I would like now to give a quick rundown of my time here on ATOT:
My presence here on atot came about after I was no longer able to endure the sight of such blatently false accusations being made against Christians and their beliefs in one of the "free bible" threads of the hot deals forum. I felt compelled to respond to them and fortunately, I had taken the following week off work to relax, little did I know God had other plans for my time. So I spent my week off surrounded by books on evolution vs creation in an effort to dispell the lies so prevelant in society today. The next thing I knew a few months had passed, and I found myself immersed day and night in thought and study in an effort to dispell the commonly held false beliefs in regards to evolution and simple Doctrinal Truths of Christianity, only to be told (in the end) by my main opposers in the debates (through pms and open admission) that they had no geniune desire to learn and were only interested in disagreeing for the sake of disagreement.
Considering the time and effort I had put into my replies, the reviewing of the evidence, the checking and rechecking of sources to ensure accuracy in said replies, sometimes spending upwards of 15 hours for one post, the wanton disrespect for sincerity that I was ultimately informed of left me with a desire to leave atot never to return. A pm with Linuxboy ensued and I was left with the feeling that the time spent was not totally in vain. I thought (although uneasily) that maybe I was taking myself too seriously and was too concerned with accuracy, after all, when discussing issues with close childhood friends who have yet to accept Christ, or people in general in my day to day dealings, my concern for accuracy while still indeed prevelant is done without the aid of books, or the Bible and so I must needs rely on memory. To the which I decided (against my better judgement) to treat my posts in the same way I would on a day to day basis, to go largely by memory.
The problem of course with that decision, is that the majority of people I deal with on a day to day basis, I will see again. And if as I hope, they look into the matters being discussed for themselves and happen to find something I said to be in error or appear as such, that they will address that matter with me, and I will be able to clarify what I meant, and quite possibly gain some knowledge on the subject to which we discussed. Here in atot that is not so much the case, as I think most people will look at a thread, get a general idea, give their opinion, and move on to another, to the which accuracy in regards to my sources and conclusions is of the utmost concern. It's one thing to make a mistatement when going from memory, it is entirely another to make a mistatement due to laziness (not willing to check with a source you have available in front of you).
Taking this more liberal aproach to my comments here in atot, proved foolish. As the first discussion I got into (after said decision) led my opposer to demand I take a scholarly aproach and respond to accusations in the thread I was in. I made known to him that my views on the subject were easily seen in a number of other threads, he said he had read them, and again insisted that I respond (whether by cutting and pasting, he didn't care) to his false accusations in regards to my stance on the issue in question. (It is to my understanding that if one is going to have a scholarly debate, the least one should do is familiarize oneself with the beliefs of the opposing debater, especially when those beliefs are so easily accessable, but who am I to say, being that I could hardly be considered a scholar.) Needless to say I did cut and paste and recieved no reply, consistent with the other threads wherein I had made that post.
That thread of course settled the issue, accuracy is of the utmost importance. To the which I took a bit of a break from atot and built a new computer from scratch , checking occasionaly at the old threads to see if anyone had responded to my posts.
Feeling rejuvinated, ready to take up the battle (the Good fight) where I left off, I return. Feeling confident that the indivuals in this thread, being that some are most assuredly Saved, will see fit to treat this issue with the honesty and sincerity becoming of a man of integrety and even the more so, of a Saint. And as I noted to Linuxboy, I believe that God will provide me with the strength, patience, wisdom, and knowledge necessary to show to the God fearing individuals involved in this debate, that one can trust whole heartedly in the Authority of Scripture in all matters concerning doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12
Dave
PS I am not afraid of this challenge which confronts me, God led me out of the spiritual darkness of Catholocism unto Salvation. Immediatly following my Salvation, having nowhere to turn for guidance on spiritual matters (and a great desire to get to know my new found Lord and Savior) I turned to the only thing I knew I could count on to give me the Truth, the Bible (the word of God). And what did God say, "some manuscripts say this". I beg to differ, Satan says "some manuscripts say this", God says "Thus sayeth the LORD". My God is not a wishy washy God, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That one simple statement however, led me into 5 or so years of backsliding. Whereupon I found myself day after day staring into empty brown bottles and bubbling bongs (desiring to die) having lost the Joy of my Salvation. To the which God saw fit to Save (what had been) a good and trusted friend of mine (who I hadn't spoken to for a few years) so that through his willful obedience to God, I could be lead out of the valley of darkness and back into the Light. My friend's stumbling block, can God be trusted (which of all the Bible versions can be relied upon as the Authoritative word of God, if any). The willingness of my friend to act as an empty vessel for the Lord is what allows me to have the renewed friendship with Jesus Christ that I enjoy today. So if you find me unwilling to surrender my Bible (and the Authority therewith) so that the unsaved and the slothful can have a Bible of their own, your findings are well founded.
If Noah could withstand the jeers, scoffs, and false accusation of all but 7 other individuals on the earth at that time for the hundred years it took him to build the ark, surely I can withstand and perservere through this challenge He has placed in front of me, as it pales in comparison to what others have endured for the Faith, others who's walks I can't even begin to compare mine to.
...and now on to the debate at hand.