Conformity is the latest enemy of the church...

[Arrabon]

Well @Still Alive and @Justin Adams

One down and two to go.

Genesis 6:1-4. There Heiser argues that the “sons of God” were members of the divine council who came to earth and mated with human women, producing giants known as the Nephilim. As odd as this sounds, Heiser’s view is not novel. Many in pre-Christian Judaism, as well as the church fathers up until Augustine, took this view of “the sons of God.”

Not surprised at these "GOOFY IDEAS", as I said I was skeptical.

I only got into a few paragraphs of this review of Heiser, and this quote of his came up, and that was enough for me.

I don't want to fill my head with that kind of "TRASH." 

Sorry if that's offensive to anyone here, but to me that's just one more validation of being careful what you read, believe and follow, and allow your mind to be exposed to.

To me, the guys a "NUTCASE" !!!!

[Alive]

2 minutes ago, Arrabon said:

Well @Still Alive and @Justin Adams

One down and two to go.

Genesis 6:1-4. There Heiser argues that the “sons of God” were members of the divine council who came to earth and mated with human women, producing giants known as the Nephilim. As odd as this sounds, Heiser’s view is not novel. Many in pre-Christian Judaism, as well as the church fathers up until Augustine, took this view of “the sons of God.”

Not surprised at these "GOOFY IDEAS", as I said I was skeptical.

I only got into a few paragraphs of this review of Heiser, and this quote of his came up, and that was enough for me.

I don't want to fill my head with that kind of "TRASH." 

Sorry if that's offensive to anyone here, but to me that's just one more validation of being careful what you read, believe and follow, and allow your mind to be exposed to.

To me, the guys a "NUTCASE" !!!!

Of course you are welcome to your opinion, but you are referring in this manner to a very dear brother. Just a suggestion, but before making such a conclusion, perhaps its fair to research a bit more first. It could be that you learn some valuable lessons.

Again, this is simply a suggestion. Its my belief that you would profit from it and be enlarged 'In Christ'.

[Still Alive]

1 minute ago, Arrabon said:

Well @Still Alive and @Justin Adams

One down and two to go.

Genesis 6:1-4. There Heiser argues that the “sons of God” were members of the divine council who came to earth and mated with human women, producing giants known as the Nephilim. As odd as this sounds, Heiser’s view is not novel. Many in pre-Christian Judaism, as well as the church fathers up until Augustine, took this view of “the sons of God.”

Not surprised at these "GOOFY IDEAS", as I said I was skeptical.

I only got into a few paragraphs of this review of Heiser, and this quote of his came up, and that was enough for me.

I don't want to fill my head with that kind of "TRASH." 

Sorry if that's offensive to anyone here, but to me that's just one more validation of being careful what you read, believe and follow, and allow your mind to be exposed to.

To me, the guys a "NUTCASE" !!!!

Not offensive to me. At first he sounded a bit nutty to me too. But then, so did Jesus in his day.

Heiser's journey started with Psalms 82:1 and how different English translations mistranslate it. 

Here's a fun one: Check out Paul's words about women's hair length and then compare to the writings of Hippocrates at the time. Suddenly it makes sense. 

I'll leave it to you to google all that stuff if it actually interests you.

[Arrabon]

53 minutes ago, Alive said:

It could be that you learn some valuable lessons.

Again, this is simply a suggestion. Its my belief that you would profit from it and be enlarged 'In Christ'.

@Alive, @Still Alive, and @Justin Adams

Brothers,  I sure do appreciate your loving recommendations, and will continue to look into the others you suggested.

As far as "Learning valuable lessons", I learned those along time ago when I was exposed to this kind of thinking that made me laugh HEARTILY, because it was so ridiculous, as this quote of Heiser's is.

I am not finding fault with anyone here guys, or criticizing anyone who chooses to research those who interest you guys, and their idea's, on your path to everlasting glory.

For me, the repeated language of this kind of person over many, many years I have already heard so many times before, that all kinds of alarms go off because the idea's are so familiar.

Remember, I have been around since the early 40's, and in that length of time you hear some pretty "OUTLANDISH" things, and they are not soon forgotten.

Keep on researching and praying for the TRUTH guys, and God will reveal it to all of you as you research until your last breath.

Don't forget these words of Paul in 1st Corinthians 1:12, "Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 

Paul says be careful who you follow.

Just remember the Jonestown suicide of over 900 people in the 70's, who followed a mad man that convinced them to kill themselves and all their children.

They saw nothing wrong with something the whole rest of world was ASTONISHED and SHOCKED by.

My words are words of love and protection, just like I raised my 5 children.

God bless in His Loving kindness

My name is Arrabon

Edited May 18, 2021 by Arrabon

[Starise]

1 hour ago, The_Patriot21 said:

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

 

You're ornery aren't you? 

[Daniel Marsh]

On 5/17/2021 at 1:40 AM, Logostician said:

Ron 12:2

And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Seeking Jesus is timeless, unless we get caught up in the times.

https://www.cccc.org/news_blogs/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Kelowna-church-closing-poster-1918-1024x683.jpg

[Daniel Marsh]

quote

 

Here is a brief overview of how the Church responded in previous pandemics.

The Ancient Church Responds to Pandemics

The ancient Church grew significantly because of its actions during the Antonine (165-180 A.D.) and Cyprian (249-262 A.D.) plagues. The Church did not social distance in those pandemics, but their refusal wasn’t so they could hold worship services—it was so they could care for the sick and bury the dead. Because everyone who was healthy, other than Christians, fled, these pandemics showed the pagan world by the actions of the Christians who remained how the Christian faith was a powerful new way to live.

The Early Protestant Church Responds to Pandemics

Martin Luther and John Calvin both adjusted their ministry activities to be socially responsible and deal with the plagues of their times (Calvin had to deal with five plagues!).

The North American Church Responds to a Pandemic

Finally, during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918, churches were closed all over the United States and Canada, yet they found creative ways to continue their work. Clergy of that time mostly supported public health measures that closed their churches and gave advice about what to do instead.

The link above about churches being closed includes this little nugget about the attitude of pastors to enforced church closings: the Washington DC Protestant ministerial recorded that, “An emergency meeting of ‘Protestant ministers’ on October 5, 1918, decided unanimously to ‘place ourselves on record as cheerfully complying with the request of the Commissioners.'” (I’ve added the italics for emphasis.) Dr. Mark Steinacher, church historian and an expert on the Canadian church, confirmed to me that “churches did indeed largely comply a century ago.”

There is very little documentation about legal challenges and civil disobedience during the Spanish Flu epidemic. One report refers to many legal challenges from the general public but that the judges were not sympathetic at all. Another report includes the following:

• In San Francisco, about 100 people were charged for not wearing masks. The Anti-Mask League of San Francisco only ever held one meeting but that meeting attracted 2,000 people in January 1919 to protest the requirement to wear a face mask, and it led to the mayor rescinding the order shortly afterwards. Unfortunately, with people tired of the flu, the relaxed regulations led to the second wave being many times worse than the first.
• The same report mentions that two Christian Scientist churches mounted legal challenges. The Portland, OR church said it believed they would not get sick and claimed “the police power of the state should not be used to prevent Christian worship in the churches.” They were unsuccessful, but the other church in Los Angeles won its case with the claim that religious groups were unfairly targeted by the restrictions.

Here are some excerpts from a sermon delivered by Rev. Francis J. Grimke on Sunday, November 3, 1918 at the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church in Washington, D. C. after churches reopened. I will quote several passages because they speak directly to the issues of our day, but with the benefit of hindsight that we don’t yet have.

 

...

Our own beautiful city has suffered terribly from [the flu], making it necessary, as a precautionary measure, to close the schools, theaters, churches, and to forbid all public gathering within doors as well as outdoors. At last, however, the scourge has been stayed, and we are permitted again to resume the public worship of God, and to open again the schools of our city.

Rev. Grimke went on to reflect about the experience.

I have been asking myself the question, what is the meaning of it all? What ought it to mean to us? Is it to come and go and we be no wiser, or better for it? Surely God had a purpose in it, and it is our duty to find out, as far as we may, what that purpose is, and try to profit by it.

What a great question to ask! The Bible assures us that God will work to redeem all situations for good.

https://www.cccc.org/news_blogs/john/2021/01/11/how-the-church-responded-to-previous-pandemics/

 

[Daniel Marsh]

On 5/17/2021 at 1:40 AM, Logostician said:

Ron 12:2

And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Seeking Jesus is timeless, unless we get caught up in the times.

https://www.cccc.org/news_blogs/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Kelowna-church-closing-poster-1918-1024x683.jpg

[Daniel Marsh]

On 5/17/2021 at 10:07 AM, Arrabon said:

@Logostician

I like this a lot .

https://thinktheology.co.uk/blog/article/weve_been_here_before_lessons_from_the_churchs_responses_to_the_spanish_flu