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[color=red:1esg1c33][b:1esg1c33]What about Mary?[/b:1esg1c33][/color:1esg1c33]
In Matthew 22:29, Jesus made the remark to the Sadducees that they were wrong about a religious view because they were guilty of [b:1esg1c33]”not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.”[/b:1esg1c33] Since Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, this standard applies to us as well. And I think of this as I travel around noticing that in many of our neighbor’s yards, they have statues of Mary, the mother of Jesus, often placed in a bathtub as some sort of shrine to her, and it makes me want to check God’s word to see how this “tradition” compares to God’s wishes.
It doesn’t take much time in Scriptures to see that Mary was, indeed, a very special person as Luke writes that [b:1esg1c33]”… the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women…..And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.”[/b:1esg1c33] (Luke 1:26-30) The Bible tells us, [b:1esg1c33]”For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.”[/b:1esg1c33] (2 Chronicles 16:9). Mary found favor with God because she most certainly had a heart like David’s, whom God saw as having [b:1esg1c33]”an integrity of heart and uprightness.”[/b:1esg1c33] (1 Kings 9:4) We can see by her words, first to the angel (Luke 1:38) and then when she was with Elisabeth (Luke 1:46-49), that she had such a heart attitude as to both please and praise God. To the angel, Mary’s words were, [b:1esg1c33]”Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”[/b:1esg1c33] And then, as Mary was with Elisabeth, her heart is revealed further when she says so beautifully, [b:1esg1c33]” ….My soul doth magnify the Lord,…. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed…”[/b:1esg1c33] Scripture tells us that our words reveal what lies in our heart, (Matthew 12:34-37) thus, it’s obvious that Mary had heart that magnified and rejoiced in God, recognizing Him as her Saviour, and her desires to serve Him according to His Word.
Scripture doesn’t reveal very much additional information about Mary, outside of a few isolated moments. This is by design, no doubt, as the purpose of Scriptures is to point everyone to Jesus (John 5:29). In fact, the Bible tells us that mankind’s purpose for existing is [b:1esg1c33]”for the praise of His glory,” [/b:1esg1c33](Ephesians 1:11,12) and Mary was created for this purpose as well. Mary’s role as the Mother of Jesus, was part of God’s plan. However, Jesus made a point that, although Mary was His mother, that wasn’t significant at all, as we see in Luke 11:27-28. It says, [b:1esg1c33]”….as Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you. He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’ “[/b:1esg1c33] Jesus was simply stating, what Scriptures consistently teaches, that the really important and blessed people are followers of Him. Since the Bible teaches that there is only one path and one Gospel message by which one can be saved, Mary’s salvation was determined in the same way as all believers, not because she was Jesus’ mother. We must be careful to keep in mind that the Bible shows God using others as well. Of John the Baptist, Jesus said, [b:1esg1c33]”I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” [/b:1esg1c33](Matthew 11:11) The Bible says God used Solomon in a special manner as well, [b:1esg1c33]”I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.”[/b:1esg1c33] (1 Kings 3:12). So just as God’s Word speaks highly of John the Baptist, Solomon and David, Mary likewise was blessed and used by the Lord. And we, too, can be usable when our desire is to live in the same manner, as Mary had told the servants at the Cana wedding Feast, [b:1esg1c33]”…whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”[/b:1esg1c33] (John 2:5) In our society, we are in a period of unprecedented religious and spiritual beliefs and activity regarding Mary that has reached far beyond simple backyard shrines of Mary in the bathtub to the extent of what Jesus warned that would happen in Matthew 24:24, [b:1esg1c33]”… and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”[/b:1esg1c33] In a future article we’ll look closer at many of these, but for now, we’ll examine further about the shrines and how many erroneously refer to Mary as the “mother of God.”
Is Mary the Mother of God? – No. This is a term that appears to be the root of much the faulty perceptions and practices concerning Mary that are common today. Yes, Mary was the mother of Jesus and Jesus is God, but similar to any marriage of mixed descendants, a mother wouldn’t have her blood changed to the father’s blood, a mother’s origin wouldn’t change to the father’s origin, nor would the mother’s race change to the father’s race. Jesus was 100% human and 100% God, but even the Bible demonstrates a distinction. Example one – in James 1:13, it says: [b:1esg1c33]”….God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;” [/b:1esg1c33]while at the same time in Hebrews 4:15, the Bible tells us: [b:1esg1c33]”…but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are– yet was without sin.”[/b:1esg1c33] (Jesus was also tempted in Matthew 4 and Luke 4). Example two – Paul writes concerning Jesus, [b:1esg1c33]”Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:[/b:1esg1c33] (Philippians 2:6,7) And example three – Consider what 1 Timothy 2:5 says:[b:1esg1c33] “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”[/b:1esg1c33] In all three examples there is a clear distinction that separates Jesus’ physical life apart from His deity. To suggest that Mary was the “mother of God” would be an erroneous spiritualizing and twisting of the simple role given to Mary, [b:1esg1c33]”…. she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” [/b:1esg1c33]The fact that she was used by God to be the mother of the physical side of Jesus is clearly taught in the Bible, but anything beyond that is indeed what Jesus would refer to as traditions of men that go against Scriptures. (Mark 7:7-13) Consider further these three more profound Bible passages that should put this in its proper perspective. God asked Job, [b:1esg1c33]”Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.”[/b:1esg1c33] (Job 38:4) Isaiah wrote, [b:1esg1c33]”Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?”[/b:1esg1c33] (Isaiah 40:13) And also, concerning God, Isaiah adds, [b:1esg1c33]”For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”[/b:1esg1c33] (Isaiah 55:8,9) Obviously, as we can see, no human including Mary could be the answer to these verses.
And finally, about those backyard shrines, consider the following Scriptures that, in addition, gives us more insights of why Mary isn’t to be considered to be, “the mother of God,.” as well. The Bible says, [b:1esg1c33]”Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God…”[/b:1esg1c33] (Exodus 20:4) and [b:1esg1c33]”Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.”[/b:1esg1c33] (Deuteronomy 4:23-24) The Bible shows that sincerity could just make a person sincerely wrong as Jeremiah 7:18 illustrates: [b:1esg1c33]”The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. ” [/b:1esg1c33]No doubt these people were sincere, yet they angered God.
So, in closing, we see that even today, we have many practices, just as Jesus told the Sadducees, that they were wrong about a religious view because they were guilty of “not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.” It’s time to get Mary out of the tub and remember that when she lived as Jesus’ mother 2000 years ago, she lived, “according to thy word.” We should do the same.
[quote:2fn7sfhe]Mr. Weathers, you asked:
[quote:2fn7sfhe]
Ron said earth is only 6 thousand years old(should I believe him??)
____________[/quote:2fn7sfhe]
and[quote:2fn7sfhe]What is this telling me about how old the earth is?? I think if I’m not mistaken(getting a little absent minded at my age)the oldest person in the Bible was about 900years and there was a couple of reasons for that,number 1 they used a different way of measureing days and another I heard was there was not as many diseases then(I don’t know which is correct) [/quote:2fn7sfhe]
If you look at Luke’s genealogy it goes all the way back to Adam from Jesus which is 2000 years ago and takes approximetly about 4000 years or so. The people live longer not because of a different type of measurement, but because the canopy that protected them is not over us since the flood. If you look at the first couple chapter of Genesis, you will see that the measurements are the same – sun in the day, moon and star at night – seven days a week.
PS – once you believe me on this subject, then maybe you’ll believe me in Scripture as well.[/quote:2fn7sfhe][color=blue:2fn7sfhe]From one of my Bible Study friends[/color:2fn7sfhe]
you are correct in holding to the view that the solar system is about 4.5 billion yrs old. and the universe is thought to be about 14 billion yrs old. there is one thing that bothers me about these numbers, however: we have no measuring stick that lies outside the system being measured. when i measure my weight for example, i have a standard that is extrinsic to me. so far as i know we have no such way of measuring anything in “years’ before there was a sun or an earth to go ’round it. moreover, the length of a “year” has not been uniform since the solar system was formed. i have, however, talked to people who are knowledgeable in such things (i.e. physics and cosmology) and they contend that this is not a problem. so, in the absence of any greater knowledge on my part, i take their word for it. as to your correspondent’s contention, the “canopy” is an interesting idea. there is, of course, considerable evidence suggesting a universal flood (perhaps having someting to do with the melting of the ice at the end of the last ice age). but there is nothing to suggest that the earth is only 6000 yrs old or that we have been around for only 6000 yrs. genesis is, i would contend, to be taken as true in the theological sense, but not in the literal sense. the message is true certainly but the cosmology isn’t literally true. as to the human speciies, i don’t think there is any reason to doubt that we have been around for several hundred thousand yrs; yet, at some point there had to be a first human couple. the point in genesis is that we were created in God’s image and that something went terribly wrong. this, of course, is an oversimplified commentary, but i hope that it helps some. tom st. martin
Mr. Weathers, Why do you trust men that base their beliefs upon
[quote:11r1mgnz] we have no measuring stick that lies outside the system being measured. when i measure my weight for example, i have a standard that is extrinsic to me. [u:11r1mgnz][b:11r1mgnz]so far as[/b:11r1mgnz][/u:11r1mgnz] i know we have no such way of measuring anything in “years’ before there was a sun or an earth to go ’round it. moreover, the length of a “year” has not been uniform since the solar system was formed. i have, however, talked to people who are knowledgeable in such things (i.e. physics and cosmology) and they contend that this is not a problem. [u:11r1mgnz][b:11r1mgnz]so, in the absence of any greater knowledge on my part, i take their word for it.[/b:11r1mgnz][/u:11r1mgnz][/quote:11r1mgnz]
or
[quote:11r1mgnz]there is nothing to suggest that the earth is only 6000 yrs old or that we have been around for only 6000 yrs. genesis is,[u:11r1mgnz][b:11r1mgnz] i would contend[/b:11r1mgnz][/u:11r1mgnz], to be taken as true in the theological sense, but not in the literal sense. the message is true certainly but the cosmology isn’t literally true. as to the human speciies, [u:11r1mgnz][b:11r1mgnz]i don’t think there is any reason to doubt[/b:11r1mgnz][/u:11r1mgnz] that we have been around for several hundred thousand yrs; yet, at some point there had to be a first human couple. the point in genesis is that we were created in God’s image and that something went terribly wrong.[/quote:11r1mgnz]
another person’s feelings and thoughts or opinions instead of What does God’s word tell us? Here are some Biblical Based places to see what God’s word tells us:
http://shop5.gospelcom.net/epages/AIGUS … t/10-2-261
http://www.answersingenesis.org/museum/
these are for real places with facts, not “theories!”
[color=red:14o4el99]Ron,you have a one track mind you never think other peoples ideas could be RIGHT.[/color:14o4el99]
Mr. Weathers, you asked:
[quote:2eo8l8w3]Ron,you have a one track mind you never think other peoples ideas could be RIGHT. [/quote:2eo8l8w3]
I do if their ideas, answers or statements match what I KNOW Scriptures
tell us. Is that a problem?
I read Luke 3 and Gensis 1 & 2 I find no numerical figures pretaining to how old the solar system is. P.S. I do believe what is said in both books.
Genesis 1:5 +1:8 shows that the days arethe same length as ours – [color=red:39xjjl67]God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. … And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day[/color:39xjjl67]
Genesis 5 has the ages down to Noah
Genesis 7:6 has Noah’s life age
Genesis 7:24 – time lenght of floodGenesis 928 says Noahs age but notice that He had the sons before the flood
Genesis 10 has the descendents of Noah. (Methuselah was the oldest one to live 969 years old – found in genesis 5) so even if you max out say 900 years for eachGenesis 11 has Shems descendents to Terah the father of Abram which then proceeds to teach about the Jews and if you follow along adding Matthew 1 – [color=red:39xjjl67]
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations[/color:39xjjl67]you can easily see how old the Earth isn’t – no problem
so who are you going to believe, the Bible as you proclaimed
[quote:39xjjl67]I do believe what is said in both books.[/quote:39xjjl67]or your opinionated friends?
It doesn’t have to be that hard if you “seek first ” the Kingdom of God from His word!
[color=red:3nt4t9mm][b:3nt4t9mm] Traditions[/b:3nt4t9mm][/color:3nt4t9mm]
The Bible says that we should, [b:3nt4t9mm]”Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you– unless, of course, you fail the test?”[/b:3nt4t9mm] (2 Corinthians 13:5) Paul thought highly of the Bereans in Acts 17:11, as he wrote, [b:3nt4t9mm]”These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”[/b:3nt4t9mm] The Bible warns us,[b:3nt4t9mm] “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine…. they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth…”[/b:3nt4t9mm] (2 Timothy 4:3+4) With so many different Churches, how can anyone know what or who to believe?
Jesus once referred to Satan as “the Father of Lies.” A favorite tactic of his would be to take Scripture and give it a new and false meaning, such as we see in Genesis 3:3-5, when he deceived Eve. She said, [b:3nt4t9mm]”But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” [/b:3nt4t9mm]
Today we continue to see Satan doing the same type of tactic when referring to Traditions and Church Fathers as “proof” of a teaching or activity that would, otherwise, be clearly in direct opposition to the Bible. Often these “Churches” state a very Biblical verse and just as Satan did in Genesis 3, they’ll appeal to man’s logic. Case in point – whenever a Church declares that their particular denomination is the “one true Church.” They then take a verse such as Matthew 16:18, where Jesus said, [b:3nt4t9mm]”I will build my Church”[/b:3nt4t9mm] as proof. The flaw is that Jesus never said that He would build that denomination, but just as in Genesis 3, the power of suggestion implies to that point, thus deceiving many. If that particular denomination was correct, then salvation would come through enrollment, not faith. Furthermore, the Biblical Church that Jesus refers to is anyone who believes in Him, as can be seen in Ephesians 5:22 and 1 Corinthians 3:9 – [b:3nt4t9mm]”In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord….. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit…For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”[/b:3nt4t9mm]
The deception only gets more intense as these churches continue build their case by adding more Scriptures, again with “their interpretation” of what it means instead of what it says. The key is to remember that all of Scripture is inspired and we should remember to discern the difference between what Scripture says and what someone is claiming it says. Note the following is an example where a church states the facts, and are Biblically correct in saying this: “While we must guard against merely human tradition, the Bible contains numerous references to the necessity of clinging to apostolic tradition. Thus Paul tells the Corinthians, [b:3nt4t9mm]”I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you”[/b:3nt4t9mm] (1 Cor. 11:2), and he commands the Thessalonians, [b:3nt4t9mm]”So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter” [/b:3nt4t9mm](2 Thess. 2:15). He even goes so far as to order, [b:3nt4t9mm]”Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us”[/b:3nt4t9mm] (2 Thess. 3:6). To make sure that the apostolic tradition would be passed down after the deaths of the apostles, Paul told Timothy, [b:3nt4t9mm]”What you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also”[/b:3nt4t9mm] (2 Tim. 2:2).
Everything in the above quote is Biblically sound. The deception begins where a Church then implies that their traditions, which have developed over the years, are the same traditions that were practiced by the Apostles. All the traditions that Paul referred to were mentioned of as already in place and referred to as in the past tense. The traditions that were added by a church after the Apostles, but are now falsely implied to be part of the same traditions as those practice by the Apostles, quite often fall into the category of which Jesus declared, [b:3nt4t9mm]”Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men… Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”[/b:3nt4t9mm] (Mark 7:7,8,13) Paul also gives us a warning to guard against bad traditions in Colossians 2:8, when he said, [b:3nt4t9mm]”Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”[/b:3nt4t9mm] So clearly not all traditions are acceptable.
In closing, we should protect ourselves from deception by taking the Bible’s advice to safeguard against deceptions in this manner, [b:3nt4t9mm]”that in us ye might learn not (to go) beyond the things which are written;”[/b:3nt4t9mm] (1 Corinthians 4:6-ASV) Yes, John did say that [b:3nt4t9mm]”not everything that Jesus did was written,”[/b:3nt4t9mm] to which He adds, [b:3nt4t9mm]”But these are written, that ye might believe.” [/b:3nt4t9mm]and as he said in his epistle, [b:3nt4t9mm]”These things have I written.that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.[/b:3nt4t9mm] (1 John 5:13) Why Scriptures only? For this reason, [b:3nt4t9mm]”All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”[/b:3nt4t9mm] (2 Timothy 3:16,17) If Scripture can make us, “perfect, thoroughly furnished,” why go elsewhere?
As Paul said, [b:3nt4t9mm]”But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.[/b:3nt4t9mm] (Galations 1:
Weather, to answer your question about measuring time before there existed an Earth or a solar system: the second is currently the fundamental unit of time. That is, all other measures of time are defined in terms of seconds.
The second is defined in terms of a measurable physical phenomenon, in particular, it’s the amount of time that it takes for a certain type of radioactive cesium atom to decay a certain amount (or some such).
So it’s certainly possible to consider time before the Earth existed.
More fully on-topic, there’s a fascinating article I read recently which says that science and Genesis may be much more in agreement than is generally thought. As Einstein said, time depends on one’s perspective.
Basically the thesis is that from our perspective looking back, we see 14 billion years or so. But starting from the point where energy first condensed into matter and looking forward, it works out to about six days.
[url:2ytjjd32]http://www.geraldschroeder.com/age.html[/url:2ytjjd32]
[quote:1ksj42z8]Genesis 1:5 +1:8 shows that the days arethe same length as ours – God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.[/quote:1ksj42z8]
The light and the darkness take several months at the poles. Only God knows how long they took in the beginning.
Dinosaurs, one of the most successful groups of animals (in terms of longevity) that have ever lived, evolved into many diverse sizes and shapes, with many equally diverse modes of living. The term “Dinosauria” was invented by Sir Richard Owen in 1842 to describe these “fearfully great reptiles,” specifically Megalosaurus, Iguanodon, and Hylaeosaurus, the only three dinosaurs known at the time. The creatures that we normally think of as dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic Era, from late in the Triassic period [color=red:2jlsggff](about 225 million years ago)[/color:2jlsggff] until the end of the Cretaceous [color=red:2jlsggff](about 65 million years ago[/color:2jlsggff]). But we now know that they actually live on today as the birds
The topic of dinosaurs in the Bible is part of a larger ongoing debate within the Christian community over the age of the earth, the proper interpretation of Genesis, and how to interpret the physical evidences we find all around us. Those who believe in an older age for the earth tend to agree that the Bible does not mention dinosaurs, because according to their paradigm, [color=red:2jlsggff]dinosaurs died out millions of years before the first man ever walked the earth. The men who wrote the Bible down couldn’t have seen dinosaurs alive.[/color:2jlsggff]
Those who believe in a younger age for the earth tend to agree that the Bible does mention dinosaurs though it never actually uses the word “dinosaur.” Instead, it uses the Hebrew word tanniyn (pronounced tan-neen; Strong’s #08577). Tanniyn is translated a few different ways in our English Bibles; sometimes it’s “sea monster,” sometimes it’s “serpent.” It is most commonly translated “dragon.” The tanniyn appear to have been some sort of giant reptile. These creatures are mentioned nearly thirty times in the Old Testament and are found both on land and in the water.
In addition to mentioning these giant reptiles in general nearly thirty times throughout the Old Testament, the Bible describes a couple of creatures in such a way that some scholars believe the writers may have been describing dinosaurs. Behemoth is said to be the mightiest of all God’s creatures, a giant whose tail is likened to a cedar tree (Job 40:15ff). Some scholars have tried to identify Behemoth as either an elephant or a hippopotamus. Others point out that elephants and hippopotamuses have very thin tails, nothing comparable to a cedar tree. Dinosaurs like the Brachiosaurus and the Diplodocus on the other had huge tails which one could easily compare to a cedar tree.
Nearly every ancient civilization has some sort of art depicting giant reptilian creatures. Petroglyphs, artifacts and even little clay figurines found in North America resemble modern depictions of dinosaurs. Rock carvings in South America depict men riding Diplodocus-like creatures and, amazingly, bear the familiar images of Triceratops-, Pterodactyl- and Tyrannosaurus Rex-like creatures. Roman mosaics, Mayan pottery and Babylonian city walls all testify to man’s trans-cultural, geographically-unbounded fascination with these creatures. Sober accounts like those of Marco Polo’s Il Milione mingle with fantastic tales of treasure-hoarding beasts. Modern day reports of sightings persist though they are usually treated with overwhelming skepticism.
In addition to the substantial amount of anthropic and historical evidences for the coexistence of dinosaur and man, there are other physical evidences, like the fossilized footprints of humans and dinosaurs found together at places in North America and West-Central Asia.
So, are there dinosaurs in the Bible? The matter is far from settled. It depends on how you interpret the available evidences and how you view the world around you. Here at GotQuestions.org we believe in a young earth interpretation and accept that dinosaurs and man coexisted. We believe that dinosaurs died out sometime after the Flood due to a combination of dramatic environmental shifts and the fact that they were relentlessly hunted to extinction by man.
http://www.gotquestions.org/dinosaurs-Bible.html
Mr Weathers,
Perhaps if you looked in the right spots, you would find answers to DINOSAURS:
Ron,It’s amazing how do you know everything??in the future if I have a ? I will ask you.
I came back to the forums here for the first time in a few months and I have noticed some very heated debates. I enjoy reading everyones’ comments.
Ron, I have deleted your last post as you were already told posting your articles here in that manner was improper.
[quote:3hb7wdqh]Since Victor and the “boys” ie. Jon, Benedict, Weathers, like to say their beliefs and I disagree with them, I thought I’d give you all a shot at criticizing my articles as well. Perhaps a reader may learn from the Bible at the same time.
Article #1 – [color=red:3hb7wdqh]The Foundation [/color:3hb7wdqh]
Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John writes, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.”
And Paul states, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”
Using God’s Holy Word as our guide, in my work with Gospel Light Ministries, I hope to be able to shed light upon people’s beliefs, to help them discern for themselves just what is the truth and be equipped with the ability to compare their beliefs to Scriptures. This may sound simple enough on the surface, but today, when people say, “I believe in God,” the words mean one thing in one religion and can mean another totally different in another religion. Even within one Christian denomination, often we find people’s beliefs to be one way and another person, a different way and many don’t even know just what is it that their church teaches. For example, some think that you have to be a Catholic to get to Heaven, others think that as long as a person is sincere in “whatever,” then that this all that matters, as long as they are sincere. Many believe that all religions ultimately lead to God. So many views, who’s right? Even on this, many simply think, “Who can know?” But God has provided the answers to these questions with His Holy Word and since the Bible interprets itself, we will seek the answers as God has provided in the Bible. With diligent study, we can know, but in today’s world, we have a situation in which “everyone did as he saw fit” instead of what God’s word says. God’s word declares: Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; “.Lord, Lord, ” and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Finally, in closing, this ministry, and this monthly column, is not about bashing anyone, but rather we simply wish to do as the Scriptures tells us to do: “…examine the Scriptures every day…” (Acts 17:11) “…Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) We at Gospel Light Ministries join Paul’s concern, when looking at today’s society – “For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” (2 Corinthians 11:4)[/quote:3hb7wdqh]
He said She said,if you had twenty people lined up and the first one whisper’s something to the second person and they passed it on by the time it gets to the last person in line it’s completely different then what the first one said.
It’s the same with reading the Bible,if 2 million people read it they all have different interpretation’s on it,[color=blue:3hb7wdqh]SO BE IT AS LONG AS ONE READS IT.[/color:3hb7wdqh]
Mr. Weathers says:
[quote:2546q668]He said She said,if you had twenty people lined up and the first one whisper’s something to the second person and they passed it on by the time it gets to the last person in line it’s completely different then what the first one said.
It’s the same with reading the Bible,if 2 million people read it they all have different interpretation’s on it,SO BE IT AS LONG AS ONE READS IT.[/quote:2546q668]You are right about he said she says, but that is why we stick to the written word as our authority – 1 Corinthians 4:6B -[color=red:2546q668] “…. that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.”[/color:2546q668] this way we KNOW what it says!
I ask you Mr. Weathers, if as I show on my home page, if Scriptures tell us that we were purged by Jesus blood at Calvary, (Hebrews 1:3) what sins did Jesus not clear from a believer’s heart that you believe we need a purgatory? And if we have access to the throne room (Hebrews 4:16) and God is a jealous God, and Isaiah 6:19 says we shouldn’t pray to the dead, why do you pray to Mary? Makes me wonder what is it that you really “believe” about Jesus!
[color=blue:i3ok5v67]As Catholics we DON’T try to “prove” things from the Bible. [/color:i3ok5v67]
That’s a method of using the Bible which is called “proof-texting.” That is to say, a person has a particular position or point-of-view and goes to the Sacred Scripture to find a specific verse, passage, or story which ‘supports’ the already pre-determined position or point-of-view.
That is not our Catholic way of approaching the Bible.
Rather, we believe that our good and gracious God kindly chooses to reveal the Divine Self to us in more than one way.
Certainly the Bible includes within it all that is necessary for salvation, as the infallible document “Dei verbum” puts it. So, if a person believes ‘only’ what is the Bible, she or he has the basic knowledge which is necessary to be saved.
But, the God Who created us and knows us better than we know ourselves, realizes that we need to learn in multiple ways.
For instance, some people learn best through reading, but others learn best through hearing while still others learn best from being shown repetitively. Different people have different “styles” of learning, given that each of us is unique.
So, in what is known as the “Divine condescension” God wonderfully chooses to meet us “where we are,” addressing each of us in a way that is appropriate to who we are.
For example, in the Gospels, we see Jesus using stories about fishing when He is talking to people who make their living by fishing and stories about farming when speaking to farmers and about cleaning house when talking with women. Our God knows just how to communicate best with each of us.
So, as Catholics we recognize the goodness of our God by understanding that we have a vast richness from which to learn about God.
Within that vast richness we Catholics believe that two ‘sources’ are the most important: Scripture and Tradition. As Catholics we really can’t have one without the other, so to speak.
The Bible is the written account, compiled over many generations by many different people all of whom were guided by the Holy Spirit, of God’s dealing with humanity.
But just as no ONE book contains the entire history of the world, so no one book — not even the Bible as great and marvelous as it is — can contain the entire sweep and majesty of God’s dealing with humankind.
The Bible is somewhat like a series of snapshots taken of different people, at different times, of God reaching out in love to various persons and groups. And while those “snapshots” are really, really important, they cannot be expected to tell the WHOLE story of God’s interactions with everybody.
To be sure, the Bible is profoundly important to us as Catholics. In fact, we need to know more about the Bible and our Protestant friends can often be really good examples to us of the centrality of the Scripture in living a Christian life. Saint Jerome, who lived in the third century (if my memory serves!), said in essence, if we are ignorant of the Bible, then we are ignorant of Jesus.
Important as the Bible is, we Catholics believe that God has provided yet another way of knowing what God wants us to know. That other ‘stream,’ if you will, is called the “Tradition.”
God, you remember, is infinite, and so nothing finite — not even the Bible — can completely reveal the infinite God Whom we adore.
So this infinite and majestic God has most kindly chosen to give us a living, dynamic means of revealing the Divine Self to us — the Tradition.
Tradition is that constantly unfolding body of knowledge and experience that Jesus entrusted to the Church for faithful transmission from one generation to the next.
Tradition, as it were, gives us a better, richer, fuller ‘context’ from which to understand the Scripture. Tradition teaches us in a way that is different — though always consistent with — the Bible. Tradition offers us always-renewing insight into what God wants for us. Tradition is the gift of God to the Church so that we Christians will be part of a living, growing Body which is the Body of Christ.
Tradition never contradicts Scripture; they are complimentary; they support and help each other. But we might say that Tradition ‘fills out’ what we see sketched in outline form in the Bible.
You don’t ‘need’ to “prove” anything using the Bible — at least not from a Catholic perspective.
[color=blue:i3ok5v67]In fact, you won’t be able, really, to “prove everything using the bible.” [/color:i3ok5v67]
Many of our Catholic beliefs — specifically in regard to your question, many of the Mysteries of the Rosary — come directly from the Sacred Scripture. For example, the Annunciation, the Scourging of the Lord, the Descent of the Holy Spirit — these all are reflected in the Bible.
But because we have the gift of the Tradition, as Catholics we are not ‘upset’ when the Church articulates a belief that is not found explicitly in the Bible. The Tradition is another means of God teaching us, through the Church, of something that God wants us to know so that we can enjoy a fuller, richer, more complete faith.
The Assumption and the Crowning of the Blessed Mother are two such beliefs: they come to us through the Tradition. From the earliest days of Christian experience, men and women have believed that Mary was assumed into heaven and that she was crowned Queen of heaven and earth. These doctrines of our Catholic faith have been handed on — by word of mouth from one Bishop to the next — since virtually the beginning of Christianity.
We actually have, in the last century or so, found archeological remains of Churches built in the earliest centuries of the Christian era which were dedicated to Mary Assumed and/or Crowned. But our faith does not rest on these archeological remains. Rather, our faith is secure because of the unbroken line of faithful Bishops who have transmitted this teaching from one generation to the next — the Tradition.
So, you’ll probably not have a great deal of success in “proving” the Assumption and the Crowning to your wonderful Baptist boyfriend. Respect him for who God made him to be — let him be a good Baptist Christian. And you be a good Catholic Christian. Keep praying!
http://www.catholicqanda.org/FAQ_Librar … ibrary.asp
Mr. Weqthers says:
[quote:1odckt7e]As Catholics we DON’T try to “prove” things from the Bible.[/quote:1odckt7e]
I’d say, if that was true that you now have a problem – who’s word is better to use?[quote:1odckt7e]That’s a method of using the Bible which is called “proof-texting.” That is to say, a person has a particular position or point-of-view and goes to the Sacred Scripture to find a specific verse, passage, or story which ‘supports’ the already pre-determined position or point-of-view.
That is not our Catholic way of approaching the Bible. [/quote:1odckt7e]
I guess you could say “by popular demand?” it seems that is the method here on this board[quote:1odckt7e]Rather, we believe that our good and gracious God kindly chooses to reveal the Divine Self to us in more than one way. [/quote:1odckt7e]
So should we throw out Matthew 7:13,14 or John 14:6?[quote:1odckt7e]Certainly the Bible includes within it all that is necessary for salvation, as the infallible document “Dei verbum” puts it. So, if a person believes ‘only’ what is the Bible, she or he has the basic knowledge which is necessary to be saved. [/quote:1odckt7e]
Are you sounding like one of those “fundies” now?[quote:1odckt7e]But, the God Who created us and knows us better than we know ourselves, realizes that we need to learn in multiple ways. [/quote:1odckt7e]
is this another opinion or where do you get this?[quote:1odckt7e]For instance, some people learn best through reading, but others learn best through hearing while still others learn best from being shown repetitively. Different people have different “styles” of learning, given that each of us is unique. [/quote:1odckt7e]
okay, but there can only be one gospel![quote:1odckt7e]So, in what is known as the “Divine condescension” God wonderfully chooses to meet us “where we are,” addressing each of us in a way that is appropriate to who we are. [/quote:1odckt7e]
Another opinion maybe but there still is only one gospel message[quote:1odckt7e]For example, in the Gospels, we see Jesus using stories about fishing when He is talking to people who make their living by fishing and stories about farming when speaking to farmers and about cleaning house when talking with women. Our God knows just how to communicate best with each of us. [/quote:1odckt7e]
okay
[quote:1odckt7e]So, as Catholics we recognize the goodness of our God by understanding that we have a vast richness from which to learn about God. [/quote:1odckt7e]
But don’t ignore the rest of God’s traits[quote:1odckt7e]Within that vast richness we Catholics believe that two ‘sources’ are the most important: Scripture and Tradition. As Catholics we really can’t have one without the other, so to speak. [/quote:1odckt7e]
But what about the “Traditons” that you have that Scriptures condemn?[quote:1odckt7e]The Bible is the written account, compiled over many generations by many different people all of whom were guided by the Holy Spirit, of God’s dealing with humanity. [/quote:1odckt7e]
And no mistakes or contraditions[quote:1odckt7e]But just as no ONE book contains the entire history of the world, so no one book — not even the Bible as great and marvelous as it is — can contain the entire sweep and majesty of God’s dealing with humankind. [/quote:1odckt7e]
do you have other books as reliable?[quote:1odckt7e]The Bible is somewhat like a series of snapshots taken of different people, at different times, of God reaching out in love to various persons and groups. And while those “snapshots” are really, really important, they cannot be expected to tell the WHOLE story of God’s interactions with everybody. [/quote:1odckt7e]
Well John tells us there is enough to KNOW[quote:1odckt7e]To be sure, the Bible is profoundly important to us as Catholics. In fact, we need to know more about the Bible and our Protestant friends can often be really good examples to us of the centrality of the Scripture in living a Christian life. Saint Jerome, who lived in the third century (if my memory serves!), said in essence, if we are ignorant of the Bible, then we are ignorant of Jesus. [/quote:1odckt7e]
I’ve said that all along[quote:1odckt7e]Important as the Bible is, we Catholics believe that God has provided yet another way of knowing what God wants us to know. That other ‘stream,’ if you will, is called the “Tradition.” [/quote:1odckt7e]
And how do you determine which “traditions ” are acceptable?[quote:1odckt7e]God, you remember, is infinite, and so nothing finite — not even the Bible — can completely reveal the infinite God Whom we adore. [/quote:1odckt7e]
where else is as fool proofed?[quote:1odckt7e]So this infinite and majestic God has most kindly chosen to give us a living, dynamic means of revealing the Divine Self to us — the Tradition. [/quote:1odckt7e]
again I ask “how do you know which ones are acceptable?”[quote:1odckt7e]Tradition is that constantly unfolding body of knowledge and experience that Jesus entrusted to the Church for faithful transmission from one generation to the next. [/quote:1odckt7e]
very dangerous philosophy[quote:1odckt7e]Tradition, as it were, gives us a better, richer, fuller ‘context’ from which to understand the Scripture. Tradition teaches us in a way that is different — though always consistent with — the Bible. Tradition offers us always-renewing insight into what God wants for us. Tradition is the gift of God to the Church so that we Christians will be part of a living, growing Body which is the Body of Christ. [/quote:1odckt7e]
What a crock![quote:1odckt7e]Tradition never contradicts Scripture; they are complimentary; they support and help each other. But we might say that Tradition ‘fills out’ what we see sketched in outline form in the Bible. [/quote:1odckt7e]
so you just use scriptures or should I say twist Scriptures to make your “tradition” seem acceptable?[quote:1odckt7e]You don’t ‘need’ to “prove” anything using the Bible — at least not from a Catholic perspective. [/quote:1odckt7e]
If it wasn’t so serious, ths would be funny[quote:1odckt7e]In fact, you won’t be able, really, to “prove everything using the bible.” [/quote:1odckt7e]
And those who try are called “Bashers”[quote:1odckt7e]Many of our Catholic beliefs — specifically in regard to your question, many of the Mysteries of the Rosary — come directly from the Sacred Scripture. For example, the Annunciation, the Scourging of the Lord, the Descent of the Holy Spirit — these all are reflected in the Bible. [/quote:1odckt7e]
Good example of how they twist scripture to “prove” rosarys[quote:1odckt7e]But because we have the gift of the Tradition, as Catholics we are not ‘upset’ when the Church articulates a belief that is not found explicitly in the Bible. The Tradition is another means of God teaching us, through the Church, of something that God wants us to know so that we can enjoy a fuller, richer, more complete faith. [/quote:1odckt7e]
Most don’t know Scripture’s importance to really give a rip[quote:1odckt7e]The Assumption and the Crowning of the Blessed Mother are two such beliefs: they come to us through the Tradition. From the earliest days of Christian experience, men and women have believed that Mary was assumed into heaven and that she was crowned Queen of heaven and earth. These doctrines of our Catholic faith have been handed on — by word of mouth from one Bishop to the next — since virtually the beginning of Christianity. [/quote:1odckt7e]
sad – really sad[quote:1odckt7e]We actually have, in the last century or so, found archeological remains of Churches built in the earliest centuries of the Christian era which were dedicated to Mary Assumed and/or Crowned. But our faith does not rest on these archeological remains. Rather, our faith is secure because of the unbroken line of faithful Bishops who have transmitted this teaching from one generation to the next — the Tradition. [/quote:1odckt7e]
[quote:1odckt7e]So, you’ll probably not have a great deal of success in “proving” the Assumption and the Crowning to your wonderful Baptist boyfriend. Respect him for who God made him to be — let him be a good Baptist Christian. And you be a good Catholic Christian. Keep praying! [/quote:1odckt7e]
Back to point one – how many ways to Salvation? _ see Matthew 7:13, 14 and John 14:6
From post to post, I am amazed at how much lower Mr. K can sink.
As usual, he makes rude comments, undeveloped and unsubstantiated remarks, all devoid of logical thought. I’m beginning to wonder if his refusal to tell us which of the many man made sects he has been brainwashed by is less that the topic will be diverted into their manmade doctrines that seemingly support a cromagnon interpretation of the seletive verses of the Scriptures co-opted from Historical Christianity. The issue seems to be more of his fear that someone with an equally denigrading personality will show up at the services where he “worships” his abreviated, remolded Jesus, (molded into the image Protestants of his particular sect want Him to be, rather than the Christ known to Chrisitanity for the first 1500 years after His advent) and hurl abuse at the members of the congregation in his own “charming” manner.
Mr. K’s brand of apologetics will find many converts, but I fear the converts will be to Buddhism and Hinduism, in reaction to the misinformation, ignorance and hatred he spews. We are bid to test all things, I can only speak for myself, having tested what Mr. K writes here and elsewhere, and surmise from the comments of others, that the spirits that lead Mr. K into such callous disregard for other people, is influenced by a spirit not of God. While I reject the total depravity of mankind that Protestantism teaches, as we are creatures of God, and while fallen where created by a God who does not make evil creatures. This is not to deny that we are disordered from the order of His original intent in creating mankind. God has seen something worth saving and has in His Incarnation supplied the means of re-ordering and redeaming us. Mr. K however strives to prove by his behavior the Total Depravity point.
But I will continue praying for him, as I am sure that God who has converted the hearts of Cannibals. Who gave St. Francis Xavier the charism to speak to Indians, Chinese and Japanese in their own languages without having studied them, God who has turned savages civil can combine the efforts which brought these magnificent works to fruition and whollop Mr. K with a healthy dose of grace to overcome his anger, and “defang” his hatred. Joining again all the angels and Saints, most of all the woman our Lord Chose to bring Himself into the world, into who’s arms the world first received Him, who He gave us as our Mother too for Ron’s return to Christ and His Church.
(We know Mr. K does not believe that the Catholic Church is the Church founded by Christ despite the historical proof that it is the only one that existed from the time of the Apostles, he has arrogantly and vociferously stampeeded his personal rejection of the 2000 years of consistant teachings of Christ in his rude manner, but Christian charity demands we continue to pray for this false prophet.)
Addendum: Another point for thinking people to consider is that based on the Protestant ideas of Sola Scriptura, (which everyone here understands the illogic of simply on the basis of the authority needed to formulate the canon, which was only done by a Council of the Catholic Church to end the varied opinions of different groups within the Church, and determine what if any written words where Scripture.) The problems of Private Interpretation and “Personal Savior” require each man to re-invent and re-evaluate the Scriptures and the entire field of Christology themselves, rather than rely on what has been handed down by Christ through the Apostles to our day. This is evident by the plethora of “Churches” and Denominations, let alone indidviduals who each preach a different Christ. The Biblical and non-Biblical warnings about False Christs, do not refer simply to men who would claim to be Christ, but also to false teachings about Christ. From the beginning we know that the Church held to the belief in Transubstantiation. While the word itself was not used until the radical rejection of the real presence by Protestants 1500 years later. We can read in Scipture and in the writings of the early fathers clear descriptions of the belief. Either one believes in the Christ who meant what He said at the Last Supper, or in a different Christ, one who taught Consubstantiation, or Signigication or any of the many different later Protestant inventions. One of the worst fruits of Protestantism is the multiplication of Christs, each teaching something different from what for 2000 years has held fast. Each proclaiming that the previous teachings are wrong and that they alone found the true meaning of Scirpture themselves. If they be correct than God is ever changing and not the author of a single unchanging truth.
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