Emily Timbol's Blog - Latest Comments

Re: The 20 Most Misunderstood Verses in the Bible

VD65 — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 04:36:51 -0000

El is not another word for the being you call God which isn't a name but a description of what you belive this being to be. This is why Jesus was preaching to let people know, El was the God of Love and not YHWH. He was a God of War and if people bothered to do other things than sit down and read a book that has been put together and stood for years and then Protestants later in time reassembled to fit their beliefs you might know some of the history, changes and other things. Anyone who is right in the mind wouldn't follow some of the things in the New Testament. People follow Paul and not Jesus and that is the big failing. They just assumed that he had an epiphany but never thought maybe he made the statements because the Romans wanted to get control of the movement and subvert it. There is probably very little truth to it. Ever wonder why he was in constant arguments on doctrines with the chosen apostles? He persecuted them. Everyone disregards what they taught in favor of a Roman subject who says he got an epiphany that can never be proven. Don't say YHWH would have kept him from doing it because it is man's folly to believe anything if it sounds right. Don't rationalize what this person has written because if you don't study with scholars or can read the original writing you don't know a thing except parroted things taught to some in a seminary and that groups beliefs. It is believed there are 30,000 denominations of Christianity. You all have the same book so why do you come up with different ideas? Most Christians bear false witness, make judgements on others and if you follow the news say some of the worst things I have ever heard. None of the new Bibles are accurate if they are translated from the Latin Vulgate. There are a long list of things Christians profess that are simply not fact because they open a book and stick there nose in it and think they understand it. I'm tired of all the hate speeches like a few here have posted. Know-it-all posts that simply are not fact. God luck when you find the flames licking your ankles. You have a death religion of hate. You don't even teach what hell is correctly. You cannot conflict with the Rabbis on Old Testament views but you do. As for the Messiah I make no judgments about that. It's not my place because like everyone, its a matter of what one believes.

Re: The 20 Most Misunderstood Verses in the Bible

VD65 — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 04:24:15 -0000

Oh you are a psychic are you now? You don't know what the I AM thought about all of this. The work wasn't dictated. It was only inspired to those who thought it best to write things down. The first writings were destroyed by the Egyptians and it was written over. What you are trying to talk about is Judaism and if you are a Christian you don't have a clue. You teach differently than the Rabbis and its their writings. You are making judgments. We don't live in the past when everything was taboo...that's cultural ideas and not Biblical. You and no other living person has the right to say these things and use the Bible as the reference because it's not there. Everything you wrote is total drivel.

Re: The 20 Most Misunderstood Verses in the Bible

VD65 — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 04:15:26 -0000

The Bible is the word of man and not God. People call it inspired and say nothing about automatic writing. It was written by numerous people. If you read the KJV it is the most inaccurate from original writings and most don't understand it and interpret it wrongly. She isn't trying to make a case for homosexuality but clarify that the verses people say backs that it is not proper have been taken out of context or extrapolated upon. If you are not a Biblical scholar or looked to someone's work like Michael Heiser all you are doing is stating an opinion. I don't trust anyone who says the Bible says this or that who cannot read the original languages. Now I'm not saying this person is wrong but probably more correct than you. The KJV is written with many colloquial words that meant something different than they do now. There are pages of it. For instances in one place they are talking about a shambles and nowadays that would mean a mess but then it meant the meat market. Many Christians and their ministers, pastors, etc. teach wrongly from the Bible. You can't just sit down and read it and understand what it means. Many things from the Old Testament is interpreted incorrectly and its context especially in Isaiah. Ask a Rabbi but all and I mean ALL of the New Testament is Judaism and not Christians they used it and over time subverted its meaning. Then they put together a bunch of letters and highly suspect writings from many years after the fact as a New Testament. The Protestants took the Bible and redid it. I'm do not follow Judaism or mainstream 20th Century philosophies on the Bible but I do study what the actual scholars say that set themselves apart from propaganda spewed by radical evangelistic people. God is not a name and using that word is misleading. It gives a name in the Bible and you might think of using it because it makes people who follow this religion sound egotistical and prideful. Jesus said pray in a private place and do any of you follow that. NOPE. Do you follow the 4th commandment...NOPE and make excuses up for it. He plainly said he wasn't here to change the LAW, the first five books of the Old Testament but Christians do because they pick and choose what they want to follow and say things are obsolete. You have a direct line? There is no new dispensation it is a fallacy of man. I'm done because I don't like the way the Bible has been subverted by people like YOU. Yes I'm judging but I know in my heart that the amount I have done this doesn't hold a candle to most Christians as I can see by your inane post. Also the fact they can't find many references to back up that Jesus existed might be because those who became teachers, Rabbis changed their names to something else. It was the practice of the culture so people are trying to track down the wrong name. He would no longer go by his birth name. If you don't know this you should study the culture of the time, I have for YEARS.

Re: Racism in Full Color

Kelsey — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:59:08 -0000

Just stumbled across your blog. Love this Emily, and love your ending. So good.

Re: The Colonoscopy: The Final Frontier

Anna Scott — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 05:54:41 -0000

Informational.. Check this.. I got useful information about colonoscopy.

Re: The 20 Most Misunderstood Verses in the Bible

Ron Kyker — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 07:03:44 -0000

Emily,
You keep referencing those who are religious. You do know the definition of this word "religion" don't you? It means--one who reverences God or one who believes in God. Since you separate yourself from those who believe in Him, I question how you can interpret His Word without revering Him or believing in Him.
You surely have read that only God's Spirit can give wisdom and understanding of what He has said to us. You surely also know it says you must be born again of God's Spirit to have "new life" in Christ.
I've heard it said--no one would ask a dead man which way to go. Without Christ's Spirit living in us; we are dead in our sin and devoid of life. I would not rely on someone who has not received this new life in Christ to interpret the life-giving Word of God correctly.
The problem here is not proper interpretation. The problem is sin. I pray God reveals Himself to you for you obviously lack any wisdom or understanding. You have great knowledge, but lack Christ. Knowledge without truth is a very dangerous thing. If you want to rightly understand God's Word; I pray that you will seek Him, seek to know Him, and not just try to understand what He has said. You cannot understand until you He lives inside of you and has made His home in you.
This is my prayer for you. I also pray few will be moved by the grievous errors you have made with the truth that gives eternal life. You are not doing anyone a great favor by trying to understand that which is beyond your grasp without knowing the One who wrote what you try to interpret. Love in Christ, ron k.,

Re: The 20 Most Misunderstood Verses in the Bible

Salz.Del.Monde — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 15:22:44 -0000

Did God not love his chosen people, the Israelis? Did that stop his final judgement, or halt his rage? (Romans 9:25-29)
God is not just a God of love; don't limit his Justice, or put a stopper on his anger! God made us in his image; who says God doesn't feel like we do?
You ever heard the expression, "love the sinner, hate the sin?" The expression is cliche and overused, but fits God's law.

Romans 13:8
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law." NIV

I get where you're coming from; the Bible is very clear on the subject of love. But what does the Bible say about marriage?

Jesus never mentioned homosexuality because he never needed to. Jesus was to set example for all Christians and to be the atonement for our sins (1 John 2:2). He never voiced his denial of homosexuality, but He supported the Pharisees in their description of marriage, without correcting their 'misinterpretation' of what marriage is by their standards.

Mark 10:3-5
"Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, 'is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?' 'Haven't you read,' he replied, 'that "at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female," and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?...' NIV

Please also read the rest; it's educational.
Jesus doesn't misinterpret the Bible; He teaches it. He didn't mention homosexuality because it was unheard of to even think about marriage between same-sex couples, let alone a public relationship!

Romans 12:2

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

you make it sound like the world and God are thick as thieves, which couldn't be farther from the truth! The world should hate us as it hates God!

1 John 3:13
"do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you."

John 15:19

"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." NIV

God never addresses gay marriage, but does He have to? Even the 10 commandments refer to a stable household of a mother and a father!

Bottom line: the Holy Word of God is not meant just as a demonstration and proof of God's love, but as a 'map' for the Christian who needs guidance in their growing faith (as in all of us). Limiting God's word to "to just love and not to harm" is an egregious error! Please put more consideration into what you preach.

May God's love and knowledge be with you always.

Re: The 20 Most Misunderstood Verses in the Bible

Vera — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 02:04:07 -0000

Aaaaaaaamen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! very WELL said!

Re: When Grace is Given Only to Abusers

EmilyTimbol — Fri, 29 May 2015 09:58:50 -0000

I think that's a really good observation. The more "the world" hates you the more support you get from some Christians who view themselves as persecuted.

Re: When Grace is Given Only to Abusers

Margaret — Thu, 28 May 2015 15:38:04 -0000

Very well put. Another tangent this has me thinking about - what are the criteria for who is "in" and who is "out". At first I thought "of course Amy Grant was outcast for what she did - she is a successful woman and was likely to be creeping along the margins of acceptability anyway'. But some of the other examples of Golden Boys falling from 'grace' made me doubt that hypothesis. Then I thought perhaps it had something to do with the nature of the transgression, but how could one really think divorce was worse than child abuse? I wonder if it has something to do with how the transgressions and the transgressor fit within larger culture: if you have mainstream popularity, you're out, but if "the world" is criticizing your actions then folks will rally around you as a symbol of oppression.

Re: The 20 Most Misunderstood Verses in the Bible

Ryan — Tue, 05 May 2015 14:51:41 -0000

What is natural? God did not create us to have fun, He did not create us to fall in love with the same sex and live a life of pleasure, sodomy, or anal sex is a sin, male or female. Sexual immorality is inevitable with homosexuality... If you know anything at all about the Bible, you would know how God speaks of the two roles that play in a marriage, that of man and woman, as compared to Christ and the church. That is why the man is given certain leadership roles and the woman to be submissive. God knew what an efficient and properly working family looks like, He knew that man would need a "helper", and woman would need a leader, the knowledge of this alone requires that you do the good that is obviously necessary, be a leader to a woman (as a man) or be submissive to a man (as a woman), this is for your sanctification and as we know if you know the good and do not do it you are sinning. Obviously some people on this page are seriously trying to manipulate the scriptures to fit their liberal ideology, I would say "beliefs" but I cannot judge your heart, what is clear is your inability to "hear", and to "see", because you are blinded by momentary pleasures of lust and sexuality. Even if Jesus came down from heaven and spoke to you in person would you believe Him then? Unlikely. It's not up to me to make you believe either, but I will tell you, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Go ahead and risk that on a possible misinterpretation. May the Lord of all reveal Himself to you in a true way.

Re: The 20 Most Misunderstood Verses in the Bible

Tiffany Monkeyy Clay — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 11:42:46 -0000

Actually, CHRISTIANS are leading people away from your Lord - your God teaches love, tolerance, and peace -- he preaches to find brotherhood in those with similar believes and it clearly states that ONLY GOD can judge. However, Christians judge, hate, and practice intolerance more than ANY other religion I have EVER experienced.

Hypocrisy is also forbidden when it is said:
“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own
eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Christians ALWAYS interpret the Bible to the times (and that's to be completely expected and agreeable) - but in the same passage in which Christians claim an egregious sin in homosexuality - it is also a sin to cut your hair, wear mixed fabrics AND being inhospitable (which is an abhorrent sin).

Please don't try to fit the ways of your God into the lives of others. You are leading people away from the Lord and will be accountable to God for it.

Re: A Prayer for Leelah in The New Year

Gerri Cannon — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 09:09:06 -0000

Thank you for a very thoughtful response this this tragic event!

Re: The 20 Most Misunderstood Verses in the Bible

onnes — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 18:46:23 -0000

She does not need to attempt to justify homosexuality because it is not wrong. She attempted to stop people using the common verses to harm others.

Don't say bible principles are against the world principal to cover up your limited understanding of the Bible. Her principle is spot on; to love and not to harm.

The entire Bible is written on the basis of that purpose, not to show off your knowledge prowess to debate against someone else.

Bottom line is: if Jesus does not mention about homosexuality in his ministry AT ALL, but condemn the teachers of the law for abusing the law, then one should be careful in commenting other works.

Re: Where is The White Evangelical Response to Ferguson?

Bob Williford — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 12:20:19 -0000

Now that the facts have been observed and studied by the Grand Jury, how do we respond now? Justice has been served, but not to the liking of the the Brown family. Waiting for the facts is the right thing to have done before applying justice without the law. This is not a 'white or black' issue, this is way our justice system is applied. We may not like it, but the system does work. For instance, I did not like how the O.J. Simpson trial turned out, but once again, the system worked. Neither did I like the Civil Trial that followed because Simpson had been acquitted, but again, this is our system and we must live with it. Just my thoughts.....BW

Re: The 20 Most Misunderstood Verses in the Bible

Nismah O — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 16:24:40 -0000

I commend you on your thoroughness. It is clear that you put a lot of time and research into this post and in developing your opinions. However, it seems that many times you are interpreting the Bible to fit your beliefs or the beliefs of others around you. I encourage you to be interpreting your beliefs to fit the Bible. This is evident in your numerous attempts at justifying homosexuality. With this method of interpretation, you are leaving too much room for your own agenda to be fit into scripture. Unfortunately, our sin is powerful and the world is all for it. It is easy to question a biblical principle when it clearly contradicts a worldly principle. But I encourage you to remember that people are all searching for the same thing - the truth of Jesus Christ; most people just don't know it. Your explanation of Proverbs 31 is encouraging people to disobey the Bible (assuming your interpretation of the text is accurate, which it is not.) Proverbs 31 is personifying wisdom. It has nothing to do with the role of an actual woman. Think about it: why would the entire book of Proverbs be about wisdom, but there be one random chapter at the end which decides it needs to cover the role of a good wife. I find these fallacies and interpretations all over your explanations. As you said, "The Bible is not something you can read and pick and choose what you want to take literally. That’s not the purpose of the Bible."

Please don't try to fit the ways of this world into the perfect, inerrant, sufficient Words of God. You are leading people away from the Lord and will be accountable to God for it.

Re: The “Cool Christian Girl” in Proverbs 31

Bill Johnson — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 22:01:34 -0000

I don't know what kind of loser men the author hangs out with, bit the "cool" girl that is describe in the piece is someone I would never date....she sounds disgusting in her mannerisms.

Re: The Fight for a Living Wage is a Christian Issue

Lianne Simon — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 10:42:07 -0000

Unfortunately, it's sort of a Catch-22. When Israel demanded a king (I Samuel 8), God warned them that he'd take a tenth of their possessions. The current tax rates are much higher than that and make it more difficult for Christians to give the church even a tenth. And the Bible calls for Christians to give to the poor in addition to what they give to the church. Increasing what the government takes will only make for more poor. What we need is for Christians to give until we bleed from the sacrifice. It's too easy to look at our neighbor and covet their goods for the poor. If you believe in political solutions, a good start would be to change the programs we already have in such a way that they help the poor get proper training. And thanks for being patient. :)

Re: The Fight for a Living Wage is a Christian Issue

EmilyTimbol — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 09:54:05 -0000

Lianne, I'm not opposed to this either! I think that if church's and Christians across the US stepped up and reached out to people in need, or people fighting to survive, we wouldn't need a lot of the government interventions we have today. But sadly, this is just not the case, and there are millions of people who would starve and severely suffer if we cut these programs.

Re: The Fight for a Living Wage is a Christian Issue

Lianne Simon — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 19:26:50 -0000

I would much rather see Christians doing the things that the Bible actually commands us to do. Rather than expecting the government to coerce employers, we should be helping the poor with our own resources. How? Help someone get a better education or learn a marketable skill. Help them find affordable child care so they can go to work. Provide transportation. Help them navigate government regulations to assist them in getting out of the welfare state so their children won't grow up in the same slavery they're in. Hire someone yourself--give someone a chance to learn a skill on your dime. Take in someone and mentor them. Teach someone the language skills they need to get a better job. Provide a no-interest loan out of your own savings for someone to go to school or start their own business. Do all of the things you as an individual can do before mandating someone else to do something.

Re: Where is The White Evangelical Response to Ferguson?

EmilyTimbol — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 10:45:57 -0000

1) You are right there, good point. I was mostly expressing my frustration that the famous ones, with the large platforms and huge influence, were not.

2) I have heard many criticisms of this "waiting for all the facts" response, most of them I agree with. Mainly these criticisms are that "waiting for the facts" is a luxury of the privileged who have no reason to distrust the "fact givers" (re: the police) who, as we have seen in the case of Ferguson, are not always truthful. The criticisms also touch on what you said - that the most important "facts" we already know - a boy is dead. An unarmed boy. Who was going to start college on Monday. Whose body was left, uncovered, in the street for four hours. Who didn't have an ambulance called for him. Who was shot multiple times. These are enough "facts" for most people to want to see justice. There's not really that many other "facts" that should matter, in terms of mourning life. Because even if he was "charging the officer" (which all five eyewitness accounts deny) the fact that the officer shot an unarmed teenager six times is wrong.

On your last point, I can definitely see your concern, and I agree that white people are removed from this situation and should treat it thus. But I also think that white people saying nothing - not even sharing the stories or voices of POC who are on the ground - is disappointing and sad. This problem of unarmed black men being gunned down by police isn't a "black" problem, it's an American problem. Or at least it should be.

Re: Where is The White Evangelical Response to Ferguson?

EmilyTimbol — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 10:39:49 -0000

That's wonderful, thank you!

Re: An Open Letter to Everyone I De-friended on Facebook

EmilyTimbol — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 10:39:03 -0000

Thanks Traci.

Re: An Open Letter to Everyone I De-friended on Facebook

Traci — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 19:56:50 -0000

I love this post Emily. How I missed it is anyone's guess. I thought I'd gone through them all.

Re: An Open Letter to Everyone I De-friended on Facebook

Traci — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 18:33:33 -0000

That you think that this is about one case is, frankly, really messed up. This is about much more than one case, or a thousand cases, or a million. It's about the systemic institutionalized racism that infects this country, and has since it's inception. It runs so deep that you won't even see it until it jumps up and slaps you in the face. Sadly, it takes some people several slaps before they get it, and some refuse to even see it then.