Seeking Assistance

Pastork · 11-27-2003, 01:24 AM

Hello all,

I have recently begun a forum of my own (called Immanuel Forum, a ministry of Immanuel Baptist Church) and have begun to get some posts in our Apologetics Forum. I am into presuppositional apologetics myself, but I am aslo quite rusty and beginning to think I could be in over my head!

If any of you have been blessed by God in this area and could spare some time to come on over and help take some of the burden by answering a few questions, I would be very grateful. Or even if you could read some of the posts and give me some pointers right here in the good old CGR forum, I would really appreciate it.

If you think you can help, here is the link:

http://immanuelforum.org/phpbb/index.php

**Athanasius** · 11-27-2003, 03:22 AM

These guys are clowns. "I've converted 30 Christians...beware."

It was a humorous way to start my day. Thanks!

Pastork · 11-27-2003, 03:29 AM

I am glad I could bring some cheer into your day! By the way, Athanasius is my favorite church Father!

**Athanasius** · 11-27-2003, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastork

I am glad I could bring some cheer into your day! By the way, Athanasius is my favorite church Father!

Athanasius is one of my own favorites...I certainly do like the creed that was named after him.

I dunno what to do in your situation...these guys seem to be either the same person, or 2 15 year olds who live next door to each other. They both "repetitively post" and are downright silly. If there was any way just to ignore them, I'd say do that...they just want to eat up your time, and are professional trolls.

That's all I have to say about that.

Pastork · 11-27-2003, 04:00 AM

I suspect you are correct, but I will try to be patient and discuss things as lovingly as I can...at least for a time. I don't want to forget the wise admonition:

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him" (Prov.26:4)

But then this must be balanced with:

"Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes." (Prov.26:5).

pompernikkle · 11-30-2003, 02:40 PM

I don't understand those two verses...it just seems like one contradicts the other....don't answer the fool, answer the fool....??? what??? anyone care to explain?
thanks...

jennifer

Pastork · 11-30-2003, 04:35 PM

There is no contradiction at all when one remembers the nature of proverbs, which are by definition statements of general rules of conduct that depend upon the nature of the desired result being sought. This is no different than our use of modern proverbs. For example, we have one proverb that says, "Many hands make light work." But we have another proverb which says that, "Too many cooks spoil the broth." Yet, these are not contradictory, but rather are intended to apply to different kinds of situations. Thus it is with the two proverbs in Proverbs 26:4-5:

Pro 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
Pro 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

The author expects us to have our wits about us and to know that such proverbs are not intended as absolute criteria to be followed in every situation in which we may encounter a fool, but that in some circumstances it is wise to respond to a fool and in others it is not. It depends upon whether or not, in a given situation, there may be hope of a good result.

JerryLove · 11-30-2003, 05:17 PM

Which just makes them nigh-on useless. If you already know when to apply them, they don't help you; and if you cannot tell when to apply them, then they don't help you.

Act in haste, repent in leasure
He who hesitates is lost.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

etc. etc.

Pastork · 12-01-2003, 02:09 AM

I disagree that it makes them nearly useless, for they teach us that there are times when we may hope to help prevent a fool from falling further into folly, but to be careful that we do not get caught up in his foolishness in our desire to answer him. Just because they don't spell out specific details does not mean that they are useless. Remember that they are not given in isolation, but as a part of a body of wisdom literature that must all be taken together. The point is that we learn to take to heart all of the proverbs of various kinds and in the process become better and better at understanding and applying them.