and so on. He then claims that is kingdom “is not of this world”, which might be a wise and face-saving way to not anger an official of what was then the mightiest kingdom in the known world.
Pilate didn't ignore that; did he not say, “I can find no fault with this man”?
”Your definition of truth is a worldly one and typical of one who holds to relativistic beliefs (e.g. moral relativism etc.). God's Word reveals the unmistakeable fact that there is such a thing as absolute truth. Again, whether one chooses to believe it or not is up to them.”
There is no truth—not the way you spell it, with a capital T. Truth is what it is—not who it is. What is your otherwordly definition of truth?
In any case, what you wrote was “How would you answer that question?” If you don't like my answer, so be it. As you say, it's up to the person.
”I have all the proof that I need. Just because you don't doesn't make my faith any less than your unbelief.”
I too have all the proof that I need. But just because you have that faith doesn't make it true. Faith won't fly you across the Grand Canyon---but it has been known to fly people into skyscrapers.
steve: ”When Pilate asked Jesus "What is truth". Jesus didn't reply. In my ever-so-humble opinion, Jesus didn't bother answering him because the Truth was standing right in front of him and he couldn't see it. It is written again: "Answer not a fool according to his folly."”
And yet, the very next verse in Proverbs says exactly the opposite.
No wonder this book has needed a professional class of interpreters for so many centuries!
Sigh ... the first part of each verse are opposite. One has to read the last part of each to see the reasoning thereof.
See the opening sentence of my previous comment.
what is a "professional class" of interpreter? I seriously doubt that Peter, Andrew, James and John who were fishermen, belonged to the group you're referring to.
It seems elementary to me. I mean, personally I don't need a "professional class" person to interpret ... oh ... thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not commit adultery, lie, covet. Honor thy father and mother ... etc.
Dear Steve,
Just like a radical Muslim jihadist, GM has his own ideological blind spots that do not allow him to see the truth.
I do appreciate the fact that you are willing to reply to his rhetoric. We never know when a reader will come to this blog and gain some insight about the Bible, God, Jesus Christ, and the Gospel.
In his encounter with Pilate, Jesus utilized both Proverbs.
When Jesus answered Pilate's question about Jesus being a king, he utilized Proverbs 26:5 (NKJV):
Pro 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
When Jesus didn't answer Pilate's question, "what is truth?" he utilized Proverbs 26:4 (NKJV):
Pro 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
I noticed my typo in the following exchange with GMPilot:
Chris: "When Pilot [should read Pilate] asked, "what is truth?" it is ironic that he had the Truth standing right in front of him. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Each person has the choice to believe or disbelieve.”
GM: But you always get upset whenever someone chooses not to believe! I've read the things you've written about those who believe in other gods as passionately as you do...and they weren't pretty.
Our "Pilot" didn't ask such a question. He only gave his subjective version of an answer here:
From website questions: Pilate responds to Christ, “What is truth?” How would you answer that question?
GM: “Truth is both fragile and invincible. Truth doesn't need guile or force to support it. Truth is what we know that holds up under examination...and as we learn more, truth changes.” That's how I'd answer.
When I made the same typo here, my "mistake" could actually be applied to Pilot and Pilate:
Jhn 18:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say [rightly] that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
Pilot [Pilate] obviously ignored Christ's words. He either didn't like Jesus' explanation or chose not to believe it.
Chris: Your definition of truth is a worldly one and typical of one who holds to relativistic beliefs (e.g. moral relativism etc.). God's Word reveals the unmistakeable fact that there is such a thing as absolute truth. Again, whether one chooses to believe it or not is up to them.
Quite the coincidence...eh?
Well, the paladin deigns to address me directly.
”what is a "professional class" of interpreter? I seriously doubt that Peter, Andrew, James and John who were fishermen, belonged to the group you're referring to.”
But Paul was, wasn't he? And all those who have since come after him, and invented the discipline known as “apologetics” are a (mostly) professional class of interpreters. They have insight the rest of us don't about what Jesus really meant, and what the bible really says, and what the Supreme One really desires of us. Some of these interpretations conflict. As our hostess likes to say, they can't all be right.
”It seems elementary to me. I mean, personally I don't need a "professional class" person to interpret ... oh ... thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not commit adultery, lie, covet. Honor thy father and mother ... etc.”
It IS elementary. You don't need a “professional” person to tell you things like that, and you don't need a god to tell you that, either. If you feel you do need one to tell you how to behave, then you have a low opinion of your species.
I have a "low opinion" of my species?
I trow not ... I'm not the one who thinks we evolved from monkeys.
~~~~
I pretty much knew you would use Paul in your response ... but there were none that had the encounter with Christ like he experienced.
”I have a "low opinion" of my species?
I trow not ... I'm not the one who thinks we evolved from monkeys.”
No, and I'm not the one who thinks we were made from mud, as the leading alternative claims. Mud, not being alive, doesn't 'evolve' at all. But given enough time and pressure, it hardens into stone. An apt metaphor, methinks.
”I pretty much knew you would use Paul in your response ... but there were none that had the encounter with Christ like he experienced.”
Of course you did; every apologist braces for that one. Paul gets quoted by Christians more often than Jesus himself does...probably because the former was so verbose. You know of course that Paul never met Jesus in the flesh, and his tale of the Damascus incident has him slowly writing his traveling companions out of the narrative completely.
We have other names for such tales: ”shaggy dog stories” is one I can use without being banned here.
I'd rather be created from "the dust of the ground" with the breath of life from God given to me than believe the lie that man evolved from monkeys.
The facts about Saul being converted to Paul are stated in Acts 26:1-32.
Note that Paul heard the voice of Jesus Christ (who was identified in Scripture as Christ himself).
Act 26:12 "While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
Act 26:13 "at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.
Act 26:14 "And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? [It is] hard for you to kick against the goads.'
Act 26:15 "So I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Act 26:16 'But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
Act 26:17 'I will deliver you from the [Jewish] people, as well as [from] the Gentiles, to whom I now [fn] send you,
Act 26:18 'to open their eyes, [in order] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
Act 26:19 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
Act 26:20 "but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
Commentary from Matthew Henry on Acts 26:19 -
III. That he had discharged his ministry, pursuant to his commission, by divine aid, and under divine direction and protection. God, who called him to be an apostle, owned him in his apostolical work, and carried him on in it with enlargement and success.
1. God gave him a heart to comply with the call (v. 19): I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, for any one would say he ought to be obedient to it. Heavenly visions have a commanding power over earthly counsels, and it is at our peril if we be disobedient to them; yet if Paul had conferred with flesh and blood, and been swayed by his secular interest, he would have done as Jonah did, gone any where rather than upon this errand; but God opened his ear, and he was not rebellious. He accepted the commission, and, having with it received his instructions, he applied himself to act accordingly.
[bold mine]
CJW: I'd rather be created from "the dust of the ground" with the breath of life from God given to me than believe the lie that man evolved from monkeys.
It is a lie that man evolved from monkeys. We didn't. Monkeys, apes, and humans are different branches of the same tree. Don't take my word for it; look it up.
The facts about Saul being converted to Paul are stated in Acts 26:1-32.
Note that Paul heard the voice of Jesus Christ (who was identified in Scripture as Christ himself).
Yes, but what about the earlier versions of the event? (Acts 9):
3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.
8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
Acts 22 (note that Paul himself is telling the story now):
6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.
9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’
11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
Finally, Acts 26, which you used above, in which Paul again describes the encounter:
13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.
14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.
16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.
17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
--conclusion follows--
--concluding--
Hmm. He says he was in company with others. He describes the light and the voice, but only he heard the voice, and he added a whole other sentence (“why do you persecute me?”) that was not in the first (or second) report. He doesn't mention his blindness at all. We do not know who his companions were, and a good thing too, because he certainly couldn't cite them as witnesses. All they saw was the light, and Saul falling down, holding a one-sided conversation, and being blind when he got to his feet.
Jesus' instructions were also a bit more...detailed...in 26:18 than they were in 9:6 and 22:10. Did Jesus call back with further instructions that day?
“Commentary from Matthew Henry on Acts 26:19 -
III. That he had discharged his ministry, pursuant to his commission, by divine aid, and under divine direction and protection. God, who called him to be an apostle, owned him in his apostolical work, and carried him on in it with enlargement and success.
1. God gave him a heart to comply with the call: “
God gave him a heart to comply with God's wishes, eh? I guess God never heard about the “free will” bullsh so many Christians are so insistent about. Here's Saul being a good Pharisee, minding his own business, persecuting his fellow Jews, and WHAM! the Son of the Lord of the Universe appears, smack s him blind and says “stop doing that, and do this instead.” This god doesn't believe in free will, and Paul himself didn't (that “potter-and-clay” metaphor) either. If you believe it, I guess that makes you a heretic. Glad I don't have to worry about that.
GM, the things that bother you about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, and ultimately, the Gospel, just don't bother me.
It must have a lot to do with our differing perceptions. In an effort to demonstrate, here is an illustration:
GODISNOWHERE
I see it as "God is now here," whereas you are more likely to see it as "God is nowhere."
The astronauts who went up into space had differing perceptions, too. One astronaut was quoted as saying something like, "I'm up here and God is no where to be found." Another astronaut was quoted as saying, "I'm up here and I see God everywhere."
IMHO, Paul's encounter where he witnessed a "white light" miracle and heard the very voice of Jesus Christ (and thus temporarily was blinded because of the bright light) seems worth it to me in order to be saved from the destiny of the ungodly, the wicked and the unsaved.
CJW: ”GM, the things that bother you about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, and ultimately, the Gospel, just don't bother me.”
They don't bother me either, Christine. It's just many of the people who believe such things who bother me.
”It must have a lot to do with our differing perceptions. In an effort to demonstrate, here is an illustration:
GODISNOWHERE
I see it as "God is now here," whereas you are more likely to see it as "God is nowhere."”
I'm always being told that this god is everywhere, yet no believer has ever pointed at something and said “That's God, right there.” Those who try usually point to pleasant things: puppies, redwoods, the laughter of children. But the massacre of the Egyptian fisrt-born, the destruction of Jericho and Sodom, the tsunami that smashed SE Asia—Christians have to point to those too, because according to that book, nothing happens unless God makes/allows it to happen.
People say God is everywhere, but most think of him as a recluse.
”The astronauts who went up into space had differing perceptions, too. One astronaut was quoted as saying something like, "I'm up here and God is no where to be found." Another astronaut was quoted as saying, "I'm up here and I see God everywhere."”
Would you be so quick to tell that tale if a geologist went 8000 feet into the earth and said, “I'm down here and Satan is nowhere to be found”? I doubt it.
”IMHO, Paul's encounter where he witnessed a "white light" miracle and heard the very voice of Jesus Christ (and thus temporarily was blinded because of the bright light) seems worth it to me in order to be saved from the destiny of the ungodly, the wicked and the unsaved.”
Perhaps. But since the only testimony we have is his, you'll understand if I'm skeptical. I refuse to play eeny-meeny-minie-mo with my 'soul' on the strength of just that alone.
GM,
You lie!
Many times over the years you have made the claim that the God of the Bible isn't worthy of being worshipped because you don't like the method(s) He has used in both the Old and New Testament to reach us and bring us to salvation. Your personal hatred of Him is evident in what you write.
Apparently, you don't even believe that you have a soul since you put it in quotes.
Hell isn't in the earth. It's not a temporal place, just as heaven is not temporal. Heaven and hell are eternal and each person will end up in one place or the other. You may not like hearing that (just as you hate thinking about the Final Destination movies) but it doesn't make it less true.
Jesus spoke more about avoiding hell than he spoke about heaven. The analogy of the rich man who went to hell and Lazarus, the poor man who went to heaven didn't have anything to do with their monetary status. It had to do with their individual choices of self-sufficiency vs. dependency on God. There are very devout and generous rich people who will (or have) gone to heaven, and there are God-hating poor people who will (or have) gone to hell.
The point is the permanence of one's personal decision. The gulf is fixed (see Luke 16:26) and is therefore permanent between heaven and hell. Whatever decisions are made about eternity are made in this life. Paul wrote, "Today is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Your goal here as a "skeptic" (and perhaps on other blogs?) is to try and negate and/or destroy my faith and/or the faith of other believers. However, you don't seem to see the futility of your venture.
I hold onto the words of Christ concerning His second coming. Growing spiritually through the Word of God keeps me in the comfort of my Savior and Lord, and provides excitement about God's plan for the end of the age.
I see how important it is to be steadfast and solidly immovable in my spiritual convictions. Even though I have been studying the Bible for over 20 years, I know that I "have never arrived." However, I can recognize heretical views about Jesus because I know what I believe and what the Bible says. If someone ends up preaching "another gospel," I instinctively know it. Non-believers don't stand a chance changing my mind, simply because I belong and adhere to Christ and he lives inside of me in the form of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says that at the end of the age (and we are closer with each passing year) there is going to be an increase in false teachers and teachings. That is very evident today. Peter informs us, "Since you know this beforehand, stand firm in your profession and confession of faith in Jesus." So that's what I am ultimately dedicated to do in my life.
I pray that I continue to grow spiritually while abiding in the will of God. Paul puts it this way in Philippians 1:6 - "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it."
2 Peter 3:14 informs us that as born-again believers in Jesus Christ, we are to be diligent about our purpose as believers while we await the return of the Lord. Christ promised that He was going to return to earth, so I can be certain about that promise and live in the light of it.
CJW: You lie!
Well, we're off to a respectful start...
Many times over the years you have made the claim that the God of the Bible isn't worthy of being worshipped because you don't like the method(s).
The God of the Bible cares nothing for what I do or don't like about him...only his followers do.
He has used in both the Old and New Testament to reach us and bring us to salvation.
Uh huh. In the OT he drowned and burned us in order to 'reach' us; in the NT his methods are milder, but the Club of Wrath still lurks in the background.
Apparently, you don't even believe that you have a soul since you put it in quotes.
We discussed that years ago. You couldn't even describe what a soul was, so how do you know whether or not I have one?
Hell isn't in the earth. It's not a temporal place, just as heaven is not temporal.
So both astronauts were wrong, then? That makes the story useless!
Heaven and hell are eternal and each person will end up in one place or the other. You may not like hearing that (just as you hate thinking about the Final Destination movies) but it doesn't make it less true.
I don't 'hate thinking' about the FD movies; I know I will someday die. But I don't know if those movies are true (they don't claim to be documentaries), and neither do you. If you say you do, then you are the liar.
Jesus spoke more about avoiding hell than he spoke about heaven. The analogy of the rich man who went to hell and Lazarus, the poor man who went to heaven didn't have anything to do with their monetary status. It had to do with their individual choices of self-sufficiency vs. dependency on God. There are very devout and generous rich people who will (or have) gone to heaven, and there are God-hating poor people who will (or have) gone to hell.
So, rich people don't go to hell? And the poor will never reach heaven? How do you know?
I seem to remember Jesus saying something about camels and needles and rich men...
The point is the permanence of one's personal decision. The gulf is fixed (see Luke 16:26) and is therefore permanent between heaven and hell. Whatever decisions are made about eternity are made in this life. Paul wrote, "Today is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2).
You seem to believe that this life is just a dry run for the next one. Anything you do doesn't really matter in this world; you get a “do-over” after you're in heaven. Well, I have decided. I believe this one life is all we get, and you just don't seem to want to acknowledge that. There are hundreds of millions of people who don't believe as you do. Deal with it.
Your goal here as a "skeptic" (and perhaps on other blogs?) is to try and negate and/or destroy my faith and/or the faith of other believers. However, you don't seem to see the futility of your venture.
So says the Christian who claims a divine mandate to make other people abandon their gods and join yours. I've told you—I eschew them all. There is no god who commands my allegiance. You rail at me only because I don't care for your god, but you don't seem to see the futility of your gesture.
I hold onto the words of Christ concerning His second coming. Growing spiritually through the Word of God keeps me in the comfort of my Savior and Lord, and provides excitement about God's plan for the end of the age.
Good for you. Just remember that 'the end of the age' has been forecast in every generation since Jesus (as explained away in 2 Peter 3). A slow-motion apocalypse isn't an apocalypse.
--conclusion follows--
(concluding)
I see how important it is to be steadfast and solidly immovable in my spiritual convictions. Even though I have been studying the Bible for over 20 years, I know that I "have never arrived."
You never will, either. Learning is an ongoing process which doesn't stop until you die. The object is to travel, not to ”arrive”.
However, I can recognize heretical views about Jesus because I know what I believe and what the Bible says. If someone ends up preaching "another gospel," I instinctively know it. Non-believers don't stand a chance changing my mind, simply because I belong and adhere to Christ and he lives inside of me in the form of the Holy Spirit.
But you preached 'another gospel' until about 25 years ago, right?
If Christ lives inside you, he hasn't renovated much, judging from most of what I've read on this site. Maybe he should move out.
The Bible says that at the end of the age (and we are closer with each passing year) there is going to be an increase in false teachers and teachings. That is very evident today. Peter informs us, "Since you know this beforehand, stand firm in your profession and confession of faith in Jesus." So that's what I am ultimately dedicated to do in my life.
Okay. Does this mean I'm permanently banned, now?
I pray that I continue to grow spiritually while abiding in the will of God. Paul puts it this way in Philippians 1:6 - "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it."
So this is the 'plan' that God has for you? He will complete that plan, but there's no guarantee that you will see it completed. No big deal; I don't expect the Republic to collapse in my lifetime, either.
2 Peter 3:14 informs us that as born-again believers in Jesus Christ, we are to be diligent about our purpose as believers while we await the return of the Lord. Christ promised that He was going to return to earth, so I can be certain about that promise and live in the light of it.
Well, since you're so confident, then what I'm doing is like throwing marbles at a battleship, and you'll someday get to dance to the music of my screams in the great Beyond. Since you don't care what I say any case, this rant wasn't really necessary, now was it?
I recognize "the futility of my gesture(s)" towards you GM. I answer your rants for the sake of those who happen to come to this blog and read the posts and comments. Christ may never reach you through any Christian believer, but He does reach those who are genuinely seeking and honestly searching for Him.
BTW, I won't be able to hear your screams in "the great beyond." If you end up never repenting of your sins and never ask Christ into your heart as Lord and Savior, you will be in a place far from heaven - by your own choice, too.
I recognize "the futility of my gesture(s)" towards you GM. I answer your rants for the sake of those who happen to come to this blog and read the posts and comments.
I as well answer your rants for the sake of those who happen to come to this blog and read the posts and comments. So we're back to square one. Somehow we always end up back here, just as we've done for the past eight years.
The only way anyone in this life will ever see your God is through the words and actions of his followers. If all I have to go by are the words you write (and I do), then I must conclude you worship a deity so nasty I wouldn't want to spend eternity with him—not that I will anyway.
Christ may never reach you through any Christian believer, but He does reach those who are genuinely seeking and honestly searching for Him.
I hope his recruiting style has improved since the old days. Walking up to a couple of fisherman and saying “follow me” is not the best method.
BTW, I won't be able to hear your screams in "the great beyond." If you end up never repenting of your sins and never ask Christ into your heart as Lord and Savior, you will be in a place far from heaven - by your own choice, too.
I might wind up right next door to heaven! You say it's not a temporal place, so how could you know?
You seem to think I've never thought this through. You're wrong. Am I risking where I'll spend eternity?
No, because I'll spend it after I'm gone the same way I did before I arrived. You just refuse to believe that I am just as confident in my decision as you are in yours. I'm sorry you feel that way, but that's the truth of it. Other people have jumped ship from godism before—heck, you abandoned the Catholic God for the Protestant one. I just went one god further than you.
So. Are we going to continue with the name-calling and implied divine threats, or do we put it away for another year and talk like grown-ups again?
Interesting exchange. I'm curious as to why GM feels the need to highlight every statement and then systematically attempt to debunk or point out some contradictions via history lessons or vain reasoning of which most make little sense?
This most likely will be his downfall which will not please anyone. But know this for sure, without faith it is impossible to please him (God). Regardless of if we like the way God set things up or not ... whatcha gonna do about it? He's in heaven and we're on the earth.
God is very good and merciful
God says to choose life or death ... then he makes it easy even for folks such as our good friend GM ... God gives us a hint ("choose life").
If the paladin really wanted to know, he could ask the person in question. One may conclude that he either knows the answer, or that he fears finding out the answer.
But that's too sensible a method, so he'll supposedly never find out.
http://www.facebook.com/Bible.Movie
Hello Michael,
Welcome to Talk Wisdom! I see that you are just starting your own blog.
Thank you for the Face Book link that has an ongoing discussion about this mini-series. There are Christian believers who support the efforts of this couple in creating the show, as well as those who dislike that it's not 100% accurate to what is written in the Bible. However, it would be very difficult to cover it all in only 5 episodes, 10 hours.
Hopefully, you read my entire blog post and saw that I will join the camp of those who dislike this mini-series if they get the crucifixion and death, subsequent Resurrection of Christ and his ultimate ascension into heaven to return to the Father wrong. The March 31st episode will determine that.
I weeped last night when I saw the introduction of Jesus into this series. Something about the way it was all presented made it so real and alive.
Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you will continue to visit!
~ Christine
Hello Michael!
Welcome to Talk Wisdom! I see that you are just starting your own blog.
Thank you for the Face Book link that has an ongoing discussion about this mini-series. There are Christian believers who support the efforts of this couple in creating the show, as well as those who dislike that it's not 100% accurate to what is written in the Bible. However, it would be very difficult to cover it all in only 5 episodes, 10 hours.
Hopefully, you read my entire blog post and saw that I will join the camp of those who dislike this mini-series if they get the crucifixion and death, subsequent Resurrection of Christ and his ultimate Ascension into heaven to return to the Father wrong. The March 31st episode will determine that.
I wept last night when I saw the introduction of Jesus into this series. Something about the way it was all presented made it so real and alive.
Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you will continue to visit!
~ Christine
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