Why?!! - Page 3

lunamoth · 02-16-2007, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahom1

The seven churches come to mind. Paul was trying to get them all in line, and stop their particular squabbling or vacilating, or complacency, or stupidity.

His letters initially were to them...

Not only that, but Paul was a master at presenting the gospel in words palatable to those around him. Remember his sermon in Athens to those who worshiped the unknown God?

Quote:

16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." 21(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

24"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

29"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. 30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." 33At that, Paul left the Council. 34A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

(Acts 17)

Faithfulservant · 02-16-2007, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Not quite true. Paul's writings are from his perspective, and he often states that fact.

the "rules and regulations" are still Gods.

Quahom1 · 02-16-2007, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faithfulservant

the "rules and regulations" are still Gods.

Commandments are God's. Rules and regulations are a man made thing, because we recognize that we can't maintain self discipline, hence we hire others to help us enforce the sociatal discipline (church discipline) that we need...

Case in point - there are the Seven Noahidic Laws, the Ten Commandmants (both by God), then there are the 613 Mizhvat (rules and regulations of the Jewish faith), and the "Hadith" (rules and regulations of the Islamic faith), and so on and so forth.

God does not bother with rules and regulations. He gave simple commandments...

...we're the ones that squabble over what those commandments mean...so we break them down even further.

Here is a good point to consider. What commandment tells a woman to be subserviant to her husband? None. The closest commandment states no adultery.

God gave basic orders. Man broke them down into a miriad of laws, rules and regulations.

v/r

Joshua

Prober · 02-16-2007, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dor

The church with the industry around it is not what Id call Christian.

Ask me and I will tell you what I think of WoF movement, Rick Warren, and Joel Osteen and all them.

"Having the appearance, but denying the power thereof" or something like that...

Quahom1 · 02-16-2007, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunamoth

Not only that, but Paul was a master at presenting the gospel in words palatable to those around him. Remember his sermon in Athens to those who worshiped the unknown God?

LOL, I love it when you point out the obvious to us who want to make it more etheral. Paul simply presented the facts and advised on the rules and mandates of Christianity. What a practical and pragmatic man...

But, he saw it from his perspective, and advised based on his perspective (inspired by God...most definitely). In short, you prove that he was expressing his (God inspired) opinion...thank you Luna, for your insight.

v/r

Joshua

Prober · 02-16-2007, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faithfulservant

the sabbath is saturday wil... the Lords day is on Sunday.. we do not call it the sabbath. Its all written out in the book of Acts if your interested in reading it. Dont people read their bibles anymore?

I still believe in keeping the seventh-day Sabbath holy. I observe it in recognition of our creator's authority.

It's a beautiful thing to me...

Prober · 02-16-2007, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Commandments are God's. Rules and regulations are a man made thingGod does not bother with rules and regulations. He gave simple commandments...

...we're the ones that squabble over what those commandments mean...so we break them down even further. The closest commandment states no adultery.

God gave basic orders. Man broke them down into a miriad of laws, rules and regulations.

v/r

Joshua

I think G-d gave commandments as examples to show us how to love Him and our neighbors...

In the end, it's all about love (IMO).

Prober · 02-16-2007, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunamoth

Not only that, but Paul was a master at presenting the gospel in words palatable to those around him. Remember his sermon in Athens to those who worshiped the unknown God?

To me, it's obvious that Paul struggles over wording that will reach his listeners.

I mean, it's not easy reading...

lunamoth · 02-16-2007, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prober

To me, it's obvious that Paul struggles over wording that will reach his listeners.

I mean, it's not easy reading...

What's not easy reading?

Prober · 02-16-2007, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunamoth

What's not easy reading?

Well...I'm used to reading in the KJV.

If you read Paul's comments, and compare them to the other gospels, the literary style is much more intense, as if Paul is struggling to translate his "well read" opinions into the language of "babes in Christ".

Does that make sense?

I mean, it's a completely different style to, say, John (who appeals to me on a simple emotional level).

wil · 02-16-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silas

What do you mean that Paul was a moderator? I agree Paul taught the inner and finer points of what is means to be Christian.

I see Pal much more focused on the outer and missing a lot of Jesus's 'inner' teaching metaphor and analogies. Either Jesus or the writers were masters at putting much depth into simple stories and words..