Already you seem to have failed to grasp my "underwhelming" response. I previously said that I do not think these reverences are about the Earth being flat OR a sphere... they are not about the shape of the Earth whatsoever. This is one reason why I hesitate to even go any further, it's already falling on deaf ears. Yet I continue...
It is your choice to read the plain meaning as figurative language or however you perceive it. I take the opposite approach and read it as literal unless the context indicates otherwise.
Your demeaning tone is noted, but this was on purpose. Let's take the first scripture you mentioned, Is 40:22. I referenced the entire chapter because the context is important. I'm not looking at one verse in a vacuum, but the complete context. I even look at chapters 39 & 41 and more if needed. The chapter is a prophetic word. A word about bringing comfort and encouragement to God's people and about God's glory being manifest. Part of the encouragement are reminders of God's power, His ability to perform, His knowledge, wisdom and greatness.
Your evasive tone is noted, but this was also on purpose. Your mistake is that you err in claiming that a prophetic word cannot also have literal aspects to it. Just because you perceive something to be "prophetic" it does not automatically entail that everything contained in it is figurative.
It would be out of context for God to drop a science lesson in the middle of that. Chug means vault or horizon, the context of verse 22 is God sitting above that. It is similar terminology imagery to when we read phrases like "the ends of the Earth" in the Bible. Such phrases are used to convey great distances... the greatest distances that can be seen. Everyone knows what a horizon is and what it looks like. It's not a geometric reference it is a experiential reference that everyone can relate to. Sitting at such a high place or above it expresses that God is above all and sees all. This is perfectly in fitting with the context of the rest of the chapter, describing God's greatness.
Incorrect as you maintain a false dichotomy between science and God/scriptures. God created the earth and cosmology so it falls within the realm as what we perceive as science thus your artificial distinction is unwarranted. Chug also means circle. What is the vault of the earth? What is the horizon of the earth? Circle of the earth makes perfect sense as it refers to the shape of the whole earth itself above which God sits. Your truncated choice of translation leaves much to be desired.
Verse 11 says that He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom. I don't see flat earther's claiming God is literally scooping sheep up into the sky. Verse 26 says He calls us all by name, I don't see flat earther's claiming that God is audibly shouting out our name for all to hear. Yet, this is the type of logic applied to verse 22.
Again, just because some verses are figurative it does not entail that all verses are figurative. That is a logical fallacy of overgeneralizing which you are prone to doing.
The main reason I oppose this idea beyond just specific scriptures is that ultimately biblical flat earth actually steals glory from Jesus. It takes the focus away from Him. Just look at this entire conversation, it doesn't mention Jesus in any significant, glorifying or saving light at all.
P.S. I got news for you. Jesus is God!
Look at another common scripture used by flat earthers Matt 3:3 (which is also in
Mark 1:3,
Luke 3:4,
John 1:23... all of which actually are quoting the same Is 40 in verse 4). Since the source is Is 40 the same overall context from above applies, the greatness of God. Flat earthers say a curved surface wouldn't produce a straight line and use all these scriptures to prove their point. Yet every single one of these scriptures are clearly referencing John the Baptist (specific context). John was the greatest of the OT prophets (see consistent context) pointed the way to Jesus who was even greater (more consistent context). But now instead of pointing the way to Jesus people are arguing about the curvature of the Earth? So, God was really more interested in the geometry of the Earth than pointing people to Jesus?
You specialize in logical fallacies without even realizing it. Unbeknownst to you have proposed a false dichotomy. I suggest you look up its meaning. It is not a matter of one or the other. Furthermore, does not Scripture declare that God's creation glorifies Him? Consider a few scriptures that you ignore:
Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows the work of his hands."
Psalm 95:3-5 "For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land."
Romans 1:20 "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
Psalm 96:11-12 "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy."
Lastly you are ignorant of the fact that many people who were former atheists/agnostics through the flat earth have read the scriptures which confirm the flat, immovable earth surrounded by the firmament and as a result have become Christians. Thus your allegation that flat earth does not point people to Jesus is patently false I suggest you brush up on it.
My family and I watch survivor together. Every now and then they do a challenge where most of the tribe is blindfolded and they have one "caller" directing them to where they should go. The caller is very much a picture of the prophetic in Is 40. The caller will yell to their tribe to turn left/right/or whatever then yell at them something like "go straight... straight, straight, straight... stop!". So my question is: is the caller taking a stance on the shape of the Earth when shouting this? (I'm assuming reader's answers will correctly be, "no"). Instead they are using the word "straight" to help guide the listener to the desired destination. The same is true with all of these scriptures. To force these scriptures to be about a flat OR sphere Earth is to distract from and take away from God guiding us in the direction and destination of Jesus.
So you are now equating God with man? How convenient for your argument. God knows what shape he created the earth. It's your prerogative to ignore Him. Ironically, former atheists/agnostics believe the what the scriptures say regarding the cosmology more than you do.
Romans 1:25 talks of how some will exchange the truth of God for a lie. And the sign that this is happening is that people will begin to worship the creation rather than the creator. This is exactly what ever single "flat earth" scripture interpretation does. It takes focus away from the Creator and puts it on the creation.
Another red herring fallacy by you. I suggest you bone up on argumentation and logical fallacies as you are prone to committing them. His creation NEVER takes away from the One who created it.
Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 148)
You asked for my reasoning, there it is in a nutshell. I could do something along these lines with all 200 scriptures mentioned in another post. Flat Earth arguments are shoehorned in word games that steal glory from Jesus, and force all observational science on the subject to be wrong or a lie, which requires the believer of the theory to see the worst in people, even other Christians. There is nothing positive or edifying about the subject whatsoever.
Incorrect. Jesus is God and all creation glorifies God. God created it and saw that it was good. You are certainly free to disagree with God!
