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Linda from Berlin is here.

Carl Emerson

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The Greek language was used to convey rapidly the deep issues around Christ to the known world.

They had a word 'epignosis' meaning 'total knowing'

This is much deeper than facts, it is a relational knowing from personal encounter, Paul got a dose of this on the road. That is what to seek. Maybe you have experienced this?
 
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LindaBerlin

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In that sense the mind is the wrong tool for the job.

Why? Because you have to believe to understand something? Do you know how science works? You first have a working hypothesis, and then use facts and tests to check whether this working hypothesis is correct. If it is not correct, it will be discarded and a new hypothesis will be put forward. If it is correct, one does further tests, searches on, until the hypothesis becomes a relative certainty.
And that's how I work.
I make the thesis that God exists. Now, using facts, scientific research and similar sources, I am trying to substantiate or refute this thesis. And I come to the conclusion that God exists. This has little to do with faith, but much with curiosity and the search for the truth.
And so I do with the Bible. For example:
In the Old Testament, but also in the New Testament, the term abominations often appears. I have dealt with the word, its origin and its possibilities of meaning. Here is the result:

The people of Israel were the people of God, "his people" ("property"?), who should stay away from all the other influences of a pagan temptation that surrounds them, as Leviticus 18:1-5 so well describes.
This commandment of purity/sanctification was intended only for the Jews as the chosen people of God, so that they should distinguish themselves from other peoples. For no one else! Neither for Christians, nor for Muslims, or any other religion that believes in the God of the Israelites.
The law of the Jews can be divided into the following groups:

Moral laws such as the 10 Commandments
Civil laws that should regulate coexistence
Health laws (e.g. on leprosy)
Ceremonial laws, such as all victim laws

Everything about the ceremonial laws revolved around the Messiah that the Jews expected. These laws stated which sacrifice had to be paid to be clean of sins, often taking a Lamb as a symbol of the Messiah as the "Lamb of God" to remove the sins of the world from it. With the death of Jesus, according to the Christian view, its meaning would disappear, since Jesus would fulfill this law.
The word abomination, what would it means? Moral law? Civil law? Or ceremonial law? What do you mean?
Let us look at the word 'abomination', if it can give us any clue.
In the Hebrew language, "abomination" is translated as "Toevah" (תֹּועֵבָה), which means that God abhors something, something that is unclean. Thus, this refers to a ritual impurities, not a moral sin, which would have to be translated as Hebrew "Zimah". The Septuagint correctly translates the word abomination with the word "bdelygma," which describes a ritual impurity, not "anomia," which stands for transgression and sin. Thus, a woman who menstruated, also called an abomination, is called unclean, and she was not allowed to enter the temple in this state, but she was not sinful because of it. Toevah is also often used to describe idolatry.

That is why I asked you "Have you pondered on why Jesus knowingly chose to be hideously executed - what did that really achieve?"

According to all the sources available to me, something was interpreted into the death of Jesus by his disciples, which the facts (Roman and Jewish writings of eyewitnesses) do not give. For both the Jews of the time and the Romans, Jesus was a troublemaker, a terrorist and, at best, a prophet. But nothing more.
Even Muslims see Jesus as a prophet, but not as the Son of God.
I do believe that the facts speak for rather than against Jesus, but on the other hand there are still many unanswered questions.
 
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LindaBerlin

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The Greek language was used to convey rapidly the deep issues around Christ to the known world.

They had a word 'epignosis' meaning 'total knowing'

This is much deeper than facts, it is a relational knowing from personal encounter, Paul got a dose of this on the road. That is what to seek. Maybe you have experienced this?

Total knowledge is not obtained through faith, but through research. And this also applies to the religious sphere. For example:
In my last post, I spoke about the word abomination. It is often used in Leviticus.
Would it surprise you if I tell you that much of what is threatened with the death penalty in Leviticus is commonplace today?
Eating pork, wearing clothes made of mixed tissue, for example?
Leviticus was a law that was only for Jews. Not for Christians, not for Muslims. Through the Atonement of Christ, the law of Moses was fulfilled (see Galatians chapters 2-5), as Paul wrote.
And yet some verses from Leviticus are used to speak against homosexuals. These verses are not about homosexuality, but about shrine prostitution and idol worship. It's easy to find out if you read the context.
 
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public hermit

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My name is Gerlinde, but because the name seems too heavy for Anglo-Saxon tongues, I prefer to call me Linda.
I live and work in Berlin, where I used to work as a Mormon missionary. In 1992 I left the LDS "Church" and studied divergent churches and religions, but in none I felt comfortable. Neither in my mother's religion (she was Jewish), nor in my father's religion (he was Baptist). I had even dealt with paganism (especially Wicca) and Islam.
I would describe myself as a person who believes in God, but I do not believe in God's; as they say here in Germany, "ground personnel" (this means churches and clergy).
I have a divided relationship with the Bible. For me, it is an important book, but also a book that has often been mistranslated and also misinterpreted. I also wonder how things that were perhaps right and important 3,000 years ago should still be the same, even though the world and humanity have changed?
An example is the position and task of women in antiquity and the present.

Hi Linda! :wave: It looks like you're already finding your way around. ;) Welcome!
 
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Deade

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Hello Linda,
welcome to CF.

I hope you'll enjoy your stay here.


View attachment 288461

f9a2ae5a8f29c2c1d3728c3a689d8318.gif
 
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Andrewn

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I judge a church/religion according to three fundamental standards, all of which I have more or less taken from the Bible. These are:

1. How does a church/religion protect minorities outside and within its own group?
2. To what extent does this Church/Religion represent the message of UNCONDITIONAL charity?
3. Do these churches/religions pick quotations taken out of context from their sacred books (Bible, Koran, Torah) to take these quotations against others as a weapon or justification?
I agree with you.

In my time of searching, I visited a Christian free church. I was warmly received. After the divine service, I spoke to the pastor's wife. First about children and life in Germany (she is American), then about the divine service. She asked me if I also thought that women in the Church should remain silent, as Paul said (that was the subject of the sermon). I replied that Bible scholars wanted to find out that this quotation was not supposed to be of Paul, but was inserted only 150 years later. And that I think this theory is possible. She then became angry and accused me of being an atheist, communist and satanist.
Since Introduce Yourself forum is not for discussion, I will only recommend that you look up the following ongoing thread:

https://www.christianforums.com/threads/women-preachers.8170360/
 
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Andrewn

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Do you know how science works? You first have a working hypothesis, and then use facts and tests to check whether this working hypothesis is correct. If it is not correct, it will be discarded and a new hypothesis will be put forward. If it is correct, one does further tests, searches on, until the hypothesis becomes a relative certainty.
And that's how I work.
I make the thesis that God exists. Now, using facts, scientific research and similar sources, I am trying to substantiate or refute this thesis. And I come to the conclusion that God exists. This has little to do with faith, but much with curiosity and the search for the truth.
Your post sheds light on the book of Hebrews. But bec Introduce Yourself forum is not for discussion, I recommend you look up the following ongoing thread:

Is faith really a gift?
 
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LindaBerlin

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LindaBerlin

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Your post sheds light on the book of Hebrews. But bec Introduce Yourself forum is not for discussion, I recommend you look up the following ongoing thread:

Is faith really a gift?

Can't reply to the link, because I'm a seeker, not a Christian (I believe in God and the Bible, not to a congregation or Church.
 
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Andrewn

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ChristServant

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My name is Gerlinde, but because the name seems too heavy for Anglo-Saxon tongues, I prefer to call me Linda.
I live and work in Berlin, where I used to work as a Mormon missionary. In 1992 I left the LDS "Church" and studied divergent churches and religions, but in none I felt comfortable. Neither in my mother's religion (she was Jewish), nor in my father's religion (he was Baptist). I had even dealt with paganism (especially Wicca) and Islam.
I would describe myself as a person who believes in God, but I do not believe in God's; as they say here in Germany, "ground personnel" (this means churches and clergy).
I have a divided relationship with the Bible. For me, it is an important book, but also a book that has often been mistranslated and also misinterpreted. I also wonder how things that were perhaps right and important 3,000 years ago should still be the same, even though the world and humanity have changed?
An example is the position and task of women in antiquity and the present.


Hi and welcome to the forum.

Your walk is with GOD, not with a church and their many different doctrines or any organisation made by man. Seek truth and the Kingdom of GOD, you will find it by true repentance(being truly sorry and acknowledging your sins committed against GOD) and the accepting of and having faith in the Blood of Christ for your sins. Once the Holy Spirit dwells in you, you will be guided, not forced into all the truth you need to be a servant of GOD the Father and The Lord Jesus Christ. Your Church will be the Body of Christ, which is the only one true Church.

I was in Berlin many years ago and met several people there. I noticed the occult had a hold on quite a few of them and those same people were all wealthy too. I was informed at the time, that if I joined them and their belief I would also enjoy what the world had to offer. This I found to be very dark and declined the offer.

Glad to hear you left the LDS organisation, so many have been deceived and this still continues in many church organisations, whom I would call religious prostitutes. These organisations take advantage of the vulnerabilities in people and use it against them.

People misinterpret the Bible for their own ends. Language for quite some time has been manipulated which we see eveyday in the world, more now than ever. I still believe the main message of the Bible is true not matter what because if you are guided by the Holy Spirit you will be able to know the word of GOD just like you would know a writer of books by their style and personality.

I hope you find your way to the truth and continue in it, you have already disguarded many religious deceits, deceivers on your journey. Christ is the way, the truth and the life. You should always remember if you are called, it was GOD who called you.


Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him

We no longer look to be served. We look to serve and give our lives for others. No longer fight for privilege, influence and status. We esteem others better than ourselves and put their interests above our own.

Peace be with all those in the body of Christ
 
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Anthony2019

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My name is Gerlinde, but because the name seems too heavy for Anglo-Saxon tongues, I prefer to call me Linda.
I live and work in Berlin, where I used to work as a Mormon missionary. In 1992 I left the LDS "Church" and studied divergent churches and religions, but in none I felt comfortable. Neither in my mother's religion (she was Jewish), nor in my father's religion (he was Baptist). I had even dealt with paganism (especially Wicca) and Islam.
I would describe myself as a person who believes in God, but I do not believe in God's; as they say here in Germany, "ground personnel" (this means churches and clergy).
I have a divided relationship with the Bible. For me, it is an important book, but also a book that has often been mistranslated and also misinterpreted. I also wonder how things that were perhaps right and important 3,000 years ago should still be the same, even though the world and humanity have changed?
An example is the position and task of women in antiquity and the present.
Welcome Linda - I hope you will enjoy the discussions and the fellowship here.
 
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