Comments on: Meditation 7.26 http://online.worldmag.com/2008/07/26/meditation-726/ A forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of Christianity and culture. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:20:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: arcadia http://online.worldmag.com/2008/07/26/meditation-726/comment-page-1/#comment-324961 arcadia Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:53:55 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/07/26/meditation-726/#comment-324961 <i>every transgression or disobedience received a <b>just retribution</b></i>. Can someone give me an example of a "just retribution" by god? In my, admittedly jaded, view the god of bible doesn't just get mad or get even, he has a nasty habit of visiting really nasty vengeance not just upon the sinner, but upon the sinner's spouse, children or entire family to the nth generation. Mass genocide, the pains of childbirth for almost every woman ever born, forced cannibalism, and slavery of entire peoples are just a few that come to mind... So where is an example of "just" retribution? And if the writer of Hebrews uses the word "just" does that mean that we have the right to even judge what might be just? every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution.

Can someone give me an example of a “just retribution” by god?

In my, admittedly jaded, view the god of bible doesn’t just get mad or get even, he has a nasty habit of visiting really nasty vengeance not just upon the sinner, but upon the sinner’s spouse, children or entire family to the nth generation.

Mass genocide, the pains of childbirth for almost every woman ever born, forced cannibalism, and slavery of entire peoples are just a few that come to mind…

So where is an example of “just” retribution?

And if the writer of Hebrews uses the word “just” does that mean that we have the right to even judge what might be just?

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]]> By: John Denney http://online.worldmag.com/2008/07/26/meditation-726/comment-page-1/#comment-324933 John Denney Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:08:23 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/07/26/meditation-726/#comment-324933 "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth," - James 1:18 Some perish "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." 2 Thess 2:10 "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11 But truth is not confined to the pages of Scripture. Paul before Festus and Agrippa was accused by Festus of being a madman, to which Paul responded, "I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner." - Acts 26:25-26 Paul was appealing to the King's knowledge not of Scripture, but of current events, about which Paul spoke the truth as well as the truth of Scripture. “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth,” – James 1:18

Some perish “because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thess 2:10

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11

But truth is not confined to the pages of Scripture.

Paul before Festus and Agrippa was accused by Festus of being a madman, to which Paul responded,

“I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.” – Acts 26:25-26

Paul was appealing to the King’s knowledge not of Scripture, but of current events, about which Paul spoke the truth as well as the truth of Scripture.

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]]> By: John Denney http://online.worldmag.com/2008/07/26/meditation-726/comment-page-1/#comment-324931 John Denney Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:43:54 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/07/26/meditation-726/#comment-324931 "And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice," 1 Kings 11:9 Solomon drifted even after being twice in the presence of the Lord. What hope have we? Solomon was led astray by his foreign wives. What leads us astray? Our own lusts: Not Thy will be done, but My will be done. The disciples asked Jesus in exasperation, "Who then can be saved?" "With men it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible." “And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,” 1 Kings 11:9

Solomon drifted even after being twice in the presence of the Lord. What hope have we?

Solomon was led astray by his foreign wives. What leads us astray? Our own lusts: Not Thy will be done, but My will be done.

The disciples asked Jesus in exasperation, “Who then can be saved?”

“With men it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.”

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]]> By: Mark Roth http://online.worldmag.com/2008/07/26/meditation-726/comment-page-1/#comment-324841 Mark Roth Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:11:02 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/07/26/meditation-726/#comment-324841 Wait a minute! <b>I</b> can drift?! Wait a minute! I can drift?!

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]]> By: Samuel http://online.worldmag.com/2008/07/26/meditation-726/comment-page-1/#comment-324825 Samuel Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:38:43 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/07/26/meditation-726/#comment-324825 As the hungry man focuses on physical nourishment, the Christian focuses on filling himself with the spiritual things of God. Physical hunger requires getting a physical meal inside you. Spiritual hunger requires the Christian to get the Word of God inside of him. When the Gospel of Jesus Christ is taught, if you have heard – you will be guided in wisdom by the Holy Spirit. This time is so important and yet, how little do we prepare ourselves for it. Pray for understanding. Paul writes in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” If you would grow in faith, you must improve your hearing of the Word of Christ. Prepare your heart through prayer. Do not allow Satan to distract you with what other people are doing or by the distracting thoughts of your daily concerns. Prepare your mind by reading the Bible daily. Allow God’s written word to prepare your mind to receive the anointed preaching and teaching of the Gospel at church. The proactive hearer does not leave church and then fail to remember the sermon or lesson two hours later. Be a proactive hearer of God’s Word. May God help us all to be “hearers” so that we may truly be “doers” of His Word. As the hungry man focuses on physical nourishment, the Christian focuses on filling himself with the spiritual things of God. Physical hunger requires getting a physical meal inside you. Spiritual hunger requires the Christian to get the Word of God inside of him.

When the Gospel of Jesus Christ is taught, if you have heard – you will be guided in wisdom by the Holy Spirit. This time is so important and yet, how little do we prepare ourselves for it. Pray for understanding.

Paul writes in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” If you would grow in faith, you must improve your hearing of the Word of Christ. Prepare your heart through prayer. Do not allow Satan to distract you with what other people are doing or by the distracting thoughts of your daily concerns.

Prepare your mind by reading the Bible daily. Allow God’s written word to prepare your mind to receive the anointed preaching and teaching of the Gospel at church. The proactive hearer does not leave church and then fail to remember the sermon or lesson two hours later. Be a proactive hearer of God’s Word. May God help us all to be “hearers” so that we may truly be “doers” of His Word.

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