Excerpt from Lake of Fire series Part 15-C (http://bible-truths.com/lake15-C.html):
GOD CAUSES EVIL IN THE CITY
Let’s take a close look at that last Scripture in our list:
“…shall there be evil [Heb: ra—‘bad, evil’] in a city, and the Lord has not done it? (Amos 3:6)
There’s the question; what’s the answer? The answer from all Christendom is “Yes.” “Yes” there shall be all kinds of evil in a city, and the Lord has not done it. In fact, according to their teaching, the Lord does no evil in any city, ever. World famous teacher/preacher/theologian/author, Billy Graham said before a packed house in the National Cathedral, that GOD DOES NOT CREATE EVIL. But what saith the Scriptures (Amos 3:4-6):
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
Answer: NO!
“Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has not prey?"
Answer: NO!
“Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?"
Answer: NO!
“Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin [baited trap] is for him?"
Answer: NO!
“Shall one take up a snare [shall a snare spring up] from the earth, and have taken [caught] nothing at all?"
Answer: NO!
“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?"
Answer: NO!
“Shall there be EVIL in a city and the LORD HAS NOT DONE IT?"
Answer: NO!
The Answer is “NO”!
I am now speaking to the mature only. This information is too heavy, too hard, too overwhelming for the carnal-minded person. Have you ever wondered just where it is that the proverbial “rubber meets the road?” Well, right here is where the rubber meets the road. If you don’t accept; if you cannot accept, if you will not accept the truth of all these double-witness Scriptures presented above, then you will never understand God’s plan of salvation for the human race.
Seven times in Amos 3 God asks us a question, and SEVEN TIMES THE ANSWER IS “NO”! NO, there shall not be EVIL in a city [any city—all cities] unless THE LORD HAS DONE IT! The truth of this Scripture (along with hundreds and hundreds like it) is so powerful, so absolutely earth-shattering, that the mere fact of me quoting it and suggesting that it is a true statement, will evoke hate mail from far and wide.
The world of Christendom will not tolerate, anyone quoting these Scriptures and then teaching that they are true and factual as to the character of our Great Creator God. They do not approve of God “creating” evil, nor do they approve of God “using” evil—even if God’s use of evil always eventuates in the GREATEST POSSIBLE ETERNAL GOOD.
I think many of us have to remember 'why' this forum exists and what brought us here. It's to discuss the articles on bible-truths, not preach/teach our own beliefs. That's what causes all the infighting and friction.
We all need to really get back to reading and studying and making sure we agree. A member may realize that they don't necessarily agree with all of Ray's teaching, but at least they can be aware and avoid the issue on the forum. I understand we may not see eye to eye on every aspect in the bible, but no more arguing with what is blatantly taught on bible truths. If you don't agree with a teaching, either avoid the subject or move on.
Marques
Excerpt from Lake of Fire series Part 15-C (http://bible-truths.com/lake15-C.html):
GOD CAUSES EVIL IN THE CITY
Let’s take a close look at that last Scripture in our list:
“…shall there be evil [Heb: ra—‘bad, evil’] in a city, and the Lord has not done it? (Amos 3:6)
There’s the question; what’s the answer? The answer from all Christendom is “Yes.” “Yes” there shall be all kinds of evil in a city, and the Lord has not done it. In fact, according to their teaching, the Lord does no evil in any city, ever. World famous teacher/preacher/theologian/author, Billy Graham said before a packed house in the National Cathedral, that GOD DOES NOT CREATE EVIL. But what saith the Scriptures (Amos 3:4-6):
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
Answer: NO!
“Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has not prey?"
Answer: NO!
“Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?"
Answer: NO!
“Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin [baited trap] is for him?"
Answer: NO!
“Shall one take up a snare [shall a snare spring up] from the earth, and have taken [caught] nothing at all?"
Answer: NO!
“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?"
Answer: NO!
“Shall there be EVIL in a city and the LORD HAS NOT DONE IT?"
Answer: NO!
The Answer is “NO”!
I am now speaking to the mature only. This information is too heavy, too hard, too overwhelming for the carnal-minded person. Have you ever wondered just where it is that the proverbial “rubber meets the road?” Well, right here is where the rubber meets the road. If you don’t accept; if you cannot accept, if you will not accept the truth of all these double-witness Scriptures presented above, then you will never understand God’s plan of salvation for the human race.
Seven times in Amos 3 God asks us a question, and SEVEN TIMES THE ANSWER IS “NO”! NO, there shall not be EVIL in a city [any city—all cities] unless THE LORD HAS DONE IT! The truth of this Scripture (along with hundreds and hundreds like it) is so powerful, so absolutely earth-shattering, that the mere fact of me quoting it and suggesting that it is a true statement, will evoke hate mail from far and wide.
The world of Christendom will not tolerate, anyone quoting these Scriptures and then teaching that they are true and factual as to the character of our Great Creator God. They do not approve of God “creating” evil, nor do they approve of God “using” evil—even if God’s use of evil always eventuates in the GREATEST POSSIBLE ETERNAL GOOD.
I think many of us have to remember 'why' this forum exists and what brought us here. It's to discuss the articles on bible-truths, not preach/teach our own beliefs. That's what causes all the infighting and friction.
We all need to really get back to reading and studying and making sure we agree. A member may realize that they don't necessarily agree with all of Ray's teaching, but at least they can be aware and avoid the issue on the forum. I understand we may not see eye to eye on every aspect in the bible, but no more arguing with what is blatantly taught on bible truths. If you don't agree with a teaching, either avoid the subject or move on.
Marques
Agreed Marques. Also, here's an excerpt from the Mobile 2006 Conference in the talk about "humilty" (Ray has said something like this in many talks, but here's just one example of where he does; just to emphasize the point.
God doesn’t have to force people to become criminals. For example He doesn’t make people, they say, ‘so everything’s of God?’ Yes it is, the whole creation is of God. He made mankind SPIRITUALLY WEAK, so that whenever he encounters temptation, he sins. God doesn’t make them sin, they volunteer.
God doesn’t make dirty old men rape little girls, no. He doesn’t make them, He doesn’t force them, they volunteer. They do it from the heart. But you say, ‘it is all of God?’ Yes, God created the human race and He put in that weakness and that lust… where do you think testosterone comes from, do you think it evolved from sea slime from evolutionary progress?
Patrick