From: rpitts@emperor.gatech.edu (Richard Pitts)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: Top 10 Reasons for Believing in the Deity of Jesus Christ.
Date: 9 Apr 92 20:22:40 GMT
Organization: CERL-EE, Georgia Institue of Technology

In article <1992Apr8.201632.17913@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> pmy@vivaldi.acc.virginia.edu (Pete Yadlowsky) writes:
>In article <53936@hydra.gatech.EDU> rpitts@emperor.gatech.edu (Richard Pitts) writes:
>>We preach Christ and Him crucified, not ourselves. (2 Cor. 4)
>
>(I s'pose I'll never tire of this.) I know what you preach. That
>wasn't my question. Once again: does the path you choose seem right to you?

The way I and other Christian choose is not the natural way for anyone, for
we all have fallen short.  We have responded to what God has provided for
us - salvation/eteranal life - through His Son, Jesus the Christ, who was
God, was with God, was made flesh, and dwelt among us.  We (Christians) are
not perfect and for this reason we have an Advocate, Jesus Christ, pleading
our cases with the Father. (1 John 2)

>>Yes, I am a man, but I did not create The Way, 
>>in which I follow - it's God's way.  Jesus Christ, The Son of God, is the Way.
>
>Well, the muslims say it ain't. The muslims say that you have veered from
>God's way in your belief that Jesus is God's son. In the eyes of Allah,
>you have taken a path that "seems right unto man". 

I have already posed this question and if you want to compare Chritianity to
the muslim faith, I ask 

   Since muslims consider Jesus a prophet, much like Mohommed, how do they
or you reconcile him being called the Son of God, Lord, Savior, The Annointed
One, etc ?

Jesus claimed to be equal with God (John 5:16-18, especially v18.)
The Jews understood Jesus to claim to be God's Son.

>>>It seems then that the true, saving faith must be based on something so
>>>absurd and disagreeable that nobody in their right mind could believe in it.
>
>[ God's_wisdom -> world's_foolishness line returned for insufficient
>  relevance ]

Not seeing the relevance enhances the point.   The statement on believing 
something that has to be absurd and the such is what I responded to.  
For we preach Christ crucified, FOOLISHNESS to those who are seeking 
wisdom and A STUMBLING BLOCK to those who seek a sign.

>Try to resist the Bible-reach reaction:

Why would you want to restrict me or anyone else to not being able to use
the Bible????  It is a source of knowledge, more than I or anyone else has.

>>>If you don't follow it, you're dead. If you _do_ follow it, then it has
>>>become "right unto man", and you're still dead. Oh dear.
>
>Look again at the sentences above, especially at the second. Now, how
>do you resolve this? Is christianity right unto you? I would guess so,
>considering how much energy you put into arguing for it. But you're
>playing a very dangerous game of Russian Roulette, with at least one
>chamber loaded. Better look to Allah and get back on course! *click*

Christianity is not man's way - religion: working to get to God is man's way.

Ask Allah how much work you have to do to get to heaven.  What if you
don't do one of these works???

We (Christians) are saved by grace, not by works, 
it is a gift of God. (Eph 2:8-9)

>>Oh dear?  The term "a way" is not indicative of "The Way."
>
>In other words, "the way I have chosen is The Way (it'd better be)". No,
>you'll have to do better, because anyone of any faith (or none) can come
>back with the same line. Muslims, f'rinstance. They read the Bible, too,
>I understand.

I think they hold that the Old Testament is valid, it is hard to see how
they hold the New Testament as valid and yet not see Jesus as God's Son.

Jesus accepted the titles of Lord and Master and The Christ, the Son
of the Living God (Matt. 16:15-17).  In John 13:13, Jesus said that
he is rightly called Teacher and Lord, for that is what he is.

Sincerely,
Richard Pitts
-- 
rpitts@cerl.gatech.edu       |    
Atlanta, GA                --|-- 
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