The Gory Details of 'Miracles'

Well, He knocked off and slaughtered someone else`s pigs for openers.

2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

even this one?

quote:

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Ecclesiastes 1:9

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The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be;
and that which is done is that which shall be done:
and there is no new thing under the sun.

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Edited by arachnophilia, : No reason given.

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Now that's why Arachnophilia is Arachnophilia...But with mere words aside and context inserted, are you comparing the sovereignty of God, to the powerlessness of man?I ask because it is my understanding that Solomon is resounding the utter dependancy of man upon God, and our incompetence apart from Him. Not to mention the burden of the eternal upon the finitude of humanity.Ecclesiastes 1:9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. 11 There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow.12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 15 What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. 16 I thought to myself, "Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge." 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. 18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.

someone takes themselves too seriously.

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Two problems.Who determines which are Scriptures?'Useful' doesn`t mean infallible in any dictionary I consulted. Care to name one?

It's a serious subject under serious assault.

yes, but some people know a joke when they see one.Edited by arachnophilia, : No reason given.

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God Your correct! But infallible means it is useful (to say the least).Paul says that all scripture is God breathed. And since God is infallible, then His word would fall under the catagory of being useful. It's quite logical.Particularly useful in terms of teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness for metaphysical problems where man is totally dependant upon God for a systematic theology.If God did not inspire (or breathe) the scriptures, then what good are they? Not to mention that man would 'untruly' be, 'in the dark'. But since the light did come (Christ) we can have faith that it is logically possible and at least listen to Him for ourselves.The mystery of Jesus outshines the others for a reason. To get your attention and place the ball in your court. It's a test. And the only way to miss it, is to do so intentionally.I can't prove anything! I just make the best case I can, so that people will see that it is worth further investigation. I help shine the light as dirty as my mirror is. We all have to open the door to Him ourselves. He just made the door possible (see avatar).I'll add this as well to answer your question, but I preface it by saying that it is not a demonstrable argument. It is a witness; a testimony:Once you are Born Again, you can see the formula of the Bible, or the Spirit of it. It is totally coherent from beginning to end. That does not mean that all of the pieces are visible to me, or any other individual. Certainly not! In fact, He gives something unique to everyone so that we are dependant upon one another for 'whole' understanding.But what it does mean, is that a person of Spiritual discernment can see why other scriptures and books are not included in the Canon.What most people want to know is, 'how can I be certain before hand so that I don't make a fool of myself?'We can't. We can only trust Him at first.But the good news of the gospel is that we can know if we are sincere in seeking.John8:32 then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."We don't have to believe the treacherous contradiction that we can't know the truth. That cannot be true because it would be true itself.Don't you see that the light of reason itself declares these things? To deny the Words of Christ, is to deny logic as valid.Sorry Nighttrain, am I doing the sword thing again?I think I lost my rapier!

I am a joke, it's true. A monkey training monkeys....but Christ is not. So I do get a bit zealous.How bout you spidey? Are you a joke? Or do you take yourself seriously?

If your posts are meant as a joke, there are appropriate smileys you may use to indicate your frame of reference.

Sorry, Rob, won`t wash. Been there, done that. Once the scales fall from your eyes, you will wonder why you ever believed the dogma you do. The whole system is predicated on circular reasoning and falls apart once you see the flaws. Maybe God inspired the Scriptures. Man changed the Scriptures. No one knows what the originals were or if they ever existed. Christians continue bitter internecine warfare because they can`t agree on what goes where. Clean up your own act before you challenge infidels.Edited by Nighttrain, : ABE tidying up

misunderstood you.Delete-Edited by scottness, : No reason given.Edited by scottness, : No reason given.

Please Nighttrain, before I answer your reply, let's think hard here and not dismiss the heart of each other. I have had to really suck it up in the last months myself so that I do not come accross as a man who only wants to make fools out of people. I have done that in my haste here and there, and that is a bigtime sin. I do try to do better... Are you sure?Did you trade your life for salvation? Weep bitterly for forgiveness? Sell your soul for the answer? Give up control of your life? Because that is conversion. Without the Spirit, we cannot survie those attacks. I didn't know what doubt was until I attempted to believe. We need the key to unlocking the lies, and that key is Christ. Circular reasoning doesn't make it illogical. If God is self existing (as He must be) such obstacles (as circular reasoning) are just dodges of the inevitable.To say that God does not exist because I have never seen Him is also circular. Or more formally... 'If God exists why have I never seen Him?' That's begging the question! Do you see how subtle the problem is in what you just said? Such ideas are very clever little devils. Like little snakes that need to be lifted up by priests.Allow me to perform an exorcism.They inject their poison in hopes of it being regurgitated into the mouths of babes.How can you know that no-one knows unless you are omniscient; unless you are self existing? That is also circular, but it is illogical.So which circular reasoning is more trustworthy; the illogical or the logical? For the record, Christians do not battle over the creed. My pastor (in a foursquare gospel church) read the Nicene for our whole congregation and we all read it together. It reminded me of being at Mass as an alter boy.The creed is like the degree, or the 'proof of purchase'. Anyone who denies the creed is simply not a Christian, just as anyone who denies the scientific method is not a scientist. Oh, they can call themselves scientists (and maybe they are more so than 'Scientists'), but the Scientists won't accept them because they deny the method and don't have the degree.One clear distinction between the two, is that the one claims to know the truth, and the other does not. We may doubt the credulity of folks who claim to have met the truth incarnate, but those who admit they have not, have no ground for their truth claims!The grounds of being Born again may be circular, but where are the grounds for human interpretation? That cross carrying process goes on. We have this treasure in jars of clay. I don't challenge the infidels if I am doing my job, because they are my brothers.I challenge the snakes. I pick up them up and drink poison to show how harmless they are. I don't want my brothers living in fear of them.Edited by scottness, : No reason given.Edited by scottness, : No reason given.Edited by scottness, : No reason given.

I have used the smileys...I just have a hard time believing that Arachnophilia was actually joking because he didn't use any. Perhaps his sense of humor is just very coarse. I'm still getting to know folks.And his affinity for certain individuals caused me to read it in light of his brethren.He is much brighter than some, and should take his mind more seriously.If we're joking, we should make it obvious enough, so that we are not able to be accused of hedging our bets. Edited by scottness, : No reason given.