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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| Greek (Western) |
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 We attempt to explain and justify everything according to human understanding. We apply linear logic to understanding the Bible. This can be likened to lining up dominos on their edge in a line. Push the first one over and that pushes over the next, and so on down the line. Problems arise where a domino is missing (no knowledge), or is placed outside the line (an apparent contradiction in Scripture).
One example is the apparent contradiction of predestination and freewill.
God's order has been 'predestined'.....
Romans 8:29-30
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 ....but we have 'freewill', through prayer, to change God's mind.....
Matthew 7:7-8
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 Hence we get a division in the church, and church theology, between those who major on predestination (Calvinism) and freewill (Armenianism) and all shades of opinion in between that divide people, and denominations, one from another! For we cannot accept, from our limited human understanding, that both can be, and are, correct!
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| Eastern (Hebrew) |
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 Jews acknowledge that God's wisdom and knowledge is infinite, and is sometimes beyond human understanding. Therefore they accept that there can be apparent contradictions in our sight. They apply block logic. While all the facts within a given block are coherent, they accept that one block of facts might present paradoxes and apparent contradictions with another block. They accept the almighty understanding of God.....
Romans 11:33
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 .....that affirms that man's knowledge is finite, and limited. Solomon acknowledged this.....
Ecclesiastes 3:11
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 An interesting example of this is seen in whether God is visible or not. Most Western Christians will automatically say God is invisible, quoting.....
John 4:24
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 Now John would have been aware of the Old Testament Scriptures when he wrote his Gospel, but he didn't see a need to explain the difference between the scriptures, as we would have needed to do, looking with Western eyes. John knew that God, in His infinite wisdom, understood, even if John, in his human understanding, didn't. It simply wasn't an issue for John, as it is for us.
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| SOME SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY |
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 1. We must understand that God is God, is God! He understands all, even where Scripture is not able to be understood by us. This is true, even when Scripture appears to contradict itself - through our limited eyes of understanding. (A premise that is particularly hard for theologians to accept!)
2. Unnecessary divisions have arisen in the church through different interpretations of Scriptures about which we do not have a full understanding. We all need to repent and reconcile!
3. We must base our theology on the whole of Scripture, not just limited selections of our favourite passages that justify our desired conclusion.
4. May we be gracious and humble enough to accept that we do not have all the answers, and be tolerant and understanding to those who hold to differing viewpoints to ours.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK:</i> THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW continues..... |
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 ..... as we look at FAITH AND WORKS.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 This Hebraic concept is one of the most difficult for Greek based, educated Christians to accept. It goes against everything we are taught from early school days.
Yet to accept what God says, even when we cannot fully understand by logic, is a key element in growing in Jesus.
Let us remember that we are not God!
IMAGES AND ART: Jerusalem
Jerusalem's City of David
and Area G
Toilet
Four toilets have been found in the City of David - two in Shiloh's excavations and two earlier. One found by the Parker Expedition was saluted as the throne of Solomon. Father Vincent said, “I fear its actual destination was at once more private and naturally necessary….†Another was found by Kenyon only a few yards from Area G.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
435. Man seeks truth. God is truth. Shouldn’t then, man seek truth through God?
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Waxing Lyrical: http://www.wwj.org.nz/waxing.php
If Only I'd Thought of it: http://www.wwj.org.nz/thought.php
Laughing at Ourselves: http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php
A look at some of lifes curious questions: http://www.wwj.org.nz/why.php
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Yet God appeared to Abraham in the form of 3 men..... 
.... and to Moses and 73 others.....