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Do you read opposing views?

evangelist6589

evangelist6589

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Was listening to the BAM and a caller called and said he bought and read The Apocalypse Code and told the host how great he was and how everything he writes is what the Bible says. I asked myself this question. Does he read opposing views? Do you read opposing views? If I could tell that caller one thing I would tell him to buy the book The Second Coming by John MacArthur for an alternative view to partial-Preterism.
 
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wpe3bql

Member
evangelist6589 said:
Tell us what books you have read that oppose your views in these areas.

Lordship Salvation
Eschatology
Evangelism
etc..
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Bumping this to see if there's anyone out there in BB Land willing to reply to the OP down to Post #3.

FWIW, IMHO I believe one ought to be at least somewhat aware of the opinion(s) of others who may not always agree with one's convictions/preferences, etc.

Being a military veteran, I know the value of being at least somewhat aware of what those of differing....yea, even opposing viewpoints may be. IOW, if one knows the MO of "the enemy," maybe we can do something more effectively to counter his/her MO.

It eventually worked for Saddam H. Who'd have thought this man who defied Israel (and "The Great Satan" who backed that tiny nation would finally be caught the way in which he was---probably singing "Itsy, Bitsy Spider to his 'Close Associates!'"

Years later, another man who, like Saddam H. before, also hated Israel and "The Great Satan" who was backing Israel, met a somewhat similar fate because he was also "put in the past tense."

Bottom line is this: If one wishes to confront "the other side(s)," why not learn how he/she/it operates?

Selah.
 
W

wpe3bql

Member

Friend, can you be just a bit more specific than your eight-word reply?

IOW:

1) Which specific posts have you personally found to be in opposition to what specific conviction(s)/preference(s)/etc., that you maintain an opposing view(s), and, specifically, why do you suppose these view(s) run counter to yours?

2) Upon what specific Bible verse(s) do you maintain a specific conviction/preference/etc., that run counter to the post(s) mentioned in #1 above?

While most certainly there are other factors that could play a role in determining why he/she maintains a viewpoint that seems to be in opposition to yours, if in all sincerity you've done your very best to comply with both the first and second questions asked above, that, per se, should be sufficient enough to establish Biblical parameters as to why he/she maintains a worldview that apparently is different than yours.

So, my friend, if you could be so kind as to comply with the above criteria, that would probably be more educational to us third party viewers of your posts than a mere "I'm agin' him/her!," don't you think?

73's & DX,
WPE3BQL (Formerly KTN4EG)
 
R

Rolfe

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Wpe3bql- You seem eager for a debate, so I am responding so that you do not think that I am ignoring your comment.

I intended to only answer the question of the OP, as quoted, in my post. I think that is as much as I wish to write.

I generally limit my participation in the Theology Section to reading only. Debates about certain points of belief tend to create animosity (Cal/Arm, as example). I do not wish get involved in that.

Cheers.
 
Baptist Believer

Baptist Believer

Well-Known Member
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evangelist6589 said:
Tell us what books you have read that oppose your views in these areas.
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You place a great deal of importance on books. Now, I love books... but there are more than enough opinions out there in a typical Baptist church and out in your local community to keep anyone busy for a lifetime. We do not determine whether theology is true simply from the life of the mind, or from our favorite armchair with a book on our lap, but from living the theology and seeing the truth transform and empower lives.

Lordship Salvation
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The height of the Lordship salvation debate occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I read everything I could get my hands on regarding the subject. I agreed most with John MacArthur, but I think he missed it too. The focus was on getting to heaven, which does not seem to be the focus of Jesus or the New Testament writers. They are calling people into the Kingdom of God, which is much greater and broader than heaven, and entails a slightly different, but significant, approach.

Eschatology
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I disagree with just about everything I read on the subject, except what is in the Bible. It should be noted that I don't read that much eschatology because I'm not worried about it and it is not a pressing issue for me. When it happens, I will be fine.

Evangelism
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I disagree with the focus of most evangelism books (seem like sales presentations and marketing tactics), so I tend not to read them. Also, there is usually an unhealthy emphasis on "making the deal" so you can presumptively claim YOU have won someone to Christ. There are usually many steps along the journey of faith and we need to be sure that we are assisting that process, not short-circuiting it. Be available for God to use you and then be obedient at the right time. Evangelism is a work of the Holy Spirit in which we get to participate. Invest yourself in the lives of others and you will have plenty of opportunities to provide and effective and powerful witness. (And to those who are worried about numbers, I estimate that I have been a participant at the moment when a person has passed from death into life close to 50 times. I am a witness nearly every day when I go to work or do my business in the community.)

As Rolf quite honestly stated, I follow a number of conversations around here until they turn into personality conflicts (the work of the evil one among us), although I usually don't participate.
 
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Rippon

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jerome said:
After some googling, my guess is that the OP's obscure acronym is referring to the Bible Answer Man, a talk radio show.
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Thank you Jerome. I was wondering about that. I suppose he thinks all of us would instantly catch on.
Sorry Hank. I haven't listened to you for a dozen years or more.
 
blessedwife318

blessedwife318

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Yes I do read the opposite view. I like knowing what other people think and it can sharpen my own views as I dive into Scripture to compare what Scripture says with their view. And if Scripture supports their view and not mine as I dive in I'm not afraid to switch views in the light of Scripture.
 
robustheologian

robustheologian

Well-Known Member
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I think a healthy understanding of opposing views strengthens one's own convictions. The series of books I have really found helpful are the "Counterpoints" series of books like "Four Views On The Book Of Revelation" or "Four Views On Divine Providence".
 
evangelist6589

evangelist6589

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
robustheologian said:
I think a healthy understanding of opposing views strengthens one's own convictions. The series of books I have really found helpful are the "Counterpoints" series of books like "Four Views On The Book Of Revelation" or "Four Views On Divine Providence".
Click to expand...

Excellent post
 
evangelist6589

evangelist6589

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Baptist Believer said:
You place a great deal of importance on books. Now, I love books... but there are more than enough opinions out there in a typical Baptist church and out in your local community to keep anyone busy for a lifetime. We do not determine whether theology is true simply from the life of the mind, or from our favorite armchair with a book on our lap, but from living the theology and seeing the truth transform and empower lives.


The height of the Lordship salvation debate occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I read everything I could get my hands on regarding the subject. I agreed most with John MacArthur, but I think he missed it too. The focus was on getting to heaven, which does not seem to be the focus of Jesus or the New Testament writers. They are calling people into the Kingdom of God, which is much greater and broader than heaven, and entails a slightly different, but significant, approach.


I disagree with just about everything I read on the subject, except what is in the Bible. It should be noted that I don't read that much eschatology because I'm not worried about it and it is not a pressing issue for me. When it happens, I will be fine.


I disagree with the focus of most evangelism books (seem like sales presentations and marketing tactics), so I tend not to read them. Also, there is usually an unhealthy emphasis on "making the deal" so you can presumptively claim YOU have won someone to Christ. There are usually many steps along the journey of faith and we need to be sure that we are assisting that process, not short-circuiting it. Be available for God to use you and then be obedient at the right time. Evangelism is a work of the Holy Spirit in which we get to participate. Invest yourself in the lives of others and you will have plenty of opportunities to provide and effective and powerful witness. (And to those who are worried about numbers, I estimate that I have been a participant at the moment when a person has passed from death into life close to 50 times. I am a witness nearly every day when I go to work or do my business in the community.)

As Rolf quite honestly stated, I follow a number of conversations around here until they turn into personality conflicts (the work of the evil one among us), although I usually don't participate.
Click to expand...

Well yes I place a importance on books because that is how scholarly and educated people communicate and or get educated especially in the area of theology where God has blessed us with many books.
 
M

Martin Marprelate

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Life is short, and 'of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh' (Eccl. 12:12). We need to know what we believe and why we believe it, but to study every opposing view exhaustively is more than I am capable of.

If you are a shop-keeper, you need to keep an eye out for counterfeit banknotes. But you do not need to study every variety of counterfeit. What you need to know is what the real thing looks like, and then, when the fakes show up, you'll know them.

Having said that, if one is going to critique someone else's viewpoint, one should do him the courtesy of having some idea of what he believes.
 
evangelist6589

evangelist6589

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Martin Marprelate said:
Life is short, and 'of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh' (Eccl. 12:12). We need to know what we believe and why we believe it, but to study every opposing view exhaustively is more than I am capable of.

If you are a shop-keeper, you need to keep an eye out for counterfeit banknotes. But you do not need to study every variety of counterfeit. What you need to know is what the real thing looks like, and then, when the fakes show up, you'll know them.

Having said that, if one is going to critique someone else's viewpoint, one should do him the courtesy of having some idea of what he believes.
Click to expand...


Definitely true about the vast number of theology books in print today.
 
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