On another blog, a fellow JoeUser asked the following questions and made the following comments:
I am irritated with the closed-mindedness of organizations with causes. If there is only one way (YOUR way) to reach God … why are there so many divergent paths and religions making the same claim? What makes you think it is even conceivable that a paper trail in excess of 2000 years could contain much resemblance to the original fictions?
I am sure you have heard of the test that goes like this: Get a group of 10 people in a circle and whisper a statement to one person. Then they whisper it to the next and so on. There has never been a valid documented case where the original statement bore much resemblance to the 10th person’s statement. This is simply explained with the fact that people are different and they think ‘differently’. Organizations do not like this concept which they classify as ‘self-serving individualism’.
I must be a fool (as you are want to tell me) because I do not believe that the concepts of lying, deceit and conspiracy, power struggles, suppressing the masses, limiting real knowledge, murder, deception and intrigue are new to this century or any other for that matter. But of course, religious theology was not susceptible to human contamination … of course. I believe these concepts were in existence long before recorded time. Why would this befouling of the truth affecting all of human history, exclude ONLY Christian Doctrine? Only mind dead robots could believe this absurdity.
another thought...
Paul was like Moses of the Old Testament. Like Moses who was raised up to deliver the Israelites from bondage, so too Paul, was sent to set the people free from the bondage of the Old Covenant.
Lula, you are conceded beyond reason as are most people with agendas. Normally when I am asked a question I answer it as I can … but you refuse to acknowledge my own answer preferring instead to provide my answer for me because of what, you’re innate natural reasoning or something just as meaningless … or maybe it is just because of your agenda. As you should know, I do not have an agenda … I just do not believe in your one God. The only real thing I ever needed answering was for proof that God ever existed. And you, you have given me nothing but litany after litany, parable after parable, tradition after tradition and excuse after excuse. You know the old saying “Shit only stinks when one is outside the pen”? Well you should think about it…
You may think that “God inspired men to write down His revelations” but seemingly He forgot to teach them to read and write which would have been helpful. If you want to be taken seriously by anyone besides another moon-bat, you need to remove words like mosaic revelation, patriarchal revelation, our (meaning your) natural reason, supernatural (Divine) revelation, Sacred Tradition, Divine Tradition or Apostolic Tradition etc. out of the discussion if one is going to discuss proof of the Truth. None of these things are even remotely capable of being proven and you count on this fact for all your arguments. This is why you try to put the onus of proof in my court. You cannot prove these things ever transpired so you know damn well that I cannot disprove them. Do you know anything about psychological warfare … I wonder indeed? How about catch 22 … ditto.
Enlightenment from the mind of man through science and technology (something they didn’t have, your founders) was therefore never even considered a possibility as they wove their web for dominance of the flat world. Seemingly you are under the impression that the ‘ordinary’ tradition of Halloween as practiced today has much to do with its founding … I would say about as much as your traditions do. In the end, it all boils down to dysfunctional MAN keeping track of God, His activities and of course all the translations of His word, hahaha. Yea, the Bible is clear as a bell … it just needs a representative of the RCC to explain all the nonsense is all. “A full dogmatic articulation of the canon for Roman Catholicism was not made until the Council of Trent of 1546, as until then the authority of the Scriptures was not considered to be higher than that of Sacred Tradition, papal bulls, and ecumenical councils.” … I know, God made the Catholics do this somehow or another because surely the Churches motives were pure and just, go figure. If it weren’t for Catholic dogma we might not be having this discussion at all. My fall (for lack of a better term) is the direct result of the usurping of God’s authority … by man and church for the edification of Catholicism above God’s presumed words.
Sorry, this comment was for the article you mentioned above so it has been mooved there.
of course there is. They're digging up artifacts all over the place. They've got coins, pottery, inscriptions all that point to the OT narratives. And I've heard it said that only 1% of Israel has been excavated so far. Israel is an excavator's dream.
Archeology has confirmed the history of the OT not only in its general outline but in many details.
For instance we have learned a great deal about the Assyrians (who took Israel captive in 722 BC) because of 26,000 tablets found in the palace of Ashurbanipal, the son of Esarhaddon who had taken the Northern Kingdom into captivity. These tell of the many conquests of the Assyrian Empire and record with honor the cruel and violent punishments that fell to those who opposed them. Several of these records confirm the Bible's accuracy. Every reference in the OT to an Assyrian King has proven correct.
In every period of the OT history we find that there is good evidence from Archeology that the Scriptures are accurate. While many have doubted the accuracy of the Bible, time and continued research have consistently demonstrated that the Scriptures are better informed than its critics.
After the period of the Judges the archeological evidence becomes increasingly clear that the biblical authors knew what they were talking about. By the time of the NT the evidence for its historical reliability becomes overwhelming.
It's not so much as condoning as it is addressing the relationships between slaves and masters; how they should be treated. We can transfer much of this relationship subject to the work place today between employer and employee. The principles are the same.
You didn't mention Col 3:22-4:1 but you might want to read that little section before you get to gung ho on this subject.
There you will see Paul addressing the Masters to treat their slaves fair and equal. And while you're at it look at Ephesians 6:5,6,9
Paul also made it very clear (addressing slavery and women) that "there is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Gal 3:28
Biblically speaking there is no distinction.
KFC, in your ascribed manor, what supports anything from the invention of the cosmos, Adam and Eve and their children with their extreme longevity, their inability to sustain themselves in the world your one God made what … perfect. Continue this nonsense up to Noah, his family and their longevity and of course, The Ark (do you want to discuss the Ark?) I would be happy if you could show me where any of this is documented in historical or archeological or scientific records, besides you telling me this is so. The people of those barbaric times were megalomaniacs, but they weren’t stupid. They would of course use what they could of the real world in passing. So all these coins, pottery and inscriptions POINT to the OT narratives … how so??? Points to: is hardly proof of anything besides the fact that people were smart enough to actually produce things way back then. And if Israel is such a treasure trove of knowledge, why didn’t anyone do something to find out over the last thousand years … not my problem at all and simply conjecture on your part. Overwhelming for sure, but not to me. Do you even know what a preponderance of the evidence means let alone proof … I think not?
Now if I meandered into some town and they told me a mere mortal that they practice slavery, I would jump in their ‘stuff’ for their barbarianism. Why is that you might ask … well I despise slavery and any entity or organization that supports it. But your one God just tells them how to do it properly (but that is not an endorsement, hahaha) … why do you guys always make excuses for biblical atrocities is beyond me. If you are looking into the comment I made to Lula, you need to consider the fact that the clip she didn’t watch, stressed these passages and they were all spot on. Whenever you guys quote the bible or other such nonsense you pick and choose what small blurbs you find useful … but when someone quotes the bible to you (your bible), they must consider everything in the complete book … you guys are funny that way. If it takes a sinless soul to enter your paradise … I would think your Hell is going to be real crowded. Oh I forgot, you guys of the inner circles just have to ask for forgiveness and all is ok, hehehe.
The Apostles and the first Christians in the early Church kept holy the Lord's Day.
The "first day of the week" is there and the first day of the week is Sunday, "the Lord's Day". That's there too.
"Acts 20:7 ,"And on the first day of the week, when we were assembled to break bread, Paul discoursed with them...."
1Cor. 16:1-2, "now concerning the collections that are made for the saints; as I given order to the churches of Galatia, so you (the church of Jerusalem) are also to do: 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside, and store it up that he might prosper, so that the contributions need not be made when I come."
The Apocalypse 1:10, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day.."
It happened that the Spirit of God came over St. John to make him a prophetic Seer and a preacher of the word of God, which Jesus wanted to communicate to His Church on the Lord's Day! On a Sunday, the first day of the week, the day of Jesus' Resurrection, with the Eucharistic "Breaking of Bread" has already replaced the Jewish Sabbath (Acts. 20:7, 1Cor. 16:2)
"The Lord's Day", the day which the Chruch, ever since the Apostolic age, keeps as its holy day in place of the Jewish sabbath, because it is the day on which Jesus rose from the dead. The Resurrection made Sunday, the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, holy to believers.
In Ex. 20:8-11, we read at the end of the Third Commandment, "....wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and sanctified it." Note the end--- "Sanctified it".
God sanctified the Jewish Sabbath; Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath and by His Resurrection, He sanctified "The Lord's Day". And that's why we are to "keep the Lord's Day" holy. How do we do that?
Well, by "hearing the Church" and what does the Church say about keeping holy the Lord's Day? The Catechism has it spelled out quite clearly. In brief:
2191 The Church celebrates the day of Christ's Resurrection on the Sunday, which is rightly called "the Lord's Day".
2192 Sunday ... is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church" On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.
2193 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound ... to abstain from those labors and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord's Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body.
To Catholics the Lord's Day is sanctified by hearing Holy Mass and also by giving time to other devotions, resting, doing activities which help build friendship with others, and especially in the family circle.
So I asked you this:
and you gave me what?
I showed you clearly in my Post 275 that we are not commanded to keep any certain day.
What you wrote above is of course, correct. The Apostles and early church met on the first day of the week. The reason? They were celebrating the resurrection which was on the first day of the week.
There's no command in your above posting. It's just a matter of fact. There are commands in scripture and there are recordings of fact. You did not give me anything substantial here outside of telling me what their habit was after the resurrection.
Again, we are not commanded anywhere in the NT to celebrate any certain day like the Jews had for their Sabbath, which was their 7th Day.
Not based on any scripture I see. It's church tradition which is what I've been telling you all along contradicts scripture. Here's just another one pointed out by you to me.
and do you actually believe Catholics adhere to this?
Let me tell you the point of your RCC Catechism. The whole point is to get people to come to church to collect their money.
That's it.
What you wrote above with your 2191, 2192, 2193 is exactly what the Pharisees said to Christ all thru the gospels.
Remember he healed on the Sabbath? Remember their reactions?
He violated their traditions especially his lawbreaking on their Sabbath. Yes, he was the Lord of the Sabbath and they killed him because he didn't adhere to their tradition.
Only the Holy Spirit can work on Lula. I'm just a messenger. I've been talking to Lula for years. She only wants the RCC's truth. She can't disengage her belief/faith in her church from what the Word of God says. When she sticks with just scripture we get along fine, but she goes time and time again to her RCC commentaries that are leading her away, not closer to the truth.
I think the RCC has done a ton of damage thru the years and there's a lot of walking wounded. I've met hundreds if not thousands of Catholics over the years who have left the CC and were so disgusted with religion they want nothing to do with it. Satan must be laughing his tail off. His MO is to do anything he can to distort the truth to get people so confused they throw their hands in the air in despair. I've had to do so much damage control over the years trying to show them the differences between man-made religion and all their trappings and the Word of God. Most of the time I get a slammed door (so to speak) in my face. They close right up. They want nothing to do with religion after having their fill from their RCC upbringing. Quite often these religions (there are others) are singing their own song, totally tuning out what God says. That's what the whole point of the seven letters to the seven churches in the first part of Revelation were all about. Who will remain faithful to the Word of God?
Out of the seven addressed churches, only two remained faithful to God. The rest went down their own street without looking up. The blind leading the blind.
Show me anywhere in the NT where it says that we are to Keep the "Lord's Day."
I've already given you ACTS 15 where there were ONLY two requirements for the Christians coming into the faith as far as the Old Covenant was concerned. 1. Avoid idolatry 2. Avoid sexual immorality
The Bible records the abrogation of the Old Covenant Mosaic laws in the "vision" of St.Peter Acts 10, in Col. 2:16 and Gal. 4:10-11, (as you have mentioned) as well as in the Council of Jerusalem Acts 15 which took place 20 years after the Apostles had changed the Jewish sabbath to Sunday and had been keeping holy "the first day of the week", "The Lord's Day".
The NT pays special honor to Sunday although the actual word "Sunday" is not there. In 33AD, Christ rose on Sunday, and He appeared to His Apostles on Sunday. He chose the following Sunday to appear to them when St. Thomas was present. Fifty days later, Christ chose Sunday for the bestowal of the Holy Spirit upon His Church. Pentecost Sunday Acts 2. St.Peter, standing with the 11, preached Christ to the multitudes v. 41-42, "So those who received his word were baptized and there were added about 3,000 souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching and fellowship to the breaking of bread and prayers."
"The breaking of the bread" was the special way the early Christians referred to making and distrubiting the sacrament containing the Lord's Body. (St.John 6 + St.Matt.26:26 which we've discussed many times).
So "keeping the Lord's Day" had been going on from 33AD, KFC, from Pentecost onwards, the prayers, the eucharistic communion on the first day of the week form the center of Christian worship. So the first Christians themselves observed Sunday from the very beginning. Acts 20:7, "on the first day of the week when we assembled to break bread.."
The thing is that Sunday observances supplemented rather than supplanted Saturday observance of the Sabbath during the first days of the Church. That's due to nearly all the Christians being converts from Judaism.
When the Gentile converts came into the Chruch, communal life between them and the Jewish Christians was difficult. And that's where Romans 14 and Galations comes in.
Paul wrote in Romans 14:1-5 Him that is weak in the faith receive but not to doubtful disputations. For one believes that he may eat all things; another who is weak, eats only herbs. Le not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him which eats not judge him that eats for God has received him....one man esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regards the day regards it to the Lord and he that regards not the day to the Lord he does not regard it. He that eats eats to the Lord for he gives God thanks; and he that eats not, to the Lord he eats not, and gives God thanks... Basically what Paul is doing in v1-12 (more than the above) is giving us the proper attitude Christians should have toward each other in debatable areas of conduct (things that are not clearly stated to be wrong). God has received both the weaker and stronger believer. Speaking to the Galatians who were trying to adhere to the Mosaic Law (Old Covenant) he wrote this in 4:9-11: "But now, after that you have known God or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements where you desire again to be in bondage? (OLD LAW) You observe days and months and times and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." He's telling them that they are not acting like heirs of God and are being influenced by the Judaizers observing the days and festivals of the Jewish calendar.
Basically what Paul is doing in v1-12 (more than the above) is giving us the proper attitude Christians should have toward each other in debatable areas of conduct (things that are not clearly stated to be wrong). God has received both the weaker and stronger believer.
Speaking to the Galatians who were trying to adhere to the Mosaic Law (Old Covenant) he wrote this in 4:9-11: "But now, after that you have known God or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements where you desire again to be in bondage? (OLD LAW) You observe days and months and times and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain."
He's telling them that they are not acting like heirs of God and are being influenced by the Judaizers observing the days and festivals of the Jewish calendar.
Some of the Jewish converts continued to keep those Jewish observances including maintaining their observance of the 7th day Sabbath laws and this is probably the context of St.Paul's admonition in Romans 14:1-5 and Galatians.
This went on for a while but then there was even more difficulty that arose.
The Jewish Christians had a high regard for the ceremonies of the Old Law and it caused them to go so far as to hold, for a time, that the Gentile Christians should be circumcised, insisting that they had to become Jews before they could become Christians. A vigorous controvery ensued and the issue was finally presented to the Apostles and other leaders, and the Council of Jerusalem was convened in 50AD.
Back to your quote of Acts 15,
The finally decree from the Council of Jerusalem is listed 3 times in Acts. Fully in vs. 19-20 and 28-29 and partially in vs. 21, 25.
The first and all important point of the decree was the freedom of Gentile Christians from the Old Law. V. 28, the formula, "For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay no burden upon you than these necessary things:" states the Apostles conviction that important Church decisons (that would later be called ex cathedra) were assisted by the Holy Ghost, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
Verse 28 is the dogmatic part which infallibly declares that converts are free of the obligation of circumcision and of the Mosaic law but are subject to the Gospel's perennial moral teachngs on matters to do with chastity. These parts are permanent becasue it has to do with a necessary part of God's salvific will it cannot change.
V. 29 is part disciplinary and can at some time later be changed.
"that you abstain (fast--don't eat) from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, .."
The second element in the decree was intended to make the communal life of the Judaic and Gentile Christians less difficult and establish a bridge between them. It asks Christians of Gentile background, out of charity towards Jewish Christians, to abstain, that is, to fast, go without eating, from the animals that have been sacrifice to idols, and from blood and from meat of animals killed by strangulation.
So it was the Council of Jerusalem, followed by the destruction of the Temple in 70AD, which ended the priestly sacrificial services of the Jews that caused the line of demarcation between the Jewish and Christian 7th day Sabbath, which we can see was blurred for a time, to be so clearly defined, and universally accepted.
[/quote]
WHAT IS ALL THIS?
Are you giving me a bible history lesson? Didn't I say some of this myself? Why don't you just answer the question? It was plain and simple.
I asked...
you give me this long essay that doesn't have anything to do with my question.
It's quite clear in the NT that there are commands not to murder, not to commit adultery, to not covet, to love God and love your neighbor..but there's NOTHING; not one command in the NT to worship or keep any certain day holy.
You have yet to show me anything in spite of your many words. You're trying to twist and turn and it's hard isn't it? If you go by your church, it's clear. They have mandated Sunday as a command but the bible does no such thing.
So in all reality, you are following man, not God which is what I've been saying all along. Psalm 118:8
It's never too late. Look at the story of Abraham, having a child at 100 years of age or his wife at 90. Look at Zechariah, who said "how can this be, I'm an old man?" when he was told he would father John the Baptist. Moses was 80 when his ministry began. Noah was pretty old when he started building that boat.
God is no respecter of time. God's ways are not our ways. He chooses those we would have cast aside. Jesus said to keep working while it is day, because soon the night will come and you will not be able to work. So keep on, keeping on until he takes that last breath of yours away.
It is that simple. We tend to make things difficult. It all comes down to spiritual warfare. We are in a battle. We have to fight and not get weary. Satan is a trickster and will do anything to take us out. I actually blogged on this myself sometime back using the letter from Jude as text. Have you ever read any of Frank Peretti's books? The two I'm thinking mostly of are "This Present Darkness" and "Piercing the Darkness." Pretty interesting take, he has, on what's going on all around us in the unseen world. These fictional accounts are pretty interesting and hard to put down once started. He bases his novels on scripture.
I also wrote this which has been revived thanks to Lula.. https://forums.joeuser.com/337310
I'm having a problem posting from the last page.
I noticed a change in the format of BT's #260 comment and the last three posts.
I've asked JU to check it out.
It was my way of helping you fill in the blanks...to get the full meaning of Scripture which clearly shows that Christians are to keep the New Covenant Sabbath, the Lord's Day HOLY.
But it's plain to see you're not interested to dig deeper into Scripture if it's from the CC's pov.
Nevertheless, I'll press onward and try to answer your question.
exactly. That's my point.
thank you. I'll look forward to hearing this.
first off there are NO blanks. It's quite clear using Romans and Colossians which I gave you that show clearly that we are NOT commanded to keep any certain day holy. Everyday is holy. What you showed me was history and their habit of meeting on a certain day. Nothing wrong with that and it did set a precedent but that was for sake of coming together. But if we choose Tuesday or Thursday that would be fine also. Sunday makes sense because it's the day of the Resurrection but again, it's not a command and like Paul said "I'm afraid for you" because they were going back into bondage with their legalism. It's like men seem more comfortable being tied than being free.
It's quite clear in the NT that there are commands not to murder, not to commit adultery, to not covet, to love God and love your neighbor..but there's NOTHING; not one command in the NT to worship or keep any certain day holy. You have yet to show me anything in spite of your many words.
I posted:
Scripture shows the Apostles and the first Christians in the early Church kept holy the Lord's Day.
The "first day of the week" is there and the first day of the week is Sunday, "the Lord's Day". That's there too. "
Acts 20:7 ,"And on the first day of the week, when we were assembled to break bread, Paul discoursed with them...." 1Cor. 16:1-2, "now concerning the collections that are made for the saints; as I given order to the churches of Galatia, so you (the church of Jerusalem) are also to do: 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside, and store it up that he might prosper, so that the contributions need not be made when I come." The Apoc. 1:10, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day.." It happened that the Spirit of God came over St. John to make him a prophetic Seer and a preacher of the word of God, which Jesus wanted to communicate to His Church on the Lord's Day!
On a Sunday, the first day of the week, the day of Jesus' Resurrection, with the Eucharistic "Breaking of Bread" has already replaced the Jewish Sabbath (Acts. 20:7, 1Cor. 16:2).
Christ founded His Church which is the CC and the Church, as can be clearly seen from the Apostles, commands us to keep Sunday as the Lord's Day because Sunday Christ rose from the dead and on SUnday the Holy Ghost decended upon His Church.
In the OT, we read that God gave us the Ten Commandments and some other commands (laws)as well. In the Old Covenant laws, the celebration of a definite day, the Sabbath, had been ordered especially for the Jews, just as circumcision and bloody sacrifices had been. These OLd Covenant laws were abrogated upon the institution of the New Covenant.
In the OC, the Jews kept holy the the 7th day of the week, Saturday, The vital principle of the Thrid Commandment was not the specific day, but that one day out of the 7 should be devoted to the worship of God the Creator.
In the New Covenant Christ delegated His authority to the Church, His Living Voice. You may not read Scripture and bleive it this way, but that's what is. Just as it remained for the Jewish priesthood to determine their Sabbath, it remained then for the Church of which the Apostles were the Magisterium, to indicate the day.
Scripture attests the Apostles DID just that. The Chruch at the time of the Apostles observed the first day of the week, Sunday, in honor of the Resurrection and Pentecost. In the same way the Apostles in the early Church caused circumcision and bloody sacrifices to make way for Baptism and the Sacrifice of the Mass.
In the New Covenant, just as the Apostle's had done, Catholics keep Holy the first day of the week, Sunday. It's called the Lord's Day. St.Paul refers twice to its observance. Acts 20:7 and 1Cor. 16:2.
But we must take the whole of Scripture to understand what the Apostles did as far as changing the Sabbath Day to Sunday.
Meeting on a certain day to do what KFC? Other parts of Scripture answer that. Find them and and you'll understand that what I've been saying is true. Christians are to follow the commandments of GOd and keep holy the Lord's Day.
Google the Protestant and Catholic 10 commandments. They are numbered differently but it's there.
Abbreviated Protestant Ten Commandments:
Abbreviated Catholic Ten Commandments:
You are a true Protestant...still following the Protesting tradition...you PROTEST everything Catholic.
of course..but you are not doing that. You're ignoring what I wrote and substituting it with what fits your RCC agenda. The scriptures you use only show their habit of meeting on Sunday. That's fine but it's still not a command. The scriptures I gave you more clearly address the issue we're discussing. You're trying to make something fit that doesn't.
but you can't seem to show me where this is in the NT. You are going to the OT which is the Old Covenant. We are NOT under the law anymore. The keeping of the Sabbath was part of the OT law. Christ is our rest. The Sabbath Rest is in Him. We are under grace. We've been set free from the law. Paul writes much about this subject especially in Galatians and Romans but elsewhere as well.
You're trying to put us back under the law which is what the Judiazers were doing. The Religious leaders of Paul's day were doing exactly what your RCC is doing now.
"if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law" Gal 3:21
"by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight. Rom 3:20
oh and the reason for the difference in the RCC and Protestant versions of the 10 commandments is the fact that the RCC makes a business out of graven images. So of course they don't want to include that in their version of the 10 commandments (even tho we're not under the law anymore) But if you read scripture you can see that it's there. It's exactly the same thing as in Acts when Paul was preaching and he was disrupting the business of those who were making graven images to Diana. They threw him out and persecuted him because he was preaching against any gods but the true God.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
Sign in or Create Account