From: eje@irenaeus.mlo.dec.com (Eric James Ewanco)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Liberal vs. Conservative
Date: 5 Sep 92 20:47:11 GMT
Reply-To: ewanco@mlo.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

In article <Sep.4.02.53.00.1992.29373@athos.rutgers.edu>, REXLEX@linac.fnal.gov writes:
> From: REXLEX@linac.fnal.gov
> Subject: Re: Liberal vs. Conservative
> Date: Fri, 4 Sep 92 02:53:01 GMT+5:00

> In article <Sep.3.04.26.09.1992.29391@athos.rutgers.edu> hedrick@cs.rutgers.edu
> writes:
> >This is addressed to Joel Norris, who was responding to a posting
> >by Michael Bushnell.
> >
> I certainly agree with Mike's caution that the Bible is not a human
> >being and thus doesn't have an intention, and that the original
> >authors were addressing a different audience than us. 

> Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is *living and active* and sharper than any
> two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of
> both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the
> heart.
> 1 Pet. 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but
> imperishable, {that is,} through the *living and abiding* word of God.

I'm afraid that these verses refer to the Word of God, which the Sacred
Scriptures identify, not as the Sacred Scriptures themselves, but as Jesus
Christ (John 1:1).  Sacred Scriptures are the divinely inspired, inerrant,
WRITTEN word of God.  The Word Himself is Jesus Christ.

Do not fall into biblioatry by confusing the Scriptures with the Word.  The
Sacred Scriptures are our written record of the Word of God.  But the Word of
God itself/Himself extends beyond the Bible.  It is the Word of God, the Second
Person, who is living and active, who judges our thoughts and intentions. It is
through Jesus Christ that we are reborn, not through Scriptures. It is Jesus
Christ, the Word Himself, that is referred to by these verses.

> You're all wrong when you overshaddow the true authorship of the Scriptures.
> It is of God who stands outside of time and who communicates to all peoples
> in all ages.  Does everything written apply to everyone of every age.  No of
> course not.  Lets not be foolish.  But the Word of God is alive.  It's ALIVE!

Correction: HE'S ALIVE, He is risen from the dead, and HE is JESUS CHRIST.

> They weren't primarily.  But they do have secondary and tertiary application.
> The "Lords Prayer" for instance is not for the Church.  1) It had not yet
> been revealed.  2) the Church has no claim to "Thy Kingdom come".  

Could have fooled me.  First, the Lord's Prayer was revealed before the Church
existed; the Church was born at Pentecost.  I do not know what you mean, the
church has no claim to "Thy kingdom come". How does this relate to your
conclusion that the Lord's Prayer is not for the church?  Why did Jesus give it
in response to the question, "Lord, teach us how to pray", if it was not for
Christians? 

Am I taking you out of context?

Eric
--
/=============================================================================\
| Eric Ewanco - Software Engineer     For the rash and outrageous opinions ex-|
| Digital Equipment Corp, Maynard MA  pressed herein I alone am responsible;  |
| ewanco@kalvin.enet.dec.com          they do not belong to DIGITAL(TM).      |
\==============================- 2 Th 2:15 -==================================/
    "...[T]he greatest and most ancient Church known to all, founded and
    organized at Rome by [] Peter and Paul, [is] that Church which has the
    tradition and faith which comes down to us after having been announced
    to men by the Apostles.  For with this Church, because of its superior
    origin, all Churches must agree ...  and it is in her that the
    faithful everywhere have maintained the Apostolic tradition."
       -- St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, c. 180 A.D., 3,3,3.