Critical Article Says:

10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.

8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.

7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!

4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."

Now for the Rrrrrrrrrrest of the Story:

Also at:

I'm dealing with these four points in one message because they all seem to reveal the same basic misunderstandings of God.

Article:

'You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions... '

Well, fortunately that comes through simply reading the scriptures and looking at the creation.

Whenever I read or hear of the mythology of the gods that the Greeks promoted I am amazed at how their gods didn't have a full scale nuclear war right then and there.

So much conflict and warring.

The Greeks and Indians may have been partly responding to the oldest Religion 'In the beginning God(s) created the Heavens and the Earth.' (Genesis 1)

The Counterfeit and older religions are misrepresentations of the real thing.

For everything genuine you have a cheap and blurred imitation.

If in fact they had studied the subject rather than generalizing, they would have realized that Gods-Elohim-Hebrew is in fact a plural representation of the one God, not a polytheistic religion.

Had they applied themselves more and actually read the Rrrrrrrrrrrest of the Story they would have seen that the Hebrew word (Yahweh) one possible pronunciation, is singular, so when Elohim is presented with Yahweh (Lord God), we have a plurality in the One God.

The rest of the OT and NT teaches that there is only One real God, though there are many counterfeits and false Gods. (Isaiah 44:6.45:23; 1 Corinthians 8)

Just listen to Greek mythology and no one in their right mind could believe such things or even make a comparison to the biblical account of the one God.

Nature bears this out as well.

Have you ever heard of the triple point of water?...Liquid, Ice and Gas all different forms of the same substance. A beginning in the understanding of the Triunity of God. (1 John 5)

How about 'Black Matter' and 'Nuclear Binding Force.'?

Scientists still cannot explain how everything holds together but the bible knows. (Colossians 1:15-17)

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles." (Romans 1)

Here it points out that:

1) Men 'suppress the truth by their wickedness

This explains why wicked men seem so intellectually and spiritually challenged.

What is plain to the believer escapes the wicked.

2) God's 'eternal power and divine nature, can be seen and understood through what has been made.

3) That wicked men 'exchange the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles'

This is being done through evolution, animism, Hinduism, and many polytheistic religions.

God's 'eternal power and divine nature, can be seen and understood through what has been made.

AND

'what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them'

Interesting statements here.

So we should be able to see the 'eternal power and divine nature' of the One God through what He has made.

When I see the creation of God, I do not see the work of Krishna, Brahman, Zeus or Allah, I see the work of the One Loving Creator spoken of in the Bible.

These false Gods don't claim to Love us or really care. This is what sets our God apart from the other false gods.

Krishna, seduced women then stole their clothes, Allah has many Muslims thinking that unless they commit Jihad, they have no guarantee of salvation, Zeus is only concerned with keeping his status and wives.

Article:

7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!

It is interesting that often prochoice advocates will be concerned about why God ordered the killing of children but push for the right of the women to decide whether their unborn child lives or dies.

The God of the Bible, which includes the New Testament Loves us and is not a cosmic Killjoy waiting to ruin our day with commands we cannot keep. He truly cares for you and is warning you of the dangers of straying.

What this article is really saying is, 'How Dare the Creator tell his creation what He expects of them.'

When the firstborn of Egypt died or people perished in hell, or villages were destroyed, it was because they didn't listen to their maker and instead wanted to go their own way.

God always gave warnings prior to judgment.

During the Passover the Egyptians had the option of staying at an Israelites house thereby sparing their own children and Pharaoh had the option of Letting the Hebrew slaves go.

But do the pagans mention the cruelty of Pharaoh or the judgment of God on those that don't listen?

"And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, (Sign of the Cross) wherein they shall eat it. ...13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt......The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people went up with them, as well as large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds...An alien living among you who wants to celebrate the Lord's Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat of it. 49 The same law applies to the native-born and to the alien living among you." (Exodus 12)

Article says:

4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."

From what I can see, Hell is nothing more than the unbeliever getting what he wanted and that is away from the God that Loves him.

God lovingly gives man what he wants.

Then man blames God for giving him what he asked for.

Article:

"but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours."

8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.

Is this Christian (Me) outraged at those that believe in other gods. Of course not, you can do whatever you want.

You can drink Liquid Drano if you want, but it is my job to lovingly warn you of the dangers doing such things.

This articles' complaints are like someone reading the warnings on the bottle of Liquid Drano and then saying, 'How cruel telling me what is going to happen if I drink it.'

This is not hate, it is love, it is not narrow minded, it is truth.

If the God of the Bible is right, and He is, Then everyone that veers from Him is wrong.

One can only argue against such a biblical view if they reject or don't understand that this is just the way it is.

To say, 'How dare one wake me up out of a deep sleep and tell me and my family that my house is on fire.'

This person conveniently forgets that his house is really on fire and warning him is the most loving thing to do.

Nature attests to a Loving Creator that will not share His glory with another.

God is Love so therefore, he had to be love even before He created us.

How did he express his Love prior to the creation of man?

"The inconceivably complete identity of God is the paradigm of all personhood, at its very plurality is the foundation of all relatedness. Such is the 'image of God' in which we are made. In that light, the doctrine of the Trinity is not some facile mystification, but a straightforward statement of the multiple personhood of God ... If God is a Person, that ... translates into moral absolutes for us ... humanity's alienation from God has occurred at precisely that level of character and relationship. (1)"

(Dave Hunt, The Mysterious Trinity)

http://www.apocalypsesoon.org/xfile-51.html

The Triunity of God is not polytheism but three loving persons in One God, demonstrating to us how to love each other. 

"that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17; NIV)

Without this divine model we would be robots incapable of loving or being loved.

The other Gods are not personal and therefore cannot even create or expect personal beings.

The One Loving God of the universe, preexistent in three persons has created us in his image, which includes the capacity to Love, reflect and Think. (Genesis 1:26,27)

No other religion offers a personal loving God with personal and loving creatures.

Look at the polytheistic religions and you see that they are neither personal or loving and in fact are often at war with each other for supremacy.

There is a yearning in our hearts to love and be loved, but these false gods don't even know what love is.

Just as living matter cannot evolve from non living matter, so non personal gods cannot create personal creatures. But the Loving God can breathe the 'breath of life' into dust and create more than just dirt. (Genesis 2:7)

How could the many gods be real gods when they in fact cannot even comprehend what it means to love.

How could the creatures have more noble qualities that the supposed gods that created them.

"Tielhard de Chardin, the French theologian and anthropologist, points out that love is whatever unifies or brings things together, Thus, it is with love that God creates the universe. Electrons are unified with protons to form ...It is no wonder Christ's Gospel is misunderstood. He glorifies powerlessness in a world that worships power. He offers meekness to those who teach aggressiveness. His message is foolishness to those committed to a lifestyle that prefers power to love." (The Power Delusion, Campolo, pg. 31)

However, what gets in the way and subverts God's love is mans unloving rebelliousness and this must be dealt with before God can unite all things in Him.

How does God deal with man wanting his own way?

By giving man what he wants.

"Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. (Sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS) Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done." (Romans 1)

God often gives man what he wants and lets him see the futility of his own way.

But Because God is Love, he wants to rescue us through Christ.

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior." (Colossians 1)

More Later

Bj Maxwell

10/14/2006

Copyright ©

Once again I am compelled to deal with a few points at once.

Keep on checking out my site where I will have all my responses to the critical article about Fundamental Christians at:

https://cuf5.tripod.com/id160.html

Here are the points:

Critical Article:

9 - "You feel insulted and 'dehumanized' when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt."

I would only feel dehumanized if I believed this theory.

Obviously, if I came from life forms other than human, that would qualify as 'dehumanizing.'

Actually, there is little more involved in the actual creation of man than dirt.

7 the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground AND breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2)

Notice that God breathed the 'breath of life' into man's nostrils.

The Evolutionist believes that man evolved from the primordial slime all by itself.

Living matter evolved from non living matter.

Life from slime, according to the evolutionist.

Chemical Makeup of Man:

"The raw material, the basic chemicals in our body, can be found in the ‘dust of the ground’. However, these chemicals cannot arrange themselves into cell tissues, organs and systems. This can only happen with an input of intelligence.

The book of Genesis teaches that God took ‘the dust of the ground’, a heap of chemicals, shaped a man and then blew into his nostrils the breath of life. Then man became a living soul. Human beings are different from animals, for ‘God created man in his own image’ (Genesis 1:27). Our bodies have been designed with the ability to pass on to the next generation the programmed information required to form another person from simple chemicals."

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v20/i4/humanbody.asp

Critical Article:

5 - "You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old."

Little Loopholes?

ROTFLOL, I have spent some time putting together 'You're a Hopeless Liberal If You.", where I point out these so called 'little loopholes' and actually found the Grand Canyon.

Though it is not finished yet, you can read it at:

https://cuf5.tripod.com/id153.html

A Great Site where these Gaping Holes are exposed are at:

http://answersingenesis.org/search/Default.aspx?qt=Age%20of%20the%20Earth

I did a search on this site with 'Age of the Earth' and these Holes in Evolutionary Theory amount to about 1390 articles on the fallacy of the Old Earth Theory.

One article points out that some of the dating methods that evolutionists use are based on an assumption that that there was not a universal flood and then interpreting the evidence differently.

So they conclude that the biblical account cannot be true THEREFORE we must find an explanation that they like.

They also pick and choose what dating methods they are going to believe and discard the others.

So if we are going to criticize the picking and choosing of what to believe, we must point this out.

Ironically, NASA scientists accept that there have been ‘catastrophic floods’ on Mars⁷ that carved out canyons⁸ although no liquid water is present today. But they deny that a global flood happened on earth, where there is enough water to cover the whole planet to a depth of 1.7 miles (2.7 km) if it were completely uniform, and even now covers 71 percent of the earth’s surface! If it weren’t for the fact that the Bible teaches it, they probably wouldn’t have any problem with a global flood on earth. This demonstrates again how the biases of scientists affect their interpretation of the evidence."

http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/re1/chapter8.asp

This doesn't look like loopholes to me. This is akin to saying that the Grand Canyon is just a loophole.

Critical Article:

3 - "While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity."

Actually, I have a problem with Holy Rollers but the Scripture does as well.

You see rolling around is not scriptural.

But Tongues were a great testament to those when they saw Christians speaking in their own language.

"Utterly amazed, they asked: 'Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!' 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, 'What does this mean?' 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, 'They have had too much wine.'

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:" (Acts 2)

Babeling is wrong whether it comes from a Holy Roller or an Unholy Evolutionist.

If it does not make sense to the hearers then it should be condemned.

"I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.

6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. 13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful." (1 Corinthians 14)

There is an end result of speaking in tongues and interpretation.

Evolution theory is nothing but babeling in the ears of those interested in making sense.

A theory that believes that it took billions of years to get what we got, that the design designed itself is nonsense.

Should we really be listening to those that think living matter came from non living matter, sense can ever come from nonsense and order from nonsense?

"Professing Themselves to be wise They Became Fools." (Romans 1)

https://cuf5.tripod.com/id160.html

Bj Maxwell

10/17/2006

Copyright ©

============================================

1 - You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian.

This is a funny one and quite humorous to me but not for the same reasons that the unbeliever may find it humorous.

This is like someone saying I understand more about Civil Engineering than Civil Engineers.

Then you ask them, have you ever built anything like a bridge or a building and they reply with, Well, No, but I have blown up a few.

Destroying is typically less difficult than building something.

Those that criticize but don't offer a viable alternative are only Ivory Tower Builders.

Most if not all Democrats, Unbelievers, Terrorists, Liberals and Some Republicans fit this bill.

Osama Been Hiding had a degree in Civil Engineering but is only widely known for destroying something.

I don't need a degree to know that flying a couple Jumbo Jets into a High Rise is going to do monumental damage.

This is also why it is harder to fight terrorism than it is to be a Terrorist.

The U.S. has to find the terrorist and try to kill him not the women and children he or she is hiding behind.

All the Terrorist has to do is blow up things without any regard to innocents, including fellow Muslims.

Then he justifies it with, Well those Muslims are not fundamentalists so Mohammad says I'm justified, and Mohammad does. (Surah 4:65)

Now I have been a part of Coffehouse Ministry where many Unbelievers know much about scripture but most of the time all that proves is that they could win a Bible Trivia Game.

And 'Trivia' is the watchword. In other words they may know how many wives David had or the specifications of the Ark but this qualifies as trivia not life changing knowledge.

I have heard many unbelievers say that they have read the Bible frontwards and backwards.

Good For Them, how much of that have they applied to their lives, and have they believed and applied the important parts?

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." (James 1)

It is not enough of an excuse to say that there are many alleged Christians that are not applying scripture either.

The Terrorist and the Unbeliever have this in common:

They are both hiding.

The Terrorist is hiding behind innocents while destroying things and the Unbeliever is often hiding behind the hypocrite while critiquing Christians.

It has also been said that 'You have to be smaller than the hypocrite you are hiding behind.'

What good is it to know how to build a building but not be willing and/or able to put a door in it and enter.

Jesus says: "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10)

Also Knowledge by itself doesn't impress God.

Knowledge without Love in Nothing.

Claiming to Know the Truth without applying it in Love is useless.

It is the most loving thing for the Christian to warn people that their house is burning and that they need to wake out of their slumber and get out of the house. The Silent Christian is not exhibiting Love.

If the person that is warned insists on staying in the burning house while declaring how smart he is, he will soon feel the effects of such trivial knowledge.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. ...Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears." (1 Corinthians 13)

"Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.

...14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5)

As far as knowing Church History, Unbelievers often don't know to make a distinction between those that call themselves Christians or Catholics and do dastardly deeds and the real Christians who do the word not just listen to it.

Bj Maxwell

10/25/2006