Re: Jesus' parables...why?

Michael Gaskell wrote:

I expected more from you, to claim that God doesn't exist is foolish,
as foolish as seeing a painting and denying the existence of a painter.

The reason why it's foolish to see a painting and deny that
there's a painter is that we've seen lots of paintings,

(Note to later readers: there was a lot more in that paragraph,
and Michael has deleted it without comment.)

So why does your logic not hold when you see a tree? Why do you think they
must of evolved from nothing? If you can understand that a painting required
some intelligence to create it, why can't you see that a tree requires more?

Because the things described in the rest of that paragraph,
which you deleted without comment, don't apply in the case
of a tree.

Perhaps this passage explains why.
Romans 1:19-22 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious
to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth
and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible
qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for
not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or
even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God
was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be
wise, they instead became utter fools.

Perhaps it does. Or perhaps not.

To say that you don't believe God exists because you haven't seen Him, is as
silly as not believing in electricity because you haven't seen it.

Yes, it would be. Would you like to show me where I ever said
anything so stupid?

Did you ever repent of your sin and become 'Born again'?

I did indeed repent of my sin, and for that matter I still do.
(My opinions about what's sin and what isn't have changed,
but only slightly.) I believed myself to be born again, but
as with your previous question I now think I must have been
wrong :-).

You you should be thankful that you can see you were in error, as now you
are able to be saved,
Gareth television waves are invisible, however with an antenna and a
receiver you detect their presence. You have a "receiver." it's your spirit,
however it's dead because of sin (Ephesians 2:1). You need to be plugged
into the life of God; then you will come alive and be aware of the invisible
spiritual realm. This is done through true repentance not worldly sorrow, if
you humble yourself, admit your guilt, ask God to forgive you and make you a
New Creation, He will Gareth.

I have frequently humbled myself and admitted my guilt
and asked God to forgive me and make me a new creation.
Whether he did or not, who can say?

Of course, maybe I didn't do it *properly*; perhaps I
lacked the spiritual knowledge or understanding or skill
necessary to make the right sort of confession and
self-humbling, despite my attempts.

[SNIP: how Michael was converted; there's only one bit I want
to comment on:]

I said, "But I'm 'good', you could do a lot worse than me, I don't need
to repent".

Then indeed you hadn't got the hang of Christianity, and God
(if it was indeed God) was doing you a favour by pointing it
out.

--
Gareth McCaughan
..sig under construc
.

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