Snoopy Approaches Acts

[Waterfall]

Of course. And it goes the other way, too. How we believe shapes our interpretation but our interpretation may then impact how we believe.

Serpents are a double-edged sword in a lot of traditions I think. In classical Greek culture you have them associated with Asclepius, the god of healing, but you also have Apollo fighting and slaying the monster Python (from which we get the species name) to establish his sanctuary at Delphi. The priestess at Delphi who spoke for the famous Oracle was even called Pythia after the monster.

Historically, it appears that Delphi started as an Earth-centred sanctuary (hence the snake) before being taken over by Apollo's (sky god) cult and the myth reflects that.

(Yes, this is my vacation coming into play. We spent a morning visiting the sanctuary at Delphi.)

Even in Genesis 3, the narrative does not suggest that the talking snake is Satan..it appears the two concepts are merged along with the later Hellenistic period...

 

[unsafe]

So again you need to look at the context of the scripture ----

Matthew 10:16
​

A Hard Road before Them​

16 “Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda].

So here he is sending out His Disciples into the world of unbelievers ------a pack of wolves -----

So for me this is saying spiritually -----that Jesus is telling His Disciples to be like the serpent who displays cunning and shrewdness behaviour ----

So Jesus is using the serpent symbolically here to caution them to be weary of the danger and conflicts that are going to arise as they proclaim God's word ----and not to loose the Dove Like character ---which is peace ---purity and gentleness that will allow them to Proclaim God's word without fear -----so they have to find that balance that can keep them safe but yet keep their Christ like Character in tact --

Genesis 3, the narrative does not suggest that the talking snake is Satan..it appears the two concepts are merged along with the later Hellenistic period

You are right here ---it does not mention Satan's name with the serpent here but what is does do --it describes Satan's characteristic which is crafty and shrewd ----

From Bible Hub -----

Lexicon

arum: Shrewd, crafty,, cunning​

adjective crafty, shrewd —
crafty, ׳ע as predicate, of serpent Genesis 3:1

Genesis 3:1 --
Amplified Bible
Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the LORD God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, “Can it really be that God has said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”

then Revelation 12:9 ---says this which does really clarify Genesis 3:1

AMPC
And the huge dragon was cast down and out—that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him.

 

[paradox3]

Acts 28: 11-30 Bible Gateway passage: Acts 28:11-30 - New English Translation

Paul finally reaches Rome. There he is allowed to live alone with one soldier guarding him.

He addresses the Jewish community in Rome. From morning to evening he explains things to them. He testifies about the kingdom of God and tries to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets.

Some are convinced. Others refuse to believe.

Paul quotes from the prophet Isaiah, arguing that this salvation of God has also been sent to the Gentiles.

Paul lives there for two whole years in rented quarters. He teaches all who come to him. He teaches about the Lord Jesus Christ boldly and without restriction.

 

[unsafe]

Some are convinced. Others refuse to believe.

And that is the way it is today ----some are able to accept the Gospel and believe it when they accept the Draw from the Father -----and others refuse to accept the Draw and therefore are unable to believe it --

 

[WhyCzar]

16 He who has believed [in Me] and has been baptized will be saved [from the penalty of God’s wrath and judgment]; but he who has not believed will be condemned.

I suspect that Christians have no monopoly on divinity.

Christianity did not invent metaphysics. It inherited them.

 

[unsafe]

I suspect that Christians have no monopoly on divinity.

Christianity did not invent metaphysics. It inherited them.

All Religions are Man made and Man Driven -----so no Religion has a monopoly on the divine ---the right Faith gives you access to the Divine ---not man ----


Christianity is a man made Religion and has nothing to do with this verse 16-----anyone can say they belong to Human's religion of Christianity ---that means nothing today ----it is misused and abused today ----

The only way to verse 16 is through God's Faith -----but first you have to accept God' the Fathers Drawing to have a heart change ----then you can get the right faith to believe in Jesus and be saved ---without the right Faith to believe in Jesus you can't be Baptised with the Holy Spirit so you definitely will be condemned ----and that is according to scripture ----

No one has to believe that ---but you can't change what the scripture says ---

16 He who has believed [in Me] and has been baptized will be saved [from the penalty of God’s wrath and judgment]; but he who has not believed will be condemned.

 

[Mendalla]

All Religions are Man made and Man Driven -----so no Religion has a monopoly on the divine ---the right Faith gives you access to the Divine ---not man ----

First off, I am very much on the same page as you up to this point. Faith is, in the end, a personal, individual matter between a person and their god(s).

However, I do think that organized religion is (a) inevitable and (b) has value. It is inevitable because people who share a "right Faith" are inevitably going to want to come together to share that and to organize their efforts to teach that faith. It has value because it provides a place for people to encourage and support each other in the pursuit and development of their faith. We see that even here in Acts, where the fledgling churches that Paul starts or visits work as communities of faith. Look how often Paul is hosted by a local believer or is helped out of a scrape by the local community. IOW, manmade organized religion does have a role to play, but that role is NOT being the "path to God". Personal faith is the path to God, as you suggest. When the manmade organized religion assumes that latter role, then things are going off the rails (e.g. the medieval Roman Catholic church justifying its oppressive approach to enforcing doctrine by insisting it was the only way to God/Heaven).

 

[unsafe]

First off, I am very much on the same page as you up to this point. Faith is, in the end, a personal, individual matter between a person and their god(s).

I agree with this ---

It is inevitable because people who share a "right Faith" are inevitably going to want to come together to share that and to organize their efforts to teach that faith

I agree with that --------The Synagogue where the Jews went to gather was just a building to come together to hear the word preached ----- the Organized Man Made Religion Of Judaism had nothing to do with the Jews hearing and Preaching the Word -- they just got together in a space to share the Word ---and get together ----and inspire one another -----

It has value because it provides a place for people to encourage and support each other in the pursuit and development of their faith

The Space where believers gather has a function --to encourage and promote God's Faith --but the Organized man made Religion has nothing to offer to promote that Faith ---God's word reading His Bible promotes the right faith ---not the Religion -----

We see that even here in Acts, where the fledgling churches that Paul starts or visits work as communities of faith.

The fledgling churches that Paul started -----works as a community of God's Faith by obeying God's word ===not relying on any organized man made Religion to do what Pleases God ----

Look how often Paul is hosted by a local believer or is helped out of a scrape by the local community.

Yes ---and that happened through them Praying directly to God for His intervention -----not going through any Man Made Religion to get that help ----

IOW, manmade organized religion does have a role to play, but that role is NOT being the "path to God".

I disagree with this first part ----and agree with your last part here ===

So my view on this

Each Organised Man Made Religions have their own rules --and regulations and Traditions that are put in place mostly to hinder the people from really knowing God and teaching what real Faith is --because they don't know themselves what God's Faith is -------and they harbour evil in their organization and cover it up ---they are Morally corrupt -----they teach wrong Doctrine and don't care that they are sending their flock to their Doom ----

Religious Organizations are concerned about keeping themselves above water more than they are about caring what God wants done ---

And the big thing in my view is --------the Man made Religions are run by by unbelievers and they allow unbelievers to run their unbelieving organization including their Ministers who preach in their Organized Religion Pulpits and allow their deacons and everyone else who works there to be under the god of this world ----Not the True God

Personal faith is the path to God, as you suggest. When the manmade organized religion assumes that latter role, then things are going off the rails (e.g. the medieval Roman Catholic church justifying its oppressive approach to enforcing doctrine by insisting it was the only way to God/Heaven).

No there is no personal faith to a Path to God -------there is ONE FAITH which is God's Faith ---which come from Hearing His word ---

You can have a personal organized Religious Faith ---which says I am of the Catholic Faith ---that you can have -

The last part of your statement here ----

the manmade organized religion assumes that latter role, then things are going off the rails (e.g. the medieval Roman Catholic church justifying its oppressive approach to enforcing doctrine by insisting it was the only way to God/Heaven).

Well most Religious Organizations have no clue about what God's Faith is -----and that is their problem and that is why all goes off the Rails ---and it is not just in the Catholic Church --it is in all Organized Religions -----you have division --Conflict that is allowed to go on ---you have restrictions on what can and can't be said ----you have fear running through the Man made Religion Organization that their congregation will get offended and leave so they Preach to serve the people not God so their tithes and offerings won't dwindle -----you have unbelievers running the show who are away from God --in EVERY Organized Man Made Religion----

then there is Paul -----
Paul pulled no punches with division and conflict in his Church -----he got rid of them -----and Paul Preached and lived as God wanted him to -----and Paul was in No Organized Religion --he FOLLOWED THE WAY ---as did the Disciples --

Organized Religions are a Farce --no one has to belong to any Demonation to know and Follow God and get His Faith inbirthed in them nor do they need an Organized Religion building to congrate in ----all they need is a Hall or home to have fellowship together ---to bring others to the right Faith and serve their community as God wants not as Man wants -

And I am adding this ----According to scripture -NOT ME -------there is only one way to God ---and that Folks is through receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour ---and you don't need any Organized Religion to do that