Got a load of Biblical questions, need a few answers?

ulrichburke · Nov 30, 2021

Dear Anyone.

Firstly - I've no idea what 'goading' means in this case, I just truly have a bunch of questions and I'm trying to find answers. If I say something wrong, just tell me and I'll apologise. I've got Asperger's, which doesn't help, Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus and Dyspraxia.

Which is what my first question's about. Y'see, I've read the Bible all the way through, just about - I'm not one of these people who can say chapter'n'verse on all quotations or anything but I've genuinely read loads and loads and I love its message - if you're able bodied.

If you're disabled, God don't wanna know you (Leviticus!) Neither does Jesus really - but he's more subtle about it. When He cures anyone, He's curing them of their sins - so He's equating disability with sin. If you're born disabled, like I was, it's the 'sins of the father visiting themselves upon the son' so you can't win there either. So am I right in thinking that technically, as I'm disabled, I'm not allowed in Church (Leviticus again!) That's one. Don't worry, I'm not going to list ALL the questions here, just a few of them.

Second one's God not minding a bit of rape and pillage (Judges 21) or murder (Old Testament death count - God - 2,038,344. Satan - er - 10 and 2 of those are dodgy!) And I keep hearing Jesus was God's only Son but he had brothers, it says so in Matthew! But that's not the big one.

The BIG one is I keep hearing the Devil, Satan, rules in Hell. But that is not what the Bible says. In Revelations, it says JESUS has the keys to Heaven and Hell and Hell, far from being a fiery pit far beneath the Earth, is actually part of Heaven. Revelations says they're the same place and JESUS, not the Devil, has the keys to it. But that's not the end of it. Revelations also says Jesus chucks the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at us (there's a strong rumour there that Jesus Himself is the First Horseman, but that's debatable.) What it also says is Jesus chucks the Seven Bowls at us, one of which wipes out all life in the oceans. And one of which wipes out all the cities. Why would someone who claims to love us do that?

Lastly - for now - this 'Repent, and Ye Shall be Saved' thing. It's not what the Bible says, not even close. God's got - I have to use the word 'problem' here because it IS, in a kinda way! God's a Perfect Being, I accept that, the Bible says so. So all he wants around him is perfection, which is where Leviticus and us disableds not being allowed to enter Church comes in. (Along with how to prepare His burned offerings, which I take it we don't do much any more!) So all he wants with him is 144,000 other Perfect Beings, which the Bible says quite a few times. The rest of us just stay dead (Ashes to Ashes!) The Jehovah's Witnesses talk about the 144,000 a lot. So as I'm disabled - therefore not REALLY allowed into Church - I've got no chance of being allowed into Heaven either - not perfect, therefore not one of the 144,000 - and both Jesus and God hate me in different ways (Leviticus and all the way through the New Testament, respectively) - so what's the point of me being a Christian? Holding Christian values - as long as you forget about God not minding a bit of rape and torture - yes.

Can anyone help me here?

Bit of true fun to finish. Shakespeare helped translate the Bible and I can prove it! He was 49 at the time King James was translating it. Go to Psalm 49. 49 words down from the top - Shake. 49 words up from the bottom - Spear! He hid his own name in the Bible!! Only works in the KJV though. My own fave book? Song of Solomon, every time, beautiful piece of writing. KJV version, it's the only version I read.

Yours respectfully

Chris.

Tolworth John · Dec 1, 2021

ulrichburke said:
If you're disabled, God don't wanna know you (Leviticus!) Neither does Jesus really

You are equating the OT situation with the NT situation.
In the OT God was worshipped at the temple through strict rules and regulations. Perfection was stressed and yes the crippled and maimed were not allowed in. That didn't stop them from worshipping they were not allowed into the priesthood or into the temple.

In the NT the rules and regulations go. Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the law.

Sin cripples us all, none of us are moraly perfect, and it is only through Jesus that we can approach God and as the OT regulations about worship are removed so is the removal of all that is not perfect from worship and service of God.

Sabertooth · Dec 1, 2021

"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise,
and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen,
and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,

that no flesh should glory in His presence." 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

Don't try to make God answer to your mores about the Old Testament. Believers hold Him to be guiltless across history, even if we don't understand the context it occurred under.

Only the Accuser* would suggest that the Holy One is guilty.
And only the spiritually gullible would consider such nonsense.

*Satan means Accuser.

disciple Clint · Dec 1, 2021

ulrichburke said:
Dear Anyone.

Firstly - I've no idea what 'goading' means in this case, I just truly have a bunch of questions and I'm trying to find answers. If I say something wrong, just tell me and I'll apologise. I've got Asperger's, which doesn't help, Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus and Dyspraxia.

Which is what my first question's about. Y'see, I've read the Bible all the way through, just about - I'm not one of these people who can say chapter'n'verse on all quotations or anything but I've genuinely read loads and loads and I love its message - if you're able bodied.

If you're disabled, God don't wanna know you (Leviticus!) Neither does Jesus really - but he's more subtle about it. When He cures anyone, He's curing them of their sins - so He's equating disability with sin. If you're born disabled, like I was, it's the 'sins of the father visiting themselves upon the son' so you can't win there either. So am I right in thinking that technically, as I'm disabled, I'm not allowed in Church (Leviticus again!) That's one. Don't worry, I'm not going to list ALL the questions here, just a few of them.

Second one's God not minding a bit of rape and pillage (Judges 21) or murder (Old Testament death count - God - 2,038,344. Satan - er - 10 and 2 of those are dodgy!) And I keep hearing Jesus was God's only Son but he had brothers, it says so in Matthew! But that's not the big one.

The BIG one is I keep hearing the Devil, Satan, rules in Hell. But that is not what the Bible says. In Revelations, it says JESUS has the keys to Heaven and Hell and Hell, far from being a fiery pit far beneath the Earth, is actually part of Heaven. Revelations says they're the same place and JESUS, not the Devil, has the keys to it. But that's not the end of it. Revelations also says Jesus chucks the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at us (there's a strong rumour there that Jesus Himself is the First Horseman, but that's debatable.) What it also says is Jesus chucks the Seven Bowls at us, one of which wipes out all life in the oceans. And one of which wipes out all the cities. Why would someone who claims to love us do that?

Lastly - for now - this 'Repent, and Ye Shall be Saved' thing. It's not what the Bible says, not even close. God's got - I have to use the word 'problem' here because it IS, in a kinda way! God's a Perfect Being, I accept that, the Bible says so. So all he wants around him is perfection, which is where Leviticus and us disableds not being allowed to enter Church comes in. (Along with how to prepare His burned offerings, which I take it we don't do much any more!) So all he wants with him is 144,000 other Perfect Beings, which the Bible says quite a few times. The rest of us just stay dead (Ashes to Ashes!) The Jehovah's Witnesses talk about the 144,000 a lot. So as I'm disabled - therefore not REALLY allowed into Church - I've got no chance of being allowed into Heaven either - not perfect, therefore not one of the 144,000 - and both Jesus and God hate me in different ways (Leviticus and all the way through the New Testament, respectively) - so what's the point of me being a Christian? Holding Christian values - as long as you forget about God not minding a bit of rape and torture - yes.

Can anyone help me here?

Bit of true fun to finish. Shakespeare helped translate the Bible and I can prove it! He was 49 at the time King James was translating it. Go to Psalm 49. 49 words down from the top - Shake. 49 words up from the bottom - Spear! He hid his own name in the Bible!! Only works in the KJV though. My own fave book? Song of Solomon, every time, beautiful piece of writing. KJV version, it's the only version I read.

Yours respectfully

Chris.

Hi Chris, you have some good questions, I think you should sit down with a minister and go over your questions so he or she can help you better understand God. Simply if what you believe to be true were in fact true, you would not find people who have disabilities being Christians, but if you look around you will find many who are Christians. So please sit with a minister who can respond to your questions and the follow up questions you are going to have and get them out of the way, so that you can accept what Jesus has done for you because He truly loves you.

Daniel9v9 · Dec 1, 2021

Hey Chris, welcome to the forums!

There's a lot here to talk about, but I'll try to be brief-ish!

Your first question

One thing we have to be careful of is making a distinction between the world as originally created by God, and the fallen world that we know, which has been corrupted by sin. As a result of sin, we experience pain, suffering, sickness, and death. So sickness and disability is not the same as sin, but rather, it's a consequence of sin. And it's something we all suffer, in varying degrees, but ultimately the same in the sense that we all die.

In short, we have disabilities, and get sick, and die because we are sinners. Death and all corruption is a result of the fall, and not part of God's creation. And sickness is not generally due to any particular sin that we or our parents make, but a general consequence of our sinfulness. That is, what is meant by being a sinner is that: (1) we're sinners because we sin (actual sins), and (2) we sin because we're sinners (original sin).

Now, we are all by nature children of wrath and dead in sin — we are all equally helpless when it comes to our salvation. But it is precisely for this purpose that our Lord has come to suffer and die for us, to bear our sins, and to also be raised to life for us, that we may have life in Him.

So, are you welcome in Church? Absolutely, yes! God loves you and He sent His Son to redeem you.

Your second question

No one cares more about life and justice than God. If we read the Bible to understand God as some tyrant who oppress, murder or impute sin on people, we can be absolutely certain that we're not understanding the text correctly. I'd be very glad to talk more about this and to go through examples in the Scriptures. In short, though, God is not the problem, but the solution. Maybe it can be helpful to understand God in light of Jesus, who never harmed anyone out of malice. Jesus is the same God as the God of the Old Testament, and He is consistently good throughout all of the Scriptures.

God is righteous

You are right in that Satan does not rule hell. God does. Hell is being apart from God, who alone is good and the source of all that is good. So the absence of God is the absence of love, goodness, and mercy.

It is because God is good that He punishes evil. If He didn't punish evil, He wouldn't be good. God is not the author of evil, but rather, again, evil is the absence of God. So God is both good and righteous, which is why He loves us, saves us, and also punishes evil.

Repentance

Repentance consists of two things: Contrition and faith in Jesus. It is simply trusting in our Lord's promise that He has paid for our sins. When we confess our sins, God promises to forgive us, and not only does He forgive us, but He clothes us in Christ's righteousness. So that, whoever believes and is baptised, though he's a sinner, is counted as righteous because of the person and works of our Lord Jesus Christ. When God looks at you, He no longer sees your sins, for they are in fact nailed to a tree in the body of His Son — when God looks at you, He sees Christ's perfect righteousness, which He has imputed to you. This is called the great exchange, that Jesus takes our sins upon Himself, and crowns us with His righteousness.

And the life of a Christian is a life of daily repentance and faith in Jesus, with a certain hope in His love, mercy, and grace.

For some basics on the Christian faith, I can recommend our Catechism: The Small Catechism – Luco

The peace of Christ to you!

Tolworth John · Dec 1, 2021

ulrichburke said:
Second one's God not minding a bit of rape and pillage (Judges 21) or murder (Old Testament death count - God - 2,038,344. Satan - er - 10 and 2 of those are dodgy!) And I keep hearing Jesus was God's only Son but he had brothers, it says so in Matthew! But that's not the big one

Just because it is recorded in the bible does not mean God approves, al it shows is that God reported what happened.
A common pharase in judges is, 'that every one did what was right in there own eyes.'

Murder, that is a serious charge to make. Where do you get the idea that God, who gives us life, cannot also end a life?
Read again the charges God makes against the people he punishes in the OT.

Jesus is God the Son. but as the son of Mary he had brothers and sisters who were also born of Mary, but were not sons of God.

Tolworth John · Dec 1, 2021

ulrichburke said:
In Revelations, it says JESUS has the keys to Heaven and Hell and Hell, far from being a fiery pit far beneath the Earth, is actually part of Heaven.

Revelation does not say that hell or the lake of fire or the pit is part of heaven.
A judge in court sentences a criminal to a punishment, that punishment is not in the court. it is the same in revelation.

ulrichburke said:
What it also says is Jesus chucks the Seven Bowls at us, one of which wipes out all life in the oceans. And one of which wipes out all the cities. Why would someone who claims to love us do that?

God/Jesus is love and we see this love in action at calvary.
Jesus died to bare our sin, our shame, our guilt, and our punishment.
But
Those who do not accept what Jesus did for them, who reject him and his offer of salvation have to bare their sin, their guilt, their shame and their punishment.

As John 3:16 to 18 says, God loves the world, sending his son to save them but those who do not accept Jesus are already condemned. check it out, no where does Jesus say you can live how you like I will forgive you and save you with no comitment from you.
Rather as James says, if you have faith show me your good works.

Tolworth John · Dec 1, 2021

ulrichburke said:
his 'Repent, and Ye Shall be Saved' thing. It's not what the Bible says

Actually it does.
John the baptist preached about repentance, the apostles preached repentance and through faith in Jesus we are saved.

As I said in my first reply to you. None of us are perfect, we are all disabled by sin and the fact that some people also have a physical or mental disability is only a token compared to this spiritual disability we all have.

Ephans 2:8+9 says it is by faith you are saved and this is by grace the gift from God.
We do not save ourselves by being or living a perfect life, we accept it as a gift from God, if we are prepared to be humble and receive what we cannot earn or deserve.

A_Thinker · Dec 1, 2021

ulrichburke said:
Dear Anyone.

Firstly - I've no idea what 'goading' means in this case, I just truly have a bunch of questions and I'm trying to find answers. If I say something wrong, just tell me and I'll apologise. I've got Asperger's, which doesn't help, Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus and Dyspraxia.

Which is what my first question's about. Y'see, I've read the Bible all the way through, just about - I'm not one of these people who can say chapter'n'verse on all quotations or anything but I've genuinely read loads and loads and I love its message - if you're able bodied.

If you're disabled, God don't wanna know you (Leviticus!) Neither does Jesus really - but he's more subtle about it. When He cures anyone, He's curing them of their sins - so He's equating disability with sin. If you're born disabled, like I was, it's the 'sins of the father visiting themselves upon the son' so you can't win there either. So am I right in thinking that technically, as I'm disabled, I'm not allowed in Church (Leviticus again!) That's one. Don't worry, I'm not going to list ALL the questions here, just a few of them.

Second one's God not minding a bit of rape and pillage (Judges 21) or murder (Old Testament death count - God - 2,038,344. Satan - er - 10 and 2 of those are dodgy!) And I keep hearing Jesus was God's only Son but he had brothers, it says so in Matthew! But that's not the big one.

The BIG one is I keep hearing the Devil, Satan, rules in Hell. But that is not what the Bible says. In Revelations, it says JESUS has the keys to Heaven and Hell and Hell, far from being a fiery pit far beneath the Earth, is actually part of Heaven. Revelations says they're the same place and JESUS, not the Devil, has the keys to it. But that's not the end of it. Revelations also says Jesus chucks the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at us (there's a strong rumour there that Jesus Himself is the First Horseman, but that's debatable.) What it also says is Jesus chucks the Seven Bowls at us, one of which wipes out all life in the oceans. And one of which wipes out all the cities. Why would someone who claims to love us do that?

Lastly - for now - this 'Repent, and Ye Shall be Saved' thing. It's not what the Bible says, not even close. God's got - I have to use the word 'problem' here because it IS, in a kinda way! God's a Perfect Being, I accept that, the Bible says so. So all he wants around him is perfection, which is where Leviticus and us disableds not being allowed to enter Church comes in. (Along with how to prepare His burned offerings, which I take it we don't do much any more!) So all he wants with him is 144,000 other Perfect Beings, which the Bible says quite a few times. The rest of us just stay dead (Ashes to Ashes!) The Jehovah's Witnesses talk about the 144,000 a lot. So as I'm disabled - therefore not REALLY allowed into Church - I've got no chance of being allowed into Heaven either - not perfect, therefore not one of the 144,000 - and both Jesus and God hate me in different ways (Leviticus and all the way through the New Testament, respectively) - so what's the point of me being a Christian? Holding Christian values - as long as you forget about God not minding a bit of rape and torture - yes.

Can anyone help me here?

Bit of true fun to finish. Shakespeare helped translate the Bible and I can prove it! He was 49 at the time King James was translating it. Go to Psalm 49. 49 words down from the top - Shake. 49 words up from the bottom - Spear! He hid his own name in the Bible!! Only works in the KJV though. My own fave book? Song of Solomon, every time, beautiful piece of writing. KJV version, it's the only version I read.

Yours respectfully

Chris.

God loves all people, regardless of any degree of diabled-ness. I would first encourage you to consider that LOTS of people are disabled in some way. Most you just can't tell.

Like me ... I was born with an extra rib on one side, which gave me a physical imbalance. Therefore, I was never good at sports, and a lot of my natural righthandedness ... had to be transferred to my less dominant and less abled left side.

I also have allergies, ... so I spend most of my time inside in the spring and the fall, despite the fact that those would be my favorite times to be outside otherwise.

I am also an introvert, and therefore too extremely anxious about personal interactions with others, which keeps me somewhat more isolated than I would truly wish to be.

But you would never know these things about me ... unless I told you. To all appearances, I have no visible disablities.

I say all of this to say that my position is that disability is more widespread than we would typically guess. Some are disabled mentally, and so will never reach the mental heights of their fellows. Others are disabled emotionally, prone to fits of anger and/or depression that tend to overwhelm them. Others are disabled circumstantially, with poor or no parenting, or poor economic resources, or poor educational opportunities, or lack of food, shelter, or availability of medical treatment.

I guess my point is that we are, likely, all disabled in some way ... and hat's not to denigrate the challenge of living life with a truly visible and evident disability.

According to scripture (which you have been fortunate to have access to) ... God's original plan was perfection ... with none of His human creation suffering from disability. But humans chose to walk away from God's plan ... and to set off on their own. It was at this point that disability came upon humanity ... and the most significant of these disabilities ... was a break in relationship with God. We are all born disabled in this way (under the sway of sin ... and at enmity with God).

Fortunately, God offers us, through Jesus, reconciliation with Him ... and a promise of the ultimate healing of all of our disabilities ... as we come into the life that God really meant for us to have.

The Old Testament ... is a lesson ... which gives and illustration of what God truly desired for mankind. In that world, there exists no disability ... and so, we get the passages which seem to denigrate or isolate physical disability in the Old Testament. It's just God showing how He meant for it to be.

However, then we move to the New Testament, which features the "new thing" that God is doing with mankind. In the New Testament, God, in Christ, HEALS disability ... of all types. The promise is that, ultimately, all that was wounded by the fall ... is restored to God-given perfection.

This is the hope that believers in Christ look forward to ...

Ceallaigh · Dec 1, 2021

ulrichburke said:
Dear Anyone.

Firstly - I've no idea what 'goading' means in this case, I just truly have a bunch of questions and I'm trying to find answers. If I say something wrong, just tell me and I'll apologise. I've got Asperger's, which doesn't help, Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus and Dyspraxia.

Which is what my first question's about. Y'see, I've read the Bible all the way through, just about - I'm not one of these people who can say chapter'n'verse on all quotations or anything but I've genuinely read loads and loads and I love its message - if you're able bodied.

If you're disabled, God don't wanna know you (Leviticus!) Neither does Jesus really - but he's more subtle about it. When He cures anyone, He's curing them of their sins - so He's equating disability with sin. If you're born disabled, like I was, it's the 'sins of the father visiting themselves upon the son' so you can't win there either. So am I right in thinking that technically, as I'm disabled, I'm not allowed in Church (Leviticus again!) That's one. Don't worry, I'm not going to list ALL the questions here, just a few of them.

Hi Chris, welcome to CF. I have autism and dyspraxia. You might find Asperger's & Autism Forum helpful too. It's a sister site to this one.

"As he [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him". John 9:1-3.

I'm on my phone so that's all I'll cover for now.

Take care.

Joy · Dec 1, 2021

MOD HAT ON

This Thread has Moved

From Introduce Yourself
To Requests for Christian Advice

MOD HAT OFF

FutureAndAHope · Dec 1, 2021

ulrichburke said:
Dear Anyone.

Firstly - I've no idea what 'goading' means in this case, I just truly have a bunch of questions and I'm trying to find answers. If I say something wrong, just tell me and I'll apologise. I've got Asperger's, which doesn't help, Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus and Dyspraxia.

Which is what my first question's about. Y'see, I've read the Bible all the way through, just about - I'm not one of these people who can say chapter'n'verse on all quotations or anything but I've genuinely read loads and loads and I love its message - if you're able bodied.

If you're disabled, God don't wanna know you (Leviticus!) Neither does Jesus really - but he's more subtle about it. When He cures anyone, He's curing them of their sins - so He's equating disability with sin. If you're born disabled, like I was, it's the 'sins of the father visiting themselves upon the son' so you can't win there either. So am I right in thinking that technically, as I'm disabled, I'm not allowed in Church (Leviticus again!) That's one. Don't worry, I'm not going to list ALL the questions here, just a few of them.

Second one's God not minding a bit of rape and pillage (Judges 21) or murder (Old Testament death count - God - 2,038,344. Satan - er - 10 and 2 of those are dodgy!) And I keep hearing Jesus was God's only Son but he had brothers, it says so in Matthew! But that's not the big one.

The BIG one is I keep hearing the Devil, Satan, rules in Hell. But that is not what the Bible says. In Revelations, it says JESUS has the keys to Heaven and Hell and Hell, far from being a fiery pit far beneath the Earth, is actually part of Heaven. Revelations says they're the same place and JESUS, not the Devil, has the keys to it. But that's not the end of it. Revelations also says Jesus chucks the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at us (there's a strong rumour there that Jesus Himself is the First Horseman, but that's debatable.) What it also says is Jesus chucks the Seven Bowls at us, one of which wipes out all life in the oceans. And one of which wipes out all the cities. Why would someone who claims to love us do that?

Lastly - for now - this 'Repent, and Ye Shall be Saved' thing. It's not what the Bible says, not even close. God's got - I have to use the word 'problem' here because it IS, in a kinda way! God's a Perfect Being, I accept that, the Bible says so. So all he wants around him is perfection, which is where Leviticus and us disableds not being allowed to enter Church comes in. (Along with how to prepare His burned offerings, which I take it we don't do much any more!) So all he wants with him is 144,000 other Perfect Beings, which the Bible says quite a few times. The rest of us just stay dead (Ashes to Ashes!) The Jehovah's Witnesses talk about the 144,000 a lot. So as I'm disabled - therefore not REALLY allowed into Church - I've got no chance of being allowed into Heaven either - not perfect, therefore not one of the 144,000 - and both Jesus and God hate me in different ways (Leviticus and all the way through the New Testament, respectively) - so what's the point of me being a Christian? Holding Christian values - as long as you forget about God not minding a bit of rape and torture - yes.

Can anyone help me here?

Bit of true fun to finish. Shakespeare helped translate the Bible and I can prove it! He was 49 at the time King James was translating it. Go to Psalm 49. 49 words down from the top - Shake. 49 words up from the bottom - Spear! He hid his own name in the Bible!! Only works in the KJV though. My own fave book? Song of Solomon, every time, beautiful piece of writing. KJV version, it's the only version I read.

Yours respectfully

Chris.

The scripture that you mentioned that you feel disqualifies you from God’s favor is the ones that follow:

Leviticus 21:16-23: And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to Aaron, saying, None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God. For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long, or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles. No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the Lord's food offerings; since he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. He … shall not go through the veil or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the Lord who sanctifies them.'

Firstly we need to know why this statement was made, the bible tells us that the tabernacle and what it contained was a picture of what was happening in heaven.

Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

We also know that Jesus was said to be our high priest.

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Lambs were also offered as sacrifices, they too could not be lame, or blind, they had to be without spot. Jesus was also said to be this lamb, without brokenness.

Lev 1:10 And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

What this shows us is priests in the temple had to represent the nature of Christ, which was one of having no brokenness, and no sin.

As with the sheep, God was not discriminating against blind sheep, he was showing by the purity of the offering, that the sacrifice to be offered "Christ" would be spotless and have no sin.

God loves disabled people as much as any other person.

Lev 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.

In fact, he mentions people with defects in the following way in Isaiah:

Isa 56:3-5 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

God says that those with defects will be given a “better” name than the sons and daughters. Why, I believe becasue they have had to endure more discomfort in this life.

BobRyan · Dec 1, 2021

ulrichburke said:
Dear Anyone.

Firstly - I've no idea what 'goading' means in this case, I just truly have a bunch of questions and I'm trying to find answers. If I say something wrong, just tell me and I'll apologise. I've got Asperger's, which doesn't help, Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus and Dyspraxia.

Which is what my first question's about. Y'see, I've read the Bible all the way through, just about - I'm not one of these people who can say chapter'n'verse on all quotations or anything but I've genuinely read loads and loads and I love its message - if you're able bodied.

If you're disabled, God don't wanna know you (Leviticus!) Neither does Jesus really - but he's more subtle about it. When He cures anyone, He's curing them of their sins - so He's equating disability with sin. If you're born disabled, like I was, it's the 'sins of the father visiting themselves upon the son' so you can't win there either. So am I right in thinking that technically, as I'm disabled, I'm not allowed in Church (Leviticus again!) That's one. Don't worry, I'm not going to list ALL the questions here, just a few of them.

Second one's God not minding a bit of rape and pillage (Judges 21) or murder (Old Testament death count - God - 2,038,344. Satan - er - 10 and 2 of those are dodgy!) And I keep hearing Jesus was God's only Son but he had brothers, it says so in Matthew! But that's not the big one.

The BIG one is I keep hearing the Devil, Satan, rules in Hell. But that is not what the Bible says. In Revelations, it says JESUS has the keys to Heaven and Hell and Hell, far from being a fiery pit far beneath the Earth, is actually part of Heaven. Revelations says they're the same place and JESUS, not the Devil, has the keys to it. But that's not the end of it. Revelations also says Jesus chucks the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at us (there's a strong rumour there that Jesus Himself is the First Horseman, but that's debatable.) What it also says is Jesus chucks the Seven Bowls at us, one of which wipes out all life in the oceans. And one of which wipes out all the cities. Why would someone who claims to love us do that?

Lastly - for now - this 'Repent, and Ye Shall be Saved' thing. It's not what the Bible says, not even close. God's got - I have to use the word 'problem' here because it IS, in a kinda way! God's a Perfect Being, I accept that, the Bible says so. So all he wants around him is perfection, which is where Leviticus and us disableds not being allowed to enter Church comes in. (Along with how to prepare His burned offerings, which I take it we don't do much any more!) So all he wants with him is 144,000 other Perfect Beings, which the Bible says quite a few times. The rest of us just stay dead (Ashes to Ashes!) The Jehovah's Witnesses talk about the 144,000 a lot. So as I'm disabled - therefore not REALLY allowed into Church - I've got no chance of being allowed into Heaven either - not perfect, therefore not one of the 144,000 - and both Jesus and God hate me in different ways (Leviticus and all the way through the New Testament, respectively) - so what's the point of me being a Christian? Holding Christian values - as long as you forget about God not minding a bit of rape and torture - yes.

Can anyone help me here?

Bit of true fun to finish. Shakespeare helped translate the Bible and I can prove it! He was 49 at the time King James was translating it. Go to Psalm 49. 49 words down from the top - Shake. 49 words up from the bottom - Spear! He hid his own name in the Bible!! Only works in the KJV though. My own fave book? Song of Solomon, every time, beautiful piece of writing. KJV version, it's the only version I read.

Yours respectfully

Chris.

1. God created Adam and Eve - sinless, no suffering no rape no pillage. Gen 1-2. Adam and Eve "took it from there" into the fall of mankind and intro-the-sinful-nature and a slowly "dying" created world, defects start to pile up.

2. The disciples see a disabled person and ask "who sinned - this man or his parents?" John 9:2 (hint there is such a thing as genetics and defects - yet Christ does not charge this to sin of the person or his parents)

"1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

But it is not just genetic and biologic defects - it also defective human morality and faulty planning.

Luke 13: 1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

3. The devil does not rule in hell -- .. Rather it is created by God as a place of torment/punishment "for the devil and his angels" to be tortured.

The wicked are not cast into fiery hell until the day of the Lord - that starts with Christ's appearing in Rev 19.

Matt 25: 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;

specifically "after the 1000 years" of Rev 20
Rev 20: 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

And as for humans that are cast into that fiery torment after the 1000 years --

Matt 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

So then nobody's loved ones getting tortured now - no not until that lake of fire event in Rev 20.

4. Some bad theology

"Lastly - for now - this 'Repent, and Ye Shall be Saved' thing. It's not what the Bible says, not even close. God's got - I have to use the word 'problem' here because it IS, in a kinda way! God's a Perfect Being, I accept that, the Bible says so. So all he wants around him is perfection, which is where Leviticus and us disableds not being allowed to enter Church comes in"

Take the healthiest person alive - they die in a car crash... what sort of "excellent shape" is their body in 10 years after they die???

The Bible answer in 1 Cor 15, and 2 Cor 5 is that this earthly body is decaying, being torn down - see anyone who lives to 95 or 99 and it won't really matter how healthy they "used to be" they are decayed to the point of death..

The Bible says you get "another body" at the resurrection. You do not take this one to heaven.

1 Cor 15:
35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body

2 Cor 5: 1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.

Matt5 · Dec 1, 2021

ulrichburke said:
Dear Anyone.

Firstly - I've no idea what 'goading' means in this case, I just truly have a bunch of questions and I'm trying to find answers. If I say something wrong, just tell me and I'll apologise. I've got Asperger's, which doesn't help, Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus and Dyspraxia.

Which is what my first question's about. Y'see, I've read the Bible all the way through, just about - I'm not one of these people who can say chapter'n'verse on all quotations or anything but I've genuinely read loads and loads and I love its message - if you're able bodied.

If you're disabled, God don't wanna know you (Leviticus!) Neither does Jesus really - but he's more subtle about it. When He cures anyone, He's curing them of their sins - so He's equating disability with sin. If you're born disabled, like I was, it's the 'sins of the father visiting themselves upon the son' so you can't win there either. So am I right in thinking that technically, as I'm disabled, I'm not allowed in Church (Leviticus again!) That's one. Don't worry, I'm not going to list ALL the questions here, just a few of them.

Second one's God not minding a bit of rape and pillage (Judges 21) or murder (Old Testament death count - God - 2,038,344. Satan - er - 10 and 2 of those are dodgy!) And I keep hearing Jesus was God's only Son but he had brothers, it says so in Matthew! But that's not the big one.

The BIG one is I keep hearing the Devil, Satan, rules in Hell. But that is not what the Bible says. In Revelations, it says JESUS has the keys to Heaven and Hell and Hell, far from being a fiery pit far beneath the Earth, is actually part of Heaven. Revelations says they're the same place and JESUS, not the Devil, has the keys to it. But that's not the end of it. Revelations also says Jesus chucks the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at us (there's a strong rumour there that Jesus Himself is the First Horseman, but that's debatable.) What it also says is Jesus chucks the Seven Bowls at us, one of which wipes out all life in the oceans. And one of which wipes out all the cities. Why would someone who claims to love us do that?

Lastly - for now - this 'Repent, and Ye Shall be Saved' thing. It's not what the Bible says, not even close. God's got - I have to use the word 'problem' here because it IS, in a kinda way! God's a Perfect Being, I accept that, the Bible says so. So all he wants around him is perfection, which is where Leviticus and us disableds not being allowed to enter Church comes in. (Along with how to prepare His burned offerings, which I take it we don't do much any more!) So all he wants with him is 144,000 other Perfect Beings, which the Bible says quite a few times. The rest of us just stay dead (Ashes to Ashes!) The Jehovah's Witnesses talk about the 144,000 a lot. So as I'm disabled - therefore not REALLY allowed into Church - I've got no chance of being allowed into Heaven either - not perfect, therefore not one of the 144,000 - and both Jesus and God hate me in different ways (Leviticus and all the way through the New Testament, respectively) - so what's the point of me being a Christian? Holding Christian values - as long as you forget about God not minding a bit of rape and torture - yes.

Can anyone help me here?

Bit of true fun to finish. Shakespeare helped translate the Bible and I can prove it! He was 49 at the time King James was translating it. Go to Psalm 49. 49 words down from the top - Shake. 49 words up from the bottom - Spear! He hid his own name in the Bible!! Only works in the KJV though. My own fave book? Song of Solomon, every time, beautiful piece of writing. KJV version, it's the only version I read.

Yours respectfully

Chris.

What would you do if you were in charge as god?

You know the people can't rule themselves. That will always lead to disaster. They won't let you rule. Israel already rejected God as ruler.

The only real solution is to let the people rule themselves and suffer the consequences. And this must be allowed to play out as long as necessary, or just before the people wipe themselves out.

Then what would you do? You can't judge the people because all have sinned. If all have sinned then it's your fault.

How would you transition to your rule? Do you think the people won't go to war if you try to take over?

Maria Billingsley · Dec 1, 2021

ulrichburke said:
Lastly - for now - this 'Repent, and Ye Shall be Saved' thing. It's not what the Bible says, not even close.

Welcome to CF! I'll tackle your above statement. This is what scripture tells us:

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

Unless we receive the Holy Spirit we are not saved. Peter is urging those to repent from "unbelief " to " belief ". After regeneration through His Holy Spirit, we recognize sin and continue our repentance process.
Blessings

BobRyan · Dec 1, 2021

ulrichburke said:
Lastly - for now - this 'Repent, and Ye Shall be Saved' thing. It's not what the Bible says, not even close. God's got - I have to use the word 'problem' here because it IS, in a kinda way! God's a Perfect Being, I accept that, the Bible says so. So all he wants around him is perfection, .

Acts 2:
37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 16:
28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

Mark 16:
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned

eleos1954 · Dec 1, 2021

ulrichburke said:
Dear Anyone.

Firstly - I've no idea what 'goading' means in this case, I just truly have a bunch of questions and I'm trying to find answers. If I say something wrong, just tell me and I'll apologise. I've got Asperger's, which doesn't help, Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephalus and Dyspraxia.

Which is what my first question's about. Y'see, I've read the Bible all the way through, just about - I'm not one of these people who can say chapter'n'verse on all quotations or anything but I've genuinely read loads and loads and I love its message - if you're able bodied.

If you're disabled, God don't wanna know you (Leviticus!) Neither does Jesus really - but he's more subtle about it. When He cures anyone, He's curing them of their sins - so He's equating disability with sin. If you're born disabled, like I was, it's the 'sins of the father visiting themselves upon the son' so you can't win there either. So am I right in thinking that technically, as I'm disabled, I'm not allowed in Church (Leviticus again!) That's one. Don't worry, I'm not going to list ALL the questions here, just a few of them.

Second one's God not minding a bit of rape and pillage (Judges 21) or murder (Old Testament death count - God - 2,038,344. Satan - er - 10 and 2 of those are dodgy!) And I keep hearing Jesus was God's only Son but he had brothers, it says so in Matthew! But that's not the big one.

The BIG one is I keep hearing the Devil, Satan, rules in Hell. But that is not what the Bible says. In Revelations, it says JESUS has the keys to Heaven and Hell and Hell, far from being a fiery pit far beneath the Earth, is actually part of Heaven. Revelations says they're the same place and JESUS, not the Devil, has the keys to it. But that's not the end of it. Revelations also says Jesus chucks the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at us (there's a strong rumour there that Jesus Himself is the First Horseman, but that's debatable.) What it also says is Jesus chucks the Seven Bowls at us, one of which wipes out all life in the oceans. And one of which wipes out all the cities. Why would someone who claims to love us do that?

Lastly - for now - this 'Repent, and Ye Shall be Saved' thing. It's not what the Bible says, not even close. God's got - I have to use the word 'problem' here because it IS, in a kinda way! God's a Perfect Being, I accept that, the Bible says so. So all he wants around him is perfection, which is where Leviticus and us disableds not being allowed to enter Church comes in. (Along with how to prepare His burned offerings, which I take it we don't do much any more!) So all he wants with him is 144,000 other Perfect Beings, which the Bible says quite a few times. The rest of us just stay dead (Ashes to Ashes!) The Jehovah's Witnesses talk about the 144,000 a lot. So as I'm disabled - therefore not REALLY allowed into Church - I've got no chance of being allowed into Heaven either - not perfect, therefore not one of the 144,000 - and both Jesus and God hate me in different ways (Leviticus and all the way through the New Testament, respectively) - so what's the point of me being a Christian? Holding Christian values - as long as you forget about God not minding a bit of rape and torture - yes.

Can anyone help me here?

Bit of true fun to finish. Shakespeare helped translate the Bible and I can prove it! He was 49 at the time King James was translating it. Go to Psalm 49. 49 words down from the top - Shake. 49 words up from the bottom - Spear! He hid his own name in the Bible!! Only works in the KJV though. My own fave book? Song of Solomon, every time, beautiful piece of writing. KJV version, it's the only version I read.

Yours respectfully

Chris.

You have the wrong image of God. Look at the life of Jesus.

God don't torture people ... that's satans character not God's.

There is not a burning hell where God tortures people.

We live in a fallen world and yeah bad things happen ... He told us this would be the case. Also told us He would go through our trials and sufferings with us util He returns and THEN we won't have them anymore. AMEN!

So why is there pain and suffering in the world?

AN ENEMY HAS DONE THIS!

Thanks be to God He has defeated this enemy .... we are just waiting for Him to return and take all the survivors home.

God is good .... God is love .... and if you don't see Him that way ..... then maybe although have read His word .... do not have understanding.

Jesus .... look at the life of Jesus. God in the flesh.

Got a load of Biblical questions, need a few answers?

New Member

Well-Known Member

Repartee Animal: Quipping the Saints!

Well-Known Member

†

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

May God be with you and bless you.

Well-Known Member

Just me

Junior Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Junior Member

God is Love

Similar threads