|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:51 pm
My close friend is going through hard times spiritual. He's stopped coming to church for about 4 months and I'm worried. He's told me his problems but I don't have adequate answers for him. So...I came here. :3
His Questions
Can I be a Christian, but still question the validity of the Bible?
"Then he took his staff in hi hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:40.
Why did David pick up five stones? Did he not have enough faith?
"But Jesus said, 'Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.'" Luke 8:51
If Jesus can feel power going out of him, how can he have infinite power?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:37 pm
Steal-in Can I be a Christian, but still question the validity of the Bible? technically, yes. However, faith in Christianity without the Bible is rather pointless, if you ask me. Quote: "Then he took his staff in hi hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:40. Why did David pick up five stones? Did he not have enough faith? Because he felt like it. Having faith does not equal being stupid. I'd take five stones as well. Quote: "But Jesus said, 'Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.'" Luke 8:51 If Jesus can feel power going out of him, how can he have infinite power? YHWH has infinite power. Jesus, being an aspect of YHWH, has infinite power by proxy, but would still be able to lose power (as He would still have infinite power via God).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:43 pm
Cometh The Inquisitor Steal-in Can I be a Christian, but still question the validity of the Bible? technically, yes. However, faith in Christianity without the Bible is rather pointless, if you ask me. Quote: "Then he took his staff in hi hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:40. Why did David pick up five stones? Did he not have enough faith? Because he felt like it. Having faith does not equal being stupid. I'd take five stones as well. Quote: "But Jesus said, 'Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.'" Luke 8:51 If Jesus can feel power going out of him, how can he have infinite power? YHWH has infinite power. Jesus, being an aspect of YHWH, has infinite power by proxy, but would still be able to lose power (as He would still have infinite power via God). Cometh's right. And on the whole "jesus losing power" concept, you also have to keep in mind that Jesus knew, before the woman even touched him, that she was going to touch him out of faith, thus giving his healing power to her by choice. Might I also add that God doesn't expect us to understand ever nitty gritty detail of the bible. For instance like Revelations. I mean who the HECK can give an firm down accurate meaning of Revelations? Its all metaphorical and no real way to tell what the book of Revelations is trully saying. So naturally we would question the bible one way or another. As strong as my faith is, the concept of predestination I still don't understand...or at least want to accept fully. As God says in a verse something to this affect "for your mind is not my mind. your understanding is not my understanding." So yes, you can tell your friend, its okay to question the bible because we aren't expected to fully understand it. But what gets me is that...what is it about the bible that he wants to question? We might be able to answer his questions about his questions here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:57 pm
Cometh The Inquisitor Quote: "Then he took his staff in hi hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:40. Why did David pick up five stones? Did he not have enough faith? Because he felt like it. Having faith does not equal being stupid. I'd take five stones as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 11:00 pm
@SaintChaos:
He has some key verses that I don't understand why one would need to question them, but I'll ask him about it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 6:06 pm
Steal-in Cometh The Inquisitor Quote: "Then he took his staff in hi hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:40. Why did David pick up five stones? Did he not have enough faith? Because he felt like it. Having faith does not equal being stupid. I'd take five stones as well. we can't say that contradicts his faith because we dont know his "thoughts" at the time. i mean its not like he's alive and we can ask him "why did you take 5 stones?" your just going in theory of your opinion. maybe he took five stones because he felt like it. maybe he took it to make sure he needed enough? we can't know for certain. i mean sometimes we do things on impulse or reflex.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:04 pm
Quote: Can I be a Christian, but still question the validity of the Bible? Everyone struggles with doubt, but I'd recommend reading a book like The Case for Christ it shows an atheist trying to prove the Bible wrong and only proved it right. [qutoe] "Then he took his staff in hi hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:40. Why did David pick up five stones? Did he not have enough faith? Maybe he had a little doubt (like Peter with the walking on water) or maybe because God wanted him to. Quote: "But Jesus said, 'Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.'" Luke 8:51 If Jesus can feel power going out of him, how can he have infinite power? Well, even if he has infinite power, he can still tell if it's being used. Also, he probably did it as a test for the woman to admit it, like God questioning Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden to see if they'd lie since he already knew what happened.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:34 pm
Steal-in My close friend is going through hard times spiritual. He's stopped coming to church for about 4 months and I'm worried. He's told me his problems but I don't have adequate answers for him. So...I came here. :3
His Questions
Can I be a Christian, but still question the validity of the Bible?
Yes it is possible to be a Christian and question things about the Bible and your faith and even God. That is normal for us as humans. God even tells us to test Him in certain areas.
"Then he took his staff in hi hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:40.
Why did David pick up five stones? Did he not have enough faith?
Many theologians believe David picked up five stones not out of a lack of faith, but because Goliath had four brothers. David was going to take out all five. He knew it would only take one stone per giant.
"But Jesus said, 'Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.'" Luke 8:51
If Jesus can feel power going out of him, how can he have infinite power?
Jesus is God. God came down in flesh, Jesus. Jesus has the same power as God the Father and as the Holy Spirit, who is also God.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:22 pm
Steal-in I understand that, but if he knew God would strike down Goliath, why take five stones? One wouldn't be enough in his mind? That contradicst his faith in God. Why did he even go out then? Couldn't he have just had faith that God would strike Goliath down without his help?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:33 am
Actually it's Luke 8:46, But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."
Yea, I agree with AnimeMoney, in that I think it was more of His power being used. Not that He was losing His power but that His anointing was being released and He feel it was being released.
I would suggest that you encourage your friend to take his doubts right to God and ask for a proper perspective. I hope your friend realizes that God whats to hear from him no matter what the topic is. I don't think God is angry if we question the Bible or HIM for that matter. He knows what's in our hearts anyway. Some of us don't start out with that child like faith and trust for the Lord which is such a blessing. I didn't.
I do now, but that is only because I did a 2 month Beth Moore bible study on Jesus Christ. It was a lot of work, but that's what it took for me to really get that Jesus is the Christ and God with skin on. I just wasn't sure before then.
Your friends doubts will only strenghten his faith in God when God leads him to an understanding of his doubts. Does that make sense?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:45 pm
When your friend asks you certain anwsers, lean on God and try to listen to what he will tell you. If someone asks you, if Jesus is the son of God then why did the bible say Joseph is his father then you might want to tell that person you will get back to them and then pray and talk to God about it. He has all the answers and he will lead you to know what to say. I hope that makes sense! Your friend's doubt and the way you help him understand what he is questioning about then it will help his faith grow stronger in the Lord and yours will to. With your help he will always learn new things.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 6:35 pm
Steal-in
"Then he took his staff in hi hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:40.
Why did David pick up five stones? Did he not have enough faith?Just because we believe God will do something, doesn't mean we shouldn't be prepared. How was he supposed to know that a single stone would kill Goliath? We should always be prepared, because even though God can do anything, it doesn't mean he will actually do it. God could have killed Goliath without David's help. But we have to do our part, so David did his by collecting a few stones. Steal-in
"But Jesus said, 'Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.'" Luke 8:51
If Jesus can feel power going out of him, how can he have infinite power?
Like it has already been stated, I don't think it means that he felt his power weakening as if someone was taking it away. More like Fairytoes said, that he felt it being released. For example. Let's pretend you have an infinite amount of blood. If you get cut, you will feel the blood pouring out. Doesn't mean that it's running out, since you have "infinite" blood. Same with Jesus and his power.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
