Originally Posted By Mr X Sure, but then by definition it would simply be age-adjusted. An arbitrary number. Why would you change the definition of a year though? And in particular, are you trying to say that the Earth orbited the sun at a much faster pace during the dawn of mankind?
Originally Posted By DyGDisney What if you have complete faith in God and the Bible, you take it at it's word and Adam and Noah, as well as others, did live that long as it said. There is a verse in the Bible where God says he is limiting the lifespan of humans. I think it's because the earth begins to fill with people. The reason for God allowing some of the early people on Earth to live so long would be to produce more offspring. Adam because he was the first man, Noah because his family had to re-populate the earth after the great flood. There is a way, Mr. X, if you believe in God and believe He can make anything happen. Then you believe there is a way. If you don't believe in God, well then it would be hard to believe. Whether or not you believe it is the point. I have a hard time with some of the old testament. So happy my pastor is going through the book of Genesis (slowly) and says whether or not you take it literally is NOT a salvation issue. In other words, it won't keep you from salvation.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***So happy my pastor is going through the book of Genesis (slowly) and says whether or not you take it literally is NOT a salvation issue.*** How would he know? He's just some pastor right? Maybe others would say it IS an issue. After all, if there is a god and everything in the bible IS somehow true, it would be pretty insulting not to take his word for it wouldn't it? Seems like a salvation issue to me.
Originally Posted By teddibubbles here is my poem. ( Im trying to address a few questions here!) WHERE IS YOUR LOVE? ------------- I AM ! the lord your god! I was before the beginning. and shall be after the end. I created the heavens and the earth. and all living creatures. I made a place full of goodness. I filled the earth with surprises, shining stones, minerals, caves, coves, shells, towering trees, mountains, fields, the pounding sea, I made all plants and animals. and I made man. like little children they would play and laugh as they tamed the animals I gave them. or smile with delight with every new discovery they would make. like a child in their wonder at every shining stone under the ground or to find a shining star in the heavens above. I was vary happy as there father. and loved every heart felt praise they would share with me. it made my heart happy to share ALL I could with them! all I ever hoped for ! was their love! for all that I gave them. and to love me as their father. I tried to walk with them. but suddenly they changed! they avoided me and no longer called me father! they said the world was theirs. and started destroying all I had created for them. they said this is my life! and they didn't need me! and hurt and killed each other ( acting as angry children do. not thinking of the end results. ) I sent my profits to tell them I still love them. and how much I wanted their love. but they laughed at them and killed them. finally they no longer believed in me ( it hurt so bad! ) so I sent them the best I have ( MY MOST BELOVED SON ! JESUS ! ) surely they would listen to him? but they wouldn't. they rejected him , cussed at him , spit on him , and beat him to a pulp. and finally they crucified him ( MY SON !! ) I was so angry I wanted to destroy it all! but my son said FATHER FORGIVE THEM . FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO. so I gave him the power to decide who is mine. for he has felt their pain. and can rightusly judge their hearts. so now they have had the best of my love and ( ALL ) I had to give. SO I ASK> WHERE IS YOUR LOVE ? writen by The lord shining in my heart C,R,S ---------------
Originally Posted By DyGDisney Well, I guess he doesn't REALLY know, but in the Bible it says if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ you will be saved. In our church, we believe that is the one and only way to salvation, so he is basing it on that. If I didn't agree, I wouldn't go to that church.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<There is a way, Mr. X, if you believe in God and believe He can make anything happen. Then you believe there is a way. If you don't believe in God, well then it would be hard to believe.>> I believe in God but do not feel any need to take the Bible literally. It seems perfectly natural to me that God would speak in allegories understandable by people of that time. Sure, He could have gone all Techno-God-Geeky on us and given long, detailed, scientifically correct descriptions of everything that happened in the Bible. But you know what? No one would have read it. Have you ever read the User Manual for a computer application? Of course not. Same thing applies here. It's God for gosh sake. You telling me he wouldn’t go for a best-seller?
Originally Posted By plpeters70 "It seems perfectly natural to me that God would speak in allegories understandable by people of that time." This seems to be the current majority thought on the Bible amongst, shall we say, more "intelligent" Christian demoninations. But, to me, it just seems like another attempt to make the Bible "fit" into the facts we know about the world, and still maintain a belief in a personal God. I just wonder how far these churches can "stretch" the belief in the accuracy of the Bible before it breaks.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip << I just wonder how far these churches can "stretch" the belief in the accuracy of the Bible before it breaks.>> Those who base their religious belief solely upon the inerrant accuracy of the Bible are bound to be in for a major letdown. The Bible is but one reason I believe in God. My belief also rests with the teachings of my church, with the writing of others on the topic of religion... both "religious scholars" and more general commentators. And most of all my belief rests within myself; with the experiences I've had that make me think there is a God. The Bible... good for a start but not the be-all and end-all. Do you really think that God let loose with everything he knew thousands of years ago and hasn't had a thing to say since? I don't think so. I think much of current religious thought and scholarship is God revealing himself now just as he revealed Himself 1,000's of years ago when the Bible was written.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***In our church, we believe that is the one and only way to salvation*** Uh huh. And like so many have asked, what happens to the billions people who never heard of Jesus? Nice, fair system you've got there.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 "The Bible... good for a start but not the be-all and end-all." I think most Protestant Christians would disagree with you. Even the Catholics don't dispute the Bible much. They may claim that part of it is allegorical, but they pretty much believe all of the New Testament. "I think much of current religious thought and scholarship is God revealing himself now just as he revealed Himself 1,000's of years ago when the Bible was written." Possibly. Or, just as likely, people are coming up with new ideas - just as they have done for the past few thousand years.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 "Uh huh. And like so many have asked, what happens to the billions people who never heard of Jesus?" I find it just incredible how easily most people seem to accept the idea of Hell. I mean, don't any of these people have a problem with the idea of a God condeming billions and billions of people to eternal torment? I would think people would be up in arms about this, yet most believers just nod their heads and accept this absurd idea as if it's truly some kind of justice. It's just insane!!
Originally Posted By Mr X Agreed Peters. And as someone (SuperDry maybe) pointed out, even assuming that EVERY member of one of the major religions was correct AND every member of said religion goes to heaven, that still leaves out the vast majority of the human population, left to rot in hell. Not to mention K2M's heaven conundrum about how a person could be "eternally happy" knowing that others (especially loved ones) are suffering horribly.
Originally Posted By utahjosh <I mean, don't any of these people have a problem with the idea of a God condeming billions and billions of people to eternal torment?> I don't believe in that idea.
Originally Posted By utahjosh <And like so many have asked, what happens to the billions people who never heard of Jesus?> They will have a chance to learn about Jesus and His Gospel in the next life, and have an opportunity to choose to follow or not.
Originally Posted By Mr X Assuming there IS a next life AND people can remember this one, if Jesus is being talked about there I would assume it would be a no-brainer.
Originally Posted By utahjosh <Assuming there IS a next life AND people can remember this one, if Jesus is being talked about there I would assume it would be a no-brainer.> You'd think so. I hope so. But I don't know.
Originally Posted By Elderp I have to second that one. I have heard on this board people say that if God scooped them up and said "Here I am God" they still wouldn't believe. Someone on this board said that if that were to happen they would believe that they were having a bad dream or something. I believe too everyone eventually will have the opportunity to accept or reject Jesus Christ as their savior, but unfortunately I don't think everyone will make it. Not because God doesn't want them to make it, but simply because they have the right to do what they want.
