Featured Could Issac really not tell his son Jacob was wearing goat skin ? ?

[Scooter]

I don't really need to get into those discrepancies.

There are no discrepancies regarding the events of the resurrection. Just differing points of views. Let me give an example. Suppose there is a wreck at a four-way stop. There are pedestrians at each corner waiting to cross, who witness the accident. Each witness will have a different view. One person may observe one driver on his cell phone. Another witness may have seen the other driver fail to stop. Then a third observer may have seen another vehicle, not involved in the accident, swerve towards the car who failed to stop. Each person observed the same accident, but they each saw certain aspects that the other observers failed to see. Matthew, Mark and Luke's account record the same event, but from different points of views. Also, each writer was writing to a different audience for different reasons. Therefore, when all accounts are put together, we have a more complete picture of what happened that day rather than discrepancies.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

If a pastor of a SB church commits any crime, the SBC has no authority to fire that pastor. So my position is sound in that sex abuse is not a church problem, it is an individual problem.

To me, it sounds like you’re looking for excuses for inaction.

Since you’re a pastor . . .

I sincerely hope you vet people who work with children and teenagers. For example, you should be able to give us some advice on broad steps, even if you delegate the vetting to someone you trust.

I don’t care if the guy has robbed a bank. I do care if he’s abused people who depend on him.

 

[Scooter]

To me, it sounds like you’re looking for excuses for inaction.

Since you’re a pastor . . .

I sincerely hope you vet people who work with children and teenagers. For example, you should be able to give us some advice on broad steps, even if you delegate the vetting to someone you trust.

I don’t care if the guy has robbed a bank. I do care if he’s abused people who depend on him.

I'm not making excuses. I'm just telling you the SBC cannot do anything more than you or I can do if we hear about abuse. We can report claims of abuse to law enforcement and that's all the SBC can do as well.

A few years ago we began using an agency specifically set up for churches to do background checks on our youth workers. Protecting our children is our greatest concern.

And as a side note, my church is an independent Baptist church. We are not members of the SBC.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Isaac's careless actions were included despite him being one of the great figures in the Bible.

But other than fathering 12 sons by 4 different woman who became the leaders of the 12 tribes, and only one daughter Dinah is mentioned,

Isaac son Jacob didn’t do anything great,

he didn’t bridge the differences of warring factions, he didn’t show personal courage, he didn’t show an act of kindness to someone in a vulnerable position.

* okay, maybe it was courage to rejoin his brother. This is the part where he sends herds of animals ahead as a peace offering. But this brother to brother reunion only briefly happens. After that, Isaac Jacob agrees to go to a certain place, but skulks away to another place!

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Each person observed the same accident, but they each saw certain aspects that the other observers failed to see. Matthew, Mark and Luke's account record the same event, but from different points of views. Also, each writer was writing to a different audience for different reasons.

So, maybe we read the verses in more loosey-goosey fashion. And I agree with this.

For example, there is the one or several verses in which Jesus says the one unforgivable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. And many individual Christians have been tormented by this. Please, please don’t see it .. this directly, this whatever.

Or, the part in Mark 4:12 in which Jesus is shown saying that he speaks in parable so that those outside the circle WILL NOT understand. To me, the parables have always been pretty straight forward. And for dramatic reasons, the disciplines are depicted as being dumber than a box of rocks.

Again, focus more on the broad story of sacrifice [or maybe taking a personal risk], forgiveness, redemption, etc. If I had done that, I might have remained a Christian.

Although I think things have worked out pretty well. I try to help other people.

And one of my big goals here at Agnostic Forum is to help provide a soft landing to people leaving a heavy dose of religion.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

This is the title of “Schindler’s List” in the UK. And I think “Ark” makes for a better title. It’s a story about someone risking their life for the benefit of other people.

And pulling it off.

And you’re not always successful. For example, there’s a rock song by Gordon Lightfoot which has the line “Heroes often fail.” But not always! And that’s what you’re trying to achieve.

 

[Scooter]

For example, there is the one or several verses in which Jesus says the one unforgivable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. And many individual Christians have been tormented by this. Please, please don’t see it .. this directly, this whatever.

No Christian needs to worry about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to reject Jesus Christ. It is the Spirit that convicts a person of their sin and shows them their need for Christ. When a person ignores the Spirit and denies his/her need for salvation, that is the blasphemy that is unforgivable and sends a person to Hell.

 

[Scooter]

Isaac didn’t do anything great,

I believe you are confusing Isaac with Jacob. Jacob (Israel) fathered the twelve tribes. Apparently, he did something right. A nation is named for him. Millions of Jewish people have identified with him for over 3000 years. How many nations are named after anyone on this forum?

 

[Scooter]

Or, the part in Mark 4:12 in which Jesus is shown saying that he speaks in parable so that those outside the circle WILL NOT understand

Those people were on the outside of the circle because they didn’t want to be inside the circle. If they had entered the circle of faith, they would have been privy to Jesus’ teachings. Jesus is so good, He gives us what we want.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Those people were on the outside of the circle because they didn’t want to be inside the circle.

The verse does not say that. You as a good man are saying that.

PS thanks for the heads-up about Jacob. I’ve corrected that part.