Conformity is the latest enemy of the church...

[Arrabon]

3 minutes ago, Still Alive said:

Have you followed the teaching of Dr. Michael Heiser at all? Or Tim Mackie? Or the Bible Project?

@Still Alive

No. Never heard of them or the Bible Project.

[Still Alive]

1 minute ago, Arrabon said:

@Still Alive

No. Never heard of them or the Bible Project.

I was exposed to Heiser through his "naked bible" podcast. I then got the book, "Unseen Realm". It's a must read, as far as I'm concerned. 

I also highly recommend the bible project videos on youtube and the Mackie presentations as well. Frankly, even reading religious authors' work from the 19th century and before has you reading the work of authors that were not privy to the mounds of information made available since then, and I don't mean just the dead sea scrolls. 

[Arrabon]

3 minutes ago, Justin Adams said:

I often listen to Heiser's in depth lectures. He is a notable and respected scholar.

@Justin Adams

Thank you brother

[Arrabon]

@Still Alive

I will check all that out in the next few days.

Thanks for the recommendations.

[Arrabon]

17 minutes ago, Justin Adams said:

I often listen to Heiser's in depth lectures. He is a notable and respected scholar.

@Still Alive and @Justin Adams.

I have to admit brothers that I am a bit more than just "SKEPTICLE" when the people here, or anywhere in the Christian culture use the words, SCHOLAR, RESPECTED and NOTABLE because that means that they are widely accepted, and that sets of all kinds of "ALARMS", because of the vast amount of people out there who have an illegitimate view on the truth of Gods word, and the vast majority of "CHRISTIAN TYPES" want there "EARS TICKLED", and have their "FANTACY FAITH" and their state of "DENIAL" be reaffirmed, legitimized and validated by "POPULAR OPINIONS."

 

I will check them all out, but with the same trepidation as the Bereans in Acts 17:11.

[Still Alive]

5 minutes ago, Arrabon said:

@Still Alive and @Justin Adams.

I have to admit brothers that I am a bit more than just "SKEPTICLE" when the people here, or anywhere in the Christian culture use the words, SCHOLAR, RESPECTED and NOTABLE because that means that they are widely accepted, and that sets of all kinds of "ALARMS", because of the vast amount of people out there who have an illegitimate view on the truth of Gods word, and the vast majority of "CHRISTIAN TYPES" want there "EARS TICKLED", and have their "FANTACY FAITH" and their state of "DENIAL" be reaffirmed, legitimized and validated by "POPULAR OPINIONS."

 

I will check them all out, but with the same trepidation as the Bereans in Acts 17:11.

With me, you're preaching to the choir on that one.

By their words, and all that. 

[Justin Adams]

8 minutes ago, Arrabon said:

SCHOLAR, RESPECTED and NOTABLE

Peer review scholarship is often not brought home to the average believer since it requires tens of years to learn languages and the varied forms of ancient scripts. That is one reason I like Heiser. He will give most all views in his lectures and is certainly not a traditional camp follower. He is a Trinitarian and quite traditional. I do not agree with all I hear, but then I do not have the ability to read ten ancient scripts and cuneiform either.

Heiser is data driven and is not afraid to poke the establishments.

Edited May 18, 2021 by Justin Adams

[Alive]

There is only one source of Agape Love and that source is Christ in the believer. As we conform to His image from one degree of glory to another (and that is a work that God does in us), that aspect of Christ's Nature can manifest through us outwardly.

Christ Life IS THE Gift. Love isn't a separate gift that God gives particular children.

Its easy to see how some might think of it that way, but it is better for us to not separate Agape Love from Christ. Anything of value comes from Christ. We don't own Christ. We don't own a gift--it flows dynamically inn Life and that Life is Christ.

We are both 'In Christ' of the Father and Christ Life is in us. This fact is the starting and ending point of the economy of Christ in His Body.

This may seem like nitpicking, but it is not.

[Still Alive]

1 minute ago, Justin Adams said:

Peer review scholarship is often not brought home to the average believer since it requires tens of years to learn languages and the varied forms of ancient scripts. That is one reason I like Heiser. He will give most all views in his lectures and is certainly not a traditional camp follower. He is a Trinitarian and quite traditional. I do not agree with all I hear, but then I do not have the ability to read ten ancient scripts and cuneiform either.

Even the apostles didn't agree on every single thing. There was a bit of a spat about Barnabas.  

[The_Patriot21]

5 hours ago, Starise said:

Yes but it changes. Recliner lawn chairs are "in" right now. I guess tattoos are still in. Untucked shirts are in. I lost track of what the most popular shoes are because I really don't care  Music with all loops and computer driven garbage is what's "in" on the secular end of it.

 In liberal churches that have departed from the word openly gay pastors are in. They are trying to see how far they can push the envelope. It's beginning to look like bashing Christians is soon to be in. Actually that's been going on for a long time but it's getting worse in those places where Christianity was once a bastion of hope.

With the world what's "in" changes. With us as Christians it doesn't change if we follow what the Lord wants us to do.

Trying to be a cool Christian with the world doesn't work. They will swallow a person whole and laugh doing it. Reminds me of the old Degarmo and Key song- " I'm accepted". 

no, conformity does not change-the only thing that changes are the trends.