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"I cannot understand why he continues to go on this tirade about flying to save your soul."
Question/Comment:
----- Original Message -----From: Name WithheldTo: Paul StringiniSent: Friday, September 21, 2012 5:45 PM
Hi! I listen to Arnold Murray on occasion and lately I have noticed things he says that trouble me as well. Maybe since you studied with him extensively you will be able to help me. I cannot understand why he continues to go on this tirade about flying to save your soul. What is he talking about? I've never read in the Bible where people thought they could fly to save their souls. After talking to a friend recently who does not believe in his teaching, I started listening to his closer and I agree that a lot he says is his word, not God's. Also, how do you feel about his take on killing as long as you're fighting for your country?.....
Thank you,
Name Withheld
----- Original Message -----From: Paul StringiniTo: Name WithheldSent: Saturday, September 22, 2012 10:38 AMSubject: Re:His reference to "flying to save your soul" refers to a passage Ezekiel 13, but that is not exactly what it says.Ezekiel 13:20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.(The two verses previous are also helpful in understanding).Fly is used in the sense of "to flee." The idea of fleeing from danger to save your life is a theme seen in the prophets several timesIsaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.The term "fly" is not really being used in the sense in which we would think of a bird flying, at least I don't think it is. It is sometimes hard to tell but "flee" makes more since since men didn't fly in the bird-like sense until the Wright brothers. I prefer "flee" but it really comes down to the same thing. It is about trying to escape danger that God had declared we must endure.Murray calls the rapture doctrine, the "fly away" doctrine, so maybe you are beginning to see where he gets started. He sees the "flying" as the rapture, and also references the "souls" because Ezekiel makes reference to souls (13:20). The way he restates it as "flying to save your soul" can be confusing. It says they hunt the souls to make them fly, if you substitute "save," for "hunt," you get, "they save(hunt) the souls to make them fly." So Murray has it turned around a bit. It does not say "they fly the souls to make them hunted/saved." (fly to save your soul) It says they hunt/save the souls to make them fly. (Ezekiel 13:18& 19 do reference "saving," but not "flying")So his reference to "flying to save your soul" is based on Ezekiel 13, but is an example of the light way Murray handles the scriptures. I do not believe in the rapture, (I believe in the resurrection), but it is not acceptable for a teacher of God's word to just bend and shape the word into whatever they want it to say, even it what they are trying to say is essentially true. It leads to confusion and mistrust. If it is God's word, then we ought to handle it with appropriate respect and gravity."Also, how do you feel about his take on killing as long as you're fighting for your country?"Sounds too simplistic. I believe in fighting to defend my country. That does not mean going around fighting people to make sure no one ever has the power to fight us. War is sinful. And while I do believe in turning the other cheek, I also believe in the good Samaritan. If your neighbor is getting beat up you try to defend him if it is in your power. I don't know if that means we should defend the world, if we take all the world to be our neighbors. God divided the nations, and making peace among all of them may not even be possible, and in any case, is not something that will be accomplished by force.Arnold is a bit too trigger happy in my opinion. Killing is not a light business. We should not speak of it lightly. And no one should think that just because the government tells them to kill that it is ok. The Nazi's were all just obeying orders, they were killing for their country, so I suppose that would justify any actions they took? I don't think so. I doubt Murray would say that either, he is partial to THIS country. America is special, but not so special that we should think that any war we get into is automatically justified.
----- Original Message -----From: Name WithheldTo: Paul StringiniSent: Saturday, September 22, 2012 6:36 PMSubject: Re:Thank you so much for clarifying this for me. I would like to consult with you as I study the Bible if you don't mind.
----- Original Message -----From: Paul StringiniTo: Name WithheldSent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 11:21 AMSubject: Re:I don't mind. I also have line by line bible studies on my website http://oraclesofgod.org/studies/SincerelyPaul Stringini
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