Common misconceptions

[GuardianShua]

Studying some of the history behind why many of those churches chose to handle snakes is intriguing. Of course, I like the way that snakes operate..as they're beautiful creatures. But I'm not going to test it. One of the fellowships I go to, which is Charismatic, had to address that same issue when it came to people trying to stereotype as if anything connected with "charismatic" terminology means you're like the Churches in North Georgia that handle snake and drink poison. To give those churches props, I do respect the fact that they do try to take some parts of the Word literally when it comes to Mark 16---as Paul did encounter snakes on Malta and was not harmed when one had bitten him. However, he didn't go seeking one out as if he was a snake charmer

The earliest manuscripts do not have Mark 16:9–20. Verses 9-20 are late additions to scripture. The addition to Mark was a way to get rid of Christians through this falsehood.

 

[ChavaK]

I am curious about the livestock. They eat grains and must be fed. I've noticed throughout Torah HaShem has made provisions for these types of issues. Seems we're (humankind) the ones who add more to it that is expected and we end up sometimes painting ourselves into a corner.

Animals fed Pesach food since Purim | The Jerusalem Life

Animals fed Pesach food since Purim

Israel’s farms and fisheries give their animals chametz-free food each year starting on Purim — a full month before Pesach begins — to ensure the highest standards of kashrut in meat and milk prepared for the holiday.

Dairy farmers give their cows feed without chamtez grains and change the hay used during Pesach to hay that does not include chametz grains. Because cows have delicate stomachs, the transition is done gradually, said Yaakov Bachar, CEO of the Israeli Cattle Breeders Association.

Fisheries feed chametz-free fish food to fish raised in ponds. Israel’s Fish Breeders Association said the factories supplying the mix are scrupulously cleaned for Pesach.

Israel’s chicken are not to be left out: The Poultry Farmers Association says all chicken sold for Pesach eats kosher-for-Pesach feed.

Ninety percent of eggs consumed in Israel are raised locally, with the remaining 10 percent imported from Turkey. Israel is the world’s fourth-largest consumer of eggs, after Japan, France and the United States.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

The earliest manuscripts do not have Mark 16:9–20. Verses 9-20 are late additions to scripture. The addition to Mark was a way to get rid of Christians through this falsehood.

Do you have any verification of this---as it concerns the claim that later additions were meant to get rid of believers through "falsehood" and error? What sources are you referring to? For it'd seem that being told to go out /make disciples and do the very things that the Book of Acts confirms with the casting out of demons/miracles and handling deadly danger---as with Paul being bitten and yet not being harmed---would not get rid of believers. Much of what was noted is directly in line with what the Lord noted in Luke 10:18-20 / Luke 10

 

[visionary]

We may never know what manuscripts were burned through the centuries that would shed light on this subject.. but we do know the Lord's hand is actively involved in human history.. and everything is done for a reason.. so let us reason with what we have.. and when the Lord shed more light, work with that too.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

We may never know what manuscripts were burned through the centuries that would shed light on this subject.. but we do know the Lord's hand is actively involved in human history.. and everything is done for a reason.. so let us reason with what we have.. and when the Lord shed more light, work with that too.

I think we don't realize how much the Lord adapts to situations more than we think. And on many things, though we have certain tools available, it was not necessarily that it was all that could've been given.

 

[visionary]

I think we don't realize how much the Lord adapts to situations more than we think. And on many things, though we have certain tools available, it was not necessarily that it was all that could've been given.

I agree

 

[INTJ-F]

I think we don't realize how much the Lord adapts to situations more than we think. And on many things, though we have certain tools available, it was not necessarily that it was all that could've been given.

Are you saying the Lord does not know what is going to happen in advance so He has to adapt to whatever comes up???

Sorry, but if He gives us prophecy about what will happen in the future and He gave Israel the exact day Messiah Yeshua would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey (and all the other prophecy) then I seriously doubt He has to adapt to anything. He knows the beginning from the end and nothing surprises Him so He does not have to adapt to anything.

 

[yonah_mishael]

This is one food I have no idea if it's kosher or not, I have no need to know at this point in time. You may have my serving at the next cookout!! I'll stick with the tater salad.

Does it have a split hoof? Does it ruminate? If your answer is no to either of these questions, it's not kosher. That's the rule for land animals. Easy enough?

 

[visionary]

Are you saying the Lord does not know what is going to happen in advance so He has to adapt to whatever comes up???

Sorry, but if He gives us prophecy about what will happen in the future and He gave Israel the exact day Messiah Yeshua would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey (and all the other prophecy) then I seriously doubt He has to adapt to anything. He knows the beginning from the end and nothing surprises Him so He does not have to adapt to anything.

As the Lord said, if the children didn't sing His Praises when He came riding in on the donkey, then the stones would have cried out.. and in that sense, He adapted..at least that is the way I took it.

 

[INTJ-F]

As the Lord said, if the children didn't sing His Praises when He came riding in on the donkey, then the stones would have cried out.. and in that sense, He adapted..at least that is the way I took it.

He knew they would sing praises. He was just saying He does not have to rely on people to carry out His will.

Even Jonah He knew was going to end up in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights so he created the fish in advance. Also Jonah was a picture of Messiah Yeshua long before Messiah was born in Bethlehem.

I would see your point if it were the stones that had cried out and not the people singing praises . . .

 

[GuardianShua]

Do you have any verification of this---as it concerns the claim that later additions were meant to get rid of believers through "falsehood" and error? What sources are you referring to? For it'd seem that being told to go out /make disciples and do the very things that the Book of Acts confirms with the casting out of demons/miracles and handling deadly danger---as with Paul being bitten and yet not being harmed---would not get rid of believers. Much of what was noted is directly in line with what the Lord noted in Luke 10:18-20 / Luke 10

"Thou shall not put the Lord thy God to the test." If you do not think poison is a way to kill Christians, then I do not know what to say.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

"Thou shall not put the Lord thy God to the test." If you do not think poison is a way to kill Christians, then I do not know what to say.

I asked specifically on verificaton on your showing that the supposed later additions were meant to tempt Christians to die off. The verse was never about going out and LOOKING for poison to drink...but rather about how the Lord would protect others in situations where they'd be forced to do so by others trying to kill them. No different than being thrown into the flames like with Daniel/his 3 friends, or Paul when doing ministry and bitten by the viper...yet not being harmed. Many accounts have occurred on the mission field were other were sought after to be harmed--and the Lord protected them.

 

[yedida]

I asked specifically on verificaiton on your showing that the supposed later additions were meant to tempt Christians to die off. The verse was never about going out and LOOKING for poison to drink...but rather about how the Lord would protect others in situations where they'd be forced to do so by others trying to kill them. No different than being thrown into the flames like with Daniel/his 3 friends, or Paul when doing ministry and bitten by the viper...yet not being harmed. Many accounts have occurred on the mission field were other were sought after to be harmed--and the Lord protected them.

Then why didn't that apply to those who were martyred?

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Then why didn't that apply to those who were martyred?

Why what didn't apply? For again, it wasn't about whether it happened everytime..but rather than in the times the Lord desired/felt best, it would. This is why miracles did not always occur in the early church (nor today) and why many saints were killed whereas others were rescued from harm (i.e. Peter being delivered from jail in Acts 12) and Paul being bitten by the viper on Malta and yet picking it up/throwing it away to the amazement of the people. With the many accounts of martyrs, there are also many biographical accounts of where saints were protected from harm until their time had come, just as it was with Jesus when he was protected from harm/stonning for years until the Lord desired that he'd die ( John 7:29-31, John 7:43-45 , Luke 4:28-30 , etc).

Its not as if its a magical forumla, no more than it'd be for others assuming that its God's Will for all believers to be martyred simply because the Lord told the disciples that they would be handed before the synagouges/flogged and beaten for his sake.

Much of what you stated reminds me of what happened with others in the scriptures such as Daniel in Daniel 6 and the story of the Den of Lions. There had been numerous cases of miraculous deliverances before in the history of God's people---and in a sense, anyone suffering could know what to expect...that God would be faithful to save his servants, just like he promised all in the time of the Exile that went after him. One example of such happened with Ebed-Melech the Cu[bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]e who rescued Jeremiah from the cistern ( Jeremiah 38:1-20, Jeremiah 21:9, Jeremiah 29:5-7, Jeremiah 45:5, etc )---in line with what God had promised Jeremiah when it came to deliverance ( jeremiah 1:17-19 )--and how the man who rescued Jeremiah was also rescued later on ( Jeremiah 39:15-28 ).

With Daniel---who was a contemporary of Jeremiah ( Daniel 9:1-3 )---there doesn't seem to be any specific word given to the prophet that his life would always be sparred, even though he's highly revered by the Lord ( Ezekiel 14:13-15 , Ezekiel 14:19-21 , Ezekiel 28:2-4, Daniel 1, Daniel 10:10-12 Matthew 24:14-16 ). With Daniel, it was promised by Jeremiah that it would go well for those who made peace with the ruler of Babylon ( Daniel 9:1-3 )----so that much occurred with a Word from the Lord......but never was it promised that any struggles/even pains would not be experienced. So with the Lion's Den, it seems Daniel was moving in SPECIFIC Faith, but in the faith that "God's WILL" would be done....and that the Lord would take care of him.

One could venture that Daniel probably didn't really KNOW going into the Lion's den whether he'd be "Eaten" or not, but regardless he was gonna pray to God anyway...and even if eaten, it didn't mean that God could not do the miraculous by bringing the man BACK to life nonetheless just as Abraham reasoned when the Lord commanded him to sacrifice his own son ( Hebrews 11:15-20 ). And as the Word declares, it was by FAITH that the mouths of the lions were closed (Hebrews 11:32-34 )

The same thing goes for Daniel's friends....Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego ..in Daniel 3 with the Firey FURNANCE.

Daniel 3:15-18
15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
​

There was no doubt in the three men's minds as to God's power to save them ..as they already had an instance where they gathered with Daniel to pray for revelation of the mystery of Nebuchadnezzar's dream....seeing that no answer meant all the kings wise men would die, including Daniel and Company ( Daniel 2:12-24 ).

Nevertheless, the way in which God would work out his plan for them in the Furnace situation was less clear...for God's power is sometimes extended in dramatic ways to deliver his people, as when he parted the Red Sea for Israel on the way out of Egypt (Exodus 14)..and at other times, that same power is witheld, and his people are allowed to suffer.

What they did could be seen as a biblically proper "confession" of what they KNEW, which DIDN'T include specifics (which they didn't know) but did cover the situation well in a general sense ---for they KNEW God would "do right" by 'em. And regardless of what would happen, they would not bow down to Nebuchadnezzar's image


Growing up, we used to always sing songs like "God is Able to Do what He said He would do!!!"---and yet, when it came to the part of the song with Daniel in the Lion's Den and the three Hebrews in the furnance, there was an awareness that what mattered was not simply RESULTS. Rather, what mattered was trust in God to do right regardless of what we may be thinking of how the outcome should be......for that's key in any struggle one goes in. And one should praise Him regardless.

 

[GuardianShua]

I asked specifically on verificaiton on your showing that the supposed later additions were meant to tempt Christians to die off. The verse was never about going out and LOOKING for poison to drink...but rather about how the Lord would protect others in situations where they'd be forced to do so by others trying to kill them. No different than being thrown into the flames like with Daniel/his 3 friends, or Paul when doing ministry and bitten by the viper...yet not being harmed. Many accounts have occurred on the mission field were other were sought after to be harmed--and the Lord protected them.

Drinking poison is a contradiction to scriptures. Both the Holman and NIV study bibles state that... NIV [a]

[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]

9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.


Footnotes:a.Mark 16:8 Some manuscripts have the following ending between verses 8 and 9, and one manuscript has it after verse 8 (omitting verses 9-20): Then they quickly reported all these instructions to those around Peter. After this, Jesus himself also sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.


Holman bible. [ 9 Early (P) on the first day of the week, (Q) after He had risen, (R) He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, (S) out of whom He had driven seven demons. (T)10 She went and reported to those who had been with Him, as they were mourning and weeping. 11 Yet, when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it. (U)12 Then after this, He appeared (V) in a different form to two of them walking on their way into the country. (W)13 And they went and reported it to the rest, who did not believe them either.


The Great Commission
14 Later, He appeared to the Eleven (X) themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw Him after He had been resurrected. (Y)15 Then (Z) He said to them, "Go into all the world (AA) and preach the gospel to the whole creation. (AB) 16 Whoever believes (AC) and is baptized will be saved, (AD) but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (AE) 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; 18 they will pick up snakes; (AF) [c] if they should drink anything deadly, it will never harm (AG) them; they will lay hands on (AH) the sick, and they will get well."


The Ascension
19 Then after speaking to them, the Lord Jesus (AI) was taken up into heaven (AJ) and sat down at the right hand (AK) of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the accompanying signs.] [d]



Footnotes:a.Mark 16:5 In [Mt 28:2], the young man = an angel.
b.Mark 16:5Amazed and alarmed translate the idea of one Gk word.
c.Mark 16:18 Other mss add with their hands
d.Mark 16:20 Other mss omit bracketed text

Matthew 4:7
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

Luke 4:12
Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Drinking poison is a contradiction to scriptures. Both the Holman and NIV study bibles state that... NIV [a]
”

Where, however, does it say that drinking poison in SCRIPTURE---not commentary--is a contradiction and a testing of the Lord? For there are many scripture where the saints were placed within dangerous situations and the Lord said he'd protect them. There are also scriptures where the Lord asked his people to DO dangerous things and he said that they would be protected. Drinking "poison" was never about going out looking to do it for a hobby---but on what would happen if one was forced to do so.





There is the question of whether Mark 16:9-20 should be there at all. For more, one can see Tekton's answer here and here and Glenn Miller's here. Additionally, for some other solid articles on the issue of why Mark 16 had the last part of "picking up snakes/drinking poison/casting out demons" originally included, one can go to the following:

• The Challenge of Mark 16

• no one can drink poison (Mark 16)

• Is Mark 16:9-20 Inspired? - Ancient Road Publications

• Mark 16:18 (King James Version) :: Forerunner Commentary :: Bible ...

As one of the articles said best:

Why Does Jesus Say His Disciples 'Will Take Up Serpents' (Mark 16:18)? ​

This verse is a promise of protection—not a command—to those individuals God has called to preach the gospel (notice verse 15).

An example of this occurred on the Mediterranean island of Malta, where the apostle Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake while gathering firewood (Acts 28:1-6). It is important to realize that he was not purposely handling the snake. Rather, this incident was an unexpected accident, and God miraculously protected His servant as He had promised!

Deliberately handling poisonous snakes or drinking deadly liquids expecting God's protection is definitely contrary to Christ's teachings. In Matthew 4:5-6, Satan tries to persuade Christ to throw Himself down from a pinnacle merely because He had a promise of protection. However, Christ rebukes Satan because he is misapplying the scripture he quotes from Psalm 91:11-12.Jesus says to Satan, as He says to anyone who delights in misapplying God's promise of protection, "You shall not tempt the LORD your God" (Matthew 4:7; quoted from Deuteronomy 6:16). Therefore, the practice of deliberately handling deadly snakes or drinking poisonous liquids is definitely wrong! ​

​

Also, in light of how often Muslims will try to bring up Mark 16 as a means of discrediting the Gospel, as one evangelistic ministry said best (from the articles referenced earlier):

Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

Mark 16:14-18
​

If the Christian backs down from the challenge this is then taken to mean that the Christian speaker lacks true faith in Christ.
The Muslim is guilty of misinterpreting Jesus' meaning in this passage since a sound rule of exegesis is to interpret scripture in light of scripture. Once this is done, we discover the true meaning of Jesus' words:

"The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down from here. For it is written: "He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."' Jesus answered, 'It says: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."'" Luke 4:9-12 ​

​

In light of this passage, Jesus was not telling his followers to go around picking up snakes or drinking poison. Christ's point was that no matter what the enemy tries to do in thwarting the efforts of the believers, he will never succeed. This is based solely on the promises of Christ that his authority rests upon all true believers to accomplish his will in our lives:

"'The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.' He replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'" Luke 10:17-20
​

The Holy Bible proceeds to document how Jesus' promises in Mark 16 were fulfilled in the lives of true believers:

Acts 2:1-12
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: 'Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!' Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, 'What does this mean?'"




Acts 5:12-16
"The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed."


"God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, 'In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.' Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. [One day] the evil spirit answered them, 'Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?' Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor." Acts 19:11-16



"Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, 'This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.' But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured." Acts 28:3-9
​

Furthermore, there is also a spiritual meaning behind drinking poison and suffering no ill effects. The Holy Bible teaches that the tongues of the wicked are like poisonous snakes that try to destroy believers with all their lies and deceit:

Psalm 140:1-4
"Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; protect me from men of violence, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent's; the poison of vipers is on their lips. Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from men of violence who plan to trip my feet."


Romans 3:13
"'Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.' 'The poison of vipers is on their lips.'"


James 3:8 "... but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."
​

 

[GuardianShua]

Where, however, does it say that drinking poison in SCRIPTURE---not commentary--is a contradiction and a testing of the Lord? For there are many scripture where the saints were placed within dangerous situations and the Lord said he'd protect them. There are also scriptures where the Lord asked his people to DO dangerous things and he said that they would be protected. Drinking "poison" was never about going out looking to do it for a hobby---but on what would happen if one was forced to do so.

There is the question of whether Mark 16:9-20 should be there at all. For more, one can see Tekton's answer here and here and Glenn Miller's here.

Here, use some common sense.

Matthew 4:7
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

Luke 4:12
Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

Matthew 7.
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Here, use some common sense.

’

Did already--and addressed the scriptures you brought up, just as many others have. In light of the call for common sense, one must show where it is common sense to assume that a promise from the Lord to drink deadly poison means one must run out doing so rather than knowing they'll be protected from harm if others seek to harm them by forcing it. Show where what happened in Mark 16 didn't play out in history, concerning the Gospel being preached and demons being cast out/miracles occurring in the Book of Acts----notably Paul on Malta being bitten by the viper and yet not being affected as the Lord promised in Luke 10.

You've haven't succedded in addressing any of that thus far.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Interesting dialogue.....I wore my mouse wheel out looking thru it tho.....brb

 

[Gxg (G²)]

I've had people ask and be quite shocked about the range of music I listen to (thinking because I dress conservatively, that perhaps we also don't have a television, or listen to music. (I LOVE TV, Movies and music - yes, we have three TVs, only two we use regularly)
.

Glad to know that I'm not the only one who has seen that in some of the friends/family I have. Its wild to see how many assume Jewish people or Messianics are disconnected from having fun. Really, if Jesus's first miracle was attending a wedding in Cana (John 2), its odd to see how people assume that Hebraic culture is against having a good time