Comments on: The essentials http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/ musings from those on the journey Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:36:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: DonaldDuck http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136215 DonaldDuck Wed, 03 May 2006 08:52:13 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136215 What's the point in having God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as the final authority? These entities never seem to speak to people in groups, only individually. Which results in people having different messages and different understandings. It's no different to me saying I am my own authority, except that I will pretend God spoke to me, and I think I can get away with it if I'm sincere enough. A final authority has to be objective in the sense that it improves the probability of a common understanding emerging (the probability being a measure of objectivity). The Bible would seem to be a better final authority as it is at least in written form, but loses points because of, for example manuscript variants and cultural barriers to its understanding. What’s the point in having God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as the final authority? These entities never seem to speak to people in groups, only individually. Which results in people having different messages and different understandings.

It’s no different to me saying I am my own authority, except that I will pretend God spoke to me, and I think I can get away with it if I’m sincere enough.

A final authority has to be objective in the sense that it improves the probability of a common understanding emerging (the probability being a measure of objectivity). The Bible would seem to be a better final authority as it is at least in written form, but loses points because of, for example manuscript variants and cultural barriers to its understanding.

]]> By: Bring Back EP at LP http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136159 Bring Back EP at LP Wed, 03 May 2006 01:44:21 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136159 Yes i know I just don't know why few people seem to not understand the gist of what God is telling us here and why they confuse it with salvation through the law. James I am busy at present. did my memory let me down concerning Revelations? Yes i know I just don’t know why few people seem to not understand the gist of what God is telling us here and why they confuse it with salvation through the law.

James I am busy at present. did my memory let me down concerning Revelations?

]]> By: James http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136152 James Wed, 03 May 2006 00:34:57 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136152 EP, or is that Homer? As for law v grace in 1Cor.5; one need only look to v5 to find grace. Tend to agree with you on the main point of John1 - but so so much more; and the implications are so far reaching - not the least of which, why did God choose (you can see my bible is the Word of God persuasion right here) to use the term God was the Word ... and the Word became flesh ... If the coming of Son of God in the flesh was the only point, or even the main point, surely He could have said, God was the Son ... and Son was made flesh. Anyway, Dan says we gotta take this discussion elsewhere. Does that mean acceptance of the bible as our final authorit is NOT AN ESSENTIAL. Musn't be an essential - and nobody has come out YES IT IS or NO ITS NOT! Of course, if we say "No its Not" ... then what have we got to discuss ... sorry if this is beginning to sound cyclical! You ask, "Why was Smyrna looked on badly by Jesus?" Because ... God doesn't like us suffer persecution ... I'm with Him there! Did u mean Smyrna, or Laodicea per chance? EP, or is that Homer? As for law v grace in 1Cor.5; one need only look to v5 to find grace.

Tend to agree with you on the main point of John1 - but so so much more; and the implications are so far reaching - not the least of which, why did God choose (you can see my bible is the Word of God persuasion right here) to use the term God was the Word … and the Word became flesh … If the coming of Son of God in the flesh was the only point, or even the main point, surely He could have said, God was the Son … and Son was made flesh.

Anyway, Dan says we gotta take this discussion elsewhere. Does that mean acceptance of the bible as our final authorit is NOT AN ESSENTIAL. Musn’t be an essential - and nobody has come out YES IT IS or NO ITS NOT! Of course, if we say “No its Not” … then what have we got to discuss … sorry if this is beginning to sound cyclical!

You ask, “Why was Smyrna looked on badly by Jesus?” Because … God doesn’t like us suffer persecution … I’m with Him there! Did u mean Smyrna, or Laodicea per chance?

]]> By: James http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136147 James Tue, 02 May 2006 23:59:32 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136147 Dan, off i go :) , still think the question is a foundational essential. If the bible is not our final authority; we can have no essentials as we have no objective reference point. ... and this is not a straw man ... Or if you think it is a straw man; then please suggest an alternate OBJECTIVE reference point. ... i can feel a straw man coming on ... or are to accept the proclamations of the peer appointed or self appointed apostles as our objective LOL reference point. I don't think this is a straw man argument, a bit simplified, but methinks a valid question in its intention! Dan, off i go :) , still think the question is a foundational essential. If the bible is not our final authority; we can have no essentials as we have no objective reference point. … and this is not a straw man … Or if you think it is a straw man; then please suggest an alternate OBJECTIVE reference point. … i can feel a straw man coming on … or are to accept the proclamations of the peer appointed or self appointed apostles as our objective LOL reference point. I don’t think this is a straw man argument, a bit simplified, but methinks a valid question in its intention!

]]> By: dan http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136127 dan Tue, 02 May 2006 22:56:59 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136127 As for the word of God debate, let's move it <a href="http://www.signposts.org.au/2004/02/06/what-is-the-bible/" rel="nofollow">over here</a> where we have discussed some of these questions. As for the word of God debate, let’s move it over here where we have discussed some of these questions.

]]> By: Bring Back EP at LP http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136119 Bring Back EP at LP Tue, 02 May 2006 22:02:54 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136119 James you could actually say why did John call Jesus the word but to signify he is God! It is sad that the understanding of doctrine is so poor that some people believe 1 Cor 5 is about legalism ( ironically written by Paul the Justification champion.) Why was Smyrna looked on badly by Jesus? James you could actually say why did John call Jesus the word but to signify he is God!

It is sad that the understanding of doctrine is so poor that some people believe 1 Cor 5 is about legalism ( ironically written by Paul the Justification champion.)

Why was Smyrna looked on badly by Jesus?

]]> By: Janet http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136069 Janet Tue, 02 May 2006 12:05:37 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136069 8 is the most entertaining answer... but I'll cast my vote for 5. I have a fondness for the paradoxical. 8 is the most entertaining answer… but I’ll cast my vote for 5. I have a fondness for the paradoxical.

]]> By: James http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136068 James Tue, 02 May 2006 11:46:16 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136068 How bout we wait for the next 24 hrs. Nite, and God bless! How bout we wait for the next 24 hrs. Nite, and God bless!

]]> By: DonaldDuck http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136067 DonaldDuck Tue, 02 May 2006 11:23:21 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136067 Multiple choice question. Which is the Word of God: 1) The Bible 2) Jesus Christ 3) The words of Jesus Christ 4) Any words spoken under inspiration of the Holy Spirit 5) All of the above 6) None of the above 7) God does not exist. This is a trick question. 8) It's a matter of private, personal faith and none of your business, so f*** off, you atheist c***. Multiple choice question. Which is the Word of God:

1) The Bible
2) Jesus Christ
3) The words of Jesus Christ
4) Any words spoken under inspiration of the Holy Spirit
5) All of the above
6) None of the above
7) God does not exist. This is a trick question.
8) It’s a matter of private, personal faith and none of your business, so f*** off, you atheist c***.

]]> By: James http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136065 James Tue, 02 May 2006 10:31:19 +0000 http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/04/19/the-essentials/#comment-136065 Your words Ducky, only problem is, i find myself in agreement with you again. Your words Ducky, only problem is, i find myself in agreement with you again.

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