Re: theological question

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: long time, but I'm back... and to reply: : The stupidity of the Jews of the OT (in my opinion) : cannot be fairly set upon seekers of today. Whereas : the OT jews constantly showed themselves a people content : to waver, never seeking truth for themselves, always : wanting to delegate "another" to do their leadership, : then complain in self pity when everything didn't go : their way. : I, on the other hand, believe that in times where : talk is deemed to be cheap, that if one is really seeking : the truth that they will find it. Indeed, I am a : believer, but don't you agree, that things would be : much easier to go on believing sometimes, if there : were an audible voice speaking to you, on occasion (so : as not to spoil the whole "awe" of the thing), : to console, comfort, and guide... that you would be : all the stronger for it..? I do. : To say that the Jews of old, who had always heard, : but never sought, would not do any better without : God's audible voice & miracles being shown is a given. : But to say that ones who have never heard or seen : DIRECTLY (audible voice, or fire from heaven, etc.) : would not be helped, is not a fair assumption. : : : Posted by Jason Bletnit on March 17, 1999 at 23:24:23: : : : So why these days does God not speak through burning : : : bushes, talking donkeys, and prophets with the inspired : : : powers to part seas and burn water-logged pieces of meat? : : : Why the "less-direct" and "less tangible" methods? : : : (you know what I mean) : : : : PART 2 : : Posted by Jason Bletnit on March 22, 1999 at 22:32:07: : : : Actually, this is a question that has had me wondering for a while, as I know that for myself, as an engineer, that things more tangible would help me : : when I struggle. I asked this question in my christian high school, and never got a decent answer, other than the "God works in mysterious ways" : : quote. Which is a truth, albeith a "shut up and don't ask involved questions" answer. Truth was, I had more biblical (and technical) knowledge than most : : of those faculty. Hence I was bored in HS, and thought up questions like this alot to annoy the faculty (and while giving much thought to some, still : : managed to be stumped (and frustrated that no one would give me the time of day with some of the more "thought provoking" questions. : : : : * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * : : In the Old Testament, God did speak more audibly, and show himself more visibly. He also made his will extremely clear throughg the law, so that no : : one had an excuse of ignorance when they transgressed. : : You would think that the Jews leaving Egypt with so many awesome signs and wonders would desire God above all. You would think that when Moses : : brought the law they would have been trying their best to keep it. You would think that they would have an intense desire to learn more about this : : awesome God who revealed Himself. You would at least think they'd appreciate His calling and His promises, and try to please Him. : : THEY DIDN'T. They knew His will and disobeyed, over and over again. They had no desire to seek God; they took Him for granted. When the signs : : and wonders ceased for a few days, they immediately grumbled against God, and built a golden calf to take the place of the God who had inexcusably : : disappeared. : : Their whole walk was based on visual, audible signs and miracles. As a result, their faith was inferior, being carnally based. They were not grateful; they : : would not trust. They had no desire to seek God at all; they felt that it was HIS responsibility to always awe and amaze them, and they constantly found : : fault with God when He didn't perform according to their requirements. This is the result of the "give us a sign" brand of faith in the OT. : : I personally feel very fortunate to live in this age of real faith, hungry and thirsty for God, seeking that which is within the veil. The OT revelation of : : God didn't work; perhaps the whole point of it was to show us that it doesn't work that way. Our faith must be based on the invisible, the eternal. This : : fuels our desire to seek Him; to see His glory revealed. If our faith is carnally based, we will end up as rebellious and miserable as they. : : I think of the rich man who was in torment, begging for Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers to warn them, so that they could avoid his damnation. : : He argued that if Lazarus rose from the dead to deliver the message, that would be a big enough miracle to convince them. : : But Abraham said "...they would not believe, even if one should rise from the dead." : : * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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