ANSWERS For The Faith » -Bible Issues

-Candidate Criticized for Having a Bible Displayed in Ad?

Dr. D — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:12:43 +0000

A reporter for the Raleigh N.C. News and Observer criticized the Republican candidate for Lt. Governor for having a Bible clearly visible behind him on a bookshelf in a campaign ad.

The accused- Dan Forest commented on the supposed MSM controversy:

(the newspaper) “ridiculed my recent television commercial because I had a Bible on the shelf behind me in the camera shot.”

“I am not ashamed of my faith, nor should I be. I did have a Bible in clear view of the camera in my television ad, and in the ad I openly profess my belief in Judeo-Christian values. I stand by that decision because that is who I am.”

Response: Now Bibles are controversial? Really? It is amazing where the political correctness of the MSM has taken us. So many now in the main stream media are secularists and over sensitive to any hints of religious display –especially Christian. Remember a few years ago a Mike Huckabee ad was criticized because the bookcase seem to look like a cross in the background of one his ads. If a book on Darwin was on the self presumably no one from the media would have been offended and said a thing.

There isn’t supposed to be a religious ‘test’ for offices in America according to the US Constitution but to many in the MSM ones faith should not even be mentioned or displayed? In fact it is getting to be rather obvious that serious Christians really bother many in the press and that prejudice definitely shows up in their treatment of candidates. The time may come in America when sadly being a Christian may be a political liability? But that time is not now no matter what the PC MSM may think. *Top

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-An Arab Pastor’s Perspective: "Need to Learn the Bible"

Dr. D — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:29:14 +0000

(Image: Christian Post)

We often read the comments of radical Muslims in the Middle East and we hear the defiance of the Israeli’s but seldom have the opportunity to receive the testimony of a Palestinian Christian pastor in the midst of it all in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

Steven Khoury, a Jerusalem-born pastor, could be bitter and radical considering all of the persecution he and his Palestinian Christian congregation has endured. Can you imagine going to Sunday services in a church that routinely has buckets of water in the aisles in order to put out any Molotov cocktails that a Muslim radical may happen to decide to throw into the congregation during worship?

Yet what is the message that he wants to convey to Western Christians? It is time to get back to the Bible and the teachings of Jesus and reflect God’s love to everyone.

*Top

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-1st Century Fragments of Gospel of Mark Found?

Dr. D — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:20:54 +0000

(P52 Fragment of John via Wikipedia)

According to Dallas Theological Seminary professor Daniel B. Wallace, a number of fragments from an early manuscript of the Gospel of Mark has been discovered that may well date from the first century A.D. (CE). It could actually end up being the earliest NT documents extant.

<<Read about it and along with my response on the Apologetica page>>

The picture to the right is of the earliest NT fragment (P52) now available of the Gospel of John. *Top

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-Jesus Never Said He Was God? –a Biblical Response

Dr. D — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 07:42:24 +0000

(Image via Wikipedia)

It has become culturally fashionable to make the claim that “Jesus never said he was God.”

Lots of folks would like to claim Jesus as their own but his divinity gets in the way. The Muslims claim Jesus was a great prophet to the Jews but far less than even their prophet Muhammad. Some Jewish folks would like to acknowledge him as an ancient Jewish rabbi teacher if they could leave out the God thing and ignore the terrible treatment many Jews have received from some of his misguided followers over the centuries.

Even Hindu and eastern gurus like to make the claim that Jesus traveled to India and learned everything from them. Then there is the strange case of Richard Dawkins who wants to claim that Jesus Would Be An Atheist Today.

The real problem is that the Bible gets in the way and supports the divinity of Jesus. Not only that, but Jesus clearly indicated on a number of different occasions that he was the “I am” God of the Old testament. The response of those who heard him at the time confirms it. <<Read the rest on my Apologetica page>> *Top

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-Santorum: “We Honor Those Relationships But We Don’t Call Them Marriage”

Dr. D — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:47:49 +0000

(Image via Wikipedia)

Rick Santorum is running for the GOP nomination for President of the US. Over the weekend, Senator Santorum was called out by Fox News host Shepard Smith to catch up with the rest of the nation and accept same-sex marriage. Here’s Santorum’s reply:

“everybody is entitled to live the life they want” … “what we’re talking about is changing laws.”

“The question is whether we should change the laws of this country to reflect a different value structure. What we’re talking about here are different values. We have Judeo-Christian values that are based on Biblical truth and truth that can be acclaimed and resolved through reason. And, those truths don’t change just because people’s attitudes may change.”

“People are allowed to love a lot of different people and a lot of different, and we honor those relationships, but we don’t call them marriage and we don’t treat them like marriage.”

Santorum concluded by explaining that, “Family is the foundation of our society and marriage is the glue that holds that family together. That’s not being against anybody, that’s being for something.”

Response: Actually a very good response. It summarizes my feelings on the issue very well. I do not believe that being FOR traditional marriage between a man and a woman is a stand that is against anyone else but recognizes the importance of marriage and families as the basic building block of our society.

Our laws were originally based upon Judeo-Christian values found in the Bible whether one wants to accept them today or not. Biblical values and teachings are not up for grabs and change. We can either accept them or reject them.

This nation unfortunately is turning its back upon Biblical principles and values and society is beginning to demand that Biblical Christians go along with that change and ‘catch up.’

What is going to happen in the future to those of us who want to maintain a Biblical world view and refuse to ‘catch up?’ Unless there is a new awakening or revival in America, I shudder to think what the future will bring. Will the first amendment protect us? Already there are signs and indications that it may not entirely protect us in the future. *Top

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-Amish Beard Cutting a Laughing Matter? No and the FBI Arrests 7 Men

Dr. D — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:23:30 +0000

(Image via Wikipedia)

When you first hear about this story most people consider the Amish beard attacks to be a prank or a sick joke. It almost sounded laughable in the beginning. However when you take into consideration the traditions of the Amish this really is a serious ‘hate’ crime against an entire community and the FBI are taking it serious. What is really shocking is that it was apparently carried out by a rival Amish group.

According to the AP, the FBI raided an Amish community this morning (Wednesday) and made 7 arrests in this case:

BERGHOLZ, Ohio (AP) — Authorities raided the compound of a breakaway Amish group in eastern Ohio on Wednesday morning and arrested seven men on federal hate crime charges in hair-cutting attacks against Amish men and women.

Among those arrested were the group’s leader, Sam Mullet, and three of his sons, said Mike Tobin, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Cleveland.

Authorities have said several members of the group carried out the attacks in September and October by forcefully cutting the beards and hair of Amish men and women.

The leader of this rival Amish group, Sam Mullet says that the haircutting attacks were carried out in retaliation for the way the other Amish treated his community. According to the AP account “Cutting the hair is a highly offensive act to the Amish, who believe the Bible instructs women to let their hair grow long and men to grow beards and stop shaving once they marry.”

Response: When I first read about the beard cuttings a month or so ago I must admit that I thought the story was a joke and rather humorous. However that just demonstrates how ignorant I am of the Amish customs and culture. Also I didn’t take the time to consider how I would feel if it happened to a member of my own family.

The fact that long beards and long hair are a part of their religious beliefs changes the entire character of this crime and does potentially make it a ‘hate crime.’ Not a laughing matter at all.

Also, put yourself in their place and see how you would feel if your family was treated this way. If someone snuck into my house and cut my wife’s hair while we were sleeping I would consider it to be a serious and frightening violation indeed and we have no religious beliefs about hair. *Top

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-Does God Really help Those Who Help Themselves?

Dr. D — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:51:47 +0000

(Image by jamesomalley via Flickr)

Yesterday President Barack Obama boldly said that even God wanted to put Americans back to work, implying divine support for his ‘jobs bill.’

He was being critical of Republicans in Congress for passing a bill supporting the national motto -“In God We Trust” while more important things were being ignored:

"That’s not putting people back to work. I trust in God, but God wants to see us help ourselves by putting people back to work."

Later, White House spokesman Jay Carney responded to those who thought the President might have gone too far invoking the name of God in a political battle:

"I believe that the phrase from the Bible is ‘the Lord helps those who help themselves.’"

"I think the point the president is making is that, you know, we have it within our capacity to do the things to help the American people."

Only problem, the popular phrase is really not in the Bible and later the White House was forced to admit it.

Actually it was one of Benjamin Franklin’s favorite phrases which appeared in his 1736 almanac. It reflected his belief as a Deist that God did not intervene in earthly affairs so people needed to take the responsibility upon themselves for making a better world.

However, it didn’t originate with him, the proverb can be traced back to ancient Greece. Nevertheless this brings up the question:

Does God really help those who help themselves?

After all, there might not be a Bible reference for it and yet the teaching might still be somewhat true. So is the phase actually true to Biblical teaching anyway?

No.

The closest thing in the Bible teaches the flip side only. There are a myriad of passages which teach that the lazy or slothful should not expect any kind of blessing or help from God. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that God is going to bless those who work hard and help themselves.

Actually God is more likely to Help those who can’t help themselves or do all they can and ask for his help in the process. The popular phrase actually leaves God out of the process and seems to imply that we should expect God to go along with what ever we decide to do and bless us anyway.

Here’s two scriptures which teach nearly the opposite:

“He who trusts in himself is a fool…” –Prov. 28:26

“This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD." -Jer.17:5

So there you have it. God is more likely to help those who trust in him, seek his guidance, and then do the best they can. Those who trust and ‘help themselves’ leaving God out of the process should not expect his help after all. *Top

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