itching ears...

2 Timothy 4: 2-4 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

I guess... you would need to explain that one to me if I were to understand it's meaning... sorry.. I don't understand it's content..

Ephesians 4:17-19 says, " this I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind. Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God thru the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart ; who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness"

www.biblebb.com/files/mac/sg55-21.htm

freewill keep in mind it could be translated different by whoever reads it.

I am not sure if this is what he means but it is a very detailed discussion of it

I believe the next one is kinda like a cross reference for the first, Imo but would have to research that, to be sure

Well off to bed for me, Santa has cometh

Thank you very much.... the explaination I understood... that was very helpful..... I didn't know where to find it...

Merry Christmas.... and thanks again...

Altonwoodsdrphil, does this one fit? 2 Tim 2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. ???

given the squabbles I've seen I'd say it probably does. my point in posting the verse's I did was that I just feel as though most people (self included) have a tendency to seek after the answers to alot of technical questions regarding matters of faith but not pay attention to the more obvious things we're all agreed on. it's like asking for seconds with a plate of uneaten food still there...deep huh?

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altonwoodsdrphil said:
I just feel as though most people (self included) have a tendency to seek after the answers to alot of technical questions regarding matters of faith but not pay attention to the more obvious things we're all agreed on.

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I admire you including yourself in this.

So this includes Atheists,Evolutionists,Muslims,Jews,Christians,Pagans etc etc ?

May I ask what that is ? Peace and Harmony ?

It was a little deep for me......the full plate part

If you really want deep try attending a theological seminary.

heck....I never even finished high school,and don't want to go back now LOL

I hear that! Yet, as deep as semitary was, it only laid a firm foundation for me to continue to grow in knowledge (and not enough wisdom yet.) It shared great truths with me, yet, more importantly showed me how to study and how to find the answers God has for us. What wondrous love is this? O! My soul!

fortunatly for mankind,he shows those who can't even read or write or even know what a bible is,how to find his love,as well.

Right

Absolutely, God extends His love to all: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

Even a blind man can study and increase his knowledge of God, and should do so.
2 Timothy 2:15,26 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness, and their word will eat as doth a canker.

In studying I find such pearls of wisdom from God such as there are people who are ever learning yet never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. And reminders such as: But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. (All found in 2 Timothy 2 and 3.) And also this, that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Finally, Christians are also told to preach the Word, be instant in season out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. We have a mandate from God, Himself.

Hope its okay me chiming in on your thread. I was curious about the purpose of your quotes so I've come back to see if the mystery might be solved yet.

Reading your last posted gave me cause to think we may be called to do both. Seek answers regarding matters of faith that stall, stump or divide believers while celebrating matters of faith that believers have equal clarity about.

For me its always about maintaining balance to sustain harmony. I honour God as the ultimate authority and I receive the blessings of his Word as my life source to knowledge and wisdom along the journey that is devinely planned.

I guess I see it more like a buffet than a pre-plated meal. I can go back again and again for more of my favourite things and I can be adventurous and experiment. So long as I know the food laid out for me is blessed by God then I'm game for anything put before me. If I'm unsure or my spirit quickens my attention then I ask God to guide my selections and keep me from harms way.

Thanks for solving the mystery for me. Had a sense this was what you were saying. I do agree that technical questions can distract people from their calling and can draw people away from their peace. Its always good to be reminded of that which we know and from which we can always find truth and peace.

Blessings.......

I have always wondered in countrys where bibles/missions are not permited,and the people have no clue of its content,how the word of Jesus gets to them,with no education or knowledge of religion other than the faith they are taught. In the many areas of the world that still exist today,and christians are executed if they are found.

I always felt he has another way than just scriptures to show his love for these victims of curcimstance.

But I do understand the above scriptures content.

There are Christians in every country. Were it not for those, who like me, continue to present the love of God to others, they would not know of it. There are ways to know how is a believer in such countries.

Paul wrote in Romans (10:13- reference) that <font color="purple"> For whoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed, and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent?

as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that prach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!....So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

I am a man that knows a lot about a little bit of the Bible.

I am a preterist. I love to study religious history and can engage in long conversation about it. I am not dogmatic in that I am acceptant of many versions of intrepretation of the scriptures.

I serve a God of another chance and another and another and another, as long as the person is repentant.

May I ask if you are partial or full preterist? It makes a difference, doesn't it?

You mean to tell me that every man in every country has heard scriptures or the word of Jesus or have been in contact with a christian.

There are countrys that don't even allow bibles in them and kill christians,so that is a bold statment, in my opinion.

I will leave it at that since the topic of thread was unclear to me at first, and I don't want to get it off track with links to proof of my statements or more discussion that may be off topic.

and...Titus 3:9-11?

When the pharisees tried to trick Jesus they asked him what the most important commandments were, he said that to love God was numero-uno, and to love each other as God has loved us...its so simple, if you keep both of these you wont steal, or kill...lie or cheat , I know that we're not going to be perfect but I feel as though theres something to just staying focused on that and not being distracted by well, more esoteric things which seem to be more about legalism anyway. sure, to some people it seems kind of naive...I prefer to think of it as being in that trusting peaceful place like a child...it helps me to feel as though I don't need to know "everything" and that my job is such a simple thing to do...which is to basicly be willing to trust God! lately thats taken on a great meaning to me in my own life, maybe thats why I talk about it so much. dunno?

Sky,
I lean more toward full preterist. I am back and forth between the doctrines of part and full.

Having been connected with a premillenialist teaching for more than 15 years it has been a tough break. Many, in fact all of our family members that my DW and me got involved in the Church have turned their backs on us.

I was ordained in 1990 and gave up my credentials voluntarily in 1997. Since that time I have attended church only 2x per year, Christmas and Easter.

There is so much that I accept from many denominations that I cannot really identify with one certian.

(((((((50guy)))))))

turned their backs on you????? Surely not.....

I'm so surprised at that..... Jin xxxxx

50guy

I have learned that common(IMO) form of abandonment/back turning, from my own religious family/community & family,maybe for many different reasons though,it was hard to heal my wounds,but has actually helped build myself a stronger (but still flawed) character in my opinion,with strength to stand alone when need be,I am still working on my flaws though with the help of God

I feel a relation to your last comment, I also accept alot from many but identify individually and not with any certain denomination,I have been able to learn and grow from them all