Equal to scripture?

[Peter]

An example of a very popular advertising mode:

Before the game, meet Me at My house. - God

Really? He said that? When a prophet said "Thus says the Lord..." it was because God had said it.

What does that make the above statement? Holy Scripture? And if God did not indeed utter this phrase, what does that make the author?

The Reader Peter

 

[JTLauder]

I think you answered your own question. The statement is an advertising slogan. It's like that beer commercial with all the clydesdale playing football. You don't think that horses actually play football, do you?

 

[Peter]

I think you answered your own question. The statement is an advertising slogan. It's like that beer commercial with all the clydesdale playing football. You don't think that horses actually play football, do you?

Okay, let' combine your idea with mine...

Come by my house for a beer. - God

Is this okay?

I'll save you time. No. But not because God wouldn't offer you a beer (which contains all natural ingredients).

It's wrong because we are assigning something to God that God did not say.

If we put up a giant sign that said something that sounds like what Presisent Bush might say, but he didn't really say, and put his name on it as if he did say it, we would get into a ton of trouble.

So why is it okay to put words into the mouth of the God of the Universe?

The Reader Peter

 

[JTLauder]

I think you are asking a rhetorical question.
When you specifically state "putting words' into [someone's] mouth", the connotation is that those words are not truely what that person would have said, so of course, that is wrong for anyone. End of discussion.

If you truely do not mean for this to be a rhetorical question, then it sounds more like your underlying question is how can we trust the authority of what anyone or anything says?

There are 3 ways we can take this discussion: 1) theologically, 2) philosophically, 3) common sense. Since I can't tell in which direction your question is suppose to lead, I will address all three.

I can't resist #3--common sense, so let me get it out of the way....uhmmm...I think anyone with some functional cognitive abilities would be able to discern what God would or would not say (e.g., the "God/Devil told me to do it" defense). This applies to all advertising, and why it's so deceptive to small children who have not developed the cognitive abilities to distinguish between what is and isn't real.

1) Theology and the canon of the Scriptures. I presume that this is probably the heart of what you are asking. But I'm not going into details about this since it's really not my area. There are tons and tons of documentation and studies out there detailing what is and isn't considered canon and all the whys of how they deteremined that. They can give you a much clearer explanation than I can, and you can look them up for more information. (ie, Google search.)

2) Philosophically--The debate is really a two-prong question.
From the perspective of the reciever: How can you discern if something said is true?
From the perspective of the informer: With what authority does one have in the knowledge/words you are giving?

From the perspective of the person recieving the information--it requires #1--common sense. The obviously bogus information can be disregarded easily. And of the information that is not so obvious, ask yourself these questions: Do you trust the authority of the source of the information? Are there ways you can investigate its authenticity and validity so you can confirm or reject the information? If the information is Biblical in nature (because the philosophical debate applies to more than just Scriptures), is it inline with what the Bible says? And how much of the information requires just pure faith--in both the information and the source of that information?

From the perspective of the person giving the information: Everything starts out with an intent--is it to give out true objective information, is it for persuation towards your bias, or is it to deceive?
All intents can be a discussion unto themselves, but to keep this thread in focus of questioning the authority of the information given out, we'll stick with the first intent and assume the informant believes the information is true. So how do you, as the informer, have the authority to say anything? Personally, I believe the key to this lies in having as objective perspective as possible on the information (not influenced by emotions, bias, etc.) so you can look at the information at face value outside of any external factors. Aside from the primary intents stated above, you now hold the responsibility of this piece of true knowledge in your hands--what are you going to do with it? Does it, can it, or should it be relayed out? It may be that the information is true, but you may not be the best person/venue to relay that information. And this comes back to authority--do you hold the authority for passing this information along?

 

[ROGER459]

(Isaiah 55:6-to-11) Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
(Isa 55:7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
(Isa 55:8) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
(Isa 55:9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isa 55:10) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
(Isa 55:11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Thanks, Roger459

 

[Theophorus]

I find those signs obscene.

 

[JTLauder]

I find those signs obscene.

Which signs?

This is getting off-topic, but a know, those Sox logos can look a lot like religious symbols. Considering how fanatical some people are about sports, you would think sports was their god. Every notice how a football game can be very analogous to a worship service?!

 

[Peter]

(Isaiah 55:6-to-11) Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
(Isa 55:7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
(Isa 55:8) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
(Isa 55:9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isa 55:10) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
(Isa 55:11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Thanks, Roger459

What are you trying to say? I don't understand. In my mind, this is as clear as ....

The Reader Peter