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Faith

Are Journalists and Academics Purposefully Re-Writing the Bible to Make It a ‘Tool of Progressive Social Change’?

Mar. 13, 2013 11:54am Billy Hallowell

The mainstream media’s handling of issues pertaining to religion has always received a fair bit of scrutiny from conservatives and people of faith, alike, as outlets are generally perceived as lacking understanding about these important cultural structures. And academics and entertainers, too, are frequently accused by conservatives of being biased against both religious sentiment and right-of-center perspectives.

Believing that these sectors work diligently to expand left-leaning policies and ideologies, an intriguing, yet controversial, question has arisen: Are journalists, academics and Hollywood elite purposefully re-writing the Bible to make it a tool of progressive social change?

A new report by the Media Research Center’s Culture and Media Institute (CMI) entitled, “Rewriting the Bible: The Gospel According to Liberals,” tackles this very subject, alleging that entertainers, journalists and professors, alike, are re-writing the Bible and using it to their ideological advantage (read the report here).

Written by Paul Wilson, a fellow at CMI, the report charges that these parties — regular targets of conservative angst — have been reworking holy scriptures in an effort to drive home liberal ideals. TheBlaze was given a sneak-peak at the report before its release later this afternoon. We will be sharing some portions of the document to showcase what readers can expect to find within its text.

Are Journalists and Academics Purposefully Re Writing the Bible to Make It a Tool of Progressive Social Change?

Vice President Joe Biden (L) places his hand on the Biden family Bible held by his wife Jill Biden as he takes the oath of office from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayo during and official ceremony at the Naval Observatory on January 20, 2013 in Washington. (Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

To begin, let’s explore Wilson’s main contentions about Hollywood, the mainstream media and left-learning politicians:

When they aren’t actively denigrating religion, liberal journalists, entertainers, and politicians use faith as a weapon to bludgeon conservatives. They decided to reinterpret and rewrite the Bible to prop up their brand of politicized theology, claiming, as Huffington Post’s Mike Lux did, that “it is overwhelmingly supportive of … liberal, lefty, progressive values.” At The Washington Post, Marxist ideas have been attributed to the Acts of the Apostles and Jesus’ parable of the talents became a class warfare lesson. The Huffington Post told readers that the Bible champions homosexuality “if only we’re reading it correctly,” to the point of depicting Jesus on the cross with the word “faggot” replacing “INRI.” At the pro-abortion site RH Reality Check, a writer misinterpreted Genesis passages to argue that the Bible supports abortion. Whatever the left-wing cause, chances are the left and their media allies have subverted the Bible to justify it.

On the media front, CMI pointed to a number of issues that purportedly show bias and a penchant for re-writing the Bible’s sacred texts. Among the examples, the outlet highlights media coverage surrounding the papyrus fragment that purportedly showed that Jesus Christ had a wife. While the initial report of its existence gained a plethora of broadcast attention, the latter revelations that it could be a fake were covered with less fervency, the report’s author alleges.

“When sources like The Washington Post, The New York Times and even NBC News online reported a few days later that authorities declared it “fake,” no broadcast network covered it,” Wilson write.

He even offers up some tips for journalists that are intended to assist them in properly covering subjects pertaining to the Christian faith. Here are the four main points of advice he pens in the document:

Treat the Bible as a Holy Book, Not a Punching Bag: Journalists should stop treating the Bible as an archaic book of outdated customs. Entertainers should stop using Christianity’s holy book as a set-up for sex jokes.

Treat Christianity, Other Religions the Same: Journalists would never target the Koran, the holy book of Islam for mockery – and would immediately be censored if they did. They should strive to treat the Bible with the same respect that they treat the texts of other faiths.

Context, Context, Context: Journalists should examine the context of each Bible passage before cherry-picking quotes to support their ideological position.

Stop Citing Bible-bashers: Journalists should cease citing scholars as authoritative who have a vested interest in altering or discrediting the Bible – or at least make clear their leanings.

In addition to staking media bias claims, the report contends that liberals tend to treat the Bible as though it is a “policy paper” and “not a sacred text.” In this case, the document points out that the holy book’s verses telling believers to help the poor were not intended to be stretched to corroborate a Biblical mandate for government action (i.e. a rise in tax revenue that will, in turn, be used to help the poor).

As for the entertainment industry, Wilson’s charges are no less severe, as he writes that, ”Hollywood gets rich mocking Christianity and its Scriptures.” He points to numerous examples that he believes show this inherent bias. Here’s just a sampling:

The entertainment industry also delights in skewering the Christian holy book in order to mock it. The now-canceled show “GCB” carved its own set of 10 Commandments, inverting one Commandment to read: “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s husband… Unless he’s really hot.” Rapper Lil’ Kim’s “10 Commandments” invented new commandments for women “to keep your man whipped.” The twisted cable series “True Blood” created its own Vampire bible with the phrase: “As their flesh shall nourish yours, their blood shall flow within you, for as the beetle nourishes the lark so shall human nourish vampire.”

President Barack Obama (Credit: AP )

Wilson scrutinizes liberal politicians, too, for their statements about the Bible. Among them, President Barack Obama, who has, according to the report, denigrated conservative economic principles by invoking Biblical principles. He continues:

President Barack Obama has been the most prominent practitioner of this tactic; he invoked the Biblical passage “I am my brother’s keeper” to justify government policies requiring redistribution of wealth in a March 30, 2012, campaign speech. Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky quoted 1 John 3:17-18 to condemn the GOP budget, saying, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” She then asked her Republican opponents, “Why does your budget resolution take away food from the poor?”

In addition to the economy, Wilson contends that the Bible has been manipulated by journalists, Hollywood and writers, alike, to endorse same-sex marriage and other progressive causes. The report contends that, much like the liberal view on the U.S. Constitution, the left sees the Bible as a living document. Wilson writes, “Liberals see the U.S. Constitution is a ‘living document,’ they can ‘change with the times.’ The Bible, it seems, is no safer from their whims.”

The 12-page document concludes by accusing modern liberals of viewing the Bible as a repressive and irrelevant document. That said, Wilson believes that the left is “opportunistic” and using the holy book to advance its agenda. After all, there’s power in numbers and the assumption, according to the report, is that liberals “become Bible scholars when they believe it can be used as a ‘tool of progressive social change.’”

Read the full report here.

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Comments (142)

2GodBeTheGlory
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:17pm
This story comes from an individual that wrote stories with titles such as:

Study: Religion May Help Hardcore Criminals Justify Their Crimes

A Gay Man, a Lesbian and a Transgender Are Part of ‘Micah’s Rule’ — a Christian Band That Sings Gospel and Country Music

‘Secret Code’ Used to Bury Bad News in the Bible Is Discovered and It’s Called the ‘Genesis Death Sandwich’

Gay Mormon Comes Out to His Friends and Family Over 1 Year Period — and Captures Their Reactions in This Video Montage

Gay Man Clashes With Fiery Preacher on NYC Subway: ‘I’m a Good Man and I’m a Gay Man — and Jesus Loves Me!’

Police Seek ‘Christian Mingle’ Date Rape Victims — Read the Disturbing Details

Could Pope Benedict XVI Be Put on Trial Over the Catholic Sex Abuse Scandal?

Gallup: These Are the 10 Most (and Least) Religious States in America

Pastor’s ‘I Give God 10%’ Receipt Raises Question: Are Christians Bad Tippers? Findings May Surprise You

Pastor Rebukes Christians for Gun Worship, Encourages Less Time With ‘Hannity and O’Reilly’ (and More With the Bible)

Atheist Mom Who Penned Viral Essay About Raising Kids ‘Without God’ Speaks Out

And many more. Pot calling the kettle black?

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- Locked
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:28pm
  I was thinking something along the same lines, 2godbetheglory.
  
  Report this comment
- trolltrainer
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:32pm
  Er…I think we are talking apples and oranges here. Mr. Halloway is a…(cough, cough)…journalist. Where does he re-write the Bible? I personally have no idea what his theology is or what he believes as far as God goes…And rightly so, his job only entails giving us religious themed stories.
  
  Now…I think sometimes he prints irrelevant trash simply to get viewer response and page hits…but again, that IS what the business is about. No one forces you or me to read the stories.
  
  Report this comment
- The_Jerk
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:47pm
  Bible’s pretty clear. You don’t eat if you don’t work.
  
  Report this comment
- Copper Catfish
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 2:06pm
  And your point is…
  
  Report this comment
- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 2:11pm
  I think the author is what you call a ‘Libertine’ (google.com)
  
  Anyway, if I were a progressive, I would have tried much harder around the turn of the 1900s, during the progressive era, to rot the foundational understanding of biblical revelation.
  
  I can assure you they would have succeeded much sooner had they done just that. It’s only divine providence that has kept us free as long as it has been.
  
  Report this comment
- Wolf
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 3:38pm
  “…Are Journalists and Academics Purposefully Re-Writing the Bible to Make It a ‘Tool of Progressive Social Change’?…”
  
  ya think? Nothing unusual here- media has been trying to change the Bible since Gutenberg invented the printing press.
  
  But Believers know a God who is big enough and powerful enough to get His point across regardless what the lib anti-God baby killer democraps attepmt.
  
  Report this comment
- YourVoiceMatters
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 4:03pm
  Figures! The thing this individual is apparently oblivious to
  is there is a serious warning at changing the wording and the meaning
  of the true intent of the Word of God!
  I really would not ever want to be in this persons shoes period!
  People take things far too lightly and
  seem to push the envelope
  being an affront to God and His Living Word!
  If they weren’t so foolish they would be quaking in their shoes.
  God will not be mocked…they should take the warning very seriously!
  
  Report this comment
- dfhall
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 4:41pm
  Bill O’Reilly has a book comming out in Sept. killing Jesus. Mr. O’Reilly stated the Bible is to be taken anagogy not literaly I’ve always been taught the Bible is to be taken literaly except for a few passages. i’m eally not interested in pastor O’Reilly’s interperation.
  
  Report this comment
- trolltrainer
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 5:06pm
  dfhall
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 4:41pm
  
  Bill O’Reilly has a book comming out in Sept. killing Jesus. Mr. O’Reilly stated the Bible is to be taken anagogy not literaly I’ve always been taught the Bible is to be taken literaly except for a few passages. i’m eally not interested in pastor O’Reilly’s interperation.
  ————————————————————————————————–
  
  Bill O’Reilly is to theology what Spongebob Squarepants is to physics.
  
  Report this comment
- curmudgeon60
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 6:29pm
  You and others on here need to take the time to read, comprehend and research properly before responding. Mr. Wilson does apologetics in defense of scripture AGAINST these title articles that come from main stream news and Hollywood. He is a pro-life, pro-family Christian as is the center he works with! Mr. Hallowell does a fine job on faith articles, do you have a paper you write for?
  
  Report this comment
DarthMims
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:00pm
It is important to point out here that what he is claiming has gone on for a long time. Every time the Bible has been translated, it has been modified to the advantage of the culture of the time. The most obvious example is the King James Version. It was modified to make the Anglican church look right and the Catholic church look wrong. It also made sure the church got its tithe (which is the Old English translation of tenth) out of the masses.

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- JGraham III
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 9:39pm
  Not worried. God has watched out for His Word for a long time. The critics and naysayers and rank unbelievers have come and gone yet the Bible is still here. Still saying the same thing it has from the beginning.
  
  Report this comment
FIREANDBRIMSTONE
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:56pm
But dont worry old Beckbots. At your age it will all be over soon and you will find out whether or not you have been living a lie your whole life. As a agnostic I dont assume that a god does or does not exist, unlike you poor old humans.

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- Ghandi was a Republican
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:05pm
  You are doomed. As the gate closes you will be trapped in your mommy’s basement for eternity.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:06pm
  If I’m wrong… no harm, no foul. I’m just gone. If you’re wrong… well, eternity lasts a very long time. Forever in fact.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:07pm
  Ghandi, I think that’s his idea of Heaven.
  
  Report this comment
- A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:08pm
  Does early 20′s count as ‘old’?
  
  Report this comment
- I SPY
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:15pm
  This guy is such a pathetic loser. It’s actually sad, but I can’t help but laugh. Sorry, Fireandwhatever!
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:18pm
  You’re a dinosaur CONSCIENCE.
  
  Report this comment
- A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:25pm
  @GONZO
  
  Guess I need to start on that bucket list.
  
  Report this comment
- FIREANDBRIMSTONE
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:28pm
  Whats wrong old fogies? In denial much about your propaganda book aka bible? Keep living in your sky gods fantasy world..LOL!
  
  Report this comment
- Voter713
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:33pm
  @ Fire – You live by faith everyday. Ex: you have faith that you will wake up the next day, you have faith with every step you take you wont fall, you have faith that your water works right before you turn it on and you have faith that the brakes in your car work. God made a world that proves “faith = Heb 11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” does exist. Faith in God is what you “dont know”. Agnosticism is just another word for “I dont know” – but your proof is EVERYWHERE. Example that God does exist – everything from the keyboard you type on to the pen you write with has a PURPOSE yet we do not? Everything man-made such as the computer or the desk has a CREATOR yet we organic beings in an organic world do not? You are so caught up in “what ifs” you simply give up and say “I dont know”. You have a choice everyday you wake up to know Who made you and why They wanted you here. God gives you every opportunity throughout the day to call on Him. If you are truely want to know then seek Him out so that you will finally “know” before your day comes and you FINALLY see God is real! And when that day does come and you are face to face with God what makes you think He will know you?I mean you chose not to know Him right? He only knows those that are written in the Book of Life.You can know Him every moment, like right now, to know Him. Don’t be stuck in the dark hoping the Light will find you! The Light is already there for
  
  Report this comment
- trolltrainer
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:33pm
  Lol, for an agnostic you are certainly atheistic!
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:35pm
  @Fire
  
  “As a agnostic I dont assume that a god does or does not exist, unlike you poor old humans.”
  
  You don’t take comfort from a belief in something bigger than yourselves; others do. Why is that a bad thing? You seem to be a pretty miserable person to make fun of someone for having faith simply because your answer to the question of the supernatural is just a big question mark.
  
  @A_Call_To_Conscience
  
  “Does early 20′s count as ‘old’?”
  
  Ha! At some points in human history, you’d be past middle-age!
  
  It’s good to see faithful young folks around these days :-)
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:37pm
  Honestly, it’s never too early for that CONSCIENCE.
  
  Report this comment
- A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 2:26pm
  @LOCKED
  
  Thank you good sir.
  
  Report this comment
- HigherRoad
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 2:36pm
  FIREANDBRIMSTONE–As others have already stated, why would you gamble your eternal life on the possibility that God does not exist? Paul said in 1Corinthians 1:18: “For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing; but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Who but God could have assembled all of creation and the universe in such perfect balance and design? Would this same God not have made a way for those who believe in Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, to live with Him for all eternity? His Word, the Bible, says he indeed did! The Bible tells us that those who do not believe will die twice: a physical, end of life death, and an eternal death in hell. Choose well, my friend.
  
  Report this comment
- clipper
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 3:14pm
  @Voter
  Beautifully stated.
  The Light is already there for you
  The dark is only the absence of Light
  
  Report this comment
- antitheism
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 4:42pm
  @gonzo
  
  And how do you know that a god that specifically damns believers that believe in the god you believe in to hell?
  
  Report this comment
- trolltrainer
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 5:10pm
  antitheism
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 4:42pm
  
  @gonzo
  
  And how do you know that a god that specifically damns believers that believe in the god you believe in to hell?
  ————————————————————————————-
  Wait…wait…I CAN decipher this….
  
  Ah-HA! The answer is because the Bible says so. But Gonzo’s statement begins with an “If I am wrong” condition…So…What is YOUR point?
  
  Report this comment
- antitheism
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 6:32pm
  trainer
  
  There are more possibilities to him just being gone if he is wrong. There are an infinite amount of god(s) that could damn him to hell for his belief in the god he believes in.
  
  Report this comment
- trolltrainer
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 9:15pm
  eh, he is right. There is only one God. The Bible says so. Duh!
  
  Report this comment
- A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:53pm
  @ANTITHEISM
  
  True. That is why one must first accept the God of the Bible. In order for one to accept the God of the Bible they must first accept that there is a God, or at least a higher power that created us all. Out of all the other religions and god’s, Christianity makes the most sense (to me).
  
  Report this comment
- Malrick
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 2:41pm
  Fireandbrimestone, if you are such an agnostic, why do you care enough to troll the religious, don’t call yourself something you’re not, you’re an atheist and seemingly a fairly militant one if you going to take the time and trouble for this. As an agnostic, why am I defending them, because they have as much right to their convictions as you do, and they tend to be better people.
  
  Report this comment
FIREANDBRIMSTONE
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:54pm
The bible has been amended over the past 2000 yrs in order to fit the religeous zealots fetish of power and control over the weak minded. This is nothing new.
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- Gonzo
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:09pm
  And the Democrat party has “power and control over the weak minded” in America. Thus the Obama sticker on your bumper.
  
  Report this comment
- 2GodBeTheGlory
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:22pm
  @FIREANDBRIMSTONE
  
  And yet you lie with statements such as that. It has been shown time and time again with manuscripts dating the 3rd century to present that the Bible HAS NOT changed.
  
  I take it you think that our founders where racist thieves and murders?
  
  What say you, statesmen?
  
  Report this comment
- ihasa
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 4:36pm
  No need to edit it. Just cherry pick to suit your viewpoint (it’s a big and varied text). Conservatives and liberals have been doing this for centuries. Thus the Bible has been used yo justify slavery, and also to end slavery. To justify persecuting homosexuals, and to justify being compassionate towards them. Liberals tend to look at what Jesus actually taught. Conservatives look to the left and the right of the gospels.
  
  Thomas Jefferson actually literally cut those second out of the Bible, leaving only the story and sayings of Jesus.
  
  Report this comment
elosogrande
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:54pm
The liberal left thinks even less of The Bible than they do of The Constitution. They will re-write either in order to force through their fundamental changes to America.

These fools won’t be satisfied until they have turned our country into another third-world pest hole, just like the other ones that socialism and communism have created.

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JohnJoseph
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:51pm
It is no surprise they change or interpret the Bible the wrong way. God has already warned us in His Word that there will be those that will “pervert” and/or “corrupt” the Word of God. I don’t worry about them – one day they will stand and give an account for how they handled the Word of God and those that are guilty of wrongly handling the Word of God will have a hotter place in hell.

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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:47pm
If obama is his brother’s keeper — look no further than this poor bassterd to see where obama is leading you. The guy lives in squalor in obama’s own homeland.

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- Bullitt2008
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:06pm
  “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8)
  
  Report this comment
- David-FL
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 2:10pm
  @Bullit – It is for each (individual) to decide to help those he wants. Not for the State to take from the producers and give to the consumers. Don’t mistake that text as condoning Socialism or Communism. Far from it!
  
  Here. Expand your mind with this-
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0451163931/ref=sr_1_1_np_1_main_olp?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363198201&sr=1-1&condition=new
  
  Report this comment
- From Virginia
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 6:16pm
  @David – I took Built’s verse to mean that since Obama hasn’t provided even for his own household (i.e family) and profeses to be a Christian that he is WORSE than an unbeliever.
  
  Report this comment
Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:44pm
Jesus would support the U.S. Constitution hands down. God would support FREE enterprise and Capitalism. Capitalisn is the most benevolent societal order ever devised. It always exists, no matter what. An openly Capitalist society offers a level playing field. Any other social order leads to control of resources which in turn leads to rampant corruption, which leads to a failing society. Every single time. Socialism is Satan’s playground.

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- David-FL
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 2:12pm
  Amen brother!
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0451163931/ref=sr_1_1_np_1_main_olp?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363198201&sr=1-1&condition=new
  
  Report this comment
TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:35pm
This will be part of my afternoon radio show today at 3p eastern. http://www.i25talk.co

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john vincent
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:32pm
Erosion is a subtle thing- you really do not notice it WHILE it is happening, then bam………

This article states the attempt to erode is in full light, and the victim??? none other than God’s word, and good people. It is however no threat to the Word of God, but good people are threatened because a misinterpretation or a re-writing by the powers that be have a devastating effect.

-Care for the poor? Govt says it is their job, thus taking from they who are gainfully employed, to balance or redistribute the wealth……..meanwhile the good book means that individuals should care for their neighbors

—Obama implies: ‘Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
And the inference here is that one only has to QUOTE the bible, as long as the intentions are good, yet Mr Obama could be schooled by his lack of proof of ‘deeds and truth….’ If he really loved in deed, he would not surround himself (Rice, etc etc etc) with miscreants who hate America.

There is not enough paper to prove the leftist mind to use the scriptures to justify their dastardly takeover. Fortunately, people know this-

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- momrules
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:03pm
  Hi John………I think the reason that the Bible is the target of the liberal left is that Satan never attacks his own. Satan knows full well that the Bible is the true word of God thus the attacks by the godless. The threat of violence aside, why would Satan attack Islam, a true work of Satan himself.
  
  Report this comment
- john vincent
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:30pm
  Mom–
  greetings
  
  u said : ‘
  Islam, a true work of Satan himself…………………………….
  
  Whoa, that is big time strong. I may be willing to add that it is a masterpiece…………………
  What days we live in; isn’t it great to find encouragement from souls who share such knowledge….
  
  God bless America
  God bless Israel
  God bless Mom-
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:39pm
  Momrules hits nail on head once again.
  
  Report this comment
SquidVetOhio
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:30pm
Remember, this was how Satan caused man to fall when he asked Eve:

“Yea, hath God said?”

Twisting or changing what God said is the Devil’s oldest trick.

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SamIamTwo
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:30pm
I like Calvary Chapels. They do not preach at cha, simply teach thru the bible like Jay Verneon McGee.

It was called the Jesus freak movement in the 60′s. And their small numbers continue to increase. Typically they start out as a family bible study and it eventually grows, God willing. Typically they rent out places in the inner city…at least those that I have attended. Not wealthy people but people like you and I.

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- DissenterKnight
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:37pm
  Love Dr. McGee! Best money I ever spent was on a full set of his “Through the Bible” commentaries!
  
  Report this comment
- trolltrainer
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:46pm
  Link to the free Thru the Bible MP3 downloads:
  
  http://www.ttb.org/contentpages/21793/e63bfac6-600d-436f-8231-5fcadefa77d6/5-YearSeriesinMP3.aspx
  
  They are essentially the same material as his commentaries.
  
  Report this comment
- momrules
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:55pm
  The Through the Bible series by J.Vernon McGee is wonderful. He has helped me tremendously as I study the Bible. He was a true man of God.
  
  Report this comment
- trolltrainer
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:04pm
  The Blaze lost my previous post where I explained that we use the McGee audio every day for our Bible study. We try to do no more than 5 audio segments a day so if there are more in a chapter we simply read that chapter out loud for every day.
  
  McGee got it. He was a true man of God. While we are on the same page I do not necessarily agree with everything McGee believed…For instance, he believed the wine Jesus created was non-alcoholic. I believe it was the finest alcoholic wine those people ever drank! He also is a gap theorist. I can understand why because his generation did not have the scientific knowledge we do today. I am a YEC. But these things are good conversation starters with the family as we study God’s Word.
  
  McGee got it and his theology is spot on. I cannot wait until I can have long conversations with my brother J. Vernon McGee someday soon!
  
  Report this comment
- DissenterKnight
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:05pm
  When I want to understand what the bible is saying, I look to Henry, Spurgeon or JF&B. But when I’m struggling for how to make a complicated idea clear and easy for the layman (no offense, ladies) to understand; I look to Dr. McGee’s commentary!
  
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- trolltrainer
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:19pm
  Matthew Henry…Whew…I have his commentaries but they are…difficult to say the least!
  
  I also have Spurgeon, his series is great. And still very relevant.
  
  I think my best go-to is Expositor’s though. When I do anything for school (Liberty grad program) I use all the resources I can get my hands on.
  
  While my personal Bible is a Nelson KJV I also use multiple translations when I am studying something. It gives great insight to view a verse in as many side by side translations as possible. The truth is sometimes KJV is closest to original language, sometimes NIV, ASV or other versions are better. Bible Gateway http://www.biblegateway.com/ is a good resource, but I find e-sword (free) to be invaluable. http://www.e-sword.net/
  
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- David-FL
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 2:18pm
  @TrollTrainer,
  
  Regarding alcohol in the Bible, you are correct Sir! It was not grape ‘juice’…
  
  Deuteronomy 14:26
  26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
  
  The Bible warnds of drunkeness. It does not demand abstinence.
  
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- trolltrainer
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 5:19pm
  David-Fl, regarding alcohol in the Bible; we BELIEVE we are correct. As far as I know this is still an open question that will never be dogmatically answered. :-)
  
  There is a reason why the American temperance era theologians of the late 19th and early 20th century did not want to associate Christ with the old devil alcohol…And because of this they found ways to twist Scripture…not consciously, of course, but they let their theology drive their interpretation of Scripture. Much like the gap theorists do. Sometimes we do not personally like what the Bible says. It is a hard trap not to fall into…
  
  Which is why I am increasingly tolerant of my brothers that disagree with me on these minor points. Hey, as long as we don’t miss the gospel boat…
  
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- DissenterKnight
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:45am
  TrollTrainer,
  Expositor’s is good, just not my favorite. My mentor has dogged me for years to “read someone who drew breath in the last 100 years”; but I have a weakness for the old theologians. I’ve been warming to Barth, but he is very hard to read. I’m on my third pass through one of his works and I still am not sure I fully understand his theology. “Barth for Armchair Theologians” is a good read though; excellent discussion and review of his move from liberal theology to conservative theology and possibly the best explanation of why the we often falls short of expressing the truth of G-d, “Finite language trying to express an infinite being”.
  
  As to alcohol, the trend toward treating alcohol as sinful was born (or at least nurtured) in the US by the Progressives (Prohibition was a Progressive issue; pushed by people who knew better than those around them). I don’t drink because of a passage where Christ tells us that He won’t drink wine until He drinks with us (Matthew 26:29). If the Master will not imbibe, then what right do I –a humble servant- have to do so?
  
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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:27pm
.
Well with the Five Pillars of Islam being taught to kids in Texas schools with hardly a mention of the Christian Faith, and parents rolling over and letting it happen. It won’t be long before Texas is a Blue State……

If these Texans were at the Alamo they would have have jumped over the line in the sand, run up the White Flag and rolled out the Red Carpet……

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- sgtlw2
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:43pm
  I’m to the point thats if/when that crap is being ingrained in my son’s head, I’m yanking him out and putting him in the K-12 online school. At least I’ll be able to see what he’s learning. I feel sad for the people that pick apart the Bible to suit them – GOD is waiting for you on Judgement day. You will answer for that. GOD/Jesus in NO way supported homosexual relationships or abortion – Uhhh, “man shall not lay with man”. OHHH, but that wouldn’t work for what they want so that sentence is left out – If I lived in Tx, no way would I be rolling over and allowing this.
  
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Just_Us2
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:25pm
Satan quoted several scriptures and twisted God’s own words around in the garden of Eden. Why is it surprising to anyone that followers of Satan wouldn’t do the exact same thing? There are people who post here that twist what the bible says so they can sin without feeling guilty. WANGO comes to mind.

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- dosdelgados
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 3:56pm
  Exactly. They don’t like feeling bad so they try to justify by pricing God limits.
  
  Putting God in a box is like stacking BBs.
  
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Locked
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:20pm
Wait, you mean some people will pick and choose which parts of the Bible that support their opinions and ignore the ones that contradict their views? I can’t believe it!

While this is certainly most blatantly obvious when done by leftists and non-Christians, I’m sure we all know plenty of people of all political and ideological backgrounds who will back up their views with “The Bible!” and yet be completely unable to quote or cite where the Bible addresses the issue they’re discussing. Even The Blaze does this, with articles like “Would Jesus be a Republican or a Democrat?” (http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/08/17/is-jesus-christ-a-republican-or-a-democrat/)

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- Gonzo
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:12pm
  I got yelled at yesterday on here for speeding and come to find out…Jesus sets the speed limits here in America. So, I actually learned something yesterday…which is nice.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:38pm
  Slow down Gonzo: God commands it! It must be true; I read it in the Book of Motor Vehicles, 12:3-5!
  
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- Gonzo
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 2:19pm
  Must be one of those Catholic Bibles, we don’t have that book. :-0
  
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Calm Voice of Reason
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:15pm
The idea of “sacred” texts, in addition to “sacred” ideas and opinions, are antithetical to the concept of freedom. We must be allowed to challenge anything.

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- SquidVetOhio
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:26pm
  Challenging and changing is not the same thing. If you don’t believe what God (Jesus) said fine. You do not have the freedom to change what they said.
  
  Sacred writings are only sacred to them to whom they are sacred. I am one of them. And I find it perferctly infalliable. Whenever I’ve challenged the validity of the scriptures, I’ve found them either provalbly true or have not found anything to disprove them. But, that’s just me.
  
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- DissenterKnight
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:27pm
  Challenging scripture is and old and long practiced right, exercised by many of the world’s most well-known minds. Maybe this will ring a bell, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Not familiar? Maybe if I put it in context?
  
  Isaiah 14, 13 to 17: “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?”
  
  People have been challenging G-d for a very long time.
  
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- trolltrainer
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:31pm
  I agree! Faith in Christ is not about freedom, it is about surrender to your Master and Creator. This country was founded on Christian principles and should be governed by those with Christian principles, but there is a separation of church and state. Christians are forced into a position of “defending” their beliefs so they go to the extreme here. But the US government is a secular power designed to promote liberty and freedom to everyone. It should get out of the church’s business!
  
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- THERAPTURCOMES
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:36pm
  Yes this is a valid point as God does agree with freedom, Freedom to choose to believe upo0n Christ and be saved and the freedom to choose to not believe and stay in condemnation.
  
  This literally means, people are free to choose to got to hell and then the lake of fire and seeing how God is perfect Holy and Righteous He cannot interfere with that choice when people are on their faces before Him at the great white throne judgment
  
  My advice is simple believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ, the real Jesus and not this foul liberal version of christ or you will be left behind at the resurrection/rapture http://youtu.be/CBsYDhNxFlU
  
  Romans 10:9-10
  
  9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
  
  10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
  
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- Walkabout
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:52pm
  Calm Voice of Reason
  
  There is nothing new under the sun. Challenge away. You will sound histrionic not calm. :)
  
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- Elena2010
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 1:16pm
  Apply that to the koran and haddith then. There is plenty of anti-Western civ to keep you busy for a good long while.
  
  The Bible built Western civ.
  
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4XGrace
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:14pm
DUH!
The “leaders” of this world have FOREVER been trying to rewrite the Bible to suit their own purposes. Not among the first of them was the RC church which took the blasphemies of Origen and others from Egypt. The movement to the oldest known manuscripts is just a bunch of hokus pokus meant to destroy Christ’s witness to man here on earth. God promised by His Word to preserve it and no effort of mankind will destroy it; they only serve to invite upon themselves God’s promises in Revelation chapter 22 verses 18 and 19:

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

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- Lloyd Drako
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:45pm
  4xGrace: The early leaders of the RC Church didn’t “rewrite” the Bible. They created it. They were the ones who decided in the first place that
  
  a) there should be a “Bible”,
  b) that it should include most of the Jewish Scriptures, and
  c) that it should include some putatively Christian writings but not others.
  
  These decisions were highly political. Christianity could easily have become a non-Scriptural religion, or one that wrote the Jewish heritage out of the Church, or one that adopted teachings which today we would not regard as “Christian,” for example, that Jesus’ body was an immaterial phantom, or that–as liberal Christians often suggest even today–that he was a purely human moral teacher and not God incarnate and savior.
  
  The Church never made Origen a saint, precisely because his teachings were regarded as heretical. So were other doctrines that were especially widespread in Egypt, for example, the idea that Christ had only a single nature in which the divine and the human were fused, rather than two natures as in “Orthodox” (and consequently western “RC”) teaching. Of course, if the Monophtysites had won the struggle, the Orthodox and heretical positions would be flipped.
  
  As for Revelation 22 18:19: can you really regard a book as infallible simply because it says it is? This after all is pretty much how Muslims regard the Koran.
  
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trolltrainer
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:14pm
People have misquoted and misinterpreted the Bible from the beginning. Hence the myriad choices of Christian denominations. Shoot, most of the Apostle Paul’s inspired writing has to do with correcting heresy. Nothing new here…

The Body of Christ has always been a relatively small group compared to everyone else. It is so easy to be born again that a 3 year old child can understand yet our need for religion prevents even the most intelligent people from coming to Christ. Willingtoupe below is a classic example. They are so stuck on trying to prove that “the rich” cannot get to heaven that they miss the whole point that wealth does not matter.

I have reached the point in my walk that I no longer care what the world does. I have turned my attention inward and upward. I have enough trouble keeping myself in God’s will and remaining diligent in my study of His Word. A few people “get it”, most do not…It is for Christ to judge, not me…Thank God…

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- DissenterKnight
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:19pm
  Amen! I went through a rough patch a few weeks ago where I allowed myself to look not at the solution but at the problem. I broke the first rule and allowed myself to become entangled in the concerns of those around me; hard to toss folks a life ring if you’re treading water beside them. There’s plenty in the world to be concerned about, but in the end, G-d wins out.
  
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- SquidVetOhio
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:27pm
  Great post.
  
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- msconstrue
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:30pm
  trolltrainer, your last paragraph says it all. so much of this world has become a sad, ugly place…it makes me weary.
  
  God doesn’t ask much of us, mostly to just remain faithful and know that it all gets better in the end.
  
  Peace.
  
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SciPro
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:09pm
Yeah .. there is always some idiot trying to interpret passages of the Bible to suit their understanding and agenda .. that has been going on since the beginning of scripture, no surprise there. Since the social progressives are using scripture to further their agenda, they better watch it, .. those tactics will come back and bite them in the a$$ ….

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SoulLine
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:08pm
History is just repeating itself. The Bible was re-written to control people 1800 years ago.
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- DagneyT
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:21pm
  That is patently untrue. The version of Isaiah we read today is nearly identical to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Nothing, not one single thing in the Bible has ever proven to be false. Archaeologists are verifying its contents every year through their efforts to uncover the past. Get educated. I suggest you read Dr. Randall Price, an archaeologist and biblical scholar. His books have a plethora of suggestions for your edification.
  
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Beachmastermax
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:06pm
If you do not have a pastor that teaches from the original autographs (Koina Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic) you should. This is the only way you can be sure you are not hearing a man’s opinion, but God’s word.

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- VaARNG_Guardsman
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:30pm
  Sure but he has to preach his sermon in English so there is still translation. And which set of texts does this preacher consider inspired?
  
  I think they should just write another addition to the bible, like a 19th century false prophet did. I’m sure there’s some golden plates still laying around.
  
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term limits for congress
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:03pm
We have always allowed liberals to control the language and manipulate history to fit their narrative. It’s in the Play Book. Hitler ring a bell?

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willingtoupe
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:03pm
Well there is no need to reinvent the wheel. The Bible already quoted the anointed one, Jesus, by commanding the rich to sell all and give away their possessions, to the poor and to follow him….Which is what being a Christian means…Followers of Christ.

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- DissenterKnight
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:14pm
  Christ said that to one man, a rich ruler, to make it clear to that man that his own love for wealth and comfort was far greater than his professed interest in following Christ. Christ did not indict wealth, He rebuked the untruth of the man’s claim to seek Him.
  
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- SquidVetOhio
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:21pm
  “by commanding the rich to sell all and give away their possessions”
  
  - a prime example of people ignorant of context using scripture to push their political agenda.
  
  Jesus NEVER “commanded the rich to sell all and give away their possessions”. There’s a little thing called context you’re missing. A rich youg ruler came to Jesus claiming to have followed all the laws (an impossiblility) and Jesus struck him right between the eyes with what what keeping him from being born again, his love his money. That was not a blanket commandment for all rich people to sell everything and give it to the poor. Being rich is not a sin. I’ve had a lot more poor people wrong me than rich people.
  
  You might want to read Jesus’ parable where he talks about taking the “talent” (money) from the servant who only had one and give it to the 1 that had 10. Jesus is interested in how faithful you are, not how rich or poor you are.
  
  The Bible. Learn it. Love it. Live it.
  
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- trolltrainer
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:25pm
  “Context, Context, Context: Journalists should examine the context of each Bible passage before cherry-picking quotes to support their ideological position.”
  
  Forget it DissenterKnight, you are wasting your breath here. This is one that will never get it…
  
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- JeffersonsPen
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:30pm
  Diss is correct. There was and will be “rich” men and women that will join Christ. Once one truly releases all to Christ they can be blessings in the form of riches. Remember though you should be a good stuart. Money in it’s raw form is niether good or evil, it’s application however can be only one or the other. As for re wrighting God’s Word…………………..Wo to you !
  
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- Just_Us2
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:31pm
  Selling possessions didn’t work out so well for Ananias and his wife Sapphira….so…probably a bit more to it than just selling all you have. The bible also says not to steal or covet. Stealing another person’s wealth in the name of God and twisting scripture to justify it is nothing short of Satanic.
  
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- SamIamTwo
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:39pm
  And what was Jesus’s greatest commandment? Love.
  
  Which is the greatest commandment?” Jesus tells them that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart mind body and soul and the second is like the first which is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:28-34 NIV). Love can do no wrong to its’ neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10).
  
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Bill Wallace
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:03pm
Absolutely they are.

A recent story had discussion about a new change to a version of the bible. Seems like the gay crowd didn’t like the story of Sodom and Gammorah being used against it as a reason against homosexuality. So instead of having the bible read against gays, they are making that story about rape. Rape is bad, homosexuality is okay in God’s eyes.

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- Locked
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:16pm
  Do you have a link to that? There was a story last week where Chazael and I posted at length about Sodom’s sins, with him throwing out Ezekiel and claiming the city was destroyed solely because of sexual immorality. Such a view is anti-biblical; three different books of the Bible give three different reasons for the destruction of the city. Jude says sexual immorality; Genesis says the attempted rape of angels; and Ezekiel names several sins, such as being uncaring, ignoring the poor, and acting haughty.
  
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- lildrummerboy
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:24pm
  then they will have to change Hebrews as well, because It explicitly states God abhors homosexuality..can’t change that, so now if they try to rewrite the old testament, but the new testament speaks against, we now have a conflict in God’s message, so that people will twist it and say “there is double speak in the Bible, when God also says ” he does not change like the shifting shadows”. God cannot lie..this is a mess!
  
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- SamIamTwo
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:35pm
  Have you ever had to take the stand with other witnesses and each have a different rendering of the accident?
  
  You stated, “Jude says sexual immorality; Genesis says the attempted rape of angels; and Ezekiel names several sins, such as being uncaring, ignoring the poor, and acting haughty”.
  
  All are correct…IIRC it took some time for it to get that way before God did send his angles…all three accounts are true.
  
  I like the part of why Lot wanted to live there…He knew what he was getting into as Abraham warned him…it was desires of the flesh. I don’t think he went there to share with them the Jewish religion.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:58pm
  @Samiam
  
  “All are correct…IIRC it took some time for it to get that way before God did send his angles…all three accounts are true.”
  
  That’s exactly what I said; if you have three accounts, it means they’re all to be taken as parts of the whole story. But other posters claimed the sins in Ezekiel didn’t matter or that it was the homosexual nature of the rape that was a sin, not the rape itself (as Lot offered his own daughters instead).
  
  “I like the part of why Lot wanted to live there…He knew what he was getting into as Abraham warned him…it was desires of the flesh. I don’t think he went there to share with them the Jewish religion.”
  
  Lot is very much an example of what NOT to do and how foolish it is to oppose God. If betting against God, offering his daughters to a crowd intent on raping, ignoring an angel’s command, or finally drunkenly fornicating with his own daughters didn’t make that pretty darn apparent, someone must be whacked in the head to look at Lot and go “Yup, that’s exactly how God wants me to live!”
  
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DissenterKnight
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:01pm
Uhmm… duh?

I once had to endure an Old Testament class in which the teacher, an ordained Prebyterian minister with a Phd (who’d never once served in a church), taught for weeks on the topic of G-d and His WIFE!

This is old news, at best.

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- Smokey_Bojangles
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:18pm
  Back when we still had The Bible taught to us in the South,our Bible Teacher was a Lesbian with a live in girlfriend. I have to hand it to her,she did not hold back on Sodom and Gomorrah.
  
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- DissenterKnight
  Posted on March 13, 2013 at 12:35pm
  I struggled with how to minister to homosexuals for a long time, then a woman, a celibate lesbian, who was also a strong Christian and a spiritual director to more than a few folks, gave me the best answer I’ve yet to find. The Bible tells us all that we are sinners –all of us. But it also tells us to stop! If we don’t stop our sinful ways –no matter is that sin is lying, cheating on our spouses, hitting our kids, stealing from our employers or homosexuality- we are wrong in the eyes of G-d. We’d never question the need for Christians to stop the first behaviors on that list; why do we think homosexuals should be given a pass?
  
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