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Hi to my Forum Friends,

In the recent discussion begun by David titled "Do Christians Need Buddhist Meditation Techniques to Handle Stress?" I had answered, "Simple answer:  NO!  In no way! . . .  Buddhism is the antithesis of Christianity.  Buddhist are closer to atheists than to Christians -- for most Buddhist do not believe in the existence of God.  Virtually everything about Buddhism is the opposite of Christianity.

My suggestion:  If anyone needs a meditation technique -- get your Bible, find a quiet place to sit, and study what God has written there.  If one is not a believer and needs help in understanding the Bible; find a Christian Friend and ask for his/her help in a one-on-one study.   This, I assure you, will be much more productive that any Eastern Meditation Technique."

And, our devout follower of the atheist religion, Uno, tells us, "Ahh yes.  I admit, as a teenager, I found the following to be quite, er, umm, relaxing.  I recall looking for that UFO story in Ezekiel (I was a big UFO not back then) -- but ran across this story relayed to Ezekiel by the Lord God Himself (before he became Jesus, of course).

'Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister.  She too lusted after the  Assyrians -- governors and commanders, warriors in full dress, mounted horsemen, all handsome young men.  I saw that she too defiled herself; both of them went the same way' (Ezekiel 23:11-13)."

And, in his typical atheist dishonesty, Uno, either deliberately or out of Biblical illiteracy, continues in his post a futile attempt to portray Ezekiel 23 as a book of ****ography.   What Uno obviously, either out of dishonesty or illiteracy, overlooked is that, although we are all familiar with Jesus Christ using parables to teach in the New Testament, God also used parable-type stories to teach in the Old Testament.

If Uno had taken the time, or even wanted, to read the introduction to Ezekiel 23, he would have found this passage:


"The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 'Son of man (Ezekiel), there were two women, the daughters of one mother; and they played the harlot in Egypt.  They played the harlot in their youth; there their ******* were pressed and there  their virgin bosom was handled.  Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister.  And they became Mine,  and they bore sons and daughters.  And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah'"  (Ezekiel 23:1-4).


Here, God, through His prophet Ezekiel is telling us that His teaching in Ezekiel 23 is a metaphorical story with Samaria as Oholah and Jerusalem as Oholibah.  And, God is speaking of how these people prostituted themselves, playing the harlot to other nations.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Commentary on Ezekiel 21-25 (C2000 Series)
Pastor Chuck Smith, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
http://www.blueletterbible.org...iel&ar=Eze_23_30

 

Now in chapter 23:


"The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 'Son of man (Ezekiel), there were two women, the daughters of one mother; and they played the harlot in Egypt.  They played the harlot in their youth; there their ******* were pressed and there their virgin bosom was handled.  Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister.  And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters.  And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah'"  (Ezekiel 23:1-4).

 

And he goes on to speak of these two daughters.  The one's name is Oholah; she is the older one.  And her younger sister is Oholibah.  Now Oholah means "her tent."  Oholibah means "her tent is in her."   And in the interpreting of this little parable of these two sisters who were prostitutes, the one sister, the older sister, is Samaria, the Northern Kingdom which first went into idolatry.   (And) turned against God when Jeroboam became king over the Northern Kingdom.  He set up the calf in Bethel and in Dan and he said, "Now these are the gods that brought you out of Egypt.  These are the gods that you worship."

And he installed calf worship; later on Baal worship and Molech (worship).  And they introduced all of these gods of the Assyrians and the gods of the nations round about and they turned from the true and the living God and they began to worship idols.  And thus, prostituted themselves, giving themselves unto idolatry in love for these false religions instead of giving themselves in their love for the Lord.

Now, as the result of Oholah and her lewd acts that is against God, (in) God's judgment He used the Assyrians to destroy the Northern Kingdom.  And thus, Samaria was destroyed by Assyria.

Now, when Samaria was destroyed, you would think that that would have been a lesson to Judah, the younger sister.  "Her tent is in her," referring to the fact that the tabernacle, the place of worship, was established in Jerusalem, in the Southern Kingdom, Oholibah.  But rather than learning from the idolatry of the north that perpetrated its fall -- they started doing the very same things.  In  fact, king Ahaz went up to Assyria, and he makes mention of this here, how they went to Assyria.  And her sister Oholibah saw this  and she was more corrupt in her inordinate love, in her prostitution, than her sister.  She doted upon the Assyrians.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


And, reading further in Ezekiel 23, we see that God pronounced judgment upon Samaria (Oholah) and Jerusalem (Oholibah) for their disobedience of playing the harlot to unGodly nations:


"Moreover, the LORD said to me, 'Son of man (Ezekiel), will you judge Oholah and Oholibah?  Then declare to them their abominations.  For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands.  Thus they have committed adultery with their idols and even caused their sons, whom they bore to Me, to pass through the fire to them as food.   Again, they have done this to Me: they have defiled My sanctuary on the same day and have profaned My sabbaths' "  (Ezekiel 23:36-38).

 

So, Uno, my Friend, I suppose if you try hard enough, YOU, and your non-believing bedfellows, could make something dirty and disgusting out of much that is written in the Bible -- since you are viewing it through eyes that are spiritually blind.


"There are none so blind -- as he who will not see!"  --

or with our non-believing Friends, cannot see.

 

I will say this, God, in His teachings to us, in His Written Word, the Bible -- is "perfectly" honest.  He did not have to show us all of "the good, the bad, and the ugly" -- He did not have to expose all the warts.  However, this is His way of showing us just how depraved and lost in sin man truly is -- and how, being so disgustingly depraved, we cannot save ourselves.  We are like the man who has brutally murdered many people; we cannot atone for, nor erase, the depth of our sin.  Yet, He sent His Son to purchase our pardon  through His precious blood.

But, why did Jesus Christ have to become a man?  Man committed the sin against God; man has to pay for that sin.  Since God's Justice is perfect; the only man who can pay that sin debt is a perfect man.  Does anyone know a perfect man -- anywhere, at any time?  No.  Only Jesus Christ.  Therefore, Jesus Christ had to come to earth as the only Perfect Man -- to pay our sin debt declared by God's Perfect Justice.

That is how much God loves YOU and me (John 3:16).

Yes, Jesus Christ came to earth in a human body.  Why?  Because man has sinned against God and is lost; man IS that guilty serial killer who can never atone for what he has done.  Like our judicial system today; a like punishment must pay for the sin committed.  So, man is condemned to death for his sin against God (Romans 3:9, 3:23, 6:23).  That is God's perfect Justice.

Yet, in God's perfect Love -- "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"  (Romans 5:8) -- He has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay our sin debt, to purchase our full pardon.  All we have to do is to accept the full pardon He has already purchased on the cross.  Simple?  Yes.

Then, why are there still so many atheists, secularists, cult followers, world religion followers, and other non-believers in the world  today?  Basically, because, like the metaphorical harlots in the story found in Ezekiel 23, Oholah and her sister, Oholibah, man still lusts after the treasures of this world -- and, either does not believe, or does not want to believe, that God has treasures much greater to offer.  Man wants his temporal worldly gods and treasures -- and, is too spiritually blind to see past them.

As I suggested earlier, "If one is not a believer and needs help in understanding the Bible; find a Christian Friend and ask for his/her help in a one-on-one study."

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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Originally Posted by Bill Gray:

Hi to my Forum Friends,

"There are none so blind -- as he who will not see!"  --

 why are there still so many atheists, secularists, cult followers, world religion followers, and other non-believers in the world  today?

As I suggested earlier, "If one is not a believer and needs help in understanding the Bible; find a Christian Friend and ask for his/her help in a one-on-one study."
Bill


**********************************

What's sad is that you call yourself a Christian but you're still blind to a lot of what the Bibles teaches.

 

There are still many atheists, secularists, cult followers, world religion followers, &other non-believers in the world  today because of "Christians" like you, Bill. Sadly, you give Christianity a bad name & people want no part of it.

 

It's not just the non-believers that need help in understanding the Bible. Many believers could use an understanding & a one on one study. You should find someone to help you. You need a good understanding about compassion & love.

Originally Posted by semiannualchick:
Originally Posted by Bill Gray:

Hi to my Forum Friends,

"There are none so blind -- as he who will not see!"  --

 why are there still so many atheists, secularists, cult followers, world religion followers, and other non-believers in the world  today?

As I suggested earlier, "If one is not a believer and needs help in understanding the Bible; find a Christian Friend and ask for his/her help in a one-on-one study."
Bill


**********************************

What's sad is that you call yourself a Christian but you're still blind to a lot of what the Bibles teaches.

 

There are still many atheists, secularists, cult followers, world religion followers, &other non-believers in the world  today because of "Christians" like you, Bill. Sadly, you give Christianity a bad name & people want no part of it.

 

It's not just the non-believers that need help in understanding the Bible. Many believers could use an understanding & a one on one study. You should find someone to help you. You need a good understanding about compassion & love.

-----------------------------------

semi,,,,I may be wrong, but if someone needs help understanding the Bible.

Leave the Bible alone for a while, try talking about God first and all that

pertains to the trinity. Start with the basics of Christian ideoloy in hopes

they will realize that God is God, and the Bible isn't God, it's the book

he gave us.


 

quote:     Originally Posted by semiannualchick:
It's not just the non-believers that need help in understanding the Bible.  Many believers could use an understanding and a one-on-one study.  You should find someone to help you.  You need a good understanding about compassion & love.

Hi Chick,

 

You are so right.  Every Christian believer needs MORE study of God's Word, the Bible.  That is why you will see so many of us in weekly corporate Bible study groups.  We are eager to learn more about God's Word.  And, I am convinced that the best way to learn and grow more mature in His Word is to have frequent discussions with others.

 

While it is always good to have Bible discussions -- both one-on-one and corporate -- with other Christian believers -- it is also productive to have such discussions with non-believers.

 

There are two benefits to having discussions with non-believers.  First, in these discussions, we are sharing God's Word with one or more who is not yet a believers.  And, in such discussions, we Christian believers have to check and double-check our facts before speaking. 

 

I cannot tell you how much I have learned over the past five years through my dialogues with folks on this Religion Forum.   And, you, Chick, have been a great inspiration and help to me.  For this, I thank you.

 

You tell me, "You should find someone to help you."

 

Are you volunteering?  If so, I accept.  I would love to have one-on-one, or public, discussions with you on Biblical issues.   So, what will it be -- PM or on the Religion Forum?

 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

 

Bill

Originally Posted by Bill Gray:
Hi Chick,

 And, you, Chick, have been a great inspiration and help to me.  For this, I thank you.

You tell me, "You should find someone to help you."

Are you volunteering?  If so, I accept.  I would love to have one-on-one, or public, discussions with you on Biblical issues.   So, what will it be -- PM or on the Religion Forum?

Bil

*************************************

I've been a great inspiration & help to you? I'm sorry, Bill, you may think I'm stupid but I'm much smarter than you think I am. I can easily read between the lines.
 

Am I volunteering to help you? Just can't stop with the mocking, can you, Bill?

The statement you made, in case you've forgotten was "find a Christian Friend and ask for his/her help in a one-on-one study."

I'm not a Christian, Bill, & you won't find me pretending to be.

Originally Posted by INVICTUS:
semi,,,,I may be wrong, but if someone needs help understanding the Bible.

Leave the Bible alone for a while, try talking about God first and all that

pertains to the trinity. Start with the basics of Christian ideoloy in hopes

they will realize that God is God, and the Bible isn't God, it's the book

he gave us.


 

************************************

Invictus, my post was in reply to Bill's. Did you read his post? Maybe you should refer him to your post to me?

 

I don't need help understanding the Bible. Though I have read the Bible many times & know the scriptures, I haven't picked up a Bible in a very long time & have no intention at this point to do so anytime in the near future.

God is talked about on this forum daily by everyone here.

 

You do know what Christian ideology is, right?

Hi Chick

You tell Vic, "I don't need help understanding the Bible."

If you still refuse God's love and forgiveness -- then, you must need help in understanding His message for YOU written in His Word, the Bible.  For many years, I tried to read the Bible and could not make sense of it -- until a very mature and loving Christian pastor helped me to understand it.  Chick, why don't you find someone like that in your neighborhood and see if it will help you have a better understanding of God's plan for your life.

Then, you say, "Though I have read the Bible many times & know the scriptures, I haven't picked up a Bible in a very long time & have no intention at this point to do so anytime in the near future."

I cannot say that is not true.  Only you and God know the truth.  However, it would seem that by reading the Bible many times and knowing Scripture -- some of His love would have penetrated your heart.

Both C.S. Lewis and Lee Strobel began to read the Bible to disprove it and God.  Both became strong Christian believers, very effective communicators of the Gospel, and fantastic writers.  Something must have happened somewhere between Genesis 1:1 and  Revelation 22:21 to change their minds and their hearts.  Maybe you should give it another try.

And, you write, "God is talked about on this forum daily by everyone here."

No matter how much folks talk about God, no matter how much theologians, Bible scholars, pastors, and teachers write and talk about God and the Bible -- none of it will work, none of it will penetrate -- unless you allow you heart and your mind to be free to hear what is being said, to understand what is being written.

Chick, not to satisfy me or anyone else, but, for your own sake -- in the privacy of your own heart -- allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you, to guide you, and to lead you.  Let Him lead you into the arms of Jesus Christ.  With all my heart, I want to meet you in heaven one day.

Finally, you ask Vic, "You do know what Christian ideology is, right?"

Chick, please tell us what you believe this to be.  Are you speaking of Christian beliefs, Christian doctrines, Christian teachings, Christian theology, etc.?  I am not sure just where you are headed with this question.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Bill, what makes you think I need help????? Even if I did, I’m a big girl. I don’t need you to tell me what to do. Seems some of that love would have penetrated your heart by now. All you know is fire & brimstone.

 

Why don’t you give Genesis 1:1 and  Revelation 22:21 another try???
God and the Bible -- none of it will work, none of it will penetrate -- unless you allow you heart & mind to be free of hate & learn what love/compassion is.

 

You want to meet me in Heaven? I thought a person had to be a Christian to go to Heaven?

 

I asked Vic if he knew what Christian ideology is because he’s the one that mentioned it.

Bill, you can preach Christianity all day long, it won’t convince me you’re a Christian.

Bill says, "And, in his typical atheist dishonesty, Uno, either deliberately or out of Biblical illiteracy, continues in his post a futile attempt to portray Ezekiel 23 as a book of ****ography.   What Uno obviously, either out of dishonesty or illiteracy, overlooked is that, although we are all familiar with Jesus Christ using parables to teach in the New Testament, God also used parable-type stories to teach in the Old Testament."

I made no mention of this being a literal story or even a parable or alegory.  That was completely beisde the point.  It is simply an example of the horrible crap you can read in that filthy book you call the Holy Bible.

 

Seriously, you want KIDS to read a book that graphically has a prostitute describing soldiers's with p e n ises as large as donkeys and **** that would fill a quart jar!  And you want these put back into schools!    

 

 

Originally Posted by Unobtanium:

Bill says, "And, in his typical atheist dishonesty, Uno, either deliberately or out of Biblical illiteracy, continues in his post a futile attempt to portray Ezekiel 23 as a book of ****ography.   What Uno obviously, either out of dishonesty or illiteracy, overlooked is that, although we are all familiar with Jesus Christ using parables to teach in the New Testament, God also used parable-type stories to teach in the Old Testament."

I made no mention of this being a literal story or even a parable or alegory.  That was completely beisde the point.  It is simply an example of the horrible crap you can read in that filthy book you call the Holy Bible.

 

Seriously, you want KIDS to read a book that graphically has a prostitute describing soldiers's with p e n ises as large as donkeys and j ism that would fill a quart jar!  And you want these put back into schools!    

 

 

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