tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7933032782243529532024-03-08T19:15:57.253-05:00 peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com<p>This page is supplemental to the <a href="http://peacebyjesus.net/">Peace By Jesus</a>
website and deals mainly with Biblical apologetics (apologetics means "giving
an answer"). </p>
<p>However, this blog is mainly posts of some of my responses on other blogs and sites.</p>
<p>I am not a lettered "professional," but by the grace of God I seek to provide some help regarding challenges to the Christian faith.</p>
<p>May God receive the honor He alone is worthy of.</p>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-70099677773411332282024-02-29T14:39:00.000-05:002024-02-29T14:39:31.288-05:00The pre-existence of the God of Abraham: the Bible and limits of ancient evidence<p></p><p align="center" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><a name="__DdeLink__385715_3414684895"></a>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
pre-existence of the God of Abraham: the Bible and limits of ancient
evidence</b></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Preface:</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So
that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, <i>and</i> apply thine heart
to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, <i>and</i>
liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as
silver, and searchest for her as <i>for</i> hid treasures; Then shalt
thou understand the fear of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,
and find the knowledge of God. For the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
giveth wisdom: out of his mouth <i>cometh</i> knowledge and
understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: <i>he is</i>
a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of
judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou
understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; <i>yea</i>, every
good path. (Proverbs 2:2-9) </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Divine
Truth, with its Probity, Precepts, Pathway, Principles, sagacity and
surety, can be analogically likened to a beautiful but veiled,
fully clothed women, who is seen at first from a distance. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ravenous
carnal men insist that the women come near and bare all to prove she
is Truth, but such men have no right to see any more revelation, and
would not value a women that is so cheap and in need of affirmation
so as to unveil herself to such. And the degree of revelation that
they do see is often abusively scorned and verbally attack any
attestation to her reality. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Other
carnal souls are rather ambivalent, not caring much to seek, and not
caring much about the women as they are content with their
imaginations. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In
contrast are those who value this Divine Truth so much that they
earnestly seek this women as hidden treasure, with a motive that is
increasingly pure, despite distractions. Therefore they seek to
acquaint themselves with her and respond accordingly to this
revelation. T</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To
which respondent/obedient seekers more is increasingly revealed yet
experiential reality of this awaits entering into covenant with her,
one to being joined as one spirit. And yet the full and experiential
revelation awaits deliverance from this darkened earthly tabernacle
into the glorious transformation of the believers resurrection.</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><a name="__DdeLink__385729_3414684895"></a>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
above is critical in dealing with the issue of the historicity of God
of Abraham as evidenced by worship of Him. For when atheists and
anti-theists denigrate this faith as by </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">asserting that belief in the God of Abraham is simply another</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> “bronze age
religion,” </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">they are basing this upon </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">very
limited archaeological evidence </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">from that period
(when written records begin to be found) which </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">is insufficient to make that claim as to its origin. And they </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">can
only presume that this belief did not flow from prehistory, in which
era <a class="western" href="https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/voices/is-there-evidence-for-the-god-of-the-bible-in-ancient-cultures">some</a>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">evidence of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">monotheistic
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">religious belief exist</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">s.</span></p><p></p><p>
</p><p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meaning
that the basis for their argu</span><span style="font-size: small;">ment</span><span style="font-size: small;">
is that there is a lack of evidence for monotheism, at least as
Abrahamic, until the</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">The Bronze Age (3300
BC </span><span style="font-size: small;">to </span><span style="font-size: small;">about
1200 BC, </span><span style="font-size: small;">thus up to
about </span><span style="font-size: small;">5300 years ago
</span><span style="font-size: small;">in </span> <span style="font-size: small;">
scientific dating</span><span style="font-size: small;">).</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><a name="__DdeLink__408929_3414684895"></a>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Thus
the anti-theist assertion is based sparsity of evidence from before
the Bronze Age, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">this </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">being</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
the earliest period in which some civilizations </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">basically
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">began introducing written
records, thus <a class="western" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistory">passing
from </a><a class="western" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistory">prehistory
to recorded history</a>. </span></span></span></p><p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Moreover,
the</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
assignment of the </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bronze
Age </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">as
being the beginning of </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Abraham</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ic
religion </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">also presumes
way more of archaeology than it provides. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">F</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">or
archaeology <a class="western" href="https://the-way.info/2017/03/16/does-archaeology-show-the-bible-is-true-seven-facts/">has
only discovered a small percentage of the material objects that once
existed</a>. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">While </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
“thousands of archives have been discovered, but an enormous
amount of material has been lost. For example, <a class="western" href="https://bible.org/article/archaeology-and-old-testament">the
library in Alexandria held over one million volumes, but all were
lost in a seventh century fire </a></span><a class="western" href="https://bible.org/article/archaeology-and-old-testament"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">O</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">nly
a fraction of available archaeological sites have been surveyed, and
only a fraction of surveyed sites have been excavated</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.”</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">nd
even excavations that have been made “<a class="western" href="https://www.allthescience.org/what-is-archaeology.htm">only
recover a small percentage of the original artifacts, and different
researchers may have conflicting interpretations of the evidence
unearthed.”</a> .</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Which
extends from the authenticity of what is found to its meaning. For </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">as
described in <a class="western" href="https://scienceforart.northwestern.edu/field-notes-events/articles/2015/pitfalls-of-science-authentication.html">“</a></span><a class="western" href="https://scienceforart.northwestern.edu/field-notes-events/articles/2015/pitfalls-of-science-authentication.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Pitfalls
of Using Science to Authenticate Archaeological Artifacts,</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">”
“while scientific data are inherently objective, their
interpretation is almost always subjective.” </span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><a name="cite_ref-Patrik_1985_1-2"></a>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wikipedia
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(the
veracity of which is only as good as its sources are) states that
“</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scholars
have frequently used in textual analogies such as 'record', 'source'
and 'archive' to refer to material evidence of the past since at
least the 19th century. The term 'archaeological record' probably
originated this way...” “</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">the
extent to which archaeologists' understanding of what constituted
'the archaeological record' was dependent on broader currents in
<a class="western" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeological_theory">archaeological
theory</a>, namely, that <a class="western" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processual_archaeology">processual
archaeologists</a> were likely to subscribe to a physical model and
<a class="western" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-processual_archaeology">postprocessual
archaeologists</a> a textual model.<a class="western" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeological_record#cite_note-Patrik_1985-1">[1]</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">)
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeological_record</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">)</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For
in “archaeology, as with any other science, the existing body of
knowledge obtained through the scientific method, lies at varying
levels of certainty. Some facts are so well-attested that their
certainty is virtually absolute. There is, for example, extremely
little likelihood that any evidence will turn up to dis- prove the
existence of a nation called the Hittites or of such persons as
Sargon II (formerly known only in the Bible, and then only in one
place, Isaiah 20:1), or of a Babylonian king named Belshazzar; yet
each of these now-accepted facts was at one time regarded as
mythical.” </span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
was once argued that the Book of Daniel must necessarily be of late
date because it contains Greek names for certain musical instruments,
and Greek was surely unknown to the Hebrews of the traditional date
of Daniel. The finding of Greek shields and weapons at the site of
the battle of Carchemish, however, revealed the fact that Pharaoh
Necho had Greek mercenary soldiers marching in his army when he came
through Israel in Josiah's day.”
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(<a class="western" href="https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/grace-journal/11-3_03.pdf">https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/grace-journal/11-3_03.pdf</a>)</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Thus
the argument against the existence of Abrahamic faith not only
presumes of <span style="font-size: small;">archaeology </span><span style="font-size: small;">far
more than what it provides but that </span>none shall be found. And
assertions of fact based upon sparsity of information as well as
certain interpretations must face the reality that such can be shown
to be wrong in the light of more information. </span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For
indeed, </span><span style="font-size: small;">archaeology has
many times supported “historical accounts of the Bible </span><span style="font-size: small;">that
were once dismissed or questioned</span><span style="font-size: small;">.
“It has verified many ancient sites, civilizations, and biblical
characters whose existence was questioned by the academic world and
often dismissed as myths.” </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Noted
archaeologist Nelson Glueck writes, "As a matter of fact,
however, it may be clearly stated categorically that no archeological
discovery has ever controverted a single biblical reference. Scores
of archeological findings have been made which confirm in clear
outline or exact detail historical statements in the Bible.”
(Nelson Glueck, Rivers in the Desert, (New York: Farrar, Strous and
Cudahy, 1959), 136.) </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Although
many archeologists remain skeptical of the biblical record, the
evidence for the historical accuracy of the Bible continues to
build.” (<a class="western" href="https://bible.org/article/archaeology-and-old-testament">https://bible.org/article/archaeology-and-old-testament</a>)</span></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In
addition, it should be conceded that religious faith did not come
out of atheism, and while if skeptics hold that Abrahamic
monotheistic faith came out of polytheism, then it should presume
that polytheism preceded recorded history. And therefore it also
should be conceded that it is not unreasonable to allow that
monotheistic faith also could have existed in prehistory, versus
that monotheistic faith awaited thousands of years, until records
were made which were preserved and discovered. The issue then becomes
how to exclude Abrahamic faith as being one of them, since (as the
Bible affirms) his monotheism certainly had competition.</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Note
that on the scientific level, so far the argument from silence also
applies to assertions of the pre-existence of Abrahamic faith.
However, here the issue is that of examining scientific warrant for a
claim of skeptics whose assertion rests upon it. Meanwhile,
evidential arguments for Abrahamic faith are not dependent upon the
sparse amount of extant recorded historical evidence by the spade of
men, but evidence which transcends that, although that is beyond the
scope of this already lengthy response. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Moving
from the problem of sparsity of evidence for excluding the existence
of Abrahamic faith until about 5500 years ago in scientific
dating, we should consider some claims for evidence in support of at
least monotheistic faith, of which Abrahamic faith is a part. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Monotheism
defined.</b></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Contrary
to some statements, Biblical monotheism is not belief that only one
God exists, but that there is only one true God, distinct to both
inferior gods which are not worthy to be one’s God, as well as
false gods which do not exist. And whatever is our ultimate source of
security, object of spiritual affection and allegiance is our God,
and finite, fallible and hence ultimately failing created entities
as not worthy to be one’s god, versus the only omniscient (knowing
all that can be known, including all the effects of every choice and
action, not simply in the present time but in all time and
eternity), and omnipotent (all powerful) and thus able to make
everything to work out for what is Good, in both justice and mercy
and grace, depending on man’s response to the revelation of God’s,
leading one to the Christ, and resultant choices.</span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In
the Hebrew Scriptures the devil is certainly described as real, and
possessing significant power which was given to him by God, but
whose was cast down due to his utterly self-willed, selfish
unwarranted attempt at self-exaltation, presuming to sit in God’s
throne. Yet whom God uses, as on a leash, in order to provide morally
sentient beings an alternative to obedience to God, to what is right
(for the ability to choose is effectively meaningless if there are
no choices to be made). And in so doing to manifest the character of
men as well as to improve the same as regards the true children of
God. The classic example of which that of Job. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
Bible also </span><span style="font-size: small;">states that
“ the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God,
a mighty, and a terrible [fearsome, as in attributes] which regardeth
not persons, nor taketh reward.” (Deuteronomy 10:17) “</span><span style="font-size: small;">For
thou, </span><span style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lord</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">,
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>art</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">
high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.”
(Psalms 97:9)</span> <span style="font-size: small;">For all
the gods of the nations </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>are</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">
idols: but the </span><span style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lord</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">
made the heavens. (Psalms 96:5)</span> </span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In
the New Testament it is stated that, “For though there be that are
called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many,
and lords many,) But to us </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>there
is but</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> one God, the
Father, of whom </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>are</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">
all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>are</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">
all things, and we by him.” (1 Corinthians 8:5-6) </span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In
conclusion, the assertion that faith in the God of Abraham is simply
a “bronze age” belief is based upon the fallacious premise </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">that
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">very limited archaeological
evidence </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">is sufficient </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">from
that period (when written records begin to be found) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">is
sufficient to make that claim. And which </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">can
only presume that this belief did not flow from prehistory, in which
era <a class="western" href="https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/voices/is-there-evidence-for-the-god-of-the-bible-in-ancient-cultures">some</a>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">evidence of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">monotheistic
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">religious belief exist</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">s</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(the Zoroastrian religion
itself enters recorded history around the middle of the 6th century
BC, with its monotheistic <a class="western" href="https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/how-does-zoroastrianism-compare-to-christianity">counterfeit</a>
of the one true God) ),</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">though certainly <a class="western" href="https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/voices/is-there-evidence-for-the-god-of-the-bible-in-ancient-cultures">not</a>
exclusively so, or well-developed, and which is exactly what is
attested to in the Bible. </span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="page-break-before: auto;"><br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western"><br />
</p><br /><p></p>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-61732275200344673362024-01-10T11:40:00.001-05:002024-01-16T10:26:02.321-05:00https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/ posts<p> </p><p align="justify" class="western"><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Posts
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editing</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
date.</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">
Main site home page: </span></span></span><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesus.org/"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">https://peacebyjesus.org/</span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Note:
veracity is based upon the degree of Scriptural substantiation,
and sound reasoning, by the grace of God</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">.
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I
am sorry </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">if
</span></span></span><a class="western" href="http://blogger.com/"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blogger.com</span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> often
somewhat skews pasted formatted text.)</span></span></span></p>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;">
<colgroup><col width="256*"></col>
</colgroup><tbody><tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.02in;" valign="top" width="100%"><p class="western">
<br />
</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="21" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top: none; padding-bottom: 0.02in; padding-left: 0.02in; padding-right: 0.02in; padding-top: 0in; padding: 0in 0.02in 0.02in;" valign="top" width="100%">
<ol><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/11/response-to-quora-post-im-currently-in.html">Response
to a Quora post: I’m currently in the middle of the pro-life
vs. pro-choice debate....Being pro-choice, why are you one and
what’s the scientific evidence that defends your arguments? </a>
</span></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/11/misc-posts-with-research-regarding.html">Misc.
posts, with research, regarding Israel and Palestinians</a>
</span></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/09/survey-questions-used-by-usda-to-assess.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">Survey
Questions Used by USDA to Assess Household Food Security</span></a></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/08/responses-to-some-anti-theist-railings.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">Responses
to some anti-theist railings, part 1</span></a></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/08/10-point-biblical-refutation-of-rc.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">10-Point+
Biblical Refutation of RC Attempted Refutation of Sola
Scriptura</span></a></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/08/do-we-know-if-estrogen-in-water-supply.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do
we know if estrogen (besides other drugs) in the water supply
is a significant problem?... Some research:</span></a></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/07/without-any-warning-flickrcom-suddenly.html">Without
any warning, Flickr.com suddenly eliminates entire account,
without requested specific explanation, or offer of recovery.</a>
</span></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/06/illustrations-of-promotion-of.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustrations
of promotion of a patriotism of perversity</span></a></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/06/oden-fong-and-friends-lord-of-all.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">Oden
Fong and Friends: Lord of All Creation</span></a></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/gods-norm-life-long-marriage-between.html">God's
norm: life-long marriage between male and female with children
or single and continent, vs. contraception, fornications,
single and fatherless children, welfare.... US Stats</a>:
</span></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/welfare-and-growing-dependency-upon.html">Welfare
and growing dependency upon government. What determines income
in Federal Poverty Guidelines (2022) </a>
</span></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/staples-sophistry-take-2.html"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #0000de;"><span face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Staples
sophistry, take 2.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a>
</span></p>
</li><li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/staples-misdiagnosis-on-protestant.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">Staples
misdiagnosis on “The Protestant Achilles' Heel”</span></a></p>
</li></ol>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;">
<colgroup><col width="256*"></col>
</colgroup><tbody><tr>
<td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.04in;" valign="top" width="100%">
<ol start="14"><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/what-has-good-news-mission-under-pastor.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>What
has the Good News Mission under Pastor Ock Soo Park preached?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/roy-masters-versus-lord-jesus-christ.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Roy
Masters versus the Lord Jesus Christ</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/brief-examination-of-book-of-enoch.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Brief
examination of The Book of Enoch</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/early-american-education.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Early
American education</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/12/pastor-oden-fong-gives-his-testimony.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Pastor
Oden Fong gives His Testimony</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/10/scriptural-substantiation-on-trinity-in.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Scriptural
substantiation on the Trinity, in a systematic study, by the
grace of God</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/08/quora-your-answer-has-been-deleted-as.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Was
John Calvin wrong or right when he taught that salvation is
not by faith</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/07/quora-deleted-this-answer-cited-as-spam_23.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Are
Evangelicals Christians?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/06/quora-deleted-this-answer-why-are.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Quora
deleted this answer. Why are people homophobic (other than
religion or “because it’s bad)?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/05/why-are-so-many-people-on-quora-saying.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Why
are so many people on Quora saying that you can lose your
salvation when the Bible says otherwise?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/05/why-should-of-jewish-faith-believe-in.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Why
should those the of Jewish faith believe in Jesus as the
Christ?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/05/russia-has-outlawed-any-expression-of.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Has
Russia outlawed any expression of faith apart from the Russian
Orthodox, the state church and supporter of Putin</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/05/quoracom-censored-why-are-so-many.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Quora.com
deleted: Why are so many conservatives bent out of shape about
"cancel culture</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/01/examination-of-some-proffered.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Examination
of some proffered “references” to texts from
deuterocanonical (apocryphal) books in the New Testament</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-use-of-slur-homophobic.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>THE
USE OF THE SLUR "HOMOPHOBIC"</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2021/09/culture-not-color-spiritual-declension.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>CULTURE,
NOT COLOR: Spiritual declension and liberal corruption of the
American black family in particular and its correlation to
behavioral problems</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2021/02/lying-and-misleading-headlines.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Lying
and misleading headlines: "Researchers find face masks
don't hinder breathing during exercise.”</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2021/02/why-conservatives-esp-christian-ones.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Why
conservatives (esp. Christian ones) vote Republican (until a
fully conservative party becomes a viable alternative), by way
of analogy</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2021/01/infallibility-and-roman-catholic-canon.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Infallibility
and the Roman Catholic Canon, its formation and evidence
against the Apocrypha</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-big-picture-who-is-really-running.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>The
Big Picture: who is really running the show in the culture
war, and its nature and trajectory</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-proposed-federal-equality-act.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>The
Federal "Equality Act"</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2020/01/step-by-step-refutation-of-dave.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Step-by-Step
Refutation of Dave Armstrong vs. Sola Scriptura</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/12/is-roman-catholic-protestant-slur.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Is
"Roman Catholic" or "Roman church" simply
a slur invented by Protestants</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/12/14-questions-as-regards-sola-scriptura.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>14
questions as regards sola scriptura versus sola ecclesia</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/10/required-catholic-submission.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Required
Catholic submission</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/10/negative-effects-of-homosexual.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Negative
effects of homosexual relations (and heterosexual fornication)</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/06/basically-what-is-roman-catholic.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Basically,
what is the Roman Catholic teaching on salvation?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/04/popes-against-jews.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Popes
against the Jews</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/02/dialog-with-catholics.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Dialog
with Catholics</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/01/response-to-cf-forum-poster.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Response
to a CF forum poster</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/12/are-evangelicals-closer-to-what-new.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Are
evangelicals closer to what the New Testament church believed
than Roman Catholicism?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/12/did-nt-church-believe-what-roman.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Did
the NT church believe what the Roman Catholic church basically
teaches on the Eucharist?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/confession-of-sins-to-catholic-priests.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Confession
of sins to Catholic priests</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/is-it-wrong-to-wonder-why-god-lets-good.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Is
it wrong to wonder why God lets good people die when they were
young?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/why-do-peole-attack-bible-as-promoting.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Why
do people attack the Bible as promoting religious violence but
deny that the Qur'an does so?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/heresies-and-errors-of-linwood-jackson.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Heresies
and errors of Linwood Jackson Jr, exposed</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/partial-list-of-divergent-beliefs.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Partial
List Of Divergent Beliefs Between Catholics</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/refuting-catholic-answers-how-to-defend.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Refuting
Catholic Answers: "How to Defend the Deuterocanonicals"</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/facts-that-catholic-apologists.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Facts
and testimony that Catholic apologists typically will not give
you about Luther and the canon</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/10/can-catholics-who-are-vegans-eat.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Can
Catholics who are vegans eat the Eucharist?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/10/did-new-testament-church-believe-in.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Did
the New Testament church believe in Roman Catholic Purgatory</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/10/how-did-serpent-seduce-eve-to-eat-of.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>How
did the serpent seduce Eve to eat of the tree of the knowledge
of good and evi</u></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>l</u></span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/10/what-are-some-substantial-differences.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>What
are some substantial differences between Roman Catholicism,
Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/09/will-unconfessed-sin-send-me-to-hell.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Will
unconfessed sin send me to Hell?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/08/catholicism-against-jews.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Catholicism
against the Jews</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2017/01/some-so-called-church-fathers-on.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Some
so-called "Church Fathers" on virginity versus
marria</u></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>ge</u></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2016/09/papal-presumption-assumption-of-mary-in.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Papal
Presumption: The Assumption of Mary In 1950 pope Pius XII (in
Munificentissimus Deus)</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2016/05/refutationof-can-saints-hear-us-httpwww.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Refutation
of "Can The Saints Hear Us?l "
http://www.aggiecatholicblog.org</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2016/05/refutation-of-dave-armstrong-prayer-to.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Refutation
of Dave Armstrong: Prayer to Saints: “New” [?] Biblical
Argument PeaceByJesus</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2016/03/rome-against-jews.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Rome
against the Jews</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/staples-sophistry-take-2.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Staples
sophistry, take 2.</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/staples-misdiagnosis-on-protestant.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Staples
misdiagnosis on “The Protestant Achilles' Heel”</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2014/09/church-fathers-so-called-on-upon-this.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>(So-called)
"Church Fathers" on "upon this rock" in
Matthew 16:18:</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2014/09/deformation-of-nt-church-and-historical.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Deformation
of the NT church, and the Historical Context of the
Reformation</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2014/08/refutation-of-walid-shoebats-them.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Refutation
of Walid Shoebat's “Them ‘Damned’ Catholics”</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-peter-of-scripture-versus-that-of.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>The
Peter of Scripture versus that of Rome</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2014/01/catholic-and-other-modern-research-on.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Catholic
and other modern research on apostolic successors to Peter and
ancient interpretationsof Mt.16:18</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2013/06/roman-catholic-use-of-sword-of-men.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Roman
Catholic use of the sword of men (Inquisitions)</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2013/03/things-new-testament-church-did-not.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Things
the New Testament church did not manifestly believe or
practice, as seen in Scripture</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2013/02/male-headship-versus-gender-positional.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Male
headship versus positional gender equality (egalitarianism)</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2012/10/is-one-saved-always-saved-correct.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Is
"Once saved always saved" (OSAS) correct?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2012/04/does-catholicism-believe-that-non.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Does
Catholicism teach that non-Christians can be saved?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2011/09/unity-under-sola-scriptura-versus-rc.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Unity
under sola Scriptura versus RC sola Ecclesia</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2011/09/contradictions-in-roman-catholicism.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Contradictions
in Roman Catholicism</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/did-catholic-church-forbid-bible.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Did
the Catholic Church forbid Bible reading</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/luther-and-canon-did-he-have-help.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Luther
and the Canon: did he have help?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/historical-claims-of-rome-and-authority.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Historical
basis for Rome's claim to authority, Pt. 1</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/historical-claims-of-rome-and-authority_26.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Historical
basis for Rome's claim to authority, Pt. 2</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/by-what-authority.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>By
what authority</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/lazarus-is-not-analogous-to-ptds-prayer.html">Praying
to </a><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/lazarus-is-not-analogous-to-ptds-prayer.html">created
beings in Heaven</a></u></span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/re-was-jesus-death-contrary-to-gods.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Re
"Was Jesus death contrary to God's command against child
sacrifice?</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/recent-miscellaneous-posts.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Miscellaneous
Posts Re Roman Catholicism: Merit versus Grace</u></span></span></span></span></a></p>
</li><li><p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2009/08/misc-religious-news-clippings-regarding.html"><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Misc.
religious news clippings regarding homosexual activism: 2004 —
20</u></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: #2856e1;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>23</u></span></span></span></span></p>
</li></ol>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<ol>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; padding: 0.02in;">
</p>
</ol>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p align="justify" class="western"><br />
</p>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-45462915020818919512024-01-07T22:27:00.011-05:002024-01-11T13:42:28.698-05:00 Conclusions and commentary based on a brief examination of some teachings of pastor Jim Brown of Grace and Truth Ministries, in Hendersonville, TN.Conclusions and commentary based on a brief examination of some teachings of pastor Jim Brown of Grace and Truth Ministries, in Hendersonville, TN.
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4546291502081891951" itemprop="description articleBody">
<p> First off, let me state that Pastor Jim Brown makes himself difficult to examine and document his
teaching, and thus ex<span face="Arial, sans-serif">pose his errors, since he presents
almost all his teachings via audio and video, and some poor images
of tracts. Even his "Statement Of Faith" is a video and
I do not even see anything to read from him on the nature of God
(Father, Son and Spirit) and eternal punishment.</span></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">However based upon what I have read and somewhat heard from what can be readily
apprehended, I would partly describe him as a self-appointed guru on Greek
who has found his niche in attacking sound beliefs of established
evangelical faith (besides some unsound ones), thereby negating any
need for affirmation by such, while drawing away disciples after himself," (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="20:30-20:30" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.20?passageId=ACT.20.30">Acts 20:30</a></span>) as a crafty rebel with a purported cause. Which discipling he does by often engaging in manipulation of language) which can deceive the simple.. </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>Those who have a spirit of rebellion against authority in general are typically attracted to men such as Brown since he is seen as an ally against leadership and thus accountability to the same.</b></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Like many cult teachers who operate under the same spirit and premise, while
he does not actually appeal to another source of Divine revelation,
yet he essentially much does the like thru crafting the meaning
of texts based upon restrictively selecting a meaning of Greek
words as absolutely definitive (including relying on the root word
fallacy), and selectively so, while often spiritualizing away
literal aspects and meanings of teachings (rejecting, baptism, the Lord's supper for two), while also employing false dichotomies
and engaging in logical fallacies, etc. </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">By which tactics he can
force texts to teach some often tortured interpretations (see below
on some), while overall majoring on predestination,</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>Baptism:</b></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Based
upon just a search of his tract images, I
find that he<a class="western" href="https://www.graceandtruth.net/images/stories/Baptism%2015.jpg">
dismisses baptízō</a> as meaning to "dip, plunge, immerse"
though that is just what it describes. Such as "And Jesus, when
he was baptized, [baptízō] went up straightway out of the
water,"(Mat 3:16) "were all baptized [baptízō] of
him in the river of Jordan," (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="1:5-1:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MRK.1?passageId=MRK.1.5">Mark 1:5</a></span>; cf. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="3:23-3:23" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.3?passageId=JHN.3.23">John 3:23</a></span>) "And
as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the
eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?,
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both
into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized [baptízō]
him." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="8:36-8:36" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.8?passageId=ACT.8.36">Act 8:36</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="8:38-8:38" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.8?passageId=ACT.8.38">38</a></span>) "Can any man forbid water, that these
should not be baptized, [baptízō] which have received the
Holy Ghost as well as we?" (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="10:47-10:47" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.10?passageId=ACT.10.47">Act 10:47</a></span>)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Brown's
recourse here is to invoke "bapto" as being the original
word, and a noun (which become a very in action), but which actually
means baptizo is derived from it, and based on that, presuming
a word inherently carries one meaning in all of its uses, or can
only precisely mean what the word it was derived means, is
called the <a class="western" href="http://www.rightreason.org/2013/nuts-and-bolts-016-the-root-fallacy/">"root
word fallacy</a>." </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">As<a class="western" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g907/kjv/tr/0-1/">
this commentary</a> attests:</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"> <i>This
word [baptízō ] should not be confused with baptô (911). The
clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the
Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a
recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words.
Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should
first be 'dipped' (baptô) into boiling water and then 'baptised'
(baptizô) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing
of vegetables in a solution.</i></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>The Lord's supper:</b></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Next,
consistent with Browns' hyper anti-literalism, is his
utter rejection the ordinance of the Lord's supper, by wholly
spiritualizing it.
(https://www.graceandtruth.net/images/stories/eatflesh.jpg) </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Yet
it is manifestly clear that the NT church, fully under grace,
literally obeyed the words which Paul states in 1 Co. 11,
"And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat:
this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of
me. "After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had
supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do
ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="11:24-11:25" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.11?passageId=1CO.11.24-1CO.11.25">1 Corinthians
11:24-25</a></span>)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And
Paul has much to say in both 1 Corinthians 10 and 11 on the
Lord's supper, which "feast of charity" <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JUD" data-bible-ref="1:12-1:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JUD.1?passageId=JUD.1.12">Jude 1:12</a></span> alludes
to, all as literal observances, effectually remembering the Lord's
death via a communal meal which declares/proclaims it, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="11:26-11:26" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.11?passageId=1CO.11.26">1
Corinthians 11:26</a></span>) by manifesting the effects of His death,
that of union with Christ and each other as members together,
being bought with His sinless shed blood. <b>Which Catholics pervert</b> (as
shown <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.net/the_lord%27s_supper.html">here</a>,
by the grace of God) while Brown negates it.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>Love:</b></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Another
example of Brown's follies include reasoning that since
"phileo" means "affection" ("For the Father
himself loveth [phileo] you, because ye have loved [phileo] me""
- <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="16:27-16:27" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.16?passageId=JHN.16.27">John 16:27</a></span>) but "love" <a class="western" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g25/kjv/tr/0-1/">(agapeo)</a>
for neighbor and our enemy does not mean showing
affection, therefore to love them means to "give our
neighbor and our enemy all that God is - His instruction,"
and "feed them them the only food that is legal (prescribed) for
sheep to consume (the Law - instruction in God's word)."
(https://www.graceandtruth.net/images/stories/What%20is%20Love.jpg) </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Thus,
"Thou shalt love [agapaō] thy neighbour as thyself" would
mean just to give instruction to them, as if that is the only
way humans love themselves, which is absurd. (See <a class="western" href="https://www.ntgreekstudies.net/blog/common-exegetical-fallacies">more
here </a>on these words."(
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b> "Accept Christ is false doctrine"?:</b></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Another
example of his logical fallacies <a class="western" href="https://www.txst.edu/philosophy/resources/fallacy-definitions/false-dilemma.html">(either-or
position, false dilemma</a>) in his polemics is reasoning that since
"the natural man receiveth [déxomai] not the things of the
Spirit of God, nor can know them since they are spiritually
discerned," (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="2:14-2:14" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.2?passageId=1CO.2.14">1 Co. 2:14</a></span>) then to "Accept Christ is
false doctrine" as he labels it.
(https://www.graceandtruth.net/images/stories/Accept%20Christ.jpg)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">However,
while <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="2:14-2:14" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.2?passageId=1CO.2.14">1 Co. 2:14</a></span> is wholly true, that by nature man
cannot receive not the things of the Spirit of God, yet this
does not mean that to "accept [<a class="western" href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1209.htm">déxomai
</a>= "warmly receptive, welcoming" and which is<a class="western" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1209/kjv/tr/0-1/">
usually translated as "receive"</a> including Christ - <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="10:40-10:40" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.10?passageId=MAT.10.40">Mt.
10:40</a></span>)] Christ" is false doctrine, for God draws souls,
opens hearts, grants repentance and gives faith (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="6:44-6:44" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.6?passageId=JHN.6.44">Jn. 6:44</a></span>; 12:32;
16:8; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="11:18-11:18" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.11?passageId=ACT.11.18">Acts 11:18</a></span>; 16:14; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="2:8-2:8" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EPH.2?passageId=EPH.2.8">Eph. 2:8</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="2:9-2:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EPH.2?passageId=EPH.2.9">9</a></span>) and moves us to obey,
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PHP" data-bible-ref="2:13-2:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PHP.2?passageId=PHP.2.13">Phil.2:13</a></span>) thus both motivating and enabling us to do what we
otherwise could not and would not do. The only thing that man can and must take credit for is that of resisting and disobeying God, which we are warned against doing. </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Thus, to "accept/receive Christ" is true doctrine, as
meaning by effectual penitent, heart-purifying, regenerating
faith in the<a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.net/deityofchrist.html">
Divine Son of God</a> and Lord of all,, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="10:43-10:47" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.10?passageId=ACT.10.43-ACT.10.47">Acts 10:43-47</a></span>; 15:7-9) which
is imputed for righteousness, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ROM" data-bible-ref="4:5-4:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ROM.4?passageId=ROM.4.5">Romans 4:5</a></span>) and is shown in baptism
and following the Lord, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:38-2:47" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.38-ACT.2.47">Acts 2:38-47</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="10:27-10:27" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.10?passageId=JHN.10.27">Jn. 10:27</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="10:28-10:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.10?passageId=JHN.10.28"> 28</a></span>)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And
by which faith the redeemed soul is "accepted in the Beloved"
and positionally seated with Him in Heaven, on His account, glory to
God. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="1:6-1:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EPH.1?passageId=EPH.1.6">Ephesians 1:6</a></span>; 2:6; cf. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PHP" data-bible-ref="3:21-3:21" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PHP.3?passageId=PHP.3.21">Phil. 3:21</a></span>) And those who die in that
obedient faith will go to be forever with Him at death or His return
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PHP" data-bible-ref="1:23-1:23" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PHP.1?passageId=PHP.1.23">Phil 1:23</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="5:8-5:8" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.5?passageId=2CO.5.8">2Cor. 5:8</a></span> [“we”]; Heb, 12:22,23; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="15:51-15:51" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.15?passageId=1CO.15.51">1Cor. 15:51</a></span>ff';
<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1TH" data-bible-ref="4:17-4:17" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1TH.4?passageId=1TH.4.17">1Thess. 4:17</a></span>)<br />In contrast to those who were never born of
the Spirit or who terminally fall away. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-ref="5:1-5:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GAL.5?passageId=GAL.5.1-GAL.5.4">Gal. 5:1-4</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="3:12-3:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.3?passageId=HEB.3.12">Heb. 3:12</a></span>;
10:25-39)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>No demons, only self?:</b></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"> The
last example of Brown's "wresting" of Scripture (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2PE" data-bible-ref="3:18-3:18" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2PE.3?passageId=2PE.3.18">2 Pt.
3:18</a></span>) I will deal with Brown's denial of actual demon possession,
teaching that all such descriptions refers to one's own sinful
nature (which can be described as demonic, and is to be mortified,
but which is not the same as actual demons, unclean spirits).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And
which example is from The
Doctrine of the Devil audio message (https://www.graceandtruth.net/videos-pdf-mp3s/gematria-series/message/3030-doctrine-of-the-devil-demons-are-self-demons-are-genies-demons-are-fairies-demons-are-guardian-angels-demons-are-totems-self-is-man-s-only-problem, mainly btwn the 4 and
25 minute section). </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">In which he selectively works with
<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="8:28-8:33" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MAT.8?passageId=MAT.8.28-MAT.8.33">Matthew 8:28-33</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="1:23-1:27" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MRK.1?passageId=MRK.1.23-MRK.1.27">Mark 1:23-27</a></span>, and <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="4:31-4:36" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/LUK.4?passageId=LUK.4.31-LUK.4.36">Luke 4:31-36</a></span> yet not all the
pertinent verses, and in which he reasons/argues/asserts that, </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>since "spirit' as in "unclean spirit"
means breath (and you never get all your CO2 out of your body);</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>and
since the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is Truth (the
"Spirit is Truth" in KJV - <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="5:6-5:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.5?passageId=1JN.5.6">1 John 5:6</a></span>) - thus
inferring a denial of the Spirit as an Divine entity/person, while he
also denigrated Pentecostals;</li></ul><p></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>and
since the man possessed with the unclean spirit said "we"
and "us" and then "I" (Saying, Let us
alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou
come to destroy us? I [which is not in the Greek] know thee who thou
art, the Holy One of God - <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="1:24-1:24" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MRK.1?passageId=MRK.1.24">Mark 1:24</a></span>) ;
</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>and
since Brown falsely states that Jesus rebuked him [not
the demons], saying, "Hold thy peace, and come out of him"
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="1:24-1:24" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MRK.1?passageId=MRK.1.24">Mark 1:24</a></span>);</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>and
since the Greek word for "him" is "auto" which he
uses "automobile" as an example for, as in self-propelled;</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>and
since Brown states that Jesus rebuked "him" (the man, not
his demons - upon which false premise Brown much rests his argument
on);</li></ul><p></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"> then
it means that the man possessed with the unclean
spirit was lying when he referred to himself in the plural;</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"> and
since Brown states the word for "demon" (used in the
parallel account in Lk. 4) is " daimonion" which means
"seller of fortunes;"
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"> and
since the single Greek word in <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="8:28-8:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.8?passageId=MAT.8.28">Matthew 8:28</a></span> (among other places) for
"possessed with devils" is "daimonizomai"
which [can] mean insane;</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">then
thus Brown states "unclean spirit" simply refers to self (!) as
in "deny himself" in all the accounts(!)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Rather,
Brown's contrivance is what is "in-sane" exegetically
speaking, being a work of sophistry which conclusion is simply
untenable in the light of context as well as the Greek.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">First
as regards inferring a denial of the Spirit as an Divine
entity/person based upon the Holy Spirit being Truth, if Brown
is indeed denying this manifest <a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/10/scriptural-substantiation-on-trinity-in.html">Truth</a>,
it would be s another example of his proclivity to engage in false
either/or reasoning. </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">For the Holy "Spirit is Truth" <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="5:6-5:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.5?passageId=1JN.5.6">1
John 5:6</a></span>) is not a denial of His personhood any more "God
is love" in <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="4:16-4:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.4?passageId=1JN.4.16">1 John 4:16</a></span> is, nor that a
person "which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="3:6-3:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.3?passageId=JHN.3.6">John
3:6</a></span>) means that such is no longer a person. As with God is love, it
means that this is what He consists of as His overall attribute,
thanks be to God.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Secondly,
the argument Brown majors on here is that since the man
possessed with the unclean spirit said "we" and "us"
and then "I" (Saying, Let us alone; what have
we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy
us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy
One of God - <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="1:24-1:24" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MRK.1?passageId=MRK.1.24">Mark 1:24</a></span>); </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">and since Jesus rebuked him (not the
demons. Brown states), saying, "Hold thy peace, and come out of him"
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="1:24-1:24" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MRK.1?passageId=MRK.1.24">Mark 1:24</a></span>) then Brown concludes this this means that the man was lying (as regards being
many, "us," and "we") with the Bible in recording these prevaricating words, and therefore Brown concludes that this refers to self, not demons. </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Yet
this is easily refuted by the fact that <b> there is no "I" in the Greek here</b>, despite Greek being what this false teacher relies on so much, no, not in <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="1:24-1:24" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MRK.1?passageId=MRK.1.24">Mark 1:24</a></span> nor in
<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="4:34-4:34" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LUK.4?passageId=LUK.4.34">Luke 4:34</a></span>, while <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="8:29-8:29" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.8?passageId=MAT.8.29">Mt. 8:29</a></span> leaves out this response. </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">In addition, <a class="western" href="https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/StrongsNo/G1492/saw">the
Greek word for "know" here (eidō) is used only in
certain past tenses and thus is translated as "knowing,"
"seeing" "perceiving" </a>which it is
collectively translated as over 40 times in the KJV, and neither is
there any question mark in the Greek.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Thus
(by going to the Greek which Brown does here) the text can read,
"saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou
Jesus of Nazareth, art thou come to destroy us, knowing thee,
who thou art, the Holy One of God[?] (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="1:24-1:24" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MRK.1?passageId=MRK.1.24">Mark 1:24</a></span>)</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"> In any case, it
remains that there is no "I" here, contrary to Brown's
recourse, and the fear of the demons is due to their having known
that Jesus is the Holy One of God.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And
rather than the "And Jesus rebuked him [auto], saying, Hold thy
peace, and come out of him" (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="1:25-1:25" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MRK.1?passageId=MRK.1.25">Mark 1:25</a></span>) referring to the man as
just him-self as in self-propelled automobile (as Brown argues
in contending that the demons are just one's "selfish self"),
and not the sources of the man speaking,<a class="western" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g846/kjv/tr/0-1/">
Strong's definition </a>of the Greek "auto" is "the reflexive pronoun
self [auto] used (alone or in the compound of <a class="western" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/G848/kjv/tr/0-1/">G1438</a>)
of the third person and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the
other persons..."
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And thus the <a class="western" href="https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/StrongsNo/G846">word
"auto" </a>at issue is translated as <a class="western" href="https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/StrongsNo/G846/them/0">them</a>
<strong>1,081</strong>times and as <a class="western" href="https://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/StrongsNo/G846/They/0">They</a>
<strong>125</strong> times, as it is in Mat 8:32 regarding
this command plurality, "And he said unto them, Go"
and in <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="8:32-8:32" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LUK.8?passageId=LUK.8.32">Luke 8:32</a></span> in dealing with the same, "And he suffered
them." (KJV) </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And
of course, the fact that the Lord cast out demons renders the premise
that the latter just refers to putting the flesh to death, is simply
absurd!</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. (Mark 1:25-27)</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Would to God that self could be instantly wholly expelled with a word, rather than requiring daily mortification of the sinful nature by yielding to the Spirit, putting on the new man, (Rm. 6-8; Col. 3) though deliverance is to be had from its domination by dying to self, though not eradicated, and thus the warnings against yielding to the flesh. </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>Daimonion = seller of fortunes = self?:</b></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And as for the word for "demon" " daimonion"
" (used in the parallel account in Lk. 4) meaning "seller
of fortunes," The root meaning of the Greek word daimon is
"knowing" or "intelligence." and and
while "the Ancient Greeks had several meanings" for daemon,
and consistent with this attribute of "knowing" or
"intelligence, the main meaning is said to be, </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"> “he
who dispenses fate, a spirit that gives a person his or her
personality traits. The word is derived from Proto-Indo-European
daimon, which means “provider, divider (of fortunes or destinies),”
from the root da- “to divide.” Xenocrates, a Greek philosopher of
the Platonic Academy, believed that god is above all, and there are
demonical powers intermediate between the divine and the mortal world
which consist in conditions of the soul.
(https://greekreporter.com/2023/10/20/ancient-greek-demon/#:~:text=Unlike%20today%2C%20the%20Ancient%20Greeks,his%20or%20her%20personality%20traits.%E2%80%9D)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">But
only by engaging in the aforementioned<a class="western" href="http://www.rightreason.org/2013/nuts-and-bolts-016-the-root-fallacy/">
root word fallac</a>y can one assert that its root meaning
MUST be what it means in its later uses. To the contrary, for instance, the
English <a class="western" href="https://theweek.com/articles/670758/11-words-whose-meanings-have-completely-changed-over-time">word
"nice" comes from the Latin original nescius, which
literally means "unknowing, ignorant."</a> "Egregious" originally meant remarkably good, from the Latin egregius,
meaning "illustrious, select"—literally, "standing
out from the flock. In Old English, “pretty” meant crafty and
cunning.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And as regards the single Greek word in <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="8:28-8:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.8?passageId=MAT.8.28">Matthew 8:28</a></span> (among other places)
for "possessed with devils" being "daimonizomai"
which [can] mean insane, contrary to Brown, that in no way is contrary to demons
being real, since insanity can be an effect of such.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>Cast out self?</b>:</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">In
addition, no amount of spinning can spiritualize or
explain away the <a class="western" href="https://kingdomway.ca/100-bible-verses-about-demons/">numerous
other cases of casting of demons</a> (which is what Brown can
be expected to do) as being literally just that. Jesus
did not send a legion of selves - whose insanity was the effect of such
- from one man into a heard of swine, though it belongs there.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>Predestination and other issues:</b></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">As
regards the issue of predestination which Brown major on, I did not take the time to listen to him one this, but as regards the meaning the basis for it predestination and election, i will comment somewhat on this issue which separates Calvinists and Arminians
(named after their respective founders, and both of which varies
somewhat in details). Which is one of the 4 major divisions that I see within the
body of Christ, yet which are typically somewhat related. </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">The
Arminians understanding of predestination that if know of is that of being
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through
sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the
blood of Jesus Christ," (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-ref="1:2-1:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1PE.1?passageId=1PE.1.2">1 Peter 1:2</a></span>) as meaning God
elected souls based upon His of foreknowledge of what they would
do with that grace.
(https://holyjoys.org/wesleyan-arminians-predestination)
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Let me say here that the omniscient (all knowing) omnipotent (all-powerful) Creator-God, who knows what all the effects will be of every action in every place (and all the thoughts motivation of man behind them), not only the effects in this present speck of time in out location but their full extent in time and eternity;</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">and can and will make them all work out for what is Good, which justice for the impenitent relative to their accountability, and for the good of those who choose Light over darkness by God/s grace, by effectual faith in the risen Lord Jesus;</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">will be shown to be justified in all his actions. </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Calvinists
believe in predestination based upon unconditional deterministic
election, which a face-value reading of Romans 9-11 can be seen to
teach, which is taken to mean that God damned/hated the
non-elect before they themselves did any wrong, and not because they
did or would;</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And thus, being born with an inherited
Adamic nature they are not simply unable to effectually
believe on the Lord Jesus for salvation, but since (according to
Calvinism) "salvlfic grace" is never granted them,
and thus they have not other recourse but to l live and die as damned sinners, though they can somewhat choose how sinful and damanable they will be.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">But
likewise that God loved/elected those predestinated to
salvation before they were born, to which He grants "salvlfic
grace" (which is a extra-scriptural theological term used
to describe a type of grace beyond "common grace," which all
souls experience to varying degrees) and which grace
is held as being irresistible;</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And by which they are
regenerated by the Spirit before they even repent/believe (this
being two sides of the same coin, for turning to the Lord means due
to faith turning from unbelief and its life, according to the Light
one has) but which they therefore do in the same experiential
moment of conversion.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">However
this means that the non-elect, who are not simply unable to repent/believe due to being born spiritually dead, but are never granted "salvific grace," then they thus are never enabled to obey the command to all men
everywhere to repent and believe for salvation, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="17:30-17:30" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.17?passageId=ACT.17.30">Acts 17:30</a></span>)
and thus they are damned. </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">But which condition and its basic result is effectively due the sin of their father Adam, which
left them in a condition which they cannot obtain salvation
from.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Which
is contrary to the justice of God. reflective of His character,
which He Himself states and affirms numerous times, that He will not judicially
punish children for what their father's did. "The fathers shall
not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be
put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his
own sin." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="DEU" data-bible-ref="24:16-24:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/DEU.24?passageId=DEU.24.16">Deuteronomy 24:16</a></span>; cf. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2KI" data-bible-ref="14:5-14:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2KI.14?passageId=2KI.14.5">2Kings 14:5</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2KI" data-bible-ref="14:6-14:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2KI.14?passageId=2KI.14.6">6</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CH" data-bible-ref="25:4-25:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CH.25?passageId=2CH.25.4">2Chron.
25:4</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JER" data-bible-ref="31:29-31:29" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JER.31?passageId=JER.31.29">Jer. 31:29</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JER" data-bible-ref="31:30-31:30" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JER.31?passageId=JER.31.30">30</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EZK" data-bible-ref="18:20-18:20" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EZK.18?passageId=EZK.18.20">Ezek. 18:20</a></span>) </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">That does not
mean that we do not experience effects due to the choices of others,
esp. fathers, for good and or evil, (cf. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="4:37-4:37" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.4?passageId=JHN.4.37">John 4:37</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="4:38-4:38" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.4?passageId=JHN.4.38">38</a></span>) but that
we are not being punished as guilty or rewarded as meritorious due to
what another did.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">The
only way I see that this contradiction with God's justice
<i><b>might </b></i>be reconciled, though I do not argue it is
true, is to allow that the non-elect are
granted unmerited salvific grace, if not unwarranted in the light
them being born in a damnable condition over which the had no
control, as God is merciful. </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And
that such grace can be resisted (with the statement of polemical
objection in <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ROM" data-bible-ref="9:19-9:19" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ROM.9?passageId=ROM.9.19">Romans 9:19</a></span> "who hath resisted his will?"
being understood as ignoring levels of saving grace, one being
determinate grace, but also that of a resistible level of
saving grace), which resistance is consistent with such
texts as <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PRO" data-bible-ref="1:20-1:20" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PRO.1?passageId=PRO.1.20">Proverbs 1:20</a></span>. </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">But that the elect are given more
unwarranted grace, like as souls experience varying degrees of common
grace, and in this case salvific grace is given to such a degree as
to make souls willing whereas otherwise they would not, thru God
giving more grace.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Under
this system, the non-elect are not effectively dammed because of the
sin of Adam leaving them in an inescapable condition, as instead <b>God
seeks their salvation,</b> being </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">"not
willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2PE" data-bible-ref="3:9-3:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2PE.3?passageId=2PE.3.9">2 Pt. 3:9</a></span>) </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">and
having "no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that
the wicked turn from his way and live," (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EZK" data-bible-ref="33:11-33:11" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EZK.33?passageId=EZK.33.11">Ezekiel 33:11</a></span>)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"> for
God "commandeth all men every where to repent"
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="17:30-17:30" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.17?passageId=ACT.17.30">Acts 17:30</a></span>) </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">for
God "will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1TI" data-bible-ref="2:4-2:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1TI.2?passageId=1TI.2.4">1 Timothy 2:4</a></span>) </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">for
Christ became "the propitiation for our
sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole
world," (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="2:2-2:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.2?passageId=1JN.2.2">1 John 2:2</a></span>) </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">and
finally weeping over their stubborn terminal impenitence,
Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the
things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine
eyes" (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="19:41-19:42" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/LUK.19?passageId=LUK.19.41-LUK.19.42">Luke 19:41-42</a></span>) </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">as
they die in their sins, even in reprobation.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>And
thus men adding the word "elect" to the sacred text in
such verses as above cannot be justified, </b>which Calvinism
must do in order to disallow the <b>all-too obvious contradictions </b>of
the Calvinistic understanding of Romans 9 thru 11 with so many other
clear statements on the justice of God. </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Who can indeed do whatever He pleaseth (Psalms 115:3) but it would not please Him to act contrary to His own words, His own standard for justice, as in effectively condemning souls due to a terminal condition which they have no hope of deliverance from. </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">In contrast, under the alternative conditions described, the non-elect are only judged for what they are accountable for,
which is wholly Scriptural, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ROM" data-bible-ref="14:12-14:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ROM.14?passageId=ROM.14.12">Romans 14:12</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="5:10-5:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.5?passageId=2CO.5.10">2 Corinthians 5:10</a></span>;
<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="25:31-25:46" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MAT.25?passageId=MAT.25.31-MAT.25.46">Matthew 25:31-46</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="10:11-10:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/REV.10?passageId=REV.10.11-REV.10.15">Rev. 10:11-15</a></span>) not for what they did not do (which
is also the case in rewarding faith in 1 Co. 3). </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">In
which it will be manifest that all the verses such as the above
applied to them also, but that the lost resisted
grace by which they could have been saved, calling "Turn you at
my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make
known my words unto you. <b>Because I have called, and ye refused; I
have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;</b> But ye have set
at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof."
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PRO" data-bible-ref="1:23-1:25" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/PRO.1?passageId=PRO.1.23-PRO.1.25">Proverbs 1:23-25</a></span>)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>Eternal security:</b></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Related
to Calvinism is that of eternal security - though many Arminians
also hold to it - is that of "once saved, always saved"
(OSAS) which Calvinism affirms, but only as preserving faith (the "P"
in the <a class="western" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustinian_Calvinism#:~:text=The%20theology%20of%20Calvinism%20has,and%20perseverance%20of%20the%20saints.">T.U.L.I.P
doctrine)</a>, but which is<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2012/10/is-one-saved-always-saved-correct.html">
contrary to the many Scriptures </a>which warn believers, as
believers, against developing an "evil heart of unbelief in
departing from living God," from the faith they once held,
falling from grace, making Christ of no effect, to no profit, drawing
back to perdition," and yielding to pressure to deny the faith
after conversion, so that Paul's labor would be in vain, (<a class="western" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GAL.5?passageId=GAL.5.1-GAL.5.5"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-ref="5:1-5:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Gal.
5:1-5</span></span></a>; <a class="western" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/HEB.3?passageId=HEB.3.12-HEB.3.14"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="3:12-3:14" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Heb.
3:12-14</span></span></a>; <a class="western" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/HEB.10?passageId=HEB.10.25-HEB.10.31"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="10:25-10:31" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Heb.
10:25-31</span></span></a>, <a class="western" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/HEB.10?passageId=HEB.10.%2038-HEB.10.39"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="10: 38-10:39" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Heb.
10: 38-39</span></span></a>; <a class="western" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1TH.3?passageId=1TH.3.5"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1TH" data-bible-ref="3:5-3:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">1
Thessalonians 3:5</span></span></a>)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>Cessationism vs. continuationism:</b></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Also
typically related to the two major views on election are those
of the perpetuity of supernatural "Pentecostal" gifts,
which Calvinists almost all reject (cessationism vs.
continuationism), and often cite the rampant grievous <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.net/hinn-trueorfalse.html">aberrations
</a>within it in arguing against it. However, despite such there is
no argument from Scripture that justifies the premise that all such
have ceased and the coming of that which is perfect, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="13:10-13:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.13?passageId=1CO.13.10">1
Corinthians 13:10</a></span>) meaning perfect revelation, and thus its knowing,
is what <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="3:2-3:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.3?passageId=1JN.3.2">1 John 3:2</a></span> refers to.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>Futurism; supersessionism:</b></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"> Also
typical within Calvinism is that of the rejection of the futuristic
eschatological view of Scripture, which holds that much of Matthew 24
and most all of the book of Revelation has a yet future
fulfillment, and that prophetic promises to the Jews as a people
group and nation no longer apply to them, but only to the the
church (supersessionism, also called replacement theology). Which
rejection is problematic (though they say the same about futuristic
eschatology) and as regard the Jews, it is <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.net/israel-chosenorforgotten.html">
contrary to Romans 11.</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>Rapture"</b></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Along
with this is the rejection of two second comings of Christ, meaning
the "Rapture" which almost always is held as preceding the
Great Tribulation, which itself is Scriptural, though I do not
believe the pretrib rapture is, as instead I see this as occurring at
the end of the Tribulation, but without going into detail here.
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><b>Conclusion: </b></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">However,
despite my proffered explanation here on Calvinism, besides rejecting the Calvinistic understanding of Romans 9-11 as regards the non-elect
being effectively damned due to the sin of Adam, and my
rejection Calvinism's exclusion of saving grace being
offered to the non-elect, I do not feel any need to reconcile
the contradictions, as I can leave them is a state of suspension (see
Psalms 131) while awaiting more illumination of the word, while
treating souls that way the Bible teaches. Which is as souls called
to repent/believe, and as able and responsible to do so.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">This
being said, all sides on these issue can preach the same basic gospel
which in essence is that of effectual penitent,
heart-purifying, regenerating (though Calvinists would change the
order in that moment of conversion) faith in the Divine Son of
God (http://peacebyjesus.net/deityofchrist.html) and Lord of all,
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="10:43-10:47" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.10?passageId=ACT.10.43-ACT.10.47">Acts 10:43-47</a></span>; 15:7-9) who saves sinners by His sinless shed blood. </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And which faith is imputed for righteousness, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ROM" data-bible-ref="4:5-4:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ROM.4?passageId=ROM.4.5">Romans 4:5</a></span>) and is
shown in baptism and following the Lord, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:38-2:47" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.38-ACT.2.47">Acts 2:38-47</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="10:27-10:27" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.10?passageId=JHN.10.27">Jn. 10:27</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="10:28-10:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.10?passageId=JHN.10.28">
28</a></span>) whom they shall go to be with or His return (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PHP" data-bible-ref="1:23-1:23" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PHP.1?passageId=PHP.1.23">Phil 1:23</a></span>;
<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="5:8-5:8" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.5?passageId=2CO.5.8">2Cor. 5:8</a></span> [“we”]; Heb, 12:22,23; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="15:51-15:51" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.15?passageId=1CO.15.51">1Cor. 15:51</a></span>ff'; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1TH" data-bible-ref="4:17-4:17" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1TH.4?passageId=1TH.4.17">1Thess. 4:17</a></span>) Glory and thanks be to God.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Which
is in contrast to those who were never born of the Spirit or who
terminally fall away. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-ref="5:1-5:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GAL.5?passageId=GAL.5.1-GAL.5.4">Gal. 5:1-4</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="3:12-3:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.3?passageId=HEB.3.12">Heb. 3:12</a></span>; 10:25-39)
which is the only basic aspect here that normally sees in evangelical faith</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">This
is all I am going to write here, having taken many hours to do
as one who is 71 years ago and often with mental fatigue, but who
was spiritually born of the Spirit (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="3:2-3:7" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JHN.3?passageId=JHN.3.2-JHN.3.7">Jn. 3:2-7</a></span>) thru the aforementioned faith, thanks be to God. </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And
being in a Catholic dominated area, I then knew of no
evangelical church I felt could trust, not knowing much, but was
daily fed by evangelical preaching and teaching over evangelical
radio. In which I daily heard (being a truck driver with a
radio) a consistent basic gospel message and relevant teaching
from such men of God as Chuck Smith, John MacArthur, M.R. Dehan, and
various others. </p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">And
as one very hungry for Bible Truth and seeking to obey it, then I
recall having no real problems with certain teachings that were
debatable, but I focused on what was clear. </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Later I was part of a
Fundamental Baptist church due to their commitment to basic Truths
and evangelism, and even later was part of a Pentecostal
mission (which met in a factory building), as well as a Calvinistic S. Baptist church, but , by the grace of God, I continued to evangelize with the basic gospel all shared. </p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">All these had/have their own strengths and weaknesses and errors (though both preached
the same basic gospel, versus that of Rome and cults). But holding to
the strengths of both, and rejecting errors, means avoiding a false
balance (while rejecting the aberrant distinctive teachings of each)
within the intent to be faithful to the Lord.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">In
our home, we have a FM transmitter randomly broadcasting approx.
14,000 sermons from varied preachers and teachers, and which
overall preach the same basic gospel, and minister to those who
believe it, and by which we are edified, though not concurring on
certain errors such as I referred to above.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;">Which
is in contrast to sitting at the feet of some self-appointed
guru on Greek who has found his niche in attacking sound beliefs of
established evangelical faith (besides some unsound ones of
others), thereby negating any need for affirmation by such, as he
engages in manipulation of language in
order to deceive the simple.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"> May
God grant all “repentance to the acknowledging of the
truth.” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-ref="2:25-2:25" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2TI.2?passageId=2TI.2.25">2 Timothy 2:25</a></span>)
</p></div>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-62936962703618526252024-01-05T23:46:00.003-05:002024-01-05T23:47:45.898-05:00ChatGPT https://poe.com/, analysis of Genesis 3, of tactics of the devil, and how it relates to political rulers.ChatGPT<a href="https://poe.com/"> https://poe.com/</a>, analysis of Genesis 3, of tactics of the devil, and how it relates to political rulers (asked last night). <p> [Question] In the Bible, the devil (Lucifer, Satan, the serpent ) is described as a selfish being, seeking dominion and power (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ISA.14?passageId=ISA.14.13" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="14:13-14:13" data-bible-book="ISA" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Isaiah 14:13</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ISA.14?passageId=ISA.14.14" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="14:14-14:14" data-bible-book="ISA" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">14</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.10?passageId=JHN.10.10" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="10:10-10:10" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">John 10:10</a></span>) After being cast down from Heaven due to his selfish presumptuous assertion that he would take his place on his creators throne (seat of power), he was cast down to earth where he tempted Eve - the first women, and husband of Adam and who had been given dominion over the earth - to disobey God by consuming fruit which God forbade the humans to eat, least they experience spiritual death, and eventually physical death. </p><p> Read the following, and tell me what you think the devil's tactic was using psychology on Eve: </p><p> Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 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. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GEN.3?passageId=GEN.3.1-GEN.3.7" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:1-3:7" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Genesis 3:1-7</a></span>) </p><blockquote> ChatGPT Poe <p> In the passage you provided from <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GEN.3?passageId=GEN.3.1-GEN.3.7" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:1-3:7" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Genesis 3:1-7</a></span>, the devil, portrayed as the serpent, employs several tactics to deceive and tempt Eve. Let's analyze the tactics and their psychological aspects: </p><p> Questioning and Distorting God's Word: The serpent begins by questioning God's command and distorting it. By asking, "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" the serpent subtly plants doubt and misrepresents God's instructions. This tactic aims to undermine Eve's trust in God's authority and create confusion. </p><p> Denying Consequences: The serpent contradicts God's warning of death, saying, "Ye shall not surely die." By denying the consequences of disobedience, the devil seeks to minimize the seriousness of the act and deceive Eve into believing that disobedience will not bring negative outcomes. </p><p> Appeal to Self-Interest and Desire: The serpent appeals to Eve's desires by suggesting that eating the forbidden fruit will make her wise and like a god. This tactic plays on human curiosity, ambition, and the desire for power and knowledge. It creates a sense of self-importance and entices Eve to prioritize her own desires over obedience to God. </p><p> Observation and Manipulation: The serpent highlights the visual appeal of the fruit, saying that it was good for food and pleasant to the eyes. By emphasizing these physical attributes, the serpent manipulates Eve's senses and influences her decision-making. </p><p> Influence through Social Dynamics: Eve's decision to eat the fruit and share it with Adam may also be influenced by social dynamics and the desire to please others. Seeing that the fruit was desirable, Eve may have felt compelled to conform or to share the experience with Adam. </p><p> These psychological tactics employed by the devil in the story aim to exploit human vulnerabilities, such as curiosity, self-interest, and the desire for knowledge and power. By distorting truth, appealing to desires, manipulating perceptions, and leveraging social dynamics, the devil successfully tempts Eve into disobeying God's command. </p></blockquote><p> Good, but you failed to see why the devil would do this, and that the devil appealed the the human's strong innate sense of justice, whereby he inferred that she was being selfishly deprived by God of an attribute of deity due to being forbidden to eat of that enlightening fruit, and thus she was a victim of injustice, and thus she would be justified in consuming it, out of self-interest. </p><blockquote> ChatGPT Poe <p> Thank you for your additional insight. You are correct that the devil's tactic in appealing to the innate sense of justice is an important aspect to consider. By suggesting that God was unjustly withholding knowledge and power from Eve by forbidding her to eat the fruit, the devil sought to create a sense of perceived injustice and victimhood. This tactic aimed to manipulate Eve's perception of her situation, making her more inclined to act out of self-interest and seek what she believed she deserved. </p><p> By framing the situation as an unjust restriction placed upon Eve, the devil aimed to foster a feeling of entitlement and a desire for autonomy. This appeal to justice, combined with the allure of acquiring wisdom and god-like attributes, further enticed Eve to prioritize her own desires over obedience to God's command. </p><p> Understanding the psychological tactics employed by the devil, including the appeal to innate senses of justice and self-interest, provides insights into the complexities of human decision-making and vulnerability to manipulation. It serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of discernment and resisting temptations that exploit our innate desires. </p></blockquote><p> Quite astute. Do you see the same psychological tactic basically being employed by persons seeking political power, by inculcating a victim entitlement mentality among classes, by focusing and magnifying (and or imagining) injustices done to them, whereby the political entities obtain power by promising deliverance, to obtain them their due (at the expense of others of who provide income, who are portrayed as oppressors), yet the "victim" do not end up better off overall. Can you think of any historical figures or movements that basically correspond to this description? </p><blockquote> ChatGPT Poe <p> Yes, the tactic you described of inculcating a victim entitlement mentality, magnifying perceived injustices, and promising deliverance in order to gain political power has been observed throughout history. Several historical figures and movements can be identified as fitting this description. Here are a few examples: </p><p> Populist movements: Populist leaders often tap into the grievances and frustrations of certain groups and portray them as victims of an elite or oppressive establishment. They promise to fight for the rights and interests of the common people, presenting themselves as their champion. Examples of populist movements include leaders like Juan Perón in Argentina, Hugo Chávez in Venezuela, and more recently, some political movements in various countries around the world. </p><p> Nationalist movements: Nationalist leaders sometimes use a similar approach, emphasizing a sense of victimhood or perceived historical injustices inflicted on their nation or ethnic group. They rally support by promising to restore power, pride, and prosperity to their people. Historical figures like Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany and Benito Mussolini in Fascist Italy used nationalist narratives to gain power and control. </p><p> Communist movements: Communist revolutions and movements have often framed the struggle of the working class against the bourgeoisie as a fight for justice and equality. They portray the working class as victims of exploitation, promising to create a fairer society by redistributing wealth and power. Examples include figures like Vladimir Lenin in the Russian Revolution and Mao Zedong in the Chinese Communist Revolution. </p><p> It's important to note that while these movements may initially gain support by appealing to a sense of victimhood and promising change, the outcomes and impact on society can vary greatly. Some movements have brought about positive changes, while others have led to authoritarian regimes or worsened socio-economic conditions. Each historical context is complex, and it's important to consider multiple factors when analyzing these movements and their consequences. </p></blockquote><p> Pretty good, but I forgot to add that in contrast to Jesus Christ, who sacrificially worked to delivered the oppressed, and to provide redemption solely on His own expense, and required and enabled moral and productive betterment, the aforementioned political power seekers usually are overall selfish, besides immoral, and keep their voting base much in the same condition there were in before. And 'By their fruit you will know them." </p><blockquote> ChatGPT Poe <p> Thank you for highlighting the contrast between the approach of Jesus Christ and some political power seekers. Indeed, Jesus Christ is often depicted as a selfless figure who worked to deliver the oppressed and provide redemption through his sacrificial actions. His teachings emphasized moral values and personal transformation. </p><p> In contrast, some political power seekers may prioritize their own interests and maintain their voting base in a dependent or disadvantaged condition rather than promoting genuine improvement. This can be seen as a manipulation tactic to secure their own power and control. The quote "By their fruit, you will know them" from the Bible (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.7?passageId=MAT.7.20" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="7:20-7:20" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Matthew 7:20</a></span>) encourages evaluating individuals or movements based on their actions and outcomes rather than their words or promises alone. </p><p> Examining the impact and results of political movements and leaders is essential in understanding their true intentions and their commitment to the betterment of society. It's important to assess whether their actions align with their stated goals and whether they genuinely empower and uplift those they claim to represent. </p></blockquote><p> Good analysis. Thanks </p><blockquote> You're welcome! I'm glad you found the analysis helpful. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask. <p> Operated by Poe @poe 113K followers New chat Powered by gpt-3.5-turbo. </p><p> This bot is powered by OpenAI. Learn more See all chats with this bot </p>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-25211063409179369292023-11-05T08:26:00.001-05:002023-11-05T08:26:48.530-05:00Response to a Quora post: I’m currently in the middle of the pro-life vs. pro-choice debate....Being pro-choice, why are you one and what’s the scientific evidence that defends your arguments? <p> <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4193052/posts" id="top" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_self"><span style="color: black;"><b>I’m
currently in the middle of the pro-life vs. pro-choice debate....Being
pro-choice, why are you one and what’s the scientific evidence that
defends your arguments?</b></span></a> <b><a href="https://qr.ae/pKsgSm" target="_blank">.quora.com ^</a>
</b>
| Daniel1212</p>
<p><small>Posted on <b><span class="date">10/29/2023, 2:28:22 PM</span></b> by <a href="https://freerepublic.com/~daniel1212/" title="Since 2007-06-26"><span style="color: black;"><b>daniel1212</b></span></a></small></p>
<p>As expressed in a comment and somewhat revised here, the premise
behind the typical justificatory arguments for abortion (“respecting
individual autonomy and the right to make decisions about one's own
body,” “negative consequences on public health,” “the freedom to choose
what's best for them”) is that the unborn at any time of abortion is not
a human person, even though it will be rather quickly very manifest to
be one indeed. </p><p></p><p>Even if someone you invited into your car
or house secretly brings a child with them without your consent, then
you simply do not have the right to exterminate that life, which is not a
lethal threat to you. In some states, you cannot even shoot suspected
burglars unless they manifestly endanger lives, much less a lost
vulnerable child who finds a way into your house since you left the door
open.</p><p></p><p>And even more unjustifiable is to kill a child
resulting from your choice to engage in a behavior which most naturally
produces offspring.</p><p></p><p>And <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/05/24/rape-and-incest-account-few-abortions-so-why-all-attention/1211175001/">98% of abortions are due to reasons other than rape, incest:</a></p><p></p><p></p><p><img alt="" border="0" src="https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-3e58898f20d1517320e16370f211283f" /></p><p>
And a study of approx. 64,000 out of 3,664,000 births in 2021 found
that only 1.7% may be due to ectopic pregnancies, and with a total of
approx 4% being due to health reasons:</p><p></p><p>"Risk to the woman’s
life or a major bodily function: 0.2%[6] Other physical health
concerns: 2.5%[7] Abnormality in the unborn baby: 1.3%[8] - Fact Sheet: <a href="https://lozierinstitute.org/fact-sheet-reasons-for-abortion/">Reasons for Abortion - Lozier Institute </a> (and accommodating doctors can use "Other physical health concerns" liberally).</p><p></p><p>So
in order to justify the “pro-choice” position - which is denying the
subject of extermination any choice in the matter, and is contrary to
the normal course of nature - then one must deny that what is inside the
womb is a human person (unless pro-choice promoters are willing to be
classed as murderers, which they are).</p><p></p><p>And thus the pro anti-infant choice promoter must justify their basis for determining that.</p><p></p><p>Will
it be the ability to function on its own, though it rather shortly will
be able to? If so, then you had best not be laid up for a while if
needing life-sustaining support.</p><p></p><p>And of course, most aged in nursing homes could thus be turned into sources of protein.</p><p></p><p>Will it be based upon location, meaning outside the womb killing the infant would be murder, but before that it is open game?</p><p></p><p>Or
will the unborn human life be valued at least as much as protected
migratory birds are, for due to the procreating nature of the egg of a
protected migratory bird and the value placed upon it, then crushing the
life of such is <a href="https://www.fws.gov/story/bird-nests">outlawed. </a></p><p></p><p>The fact is that, as a <a href="https://www.capita.org/capita-ideas/2023/4/11/lower-birth-rates-threaten-everyones-flourishing">1.6 birth rate </a>
testifies, children overall are increasingly not desired nor seen as
needed, or at least not if they require much sacrifice, while typically
spoiling the one or maybe two children parents have on average, and with
children being often replaced by pets, which are seen as more worthy of
care and cost. </p><p>Meanwhile,<a href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/10/negative-effects-of-homosexual.html"> fornication costs the country greatly. </a></p><p>
Biblically, and as a Christian, you either live a celibate, continent
life in devotion and service to God and to others, (1 Corinthians
7:32–34) or you prayerfully marry an eligible spouse of the opposite
sex, for life. And together, in joint devotion to God and His word, you
have all the children God will give you, with temperance being the only
birth control. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GEN.1?passageId=GEN.1.28">Genesis 1:28</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/PSA.127?passageId=PSA.127.3">Psalms 127:3</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/PSA.128?passageId=PSA.128.3-PSA.128.5">Psalms 128:3–5</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.9?passageId=1CO.9.25">1 Corinthians 9:25</a></span>) </p><p>
And in which stable family the children usually have a few siblings,
with whom, as with parents, they can learn to share, communicate,
resolve conflicts, and delay gratification, and overcome difficulties,
thus better preparing them for life in this world. </p><p> And for
service in which God will reward in the next, by His grace, for those
who effectually believe on the Lord of all, in addition to salvation
which is a pure gift, on God/Christ’s expense, by His sinless shed
blood, and to His glory.</p><div class="n2"></div><p>
<a name="1"></a>
</p><div class="b2"> The following are responses made by a liberal Quora poster (which
began in response to my original reproof of her), a one Amy Gorin (in red italics). May God have mercy on her in enabling her to see her need for salvation thru the risen <br />Lord Jesus, the giver of life. <br /><p><i><span style="color: #990000;"> Here's your real problem Daniel. You don't understand the difference between trespassing and rape. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="color: #990000;">Women aren't buildings or cars. Women are people. And using a *person’s body* without their consent is rape, not trespassing. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="color: #990000;">Every time you use the trespassing analogy, you are admitting that you don't see women as people. </span></i></p><p>Daniel
Hamilton · <a href="https://www.quora.com/I-m-currently-in-the-middle-of-the-pro-life-vs-pro-choice-debate-I-used-to-be-pro-life-but-now-I-m-starting-to-see-the-other-side-s-points-Being-pro-choice-why-are-you-one-and-what-s-the-scientific-evidence-that/answer/Daniel-Hamilton-53?comment_id=368215139&comment_type=2" target="_blank">Oct 23</a> Here's real problem here in your attempted
deflection, Amy. you still don't understand the difference between
unlawful trespassing versus some lost vulnerable child innocently ending
up on your property, and thus how they are not to be killed, nor btwn
rape victims (which approx 1% I never mentioned), versus a child being
in your body DUE to your choices/actions of consensual sexual relation -
despite knowing the risks! ( </p><p>And [it is] who you justify killing. </p><p>And
rather than me admitting that you don't see women as people (due to
your limited idea of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogy" target="_blank">analogy</a>), it remains that it is You who refuses to
see the unborn as people, which you desperately attempt to justify
murdering. </p><p>Again, I think it is best to just give this up. The
more you attempt to defend your infanticide here, then the more it
becomes an argument against it. </p><p>However, let me say that I am not
angry at you, though I do contend against your arguments. And may God
grant you “repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” (<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #282829; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">(</span><span class="q-inline" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #282829; display: inline; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a class="q-box Link___StyledBox-t2xg9c-0 dFkjrQ puppeteer_test_link qu-cursor--pointer qu-hover--textDecoration--underline" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/2TI.2?passageId=2TI.2.25" rel="noopener nofollow" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6); background: none; border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; color: #195faa; cursor: pointer; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="eng.global.bible">2 Timothy 2:25</a></span>) </p><p><i><span style="color: #990000;"> .Oct 23 It doesn’t matter if the entry
is “unlawful” or if it’s a “ lost vulnerable child.” Women are still
people, not buildings, and I still don’t have to “justify” a person’s
right to not have their body used without their consent. Even if she had
consensual sex. Even if someone will die. </span></i></p><p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>You’re responding to the arguments you’ve memorized, not to the things I’m actually saying. </i></span></p><p> Profile photo for Daniel Hamilton Daniel Hamilton · Oct 23 Now
this is becoming irrational. How can you compare a child living within
her body, due to her choices - and without the consent of the occupant -
knowing of the risk of pregnancy, with someone who uses her body
without her consent, as if this was like a case of being bought as a
slave? “Property rights?”</p><p>Her “consent” was that of engaging in
an activity knowing the risk, and she has no justification for making
herself out to be a victim and murdering the actual “victim.” </p><p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>I
ask you for photos of your foster children and organ donation scars, and
instead you give me quotes from your bible. That really says it all. </i></span></p><p>I
never knew what photos you referred to, but I no longer have receipts
toward the support of foster children, though I provide free repair work
for bikes, and dispense food (pregnant women may go first) , and I at
71 I am willing to risk my life today to save my neighbors, But I would
not murder my organs which are to be used for good. </p><p>Yet even if
your attempted deflection of assigning a hypocrite label to me worked,
for that also fails to prevail as justification for murdering the child
in a mother's wombs, which is due to her consent to couple with another
person, who was once in a womb himself, and shares responsibility of
support. </p><p>Finally, I actually only provided one quote from the
Bible you also murder, which is more than any justification for murder
that you have or can provide. And which responses I am saving, perhaps
to post elsewhere, properly attributed. Thanks. </p><p>But I would still fix your bike, etc. </p><p><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><span style="color: #990000;">Oct 23 People have the right to not be
pregnant without consent. Consent to sex is not consent to pregnancy.
Even if someone will die. But you are certainly to be lauded for
providing food to the needy. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="color: #990000;">“Finally, I actually only provided
one quote from the Bible you also murder, which is more than any
justification for murder that you have or can provide” </span></i></p><p><i><span style="color: #990000;">I have no idea what this means. </span></i></p><p>Profile
photo for Daniel Hamilton Daniel Hamilton ·<span style="background-color: white; color: #636466; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><a class="q-box Link___StyledBox-t2xg9c-0 dFkjrQ puppeteer_test_link qu-cursor--pointer qu-hover--textDecoration--underline" href="https://www.quora.com/I-m-currently-in-the-middle-of-the-pro-life-vs-pro-choice-debate-I-used-to-be-pro-life-but-now-I-m-starting-to-see-the-other-side-s-points-Being-pro-choice-why-are-you-one-and-what-s-the-scientific-evidence-that/answer/Daniel-Hamilton-53?comment_id=368241738&comment_type=2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6); background-color: white; border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_top">Oct 23</a> Which is the same
old refuted polemic you tried before, which is no more valid than it was
then. </p><p>People do not have the right to not realize consequences
of actions they consented to. Consent to sex is not consent to
pregnancy, but it is consent to the risk of pregnancy. and moral
responsibility to such is to be consented to. . Especially if someone
will die. For no one has the right to escape responsibility for the
consequences of actions they chose, which risk they choose to take. </p><p>And when the consequences involve life, then responsibility does not mean taking innocent life, but caring for it. </p><p>And
thus it remains that the one quote from the Bible is more (in number)
than any justification for murder that you have or can provide. </p><p>
In conclusion, while I affirm both the unborn and the mother as human
persons, and who thus are to be respected, cared for, etc. and with
rights to such. </p><p>But as such, then insomuch as they are morally
cognizant and capable, then such are responsible for consequences of
their volitional actions. </p><p>And since the unborn are not morally
responsible for their conception, location, nor needs, but are (in the
cases at issue) the result of persons choosing to engage in actions,
knowing of the risks, then they are not victims, but perpetrators, which
are morally responsible for the care of the unborn, which is the
“victim” party. </p><p>In addition, even though you do not like
analogies which works against you via correspondence of principles, just
as in the case of a lost vulnerable innocent child who seeks finds
shelter in your house the door being opened, then you are obliged to
provide care for such until another can. Even if you did not invite
them. </p><p>For children of any age are not cars. </p><p>But again, may God grant you “repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” (2 Timothy 2:25) </p><p>Good bye. </p><p><br /></p></div>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-87162050466017355692023-11-04T09:00:00.005-04:002023-12-29T08:24:54.129-05:00Misc. posts, with research, regarding Israel and Palestinians <p></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Misc.
posts, with research (and a little subsequent editing, and subject to correction), regarding Israel and </b></span></span><b>Palestinian</b><b>s
</b><b>(and see end) [some is redundant, and I hope all is accurate] </b>
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Over
4,000 years ago, there were small tribes living in Canaan, such as
Moabites, Amalekites, etc. There was no Palestine of people or land.
Then around 3,200 years ago, the 12 tribes of Israel, united under
King Saul into the first kingdom in the region, a Jewish theocracy
called “Israel.” That split into the kingdoms of Judah and Israel
(both Jewish), which were conquered by the Babylonian empire a little
over 2,500 years ago. This became the Persian Empire, which was
defeated by Alexander the Great, and Israel was controlled by the
Greeks.</span></span></p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">The
Greeks were defeated by the Hasmoneans, and Israel once again became
a Jewish state about 2,200 years ago. The Hasmoneans were beaten by
the Romans, and there followed a series of kingdoms that controlled
Israel: Byzantine, Sassanid, Ummayad, Frankish, Christian, and
eventually the Mamluk Dynasty, which controlled the region in the
13th-16th centuries. This is the first time there is a governmental
Muslim presence in Israel, but again, it is not related to Palestine
as a people or nation at all. The Mamluks ultimately were absorbed
into the Ottoman Empire, which controlled the region until it was
defeated by the British in the 20th century. Nowhere in this
3,000-year history does Palestine or Palestinians exist or even get
discussed. The British created a mandate called “Palestine” on
July 24, 1922, which was the first mention of the word in thousands
of years.” -
https://pjmedia.com/rabbi-michael-barclay/2023/10/14/there-is-no-such-thing-as-palestinians-n1735136</span></span></p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Wikipedia
informs (which is only as good as its references, which the good OP
article lacks) The term "Palestine" first appeared in the
5th century BCE when the ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote of a
"district of Syria, called Palaistinê" between Phoenicia
and Egypt in The Histories.[7] Herodotus provides the first
historical reference clearly denoting a wider region than biblical
Philistia, as he applied the term to both the coastal and the inland
regions such as the Judean Mountains and the Jordan Rift
Valley.[8][9][10][11] Later Greek writers such as Aristotle, Polemon
and Pausanias also used the word, which was followed by Roman writers
such as Ovid, Tibullus, Pomponius Mela, Pliny the Elder, Dio
Chrysostom, Statius, Plutarch as well as Roman Judean writers Philo
of Alexandria and Josephus.[12] There is not currently evidence of
the name on any Hellenistic coin or inscription.[13]</span></span></p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">In
the early 2nd century CE, the term "Syria Palaestina"[a]
(literally, "Palestinian Syria"[14][15]) was given to the
Roman province of Judaea either before or after the suppression of
the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_name_Palestine</span></span></p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">I
add that what the radical Left charges is that Israel is an illegal
occupier (which seems to at least be inferred by the two-state
advocates, including Putin), denying them full ownership of their
historical land (which was mostly cleansed of a very wicked nation,
and later lost to conquerors due to Israel's infidelity to God, but
from what I see, thru a succession of conquerors part of their land
was given back to the Jews, who then gained more of it (whole giving
back almost all the land it controlled after Islamic wars) due to the
militant intolerance of Muslims to a Jewish state. Who had
no historical right to their militant intolerance to the Jewish
state. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span></p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>"Israel
has rejected Palestinian demands for a return of refugees as part of
a peace deal, arguing that it would threaten the country’s Jewish
majority.</b>" [Associated Press] </span></span>
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">What
the liberal AP does not tell its readers (who are mostly headline
readers on Smart Phones) is that</span></span></p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">The
Palestinian right of return is the political position or principle
that Palestinian refugees, both first-generation refugees (c. 30,000
to 50,000 people still alive as of 2012)[3][4] and their descendants
(c. 5 million people as of 2012),[3] have a right to return, and a
right to the property they themselves or their forebears left behind
or were forced to leave in what is now Israel and the Palestinian
territories. -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_right_of_return </span></span>
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">The
United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine provided for only 62%
of the land allocated to the Jewish state," [while] The land
allocated to the Arab State in the final plan included about 43% of
Mandatory Palestine and consisted of all of the highlands, except for
Jerusalem, plus one-third of the coastline. The highlands contain the
major aquifers of Palestine, which supplied water to the coastal
cities of central Palestine, including Tel Aviv. The Jewish State
allocated to the Jews, who constituted a third of the population and
owned about 7% of the land, was to receive 56% of Mandatory
Palestine, a slightly larger area to accommodate the increasing
numbers of Jews who would immigrate there. The Jewish State included
three fertile lowland plains – the Sharon on the coast, the Jezreel
Valley and the upper Jordan Valley. The bulk of the proposed Jewish
State's territory, however, consisted of the Negev Desert,[56] which
was not suitable for agriculture, nor for urban development at that
time. The Jewish State would also be given sole access to the Sea of
Galilee, crucial for its water supply, and the economically important
Red Sea. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"the
proposed Arab State would include the central and part of western
Galilee, with the town of Acre, the hill country of Samaria and
Judea, an enclave at Jaffa, and the southern coast stretching from
north of Isdud (now Ashdod) and encompassing what is now the Gaza
Strip, with a section of desert along the Egyptian border. "
"According to the plan, Jews and Arabs living in the Jewish
state would become citizens of the Jewish state and Jews and Arabs
living in the Arab state would become citizens of the Arab state."
</span></span>
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">By
virtue of Chapter 3, Palestinian citizens residing in Palestine
outside the City of Jerusalem, as well as Arabs and Jews who, not
holding Palestinian citizenship, resided in Palestine outside the
City of Jerusalem would, upon the recognition of independence, become
citizens of the State in which they were resident and enjoy full
civil and political rights. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Arab
leaders and governments rejected the plan of partition in the
resolution and indicated that they would reject any other plan of
partition.[9] The Arab states' delegations declared immediately after
the vote for partition that they would not be bound by the decision,
and walked out accompanied by the Indian and Pakistani
delegates.[116]...n 16 February 1948, the UN Palestine Commission
reported to the Security Council that: "Powerful Arab interests,
both inside and outside Palestine, are defying the resolution of the
General Assembly and are engaged in a deliberate effort to alter by
force the settlement envisaged therein." </span></span>
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Azzam
told Alec Kirkbride "We will sweep them [the Jews] into the
sea." Syrian president Shukri al-Quwatli told his people: "We
shall eradicate Zionism."[121] King Farouk of Egypt told the
American ambassador to Egypt that in the long run the Arabs would
soundly defeat the Jews and drive them out of Palestine.[ -
https://en.wikipedia.org </span></span>
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">What
the Left charges is that Israel is an illegal occupier (which seems
to at least be inferred by the two-state advocates, including Putin),
yet there never was a Palestinian state, and the Jews regaining their
homeland was a result of being conquered by "occupiers,"
and who (from what I see) themselves were conquered (due to
disobedience to God) , and thru a succession of which the Jewish
state by born within their homeland, yet there remaineth yet more
land to be possessed from present occupants. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br /></p>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Palestinian Arab nationalism is largely a post-World War I phenomenon
that did not become a significant political movement until after the
1967 Six-Day War and Israel's capture of the West Bank. - https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-claim-to-the-land-of-israel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">"This
map [below] shows modern Israel compared to what ancient Israel
actually looked like at some point. The land God called Joshua to
take was much larger."</span></div></div>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">"The
big difference is that the West Bank, as well as the eastern side of
the Jordan River, is not part of modern Israel."
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br />
<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-c4dcf634dca3d72ad29a72156d8498ad-pjlq" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="296" height="646" src="https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-c4dcf634dca3d72ad29a72156d8498ad-pjlq" width="296" /></a></div><br />
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="text-align: left;">Source:
</span><a class="western" href="https://www.quora.com/How-does-modern-day-Israel-compare-to-the-conquered-lands-as-described-in-the-book-of-Joshua-Old-Testament/answer" style="text-align: left;">https://www.quora.com/How-does-modern-day-Israel-compare-to-the-conquered-lands-as-described-in-the-book-of-Joshua-Old-Testament/answer</a><span style="text-align: left;">
Steve-Page-96</span></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">For many more maps:
<a class="western" href="http://www.jewishwikipedia.info/israelmaps.html">http://www.jewishwikipedia.info/israelmaps.html</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Map
below showing the status of Israel and the Israeli-occupied
territories as of 2018:</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Israel_and_occupied_territories_map.png/374px-Israel_and_occupied_territories_map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="374" height="600" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Israel_and_occupied_territories_map.png/374px-Israel_and_occupied_territories_map.png" width="374" /></a></div><br />
<p></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">The
Jews regaining much of their ancient homeland and and statehood after
approx 2500 years of not possessing it, losing it to different
conquers/occupiers, and with dispersals, is unique, and providential,
glory to God who shall yet manifestly answer this question:
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.net/israel-chosenorforgotten.html">ISRAEL:
CHOSEN OR FORGOTTEN? </a>
</p>
<h3 align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><a class="western" href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4188650/posts">The
Status of Arabs in Israel</a></span></span></h3>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">10/11/2023,
10:45:19 AM · <a class="western" href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4188650/posts?page=5#5">5
of 11</a><br />
<a class="western" href="https://freerepublic.com/~daniel1212/">daniel1212</a>
to <strong>daniel1212</strong>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Rather
than being unjust occupiers of "Palestinian" land, under
overt supernatural attestation of Divine command, the Jews conquered
a generationally wicked nation group due to being evil, exterminating
most (though DNA finds more than<a class="western" href="https://www.oneforisrael.org/arabic-evangelism/articles-updates/the-canaanites-were-real-and-theyre-living-in-lebanon/">
90 percent</a> of the genetic ancestry of modern Lebanese being
derived from ancient Canaanites, yet genes are not the same as
culture, which can radically evolve over the years while genes can
remain unchanged), due to disobedience, the Jews lost their
historical land to conquerors, and via a succession of which they
received most their land back, but not all that was promised them.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Excerpts
of research:
</p>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Israel existed as a Monarchy under the reigns of Saul, David, and
Solomon, yet due to disobedience the country later split into two
separate kingdoms: Israel (Ephraim) and Judah. The Northern Kingdom
of Israel was destroyed around 720 BCE, being conquered by the
Neo-Assyrian Empire. Later, Jewish revolts against the Babylonians
led to the destruction of Judah in 586 BCE, under king Nebuchadnezzar
II.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Neo-Assyrian Empire grew to dominate the ancient Near East throughout
much of the 8th and 7th centuries BC and ruled over all of
Mesopotamia, the Levant and Egypt, as well as parts of Anatolia,
Arabia and modern-day Iran and Armenia.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><a href="/R:/ReadyWriter/DOC.MISCL-RESPNS/FR/6--FR-_html_7938aafb1223272d.png"> </a>Despite being at the peak of its power, the empire experienced a
swift and violent fall in the late 7th century BC, destroyed by a
Babylonian uprising and an invasion by the Medes, an ancient Iranian
people who inhabited an area known as Media between western and
northern Iran. In the 7th century BC, all of western Iran and some
other territories were under Median rule, but their precise
geographic extent remains unknown.[4]
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
After the fall of Assyria between 616 BC and 609 BC, a unified Median
state was formed, which together with Babylonia, Lydia, and ancient
Egypt became one of the four major powers of the ancient Near East.
After Cyrus's victory against Astyages, the Medes were subjected to
their close kin, the Persians.[
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
From the early 6th century BC onwards, several Persian states
dominated the region, beginning with the Medes and non-Persian
Neo-Babylonian Empire, then their successor the Achaemenid Empire
known as the first Persian Empire, conquered in the late 4th century
BC by the very short-lived Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great,
and then successor kingdoms such as Ptolemaic Egypt and the Seleucid
state in Western Asia.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
After a century of hiatus, the idea of the Persian Empire was revived
by the Parthians in the 3rd century BC—and continued by their
successors, the Sassanids from the 3rd century AD. This empire
dominated sizable parts of what is now the Asian part of the Middle
East and continued to influence the rest of the Asiatic and African
Middle East region, until the Arab Muslim conquest of Persia in the
mid-7th century AD. Between the 1st century BC and the early 7th
century AD, the region was completely dominated by the Romans and the
Parthians and Sassanids on the other hand, which often culminated in
various Roman-Persian Wars over the seven centuries. Eastern Rite,
Church of the East Christianity took hold in Persian-ruled
Mesopotamia, particularly in Assyria from the 1st century AD onwards,
and the region became a center of a flourishing Syriac–Assyrian
literary tradition.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Greek and Roman Empire. In 66–63 BC, the Roman general Pompey
conquered much of the Middle East.[21] The Roman Empire united the
region with most of Europe and North Africa in a single political and
economic unit. Even areas not directly annexed were strongly
influenced by the Empire, which was the most powerful political and
cultural entity for centuries. Though Roman culture spread across the
region, the Greek culture and language first established in the
region by the Macedonian Empire continued to dominate throughout the
Roman period.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
As the Christian religion spread throughout the Roman and Persian
Empires, it took root in the Middle East, and cities such as
Alexandria and Edessa became important centers of Christian
scholarship. By the 5th century, Christianity was the dominant
religion in the Middle East, with other faiths (gradually including
heretical Christian sects) being actively repressed. The Middle
East's ties to the city of Rome were gradually severed as the Empire
split into East and West, with the Middle East tied to the new Roman
capital of Constantinople. The subsequent Fall of the Western Roman
Empire therefore, had minimal direct impact on the region.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Byzantine Empire The Eastern Roman Empire, today commonly known as
the Byzantine Empire, ruling from the Balkans to the Euphrates,
became increasingly defined by and dogmatic about Christianity,
gradually creating religious rifts between the doctrines dictated by
the establishment in Constantinople and believers in many parts of
the Middle East. By this time, Greek had become the 'lingua franca'
of the region, although ethnicities such as the Syriacs and the
Hebrew continued to exist. Under Byzantine/Greek rule the area of the
Levant met an era of stability and prosperity.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
In the 5th century, the Middle East was separated into small, weak
states; the two most prominent were the Sasanian Empire of the
Persians in what is now Iran and Iraq, and the Byzantine Empire in
Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) and the Levant. The Byzantines and
Sasanians fought with each other a reflection of the rivalry between
the Roman Empire and the Persian Empire seen during the previous five
hundred years. The Byzantine-Sasanian rivalry was also seen through
their respective cultures and religions. The Byzantines considered
themselves champions of Hellenism and Christianity. Meanwhile, the
Sasanians thought themselves heroes of ancient Iranian traditions and
of the traditional Persian religion, Zoroastrianism.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Territorial wars soon became common, with the Byzantines and
Sasanians fighting over upper Mesopotamia and Armenia and key cities
that facilitated trade from Arabia, India, and China.[27] Byzantium,
as the continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire, continued control of
the latter's territories in the Middle East. Since 527, this included
Anatolia, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Egypt. But in 603 the
Sasanians invaded, conquering Damascus and Egypt. It was Emperor
Heraclius who was able to repel these invasions, and in 628 he
replaced the Sasanian Great King with a more docile one. But the
fighting weakened both states, leaving the stage open to a new power.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The nomadic Bedouin tribes dominated the Arabian desert, where they
worshiped idols and remained in small clans tied together by kinship.
Urbanization and agriculture was limited in Arabia, save for a few
regions near the coast. Mecca and Medina (then called Yathrib) were
two such cities that were important hubs for trade between Africa and
Eurasia.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
While the Byzantine Roman and Sassanid Persian empires were both
weakened by warfare (602–628), a new power in the form of Islam
grew in the Middle East. In a series of rapid Muslim conquests, Arab
armies, led by the Caliphs and skilled military commanders such as
Khalid ibn al-Walid, swept through most of the Middle East, taking
more than half of Byzantine territory and completely engulfing the
Persian lands. In Anatolia, they were stopped in the Siege of
Constantinople (717–718) by the Byzantines, who were helped by the
Bulgarians.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The Byzantine provinces of Roman Syria, North Africa, and Sicily,
however, could not mount such a resistance, and the Muslim conquerors
swept through those regions. At the far west, they crossed the sea
taking Visigothic Hispania before being halted in southern France in
the Battle of Tours by the Franks. At its greatest extent, the Arab
Empire was the first empire to control the entire Middle East, as
well three-quarters of the Mediterranean region, the only other
empire besides the Roman Empire to control most of the Mediterranean
Sea.[32] It would be the Arab Caliphates of the Middle Ages that
would first unify the entire Middle East as a distinct region and
create the dominant ethnic identity that persists today.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Much of North Africa became a peripheral area to the main Muslim
centres in the Middle East, but Iberia (Al-Andalus) and Morocco soon
broke away from this distant control and founded one of the world's
most advanced societies at the time, along with Baghdad in the
eastern Mediterranean. Between 831 and 1071, the Emirate of Sicily
was one of the major centres of Islamic culture in the Mediterranean.
After its conquest by the Normans the island developed its own
distinct culture with the fusion of Arab, Western, and Byzantine
influences.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Motivated by religion and conquest, the kings of Europe launched a
number of Crusades to try to roll back Muslim power and retake the
Holy Land. The Crusades were unsuccessful but were far more effective
in weakening the already tottering Byzantine Empire. They also
rearranged the balance of power in the Muslim world as Egypt once
again emerged as a major power.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The dominance of the Arabs came to a sudden end in the mid-11th
century with the arrival of the Seljuq Turks, migrating south from
the Turkic homelands in Central Asia. They conquered Persia, Iraq
(capturing Baghdad in 1055), Syria, Palestine, and the Hejaz. Egypt
held out under the Fatimid caliphs until 1169, when it too fell to
the Turks.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Despite massive territorial losses in the 7th century, the Christian
Byzantine Empire continued to be a potent military and economic force
in the Mediterranean, preventing Arab expansion into much of Europe.
The Seljuqs' defeat of the Byzantine military in the Battle of
Manzikert in the 11th century and settling in Anatolia effectively
marked the end of Byzantine power. The Seljuks ruled most of the
Middle East region for the next 200 years, but their empire soon
broke up into a number of smaller sultanates.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Christian Western Europe staged a remarkable economic and demographic
recovery in the 11th century since its nadir in the 7th century. The
fragmentation of the Middle East allowed joined forces, mainly from
England, France, and the emerging Holy Roman Empire, to enter the
region. In 1095, Pope Urban II responded to pleas from the flagging
Byzantine Empire and summoned the European aristocracy to recapture
the Holy Land for Christianity. In 1099 the knights of the First
Crusade captured Jerusalem and founded the Kingdom of Jerusalem,
which survived until 1187, when Saladin, the founder of the Ayyubid
dynasty, retook the city. Smaller crusader kingdoms and fiefdoms
survived until 1291.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Mongol rule... societal clashing occurred between traditionalists who
wished to retain their nomadic culture and Mongols moving towards
sedentary agriculture. All of this led to the fragmentation of the
empire in 1260.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The Mongols eventually retreated in 1335, but the chaos that ensued
throughout the empire deposed the Seljuq Turks. In 1401, the region
was further plagued by the Turko-Mongol, Timur, and his ferocious
raids. By then, another group of Turks had arisen as well, the
Ottomans. Based in Anatolia, by 1566 they would conquer the Iraq-Iran
region, the Balkans, Greece, Byzantium, most of Egypt, most of north
Africa, and parts of Arabia, unifying them under the Ottoman Empire.
The rule of the Ottoman sultans marked the end of the Medieval
(Postclassical) Era in the Middle East.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The Ottoman Empire (1299–1918)..The Ottomans united the whole
region under one ruler for the first time since the reign of the
Abbasid caliphs of the 10th century, and they kept control of it for
400 years, despite brief intermissions created by the Iranian
Safavids and Afsharids.[38] By this time the Ottomans also held
Greece, the Balkans, and most of Hungary, setting the new frontier
between east and west far to the north of the Danube. Regions such as
Albania and Bosnia saw many conversions to Islam, but Ottoman Europe
was not culturally absorbed into the Muslim world.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
By 1699, the Ottomans had been driven out of Hungary,
Poland-Lithuania and parts of the western Balkans in the Great
Turkish War. In the Great Divergence, Europe had overtaken the Muslim
world in wealth, population and technology.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The industrial revolution and growth of capitalism magnified the
divergence, and from 1768 to 1918, the Ottomans gradually lost
territory. Greece, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria achieved
independence during the 19th century, and the Ottoman Empire became
known as the "sick man of Europe", increasingly under the
financial control of European powers. Domination soon turned to
outright conquest: the French annexed Algeria in 1830 and Tunisia in
1878 and the British occupied Egypt in 1882, though it remained under
nominal Ottoman sovereignty. In the Balkan Wars of 1912–13 the
Ottomans were driven out of Europe altogether, except for the city of
Constantinople and its hinterland.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The British also established effective control of the Persian Gulf,
and the French extended their influence into Lebanon and Syria. In
1912, the Italians seized Libya and the Dodecanese islands, just off
the coast of the Ottoman heartland of Anatolia. The Ottomans turned
to Germany to protect them from the western powers, but the result
was increasing financial and military dependence on Germany... Enver
Bey's alliance with Germany, which he considered the most advanced
military power in Europe, was enabled by British demands that the
Ottoman Empire cede their formal capital Edirne (Adrianople) to the
Bulgarians after losing the First Balkan War, which the Turks saw as
a betrayal by Britain.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The British saw the Ottomans as the weak link in the enemy alliance,
and concentrated on knocking them out of the war. When a direct
assault failed at Gallipoli in 1916, they turned to fomenting
revolution in the Ottoman domains, exploiting the awakening force of
Arab, Armenian, and Assyrian nationalism against the Ottomans. The
British found an ally in Sharif Hussein, the hereditary ruler of
Mecca believed by many to be a descendant of Muhammad, who led an
Arab Revolt against Ottoman rule, after being promised independence.
.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The Entente, won the war and the Ottoman Empire was abolished with
most of its territories ceded to Britain and France; Turkey just
managed to survive.The war transformed the region in terms of
shattering Ottoman power which was supplanted by increased British
and French involvement; the creation of the Middle Eastern state
system as seen in Turkey and Saudi Arabia; the emergence of
explicitly more nationalist politics, as seen in Turkey and Egypt;
and the expansion of oil industry, particularly in the Gulf States.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
When the Ottoman Empire surrendered to the Allies in 1918, the Arab
patriots did not get what they had expected. Islamic activists of
more recent times have described it as an Anglo-French betrayal. The
governments of the European Entente had concluded a secret treaty
before the armistice, the Sykes–Picot Agreement, between the United
Kingdom and France, with assent from the Russian Empire and the
Kingdom of Italy, to define their mutually agreed spheres of
influence and control in an eventual partition of the Ottoman Empire.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The agreement was based on the premise that the Triple Entente would
achieve success in defeating the Ottoman Empire during World War I
and formed part of a series of secret agreements contemplating its
partition. The agreement allocated to the UK control of what is today
southern Israel and Palestine, Jordan and southern Iraq, and an
additional small area that included the ports of Haifa and Acre to
allow access to the Mediterranean. France was to control southeastern
Turkey, the Kurdistan Region, Syria and Lebanon.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
As a result of the included Sazonov–Paléologue Agreement, Russia
was to get Western Armenia in addition to Constantinople and the
Turkish Straits already promised under the 1915 Constantinople
Agreement. Italy assented to the agreement in 1917 via the Agreement
of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and received southern Anatolia.[8] The
Palestine region, with a smaller area than the later Mandatory
Palestine, was to fall under an "international administration".
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Syria became a French protectorate as a League of Nations mandate.
The Christian coastal areas were split off to become Lebanon, another
French protectorate. Iraq and Palestine became British mandated
territories. Iraq became the "Kingdom of Iraq" and one of
Sharif Hussein's sons, Faisal, was installed as the King of Iraq.
Iraq incorporated large populations of Kurds, Assyrians and Turkmens,
many of whom had been promised independent states of their own.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The British had in 1917, endorsed the Balfour Declaration promising
the international Zionist movement their support in re-creating the
historic Jewish homeland in Palestine. Britain was granted a Mandate
for Palestine on 25 April 1920 at the San Remo Conference, and, on 24
July 1922, this mandate was approved by the League of Nations.
Palestine became the "British Mandate of Palestine" and was
placed under direct British administration. The Jewish population of
Palestine, consisting overwhelmingly of recent migrants from Europe,
numbered less than 8 percent in 1918. Under the British mandate,
Zionist settlers were granted wide rein to immigrate initially, buy
land from absentee landlords, set up a local government and later
establish the nucleus of a state all under the protection of the
British Army, which brutally suppressed multiple Palestinian Arab
revolts in the years that followed, including in 1936
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The Territory East of the Jordan River and west of Iraq was also
declared a British Mandate when the Council of the League of Nations
passed the British written Transjordan Memorandum on 16 September
1922. Most of the Arabian peninsula, including the Holy cities of
Mecca and Medina, though not incorporated into either a British or
French colonial mandate, fell under the control of another British
ally, Ibn Saud, who in 1932, founded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Middle_East;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Eastern_empires;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%E2%80%93Picot_Agreement
</blockquote>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: left;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">rather
than being unjust occupiers of "Palestinian" land, under
overt supernatural attestation of Divine command, the Jews conquered
a generationally wicked nation group due to being evil, exterminating
most. Later, due to disobedience, the Jews lost their historical land
to conquerors, yet with </span></span> a remnant of Jews<span style="text-align: left;"> always being present, along with Arabs later Muslims, albeit with some Canaanite DNA, with no legal title to the land occupied, such as allocated by a government) and</span><a class="western" href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4188650/posts?page=5#5" style="text-align: left;">
via a succession of which they received most their land back, but not
all that was promised them. From what I see, the people latter called
"Palestinian" may be due to Israel's failure to utterly drive out the Canaanites, and who could have later had their own state, along with the Jewsbut rejected the
US partition plan.</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: center;">When
Jews began to immigrate to Palestine in large numbers in 1882, fewer
than 250,000 Arabs lived there, and the majority of them had arrived
in recent decades. Palestine was never an exclusively Arab country,
although Arabic gradually became the language of most the population
after the Muslim invasions of the seventh century. No independent
Arab or Palestinian state ever existed in Palestine. When the
distinguished Arab-American historian, Princeton University Prof.
Philip Hitti, testified against partition before the Anglo-American
Committee in 1946, he said: "There is no such thing as
'Palestine' in history, absolutely not." In fact, Palestine is
never explicitly mentioned in the Koran, rather it is called "the
holy land" (al-Arad al-Muqaddash).
</p>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Prior to partition, Palestinian Arabs did not view themselves as
having a separate identity. When the First Congress of
Muslim-Christian Associations met in Jerusalem in February 1919 to
choose Palestinian representatives for the Paris Peace Conference,
the following resolution was adopted:
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
We consider Palestine as part of Arab Syria, as it has never been
separated from it at any time. We are connected with it by national,
religious, linguistic, natural, economic and geographical bonds.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
In 1937, a local Arab leader, Auni Bey Abdul-Hadi, told the Peel
Commission, which ultimately suggested the partition of Palestine:
"There is no such country [as Palestine]! 'Palestine' is a term
the Zionists invented! There is no Palestine in the Bible. Our
country was for centuries part of Syria."... </blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Palestinian Arab nationalism is largely a post-World War I phenomenon
that did not become a significant political movement until after the
1967 Six-Day War and Israel's capture of the West Bank. - https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-claim-to-the-land-of-israel</blockquote>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Yet
may<a class="western" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlJOGZrl2hZeDe9QCr-NXTumWtSqbAqbQ">
they, as with Jews, find peace and fellowship thru the risen Lord
Jesus </a>which both religions deny.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">As
for the poverty of Gaza, one should not be ignorant of the
political purposes behind the "plight of the Palestinians"
- which is a result of the Islamic 1948 intolerance of the Jews which
Muslims sought to expel since 1948. Whereby some non-supporters of
HAMAS are victims the the Islamic refusal to allow Palestinians to
become citizens in their country (aside from Jordan), for political
purposes. Jordan, and Syria.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Israel
comprises just 0.2 percent of the Middle East’s land mass while
Arabs of today controls 24 nations... 9<a href="https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-a74b004dbb0b9aa4bc11ae5122ca2e73-lq">
</a>9½
percent of the ENTIRE Middle East land mass, and Muslims of most
surrounding nations have sought to kill or expel push the Jews from
their ancient national homeland even before as well as after 1947,
when Muslims, which came to be called Palestinians - a name cognate
with the Biblical Hebrew Pəlīštīm and used for the land of the
Hebrews from at <a class="western" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_name_Palestine#Classical_antiquity" target="_blank">least
450 BC</a> (Herodotus) while <a class="western" href="https://www.jns.org/opinion/how-the-palestinians-were-born-into-the-world/" target="_blank">the
residents of Judea and Samaria were considered Jordanians before
1948, including by themselves</a> - <a class="western" href="https://www.heyalma.com/israel-guide/history-of-israel-palestine-before-1948/" target="_blank">rejected
the UN Partition Plan which would have established independent Jewish
and Arab states and an international control of Jerusalem. </a>Before
that, under the <a class="western" href="https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/palmanda.asp" target="_blank">1922
international mandate</a> the British were to help the Jews
reestablish their homeland in the territory.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">The<a class="western" href="https://legalinsurrection.com/2019/07/when-you-understand-israels-may-1948-borders-you-understand-there-is-no-occupation/" target="_blank">
Muslims would not tolerated the existence of the State of Israel in
1948 since the Arab community was still seeking to control the
entirety of the Palestine Mandate</a> itself, thus five Arab armies
attacked Israel when it declared independence. Only to henceforth cry
victim when they lost this war and subsequent attempts to drive
Israel into the sea as it were.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">As a distinct people <a class="western" href="https://newswithviews.com/israel/israel14.htm" target="_blank">Palestinians never were a nation before 1948</a> (and only a <a href="https://www.drake.edu/media/departmentsoffices/dussj/2006-2003documents/PalestineGiridhar.pdf" target="_blank">quasi-state</a> from 1988) while about <a class="western" href="https://www.israel365news.com/98083/14-israeli-arabs-identify-palestinians-study-finds/" target="_blank">20%
of Israeli citizens are Arabs, mostly Muslims, with only 14%
identifying as Palestinians</a>, and live in homes they either own or
rent, and are not required to perform mandatory military service.
They have equal voting rights and Arabs currently hold 9 seats in the
120-seat Knesset and have also held various government posts,
including one who served as Israel’s ambassador to Finland and the
current deputy mayor of Tel Aviv. (<a class="western" href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/myths-and-facts-online-human-rights-in-israel-and-the-territories" target="_blank">
Myths & Facts Online - Human Rights in Israel and the
Territories</a>) And see <a class="western" href="https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/15516/arab-israelis-peace-plan" target="_blank">The
Real Reason Arabs in Israel Do Not Want to Live in 'Palestine'</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Meanwhile,
m<a class="western" href="https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Arab-Nations-refuse-to-allow-Palestinians-to-migrate-to-neighboring-Arab-Nations-and-become-citizens" target="_top">ost
Arab nations resist Palestinians immigration and refuse citizenship
to them, due to their warring nature, being a destabilizing factor in
both Israel and other nations, and for political purposes</a>.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">However,
despite tiny Israel attempting to live in peaceful co-existence with
its surrounding Muslim neighbors, even giving up almost all the land
is conquered in victory over Muslim attempts to exterminate them, it
is threatened and attacked by such, thus resulting in defensive
actions which are invoked by liberals as unwarranted aggression, but
which are warranted.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">And
while I am sure Israel has engaged in some wrong actions, and some
discrimination exists, and is far from perfect tenants - including
allowing “gay” parades,” they are the victims of unjust
aggression by other nations.</p>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
...some ask why neighboring Egypt and Jordan don’t take them in....
The two countries, which flank Israel on opposite sides and share
borders with Gaza and the occupied West Bank, respectively, have
replied with a staunch refusal. Jordan already has a large
Palestinian population. Jordan’s King Abdullah II gave a similar
message a day earlier, saying, “No refugees in Jordan, no refugees
in Egypt.” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi...warned of an
even more destabilizing scenario: the wrecking of Egypt and Israel’s
1979 peace deal. He said that with the presence of Palestinian
militants, Sinai “would become a base for attacks on Israel. Israel
would have the right to defend itself ... and would strike Egyptian
territory.”
https://apnews.com/article/palestinian-jordan-egypt-israel-refugee-502c06d004767d4b64848d878b66bd3d
</blockquote>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">And
as for the GDP of Gaza, what do you think this would be if the were
Chinese and lived peacefully with Israel? Meanwhile,
</p>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Hamas spends $100 million a year on military
infrastructure.Khatib)... As the residents of the Gaza Strip endure
daily hardships due to the dire economic situation in the enclave,
their Hamas leaders spend over $100 million a year on the group’s
military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, according to
estimates by both Israeli and Palestinian sources. Spending on
digging tunnels accounts for some $40 million of that annual sum. By
way of comparison, the budget of the last Hamas government, which
dissolved in April 2014, was $530 million. -
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-spends-100-million-a-year-on-military-infrastructure/
</blockquote>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">And
as for US aid, much of that is returned via purchases.
</p>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Israel ends up sacrificing far more value in return for the nearly $4
billion it annually receives from Washington. That’s because nearly
all military aid to Israel—other than loan guarantees, which cost
Washington nothing, the U.S. gives Israel no other kind of
aid—consists of credits that go directly from the Pentagon to U.S.
weapons manufacturers. In return, American payouts undermine Israel’s
domestic defense industry, weaken its economy, and compromise the
country’s autonomy—giving Washington veto power over everything
from Israeli weapons sales to diplomatic and military strategy. When
Washington meddles directly in Israel’s domestic affairs, as it
does often these days, Israeli leaders who have lobbied for these
payments—including current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—are
simply reaping the rewards of their own penny-wise, pound-foolish
efforts.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The Israeli military, often ranked as the fourth-most powerful in the
world, has become an adjunct to American power in a crucial region in
which the U.S. has lost the appetite for projecting military force.
Israeli intelligence functions as America’s eyes and ears, not just
in the Middle East but in other key strategic theaters like Russia
and Central Asia and even parts of Latin America. Controlling access
to the output of Israel’s powerful high-tech sector is a strategic
advantage for the U.S. that alone is worth many multiples of the
credits Israel receives. -
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/end-american-aid-israel
[and that source is actually opposing the amount of aid.]
</blockquote>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">The
only option here is to contend that the US should be an isolationist
country.
</p>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Friends with Benefits: Why the U.S.-Israeli Alliance Is Good for
America by Michael Eisenstadt, David Pollock ...
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
. The U.S.-Israeli alliance now contributes more than ever to
American security, as bilateral cooperation to deal with both
military and nonmilitary challenges has grown in recent years... it
is a two-way partnership whose benefits to the United States have
been substantial. The other, less tangible costs of the U.S.-Israeli
alliance -- mainly, damage to Washington's reputation in Arab and
Muslim countries, a problem also caused by American interventions and
decades of U.S. support for autocratic leaders in the Middle East --
pale in comparison with the economic, military, and political gains
it affords Washington.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Israel has also emerged as an important niche defense supplier to the
U.S. military, with sales growing from $300 million per year before
September 11 to $1.1 billion in 2006, due to the wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq. Israel's military research and development complex has
pioneered many cutting-edge technologies that are transforming the
face of modern war, including cyberweapons, unmanned vehicles (such
as land robots and aerial drones), sensors and electronic warfare
systems, and advanced defenses for military vehicles. -
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/friends-benefits-why-us-israeli-alliance-good-america
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The U.S.-Israeli economic and commercial relationship now spans IT,
bio-tech, life sciences, health care solutions, energy,
pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, defense industries,
cyber-security, and aviation, to name just a few sectors. <br />
Critical
components of leading American high-tech products are invented and
designed in Israel, making these American companies more competitive
and more profitable globally. Cisco, Intel, Motorola, Applied
Materials, and HP are just a few examples. <br />
Israel is home to
more than 2,500 U.S. firms employing some 72,000 Israelis, according
to an estimate by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Thousands more jobs
are supported indirectly by these employers.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The Massachusetts Example <br />
The New England-Israel Business
Council released a study that shows that Israeli-founded businesses
have generated about 9,000 jobs in Massachusetts alone, and
indirectly support an additional 18,000. These companies represent
nearly four per <br />
cent of the state’s GDP. And that is just one
state. In Beersheva – less than an hour’s train ride from Tel
Aviv –American and Israeli companies are working side-by-side at
CyberSpark. It is a fast-growing, world-class, hi-tech office park,
adjacent to a top academic institution, Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev, and not far from where critical public-sector institutions,
such as the IDF’s cyber and intelligence units, will soon be
located. This unique eco-system is rapidly attracting more American
companies to take part in developing the defenses that will protect
the new economy. -
https://il.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/policy-history/fact-sheet-u-s-israel-economic-relationship/
</blockquote>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b> One Arabs citizens of Israel:</b></p>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Roughly 21% of Israel’s more than nine million citizens are Arabs.
The vast majority of the Israeli Arabs - approximately 83% - are
Muslims, 9% are Druze, and 8% are Christian. Some 52% of the Arab
citizens live in northern Israel, 20% in the “Triangle” region in
the center of the country, 18% in the Negev, and 8% in the mixed
cities (Acre, Haifa, Jaffa, Ramla, Lod, Nof Hagalil and
Maalot-Tarshiha), 1% in the Jerusalem Corridor (including West
Jerusalem) and 2% in the rest of the country.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Arabs in Israel have equal voting rights; it is one of the few places
in the Middle East where Arab women may vote.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
...</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
The sole legal distinction between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel
is that the latter are not required to serve in the Israeli army.
This was to spare Arab citizens the need to bear arms against their
brethren. Nevertheless, many Arabs have volunteered for military duty
– more than 1,000 in 2020 – and the Druze and Circassian
communities are subject to the draft.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Some economic and social gaps between Israeli Jews and Arabs result
from the latter not serving in the military...</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
In 2020, the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) reported “a
dramatic rise in the share of Arab Israelis who define their primary
identity as ‘Israeli,’ and a concomitant sharp decline in the
share who self-identify as ‘Palestinian.’”...</blockquote>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">The national election of 2021 was notable for a radical change in
Israeli politics, with the Ra’am Party becoming the first Arab
party to join a governing coalition. ... It could have brought down
the government at any time if it was dissatisfied with its direction.
.... -
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-status-of-arabs-in-israel</blockquote>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And
now, as of 11-4-23, the Israel</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">,
as it periodically has since its founding in 1948, is once again foundtself fighting for its survival. </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And
it remains that </span></span>Israel, not the “Palestinians” is
the entity which has the best historical, ancient claim to <a class="western" href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/statehood">statehood</a>
of its territory, having existed as a kingdom, which land it lost due
to disobedience to its covenant with God.
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="text-align: left;">Which
- unlike Muhammad’s “revelations” and his wars of conquest, was
agreed to after profound supernatural demonstrations of Divine power,
leaving no mistake as to who was commanding Israel to exterminate the
generally wicked Canaanites from the land God chose for His people.</span></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">But,
as God warned, which the land and statehood it lost due to
disobedience to God, which land saw a succession of conquers, the
last of which gave the Jews a portion of its historical land back, as
part of the promise of God.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">But
which militant Palestinian Muslims refused to tolerate, refusing the
US partition plan, and instead have sought the obliteration of the
Jews since, and thus HAMAS and Hezbollah, among other <a class="western" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_political_violence">Palestinian
militant groups</a>, staunchly oppose the Oslo Accords, and consider
the Abrahamic accords to be traitorous.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Yet
even with Islam violent wars have much been a historical constant.
And which is consistent with the prophecy given to the mother of the
Arabs regarding her son. the product of Abraham yielding to his
barren wife with a dead womb to have a child thru her, being
impatient, for God had promised a child to Abram and Sarah of a son
who would be the progenitor of a vast innumerable people. <a class="western" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GEN.15?passageId=GEN.15.1-GEN.15.16">Genesis
15:1–16</a>)
</p>
<blockquote class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and
every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of
all his brethren. (<a class="western" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GEN.16?passageId=GEN.16.12">Genesis
16:12</a>)</blockquote>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Yet,
while being the clear victim of unjust attacks by recalcitrant
warring Muslims, Israel itself is suffering chastisement via the
wicked, which serves as a sword of such, (1Psalms 17:13) having much
adopted Western immorality, and overall rejecting the Messiah who
came as foretold, as spiritual savor, preceding the conversion of
Israel, as a remnant, and the Lord Christ’s physical rule in which
the Jews will worship the Lord of glory.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>So
may all, including all Arabs<a class="western" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlJOGZrl2hZeDe9QCr-NXTumWtSqbAqbQ">,
as with Jews, now find peace and fellowship thru the risen Lord Jesus
</a></b>which both religions deny. For, as in the past, t<b>he only
hope of peace was born in the Middle East. </b>
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br />
<br />
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Supplemental:</span></span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><b>The
Hamas Covenant or Hamas Charter</b></span>, formally known in English
as the Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement, was originally
issued on 18 August 1988 and outlines the founding identity, stand,
and aims of Hamas (the Islamic Resistance Movement).[1] A new charter
was issued by Hamas leader Khaled Mashal on 1 May 2017 in Doha.[2] </span></span>
</p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">The
original Charter identified Hamas as the Muslim Brotherhood in
Palestine and declares its members to be Muslims who "fear God
and raise the banner of Jihad in the face of the oppressors".
The charter states that "our struggle against the Jews is very
great and very serious" and calls for the eventual creation of
an Islamic state in Palestine, in place of Israel and the Palestinian
Territories,[3] and the obliteration or dissolution of Israel.[4][5]
It emphasizes the importance of jihad, stating in article 13, "There
is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad.
Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste
of time and vain endeavors."[6] The charter also states that
Hamas is humanistic, and tolerant of other religions as long as they
"stop disputing the sovereignty of Islam in this region".[7]
The Charter adds that "renouncing any part of Palestine means
renouncing part of the religion [of Islam]".[1] The original
charter was criticized for its violent language against all Jews,
which many commentators have characterized as incitement to
genocide.[8][9]</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">The
2017 charter accepted for the first time the idea of a Palestinian
state within the borders that existed before 1967 and rejected
recognition of Israel, which it terms as the "Zionist enemy".[2]
It advocates such a state as transitional but also advocates the
"liberation of all of Palestine".[14][15] The new document
also states that the group does not seek war with the Jewish people
but only against Zionism which it holds responsible for "occupation
of Palestine".[16] Mashal also stated that Hamas was ending its
association with the Muslim Brotherhood.[14] After a new charter was
scheduled to be issued in May 2017, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu's office issued a statement in which it accused Hamas of
trying to fool the world and also asked it to stop its terror
activities for a true change.[17]</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Hamas
leadership's actions and terminology has remained antisemitic. An
example being, Hamas leader, Fathi Hamad's 2019 statement, who said
"You should attack every Jew possible in all the world and kill
them".[38][39][40][41] -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas_Charter</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">On
the destruction of Israel:</b></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">"Israel
will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it,
just as it obliterated others before it." (Preamble)</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">The
exclusive Moslem nature of the area:</b></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">"The
land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf [Holy Possession] consecrated
for future Moslem generations until Judgment Day. No one can renounce
it or any part, or abandon it or any part of it." (Article 11)</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">"Palestine
is an Islamic land... Since this is the case, the Liberation of
Palestine is an individual duty for every Moslem wherever he may be."
(Article 13)</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">The
call to jihad:</b></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">"The
day the enemies usurp part of Moslem land, Jihad becomes the
individual duty of every Moslem. In the face of the Jews' usurpation,
it is compulsory that the banner of Jihad be raised." (Article
15)</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">"Ranks
will close, fighters joining other fighters, and masses everywhere in
the Islamic world will come forward in response to the call of duty,
loudly proclaiming: 'Hail to Jihad!'. This cry will reach the heavens
and will go on being resounded until liberation is achieved, the
invaders vanquished and Allah's victory comes about." (Article
33)</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Rejection
of a negotiated peace settlement:</b></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">"[Peace]
initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international
conferences are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic
Resistance Movement... Those conferences are no more than a means to
appoint the infidels as arbitrators in the lands of Islam... There is
no solution for the Palestinian problem except by Jihad. Initiatives,
proposals and international conferences are but a waste of time, an
exercise in futility." (Article 13)</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Condemnation
of the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty:</b></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">"Egypt
was, to a great extent, removed from the circle of struggle [against
Zionism] through the treacherous Camp David Agreement. The Zionists
are trying to draw other Arab countries into similar agreements in
order to bring them outside the circle of struggle. ...Leaving the
circle of struggle against Zionism is high treason, and cursed be he
who perpetrates such an act." (Article 32)</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Anti-Semitic
incitement:</b></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">The
Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill
them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks
and trees will cry out: 'O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me,
come and kill him." (Article 7)</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">The
charter makes a point of the ideological difference between Hamas,
with its radical Islamic world view, and the secularly-oriented The
Palestine Liberation Organization, but pays lip service to the need
for Palestinian unity needed to face the Jewish enemy. It notes that
an Islamic world view completely contradicts The Palestine Liberation
Organization’s secular orientation and the idea of a secular
Palestinian state. Nevertheless, notes the charter, Hamas is prepared
to aid and support every “nationalist trend” working “to
liberate Palestine” and is not interested in creating schisms and
disagreements (Article 27). -
https://embassies.gov.il/holysee/AboutIsrael/the-middle-east/Pages/The%20Hamas-Covenant.aspx</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"> Also see https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/hamas-words-and-deeds#:~:text=In%20its%20original%201988%20charter,%2C%20religious%20or%20sectarian%20grounds.%E2%80%9D</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Actual
document: Hamas Covenant 1988 The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance
Movement 18 August 1988 -
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hamas.asp</span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
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</p><br /><p></p><p></p>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-68479210408371464282023-09-24T13:28:00.002-04:002024-01-10T11:36:33.552-05:00Survey Questions Used by USDA to Assess Household Food Security (a contrived crisis)<p></p><p align="justify" class="western"><br />
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western"><a name="top"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a class="western" href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4184011/posts" target="_self"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Survey
Questions Used by USDA to Assess Household Food Security </b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>[Source of alarming stats such as "Almost 25% of American adults
are food insecure. Answer these:]</b></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a class="western" href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/measurement/#survey" target="_blank">USDA
^</a> </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">| USDA
</span><a class="western" href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/measurement/#survey"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/measurement/#survey</span></a></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">Food security for a
household means access by all members at all times to enough food for
an active, healthy life. Food security includes at a minimum:
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">The ready
availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods. Assured
ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways...
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">Households that
report<b> three or more conditions </b><b>[in the span of 12 months]
</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">that</span> indicate food
insecurity are classified as "food insecure.".. The
questions cover a wide range of severity of food insecurity....
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><b>Survey Questions
Used by USDA to Assess Household Food Security</b>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">1. "We worried
whether our food would run out before we got money to buy more."
Was that often, sometimes, or never true for you in the last 12
months?
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">2. "The food
that we bought just didn't last and we didn't have money to get
more." Was that often, sometimes, or never true for you in the
last 12 months?
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">3. "We couldn't
afford to eat balanced meals." Was that often, sometimes, or
never true for you in the last 12 months?
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">4. In the last 12
months, did you or other adults in the household ever cut the size of
your meals or skip meals because there wasn't enough money for food?
(Yes/No)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">5. (If yes to
question 4) How often did this happen—almost every month, some
months but not every month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">6. In the last 12
months, did you ever eat less than you felt you should because there
wasn't enough money for food? (Yes/No)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">7. In the last 12
months, were you ever hungry, but didn't eat, because there wasn't
enough money for food? (Yes/No)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">8. In the last 12
months, did you lose weight because there wasn't enough money for
food? (Yes/No)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">9. In the last 12
months did you or other adults in your household ever not eat for a
whole day because there wasn't enough money for food? (Yes/No)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">10. (If yes to
question 9) How often did this happen—almost every month, some
months but not every month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">(Questions 11-18
were asked only if the household included children age 0-17)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">11. "We relied
on only a few kinds of low-cost food to feed our children because we
were running out of money to buy food." Was that often,
sometimes, or never true for you in the last 12 months?
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">12. "We
couldn't feed our children a balanced meal, because we couldn't
afford that." Was that often, sometimes, or never true for you
in the last 12 months?
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">13. "The
children were not eating enough because we just couldn't afford
enough food." Was that often, sometimes, or never true for you
in the last 12 months?
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">14. In the last 12
months, did you ever cut the size of any of the children's meals
because there wasn't enough money for food? (Yes/No)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">15. In the last 12
months, were the children ever hungry but you just couldn't afford
more food? (Yes/No)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">16. In the last 12
months, did any of the children ever skip a meal because there wasn't
enough money for food? (Yes/No)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">17. (If yes to
question 16) How often did this happen—almost every month, some
months but not every month, or in only 1 or 2 months?
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">18.
In the last 12 months did any of the children ever not eat for a
whole day because there wasn't enough money for food? (Yes/No)</span></span></p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Considering
the subjectivity in interpreting just what constitutes "enough
money" (asked about 15 times) and "balanced meals,"
plus "worried;" </span></span>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">And given that most
people exaggerate, including problems (I do not think that is an
exaggeration), esp. when dealing with memory of past experiences as
"wasn't enough money" (while a <a class="western" href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/08/06/study-says-authors-exaggerate-their-findings-paper-abstracts">Study
says authors exaggerate their findings in paper abstracts </a>,"
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">plus the scope of
these answers on experiences being over the course of a whole year;
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">in addition to the
exaggerated nature of a condition based upon affirming three or more
negative experiences,
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><b>then "food
insecurity" is a grossly misleading term, </b>esp. as typically
used, in which they also typically ignore the "wide range of
severity of food insecurity" from Least severe to Most severe.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><b>In which
answering </b><b>Yes or </b><b>"sometimes" to question</b><b>s
such as</b><b>,</b>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><b>1. Was this
statement often, sometimes, or never true for you in the last 12
months? "We <u>worried</u> whether our food would run out before
we got money to buy more,"<i> </i><i>[“worry” simply does
not necessarily mean </i><i>that they live in need, especially as
this covers 12 </i><i> </i><i>months</i><i>]</i></b></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><b>7. In the last 12
months, were you <u>ever hungry</u>, but didn't eat, because there
wasn't enough money for food? (Yes/No) <i>[</i><i>E</i><i><u>ver
hungry?</u></i><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"> When + where +
how long? </span></i><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">What
food? In the past year!]</span></i></b></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><b>8. In the last 12
months, did you lose weight because there wasn't enough money for
food? (Yes/No) <i>[E</i><i>veryone losesweight between meals, </i><i>+
it is easy for forget cash or card + be hungry for a bit]</i> </b>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"> can be used for
claims such as,
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"> <b>"Study
finds nearly 25% of Americans are food insecure</b>."
(https://www.cbsnews.com/news/one-in-four-americans-food-insecure/)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">And, <b>Almost 30
million Americans didn't have enough food to eat</b>
.(https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/31/us/food-insecurity-30-million-census-survey/index.html)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><a class="western" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/one-in-four-americans-food-insecure/">Study
finds nearly <b>25% of Americans are food insecure</b> MoneyWatch
Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults sometimes don't get enough to eat...</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">Experts predicted
America was racing towards a <b>"looming hunger cliff."
</b>They were right, data shows
(https://www.salon.com/2023/07/05/experts-predicted-america-was-racing-towards-a-looming-hunger-cliff-they-were-right-data-shows/)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><b>Yet, </b>
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a class="western" href="https://www.medpagetoday.com/primarycare/obesity/90142">73%
of Americans are overweight</a> or obese (42%)</b>. But via <a class="western" href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4184011/posts?page=4">another
form of "cooking" (see thread)</a>it is inferred (CBS) that
hunger is a significant problem in the US (don't you experience
hunger every day? Do you sometimes not know what you are going to
eat? If you can answer Yes or sometimes to 3 of the USDA questions
(from which I think the below claims are usually derived) at link
covering the last 12 months, then you also can be said to be "food
insecure.") </span></span>
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aug
30, 2019 <b>—<a class="western" href="https://fee.org/articles/the-poorest-20-of-americans-are-richer-than-most-nations-of-europe/">
The Poorest 20% of Americans Are Richer on Average Than Most European
Nations</a></b> </span></span>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><b>And consider the
top salaries of some of the orgs which make such claims:</b></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sep
6, 2022 — </span><b>1 in 8 </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">kids
in the United States are </span><b>living with hunger</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
(<a class="western" href="https://www.nokidhungry.org/blog/how-many-kids-united-states-live-hunger">https://www.</a></span><a class="western" href="https://www.nokidhungry.org/blog/how-many-kids-united-states-live-hunger"><b>nokidhungry.o</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">rg/blog/how-many-kids-united-states-live-hunger</span></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">)</span></p>
<p class="western"><b><a class="western" href="https://paddockpost.com/2022/05/21/executive-compensation-at-no-kid-hungry/">The
18 most highly compensated employees [at nokidhungry.org] were
reported to be</a>:</b></p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western">$489,966: William H Shore, Founder,
Executive Chairman, Director</p>
</li><li><p class="western">$487,040: Thomas Nelson, President and
CEO, Secretary</p>
</li><li><p class="western">$358,427: Peter Kaye, Former Chief,
Revenue and Marketing (until 5/2019)</p>
</li><li><p class="western">$314,035: Charles Scofield, EVP</p>
</li><li><p class="western">. [list continued]</p></li></ul>
<p></p><p class="western" style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0.06in; text-align: left;">34 million
people are food insecure in the United States. <b>That's millions of
people facing hunger</b>.
(https://www<b>.feedingamerica.org</b>/hunger-in-america)
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><b>1 in 8 children
in America worry about their next meal
</b>(https://www<b>.feedingamerica.org/</b>hunger-in-america/child-hunger-facts)
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><a name="more-47370"></a>
<a class="western" href="https://paddockpost.com/2022/11/11/executive-compensation-at-feeding-america-2021/">Executive
Compensation at <b>Feeding America</b> (2021)</a><br />
137
employees [feedingamerica.org] received more than $100,000 in
compensation with the 19 most highly compensated employees listed
below:</p><ul><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">$969,325:
Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO</p></li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">$485,738:
Katherine Fitzgerald, EVP and COO</p></li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">$434,516:
Paul Henrys, Treasurer... [list continued]</p></li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">The 19 employees
listed above were compensated nearly $7 million which equates to an
average compensation of $370,000....</p></li></ul><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">A graphic showing
783 million people who don't know where their next meal will come
from
(https://www.<span><b>savethechildren.org</b></span>/us/what-we-do/emergency-response/hunger-and-famine-crisis)
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><a class="western" href="https://paddockpost.com/2023/04/28/executive-compensation-at-save-the-children-2021/">Executive
Compensation at <b>Save the Children </b></a>(2021) The 20 most
highly compensated employees were reported to be:</p><ul><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">$583,432:
Janti Soeripto, President and CEO</p></li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">$490,272:
Mark K Shriver, SVP, US Programs</p></li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">$488,891:
Eric Howell, EVP and COO</p></li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">$457,335:
Greg Ferrante, CFO</p></li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">$404,312:
Jennifer Roberti, VP, Marketing, Communications, and Fundraising</p></li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">$402,067:
Debbie Pollock-Berry, VP and Chief of HR </p></li><li><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">. [list continued]</p></li></ul><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">The 20 most highly
compensated employees received more than $7 million in compensation.
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">Catholic Charities,
with a billion in revenues, paid their president $521,554 and their
CFO $310,000, last year.
(https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2020/06/11/should-non-profit-us-food-bank-executives-earn-up-to-11-million-per-year/?sh=7ba37e3dd5ba)</p><p>
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><b>Should Non-Profit
U.S. Food Bank Executives Earn Nearly $1 Million Per Year?</b></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">Our auditors at
OpenTheBooks.com reviewed Feeding America’s payroll disclosures and
found Diana Aviv, CEO, made $1.1 million (2019). This amount included
$347,209 from a previous employer and rolled into a new 457B plan
which was distributed to her when she left the organization that
year.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">In the previous
year, Feeding America paid Aviv compensation of $860,909.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;">In 2019, other
executives at the organization also made a lot of money: President
Matthew Knott ($561,842, up $89,224), Treasurer Paul Henrys
($412,105, up $15,162), and Chief Marketing & Communications
Officer Catherine Davis ($344,166, up $17,161). Chief Supply Chain
Officer William Thomas made nearly $600,000 between 2018 and 2019
before leaving the organization.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For
comparison, four-star generals in the U.S. military earn $268,344
salaries and have hundreds of thousands of troops in their command.
Catholic Charities, with a billion in revenues, paid their president
$521,554 and their CFO $310,000, last year. —</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
</span><a class="western" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2020/06/11/should-non-profit-us-food-bank-executives-earn-up-to-11-million-per-year/?sh=25efebb5d5ba" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2020/06/11/should-non-profit-us-food-bank-executives-earn-up-to-11-million-per-year/?sh=25efebb5d5ba</a></p><br /><p></p>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-38940892661914617842023-08-21T11:49:00.006-04:002023-08-21T11:51:05.381-04:00Responses to some anti-theist railings, part 1.<p> </p><p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">C</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">omments
</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">after</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">
my answer </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">to</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; padding: 0in;"><a class="western" href="https://www.quora.com/Was-God-gambling-with-Satan-in-regards-to-jobs-loyalty-Im-a-compulsive-gambler-Its-difficult-enough-handling-that-without-having-God-as-an-example" target="_top">Was
God gambling with Satan in regards to job's loyalty? I'm a compulsive
gambler. It's difficult enough handling that without having God as an
example.</a></span></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">By
no means was God gambling, for He that inhabits eternity and can see
all things from that perspective (and knows what your </span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>choices</b></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
will be, without forcing you against your will) knew what Job would
do.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In
contrast, it was the devil who was gambling (and induces you to). For
his major premise (as manifest in other places) was that God was
unworthy of being Job’s God - the ultimate source of security and
object of spiritual affection and loyalty (thus the devil’s
original sin of presuming he should sit as God, that God needed to
“share the wealth” so to speak: as he also essentially told Eve:
Is. 14:12–14; Gn. 3).</span></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
Therefore the devil’s minor premise was that Job only loved God
because of blessings Job enjoyed. Thus the 2-stage challenge was,
take them away and Job would reject God (and likely commit suicide),
with the only restriction being that the devil could not take His
life (which his wife recommended that Job take).<br />
However, while
Job certainly expressed his bewilderment at his lamentable condition
which he protested, asking at least at least 66 questions, yet he did
not deny His Creator or foolishly verbally charge Him with
iniquity.<br />
And after God reminded Job by asking him (some count
77) rhetorical questions, such as “Canst thou bind the sweet
influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?” (Job 38:31)
then Job realized that God did care for him and was in control, and
had a purpose, where Job stated,</p>
<p class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0.39in; margin-right: 0.39in; padding: 0in;">
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be
withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without
knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too
wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will
speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard
of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:2-6)</p>
<p class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0.39in; margin-right: 0.39in; padding: 0in;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal;">
Thus the devil lost again, and will yet do so, for he will be done
gambling until the very end:</p>
<p class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<br />
</p>
<p class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0.39in; margin-right: 0.39in; padding: 0in;">
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four
quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to
battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went
up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints
about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of
heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast
into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false
prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
(Revelation 20:8-10)</p>
<p class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0.39in; margin-right: 0.39in; padding: 0in;">
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans
8:28)</p>
<p class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0.39in; margin-right: 0.39in; padding: 0in;">
<br />
</p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Comments
have been deleted by Quora, but not before I copied them, and the
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-style: normal;">anti-theist
charge</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-style: normal;">s,
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-style: normal;">which</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">are
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">basically
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">typical
and repeated</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-style: normal;">atheistic
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">objections,
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">have
been</span></span> overall summarized per content, though responded
to them as verbatim in my replies. And additional comments by me
are in [brackets]. </span></span>
</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>[anti-theist[
So a god that claims to be good destroys the life of a poor man,
kills his whole family simply to make the devil lose a bet? Yet your
god is the one that created the devil and evil in the first place!
Why is this not absolute proof that the god of Abraham is XXXXX if
the bible is true?</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: black;">No,
God did not destroy the life of a poor man and killed his whole
family just to make the devil lose, much less would be even any sort
of proof (unmentionable) if the bible is true. But which comments are
typical of ignorant atheism, and which often seems to be driven by an
animus toward the idea of an ultimate authority.</span></span></p>
<div dir="ltr" id="__w2_wiGQ0fnS15_expanded"><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">First, the
issue was whether faithfulness to God is warranted or not, with the
devil (and atheists) on one side and the likes of Job on that other.
Who showed that his faith could endure loss, that his faithfulness
was not simply due to the blessings he received but was deeper than
that. Many POWs (Jeremiah Denton, etc.) suffering torture for their
country likewise proved their love for country could not be defeated
by atheistic Communism.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Secondly,
the trial also for the sake of the character of Job, who came to
essentially see what atheists typically refuse to see, that if God
is omnipotent and omniscient (as was conveyed by the many rhetorical
questions), then He alone knows what all the effects will be of even
your next breath or the flap of the wings of a butterfly, not only
for this life but for Eternity. And who alone can and will make it
all work out for Good, for the good of those who love God and thus
love the Good. (Rm. 8:28).</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Thus
Job realized that God knew exactly what Job was going thru, and was
in control (His hand on the thermostat s to speak), and would make
it work out for good. Which God did even just as regards this life,
blessing the latter end of Job abundantly more than his beginning in
every respect relative to what He had lost. (Job 42:12)</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Thus
- going by just what the Bible says since that is the God you are
opposing - your objection cannot be that the sufferings of God were
not worth it, and that taking away family and good was unjust.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Which
charges are illogical and absurd, for we are simply not omnipotent
and omniscient and in no position to tell the One who gave life that
He cannot take life, or charge that the relatively momentary losses
of this life are unjust in the light of eternity. Unless we are
omnipotent and omniscient.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We
do not know if the children of Job were fit to be destroyed due to
what they were doing and would do, or that (most likely) they held
to the faith and character of the Godly father, and are in glory
right now. In either case you cannot logically charge God with being
unjust since you only have a fraction of the knowledge of the past,
present and future and the scope of it, or the ability to determine
it.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Going
back to the devil; his original presumption) was essentially that
the created is fit to be as God, and that God is unjust in requiring
obedience in order to obtain blessing, and in punishing disobedience
or bluffing about it; but that it is the right of the created to
have the power and position of God. Which premise also eliminates
mercy (not getting the evil you deserve) and grace (getting the good
that you do not), since it presumes that having what other’s
merited is the right of those who have/do not.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Thus
the devil presumed in self-exaltation to put himself in the place of
God, (Isaiah 14:12–20) and (being cast down for his unholy
presumption) in Gn. 3:1–5 essentially told Eve that God was
unjustly keeping something back from her, which was her right to
have, and which would be hers by disobedience, rather than this
resulting in the opposite, as God had forewarned. Gn. 3:1-7</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">For
man will always makes someone or something his/her god, their
ultimate source of security, and object of spiritual affection and
allegiance, ultimately either the created or the Creator. And while
God does not need anything (Psalms 50:7–12; Acts 17:25) it is only
right and to man’s benefit that he choose the omnipotent and
omniscient to be his God who is able to make all work out for the
Good.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: black;">May
God peradventure grant you "repentance to the acknowledging of
the truth." (2 Timothy 2:25)</span></span></p>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="__w2_wE9KCW1Z2_full_comment_text">
<div dir="ltr" id="wE9KCW1Z12">
<div dir="ltr" id="__w2_wE9KCW1Z13__expanded">
<div dir="ltr" id="wSv2bTkw1">
<div dir="ltr" id="__w2_wSv2bTkw3_expanded_content"><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>The
devil was urged on by god who ruined the mans life and and
killed his family, which less remained even though in the end
the man got a new family.</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>No
matter how you spin it, this is a huge wicked act by the
biblical god.</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>Instead
of a good and loving god the Bible god is shown to be a a cruel
jealous one that by any normal standards would be considered
clearly evil, telling his people to be happy as they kill kids
and killing people without reasons or for such not wanting
to have sex with his dead brothers wife.</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>You need
to engage in mental gymnastics to accept such as anything less
than evil :)</i></span></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Just
what is behind your fallacious charges and inability to reason
objectively and see anything but what is read into the text (and
refrain from angry vulgarity)? You conclusions are simply not
warranted by the facts.</span></span></p>
<div dir="ltr" id="__w2_wRAxZVqp40_expanded"><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">God did not
tell people to be happy as they killed children (but foretold that
the slayers of a wicked people would be: Psalms 137:9), nor did He
kill or do anything “for no reason,” or one for simply not
wanting to have sexual relations with his dead brothers wife (versus
refusing - and possibly repeatedly - to provide her a child due to
his own utterly selfish reasons, contrary to God’s command and
that of Judah: Gn. 1:28; 38:1–10).</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">And
just how is it unjust for a Creator to take away the lives of people
the He created and gave life to, while replacing them with even more
and better (at least in beauty)? You can only assume that Job as
well as all involved would not now say that this was right and best
in the light of all the facts, past and future.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Which
means that you indeed must presume omniscience or that God is not,
nor omnipotent, who makes all things work out for the good who
choose the Good.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Which
would mean that such angry unreason-able atheist tirades flows from
either ignorance or is directed to a god that is not of the Bible.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">But
your response indicates that have been indoctrinated by such, and
insist on reading into Scripture what anti-theists can only contrive
to actually teach, in context.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">But
such a caricature serves a malevolent purpose.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><i>P</i></span><span style="color: black;"><i>eople
that you claim to be “wicked” </i></span><span style="color: black;"><i>are
</i></span><span style="color: black;"><i> only wicked according to the
bible. </i></span><span style="color: black;"><i>[atheist goes on to
basically just double-down on his ranting accusations) </i></span><span style="color: black;"><i>He
turns Lot’s wife into salt for no reason, </i></span><span style="color: black;"><i>for
</i></span><span style="color: black;"><i>she is </i></span><span style="color: black;"><i>never</i></span><span style="color: black;"><i>
told to not look back .</i></span></span></p>
</div>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>People
that you claim to be “wicked” are only wicked according to the
Bible.”</i> And? If you are going to attack the God of the Bible
then you must go by what the Bible says. Thus if the Bible says that
the people slain were wicked, you simply cannot change that to mean
there were not wicked in order charge God with injustice. That is
simply illogical and untenable.</span></span></p>
<div dir="ltr" id="__w2_wgAlzVEc15_expanded"><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">And contrary to
your next instance of changing the Bible to serve your purpose, “O
daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be,
that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Happy shall he be, that
taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones,” (Psalms
137:8,9)</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">This
is not “Telling his followers to be happy as they kill children”
as you charged, but that those (not the Jews) who executed what was
just retaliation to Babylon would be happy. It would be like Jews in
Hitler’s camps foretelling the satisfaction of Russians in
executing just retaliation upon their persecutors.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Then
you try to charge God with injustice as concerns Job, and selfish
Onan, despite my showing you how your charges are fallacious and
untenable in the light of the facts about the situation and of God.
And which again shows you refuse to be reasoned with.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Then
you example blindness with </span></span>
</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>He
kills Lot’s wife, turns her into salt for no reason given. </i><i>S</i><i>he
</i><i>was </i><i> </i><i>never </i><i> even told to not look back.
so she is not even breaking any rules,”</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Yet
the text plainly states that the angels laid hold upon his hand, and
upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters”
and commanded them, “Escape for thy life; <b>look not behind
thee</b>,… (Genesis 19:16,17)</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Thus
contrary to you, she is indeed told to not look back. yet she
clearly disobeyed the expressed command of no less than manifest
angels, and by looking back she evidenced she longed for that wicked
place.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">But
of course they do not tell you that on anti-theist web sites whose
lying charges you parrot.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Then
we have your next charge:</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Your<i>
omnipotent god chose </i><i>mass </i><i> </i><i>extermination all
</i><i>because humans sinned. That </i><i>included plenty</i><i>of
innocent children and </i><i>multitudes</i><i> of innocent animals.
</i><i>Yet as </i><i>omnipotent he could chose </i><i>another</i><i>
way to punish the sinners </i><i>and exclude </i><i>billion of
innocent creatures.”</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Yes,
the Creator who gave life can take it, and here He punished people
whose wickedness was great and every imagination of their thoughts
was only evil continually, (Genesis 6:5) while delivering the
innocent from becoming like their elders and perpetuating itself.
And would include delivering animals [and children] from the
perversions they were subject to.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Yet
when God allows evil then atheists find fault with Him, as if they
were omniscient and omnipotent! Which brings us to your next
judgement on God:</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>Instead</i><i>
</i><i>of </i><i>a Good and loving god </i><i>the </i><i>bible
is showing a cruel jealous god </i><i>who</i><i> </i><i>driven by
ego</i><i>”</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Which
is simply the logical fallacy of assuming what you have not and
cannot establish. Which is that “a Good and loving god” is
contrary to judging what is not “Good and loving,’ and which
instead means that being Good and loving means that the Creator
should not finally exterminate a people whose wickedness was great
and every imagination of their thoughts was only evil continually.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">But
as said, if God did not, then atheists would object to that. You can
argue that God should have rehabilitated them, though He gave them
120 years of Noah’s preaching before the Flood came, but that is
also presuming that you know better than God what all the actions
and effects are and will be of man. Which is indeed would be
arrogant presumption.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Next,</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>Many
Christians </i><i>find</i><i> at these difficult and troubling texts
and </i><i>engage in </i><i> mental gymnastics </i><i>to defend
them</i><i>”</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Which
is irrelevant, for i provided you sound refutation of your ignorant
and fallacious and presumptuous charges, and it you who must resort
to mental gymnastics in order to read what you want into and out of
Scripture.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Yet
as you continue to demonstrate unreason-able intransigence should i
continue?</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>If
find it strange for you try to justify killing innocent children
and billion of animals.</i></span></span></p>
</div>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Which
response is simply the “argument by outrage” tactic, which
effectively has as its premise that it is outrageous for the Creator
who gave life - and knows what all the effects will be - to also take
it, exterminating the wicked and delivering the innocent.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Which
means that it is your premise that is outrageous.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">As
has been and will be further shown, by the grace of God, despite your
blind stubborn and absurd attempt to indict God as if you were
omniscient and omnipotent.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Next:</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>let
</i><i>us presume that</i><i> those people were </i><i>indeed
</i><i>wicked.”</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">No,
there is nothing hypothetical here: God says the “wickedness of man
<i>was</i> only evil continually.”</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Let
me remind you of what I said before, that since you are attacking the
God of the Bible for what the Bible says He did, then you must
actually stick with what it says, and not attack or impugn the
integrity of the Bible, which would be a different debate.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>Do
you </i><i>really actually</i><i> believe </i><i>the</i><i> infants
</i><i>were </i><i> wicked </i><i>also</i><i>?”</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Do
you honestly read what I had said? “He punished people whose
wickedness was great and every imagination of their thoughts was only
evil continually, (Genesis 6:5) while delivering the innocent from
becoming like their elders and perpetuating itself. And would include
delivering animals [and children] from the perversions they were
subject to.”</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Both
were most likely subject to sexual and physical abuse, and yet when
God does not deal prevent or judge such promptly I am sure you would
find fault with Him for that.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Next:</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>Being</i>
<i>omniscient and omnipotent </i><i>means he</i><i> could chose ANY
way to </i><i>annihilate </i><i> the sinners. </i><i>Vaporize the,
</i><i>sick</i><i>ness, etc. or even compel </i><i>them </i><i>to
</i><i>repent. </i><i>Instead, </i><i> he wanted to kill billion of
innocent creatures”</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Meaning
you find fault with the method God used to deal with man (who misused
what God gave, and broke His good laws), based upon the premise that
He could have acted differently in His omniscience and omnipotence.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">But
which presumes you know better than God, that somehow toasting them
alive (thus having no space to repent) or dying of sickness would be
better than drowning (not much of a choice), or force them to repent
and thus deny man the freedom to make choices (see <a class="western" href="http://www.conservapedia.com/Theodicy" target="_blank">Theodicy</a>).</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">And
as for billions of innocent creatures, aside from drowning what loss
did they suffer? A lion missing out their next meal chomping down a
zebra, or the latter missing out on being part of the food chain? Or
do you suppose the only-evil people took care of pets? Man is the
reason of their pain and abuse, and they are not to be abused but are
here to provide for man. </span></span>
</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">All
of which postulations presume you know better than an omniscient and
omnipotent God - who knows what man will chose and the consequences
of even your next breath, for this life and the next - which means
(once again) that you must presume omniscience.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Consider
further the utter irrationality of your argument: The Creator gives
life, breath and all good things, but He has no right - based upon
what He knows and can do - to take the same?</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Really?</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Without
the Creator there would be no life, and value to it, nor even the
moral sense that taking innocent like is wrong, and thus nothing to
take nor even the moral sense regarding the taking of it!</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Thus
you should thank God for your moral revulsion to God taking innocent
life. However, this revulsion is based upon the premise that life is
valuable and thus (in the Bible) those who take innocent life must
lose theirs (based upon multiple eye-witness and executed at the
hands of all the people via stoning), as man has no right to take
innocent life. But why?</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Knowing
how many lives have turned out today, then if we could go back in
time and then we might not only justify preventing the conception of
some lives (as proabortionists do) but also the taking of the same
(Stalin, etc.), since they would turn out to be destructive of life
or greatly suffer.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">However,
the reason man is wrong for taking innocent life is because he
neither,</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">*created
life nor can give it in the eternal realm,</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">*can
foresee, in all depth and detail, how a life will turn out,</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">*has
the power to orchestra all the actions and works that man is allowed
to engage in to work out for Good.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Thus
you cannot rationally impugn iniquity to God for taking innocent life
or man and animals unless you as establish that,</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">*God
does not know in all depth and detail what all the effects will be of
our actions for time and for eternity;</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">*God
is not able to make all work out for the good of those who love God
and thus love the Good;</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">*It
was not better in the light of all that can be know that God acted as
He did, including delivering the innocent from becoming like their
damnable parents, and rehabilitating the earth. And making animals to
be fertilizer and fuel for man.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">*Man
is omniscient and omnipotent and knows and can do the above</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">*The
creator who gave life and all good things has not the right to take
it, and cannot recreate it.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Next,</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>A</i><i>lso,a
</i><i> omniscient and omnipotent </i><i>being </i><i> can also NEVER
</i><i>claim he </i><i>did not know this </i><i>evil condition
</i><i>would </i><i>result, thus this judgment of the evil</i><i>
means he plan</i><i>ned </i><i>to </i><i> drowned </i><i>the evil and
the kids and </i><i> billions of innocent animals.”</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">God
did indeed know what would happen, as has been continually affirmed,
yet knowing what man will do does not translate into forcing man to
do it. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">[Again,
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">see</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3740248/posts?page=27#27">Theodicy</a>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
response to another poster after this one].</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">But
regardless, it remains that you cannot rationally impugn iniquity to
God for His actions or inactions unless you can establish what I
listed above, and presume omniscience and omnipotence for man. Which
makes man to be as God, which is simply irrational.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Next,</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>Many
Christians </i><i> </i><i>c</i><i>hange the definition of omniscient
and omnipotent at will...mental gymnastics . </i></span></span>
</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Which
response is that of recourse to a irrelevant diversionary strawman,
since I did not do at all what you describe even if some others many.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Instead
I showed that it is you who must engage in gymnastics, arguing
against God as if He was not omniscient and omnipotent and then
arguing against Him for being so, which is all so much railing
irrationality.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">If
fact consistent with what you have argued so far, unless God does
what you believe is right and when you demand that He do it then you
would judge Him as if you were omniscient and omnipotent.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">So
it have been good to see your vain arguments exposed as spurious,
spurious, which I do hope actually helps you.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">However
as we are both intransigent in our positions and as this comment
section is poorly set up for debates, then instead of much more
extended debate here I would rather format this exchange and post
this to a forum of my choice (maybe http://www.freerepublic.com) so
that others may see it and respond.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: black;">So
once again we see more intransigent irrationality. You write:</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>Your
god cannot be omniscient and omnipotent for that means that god
created Adan and Eve to eat the fruit. leaving them with no free
will, no choice to do anything else”</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Yet
nowhere does God say that He did not know, yet neither does knowing
what man will do mean that man can not choose to do it. <span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
[Again, see <a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3740248/posts?page=27#27">Theodicy</a>
and response to another poster after this one].</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">IF
I know that you are going to continue to resort to such spurious
objections then that does not mean I am making you do it against your
will, though I provide you the situation to do it.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Next,</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>Being
</i><i>omniscient and omnipotent means </i><i> he </i><i>wanted</i><i>
to kill the all the firstborn in Egypt. </i></span></span>
</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Indeed
God did kill some who were not culpable/guilty of any sin themselves,
which was a consequence of man’s actions that God foresaw, yet
again, as said, for you to judge it to be wrong for the Creator to
take away the life and breath that He gave presupposes that you know
what all the consequences would be for them and for others if He did
not act as He did.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Meaning
once again that you are presuming omniscience omnipotence.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Next,</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>The</i><i>
claim </i><i>that the giver of life </i><i> has the right to take
life </i><i>still is flawed since it means an </i><i>omniscient and
omnipotent</i><i> </i><i>being </i><i>is evil and cruel when he kill
innocent creatures because they </i><i>act</i><i> the way he created
them </i><i>to</i><i>.”</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Rather,
it is your argument that is flawed, since as said, knowing what man
will do still does not force man to do it, and again, you can only
presume that you know better than God that giving man the freedom to
chose btwn 2 opposites, with consequences (rather than making man
like a robot or cloud, or stopping man every time he was going to do
evil, or reversing the effects every time man did evil, etc.), was
unjust in the light of all that can be know about the past and future
effects.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">And
the “children of the devil “(1 John 3:10) “fitted for
destruction” (Romans 9:22) are not judged for what they could not
help but choose to do, but they are condemned on the basis of the
choices they could and did make contrary to what they knew was right,
misusing good things gave graciously God gave them and breaking His
good laws — their own works not those of others. (Dt 24:16; 1Kg
14:13; 2 Kg14:6; 22:18-20; 2 Chrn 25:4; Jer 31:29,3) </span></span>
</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">And
as God owes grace to no one, then He cannot be unjust in showing more
grace to some than others. Arguing what God could do and did not once
again presupposes that you know better than God. </span></span>
</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Meaning
once again that you must presume omniscience omnipotence in order to
judge God. There is no way around this.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Next,</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>You
can only</i> <i>blindly </i><i>assert that </i><i> “everything god
does is good j even killing innocent children because </i><i>he is
omniscient and omnipotent.”</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Rather
it means that when a being is omniscient omnipotent and can this take
away life that He gave in the first place, and thus exterminate the
wicked and deliver the innocent from becoming like the former, ending
up in Heaven rather than Hell, then you as a very very finite being
cannot indict Him as doing wrong.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Meaning
once again that you are presuming omniscience omnipotence. There is
no way around this.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Next:</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>A</i><i>ccording
to the bible he is the creator of evil Isaiah 45:7 “I form the
light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord
do all these things””</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Yes,
God who made everything good, and who cannot commit iniquity, (Job
34:10) also creates evil, not moral evil but evil in the sense of
sending evil/trouble/adversity in judgments. For that is how it is
revealed in the Bible, in which context is how you understand the
Bible.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">But
if you just read the prevaricating propaganda of atheist web sites
you would not know that.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Next,</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>This
means your god</i><i> can only be a good god if you re define evil
and good just because god do</i><i>es</i><i> it.”</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Rather,
it is God who gives man [the] moral sense that you even need to make
a moral argument [and moral judgment must take into account what the
actor knew, and intent, and its effects], and God expressly defines
the very morality of good and evil in the Bible.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">However,
atheism has no transcendent supreme standard for morality (as you
said, “no teachings, no rules, no ideology, no claims, no
answers”), and can itself justify sin while it condemns God for
they simply cannot allow that God can be just and merciful such by
exterminating the wicked and delivering the innocent from becoming
like the former, ending up in Heaven rather than Hell.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">You
can also postulate other alternative means of dealing with choices
and consequences but that presupposes that you know what all the
consequences would be for them and for others if He did not act as He
did.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Meaning
once again that you are presuming omniscience omnipotence. There is
no way around this.</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Next:</span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>the
other alternative is that the god of the </i><i>the bible is just
another bronze age myth </i><i>which takes </i><i>mental gymnastics</i><i>
defend</i><i>”</i></span></span></p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Meaning
when all else fails, you must resort to a strawman [the <a class="western" href="https://jerome23.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/not-bronze-age-myths-lets-end-this-misleading-cliche/">bronze
age premise l</a>ike that of the c<a class="western" href="http://www.tektonics.org/copycathub.php">opycat
fallacy</a>] for your gymnastics charge to be valid, and attack the
integrity and authority of the very Source that your argument has
required. [your myopia would also likely fit in with the jurors
initially in <a class="western" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12_Angry_Men_(1957_film)">12
Angry Men</a>] </span></span>
</p>
<p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Which
is irrational and leaves you without any valid argument, and which
means I will do as I said and provide this exchange where public can
see it better.</span></span></p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.07in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Which
would be better taking up more of my time with your specious vain
arrogant railings against the very Creator who have you life, breath
and all things, and His Son who gave Himself for your salvation, that
you may find life thru Him. May you yet do so. Good night.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.06in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Related:</span></span></p>
<p align="justify" class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">God
could have,</span></span></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li><p align="left" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1.
made us (and angels) with no moral standard or sense or deprived us
from the moral ability to respond to or choose good [morally
insensible].</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="left" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2.
granted us free moral agency, but never have given us anything to
choose between [negation of moral choices].</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="left" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3.
called man to make the Creator their ultimate object of spiritual
affection and allegiance and source of security as being what is
right and what is best for man, versus finite created beings or
things being one's "god," and provided moral revelation
and influences. But always have moved us to do good, and never have
allowed us to choose evil (even if as by making believing in God and
choosing good so utterly compelling — like God appearing daily and
always doing miracles on demand, and preventing any seeming evidence
to the contrary - so that no man could attempt to make excuses for
not believing in Him [effective negation of any freedom to choose]).</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="left" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">4.
allowed us to choose evil, but immediately reversed any effects and
not penalized such [negation of moral consequences].</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="left" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">5.
allowed us to do bad, but restricted us to a place where it would
harm no one but ourselves [restriction of moral consequences].</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="left" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">6.
allowed us to choose between good and evil, and to affect others by
it, but not ultimately reward or punish us accordingly [negation of
eternal consequences, positive or negative].</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="left" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">7.
given us the ability to choose, and alternatives to chose from, and
to face and overcome evil or be overcome by it, with the ability to
effect others and things by our choices, and to exercise some reward
or punishment in this life for morality, and ultimately reward or
punishment all accordingly [pure justice].</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="left" class="western" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">8.
restrained evil to some degree, while making the evil that man does
to work out for the good of those who want good, and who thus love
God, who is supremely Good.</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="left" class="western" style="border: none; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">9.
in accordance with 8, the Creator could have chose to manifest
Himself in the flesh, and by Him to provide man a means of escaping
the ultimate retribution of Divine justice, and instead receive
unmerited eternal favor, at God's own expense and credit,
appropriated by a repentant obedient faith, in addition to the loss
or gaining of certain rewards based on one's quality of work as a
child of God. And eternally punish, to varying degrees, those whose
response to God's revelation manifested they want evil, [justice
maintained while mercy and grace given].</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">4h
</span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #636466;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: #636466;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">·<a class="western" href="https://www.quora.com/If-God-really-exists-and-requires-that-all-humans-follow-a-religion-why-doesn-t-he-she-or-it-tell-mankind-which-denomination-of-religion-is-the-correct-denomination-of-religion-to-follow-instead-of-letting-humans/answer/Daniel-Hamilton-53?comment_id=353268205&comment_type=2">https://www.quora.com/If-God-really-exists-and-requires-that-all-humans-follow-a-religion-why-doesn-t-he-she-or-it-tell-mankind-which-denomination-of-religion-is-the-correct-denomination-of-religion-to-follow-instead-of-letting-humans/answer/Daniel-Hamilton-53?comment_id=353268205&comment_type=2</a>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
No, that irrational parroted polemic is simply non-sense. Simply put,
knowing what a person will do does not require removing his ability
to choose, as well as alternatives to choose btwn.</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
Nor is the above removal required in order to that person to fulfil a
role that an omniscient being knows that they will, correspondent to
his plan. Being in a script according to foreknowledge does not
require one to have no choice scripted</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
As concerns the latter, due to the character of a person (which
character is due to previous choices), I can quite assuredly know how
a certain person will react to words of mine, such as a moral
reproof, and which could actually accomplish a plan I have, even
though that person need not react as I know he will.</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
In the case of old Pharaoh, in the program of God delivering the
Hebrews, then Moses both records that Pharaoh hardened his own heart,
(Ex. 8:15, 32) as well as that God stated that He would harden
Pharaoh’s heart, (Ex. 4:21) and did, Ex. 14:8) as an example of
what not to do, (1 Sam, 6:6)</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
Yet God did not hardened Pharaoh’s heart by taking away his will or
any alternatives, and in fact at some points Pharaoh relented to some
degree.</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
But instead, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart via actions that normally
would have moved a person to rationally change his mind, as requested
and as others did.</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
How you react to this reproof is your choice.</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
Moreover, as an infinitely wise omniscient as well as omnipotent
being, then morally speaking, knowing what every single effect will
be of every choice of man - immediate, resultant and progressive, not
only in this life but the future and in eternity - as well as the
motive behind each one, and being able to make all to ultimately work
out for what is Good, with justice as well as with mercy and grace;</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
means that you are beyond being judged by manifestly finite
exceedingly ignorant man, though anti-theists habitually do so
according to nature, thereby presuming omniscience.</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
<br />
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
<i>Being a</i><i>n omniscient entity </i><i>means</i><i> knows
exactly what will happen </i><i>which means </i><i> there can be </i><i>no</i><i>
choice </i><i>for humans. A </i><i>huma</i><i>n can only hopt to
predict a </i><i>response </i><i>which is not</i><i> omniscience </i>
</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
Actually, your response examples irrationality, since it presumes
omniscience equates to predetermination as requiring the removal of
choice, which is simply not a rational conclusion. If I could go back
in time to 50 years ago then I could know for certain things that
would happen, but that simply does not mean I must make any happen.
And yet for an eternal omniscient the future is seen as well as the
past.</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
And I were omniscient and also omnipotent, then I could also know
what all the effects would be of any possible choices I made while in
the past, and even know what brought them about, and know how to be
able ensure man would be able to make choices, and yet, as with
Pharaoh, leave him with the ability to make his own choices.</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
“<i>God knew just what the Pharaoh would do”</i></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
Yes, indeed God did know exactly what the Pharaoh would do. But that
in no way meant Pharaoh had no alternative choice, not only in the
one's at issue, but the previous moral choices he made which left him
with a heart that resulted in the character that he had, with its
resultant response to manifestly supernatural reproofs.</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
“means that you are beyond being judged by manifestly finite
exceedingly ignorant man,” Really? What do you think happens daily
in court rooms around the world? I’ll give you a clue. Humans sit
in judgement of other humans.</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
The exceedingly finite judging the same is simply not analogous to
the exceedingly finite, profoundly relatively ignorant of all that
can be known, and existing as mere specks in the universe, and in the
expanse of time, presuming to condemn an omniscient and also
omnipotent being as immoral, which is absurd, seeing as the former is
in no position to know all the facts, past, present and future and
all the causes, and effects, past and future into eternity...</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
“<i>Humans may be far from knowing everything yet he is hardly
ignorant, especially since the last two centuries.”</i></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
Which also another proffered polemic of antitheists, that argues that
science has discovered the physical causes of such occurrences as
lightning which used to ascribed as purely supernatural. then all
else will be, that the universe is a result of purely natural
processes, which is a position of faith since it certainly is no
proven.</p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="background: transparent; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.06in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And
to the contrary, the more we learn of an exceedingly vast,
systematically ordered universe, exquisitely finely tuned for life
with intricate astounding complexity, then the more it<a class="western" href="https://www.quora.com/How-would-you-respond-to-this-argument-Since-science-cannot-prove-or-disprove-the-existence-of-God-then-its-possible-he-exists/answer/Daniel-Hamilton-53">
testifies to design</a>, requiring a First Cause (at the least), that
of a powerful being of supreme intelligence being behind the
existence of energy and organization of matter.</span></span></p>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-54413653549510275462023-08-17T09:13:00.001-04:002023-08-17T09:16:03.418-04:0010-Point+ Biblical Refutation of RC Attempted Refutation of Sola Scriptura <p> </p>10-Point+ Biblical Refutation of RC Attempted Refutation of Sola Scriptura<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> <span>(which <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/religion/4175404/posts?page=72#72" target="_blank">vain attempt</a> was was by RC apologist Dave Armstrong, published in the National Catholic Register, December 11, 2016) </span></i></span><br /><div class="content"><div class="meta"> </div><div class="text"><i>1. It's Not Taught in the Bible Scripture certainly is a
“standard of truth”, but not in a sense that rules out the binding
authority of authentic apostolic tradition and the Church.</i><p>
Plainly wrong. First, "authentic apostolic tradition" is based upon the
the novel and unScriptural premise of ensured perpetual magisterial
veracity (EPMV) as per Rome which is nowhere seen or promised in
Scripture (leading into all Truth" does not mean that). Thus EPMV itself
flows from tradition, but it is another example or Catholic
circularity. </p><p> Secondly, "authentic apostolic tradition" has as it
corollary that of Jewish tradition, which the Orthodox also invoke
today in rejecting Christ, but the Lord and His apostles never invoked
tradition as being the supreme standard. And while men such as the
apostles could speak as wholly inspired of God and provide new public
revelation thereby, and thus call souls to hold fast to their tradition,
Rome does not and cannot presumes its popes and ecumenical councils
speak as wholly inspired of God. </p><p> But it is <a href="http://peacebyjesus.net/2Tim_3.html#Partial">abundantly evidenced </a>that
as written, Scripture became the transcendent supreme standard for
obedience and testing and establishing truth claims as the wholly
Divinely inspired and assured, Word of God. And Scripture provided the
epistemological doctrinal and prophetic foundation for the NT church,
which it is grounded in and supports, being the support "of the Truth."
Thus the veracity of even apostolic oral preaching could be subject to
testing by Scripture, (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2017.11" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">Acts 17:11</span></a>) and not vice versa.</p><p>
For an authoritative body of wholly God-inspired writings had been
manifestly established by the time of Christ as being "Scripture, ("in
all the Scriptures") "even the tripartite canon of the Law, the Prophets
and The Writings, by which the Lord Jesus established His messiahship
and ministry and opened the minds of the disciples to, who did the same .
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="24:27-24:27" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/LUK.24?passageId=LUK.24.27">Luke 24:27</a></span>.44,45; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="17:2-17:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.17?passageId=ACT.17.2">Acts 17:2</a></span>; 18:28, etc.) </p><p></p><p> For God manifestly made writing His most-reliable means of authoritative preservation. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Exodus%2017.14" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">Exodus 17:14</span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Exodus%2034.1" target="_blank">34:1</a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Exodus%2034.27" target="_blank">27</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Deuteronomy%2010.4" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">Deuteronomy 10:4</span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Deuteronomy%2017.18" target="_blank">17:18</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Deuteronomy%2027.3" target="_blank">27:3</a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Deuteronomy%2027.8" target="_blank">8</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Deuteronomy%2031.24" target="_blank">31:24</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Joshua%201.8" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">Joshua 1:8</span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Chronicles%2034.15" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">2 Chronicles 34:15</span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Chronicles%2034.18-19" target="_blank">18-19</a>, <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Chronicles%2034.30-31" target="_blank">30-31</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Psalm%2019.7-11" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">Psalm 19:7-11</span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Psalm%20102.18" target="_blank">102:18</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Psalm%20102.119" target="_blank">119</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Isaiah%2030.8" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">Isaiah 30:8</span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jeremiah%2030.2" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">Jeremiah 30:2</span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matthew%204.5-7" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">Matthew 4:5-7</span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matthew%2022.29" target="_blank">22:29</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Luke%2024.44" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">Luke 24:44</span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Luke%2024.45" target="_blank">45</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/John%205.46" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">John 5:46</span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/John%205.47" target="_blank">47</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/John%2020.31" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">John 20:31</span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2017.2" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">Acts 17:2</span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2017.11" target="_blank">11</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2018.28" target="_blank">18:28</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Revelation%201.1" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer">Revelation 1:1</span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Revelation%2020.12" target="_blank">20:12</a>, <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Revelation%2020.15" target="_blank">15</a>; </p><p align="LEFT"></p><p> [1b] <i>
Catholics agree with Protestants that Scripture is materially
sufficient: i.e., every true doctrine can be found in the Bible, if only
implicitly and indirectly by deduction. But no biblical passage teaches
that Scripture is the sole rule of faith for the Christian (formal
sufficiency). Nor can sola Scriptura be deduced from implicit passages.</i></p><p>
SS actually includes the materially sense as regards sufficiency, but
not as in Catholicism, (esp. RC) in which "The Church" asserts that
written and oral tradition teach ensured perpetual magisterial veracity
in formal teaching on faith and morals uniquely for their church, thus
effectively validating its own claim, and thus if they<a href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2016/09/papal-presumption-assumption-of-mary-in.html"> claim the Assumption i</a>s
a fact, then all are to believe it. But SS does teach material
sufficiency in the sense that "what is "necessary for God's own glory,
man's salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in
scripture, or<b> by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from scripture</b>:
unto which nothing at any time is to be added [as public express
revelation], whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of
men." </p><p> To which it adds that souls by "a due use of the ordinary
means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them" (necessary
things). And that, </p><blockquote> .".we acknowledge...that there are
some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the
Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered
by the light of nature , and Christian prudence, according to the
general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.”
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/ch_I.html </blockquote><p>
Thus while Scripture itself does not provide a full table of contents,
yet since it is manifest that souls did discern both men and writings as
being of God (as seen by John the baptizer being judged as a prophet
and the establishment of what the Lord referred to as "all the
Scripture" (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="11:32-11:32" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MRK.11?passageId=MRK.11.32">Mark 11:32</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="24:27-24:27" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/LUK.24?passageId=LUK.24.27">Lk. 24:27</a></span>)
before there was a church, then thus by logical (Scripture also
materially evidences, affirms, provides for the use of reason) "good and
necessary consequence" then the development of a canon is found to be
Scriptural. </p><p> meaning that whatever a thus it affirms that "It
belongeth to synods and councils, ministerially to determine
controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to set down rules and
directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and
government of his church; to receive complaints in cases of
maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same..." - The
Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) </p><p> Thus the issue is that of sola prima, </p><p><i>2. “Word of God” <br /><i>“Word”
in Holy Scripture quite often refers to a proclaimed, oral word of
prophets or apostles. They spoke the word of God, whether or not their
utterances were later recorded in Scripture (see, e.g., <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JER" data-bible-ref="25:3-25:3" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JER.25?passageId=JER.25.3">Jer 25:3</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JER" data-bible-ref="25:7-25:8" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JER.25?passageId=JER.25.7-JER.25.8"> 7-8</a></span>). The oral “word” had equal authority. This was also true of apostolic preaching (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1TH" data-bible-ref="2:13-2:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1TH.2?passageId=1TH.2.13">1 Thess 2:13</a></span>).</i> </i></p><p>
As said, this argument and its polemical premise is invalid, since
while men such as the apostles could speak as wholly inspired of God and
provide new public revelation thereby, and thus call souls to hold fast
to their tradition, Rome does not and cannot presumes its popes and
ecumenical councils speak as wholly inspired of God. </p><p><i> 3. Tradition is Not a Dirty Word <br /><i> The Bible condemns corrupt traditions of men (e.g., <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="15:2-15:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MAT.15?passageId=MAT.15.2-MAT.15.6">Matt 15:2-6</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="7:8-7:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MRK.7?passageId=MRK.7.8-MRK.7.13">Mk 7:8-13</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="COL" data-bible-ref="2:8-2:8" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/COL.2?passageId=COL.2.8">Col 2:8</a></span>).
Catholics agree with this. But it’s not the whole truth. True,
apostolic traditions are also positively endorsed. These traditions are
in total harmony with and consistent with Scripture. In that sense,
Scripture is the “final judge” of tradition, but not in the sense that
it rules out all binding tradition and Church authority (see, e.g., <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:42-2:42" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.42">Acts 2:42</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="11:2-11:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.11?passageId=1CO.11.2">1 Cor 11:2</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TH" data-bible-ref="2:15-2:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/2TH.2?passageId=2TH.2.15">2 Thess 2:15</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-ref="1:13-1:14" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/2TI.1?passageId=2TI.1.13-2TI.1.14">2 Tim 1:13-14</a></span>; 2:2; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JUD" data-bible-ref="1:3-1:3" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JUD.1?passageId=JUD.1.3">Jude 3</a></span>).</i> </i></p><p>What binding tradition and Church authority means is that As said, what authentic apostolic traditions consist of rests upon the
premise of the tradition of ensured magisterial veracity, thus being
circular logic. For Rome has presumed to infallibly declare she is and
will be perpetually infallible whenever she speaks in accordance with
her infallibly defined (scope and subject-based) formula, which renders
her declaration that she is infallible, to be infallible, as well as all
else she accordingly declares, and presumes protection from at least
salvific error in non-infallible magisterial teaching on faith and
morals. </p><p><i>4. Jesus and Paul Accepted Non-Biblical Oral and Written Traditions</i><br /><i>Jesus
and St. Paul accepted the authority of the Old Testament, but they also
appealed to other authority, outside of written revelation. For
example, in <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="23:2-23:3" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MAT.23?passageId=MAT.23.2-MAT.23.3">Matthew 23:2-3</a></span>,
Jesus teaches that the scribes and Pharisees have a legitimate, binding
authority, based on a teaching succession from Moses’ seat, which
phrase (or idea) cannot be found anywhere in the Old Testament. It is
found in the (originally oral) Mishna.</i></p><p> Wrong. First, if the
RCs cared to search, though should fined that the idea - as a principle -
of supreme - but not of ensured perpetual infallibility - magisterial
authority can be found in the Old Testament, as can that of civil
authority and the supreme court, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="DEU" data-bible-ref="17:8-17:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/DEU.17?passageId=DEU.17.8-DEU.17.13">Dt. 17:8-13</a></span>) as well as successors in Judaism <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EZR" data-bible-ref="7:25-7:25" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/EZR.7?passageId=EZR.7.25">Ezra 7:25</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="NEH" data-bible-ref="8:4-8:8" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/NEH.8?passageId=NEH.8.4-NEH.8.8">Nehemiah 8:4-8</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAL" data-bible-ref="2:7-2:7" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MAL.2?passageId=MAL.2.7">Malachi 2:7</a></span>) </p><p>
Secondly, the fact that something found in a source called "tradition"
is cited in Scripture does not mean that whatever is in that tradition
is of God, any more than Paul citing a truth expressed by a pagan (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="17:28-17:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.17?passageId=ACT.17.28">Acts 17:28</a></span>)
means that whatever else is in that tradition is of God. And SS affirms
the principle of more Scripture being added to the OT and discerned as
it. </p><p> The issue thus becomes the authority of the entity that
states that something is of God, and in the cited examples it is wholly
God-inspired sources, Christ and Paul, who affirm such, while as for
Rome, she does not speaks as wholly God-inspired voice, and her claim of
EPMV is one that rests upon itself. </p><p> [4b] <i> In <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="10:4-10:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.10?passageId=1CO.10.4">1 Corinthians 10:4</a></span>,
St. Paul refers to a rock which “followed” the Jews through the Sinai
wilderness. The Old Testament says nothing about such miraculous
movement, i</i></p><p> More ignorance: "And did all drink the same
spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed
them: and that Rock was Christ" (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="10:4-10:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.10?passageId=1CO.10.4">1 Corinthians 10:4</a></span>) is indeed spoken of, the literal event of water out of a rock (Exo. 17:6; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="NUM" data-bible-ref="20:11-20:11" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/NUM.20?passageId=NUM.20.11">Num. 20:11</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PSA" data-bible-ref="78:15-78:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/PSA.78?passageId=PSA.78.15">Psa. 78:15</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PSA" data-bible-ref="78:20-78:20" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/PSA.78?passageId=PSA.78.20">Psa. 78:20</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PSA" data-bible-ref="105:41-105:41" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/PSA.105?passageId=PSA.105.41">Psa. 105:41</a></span>) which represented spiritual drink and the spiritual Rock which was Christ. And who followed them. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EXO" data-bible-ref="13:21-13:21" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/EXO.13?passageId=EXO.13.21">Exodus 13:21</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EXO" data-bible-ref="13:32-13:32" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/EXO.13?passageId=EXO.13.32">32</a></span>) Whatever tradition says does not negate the Biblical basis for this statement. </p><p><i>Paul refers in <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-ref="3:8-3:8" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/2TI.3?passageId=2TI.3.8">2 Timothy 3:8</a></span>: to “Jannes and Jambres” who “opposed Moses”. These two men cannot be found in the related Old Testament passage (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EXO" data-bible-ref="7:8-7:8" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/EXO.7?passageId=EXO.7.8">Exodus 7:8</a></span> ff.), or anywhere else in the Old Testament.</i></p><p>
Again, the fact that something found in a source called "tradition" is
cited in Scripture does not mean that whatever is in that tradition is
of God, any more than Paul citing a truth expressed by a pagan (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="17:28-17:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.17?passageId=ACT.17.28">Acts 17:28</a></span>)
means that whatever else is in that tradition is of God. The issue thus
becomes the authority of the entity that states that something is of
God, and in the cited examples it is wholly God-inspired sources, Christ
and Paul, who affirm such, while as for Rome, she does not speaks as
wholly God-inspired voice, and her claim of EPMV is one that rests upon
itself. </p><p><i>5. Jerusalem Council <br /><i>The Jerusalem Council (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="15:6-15:30" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.15?passageId=ACT.15.6-ACT.15.30">Acts 15:6-30</a></span>) made an authoritative pronouncement (citing the Holy Spirit) which was binding on all Christians (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="15:28-15:29" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.15?passageId=ACT.15.28-ACT.15.29">Acts 15:28-29</a></span>).</i></i></p><p>
Indeed, and again SS affirms "It belongeth to synods and councils,
ministerinially to determine controversies of faith, and cases of
conscience; to set down rules and directions" if Scriptural, and James
provided Scriptural substantiation in the concluding judgment on this
matter of discipline. </p><p> But while we know that this was of God
since it is recorded in Scripture, neither this or any other event
examples or teaches ensured perpetual magisterial veracity as per Rome,
and Peter did not decree anything here. <i>6. Pharisees, and Oral, Extrabiblical Tradition</i></p><p><i>
Christianity was derived in many ways from the pharisaical tradition of
Judaism (which accepted oral tradition). Christian Pharisees are
referred to (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="15:5-15:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.15?passageId=ACT.15.5">Acts 15:5</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PHP" data-bible-ref="3:5-3:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/PHP.3?passageId=PHP.3.5">Phil 3:5</a></span>), so neither the (orthodox) Old Testament Jews nor the early Church were guided by the principle of sola Scriptura. </i></p><p>
Non-sensical leaps of illogic. Scripture provided the epistemological
doctrinal and prophetic foundation for the NT church, which church
actually began in dissent from those who sat in the seat of Moses over
Israel, to whom conditional obedience was enjoined, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="23:2-23:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MAT.23?passageId=MAT.23.2">Mt. 23:2</a></span>; cf. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="DEU" data-bible-ref="17:8-17:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/DEU.17?passageId=DEU.17.8-DEU.17.13">Dt. 17:8-13</a></span>) which judgments included which men and writings were of God and which were not, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="11:27-11:33" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MRK.11?passageId=MRK.11.27-MRK.11.33">Mk. 11:27-33</a></span>)
as the historical magisterial head over Israel which was the historical
instrument and steward of Scripture, "because that unto them were
committed the oracles of God," (Rm. 3:2) to whom pertaineth" the
adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law,
and the service of God, and the promises" (Rm. 9:4) of Divine guidance,
presence and perpetuation as they believed, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="12:2-12:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GEN.12?passageId=GEN.12.2">Gn. 12:2</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="12:3-12:3" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GEN.12?passageId=GEN.12.3">3</a></span>; 17:4,7,8; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EXO" data-bible-ref="19:5-19:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/EXO.19?passageId=EXO.19.5">Ex. 19:5</a></span>; Lv. 10:11; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="DEU" data-bible-ref="4:31-4:31" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/DEU.4?passageId=DEU.4.31">Dt. 4:31</a></span>; 17:8-13; Ps, 11:4,9; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ISA" data-bible-ref="41:10-41:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ISA.41?passageId=ISA.41.10">Is. 41:10</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PSA" data-bible-ref="89:33-89:33" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/PSA.89?passageId=PSA.89.33">Ps. 89:33</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PSA" data-bible-ref="89:34-89:34" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/PSA.89?passageId=PSA.89.34">34</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JER" data-bible-ref="7:23-7:23" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JER.7?passageId=JER.7.23">Jer. 7:23</a></span>) </p><p>
And instead they followed an itinerant Preacher whom the magisterium
rejected, and which the Messiah reproved, based upon Scripture as being
supreme, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="7:2-7:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MRK.7?passageId=MRK.7.2-MRK.7.16">Mk. 7:2-16</a></span>)
and established His Truth claims upon scriptural substantiation in word
and in power, as did the early church as it began upon this basis. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="22:23-22:45" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MAT.22?passageId=MAT.22.23-MAT.22.45">Mt. 22:23-45</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="24:27-24:27" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/LUK.24?passageId=LUK.24.27">Lk. 24:27</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="24:44-24:44" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/LUK.24?passageId=LUK.24.44">44</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="5:36-5:36" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JHN.5?passageId=JHN.5.36">Jn. 5:36</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="5:39-5:39" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JHN.5?passageId=JHN.5.39">39</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:14-2:35" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.14-ACT.2.35">Acts 2:14-35</a></span>; 4:33; 5:12; 15:6-21;17:2,11; 18:28; 28:23; Rm. 15:19; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="12:12-12:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/2CO.12?passageId=2CO.12.12">2Cor. 12:12</a></span>, etc.) </p><p>
The fact that the church flowed from the OT and thus elements of
Pharisaical authority simply does not affirm or equate to adoption of
all their modus operandi and premise of veracity, and instead of
affirmation of all their tradition they are are reproved for being
contrary to Scripture. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="7:1-7:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MRK.7?passageId=MRK.7.1-MRK.7.13">Mk. 7:1-13</a></span>) </p><p><i> 7. Old Testament Jews Did Not Believe in Sola Scriptura / Necessity of Interpretation <br /><i>Ezra read the law of Moses to the people in Jerusalem (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="NEH" data-bible-ref="8:3-8:3" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/NEH.8?passageId=NEH.8.3">Neh 8:3</a></span>). Thirteen Levites assisted him and “helped the people to understand the law” (8:7) </i></i></p><p>
SS strawman. Sad that an professional RC apologist engages in this, as
if Westminster all the SS commentaries and teachers were the ones who
did not understand SS. </p><p> [7b] <i> St. Peter states that “no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2PE" data-bible-ref="1:20-1:20" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/2PE.1?passageId=2PE.1.20">2 Pet 1:20</a></span>),
and [he] refers to parts of Paul's epistles being “hard to understand,
which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction,</i></p><p> Which in context, refers to how written prophecy was given, (cf. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-ref="1:10-1:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1PE.1?passageId=1PE.1.10">1 Peter 1:10</a></span>)
and not to understanding it. Thus in his driven defense of his
church-god, Armstrong actually examples false ignorant understanding of
Scripture while telling us we need Catholicism to understand it. </p><p><i>8. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-ref="3:16-3:17" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/2TI.3?passageId=2TI.3.16-2TI.3.17">2 Timothy 3:16-17</a></span>: The Protestant “Proof Text”</i> <i>This passage doesn’t teach formal sufficiency.</i></p><p></p><p>It does not need to. SS includes material sufficiency as defined above, and Godliness is also said to be "profitable," (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1TI" data-bible-ref="4:7-4:7" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1TI.4?passageId=1TI.4.7">1 Timothy 4:7</a></span>-
same word) and any source that is able to provide the man of God so
that he "may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" is
teaching a sufficiency Rome arrogates to herself. </p><p><i> Paul makes reference to oral tradition three times (1:13-14, 2:2, 3:14).</i></p><p>
Paul is referring to himself and wholly God-inspired teaching, not the
elitist presumptions of a church whose distinctive Catholic teachings <a href="http://peacebyjesus.net/deformation_of_new_testament_church.html">are not manifest in the only wholly God-inspired, substantive, authoritative record of what the NT church believed </a> (which is Scripture, in particular Acts through Revelation, which best shows how the NT church understood the gospels). </p><p><i>Also, a very similar passage, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="4:11-4:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/EPH.4?passageId=EPH.4.11-EPH.4.15">Ephesians 4:11-15</a></span>,
would prove (using Protestant reasoning) the sufficiency of “pastors”
and “teachers” for the attainment of Christian perfection.</i></p><p>
Yes, but as instruments using the instrument which provides the man of
God so that he "may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works"
- not the arrogant claims of Rome, which can even claim an <a href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2016/09/papal-presumption-assumption-of-mary-in.html">event occurred which history failed to record when it would have been. </a></p><p><i>9. Paul Casually Assumes that His Passed-Down Tradition is Infallible and Binding</i></p><p> Same failed argument of arrogant presumption as above. </p><p><i>10. Sola Scriptura is a Radically Circular Position</i><br /><i>When
Protestants are asked why one should believe in their particular
denominational teaching rather than another, each will appeal to the
“Bible’s clear teaching”. This is similar to people on two sides of a
legal, constitutional debate both saying, “well, we go by what is
constitutional, whereas you guys don’t.” But judges and courts are
necessary, and their decrees are binding. Protestantism lacks this
element because it appeals to a logically self-defeating principle and a
book (which must always be interpreted by human beings).</i></p><p>
Actually, the Radically Circular Position is that of Rome. Bible
Christians are the ones who most strongly work to establish the
authority of the Bible, and not just invoke it, while the RCC teaches
that one must have faith in her to know what the contents of Scripture
are. (...no matter what be done the believer cannot believe in the Bible
nor find in it the object of his faith until he has previously made an
act of faith in the intermediary authorities..." - Catholic
Encyclopedia>Tradition and Living Magisterium;
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15006b.htm; ...when we appeal to the
Scriptures for proof of the Church's infallible authority we appeal to
them merely as reliable historical sources... - Catholic
Encyclopedia>Infallibility;
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07790a.htm </p><p> The issue is the
basis for veracity. While the veracity of the claims of a Bible
Christian must rest upon the weighty of Scriptural substantiation in
word and in power, while for a faithful RC, assurance is based upon the
novel and unScriptural premise of ensured perpetual magisterial
infallibility as per Rome, who has infallibly declared she is
conditionally perpetually incapable of error, at least in salvific
matters. Thus Scripture, tradition and history can only assuredly
consist of and mean what Rome may say they do. </p><p> Thus no less than
Cardinal Manning stated, • "It was the charge of the Reformers that the
Catholic doctrines were not primitive, and their pretension was to
revert to antiquity. But the appeal to antiquity is both a treason and a
heresy. It is a treason because it rejects the Divine voice of the
Church at this hour, and a heresy because it denies that voice to be
Divine....The only Divine evidence to us of what was primitive is the
witness and voice of the Church at this hour." — Most Rev. Dr. Henry
Edward Cardinal Manning, Lord Archbishop of Westminster, The Temporal
Mission of the Holy Ghost: Or Reason and Revelation (New York: J.P.
Kenedy & Sons, originally written 1865, pp. 227,28 </p><p> That Armstrong's Radically Circular Position assertion supremely applies to Rome. </p><p><span face="arial, sans-serif">Thus
Rome can even declare something to be a matter of binding belief that
was so lacking in testimony from early tradition that her own scholars
disallowed it as being part of apostolic tradition.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="color: #4c1900;">• </span><span style="color: #4c1900;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">As Ratzinger states,</span></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color: #5f1f00;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">Before Mary's bodily Assumption into heaven was defined, <b>all theological faculties in the world </b>were consulted for their opinion. Our teachers' <b>answer was emphatically negative </b>.
What here became evident was the one-sidedness, not only of the
historical, but of the historicist method in theology. “Tradition” was
identified with what could be proved on the basis of texts. <b>Altaner </b>, the patrologist from Wurzburg…<b>had
proven in a scientifically persuasive manner that the doctrine of
Mary’s bodily Assumption into heaven was unknown before the 5C </b>; <b>this
doctrine, therefore, he argued, could not belong to the “apostolic
tradition. And this was his conclusion, which my teachers at Munich
shared </b>. </span></span></p><p align="left"><span style="color: #5f1f00;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">This
argument is compelling if you understand “tradition” strictly as the
handing down of fixed formulas and texts [meaning having actual
substance in history]…But if you </span></span><span style="color: #5f1f00;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b>conceive of “tradition” as </b></span></span><span style="color: #5f1f00;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">the
living process whereby the Holy Spirit introduces us to the fullness of
truth and teaches us how to understand what previously we could still
not grasp (cf. <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn%2016.12-13" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink">Jn 16:12-13</span></span></a>), then </span></span><span style="color: #5f1f00;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b>subsequent “remembering” </b></span></span><span style="color: #5f1f00;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">(cf. <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn%2016.4" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink">Jn 16:4</span></span></a>, for instance) can come to recognize what it has </span></span><span style="color: #5f1f00;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><b>not caught sight of </b></span></span><span style="color: #5f1f00;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">[even
bcz there was nothing to see] previously and was already handed down
[invisibly, without evidence] in the original Word,” — J. Ratzinger,
Milestones (Ignatius, n.d.), 58-59 </span></span><span style="color: #4c1900;"><span face="arial, sans-serif">(words in [brackets] are mine). </span></span></p></div></div><div>Which relates to the Catholic presumptuous premise that since men such as the apostles (who could speak as wholly inspired
of God and provide new public revelation thereby) could enjoin obedience
to what they orally taught (citing <i><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:42-2:42" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.42">Acts 2:42</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="11:2-11:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.11?passageId=1CO.11.2">1 Cor 11:2</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TH" data-bible-ref="2:15-2:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/2TH.2?passageId=2TH.2.15">2 Thess 2:15</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-ref="1:13-1:14" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/2TI.1?passageId=2TI.1.13-2TI.1.14">2 Tim 1:13-14</a>)</span> </i>and which a SS preacher can only do under the
premise that what is taught is in Scripture) somehow validates binding
Catholic oral tradition - regardless of whether it is taught in
Scripture or not, even though <b>Rome does not and cannot claim its popes and ecumenical councils speak as wholly inspired of God.</b></div><p> Which means that as seen above, Rome can claim to "remember" what history failed to record for hundreds of years, citing . <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="16:4-16:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JHN.16?passageId=JHN.16.4">Jn 16:4</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="16:12-16:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JHN.16?passageId=JHN.16.12-JHN.16.13">12-13</a></span> for support. </p><p>And from which comes the belief that Mary is crowned as the Queen of
Heaven, and prayed to, which contradicts the Biblical teaching that
believers are not given crowns until after His return, while the Queen
of Heaven in Scripture is only that of pagans,<a href="http://peacebyjesus.net/ptds.html"> and that only they prayed to someone else in Heaven</a> (as over <a href="http://peacebyjesus.net/bible-prayers.html">200 recorded prayers</a> by believers attest). </p><p> Which means that, as the pompous assertion by Manning exemplifies, the word of God is whatever Rome (or EO as they have <a href="http://peacebyjesus.net/eovs.rome.html">conflicts over what tradition teaches)</a>
says it is, and far more could be asserted to be the word of God, even
Mary parting the Red Sea, if not for those pesky Bible Christians acting
like noble Bereans. </p><div>See also: <a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2020/01/step-by-step-refutation-of-dave.html" style="background-color: #ffffc4; color: #2856e1; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;">Step-by-Step Refutation of Dave Armstrong vs. Sola Scriptura</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Thus I have my own here are questions for those who argue for the alternative of sola scriptura, which is that of <b>sola ecclesia</b>: 1. What is God's manifest most reliable permanent means of preserving the word of God: oral transmission or writing?</div><div><div class="b2" style="display: inline; text-align: left;">2. What became the established supreme substantive authoritative source for testing Truth claims: oral transmission or Scripture? <br />3. Which came first: an authoritative body of the written word of God, or the NT church, and what provided the transcendent prophetic, doctrinal and moral foundation for the NT church?<br />4. Did the establishment of a body of wholly inspired authoritative writings by the first century require an infallible magisterium?<br />5. Which transcendent sure, substantive source was so abundantly invoked by the Lord Jesus and NT church in substantiating Truth claims to a nation which was the historical instruments and stewards of express Divine revelation: oral transmission or writing?<br />6. Was the veracity of Scripture ever subject to testing by the oral words of men, or vice versa?<br />7.
Do Catholic popes and councils speak or write as wholly inspired of God
in giving His word like as men such as apostles did, and also provide
new public revelation thereby?<br />8. In the light of the above, do you deny that only Scripture is the transcendent, supreme,
wholly inspired-of-God substantive and authoritative word of God, and
the most reliable record and supreme source for what the NT church
believed?<br />9. Do you think sola scriptura must mean that only the Bible is to be used in understanding what God says, and means that all believers will correctly understand what is necessary, and that it replaces the magisterial office (and ideally a centralized one) as the formal judicial earthly authority on matters of dispute (though it appeals to Scripture as the only infallible and supreme source of Truth)?<br />10.
Do you think the sufficiency aspect of sola scripture must mean that
the Bible explicitly and formally provides everything needed for
salvation and growth in grace, including reason, writing, ability to
discern, teachers, synods, etc. or that this sufficiency refers to
Scripture as regards it being express Divine public revelation, and
which formally and materially (combined) provides what is necessary for
salvation and growth in grace, as the sole sure, supreme, standard of
express Divine public revelation?<br />11. What infallible oral magisterial source has spoken to man as the wholly God-inspired public word of God outside Scripture since the last book was penned?<br />12.
Where in Scripture is a magisterium of men promised ensured perpetual
infallibility of office whenever it defines as a body a matter of faith
or morals for the whole church?<br />13. Does being the historical
instruments, discerners and stewards of express Divine revelation mean
that such possess that magisterial infallibility?<br />14. What is the
basis for your assurance that your church is the one true apostolic
church? The weight of evidence for it or because the church who declared
it asserts she it cannot err in such a matter? <br clear="all" /></div><div class="a2"><a href="https://freerepublic.com/perl/posts?page=73#73" target="_self">73</a> posted on <b>8/16/2023, 8:40:40 PM</b> by <a href="https://freerepublic.com/~daniel1212/" title="Since 2007-06-26">daniel1212</a> (As a damned+destitute sinner turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves souls on His acct + b baptized 2 obey) </div></div><div class="a2"><br /></div><div class="a2">Finally, the Catholic premise that the Sola Scriptura has a fatal flaw in that it lacks a supreme central magisterium to define and interpret Scripture (as is argued by a "Casey Chalk"), while ignoring the<a href="http://peacebyjesus.net/eovs.rome.html" target="_blank"> conflicts between Rome and the Eastern Orthodox over what tradition teaches,</a> is a a smoke screen. </div><div class="a2"><br /></div><div class="a2">Who interprets the Interpreter? Since this is a
issue (except in strong mind-control cults) then there are divisions
among the anti-divsionists. Yet TradCaths of various sects attack classic evangelical Bible
Christians as they are to examine what is taught by examination of its
conflation with valid church teaching, which TradCaths also do, and
with divisions among both.</div><div class="a2"><br /></div><div class="a2">Thus, by subjecting the veracity of modern RC teaching to their judgment of what valid RC teaching consists of and means, then TradCaths are essentially acting as Bible Christians are supposed to, </div><div class="a2"><br /></div><div class="a2">But the difference btwn traditional
evangelical Bible Christians and TradCaths is that the latter look to
what they selectively choose as being past RC, pre-V2 teaching, while the former
are to look to the only wholly inspired substantive authoritative record
of what the NT church believed (which is Scripture, in particular Acts
through Revelation, which best shows how the NT church understood the
gospels) in which<a href="https://peacebyjesus.net/deformation_of_new_testament_church.html#table"> distinctive Catholic teachings are not manifest.</a></div><p>
Today you have basically 3 types of RC's, with formal and informal divisions among them. One is a liberal dissident, and the
other is a traditional one, and the other one just passively submits to the living
magisterium. </p><p>These may be considered the most faithful RC by their church today, but tend to see the first two classes mentioned as essentially being as Protestants, and in turn, they are considered to be conservative by the liberal, and a liberal by the traditional.</p><p> The liberal dissidents are the Ted Kennedy type Catholics, but whom Rome manifestly considers to be members in life and in death, if not the most faithful. </p><p>
The traditional RCs selectively dissent from the modern living
magisterium or reject it outright, ranging from selective reformers to
those who, as on ttps://freerepublic.com/, refer to Francis as </p><p>"Bergoglio the Heretic;" who </p><p> "preaches and authors heresy;" being a </p><p> "material and formal heretic;"</p><p> a fraud of a pope;</p><p> “an apostate,”</p><p> "not a Catholic;"</p><p> "Pope Frank..protestant;"</p><p>And that "The Ecumenical Mass of Bergoglio is straight out of Hell;"</p><p> And that The Catholic Church has shut itself up since VCII.</p><p> And no longer proclaims, "Christ, the Sovereign King, to all nations;" </p><p></p><p></p><p>A web site popular among “RadTrad” RCs who reject Vatican Two is <a href="https://novusordowatch.org/">https://novusordowatch.org</a> with some detail, while we have a more charitable description by a novus ordo priest: </p><p><span style="color: #4c1900;">It
is certainly possible to discern three tribes within American
Catholicism. However, using the Jewish terminology is confusing.
“Orthodox,” “Conservative,” and “Reform” do not translate well into
American Catholicism. Clearer titles for the three tribes might be
“Traditionalist” which correlates with the Jewish “Orthodox.”
“Magisterial” because “conservative” Catholics adhere to papal teachings
and the magisterium, while “Progressive” reflects the “Reformed” group
in Judaism.... </span></p><p></p><p>Broadly speaking, “Traditionalists”
adhere to the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, the Baltimore Catechism,
and Church teachings from before the Second Vatican Council... </p><p>“Magisterial”
Catholics put loyalty to the authority of the pope and magisterial
teaching first and foremost. They are happy with the principles of the
Second Vatican Council, but want to “Reform the Reform.” They want to
celebrate the Novus Ordo Mass with solemnity, reverence, and fine music.
..They uphold traditional Catholic teaching in faith and morals, but
wish to communicate and live these truths in an up-to-date and relevant
way...</p><p>The “Progressives” are vitally interested in peace and
justice issues. They’re enthusiastic about serving the marginalized and
working for institutional change. They are likely to embrace freer forms
of worship, dabble in alternative spiritualities, and be eager to make
the Catholic faith relevant and practical. Progressives believe the
Church should adapt to the modern age... Maguire sums up their attitude
pretty well: Progressives “don’t need the Vatican. Their conscience is
their Vatican.” - Is Catholicism about to break into three? Crux
Catholic Media Inc. ^ | Oct 6, 2015 | Fr. Dwight Longenecker;
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3778496/posts </p><p>And thus you have articles as, </p><p></p><p>Is Catholicism about to break into three?</p><p>Archbishop Viganò: We Are Witnessing Creation of a ‘New Church ’</p><p>The SSPX's Relationship with Francis: Is it Traditional? post #6</p><p>Is the Catholic Church in De Facto Schism?</p><p>The Impossibility of Judging or Deposing a True Pope...If Francis is a true Pope … Unlike the TradCath, </p><p>Yet, while considered to be liberal compromisers by TradCaths, the passive obedient RC basically subscribes to past papal teaching such as states,</p><p>'the one duty of the multitude is to allow themselves to be led, and,
like a docile flock, to follow the Pastors," "to suffer themselves to be
guided and led in all things that touch upon faith or morals by the
Holy Church of God through its Supreme Pastor the Roman Pontiff," "of
submitting with docility to their judgment," with "no discussions
regarding what he orders or demands, or up to what point obedience must
go, and in what things he is to be obeyed... not only in person, but
with letters and other public documents ;" and 'not limit the field in
which he might and must exercise his authority, " for "obedience must
not limit itself to matters which touch the faith: its sphere is much
more vast: it extends to all matters which the episcopal power
embraces," and not set up "some kind of opposition between one Pontiff
and another. Those who, faced with two differing directives, reject the
present one to hold to the past, are not giving proof of obedience to
the authority which has the right and duty to guide them," "Nor must it
be thought that what is expounded in Encyclical Letters does not of
itself demand consent." (Sources
<a href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/10/required-catholic-submission.html">https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/10/required-catholic-submission.html</a></p><p>The means by which a TradCath absolves themselves from such required submission is to reject the validity of the popes and Vatican Two with which they disagree. </p><p>But which illustrates the reality that sola ecclesia also results in division since interpretation at some level cannot be avoided, except via strong suppression. </p><p>And while the NT has its unity in heart and in the basic faith under manifestly very true men of God ( 2 Co. 4:1-2; 6:4-10) with Scriptural substantiation in word and in power and which is needed today, yet those who most strongly esteem Scripture as the accurate and wholly
God-inspired supreme authority <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.net/rc-stats_vs._evang.html#toc">testify
to being far more unified in basic beliefs than those who Rome
manifestly considers members in life and in death. </a>But under the
vast umbrella called Protestantism then perhaps only about half
actually believe in the Bible.</p><p> </p>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-3873942039713809872023-08-05T08:17:00.003-04:002023-08-05T08:33:29.195-04:00Do we know if estrogen (besides other drugs) in the water supply is a significant problem?... Some research:<div class="body"><big><b>Do we know if estrogen in the water supply is a
significant problem? What are its major sources? How does this relate
to morality and politics? Some research:</b></big><blockquote><u>►</u> <b> The next abortion fight could be over wastewater regulation</b>
Abortion opponents plan to use environmental laws to curb access to
pills used to terminate an early pregnancy. The new approach comes as
the pills mifepristone and misoprostol, which people can take at home
during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, have become the most common
method of abortion in the U.S. and virtually the only option for
millions of people in states with laws that have forced clinics to close
since the fall of Roe v. Wade.</blockquote><blockquote> The first salvo
started last week with a petition asking the Food and Drug
Administration to require any doctor who prescribes the pills to be
responsible for disposing of the fetal tissue — which anti-abortion
advocates want to be bagged and treated as medical waste rather than
flushed down the toilet and into the wastewater. If the FDA ignores or
rejects the petition, as is expected, the group Students for Life of
America plans to sue.
(https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/23/abortion-pills-opponents-environmental-laws-00070603)
</blockquote><blockquote><u>►</u> <b>When Exposed to Estrogen, Fish Generate Fewer Males </b>OCT
26, 2020 Life on earth relies on the roughly three percent of water on
the planet that is drinkable. And clean water sources are <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/water-scarcity">being stressed</a>.
Researchers have now found that if water is contaminated with even low
levels of human hormones, fish that live in that water can suffer
profound effects. New work <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105659">reported in <em>Aquatic Toxicology</em></a>
has used a freshwater fish called least killifish to show that estrogen
concentrations of only 5 nanograms per liter resulted in the generation
of fewer males and reduced numbers of offspring in general in a
laboratory habitat. </blockquote><blockquote> "Anything you flush down
the toilet or put in the sink will get in the water supply," said study
author and biologist Latonya Jackson, a University of Cincinnati
assistant professor. "Our wastewater treatment systems are good at
removing a lot of things, but they weren't designed to remove
pharmaceuticals," Jackson said. "So when women on birth control or
hormone therapy go to the bathroom, it gets flushed into wastewater
treatment plants." </blockquote><blockquote> These impacts aren't only
felt by fish, noted Jackson. Chemicals like hormones can build up in
water sources and eventually end up in drinking water.
(https://www.labroots.com/trending/cell-and-molecular-biology/19025/exposed-estrogen-fish-generate-fewer-males)
</blockquote><blockquote><u>►</u> <b>Today, nearly 27 percent of American women who are avoiding pregnancy take a birth control pill </b>[approximately
50 million women worldwide], a dose of synthetic estrogen that tricks a
woman's body's endocrine system and suppresses ovulation. That one
variety of pill, taken for 21 days out of every 28, adds over 10 million
doses to America's wastewater every day. </blockquote><blockquote> In
addition to the women taking birth control pills, there are millions of
other women beyond childbearing age who take estrogen and other hormone
supplements to help moderate the effects of menopause. </blockquote><blockquote>
Beyond estrogen from birth control pills and farm animals, there is
another potentially massive source of estrogen that is likely getting
into source water. Dr. Luke Iwanowicz, a U.S. Geological Survey research
biologist, explained how some benign lab creations are also adding to
the threat of estrogen, or estrogen-like, exposure. Although these
chemicals were engineered in labs for an entirely different purpose than
to serve as or to mimic estrogen, "they have the capacity," Iwanowicz
says, "to interfere with the normal functioning of the body, including
reproductive and sexual health, as well as other possible consequences,
like obesity, diabetes, and behavioral issues."<small> (excerpt from
"Troubled Water: What's Wrong with What We Drink"by Seth M. Siegel.
Copyright ©2019 by the author;
https://www.ehn.org/troubled-water-estrogen-and-its-doppelgangers-2641102160.html)</small></blockquote><b>Therapeutic Drug Use</b></div><div class="body">Percent of persons using at least one prescription drug in the past 30 days: 48.6% (2015-2018) <br />Percent of persons using three or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days: 24.0% (2015-2018) <br />Percent of persons using five or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days: 12.8% (2015-2018) <br />Number of drugs provided or prescribed: 1.0 billion</div><div class="body">Number
of drugs given or prescribed: 353.8 million Percent of visits involving
drug therapy: 71.9%
(https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/drug-use-therapeutic.htm) <p> <b><u>►</u> ESTROGEN IN THE WATER SUPPLY</b>
Estrogen in Water Supply: An Assessment of the Presence of Estrogenic
Compounds in Drinking Water and Associated Human Health Risks, Submitted
by Hayley Torres, Oakland University</p><blockquote> [Excerpts]Although natural estrogen is present in the environment as a naturally occurring hormone found in various organisms, <b>the rise in synthetic estrogen levels in the environment is a concerning risk factor</b>
(Adeel et al., 2017). Industrialization and pharmaceutical development
sparked an increase in the use of estrogenic compounds and estrogen-like
substances, creating an increase of estrogen contamination within the
environment due to the excretion and disposal of these compounds (Wise,
O’Brien, & Woodruff, 2010). <br /></blockquote><blockquote>The sources of these substances include
chemicals such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, animal hormones in
agriculture, pharmaceuticals like birth control pills, and in fertilizer
for plants, amongst many other uses.</blockquote><blockquote>Of particular interest is
endocrine disrupting chemicals and its impact on human health because
these chemicals can mimic naturally occurring estrogen and build up over
time (Demasi & Collins, 2015).... Current gaps in the research
indicate that the present levels found in drinking water supplies are
largely unknown due to a lack of widespread monitoring and research
(Adeel et al., 2017)... </blockquote><blockquote> Current literature
lacks a definitive association of thecurrent levels of estrogenic
compounds in drinking water and its effects on human health...The
inability of estrogen compounds to fully biodegrade can cause buildup in
the environment (Lecomte, 2017). Humans excrete estrogenic compounds
from urine and feces and use products that release estrogen compounds
into the environment at a rate of about 30,000 kg/year and agriculture
and livestock release estrogenic compounds via urine, feces, fertilizers
and antibiotics, and more at a rate of over 83,000 kg/year which means
that these levels can breach into the environment at alarming rates
(Lecomte, 2017). Widespread use of estrogenic compounds within various
products and services establishes a way for the estrogen to get into the
environment through various mechanisms and accumulate over time
(Lecomte, 2017)... </blockquote><blockquote> Over 86,000 chemicals are
used in U.S. commerce (United States Environmental Protection Agency,
2020) including chemicals used in foods, plastics, electronics, makeup
products, books, household items, canned goods, and most other consumer
products. While much is known about the exposures and health impacts of
lead, for example, there are less comprehensive data on other chemicals
such as endocrine disrupting chemicals. Hormones are key to human
development and functioning but many issues arise such as when endocrine
disrupting chemicals (EDCs), synthetic compounds that can mimic natural
hormones, interfere with normal processing (Frick, 2012). Bisphenol A
(BPA), a chemical found in various widely used plastics, is just one
example that can mimic naturally occurring estrogen due to their
structural similarities (Barrett, 2014). </blockquote><blockquote>
Products that contain some derivatives of estrogen or estrogen-like
compounds are more widespread than initially thought to be (Frick,
2012).... current literature often fails to compile together various
sources to definitely assess and elucidate the current problem,
associated health concerns, and the implications of current actions.... </blockquote><blockquote>
Estrogen contamination comes from livestock runoff through the use of
synthetic hormones called exogenous hormones that help with meat and
dairy farming, and other agricultural processes with the use of hormones
to help with better growth (Chighizola & Meroni, 2011). Samples of
poultry farming runoffs were shown to include high levels of estrogen
hormone 17β‐estradiol as well as other chemicals such as aluminum
sulfate (Nichols et al., 1997). Other research indicates the presence of
estrogenic compounds used to promote animal growth like estradiol,
testosterones, trenbolone acetate, melengestrol acetate, and zeranol in
runoff and surrounding farm areas (Qu et al., 2012)...</blockquote><blockquote>
Agriculture runoff deals with contaminated water leaving the animal
farms and breeching into the environment and other systems from fecal
waste, ponds containing waste and manure fertilizers used for crops... </blockquote><blockquote>
Common contraceptive pills taken by millions of women often include
natural estrogen and progestin combined with synthetic ethinyl estradiol
(Wise et al., 2010)....Estrogenic compounds are excreted into the water
supply either due to urine and fecal excretion, runoff from household
products, contamination with disposed products, or disposing of unused
pills in improper ways (Wise et al., 2010). Research shows that there is
an increased number of women taking the pill which has caused an
increased level found in the environment. All of these additional
estrogenic compounds get into the environment via a wastewater treatment
plant that becomes part of the water supply used by humans (University
of Minnesota, 2017)... </blockquote><blockquote> The current available
detection limits are not indicative of the actual level that may cause
harm since they are found at levels that are known to potentially cause
harm, meaning that estrogenic compounds of concern may continue to go
unnoticed. A better detection limit is necessary to detect the trace
amounts of potentially harmful compounds.... Of specific interest is the
Ethinylestradiol, EE2, a synthetic estrogen and its prevalence in the
water supply as this becomes a rising concern as more studies are
indicating the elevated levels found within the environment....The
levels present in the water supply are often not removed by
comprehensive filtering systems for wastewater due to low
concentrations, yet over time the long-term accumulation of these levels
may have serious implications.... </blockquote><blockquote> The rise in
estrogen levels within the drinking water has created a shift in
reproductive and hormonal levels in individuals which has altered some
basic biological functions (Adeel et al., 2017). ...Estrogenic compounds are known to increase infertility rates too (Vilela
et al., 2018).
(https://our.oakland.edu/bitstream/handle/10323/11433/Torres%2C%20Hayley%20-%20Thesis.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y)
</blockquote></div><p> </p><script src="moz-extension://d51794b7-ca7e-4fc1-80e2-1fd4872f6250/js/app.js" type="text/javascript"></script>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-53604316072757162032023-07-04T08:59:00.001-04:002023-07-05T11:40:13.340-04:00Without any warning, Flickr.com suddenly eliminates entire account, without requested specific explanation, or offer of recovery. <p> Without any prior warning or specific explanation afterward - despite attempts for any - about 3 weeks ago flickr.com (o<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Flickrcom">wned by SmugMug and headquartered in San Francisco, California</a> suddenly
eliminated my entire account, with no option to recover images.</p><p>There was nothing even
close to porn, or violence, racism, vulgarity, profanity... among my pics, or known
violations of copyrighted material (that would not qualify as "fair use"), and I mostly used Flickr for my garden
photos.</p><p> But the purgation occurred after I had uploaded images (for back up) from the CDC on HIV and STD stats, as seen in this blog post. <a href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/10/negative-effects-of-homosexual.html">https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/10/negative-effects-of-homosexual.html</a></p><p>Images (and extras) themselves can presently be accessed here: <a href="https://www.peacebyjesus.net/nehr/">https://www.peacebyjesus.net/nehr/</a></p><p> After contacting help@flickr.com and providing their requested verification, their reply simply was, </p><blockquote><i>This account was terminated for Terms of Use and Community Guideline violations and will not be restored. <p>
You are no longer permitted to possess a Flickr account, nor access or
use SmugMug services, which includes SmugMug.com as well as Flickr.com. </p><p> Attempts to create new accounts on either of these services will be deleted as well. </p></i><p><i>
We’re not at liberty to discuss the specifics of accounts closed for
violations, but please see https://www.flickr.com/help/terms and
https://www.flickr.com/help/guidelines for more information.</i></p></blockquote><p>
Which terms of use, as is much the norm in TOU conditions, uses such
subjectively-defined ambiguous terms (such as, "User Content that
is...hateful, ...inflammatory,...or otherwise objectionable or harmful")
that they could justify nuking most anything. </p><p>The reason for this post is not due to losing any of my own content, which is minimal, but that of providing another example of wanton liberal censorship via its use of subjectively-defined ambiguous terms, thus further exampling how such is not to be trusted. </p><p></p>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-23473680095991106522023-06-20T09:02:00.003-04:002023-06-21T09:06:50.679-04:00 Illustrations of promotion of a patriotism of perversity <p> <span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Actual
posters (goes with </span><a class="western" href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4161795/posts?page=49#49" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">post
#49</a><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">) from
https://www.defenseculture.mil/Human-Relations-Toolkit/Special-Observances/#other-posters, </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">illustrating</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> the promotion of a </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">patriotism</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> of </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">perversity</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> : </span></span><a href="https://www.defenseculture.mil/Portals/90/Images/Observances/Other/POST-Religious_Diversity5-2009.jpg"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDic5IsN28vVIk-hwmB_5bBlKzma6Tt3DqGU38JsxwFBgie4fnQ-4hzjCwkG_90uEWVegxmCwilDFImd2fAqtmEcIJUGbert-ZzEGyv45YUwuJDd3PppcYLRFK6YQ5epwJMehZM1wrilEqKh6akyx0qq40cahEBa_nCuvtpUp0RPdTlsdJ3vHU3rQl4tY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDic5IsN28vVIk-hwmB_5bBlKzma6Tt3DqGU38JsxwFBgie4fnQ-4hzjCwkG_90uEWVegxmCwilDFImd2fAqtmEcIJUGbert-ZzEGyv45YUwuJDd3PppcYLRFK6YQ5epwJMehZM1wrilEqKh6akyx0qq40cahEBa_nCuvtpUp0RPdTlsdJ3vHU3rQl4tY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDmAjylB0Rw_MTTX03-aO6zRbAEWHkV_xFi5bo1i8DvUShxQRuIyTPPv9hP-fANEJ1ACMV__trqypleW6Maf1wd78YDtj5XZLL8Bg4_OXNePLw9K2OenjekR30befaKE2iY2xGhtOL5uBMC30Fj86W_afQTMuM4Yy3y0n2HYkFSf8YI82l1oLsAR8Uhk0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDmAjylB0Rw_MTTX03-aO6zRbAEWHkV_xFi5bo1i8DvUShxQRuIyTPPv9hP-fANEJ1ACMV__trqypleW6Maf1wd78YDtj5XZLL8Bg4_OXNePLw9K2OenjekR30befaKE2iY2xGhtOL5uBMC30Fj86W_afQTMuM4Yy3y0n2HYkFSf8YI82l1oLsAR8Uhk0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEiLcEB3UcfMIGLwEaTVEx_V_NGPpbqNN_UE0lHM-8y3kxPR8gmwjPKq0hIjBpwxLAbGXUKN3UeBmgeTl7eHEfsh-ohIJlfBCQelH5_bmCpMcUeTESdIw9WmYlYyww4Z-QKPwv8LFHiF_Z0MBa0ZP_rprpGZXgRQU8ZXKQHdemiucBUFS389daQE7rUqU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="2700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEiLcEB3UcfMIGLwEaTVEx_V_NGPpbqNN_UE0lHM-8y3kxPR8gmwjPKq0hIjBpwxLAbGXUKN3UeBmgeTl7eHEfsh-ohIJlfBCQelH5_bmCpMcUeTESdIw9WmYlYyww4Z-QKPwv8LFHiF_Z0MBa0ZP_rprpGZXgRQU8ZXKQHdemiucBUFS389daQE7rUqU=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div></div></div><p></p><p align="justify" class="western"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">https://www.defenseculture.mil/Portals/90/Images/Observances/Other/POST-Religious_Diversity5-2009.jpg?ver=2020-01-22-094116-923
</span></span>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Yet which prescription of orthodox in politics, nationalism and religion by
word or act is not only impossible to avoid on some level (policies
and laws flow from beliefs), but as to compelled confession contrary to the general
Bible-centric faith and professed moral positions of America overall,
what is now essentially compelled is professed affirmation, promotion
and defense of moral perversity which is deleterious to individual
and nation, from the right to slay the innocent in the womb to
homosexual relations, (= <a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/10/negative-effects-of-homosexual.html">over
80% of new HIV cases among men, etc</a>and a <a class="western" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4034619/" target="_blank">greatly
increased incidence of other infectious diseases</a>)
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">God made man and women distinctively different yet uniquely compatible and complementary, and only joined them together in marriage - as the Lord Jesus Himself specified (Mt. 19:4–6) - and <a href="http://peacebyjesus.net/homosex_versus_the_bible.html" target="_blank">Scripture only condemns homosexual relations wherever they are manifestly dealt with.</a></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Yet there is still room at the cross for all who will come to God in repentance and faith, and trust in the Divine Son of God sent by the Father, the risen Lord Jesus, to save them on His account, by His sinless shed blood, and thus be baptized and live for Him. Acts 10:36-47</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-6SB-gkWORchcEoOfY3O9AjLLAYOLoA7OxVuNTLN-ZhLURRefSXorA180aIYfMVB1jDIc3K4kqa85iAiNppAQPVMaHfuWRpbVWt0yiwbeB8h76rcAhm2lTt-qhrJIwR3TFQFzc93ngJ6jJB5cXo1D_cU6XGS0OKcah4_43LI7H5vnaObEu8i5w60Eqkc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="2700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-6SB-gkWORchcEoOfY3O9AjLLAYOLoA7OxVuNTLN-ZhLURRefSXorA180aIYfMVB1jDIc3K4kqa85iAiNppAQPVMaHfuWRpbVWt0yiwbeB8h76rcAhm2lTt-qhrJIwR3TFQFzc93ngJ6jJB5cXo1D_cU6XGS0OKcah4_43LI7H5vnaObEu8i5w60Eqkc=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div>https://www.defenseculture.mil/Portals/90/Observance%20Archives/LGBT/2012-2015/POST-2015LGBT-20190521.jpg?ver=aZJ5E-WE8g4nrANsCj0x8g%3d%3d
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<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTtDddjJvHOs2uAZTO4PnN103ul7qVBlfnts68TiQru8IVKwbqaE17uFIE4tO6Ze5MK82_jlpvV2ssO5Kro4BJmqDEjdByFjXhA3bqTid80m0J4WAYmKzpTVN1fvBCAZd3hh_vVtb_h5MCjm3zVP0taQm8HiwFDnHoz8_Tt5SyXX-20n52jipFZHmUeiI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="2700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTtDddjJvHOs2uAZTO4PnN103ul7qVBlfnts68TiQru8IVKwbqaE17uFIE4tO6Ze5MK82_jlpvV2ssO5Kro4BJmqDEjdByFjXhA3bqTid80m0J4WAYmKzpTVN1fvBCAZd3hh_vVtb_h5MCjm3zVP0taQm8HiwFDnHoz8_Tt5SyXX-20n52jipFZHmUeiI=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div>https://www.defenseculture.mil/Portals/90/Images/Observances/Other/POST-WiccaYule-Holiday-20220214.jpg?ver=NQUpdUTwqHj096EdMOywHw%3d%3d<p></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;">Which posters supplement the the grievous list of an increasingly "Wokelitary" which is called to
defend an increasingly USS (United States of Sodom) with its
Wokeducation goals:</p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/09/01/heres-marine-corps-plan-end-gender-segregation-boot-camp.html">Military.com, 2020: Here's the Marine Corps' Plan to End Gender Segregation at Boot Camp.</a>
The Marine Corps was tasked with explaining its short- and long-term
plans for integrating recruit training, which was mandated by the 2020
National Defense Authorization Act. Signed into law in December, 2020.
“Gender integration at Marine Corps Recruit Training remains a top
priority." “The outcome the Marine Corps desires for gender integration
is for every male recruit to train alongside a female recruit within the
same company.”” All-male recruit companies trained solely by men will
be made “obsolete,” </p><p><a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3819469/posts">Top Marine stresses need for more female infantry officers, research on 1-year paid maternity leave</a>
2/25/2020, 5:18:38 PM · by jazusamo · 87 replies The Washington Times ^
| February 25, 2020 | Douglas Ernst The nation’s top Marine, Commandant
Gen. David Berger, took to social media Tuesday morning to stress the
service’s “most important matters.” Yet <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2023/02/16/troops-can-take-three-weeks-off-to-travel-for-abortions-ivf-treatment/" target="_blank">to get an abortion=murder their child, </a>
Navy service members are to be reimbursed for travel expenses and if
they need to go to a different state they can be provided with up to
three weeks off, with pay. </p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/marine-corps-considers-replacing-sir-and-ma-am-with-gender-neutral-terms-to-eliminate-possibility-of-misgendering-drill-instructors-report">The Blaze, December 22, 2022: Marines told to stop using ‘sir,’ ‘ma’am/mater’ to avoid ‘misgendering’ superiors </a>
The University of Pittsburgh received $2 million to conduct the study,
which examined gender-integrated recruit training in military settings.
"The Army, Navy, and Coast Guard effectively de-emphasize gender in an
integrated environment," the report claimed. Marine Corps leaders are
reportedly not convinced that transitioning to gender-neutral
salutations would be as simple as the 739-page report suggests. </p><p><a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4133617/posts">Biden Pentagon Orders Military Chaplains To Bless Putting Male Soldiers In Female Showers And Bedrooms, </a>The
Federalist : if a person “self-identifies” as a person of the opposite
sex, and if the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)
changes a person’s bureaucratic “gender marker,” a man claiming to be a
woman must be treated as a woman, and vice versa... Revised rules also
permit cross-dressing and other “transitioning” behaviors while in
“on-duty status.”... regulations do not protect or even mention rights
of religious liberty for chaplains and people of faith. Nor do they
provide options for doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel who
object to transgender ideology on moral or ethical grounds.< </p><p><a href="https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3781669/posts">Pentagon study finds rising suicide rates in military</a>
9/27/2019, 12:49:01 AM · by fwdude · 26 replies The Hill ^ | 09/26/19 |
Ellen Mitchell Suicide rates in the military were higher in 2018
compared to the previous five years despite efforts to prevent such
deaths, according to an annual Pentagon report released Thursday. A
total of 541 active duty, National Guard and Reserve troops committed
suicide last year, the Department of Defense Annual Suicide Report
found. </p><p><a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3791390/posts">Heritage Index Rates Navy, Marines ‘Marginal’ In Ability to Counter Current Threats</a>
11/4/2019, 11:30:14 AM · by robowombat · 25 replies USNI News ^ |
October 30, 2019 8:01 PM | John Grady Heritage Index Rates Navy, Marines
‘Marginal’ In Ability to Counter Current Threats By: John Grady October
30, 2019 8:01 PM The Navy and the Marine Corps have been assessed as
“marginal” in their ability to meet the challenges from rival powers in
Beijing and Moscow, as well as regional threats coming from Tehran and
Pyongyang, according to annual report on U.S. military strength from The
Heritage Foundation </p><p><a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3880315/posts">Pentagon Report: China Now Has World’s Largest Navy as Beijing Expands Military Influence</a> 9/2/2020, 7:28:08 PM · by Retain Mike · 8 replies US Naval Institute ^ | September 1, 2020 5:31 PM | John Grady </p><p>Countering this is the news of, <a href="https://redstate.com/alexparker/2021/03/28/the-pentagon-forms-a-diversity-and-inclusion-office-installs-a-chief-who-likened-trump-to-hitler-n351860">The Pentagon Forming a Diversity and Inclusion Office</a>, and and </p><p><a href="https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3763759/posts">allowing transgenders to serve in the military</a>, </p><p>and with the Pentagon even ensuring <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3941046/posts">free gender reassignment surgery for active military personnel,</a></p><p>
while the chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at the
Department of Defense's education wing, a self-described "woke
administrator," attacked a person for having the "<a href="https://www.wispolitics.com/2022/u-s-rep-gallagher-gallagher-franklin-demand-answers-from-pentagon-regarding-senior-officials-racially-divisive-statements">"CAUdacity to say that black people can be racist too,"</a></p><p></p><p> while Army mandatory training now including <a href="https://freebeacon.com/biden-administration/army-mandates-pronoun-training-for-all-levels-of-service/">training
Army personnel to know what to do in such scenarios as when a soldier
who was "assigned" a biological gender at birth says he/she identifies
as another gender</a>, and lives as such in off-duty hours, but is not
requesting to be treated as such while on duty, versus if such later
requests to be identified as according to their chosen gender during
duty hours, and/or experiences increased distress relating to his/her
gender identity; </p><p> while apparently as part of the Naval Sea
Systems Command Inclusion & Engagement Council’s Diversity Team's
video series called “NAVSpEAks,” the Navy <a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/video/844401/navspeaks-pronouns">posts video</a> on "the importance of using correct pronouns as well as polite etiquette when you may not be sure of someone's pronouns" </p><p>as <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/4143861/posts"> 'Keep Trying' — Naval Sea Systems Command Tells Americans to Advance Transgenderism,</a></p><p>consistent with <a href="https://redstate.com/alexparker/2021/07/09/report-navy-says-sailors-can-use-whichever-locker-room-suits-their-gender-identity-n408686" rel="noopener" target="_blank">"Navy Says Sailors Can Use Whichever Locker Room Suits Their Gender Identity,"</a></p><p> as well as the <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3963798/posts">Air Force being with WOKEism in creating 'LGBTQ' and 'Indigenous Nations Equality' Focus Groups,</a></p><p> and also <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4022471/posts">authorizing the use of gender pronouns in signature blocks,</a></p><p>and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/air-force-includes-drag-show-in-woke-diversity-festival-at-langley">hosting a drag show at festival</a>
at Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE) on July, 2022, which also includes a
poem on “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,” and also posted a tweet
celebrating Pride Month that <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FyCRLEaWYA0xIs4?format=jpg&name=small">depicted a U.S. soldier saluting not the American flag, but a Pride flag</a>, </p><p> and <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3959199/posts"> the Army arms itself with a woke recruitment ad featuring lesbians at a gay wedding and an LGBTQ pride march, </a></p><p> and the CIA <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3959199/posts">funds a 'cisgender millennial with anxiety disorder' campaign</a>, and with the </p><p><a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3965127/posts">Marines and Navy as well as the Air Force and Army posting messages on social media supporting gay pride and Pride Month,</a></p><p> with the former <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FUK8xwYWQAIDit5?format=jpg&name=small">posting rainbow bullets</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/usairforce/status/1531985672902520834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1531985672902520834%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.breitbart.com%2Fsocial-justice%2F2022%2F06%2F22%2Fu-s-navy-releases-video-training-sailors-to-use-right-pronouns-not-misgender-colleagues%2F">and </a>the<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FUK02YhWUAIvkWV?format=jpg&name=small"> latter a rainbow colored arm and hand in salute</a> (essentially to the flag of Sodom) </p><p>and with <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4010687/posts">
the Navy naming a military ship after the immoral gay rights leader
Harvey Milk, and (now) with a transgender veteran christening it,</a></p><p>along with the Navy's first <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3957118/posts">all gay U.S. Navy helicopter crew,</a></p><p> as well as e<a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4150064/posts">nlisting
a drag queen, who is an active duty sailor, in a “digital ambassador”
program aimed at targeting a wider array of potential recruits through
digital platforms like Instagram,</a></p><p> thereby adding to the list surrender to demons such as, </p><p><a href="https://redstate.com/alexparker/2021/02/09/army-lipstick-nail-polish-people-first-equity-inclusivity-n324428" rel="noopener" target="_blank">U.S. Army Announces the Allowance of Lipstick, Nail Polish, and Better Breastfeeding</a></p><p><a href="https://redstate.com/alexparker/2021/06/02/in-the-battle-for-inclusion-u-s-navy-employs-the-weapon-of-interior-decorating-n390517" rel="noopener" target="_blank">In the Battle for Inclusion, U.S. Navy Employs the Weapon of Interior Decorating</a></p><p><a href="https://redstate.com/alexparker/2021/07/09/report-navy-says-sailors-can-use-whichever-locker-room-suits-their-gender-identity-n408686" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Navy Says Sailors Can Use Whichever Locker Room Suits Their Gender Identity</a></p><p><a href="https://redstate.com/alexparker/2022/03/31/u-s-army-revolutionizes-its-fitness-standards-so-girls-can-pass-n543598" rel="noopener" target="_blank">U.S. Army Revolutionizes Its Fitness Standards so Girls Can Pass</a></p><p><a href="https://redstate.com/alexparker/2022/10/17/army-secretary-champions-whats-important-making-marginalized-communities-feel-included-n644315" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Army Secretary Champions What’s ‘Important’: Making ‘Marginalized Communities’ ‘Feel Included’</a></p><p><a href="https://redstate.com/alexparker/2022/07/16/report-the-army-will-force-female-soldiers-to-shower-with-biological-males-n596341" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Army Will Force Female Soldiers to Shower With Biological Males,</a></p><p>and with military generals calling for <a href="https://redstate.com/alexparker/2021/05/07/military-generals-call-for-increased-diversity-encourage-more-women-in-combat-n375925">Increased Diversity and More Women in Combat</a>, </p><p>and <a href="https://www.airforcemag.com/usaf-official-song-now-completely-gender-neutral/">changing its song to be gender-neutral</a>, </p><p></p><p> and <a href="https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/3757692/posts"> Forcing Marines to Make Boot Camp Coed</a>, </p><p>and feeding <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3813111/posts">cadets cultural Marxist propaganda about gender and masculinity</a> therein, </p><p>to its new <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3950445/posts">diversity and inclusion operation from West Point</a></p><p>and for its <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3946306/posts">Special Operations Command </a>, </p><p>while showing a rapid response readiness to engage in <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3942223/posts">online combat with the likes of Tucker Carson</a> and other such enemies </p><p>thus <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3804609/posts">nuking Jesus-themed candies on an Air Force bases </a></p><p> (although <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3816952/posts">turbans and hijabs are allowed</a>,) stop making faith-based Dog Tags,</p><p> and prohibiting <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-military-extremism-02c18e646805ede69802644e44aeb37a"> service members from “liking” or reposting "extremist" views on social media </a> (depending on all the circumstances involved) as part of its prohibition against actively engaging in extremist activities, </p><p> Which behavior is consistent with working to <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3950331/posts">rid the military itself of “extremism</a>” </p><p>such as the <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3959583/posts">head of the US Space Force unit being fired and put under investigation for criticizing Critical Race Theory, </a></p><p> while <a href="https://americanmilitarynews.com/2023/04/us-army-teaching-officers-at-fort-leavenworth-that-white-people-cant-experience-racism/">
the US Army is teaching officers at the Command and General Staff
College at Fort Leavenworth that white people can’t experience racism. </a>The
definition of racism is taught in an elective course called “Race and
Gender in U.S. Military History” which is available for up to 32
students each year. The course also defines gender as “a set of socially
constructed characteristics, such as norms and behaviors, typically
associated with being masculine, feminine, androgynous, or other.” “The
Command and General Staff College is at the forefront of building Army
leaders ready to fight and win our nation’s wars,” Camara told American
Military News. </p><p> Then though in a somewhat personal civilian incident, <a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/mom-sues-over-military-police-involvement-in-lgbt-poster-dispute.html">a
New Jersey mother was reported to local police by a U.S. Army Lt. Col
because she criticized her child's elementary school for displaying
posters in the hallway about sexual preferences.</a> U.S. Army Lt. Col.
Christopher Schilling also used his military title to engage in an email
thread with U.S. Air Force Major Nathanial Lesher, who assured
Schilling that he would forward his concern to North Hanover Township
Police Chief Robert Duff "for awareness." Joint Base
McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst confirmed that it notified law enforcement about
the exchange as part of "common information-sharing practice among law
enforcement entities."<span style="color: #5e11a6;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><b>
O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God:
for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is
grown up unto the heavens. </b>(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02%3C/b%3E/EZR.9?passageId=EZR.9.6">Ezra 9:6</a></span>)</p><p>Which shame has as its capstone of damnation not only <a href="https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2022/10/us-military-will-pay-troops-travel-abortions/378700/">paying for troops and their family members to travel for abortions</a> but the promotion of the abomination of homosexual unions and its relations, which are <a href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/10/negative-effects-of-homosexual.html">overall deleterious to individuals and the nation,</a> thereby essentially saluting the flag of Sodom, as of United States of Sodom: </p><p>
March 30, 2023: (Navy) 'International Transgender Day of Visibility'
offers a chance to support freedom of expression, association <br /><img alt="" border="1" height="250" src="https://media.defense.gov/2023/Mar/28/2003187925/1920/1080/0/210331-N-N2212-0001.JPG" width="400" /><br />
(https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/SavedNewsModule/Article/3343199/international-transgender-day-of-visibility-offers-a-chance-to-support-freedom/)</p><p><img border="0" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FyCRLEaWYA0xIs4?format=jpg&name=small" /><br /> (Air Force proudly recognizes and celebrates generations of LGBTQI+ service)</p><p></p><p><img alt="" border="1" height="335" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FUK02YhWUAIvkWV?format=jpg&name=small" width="250" /><br /><i> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">The
above image is tragically actually from the military, a Air Force
Facebook post: "RADfertility November 11, 2021 · As we celebrate
#VeteransDay, it is our honor to introduce you to Tech Sergeant Bryanna
Dahl, her wife, Lauren and their amazing RAD baby Bennett! 🇺🇸
Currently stationed at the Dover Air Force Base, Sgt. Dahl just
celebrated 7 years wearing this uniform! We had the privilege of helping
their family grow and following their journey to Bennett also known as
“Bennie.” On this day, we share our endless gratitude to those who serve
and have served our country along with the supportive families behind
them. Thank you for fighting for our freedoms – we thank you yesterday,
today and forever #ThankYou #DoverAFB #RADfamily" -
https://www.facebook.com/RADfertility/photos/a.146746165350896/7215339618491480/?type=3
</span></i> </p><p> Also, last I saw, <a href="https://www.nationandstate.com/2023/03/04/more-than-75-of-americans-aged-17-24-arent-fit-for-military-service-dod">More
Than 75% Of Americans Aged 17-24 Aren’t Fit For Military Service: (DOD)
77% of Americans in the above age group could not physically qualify to
enter the armed forces – a 6% increase from 2017.</a>.CDC statistics
also show that 19 percent of active-duty service members suffered from
obesity in 2020, which is up from 16 percent in 2015. A U.S. Army
general bluntly said that young Americans are either too obese, too
sick, or too criminal to serve in the military. we have are obesity, we
have pre-existing medical conditions, we have behavioral health
problems, we have criminality, people with felonies, and we have drug
use,” Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson told The Spokesman-Review of Spokane,
Washington. </p><p> And the Army <a href="https://popularmilitary.com/us-army-general-says-new-recruits-not-strong-enough-throw-grenades/">dropped grenade throwing as a requirement to graduate because new recruits could not throw far enough</a>.
“We are finding that there are a large number of trainees that come in
that quite frankly just physically don’t have the capacity to throw a
hand grenade 20 to 25 [82 feet] to 30 meters." </p><p>Consistent with such, <a href="https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2023/02/16/navy-eradicates-fitness-test-failures-in-campaign-to-improve-retention/"> physical fitness assessment failures being now scrubbed from sailors’ records</a>, a clean slate that will allow them to remain in the service, </p><p></p><p> and with <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3942254/posts">lower fitness standards for women in the Army,</a></p><p>while nearly <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3958238/posts">half of female soldiers are still failing the new Army Fitness Test</a>, </p><p> Also, there is the <a href="https://www.jmoblues.com/post/the-intellectual-decline-of-the-army-officer-corps-why-army-officers-are-getting-dumber">Intellectual Decline of the Army Officer Corps.</a> The size of the U.S. military<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/10/the-changing-profile-of-the-u-s-military/"> in 2017</a>
was half of what it was in 1990, and in general I think many signed up
for the benefits rather than patriotism. 16% were women and racial and
ethnic minorities made up 43%, and a poll from the <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/08/31/as-trumps-popularity-slips-in-latest-military-times-poll-more-troops-say-theyll-vote-for-biden/">Military
Times and Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military
Families conducted in July 2020, 49.9 percent of 1,018 active-duty
military respondents had an unfavorable view of the president, compared
to about 38 percent who had a favorable view. That poll showed Biden
with a 4-percentage-point lead over Trump</a></p><p><a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3741088/posts">Fewer Americans want to serve in the military. Cue Pentagon panic</a>
4/10/2019, 6:55:46 PM · by GuavaCheesePuff · 70 replies The Guardian ^ |
April 10, 2019 | William M. Arkin.official military polling shows that
fewer and fewer young Americans consider the military as a career or as a
transitional step – only some 12.5% – the lowest number in a decade. <br clear="all" /></p><p> Yet despite conservatives being the most patriotic, <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4161795/posts">the Army’s top civilian leader pushed back </a>amid
Republican criticisms that the military is going too "woke," arguing
such critiques are deepening an already troubling recruiting crisis. </p>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-72161089500464834552023-06-07T21:44:00.001-04:002023-06-07T21:44:43.921-04:00Oden Fong and Friends: Lord of All Creation<iframe width="480" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/dkBnseZ8eoA" frameborder="0"></iframe>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-67574979685489246932023-02-16T23:42:00.001-05:002023-02-16T23:42:40.351-05:00 How do I increase the number of search results in Bing?<p> How do I increase the number of search results in Bing?</p><p> As of 2-16-2023, click on the 4 horizontal lines on the top right of the Bing search page, and then go to <b>Settings</b>, then hit <b>More</b>, under the <b>Results </b>section of Search click the drop-down arrow next to <b>Auto </b>and choose the number of search results you want, up to 50. Then scroll down to the bottom and hit Save. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52693653566_9f37719a35_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="319" height="603" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52693653566_9f37719a35_z.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52693918189_50394a6499_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="800" height="493" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52693918189_50394a6499_b.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope this helps. <a href="http://peacebyjesus.net/">http://peacebyjesus.net</a>. May all be used for Good in the eyes of God.</div><br /><p></p>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-69125336628242505852023-01-27T13:43:00.001-05:002023-01-27T13:43:17.451-05:00God's norm: life-long marriage between male and female with children or single and continent, vs. contraception, fornications, single and fatherless children, welfare.... US Stats: <p> <span style="color: #5e11a6;">And God said, Let us make man in
our image, after our likeness:..And God blessed <b>them</b>, and God said unto them,<b> Be fruitful, and
multiply</b>, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every
living thing that moveth upon the earth. (</span><span class="biblePreviewerContainer" style="color: #5e11a6;"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="1:26-1:26" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GEN.1?passageId=GEN.1.26">Genesis 1:26</a></span><span style="color: #5e11a6;">, </span><span class="biblePreviewerContainer" style="color: #5e11a6;"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="1:28-1:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GEN.1?passageId=GEN.1.28">28</a></span><span style="color: #5e11a6;">) </span></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made </span><b style="color: #5e11a6;">them </b><span style="color: #5e11a6;">at the beginning made them </span><b style="color: #5e11a6;">male and female,</b><span style="color: #5e11a6;">
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall
cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they
are no more twain, but one flesh. </span><b style="color: #5e11a6;">What </b><span style="color: #5e11a6;">therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (</span><span class="biblePreviewerContainer" style="color: #5e11a6;"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="19:4-19:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MAT.19?passageId=MAT.19.4-MAT.19.6">Matthew 19:4-6</a></span><span style="color: #5e11a6;">)</span></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">...I would that all men were even as I myself. But
every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and
another after that. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="7:7-7:7" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.7?passageId=1CO.7.7">1 Corinthians 7:7</a></span>)</span></p><div class="body"><blockquote>
In 2011-2015, among American women ages 15 to 44, 45% had not had any
children; 20% had two children; 17% had one child; 18% had three or more
children. Between 2007 and 2020, the total fertility rate (TFR) in the
United States declined from 2.12 to 1.64... During the 1960s and 1970s,
postponement of childbearing resulted in a steep drop in the birth rate
among American women ages 20 to 24. After 1975, U.S. birth rates
[somewhat] rose for women in their 30s, as older mothers had the
children they had postponed earlier in life. Today, U.S. birth rates are
highest for women in the age groups of 25 to 29 and 30 to 34 <br /><p><img src="https://assets.prb.org/img/figure-2-01.svg" />"
width="200" height="350" alt=" " border="1"> Sources: Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. <br />
In the United States, fertility rates have fallen since 1990 among all
major racial/ethnic groups, declining fastest among African Americans
and Latinas. -
https://www.prb.org/resources/why-is-the-u-s-birth-rate-declining/ ©
2023 PRB. All Rights Reserved</p><blockquote><blockquote> May 28, 2021 —
Among sexually active women who were not seeking pregnancy, 88% were
using a contraceptive method in 2016, and this proportion has remained
steady since 2002. <br /> >99% of sexually experienced U.S. women aged
15–44 have used at least one contraceptive method as of 2008 ... and
this proportion has remained steady since 2002. Almost all women who
identify as religious have ever used contraceptive methods—99% of
mainline Protestants, evangelical Protestants and Catholics, and 96% of
people with other religious affiliations.7 Sexually active couples who
do not use any method of contraception have approximately an 85% chance
of experiencing a pregnancy over the course of a year -
https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/contraceptive-use-united-states </blockquote><blockquote>
In 2015–2017, 64.9% of the 72.2 million women aged 15–49 in the United
States were currently using contraception. The most common contraceptive
methods currently used were female sterilization (18.6%), oral
contraceptive pill (12.6%), long-acting reversible contraceptives
(LARCs) (10.3%), and male condom (8.7%). -
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db327.htm </blockquote><blockquote>
Of all live births in the United States during 2018-2020 (average),
23.7% were Hispanic, 52.1% were white, 15.2% were black, 0.8% were
American Indian/Alaska Native and 6.8% were Asian/Pacific Islander. -
https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/data?reg=99&top=2&stop=10&lev=1&slev=4&obj=3
</blockquote> Jan 9, 2023: General Single Parent Households Statistics.
According to a Pew Research study, the United States has the highest
number of children living in single parent households. In contrast,
countries like Mali, Afghanistan, Turkey, Vietnam, and Japan recorded
only single-digit percentages in single parent households. -
https://financesonline.com/single-parent-statistics/ </blockquote><blockquote>
Jun 17, 202: Data from the United States Census Bureau shows that
nearly 18.5 million children grow up without their fathers, which has in
return led to the United States owning the title of the world's leader
in fatherlessness.2 -
https://owens.house.gov/posts/fox-news-americas-crisis-is-a-lack-of-fathers
</blockquote><blockquote> .Aug 8, 2018: Recent estimates show that
about 40 percent of births in the United States occur outside of
marriage, up from 28 percent in 1990 (Child Trends, 2016) </blockquote><blockquote>
Aug 2, 2022 — Births to Unmarried Women: Two in five (41%) births were
to unmarried mothers in 2020. -
https://datacenter.kidscount.org/updates/show/300-births-drop </blockquote><blockquote>
Today, only about 64 percent of children live in homes with two parents
who are married, representing an all-time low (Pew Research Center).
Trend data shows a stark and steady decline since 1960, when nearly 88
percent of children lived with married parents. -
https://gillespieshields.com/40-facts-two-parent-families/ </blockquote><blockquote>
Mar 12, 2022: About 4 out 10 children were born to unwed mothers. Of
single parent families with children under the age of 18, 80 percent
were headed by single mothers. Around half (52.3%) of single mothers
have never married, almost a third (29.3%) are divorced, 18.4% are
either separated or widowed. Half have one child, 30% have two. About
two thirds are White, one third Black -
https://singlemotherguide.com/single-mother-statistics/ </blockquote><blockquote>
Another 2021 study looking at the living arrangements of parents with
children at home indicates that just over 50% of single parents have
never married. -
https://psychcentral.com/relationships/finding-love-as-a-single-mom </blockquote><blockquote>
In the United States today, nearly 24 million children live in a
single-parent family. This total, which has been rising for half a
century, covers about one in every three kids across America -
https://www.aecf.org/blog/child-well-being-in-single-parent-families </blockquote><blockquote>
An estimated 24.7 million children (33%) live absent their biological
father. - https://fathers.com/the-extent-of-fatherlessness/ </blockquote><blockquote>
2012: 57.6% of black children, 31.2% of Hispanic children, and 20.7% of
white children are living absent their biological fathers. -
https://fathers.com/the-extent-of-fatherlessness/ </blockquote><blockquote>
Data from 2019 indicates that: Black and American Indian kids are most
likely to live in a single-parent families (64% of Black children and
52% of American Indian children fit this demographic). -
https://www.aecf.org/blog/child-well-being-in-single-parent-families </blockquote><blockquote>
Mississippi 55.8%; Louisiana 54.5%; New Mexico 53.2%; Nevada 48.8%;
Alabama 48.4%; Delaware 48.1%; Florida; 47.2% are the leading states for
unmarried parents -
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/unmarried/unmarried.htm </blockquote><blockquote>
The average dad is now 30.9 years old at their child's birth. -
https://www.science.org/content/article/average-age-new-us-dads-has-passed-30
</blockquote><blockquote> As reported by the Center for Children and
Families: [u, 2009-2011] 40% of all live births in the US are to single
mothers. ➲ 90% of welfare recipients are single mothers -
https://post.ca.gov/portals/0/post_docs/publications/Building%20a%20Career%20Pipeline%20Documents/safe_harbor.pdf </blockquote></blockquote></div>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-16077341494827186972023-01-25T08:00:00.012-05:002023-12-31T05:26:04.936-05:00Welfare and growing dependency upon government. What determines income in Federal Poverty Guidelines (2022)? <p> <span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">After I read in January 2022 that “</span><a class="western" href="https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Congress created the Affordable Connectivity Program,</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">a
new long-term, $14 billion program, with “new ways to qualify for the
Affordable Connectivity Program such as: receiving WIC benefits or
having an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
[levels],” then I decided to investigate some of this growing
dependency upon government (which is to be obeyed except when in conflict with the Bible). </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Which dependence, among other things, fosters increasing assent to government support of perversions of
what God instituted (including innocent life, as with the unborn, being
protected versus at least <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/article/2022/06/long-term-decline-us-abortions-reverses-showing-rising-need-abortion-supreme-court">20% of pregnancies ending in murder by abortion</a>,
and with male and female being biological terms, and only these two
being sexually joined, only in marriage, versus fostering fornication
and essentially requiring affirmation of homosexual unions,<a href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/10/negative-effects-of-homosexual.html"> despite the profound negative effects on individuals and society of fornication</a>, in health, lives, souls and money (extensive documentation).</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Note that about the time of this writing, the national debt stood at<a class="western" href="https://www.usdebtclock.org/"> over 29 trillion dollars</a> (1-15-22 [31.5 in summer of 2023]) and rising, yet partly due to Covid-19 and supererogatory measures (both are judgments from God) to control it, </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a class="western" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/18/61percent-of-americans-paid-no-federal-income-taxes-in-2020-tax-policy-center-says.html">61% of Americans paid no federal income taxes in 2020</a>. </span></span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Reading
“200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines” promoted me to investigate
that first, and which means, for instance, that while for a household of
three the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) would be $21,960 yet <a class="western" href="https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/federal-poverty-level">200% of the FPL would be $43,920 </a>(compared with $29,646</span><span><span lang="hi-IN"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="hi-IN"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">last
year), and would qualify that household for $30 a month discount for
high-speed Internet and “eligible households also can receive a onetime
discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet
from participating providers if the consumer contributes $10 to $50
toward the purchase price.” “The $14.2 billion Affordable Connectivity
Program is just a part of roughly $65 billion to improve access to
high-quality, high-speed internet access contained in the bipartisan
infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden signed into law Nov. 15.”
(https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2021/fcc-subsidy-helps-broadband-internet-access.html)
</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">However, as reported <a class="western" href="https://leo.nd.edu/assets/339909/2018_consumption_poverty_report_1_.pdf">here</a>, the official poverty measure is based on cash income only, which fails to capture all the resources available to a family including tax credits and in-kind transfers. Also, the official measure of family resources is biased due to under-reporting of certain types of income that are commonly received by those with low reported income. </span></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What are Federal Poverty Guidelines/Levels (FPL)?</span></b></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The
Federal Poverty Guidelines are federally set “poverty lines” that
indicate the minimum amount of annual income that an individual / family
needs to pay for essentials, such as housing, utilities, clothing,
food, and transportation. These guidelines, also called <b>Federal Poverty Levels (FPLs),</b>
are based on the size of a household and the state in which one
resides. FPLs are the same in 48 of the 50 states. The two exceptions
are Alaska and Hawaii, which have higher Federal Poverty Levels due to
the higher cost of living. As an example, in 2021, the annual FPL for an
individual in Alaska was $16,090, in Hawaii it was $14,820, and in the
remainder of the states it was $12,880...</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The exact percentage of the FPL used for eligibility purposes varies based on the program and the state... </span></p><h5 align="JUSTIFY" class="western"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The FPL in 48 Contiguous States</span></span></h5><table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 552px;"><colgroup><col width="76"></col><col width="62"></col><col width="61"></col><col width="61"></col><col width="60"></col><col width="62"></col><col width="69"></col><col width="67"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td width="76"><p align="CENTER" class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b># of Persons in Household</b></span></p></td><td colspan="7" width="466"><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>2021 Federal Poverty Level for the 48 </b></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Contiguous States (Annual Income)</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="76"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>100%</b></span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>133%</b></span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>138%</b></span></p></td><td width="60"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>150%</b></span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>200%</b></span></p></td><td width="69"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>300%</b></span></p></td><td width="67"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>400%</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="76"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>1</b></span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$12,880</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$17,130</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$17,774</span></p></td><td width="60"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$19,320</span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$25,760</span></p></td><td width="69"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$38,640</span></p></td><td width="67"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$51,520</span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="76"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>2</b></span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$17,420</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$23,169</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$24,040</span></p></td><td width="60"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$26,130</span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$34,840</span></p></td><td width="69"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$52,260</span></p></td><td width="67"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$69,680</span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="76"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>3</b></span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$21,960</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$29,207</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$30,305</span></p></td><td width="60"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$32,940</span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$43,920</span></p></td><td width="69"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$65,880</span></p></td><td width="67"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$87,840</span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="76"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>4</b></span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$26,500</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$35,245</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$36,570</span></p></td><td width="60"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$39,750</span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$53,000</span></p></td><td width="69"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$79,500</span></p></td><td width="67"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$106,000</span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="76"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>5</b></span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$31,040</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$41,283</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$42,835</span></p></td><td width="60"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$46,560</span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$62,080</span></p></td><td width="69"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$93,120</span></p></td><td width="67"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$124,160</span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="76"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>6</b></span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$35,580</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$47,321</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$49,100</span></p></td><td width="60"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$53,370</span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$71,160</span></p></td><td width="69"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$106,740</span></p></td><td width="67"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$142,320</span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="76"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>7</b></span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$40,120</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$53,360</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$55,366</span></p></td><td width="60"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$60,180</span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$80,240</span></p></td><td width="69"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$120,360</span></p></td><td width="67"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$160,480</span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="76"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>8</b></span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$44,660</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$59,398</span></p></td><td width="61"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$61,631</span></p></td><td width="60"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$66,990</span></p></td><td width="62"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$89,320</span></p></td><td width="69"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$133,980</span></p></td><td width="67"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">$178,640</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" width="546"><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Add $4,540 for each person in household over 8 persons</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The
Federal Benefit Rate, abbreviated as FBR, is the maximum amount to
which an aged, blind or disabled person who qualifies for Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) is able to receive in monthly cash benefits. In
2021, the maximum FBR was $794 for a single individual and $1,191 for a
married couple...(<a class="western" href="https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/federal-poverty-guidelines">https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/federal-poverty-guidelines</a>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>What programs use FPL guidelines?</b></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Several
programs use either 100% of the poverty guidelines or a percentage
multiple of the guidelines. For example, some programs use 125%, 150%,
or 185% of the guidelines to determine eligibility.
(https://www.medicareplanfinder.com/medicare/federal-poverty-level/#What-programs-use-FPL-guidelines)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>[AT<a class="western" href="https://www.medicareplanfinder.com/medicare/federal-poverty-level/#What-programs-use-FPL-guidelines"> LEAST 30 PROGRAMS USE THE FPL.</a>]</b></span></span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Some <b>examples of federal programs that use the poverty guidelines</b> in determining eligibility include the following:</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Department of Health and Human Services: Community Services Block Grant, Head Start, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Department
of Agriculture: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP,
formerly Food Stamp Program), National School Lunch Program, Child and
Adult Care Food Program</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Department
of Energy: Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons Federal
Poverty Levels do not count Noncash benefits (e.g. food stamps and
housing subsidies) </span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Department
of Labor: Job Corps, National Farmworker Jobs Program, Workforce
Investment Act Youth Activities
(https://www.irp.wisc.edu/resources/what-are-poverty-thresholds-and-poverty-guidelines/)</span></span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Examples of Automotive Help Programs</b></span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">New Car Program for Those in Need</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Bad Credit Auto Loans</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Extended Auto Warranties</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Job Access and Reverse Commute</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Disability Transportation</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">{<a class="western" href="https://reliefbenefits.com/government-assistance">https://reliefbenefits.com/government-assistance</a>)</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>What income is not counted?</b> <b>[for </b><u><b>SNAP</b></u><b> benefits]</b></span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">You must meet the SNAP income tests to get SNAP benefits. There is no asset test for most Massachusetts households....</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Here are <b>examples</b> of <b>income that does not count for SNAP:</b></span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>VISTA, Youthbuild, AmeriCorps, and Foster Grandparent</b> allowances, earnings, or payments for persons otherwise eligible.</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>U.S. temporary Census earnings,</b> for the 2020 Census count.</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Lump sum</b> payments...</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Reimbursements</b> – money you get to pay you back for expenses,.</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Senior Community Service Employment Program</b> (SCSEP)...</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Anything you do not get as cash.</b>.. paid directly to a landlord or utility company...that has no legal obligation to do so.... </span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Veterans Services </b>(M.G.L. c 115) payments made by vendor payment directly to your landlord or utility company.</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Money earned by a child under age 18</b> who..lives with a parent or other responsible adult.</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Much <b>more</b>:
https://www.masslegalhelp.org/income-benefits/food-stamps/advocacy-guide/part3/q69-income-not-counted;
Produced by Patricia Baker and Victoria Negus, Massachusetts Law Reform
Institute Reviewed January 2020 </span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>[Below
are some more benefit programs and services, but which also include
local, state and federal programs as well as some private
organizations.] </b></span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS </b><i><b>OR</b></i> <b>FINANCIAL HELP FROM LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS</b>...</span></p><ul><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Government mortgage and foreclosure assistance is available...</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Rent help from assistance programs is available from a number of sources. </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Government mortgage and foreclosure assistance...</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Rent help from assistance programs i..</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">a variety of additional low income assistance programs ..</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Housing Choice Voucher Program...</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Disability assistance is administered by most state governments..</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Human or social service offices ...</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Financial assistance from your utility company may be available...</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Telephone assistance programs..</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Water bill assistance programs.. </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Federal government grants are provided to states and local governments as part of low income energy (LIHEAP)...</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Free weatherization programs are also available nationwide...</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Medical bill assistance..</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Prescription drug assistance programs ..</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Government funded community clinics..</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Find
dental care from free clinics...Many accept both state or federal
government assistance and public health insurance for payment..</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Free government health care programs..</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Government sponsored welfare programs are available nationally as well as locally....</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Free food from assistance programs are offered by the state as well as federal government...</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Charities,
churches and other organizations that offer financial assistance or
small amounts of money from the government can sometimes help you with
paying bills or debts...</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Older adults and senior citizens.. There are government funded agencies that focus on their needs..</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Several federal government agencies are focused on supporting people and helping them find a job or gain new skills. ..</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Day and child care assistance is available in all states.... Government child care vouchers and subsidies can be obtained </span></p></li></ul><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">State & Local Resources[;] Rent Assistance[;] </span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Free Food Pantries[;] Utility Bill Help[;] </span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Free Stuff and Money[;] Extra Income and Home Work; </span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Public
Assistance[;] Disability Programs[;] Section 8 Housing[;] Senior
Assistance[;] Emergency Rent Assistance[;] Free Job Training[;] Free
Money[;] Grants For Bills[;] Free Clothes & Supplies[;] LIHEAP
Assistance[;] elephone Assistance[;] Help with Water Bills[;] Charity
Assistance[;] Church Assistance[;] Community Action Agencies[;] Medical
Bills[;] Free Healthcare[;] Free Prescriptions[;] Free Community
Clinics[;] Free Dental Clinics[;] Loans For Bills[;] Automobile Loan
Assistance[;] Free Cash Loans[;] Debt Help[;] Mortgage Help[;] ...</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>How much CASH assistance will I get?</b><span>The amount of cash assistance </span><b>available in each state </b><span>listed below varies...the dollar amounts will always change from year to year... 8 highest vs. 8 lowest I found]</span></span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Alaska
$923; New York $789; California $704; Connecticut $698; New Hampshire
$675; Wisconsin $653; Massachusetts $618; Hawaii $610'; </span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mississippi
$170; Tennessee $185; Alabama $215; Arkansas $204; Louisiana $240;
Kentucky $262; Georgia $280; Texas $285
(https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/how_much_cash_assistance.html)</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Paying For Child Care</b></span></p><ul><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Child care subsidies (also called vouchers and fee assistance): </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Head Start and Early Head Start: </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">State-funded prekindergarten: </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Military fee assistance programs:</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Assistance for high school students: </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">College or university child care: </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Employer-assisted dependent care: </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Other employer resources: </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Sliding fee scale:</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Local assistance and scholarships:</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Sibling discount: </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Military discount: </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">American Indian and Alaska Native Assistance: </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Native Hawaiian child care and preschool programs:</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Child and dependent care tax credit</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Earned income tax credit (<a class="western" href="https://childcare.gov/consumer-education/get-help-paying-for-child-care">https://childcare.gov/consumer-education/get-help-paying-for-child-care</a>)</span></p></li></ul><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">What types of <b>federal student loans are available?</b></span></p><ul><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Direct Subsidized Loans .</span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Direct Unsubsidized Loans </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Direct PLUS Loans </span></p></li><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Direct Consolidation Loans</span></p></li></ul><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans)</span></p><ul><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Social Security Survivors Benefits</b></span></p></li></ul><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Eligible survivors include:...</b></span></p><ul><li><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>COVID funeral reimbursement now $9,000</b></span></p></li></ul><p class="western"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">If
a relative of yours died from COVID-19, you may be able to get
reimbursed up to $9,000 for funeral expenses. ..In 2019, the median
national cost of a funeral with a viewing and a burial was $7,640
(https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/covid-funeral-reimbursement-now-9000-heres-how-to-apply-today/)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> Also relevant: </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4c1900;">The
Social Security Administration has announced a 1.3% increase in Social
Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for 2021...The
new SSI federal base amount is $794 per month for an individual and
$1,191 per month for a couple. The SSI payment amounts are higher in
states that pay a supplementary SSI payment....average disability
benefit: $1,277 </span> p><span style="color: #4c1900;">An applicant for
disability benefits through the Social Security disability insurance
(SSDI) or SSI programs must be making less than $1,310 per month (up
from $1,260 per month in 2021) to qualify for benefits. (Blind
applicants can make up to $2,190 per month). Anyone working above those
limits is considered to be doing "substantial gainful activity"
(SGA).... </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1900; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Over half of the income
made by an SSI recipient is not counted toward the limit, so you can
actually receive SSI until you make up to $1,672 per month (if you have
no other income). However, any income received between $0 and $1,672
will reduce the monthly benefit. (For instance, if you earn $1,500 a
month and have no other income, your SSI check will be only $86.50.) In
some states that make extra payments to SSI recipients, the income limit
for SSI recipients may be higher. The income exclusion amount for
students receiving SSI is now $1,930 per month (up to an annual limit of
$7,770). -
https://www.nolo.com/legal-updates/social-security-and-ssi-disability-and-benefit-amounts-for-2021.html
</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1900; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Social Security Administration
provides benefits to children with disabilities in low-income households
through the SSI program. More than 1.3 million children received SSI
disability benefits in 2014; 16 percent of those – or 213,668 children
-- are receiving benefits because of primary speech and language
disorders. In the past decade, the size of this group has more than
tripled; between 2007 and 2011, the number of children who began
receiving SSI benefits for speech and language disorders increased by
nearly 40 percent. ...Between 3 percent and16 percent of all children in
the U.S. experience disruptions in communication because of speech and
language disorders. - THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING,
AND MEDICINE;
https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2016/01/increase-in-the-number-of-children-who-receive-federal-disability-benefits-for-speech-and-language-disorders-similar-to-trends-in-the-general-population-says-new-report
</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1900; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) program provides income support to needy persons aged 65 or older,
blind or disabled adults, and blind or disabled children. Eligibility
requirements and federal payment standards are nationally uniform. SSI
replaced the former federal/state adult assistance programs in the 50
states and the District of Columbia. Payments under SSI began in January
1974, with 3.2 million persons receiving federally administered
payments. By December 1974, this number had risen to nearly 4 million
and remained at about that level until the mid-1980s, then rose
steadily, reaching nearly 6 million in 1993 and 7 million by the end of
2004. As of December 2019, the number of recipients was about 8.1
million. Of this total, more than 4.6 million were between the ages of
18 and 64, 2.3 million were aged 65 or older, and 1.1 million were under
age 18. </span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1900; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The average monthly
federally administered SSI payment was $566. Payments varied by age
group, ranging from an average of $670 for recipients aged under 18 to
$459 for those aged 65 or older. The maximum federal benefit rate in
December 2019 was $783 for an individual and $1,175 for a couple, plus
any applicable state supplementation. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" height="398" src="https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts/2020/chart25.gif" width="640" /> - https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts/2020/fast_facts20.html#page24</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability <b>Insurance </b>Program
[SSDI]. In December 2019, there were 9,765,096 people receiving Social
Security disability benefits as disabled workers, disabled widow(er)s,
or disabled adult children. The majority (85.8 percent) were disabled
workers, 11.7 percent were disabled adult children, and 2.5 percent were
disabled widow(er)s.
https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/di_asr/2019/sect01.html</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The following is indirectly related to SSI: <span style="color: #4c1900;">Every
month, 14 million people now get a disability check from the
government...The federal government spends more money each year on cash
payments for disabled former workers than it spends on food stamps and
welfare combined....The vast majority of people on federal disability do
not work.[1] Yet because they are not technically part of the labor
force, they are not counted among the unemployed... </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1900; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In
Hale County, Alabama, nearly 1 in 4 working-age adults is on
disability.[2] On the day government checks come in every month, banks
stay open late, Main Street fills up with cars, and anybody looking to
unload an old TV or armchair has a yard sale. ..There's no diagnosis
called disability. You don't go to the doctor and the doctor says,
"We've run the tests and it looks like you have disability." It's
squishy enough that you can end up with one person with high blood
pressure who is labeled disabled and another who is not....The health
problems where there is most latitude for judgment -- back pain, mental
illness -- are among the fastest growing causes of disability. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" height="496" src="https://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/img/pm-gr-disability_diagnoses-616.gif" width="660" /></span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1900; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">
People on disability are not counted among the unemployed. "That's a
kind of ugly secret of the American labor market," David Autor, an
economist at MIT, told me. "Part of the reason our unemployment rates
have been low, until recently, is that a lot of people who would have
trouble finding jobs are on a different program."..disability has also
become a de facto welfare program for people without a lot of education
or job skills. But it wasn't supposed to serve this purpose; it's not a
retraining program designed to get people back onto their feet. Once
people go onto disability, they almost never go back to work. Fewer than
1 percent of those who were on the federal program for disabled workers
at the beginning of 2011 have returned to the workforce since then, one
economist told me....</span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1900; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As I got
further into this story, I started hearing about another group of people
on disability: kids. People in Hale County told me that what you want
is a kid who can "pull a check." Many people mentioned this, but I
basically ignored it. It seemed like one of those things that maybe
happened once or twice, got written up in the paper and became
conversational fact among neighbors. Then I looked at the numbers. I
found that the number of kids on a program called Supplemental Security
Income -- a program for children and adults who are both poor and
disabled -- is almost seven times larger than it was 30 years ago. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" border="0" height="433" src="https://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/img/pm-gr-ssi_kids-616.gif" width="659" /></span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1900; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jahleel
Duroc (pictured above) is gap-toothed, 10 and vibrating with
enthusiasm. He's excited to talk to someone new, excited to show me his
map of his neighborhood in the Bronx. He's disabled in the eyes of the
government because he has a learning disability. </span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1900; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When
you are an adult applying for disability you have to prove you cannot
function in a "work-like setting." When you are a kid, a disability can
be anything that prevents you from progressing in school. Two-thirds of
all kids on the program today have been diagnosed with mental or
intellectual problems.... </span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1900; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jahleel's
mom wants him to do well in school. That is absolutely clear. But her
livelihood depends on Jahleel struggling in school. This tension only
increases as kids get older. One mother told me her teenage son wanted
to work, but she didn't want him to get a job because if he did, the
family would lose its disability check.... </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">By Chana Joffe-Walt. More on a problem designed to combat a problem: https://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/
</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Note that in the Bible, under the theocracy instituted by God through Moses, the closest thing to socialism is that as a theocracy which included the Hebrews:</span></p><ul>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> selling themselves (or being sold) into servanthood, (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Leviticus 25.39" data-version="kjv1900" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Leviticus%2025.39" target="_blank">Leviticus
25:39</a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Leviticus 25.47ff" data-version="kjv1900" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Leviticus%2025.47ff" target="_blank">47ff</a>) with the owner giving generous severance pay in the
seventh year (<a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/deuteronomy/15:9-15/">Deuteronomy
15:9-15</a>) thus fostering self-sufficiency, vs. welfare. And:</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
not harvesting the corners of the field, leaving them "for the poor and stranger. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Lv. 19.10" data-version="kjv1900" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lv.%2019.10" target="_blank">Lv. 19:10</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Lv 23.22" data-version="kjv1900" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lv%2023.22" target="_blank">23:22</a>) And
also:
</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
letting the land rest the 7th year with the poor being the
harvesters (meaning work: <a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/exodus/30/">Exodus
30</a> 23:11). As well as leaving that which dies of itself for the
poor. (<a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/deuteronomy/14:21/">Deuteronomy
14:21</a>) And:</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
at the end of every seven years making a release of every creditor
of his neighbour, or of his brother, excluding foreigners.
(<a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/deuteronomy/15:1-3/">Deuteronomy
15:1-3</a>) And;
</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
giving to every family per tribes a portion of the conquered land by
lot for an inheritance forever. (<a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/numbers/33:53/">Numbers
33:53</a>,54)
</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
ever fiftieth year proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all
the inhabitants to return every man unto his possession (in case
they sold it, such as out of need), and every man unto his family.
(<a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/leviticus/25:10/">Leviticus
25:10</a>)</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
And personal charity to brethren who waxed poor, and with loans
having no interest, (<a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/leviticus/25:35/">Leviticus
25:35</a>,36; <a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/deuteronomy/15:7/">Deuteronomy
15:7</a>,8; cf. <a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Timothy 6.17" data-version="kjv1900" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Timothy%206.17" target="_blank">1 Timothy 6:17</a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Timothy 6.18" data-version="kjv1900" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Timothy%206.18" target="_blank">18</a>; <a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/1-john/3:16/">1
John 3:16</a>,17) and:</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
not keeping overnight what he placed down as collateral/pledge
(<a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/deuteronomy/24:12/">Deuteronomy
24:12</a>) And:</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
paying workers daily. (<a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/deuteronomy/24:15/">Deuteronomy
24:15</a>) And with:</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
the same tax (an half shekel) for rich and poor for the service of
the tabernacle of the congregation. (<a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/exodus/30:15/">Exodus
30:15</a>,16)?
</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
A yearly tithe of produce, dough, etc. for the Levites to do the
service of the Tabernacle (<a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/numbers/18:20/">Numbers
18:20</a>,21; <a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/leviticus/27:30-31/">Leviticus
27:30-31</a>)
</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
The yearly tithe of their increase of the field (being an
agrarian-based society) for the feasts, to eat (or buy food if one
came from far away, who could sell their increase) at the feast unto
the Lord in the place which He would choose to place his name.
(<a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/deuteronomy/14:22-26/">Deuteronomy
14:22-26</a>)</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
The free-will offerings by inviolable vows, of persons, cattle,
houses, or land, (<a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/leviticus/27:2-25/">Leviticus
27:2-25</a>) according to administrative estimation based on value
and ability.
</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
The tithe of thine increase at the end of three years, thus, "the
Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the
stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy
gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy
God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest."
(<a href="https://www.christianforums.com/bible/deuteronomy/14:28/">Deuteronomy
14:28</a>,29)
</span></p>
</li></ul><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-left: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in; margin: 0.02in 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thus, while some liberals attempt to invoke the Bible in support of "redistributive social welfare tax," what the Bible describes is simply not analogous to the "social justice" movement of the Left, which not extends to tax money being used for "gender justice" and fostering transitioning beginning with adolescents, and surgery even for prisoners. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-left: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in; margin: 0.02in 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And attempts to use the theocracy of Israel as applicable tor civil government today needs to deal with it as part a
whole system, which was opposed to,</span></p><p>
</p><ol>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
a welfare system which subsidizes having children due to rampant
continued fornication. And fosters:</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
absentee fathers, and:</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
able persons/recipients who would not seek to be productive. And
</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
a vast penal system, and:</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
redundant overlapping (federal and "tribal") programs
providing $ignificant aid for a whole host of aspects, including
education, housing, heat, power, health care, utility rates, and a
<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm" target="_blank">multitude
of adult health issue</a>s as well as <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/ChildhoodListings.htm" target="_blank">children</a>,
and including:</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
funding the cost of treatment for a disease primarily caused by a
sinful activity <a href="http://peacebyjesus.org/homosex_versus_the_bible.html" target="_blank">the Scriptures only condemns</a>, and e<a href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/10/negative-effects-of-homosexual.html" target="_blank">ven funding so that they may engage in it without becoming infected, as well as for treatment due to a fornicating lifestyle</a>. And:</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
with the support largely being an impersonal means in the mail or
similar, And:</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
administered by a vast bureaucracy largely staffed by supporters of
said system (with most likely being socialism-supporting college students). </span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
many of whom are naïve idealistic students of secular schools working to get their <a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/4135866/posts?page=7#7" target="_blank">remaining debt forgiven by working for the government). </a></span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> And with those with political power fostering a victim-entitlement mentality, in which all those lack
benefits others earned are told they are victims of injustice, and
have the right to benefits others earned, and who are generally
portrayed as oppressors who need to have more taken from them to
provide what the victims are told is their right (thus working
against the concept of mercy and grace and acts of gratitude), and
<a href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-big-picture-who-is-really-running.html" target="_blank">by which Communist-type seduction said political powers obtain their power</a> (in the end resulting in dictatorships and the most extreme
economic discrepancy), all of which is</span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
funded by approx. just half the adult population, and:</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-right: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.02in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
with certain benefits for the working poor effectively being a
disincentive to work, since recipients quickly lose more benefits
for each additional dollar they earn. </span></p></li></ol><span style="font-size: medium;">See <a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-big-picture-who-is-really-running.html" style="background-color: #ffffc4; color: #2856e1; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>The Big Picture: who is really running the show in the culture war, and its nature and trajectory</b></a></span><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">And most importantly, please read on as regards salvation:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">* In the Bible, one is saved by penitent, heart-purifying, regenerating effectual faith, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.10?passageId=ACT.10.43-ACT.10.47">Acts 10:43-47</a></span>;
15:7-9) in the risen Divine
(http://peacebyjesus.org/deityofchrist.html) Lord Jesus, who was sent by
the Father to be the savior of the world. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1JN.4?passageId=1JN.4.14">1 John 4:14</a></span>)
who did everything Right, but then took responsibility for all we did
Wrong, paying the price the forgiveness of our sin with His own sinless
shed blood. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ISA.53?passageId=ISA.53.4-ISA.53.11">Isaiah 53:4–11</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/LUK.24?passageId=LUK.24.47">Luke 24:47</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/LUK.24?passageId=LUK.24.47">Luke 24:47</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/COL.1?passageId=COL.1.14">Col. 1:14</a></span>)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">* And 3 days later then rose and ascended to His Father in Heaven as Lord of all, and thus enabling regeneration (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JHN.7?passageId=JHN.7.37">John 7:37</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JHN.7?passageId=JHN.7.38"> 38</a></span>; 14:24,25; 16:7) when one essentially believes as described above. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.15?passageId=ACT.15.7-ACT.15.9">Acts 15:7-9</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/EPH.1?passageId=EPH.1.13">Eph. 1:13</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/TIT.3?passageId=TIT.3.5">Titus 3:5</a></span>)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">* And which faith is imputed for righteousness, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ROM.4?passageId=ROM.4.5">Romans 4:5</a></span>) and results in following the Lord, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JHN.10?passageId=JHN.10.27">Jn. 10:27</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JHN.10?passageId=JHN.10.28"> 28</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ROM.8?passageId=ROM.8.14">Romans 8:14</a></span>) which is to formally begin with being baptized (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.38-ACT.2.47">Acts 2:38-47</a></span>; 8:12,36,37)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">*
And by which faith the redeemed soul is "accepted in the Beloved" and
positionally seated with Him in Heaven, on His account, glory to God. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/EPH.1?passageId=EPH.1.6">Ephesians 1:6</a></span>; 2:6; cf. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/PHP.3?passageId=PHP.3.21">Phil. 3:21</a></span>)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">* And those who die in that obedient faith will go to be forever with Him at death or His return.(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/PHP.1?passageId=PHP.1.23">Phil 1:23</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/2CO.5?passageId=2CO.5.8">2Cor. 5:8</a></span> [“we”]; Heb, 12:22,23; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.15?passageId=1CO.15.51">1Cor. 15:51</a></span>ff'; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1TH.4?passageId=1TH.4.14">1Thess. 4:14</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1TH.4?passageId=1TH.4.17"> 17</a></span>) “the resurrection of life. ”(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JHN.5?passageId=JHN.5.29">Jn. 5:29</a></span>a)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">And will go with the Lord Jesus to the battle of Armageddon, “ (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JUD.1?passageId=JUD.1.14">Jude 14</a></span>-15)
and also stand before “the judgment seat of Christ” which is only for
believers and who will be judged as to rewards or loss thereof due their
manner of workmanship in building the body of Christ, the church. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/LUK.14?passageId=LUK.14.14">Lk. 14:14</a></span>; cf. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.3?passageId=1CO.3.8">1Cor. 3:8</a></span>ff; 4:5; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.24?passageId=ACT.24.15">Acts 24:15</a></span>)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">And
shall then be rulers under Christ in His literal 1,000 year reign.
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on
such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God
and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/REV.20?passageId=REV.20.6">Revelation 20:6</a></span>) In contrast to those who were never born of the Spirit or who terminally fall away. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GAL.5?passageId=GAL.5.1-GAL.5.4">Gal. 5:1-4</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/HEB.3?passageId=HEB.3.12">Heb. 3:12</a></span>; 10:25-39)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">After which the “great and notable day of the Lord” ‘ (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.20">Acts 2:20</a></span>) culminates in the Great White Throne judgment, with “the resurrection of damnation” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JHN.5?passageId=JHN.5.29">Jn. 5:29</a></span>b) and their judgment which occurs 1,000 years after “the first resurrection” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/REV.20?passageId=REV.20.6">Rv. 20:6</a></span>) the “resurrection of life, (”(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JHN.5?passageId=JHN.5.29">Jn. 5:29</a></span>a) and in which judgment believers will be part of the jury in the judgment of men and angels (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.6?passageId=1CO.6.3">1 Corinthians 6:3</a></span>)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">In
which the dead are judged out of those things which were written in the
books, and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast
into the lake of fire, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/REV.20?passageId=REV.20.11-REV.20.5">Rv. 20:11-5</a></span>) with their degree of punishment being determined in accordance with how much light and grace was given. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a class="biblePreviewerLink" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/LUK.10?passageId=LUK.10.12-LUK.10.13">Lk. 10:12-13</a></span>; 12:47,48)</span></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-62124011304305544642023-01-13T11:23:00.018-05:002023-01-14T11:49:26.912-05:00https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/ posts, as of 1-23, by the grace of God.<!DOCTYPE html>
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<font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/">https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/</a>
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<p class="western" align="justify"> <font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt">Posts
are usually listed in order of original posting date. Main site
home page: <a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesus.org/">https://peacebyjesus.org/</a>
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<p class="western" align="justify"><a name="__DdeLink__71940_3290689738"></a>
<font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt">Posts
are usually listed in order of original posting date.<font size="2" style="font-size: 9pt">(I am sorry
Blogger.com often somewhat skews pasted formatted text.)</font></font></p>
<ol>
</p>
<li><p class="western" align="justify"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/what-has-good-news-mission-under-pastor.html"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt">What
has the Good News Mission under Pastor Ock Soo Park preached?</font></font></a></p>
<li><p class="western" align="justify"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/roy-masters-versus-lord-jesus-christ.html">Roy
Masters versus the Lord Jesus Christ</a> </font></font>
</p>
<li><p class="western" align="justify"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/brief-examination-of-book-of-enoch.html"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt">Brief
examination of The Book of Enoch</font></font></a></p>
<li><p class="western" align="justify"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/early-american-education.html">Early
American education</a> </font></font>
</p>
<li><p class="western" align="justify"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/12/pastor-oden-fong-gives-his-testimony.html"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt">Pastor
Oden Fong gives His Testimony </font></font></a>
</p>
<li><p class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/10/scriptural-substantiation-on-trinity-in.html">Scriptural
substantiation on the Trinity, in a systematic study, by the
grace of God</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/08/quora-your-answer-has-been-deleted-as.html">Was
John Calvin wrong or right when he taught that salvation is not
by faith</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/07/quora-deleted-this-answer-cited-as-spam_23.html">Are
Evangelicals Christians?</a>
</p>
<li><p class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/06/quora-deleted-this-answer-why-are.html">Quora
deleted this answer. Why are people homophobic (other than
religion or “because it’s bad)?</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/05/why-are-so-many-people-on-quora-saying.html">Why
are so many people on Quora saying that you can lose your
salvation when the Bible says otherwise? </a>
</p>
<li><p class="western"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="3" style="font-size: 12pt"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/05/why-should-of-jewish-faith-believe-in.html">Why
should those the of Jewish faith believe in Jesus as the Christ?</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/05/russia-has-outlawed-any-expression-of.html">Has
Russia outlawed any expression of faith apart from the Russian
Orthodox, the state church and supporter of Putin</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/05/quoracom-censored-why-are-so-many.html">Quora.com
deleted: Why are so many conservatives bent out of shape about
"cancel culture</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2022/01/examination-of-some-proffered.html">Examination
of some proffered “references” to texts from
deuterocanonical (apocryphal) books in the New Testament</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-use-of-slur-homophobic.html">THE
USE OF THE SLUR "HOMOPHOBIC"</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2021/09/culture-not-color-spiritual-declension.html">CULTURE,
NOT COLOR: Spiritual declension and liberal corruption of the
American black family in particular and its correlation to
behavioral problems</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2021/02/lying-and-misleading-headlines.html">Lying
and misleading headlines: "Researchers find face masks don't
hinder breathing during exercise.”</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2021/02/why-conservatives-esp-christian-ones.html">Why
conservatives (esp. Christian ones) vote Republican (until a
fully conservative party becomes a viable alternative), by way of
analogy </a>
</p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2021/01/infallibility-and-roman-catholic-canon.html">Infallibility
and the Roman Catholic Canon, its formation and evidence against
the Apocrypha</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-big-picture-who-is-really-running.html">The
Big Picture: who is really running the show in the culture war,
and its nature and trajectory</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-proposed-federal-equality-act.html">The
Federal "Equality Act"</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2020/01/step-by-step-refutation-of-dave.html">Step-by-Step
Refutation of Dave Armstrong vs. Sola Scriptura</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/12/is-roman-catholic-protestant-slur.html">Is
"Roman Catholic" or "Roman church" simply a
slur invented by Protestants</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/12/14-questions-as-regards-sola-scriptura.html">14
questions as regards sola scriptura versus sola ecclesia</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/10/required-catholic-submission.html">Required
Catholic submission</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/10/negative-effects-of-homosexual.html">Negative
effects of homosexual relations (and heterosexual fornication)</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/06/basically-what-is-roman-catholic.html">Basically,
what is the Roman Catholic teaching on salvation?</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/04/popes-against-jews.html">Popes
against the Jews</a>
</p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/02/dialog-with-catholics.html">Dialog
with Catholics</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/12/are-evangelicals-closer-to-what-new.html">Are
evangelicals closer to what the New Testament church believed
than Roman Catholicism?</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/12/did-nt-church-believe-what-roman.html">Did
the NT church believe what the Roman Catholic church basically
teaches on the Eucharist?</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/confession-of-sins-to-catholic-priests.html">Confession
of sins to Catholic priests</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/is-it-wrong-to-wonder-why-god-lets-good.html">Is
it wrong to wonder why God lets good people die when they were
young?</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/why-do-peole-attack-bible-as-promoting.html">Why
do people attack the Bible as promoting religious violence but
deny that the Qur'an does so?</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/heresies-and-errors-of-linwood-jackson.html">Heresies
and errors of Linwood Jackson Jr, exposed</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/partial-list-of-divergent-beliefs.html">Partial
List Of Divergent Beliefs Between Catholics</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/refuting-catholic-answers-how-to-defend.html">Refuting
Catholic Answers: "How to Defend the Deuterocanonicals"</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/11/facts-that-catholic-apologists.html">Facts
and testimony that Catholic apologists typically will not give
you about Luther and the canon</a>
</p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/10/can-catholics-who-are-vegans-eat.html">Can
Catholics who are vegans eat the Eucharist?</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/10/did-new-testament-church-believe-in.html">Did
the New Testament church believe in Roman Catholic Purgatory</a></p>
<li><p class="western"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/10/how-did-serpent-seduce-eve-to-eat-of.html">How
did the serpent seduce Eve to eat of the tree of the knowledge of
good and evi</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/10/what-are-some-substantial-differences.html">What
are some substantial differences between Roman Catholicism,
Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism?</a>
</p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/09/will-unconfessed-sin-send-me-to-hell.html">Will
unconfessed sin send me to Hell?</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2018/08/catholicism-against-jews.html">Catholicism
against the Jews</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2017/01/some-so-called-church-fathers-on.html">Some
so-called "Church Fathers" on virginity versus marria</a>ge</p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2016/09/papal-presumption-assumption-of-mary-in.html">Papal
Presumption: The Assumption of Mary In 1950 pope Pius XII (in
Munificentissimus Deus)</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2016/05/refutationof-can-saints-hear-us-httpwww.html">Refutation
of "Can The Saints Hear Us?l "
http://www.aggiecatholicblog.org</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2016/05/refutation-of-dave-armstrong-prayer-to.html">Refutation
of Dave Armstrong: Prayer to Saints: “New” [?]
Biblical Argument PeaceByJesus</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2016/03/rome-against-jews.html">Rome
against the Jews</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/staples-sophistry-take-2.html">Staples
sophistry, take 2.</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/staples-misdiagnosis-on-protestant.html">Staples
misdiagnosis on “The Protestant Achilles' Heel”</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2014/09/church-fathers-so-called-on-upon-this.html">(So-called)
"Church Fathers" on "upon this rock" in
Matthew 16:18:</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2014/09/deformation-of-nt-church-and-historical.html">Deformation
of the NT church, and the Historical Context of the Reformation</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2014/08/refutation-of-walid-shoebats-them.html">Refutation
of Walid Shoebat's “Them ‘Damned’ Catholics”</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-peter-of-scripture-versus-that-of.html">The
Peter of Scripture versus that of Rome</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2014/01/catholic-and-other-modern-research-on.html">Catholic
and other modern research on apostolic successors to Peter and
ancient interpretationsof Mt.16:18</a>
</p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2013/06/roman-catholic-use-of-sword-of-men.html">Roman
Catholic use of the sword of men (Inquisitions)</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2013/03/things-new-testament-church-did-not.html">Things
the New Testament church did not manifestly believe or practice,
as seen in Scripture</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2013/02/male-headship-versus-gender-positional.html">Male
headship versus positional gender equality (egalitarianism)</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2012/10/is-one-saved-always-saved-correct.html">Is
"Once saved always saved" (OSAS) correct?</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2012/04/does-catholicism-believe-that-non.html">Does
Catholicism teach that non-Christians can be saved?</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2011/09/unity-under-sola-scriptura-versus-rc.html">Unity
under sola Scriptura versus RC sola Ecclesia</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/did-catholic-church-forbid-bible.html">Did
the Catholic Church forbid Bible reading</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/luther-and-canon-did-he-have-help.html">Luther
and the Canon: did he have help?</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/historical-claims-of-rome-and-authority.html">Historical
basis for Rome's claim to authority, Pt. 1</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/historical-claims-of-rome-and-authority_26.html">Historical
basis for Rome's claim to authority, Pt. 2</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/by-what-authority.html">By
what authority</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/lazarus-is-not-analogous-to-ptds-prayer.html">Praying
to </a><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/lazarus-is-not-analogous-to-ptds-prayer.html">created
beings in Heaven</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/re-was-jesus-death-contrary-to-gods.html">Re
"Was Jesus death contrary to God's command against child
sacrifice?</a></p>
<li><p class="western" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2010/12/recent-miscellaneous-posts.html">Miscellaneous
Posts Re Roman Catholicism: Merit versus Grace</a>
</p>
<li><p class="western" align="justify" style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0.02in">
<font face="Arial, sans-serif"><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2009/08/misc-religious-news-clippings-regarding.html">Misc.
religious news clippings regarding homosexual activism: 2004 —
20</a><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2009/08/misc-religious-news-clippings-regarding.html">17</a>
</font>
</p>
</ol>
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</html>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-73592747346560425062023-01-13T11:02:00.005-05:002023-01-13T11:11:10.125-05:00Staples sophistry, take 2.<p> <span style="color: #4c1900;"></span></p><p align="CENTER" class="western"><span style="color: #dc2300;"><b>Staples sophistry, take 2.</b></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"> Having <a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3253337/posts?page=103#103">exposed</a>
Staples misdiagnosis on “The Protestant Achilles' Heel,” Morgana simply
proceeds to provide another opportunity to expose cultic Catholic
devotion which drives them to deny what Scripture reveals and compel
Scripture to support teachings which are part of the many traditions of
men that developed over time. While RCs cannot see Scripture as the only
supreme sufficient (in formal and material aspects) standard for faith
as described in my prior rebuttal, yet in-credibly they see the
“Immaculate Conception” in Scripture, which is neither taught nor
required in Scripture. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>In
my new book, Behold Your Mother - A Biblical and Historical Defense of
the Marian Doctrines, I give eight reasons for belief in the Immaculate
Conception..Here, I will present some snippets from three of these
biblical reasons for faith. But first, I must say I am sympathetic to my
Protestant friends, and others, who struggle with this teaching of the
Catholic Faith. <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Romans%203.23" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ROM" data-bible-ref="3:23-3:23" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Romans 3:23</span></span></a> says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/I%20John%201.8" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="1:8-1:8" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">I John 1:8</span></span></a> adds, “If any man says he has no sin he is a liar and the truth is not in him.” </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>However,
Mary was “saved” from sin in a most sublime manner. She was given the
grace to be “saved” completely from sin so that she never committed even
the slightest transgression... Scripture indicates that salvation can
also refer to man being protected from sinning before the fact. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">
Here the sophistry begins by arguing that since salvation and God being
a Savior can mean being protected from sinning then this supports the
premise that Mary never sinned. However, the former does not equate to
the latter, and which remains to be established.</p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>But
what about “all have sinned,” and “if any man says he has no sin he is a
liar and the truth is not in him?” Wouldn’t “all” and/or “any man”
include Mary? On the surface, this sounds reasonable. But this way of
thinking carried to its logical conclusion would list Jesus Christ in
the company of sinners as well. No Christian would dare say that! </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">
And the reason “No [true] Christian would dare say that!” is actually a
refuting argument against the Immaculate Conception! For the reason why
no true Christian would dare say that Christ sinned is because He is
plainly declared to be without sin many times. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2Cor.%205.21" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="5:21-5:21" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">2Cor. 5:21</span></span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1Pt.%202.22" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-ref="2:22-2:22" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">1Pt. 2:22</span></span></a>; cf. <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn.%208.45" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="8:45-8:45" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Jn. 8:45</span></span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Heb.%207.26" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="7:26-7:26" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Heb. 7:26</span></span></a>)
And which is consistent with how the Holy Spirit characteristically
mentions notable deviations from the norm — which the sinless state of
Mary certainly would be — even of far less primary persons. from From
extraordinary age (Methuselah), to not dying (Enoch), to length of fast,
to miraculous birth (Abraham and Sarah), to extraordinary height (Ogg)
or strength (Samson) or toes (Goliath), or holiness (Job, Noah, Daniel)
to supernatural transport (Phillip), to the extraordinary length of
celibacy of Anna, and uncharacteristic duplicity of Peter, to virgin
birth (Mary), to diet (John the Baptist), to the sinlessness of Christ,
to the singleness of Paul and Barnabas, to the signs of an apostle, etc.
Yet despite this the Holy Spirit says nothing about Mary being either
sinless, or a perpetual virgin, or created beings being prayed to. And
instead what He does teach weighs towards the norm for Mary having
sinned and sexually cleaving in marriage. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">
Thus the argument for unrecorded Marian exception has no warrant, but
instead only warrants her being as others in these aspects. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i><a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Romans%205.12" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ROM" data-bible-ref="5:12-5:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Romans 5:12</span></span></a> will deal with original sin...Original sin is not something we do; it is something we’ve inherited. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">
Actually, we inherit a spiritually dead Adamic nature that is prone to
sin, and thus all do sin in time, except one who was God incarnate. And
while we enter into the effects of the actions of others, yet we are not
judged for what we are not culpable for, but judgment is always
according to what we ourselves have done in the respective judgments of
redeemed and lost, (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2Cor.%205.10" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="5:10-5:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">2Cor. 5:10</span></span></a>; . 20:11-15) and in accordance with light and grace given. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk.%2012.48" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="12:48-12:48" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Lk. 12:48</span></span></a>) </p><p class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>The
question remains: how do we know Mary is an exception to the norm of
“all have sinned?” And more specifically, is there biblical support for
this claim? Yes, there is. Indeed, there is much biblical support, </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">
Which audacious claim is typical of RCs who are all to willing to see
whatever is needed or desirable to support Rome, and as if this support
was the basis for their veracity, which they are not. And even to
relying on arguments their own church does not officially teach, but who
will dismiss ours on that basis and tell us we need to rely on Rome to
interpret Scripture.</p><p class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>And
[the angel Gabriel] came to [Mary] and said, “Hail, full of grace, the
Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and
considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the
angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor
with God.”... First, according to many biblical scholars as well as Pope
St. John Paul II, the angel did more than simply greet Mary. The angel
actually communicated a new name or title to her. In Greek, the greeting
was kaire, kekaritomene, or “Hail, full of grace.” </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: black;">Wrong. His own RC Bible for America does not say this “full of grace,” as the word for “full” is not even there. </span>Kecharitomene (one form of the verb "charitoo") in <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk.%201.28" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="1:28-1:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Lk. 1:28</span></span></a>, is never used for "full" elsewhere, but <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk.%201.28" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="1:28-1:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Lk. 1:28</span></span></a> simply says she was graced, favored, enriched with grace, as in <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Eph.1.6" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="1:6-1:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Eph.1:6</span></span></a>.</p><p align="LEFT" class="western"> CARM finds,<span style="color: #4c1900;">In
Greek: καὶ εἰσελθὼν πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπεν Χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ κύριος μετὰ
σοῦ. κεχαριτωμένη, is the pf. pass. ptcp. of χαριτόω (charitoō). It is
the single Greek word kexaritomena and means highly favored, make
accepted, make graceful, etc. Repeated: It is a passive participle
derived from charitoō. It does not mean "full of grace" or ‘completely
filled with grace’ which is "plaras karitos" (plaras = full and karitos =
Grace) in the Greek.... </span>More technical data from source <a class="western" href="http://carm.org/mary-full-grace-and-luke-128">here</a>: In contrast, the only one (though in some manuscripts Stephen in <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%206.8" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="6:8-6:8" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Acts 6:8</span></span></a>)
said to be full of grace is the Lord Jesus, "full ("plērēs) of grace
(charis) and truth," using "plērēs," which denotes "full" 17 other
places in the NT. If Mary was uniquely perfectly full of grace as
bearing Christ then it would say she was, as Christ was, (plērēs
charis) and RCs would not have to engage in such egregious
extrapolations in seeking to justify this invention. </p><p class="western">However,
seeking to compel Scripture to support her tradition of men, Lk, 1:28
was wrongly rendered "full of grace" in the DRB, rather than "highly
favored" or similar, as in Rome's current official New American Bible,
“Hail, favored one!" (http://usccb.org/bible/luke/1) Yet the DRB
correctly translates <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Eph.%201.6" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="1:6-1:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Eph. 1:6</span></span></a> as "in which he hath graced us." </p><p class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>When
you add to this the fact that St. Luke uses the perfect passive
participle...The perfect tense is used to indicate that an action has
been completed in the past resulting in a present state of being...But
only Mary is given the name “full of grace” and in the perfect tense
indicating that this permanent state of Mary was completed. </i></span></p><p class="western">Mary
is not given a name (see below) and nor said to be “full” of grace, and
uniquely so, nor from what i read does kecharitomene being a perfect
passive participle translate into meaning a "a perfection of grace," or
distinctively a past action, in distinction to echaritosen (another form
of the verb "charitoo") used in <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Eph.%201.6" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="1:6-1:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Eph. 1:6</span></span></a>,
as there also it refers to a present state based upon a past action,
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us
accepted [echaritosen] in the beloved." (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Ephesians%201.6" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="1:6-1:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Ephesians 1:6</span></span></a>) </p><p class="western">See more on this issue <a class="western" href="http://vintage.aomin.org/In_sententius.html">here </a>as
White gets into detail with the Greek. (And notes that the fact that
the Roman Catholic Church has to attempt to build such a complex
theology on the form of a participle in a greeting should say a great
deal in and of itself.) </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"> Even Roman Catholic apologist Jimmy Akin <a class="western" href="http://tquid.sharpens.org/akin_full.mp3">said </a>of <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Luke%201.28" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="1:28-1:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Luke 1:28</span></span></a> on the word kecharitomene: </p><p class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">"This
is a Greek term that you could use in that exact grammatical formation
for someone else who wasn't immaculately conceived and the sentence
would still make sense" like Mary's grandmother).<span style="color: black;"> He went on to say,</span>
"This is something where I said previously, we need the additional
source of information from tradition and we need the guidance of the
magisterium to be able to put these pieces together." <span style="color: black;">Meaning
the text does not teach the IM, nor is that necessary, but tradition
becomes binding doctrine under the ultimate presumed authority of Rome. </span></span></p><p class="western">Moreover,
while Mary is highly blessed among women, and is to be honored
according to what is written, this does not translate in the type of
supererogation of praise seen in Catholicism, in which <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.org/marysc.html">humble Mary is made into an almost almighty demigoddess</a>! </p><p class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>Generally
speaking, when one greeted another with kaire, a name or title would
almost be expected to be found in the immediate context.</i></span></p><p class="western">And indeed, in context that the angel was simply telling Mary she was graced of the Lord is confirmed in v. 30, “<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And
the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour
[charis] with God,” (KJV), or as in the RC DRB: “hast found grace with
God.”</span></span><span style="color: navy;"> </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>The fact that the angel replaces Mary’s name in the greeting with “full of grace” was anything but common...</i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">
The fact is that the angel simply does not, but simply tells her that
she is graced, as she was. Which is like the greeting given to Daniel,
“O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be
strong,” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Daniel%2010.19" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="DAN" data-bible-ref="10:19-10:19" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Daniel 10:19</span></span></a>)
Likewise, literally in Greek, the angel tells Mary “Hail” [rejoice],
graced [one], the Lord is with thee: blessed thou among women.” </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>In each case, the names reveal something permanent about the one named...What’s in a name? A lot according to Scripture!</i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: black;">But
there is no name change here, as unlike cases such as “Neither shall
thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham,” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Genesis%2017.5" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="17:5-17:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Genesis 17:5</span></span></a>) “</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel,” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Genesis%2032.28" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="32:28-32:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Genesis 32:28</span></span></a>)</span></span> ”Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone, (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/John%201.42" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="1:42-1:42" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">John 1:42</span></span></a>) Mary is never addressed as “full of grace,” <span style="color: black;">but
is said to have found grace with God, and thus it is said of her,
“Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,”
and “henceforth all generations shall call me blessed,” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk.%201.42" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="1:42-1:42" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Lk. 1:42</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk%201.48" target="_blank">48</a>)
And which does not say “more blessed than all women” due to Mary having
surpassing virtue. And in fact, as Ratzinger admits, Mary “in the
gospel tradition is quite marginal,” (God and the world, p. 296) while
the Holy Spirit is far far more descriptive of the sacrificial labor of
Paul, to whom He never manifestly attributes sin after his conversion. </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: black;">Nor is “blessed art thou among women” a unique type of appellation, as Scripture also says, “</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Judges%205.24" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JDG" data-bible-ref="5:24-5:24" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Judges 5:24</span></span></a>)</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"> </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"> Thus there is nothing in <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk.%201.28" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="1:28-1:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Lk. 1:28</span></span></a>
that teaches or even infers Marian sinlessness, which we can be sure
the Holy Spirit would have stated if that was the case as He did with
other notable exceptions to the norm, especially among principal
persons. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>2. An Ancient Prophecy—<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Genesis%203.15" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="3:15-3:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Genesis 3:15</span></span></a>:..I
will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and
her seed: he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Not
only do we have the Virgin Birth here implied because the text says the
Messiah would be born of “the seed of the woman” (the “seed” is normally
of the man), but notice “the woman” is not included as “the seed” of
the devil. It seems that both the woman and her seed are in opposition
to and therefore not under the dominion of the devil and “his seed,”
i.e., all who have original sin and are “by nature children of wrath” as
St. Paul puts it in <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Eph.%202.3" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="2:3-2:3" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Eph. 2:3</span></span></a>.
Here, we have in seed form (pun intended), the fact that the
woman—Mary—would be without sin, especially original sin, just as her
Son—the Messiah—would be. The emphasis on Mary is truly remarkable in
that the future Messiah was only mentioned in relation to her. There can
be little doubt that a parallel is being drawn between Jesus and Mary
and their absolute opposition to the devil. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">
In-credible! The RC again examples he can see what he wants to if it
can support his Roman religion. Note first that though I agree the seed
of the women is Christ, both Hagar and Rebekah are said to have seed. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gn.%2016.10" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="16:10-16:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Gn. 16:10</span></span></a>;<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gn%2024.60" target="_blank">24:60</a>)
. Meanwhile the Hebrew words in this entire verse actually only says,
“put/place enmity/hostility between woman between seed seed it/he bruise
head thou shalt bruise heel.” And much commentary has been written
about how this is best translated and what it precisely means. Thus the
“little doubt that a parallel is being drawn between Jesus and Mary”
being both sinless is based upon a text for which there is much doubt
about its precise rendering and meaning, </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">
And while I agree with the text Staples quotes, yet nowhere does it say
the women is uniquely different from the rest of mankind, as it only
distinguishes between the seed of the devil and seed of Eve, which
prophetically would be between the lost and Christ coming ultimately
through Mary, or perhaps between demons and Christ. “Seed” is singular,
but it can refer to a single line of decedents. And as Christ genealogy
is full of souls who were lost at least at one time, the only exclusion
of any seed that is not fallen is the sinless Christ. The seed of the
women no more excludes her from being fallen then it does the parents of
Mary. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: black;">Behind the Roman reasoning is the premise that a sinless vessel is essential for Christ to be sinless, but which is fallacious. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Sam.2.2" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1SA" data-bible-ref="2:2-2:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">1 Sam.2:2</span></span></a> and <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Rev.15.4" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="15:4-15:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Rev.15:4</span></span></a> states that there is "</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span>no one holy as the Lord"</span></span> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">and "Thou only art Holy." Yet </span></span><span style="color: black;">God
used impure men to bring forth His pure expressive word to men, and if
God could preserve Mary from sin then it is certain He could preserve
Christ from being contaminated from the impurity of the vessel through
which His body was supplied. For <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Hebrews%2010.5" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="10:5-10:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Hebrews 10:5</span></span></a>
states that “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith,
Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared
me.” </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"> And it is also argued,
that "The human male determines the sex of the offspring. His entrance
into the unfertilized egg of Mary caused it to develop without the
expected duplication of the female X chromosomes. When an artificial egg
duplicates its chromosomes in response to artificial stimulation. the
result is female" D. Hocking from his Christology course (animal
studies). And thus “The blood type of the Son of God was a separate and
precious type unlike any other, it had no sin. Because of this method of
conception, it is not possible that Mary could have supplied any of her
Adamic blood for Jesus who was to be the spotless lamb of God.” “<span style="font-size: small;">The
Holy Spirit who is God, protected His sinlessness, as God the Son
entered the womb and the egg of Mary and took upon Himself a human
nature in addition to His divine nature (clothed himself in humanity <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Phil.%202.5-8" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PHP" data-bible-ref="2:5-2:8" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Phil. 2:5-8</span></span></a>). There was no change of nature but an addition, adding humanity to His deity.” (http://www.letusreason.org/rc11.htm)</span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">
I am not sure if I agree that the sin nature is dependent on the male
seed, but if God can produce a male from a female virgin then He can
certainly bring forth a perfect sinless male from a fallen vessel
tainted by sin. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="font-size: small;">Note also here that Staples is not arguing for a binding, infallible interpretation of <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gn.%203.15" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="3:15-3:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Gn. 3:15</span></span></a>,
while Pope Pius IX in Ineffabilis Deus (Latin for "Ineffable God")
which defines the infallible (which presumed status only pertains to the
actual pronouncement) dogma of the Immaculate Conception relies upon a
Vulgate translation <span style="color: #4c1900;">[and thus the Douay Rheims] </span>of <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gn.%203.15" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="3:15-3:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Gn. 3:15</span></span></a>
which changed the “he” to “she shall crush thy head,” and thus that
“the most holy Virgin” “was, with him and through him, eternally at
enmity with the evil serpent, and most completely triumphed over him,
and thus crushed his head with her immaculate foot.”
(http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius09/p9ineff.htm)</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;">However, as the Catholic Encyclopedia (Immaculate Conception) states, </span><span style="color: #4c1900;">The
translation “she” of the Vulgate is interpretative; it originated after
the fourth century, and cannot be defended critically. The conqueror
from the seed of the woman, who should crush the serpent’s head, is
Christ; the woman at enmity with the serpent is Mary. </span><span style="color: #4c1900;"><i>(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm)</i></span></span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As with others, the official Roman Catholic Bible for America translates this,</span></p><p class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">“<span style="font-size: x-small;">I
will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring
and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their
heel.”</span></span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;">The approved notes (1970 ver.), while also noting the Traditional Messianic exegesis, explains this saying,</span><span style="color: #4c1900;">
“They will strike…at their heel: the antecedent for “they” and “their”
is the collective noun “offspring,” i.e., all the descendants of the
woman.” </span><span style="color: #4c1900;"><i>(http://old.usccb.org/nab/bible/genesis/genesis3.htm)</i></span></span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-size: x-small;">RC apologist Jimmy Akin also states,<span style="color: #4c1900;"><br />Q: Please explain to me how come the Douay-Rheims <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gen%203.15" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="3:15-3:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Gen 3:15</span></span></a> and the New American Bible <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gen%203.15" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="3:15-3:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Gen 3:15</span></span></a> differ. I’m sure you know what I am talking about.</span></span></p><p class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">...The
reason for the difference in the renderings is a manuscript difference.
Modern translations follow what the original Hebrew of the passage
says. The Douay-Rheims, however, is following a manuscript variant found
in many early Fathers and some editions of the Vulgate (but not the
original; Jerome followed the Hebrew text in his edition of the
Vulgate). The variant probably originated as a copyist error when a
scribe failed to take note that the subject of the verse had shifted
from the woman to the seed of the woman... just as the first half of the
verse, speaking of the enmity between the serpent and the woman, has
been applied to Mary, the second half, speaking of the head crushing and
heel striking, has also been applied to Mary due to the manuscript
variant, though it properly applies to Jesus, given the original Hebrew.
<i>(www.jimmyakin.com/mary-and-genesis-315)</i></span></span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Anglican/Roman Catholic International Commission explains the controversy:</span></p><p class="western">“<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Hebrew text of <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Genesis%203.15" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="3:15-3:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Genesis 3:15</span></span></a>
speaks about enmity between the serpent and the woman, and between the
offspring of both. The personal pronoun (hu’) in the words addressed to
the serpent, “He will strike at your head”, is masculine. In the Greek
translation used by the early Church (LXX), however, the personal
pronoun autos (he) cannot refer to the offspring … but must refer to a
masculine individual who could then be the Messiah, born of a woman. The
Vulgate (mis)translates the clause as ipsa … This feminine pronoun
supports a reading of this passage as referring to Mary which has become
traditional in the Latin Church. (<a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed_of_the_woman#cite_note-13">Source</a>.)</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The
Neo-Vulgate (Nova Vulgata), the revised Latin version authorized by the
Vatican, corrected the error and changed it from ipsa to ipsum in the
Latin.</span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As a reformed source states,<span style="color: #4c1900;">
“He” .. in the original Hebrew is masculine. It is pronounced “hoo” and
can also mean “it.” Many think it means “it” in reference to collective
offspring of the woman crushing the head of the serpent. In the LXX,
however, it is rendered autos “he,” indicating that the passage should
be understood as a Messianic prophecy about Jesus Christ alone crushing
the head. “He [Jesus] will crush the serpent’s head.” </span><span style="color: #4c1900;"><i>(http://reformedapologeticsministries.blogspot.com/2012/02/catholic-misuse-of-genesis-315.html)</i></span></span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-size: x-small;">More <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.org/marysc.html#Uniqueness">here</a>. </span></p><p class="western"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The
Hebrew Masoretic text reads that one who will crush the serpents head
is in the masculine, speaking about Christ, and the NT does not mention
Mary of doing this, but that “Forasmuch then as the children are
partakers of flesh and blood, he [Christ] also himself likewise took
part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the
power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of
death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Hebrews%202.14" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="2:14-2:14" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Hebrews 2:14</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Hebrews%202.15" target="_blank">15</a>) Glory be to God.</span></p><p class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>3.
Mary, Ark of the Covenant: The Old Testament ark of the Covenant was a
true icon of the sacred. It was a picture of the purity and holiness God
fittingly demands of those objects and/or persons most closely
associated with himself and the plan of salvation. Because it would
contain the very presence of God symbolized by three types of the coming
Messiah—the manna, the Ten Commandments, and Aaron’s staff—it had to be
most pure and untouched by sinful man (see <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/II%20Sam.%206.1-9" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2SA" data-bible-ref="6:1-6:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">II Sam. 6:1-9</span></span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Exodus%2025.10ff" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EXO" data-bible-ref="25:10-25:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Exodus 25:10</span></span>ff</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Numbers%204.15" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="NUM" data-bible-ref="4:15-4:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Numbers 4:15</span></span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Heb.%209.4" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="9:4-9:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Heb. 9:4</span></span></a>).</i></span></p><p class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>In
the New Testament, the new and true Ark would not be an inanimate
object, but a person—the Blessed Mother. How much more pure would the
new and true Ark be...</i></span></p><p class="western">This is another
attempt to glorify the creature rather than the Creator, God blessed for
ever, as it is Christ who best fulfills the typology of the ark of the
Covenant. </p><p class="western">• God commanded Moses to “make an ark
of shittim wood,” which wood represents the humanity of Christ, “And
thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou
overlay it,” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Ex.%2025.10" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EXO" data-bible-ref="25:10-25:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Ex. 25:10</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Ex%2025.11" target="_blank">11</a>)
and which gold can be seen to represent glory. And thus the wise men
brought gold as a gift to Christ (not Mary), and was girded about His
loins and breast with a golden garment, (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Dan.%2010.5" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="DAN" data-bible-ref="10:5-10:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Dan. 10:5</span></span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Rv.%201.13" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="1:13-1:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Rv. 1:13</span></span></a>) which also is never said of Mary. </p><p class="western">• The Ark, once made, was moved via poles, so as not to be directly touched by sinful man (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Ex.%2025.12-16" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EXO" data-bible-ref="25:12-25:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Ex. 25:12-16</span></span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/II%20Sam.%206.1-9" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2SA" data-bible-ref="6:1-6:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">II Sam. 6:1-9</span></span></a>),
yet which men Mary was touched by, as well as Christ. And the former
was ritually defiled by giving birth, and thus observed the required
days of purification, (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk.%202.22-24" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="2:22-2:24" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Lk. 2:22-24</span></span></a>; cf. <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lv.%2012.2" target="_blank">Lv. 12:2</a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lv%2012.6-8" target="_blank">6-8</a>)
and then brought the required living creatures to the priest “for a sin
offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the
priest: Who shall offer it before the Lord, and make an atonement for
her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood.” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Leviticus%2012.6" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LEV" data-bible-ref="12:6-12:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Leviticus 12:6</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Leviticus%2012.7" target="_blank">7</a>) </p><p class="western">But
the sanctity of the Ark corresponds to the spiritual purity of Christ,
who being the Lamb of God is alone said to be “holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens,” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Hebrews%207.26" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="7:26-7:26" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Hebrews 7:26</span></span></a>) “<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth,” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Peter%202.22" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-ref="2:22-2:22" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">1 Peter 2:22</span></span></a>)</span></span> “<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">For he hath made him </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>to be</i></span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Corinthians%205.21" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="5:21-5:21" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">2 Corinthians 5:21</span></span></a>)</span></span></p><p class="western">Which
is never said of Mary. Yet Catholics have the audacity to make Mary was
sinless, even as binding doctrine, when Scripture nowhere teaches it,
and we can be confident that it would say so if that was true, and
especially if was a binding doctrine, just as it clearly records the
sinlessness of Christ and other extraordinary or otherwise notable
aspects of its subjects, even far lesser ones. </p><p class="western">•
And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold....And make one cherub on
the one end, and the other cherub on the other end:...And there I will
meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat,
from between the two cherubims (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Exodus%2025.17" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EXO" data-bible-ref="25:17-25:17" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Exodus 25:17</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Exodus%2025.19" target="_blank">19</a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Exodus%2025.22" target="_blank">22</a>)
On top of the ark was the mercy seat on which rested the cloud
signifying the presence of God, between two cherubs of gold. The Greek
word (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Hebrews%209.5" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="9:5-9:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Hebrews 9:5</span></span></a>) for “mercy seat” is hilasterion, meaning “that which makes atonement.” </p><p class="western">This easily corresponds to <span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matthew%2017.4" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="17:4-17:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Matthew 17:4</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matthew%2017.5" target="_blank">5</a>,
in which Moses and Elijah, representing the law and the prophets, can
be seen to answer to the two cherubims, and who talk with Christ under a
bright cloud, and in which context all are called to commune with
Christ, the atonement: “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud
overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This
is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him,” </span></span>thus directly communing with God. (cf. <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Heb.%2010.19" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="10:19-10:19" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Heb. 10:19</span></span></a>) And which is said to Peter, James and John, whom Paul later states (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gal.%202.9" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-ref="2:9-2:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Gal. 2:9</span></span></a>)
appeared to be pillars of the church (if not in that order), thus this
call to directly commune with God via the mercy seat under the cloud is
to the church. </p><p class="western">• “And in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Exodus%2025.21" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EXO" data-bible-ref="25:21-25:21" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Exodus 25:21</span></span></a>)The
Ark contained the 2 tables of the Law, which testimony in the NT
becomes grace and Truth, and the Scriptures uniquely state Christ was
“full of grace and Truth.” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn.%201.14" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="1:14-1:14" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Jn. 1:14</span></span></a>) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn%201.17" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="1:17-1:17" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Jn 1:17</span></span></a>)</p><p class="western">• <span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Joshua%203.3" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JOS" data-bible-ref="3:3-3:3" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Joshua 3:3</span></span></a>)</span></span> And it was Christ, not Mary, who said “Follow me,” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mt.%204.19" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="4:19-4:19" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Mt. 4:19</span></span></a>) and “<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me,” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/John%2010.27" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="10:27-10:27" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">John 10:27</span></span></a>) </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">as Christ alone was <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.org/deityofchrist.html">God manifest in the flesh</a>. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn.%201.1-3" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="1:1-1:3" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Jn. 1:1-3</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn%201.14" target="_blank">14</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn%2020.28" target="_blank">20:28</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1Tim.%203.16" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1TI" data-bible-ref="3:16-3:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">1Tim. 3:16</span></span></a>) </span></span></span></p><p class="western">• “<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">And the ark of the covenant of the Lord</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Numbers%2010.33" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="NUM" data-bible-ref="10:33-10:33" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Numbers 10:33</span></span></a>)</span></span> And Christ, not Mary said,”<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">I go to prepare a place for you.” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/John%2014.2" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="14:2-14:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">John 14:2</span></span></a>)</span></span></p><p class="western">Therefore
it is Christ, not Mary who is clothed with gold, and declared to be
undefiled, sinless, and the atonement/mercy seat, with two cherubs of
glory on each side, by whom believers commune with God under the cloud
of glory, and whom constrains the testimony of grace and Truth, and goes
before believers. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: black;">And
thus by God grace Staples compulsion of Scripture to support vain
traditions of men is once again exposed, which he inventively adds to
within the rest of his book (which is not dealt with here), promoting
the Mariolatry of the false <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.org/marysc.html">Mary of Catholicism</a>, thinking of mortals above that which is written, (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1Cor.%204.6" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="4:6-4:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">1Cor. 4:6</span></span></a>)
to his own condemnation and those who sadly subscribe to this. It is
the Lord who is high and lifted up, not any Queen of Heaven, which is
only found among pagans. But despite what Scripture says and fails to
say, likewise many Catholics basically insist,</span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #280099;">“</span><span style="color: #280099;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">But
we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth,
to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink
offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and
our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of
Jerusalem...” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jeremiah%2044.17" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JER" data-bible-ref="44:17-44:17" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Jeremiah 44:17</span></span></a>)</span></span></span><span style="color: #280099;"> </span></p>
<script src="moz-extension://d51794b7-ca7e-4fc1-80e2-1fd4872f6250/js/app.js" type="text/javascript"></script>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-11797794311678822122023-01-13T10:58:00.002-05:002023-01-13T11:07:02.655-05:00Staples misdiagnosis on “The Protestant Achilles' Heel” <p> </p><p align="CENTER" class="western"><span style="color: #ff3366;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>Staples misdiagnosis on “The Protestant Achilles' Heel”</b></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">First, this sophist resorts to employing a straw man: </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>Sola
Scriptura was the central doctrine and foundation for all I believed
when I was Protestant. On a popular level, it simply meant, “If a
teaching isn’t explicit in the Bible, then we don’t accept it as
doctrine!” </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Which is a blatant mischaracterization [if qualified as <span style="color: maroon;"><i>a popular level] </i></span>of the very thing Staples imagines he is refuting! </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">For as no less than the Westminster Confession states, </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">“all
things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear
unto all, what is necessary is either expressly set down in Scripture,
or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture, and
Scripture is such that “not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a
due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient
understanding of them.” </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">Cp.
VI: Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit
of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as
are revealed in the Word: and that there are some circumstances
concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, common to
human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of
nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the
Word, which are always to be observed. —
http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/wcf.htm </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>Once I got past the superficial, I had to try to answer real questions like, what role does tradition play?</i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Why
not ask Prot scholars who deal with this issue and SS rather than
whoever Staples go his ideas from? Was Muhammad right in thinking at one
point that the Trinity consisted of the Father, the Son and Mary?
(Though considering the demi-goddess Rcs make of her than is
understandable.) </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">This
[SS] does not mean — as Catholics often assume — that Protestants
obtain no help from the fathers and early Councils. - Evangelical
authorities Norman L. Geisler and Ralph E. MacKenzie:
http://www.equip.org/PDF/DC170-3.pdf </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="font-size: small;">**</span><a class="western" href="http://beggarsallreformation.blogspot.com/2010/10/deliberate-fiction.html"><span face="Liberation Sans, sans-serif">From</span></a> <span face="Liberation Sans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Alister
McGrath's [Irish theologian, pastor, intellectual historian and
Christian apologist, currently Professor of Theology, Ministry, and
Education at Kings College London] The Genesis of Doctrine: A Study in
the Foundation of Doctrinal Criticism: </span></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;"><span face="Liberation Sans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Although
it is often suggested that the reformers had no place for tradition in
their theological deliberations, this judgment is clearly incorrect.
While the notion of tradition as an extra-scriptural source of
revelation is excluded, the classic concept of tradition as a particular
way of reading and interpreting scripture is retained. Scripture,
tradition and the kerygma are regarded as essentially coinherent, and as
being transmitted, propagated and safeguarded by the community of
faith. There is thus a strongly communal dimension to the magisterial
reformers' understanding of the interpretation of scripture, which is to
be interpreted and proclaimed within an ecclesiological matrix. It must
be stressed that the suggestion that the Reformation represented the
triumph of individualism and the total rejection of tradition is a
deliberate fiction propagated by the image-makers of the Enlightenment. —
James R. Payton, “Getting the Reformation Wrong: Correcting Some
Misunderstandings”</span> </span></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>In
answer to this last question, “Where is sola scriptura taught in the
Bible?” most Protestants will immediately respond as I did, by simply
citing <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-ref="3:16-3:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2TI.3?passageId=2TI.3.16">II Tm. 3:16</a></span>: </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">So since that is as far as most Protestants get, or <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn.%2016.13" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="16:13-16:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Jn. 16:13</span></span></a>,
then these are the only texts Staples deals with, and does not deal
with actual arguments based on the former, such as apologist James White
sets forth in debating RCs, which can be seen <a class="western" href="http://vintage.aomin.org/SANTRAN.html">here </a></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">But why not also examine the <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.org/bible/2tim_3.html#Partial">abundant evidence </a>that
the word of God/the Lord was normally written, even if sometimes first
being spoken, and that as written, Scripture became the transcendent
supreme standard for obedience and testing and establishing truth claims
as the wholly Divinely inspired and assured, Word of God </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Then answer the following questions:</p><p align="LEFT" class="western">•
1. What other transcendent objective, comprehensive body of revelation
is wholly inspired of God? Infallible decrees? No, not even according to
Rome, which only hold these utterances - and not even the reasoning or
arguments behind them - are protected from error. But which does not the
anointed power of the word of God, which is alive "and powerful, and
sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder
of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart." (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Hebrews%204.12" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="4:12-4:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Hebrews 4:12</span></span></a>) </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Are
the words of the church which express Tradition wholly inspired of God?
No, Catholic teaching says these are not either. She does claim oral
(as oral) tradition is, however that exists in a nebulous amorphous
form, the authenticity of which rests upon the premise of the perpetual
magisterial infallibility of Rome, which is the alternative Staples must
establish but only assumes is true. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">•
2. What body of Truth is said to instrumentally be used for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, and to
make one "perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works? That the man
of God can be complete because he has available to him this body of
Truth? (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2Tim.%203.15" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-ref="3:15-3:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">2Tim. 3:15</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2Tim%203.17" target="_blank">17</a>) </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">• 3. What body of Truth did the Lord establish His Truth claims by, and specifically open the minds of the disciples to? (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk.%2024.44" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="24:44-24:44" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Lk. 24:44</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk%2024.45" target="_blank">45</a>) It was not Cath. tradition. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Thus
we see that Scripture has a unique status and is uniquely qualified to
be the supreme standard for Truth and obedience, and being the final
court of appeal on all doctrinal and moral matters, and indeed, as
written, it manifestly became that standard, which oral preaching
depended on. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Moreover, the unique
instrumental ability of Scripture referred to above was written while as
yet the NT was yet to be complete, but which in principle extends to
whatever will given as Scripture. And which relates to the other aspect
of SS, that of its full sufficiency, of Scripture both formally
providing all the Truth essential to function as the supreme
authoritative standard as the wholly inspired word of God, the "rule of
faith" for the Church, which sufficiency is nowhere found in Scripture
and in no other source. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">And that it
also materially (some RCs also hold Scripture as being materially
sufficient) provides for helps in this, which includes reason, the
illumination of the Holy Spirit, the church, and the guidance of
conscience and the Spirit. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Concerning
the latter, most every SS preacher allows that God can "speak" to a
person's heart - especially during the offering - whether by conscience
and or impressions of the Spirit. And as a conditional continuationist i
allow that God may speak thru prophecy (though i know of no
contemporary ones), a word of wisdom or knowledge, even perhaps if by a
tongue (rare today i would say). But all of which are subject to testing
by Scripture, and do not make such formally or even materially
sufficient, and a supreme authoritative standard which is binding upon
all as the wholly inspired word of God. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Scripture
is a unique body of Truth that stands in a class by itself, with its
writings being established as being of God due to their enduring Divine
qualities and attestation. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">While the
position of the sufficiency of Scripture only pertains to a 66 book
canon, and does not hold that the written word always was the the rule
of faith, yet as said, as written, it is manifest that Scripture became
the transcendent supreme standard for obedience and testing and
establishing truth claims as the wholly Divinely inspired and assured,
Word of God. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">And which materially
provided for additions to it, of writings of God being recognized and
established as being so — without an assuredly infallible magisterium —
and thus in principal it materially provided for a canon of Scripture. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">And
if Scripture was the only transcendent objective formal body of Truth
which that is wholly inspired of God, and instrumentally able to make
one wise unto salvation, and to work to make one complete, throughly
furnished unto all good works, then this attests to it alone being the
supreme sufficient (in its formal and materal aspects) standard for
Truth and Faith. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>When
defending sola scriptura, the Protestant will predictably appeal to his
sole authority—Scripture. This is a textbook example of the logical
fallacy of circular reasoning which betrays an essential problem with
the doctrine itself. One cannot prove the inspiration of a text from the
text itself. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Wrong
debate, as this is with Caths which already assent to Scripture being
wholly inspired of God, while unlike with so many RCs, Scripture
provides for man's recognition of what is of God without an infallible
church. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>Beyond
the fact of circular reasoning, for example, I would point out the fact
that this verse says all Scripture is inspired tells us nothing of what
the canon consists. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">See above. It is both historically and Scripturally evident (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk.%2024.44" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="24:44-24:44" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Lk. 24:44</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk%2024.456" target="_blank">456</a>, etc.) that both men and writings of God were discerned and established as being so without an infallible church. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>Catholics
certainly agree that the Holy Spirit guided the early Christians to
canonize the Scriptures because the Catholic Church teaches that there
is an authoritative Church guided by the Holy Spirit. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">But
here the RC enages in circularity, that of proving the Scriptures by
the church and the church by the Scriptures. That leads to Staples
entering into a graveyard spiral (below). </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;">“<i>Show
me in the Bible where the canon of Scripture is, what the criterion for
the canon is, who can and cannot write Scripture, etc.” </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Again, it is both historically and Scripturally evident (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk.%2024.44" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="24:44-24:44" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Lk. 24:44</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk%2024.456" target="_blank">456</a>,
etc.) that both men and writings of God were discerned and established
as being so without an infallible church. Thus if the books the NT
preachers and writers abundantly invoked for support were est. as
Scripture, and others rejected, then in principle what is written
provided for recognition of additional writings as being Scripture, and
thus for a larger canon. Even if as then, there was no complete
universal complete assent. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>The
Catholic Church’s position on inspiration is not circular. We do not
say “the Church is infallible because the inspired Scriptures say so,
and the Scriptures are inspired because the infallible Church says so.”
That would be a kind of circular reasoning. The Church was established
historically and functioned as the infallible spokesperson for the Lord
decades before the New Testament was written. The Church is infallible
because Jesus said so. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">However,
to invoke Christ means that one has an authoritative source of what He
said, which is Scripture, but which RCs hold requires the church (which
it says the Christ of Scripture established) to give it authority as
certainly being of God: </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">Cardinal
Avery Dulles: People cannot discover the contents of revelation by
their unaided powers of reason and observation. They have to be told by
people who have received in from on high.” <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>- Cardinal
Avery Dulles, SJ, “Magisterium: Teacher and Guardian of the Faith,” p.
72;
http://triablogue.blogspot.com/2008/08/magisterial-cat-and-mouse-game.html
</i></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">Catholic
Encyclopedia>Tradition and Living Magisterium" "...the believer
cannot believe in the Bible nor find in it the object of his faith until
he has previously made an act of faith in the intermediary
authorities..." - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15006b.htm </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">But which is contrary to what Scripture reveals and to how the church began. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">For the church actually began in dissent from those who sat in the seat of Moses over Israel, (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mt.%2023.2" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="23:2-23:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Mt. 23:2</span></span></a>) who were the historical instruments and stewards of Scripture, "because that unto them were committed the oracles of God," (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Rm.%203.2" target="_blank">Rm. 3:2</a>)
to whom pertaineth" the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and
the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises" (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Rm.%209.4" target="_blank">Rm. 9:4</a>) of Divine guidance, presence and perpetuation as they believed, (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gn.%2012.2" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="12:2-12:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Gn. 12:2</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gn%2012.3" target="_blank">3</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gn%2017.4" target="_blank">17:4</a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gn%2017.7" target="_blank">7</a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gn%2017.8" target="_blank">8</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Ex.%2019.5" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EXO" data-bible-ref="19:5-19:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Ex. 19:5</span></span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lv.%2010.11" target="_blank">Lv. 10:11</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Dt.%204.31" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="DEU" data-bible-ref="4:31-4:31" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Dt. 4:31</span></span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Dt%2017.8-13" target="_blank">17:8-13</a>; Ps, 11:4,9; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Is.%2041.10" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ISA" data-bible-ref="41:10-41:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Is. 41:10</span></span></a>, <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Ps.%2089.33" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PSA" data-bible-ref="89:33-89:33" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Ps. 89:33</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Ps%2089.34" target="_blank">34</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jer.%207.23" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JER" data-bible-ref="7:23-7:23" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Jer. 7:23</span></span></a>) </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">And
instead they followed an itinerant Preacher whom the magisterium
rejected, and whom the Messiah reproved them Scripture as being supreme,
(<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mk.%207.2-16" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="7:2-7:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Mk. 7:2-16</span></span></a>)
and established His Truth claims upon scriptural substantiation in word
and in power, as did the early church as it began upon this basis. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mt.%2022.23-45" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="22:23-22:45" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Mt. 22:23-45</span></span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk.%2024.27" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="24:27-24:27" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Lk. 24:27</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk%2024.44" target="_blank">44</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn.%205.36" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="5:36-5:36" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Jn. 5:36</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn%205.39" target="_blank">39</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%202.14-35" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:14-2:35" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Acts 2:14-35</span></span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%204.33" target="_blank">4:33</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%205.12" target="_blank">5:12</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2015.6-21" target="_blank">15:6-21</a>;<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2017.2" target="_blank">17:2</a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2017.11" target="_blank">11</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2018.28" target="_blank">18:28</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2028.23" target="_blank">28:23</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Rm.%2015.19" target="_blank">Rm. 15:19</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2Cor.%2012.12" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="12:12-12:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">2Cor. 12:12</span></span></a>, etc.) </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Thus
to avoid circular reasoning the RC cannot even reference Scripture as
being so, but is compelled to reduce it being a merely reliable
historical document. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>However,
this is not circular reasoning. When the Catholic approaches Scripture,
he or she begins with the Bible as an historical document, not as
inspired.... Further, this testimony of the Bible is backed up by
hundreds of works by early Christians and non-Christian writers </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">But
which argument appeals to men to discern that the church of Rome is of
God, but denies they can correctly assuredly know Scripture is of God
apart from the church of Rome. Yet if they allow souls can discern the
latter from history then they must also allow souls can be right in
discerning the church of Rome is contrary to these historical writings,
as well as that these writings are of God. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>To
put it simply, reason clearly rejects sola scriptura as a self-refuting
principle because one cannot determine what the “scriptura” is using
the principle of sola scriptura. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Wrong,
as explained before. Only ignorance or deception can explain the
failure to see from Scripture that even without an infallible church
souls recognized both men and writings as being of God, upon which
foundation the NT church began. While Rome argues souls can assuredly
know discern the church of Rome is of God from historical sources, yet
it denies they can correctly assuredly know she is not from these
sources, and that Scripture is of God apart from the church of Rome. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Thus
reason clearly rejects as a self-refuting principle the alternative to
SS, that of sola ecclesia, in which the church alone is the supreme
infallible authority, and essential for souls to know what Scripture is.
Because without an infallible church one can assuredly ascertain both
men and writings as being of God, and thus the very NT church began. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>Let us now consider the most common text used by Protestants to “prove” sola scriptura, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-ref="3:16-3:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2TI.3?passageId=2TI.3.16">II Tm. 3:16</a></span>, which I quoted above: </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">And which i above showed supports SS. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>The problem with using this text as such is threefold: 1. Strictly speaking, it does not speak of the New Testament at all. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Regardless,
it speaks of what Scripture both is and enables, which unique qualities
as the only wholly inspired formal body of Truth is able to
instrumentally work to make one complete, throughly furnished unto all
good works. Thus it supremely qualifies it to be the sole supreme
sufficient rule of faith, if anything is. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>. 2. It does not claim Scripture to be the sole rule of faith for Christians. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">This
is from a man who imagines Scripture teaches by fallacious
extrapolation perpetual magisterial infallibility, but in contrast, the
unique qualities of this wholly inspired writings uniquely qualify them
as being the sole supreme sufficient standard, as described, and its
status as the supreme standard is <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus..org/bible/2tim_3.html#Partial">abundantly testified </a>to.</p><p align="LEFT" class="western">The
alternative, that of the church being supreme over and above Scripture,
is not. (Some RCs argue Rome is not supreme ove Scripture, however,
when you uniquely claim to assuredly correctly declare what Scripture
consists of and means, then you are effectively claiming supremacy over
it.) </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>3. The Bible teaches oral Tradition to be on a par with and just as necessary as the written Tradition, or Scripture. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Wrong.
"Oral Tradition" as oral preaching of the word of God in the NT was
dependent upon Scripture which affirmed it textually as well as the
manner of other supernatural attestation given to it. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mt.%2022.23-45" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="22:23-22:45" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Mt. 22:23-45</span></span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk.%2024.27" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="24:27-24:27" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Lk. 24:27</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk%2024.44" target="_blank">44</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn.%205.36" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="5:36-5:36" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Jn. 5:36</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn%205.39" target="_blank">39</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%202.14-35" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:14-2:35" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Acts 2:14-35</span></span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%204.33" target="_blank">4:33</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%205.12" target="_blank">5:12</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2015.6-21" target="_blank">15:6-21</a>;<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2017.2" target="_blank">17:2</a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2017.11" target="_blank">11</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2018.28" target="_blank">18:28</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2028.23" target="_blank">28:23</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Rm.%2015.19" target="_blank">Rm. 15:19</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2Cor.%2012.12" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="12:12-12:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">2Cor. 12:12</span></span></a>, etc.) </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">In
addition, Oral Tradition as meaning the passing on of Truths
presupposes these were never subsequently written, but which always
seems to be the case with any revelation called the word of God/the
Lord, and as written, it is manifest that Scripture became the standard
by which all Truth claims were tested by. Which the noble Bereans
exampled. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2017.11" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="17:11-17:11" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Acts 17:11</span></span></a>) </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Moreover, for Rome especially, oral Tradition can even be a specific event not recorded or promised in Scripture, nor even <a class="western" href="http://triablogue.blogspot.com/2006/09/assumption-of-mary-in-earliest-sources.html">supported by early "tradition," </a>but which is "remembered" 1800 years later and made binding doctrine. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">This
presumption requires making the church the supreme authority as being
assuredly infallible, but which is not seen or promised in Scripture,
nor is it essential, which is a presupposition this RC premise is based
upon. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>None
of the New Testament books had been written when St. Timothy was a
child! To claim this verse in order to authenticate a book, say, the
book of Revelation, when it had most likely not even been written yet,
is more than a stretch. That is going far beyond what the text actually
claims. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Wrong. Rather, contrary to Roman reasoning, if <i>all </i>Scripture is wholly inspired of God, then it applies to <i>all </i>that
was or will be given as such. Saying "all men are mortals" does not
simply apply to the present human race as it now stands, but all that
share that nature. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>The
Bible clearly teaches justification by faith. And we Catholics believe
it. However, we do not believe in justification by faith alone because,
among many other reasons, the Bible says, we are “justified by works and
not by faith alone” (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/James%202.24" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JAS" data-bible-ref="2:24-2:24" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">James 2:24</span></span></a>, emphasis added). </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">And Reformers clearly <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.org/reformation_faith_works.html">taught </a>that obedience was necessary as a fruit of saving faith, </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">“Such
a faith will work in you love for Christ and joy in him, and good works
will naturally follow. If they do not, faith is surely not present: for
where faith is, there the Holy Ghost is and must work love and good
works.” [Sermons of Martin Luther 1:21-22] "...it is just as impossible
to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from
fire!"
[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/luther-faith.txt]
</span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">And it is evangelicals,
those who hold most strongly to the most basic Prot. distinctive of
Scripture being supreme as the wholly inspired accurate word of God,
that testify <a class="western" href="http://www.peacebyjesus.com/RC-Stats_vs._Evang.html#TOC">the most, </a>in contrast to Caths, that they believe works follow faith. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Meanwhile, in Ja. 2 the manner in which one is justified cannot be the same as <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gn.%2015.6" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="15:6-15:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Gn. 15:6</span></span></a> and <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Rm.%204" target="_blank">Rm. 4</a>,
that of the faith of the unGodly being counted for righteousness, which
faith itself appropriates, otherwise it would contradict both Moses and
Paul. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">But one is justified as being
a believer with salvific faith, which must be the kind of faith which
effects obedience, versus an inert, merely intellectual fruitless faith,
which is what James argues against, as do Reformers. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>However, the text of <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/II%20Tim.%203.16" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-ref="3:16-3:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">II Tim. 3:16</span></span></a> never says Scripture alone. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Nor
does Scripture say Mary alone was sinless among culpable souls born of
men, but RCs somehow see Scripture teaching this, yet cannot see that
Scripture is the only objective body of revelation that is said to be
wholly inspired of God, and instrumentally able to make one wise unto
salvation, and works to make one complete, and thus the only supreme
sufficient rule of faith. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i><a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/James%201.4" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JAS" data-bible-ref="1:4-1:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">James 1:4</span></span></a>
illustrates clearly the problem with Protestant exegesis of <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-ref="3:16-3:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2TI.3?passageId=2TI.3.16">II Tim.
3:16</a></span>: And let steadfastness (patience) have its full effect, that you
may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If we apply the same
principle of exegesis to this text that the Protestant does to <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-ref="3:16-3:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2TI.3?passageId=2TI.3.16">II Tm.
3:16</a></span> we would have to say that all we need is patience to be perfected. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">More
fallacious Roman reasoning as this pertains to two different
categories. One pertains to a body of Truth functioning as a standard
for Truth and obedience, which instrumentally thru the church works to
make one complete, furnished for every good work, while the other
pertains to one of the virtues Scripture provides for. The outworking of
which makes one mature in tested virtue, overcoming sin. Thus this
aspect of perfection is one which Scripture equips, exhorts to, and and
instructs in. But which does not work to fully equip him. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Likewise Scripture provides for the church, which uses the Scriptures to conform one to Christ. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>o
then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions you have been
taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter. According to St.
Paul, the spoken word from the apostles was just as much the word of God
as was the later written word. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">What
the RC ignores here is that , the spoken word, as with all Truth
claims, relied upon and was subject to testing by the established
written word, and thus the appeal to it. See also my comments on this
made before. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>When it comes to the tradition of Protestantism—sola scriptura—the silence of the text of Scripture is deafening. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Rather,
the RC has blinders on as a faithful RC is not to ascertain the
veracity of RC teaching by examination of evidences (for that reason).
For to do so would be to doubt the claims of Rome to be the assuredly
infallible magisterium by which a RC obtains assurance of Truth </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">"It
follows that the Church is essentially an unequal society, that is, a
society comprising two categories of per sons, the Pastors and the
flock...the one duty of the multitude is to allow themselves to be led,
and, like a docile flock, to follow the Pastors." <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>(VEHEMENTER NOS, an Encyclical of Pope Pius X promulgated on February 11, 1906)</i></span>, </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">"The
intolerance of the Church toward error, the natural position of one who
is the custodian of truth, her only reasonable attitude makes her
forbid her children to read or to listen to heretical controversy, or to
endeavor to discover religious truths by examining both sides of the
question." (John H. Stapleton, </span><a class="western" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18438/18438-h/18438-h.htm"><span face="Liberation Sans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Explanation of Catholic Morals</i></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span face="Liberation Sans, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>,
Chapters XIX, XXIII. the consistent believer (1904); Nihil Obstat. Remy
Lafort, Censor Librorum. Imprimatur, John M. Farley, Archbishop of New
York ) </i></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>when
it comes to the teaching and governing authority of the Church, the
biblical text is equally as clear: If your brother sins against you go
and tell him his fault, between you and him alone … But if he does not
listen, take one or two others with you … If he refuses to listen … tell
it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let
him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mt.%2018.15-17" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="18:15-18:17" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Mt. 18:15-17</span></span></a>) </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>According
to Scripture, the Church—not the Bible alone—is the final court of
appeal for the people of God in matters of faith and discipline. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Another
category mistake. Scripture is the final court of appeal as to being
the supreme authority on Truth, like as the US Constitution is in
defining the role of government, while the Supreme Court is the final
court as regards government judging cases regarding what that means,
binding or loosing souls thereby. But which does equate to or require
ensured perpetual infallibility, but as in the OT judiciary, though it
has authority, yet it can be wrong, unlike Scripture. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Also, the rulings of the court can be subject to interpretation, as are those of Rome.</p><p align="LEFT" class="western"> For <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mt.%2018.15-17" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="18:15-18:17" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Mt. 18:15-17</span></span></a> is not some new thing, but is the NT equivalent of the OT judiciary seen in such places as <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Dt.%2017.8-13" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="DEU" data-bible-ref="17:8-17:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Dt. 17:8-13</span></span></a>. And which mainly had to do with personal transgressions and disputes, (cf. <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Dt.%2019.16-20" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="DEU" data-bible-ref="19:16-19:20" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Dt. 19:16-20</span></span></a>) , and whose judgments were binding or loosing, even to disobedience being a capital offense. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Yet
as with all obedience enjoined to men, this was conditional and the
magisterial office did not possess perpetual infallibility as per Rome
(although those of such might sometimes speak Divine Truth), which is
nowhere seen or promised in Scripture, nor it necessary for discernment
and preservation of Truth. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">And Westminster clearly upholds the authoritative magisterial office of the church. <span style="color: #4c1900;">"It
belongs to synods and councils, ministerially to determine
controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to set down rules and
directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and
government of his Church; to receive complaints in cases of
maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same..."
(http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/wcf.htm) </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">However,
under the RC model for authority, souls are to submit to the historical
magisterium of the instruments and stewards of express Divine
revelation, and recipient of promises of God's presence and preservation
as a people. Which means 1st century souls should have submitted to
those who sat in the eat of Moses over Israel, because that unto them
were committed the oracles of God. Who are Israelites; to whom
pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the
giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are
the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is
over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Romans%203.2" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ROM" data-bible-ref="3:2-3:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Romans 3:2</span></span></a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Romans%209.4-5" target="_blank">9:4-5</a>)</p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>But
isn’t it also telling that since the Reformation of just ca. 480 years
ago—a reformation claiming sola scriptura as its formal principle—there
are now over 33,000 denominations that have derived from it? </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">What is telling is that the RC engages in a number of fallacies: </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">1. That Rome exists as the example of the NT church, which it<a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.org/deformation_of_new_testament_church.html"> manifestly does not</a>. The NT church also saw its limited degree of unity under manifest apostles of God, who could say they were, </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #0047ff;">"in
all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much
patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in
imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By
pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy
Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by
the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,..." (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Corinthians%206.4-7" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="6:4-6:7" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">2 Corinthians 6:4-7</span></span></a>) </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #0047ff;">Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Corinthians%2012.12" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="12:12-12:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">2 Corinthians 12:12</span></span></a>) </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #0047ff;">And
fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the
apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things
common; (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%202.43-44" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:43-2:44" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Acts 2:43-44</span></span></a>) </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">We
do not see this manner of leadership today, and that of Rome is not
even in the running (nor am i), and she fails of both the qualifications
of apostolic successors, and the credentials of Biblical apostles. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">2.
Comparing one church with a varied multiplicity of churches, many of
whom do not hold to the primary Reformation distinctive of Scripture
being supremely authoritative as wholly inspired and accurate word of
God, is a valid comparison. Which is besides <a class="western" href="http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php/2007/08/22/the-33000-denominations-myth/">other problems with the 33k figure</a>.</p><p align="LEFT" class="western">3.
That unity under Rome is superior to that of the aforementioned type
believers. Organizational unity, while an ideal, does not equate to
spiritual and doctrinal unity, and unity under Rome is very limited and
largely on paper, as in addition to things RCs can conscientiously
disagree on, RC disagree with their church more than most others do, yet
Rome conveys implicit sanction of such by treating even proabortion,
prosodomite public figures as members in life and in death, as well as
her liberal majority (at least in the West). Thus the rest must count
them as brethren, rather separating as commanded. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">You also have SSPX type sects and SSPV and EO divisions because some do separate to a degree (not enough). </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">As one poster wryly remarked, </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The
last time the church imposed its judgment in an authoritative manner on
"areas of legitimate disagreement," the conservative Catholics became
the Sedevacantists and the Society of St. Pius X, the moderate Catholics
became the conservatives, the liberal Catholics became the moderates,
and the folks who were excommunicated, silenced, refused Catholic
burial, etc. became the liberals. The event that brought this shift was
Vatican II; conservatives then couldn't handle having to actually obey
the church on matters they were uncomfortable with, so they left. — <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>http://www.ratzingerfanclub.com/blog/2005/05/fr-michael-orsi-on-different-levels-of.html </i></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">4.
That the Roman alternative to SS, that of sola ecclesia, is Biblical,
as it is not. Again, the church did not begin under the premise of
perpetual magisterial infallibility, thus calling for implicit assent to
her based on that premise of ensured veracity, but instead it began
with God-fearing souls discerning men as being of God due to their
Scriptural substantiation in word and power. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Therefore
under the Biblical model the church can only expect its level of unity
insomuch as God-fearing souls see that manner of leadership, and or they
seek the Lord as the 120 did before Pentecost. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">In
addition sola ecclesia is shared by many cults, and which see superior
unity to Rome, yet under which is seen the most serious heresies. </p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>For 1,500 years, Christianity saw just a few enduring schisms </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Yet
it still had divisions, and Catholicism today exists in sects and
schisms. And under her model it can sink to the condition seen leading
up to the Reformation: </p><p align="LEFT" class="western">Cardinal Ratzinger observed,</p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">"For
nearly half a century, the Church was split into two or three
obediences that excommunicated one another, so that every Catholic lived
under excommunication by one pope or another, and, in the last
analysis, no one could say with certainty which of the contenders had
right on his side. The Church no longer offered certainty of salvation;
she had become questionable in her whole objective form--the true
Church, the true pledge of salvation, had to be sought outside the
institution. </span></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span lang="en-US">"It
is against this background of a profoundly shaken ecclesial
consciousness that we are to understand that Luther, in the conflict
between his search for salvation and the tradition of the Church,
ultimately came to experience the Church, not as the guarantor, but as
the adversary of salvation.</span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Joseph
Cardinal Ratzinger, head of the Sacred Congregation of the Doctrine of
the Faith for the Church of Rome, “Principles of Catholic Theology,”
trans. by Sister Mary Frances McCarthy, S.N.D. (San Francisco: Ignatius,
1989) p.196).
http://www.whitehorseinn.org/blog/2012/06/13/whos-in-charge-here-the-illusions-of-church-infallibility/)</i></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Cardinal Bellarmine:</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;"> </span><span style="color: #4c1900;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">"Some
years before the rise of the Lutheran and Calvinistic heresy, according
to the testimony of those who were then alive, there was almost an
entire abandonment of equity in ecclesiastical judgments; in morals, no
discipline; in sacred literature, no erudition; in divine things, no
reverence; religion was almost extinct. </span></span><span style="color: #4c1900;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>(Concio XXVIII. Opp. Vi. 296- Colon 1617, in “<a class="western" href="http://books.google.com/books?id=YQdCAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA10&lpg=PA10&dq=Bellarmine+Some+Years+before+the+rise+of+the+Lutheran+heresy+there+was+almost+an+entire+abandonment+of+equity+in+ecclesiastical+judgments;+in+morals,+no+discipline;+in+sacred+literature,+no+erudition;+in+divine+things,+no+reverence;+religion+was+almost+extinct&source=bl&ots=VOkokOuWp-&sig=vmZrGPuAR9wS62NEgsUDlFJLKOw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=nNleUYPBCuXV0gHGjoCwCg&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Bellarmine%20Some%20Years%20before%20the%20rise%20of%20the%20Lutheran%20heresy%20there%20was%20almost%20an%20entire%20abandonment%20of%20equity%20in%20ecclesiastical%20judgments;%20in%20morals,%20no%20discipline;%20in%20sacred%20literature,%20no%20erudition;%20in%20divine%20things,%20no%20reverence;%20religion%20was%20almost%20extinct&f=false">A History of the Articles of Religion</a>,” by Charles Hardwick, Cp. 1, p. 10,)</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #4c1900;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: maroon;"><i>Now in just 480 years we have this? I hardly think that when Jesus prophesied there would be “one shepherd and one fold” in <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn.%2010.16" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="10:16-10:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Jn. 10:16</span></span></a>, this is what he had in mind. </i></span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">Actually,
the Reformation fostered this, as a far greater percentage of
evangelicals have Christ as their shepherd than the fruit of Rome, while
to have Christ as shepherd requires doing what RCs are not to do, but
evangelical converts from Rome have. </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #0047ff;">Be
ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship
hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light
with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part
hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the
temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as
God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be
their God, and they shall be my people. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Corinthians%206.14-16" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="6:14-6:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">2 Corinthians 6:14-16</span></span></a>) </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #0047ff;">Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father
unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord
Almighty. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Corinthians%206.17-18" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="6:17-6:18" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">2 Corinthians 6:17-18</span></span></a>) </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">This
is what RCs need to do in light of the manifest deformation of Rome,
and come to God as souls damned for their works - not saved because of
them - and destitute of any means or merit whereby they may escape their
just and eternal punishment in Hell Fire and gain eternal life with
God. And with contrite heart cast their whole-hearted repentant faith
upon the mercy of God in Christ, trusting the risen Divine Lord Jesus to
save them by His sinless shed blood. (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Rm.%203.9%20-%205.1" target="_blank">Rm. 3:9 - 5:1</a>) And whose faith is thus counted as righteousness, but it is a faith that will follow Him, confessing this first in baptism. </span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">Thereby
they will realize the essential unity of the Spirit which evangelicals
who walk therein do, due to Christ being in them, and them in me, which <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn.%2017.21" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="17:21-17:21" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02">Jn. 17:21</span></span></a>,<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Jn%2017.23" target="_blank">23</a> speaks of. Glory be to God.</span></p><p align="LEFT" class="western"><span style="color: #4c1900;">[See also <a href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2019/12/14-questions-as-regards-sola-scriptura.html" target="_blank"> 14 questions as regards sola scriptura versus sola ecclesia</a>]</span>
</p>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-55467334784280516442023-01-13T10:38:00.001-05:002023-01-13T10:43:59.544-05:00What has the Good News Mission under Pastor Ock Soo Park preached?<p>Around 2010 a friend of mine was taken in by the Good News Mission, and would come by for Bible studies with him, and which provided an opportunity to hear what they basically taught, and for interaction/debate with them as well as examination of some of their printed teachings. </p><p> I quickly realized that GNM (Good News Mission) under Pastor Ock Soo Park they were perverting basic Biblical and evangelical faith, and essentially teaching that they alone were distinctively preaching true salvation. </p><p>Below is a rough analysis of Good News Mission based upon what I have read in some of their own publications, and some personal interactions, and there is some redundancy here as this was done piecemeal over time in dealing with each aspect. Source links were working when first provided about 10 years ago, but all have likely fallen dead by now. Working 91.23) archived copies will be in brackets. I do not know if the message of GNM has changed since my original examination. <br /></p><p>The method of Park’s church was to create two camps: those who believe that Jesus died on the cross for their sins and that their sins were washed away, but still struggle with and confess sin, and think they can please God by their obedience in faith in response to being saved, while GNM disciples are to believe they are righteous and never need to repent and confess sin or can please God by their works. </p><p>The former are all relegated by GNM as souls who never heard the “true gospel,” as if they did they would not ask for forgiveness or try to please God, and instead they try to earn acceptance with God, being souls which never truly repented and believed. And which are represented as souls outside Park's church, while the latter are those who believe the true gospel and thus they are righteous because of Christ and never need to repent and confess sin or try to please God. If the latter do sin, they only confess that they are evil by nature, but righteous in Christ.</p><p>There is therefore no place in Park's theology for souls who do believe they are sinners by nature and thus cannot merit eternal life, and thus trust in the Lord Jesus to save them by His blood, and thus seek to please God in response, and confess and repent of sin in seeking to maintain a right relationship with Him. Instead, to engage in that kind of response God's means one has not believed the “true gospel” (of “Parkism”).</p><p>The psychological appeal of Park's preaching is like that of the (Boston) International church of Christ, especially in its heyday, which took (and still does) advantage of a lack of discipleship in churches and the struggling of believers in order to convince them they never were saved (which only sometimes was the case), because the churches they were in did not believe that only in baptism can one effectually confess Christ and be saved, and which baptism only the Int. church of Christ rightly provided. Therefore the ICC was basically the only true church, and it had no fellowship with others.</p><p>And as the discipleship of the ICC was much more intense in teaching and in practice than the typical evangelical church — which was its prime “competition” and often source of converts — and kept them focused on doctrine and activity by constant meetings and overwhelming indoctrination, many souls who wanted to serve God on a higher level were taken in by it, and were even helped to a degree. However, they were also indoctrinated into an exclusive system which discouraged objectively analysis of their teachings, or reading the works of others, and it also inculcated a codependency upon the church, and leaving it meant one had left Christ.</p><p>The devil himself knows the weakness of the church, and how to use them, and how to build a church, and cults typically use the failures of the evangelical church and many of God's building principles to build their very own tower of Babel.</p><p>Likewise Park appeals to those who believe on Christ for salvation by grace through faith, and have seen God work in their hearts and lives as a result, but due to a lack of growth (partly due to weak discipleship) they struggle with sin. Park helps such by his focus on the innate iniquity of man and his inability to earn salvation or walk in victory except by emptying oneself and letting Christ work through them, and the need to see oneself in Christ as a saint, all of which are evangelical doctrines. </p><p>But for Park, not only is this basically his whole message, but he misconstrues it to mean that a believer is not to confesses he has sinned, and repent, or think that he may please God by obedience, and to do any of these things shows that they have not believed the “true gospel” of Park. </p><p>And it also engages in indoctrination in its teachings to the exclusion of any who are outside it, and those who disagree are disparaged as thinking “his own thoughts” and under the law sometimes as being proud, etc. regardless if they do confess they can only be saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.</p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">While Park can speak according to evangelical truths, i have yet to hear him or his missionaries ever acknowledge other churches as preaching the “true gospel,” but one will often hear stories that portray those outside his church, including evangelical types, as lost and all struggling in sin, and souls who denied what Christ did, to which he constantly contrasts with his way of salvation and church, which highly exalts itself and Park above all.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">A GNM promotion states,</span></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; width: 100%px; word-spacing: 0px;"><colgroup><col width="256*"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="100%"><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Pastor Ock Soo Park's spiritual values and his fervent hope towards the true church has become the Good News Mission Church's foundation. Through him, the Good News Mission Church, as an independent body, is<span> </span></i></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>distinguishable from the rest of the preexisting religious bodies which are not based on the gospel.</b></i></span></span><span> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The servants of God who are strongly working for the gospel are taking the lead in the reformation of the history of Christianity. Even now, Pastor Ock Soo Park does not yield to<span> </span></i></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>anything</b></i></span></span><span> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>apart from the will of God, whether it may be himself, the ministers of the Good News Mission Church, or the congregation. He continues to fight relentlessly” http://www.londongoodnews.com/02sermon_park.php (emphasis mine)[https://web.archive.org/web/20130928035602/http://londongoodnews.com/02sermon_park.php] <br /></i></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">In addition, questioning Park and the GNM and his highly selective use of Scripture is dealt with by charging those who do as thinking their own thoughts, versus the Bible, and inferring those who do are false prophets. “In this context, Park asks,</span></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; width: 100%px; word-spacing: 0px;"><colgroup><col width="256*"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="100%"><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; text-align: justify;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>When you distinguish a person as a false prophet, according to the words of the Bible, you must turn away from him coldly.”</i></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; text-align: justify;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I would like to ask the pastors who are here. What do you testify on the podium? Although you say that your sermons can move people, if you cannot save one soul from his conscience, then that sermon is not from God. (The secret of forgiveness and being born again, p. 327)</i></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">A main theme in GNM publications is that of portraying Christians outside of it souls who deny the work of Jesus Christ on the cross by confessing sin, such as seen in the testimony here:</span></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; width: 100%px; word-spacing: 0px;"><colgroup><col width="256*"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="100%"><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I had committed countless number of sins in the past, and I had confessed each time I sinned to receive forgiveness for that was what I believed to be true and biblical. As a result, misconceiving myself as a 'saved sinner,' I had committed the terrible sin of denying the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.” (The secret of forgiveness and being born again, p. 178)</i></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">As will be expanded upon below, Park effectively portrays those outside his church as those who deny the gospel, even though they may know they are forgiven and righteous by faith in Christ, and who therefore confesses known sins, while he also substitutes confessing one's failures to God with simply confessing one has a sinful nature. And rather than saving souls from their conscience by imagining that sins never need to be confessed as part of maintaining a relationship with God, the Bible teaches us to confess actual sins and ask for forgiveness, as we will see by God's grace, and thus have a clear conscience.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">This does not mean that we need to confess unwanted thoughts which we are already repentant about, or that any sin committed by a follower of Christ (outside of sinning into apostasy) damns him, or that we are guilty for having a sinful nature, but that saints offend God and are guilty for yielding to their sinful nature, and, and thus they are to confess such to God, as the Lord instructed, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="6:12-6:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.6?passageId=MAT.6.12">Mt. 6:12</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.9">1Jn. 1:9</a></span>) in faith that He will forgive us. Park's attempts to negate these verses will be dealt with shortly.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Park states,</span></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; width: 100%px; word-spacing: 0px;"><colgroup><col width="256*"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="100%"><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>There are many people who strain and cry out to have their sins forgiven. They appear to be truly sincere, but such prayers come from distrusting and not believing that the blood Jesus shed on the cross has washed their sins away...It is a prayer to be cursed.</i></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>There is no one who does not sin, but people who believe, "Lord, although I am an evil, dirty human being. It is recorded that the blood the Lord shed has washed away all of my sins. I believe that my sins are washed away," do not pray, "Lord, wash my sins away." Instead, they pray, "Thank you for washing my sins away."</i></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Anyone who sins feels guilt and pain because everyone has a conscience. When we sin our conscience says, "You are a sinner. You lied. You deceived other people. You committed adultery. You caused damage to others. You are a terrible bastard!" Of course it is only human to have such voices from our conscience. However, you should not listen only to that voice, but listen to the voice of God in the Bible. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ROM" data-bible-ref="3:23-3:24" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ROM.3?passageId=ROM.3.23-ROM.3.24">Romans 3:23-24</a></span>) "Ah, I did sin, but God called me righteous through the redemption of Jesus! (The son of distrust. http://enbbs.goodnews.or.kr/bbs/download_onlist.php?bo_table=nytimes&wr_id=27&no=2)</i></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Throughout his teachings, Park takes his former failure and that of others who do not believe that,</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">1. God forgave sins upon Biblical repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus,</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">or fail to</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">2. see themselves as a new creatures in Christ, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="5:17-5:17" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.5?passageId=2CO.5.17">2Cor. 5:17</a></span>), washed, sanctified and justified, in the name of Jesus and by the Spirit of our God, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="6:11-6:11" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.6?passageId=1CO.6.11">1Cor. 6:11</a></span>) and accepted in the Beloved, and looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="12:2-12:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.12?passageId=HEB.12.2">Heb. 12:2</a></span>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">and concludes (as will be additionally shown) that:</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">1. sin is not actual acts of transgressions of God's law, but instead these are “crimes;”</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">2. confession of sin does not really refer to actual acts of sin, but only acknowledging one has a sinful nature and cannot save himself or please God;</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">3. a Christian has no need to ask God to forgive him for sins, as his sins are already forgiven, and to ask that is a cursed prayer, as he says it means that they are denying Christ and are damned;</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">4. Christians are not to refer to themselves as sinners, and if they do that indicates they are damned.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">However, as will be further developed, the Bible makes it clear that:</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">1. sins are actual transgressions of God's law; (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="7:47-7:47" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LUK.7?passageId=LUK.7.47">Lk. 7:47</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="12:21-12:21" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.12?passageId=2CO.12.21">2Cor. 12:21</a></span>) This is also seen in that t judgment of sin is always based upon how we have yielded to our sinful nature (not because we were born with a sinful nature), and in accordance with the light and grace we have received; (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="20:11-20:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/REV.20?passageId=REV.20.11-REV.20.15">Rev. 20:11-15</a></span>; cf. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="16:48-16:48" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LUK.16?passageId=LUK.16.48">Lk. 16:48</a></span>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">2. though one need not necessarily mention all or what he did in sinning (for God sees the heart), yet confession of sins is not simply confessing we have a sinful nature, and are helpless to save ourselves, but is a confession that we acted that nature out, and can include what we specifically did. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="NEH" data-bible-ref="9:2-9:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/NEH.9?passageId=NEH.9.2">Neh. 9:2</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="DAN" data-bible-ref="9:20-9:20" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/DAN.9?passageId=DAN.9.20">Dan. 9:20</a></span>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">3. while Christ atoned for the sins we can be forgiven for, receiving forgiveness is contingent upon confession and repentance, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PRO" data-bible-ref="18:13-18:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PRO.18?passageId=PRO.18.13">Prov. 18:13</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="3:19-3:19" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.3?passageId=ACT.3.19">Acts 3:19</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.9">1Jn. 1:9</a></span>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">4 even though Christians are accounted righteous in Christ, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ROM" data-bible-ref="4:1-4:1" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ROM.4?passageId=ROM.4.1">Rom. 4:1</a></span>ff) they yet can offend God, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="2:4-2:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/REV.2?passageId=REV.2.4">Rev. 2:4</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="2:14-2:14" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/REV.2?passageId=REV.2.14">14</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="2:16-2:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/REV.2?passageId=REV.2.16">16</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="2:20-2:20" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/REV.2?passageId=REV.2.20">20</a></span>) and are chastened for sins, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="11:32-11:32" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.11?passageId=1CO.11.32">1Cor. 11:32</a></span>) and thus have need for forgiveness to restore fellowship with God, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="2:5-2:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/REV.2?passageId=REV.2.5">Rev. 2:5</a></span>; 3:19; Ja. 5:15) as this is a relationship, and thus Jesus taught believers to ask for forgiveness; (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="6:12-6:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.6?passageId=MAT.6.12">Mt. 6:12</a></span>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">5. multitudes of evangelical believers now (and down through history) live victorious fruit-bearing lives as Christians, but do not believe as Park requires by denying asking God for forgiveness, etc.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Park selectively uses texts to support his reasoning that since Jesus atoned for all our sins, and since we are washed from them at conversion — with God promising to remember our sins no more, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="10:17-10:17" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.10?passageId=HEB.10.17">Heb. 10:17</a></span>) — then we are never to confess and repent of actual sins or ask forgiveness from God again.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And in GNM teaching and testimonies we hear them talk about evangelical-type Christians who did not believe the “true gospel,” because they felt guilty for sin and confessed they were sinners and asked God to forgive them:</span></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; width: 100%px; word-spacing: 0px;"><colgroup><col width="256*"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="100%"><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>...in Isaiah chapter 55, God still talks about the unrighteous which refers to sinners. So what do you think is the problem here? The answer is that all of our sins have been taken away by Jesus but the thought that they are sinners still remains in their hearts. In other words, people who have the thought that they are sinners are the unrighteous that God talks about. The thought that they are sinners is more serious than them committing sins. This is because they are denying the fact that Jesus was crucified to wash away our sins. http://www.londongoodnews.com/02sermon_park.php </i></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130928035602/http://londongoodnews.com/02sermon_park.php] </i></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">However, while believers are called a “saints,” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="9:13-9:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.9?passageId=ACT.9.13">Acts 9:13</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="9:32-9:32" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.9?passageId=ACT.9.32">32</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="9:41-9:41" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.9?passageId=ACT.9.41">41</a></span>; 26:10; Rm. 1:7; 8:27, etc.) or sanctified ones, by imputed righteous in Christ, and are positionally seated in heavenly places, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="2:6-2:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EPH.2?passageId=EPH.2.6">Eph. 2:6</a></span>) yet the fact is that they do sin, even if that is to be an exception, and thus are objectively sinners just like a good man who breaks the speed limit is a law breaker. Thus sometimes in practice, not position, one is a sinner, both facts of which Scripture confirms, and Park admits as much by emphasizing that he is evil by nature. And thus the Holy Spirit, addressing Christian, (Ja. 2:7) refers to disobedient ones as sinners (Ja. 4:8) as well as “carnal,” without necessarily denying what they are positionally in Christ, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="3:1-3:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.3?passageId=1CO.3.1-1CO.3.4">1Cor. 3:1-4</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="3:20-3:23" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.3?passageId=1CO.3.20-1CO.3.23">20-23</a></span>; 6:11,19) which repentance affirms and enables.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: navy;">B</span>ut one of Park's fundamental problems is that he is one dimensional, and his false dilemma cannot allow that a person can acknowledge himself as being two things, that they are accepted in the Beloved, and positionally are righteous in Christ and seated together in heavenly places, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="1:6-1:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EPH.1?passageId=EPH.1.6">Eph. 1:6</a></span>; 2:6) yet functionally they can agree that they are sinners in practice, without denying the atonement of Christ. And which is why they confess their sins, as Scripture instructs, as will be seen next. Consistent with Park's false dilemma, believers must be disallowed from referring to themselves as having any dwelling on earth, since they positionally are in heaven. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PHP" data-bible-ref="3:21-3:21" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PHP.3?passageId=PHP.3.21">Phil. 3:21</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="2:6-2:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EPH.2?passageId=EPH.2.6">Eph. 2:6</a></span>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">What Scripture teaches on confession and repentance it is not simply acknowledging that we have a sinful nature, and must rely on Christ to do good, but confession and repentance from giving into false thinking and acting.<span> </span><b>When the Lord Jesus teaches believers the manner in which they are to pray, He explicitly includes includes asking God for forgiveness: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="6:12-6:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.6?passageId=MAT.6.12">Mt. 6:12</a></span>)</b></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.9">1Jn. 1:9</a></span> promises:<span> </span><b>" If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."</b></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Faced with <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="6:12-6:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.6?passageId=MAT.6.12">Mt. 6:12</a></span>, a GNM pastor relegates this as only applying to unbelievers, (http://www.amazon.com/review/R1912BOCDK571C/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R1912BOCDK571) but the lost cannot call God their father, as spiritually He is not, and Jesus was not addressing unbelievers. (yet note that this prayer is not a prayer that is meant to be said ritualistically, but is set forth as pattern: “after this manner” pray ye.)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And faced with <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.9">1Jn. 1:9</a></span>, Park defines confessing sins as NOT meaning actually confessing sins, but that confession and repentance of sins means simply confessing that we are evil by nature, while asserting that things like adultery are not sin, but crimes. Park states,</span></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; width: 100%px; word-spacing: 0px;"><colgroup><col width="256*"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="100%"><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It says, “If we confess,” right? Then, what is sin? Stealing, lying, murdering, committing adultery, is that what sin is? No. That is not sin. What is sin?</i></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Folks, sin and act of sin are different. You may have stolen, lied and committed murder, but those are not sins, they are crimes.</i></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Folks, sin and act of sin are different. You may have stolen, lied and committed murder, but those are not sins, they are crimes. The Bible has clearly explained about sin and crime. "If we confess our sins . . . ." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.9">1 John 1:9</a></span>) These words are not about confessing your acts of sin, saying "I committed theft." It means to confess your sin.</i></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>In the Old Testament, it tells about King David. One day King David committed adultery with his servant's wife. He was in so much pain because of his sin, that he confessed before God. Do you know how he confessed?..</i></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It was not about what sin he had committed. He confessed of his nature, the fact itself that he was a human who could only commit sin, saying that he was a mass of sin, completely enveloped in sin...</i></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>If we confess our sins.” It's not about confessing crimes you have committed, but it's confessing that, "I am by nature a sinner. I cannot do it, so You, Lord, come and save me," and leaving yourself to the Lord. Then He will take care of all your problems.— (The secret of forgiveness and being born again, p. 37,39.41)</i></span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td valign="TOP" width="100%"><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>True repentance is not saying, "God, I lied. God, I stole. God, I had an abortion. God, I committed adultery. Forgive me..." But true repentance is saying, "God, I am a seed of sin, so that is why evil thoughts arise inside of me without end. (Repentance and Faith)</i></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">However, Park's use (above) of Ps. 51 is another example of his selective use of Scripture to the exclusion of the whole thought. For while Park here denies that David confessed that he had actually sinned, and he only mentions David's poetic lament that he was born in sin, yet David declared,</span></span></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: navy;">"Wash me throughly from<span> </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><b>mine</b></span><span style="color: navy;"><span> </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><b>iniquity</b></span><span style="color: navy;">, and cleanse me from<span> </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><b>my sin</b></span><span style="color: navy;">. {3} For I acknowledge<span> </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><b>my transgressions</b></span><span style="color: navy;">: and<span> </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><b>my sin</b></span><span style="color: navy;"><span> </span>is ever before me. {4} Against thee, thee only, have I<span> </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><b>sinned</b></span><span style="color: navy;">, and done<span> </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><b>this evil</b></span><span style="color: navy;"><span> </span>in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PSA" data-bible-ref="51:2-51:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/PSA.51?passageId=PSA.51.2-PSA.51.4">Psalms 51:2-4</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Yet in my interaction with GNM missionaries they also flatly denied that David confessed he had sinned, which along with other examples, indicates how implicitly they trust and follow Park.</span></span></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Furthermore, the way the Bible defines sins makes it a crime, the breaking of God's law:<span> </span><span style="color: navy;">"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="3:4-3:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.3?passageId=1JN.3.4">1 John 3:4</a></span>)</span><span> </span>not having a sinful nature. And obeying the moral law is upheld under the N.T. Thus the Lord taught believers to confessed their sins. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="6:12-6:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.6?passageId=MAT.6.12">Mt. 6:12</a></span>) Being guilty of committing sins makes one culpable, guilty before God of sin, and in need of forgiveness and righteousness, while one's sinful nature makes one in need of deliverer from the power of sin. Confessing that one has a sinful nature by birth is not a confession of guilt (unless we are culpable for Adam's sin), but of our helplessness, which besides our guilt and damnation renders us helpless and in need of a Redeemer.</span></span></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">While a sinner coming to Christ need not itemize all his sins, he does confess that he is a guilty sinner, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="23:41-23:41" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LUK.23?passageId=LUK.23.41">Lk. 23:41</a></span>) and his need is one of salvation, both from the penalty of sins and also the power of it. And the preaching in Acts emphasizes the former, while the latter is seen in teaching on living that out. Therefore before the Jews on the day of Pentecost cried out, “what shall we do?”, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:37-2:37" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.37">Acts 2:37</a></span>) Peter had charged them with guilt in the death of Christ. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:23-2:23" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.23">Acts 2:23</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:35-2:35" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.35">35</a></span>)</span></span></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And while it is true that sin begins in the heart, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-ref="7:21-7:23" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MRK.7?passageId=MRK.7.21-MRK.7.23">Mk. 7:21-23</a></span>) acting it out is also sin. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="12:21-12:21" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.12?passageId=2CO.12.21">2Cor. 12:21</a></span>) Also, while the basic sin of man is indeed unbelief, which is idolatry, yet a change in heart means repentance from deeds of the flesh. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="26:22-26:22" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.26?passageId=ACT.26.22">Acts 26:22</a></span>)</span></span></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And for the people of God what the Bible teaches is that of confession and repentance of actual ways in which we have given into our sinful nature and broken the laws of God, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LEV" data-bible-ref="5:4-5:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LEV.5?passageId=LEV.5.4">Lev. 5:4</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LEV" data-bible-ref="5:5-5:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LEV.5?passageId=LEV.5.5">5</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="NEH" data-bible-ref="9:2-9:2" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/NEH.9?passageId=NEH.9.2">Neh. 9:2</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="DAN" data-bible-ref="9:20-9:20" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/DAN.9?passageId=DAN.9.20">Dan. 9:20</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="5:21-5:21" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.5?passageId=2CO.5.21">2Cor. 5:21</a></span>; Ja. 5:16) the morality of which laws the Christian is to fulfill. (Rm. 2:13; 8:4)</span></span></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">In another sermon, Park refers to <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ISA" data-bible-ref="55:7-55:7" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ISA.55?passageId=ISA.55.7">Is. 55:7</a></span>:</span></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; width: 100%px; word-spacing: 0px;"><colgroup><col width="256*"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="100%"><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"And the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ISA" data-bible-ref="55:7-55:7" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ISA.55?passageId=ISA.55.7">Isaiah 55:7</a></span>) People think that their sins cause them to suffer and experience hardships in their lives and therefore try to stop sinning by themselves, because they know that as sinners they cannot stand . However, God did not ask them to forsake their sins and return to Him, He asked them to forsake their thoughts and return to Him. We consider committing sin as the problem but God considers our thoughts as the problem. Actually the truth is that God has perfectly solved the problem of sin. http://www.londongoodnews.com/02sermon_park.php) </i></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130928035602/http://londongoodnews.com/02sermon_park.php] </i></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">However, looking at <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ISA" data-bible-ref="55:7-55:7" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ISA.55?passageId=ISA.55.7">Isaiah 55:7</a></span> we see that an actual forsaking of the wicked's “way” is called for (<span style="color: navy;">“Let the wicked forsake his way”</span>), which involves turning from actual sins. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EZK" data-bible-ref="18:30-18:30" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EZK.18?passageId=EZK.18.30">Ezek. 18:30</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="4:28-4:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EPH.4?passageId=EPH.4.28">Eph. 4:28</a></span>; Ja, 4:8)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Park describes states his pre-conversion states as a seeing what a “filthy, dirty, and wicked person I was. As I realized it, I distrusted myself. Because I was such a dirty, filthy, and evil person, I threw myself away. From that point on, the words of Jesus began to enter my heart as faith.”</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">This is emphasized often in GNM lessons, and it is certainly part of classic evangelical teaching, yet he preaches it was if it were unique to GNM, contrasting it to evangelical-types who,</span></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; width: 100%px; word-spacing: 0px;"><colgroup><col width="256*"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="100%"><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>....would go to church and show unconditional zeal. They would pray and cry all night, fast, make offerings and do volunteer work. However, whenever God sees that, He wants to say, "Your sincerity is admirable, but those are not my ways." (The secret of forgiveness and being born again. p. 72)</i></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">In contrasting Christians who have unconditional zeal, fastings, all night prayer meetings, etc. (hardly your average Catholic or “Jehovah Witness”) with his own conversion, Park creates a false either/or dichotomy, otherwise known as a false dilemma (like saying Jesus could not be God and man at the same time), and which is a typical tactic with Park in his preaching. In so doing he makes merchandise of the legitimate failings of modern evangelical churches overall to disciple believers according to historical truth, in order to justify Park's superficial theology. This is done by characterizing all other churches as apostate, a typical claim of all elitist cults, in contrast with his own as representing victory.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">However in order to do so he must ignore the many Christians living holy lives or all the great examples in the past. But who prayed for forgiveness and believed in repentance from sin, and that they could please God (but not earn justification and eternal life) by obeying God by the Spirit, all of which the Scriptures teach.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">In addition, the Christianity of Park is one that effects cultic mind-control from him, constantly teaching from Park on his one theme, and who is looked to as a uniquely enlightened apostle, and requiring strict conformity to his verbose teachings, with nary a mention of any of the manifest Christian men and women of God outside his church past or present.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">This is typical of cults such as the<span> </span><a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/JosephSmithVersusJESUS.CHRIST.html" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Mormons</a><span> </span>and so-called J<a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/TheBIBLEandSoCalledJEHOVAHS-WITNESSES.html" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">ehovah's Witnesses</a><span> </span>and which can exhibit a high form of holiness and great uniformity, but which is not the work of the Spirit in the Scriptural manner, but is the result of constant indoctrination from them alone which punishes independent objective examination that may challenge their teachings from Scripture, rather than establishing faith in the light of such examination, which is how core Christian doctrines were established.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">In my interaction with GM missionaries, it seems that in their emphasis on the depravity of man, that he cannot justify himself by his works in the flesh, then they would see to disallow that man can please God by what he does as a Christian. but are only pleasing to God as regards them being righteousness in Christ.</span></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; width: 100%px; word-spacing: 0px;"><colgroup><col width="256*"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="100%"><p align="LEFT" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>.after you receive salvation and go before God, do not go relying on your goodness. God is not pleased by your works and is only pleased by His son. He only accepts us by looking at the blood of Jesus. (Cyber Fellowship with Pastor Ock Soo Park 11/7/09)</i></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">However, along with statements such as the above which may infer this, Park himself refers to him pleasing God by him holding retreats (Abraham Who Read God’s Heart) or by his preaching the gospel (If You Hear the Voice of God).</span></span></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">In any case, while it is true that works will not earn eternal life, and</span></span><span> </span>without faith it is impossible to please God, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="11:6-11:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.11?passageId=HEB.11.6">Heb. 11:6</a></span>) and those that are in the flesh cannot please God, (Rm. 8:8) and a soul is only accepted by God in Christ, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-ref="1:6-1:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EPH.1?passageId=EPH.1.6">Eph. 1:6</a></span>) yet God is pleased not simply because of Christ being in believers and they being righteous because of Him, but by acting that out<span> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">as they walk in the Spirit of Christ,</span></span>; (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="7:32-7:32" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.7?passageId=1CO.7.32">1Cor. 7:32</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="COL" data-bible-ref="3:20-3:20" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/COL.3?passageId=COL.3.20">Col. 3:20</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1TH" data-bible-ref="4:1-4:1" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1TH.4?passageId=1TH.4.1">1Thes. 4:1</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-ref="2:4-2:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2TI.2?passageId=2TI.2.4">2Tim. 2:4</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="13:16-13:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.13?passageId=HEB.13.16">Heb. 13:16</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="3:22-3:22" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.3?passageId=1JN.3.22">1Jn. 3:22</a></span>)</p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="13:16-13:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.13?passageId=HEB.13.16">Hebrews 13:16</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="3:22-3:22" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.3?passageId=1JN.3.22">1 John 3:22</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: navy;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort<span> </span><i>you</i><span> </span>by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God,<span> </span><i>so</i><span> </span>ye would abound more and more. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1TH" data-bible-ref="4:1-4:1" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1TH.4?passageId=1TH.4.1">1 Thessalonians 4:1</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. {9} Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. {10} For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="5:8-5:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/2CO.5?passageId=2CO.5.8-2CO.5.10">2 Corinthians 5:8-10</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Here the apostle is addressing Christians, and while he knows that if he dies then he will be with Jesus, yet he seeks to labor for Him that he may find the Lord's commendation, “well done thou good and faithful servant..” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="25:21-25:21" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.25?passageId=MAT.25.21">Mt. 25:21</a></span>) It also shows that while Christians are accepted in the Beloved, on His expense and righteousness, yet they will be accountable to God for their service.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Moreover, even though we are justified by faith, and clothed with the righteous do Christ, yet Christians are called to<span> </span><span style="color: navy;">“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord,”</span><span> </span>(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="12:14-12:14" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.12?passageId=HEB.12.14">Heb. 12:14</a></span>) and<span> </span><span style="color: navy;">“be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2PE" data-bible-ref="3:14-3:14" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2PE.3?passageId=2PE.3.14">2Pt. 3:14</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">This is because a justifying kind of faith is one that works obedience toward its Object, the Lord Jesus, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="5:9-5:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.5?passageId=HEB.5.9">Heb. 5:9</a></span>) and who takes pleasure in those who walk in obedience.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Park supposes that since the atonement of Christ was for past and future sins this means that sins committed after conversion have no need for be confessed and repented from in order to maintain a right faith relationship with God, and he invokes <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="10:17-10:17" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.10?passageId=HEB.10.17">Heb. 10:17</a></span> for support.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">This verse states that under the New Covenant,<span> </span><span style="color: navy;">“their sins and iniquities will I remember no more,”</span><span> </span>and in v. 2-12 it teaches that whereas under Moses a remembrance of sins was made every year, and<span> </span><span style="color: navy;">“every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins,”</span><span> </span>as it was impossible for the blood or animals to actually put away sins, yet under the New Covenant we are forgiven of past sins and sanctified by the offering of Jesus once for all. Therefore those who believe in Christ for salvation are washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="6:11-6:11" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.6?passageId=1CO.6.11">1Cor. 6:11</a></span>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">What this teaches in the light of other texts is that faith in the Lord Jesus means that the perfect atonement of Christ does give believers a clean conscience from past sins, forgiveness being appropriated except through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="3:19-3:19" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.3?passageId=ACT.3.19">Acts 3:19</a></span>) and places believers us into the family of God as washed, justified, and sanctified adopted children, clothed in the righteous of Christ so that we can walk in obedience, with the atonement providing for continual cleansing as we confess and repent, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="1:8-1:8" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.8">1Jn. 1:8</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.9">9</a></span>) which testifies to our faith in Christ as both Lord and Savior.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">However, while all the sins that can be forgiven are atoned for, this does not mean there there is will be no more need for forgiveness, as if future sins were ignored and do not effect his relationship with God, but that God can be displeased by our sins, but that because the believer is positionally righteous and accepted in Christ then when the believer sins he is not treated as an unbelievers, but as a son he is called to repentance and may be chastised if needed, so that he may become practically what he is positionally:</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: navy;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of<span> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>sins that are past</b></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">, through the forbearance of God.” To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Rm. 3:25,26)</span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: navy;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his<span> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>old sins</b></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">.” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2PE" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2PE.1?passageId=2PE.1.9">2Pt. 1:9</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: navy;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,<span> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.</b></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">” (Rm. 8:1)</span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: navy;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we<span> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>confess our sins</b></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="1:8-1:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.8-1JN.1.10">1Jn. 1:8-10</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: navy;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And if any man<span> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>sin</b></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="2:1-2:1" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.2?passageId=1JN.2.1">1Jn. 2:1</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And while the atonement places believers in a covenant relationship with God in which we are accounted righteous, and sins do not cast us out of His family (except as see below), yet the Lord Jesus is offended by our sins and calls us to confession and repentance. This is because saving faith in the Bible something a believer continues us, and it is manifest in the Bible as being one that effects obedience towards its Object, i.e. and which obedience to Christ includes confession and repentance.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">This is seen by many texts, such as the churches in Revelation 2+3, in which the Lord had some things against churches such as in Ephesus, and called them to repentance.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: navy;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. {5} Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="2:4-2:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/REV.2?passageId=REV.2.4-REV.2.5">Revelation 2:4-5</a></span>; cf. 2:14-16, 20-22)</span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Likewise, even though believers are also in a covenant relationship with each other, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JAS" data-bible-ref="5:16-5:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JAS.5?passageId=JAS.5.16">James 5:16</a></span> commands us to confess our faults (transgressions) to each other, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. (made whole).</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">The idea that being positionally accounted righteousness in Christ means that sin has no effect upon our relationship God is not one that is Scriptural.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">That Parks selective theology and misapprehension of the atonement results in him rejecting that what we do as Christians has consequences is further stated here:</span></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; width: 100%px; word-spacing: 0px;"><colgroup><col width="256*"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="100%"><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><i>We have received eternal life. We no longer have judgment. The Lord has received the judgment that we were suppose to receive. Those who believe in the Lord will not receive judgment when they depart from this world. They will enter straight into heaven. (This is Salvation)</i></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">However, while God will not judge a believer on his past sins before he became a child of God, nor condemn him for what he did after while living out the life of faith, which must include repentance when convicted of sin if it is to be considered a life of faith, yet both what the believer did for good or for evil has consequences, in this life as well as in the next.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"We are confident,<span> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I say</i></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before<span> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>the judgment seat of Christ</u></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">; that every one may receive the things<span> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>done</i></span></span><span> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">in<span> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>his</i></span></span><span> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">body, according to that he hath done, whether<span> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>it be</i></span></span><span> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="5:8-5:11" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/2CO.5?passageId=2CO.5.8-2CO.5.11">2 Corinthians 5:8-11</a></span>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">The lost will face the full terror of the Lord Jesus in judgment, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="25:31-25:31" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.25?passageId=MAT.25.31">Mt. 25:31</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TH" data-bible-ref="1:8-1:8" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2TH.1?passageId=2TH.1.8">2Thes. 1:8</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2TH" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2TH.1?passageId=2TH.1.9">9</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="20:11-20:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/REV.20?passageId=REV.20.11-REV.20.15">Rv. 20:11-15</a></span>) being judged for his sins (in accordance with light and grace given: <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="12:48-12:48" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LUK.12?passageId=LUK.12.48">Lk. 12:48</a></span>) since he has rejected the One who took upon Himself his sins and was judged for them. The believers will not be judged for them, but will be rewarded for how he built the church, which every believer is doing directly or indirectly, or he will suffer loss. See notes in red (at end) on <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="3:10-3:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.3?passageId=1CO.3.10">1Cor. 3:10</a></span>ff<span> </span><a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Bible/1Cor._3.html" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">here</a></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">We will be chastened for sins after we are saved in order to bring us to repentance, so that we will not be condemned with the rest of the world, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="11:32-11:32" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.11?passageId=1CO.11.32">1Cor. 11:32</a></span>) and will lose rewards for such things as building His church by false means. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="3:9-3:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.3?passageId=1CO.3.9-1CO.3.15">1Cor. 3:9-15</a></span>) And will give an account to God for our actions at the judgment seat of Christ.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. {9} Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. {10} For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="5:8-5:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/2CO.5?passageId=2CO.5.8-2CO.5.10">2 Corinthians 5:8-10</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Therefore we seek to please God by obeying Him in doing good. Christians confess actual sins (not simply that our sinful nature is evil) and repent in order to obtain forgiveness, and walk in fellowship with God. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.9">1Jn. 1:9</a></span> - “WE”)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">If our sins as believers had no effect upon our relationship with God, and had no need of confession and repentance, then believers would no be chastened to bring them to the latter, or be told to repent.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And if being accounted righteous meant our performance as Christians had no effect upon our approval with God, then believer would not seen seeking to win His full approval, and not be ashamed at His coming.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">In addition, confessing one's sin is asking God for forgiveness, as that is the purpose of it. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PSA" data-bible-ref="32:5-32:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PSA.32?passageId=PSA.32.5">Ps. 32:5</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.9">1Jn. 1:9</a></span>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">All of which is showing God does remember our sins as Christians, but as long as we believe in the Lord Jesus to save us by His blood, and thus follow Him and repent when convicted of not doing so, then we know we walk in truth and have saving faith. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="10:27-10:27" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.10?passageId=JHN.10.27">Jn. 10:27</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-ref="10:28-10:28" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.10?passageId=JHN.10.28">28</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="5:9-5:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.5?passageId=HEB.5.9">Heb. 5:9</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="5:13-5:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.5?passageId=1JN.5.13">1Jn. 5:13</a></span>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Or it can be said, that as long as we rest on the Lord Jesus for our salvation, then we will walk in the light, showing love for God and each other as He commands.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="3:23-3:23" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.3?passageId=1JN.3.23">1 John 3:23</a></span>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And confession and repentance of known sins is a mark of the saved. Unlike under the Law, we do not need yearly sacrifices for sins to be forgiven, or feel guilty over sins we confessed and repented from, yet consistent with the Old Testament, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="NUM" data-bible-ref="15:30-15:30" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/NUM.15?passageId=NUM.15.30">Num. 15:30</a></span>) willful, deliberate sinning and drawing back from following Christ, without repentance, is a denial of faith, and if continued, ultimately can result in becoming reprobate and unable to repent, having forfeited what faith appropriated. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-ref="5:1-5:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GAL.5?passageId=GAL.5.1-GAL.5.4">Gal. 5:1-4</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="10:25-10:39" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/HEB.10?passageId=HEB.10.25-HEB.10.39">Heb. 10:25-39</a></span>; cf. 6:4-8) Some believe such were never saved, and while the Bible does not support the idea that one is saved who does not manifest things which accompany salvation, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="6:1-6:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/HEB.6?passageId=HEB.6.1-HEB.6.10">Heb. 6:1-10</a></span>) versus those who do, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="5:13-5:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.5?passageId=1JN.5.13">1Jn. 5:13</a></span>) yet it is clearly addressing Christians in such places as <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-ref="5:1-5:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GAL.5?passageId=GAL.5.1-GAL.5.4">Gal. 5:1-4</a></span> and <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="10:19-10:39" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/HEB.10?passageId=HEB.10.19-HEB.10.39">Heb. 10:19-39</a></span> and warning them of the consequences of yielding to a false gospel or impenitent willful sin.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">What is also seen in Park's prolixity in preaching is the degree of comprehension that is required in order to believe the “true gospel,” which stands in contrast to the “simplicity that is in Christ” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="11:3-11:3" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.11?passageId=2CO.11.3">2Cor. 11:3</a></span>) seen in the gospel messages in the Bible. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:13-2:36" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.13-ACT.2.36">Acts 2:13-36-41</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="10:43-10:47" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.10?passageId=ACT.10.43-ACT.10.47"> 10:43-47</a></span>; 13:16-41, with conversion occurring by a faith which was expressed in baptism. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:38-2:38" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.38">Acts 2:38</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="2:41-2:41" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.41">41</a></span>; 10:43-47; 15:8,9)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Yet, besides rejecting Biblical confession and repentance, Park evidently also rejects water baptism, which is a transcendent command to the church which the Lord shall never leave, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="18:18-18:20" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MAT.18?passageId=MAT.18.18-MAT.18.20">Mt. 18:18-20</a></span>) and Park's rejection of this would be consistent with his cultic rejection of the established church which he competes with.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">In conclusion, Park is like most cultic groups, which much depend upon extreme loyalty to their human leaders whose conclusions are held as indisputable, and whose teachings depends upon a highly selective use of texts, and or an esoteric understanding of them, and who promote themselves as unique possessors of salvation. And yet like some cultic groups, Park is close to the Biblical gospel, but by addition and subtraction alters it enough to reject the historical Biblical gospel, to contrast it with the gospel according to Park.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Rather than preaching the whole counsel of God, what Park does is major on one evangelical theme, which is not only that of man's innate sinfulness and inability to save himself from his sins, and please God by his own efforts, but what doctrinally renders him and the GNM cultic are his conclusions that Christians must not confess guilt for actual sins, or ask for forgiveness, and that those who do so are not saved (due to not believing the “true gospel”), and that those saints who refer to themselves as sinners (as being so in practice) are designated to be the unrighteous, while those who subscribe to the GNM gospel are presented as the enlightened elite, with Parks disciples exhibiting an unwarranted devotion to him.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Behind Park's misconstruance of sin, and of what confession of sin really is, and the place of it in the Christians life, is a cultic approach to the Bible in which the fundamental salvific truth of salvation is conveyed as something hidden, with Park being an esoteric elite who reveals what other all churches basically are presented as missing:</span></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; width: 100%px; word-spacing: 0px;"><colgroup><col width="256*"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td valign="TOP" width="100%"><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>God is opening a new pathway of the gospel to us. That pathway is hidden deep within the Bible. The way of God, which is different from your thoughts, is hidden within the Bible. (The secret of forgiveness and being born again, p. 25)</i></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">But while the lost are blinded by the devil to the truth of the gospel, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="4:3-4:3" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.4?passageId=2CO.4.3">2Cor. 4:3</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="4:4-4:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.4?passageId=2CO.4.4">4</a></span>) yet the truth of salvation is NOT hidden in the Bible, nor does it require great comprehension. Rather the problem is that of an impenitent heart, as<span style="color: navy;"><span> </span>"The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PSA" data-bible-ref="34:18-34:18" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PSA.34?passageId=PSA.34.18">Psalms 34:18</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0.04in 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">An examination of the book of Acts and epistles shows that those who were converted did not require hours-long sermons, and what was preached was NOT that sin meant having a sinful nature, though that is true and is dealt with in teachings on walking in victory, (Rm. 6-8) but as referenced before, in preaching to Gentiles, Paul told them to that they<span> </span><span style="color: navy;">“should turn from these vanities unto the living God...,” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="14:15-14:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.14?passageId=ACT.14.15">Acts 14:15</a></span>)<span> </span></span>while the Jews in Acts 2 were convicted of sin in that they were guilty of rejecting their own Messiah, and were implicit in the crucifixion of the Righteous One, and thus were in need of deliverance since He would be their judge. And they were promised salvation upon repentance and faith, expressed in baptism, which (properly) is like a “sinners prayer” in body language, though souls can be born again prior to that “confession” of Christ. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-ref="10:43-10:47" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.10?passageId=ACT.10.43-ACT.10.47">Acts 10:43-47</a></span>)</span></span></p><table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; widows: 2; width: 693px; word-spacing: 0px;"><colgroup><col width="126"></col><col width="549"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" valign="TOP" width="683"><p align="CENTER" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Questions for GNM disciples. Require straight answers, not stories</b></span></span></p></td></tr><tr valign="TOP"><td width="126"><p align="LEFT" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">What constitutes sin: having a sinful nature (from Adam), or yielding to that nature and thus breaking God's law and committing sin?</span></span></p></td><td width="549"><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"Whosoever committeth<span> </span><b>sin</b><span> </span><b>transgresseth</b><span> </span>also the<span> </span><b>law</b>: for<span> </span><b>sin</b><span> </span>is the<span> </span><b>transgression</b><span> </span>of the<span> </span><b>law.</b><span> </span>" (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="3:4-3:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.3?passageId=1JN.3.4">1 John 3:4</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the<span> </span><b>uncleanness</b><span> </span>and<span> </span><b>fornication</b><span> </span>and<span> </span><b>lasciviousness</b><span> </span>which they have<span> </span><b>committed</b>." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="12:21-12:21" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.12?passageId=2CO.12.21">2 Corinthians 12:21</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our<span> </span><b>sins</b>, and for the<span> </span><b>iniquities</b><span> </span>of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="DAN" data-bible-ref="9:16-9:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/DAN.9?passageId=DAN.9.16">Daniel 9:16</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their<span> </span><b>works</b>." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="20:12-20:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/REV.20?passageId=REV.20.12">Revelation 20:12</a></span>)</span></span></span></p></td></tr><tr valign="TOP"><td width="126"><p align="LEFT" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Does confessing sin mean confessing you have a sinful nature, or confessing acts of sin?</span></span></p></td><td width="549"><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath<span> </span><b>sinned in that thing</b>." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LEV" data-bible-ref="5:5-5:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LEV.5?passageId=LEV.5.5">Leviticus 5:5</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the<span> </span><b>iniquities</b><span> </span>of the children of Israel, and all their<span> </span><b>transgressions</b><span> </span>in all their<span> </span><b>sins</b>, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LEV" data-bible-ref="16:21-16:21" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LEV.16?passageId=LEV.16.21">Leviticus 16:21</a></span>)</span></span></span></p></td></tr><tr valign="TOP"><td width="126"><p align="LEFT" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Is asking for forgiveness a prayer of damnation for a believer?</span></span></p></td><td width="549"><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. {3} For I acknowledge my<span> </span><b>transgressions</b>: and my sin is ever before me. {4} Against thee, thee only, have I<span> </span><b>sinned</b>, and<span> </span><b>done this evil</b><span> </span>in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PSA" data-bible-ref="51:2-51:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/PSA.51?passageId=PSA.51.2-PSA.51.4">Psalms 51:2-4</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"He that<span> </span><b>covereth</b><span> </span>his<span> </span><b>sins</b><span> </span>shall not prosper: but whoso<span> </span><b>confesseth</b><span> </span>and<span> </span><b>forsaketh</b><span> </span>them shall have mercy. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="PRO" data-bible-ref="28:13-28:13" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PRO.28?passageId=PRO.28.13">Proverbs 28:13</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"And were baptized of him in Jordan,<span> </span><b>confessing their sins</b>." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="3:6-3:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.3?passageId=MAT.3.6">Matthew 3:6</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">And<span> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>forgive us our sins</b></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-ref="11:4-11:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LUK.11?passageId=LUK.11.4">Luke 11:4</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"If they shall<span> </span><b>confess</b><span> </span>their<span> </span><b>iniquity</b>, and the<span> </span><b>iniquity</b><span> </span>of their fathers, with their<span> </span><b>trespass</b><span> </span>which they<span> </span><b>trespassed</b><span> </span>against me, and that also they have<span> </span><b>walked contrary</b><span> </span>unto me; " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="LEV" data-bible-ref="26:40-26:40" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LEV.26?passageId=LEV.26.40">Leviticus 26:40</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"If we<span> </span><b>confess</b><span> </span>our<span> </span><b>sins</b>, he is faithful and just to forgive us our<span> </span><b>sins</b>, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.9">1 John 1:9</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"<b>Confess</b><span> </span>your<span> </span><b>faults</b><span> </span>[transgressions] one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JAS" data-bible-ref="5:16-5:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JAS.5?passageId=JAS.5.16">James 5:16</a></span>)</span></span></span></p></td></tr><tr valign="TOP"><td width="126"><p align="LEFT" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Does being accounted righteous in Christ mean that He does not see our sins, and cannot have something against us that needs an intercessor, and repentance and forgiveness in order to make our relationship with God right?</span></span></p></td><td width="549"><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. {5}<span> </span><b>Remember</b><span> </span>therefore from whence thou art fallen, and<span> </span><b>repent</b>, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="2:4-2:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/REV.2?passageId=REV.2.4-REV.2.5">Revelation 2:4-5</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"<b>Repent</b>; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="2:16-2:16" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/REV.2?passageId=REV.2.16">Revelation 2:16</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and<span> </span><b>repent</b>. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="3:3-3:3" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/REV.3?passageId=REV.3.3">Revelation 3:3</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"My little children, these things write I unto you,<span> </span><b>that ye sin not</b>. And if any man<span> </span><b>sin</b>, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="2:1-2:1" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.2?passageId=1JN.2.1">1 John 2:1</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"> </p></td></tr><tr valign="TOP"><td width="126"><p align="LEFT" class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Does being forgiven of past sins mean that God will not hold a believer accountable for how he lived out his Christian life?</span></span></p></td><td width="549"><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-ref="5:10-5:10" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.5?passageId=2CO.5.10">2 Corinthians 5:10</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-ref="3:13-3:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.3?passageId=1CO.3.13-1CO.3.15">1 Corinthians 3:13-15</a></span>)</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: navy; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: navy;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ROM" data-bible-ref="14:12-14:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ROM.14?passageId=ROM.14.12">Romans 14:12</a></span>)</span></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">▀<span> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Notable Christians the GNN effectively sends to Hell, along with everyone who obeys what the Lord taught as concerning prayer and asking forgiveness and pleasing God.</b></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">E. M. Bounds: It is significant that the very justice of God comes into play and stands hard by God's faithfulness in the strong promise God makes of the pardon of sins and of cleansing from sin's pollutions: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.<span> </span><a class="western" href="http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/bounds/5bb.10597-possibilities/5bb.10597.10.htm" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/bounds/5bb.10597-possibilities/5bb.10597.10.htm</a></span></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Charles C. Ryrie: For Protestants the confession of sin and prayer for forgiveness are continually required to regain fellowship with God after committing sin, though they maintain that forgiveness for sin is a matter of pure grace.</span><span> </span>(Basic Theology, Charles C. Ryrie)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Andrew Murray: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.9">1 John 1:9</a></span>. Let the confession be one of trust.7 Depend entirely on God to actually forgive you, and to cleanse you from sin. Continue in confession by casting the sin you desire to be rid of into the fire of God's holiness until your soul has the firm confidence that God takes it on His own account to forgive and to cleanse. It is this faith which truly overcomes the world and sin. It is the faith that God, in Jesus, actually frees us from sin http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/5f00.0571/5f00.0571.11.htm</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Martin Lloyd-Jones:</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Who is the man who can pray, 'Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors'? He is the man who already has a right to say 'Our Father'. And the only man who has a right to say 'Our Father' is the one who is in Christ Jesus. It is 'The Children's Prayer.' It is not a prayer for anybody, but only for those who have become the children of God in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the relationship of the child to the Father, and the moment we realize we have offended, or grieved or sinned against the Father, we confess it and ask to be forgiven, and we are sure that we are forgiven.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">John Mcarthur:</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We have launched out on a study of the epistles of John, 1, 2, and 3 John. Chapter 1, of course, is critically important as we have been learning. And some number of weeks ago we started into a discussion of the subject "confession of sin, a certain proof of salvation." It is the purpose of John in this epistle to offer proofs of salvation, to offer tests by which a true believer can be distinguished from the false. One of those is the confession of sin. "If we say," says verse 8, "that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us."</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There is a distinct line drawn between those who are true believers and those who are not. The false<span> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">deny their sin, the true confess it.<span> </span><a class="western" href="http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/62-8" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/62-8</a></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-ref="6:12-6:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.6?passageId=HEB.6.12">Hebrews 6:12</a></span>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">More from Christians whom the GNM relegates as to be unbelievers, lost damned souls</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Jonathan Edwards’ Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. (Resolutions #8, http://www.apuritansmind.com/the-christian-walk/jonathan-edwards-resolutions)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">John Wesley: We ought quietly to suffer whatever befalls us; to bear the<span> </span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>defects of others and our own, to confess them to God in secret praye</b></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">r, or with groans which cannot be uttered; but never to speak a sharp or peevish word, nor to murmur or repine; but thoroughly willing that God should treat you in the manner that pleases Him. We are His lambs, and therefore ought to be ready to suffer, even to the death, without complaining.</span></span></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">'We are to bear with those we cannot amend, and to be content with offering them to God. This is true resignation. And since He has borne our infirmities, we may well bear those of each other for His sake. 'To abandon all, to strip one's self of all, in order to seek and to follow Jesus Christ naked to Bethlehem, where He was born; naked to the hall where He was scourged; and naked to Calvary, where He died on the cross, is so great a mercy, that neither the thing, nor the knowledge of it, is given to any, but through faith in the Son of God. (A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, Chapter 11 Reflections; http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/wesley/8317/831702.htm)</p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Hudson Taylor</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">We have had great cause for thankfulness in one respect : we have been so placed as to show the native Christians that our position as well as theirs has been, and may be again, one of danger. And they have been helped, doubtless, to look from " foreign power " to God Himself for protection, by the facts that (1) the former has been felt to be uncertain and unreliable; both with regard to themselves and to us, and (2) that we have been kept in calmness and joy in our various positions of duty. If in any measure we have failed to improve for their good this opportunity, or have failed to rest for ourselves in God's power to sustain in or protect from danger, as He sees best, let us humbly confess this and all conscious failure to our faithful, covenant-keeping God... . (CHAPTER 14--SHALL NEVER THIRST- 1890-1871. AET. 38-39;<span> </span><a class="western" href="http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/hudsontaylor/hudsontaylorv2/hudsontaylorv214.htm" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/hudsontaylor/hudsontaylorv2/hudsontaylorv214.htm</a>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.2in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Spurgeon:</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Only on the footing of sin daily confessed and pardoned can there be any fellowship between us and the eternal God this side heaven, for that footing is the only one consistent with the facts of the case. Let us daily ask the Lord to keep us in a truthful spirit, admitting the truth, both concerning ourselves and our Lord, feeling its power, and desiring to he taught still more of it. Let us pray him to deal with us not according to our suppositions but according to the fact, and let us entreat him never to allow us to rejoice in fancied blessings, such as might satisfy our proud, half-stupified conscience, but to give to us the real blessings of genuine forgiveness, and effectual cleansing from all unrighteousness.Only on the footing of sin daily confessed and pardoned can there be any fellowship between us and the eternal God this side heaven, for that footing is the only one consistent with the facts of the case. Let us daily ask the Lord to keep us in a truthful spirit, admitting the truth, both concerning ourselves and our Lord, feeling its power, and desiring to he taught still more of it. Let us pray him to deal with us not according to our suppositions but according to the fact, and let us entreat him never to allow us to rejoice in fancied blessings, such as might satisfy our proud, half-stupified conscience, but to give to us the real blessings of genuine forgiveness, and effectual cleansing from all unrighteousness. (Honest Dealing with God</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Spurgeon on <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-ref="6:12-6:12" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.6?passageId=MAT.6.12">Mt. 6:12</a></span>: And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">No prayer of mortal men could be complete without confession of sin.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Prayer which does not seek for pardon will fail, as the Pharisee’s prayer did. Let proud men boast as they please, those who are in Christ’s kingdom will always pray, “Forgive us our debts .” Our Lord knew that we should always have debts to own, and therefore would always need to cry, “Forgive! “This is the prayer of men whom the Judge has absolved because of their faith in the Great Sacrifice; for now to their Father they come for free forgiveness, as children. No man may pass a day without praying “Forgive”; and in his supplication he should not forget his fellow-sinners, but should pray “Forgive us.” The writer ventures to pray, “Lord, forgive me, and my brother over yonder, who says he is perfect.”</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">This pardon we can only obtain as we freely pass over the offenses of others against ourselves: “as we forgive our debtors. ” This is a reasonable, nay, a blessed requirement, which it is a delight to fulfill. It would not be safe for God to forgive a man who will not forgive others.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Lord, I most heartily forgive all who may have done me wrong, I am lenient with those who are indebted to me; and now, with a hopeful heart, I pray thee forgive me, as surer, as I now forgive all who are in and sense my debtors. (EXPOSITION TO THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW -CHAPTER 6; http://www.godrules.net/library/spurgeon/45spurgeon9.htm)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Spurgeon: An incident is told of Spurgeon who suddenly stopped in the middle of the street he was crossing and prayed. [These were the days when streets were somewhat safer, populated with horses rather than automobiles.] When he reached the other side, his companion asked him, "Why did you stop to pray in the middle of the street?" Spurgeon's reply was something like this, "A cloud came between my soul and Christ, and I could not let it remain there even long enough to reach the other side of the street." (J.V.McGee; http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/christia/nothingb.htm)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Andrew Murray: The Church exists with the Divine purpose and promise of having conversions. Let us not be ashamed to confess our sins and feebleness, and cry to God for more conversions in Christian and heathen lands, of those too whom you know and love. Plead for the salvation of sinners. (Helps to Intercession , 25</span></span><sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup><span> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">day;<span> </span><a class="western" href="http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/helps_intercession/hi25.htm" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/helps_intercession/hi25.htm</a></span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Robert Murray Mc'Cheyne: You read your Bible regularly, of course; but do try and understand it, and still more, to feel it. Read more parts than one at a time. For example, if you are reading Genesis, read a psalm also; or, if you are reading Matthew, read a small bit of an epistle also. Turn the Bible into prayer. Thus, if you were reading the 1st Psalm, spread the Bible on the chair before you, and kneel, and pray, '0 Lord, give me the blessedness of the man,' etc. Let me not stand in the counsel of the ungodly,' etc. 'This is the best way of knowing the meaning of the Bible, and of learning to pray. In prayer confess your sins by name going over those of the past day, one by one. Pray for your friends by name-father, mother, etc. etc. If you love them, surely you will pray for their souls. I know well that there are prayers constantly ascending for you from your own house; and will you not pray for them back again? Do this regularly. If you pray sincerely for others, it will make you pray for yourself. (Chapter 2. His Labors in the Vineyard Before Ordination;<span> </span><a class="western" href="http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/bonar/mccheyne/contents.htm" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/bonar/mccheyne/contents.htm</a>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Watchman Nee: Each time a believer is chastened by God and becomes sick he is open to great blessing, for the Father of spirits "disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness" (Heb. 12.10). Sickness prompts us to recollect and examine the past as to whether there be any hidden sin, obstinacy or self-will. Then and there we can detect if any barrier exists between us and God....Thus the Holy Spirit shall point out to him where he has failed. And whatever he is shown, it must be immediately confessed and forsaken. (THE SPIRITUAL MAN Volume III, PART 10 :CHAPTER 2 : SICKNESS ;<span> </span><a class="western" href="http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/nee/sprtmnv3/part10chapter2.htm" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/nee/sprtmnv3/part10chapter2.htm</a>)</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">F.B. Meyer: Cultivate the habit of speaking aloud to God. Not perhaps always, because our desires are often too sacred or deep to be put into words. But it is well to acquire the habit of speaking to God as to a present friend while sitting in the house or walking by the way. Seek the habit of talking things over with God-thy letters, thy plans, thy hopes, thy mistakes, thy sorrows and sins. Things look very differently when brought into the calm light of His presence. One cannot talk long with God aloud without feeling that He is near</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">►<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">F.B. Meyer: When water is left to stand, the particles of silt betray themselves as they fall one by one to the bottom. So if you are quiet, you may become aware of the presence in your soul of permitted evil. Dare to consider it. Do not avoid the sight as the bankrupt avoids his telltale ledgers, or as the tubercular patient the stethoscope. Compel yourself quietly to consider whatever evil the Spirit of God discovers to your soul. It may have lurked in the closets and cloisters Of' your being for years, suspected but unjudged. But whatever it be, and whatever its history, be sure that it has brought the shadow over your life which is your daily sorrow.</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Does your will refuse to relinquish a practice or habit which is alien to the will of God'?</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you permit some secret sin to have its unhindered way in the house of your life'?</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Do your affections roam unrestrained after forbidden objects?</span></span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-left: 0.1in; margin-right: 0.1in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you cherish any resentment or hatred toward another, to whom you refuse to be reconciled?</span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Is there some injustice which you refuse to forgive, some charge which you refuse to pay, some wrong which you refuse to confess'? (THE SECRET OF GUIDANCE , cps. 8, 2;<span> </span><a class="western" href="http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/fbmeyer/ch8.htm" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/fbmeyer/ch8.htm</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/fbmeyer/ch2.htm" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/fbmeyer/ch2.htm</a>)</span></span> <br /></p>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-51546258968425249692023-01-12T18:24:00.001-05:002023-01-12T19:04:09.470-05:00Roy Masters (Reuben Obermeister) versus the Lord Jesus Christ<a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/roy-masters-versus-lord-jesus-christ.html">Roy
Masters </a></font><a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2023/01/roy-masters-versus-lord-jesus-christ.html"><font style="font-size: 14pt" size="4">(Reuben
Obermeister)</font><font style="font-size: 14pt" size="4"> vs. Jesus
Christ</font></a></b></font></font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in" align="justify">
<font style="font-size: 9pt" size="2"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>The
below is text</i></font> <font face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>from</i></font>
<font face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>threads</i></font> <font face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>posted
on Free Republic some years about about Roy Masters teaching and
subtle deception and word-craft, (my exposure of which even resulted
in the advocate I debated</i></font> <font face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>asserting
that I</i></font> <font face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>fabricated quotes
documented from Google books and Master's own writings). Some of the
now dead links are updated [in brackets] to point to current editions
or archived copies, before they also are expunged. I could not find
copies of some links, but all were working at the time of the
original posting. Some spelling mistakes or typos are also corrected,
and formatting improved. Any other additions are in brackets. </i></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>Main
site page is <a class="western" href="https://peacebyjesus.org/">https://peacebyjesus.org/</a>
</i></font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in" align="justify">
10/1/2012: The way it works is that you begin with rapping Roy,
following his mesmerizing meditation, and gain esoteric
understanding, and while you may see things in the Bible that you
“awaken” you to that hidden knowledge, and see things as
confirming it, this is not by normal exegesis in which you pay
attention to context, grammar, genre, etc, but is a revelation
knowledge, in which you are the supreme authority on truth, and after
you have really arrived you can throw the Bible away.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Masters
denies that remembering and treasuring the words of the Bible in the
heart means they have the word of God in their heart, as while
Masters says that the Bible can awaken you to esoteric understanding
under his meditation, yet it is the revelation knowledge that he
gets, “the understanding that is awakened in my mind, and the
bond with that spirit of awakening is what is holy with me,”
<i>[<a class="western" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mY2DLKgwOA">12:28</a>]
</i>not the physical Bible, and “<i>the Scriptures are just
words on a page,” and “I can take that Bible to the
toilet with me and use it in the same way as anything else.”
(ibid, Walter Martin takes on Roy Masters min. 12:30-34
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mY2DLKgwOA] </i>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">In
this Masters makes a critical [blasphemous] error, as he reasons that
since the pages which conveys truth is material, and and language is
not then it is not holy, sanctified, set apart, and to be treated
with reverence, but only the truth is contains and awakens one to is
holy. However, as i pointed out before, even the presence of one
believer in a marriage sanctifies a family. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.7?passageId=1CO.7.14" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="7:14-7:14" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Cor. 7:14</a></span>)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
consistent with Masters understanding, one can say that since the
human body is simply made protoplasm, it need not be treated with
special respect, but only the things it contains.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Giving
him more rope, Masters states that “you cannot analyze language
and find understanding in it,” which, along with consideration
of genre and context, is part of understanding what people say in
everyday life as well as what the Bible is doctrinally saying. And
while by so doing we get a deeper understanding of God and the
fulness of meaning, yet under Masters this is denigrated for the
actual words are only a sound, or noise, and instead the Bible only
“awakens” you to an understanding through his
mind-numbing meditation, heretofore described by him.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Scan
the Scriptures for understanding. BUT NEVER STUDY OR BE ABSORBED IN
MERE WORDS..” (The Satan Principle, p. 100).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">What
comes from thinking builds pride, but what comes out of neutral
realizing awareness [the state of innocence or holiness] is holy.”
( How to Control Your Emotions, p. 84)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">His
words, in response to the charge that he is his own standard, is
that, “the standard is not the Bible, the standard is what the
Bible awakens to me in my own heart.”
(http://www.blogtalkradio.com/waltermartindotcom/2011/06/05/walter-martin-takes-on-roy-masters.mp3,
min. 36:53-57 [<a class="western" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mY2DLKgwOA">39:25</a>
[<a class="western" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mY2DLKgwOA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mY2DLKgwOA</a>
where you can choose to show the transcript. Pt. 1 audio is also at
<a class="western" href="https://www.blogtalkradio.com/waltermartindotcom/2015/10/18/walter-martin-and-the-non-biblical-teachings-of-roy-masters--part-1">https://www.blogtalkradio.com/waltermartindotcom/2015/10/18/walter-martin-and-the-non-biblical-teachings-of-roy-masters--part-1</a>])
in which he detaches his conscious mind from his “imagination,”
including daily thinking and living.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">“Not
the words on a page, not the sounds of a language,” but when
you understand what the words are saying, when you understand what
the knowledge is saying, you leave the knowledge behind, you leave
the printed word behind and you have life.” as this
understanding is a “wordless word” and when that happens,
“there is the beginning of salvation.” “The Bible
you read says ‘the letter kills,’ the words on a page,
they kill you; if you involve yourself in words you move away from
understanding.” ibid. min. 12:40-13:35 [<a class="western" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mY2DLKgwOA">12:49</a>])</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Here
Masters makes a false dichotomy between consideration of the actual
words of Scripture in prayerful consideration of their meaning, and
understanding of them.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Certainly
there are secondary meanings to Scripture, and God can apply any text
to any situation, but the doctrinal meaning is critical and is not
realized apart from exegetical consideration, including of the very
words themselves, such as seen by the Lords question in Mtt. 22:</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">“While
the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What
think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of
David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him
Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord,
how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither
durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. “
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MAT.22?passageId=MAT.22.41-MAT.22.46" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="22:41-22:46" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Matthew 22:41-46</a></span>)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
which focus upon the meaning of words SR also pointed out in other
texts.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
which is seen in this description of an ongoing dialog between a
Christian and a so-called Jehovah’s
Witness:http://tektonticker.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-time-with-jws.html
[<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191109151213/http://tektonticker.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-time-with-jws.html">https://web.archive.org/web/20191109151213/http://tektonticker.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-time-with-jws.html</a>]</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">However,
Masters, as them, denies the Deity of Christ
[<a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.net/deityofchrist.html">http://peacebyjesus.net/deityofchrist.html</a>],
and as they, suppose that “One’ must refer to an absolute
unity of one person, versus Being, and rejects analysis of words
which play a part of this doctrine.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Masters
often has justified his rejection of textual analysis of language in
determining the meaning of words - versus the revelation
understanding which Scripture can “awaken” one to as
attained thru his meditation - by reasoning that you do not know for
sure such things as whether the events in the Bible took place, etc,
and thus you are the supreme judge of truth. Provided of course that
you esoterically realize it thru his meditation.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">However,
in reality, while every man must judge for himself what truth is,
this is not through Masters occultist meditation with its looking
thru your forehead as it were, and finding you hand rising, and cold
shivers and becoming one with the universe, etc., but primarily by
prayerful study of Scripture (once one finds trust in it warranted
due to evidence), which entails consideration of context, genre, etc.
to understand its doctrinal meaning, and while how it applies to your
situation does not determine doctrine, or what is truth.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Nor
is the reader of Scripture the supreme authority on truth, as though
he were infallible, even though he must at some point judge for
himself what is right, but the words God are, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.4?passageId=MAT.4.4" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="4:4-4:4" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Mt. 4:4</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.17?passageId=JHN.17.17" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="17:17-17:17" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Jn. 17:17</a></span>)
with the Scriptures being the assured word of God (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2TI.3?passageId=2TI.3.16" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:16-3:16" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2Tim. 3:16</a></span>) by
which truth claims are both tested and established. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ISA.8?passageId=ISA.8.20" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="8:20-8:20" data-bible-book="ISA" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Is. 8:20</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.17?passageId=ACT.17.11" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="17:11-17:11" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
17:11</a></span>; 18:28; 28:23)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">This
does mean different interpretations can and do result, yet this is
limited, and amidst the core salvific gospel essentials, which are
critical to conversion and realizing the unity of the Spirit, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.10?passageId=ACT.10.34-ACT.10.43" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="10:34-10:43" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
10:34-43</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/EPH.4?passageId=EPH.4.3-EPH.4.6" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="4:3-4:6" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Eph. 4:3-6</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.12?passageId=1CO.12.13" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="12:13-12:13" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Cor. 12:13</a></span>; 15:1-4), the denial of which
divides Christianity from most cults.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
God has also given the church administration, that of pastors to
oversee the flock, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.20?passageId=ACT.20.28" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="20:28-20:28" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts 20:28</a></span>; Rm. 12:8; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EPH.4?passageId=EPH.4.11" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="4:11-4:11" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Eph. 4:11</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.13?passageId=HEB.13.17" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="13:17-13:17" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Heb. 13:17</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1PE.5?passageId=1PE.5.1" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="5:1-5:1" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Pt.
5:1</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1PE.5?passageId=1PE.5.2" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="5:2-5:2" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2</a></span>) and teachers with the gift of teaching, (Rm. 12:7) which works
to foster unity, and limit the degree in which believers can disagree
beyond core truths.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">But
which Masters denigrates:</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">“If
you need the church you’re not well.” ((tape “The
Mystery of Golgotha”)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
Church is supposed to teach you to go within yourself and to be a
whole person and not need the Church. (Tape No. 20, “The
Sayings of Jesus—Right Tradition”)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Through
true belief you acquire a new nature from within that does not
require any external reinforcement by church attendance, study or
ritual—ever. (How to Conquer Suffering Without Doctors, p. 191)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">But
in reality he has effectively set himself up as a type of pope. For
many men and churches have sought to deal with the problem of
disunity and different interpretations by asserting they are
assuredly infallible, or uniquely enlightened to teach with authority
equal or above Scripture, but who are not reliant upon or manifest
Scriptural warrant.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
while Masters effectively but erroneously teaches that souls are the
supreme authorities on truth under his meditation, in reality he is
the supreme authority on how to realize this truth, and on more, and
if one disagrees with him, at least in principal matters and even as
a result of meditation, it must be disallowed.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
while leaders claiming assured veracity does work unity, it is
inferior in quality to that which depends upon the Spirit doing so as
a result of personal seeking of God and faith in the gospel,
resulting in a unity founded upon a shared, Scripture based
conversion and relationship with the risen Lord Jesus.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Moreover,
in reality, looking to one teacher or church office as assuredly
faithful interpreters does not solve the problem of different
interpretations, as it moves the problem of interpretation to that of
interpreting the interpreter, and even as to when they have given an
infallible type interpretation. And as seen in churches which hold to
the sola ecclesia (the church is the supreme authority on truth)
model, this does not prevent divisions both formal or informal.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">But
as said, while the interpretive office has its Scriptural place, and
while each individual at some point must judge for himself what truth
is and what warrants trust (including if it be his church), Scripture
is the only transcendent material source that we as evangelicals
Christians see as being Divinely established as being of God, due to
their manifest enduring Heavenly qualities and power, and by faith in
it the church as the born again body of Christ has endured (being
founded upon the O.T. Scriptures: <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LUK.24?passageId=LUK.24.44" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="24:44-24:44" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Lk. 24:44</a></span>; Rm. 1:2; 16:25,26).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
the fruits of which is not that of cultic bondage to defend a
Masters-type teacher to the point where even valid documented
material is dismissed as fabrications.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
like true men of God, these writings are wholly inspired of God even
if men do not recognize it as such, though like as with true men of
God, they are supposed to be affirmed to be so by men based upon
their continuing qualities.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
thus the Scriptures which Masters sometimes invokes have continued to
be established from generation to generation because their enduring
qualities, but which are realized by faith in and obedience to its
words and what they doctrinally and personally teach. But which does
not sanction the means of Masters, with the occultic, looking, as it
were, thru your forehead type of meditation which the monologue of
Masters mesmerizes men and women with.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a class="western" href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=673#673">https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=673#673</a>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
below teaching is all in a pdf file
(www.fhu.com/books/mind_well/HowYourMind.pdf
[https://web.archive.org/web/20060721182124/http://www.fhu.com/books/mind_well/HowYourMind.pdf]):</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►The
evidence of a Higher Presence in meditation is a change in breathing.
233 (p. 31)</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►Cold
shivers, occasional perspiration, and labored or heavy breathing
reveal contact-response to a higher consciousness. It means something
has been added that is causing changes to occur. (p. 40) </font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►The
meditation causes chemical changes within the body as poisons are
expelled. You may experience a cold that lingers as poisonous
substances are ejected. You may notice a change in bowel habits and
other bodily functions. </font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►You
will receive a mild feeling of stimulation, almost like that provided
by a shot of brandy.</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►At
times you may feel as though you were wearing a tight skullcap on
your head. You may feel your face tightening up as the lax muscles
contract...</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►
Occasionally you will feel suspended in space, as if your body had
melted into the universe and become "one" with all nature.
. . . You will find yourself expressing wisdom and knowledge that you
never outwardly learned or heard before. (pp. 40-41) </font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►Sometimes
you will hear, quite distinctly, words "spoken" to you in
short phrases. Do not be alarmed. (p. 42)</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►Each
new stratum of consciousness is entered only when we have
successfully traveled through the strata preceding it. </font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►While
the monologue is explaining the idea here during the meditation, keep
your mind concentrated on your hand regardless of whether you
remember the presentation or not. </font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►Do
not worry if your hand fails to rise during exercise, for the
hand-raising is only a preliminary indication to measure the success
of the concentration. Just a mild, tingling, prickly sensation in
your hand is all that is needed. </font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►The
meditation exercise leads you back to your inner self. </font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►Failure
to do the exercise constitutes choosing the old ways again. (pp.
42-45.</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►Simply
have the awareness of the middle of your forehead, of your mind's
eye. Just observe as though you were looking through the middle of
your forehead, the place where thoughts arise, and then see if you
can locate where your hand is rising up toward the middle of your
forehead. See if you can draw your am up to at the middle of your
forehead, energizing your am through being very aware of it.</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►...
It may begin to feel warm or detached, but just keep being aware of
your hand and remain aware of it through the middle of your forehead.
(II The meditation exercise)</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►Bear
in mind that the hand-raising feature of the meditation exercises is
only a means to an end. The process of imagery is designed to
inaugurate a chain reaction of responses touched off by conscious
awareness. When your hand begins to rise, it is evidence of an energy
value originating within you. But once you discover that by
concentration through the middle of your forehead you can affect
bodily responses, then imagery is no longer necessary. (The object of
meditation)</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">►
Just being aware of the patterns of light and color that you see in
your mind, and projecting them into the tingling of your hands, is
all that is necessary....The patterns of light are etheric “computer”
data that replace the lying imagination and its excuse-making
proclivities. They effect every cell and nerve fiber in your being.
They are the reverse of light waves of environmental pressure that
affect your body adversely. As they reverse the negative effects of
pressure, they impart an intelligent pattern of enfoldment. (How Your
Mind Can Keep You Well, The object of meditation)</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">More
posts exposing his doctrines of demons, by the grace of God.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=16#16">http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=16#16</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=50#50">http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=50#50</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=87#87">http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=87#87</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=119#119">http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=119#119</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=131#131">http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=131#131</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=134#134">http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=134#134</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=172#172">http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=172#172</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Text
below is content from most of these:</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in" align="justify">
He may be a conservative, and understand some valid principles and
say some good things, but he is not simply a conservative, but a
spiritual leader with as gospel, and thus i cannot join the adulation
of this hypnotist- turned-psychologist, with his often rude manner.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Masters
basically approaches Christianity from a mystical viewpoint, and
provides little doctrinal material in the classic Christian sense.
Masters sees being “ born again” as a process of growth,
resulting in ceasing to sin. (www.fhu.com/statement-of-belief4.html)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Christian
salvation is seen being a process of God’s work reclaiming the
corrupted hearts, minds, and consciences of individuals who repent of
their weakness. His teaching and emphasizes individual conscience and
adherence to life principles, mainly from a psychological or
philosophical perspective, and for which he promotes his meditation
techniques, which apparently involves looking through the middle of
the forehead, as though one was sitting inside their head and looking
out. (www.drlwilson.com/articles/meditation.htm).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Masters
affirms that Jesus of Nazareth is the only begotten Son of God and
Messiah, yet he denies the historical Christian Trinity.
(www.fhu.com/statement-of-belief1.html), and instead stated that “one
of the biggest curses in religion Christendom is the false idea that
Jesus is God; it is imperative that you not believe that Jesus is
God.”</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Masters
states he takes the Bible literally as the word from God, versus the
word of God, nor the Bible itself as holy, as consistent with his
mystical viewpoint he distinguishes between the words and
understanding, so that the standard for truth is not the Bible, but
what the Bible awakes one in his own heart. Masters explains that he
meditates in a special way so as to detach his conscious spirit from
his imagination and thereby attains reality. This is criticized as
being overly subjective, as is Masters’ claim that he does not
break any of the laws of God, and that being born again being a
result of growth from Divine sperm (metaphorically) being implanted.
(http://www.blogtalkradio.com/waltermartindotcom/2011/06/05/walter-martin-takes-on-roy-masters.mp3
[<a class="western" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mY2DLKgwOA">1:01:06</a>
<a class="western" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mY2DLKgwOA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mY2DLKgwOA</a>]
Walter Martin Takes on Roy Masters], audio debate, 1980, 9-10, 34-43,
47-50 minute periods)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Moreover,
the type of adulation “above that which is written”
(1Cor. 4:) exhibited by some of his followers is disconcerting, and
Masters also once boasted, “I could get people to die for me
any day. I’ve got more power over people than Adolph Hitler and
Jim Jones combined, because I’m smarter. I know how to push
people’s buttons” (Los Angeles Times, 12/3/78;
http://www.watchman.org/cults/newdimen.htm
[<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20010209134317/http://www.watchman.org/cults/newdimen.htm">https://web.archive.org/web/20010209134317/http://www.watchman.org/cults/newdimen.htm</a>]).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Roy
Masters, founder and director, was born Reuben Obermeister to a
Jewish family in London, England. At age 15 he worked at his uncle’s
diamond-cutting factory in Brighton after his father died.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">As
a young boy he became interested in hypnotism. He added to his
hypnotism techniques after studying African witchdoctor rites during
his apprenticeship at South African diamond mines when he was 18.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">He
came to America in 1949, at age 21, to lecture on diamonds. He
legally changed his name to Roy Masters in 1954 (yet never acquired
American citizenship) and eventually became a professional hypnotist
claiming he could “save people by teaching them
self-sufficiency meditative hypnosis.” More:
http://www.watchman.org/cults/roymstrs.htm [no longer available or
archived]
<br>
http://www.dionysus.org/forums/archive/index.php4?t-147.html
[<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121005020550/http://www.dionysus.org/forums/archive/index.php4?t-147.html">https://web.archive.org/web/20121005020550/http://www.dionysus.org/forums/archive/index.php4?t-147.html</a>]</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in" align="justify">
John is providing a basic contrast btwn the with lost and believer,
and as Martin stated in refuting Masters on the tape, John did not
teach that born again Christian never sin, but as the Greek is in the
continuous sense in <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1JN.3?passageId=1JN.3.8-1JN.3.10" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:8-3:10" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Jn. 3:8-10</a></span>; 5:18, and are contrasted with the
lost, and as John told believers that they have forgiveness when they
if they confess them, while those who deny they have sin are liars,
then this refers to continually knowingly impenitently breaking God's
law, rather than practicing righteousness.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">As
the classic scholar Robertson stated long ago,
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
present active infinitive hamartanein can only mean “and he
cannot go on sinning,” as is true of hamartanei in 1Jo_3:8 and
hamartanōn in 1Jo_3:6. For the aorist subjunctive to commit a
sin see hamartēte and hamartēi in 1Jo_2:1.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">A
great deal of false theology has grown out of a misunderstanding of
the tense of hamartanein here. Paul has precisely John’s idea
in Rom_6:1 epimenōmen tēi hamartiāi (shall we
continue in sin, present active linear subjunctive) in contrast with
hamartēsōmen in Rom_6:15 (shall we commit a sin, first
aorist active subjunctive).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Other
texts also confirm true born again believers sin, even if out of
weakness, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/GAL.2?passageId=GAL.2.11" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:11-2:11" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Gal. 2:11</a></span>) and may struggle with sin, such as of the
heart. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.12?passageId=HEB.12.1" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="12:1-12:1" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Heb. 12:1</a></span>)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">J.
C. Ryle does a good job of describing the attitude of the born again
believer: http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/rubornagain.html
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Scripture
also refutes that being born again is a process of growth, but a
regeneration of conversion that results in growth.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Finally,
John also taught that "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the
Christ is born of God," (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.5?passageId=1JN.5.1" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="5:1-5:1" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Jn. 5:1</a></span>) and that Christ is God, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.3" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:3-1:3" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Jn.
1:3</a></span>) even the Lord whom Isaiah saw in His glory and said, "who
shall go for US, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.12?passageId=JHN.12.34" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="12:34-12:34" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Jn. 12:34</a></span>b-46; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ISA.6?passageId=ISA.6.1-ISA.6.10" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="6:1-6:10" data-bible-book="ISA" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Is. 6:1-10</a></span>) and he is faithful to
record Thomas declaring so, as "my Lord and my God." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.20?passageId=JHN.20.28" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="20:28-20:28" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Jn.
20:28</a></span>)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">"And
we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an
understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him
that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and
eternal life. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.5?passageId=1JN.5.20" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="5:20-5:20" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1 John 5:20</a></span>)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Masters
denies that Jesus is one in nature with the Father, sounding like an
ignorant Muslim in objecting to it, and which denial is most
consistent with cults who likewise mix a little key poison in with
much truth.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Masters
is also akin to such in his wholesale denigration of Christian
teachers - these being his competition - and the those who are born
of God but must disagree with him, and exalting himself. Sounds more
like Joseph Smith than John who said, that "we should love one
another."
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">As
one interviewer said,
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">In
fact, he opposes any and all who claim to teach the truth, heal the
sick, counsel the troubled, or lead the way to God.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">"Anyone
who has a remedy, a pill or technique to gain health and sanity,"
he emphasized, "--all the problem solvers--will be out of
business when my message reaches the general public."
(www.fhu.com/articles/healers_book1.html
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070218010741/http://www.fhu.com/articles/healers_book1.html])</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
rather than us guys needing to see Jesus as God to have one big
excuse for sinning, that actually serves to deter sin, while Masters
)and cults) sins in reducing Christ and Christians who dare oppose
him, and exalting himself.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in" align="justify">
What is going on is that while Masters defines himself as Christian,
and a church, he denies (in the debate) that the Bible is God’s
communication to man, it is not he says, but what he realizes from it
(Masters stated he is “not a Bible man,” but a man of
“understanding,” so that he would not feel guilty about
taking the Bible to the toilet and using it like anything else).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">He
states that the Bible is not holy, but his understanding and bond
with that spirit is what is holy, and once realized, you leave the
printed word behind. He seeks to support this by supposing that
discerning truth by means of focusing on language, involving oneself
with words, is “moving away from truth,” and make one
being guilty of judging by the letter versus the spirit., (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.3?passageId=2CO.3.6" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:6-3:6" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2Cor. 3:6</a></span>)
However this is not what Paul was referring to, but as seen in
context and his other writings, this refers to salvation by
letter-legalism under the Law, such as the Pharisees with their
external righteousness, versus that which is was to bring one to,
being justified by faith in Christ, and to thus fulfil the intent of
the law in its fulness. (Rm. 8:4)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
while the Spirit illuminates the obedient as to the full meaning, yet
obedience to God requires studying, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2TI.2?passageId=2TI.2.15" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:15-2:15" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2Tim. 2:15</a></span>) and which, as in
life here and now, requires understanding the Scriptures in the light
of context, grammar and genre, etc. While God can speak to us
personally out of any text, their is a doctrinal meaning that applies
to all, which is supported by the weight of Scriptural evidence.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Thus
such doctrines as the depravity of men, the righteousness of Christ,
and salvation by faith in His blood, etc.are not established by
esoteric revelation, but the weight of Scripture. Which, as in
apostolic preaching, Acts 2, 10, 13, etc.) the Holy Spirit can use to
convict souls of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.16?passageId=JHN.16.9" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="16:9-16:9" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Jn.
16:9</a></span>) and their need for salvation thru repentance and faith.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
the Lord and His apostles established their claims upon Scriptural
substantiation in word and in power.
(http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Bible/2Tim_3.html#Partial
[<a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.org/bible/2tim_3.html#partial">http://peacebyjesus.org/bible/2tim_3.html#partial</a>])</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">However,
the preaching and conversion under Masters is different that which is
seen in Acts, and under Masters the Scriptures are not the objective
standard which they are appealed to as in Scripture, and understood
in the light of context, etc., but can mean whatsoever one
esoterically perceives. Certain Supreme Court justices have seemed to
operate out of the same basis in their interpretations of what the
Founders meant.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
as Masters understanding is supreme then those who disagree cannot be
right, whether they do so based upon what context, linguistics and
the weight of collective testimony best reveals, or because they
claim a personal or corporate assurance of veracity which is not
dependent on the aforementioned exegesis establishing such.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">While
Masters will sometimes invoke Scripture to support such claims as
that being born again is a long process and that he does not sin,
when countered based on context and linguistics then that is rejected</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
so it is with all who basically presume to assured infallibility,
which is a mark of cults, and results in competing claims of
supremacy among those who claim such, each resting upon their claim
to have assuredly correct understanding.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">These
may claim superior unity, but that is cultic and defendant upon the
unwarranted elitist claims of the particular sect claiming assured
veracity, and is inferior in quality to that which is of the Spirit,
based upon Scripture-based conversion and relationship, and basic
commonly held core truths which are established upon Scriptural
substantiation in word and in power.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">While
we still “see thru a glass darkly,” and comprehensive
doctrinal unity has ever been a goal not realized, and there is much
in which we can have a limited amount of reasonable disagreement, yet
the Christian faith which has evidenced that it is of the church of
the living God is that which has commonly held to basic fundamentals
due to the weight of Scriptural substantiation, and thus they have
historically exhibited a common front against those which oppose them
(cults), and against those who taught as doctrines the mere
traditions of “revelations” of men and women who which
are not Scriptural and presumed more than what is written.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in" align="justify">
The verse is <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LUK.21?passageId=LUK.21.19" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="21:19-21:19" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Luke 21:19</a></span> and says, “In your patience possess ye
your souls,” with the context actually being the tribulation of
persecution. While this does advocate patience, that is by faith as a
fruit of the Holy Spirit, whom a believer receives when he is born
again, and which is not a process, but an event that makes one part
of the kingdom of God thru faith.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">“In
whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye
were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, “ (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EPH.1?passageId=EPH.1.13" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:13-1:13" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Ephesians
1:13</a></span>)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
while it is true that something lies at the root of stress, fear and
pain, that something is not necessarily anger, though it can be
resentment and unforgiveness, but it is primarily a lack of faith in
surrender to God.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
again, the issue is not that all that Masters teaches is wrong, for
like every cult he has many valid things to say, but the devil
himself can speak insightful truth, and Masters is a type of “another
Christ” who draws away disciples after Himself and not the
Christ of the Bible, and actually requiring that one deny His deity
for salvation. He likely denies eternal torment as well, which is
another mark of many cults.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">His
statement that he could use the Bible like toilet paper in saying
that it is the understanding he gets from it that is holy is also
wrong, for while the Temple was only stone, etc., yet was a
sanctified holy place due to what it contained and was set apart for,
and even unbelieving spouses are set apart in this life due to the
presence of one believer, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.7?passageId=1CO.7.14" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="7:14-7:14" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Cor. 7:14</a></span>) as seen in the case of Lot.
(Gn. 19)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Masters
also goes to extremes in blaming woman as well as food man’s
spiritual problems. While in Scripture it was the act of disobedience
that caused man to fall, and the forbidden fruit was not ordinary
food, and the Lord makes it clear that it is not food that is the
problem but the heart, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MRK.7?passageId=MRK.7.18-MRK.7.23" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="7:18-7:23" data-bible-book="MRK" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Mk. 7:18-23</a></span>) in his book, “Eat no
evil,” Masters states,</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">“Food
and drink are portals through which a recreation spirit enters and
evolves....” “Through food you are transformed, and you
also forget what grew inside and changed you; you grow the sin self
as though it were the true self. You forget that what you are is
wrong; and you remind yourself of that error and the deviant,
sickening you, is right. And through food, wrong is denied to the
death. Food then, is a drug.” Through food we are all being
guided by the dark spirit to a “heavenly” the hell on
earth. Hence-all suffering and tragedy. (Forbidden fruits: life’s
elixir; pp. 31,32)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">“The
Bible records that the first man’s (outer) eyes were opened
through partaking of the forbidden drug of (mind-expanding) fruit.”
(P. 44)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">“While
man happens to be omnivorous, he cannot eat without sin; which is to
say, without enlightenment, the curse continues to flow through the
food/woman experience to build the ego beast in him that sin gave
birth to.” (P. 44)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
above and more reminds me of the Gnostic types Scripture warns of who
focus on food beyond simply for heath reasons, and whose ordinances
have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and
neglecting of the body, but were vainly puffed up by their fleshly
mind, not rightly holding the Head. (cf. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/COL.2?passageId=COL.2.18-COL.2.23" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:18-2:23" data-bible-book="COL" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Col. 2:18-23</a></span>)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">He
is thus like others who imagined superior enlightenment that rejected
basic historical Scriptural truths, being esp. like Mary Baker Eddy
of so-called “CHRISTIAN SCIENCE,” as well as EUGENE
SWEDENBORG:
http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Bible_versus_S.C.C.S.html<br>
<a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Swedenborg.html">http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Swedenborg.html</a>
<a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.org/bible_versus_s.c.c.s.html">http://peacebyjesus.org/bible_versus_s.c.c.s.html</a>]</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Masters’
meditation is presented the means by which Adam and Eve’s
original holy spirits are restored, thru a born again journey and is
the only way to know you’re spirit is saved</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">He
is also charged with confessing that he has NO prayer life because
his meditation will create the same holy intentions of a prayerful
heart. And that that once you have begun his meditation you will
never have to read another spiritual book, including the Bible. -
<a class="western" href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R1ARW9S4UFOAP4/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0933900147&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag">http://www.amazon.com/review/R1ARW9S4UFOAP4/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0933900147&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag</a>=</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">See
more on Masters here, and how he fishes from the conservation
Christan pier:
<a class="western" href="http://theonebestway.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/david-kupelian-is-not-a-christian/">http://theonebestway.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/david-kupelian-is-not-a-christian/</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in" align="justify">
Yes, Bagwan Rajinishi was also in Oregon, but he was not the one. But
from what i read Masters had a sizable amount of devotees to himself.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in" align="justify">
<br>
<br>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">A
quote from his ‘Hypnotic States of Americans’: ‘Inspired
by the idea of harnessing this baffling force for good, he later
pursued the art of hypnotism and established a successful
hypnotherapy practice.’ He was unable to continue in that
practice without a professional license, so he founded the Foundation
of Human Understanding in 1961 upon the realization that ‘life
itself is hypnosis’ and the solution is to be ‘DE-hypnotized’
from undue influences and pressures that cause us to over-react to
stress.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">He
began teaching a meditation exercise and started a call-in radio talk
show called ‘How Your Mind Can Keep You Well’....he later
changed the name of the program to ‘Advice Line.’</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">In
1982 he moved the headquarters of the FHU from Los Angeles, CA, to
Selma, Oregon, near Grants Pass, and invited his followers to follow
him there and more out of the big cities before the ultimate collapse
and downfall of society. Approximately 2000 of his followers moved to
Grants Pass in 1982. After a legal battle he successfully obtained
tax-exempt status claiming that his organization is a church.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Other
excerpts from posters:</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#6e3d00">Masters
states that his teachings are ‘Judeo-Christian’ in nature
and claims to have a deeper understanding of the Bible than what most
churches teach.</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#6e3d00">Masters
has referred to himself as the only person besides Jesus Christ who
has this special knowledge and understanding that was not passed on
in the canonization of the Bible.</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#6e3d00">He
offers books, audio and video recordings, a web site, church
services, and meetings. The objective of his teachings and meditation
practice is to bring people to their own inner understanding of truth
and to overcome and transcend our evil sin nature that responds
hypnotically to the pressures and stresses of life.</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#6e3d00">People
who follow Masters’ teachings are instructed to withdraw all
emotional involvement with absolutely everything in their lives:
family, friends, work, eating, drinking, recreational activities ‹
because any involvement with anything whatsoever is a sin that can
lead to death and hell.</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#6e3d00">Having
any kind of self-image is discouraged. According to Masters, pleasure
causes a hypnotic state; do not enjoy food, or entertainment, or
music, or any other recreational activity. Do not engage in anything
of a sensual nature or you are reinforcing the original sin of
escaping from reality. Sleep is the enemy of consciousness therefore
be careful not to sleep too deeply.</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#6e3d00">The
objective of the meditation exercise is to reach a heightened state
of consciousness in which there is no emotion, no feeling, no
sensuality, no reaction or response to any outside stimuli, no
thought, no decision-making.</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#6e3d00">Masters
prefers to call it an ‘observation exercise’ rather than
meditation as there is a ‘razor’s edge’ that
separates hypnosis from true meditation.</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#6e3d00">The
meditation he teaches contains very simple instructions and seems
quite harmless from the outset. My experience in practicing it for 6
years, and the experiences shared with me by others including my own
brother, have proven to be detrimental rather than beneficial. Many
of us experienced loss of control of our critical thinking processes
and a trance-like effect from the meditation.</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#6e3d00">Probably
the most interesting revelation in this book regarding Masters’
meditation practice is found on Page 24 in which he states that</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#6e3d00">“….a
razor’s edge separates hypnosis from true meditation” and
that ‘Each can become the other.’ This came as a surprise
to me because it is such a departure from his classic teachings.
Masters used to declare that his meditation was the exact and
complete opposite of hypnosis, that it is in fact diametrically
opposed to inducing a hypnotic state. Here he reveals how very easy
it is to just ‘toggle’ back and forth between hypnosis
and ‘true meditation’ as he calls it. This brings up the
question……what’s the difference then? How does
one know if they are ‘meditating’ or just being
hypnotized by a clever teacher who is well-versed in hypnotic
technique? Masters goes on to say that ‘concentration’ on
anything causes a hypnotic state and ‘observation’ causes
a meditative state; apparently the difference between hypnosis and
Masters’ meditation is whether you are ‘concentrating’
or ‘observing’ as you practice it. It comes down to
Masters’ nimble use of language, a verbal smokescreen obscuring
the fact that his meditation practice is a poorly disguised hypnotic
programming tool which looks completely innocent to the unsuspecting
public..</font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#6e3d00">To
me this book was very cumbersome to read because of the continual
recitation over and over of the same theme, as if by sheer repetition
Masters can induce a hypnotic state in the reader in which he finds
himself agreeing with the author. Either that or Masters considers
his readers to be rather stupid. In short, the theme of the book is
that life exerts a hypnotic force through our reactions to it and
forces upon us a realm in which we are merely one or the other: a
psychopath or a psychotic. Ambitious and success-driven people are
the psychopaths and basically everyone else are their psychotic
victims. Any emotional reaction to anything creates and keeps us in a
psychotic state.</font><br>
(www.freedomofmind.com/Info/infoDet.php?id=56
[no long available or archived])</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">I
came across an rather lengthy analysis of Masters’ teaching
which should be of interest to us:
http://www.theworldviewcenter.org/encyclopedia_foundationforhumanunderstanding.html
[no long available or archived]</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">A
few excerpts and comments:</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">We
may categorize Masters’ teachings as follows. We should first
recognize that in his system the normal definition of words are often
changed. For example, a state of imagination is the equivalent of
normal daily thinking and living. Temptation is, in part, emotional
stimulation. Objectivity is the subjective “awareness”
produced through meditation. This restructuring is true of Biblical
concepts as well; in Master’s “theology,” Biblical
Christian terms assume an entirely new meaning, as we shall see.
Undoubtedly, his extensive use of Christian vocabulary is one reason
why some Christians believe he is Christian—he “sounds”
right. We have enumerated eight sections in summary, documented form.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">“Doctors
and Dentists are interested in one thing—profit.”
Likewise all pastors are only interested in personal glory.28</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">[Like
Smith and Camping and other cultists, Masters has no use for the
competition, as they effectively promote themselves as the
replacement. He even says none of the people that belong to Billy
Grahams organization are right, they just don’t know they are
wrong.” Anb “Damn all the hellfire-and-damnation
preachers.” 122 ]</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">“Study
is not really learning.”70</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Stored
intellectual knowledge of Truth is nothing but vanity and serves
nothing but evil. The Light in you is the ultimate witness to
Truth—even to this statement of truth.74</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">It
is the wordless Truth Who will save you from the evil you see.78</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Denial
of independent Bible study: while all men have the “potential”
to “understand” the Scriptures the way Masters does, few
are really going to trust their own study over Masters’. He is
the Master. This is one consequence of expounding a mystical
hermeneutic—its application is so subjective, vacuous, and
uncertain that it is much easier simply to accept what the guru
teaches. Also, Bible study is worse than useless; it is dangerous. In
The Satan Principle, Masters asserts:</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">YOU
ARE NOT MEANT TO LEARN VERSE AND CHAPTER. Study kills. It is a very
dangerous “informing” indeed. . . .By all means read
Scriptures, but do not study. . . . You are not going to fail or go
to hell if you don’t study. You are more likely to fail and go
to hell if you DO. .</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
later in the same text he states: “Scan these words. Scan the
Scriptures for understanding. BUT NEVER STUDY OR BE ABSORBED IN MERE
WORDS.”85</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Masters:
[So] I threw a Bible in the garbage can. That Bible can go in the
garbage can just as soon as anything can go in the garbage can. Slop
can go in the garbage can, because the Bible isn’t God.136</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
whole process of growing is not from words but from realizing and
then you can throw your Bible in the garbage can and there’s no
sin in that.137</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
Scriptures can poison you, and destroy you. They are lethal, they are
deadly. They are more deadly than any drug.138</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Masters
teaches that “many of the Scriptures have been deleted,”
and that the “best parts” of the Bible are left out.132</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">[This
is all contrary to Christ, who only affirmed Scripture and invoked
specific words (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MAT.19?passageId=MAT.19.4-MAT.19.6" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="19:4-19:6" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Mt. 19:4-6</a></span>) and chastened souls for their ignorance
of what Scripture said (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/MAT.22?passageId=MAT.22.29-MAT.22.32" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="22:29-22:32" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Mt. 22:29-32</a></span>) and commanded men to “Search
the scriptures,” for “they are they which testify of me,”
and thus “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded
unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself,”
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.5?passageId=JHN.5.39" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="5:39-5:39" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Jn. 5:39</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LUK.24?passageId=LUK.24.27" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="24:27-24:27" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Lk. 24:27</a></span>)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
His Spirit saith, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth. “ (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2TI.2?passageId=2TI.2.15" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:15-2:15" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2 Timothy 2:15</a></span>)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
Daniel “understood by books the number of the years, whereof
the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet.” <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/DAN.9?passageId=DAN.9.2" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="9:2-9:2" data-bible-book="DAN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Dan. 9:2</a></span>)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Moreover,
even unbelievers are sanctified due to the presence of one believer:
<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.7?passageId=1CO.7.14" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="7:14-7:14" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Cor. 7:14</a></span>)]</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Masters
goes on:</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
now I know why I cannot remember my childhood or my youth or even
yesterday; . . . And so, as I die to this world, my memories fade and
as knowledge passes away, so does guilt and sin. In the Ever-Present,
I am becoming absent minded, in that I cannot remember like other men
do. I cannot learn as others learn. The willfulness and mindfulness
of this present world are passing away as new
knowledge—understanding—comes.89</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">[Thus
guilt and sin are forgotten, not taken away by faith in the Lord
Jesus to save one by His sinless shed blood. (cf. Rm. 3:25; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.10?passageId=ACT.10.43" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="10:43-10:43" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
10:43</a></span>)]</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
writers comment, ..nowhere in the Scriptures are we ever told that
man lives in a hypnotic state or that he is to turn inward for
salvation. If anything, man lives in a freely chosen sinful state and
needs to turn to a Savior outside himself.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">the
fact is that Masters’ philosophy has nothing whatsoever to do
with true Christianity, and even he admits he is not an evangelical
Christian. He asserts, “I am not a converted Christian. I’m
a Jew. How do you like that?”104 Far from believing in Jesus
Christ, he rejects the teachings of Jesus Christ. How then do we
account for the Christian claims quoted earlier? Simply that one may
claim Christianity even while rejecting it; indeed this is a common
feature in modern America, not only in many cults, but the populace
at large as well. Thus, in his Biblical sounding phraseology, the
meaning of the words is the key. Within a Biblical framework they
mean one thing. For Roy Masters, however, they take on different
meaning: he uses Biblical words and concepts within an entirely
foreign framework. The result is that such words are redefined in
accordance with his personal presuppositions and world view.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Masters
also teaches,</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">When
Christ said to Peter, “Upon this rock I will build my church,”
he meant that the body of God is to be made up of people who see for
themselves and who are taught by no man.176</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Jesus
was a created being, although a special one, being immaculately
conceived.147 Being a man, he himself had to earn eternal life
:”Christ gave us the perfect example by suffering the physical
stress without resenting torment—earning life eternal.”149</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Some
of these are “Jesus freaks,” others fundamentalists and
some “charismatic Christians.” All are really hypnotized
zombies.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">We
are human beings with our own original power source—endless and
eternal.214</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
evidence of a Higher Presence in meditation is [manifested by] a
change in breathing.233</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Cold
shivers, occasional perspiration, and labored or heavy breathing
reveal contact-response to a higher consciousness. It means something
has been added that is causing changes to occur.234</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Occasionally
you will feel suspended in space, as if your body had melted into the
universe and become “one” with all nature. . . . You will
find yourself expressing wisdom and knowledge that you never
outwardly learned or heard before.235</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Comment:
It is a fact that Eastern forms of meditation have long been
acknowledged as paths to altered states of consciousness, and these
allow intrusion of the spirit world and demonic influence on the
meditator.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">More
from Masters:</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">If
a dog had tempted Adam to fall, he “would have had sexual</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">feeling
toward that dog.” (His view of the Fall is that it instituted
sex and procreation.) “Sex is . . . the evidence of original
sin.”285</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">God
was obliged to give Solomon his wealth.286</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">“Hate
and pleasure are weird forms of the same thing.”287</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
little voice of conscience is the voice of error.304</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a class="western" href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=172#172">https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=172#172</a>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">[Additional
posts, regarding doctrine:]</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">I
will indeed take up your challenge, as in contrast to you, i actually
document both what sources say. First, you are in contradiction with
yourself, for rather than Christ not being seen as God at all for
first three centuries after Christ, which ended about 333 AD,
Tertullian, whom you erroneously provide as was being the first (not
that you understand the theology of the Trinity), lived 160 –
c. 225 AD. And a seen, men earlier than that affirmed the Deity of
Christ, while what the so-callled “church fathers”
believed is not determinative of doctrine, but what the weight of
Scriptural evidence best warrants, which as <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/DEITYofCHRIST.html">shown</a>,
is that Jesus is God, being one in being, or nature with the Father.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
i do not have a problem with using Wikipedia which you invoke,
providing the references are acceptable, yet from the WP article on
the <a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_of_the_Church_Fathers">Trinity
of the Church Fathers</a> we read,
</p>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a name="Early_second_century:_Ignatius_of_Antioch"></a>
<font face="Times New Roman, serif">Early second century: Ignatius of
Antioch</font></h3>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Ignatius,
second bishop of Antioch, who was martyred in Rome around 110 AD,[1]
wrote a series of letters to churches in Asia Minor on his way to be
executed in Rome. The conjunction of Father, Son and Holy Spirit
appears in his letter to the Magnesian church.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a name="cite_ref-1"></a>
“Study, therefore, to be established in the doctrines of the
Lord and the apostles, that so all things, whatsoever ye do, may
prosper both in the flesh and spirit; in faith and love; in <b>the
Son, and in the Father, and in the Spirit</b>;.. Be ye subject...<b>to
Christ, and to the Father, and to the Spirit</b>...” (Epistle
to the Magnesians, Chapter 13 [SR]).<a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_of_the_Church_Fathers#cite_note-1">[2]</a></p>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a name="First_half_of_second_century_or_late_first_century:_Didache"></a>
First half of second century or late first century: Didache</h3>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">This
source uses the gospel of Matthew only and no other known gospel, and
thus it must have been written before the four-gospel canon had
become widespread in the churches, i.e. before the second half of the
2nd century when Tatian produced the Diatessaron. Given its literary
dependence on the Gospel of Matthew, it is not surprising that the
Didache follows the Gospel of Matthew in designating the Trinitarian
formula as a baptismal formula:</p>
<table width="758" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
<colgroup><col width="9">
<col width="726">
<col width="11">
</colgroup><tbody><tr>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in" width="9"><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in" align="left">
<font color="#b2b7f2">“</font></p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in" width="726"><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in">
After the foregoing instructions, baptize i<b>n the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,</b> in living
[running] water…. If you have neither, pour water three
times on the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit.</p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in" width="11"><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in" align="right">
<font color="#b2b7f2">”</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a name="cite_ref-2"></a><a name="cite_ref-3"></a>
(<a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didache">Didache</a>
7:1).<a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_of_the_Church_Fathers#cite_note-2">[3]</a><a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_of_the_Church_Fathers#cite_note-3">[4]</a></p>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a name="ca.151:_Justin_Martyr"></a>
ca.151: <a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Martyr">Justin
Martyr</a></h3>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Even
though he does not use the word "Trinity" explicitly,
Justin Martyr's <i>First Apology</i>, written around AD 150, reveals
a primitive theology of the Trinity, in which God is in first place,
Christ in second, and the Spirit in third,</p>
<table width="758" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
<colgroup><col width="9">
<col width="726">
<col width="11">
</colgroup><tbody><tr>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in" width="9"><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in" align="left">
<font color="#b2b7f2">“</font></p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in" width="726"><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in">
We will prove that we worship him reasonably; for we have learned
that he is the <b>Son of the true God himself, that he holds a
second place, and the Spirit of prophecy a third</b>. For this
they accuse us of madness, saying that <b>we attribute to a
crucified man a place second to the unchangeable and eternal God,
the Creator of all things</b>; but they are ignorant of the
mystery which lies therein.</p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in" width="11"><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in" align="right">
<font color="#b2b7f2">”</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a name="cite_ref-4"></a>
(<a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Apology">First
Apology</a> 13:5–6).<a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_of_the_Church_Fathers#cite_note-4">[5]</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
to which is to be added, "in <b>the name of God, the Father and
Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the
Holy Spirit</b>." (First Apology, 61 LXI)</p>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a name="169-181:_Theophilus_of_Antioch"></a>
169-181: <a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_of_Antioch">Theophilus
of Antioch</a></h3>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Theophilus
of Antioch's <i>Ad Autolycum</i> is the oldest extant work that uses
the actual word "Trinity" to refer to God, his Word and his
Wisdom. The context is a discussion of the first three days of
creation in Genesis 1-3.</p>
<table width="758" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
<colgroup><col width="9">
<col width="726">
<col width="11">
</colgroup><tbody><tr>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in" width="9"><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in" align="left">
<font color="#b2b7f2">“</font></p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in" width="726"><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in">
It is the attribute of God, of the most high and almighty and of
the living God, not only to be everywhere, but also to see and
hear all; for he can in no way be contained in a place.... The
three days before the luminaries were created are types of <b>the
Trinity, God, his Word, and his Wisdom</b>.</p>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in" width="11"><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in" align="right">
<font color="#b2b7f2">”</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a name="cite_ref-5"></a>
(To Autolycus 2:15).<a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_of_the_Church_Fathers#cite_note-5">[6]</a></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">All
these are before 300AD. And as regards the actual use of the word
”Trinity,” the WP article on <a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity#History">that</a>
states that,
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a name="cite_ref-70"></a>
<font face="Arial, sans-serif">the first of the early church fathers
recorded as actually using the word Trinity was <a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_of_Antioch">Theophilus
of Antioch</a> [died approx 184AD] writing in the </font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>late
second century</b></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif">. He defines
the Trinity as God, His Word (Logos) and His Wisdom (Sophia)<a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity#cite_note-70">[71]</a>
</font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">To
which can be added (from http://carm.org/early-trinitarian-quotes),
Ignatius of Antioch (died 98/117). Bishop of Antioch.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">"In
Christ Jesus our Lord, by whom and with whom be glory and power to
<b>the Father with the Holy Spirit for ever</b>" (n. 7; PG
5.988).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Tertullian
(160-215). African apologist and theologian. He wrote much in defense
of Christianity.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">"We
define that there are two, the Father and the Son, and three with the
Holy Spirit, and this number is made by the pattern of salvation...
[which] brings about unity in trinity, interrelating the three, the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are <b>three, not in
dignity, but in degree, not in substance but in form, not in power
but in kind.</b> They are of <b>one substance and power, because
there is one God from whom these degrees, forms and kinds devolve in
the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit."</b> (Adv. Prax. 23; PL
2.156-7).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Origen
(185-254). Alexandrian theologian. Defended Christianity and wrote
much about Christianity.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">"If
anyone would say that <b>the Word of God or the Wisdom of God had a
beginning, let him beware lest he direct his impiety rather against
the unbegotten Father, since he denies that he was always Fathe</b>r,
and that he has always begotten the Word, and that he always had
wisdom in all previous times or ages or whatever can be imagined in
priority... There can be no more ancient title of almighty God than
that of Father, and it is through the Son that he is Father" (De
Princ. 1.2.; PG 11.132).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">"For
if [the Holy Spirit were not eternally as He is, and had received
knowledge at some time and then became the Holy Spirit] this were the
case, the Holy Spirit would never be reckoned in the unity of the
Trinity, i.e., along with the unchangeable Father and His Son, unless
He had always been the Holy Spirit." (Alexander Roberts and
James Donaldson, eds., The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1975 rpt., Vol. 4, p. 253, de Principiis, 1.111.4)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">"Moreover,
nothing in the Trinity can be called greater or less, since the
fountain of divinity alone contains all things by His word and
reason, and by the Spirit of His mouth sanctifies all things which
are worthy of sanctification..." (Roberts and Donaldson,
Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 4, p. 255, de Principii., I. iii. 7).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">If,
as the anti-Trinitarians maintain, the Trinity is not a biblical
doctrine and was never taught until the council of Nicea in 325, then
why do these quotes exist? The answer is simple: the Trinity is a
biblical doctrine and it was taught before the council of Nicea in
325 A.D.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Part
of the reason that the Trinity doctrine was not "officially"
taught until the time of the Council of Nicea is because Christianity
was illegal until shortly before the council. It wasn't really
possible for official Christian groups to meet and discuss doctrine.
For the most part, they were fearful of making public pronouncements
concerning their faith.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Additionally,
if a group had attacked the person of Adam, the early church would
have responded with an official doctrine of who Adam was. As it was,
the person of Christ was attacked. When the Church defended the deity
of Christ, the doctrine of the Trinity was further defined.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
early church believed in the Trinity, as is evidenced by the quotes
above, and it wasn't necessary to really make them official. It
wasn't until errors started to creep in that councils began to meet
to discuss the Trinity, as well as other doctrines that came under
fire</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
idea that Christians cannot sin, which state the often arrogant
Masters claims for himself, has been refuted before, but the
assertion that they do not is simply repeated.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">"If
we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. " (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.8-1JN.1.9" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:8-1:9" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 1:8-9</a></span>)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
“we” here includes Christians, and does not refer to
being simply sinners by nature, or our past life.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">"For
in many things we offend all." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JAS.3?passageId=JAS.3.2" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:2-3:2" data-bible-book="JAS" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">James 3:2</a></span>a)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">"But
when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because
he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did
eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and
separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And
the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas
also was carried away with their dissimulation [duplicity,
hypocrisy]" (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GAL.2?passageId=GAL.2.11-GAL.2.13" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:11-2:13" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Galatians 2:11-13</a></span>)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.3?passageId=1JN.3.4" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:4-3:4" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Jn
3:4</a></span> Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is
the transgression of the law.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
Greek scholar Robertson states,
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
present active participle (poio&#772;n) means the habit of doing
sin.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.3?passageId=1JN.3.6" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:6-3:6" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Jn
3:6</a></span> Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not
seen him, neither known him.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Sinneth
not (ouch hamartanei). Linear present (linear meno&#772;n, keeps
on abiding) active indicative of hamartano&#772;, “does not
keep on sinning.” For meno&#772; (abide) see 1Jo_2:6;
Joh_15:4-10.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Whosoever
sinneth (ho hamartano&#772;n). Present (linear) active articular
participle like meno&#772;n above, “the one who keeps on
sinning” (lives a life of sin, not mere occasional acts of sin
as hamarte&#772;sas, aorist active participle, would mean).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Hath
not seen him (ouch heo&#772;raken auton). Perfect active
indicative of horao&#772;. The habit of sin is proof that one has
not the vision or the knowledge (egno&#772;ken, perfect active
also) of Christ. He means, of course, spiritual vision and spiritual
knowledge, not the literal sense of horao&#772; in Joh_1:18;
Joh_20:29.(WORD PICTURES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Archibald Thomas
Robertson)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">"Little
children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is
righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the
devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning." (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.3?passageId=1JN.3.7" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:7-3:7" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Jn. 3:7</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.3?passageId=1JN.3.8" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:8-3:8" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">8</a></span>)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">We
see here that John is not speaking in an absolute sense, but as
regards overall characteristics, as the lost can do things that are
objectively righteous, such as feeding his brethren who are needy,
while as seen in <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GAL.2?passageId=GAL.2.11-GAL.2.13" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:11-2:13" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Gal. 2:11-13</a></span>, Christians do sin.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">To
be perfect, as loving your enemies, blessing them that curse you,
doing good to them that hate you, is commanded (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/MAT.5?passageId=MAT.5.48" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="5:48-5:48" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Mt. 5:48</a></span>) and
perfection in abiding in Christ by longsuffering faith throughout all
trials and temptations, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.2?passageId=HEB.2.10" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:10-2:10" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Heb. 2:10</a></span>; 5:9; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1PE.1?passageId=1PE.1.6" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:6-1:6" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Pt. 1:6</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1PE.1?passageId=1PE.1.7" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:7-1:7" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">7</a></span>) and not
offending in word, (Ja. 3:2) keeping His word and and only serving
out of love-motivation, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.2?passageId=JHN.2.5" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:5-2:5" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Jn. 2:5</a></span>; 4:17,18) is a goal of grace,
fulfilling the righteousness of the law. (Rm. 8:4)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">But
this state is not that of being being born again as Masters teaches,
but which occurs in conversion, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.10?passageId=ACT.10.43-ACT.10.47" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="10:43-10:47" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts 10:43-47</a></span>; 15:8,9; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EPH.1?passageId=EPH.1.13" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:13-1:13" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Eph. 1:13</a></span>)
nor is achieving this a prerequisite for being a Christian and saved,
as “God justifies the UnGodly by faith,” (Rm. 4:5) but
who evidence that faith as salvific by growing in grace with its
fruits, especially in effectual love for the brethren. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.6?passageId=HEB.6.9" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="6:9-6:9" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Heb. 6:9</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HEB.6?passageId=HEB.6.10" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="6:10-6:10" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">10</a></span>)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">For
"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and
saveth such as be of a contrite spirit," (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PSA.34?passageId=PSA.34.18" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="34:18-34:18" data-bible-book="PSA" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Psalms 34:18</a></span>) and it
cannot be said that the criminal on the cross, who went to be with
the Lord the same day that he died, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/LUK.23?passageId=LUK.23.39-LUK.23.43" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="23:39-23:43" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Lk. 23:39-43</a></span>) had attained
perfection of character, nor were all the Thessalonians and
Corinthians practically perfect, yet they were told that they would
forever be with the Lord had He returned in their day, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1TH.4?passageId=1TH.4.17" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="4:17-4:17" data-bible-book="1TH" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Thes. 4:17</a></span>),
except such as had "not repented of the uncleanness and
fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed."
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.12?passageId=2CO.12.21" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="12:21-12:21" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2Cor. 12:21</a></span>)</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Thus
they were to examine themselves, whether they were in the faith,
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.13?passageId=2CO.13.5" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="13:5-13:5" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2Cor. 13:5</a></span>) their lives being characterized by walking in obedience
to Christ by the Spirit, doing righteousness as John describes them,
and which includes repentance when convicted of not doing do. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.8" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:8-1:8" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Jn.
1:8</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.9" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">9</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/REV.2?passageId=REV.2.1-REV.2.6" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:1-2:6" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Rv. 2:1-6</a></span>) As true faith is repentant, and this is necessary,
so God works to chastens believers back to faith as necessary, so
that they will not be condemned with the rest of the world, and also
motivates this by warning of making Christ of none effect by falling
away. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.11?passageId=1CO.11.32" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="11:32-11:32" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Cor. 11:32</a></span>; cf. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GAL.5?passageId=GAL.5.1-GAL.5.4" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="5:1-5:4" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Gal. 5:1-4</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/HEB.10?passageId=HEB.10.35-HEB.10.39" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="10:35-10:39" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Heb. 10:35-39</a></span>) While true faith
versus false faith may not always be clearly manifest, 1Jn. describe
the overall characteristics of those who have eternal life, which
<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.5?passageId=1JN.5.13" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="5:13-5:13" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Jn. 5:13</a></span> refers to, including confessing sin.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Further
testimony that complete perfection of character is not a requirement
for salvation is seen by the fact that some believers will suffer
loss of rewards at the judgment seat of Christ (at His return),
because some of the material which they built the church with,
insomuch as they did, did not endure the fire which tests faith. And
which is a reflection of their character. See my understanding <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Bible/1Cor._3.html#Purgatory">here</a>
on <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1CO.3?passageId=1CO.3.8-1CO.3.17" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:8-3:17" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Cor. 3:8-17</a></span> (and which also does not refer to purgatory).
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">It
is not surprising that Masters disciples regard Scriptural reproof as
hogwash, but my many <a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=384#384">quotes</a>
were not certainly not “extracirricular” and instead they
clearly substantiated that being born again is the beginning of
Christian growth, resulting from hearing the gospel not Masters
meditation, and that such as are born again sin after that, and which
you cannot refute, but provide some texts which testify that you
indeed ignore context and linguistics, etc, as you are not even
supposed to be engaging in chapter and verse basis for truth.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font color="#4c1900">“The
very Scripture you study tells you that the letter killeth, but the
spirit giveth life. What does that mean? It means simply that
anything intellectual, including verse and chapter, regardless of how
true it is, consists only of second-hand facts--facts which are
supposed to awaken the soul, not to teach it. Get that through your
thick skull--YOU ARE NOT MEANT TO LEARN VERSE AND CHAPTER. Study
kills. It is a very dangerous "informing" indeed. . . .By
all means read Scriptures, but do not study. . . . You are not going
to fail or go to hell if you don't study. You are more likely to fail
and go to hell if you DO.” . . . (Masters, The Satan Principle,
pp. 38-39.) </font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
as shown, your use of these “proof texts” here is
consistent with forcing texts and a lack of study, such as “they
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">that are
unlearned and unstable wrest, as </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>they
do</i></font></font> <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">also
the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. " (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Peter%203.16" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:16-3:16" data-bible-book="2PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2
Peter 3:16</span></span></a>) </font></font>.
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/ab/1%20Pet.%202.11" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:11-2:11" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
Pet. 2:11</span></span> AB</a>STAIN FROM FLESHLY LUST, which war against the soul.
</i></font>
</p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Which
is an exhortation, but not a statement that born again Christian
never sin at all, which is what you cannot provide. And which premise
is contradicted by statements as <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"If
we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>our</i></font></font>
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">sins, and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. " (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%201.8-9" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:8-1:9" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 1:8-9</span></span></a>) </font></font>And by others individually and
collectively as will be shown.</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Pet.%202.21" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:21-2:21" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
Pet. 2:21</span></span></a> CHRIST also suffered for us, Leaving us an example,
that YE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS STEPS. </i></font>
</p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Indeed
we should, but again this exhortation does not teach that once one is
born again they never sin, and is which premise is contradicted by
the fact that such believers as the Corinthians were born again
(<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1Cor.%206.19" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="6:19-6:19" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Cor.
6:19</span></span></a>; <a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2Cor.%201.22" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:22-1:22" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2Cor.
1:22</span></span></a>; <a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2Cor%205.5" target="_blank">5:5</a>)
but sinned. (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1Cor.%203.3" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:3-3:3" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Cor.
3:3</span></span></a>)
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Pet.%202.22" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:22-2:22" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
Pet. 2:22</span></span></a> WHO DID NO SIN. </i></font>
</p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
who was only one who never sinned, and to not sin is to be the goal
of every believer, but which does not mean that once they are born
again they will never sin, and which premise is contradicted by the
fact that even born again Peter did. (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gal.%202.11ff" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:11-2:11" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Gal.
2:11</span></span>ff</a>)
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Pet.%204.1" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="4:1-4:1" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
Pet. 4:1</span></span></a> He that hath suffered in the flesh HATH CEASED FROM
SIN.</i></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Indeed
he has, as this refers to death, not by meditating, as death is what
the text is contextually referring to, that of the death of Christ,
which you left out: <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"Forasmuch
then as Christ hath </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><b>suffered
for us in the flesh</b></font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">,
arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered
in the flesh hath ceased from sin; " (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Peter%204.1" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="4:1-4:1" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
Peter 4:1</span></span></a>) "For Christ also hath once </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><b>suffered
for sins</b></font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">,
the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><b>put
to death</b></font></font> <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">in
the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: " (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Peter%203.18" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:18-3:18" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
Peter 3:18</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">This
does not teach that Christians are literally dead anymore than that
they no longer sin, but that they are to put on “the same
mind,” as in Rm. 6, "For in that he died, he died unto sin
once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye
also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God
through Jesus Christ our Lord. " (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Romans%206.10-11" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="6:10-6:11" data-bible-book="ROM" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Romans
6:10-11</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Pet.%204.2" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="4:2-4:2" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
Pet. 4:2</span></span></a> NO LONGER should LIVE the rest of his time IN THE FLESH
to the lusts of men, but to the will of GOD</i></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Which
is the next verse, and as shown, it is another exhortation as to what
believers <i>should</i> do in the light of what Christ did, (cf. <a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1Pt.%202.24" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:24-2:24" data-bible-book="1PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Pt.
2:24</span></span></a>) flowing from the above, but which does not say or teach
that once born again they no longer sin. And which premise is
contradicted by such examples as the Galatians, who were born again
(<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gal.%203.2" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:2-3:2" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Gal.
3:2</span></span></a>; <a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gal%204.6" target="_blank">4:6</a>,<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gal%204.29" target="_blank">29</a>)
but were in a state of sinful spiritual declension. (Gal. 5:-1-4,15)
having been “bewitched,” which is what Masters engages
in.
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Pet.%202.4" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:4-2:4" data-bible-book="2PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2
Pet. 2:4</span></span></a> If GOD SPARED NOT THE ANGELS THAT SINNED, but cast them
down to hell.</i></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
which, true to form, is understood by you in isolation, as it refers
to the willful rebellion of the angels, not Christians who sin out of
weakness! And thus born again Christians (the only kind addressed)
are exhorted to <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"lay
aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>us</i></font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking
unto Jesus the author and finisher of </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>our</i></font></font>
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">faith; who
for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. "
(<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Hebrews%2012.1-2" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="12:1-12:2" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Hebrews
12:1-2</span></span></a>) But according to you, born again believer</font></font>
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><b>cannot
have any sins to lay aside. </b></font></font>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Pet.%202.5" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:5-2:5" data-bible-book="2PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2
Pet. 2:5</span></span></a> AND SPARED NOT THE OLD WORLD, but saved Noah <a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Pet.%202.6" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:6-2:6" data-bible-book="2PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2
Pet. 2:6</span></span></a> MAKING THEM AN ENSAMPLE unto those that after should
live ungodly.</i></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a name="highlight1"></a><a name="highlight"></a>
And which again is understood by you in isolation, as it is not
referring to those who who practice righteousness but yet commit
actual sins sometimes, though they wish they never would and
righteously repent when convicted of so doing, (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2Sam.%2012.13" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="12:13-12:13" data-bible-book="2SA" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2Sam.
12:13</span></span></a>; <a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2Cor.%207.11" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="7:11-7:11" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2Cor.
7:11</span></span></a>) and instead it refers to a world of men in which “every
imagination of the thoughts of his heart <i>was</i> only evil
continually.” (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gn.%206.5" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="6:5-6:5" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Gn.
6:5</span></span></a>) That exegetical“revelation” is what actual
studying versus Masters mind-numbing meditation will provide.
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Pet.%202.9" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:9-2:9" data-bible-book="2PE" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2
Pet. 2:9</span></span></a> THE LORD KNOWETH HOW TO DELIVER THE GODLY OUT OF
TEMPTATIONS</i></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Likewise
here you are again “wresting' Scripture in ignorance of it, as
this text actually refutes your salvation by sinless premise, as
contextually the GODLY man which is referred to was Lot, who
certainly was not an example of one who was no carnal at all and no
longer sinned, (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gn.%2019.32-35" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="19:32-19:35" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Gn.
19:32-35</span></span></a>) but who did practice righteousness (being grieved by
sin, and risking his life for the brethren, and who actually had two
virgin daughters in the midst of a city given to fornication.)
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%201.7" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:7-1:7" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 1:7</span></span></a> THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL
SIN</i></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Which
is in the continual sense as they confess sins, (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1Jn.%201.8" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:8-1:8" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Jn.
1:8</span></span></a>,<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1Jn%201.9" target="_blank">9</a>;
cf. <a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Prov.%2028.13" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="28:13-28:13" data-bible-book="PRO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Prov.
28:13</span></span></a>) which is part of walking in the light, and thus it is
teaching contrary to believers no longer sinning after they are born
again, but instead affirms the cleansing of past sins and those
confessed when and after one is converted and born again. And which
event is the beginning of Christian growth. (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2015.7-9" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="15:7-15:9" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
15:7-9</span></span></a>)
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%201.9" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 1:9</span></span></a> AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS</i></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Once
again you exclude the relevant context, this time the first part of
the verse, which actually refutes your premise: “If we say that
we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>our</i></font></font>
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">sins, and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 18,:9) </font></font>The
“we” here includes born again Christians, and cleaning
takes place continually upon confession (“if we confess”),
as <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">being
cleansed does not mean one no longer can have sins that need to be
confessed, but confessing known sin is a continuing practice, even as
the Lord taught believers to pray, "And forgive us our debts, as
we forgive our debtors." (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matthew%206.12" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="6:12-6:12" data-bible-book="MAT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Matthew
6:12</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%202.1" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:1-2:1" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 2:1</span></span></a> THAT YE SIN NOT,</font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Once
again you selectively leave out the context which denies support for
your premise, <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"My
little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And
if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous: " (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%202.1" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:1-2:1" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 2:1</span></span></a>) </font></font>As with other texts, the exhortation is
to not sin, but not that believers never do, and thus provision for
forgiveness is made when one does, as again, “we”
includes born again believers.
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%202.6" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:6-2:6" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 2:6</span></span></a> HE THAT SAITH HE ABIDETH IN HIM OUGHT himself also so
TO WALK, EVEN AS HE WALKED</i></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">This
also is an exhortation (“ought”) , but does not teach
that born again believers no longer sin, for “in many things we
offend all, (Ja. 2:1) in word and in deed.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Thus
so far you have zero texts that teach believers no longer sin after
they are born again, or that is the results of spiritual growth via
Masters type of meditation, versus clear support that being born
again is the beginning of growth in grace, and such believers do sin
afterward. Now we come to the texts which you must place your primary
hope in, but which attempt is again a result of dealing with texts in
isolation and without regard to linguistics, thus not <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">rightly
dividing the word of truth." (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Timothy%202.15" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:15-2:15" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2
Timothy 2:15</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%203.6" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:6-3:6" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 3:6</span></span></a> Whosoever abideth in him SINNETH NOT</i></font></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%203.8" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:8-3:8" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 3:8</span></span></a> HE THAT COMMITTETH SIN IS OF THE DEVIL</i></font></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%203.9" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:9-3:9" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 3:9</span></span></a> WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD DOTH NOT COMMIT SIN</i></font></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%203.10" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:10-3:10" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 3:10</span></span></a> Whosoever DOTH NOT righteousness IS NOT OF GOD</i></font></p>
</li><li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%205.18" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="5:18-5:18" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 5:18</span></span></a> Whosoever IS BORN OF GOD SINNETH NOT</i></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">These
all go together, and i have already <a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=289#289">shown</a>
that this does not say born again believers no longer commit any sins
at all, which would require that they love God with all their heart,
mind, soul and strength (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Lk.%2010.27" target="_blank">Lk.
10.27</a> without fail 24/7, even in ignorance, (Lv. 4) but that
linguistically the language refers to actually committing sin
(breaking the law of God: <a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1Jn.%203.2" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:2-3:2" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Jn.
3:2</span></span></a>) as a continuing impenitent practice, versus righteousness
(which includes repentance).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
this is in contrast to defining the lost as those who practice
unrighteousness, however they can do good things, likewise those born
of God practice righteousness but sometimes actually sin, and can be
immature (as has been <a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=384#384">shown</a>).
For as the quoted verse 10 teaches, <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"In
this the children of God are </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><b>manifest</b></font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">,
and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is
not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." Conversely,
"If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><b>every
one that doeth righteousness is born of him</b></font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">.
" (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%202.29" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:29-2:29" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 2:29</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">Thus
taken in the absolute sense the lost are only those who never do
righteousness, while doing righteousness renders one to be born of
God, yet</font></font> the lost can do things that are objectively
righteous before they are born again, (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2028.2" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="28:2-28:2" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
28:2</span></span></a>) which would make them born of God according to the
absolutist understanding of these verses, while committing even one
sin would make one to be of the devil. (“He that committeth sin
is of the devil:” <a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1Jn.%203.8" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:8-3:8" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Jn.
3:8</span></span></a>) However, once again it has been made <a class="western" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=384#384">clear</a>
that all those Paul addresses as believers were born again, and that
such did sin after they are born again. Otherwise we would have a
clear contradiction in Scripture.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Linguistically,</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%203.6" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:6-3:6" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 3:6</span></span></a>: Sinneth not (ouch hamartanei). Linear present (linear
menōn, keeps on abiding) active indicative of hamartanō,
“does not keep on sinning.” For menō (abide) see
1Jo_2:6; Joh_15:4-10.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Whosoever
sinneth (ho hamartanōn). Present (linear) active articular
participle like menōn above, “the one who keeps on
sinning” (lives a life of sin, not mere occasional acts of sin
as hamartēsas, aorist active participle, would mean).</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">1Jogn
3:9: “Doeth no sin (hamartian ou poiei). Linear present active
indicative as in 1Jo_3:4 like hamartanei in 1Jo_3:8. The child of God
does not have the habit of sin.</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">...this
English naturally means “and he cannot commit sin” as if
it were kai ou dunatai hamartein or hamartēsai (second aorist
or first aorist active infinitive). The present active infinitive
hamartanein can only mean “and he cannot go on sinning,”
as is true of hamartanei in 1Jo_3:8 and hamartanōn in 1Jo_3:6.
For the aorist subjunctive to commit a sin see hamartēte and
hamartēi in 1Jo_2:1. A great deal of false theology has grown
out of a misunderstanding of the tense of hamartanein here. Paul has
precisely John’s idea in Rom_6:1 epimenōmen tēi
hamartiāi (shall we continue in sin, present active linear
subjunctive) in contrast with hamartēsōmen in Rom_6:15
(shall we commit a sin, first aorist active subjunctive). —
Robertsons. More <a class="western" href="http://reformedanswers.org/answer.asp/file/40547">here</a>:
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20John%209" target="_blank">2
John 9</a> Whosoever TRANSGRESSETH, AND ABIDETH NOT in the doctrine
of Christ, HATH NOT GOD</i></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">This
again is in the continuous sense, as that of impenitently practicing
sin, versus righteousness which is part of walking in the light which
reveals sin, (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Eph.%205.13" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="5:13-5:13" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Eph.
5:13</span></span></a>) while taken in the abolitionist sense of no longer
committing any sin at all, which Masters erroneously holds to, would
again render all the born again believers that Scripture affirms were
born again but who sinned, to be of the devil, while making pagans
who did any righteous deeds to be born of God. See in summary below.
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/3%20John%2011" target="_blank">3
John 11</a> He that DOETH GOOD IS OF GOD, but he that DOETH EVIL
HATH NOT SEEN GOD AND THERE SHALL IN NO WISE ENTER INTO IT ANYTHING
THAT DEFILETH, NEITHER WHATSOEVER WORKETH ABOMINATION OR MAKETH A
LIE</font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Here
you are guilty of leaving off the beginning of a verse and then
combining part of another verses into one, while your continual
shouting does not overcome your continually specious exegesis. For
what is said in regards to the other like verses also applies here,
as <a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/3Jn.%201.11" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:11-1:11" data-bible-book="3JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">3Jn.
1:11</span></span></a> begins with an exhortation “to follow not that which
is evil, but that which is good,” and once again describes the
those who are born of God as characteristically doing good (and “He
that doeth” is not even in the Greek), versus those who
characteristically are doing evil. But which taken in the absolutist
sense would make pagans who did good to be born of God already, while
making making Peter, and the born again Corinthians, Galatians, and
all others who sinned after regeneration, to be of the devil. And
which is not tenable regardless of the esoterical “undertstanding”
resulting from Masters meditation.
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font color="#800000"><i>So you see, you guys can be free of sin but
WILL not in your willful ignorance and huge excuse making to the
point of vilifying Roy Masters who provides a simple pathway to that
salvation which is indeed Biblical.</i></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">Rather,
unlike the false apostle and deceitful worker which Masters is,
believers are cleansed of their sins by repentant faith in the
sinless shed blood (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Rm.%203.25" target="_blank">Rm.
3:25</a>; <a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2020.28" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="20:28-20:28" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
20:28</span></span></a>; <a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Col.%201.14" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:14-1:14" data-bible-book="COL" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Col.
1:14</span></span></a>) of the risen Divine Son of God, being born again through
that faith, and are to live by every word of God, which requires
studying it, while your ignorance of it is manifest in your attempt
to engage in the chapter and verse exegesis which Masters deplores in
favor his holy mind-numbing mediation, which even “be still”
does not support.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">In
<b>summary</b>, exegetical examination reveals that Scripture does
not support your premise, despite your often strained attempts, and
in fact they collectively contradict it, and in review i will provide
more texts including ones referenced before which must be ignored in
order to cling to Masters soteriology:
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
To begin with, souls were born again upon hearing the gospel,
usually in the same hour as they first heard it, not because of a
period of growth through Masters type of meditation:</p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"Now
when they heard </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>this</i></font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">,
they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest
of the apostles, Men </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>and</i></font></font>
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">brethren,
what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%202.37-38" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:37-2:38" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
2:37-38</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"To
him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever
believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet
spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the
word." (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2010.43-44" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="10:43-10:44" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
10:43-44</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"And
God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the
Holy Ghost, even as </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>he
did</i></font></font> <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">unto
us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts
by faith." (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2015.8-9" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="15:8-15:9" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
15:8-9</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">And thus
those Paul addressed in such places as Corinth and Galatia had been
born again:</font></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"What?
know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>which
is</i></font></font> <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">in
you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Corinthians%206.19" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="6:19-6:19" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
Corinthians 6:19</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"Who
hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our
hearts. " (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2%20Corinthians%201.22" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:22-1:22" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2
Corinthians 1:22</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"And
because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into
your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. " (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Galatians%204.6" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="4:6-4:6" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Galatians
4:6</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">However,
carnal immaturity and sin was evident among the same:</font></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"And
in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there
arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their
widows were neglected in the daily ministration." (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%206.1" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="6:1-6:1" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
6:1</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"And
I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto
carnal, </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>even</i></font></font>
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">as unto
babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for
hitherto ye were not able </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>to
bear it</i></font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">,
neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>there
is</i></font></font> <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">among
you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk
as men?" (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Corinthians%203.1-3" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:1-3:3" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
Corinthians 3:1-3</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"Now
therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law
one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not
rather </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>suffer
yourselves to</i></font></font> <font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">be
defrauded? " (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Corinthians%206.7" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="6:7-6:7" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
Corinthians 6:7</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"But
when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because
he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did
eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and
separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision."
(<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Galatians%202.11-12" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:11-2:12" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Galatians
2:11-12</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">Thus all
these were of the devil according to the absolutist understanding of
<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1Jn.%203.6-10" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:6-3:10" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Jn.
3:6-10</span></span></a> etc. In addition pagans could engage in doing good, even
to the brethren, which according to the absolutist understanding of
<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1Jn.%203.10" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:10-3:10" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Jn.
3:10</span></span></a> and <a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/3Jn.%201.11" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:11-1:11" data-bible-book="3JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">3Jn.
1:11</span></span></a> would make them already born of God.</font></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"And
the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them
should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to save Paul,
kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could
swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: "
(<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2027.42-43" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="27:42-27:43" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
27:42-43</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"And
the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a
fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and
because of the cold." (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Acts%2028.2" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="28:2-28:2" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
28:2</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">Moreover,
born again believers are told to repent of sins, and are assured of
forgiveness upon confession of them, and are chastised to bring
repentance, which testifies to the reality that they yet sinned, and
which things would be superfluous if they no longer sinned. </font></font>
</p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"Wherefore
seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so
easily beset </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>us</i></font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, "
(<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Hebrews%2012.1" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="12:1-12:1" data-bible-book="HEB" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Hebrews
12:1</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent. " (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Revelation%203.19" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:19-3:19" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Revelation
3:19</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"For
if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are
judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned
with the world. " (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20Corinthians%2011.31-32" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="11:31-11:32" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
Corinthians 11:31-32</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">And rather
than no longer sinning at all characterizing those who are born of
God, those who say they have no sins to confess are excluded as
being of God:</font></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">"If
we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>our</i></font></font>
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">sins, and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. " (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/1%20John%201.8-9" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:8-1:9" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1
John 1:8-9</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">But
again, all this and systematic theology is superfluous to those who
hold that their revelation achieved through cultic meditation is what
is holy, not the Bible, and reject contextual and linguistically
“chapter and verse” type study as bringing understanding.
As Masters taught, <font color="#4c1900">“One day, after
discovering many things, the Spirit will lead you to read Scripture.
At that time you will find joy on accepting the Witness to the
Scriptures, rather than verses and chapters. What a contrast this is
to accepting the Bible as the word of God: You will see it as
messages from God. But wicked men bait you to accept "God's
Word" in the form of a book instead of that Witness in
yourself.” (How to Conquer Suffering Without Doctors, pp.
198-199)</font></font></font></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">Thus,
rather than deriving doctrine from the Bible as the supreme
authority, as <a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Bible/2Tim_3.html#Partial">seen
in Scripture</a>, and subjecting all to that, Masters first gets his
“understanding” by subjective means, and then carelessly
invokes some texts which he sees as confirming it, irregardless of
exegetical analysis which is disparaged. To which applies, "The
sluggard </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>is</i></font></font>
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">wiser in
his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. "
(<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Proverbs%2026.16" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="26:16-26:16" data-bible-book="PRO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Proverbs
26:16</span></span></a>) And "The simple [in the pejorative sense] believeth
every word: but the prudent </font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3"><i>man</i></font></font>
<font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">looketh
well to his going. " (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Proverbs%2014.15" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="14:15-14:15" data-bible-book="PRO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Proverbs
14:15</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">And
as Masters superior understanding is independent of the Scripture,
you can even throw the Scriptures away: </font></font><font color="#4c1900">“</font><font color="#4c1900"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">The
whole process of growing is not from words but from realizing and
then you can throw your Bible in the garbage can and there's no sin
in that.” ("The Mystery of Golgotha" tape) </font></font></font><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">And
as his own mind is supreme, following his own spirit (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Ezekiel%2013.3" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="13:3-13:3" data-bible-book="EZK" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Ezekiel
13:3</span></span></a>) and worse, then it is not allowed than any may refute him
and his false gospel. And which presumption is to his own damnation
and those of those who are deceived by him. (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Gal.%201.6-9" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:6-1:9" data-bible-book="GAL" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Gal.
1:6-9</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 12pt" size="3">May
God grant you and them repentance unto the acknowledging of the
truth. (<a class="western" href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/2Tim.%202.25" target="_blank"><span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><span class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:25-2:25" data-bible-book="2TI" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2Tim.
2:25</span></span></a>) </font></font>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in"><a class="western" href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2931985/posts?page=419#419" target="_self">419</a>
posted on <b>9/27/2012, 1:57:05 PM</b> by <a class="western" href="https://freerepublic.com/%7Edaniel1212/">daniel1212</a>
(Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust
Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">The
redeemed are those who come to God as sinners knowing their desperate
need of salvation - not as souls saved by their works or religious
heritage, but as destitute of any means or merit whereby they may
find salvation - and with a humble and penitent heart (that at least
implicitly wants a new life following Christ) believe on the
crucified and risen Lord Jesus who alone can save them on His
account, by His sinless shed blood and righteousness. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ROM.3?passageId=ROM.3.9" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:9-3:9" data-bible-book="ROM" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Romans 3:9</a></span> -
5:1)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
who are thus baptized to follow the Lord Jesus with persevering
faith. And who thus are baptized and follow Him (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JHN.10?passageId=JHN.10.27-JHN.10.29" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="10:27-10:29" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">John 10:27-29</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ACT.8?passageId=ACT.8.12" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="8:12-8:12" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
8:12</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EPH.1?passageId=EPH.1.7" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:7-1:7" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Ephesians 1:7</a></span>; 2:8-10) - and effectually repent when they find
that they failed to do so. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PSA.32?passageId=PSA.32.5" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="32:5-32:5" data-bible-book="PSA" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Psalms 32:5</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PSA.32?passageId=PSA.32.6" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="32:6-32:6" data-bible-book="PSA" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false"> 6</a></span>; 51:3; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/HOS.5?passageId=HOS.5.15" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="5:15-5:15" data-bible-book="HOS" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Hosea 5:15</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1JN.1?passageId=1JN.1.9" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:9-1:9" data-bible-book="1JN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1 John
1:9</a></span>)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">For
penitent, heart-purifying, regenerating effectual faith, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.10?passageId=ACT.10.43-ACT.10.47" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="10:43-10:47" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts
10:43-47</a></span>; 15:7-9) is that which is imputed for righteousness, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/ROM.4?passageId=ROM.4.5" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="4:5-4:5" data-bible-book="ROM" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Romans
4:5</a></span>) and is shown in baptism and following the Lord, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ACT.2?passageId=ACT.2.38-ACT.2.47" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:38-2:47" data-bible-book="ACT" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Acts 2:38-47</a></span>;
<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.10?passageId=JHN.10.27" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="10:27-10:27" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Jn. 10:27</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/JHN.10?passageId=JHN.10.28" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="10:28-10:28" data-bible-book="JHN" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false"> 28</a></span>) and by which faith the believer is completely forgiven
and "accepted in the Beloved" and positionally seated with
Him in Heaven. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/EPH.1?passageId=EPH.1.6" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:6-1:6" data-bible-book="EPH" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Ephesians 1:6</a></span>; 2:6; cf. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PHP.3?passageId=PHP.3.21" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="3:21-3:21" data-bible-book="PHP" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Phil. 3:21</a></span>)
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in">And
wherever Scripture clearly speak of the next conscious reality for
those who die in that effectual faith then it is with the Lord, at
death or His return (whatever comes first), by the grace of God. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/LUK.23?passageId=LUK.23.43" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="23:43-23:43" data-bible-book="LUK" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Lk.
23:43</a></span> [cf. <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.12?passageId=2CO.12.4" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="12:4-12:4" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2Cor. 12:4</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/REV.2?passageId=REV.2.7" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="2:7-2:7" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Rv. 2:7</a></span>]; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/PHP.1?passageId=PHP.1.23" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="1:23-1:23" data-bible-book="PHP" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">Phil 1:23</a></span>; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/2CO.5?passageId=2CO.5.8" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="5:8-5:8" data-bible-book="2CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">2Cor. 5:8</a></span> [“we”];
<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1CO.15?passageId=1CO.15.51" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="15:51-15:51" data-bible-book="1CO" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Cor. 15:51</a></span>ff'; <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02
/1TH.4?passageId=1TH.4.17" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-ref="4:17-4:17" data-bible-book="1TH" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" aria-expanded="false">1Thess. 4:17</a></span>) Thanks be to God.
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in" align="justify">
<br>
<br>
</p>
<p class="western" style="margin-top: 0.02in; margin-bottom: 0.04in" align="justify">
PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-38676577950724524862023-01-12T11:26:00.004-05:002023-11-19T15:33:10.717-05:00Brief examination of The Book of Enoch<p> </p><p>The Book of Enoch, trans. by R.H. Charles [1917]
(<a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/boe/index.htm">http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/boe/index.htm</a>)
This book is part of Pseudepigrapha (falsely attributed to the
named author) texts, being a much later work than the time of Enoch,
and contradicting Scripture, though as with others, these error are
mixed with Biblical Truth. <span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
below are just a few contradictions of Scripture in the book of
Enoch, which disallow it from being wholly inspired of God. More
(mostly valid) objections to it can be seen at
<a href="http://www.refuteit.com/the-book-of-enoch-debunked.html">http://www.refuteit.com/the-book-of-enoch-debunked.html</a>;<a href="https://1c15.co.uk/enoch/" target="_blank"> https://1c15.co.uk/enoch/ </a> <a href="https://malcolmnicholson.wordpress.com/2020/11/10/enoch-did-not-write-the-book-of-enoch-and-it-contradicts-the-bible/" target="_blank">https://malcolmnicholson.wordpress.com/2020/11/10/enoch-did-not-write-the-book-of-enoch-and-it-contradicts-the-bible/</a></span></span></span></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1:1
The words of the blessing of Enoch, wherewith he blessed the
elect ⌈⌈and⌉⌉ righteous, who will be
living in the day of tribulation, when all the wicked ⌈⌈and
godless⌉⌉ are to be removed.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If
all the wicked were removed in the tribulation, then there
would be no need for Christ to rule the nations with a rod of
iron, (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="REV" data-bible-ref="19:15-19:15" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/REV.19?passageId=REV.19.15">Revelation 19:15</a></span>) such as “whoso will not come up
of <i>all</i> the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship
the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And
if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that <i>have</i>
no <i>rain</i>; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord
will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of
tabernacles. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ZEC" data-bible-ref="14:17-14:18" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ZEC.14?passageId=ZEC.14.17-ZEC.14.18">Zechariah 14:17-18</a></span>) </span></span>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">6:6
And they were in all two hundred; who descended ⌈in the
days⌉ of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they
called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound
themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. </span></span>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here,
the problem is, that the Book of Enoch claims fallen angels named
the mountain, Mount Herman, yet Mount Herman did not get its name
before the flood, which was also known as as Sirion and Shenir
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="DEU" data-bible-ref="3:8-3:9" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/DEU.3?passageId=DEU.3.8-DEU.3.9">Deuteronomy 3:8-9</a></span>). But after the Flood Baal worshipers named
the mountain after their god "Baal-Herman" (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JDG" data-bible-ref="3:3-3:3" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JDG.3?passageId=JDG.3.3">Judges 3:3</a></span>, <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JDG" data-bible-ref="3:1-3:1" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JDG.3?passageId=JDG.3.1">
1</a></span>st Chronicles 5:23). Likewise "Mount Peor," in
association with the Moabite god "Baal of Peor"
(<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="NUM" data-bible-ref="25:1-25:5" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/NUM.25?passageId=NUM.25.1-NUM.25.5">Numbers 25:1-5</a></span>). This anachronism provides more evidence that
the book of Enoch was not penned by him, but is a later work. </span></span>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">6:7
And these are the names of their leaders: Sêmîazâz,
their leader, Arâkîba, Râmêêl,
Kôkabîêl, Tâmîêl, Râmîêl,
Dânêl, Êzêqêêl, Barâqîjâl,
Asâêl, Armârôs, Batârêl,
Anânêl, Zaqîêl, Samsâpêêl,
Satarêl, Tûrêl, Jômjâêl,
Sariêl. 8. These are their chiefs of tens.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Not
even one is these 19 angels are found in Scripture, which absence
is rather incongruous. </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">7:2
And they became pregnant, and they bare great giants, whose
height was three thousand <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ell">ells</a>:
</span></span>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Research
finds that the translator, R. H. Charles, “was considered
by some as an 'Enochian specialist,” and that “an ell
is an old English measurement equivalent to 45 inches (Random
House Webster's Dictionary). If this was indeed the measurement
that Charles was referring to then that would make the giants
just short of two miles high.” </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Reverend
Richard Laurence, a professor of Hebrew at Oxford, produced the
very first English translation of the Book of Enoch in 1821 which
was translated directly from the three Ethiopic texts by a famous
explorer named James Bruce who first uncovered them in 1773.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">His
version states that the giants were three hundred cubits tall...A
cubit is an ancient Hebrew measurement equivalent of the distance
from the elbow to the tip of the fingers which was later
standardized to be about 18 inches (or about 45 centimeters.
'McKenzie Dictionary of the Bible' and the 'New Concise Bible
Dictionary'). This would make the giants about 450 feet tall.
This is corroborated by The Book of Giants in The Dead Sea
Scrolls by Wise, Abegg, and Cook, page 246.
(http://atlantisonline.smfforfree2.com/index.php?topic=17256.0;wap2)
</span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Which
is like the kind of nonsense <a href="http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6658-giants">seen</a>
in Jewish tradition, of which were are warned: </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Not
giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn
from the truth. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="TIT" data-bible-ref="1:14-1:14" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/TIT.1?passageId=TIT.1.14">Titus 1:14</a></span>) Neither give heed to fables and
endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly
edifying which is in faith: <i>so do</i>. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="1TI" data-bible-ref="1:4-1:4" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/1TI.1?passageId=1TI.1.4">1 Timothy 1:4</a></span>) </span></span>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">8:1
And Azazel taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields...3
Araqiel the signs of the earth, Shamsiel the signs of the sun,</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Neither
Araqiel or Shamsiel are even listed in the list of evil angels
in 6:8. nor is Azazel unless this is the same as Asael.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">10:1
Then said the Most High, the Holy and Great One spake, and sent
Uriel to the son of Lamech, 2 and said to him: 'Go to Noah and
tell him in my name "Hide thyself!" and reveal to him
the end that is approaching: that the whole earth will be
destroyed, and a deluge is about to come 3 upon the whole earth,
and will destroy all that is on it... </span></span>
</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Which
contradicts <span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="GEN" data-bible-ref="5:24-5:24" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/GEN.5?passageId=GEN.5.24">Gn. 5:24</a></span> which states that Enoch was taken up to
heaven, which was years before Noah was born. </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">10:4
...the Lord said to Raphael: 'Bind Azazel hand and foot, and cast
him into the darkness: and make an opening 5 in the desert, which
is in Dudael, and cast him therein. And place upon him rough and
jagged rocks, and cover him with darkness, and let him abide
there for ever,... </span></span>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.01in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here the judgment of A</span><span style="font-size: small;">zazel </span><span style="font-size: small;">and that
of others is presented in the context of the days of Noah. And
in Scripture the devil Himself is chained and cast into the bottomless
pit, not forever, but for 1,000 years before he is loosed to
seduce the remaining wicked rebels into warring against the Lord
and His people, and who then are killed, judged/sentenced and
cast into the eternal Lake of Fire. (Rev. 20:10-15)</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="316"><p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">10:8
And the whole earth has been corrupted 9 through the works that
were taught by Azazel: to him ascribe all sin.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.01in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"A common view of the azazel goat—sometimes translated as "scapegoat"—is that it represents Satan, on whose head the sins of humanity will be placed. However, the source of this interpretation is the apocryphal Book of Enoch.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In the Book of Enoch, “Azazel” is the name of a demon blamed for all the sins of mankind (Enoch 10:8). He is not the chief demon—not actually Satan (Enoch 6:3; 9:7). (<span style="font-size: x-small;">https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/20813/Book-Enoch.htm)</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nowhere
in Scripture are all sins placed upon any demon, but instead it
was upon the Divine Son that God laid upon all man's sins, thanks
be to God in Christ. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him
the iniquity of us all. (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="ISA" data-bible-ref="53:6-53:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/ISA.53?passageId=ISA.53.6">Isaiah 53:6</a></span>) </span></span>
</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">10:11
And the Lord said unto Michael: 'Go, bind Semjaza and his
associates who have united themselves with women so as to have
defiled themselves 12 with them in all their uncleanness. And
when their sons have slain one another, and they have seen the
destruction of their beloved ones, bind them fast for seventy
generations in the valleys of the earth, till the day of their
judgement and of their consummation,</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nowhere
in Scripture is there only seventy generations till the day of
judgment and of their consummation. Instead, Jude tells us of
“the angels which kept not their first estate, but left
their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains
under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” (<span class="biblePreviewerContainer"><a aria-expanded="false" class="biblePreviewerLink" data-bible-book="JUD" data-bible-ref="1:6-1:6" data-bible-trans="de4e12af7f28f599-02" href="https://eng.global.bible/bible/de4e12af7f28f599-02/JUD.1?passageId=JUD.1.6">Jude
6</a></span>) </span></span>
</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">19:2
And the women also of the angels who went astray shall become
sirens.' </span></span>
</p>
</td>
<td bgcolor="#ffffcc" width="415">
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;">“<span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/siren_(mythology)#christian_belief_and_modern_reception">Sirens</a>”
(half-bird half-human) comes from later Greek mythology, and is
nowhere in Scripture, and which provides more evidence that the
book of Enoch was not penned by him, but is a later work. </span></span>
</p>
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<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0.01in;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
above will have to suffice for now. Search “errors in the
book of Enoch” for more. </span></span></span>
</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in;">For a color chart of the 66 books
of the Bible see <a href="http://peacebyjesus.net/booksofthebible.html">here</a>,
and for info on the Apocrypha see <a href="http://peacebyjesus.net/ancients_on_scripture.html#supplementary">here</a>,
by the grace of God. AlsoT<a href="http://peacebyjesus.net/thedavincicode.html">HE
DA VINCI CODE: TRUE OR FALSE</a>? Can be of help. Thanks and
glory be to God.</p>
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</p><script src="moz-extension://d51794b7-ca7e-4fc1-80e2-1fd4872f6250/js/app.js" type="text/javascript"></script>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-37269650721598102062023-01-12T11:07:00.002-05:002023-01-12T11:49:11.902-05:00Early American education<p> </p><p align="justify" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">[Note, this work originally was created by me on the "A storehouse of knowledge" (<a class="western" href="http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/Education_in_the_United_States</a>) wiki, owned by Philip J. Rayment, but which wiki has evidently been retired and I cannot contact the owner for permission to share this elsewhere. However since this was all my work (as far as I know) then rather than let others be deprived of it I am recreating it here, by the grace of God, though copyright should be considered belonging to Mr. </span></span><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Rayment.</span></span><span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">]</span></span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="mw-toc-heading"></a><br /></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">[Note, this work originally was created by me on the "A storehouse of knowledge" (<a class="western" href="http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/Education_in_the_United_States</a>) wiki, but which has evidently been retired and I cannot contact the owner for permission to share this elsewhere, but since this is all my work (as far as I know) then rather than let others be deprived of it I am recreating it here, by the grace of God.]</span></span></p><p align="justify" class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="mw-toc-heading"></a>Contents [References need to be bookmarked and pointed to links]</p><table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; width: 467px; word-spacing: 0px;"><colgroup><col width="457"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.04in;" valign="top" width="457"><ul><li><p style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; text-align: justify;"><a class="western" href="#Early" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US">1 Early American education</span></a></p><ul><li><p style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-US"><a class="western" href="#Development" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">1.1 Development of the common school system</a></span></p></li><li><p style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-US"><a class="western" href="#circa" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">1.2 Education circa 1890</a></span></p></li></ul></li><li><p style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; text-align: justify;"><a class="western" href="#Historical" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US">2 Historical nature of education</span></a></p></li><li><p style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-US"><a class="western" href="#Modern" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">3 Modern American education</a></span></p><ul><li><p style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-US"><a class="western" href="#Employment" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">3.1 Employment, enrollment and expenditures</a></span></p></li><li><p style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-US"><a class="western" href="#Proficiency" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">3.2 Proficiency scores</a></span></p></li><li><p style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-US"><a class="western" href="#Technology" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">3.3 Educational Technology</a></span></p></li></ul></li><li><p style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-US"><a class="western" href="#Quality" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">4 Quality of modern American education</a></span></p><ul><li><p style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-US"><a class="western" href="#Various" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">4.1 Various modern education statistics</a></span></p></li></ul></li><li><p style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.01in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="en-US"><a class="western" href="#Ideology" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">5 Ideology in modern education</a></span></p></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.01in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="Early"></a><a name="early"></a><a name="early_american_education"></a>Early American education</h2><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-0"></a><span lang="en-US">While widespread free and inclusive primary public schooling would not begin in America until the late 1800's, the first public school in America was founded April 23, 1635 in Boston, Mass. Boston Latin School was begun by the<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=puritan&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Puritan</a><span> </span>preacher<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=john_cotton&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">John Cotton</a>, who modeled the school after the Free Grammar School in Boston,<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/england" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">England</a>, which taught Latin and Greek, these being languages which copies of Biblical manuscripts were written in. The school was publicly funded, with the first classes being held in the home of the schoolmaster<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/philemon" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Philemon</a><span> </span>Pormort. Five of the 56 signers of the U.S.<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=constitution&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Constitution</a><span> </span>attended Boston Latin: Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine, Samuel Adams, and William Hooper.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-0" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[1]</a></span></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Much due to the Protestant belief that lay people should learn to read the Bible, many colonists pushed for literacy. In 1642, the Massachusetts School Law required that parents and master saw to it that their children could read English and knew the principles of religion and the capital laws of the commonwealth. If any parents were unable to "catechize their children and servants in the grounds and principles of Religion" once a week (at the least), then they were to procure some short orthodox catechism for them to learn from, and to answers question put to them from it by their parents or masters and the<span> </span><i>Select men</i><span> </span>when they were tested. In addition, children who could not be made fit for higher employments were to be taught some honest lawful trade profitable for themselves and the Commonwealth. The law also instructed that if the Select men found that parents and masters grew lax in their responsibility and thus their children became "rude, stubborn and unruly," then the government (the Select men with law enforcement) would be obligated to remove such children from the home and place them in a type of reform school where they could receive adequate instruction.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-1"></a>In 1647 the Massachusetts colonial legislature commented that as the "old deluder Satan" had worked to keep the Bible (in the vernacular) from the people in the times before the Protestant Reformation, they passed a law (also known as the Old Deluder Satan Act) that towns of over 50 families should provide a school.<a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.net/mass.gen.laws.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[2]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=puritan&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Puritan</a><span> </span>preacher<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=cotton_mather&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Cotton Mather</a><span> </span>(1663 – 1728) wrote,</p><blockquote class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #555555;">A Good School deserves to be call'd, the very Salt of the Town, that hath it:..wherein the Youth may by able Masters be Taught the Things that are necessary to qualify them for future Serviceableness, and have their Manners therewithal well-formed under a Laudable Discipline, and be over and above Well-Catechised in the principles of Religion, Those would be a Glory of our Land, and the preservatives of all other Glory.</span></blockquote><blockquote class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-2"></a><span style="color: #555555;">When the REFORMATION began in Europe an hundred and fourscore years ago, to Erect Schools everywhere was one principal concern of the Glorious and Heroic Reformers; and it was a common thing even for Little Villages of Twenty or Thirty Families, in the midst of all their Charges, and their Dangers, to maintain one of them. The Colonies of New England were planted on the Design of pursuing that Holy Reformation; and now the Devil cannot give a greater Blow to the Reformation among us, than by causing Schools to Languish under Discouragements....But we shall never long retain the Gospel, without the help of Learning. And if we should have no Regard unto religion, even the outward prosperity of a people, in this World would necessarily require Schools and Learned.[3]</span></blockquote><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-3"></a>However, education was mainly considered to be a local, or a family responsibility, often using private schools, rather than being an duty of the State. Ralph Walker, author of<span> </span><i>Old Readers</i>, believes that in this period "children were often taught to read at home before they were subjected to the rigours of school. In middle-class families, where the mother would be expected to be literate, this was considered part of her duties.[4]</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-4"></a>In Puritan New England this seems to have been particularly evidenced. In<span> </span><i>The Intellectual Life of New England</i><span> </span>Samuel Eliot Morison notes that Boston Latin was "the only public school down to 1684, when a writing school was established; and it is probable that only children who already read were admitted to that . . . . they must have learned to read somehow, since there is no evidence of unusual illiteracy in the town. And a Boston bookseller’s stock in 1700 includes no less than eleven dozen spellers and sixty-one dozen primers."<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-4" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[5]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-5"></a>While Congress declared in the Land Ordinance of 1785 that a section of every township which was surveyed in the public lands in the western territories was to be set aside for the maintenance of public schools, and a similar provision was made in the the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 for the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley regions, neither ordinance was fully implemented.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-5" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[6]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-6"></a>Robert A Peterson<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-6" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[7]</a><span> </span>argues,</p><blockquote class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #555555;">For two hundred years in American history, from the mid-1600s to the mid-1800s,...America produced several generations of highly skilled and literate men and women who laid the foundation for a nation dedicated to the principles of freedom and self-government.</span></blockquote><blockquote class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-7"></a><span style="color: #555555;">The private system of education in which our forefathers were educated included home, school, church, voluntary associations such as library companies and philosophical societies, circulating libraries, apprenticeships, and private study. It was a system supported primarily by those who bought the services of education, and by private benefactors. All was done without compulsion. Although there was a veneer of government involvement in some colonies, such as in Puritan Massachusetts, early American education was essentially based on the principle of voluntarism.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-7" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[8]</a></span></blockquote><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Peter Augustine Lawler also writes,</p><blockquote class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-8"></a><span style="color: #555555;">The citizens of New England took care of the poor, maintained the highways, kept careful records and registries, secured law and order, and, most of all, provided public education for everyone—through high school when possible. The justification of universal education was that everyone should be able to read the Bible to know the truth about God and his duties to Him for himself. Nobody should be deceived by having to rely on the word of others; they had the democratic or Cartesian distrust of authority without the paralyzing and disorienting rejection of all authority (DA.2.1.1) That egalitarian religious understanding, of course, was the source of the American popular enlightenment that had so many practical benefits.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-8" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[9]</a></span></blockquote><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-9"></a><a name="cite_ref-10"></a>Libraries with good books contributed to the literacy of the average American. Desire for books brought a large number of libraries into existence. These included church libraries, which were supported primarily by voluntarism. Non-private, non-church libraries in America were first maintained by membership fees, and by gifts of books and money from private benefactors interested in education. Entrepreneurs also served to fulfill the desire for self-improvement by colonial Americans, providing new services and innovative ways to sell or rent printed matter.<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-9" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[10]</a><span> </span>Almanacs (usually mainly consisting of miscellaneous information and collections of religious and moral sayings), primers and law book were the mainstay of printing, with the largest category consisting of books on theology.<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-10" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[11]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-11"></a>According to<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=benjamin_franklin&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Benjamin Franklin</a>, the North American libraries alone “have improved the general conversation of Americans, made the common tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other countries, and perhaps have contributed in some degree to the stand so generally made throughout the colonies in defense of their privileges.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-11" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[12]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-12"></a><a name="cite_ref-13"></a>Some contend that in colonial America literacy rates were as high or higher than they are today.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-12" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[13]</a><span> </span>Ruth Wallis Herndon, in<span> </span><i>Literacy among New England's transient poor, 1750-1800</i>, states that by using different sources, a number of "historians have discovered a nearly universal literacy among New England men and varying levels of literacy among New England women in the latter part of the eighteenth century."<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-13" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[14]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">However, nationwide access to education was not universal, and was seen to be insufficient by some.</p><h3 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="Development"></a><a name="development_of_the_common_school_system"></a>Development of the common school system</h3><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-14"></a><a name="cite_ref-15"></a>Carl F. Kaestle, professor of education, history, and public policy at Brown University, and source for most of this section,<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-14" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[15]</a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-15" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[16]</a><span> </span>discusses Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Rush, a Philadelphia physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson wrote from France in 1786, advising a friend to "preach a crusade against ignorance," and support free schools in Virginia. In the early national period leaders of this movement for state systems of common schools came from both the Jeffersonian Republicans and the Federalists. Rush proposed a similar bill for free schools in Pennsylvania.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">This expansion was rejected, as it seems that most free citizens saw the patchwork colonial mode of education to be quite sufficient. Countryside schools were financed by such means as local taxes, but also typically required some family means of support, while the agrarian nature of the economy often restricted the number of weeks in the school year. In urban areas churches and other philanthropic groups and responded to the need of the poor by establishing free schools for the moral education of poor children, after the model of English "charity" schools.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">As time passed and as concern grew, many cities in the new Republic experimented with a type of charity school, the<span> </span><i>monitorial</i><span> </span>school, invented by Joseph Lancaster, a Quaker schoolmaster in England which had become popular there and in Europe, and Latin America in the 1810s and ‘20s. This model encouraged the teaching of less advanced students by those who were more advanced.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Support for a common school continued to gain support, and after some hard-fought battles, from 1837 to 1853, "every state legislature in the North passed into law most of the key features of common free school systems. To prevail in these hard-fought battles, common school advocates, working largely through the Whig Party, had to convince a majority of their compatriots that common schools could play a critical role, not just in providing people a more equal chance at education, but in consolidating the country's culture around republican, capitalist, and Protestant values."</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">However, in the South, "a regionally strong 19th-century Democratic Party, localism, a laissez-faire tradition about education, and a strong belief in a hierarchical society based on slave labor, combined to thwart the more democratic and middle-class values of the region's school reformers. Free common schools would come to the South only in the aftermath of the 1861-65 Civil War", with racial equality in education taking much longer.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-16"></a>Overall, it was not until after the 1940s that a majority of American teenagers graduated from high school, and unlike today, formal education was not a prerequisite for social and economic mobility.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-16" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[17]</a></p><h3 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="education_circa_1890"></a><a name="circa"></a>Education circa 1890</h3><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">By 1890, schools nationwide saw 95 percent of children between the ages of five and thirteen enrolled for at least a few months out of the year, though less than 5 percent of adolescents went to high school, and even fewer entered college.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In addition, while there existed thousands of local schools, nearly one thousand colleges and universities (of varying quality), and scores of normal schools with trained teachers, education was largely locally managed, as the federal bureau of education, while collecting information about the condition of education, possessed no control over local schools. Education agencies on the state level were small, and its few employees had little or no power over local school districts. School systems in large cities could also function with little oversight, such as in Baltimore, where the public schools in 1890 employed only two superintendents for the entire district of 1,200 teachers.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Despite the lack of centralized administration, public schools across America were notably similar, with children learning both the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic, and the basics of good behavior – the latter being enforced when necessary by corporal punishment. Schools were important community institutions, and reflected the values of of parents and churches, such as honesty, industry, patriotism, responsibility, respect for adults, and courtesy. Memorization, recitation, chants and rhymes were often used in teaching subjects, while solving mathematical problems in one's own head was promoted.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-17"></a>The inculcation of basic education and self-discipline was purposed to promote good moral citizenry, people who would be honestly employed, and make wise and informed choices, and overall progress in an individualistic, competitive and democratic society, and who would contribute to the vitality of their community and country.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-17" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[18]</a></p><h2 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="Historical"></a><a name="historical_nature_of_education.2c_1600.27s_-_early_1900.27s"></a>Historical nature of education, 1600's - early 1900's</h2><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-18"></a><a name="cite_ref-19"></a><a name="cite_ref-20"></a>During the colonial period the Bible was “the single most important cultural influence in the lives of Anglo-Americans."<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-18" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[19]</a><span> </span>Schooling in early America, and for most of its history in primary education, combined education in general Christian morality with standard academic subjects. The Bible was the first book in the classroom, and was central to a child’s education, both for its content and for building skills. Students learned how to read using the Bible, passages were copied to learn penmanship, and a good part of the school day was devoted to memorizing and reciting passages from it.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-19" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[20]</a><span> </span>In addition to the Bible, other good books such as Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan and Isaac Watt’s Divine Songs were used.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-20" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[21]</a></p><h3 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="early_public_schools"></a><a name="public"></a>Early public schools</h3><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Records of the<span> </span><i>Columbia Historical Society</i>, Washington, Volumes 1-2, reports that in the first report of a public school in Washington which they had on file, in 1813 a Mr. Henry Ould states,</p><blockquote class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-21"></a><span style="color: #555555;">55 have learned to read in the Old and New Testaments, and are all able to spell words of three, four, and five syllables; 26 are now learning to read Dr. Watts' Hymns and spell words of two syllables; 10 are learning words of four and five letters. Of 509 out of the whole number admitted that did not know a single letter, 20 can now read the Bible and spell words of three, four, and five syllables, 29 read Dr. Watts' Hymns and spell words of two syllables, and 10 words of four and five letters.”<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-21" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[22]</a></span></blockquote><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-22"></a>The Puritan Christian<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=new_england_primer&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>New England Primer</i></a><span> </span>was used in<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/new_england" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">New England</a>, which is estimated to have sold upwards to 3,000,000 copies from 1700 to 1850. Introduced in 1690, this reader was used in what now would be the 1st grade, and taught multitudes of children how to read for 200 years, until circa 1900. The<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=alphabet&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">alphabet</a><span> </span>was taught with Bible verses that began with each letter of the alphabet. Lessons had questions about the Bible and the Ten Commandments. An example of the Primer is, A = In Adam's fall, we sinned all. B = Heaven to find, the Bible mind."<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-22" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[23]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-23"></a>In addition, approximately half of all American children learned from the<span> </span><i><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=mcguffey_reader&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">McGuffey Reader</a>,</i><span> </span>a series of textbooks of which 122 million copies were published (during a time when the population was much less than today, and books were passed on more). The first<span> </span><i>Reader</i><span> </span>was published in the 1830's, and was followed by five additional<span> </span><i>Readers</i>, the last being published in 1885. This was an advanced teaching system for its time, written by William Holmes McGuffey, who later became a Presbyterian minister, and a work which earned him the title, “the Great Schoolmaster of the Nation.” McGuffey believed religion and education were to be interrelated and were essential to a healthy society. McGuffey exalted the Lord Jesus Christ, and used the Bible more than any other source, though the later revised editions (which used McGuffey’s name though he neither contributed to them nor approved their revisions) became more pluralistic in their moral instruction. The<span> </span><i>Readers</i><span> </span>were filled with stories of strength, character, goodness and truth, working to instill standards of basic Christian-based morality for more than a century.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-23" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[24]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-24"></a><a name="cite_ref-25"></a><a name="cite_ref-26"></a><a name="cite_ref-27"></a>McGuffey Readers became the standardized reading text for most schools across the United States, especially throughout the West and South, during the mid to late nineteenth century,<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-24" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[25]</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-25" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[26]</a><span> </span>and were used widely in America until just after World War I. This resulted in the<span> </span><i>Readers</i><span> </span>becoming a unifying force in American culture, giving America a common value-laden body of literary reference and allusion,<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-26" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[27]</a><span> </span>and “a sense of common experience and of common possession”.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-27" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[28]</a></p><h3 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="early_elementary_schools"></a><a name="elementary"></a>Early elementary schools</h3><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-28"></a><a name="cite_ref-29"></a>The first public elementary schools also taught Christian morality, and even the<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/unitarian" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Unitarian</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-28" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[note 1]</a><span> </span><i>Father of the Common School</i>, Horace Mann (4 May 1796 — 2 August 1859), who became Massachusetts Secretary of Education in 1837, evidenced that he rightly understood that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment did not prohibit officially favoring the general, common Christian faith and its morality, but that it forbade official sanction of one particular sect, such as by sanctioning its doctrinal distinctions, stating that “it may not be easy theoretically, to draw the line between those views of religious truth and of Christian faith which is common to all, and may, therefore, with propriety be inculcated in schools, and those which, being peculiar to individual sects, are therefore by law excluded; still it is believed that no practical difficulty occurs in the conduct of our schools in this regard.”<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-29" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[29]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-30"></a>Mann also understood that the “laws of Massachusetts required the teaching of the basic moral doctrines of Christianity.” To critics who were alarmed at the concept of secular schools, he assured that his system "inculcates all Christian morals; it founds its morals on the basis of religion; it welcomes the religion of the Bible...," but he did exhort that Bible reading be without comment to discourage sectarian bickering.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-30" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[30]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-31"></a><a name="cite_ref-32"></a>Mann supported prohibition of alcohol and intemperance, slavery and lotteries,<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-31" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[31]</a><span> </span>and dreaded “intellectual eminence when separated from virtue”, and that education, if taught without moral responsibilities, would produce more evil than it inherited.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-32" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[32]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-33"></a>While the use of the Bible as a textbook had declined by the 1820s, the reading of it remained a standard practice in public schools, with the contention between Catholics and Protestants in Philadelphia and New York City during the 1840's being which version should be read, which even resulted in riots.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-33" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[33]</a></p><h3 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="Collegiate"></a><a name="collegiate_education"></a>Collegiate education</h3><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-34"></a>Reverence and use of the Bible was also prominent in higher education, with the second requirement of<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=harvard&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Harvard</a><span> </span>Universities<span> </span><i>Lawes</i><span> </span>of 1642 (after requiring literacy in Latin, which language the Scriptures were then mostly translated into), was that "Every one shall consider the main end of his life and studies to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life. (Joh. 17:3)<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-34" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[34]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-35"></a>Overall, the nature of early colleges and universities was religious, and this continued at least until the Civil War. Even State colleges had significant religious (most always Christian) components, such as mandatory religion courses and attendance at chapel services, while large numbers of their faculties had formal religious training.<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-35" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[35]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=theodore_roosevelt&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Theodore Roosevelt</a><span> </span>(October 27, 1858 - January 6, 1919), the 26th president of the United States (1901-1905), can be seen expressing the importance of the Bible in education:</p><ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><i>A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.</i></p></li></ul><ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><i>To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.</i></p></li></ul><ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><i>A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.</i></p></li></ul><ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_ref-36"></a><i>There is not in all America a more dangerous trait than the deification of mere smartness unaccompanied by any sense of moral responsibility.</i><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-36" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[36]</a></p></li></ul><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">However, education also was taking upon itself a life of its own, in which it no longer was an instrument to help make society better in according with Christian ethos under God, but instead higher education in particular essentially became to be seen by many as a secular Tower of Babel, offering to making men as elite gods in creating a utopia unbound by traditional and Biblical morality and principals. As early as 1803, Princeton professor Samuel Miller (1769-1850) warned,</p><blockquote class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-37"></a><span style="color: #555555;">...the century under review has given birth to a doctrine, which, though noticed in a former chapter, is yet too remarkable and too pregnant with mischief to be suffered to pass without more particular consideration in the present. It is, that Education has a kind of intellectual and moral omnipotence;...that by improving its principles and plan, human nature may, and finally will, reach a state of absolution perfection in this world, or at least go on to a state of unlimited improvement. In short, in the estimation of those who adopt this doctrine, man is the child of circumstances; and by meliorating these, without the aid of religion, his true and highest elevation is to be obtained; and they even go so far as to believe that, by means of the advancement of light and knowledge, all vice, misery and death may finally be banished from the earth.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-37" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[37]</a></span></blockquote><h2 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="Modern"></a><a name="modern_american_education"></a>Modern American education</h2><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-38"></a>In 1962 (in Engel v. Vitale) and in 1963, (in Abington versus Schempp) respectively, officially sanctioned prayer and devotional Bible reading were outlawed by the U.S Supreme Court in America public schools. This decision, coming over 170 years after the First Amendment was adopted (Dec. 15, 1701), is seen by some to essentially be expressing a new “revelation” on what the Founders meant by it. Fisher Ames, the founding father who offered the final wording of the First Amendment, wrote an article for a national magazine in 1801, protesting the increasing marginalization of the Bible in the classroom, arguing, “Why then, if these new books for children must be retained, as they will be, should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a school book?”<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-38" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[38]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-39"></a>When the Engel v. Vitale case was decided, an estimated 75% of the school systems in the South had religious services and Bible readings.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-39" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[39]</a></p><h3 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="Employment"></a><a name="employment.2c_enrollment_and_expenditures"></a>Employment, enrollment and expenditures</h3><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) provides the following selected data:</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-40"></a>In fall 2008, about 74.1 million people were enrolled in American schools and colleges.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-40" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[40]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In 2008, approximately 4.6 million people were employed as elementary and secondary school teachers or as college faculty, in full-time equivalents. A total of 5.2 million were employed in other professional, administrative, and support staff at educational institutions. In the fall of 2008, there were a projected 15.3 public school pupils per teacher, down from a previous 16.4 public school pupils per teacher in 1998. The average salary for public school teachers was $50,816 in 2006–07, approximately 3 percent higher than in 1996–97, inflation adjusted.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Enrollment in public schools between 1985 and 2008 was a 29 percent increase in elementary enrollment (prekindergarten through grade 8), largely due to enrollment in prekindergarten which increased 611 percent between 1985 and 2006. Public high school enrollment saw a 20 percent increase, though it declined 8 percent from 1985 to 1990.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The percentage of young adults (25- to 29-year-olds) who had completed high school in 2008 was about the same as it was in 1998 (88 percent in both years), while the percentage of the adult population 25 years of age and over who had completed high school rose from 83 percent to 87 percent</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">College enrollment was a projected 18.2 million in fall 2008, higher than in any previous year except 2007 (table 3). College enrollment is expected to continue setting new records throughout the fall 2009 through fall 2017 period. Between fall 2007 and fall 2017, enrollment is expected to increase by 10 percent.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The number of associate's degrees was 27 percent higher in 2006–07 than in 1996–97, while the number of bachelor's degrees was 30 percent higher, with females earning 57 percent. The number of master's degrees was 44 percent higher, and the number of doctor's degrees was 32 percent higher.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Expenditures for public and private education, from prekindergarten through graduate school (excluding postsecondary schools not awarding associate's or higher degrees), are estimated at $1,017 billion for 2007–08. Expenditures of elementary and secondary schools are expected to total $631 billion, while those of degree-granting postsecondary institutions are expected to total $386 billion. Total expenditures for education are expected to amount to 7.4 percent of the gross domestic product in 2007–08, about 0.5 percentage points higher than in 1997–98.</p><h3 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="Proficiency"></a><a name="proficiency_scores"></a>Proficiency scores</h3><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The average reading proficiency score of 12th-graders was 6 points lower in 2005 than in 1992, with 12th-grade females scoring 13 points higher than males in 2005.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In 2003, 4th-graders in the United States scored better in mathematics than 13 out of 24 other participating educational systems.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In 2006, the average score of U.S. 15-year-olds in mathematics literacy was 474 (out of a possible 1,000), which was lower than the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average of 498.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The average score of 15-year-olds in the United States in science literacy was lower than the average score in 16 of the other 29 OECD countries.</p><h3 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="educational_technology"></a><a name="Technology"></a>Educational Technology</h3><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The number of computers in public schools has increased. In 2005, the average public school contained 154 instructional computers, compared with 90 in 1998. One useful technological advance that has come to classrooms following the introduction of computers has been connections to the<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/internet" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Internet</a>. The percentage of instructional rooms with access to the Internet increased from 51 percent in 1998 to 94 percent in 2005.</p><h2 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="Quality"></a><a name="quality_of_modern_american_education"></a>Quality of modern American education</h2><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-41"></a><a name="cite_ref-42"></a>Many have voiced concern that the level of education in America has fallen, both academically and morally. The 1983 report,<span> </span><i>A Nation At Risk</i><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-41" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[41]</a><span> </span>sent alarm throughout the educational system, that the nation's schools were exhibiting a serious failure to educate, though some of the data is disputable. The report led to energetic reform efforts, but they are criticized by some as showing little overall improvement, despite federal K-12 education spending growing from $16 billion in 1980 to nearly $72 billion in 2007. E.D. Hirsch Jr. of<span> </span><i>Education Week,</i>, states that "the best single gauge of overall national school effectiveness—the National Assessment of Educational Progress reading test of 12th graders—has remained flat, and has even declined slightly", and sees a lack of emphasis upon Elementary school education.E.D. Hirsch Jr.,<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-42" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[42]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-43"></a>Home schooling is seen by many parents as enabling a better education for their children, while others look to charter schools. A 20/20 report by John Stossel argues that public schools are a monopoly which subsidizes an inferior standard of education than that which competitive school systems produce.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-43" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[43]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-44"></a><a name="cite_ref-45"></a><a name="cite_ref-46"></a>As incentives to correct sliding academic scores increase, so has the incidence of cheating by educators.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-44" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[44]</a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-45" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[45]</a><span> </span>Investigations in Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, Virginia and elsewhere in 2010 year have pointed to cheating by educators tampering with children’s standardized tests. After Economist Steven D. Levitt and a colleague studied answer sheets from Chicago public schools after the introduction of high-stakes testing in the 1990s, he concluded that 4 percent to 5 percent of elementary school teachers cheat.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-46" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[46]</a></p><h3 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="Various"></a><a name="various_modern_education_statistics"></a>Various modern education statistics</h3><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-47"></a>America’s top math students rank 25th out of 30 countries when compared with top students elsewhere in the world.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-47" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[47]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-48"></a>The national high school graduation rate is only 70 percent, with states ranging from a high of 84 percent in Utah to a low of 54 percent in South Carolina.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-48" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[48]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-49"></a>2,500 educators (three for every school day) from 2001 through 2005 were punished for sexual misconduct, 80 percent of those being to students.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-49" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[49]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-50"></a>In 1940, teachers listed the following concerns (in order of magnitude) that interfered with a child's education: (a) talking out of turn; (b) chewing gum; (c) making noise; (d) running in the halls; (e) getting out of line; (f) wearing improper clothing and; (g) not putting paper in the wastebasket. Today, teachers rank the following concerns (in order of magnitude) which interfere with a child's education: (a) drug abuse; (b) alcohol abuse; (c) teen pregnancy; (d) suicide; (e) rape; (f) robbery and: (g) assault.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-50" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[50]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-51"></a>A 2009 survey of almost 30,000 high school students nationwide found that 30% admitted to stealing from a store within the past year (19 percent who attend religious schools). 23% said they stole from a parent or relative. More than 83% stated they lied to a parent about something significant. 42 confessed that they sometimes lied to save money (up from 395 in 2006). 64 percent had cheated on a test in the past year (up from 60 percent two years earlier) and 38 percent had cheated more than once. More than 36% had used the Internet to plagiarize. 26% also confessed to lying on at least one survey question. However, 93% agreed, "I am satisfied with my own ethics and character," and 77% affirmed , "When it comes to doing what is right, I am better than most people I know."<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-51" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[51]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-52"></a><a name="cite_ref-53"></a>Nearly half (47 percent) of college freshmen enrolled in 2005 had earned an average grade of A in high school, compared to 2-in-10 (20 percent) in 1970. The majority (79 percent) of freshmen in 1970 had an important personal objective of “developing a meaningful philosophy of life.” By 2005, the majority of freshmen (75 percent) said their primary objective was “being very well off financially.”<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-52" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[52]</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-53" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[53]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-54"></a>By 2009, nearly 66 percent of seniors in high school failed to study even six hours a week, a figure which has risen steadily since 1987.<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-54" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[54]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-55"></a>The National Survey of Student Engagement found in 2009 that 62 percent of college students studied 15 hours a week or less, yet they took home primarily As and Bs on their report cards.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-55" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[55]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-56"></a>From 1960 to 2010 the number of hours that the average college student - off all ability levels and from liberal arts to masters colleges - studies each week has been steadily dropping. In 1961 The average student at a four-year college studied about 24 hours a week versus an average of just 14 hours today. The greatest decline in student study time took place between 1961 and 1981, before computers became common in colleges. The researchers suggest the cause is the growing power of students, and the unwillingness of professors to challenge them.<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-56" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[56]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-57"></a><a name="cite_ref-58"></a>Of 100 colleges and universities graded on their general education requirements by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), 42 institutions received an D or F for requiring two or fewer subjects, while 25 of them received an F for requiring one or no subjects. Only 5 institutions received an A for requiring six general education subjects. Average tuition and fees at the 11 schools that require no subjects was $37,700; average tuition at the five schools that require six subjects is $5,400.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-57" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[57]</a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-58" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[58]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-59"></a>Enrollment has increased 70.6 percent since 1990, from 135,000 to 230,000, at the 102 Evangelical schools belonging to the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-59" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[59]</a><span> </span>.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-60"></a>During the same period, enrollments at public colleges increased by 12.8 percent, and at private colleges the increase was 28 percent. USA Today Dec. 14. 2005 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-60" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[60]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-61"></a>The average ACT (American College Testing) score of homeschooled students in 2009 was higher than the national average.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-61" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[61]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-62"></a>In a nationwide study conducted by Dr. Brian D. Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute, Homeschoolers were found to have scored 34-39 percentile points higher than the norm on standardized achievement tests.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-62" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[62]</a></p><h2 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="Ideology"></a><a name="ideology_in_modern_education"></a>Ideology in modern education</h2><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-63"></a><a name="cite_ref-64"></a><a name="cite_ref-65"></a><a name="cite_ref-66"></a><a name="cite_ref-67"></a><a name="cite_ref-68"></a>In addition to purely academic teaching, education forms a part in developing a moral and political worldview. In many countries formal religious instruction is part of public education, while the<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/united_states" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">United States</a>, which holds to<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/separation_of_church_and_state" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">separation of church and state</a>, no longer formally engages in such. However, it is argued by<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/conservatives" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">conservatives</a><span> </span>that the modern degree of exclusion of religious belief from the State was not the historical norm.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-63" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[63]</a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-64" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[64]</a><span> </span>One example invoked in support of this contention is that an estimated 75 percent of the school systems in the South had religious services and Bible readings as late as 1962, when in<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=engel_versus_vitale&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>Engel versus Vitale</i></a>, the U.S.<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=supreme_court&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Supreme Court</a><span> </span>decided that school-sponsored prayer was unconstitutional.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-65" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[65]</a><span> </span>It is also argued that it is impossible to completely separate an educational system from moral beliefs,<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-66" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[66]</a><span> </span>and that the modern divorcement of religion from education constitutes an official "establishment of a religion of secularism" - a term used by U.S.<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=supreme_court&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Supreme Court</a><span> </span>justice Potter Stewart in dissenting from the decision rendered on June 17, 1963 in<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=abington_school_versus_schempp&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>Abington School versus Schempp</i></a>, which outlawed State-sponsored Bible reading in public schools.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-67" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[67]</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-68" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[68]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-69"></a><a name="cite_ref-70"></a><a name="cite_ref-71"></a>Education in America, especially as its higher level, is typically seen by conservatives as promoting liberalism and helping to promote<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=moral_degeneration&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">moral degeneration</a>. A (disputed) study showed that 50% of American college faculty identified themselves as Democrats and only 11% as Republicans (with 33% being Independent, and 5% identifying themselves with another party). 72% described themselves as "to the left of center," including 18% who were strongly left. Only 15% described themselves as right of center, including only 3% who were "strongly right."<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-69" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[69]</a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-70" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[70]</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-71" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[71]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Additionally, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute conducted extensive surveys in 2006 and 2007 of 14,000 college freshmen and seniors at fifty colleges nationwide, aimed at determining the impact a college education has on civic knowledge. The study resulted in the average freshman and the average senior scoring just over 50% on a sixty-question multiple-choice exam on fundamental knowledge of America’s history and institutions. An additional survey of 2,508 American adults resulted in the average college graduate scoring 57% in a thirty-three-question basic civics test, correctly answering only four questions more than the average high school graduate.</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-72"></a>While scores indicated a college education resulted in little advance in knowledge of American history and institutions, an often significant increase in favoring liberal ideology was seen over those who were not college graduates. In addition, those with the highest degrees were the most liberal.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-72" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[72]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">James Piereson, in analyzing changes in higher education in America, comments on the growth of the<span> </span><i>liberal university</i>, and which was then displaced by the<span> </span><i>left university</i><span> </span>during the revolutionary years of the mid-1960s to the early 1970s, with its alterations becoming institutionalized in the years that followed. Some of the noted resultant changes are that,</p><blockquote class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #555555;">single-sex colleges all but disappeared; college regulation of student morals disappeared as well; government regulation of employment expanded, putting pressure on institutions to hire women and minorities for faculty positions; the line between teaching a subject matter and advocating political positions was blurred or even eliminated altogether as the new campus radicalism asserted that all teaching is political in nature; the liberal underpinnings of academic culture--the freedom to teach and conduct research--were attacked and eroded in the name of political correctness; the unifying character of the humanities was subverted and discredited when they were said to represent an oppressive tradition formed by white European males; new fields, usually with ideological preconceptions, were created outside the traditional departments and areas of study, thus expanding the positions available for radical faculty; serious academic requirements, including foreign language proficiency, were softened or eliminated.</span></blockquote><blockquote class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-73"></a><span style="color: #555555;">...the radicals of the 1960s went further to launch a wholesale attack on American culture and the middle-class way of life, which they condemned as repressive and, worse, boring. The cultural radicalism of the 1960s, derived from the Beats of the 1950s, was so appealing to the new campus left because it promised something beyond political reform--namely, a different way of life with a revised set of morals...<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-73" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[73]</a></span></blockquote><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-74"></a><a name="cite_ref-75"></a><a name="cite_ref-76"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=harvard&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Harvard</a><span> </span>University, which has produced four students who ran for President since 1978, two successfully, is one of many universities that has been seen by conservatives as engaging in purposely promoting<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=politically_correct&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">politically correct</a><span> </span>liberal ideology, and censuring those who oppose it. One author, John LeBoutillier, a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, charged that his Alma Mater harbors "a bunch of liberal hypocrites bent on destroying the very system which allows them to live so comfortably", and is turning out well-trained technocrats "woefully short on conscience".<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-74" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[74]</a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-75" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[75]</a><span> </span>After 35 years at Harvard, Harvard law professor Richard D. Parker noted, “On this faculty, there are around 100 professors or assistant professors, and of that 100, I think you’d have to estimate there would be maybe eight registered Republicans." “I’m a registered Independent…and there’s on one else in the 100 who would identify as a populist.”<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-76" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[76]</a>/</p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-77"></a>Noted conservative author David Horowitz, in contending against the radical politicization of universities, expresses that during the last several decades a significant transformation in America has overall occurred at the university level, with the rebellious ethos of the<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/vietnam" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Vietnam</a><span> </span>era becoming part of the college curriculum. As part of this, multitudes of faculty members forsook purely academic pursuits to engage in overtly promoting their liberal agenda, with certain professors even sounding like terrorists, and who were largely, if not uniformly, supported for doing so, while some colleges also paid roving radicals to teach, due to their ideology. Horowitz comments that this "intellectual movement created has been so powerful that it has affected the educational philosophy of the institutions themselves."<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-77" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[77]</a></p><p class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="cite_ref-78"></a>A potential further issue is that of the effect of subsidizing education. In his 2010 State of the Union address, President<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/obama" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Obama</a><span> </span>called for providing complete "forgiveness" of student loans to students who spend 10 years (with 120 continuous payments) employed in public service. This would be an extension of the 2007 College Cost Reduction Act, which took effect in July 2009. Public service includes government and non-profit work, including those inculcating liberal ideology, but excludes employment in religious instruction or proselytization.<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_note-78" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">[78]</a><span> </span>In addition to increasing the<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=national_debt&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">national debt</a>, this provision may be seen as being conducive to further promoting the liberal entitlement mentality, and populating government with those who often manifest and propagate the same.</p><h2 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="External"></a><a name="external_links"></a>External links</h2><ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.earstohear.net/separation/education.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Public Education.</a><span> </span>Various conservative sources.</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.org/revealingstatistics.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Revealing Statistics, or,<span> </span><i>Costs of the war against God</i></a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/newageed.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Education and New Age Humanism, Probe Ministries</a></p></li></ul><h2 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="Note"></a><a name="note"></a>Note</h2><ol style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-28"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-28" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Unitarianism at the time was a means of being called Christian and overall upholding a good degree of Biblical morality, while denying the divinity of Christ and plenary Divine inspiration of Scripture. It has since become a stronghold of modern immoral liberals.</p></li></ol><h2 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="References"></a><a name="references"></a>References</h2><ol style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-0"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-0" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.infoplease.com/askeds/oldest-school-america.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.infoplease.com/askeds/oldest-school-america.html</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-1"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="http://peacebyjesus.net/mass.gen.laws.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://peacebyjesus.net/Mass.Gen.Laws.html</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-2"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-2" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/wiki/index.php?title=cotton_mather&action=edit&redlink=1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Mather, Cotton</a>,<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.spurgeon.org/%7Ephil//mather/edkids.htm" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">The Education of Children</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-3"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-3" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Ralph Walker,<span> </span><i>Old Readers</i>, in Early American Life, October, 1980, p. 54.</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-4"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-4" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Samuel Eliot Morison,<span> </span><i>The Intellectual Life of New England</i><span> </span>(Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1965), pp. 71, 72.</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-5"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-5" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/19thcentury1800.htm" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Kingwood college library, 1800-1810,<span> </span><i>Education</i></a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-6"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-6" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Headmaster of The Pilgrim Academy, Egg Harbor City, New Jersey</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-7"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-7" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/education-in-colonial-america" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Education in Colonial America</a><i>, Freeman ideas on liberty, September 1983 • Volume: 33 • Issue: 9.</i></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-8"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-8" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.firstprinciplesjournal.com/articles.aspx?article=1467" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>Praising the Puritans</i></a>, first Principles, Thu. 2nd December, 2010.</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-9"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-9" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/education-in-colonial-america" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/education-in-colonial-america</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-10"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-10" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.britannica.com/ebchecked/topic/482597/history-of-publishing/28621/controls-over-printing?anchor=ref398039," style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>history of publishing</i></a><span> </span>Encyclopædia Britannica Online</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-11"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-11" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Carl and Jessica Bridenbaugh, Rebels and Gentlemen (New York: Oxford University Press, 1982), p. 99</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-12"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-12" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Rousas John Rushdoony,<span> </span><i>The Messianic Character of American Education</i>, (Nutley, N.J.: The Craig Press, 1963, 1979), p. 330</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-13"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-13" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Ruth Wallis Herndon, 'Literacy among New England's transient poor, 1750-1800<i>, Journal of Social History, Vol. 29, 1996</i></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-14"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-14" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>U.S. Department of State publication,<span> </span><i>Historians on America</i></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-15"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-15" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.america.gov/st/educ-english/2008/april/20080423212501eaifas0.8516133.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.america.gov/st/educ-english/2008/April/20080423212501eaifas0.8516133.html</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-16"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-16" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Nicholas Lemann,<span> </span><i>The structure of success</i>, August, 1995</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-17"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-17" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Diane Ravitch, “Left Back A Century of Failed School Reforms” Simon & Schuster</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-18"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-18" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Lawrence A. Cremin, American Education: The Colonial Experience, 1607-1789. (New York: Evanston and London: Harper and Row, 1970), p. 40</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-19"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-19" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>PBS,<span> </span><i>The Story of American education: The Evolving Classroom'</i></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-20"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-20" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Elizabeth McEachern Wells, Divine Songs by Isaac Watts (Fairfax, Va.: Thoburn Press, 1975), p. 11</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-21"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-21" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>[(<a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://books.google.com/books?id=e9iraaaayaaj&pg=ra2-pa9&dq=henry+ould+55+have+learned+to+read+in+the+old+and+new+testaments&ei=auics7uqe4lynvvwxnih&cd=1#v=onepage&q=henry%20ould%2055%20have%20learned%20to%20read%20in%20the%20old%20and%20new%20testaments&f=false" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://books.google.com/books?id=e9IRAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA9&dq=Henry+Ould+55+have+learned+to+read+in+the+Old+and+New+Testaments&ei=auicS7uqE4LYNvvWxNIH&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Henry%20Ould%2055%20have%20learned%20to%20read%20in%20the%20Old%20and%20New%20Testaments&f=false</a><span> </span>, “Records of the Columbia Historical Society<i>, Washington, Volumes 1-2], p. 9 (Columbia Historical Society Washington, D.C.)</i></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-22"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-22" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.shalomjerusalem.com/heritage/heritage19.htm" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">The Honorable Judge Robert Ulrich Chief Justice, Missouri Court Of Appeals, Western District</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-23"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-23" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.mcguffeyreaders.com/history.htm" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.mcguffeyreaders.com/history.htm</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-24"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-24" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/15577" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Henry H. Vail,<span> </span><i>A History of the McGuffey Readers</i></a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-25"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-25" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1469" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">McGuffey's Reader</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-26"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-26" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Cranney, A. Garr, 'Noah Webster and William Holmes McGuffey: The Men and Their Contributions to Reading</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-27"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-27" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Historian Henry Steele Commager</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-29"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-29" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Stephen V. Monsma, J. Christopher Soper, “The Challenge of Pluralism: Church and State in Five Democracies”, The Unites States, cp. 2, p. 21</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-30"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-30" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Mann, Twelfth Annual Report for 1848 of the Secretary of the Board of Education of Massachusetts. Reprinted in Blau 183-84</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-31"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-31" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.famousamericans.net/horacemann" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.famousamericans.net/horacemann</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-32"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-32" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>William Jeynes, “American educational history: school, society, and the common good,” p. 149, 150</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-33"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-33" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><i>The Bible." American History Through Literature,</i><span> </span>Ed. Janet Gabler-Hover and Robert Sattelmeyer. Gale Cengage, 2006. eNotes.com. 2006. 8 Nov, 2010</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-34"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-34" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/harvard_lawes.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/HARVARD_LAWES.HTML</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-35"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-35" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Ringenberg, 1984; Marsden and Longfield, 1962; Ronald W. Fagan and Raymond G. DeVries,<span> </span><i>The practice of sociology at Christian liberal arts colleges and universities</i>; The American Sociologist, June, 1994</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-36"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-36" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/theodorero101963.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/theodorero101963.html</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-37"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-37" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Daniel Lattier,<span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/200-year-old-warning-about-education-america" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">A 200 Year-Old Warning about Education in America</a>, Mon. 20th July, 2015.</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-38"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-38" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Fisher Ames- Bible in the classroom. Notices of the life & Character of Fisher Ames; Boston: T.B. West & Co. 1809 pp. 134-135</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-39"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-39" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Colliers 1961 Yearbook p. 224</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-40"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-40" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Projections of Education Statistics to 2017; and unpublished projections and estimates.</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-41"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-41" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/natatrisk/risk.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>A Nation At Risk</i>, April 1983</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-42"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-42" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><i>An Epoch-Making Report, But What About the Early Grades?</i>, edweek.org, April 23, 2008</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-43"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-43" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=1500338" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">John Stossel's<span> </span><i>Stupid in America</i>, How Lack of Choice Cheats Our Kids Out of a Good Education</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-44"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-44" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.usatoday.com/cleanprint/?unique=1312294629974" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>When test scores seem too good to believe</i></a>, USA Today, 3/17/2011</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-45"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-45" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.ajc.com/news/investigation-into-aps-cheating-1001375.html?printarticle=y" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>Investigation into APS cheating finds unethical behavior across every level</i>, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a>, 7/6/2011</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-46"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-46" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>New York Times,<span> </span><i>Under Pressure, Teachers Tamper With Tests</i>, June 10, 2010</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-47"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-47" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Strong American Schools analysis of data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Based on data from Volume 2, table 6.2a (p. 227)</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-48"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-48" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Education Week. (2007, June 12). Diplomas Count 2007: Ready for What? Preparing Students for College, Careers, and Life after High School</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-49"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-49" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,303780,00.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Associated Press investigation</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-50"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-50" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>William Kilpatrick; “Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong, pg. 64. (Simon & Schuster, 1992)</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-51"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-51" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://charactercounts.org/programs/reportcard" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>The Ethics of American Youth</i>, Josephson Institute</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-52"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-52" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007, (Table 274)</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-53"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-53" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.census.gov/press-release/www/releases/archives/miscellaneous/007871.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/miscellaneous/007871.html</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-54"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-54" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Survey data gathered by the Cooperative Institutional Research Program, or CIRP. Reported by the Boston Globe; Home / Ideas, "What happened to studying?", July 4, 2010</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-55"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-55" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://nsse.iub.edu/nsse_2009_results" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://nsse.iub.edu/NSSE_2009_Results</a>. Reported by the Boston Globe; Home / Ideas, "What happened to studying?", July 4, 2010</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-56"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-56" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>According to time-use surveys analyzed by professors Philip Babcock, at the University of California Santa Barbara, and Mindy Marks, at the University of California Riverside. Reported by the Boston Globe; Home / Ideas, "What happened to studying?", July 4, 2010</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-57"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-57" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Walter E. Williams , professor of economics at George Mason University</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-58"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-58" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://whatwilltheylearn.com/criteria" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://whatwilltheylearn.com/criteria</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-59"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-59" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Higher Education Research Institute at the UCLA; USA Today Dec. 14, 2005</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-60"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-60" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=22361" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">CULTURE DIGEST,<span> </span><i>UCLA study says major media outlets are liberal; Christian colleges enjoy growth spurt</i></a>, Dec 28, 2005</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-61"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-61" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090827/avg-act-score-of-homeschoolers-beats-nat-l-avg/index.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>Avg. ACT Score of Homeschoolers Beats Nat'l Avg.</i></a>, Aug. 27 2009</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-62"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-62" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090811/study-homeschoolers-scoring-well-above-public-school-peers/index.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Study: Homeschoolers Scoring 'Well Above' Public School Peers</a>, Aug. 11 2009</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-63"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-63" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.shalomjerusalem.com/heritage/heritage19.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Honorable Judge Robert Ulrich Chief Justice, Missouri Court Of Appeals, Western District,<span> </span><i>Were the Founding Fathers Christian?</i></a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-64"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-64" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.naacd.com/issues_judicial.htm" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.naacd.com/issues_judicial.htm</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-65"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-65" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Colliers 1961 Yearbook p. 224</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-66"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-66" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/causeeffect.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Cause and Effect: The Bible, the Educational System, and Its Influence</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-67"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-67" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.naacd.com/issues_judicial.htm" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.naacd.com/issues_judicial.htm</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-68"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-68" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Stephen V. Monsma, J. Christopher Soper,<span> </span><i>The Challenge of Pluralism: Church and State in Five Democracies</i>, p. 27</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-69"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-69" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>North American Academic Study Survey (NAASS) of students, faculty and administrators at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada 1999. The Berkeley Electronic Press</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-70"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-70" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.bepress.com/forum/vol3/iss1/art2" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.bepress.com/forum/vol3/iss1/art2</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-71"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-71" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/17963/liberal_bias_in_our_schools.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/17963/liberal_bias_in_our_schools.html</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-72"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-72" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/2010/major_findings_finding1.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Intercollegiate Studies Institute,</a><span> </span><i>The Shaping of the American Mind.</i></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-73"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-73" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.weeklystandard.com/utilities/printer_preview.asp?idarticle=6120&r=163e436dc8vi" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">James Piereson,<span> </span><i>The Left University</i>, part VI</a>, The Weekly Standard, October 3, 2005 Volume 011, Issue 03.</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-74"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-74" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>Time magazine, People, Aug. 21, 1978</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-75"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-75" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>LeBoutillier,<span> </span><i>Harvard hates America</i><span> </span>(1978)</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-76"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-76" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.academia.org/harvard-still-hates-america" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">http://www.academia.org/harvard-still-hates-america</a></p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-77"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-77" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span>David Horowitz,<span> </span><i>The professors: the 101 most dangerous academics in America</i>, pp. 9-15</p></li><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;"><a name="cite_note-78"></a><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/education_in_the_united_states#cite_ref-78" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">↑</a><span> </span><a class="western" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150918223231/http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/e8-24922.pdf" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Section 685.219—Public Service Loan, p. 15.27</a></p></li></ol><h2 class="western" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="bibliography"></a>Bibliography</h2><ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><li><p class="western" style="background: transparent; break-after: auto; break-before: auto; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.06in; margin-top: 0.02in; text-align: justify;">David Horowitz,<span> </span><i>The professors: the 101 most dangerous academics in America</i>.</p></li></ul>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-50654078722030510702022-12-16T16:24:00.002-05:002022-12-16T16:24:36.649-05:00Pastor Oden Fong gives His Testimony<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/zfYSB9z746o" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zfYSB9z746o/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe><script src="moz-extension://d51794b7-ca7e-4fc1-80e2-1fd4872f6250/js/app.js" type="text/javascript"></script>PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793303278224352953.post-24290682649112771432022-10-24T18:18:00.000-04:002022-10-24T18:18:07.786-04:00Scriptural substantiation on the Trinity, in a systematic study, by the grace of God <p> </p>In
supplementation to having <a href="https://peacebyjesus.net/deityofchrist.html">
already abundantly shown (in a work on mine own) that Jesus is God by
nature - to whom are ascribed many uniquely divine attributes, titles
and glory, </a> and "from everlasting," I want provide more on the Trinity, from my own study, and again, based upon Scriptural substantiation, logic and reasoning, which itself is Scriptural. <div class="b2"><p></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">And
God said, Let US make man in our image, after OUR likeness: and let
them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his
own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created
he them. (Genesis 1:26,27) </span></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">And the
Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of US , to know good and
evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of
life, and eat, and live for ever: (Genesis 3:22) </span></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">And
the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one
language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained
from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let US go down, and
there confound their language, that they may not understand one
another’s speech. (Genesis 11:6-7) </span></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">Also
I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will
go for US ? Then said I, Here am I; send me. (Isaiah 6:8) </span></p><p>
Here we have God referring to Himself in the plural, as creator, and
while the trinitarian denialist may argue that this refers to angels,
yet<b> in NO PLACE is any creative activity ascribed to them or to any created being, not to anyone else but God. </b></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">Thus
saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I
am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens <b>alone</b>; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; (Isaiah 44:24) </span></p><p> Yet we are plainly told that, </p><p></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by
him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3) </span></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in
earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
(Colossians 1:16) </span></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the
worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of
his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he
had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the
Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:2-3) </span></p><p> Moreover, concerning
"Whom shall I send, and who will go for US ?," (Isaiah 6:8) in context
this refers to Isaiah seeing "the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and
lifted up, and his train filled the temple Above it stood the seraphims:
each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain
he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto
another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD [yehôvâh] of hosts:
the whole earth is full of his glory. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am
undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a
people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of
hosts." (Isaiah 6:1-5) </p><p> In this context the Lord asks "Whom shall
I send, and who will go for US" to which Isaiah answers, "Here am I;
send me," (v. 8) and who is charged to tell the people of the judgment
of God, that, "Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed,
but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears
heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear
with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be
healed." (Isaiah 6:9-10)</p><p> from here we will fast forward to John
12:34b and following in which we a very fundamental question is asked,
"who is this Son of man?" To which Jesus responds with the principle
that one must obey the light one has to receive more light, vs.
darkness:)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">Then Jesus said unto them,
Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light,
lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth
not whither he goeth. 36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that
ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and
departed, and did hide himself from them. </span> For indeed, in
judgment, "Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel,
the Saviour." (Isaiah 45:15) With the reason being that, </p><p></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">But
though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not
on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which
he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm
of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because
that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their
heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with
their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said
Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. (John 12:37-41)</span></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;"> </span>
It is the last verse that is particularly relevant to the subject of
the Trinity, for it tells us that the Lord that Isaiah/Esaias saw when
he was given this prophecy of judgment was the Lord Jesus, for "These
things said Esaias, when <b>he saw his glory, and spake of him</b>, thus
answering the question, "who is this Son of man?" Which Jesus, being
the brightness of God s glory, and the express image of His person
proceeds to a affirm, declaring, "He that believeth on me, believeth not
on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that
sent me." (John 12:44-45) </p><p> How does this work to establish the
Trinity? By first disallowing God from being an absolute unity, since
Scripture, which cannot be broken or contradict itself, cannot declare
that God created the universe" by Myself" and that all things were made
by the Word/the Son; "and without him was not any thing made that was
made" (John 1:1-3) unless "by Myself" at least means the Father with and
thru Son.</p><p> But what of the Spirit? For this we have the statement of Job that, </p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">The Spirit [rûach] of God hath made me, and the breath [neshâmâh] of the Almighty hath given me life. (Job 33:4) </span></p><p>
While it is true that the word for "Spirit" (rûach) also can be
translated means "breath" or "wind," which it is in a minority of time,
and the word for breath here (neshâmâh) also can be translated Spirit,
and thus it depends upon the context. And it was the rûach of God that
made Job and over 200 times rûach contextually refers to the
searching, convicting, empowering, revelatory Spirit of God (like as
"And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that
he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." -
Gen 6:3; "And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou
shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man" - 1Sa
10:6) or the spirit of man (I call to remembrance my song in the night: I
commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search - Psa
77:6). </p><p></p><p> And when "neshâmâh" is used in such contexts as
Proverbs 20:27 "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching
all the inward parts of the belly" then it is obviously not referring to
breath, but as with 1 Corinthians 2:11, "For what man knoweth the
things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the
things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God," it is referring to
part of the triune nature of man, as in "And the very God of peace
sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body
be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1
Thessalonians 5:23) </p><p> Yet while it was the rûach of God that made
Job, the argument is made that the spirit lacks personhood, thus
reducing the Spirit to simply be an active instrumental force, or
energy, yet like as Christ is revealed as actually being incarnated,
with feelings, versus being an entity whose appearance did not conform
to what He materially was, so also the revelation of the Spirit shows
that He possesses attributes of personality. </p><p> First, not only are
we told that "the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with
man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and
twenty years" (Gen 6:3) but that the Spirit who searcheth all things, (1
Corinthians 2:10) can be grieved, thus having emotions. </p><p></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) </span></p><p> Likewise, He can be lied to, as God: </p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">But
Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the
Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it
remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in
thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou
hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (Acts 5:3-4) </span></p><p> Next,
not only is the Spirit called "He," but that He gives gifts according
to His will But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit,
dividing to every man severally as he will [willing, disposed]. (1
Corinthians 12:11) </p><p> Moreover, speaks and intercedes for those born of Him, indicative of will:</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">Likewise
the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should
pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26) </span></p><p> And the Spirit, together with the Father and the Son, are together those in whose are together in the baptism of Jesus, </p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">And
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and,
lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from
heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
(Matthew 3:16-17) </span></p><p> Note however, that as in the marital union of biological men and women, though both are human by nature, yet on earth there are positional and functional distinctions between them, so also as regards the Father, Son and Spirit, while sharing the same nature, yet their are positional and functional distinctions, as the Father is the head of Christ,(1 Corinthians 11:3; and who in turn sends the Spirit with and from the Father, (John 15:26) and tells the Spirit what to say from Him. John 16:13-15)<br /></p><p>And while Christ is now functioning as Lord of the universe as a result of humbling Himself in obedience, even the death of the cross, yet after He puts all His enemies under His feet, (Acts 2:33-36) and to whom every knee shall bow, (Philippians 2:8-11) then He will deliver all back to the Father so that He, as God, will rule over all. (1 Corinthians 15:24-28) To the glory of God. <br /></p><p>Finally, while there is more, the
Spirit, as one of the "Us," and Our" of Genesis and Isaiah, are together
as the name one is baptized into, </p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;">Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19) </span></p><p> And together as those whom those born of the Spirit are blessed by, as persons bestowing things:</p><p></p><p><span style="color: #5e11a6;"><b>The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost,</b> be with you all. Amen. </span></p><p> Thus not only is God as an absolute unity contradicted by Scripture clearly revealing to<a href="https://peacebyjesus.net/deityofchrist.html"> the deity of Christ</a>, but also the Spirit of Christ is not only show to be Divine, but testifying to His personhood. </p><p>
But only those of penitent, heart-purifying, regenerating effectual
faith, (Acts 10:43-47; 15:7-9) which is imputed for righteousness,
(Romans 4:5) and is shown in baptism and following the Lord, (Acts
2:38-47; Jn. 10:27,28) who was sent by the Father to be the savior of
the world. (1 John 4:14) can or will know of this grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost to any actual real degree. </p><p>And by which faith the redeemed soul is "accepted in the Beloved" and
positionally seated with Him in Heaven, on His account, glory to God.
(Ephesians 1:6; 2:6; cf. Phil. 3:21) And those who die in that obedient
faith will go to be forever with Him at death or His return (Phil 1:23;
2Cor. 5:8 [“we”]; Heb, 12:22,23; 1Cor. 15:51ff'; 1Thess. 4:17) In
contrast to those who were never born of the Spirit or who terminally
fall away. (Gal. 5:1-4; Heb. 3:12; 10:25-39)
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<a href="https://freerepublic.com/focus/religion/4102860/posts?page=280#280" target="_self">280</a>
posted on <b><span class="date">10/24/2022, 10:24:52 AM</span></b>
by <a href="https://freerepublic.com/~daniel1212/" title="Since 2007-06-26">daniel1212</a>
PeaceByJesushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08754948549904895669noreply@blogger.com0