Apologist Abroad
Darryl's thoughts on the Christian Faith, Facts, and World Events
MRI Machines (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) are very useful for identifying tumors, some cancers, and other potentially fatal medical conditions without the need for exploratory surgery. The Bible is a lot like an MRI machine because it can identify spiritual, emotional, and even attitudinal conditions that will lead to destruction if left untreated through the process of repentance. So, we will call the process of "destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5 BRI or (Biblical Resonance Imaging).
The Bible is our BRI Machine. "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Hebrews 4:12-13 Christians are BRI Technicians (in training). "Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness," 2 Timothy 2:14-16 As a BRI Tech (in training) I will now seek to "accurately handle" the BRI Machine to scan a variety of Human Sexual Preferences as represented by various hypothetical advocates for various lifestyles who come in for a BRI scan as a condition of being accepted or rejected by Christians who believe that Scripture is the final authority that should govern our lives. This is especially important in present time. "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:12-17 BRI Scan #1-Bestiality Advocate BRI Tech: Please come in and close the door behind you. Bestiality: Wow it sure is quiet here. BRI Tech: The door is specially sound proofed so that the noise from pop-culture, media, politicians, and religious leaders do not interfere with the accuracy of the BRI Machine. As a BRI Tech, I strive to operate the BRI machine accurately and not to allow my personal biases and preferences to interfere with the BRI Machine. The more skilled I am at doing this, the more accurate and trustworthy the results will be. The BRI Machine itself is 100% accurate but sometimes the technicians lack the skills and discipline to allow the machine to perform at its potential. So, what should we scan today? Bestiality: I have always heard that Christians are cruel bigots etc. but this is a nice surprise. So here is what I would like you to scan. "I want Christians to agree with me that humans should be able to have sexual relations and marry animals, if they want to." BRI Tech: Before we do scan your proposal, let me say, thank you for being so polite. A lot advocates of various sexual preferences come in here and try to change the BRI Machine or even try to accuse or attack me, the BRI Tech when they don't get the results that they want. It is kind of like when people, like me, who struggle to overcome obesity, try to change the scale or get angry when the doctor says that we need to lose weight. But, this doesn't do any good. Bestiality: Okay, I will try my best to be reasonable and polite, even if I don't get the results from the BRI Scan that I want. BRI Tech: Great! Okay let's start scanning your proposal. "I want Christians to agree with me that humans should be able to have sexual relations and marry animals, if they want to." BRI Tech: Okay, here is the first result. "Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man." Genesis 2:18-22 Bestiality: That doesn't sound like the BRI Machine is approving of my proposal. I guess stepping on the scale makes you feel like I do. BRI Tech: Ha! You are right, based on this scripture alone, your proposal is rejected. Christians who respect the Bible will never be able to agree with, participate in, or encourage your bestiality sexual preference. But, just to clarify your results, let's scan a little deeper. "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28 So, based on the fact that that humans have authority over animals, that having sex with them or marrying them would be an abuse of power, kind of like sexual harassment in the workplace or a teacher using their authority to force their students to have sexual relations with them. Bestiality: Ouch! So what happens next? Are you going to call the police or try to kill me? BRI Tech: No, your scan results are confidential between you and God. If you break any animal cruelty laws (which I support) and you get arrested, I will not defend you but I will visit you in prison. The action of having sexual relations and marrying animals falls into the category of what the Bible calls sin. Sin means, "missing the mark or target". So, you need to get back on the mark through what the Bible calls "repentance". Repentance means "changing your mind" by making your thoughts conform to God's thoughts. "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2 This process can take some time. So in the meantime, If you are willing, you are welcome to attend church services, Bible studies, and even get together with Christians informally to discuss your spiritual condition and to help you better understand the Bible. Now, I hope you won't be offended if the church doesn't consider you an official member, give you leadership responsibilities, and if they have a "living Nativity" at Christmas, they may not allow you to be alone with the animals, because they don't want you to be tempted. Bestiality: Wait, this sounds too easy and nice. I think this is a trick. I remember someone telling me that the Bible says that people who have sex with animals must be executed. BRI Tech: I am not trying to trick you. Please take a look at the control panel of the BRI Machine. Do you see the lever that is labeled, "Mosaic Law and Prophets" Bestiality: Yes I do. It is is turned off and there is a bloodstained padlock that is locking it in the OFF position. It looks like there whole mechanism is totally gummed up with blood so that the lever cannot go back into the ON position. BRI Tech: The lock was purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished." Matthew 5:17-20. When that lever was in the ON position then the BRI Machine would have returned these results. 1. "Also you shall not have intercourse with any animal to be defiled with it, nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion." Leviticus 18:22 2. " If there is a man who lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death; you shall also kill the animal. If there is a woman who approaches any animal to mate with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them." Leviticus 20:15-16 Bestiality: Wow, it is a good thing that that lever is turned OFF. BRI Tech: That is Good News for all of us. Don't feel like you are being singled out, if that lever were turned ON, none of us could survive and go to heaven. "What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” Romans 3:9-12 But, the Good News is that Jesus Christ, fulfilled the law. "And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22 "Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him." Hebrews 9:26-28 Bestiality: Wow, that is Good News! BRI Tech: Before Jesus' sacrifice, humans could only make it through the scan by sacrificing a lamb or other animal. They used to put the animal in the BRI Machine during the Mosaic Law and Prophets scan. The animal would be killed as a temporary substitute for their sins. But, the BRI Machine always registered the animal blood this as an error and would eventually demand human blood for the sins. "These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Bestiality: So the reason, I was not executed for my sexual sins with animals is because of Jesus? Is that why you are being so nice to me? BRI Tech: Yes! I once came into this same room and I discovered that I was just as guilty and worthy of death and hell as you are. Even though my sins were different from yours, I was just as guilty. But, the BRI Tech I met showed me how to be forgiven of my sins, to be given a new name, "Forgiven". Would you like to be transformed from "Bestiality Advocate" to "Forgiven" like I was? Bestiality: Yes! Please show me how! BRI Tech: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 This BRI Machine always gives the Bad News first. Once we understand the Bad News, it starts giving Good News. Here comes some more Good News Scriptures!....... Comments are closed.
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Darryl RecordA Christian Apologist, Author, Missionary, Husband, and Father. Darryl has an MA in Christian Apologetics from Biola University (CA), an MA in TESOL from Azusa Pacific University (CA), and a BA in Political Science from Truman State University (MO). Archives
December 2021
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