Winston wrote:Adama,
Did you consider that those teachings about fire and brimstone are just fear mongering and brainwashing used to control the masses? A thinker and truth seeker should consider that possibility.
When I was an unbeliever I gave no thought to it, but after becoming a believer and having read some of the Bible, it is quite clear. It's just some people have their eyes closed and their heart is hardened.
Magma is beneath our feet, below the earth's crust. Magma is liquid fire and sulfur. There is no question that hell is real.
Winston wrote:Adama,
Did you ever consider that the Bible is metaphorical and not literal? Like the parables of Jesus?
No, that has never crossed my mind in any way. A parable is a story that tells a truth by illustration. You know when something is a parable. So you're basically saying that all of the Bible is just a great big metaphor and parable, not to be taken literally.
I tell you one thing, Winston, if we are not supposed to take God's Word seriously, then what is it in life which we should take seriously? A man is supposed to live by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.
Winston wrote:Adama,
Esoteric schools teach that Jesus taught two gospels. A simple one for the masses using parables. And a higher level of teachings to his inner circle of disciples, which was closer to gnosticism. So he had an inner and outer teaching and doctrine. The outer teaching was the exoteric and the inner teaching was the esoteric.
For some reason you are taking your Bible "history" from Satanic sources, which is outright perplexing. Gnosticism, as I posted a few posts above, is SATANIC. It is an inversion of the gospel of Christ.
Also, Christ has explicitly stated that He has taught nothing in secret. That's what esoteric means right? Occult and hidden? It is only not yet revealed to the unbelievers. But things are open for believers. Why? Because believers have the Holy Ghost, who is the interpreter of truth. Unbelievers can't understand because they do not have the Holy Ghost with them.
Winston wrote:Adama,
When St. Paul popularized Christianity, he preached the exoteric version, the one for the masses. And then the roman government nationalized it as the new state religion 300 years later. Thats what we have today.
Apostle Paul. All believers are saints unless you are Catholic or similar to them. For Catholics only certain special people are saints, but in real Christianity all believers are saints, meaning they are sanctified by God.
I have been saying this for years, Winston. The Roman Empire and the Catholic church are NOT CHRISTIAN. It is filled with pomp, pageantry, idolatry by having statues, praying to Mary instead of God, praising Mary as the Mother of God as if she is above Christ, praising Mary as the mediator between God and men. I could go on, but you know, it is false Christianity and a false gospel and really it is just the worship of the Pope, the Queen of heaven (Mary), and the idolatry of statues and the worship of the dead. Even the Pope himself doesn't believe in God and says having a relationship with Christ in dangerous. Well when a person gets saved, Christ becomes their adopted brother, and God becomes their Father. That tells you all you need to know about this Catholic "Christianity."
I don't even understand the point you're trying to make. Paul did what? He preached to the Romans and got many saved.
Winston wrote:Adama,
There are Bible verses that indicates this, that Jesus had a different teaching for his inner circle of initiates.
Matthew 13:10-13
"10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 [d]Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."
Because those were unbelievers. They can't understand. A person must believe and then he will understand, not before.
Winston wrote:Adama,
So you see, Jesus is telling his disciples that he had to use parables to teach the masses since they cannot understand his higher esoteric teachings, which he called "mysteries". Obviously he must be talking about more than a simple gospel message about "believe and be saved" since a simple message is not a mystery.
Christ has specifically said that He doesn't teach anything in secret. So that is out right there. And it is in the Bible for goodness sake. How hidden is it if YOU can read it? It's not like it's locked away and you have to join a cult to get it. Just open it and read it. It's not hidden from YOU. It's that you need to be saved to understand it. But it is available to anyone who believes.
Winston wrote:Adama,
And this outer teaching, the exoteric one, is the one that adama has adopted but taken too literally to the extreme, hence become a fundamentalist.
A fundamentalist? There is no other way to be. What? Are you saying that we should forsake the law of God? Should we also forget how to pronounce consonants and vowels? because if you are trying to strip away the basics and the foundation, then what is the rest going to be laid upon?
haha, I'm an extremist. You act like I've done something horrible.
A good man is above pettiness. He is better than that.