When you read the various signs of the "end times", it's pretty amazing how many of those signs are shining brightly in our faces! The several verses stating that "bad will be called good, and good will be called bad" (I'm paraphrasing, of course) are particularly relevant. If any of you are sitting on the fence regarding the truth of Christianity, or are like I was throughout my 20's, where I thought I was too smart for Christianity, I invite you to read through the ENTIRE Bible, beginning with Genesis, and ending with Revelation, and then sit quietly in a room, and see if you are still a dis-believer. Not all will be saved, but until you give yourself a chance to know, you won't know.
Just started Genesis last night and I'm like "Oh man I can't believe I waited until I was almost 30 to start this!" It basically confirms evolution-in my point of view. When Eve and Adam have the forbidden fruit of knowledge [3:16] To the woman he (God) said, "I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." They also became ashamed of being naked.
Before that, childbirth was not painful and they were not ashamed of being naked because they were like animals. Baby's heads could fit better in the birthing canal. After they changed, women now had to rely on their husbands for food, etc. so now they become ruled over by their husbands. In the animal world females and males are closer matched physically and females don't rely on the males of their species for survival.
Sorry for the rant, I had to share it! Read through it most of it last night and I'm a little over halfway through. Going to finish it tonight!
Genesis has always been one of my favorite books! There is so much knowledge and wisdom! As a geologist, I find the account of the creation of life, and the Earth itself, agrees with the evidence seen today. What I find particularly intriguing is that there is a valley associated with the present Hudson River, that extends out beyond the continental shelf, and on down to the deepest ocean depths thousands of feet below present sea level. There is absolutely no way a valley like that could be formed below the ocean surface (the pitiful attempt to explain submarine canyons of this magnitude as being formed by density currents is laughable!); it is clear evidence that there once were essentially no oceans, which agrees with the Genesis account of the water of the Earth being in the atmosphere, and below ground, only to be during the great flood.
So true. I’m in my 20s and was agnostic at best. Started the Bible late last year and finished it early this year. Greatest book I’ve ever read. Converted for life.
Awesome! It's very difficult to read through the Bible if you are not a Christian. I first was saved, then I read through. Even then it is difficult to accept God telling the Israelites to totally wipe out (kill every living thing!) non-Jewish towns, but when you realize God is Holy, and we are just specks in the universe, it is easier to come to terms with His plan for man. Humans trying to figure out God is like an amoeba trying to figure out humans.
Perhaps if one takes everything in the Bible as literal. I don’t necessarily take the stories literally (especially the old testament). I didn’t view the story you mentioned as literal. I understood this story as an extreme example of how important it is to follow God, as there can be dire consequences if we don’t pay attention to exactly what he says (Saul was punished for not following every word).
The OT to me portrays mankind at a lower level of consciuosness, like children who require an adult to constantly instruct. A very judicial and transactive society. The New Testament portrays an elevation of consciuosness (through Jesus). The fulfillment of the old law with a better and higher law. Justice still exists, but is now accompanied by mercy. Jesus makes tithes and offerings obsolete to obey God and show devotion. He pronounces that the Kingdom of God is within each of us, signifying our direct relationship with the Father and not requiring third parties (a major reason why the Pharisees hated Jesus). The highest law is charity as this is the only way we can prove our love and devotion to God.
I’ve always struggled with trying to rationalize how God in the Old Testament would directly intervene with the lives of people, but would let children starve and be abused like we’re seeing today. This is why I look at those stories as stories with deeper meaning. We (as society) are responsible for these atrocities, just like the ancient Hebrews were responsible back then. They were punished (Jerusalem destroyed) because they stopped caring for the children/widows, stopped upholding truth, became apathetic and wicked. And, when society becomes like this, there is only one outcome unless there’s repentance. God manifests himself through us. THIS is why we matter. We choose to be his disciples/representatives or not. We choose to perpetuate evil and pain, or follow the higher law (which requires an elevated consciuosness) to promote love, peace, and prosperity. This is the only way to combat Satan and the evils of this world. The choice is ours. God bless.
This is the same interpretation I've come to regarding my understanding of the Bible as it relates to the religious, societal and conscious evolution of humans since the early ages.
I also believe that there are many things mentioned in the bible that describe the technology and methods we have today but in terms limited by the authors' understanding given the times in which they lived. This results in all kinds of wild and magical sounding tales that aren't that far-fetched when one looks at the "magic" we're all capable of doing on a daily basis.
Not to discount the actual efficacy of miraculous acts; I have faith that this sort of power exists and we catch glimpses of it even in these depraved times, but I also understand how we are not worthy of wielding such power and likely have never been. Fortunately, we've been provided a savior by the Most High who was determined to be the only human worthy of such things—who then was persecuted and killed by the same unworthy heathens with whom we share blood.
I digress: much of our humanity, to me, boils down to making the conscious choice of doing good in the world instead of evil, and that choice seems to follow the same binary nature (balance) as the rest of the unknown universe (life/death, matter/antimatter, good/evil, G_d/Satan) and we've been given the name of the side of good. The choice is then up to us, hence our free will to choose.
I believe that this, through Jesus' sacrifice, is our atonement for the original sin; we've been given the knowledge of good and evil after partaking from the fruit from the tree and must now make our choice.
Sorry for the rant, I just love nerding out over biblical interpretation, it seems!
I would suggest starting with the new testament. A couple of days into reading it, I was contemplating how I could use the words of Jesus to be a better person and help people, and I felt the Holy Spirit come over me.
Also look for other resources to help you understand the Bible. Be careful of what you listen to, though. Much of mainstream Christianity has been corrupted by the enemy (just like politics has). I'm reading "Intercessory Prayer" by Dutch Sheets right now, and I highly recommend it.
A couple of years ago I tried reading the Bible from the beginning and got so depressed I had to quit. You need some perspective to get through the old testament and you need to know that we are now operating on a new, better covenant than those before Christ, so you don't get depressed reading about all of the genocide, slavery, etc.
Yes, it is difficult to read through the entire Bible if you are not a Christian, but if someone can get through the entire Old Testament, I think the New Testament may be what brings them to accepting the entire Bible as a truthful account of the history of man, and God's creation of them, and interaction with them.
When you read the various signs of the "end times", it's pretty amazing how many of those signs are shining brightly in our faces! The several verses stating that "bad will be called good, and good will be called bad" (I'm paraphrasing, of course) are particularly relevant. If any of you are sitting on the fence regarding the truth of Christianity, or are like I was throughout my 20's, where I thought I was too smart for Christianity, I invite you to read through the ENTIRE Bible, beginning with Genesis, and ending with Revelation, and then sit quietly in a room, and see if you are still a dis-believer. Not all will be saved, but until you give yourself a chance to know, you won't know.
Amen. And pray.
Just started Genesis last night and I'm like "Oh man I can't believe I waited until I was almost 30 to start this!" It basically confirms evolution-in my point of view. When Eve and Adam have the forbidden fruit of knowledge [3:16] To the woman he (God) said, "I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." They also became ashamed of being naked.
Before that, childbirth was not painful and they were not ashamed of being naked because they were like animals. Baby's heads could fit better in the birthing canal. After they changed, women now had to rely on their husbands for food, etc. so now they become ruled over by their husbands. In the animal world females and males are closer matched physically and females don't rely on the males of their species for survival.
Sorry for the rant, I had to share it! Read through it most of it last night and I'm a little over halfway through. Going to finish it tonight!
Genesis has always been one of my favorite books! There is so much knowledge and wisdom! As a geologist, I find the account of the creation of life, and the Earth itself, agrees with the evidence seen today. What I find particularly intriguing is that there is a valley associated with the present Hudson River, that extends out beyond the continental shelf, and on down to the deepest ocean depths thousands of feet below present sea level. There is absolutely no way a valley like that could be formed below the ocean surface (the pitiful attempt to explain submarine canyons of this magnitude as being formed by density currents is laughable!); it is clear evidence that there once were essentially no oceans, which agrees with the Genesis account of the water of the Earth being in the atmosphere, and below ground, only to be during the great flood.
Just read and keep your public education out of it and you'll learn a lot more.
This was me and most of my generation.
I was on that train until last year. His hand is always open ?
So true. I’m in my 20s and was agnostic at best. Started the Bible late last year and finished it early this year. Greatest book I’ve ever read. Converted for life.
Awesome! It's very difficult to read through the Bible if you are not a Christian. I first was saved, then I read through. Even then it is difficult to accept God telling the Israelites to totally wipe out (kill every living thing!) non-Jewish towns, but when you realize God is Holy, and we are just specks in the universe, it is easier to come to terms with His plan for man. Humans trying to figure out God is like an amoeba trying to figure out humans.
Perhaps if one takes everything in the Bible as literal. I don’t necessarily take the stories literally (especially the old testament). I didn’t view the story you mentioned as literal. I understood this story as an extreme example of how important it is to follow God, as there can be dire consequences if we don’t pay attention to exactly what he says (Saul was punished for not following every word).
The OT to me portrays mankind at a lower level of consciuosness, like children who require an adult to constantly instruct. A very judicial and transactive society. The New Testament portrays an elevation of consciuosness (through Jesus). The fulfillment of the old law with a better and higher law. Justice still exists, but is now accompanied by mercy. Jesus makes tithes and offerings obsolete to obey God and show devotion. He pronounces that the Kingdom of God is within each of us, signifying our direct relationship with the Father and not requiring third parties (a major reason why the Pharisees hated Jesus). The highest law is charity as this is the only way we can prove our love and devotion to God.
I’ve always struggled with trying to rationalize how God in the Old Testament would directly intervene with the lives of people, but would let children starve and be abused like we’re seeing today. This is why I look at those stories as stories with deeper meaning. We (as society) are responsible for these atrocities, just like the ancient Hebrews were responsible back then. They were punished (Jerusalem destroyed) because they stopped caring for the children/widows, stopped upholding truth, became apathetic and wicked. And, when society becomes like this, there is only one outcome unless there’s repentance. God manifests himself through us. THIS is why we matter. We choose to be his disciples/representatives or not. We choose to perpetuate evil and pain, or follow the higher law (which requires an elevated consciuosness) to promote love, peace, and prosperity. This is the only way to combat Satan and the evils of this world. The choice is ours. God bless.
This is the same interpretation I've come to regarding my understanding of the Bible as it relates to the religious, societal and conscious evolution of humans since the early ages.
I also believe that there are many things mentioned in the bible that describe the technology and methods we have today but in terms limited by the authors' understanding given the times in which they lived. This results in all kinds of wild and magical sounding tales that aren't that far-fetched when one looks at the "magic" we're all capable of doing on a daily basis.
Not to discount the actual efficacy of miraculous acts; I have faith that this sort of power exists and we catch glimpses of it even in these depraved times, but I also understand how we are not worthy of wielding such power and likely have never been. Fortunately, we've been provided a savior by the Most High who was determined to be the only human worthy of such things—who then was persecuted and killed by the same unworthy heathens with whom we share blood.
I digress: much of our humanity, to me, boils down to making the conscious choice of doing good in the world instead of evil, and that choice seems to follow the same binary nature (balance) as the rest of the unknown universe (life/death, matter/antimatter, good/evil, G_d/Satan) and we've been given the name of the side of good. The choice is then up to us, hence our free will to choose.
I believe that this, through Jesus' sacrifice, is our atonement for the original sin; we've been given the knowledge of good and evil after partaking from the fruit from the tree and must now make our choice.
Sorry for the rant, I just love nerding out over biblical interpretation, it seems!
I would suggest starting with the new testament. A couple of days into reading it, I was contemplating how I could use the words of Jesus to be a better person and help people, and I felt the Holy Spirit come over me.
Also look for other resources to help you understand the Bible. Be careful of what you listen to, though. Much of mainstream Christianity has been corrupted by the enemy (just like politics has). I'm reading "Intercessory Prayer" by Dutch Sheets right now, and I highly recommend it.
A couple of years ago I tried reading the Bible from the beginning and got so depressed I had to quit. You need some perspective to get through the old testament and you need to know that we are now operating on a new, better covenant than those before Christ, so you don't get depressed reading about all of the genocide, slavery, etc.
Yes, it is difficult to read through the entire Bible if you are not a Christian, but if someone can get through the entire Old Testament, I think the New Testament may be what brings them to accepting the entire Bible as a truthful account of the history of man, and God's creation of them, and interaction with them.