MDB Bible Study

[_Jersey Girl]

Oh, I think there’s a big difference between what you did and what Ceeboo is doing. Your faith aided you in a time of turmoil. Ceeboo has knowingly opened up his own personal Jesus Camp to a board known for honest, direct, raucous discussion on the Paradise forum. Remember, the board is divvied up precisely for this kind of thing. I don’t think I’d host an AA meeting at a bar during happy hour, if you know what I mean.

Anyway. Since he’s just testifying and keepin’ it casual, I don’t see the problem with banter.

- Doc

I think you are simply mistaken on multi-levels here and in my view, Ceeboo has exercised an extraordinary amount of patience and care on this thread. The extreme situation from my own life that I chose to use to illustrate faith combined with works is by no means a representation of how I strive to live out faith on a daily basis.

Reading your memes gives off the impression that you think a person who extends prayer on behalf of others is a do-nothing hypocrite simply paying lip service to faith.

Not everyone is built that way. Not everyone lives that way. Certainly, it's unwise to judge a person when we know what we see on the screen here is only one part of who they are and what they live.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Judging? I’m not the one offering up public intercessions to a god that will reveal itself to board members because, presumably, they’re in need of salvation.

If you or Ceeboo really are in need of a public Bible study, but Paradisiacal expressions cause many a pearl to be clutched, there’s a safe space up in the Celestial you two can use to edify one another.

Again, if Ceeboo actually took the discussion seriously, and engaged some of the more interesting philosophical questions presented by participants, you’d have a more sympathetic position. But, because he’s basically having a little tent revival I don’t see any reason I can’t participate in my own fashion.

- Doc

[_Jersey Girl]

Judging? I’m not the one offering up public intercessions to a god that will reveal itself to board members because, presumably, they’re in need of salvation.

You're right. You're not. So what it if he made one scant mention of intercessory prayer? Is that a reason for you to unravel into a series of irrelevant memes? And, one using the image of a child under the age of 2 no less.

If you or Ceeboo really are in need of a public Bible study, but Paradisiacal expressions cause many a pearl to be clutched, there’s a safe space up in the Celestial you two can use to edify one another.

I don't see that anyone on the thread is "in need" of a public Bible Study any more than anyone is "in need" of discussing Trump or what have you. Ceeboo and I are not the only believers who joined the thread out of interest. The man got an idea and posted it here like everyone else does. I also don't see anyone needing a "safe space" to do so. I don't sense danger of any sort, do you? This forum contains a variety of topics from which to choose. Speaking only for myself, some are my cup of tea and others are not. I pass on the ones that are not.

Again, if Ceeboo actually took the discussion seriously, and engaged some of the more interesting philosophical questions presented by participants, you’d have a more sympathetic position. But, because he’s basically having a little tent revival I don’t see any reason I can’t participate in my own fashion.

- Doc

A cursory review of this thread doesn't show me that Ceeboo isn't taking the discussion seriously. I do think I noticed where he passed by a response to honor. Perhaps he is taking time to consider his response. I dunno. I haven't looked back to see if there was a response.

A tent revival? That's right. Every believer who posts regarding belief or is interested in discussing the Bible as an area of interest is holding a tent revival.

So let's see what we've got here so far from your above.

in need of a public Bible Study.
pearl clutching
safe space
holding tent revival
opening up a Jesus Camp (earlier post)

You could get a little more weirdly hyperbolic. But I really don't know how. Over one thread out of how many in this forum? Hundred, two hundred thousand, or something?

You want Ceeboo to tailor his responses to your preferences. Got it.

[_Jersey Girl]

Bringing this forward for response so I don't forget to state what my take is on it.

Romans 8: 31-39 (KJV)

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[_Lemmie]

Jersey Girl:

You want Ceeboo to tailor his responses to your preferences. Got it.

I think you missed the exchanges after Ceeboo announced he was praying for the god of the Bible to reveal himself to MD board members. I made a similarly inappropriate comment, jokingly, saying I would think strongly about him learning evolution, but ceeboo didn’t seem to get the point I was making.

In my opinion, announcing you’ve prayed for someone to believe as you believe is not a kindness and has nothing to do with any real help prayer may have given you, as you posted in your story. It feels a bit manipulative and condescending to announce such a “prayer,” especially when you know the people you are referring to do NOT believe as you do.

Re Bible study, Pharisees threw open their windows and prayed in public, If I recall correctly, and were chastised by Jesus for it. I get his point.

[_canpakes]

In my opinion, announcing you’ve prayed for someone to believe as you believe is not a kindness and has nothing to do with any real help prayer may have given you, as you posted in your story. It feels a bit manipulative and condescending to announce such a “prayer,” especially when you know the people you are referring to do

Agreed. Announcing that you will pray for someone to uncritically believe a thing as oneself might believe doesn’t seem as appealing as that same person choosing instead to critically examine why another person believes what they do.

One of those options has the potential to lead to personal growth and understanding, while the other has a tendency to increase intolerance and condescension.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Again, if Ceeboo actually took the discussion seriously, and engaged some of the more interesting philosophical questions presented by participants, you’d have a more sympathetic position. But, because he’s basically having a little tent revival I don’t see any reason I can’t participate in my own fashion.

- Doc

You could get a little more weirdly hyperbolic. But I really don't know how.

Oh, I do.

Jesus

He’s the Bread of Life so that bakers can understand…
He’s the Water of Life so that plumbers can understand…
He’s the Light of the World so that electricians can understand…
He’s the Cornerstone so that architects can understand…
He’s the “Sun” of Righteousness so that astronomers can understand…
He’s the Hidden Treasure so that bankers can understand…
He is the Life so that biologists can understand…
He’s the Door so that carpenters can understand…
He’s the Great Physician so that doctors and nurses can understand…
He is the Good Teacher so that educators can understand…
He’s the Lily of the Valley so that florists can understand…
He’s the Rock of Ages so that geologists can understand…
He’s the True Vine so that horticulturalists can understand…
He’s the Righteous One so that judges can understand…
He’s the Pearl of Great Price so that jewelers can understand…
He is Wisdom so that philosophers can understand…
He is the Word so that actors can understand…
He is the Good Shepherd so that farmers can understand…
He is the Alpha and the Omega so that scientists can understand…
He is the Truth so that politicians can understand.

Jesus IS THE ONE!”

C’mon. That’s straight up a preacher wiping his brow as the congregants fan themselves inside a canvas tent.

- Doc

[_Ceeboo]

Hindsight - A precious thing.

Announcing my prayer on the board was obviously a poor decision on my part. My sincere apologies to any/all that I have offended by doing such.

[_Ceeboo]

Hey Jersey Girl

I wanted to mention another thing about your post that I didn't mention on my last reply to it.

Here's a portion of scripture that has virtually come to life to me in the past few weeks.

When I read your opening thoughts here, I thought of John 1 and how critically important John 1 ties in and relates in my opinion.

John 1:1-5 (New King James)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

So the Word is Jesus - and the Word was with God - and the Word was God - and Jesus is the light of men, and the Word created everything...…. Then when you say "a portion of scripture has virtually come to life for you"- To me, that not only makes perfect sense but it is the type of thing I would completely expect as a believer. It is also why believers (no matter how familiar they happen to be with the Bible) need to stay in the Word of God. in my opinion.

[_Ceeboo]

Hey Cam
I thought I would pick one of your posts to briefly comment on.

I’m not the one offering up public intercessions to a god that will reveal itself to board members

You write that as if I have littered this thread with countless prayers and public intercessions. This is page 17 of the thread and I posted a single post that I prayed. Do you think the reaction has been fantastically out of balance?

because, presumably, they’re in need of salvation.

As a single Bible believing Christian, I am fairly confident that I can speak for millions and millions of Bible believing Christians when I say the following:

We are all in desperate need of a savior (All of us) It is clearly written all over the Bible. One of the most popular verses in the Bible is John 3:16 (I want to offer John 3:16 and 17)


16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Verse 17 - God did NOT send His Son to condemn the world (That's all of us) He sent His Son to the world (that's all of us again) so that by and through Him the world (that's all of us again) might be saved.

If you or Ceeboo really are in need of a public Bible study, but Paradisiacal expressions cause many a pearl to be clutched, there’s a safe space up in the Celestial you two can use to edify one another.

I am the author of the thread and I know exactly where I posted it.

Again, if Ceeboo actually took the discussion seriously, and engaged some of the more interesting philosophical questions presented by participants, you’d have a more sympathetic position. But, because he’s basically having a little tent revival I don’t see any reason I can’t participate in my own fashion.

You can participate in any fashion you want.