From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com Sent: Friday, May 30, 1997 6:55 AM To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup Subject: Re: Questions from an Unbelieving Co-worker From: "Margaret Lee"<Margaret_Lee@notes.teradyne.com> To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com Subject: Re: Questions from an Unbelieving Co-worker Dear Jeanne, My sense is that the unbelieving coworker is on a quest in search of the Truth. I was once in those shoes and when I first started reading scripture I too challenged the Word. I had many doubts and disagreements with G-d's Word. In fact, I was pretty outraged at some passages of scripture. That was because my ego got in the way of the Spirit. It is good this coworker is asking questions. He is counting the cost, and this is something Yeshua tells us to do. Continue in your GENTLE witness to coworker and continue to pray for this person. Like one of the respondents commented, don't be negative or critical. Witness and testimony is probably the best thing that you can do for coworker at this point. This helps build the trust he needs. Also, tell coworker it's okay if he doesn't understand some scripture or even doesn't agree with it! At this point he is not spiritually mature enough to understand some things. Scripture challenges the minds of some of the most educated Christians! Tell him gently that he should ask G-d to reveal the Truth to him through the scriptures. Sometimes it takes a while to trust! We are so impatient that we want all the answers now! We want G-d to make everything blatantly obvious to us! But His ways are perfect. G-d knows what's best for coworker; no doubt He led coworker to you and your group. Trust G-d that He will use you to bring coworker to Him!! Blessings, Margaret Lee ******************************************************************* To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com From: "The Historian's Gallery" <history@mindspring.com> Subject: Re: Questions from an Unbelieving Co-worker Dear Jeanne: Don't worry too much about your co-worker. Inquisitiveness is healthy as long as it is entered into with a sincere desire to learn the truth. God's word can stand up under any examination, even to cold, hard logic. I am a good example. I am a cynics' cynic - a real curmudgeon, and I would ask those same types of questions. Consequently, I've built (and am still building) my faith on a foundation that has been tested and proven to be solid. So often I see people say that "you just have to take it on faith". That never cut it for me, and besides that's just not true! When you look at the Bible as history, you find that it is remarkably accurate. For example, there is far more compelling proof that Jesus lived than proof of the existence of Alexander the Great, and I don't see too many people arguing that Alexander the Great was an invented character. There are others who say that the Bible is just literature. Well, in addition to a degree in History, I have a degree in English, and I can tell you that, as literature, the Bible makes Shakespearian sonnets look like 2nd grade limericks. It would be the most astounding literature ever created! But all of this understanding (and believe me, I still have a long, long way to go) does not come quickly, and it doesn't come easily. There are times when I wish I could just be happy to "take it all on faith", but I'm just not built that way (and I suspect this guy isn't either). I want to question, explore and learn. Frankly, that is what I have enjoyed so much about Eddie's work. It is thorough, clear and verifiable. If this guy is on the internet, I would suggest that he get involved with his ministry, or maybe you could give him copies of some of the articles. Still he has to resolve some basic issues first. If this guy is sincere, then he is looking for factual evidence to support beliefs. As for questions like, "what about the mentally ill?" and "what about natives who lived on the Fiji islands in the 1400's who could never have heard about Christ?", etc, etc. Well, have him explore what the nature of God is. What's He like? Yes, you do get a different feel about God's nature from portions of the Bible taken out of context (or misinterpreted), but overall have him explore what he thinks God is like. He should come up with an understanding that God is a loving and just God. That is to say: we may never know all of the answers, but if we can start with learning: 1.) to accept the Bible as the word of God. (that begins by erasing the logical questions of its accuracy and constancy over the ages), 2.) that God goes to extraordinary lengths to bestow love and compassion on us. (that begins by defining God's definition of love and compassion - not necessarily ours ... For example, people will say, "Yea, well how could He love us and allow wars or plagues or athlete's foot or double chins ...?". Find out what is important to God, and how that is important to us. It's in the accurate and constant books of the Bible.) Then he can begin to take each question he has and search out the answers. And again, I've found sources like Eddie Chumney to be wonderful resources. The fun thing about all of this is that there is always more to learn! and as one grows closer to God, it becomes ever more fulfilling. Jeanne, I'm afraid I may be rambling so I'll cut it short. Without knowing anything more than your description of this person, these are my first thoughts. I'm no psychologist, and I am certainly no Biblical scholar! It just seems that a lot of people aren't satisfied with accepting everything someone tells them at face value. The great thing about the word of God is that you don't have to. ... By the way, did Adam and Eve have belly buttons? Rob Hill history@mindspring.com www.nr-net.com/history/ ******************************************************************** From: Sara Sutherland <msuther@gte.net> Reply-to: msuther@gte.net Organization: Home To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com Subject: Re: Questions from unbelieving Co-worker Hey, I know that type..extremely fustrating!. But with much Patience and Prayer as you plant and water(!) you'll may or may not see the results. I know this type well; I see it in my mirror all the time! These "contradictions" are nothing when after studying the context and language, culture of the scriptures. Take a class and cover some of these "contradictions" to show that they have no validity. What a great Bible study that would be. The dog was an unclean animal and was used as terms of reproach, or of humiliation if speaking of ones self. The Eastern Jewish culture term for Gentiles refering to impure and profane persons. Looking at Matthew 15.26 you see Where Y'shua is using this to test the woman's faith. Her heart of humility was honored. "Neither cast you pearls before swine"(Matt 7:6) is a proverb which were easily understood by those who heard it. like in Is 66:3 "As if he offered swine's blood". Treating the Holy things of G-d as something common. If you gave some one a talit and that person used as a table cloth ot a dusting rag. Those would be an examples of this proverb. We are a holy people, seperate from the world and it's ideals. When we act like the world we are giving the holy things to dogs(impure/propane) and casting our pearls to the swine(no discrecion). You can't take the scriptures and leave out it's culture; you lose much understanding. The Word of God is it's original Language. Unfortantely not all are Blessed with gifts of language and have to rely on translations. The english language has one word for love, Grk has 4. All in all translations( not interption like the Goodnews Bible)are compatiable. A word changes, but not much meaning. Truely we should study the word not just reading it daily like the Bereans. If words don't match up it is simple to get a grk/Heb lexicons to figure out more what the word implys. The most acturate is the American Standard; they are hard to find,but worth getting(Daystar, I believe). The last points are purely faith. Without faith no amount of explaination is going to help( some believer's have trouble with it) The mentally handi-capped,babies, that poor man on an island that never heard the gospel. These are rabbit trails and should be treated as such. Diversions to get them out of the spot light. What if.... What about.... G-d is soveriegn. Everything is under His control. The good and the bad. What ever He does is Good. We( man) have no right to judge G-d, by our standard of fairness. G-d chooses who He chooses(now I'm gonna get from all the choice group :]) King Shlomo said it best "Be warned: the writting of many books is endless, excessive devotion to books is weary to the body" Eccl 12:6 There will always be a book; someone's opinion. He using them as a security blanket. I Pray that G-d gives you wisdom and descernment towards this man. Ha Shem Y'shua, Sara