This is the heart of the matter for me. I believe in God, I do not believe in the stories in the bible, the quran, the torah or any other book written by man, with what I consider a purpose. I believe in the message, just doubt the messenger. DD
I think the message is what is important. The stories are meaningless unless you take away the message. What you believe or don't believe about the stories of the bible doesn't change its message one iota. Some stories in the bible are very likely true, and there is evidence to back them up. Some stories are clearly fables, or parables. Yet the message is the same. People will point to cruel acts in the bible and try to say it is bad because of such things. The fact is that it only shows us that even those that have major flaws can still be the ones chosen to bring about change for God. And again those flaws, or cruel acts or whatever they are, aren't the message. Look at a story like Robin Hood. It has lies, robbery, violence, but that isn't the message of the story. The message is to stand up to corruption, and greed, and to oppose tyranny. Looking at the overall picture of the bible is very important, and it is one of the reasons why I hate out of context bible verses repeated or posted. Or people focussing on just one little aspect and blowing it way out of proportion.
No mentions in the Synoptic Gospels? John is unfortunately the least trustworthy of the four Gospels. Written no earlier than 90 AD by "John" who would have been around 90 years old at that time, the Gospel of John contains long *ss Jesus naratives that defy authenticity. The theology in John is also more developed/mature than the other other three, suggesting second century revisions. Do you see how incredible it is that the first three Gospels lack HS mentions? A pretty big ommission. Do Jews believe in the HS? Didn't the HS sit on God's bench until after JC was hung on the cross? Is it possible that the "Spirit of the Lord" aint the smae thing as the "Holy Spirit"? BTW is there any OT prophesy that mentions the whole HS after JC thing? if not, that would be a pretty big ommission?
No Worries -- Matthew mentions the Holy Spirit through John the Baptist: Matt 3:11 -- "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" it's believed Acts was written before John...it is the book that details the Holy Spirit the most. as for Old Testament ....the prophet Joel foretold a time when God would "pour out His Spirit" on all people (not just Jews, apparently). Isaiah does, as well in chapter 32. This is my favorite though..it's from Ezekiel 36: 26-27: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Man gets tired Spirit don’t Man surrenders Spirit won’t Man crawls Spirit flies Spirit lives When man dies Man seems Spirit is Man dreams The spirit lives Man is tethered Spirit free What spirit Is man can be
I still posit that mentions of God's Spirit in the OT may not mean the same spirit as the Holy Spirit. I mean if that were not the case Jews would believe in the Christian Holy Spirit while not necessarily Jesus as Son of God.
hmmmm...i don't think so. because Christians believe that Christ ushered in the new covenant..which was a precursor to God pouring out his Spirit in a new way. The Ezekial scripture sounds a TON like the way Christians understand the Holy Spirit.
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
