Sufficient Self's Bible Study Group

[BarredBuff]

Huh! What chapter is that?

Chapter 10

 

[rebecca100]

Oh yeah. I found it.

 

[Denim Deb]

This is the kind of debate I sit out of. There are people on both sides that have verses that they can use to support their belief. But, since it does not affect my salvation or my spiritual growth, I won't participate.

2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they breed strife.

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

 

[FarmerJamie]

This is the kind of debate I sit out of. There are people on both sides that have verses that they can use to support their belief. But, since it does not affect my salvation or my spiritual growth, I won't participate.

2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they breed strife.

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

I think I tend to agree.

 

[bambi]

It can be confusing but my thoughts are, even if you take a pagan holiday and try to turn it into a chrisitian celebration is it still not a pagan event? I am comparing it to a wolf in a sheep skin even tho it has a sheep skin on it, is it still not a wolf? I know that many churches are trying to do good like have getting together and having games and fun like on halloween but are we still not celebrating a pagan holiday? It seems to me I had read or heard somewhere this is how Crhristmas began by trying to change it to a christian celebration. I wish that I could remember where I learned this from but the librarian ( i call her Marion the librarian) that lives in my brain is getting very forgetful she has a hard time retrieving information anymore.

 

[BarredBuff]

Im changing the subject, for more details send me a PM. I have a question for you. Do you think the two witnesses in Revelations will know who they are or will they grow into it?

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Im changing the subject, for more details send me a PM. I have a question for you. Do you think the two witnesses in Revelations will know who they are or will they grow into it?

Interesting question.

That's one I haven't studied on, since it's not too central or might not even be knowable. For that reason I'm not as careful with WHY I think what I think about it. (If it is an important question, I think we should be VERY careful to know where our info comes from, since I've gotten confused before by not knowing the difference between Scripture and man's teachings about Scripture -- also on difficult topics I find I have to come at it with a totally fresh mind, free of preconceptions, to find what it really does and does not say).

With that preface, I will say that I kind of have the idea that they may NOT grow into it. They may not be one of "us" in fact (humans alive on earth). I have toyed with the idea they may perhaps be Enoch and Elijah. THE Enoch and THE Elijah from the OT.

I have a couple of reasons but ... It's total speculation. Mostly because neither of them physically died.

 

[BarredBuff]

I say they grow in to it. Because John the Baptist denied being Elijah but Jesus said he ways which to me may mean he was but wasnt sure about it and maybe as he was decapitated he said I am Elijah the precursor to the messiah.

 

[bambi]

I hope I didn't say anything that offended anyone. I hope no one thought I was dabating. I was thinking it was a discusion.

 

[Beekissed]

I think they will know who they are as The Witnesses. And.....they will be the only ones dressed in sackcloth!

As to the previous question....I believe that Jesus pointed out what He felt about getting too into enforcing laws as opposed to compassion, or grace. If one intends to set up a tree and Santa Clause with the intent of idolizing and worshiping them, then I would say it was wrong and indeed a pagan thing.

If one sets up a tree because it's pretty and it has become a seasonal ritual but does not actually symbolize one's faith or the reason one is celebrating the holiday, then I would say that is not true idol worship and therefore could hardly be deemed pagan worship.

One can get very bogged down in laws and build whole doctrines around a single law and actually name churches after a single law or idea in the scriptures....which is also a type of idol worship. When that law blocks out all the other messages in the Bible and becomes the primary focus of a religion, instead of God and His Son, Jesus, then some would call that a cult.