anthonyjmcgirr

Yes I do not understand this either. I have had a lot of liberal Christian friends who back evolution and science while remaining a Christian. They say the two are compatible. I just can't fathom it. Evolution and being created by God are two totally different ideal. And when God chose to reveal to us how we began, by forming man out of dust and woman from a man's rib, how can you reconcile the two? They don't really believe Genesis is meant to be literal. Well, parts of Genesis. The parts science doesn't agree with. I've even had someone tell me once that Abraham didn't really exist and the flood didn't happen. Well, those people call Jesus a liar because He spoke of the flood, of Adam and creation. Jesus' own lineage goes all the way back to Adam! So really, you can't have it both ways.

My friend thinks I'm weird because I put ketchup on my eggs. Anyhoo, when I was a younger Christian, I used to be more skeptical of this sort of thing. But now that I believe we are in the end times, the bible does say people will see signs and there will be dreams and visions. A sword in the mirror? It could mean something for sure. But it could also be a coincidence? I could see how the water droplets falling down the mirror could make something that looks like a sword. All we can do is take your word for it. But i know one thing: God wouldn't give you a sign of something and then just leave you hanging about what it means.

Frosted Flakes

So then why does he mock the bible and praise the "Holy Koran"?! I've seen him do it quite a bit.

I found a sword in a large boulder once. Everyone was saying, "no one can remove it! Only a truly powerful warrior can dislodge it!" So I walked up to the boulder. It actually laughed at me as I took the handle of the sword. "You'll never remove this sword. You are a NOBODY!" it shouted back at me. But with one mighty tug, it came free. A brilliant light shined from the hole left behind. I swung the sword with all I had and cracked the boulder in half. It never laughed at me again.

I have encountered a lot of Christians who are pro-Palestine and anti-Israel. I just can't wrap my head around that. They call Israel terrorists and they stole the land from the Arabs and are pushing them out of their home. But I keep telling them about the prophecy of Israel becoming a nation again and that the land does not belong to the Arabs.

I don't know when, but I think it will be in my lifetime! Jesus Himself said spoke about seeing the fig tree and when you see it blooming, you know summer is coming. So it will be when Israel becomes a nation, that generation will not pass away before the end comes. That generation is now in their 60's. Everything is really happening at a quick pace. Just think this past fall how everything with Syria just built up rapidly and we could've gone to war.

Yeah I would love to know what it was as well. And to happen right at the moment of Christ's death and an earthquake that ripped the veil in two. Amazing stuff happened.

We don't just believe something because it suits what we hope to be true. We believe something because that's what the evidence presents to us. IF the tribulation happened before the rapture, then I know God will cover me and if not, I will be a martyr. I'm not afraid of dying for Christ. Are you a coward because you would rather not live through God's wrath? On the flip side, does that make you a courageous person because you think you will live through it? All throughout the bible, God spared His people, the righteous followers, from His wrath. I just don't understand going through the tribulation, then being risen to meet Christ in the clouds, only to come down again and face the armies of the anti-Christ. And there is no reference at all to that being what happens. We are already clothed and ready for battle when we come from Heaven to face the army.

I wasn't trying to convince you or anyone that I know exactly. I was just giving my theory. I believe the correct terminology is "became" and there are other verses that speak to Satan falling and being admonished in many stones and jewels. That was before he tempted Eve. That was before the fall. Adam and Eve's creation was not on the same day. Adam was at the task of naming all the animals and plants and over time realized he was lonely. How much time had passed? We do not know. You can assume your thoughts and I can assume mine. When did time exactly begin? The bible starts out, "In the beginning..." When was this beginning? Again, I am NOT NOT NOT NOT a supporter of gap theory. You keep saying I am because I am suggesting the earth had a purpose before creation week. I am only going by what I see in the bible. Would it be so bad if the earth existed in the past before God decided to use it? Really, please tell me the harm such an idea would do to Christians? I just don't think (my opinion) that God sat by for an eternity past and did nothing. It is possible He created other earths in this vast universe. You just seem very closed minded to any thoughts outside of the text in Genesis. I am not saying anything that is contrary to the text...I believe the text wholeheartedly. I am imaginative by nature. Do you not sit and wonder what Heaven must be like and how life would be like without the concept of time?

Well, my point exactly was we have no clue exactly what God has been doing during the eternity past. He could've used and re-used the earth a billion different times for a billion different things. It's not important either way. You strike me as someone who has to be right about EVERY little dot and tittle and will write pages upon pages of information to disprove my theory over one single word. It's not worth the debate, so I will back out of it. My final point here is that you cannot explain the last 6,000 years of earth's history from the bible. Or even begin to understand God or what He has done for the eternity past. You have no clue because you weren't there and it wasn't written about. Just because the bible doesn't mention something doesn't mean it didn't happen. All we can do is have theories and ideas and try to imagine what it was like. Whether or not a pile of rock sat motionless in space for billions of years has no baring on any important theological matter. What does matter is the seven days of Creation week and how it ties in to man's sin, the curse and leading to Christ's sacrifice for our sins.

I understand that to God it's 'no big deal'. My point is that it is really the only miracle that is actually provable with historical evidence. People can even dispute Christ ever existed and they wonder where all the extra-biblical evidence is (I believe there's a lot, some think there's none.) Even more people believe Jesus lived, but He was nothing more than a good man with nice sayings. But here we are with actual proof of a supernatural event that was historically recorded by biblical and extra-biblical sources and CANNOT in any way be explained by science.

I think the books do a great job telling a wonderful story based on a biblical concept. I don't think they got every single thing right based upon my own believes and studying. For example, I don't think Babylon will be the Babylon of the past resurrected (currently located in Iraq). So they wrote it on their own interpretations and are fairly close to my beliefs, especially about the rapture and the aftermath.

See that's why it's difficult to have these conversations. The moment you say women must submit to their husbands, all hell breaks loose. Men must submit to Christ and be a Godly husband. We must submit to each other, as our bodies are not our own. That's a truly Godly marriage, when the man sacrifices his needs to meet his wife's and the wife sacrifices her needs for her husband. Everyone's needs are then met and it will lead to a healthy marriage. I'm a very giving, loving person and do my best to meet the needs of those around me. It's who Christ made me to be. It does NOT mean I think my wife should be my slave and do all the chores while I sit and watch TV. We both need to put 100% into it for it to work. There is no 50-50 or expecting that we are each equal in the marriage. We are not. We have different roles to play given to us by God. I will fulfill my duties as a man and a husband and hopefully the woman I marry will be honored to fulfill her duties as a wife and mother.

As an apologist, one of the things i hear a lot when I debate atheists is there is no evidence for the miracles. There is no extra-biblical evidence, written about any of the things Jesus said or did. But one thing I like to point to is the three hours of darkness that proceeded Christ's death on the cross. 3 of the 4 gospels write about it: Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. Mark 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. Luke 23:44-48 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. 47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. How is this a miracle? 1) It wasn't an eclipse. The crucifixion took place during the Passover. Passover happens during a full moon. Eclipses only happen when there's a new moon. A new moon is when the moon is between the earth and the sun, so there is no reflection of light. A full moon occurs when the moon is on the opposite end of the earth, fully reflecting the sun's light. So being that it was a full moon during the Passover at the crucifixion, the darkness could not have been an eclipse. 2) It lasted for three hours. Eclipses happen for only a few minutes. 3) It was prophecied Amos 8:9 where it says: “And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.” 4) There are extra-biblical sources: This is one of many sites that lists the extra-biblical sources: http://daybydaywithjesus.com/three-hour-period-of-darkness-at-the-crucifixion/ What do you think of this phenomenon?

How is that a contradiction? I said men and women have different roles. My pastor's wife didn't have authority over us. She didn't preach from the bible. She shared with us an article she found about being ornaments of God around Christmas time. It was a nice thing. It was a joint thing with her husband, our pastor.

Yeah it's sad that in today's society, men who try to follow the bible's authority on men and women's roles are ostracized and made to look like male-chauvinist pigs. but really, I hope my wife will understand our different roles and will appreciate me loving her as Christ loved the church.

"was" form and void. "became" form and void. It still means it was there. The only difference is to become form and void means it was used for a different purpose and for whatever reason, God made it become void and restarted everything. You do realize God is eternal right? He didn't have a beginning, nor will He have an end. Please explain to me what God has done for trillions and trillions and trillions of years in the past. Could He have created and re-created and re-created and re-created earth and life and angels? Definitely possible. He didn't just live in this box waiting until 6,000 years ago and decide to create the universe. Again, I believe He created all that we know in seven literal days. I'm just a little more open-minded on what God did with the earth as it's possible He had a different use for it before it became the earth we know today. I choose to believe the correct usage is the earth "became" form and void because of other verses referencing the fall of Satan, which had to of happened before the Creation week.

So the translators can't possible have chosen the wrong word? You said they had to make a choice, meaning it could've swung one way or another and they choose to say "was" rather than "became". Still doesn't mean "became" is wrong.

Well I've never met an atheist who was actually willing to sit down and have an honest, open-minded debate and listen to the evidence presented. In most cases, they think we're ignorant, dumb and pathetic for believing in a 'sky-daddy', talking donkeys, the Ark, etc. I would love the chance to have an open debate where we exchange information. If anyone is willing, please let me know lol

So you're seriously saying women are less than men? No I never said that. I said they aren't equal. You automatically assume I think women are less than men? I think, to be a true leader in the household, I am the one who is less because I am to serve my wife, meet her needs and submit myself to Christ and His leadership. We each have roles and the roles aren't equal. God designed it that way. I believe over the centuries men have abused the verses about wives submitting to their husbands by treating women like slaves. But I personally think having a wife makes me a stronger man.

Yes. I was taught this in bible college. I am fully a Creationist and believe God did all those works in 7 literal days. "In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth." When was this beginning? It is hard for us to fathom eternity...something always existing without having been born. But we know God created all things. All we know is He created the heavens and the earth 'In the beginning.' There is a lot of the story we do not know. Like, Adam and Eve had three sons. Where did Cain's wife come from? He was just wandering in the wilderness and found her. Did God create different tribes? Did He also create the wives of Cain, Abel and Seth? So we have a whole eternity past, but only in the last 6,000 years God created earth and all its inhabitants? Earth could've been used by the angels for different purposes. We just do not know the the eternity past was like beyond 6,000 years ago. We don't know when Satan fell, but from the text given, I will assume it was before the seven days of creation. Also, did time start AFTER the fall? How many years expired when it was just Adam and God in the garden and He asked for a help-meet? Was it a few days? Weeks? Years? He wasn't born; he was created. When was his year one? From the fall or from creation?

^ from what I understand about the watchmaker argument, you stumble upon a watch in the forest or wherever and you don't automatically assume it was created by natural processes. You know immediately it was created by a man or woman. Except atheists don't really grasp that the bacteria living on the watch is SO much incredibly more complex than the watch it lives on and is an actual living thing and can do things the watch can't, like reproduce, eat, poop, etc. And the bacteria is so small, you can't even see it with your naked eye!! I just can't imagine someone looking at bacteria and cells and their complexity, trying to study them, and still come up with the opinion that they just formed somehow in a primordial soup. I can't fathom it. It takes more faith to believe that than to believe God created it. But atheists use their *logic* as a scape goat to not believe in God because they want to escape their moral obligations, like a child rebelling against their parent who knows what's best for the child.

Well there's no problem with women leading other women. The women run the nursery, women's ministry, women's jail ministry, children's ministry, etc. It's not saying women cannot teach or be inspired. I think of Joyce Meyers for example. Not everyone believes everything she says, but God has used her in a HUGE way and helped probably millions of women. So like I said, God has an important role in the church and in their homes. They are the glue that holds everything together. Usually in most families, is the a mom or grandma who is the matriarch that everyone follows and has all the wisdom, etc. In my family, it's my grandpa, but most families I know it's their grandma.