Id just rather have those chances.

No...Faith

In Matthew 5, Jesus told us to love our enemies and pray for them. He explained that even pagans love those who love them, and great their own, so if we as Christians only so that we're not doing anything more than what the pagans do. This morning at the national prayer breakfast, Aurthur Brooks gave a speech about loving your enemy, something that's important to not forget in this time of high strung politics. After he spoke, trump got up and at the beginning of his speech, chuckled and said he didn't agree with Aurthur, implying that he didn't believe it's necessary to love one's enemies. So, without devolving into a pro-trump/anti-trump political debate, do you think we should follow the words of Jesus and love our enemies, including our political enemies? And what exactly does that look like?

Matt 5:29
If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into (Gehenna).

Gehenna is the original word used translated to "he ll".

Gehanna was a trash dump outside of town that was always burning.

If your had committed a sin, sentenced to death, this is were you might end up.

Not a place where you would want to end up.

Gehenna


There several different words translated to he ll. All have different meanings. Some mean simply the grave. Some a trash dump where the dead are taken. Translators were just applying their understanding of the afterlife when they used that word.



The bible is very clear that those who are dead sleep, awaiting a resurrection. All but Christ.

Where was Lazarus the four days he was dead? At the pearly gates playing golf, strumming a harp?

Bet that was a bummer when he had to ride the elevator back down to earth.

The wages of sin is DEATH.. Not perpetual fiery torture.

You could show me several scriptures that could be interpreted as the heaven/he ll understanding.

But you would have to ignore the multiple scriptures that say plainly the dead sleep, awaiting a resurrection.

really? doesn't sound like it.

So just some irrelevant information in the Bible. This is why we need Biblical scholars, to tell us what is relevant and what is not?

Just like there are no contradictions, there is no irrelevant information. Are all tools in a tool box useful for ever job?

There are contradictions in the Bible and they are there for those that would have the Bible become the place of their faith and not Christ.

May I ask what are you basing this assertion on? The one about the Bible becoming your faith and not Jesus.

Hobbie
Thanks for the response. I was curious.

There are contradictions in the Bible and they are there for those that would have the Bible become the place of their faith and not Christ.

That's an interesting take on that Hobbie. I would think the opposite. I've known people that have seen contradictions, indiscretions, and figured that the men who wrote the New Testament could not of been guided by the Holy Spirit and therefore walked away from God. Taking into account the four Gospels were written by four different men, after death, and spanning at least 35 years, it does give credence to a non believers view that if in fact they we're guided by the Holy Spirit, then why the different stories.

Another thing is the three documented stories that are basically the same as the flood and Noah, but predate the Bible.

I will say based of personal studies I have yet to see what I believe is a contradiction in the Bible. I believe that if the great deceiver can get us to doubt parts of God's word that in the future it will be easier for him to get others to doubt the Whole Word.

Yes, I do see a difference in those scenario's. Why would you think that some people would have faith in the Bible, but not Christ?