tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post2404023434206950308..comments2024-03-28T09:59:13.754-07:00Comments on bionic mosquito: The Costliest Heresy…bionic mosquitohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-84408342883886020622019-04-27T19:29:02.795-07:002019-04-27T19:29:02.795-07:00R.J. Rushdoony starts his essay on the meaning of ...R.J. Rushdoony starts his essay on the meaning of theocracy with this statement. Was he insane?<br /><br />“Few things are more commonly misunderstood than the nature and meaning of theocracy. It is commonly assumed to be a dictatorial rule by self-appointed men who claim to rule for God. In reality, theocracy in Biblical law is the closest thing to a radical libertarianism that can be had.” (https://chalcedon.edu/resources/articles/the-meaning-of-theocracy)<br /><br />I claim to be libertarian and want to get out from under the rule of political government. I also claim to be Christian and have no problem being under the rule of godly law administered by Jesus the Christ. Does that make me insane? <br /><br />One of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23) is self-control (self-governance, self-government), the exercise of which helps us to overcome our sin natures. With respect to this, both Christians who practice “love your neighbor as yourself” and libertarians who practice the non-aggression principle are doing the very same thing—treating other people with the dignity, respect, and friendship they deserve, as laid out in the Golden Rule. If this is insane, lock me up forever!<br /><br />Mr. Lowe, are you God? If you are, then you can decide who gets to burn in Hell. If you are, then you can see the heart of Bionic Mosquito. If you are, then you can make all sorts of judgements about him, his religion, his followers, and anyone else who might happen to believe something which is at odds with your own version of the truth. <br /><br />My guess, though, is that you are not God. If this is the case, then it’s not your call. You don’t have any authority to make a lot of claims which you have no way of proving. You have no idea who will be in Heaven or Hell. That is God’s prerogative, not yours. <br /><br />Jesus tells us (Matthew 7:1) not to make judgements about people, referring to the status of their spirituality. We cannot know the heart condition of anyone besides ourselves and consequently cannot make a righteous judgement about anyone else. There are times we are blind to our own failings. I know I am. It is only by the grace of God that our eyes are opened, not to see the flaws of everyone else, but to see how far short of God's holiness and perfection we are personally.<br /><br />Mr. Lowe, it is obvious that you are not libertarian. What political philosophy do you follow? <br /><br />From your response to the article, it seems that Bionic Mosquito touched a raw nerve. Do you feel threatened by something which was written and discussed? If so, why? If BM wrote something that was so far off base that you felt compelled to “straighten” him out, then why don’t you directly address the statement(s) you take issue with. You’ll get a lot further along that way.<br /> <br />I’ll end this with a couple of sayings. Neither one of them is appropriate for honest, civil discourse. <br />1. “If you don’t like the message, shoot the messenger.”<br />2. “When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.”<br />Rogerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08156823478509665137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-56628736024235880222019-04-11T13:47:53.209-07:002019-04-11T13:47:53.209-07:00"You are a Roman Catholic..."
Are you s..."You are a Roman Catholic..."<br /><br />Are you sure?<br /><br />"All of you who claim to be Christian Libertarians are insane."<br /><br />How about let's allow readers of my work and readers of your comment to decide which of the two of us exhibits less sanity?bionic mosquitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-54388146721301633782019-04-11T11:21:03.466-07:002019-04-11T11:21:03.466-07:00You are a Roman Catholic and have no idea what you...You are a Roman Catholic and have no idea what you are talking about regarding Dispensation. You will die in your sins shocked you are in Hell, because you believed some amount of your works granted you entrance into God's Heaven and God "owes" you. What's worse is your a libertarian and no Pope ever believed in the tenants of that philosophy that was started by Jesus Christ hating Jews (Von Mises/Rothbard both of whom are burning right now)and would chide you to your face for adhering to them. Your entire existence is an exercise of "picking & choosing" what parts of RCC you want to obey--thus making you your own denomination of RC; in essence your god.<br /><br />Libertarians want to "get out from under" the system of government and God, because of our sin natures, wants us under it so curb our appetites. All of you who claim to be Christian Libertarians are insane. Thomas Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17856536324144959692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-73079480816778857372019-04-09T10:24:37.088-07:002019-04-09T10:24:37.088-07:00No problem, Bionic. The written word is often an ...No problem, Bionic. The written word is often an imprecise method of communication ... :-)Woody Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07174366266746908252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-91405797654652839552019-04-08T12:40:54.236-07:002019-04-08T12:40:54.236-07:00" I'm not sure where this idea of "d..." I'm not sure where this idea of "dispensations are a bad thing" has come from except in the context of a blind support of a nation of people who, it turns out, are just as human as everyone else."<br /><br />The "blind [and absolute] support" is the heresy that I was getting at, and I am sorry that I wasn't more clear as I believe I introduced unnecessary tension in this conversation. bionic mosquitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-6650995672774773462019-04-08T11:02:18.430-07:002019-04-08T11:02:18.430-07:00There is a mention in Ephesians 1:10 of a future d...There is a mention in Ephesians 1:10 of a future dispensation - the dispensation of the fullness of times. I'm not sure where this idea of "dispensations are a bad thing" has come from except in the context of a blind support of a nation of people who, it turns out, are just as human as everyone else.<br /><br />Considering the fact that Bible verses have as many interpretations as there are people who read them, I would assert that words like "heresy" are inappropriate in the context of any non-authoritative interpretation - I include the scholarly as well as the superstitious interpretation in the word "non-authoritative".<br /><br />I have always maintained that scriptural authority comes from God, not from a college; that the scriptures were given by revelation and can only be properly understood by revelation and that the only way we can gain such revelation is by coming to know God - not as projections of ourselves, but as a real and individual being.<br /><br />I propose that the dispensations noted by some others on this thread and spoken of negatively by Bionic are not meant to be blind support of a nation regardless of its actions. I suggest that such dispensations would be dispensations of authority from God to certain individuals - after all, the history in the Bible shows that each "dispensation" follows a period of apparent apostasy, a falling away from God's teachings or loss of proper understanding. Certainly someone who could authoritatively say "this sayeth the Lord.." would be the only thing that could clear up such confusion.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure that what I've written will ruffle some feathers. I guess that's the price I pay for being a heretic ... :-)Woody Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07174366266746908252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-897452778519116162019-04-06T10:16:15.256-07:002019-04-06T10:16:15.256-07:00You're correct - in fact, North wrote the Fore...You're correct - in fact, North wrote the Foreword to Paradise Restored - 2007 hard cover edition - it is the highlighted go to bread and butter reference for me since at least 2008.Crush Limbrawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11511707894293049606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-66551749788297173162019-04-06T09:35:59.519-07:002019-04-06T09:35:59.519-07:00Chilton - I knew the name was familiar, but couldn...Chilton - I knew the name was familiar, but couldn't recall from where...until I looked up the books. Both are available free online. I found one here:<br /><br />https://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/1987_chilton_days-of-vengeance.html <br /><br />And the other here:<br /><br />https://www.garynorth.com/freebooks/docs/pdf/paradise_restored.pdf <br /><br />This is when I recalled: Gary North has written of Chilton; also as I recall, North holds the same view.bionic mosquitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-30090890334811930492019-04-06T09:11:37.511-07:002019-04-06T09:11:37.511-07:00Another excellent and scholarly book on the subjec...Another excellent and scholarly book on the subject of the trinity is "One God & One Lord Reconsidering the Cornerstone of the Christian Faith", by John A. Lynn, Mark H. Graeser, and John W. Shoenheit.RALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726820705740960022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-46882322399146262402019-04-06T08:47:19.314-07:002019-04-06T08:47:19.314-07:00I have no problem whatsoever with your view, bioni...I have no problem whatsoever with your view, bionic - in fact, my library has quite a few of your essays archived.<br />I also have come to fully realize that most folks have little interest in serious research into these matters, but the occasional gem of a researcher can accomplish much in the grand scheme of things - all by God's grace!<br />Keep writing!<br />Crush Limbrawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11511707894293049606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-63952402764906252522019-04-05T08:36:59.104-07:002019-04-05T08:36:59.104-07:00It's tough to avoid the theological when speak...It's tough to avoid the theological when speaking on this subject, because a certain theology is used to justify "how the belief is made manifest." <br /><br />Maybe a way to divorce this from a theological discussion is to point to all the non-religious folks who have participated in this Zionist plan, or to show that those who were purportedly 'religious' were actually more interested in social justice than any real devotion to Christ. A Texas Libertarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02980539931923054404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-76661212682615576742019-04-05T08:34:33.256-07:002019-04-05T08:34:33.256-07:00bionic mosquito, I appreciate the clarification. ...bionic mosquito, I appreciate the clarification. No need to apologize. The discussion here is always reasonable and disagreements are handled respectfully. The culture of clarification and even apology found on this page isn't found many other places on the internet. It is why I love engaging with you and the other commenters.RMBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-90404160456752528412019-04-05T08:30:00.385-07:002019-04-05T08:30:00.385-07:00ATL, you raise good points as always but I think i...ATL, you raise good points as always but I think it would be instructional if you kept reading in Romans 11.<br /><br />"25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,<br /><br />“The Deliverer will come from Zion,<br />He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”<br />27 “This is My covenant with them,<br />When I take away their sins.”<br /><br />28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all."<br /><br />Make no mistake, I do agree that Jewish people are believing in Jesus today and are a part of the church. I am not sure how it all comes together but it is also clear from the passage above that God will deal with Israel as an entire nation in the future. Whether this is the nation-state of Israel or not I don't know. But I do know from Zechariah 14 and Daniel 9 and Revelation that that reckoning will happen in Judah geographically.<br /><br />Zechariah 12:1-3 also describes how Jerusalem will be in the middle of global controversy. I have think that some of that controversy comes from their own bad behavior. But in the end Jesus comes to fight Jerusalem's enemies. So my stance is don't support Israel's wrongdoing because they will be judged for it but also don't be in the army coming to destroy Jerusalem because that army will be destroyed by Jesus himself. Best to stay as uninvolved as possible.RMBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-60295541054212372682019-04-05T08:18:34.942-07:002019-04-05T08:18:34.942-07:00epnngg, what verse are you referring to about Abra...epnngg, what verse are you referring to about Abraham's seed? Paul in Galatians 3:15-16 actually says Jesus Christ is the seed. The seed is singular not plural. I confirmed this during studying for another issue. In the Hebrew and Greek "seed" is singular. <br /><br />But your other point. All those who believe enter into the Abrahamic covenant with God regardless of race. Still there are promises to Abraham's physical descendants in Genesis that still stand. They are by birth not faith. This is where the land things come into play.<br /><br />I guess I would say that Israel is still God's chosen nation but not every individual is included and God chose other individuals not Jewish to be his people to. It is complicated, but we know the church isn't Israel based on Peter's declaration in the Jerusalem council in Acts 15. Paul also writes of this distinction in Galatians.RMBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-76711077878917749022019-04-05T07:40:49.148-07:002019-04-05T07:40:49.148-07:00I would never advocate for unquestioned or uncondi...I would never advocate for unquestioned or unconditional support of anything. Israel has some issues for sure.RMBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-57082183612693334752019-04-05T06:26:48.718-07:002019-04-05T06:26:48.718-07:00RMB, in reading again my reply to you, I find that...RMB, in reading again my reply to you, I find that I should have started by stating that I recognize perhaps my purpose was not clear in my original post. If this sent us off in a wrong direction, I apologize. bionic mosquitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-58245791019288103852019-04-05T05:00:37.773-07:002019-04-05T05:00:37.773-07:00Maybe. If I do, I will have to be much more caref...Maybe. If I do, I will have to be much more careful in making my point - which I have tried to clarify via my replies in the comments section.<br /><br />The issue is the unquestioned and unconditional support for the State of Israel. Nothing more. Sometimes I think more Jews get this right than American Christians.bionic mosquitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-73442720605513584292019-04-05T04:56:38.125-07:002019-04-05T04:56:38.125-07:00"It doesn't matter how anyone tries to tw..."It doesn't matter how anyone tries to twist it today to support their own goals. No one can stop God from accomplishing his will on his timetable."<br /><br />I agree.<br /><br />"The current plans of evil men notwithstanding."<br /><br />This (in the context of this post) is what I call the heresy.bionic mosquitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-51271869186524827102019-04-05T04:54:16.671-07:002019-04-05T04:54:16.671-07:00Crush, I also don't desire a food fight here, ...Crush, I also don't desire a food fight here, so I will summarize my view: we do what we can to bring peace to this world at this time, according to the example Jesus gave us. The rest I leave in God's hands.bionic mosquitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-90880272827418920092019-04-05T04:49:20.733-07:002019-04-05T04:49:20.733-07:00epnngg, you have captured my purpose in writing th...epnngg, you have captured my purpose in writing this. It is how the belief is made manifest in action that is my concern.bionic mosquitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-51505978557426568262019-04-05T04:44:51.322-07:002019-04-05T04:44:51.322-07:00ATL
"I might be bending one of Bionic's ...ATL<br /><br />"I might be bending one of Bionic's rules here..."<br /><br />Bending, but perhaps I brought it on by not being much more clear about my purpose. The theology and interpretation are irrelevant to me. So I don't repeat myself, see my comments to RMB immediately above.bionic mosquitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-52875521732857776502019-04-05T04:41:57.078-07:002019-04-05T04:41:57.078-07:00RMB
“It is really strange that you would describe...RMB<br /><br />“It is really strange that you would describe Revelation 16 as evil.”<br /><br />Please be careful regarding what you believe I have described as evil. It is the interpretation of many dispensationalists that I describe as evil. <br /><br />“That chapter is about God's direct judgment for sin on the earth.”<br /><br />If this is the case, then He does not need American Christian unconditional support for one of the most destructive regimes in the region in order to make manifest His plan for the world.<br /><br />“The can be some kookiness from dispensationalists.”<br /><br />I will be clear: I do not care about their (or your) theological or doctrinal interpretations. I do care about if and how such people who hold such interpretations act these out in the world. If their (or your) theological or doctrinal interpretations result in this, then this is what I describe as evil:<br /><br />https://www.cufi.org/impact/leadership/executive-board/pastor-john-hagee/ <br /><br />Millions are dying and suffering every day in large part driven by such support. If you do not like the word “evil” attached to this, please offer another.<br />bionic mosquitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-84840997412454049222019-04-04T12:27:49.342-07:002019-04-04T12:27:49.342-07:00Agreed!
However, the entirety of this subject wil...Agreed!<br /><br />However, the entirety of this subject will never be fully understood without correctly identifying both the Judahites and Israelites in the Bible (not always the same people), today's descendants of the same, today's non-Israelite/Judahite Jews, and the Bible's goyim and ethne (poorly translated "Gentiles," even the capitalization is incorrect).<br /><br />For more on all of this and more, see Google online book "The Mystery of the Gentiles: Who Are They and Where Are They Now?"Ted R. Weilandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513069258387315741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-29957157594695091652019-04-04T12:03:22.893-07:002019-04-04T12:03:22.893-07:00If you can refute, refute. Nobody cares about your...If you can refute, refute. Nobody cares about your suspicions.EMPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-5596573131424732622019-04-04T11:21:23.241-07:002019-04-04T11:21:23.241-07:00This is such a fascinating story in history. I thi...This is such a fascinating story in history. I think it touches a lot of the main poisonous roots that led to the unraveling of the Christian faith and good governance in America in the late 1800s. More, more, more on this topic if you can please!A Texas Libertarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02980539931923054404noreply@blogger.com