(November 13, 2015 at 3:47 pm)drfuzzy Wrote: No, I'm not racist. The following are just two questions I have been asking of creationists / literal-bible theists ever since I was a little girl. I have never heard an answer that made sense. So, we have some theists and bible scholars here at AF, I thought that I would ask.actually no. YEC/ Young Earth Creationists believe this. I for one believe that it has only been 5000/6000 years from the fall of man/exile from the garden.
Creationists claim that the world is 6000 years old.
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Science says otherwise. I have had creationists tell me that all of the dating practices are faulty creations of Satan. So, whatever, for this question, let's go with 6000.
I too believe the dating system is in error otherwise the evolutionary dates would not have changed so much over time. I don't think this is a work of Sagan but just good olde fashion human arrogance. Arrogance enough to proclaim a date when we obviously do not have all the facts/know the whole truth. But like you don't care to argue these points so I generally go with what ever time period you guys want to work with as it really does not matter from a biblical perspective. (As the bible never actually gives a time line)
Quote:What of them?
IF you believe that Salvation came through Jesus Christ - - and as many believe, the true followers of Yahweh who predated him were retroactively "saved" - - then what of all the other people? What of the other nations who worshiped other gods: China, Egypt, India, Greece, Babylon, the Mayans . . . Stonehenge was started about 3000 bce, and I don't believe Ben Carson when he says the Noah built it as a dog park after the flood.
Do you wrongly assume they all go to hell?
Acts 17 tells us that God places his law on all of our heart and even (before Christ) he allowed those with out the law (non Jews) to worship what ever gods in an effort to honor the laws he put in our hearts. But now demands we all come to repentance under Christ.
The Jews were elected to simple be the ones who carried the law and provide the world with a savior.
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Why would the creator of billions upon billions of galaxies decide to show up and focus on one tiny little Semitic tribe who lived in an area 20,770 km / 12,906 square miles (1/4 of the size of England) - who were not as advanced as many other nations of their time? If this creator truly wants to "save" everyone, why this one tiny tribe, and no contact with any other nations? What of the many, many people who had no knowledge of Yahweh?
We are save for eternal life. What do you think we will be doing for eternity? One long boring church service? As you pointed out their are infinite galaxies with stars and planets we can not count.
I would think all of the rest of creation will be what we are tasked to develop and maintain in some way or fashion
Quote:Do you know the parable of the talents?
Do they automatically fry? (Then God is truly a monster.) Are they given a "pass"? (Then why was the sacrifice of Jesus needed at all?)
In short God judges us based on what we have been given, the more we are given the more we are responsible to. If we prove to be responsible to what we have then greater our reward. The ultimate goal is not just heaven, but reward in heaven and a better position/job.
Christ died to forgive sins and be in a position judge the world/decide who is and is not Christian. This is not a title we can award ourselves with any meaning or accuracy. Christ alone decides who is and is not saved. Not our doctrines nor works, lest any man should boast. Our salvation is a gift that none deserve. Many in the church will be shocked when/If they get to heaven. Their will be a lot more in heaven than they would have ever imagined.
Our knowledge of Christ/Christianity is one more talent/thing we are responsible for which gives us opportunity for greater responsibility or reward.
If we know of Christ we are responsible to respond to Christ. If not then it is up to Christ to decide who is and is not saved
