Bible Contradiction? Can God stop iron chariots?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Can God stop iron chariots?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

Sure, he can do anything.

“Sisera summoned all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. 14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Arise! For this is the day on which the Lord has handed Sisera over to you; behold, the Lord has gone out before you.” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 15 And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot. 16 But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not even one was left.” (Judges 4:13-16)

No, iron chariots are too hard for him.

“Now the Lord was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had iron chariots.” (Judges 1:19)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Church: When the teaching is sound but the fellowship can be better

Over the years online there have been brothers in sisters online who want to find solid sound Bible teaching churches but there’s not much option nearby where they live.  On various social media platforms I have found many of these precious saints and I feel for them and pray for them.  Some of these individuals were previously in churches that can have great programs, and a church that is sociable.  But the importance of the church being sound in doctrine matters.  So these believer leave in search of a church that is Bible preaching and has sound biblical doctrines.

Now I know fellowship and sound teaching shouldn’t be mutually exclusive; and a healthy church would have both; and the relationship of the two would be sound Bible teaching drives the fellowship; that is, sound teaching is the basis of the fellowship.  How?  In the sense of the basis for unity and what is talked about, and sound doctrine is use for encouragement to one another.  But sometimes in our sin effected world, there’s a break and a gap between doctrines and fellowship.

In fact sometimes churches that are weak in doctrines or are not conscious of what the Bible teaches as applied to social interaction can technically be very sociable but the social interaction might not be fellowship or is a weak fellowship, at least in the biblical sense as I described it in the previous paragraph.  I think of when I was in high school showing up at a big church’s youth group and Tuesday night is their “fellowship” night and there was board games, video games and basketball but after a while I asked the youth pastor when does the Bible study start and he said not tonight and with the big youth pastor grin he said “Tonight’s fellowship night!”  There’s places to hang out but if every Tuesday night is that kind of fellowship night actually fellowship?

So there are times God might put two options before an individual and their family: There is a church with sound doctrines but it can improve on the fellowship, or a church with weak doctrines but there’s a lot of socializing/social activity.  Which ones do you pick?

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Presuppositional Apologetics for the Everyday Believer: Revealed Apologetics Interview with Mark Farnham

Recently Revealed Apologetics interview Mark J. Farnham on his book.

According to Revealed apologetics description of the show:

In this episode, Eli talks with Mark Farnham, author of “Every Believer Confident”, about how to apply presuppositional apologetics at a beginners level.

Who is Mark Farnham?  He is active teaching Apologetics in local churches and is the Professor of Apologetics at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA.  Dr. Farnham has a Master of Theology degree in New Testament from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity degree from Calvary Baptist Seminary and a PhD in Apologetics from Westminster Theological Seminary.

I have reviewed that book here.

The video is below:

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This Sunday at Church: Praise God for New Members in your Church

This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Praise God for New Members in your Church.

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Fact Sheet on Bible and Slavery

 

I do think looking at the Biblical data what is called slavery in the Bible most of the time refer to indentured servitude.

Below are five points to consider since sometimes people read into their idea of slavery into the Bible, or they think the Bible’s view of slavery is like some other slavery institutions in history.

Here’s my thoughts and observation:

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A Ministry Lesson from “Entire Maine town forced to shut after its only clerk quits over denied vacation”

 

I think there’s a lesson from a newstory I saw “Entire Maine town forced to shut after its only clerk quits over denied vacation.”

Here’s the story:

 

I think there’s a lesson from a newstory I saw “Entire Maine town forced to shut after its only clerk quits over denied vacation.”

Here’s the story:

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Throwback Thursday to what was said my Best Post

 

Been fatigued with ministry, so this is a late-in-the-day post.  This week also happen to be the 20 year anniversary of when I graduated Marine Corps boot camp, earning the title of Marine.  It was a time of introspection and some of the guys I served with on social media have been commenting about how we are getting older, that our body is not the same, that there’s wear and tear from service and just growing older.  One of the guys that commented have also been through a lot of injuries while serving.  I was thinking about how some of the guys I served with have changed (coming to Christ, being a better person, etc) while some still remain the crazy wild individuals that haven’t changed much.  Sometimes in my memory I picture myself in uniform the way my face looks like now and when I saw my Marine graduation pictures I realized all the guys look so young, like kids.  And I realize it was a long time ago and I’ve also changed.

 

Been fatigued with ministry, so this is a late-in-the-day post.  This week also happen to be the 20 year anniversary of when I graduated Marine Corps boot camp, earning the title of Marine.  It was a time of introspection and some of the guys I served with on social media have been commenting about how we are getting older, that our body is not the same, that there’s wear and tear from service and just growing older.  One of the guys that commented have also been through a lot of injuries while serving.  I was thinking about how some of the guys I served with have changed (coming to Christ, being a better person, etc) while some still remain the crazy wild individuals that haven’t changed much.  Sometimes in my memory I picture myself in uniform the way my face looks like now and when I saw my Marine graduation pictures I realized all the guys look so young, like kids.  And I realize it was a long time ago and I’ve also changed.

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Response to Crosspolitic Claim that Baptists caused the Transgender Movement

Crosspolitic, a Christian political talk show recently has someone on their show name Jason Farley who made the claim that it’s the American Baptist culture that has caused the Transgender movement.

My response to Crosspolitic isn’t meant to be an attack on Presbyterians nor Paedobaptists (those who baptize infants of Christian family) and in a sense it isn’t even about transgenderism or the trans-community per se.  While I am a Credobaptist, conservative Presbyterians have shaped so much of my theology, apologetics and philosophy . But I do want to respond to Crosspolitic video below where Jason Farley claims it’s the American Baptist culture that has caused the Transgender movement. Discussion on transgenderism itself can go so many places and here I want to focus very narrowly and only on the claim that Baptist theology is the cause of transgenderism. I have posted this because several individuals have talked to me about this in private. My take on Cross Politic is that the video was juvenile (how is this something to giggle about) and ignorant of the history of transgenderism and church history.

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Bible Contradiction? How should adulterers be punished?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: How should adulterers be punished?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

They should be executed.

“‘If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.” ( Leviticus 20:10)

They should not be punished.

“Now the scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in the act of adultery, and after placing her in the center of the courtyard, 4 they *said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 Now they were saying this to test Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 When they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.” (John 8:3-8)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Presuppositional Apologetics Round Up: Third week of August 2022

Here are Presuppositional apologetics’ links gathered between August 15-21st, 2022.

1.) Epistemic Groundwork

2.) Bible Contradiction? Was Abiathar the father or the son of Ahimelech?

3.) What Is “Presuppositional” Apologetics? | Apologist Answers

4.) Apologetics Session 14: The Old Testament is Philosophy of evidence interpreting Jesus as the Messiah

5.) Van Til’s Compatiblistic Determinism from “The Defense of the Faith” and how it benefits Apologetics

6.) Is Evolution Viable? Revealed Apologetics Interview with Jason Lisle

7.)  Evolutionists Ruining Human Evolution

Missed the last round up?  Check out the re-blogged post from a friend and another reblog here

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This Sunday at Church: Pray for the salvation of any unbeliever hearing the Sermon today

This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Pray for the salvation of any unbeliever hearing the Sermon today.

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Is Evolution Viable? Revealed Apologetics Interview with Jason Lisle

Recently Revealed Apologetics interview Dr. Jason Lisle on evolution.

Who is Jason Lisle?  Jason Lisle is a Creationist, astrophysicist and Christian apologist.  He wrote probably a very good introduction to Presuppositional Apologetics titled The Ultimate Proof of Creation.  We have reviewed that book here.  Also I have written a discussion guide for the book here.

The video is below:

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Help, I’m a Pastor and my Parents are now going to my church

Recently someone in a pastor’s forum shared his parents will be going to his church and if there’s any other pastors with any advice.

Here’s my pastoral reply:

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Bible Contradiction? Was Abiathar the father or the son of Ahimelech?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Was Abiathar the father or the son of Ahimelech?

Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes shows a Bible contradiction:

Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech.

“But one son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to David.” (1 Samuel 22:20)

“Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.” (1 Samuel 23:6)

Abiathar was the father of Ahimelech.

“Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was scribe.” (2 Samuel 8:17)

“and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was secretary;” (1 Chronicles 18:16)

“Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, from the Levites, recorded them in the presence of the king, the leaders, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and the Levites; one father’s household taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.” (1 Chronicles 24:6)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:

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Apologetics Session 14: The Old Testament is Philosophy of evidence interpreting Jesus as the Messiah

Purpose: We will consider three truths about the Old Testament as the lens to interpret Jesus as the Messiah.

1. Evidences is always interpreted by philosophy of evidence
2. There is progressive revelation
3. How does the old testament interpret the ministry of Jesus

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