HOW TO ARGUE WITH AN ATHEIST ON THE APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS IN BIBLE

Contradictions in the Bible? The most obvious and straightforward apologetical question about the Bible is this: Can we prove any parts of it false by showing either (1) that it contradicts itself or (2) that it contradicts some other known facts outside itself? Pro- and anti-biblical controversialists have argues about thousands of examples for hundreds of years. Here are a few samples and summaries of this debate here. Internal Contradictions? Here are five diverse but typical examples of supposed self-contradictions or internal contradictions, in the Bible. 1. In the Old Testament, the populations of the peoples and armies are often estimated differently in different account of the same events. 2. One passage in Exodus says God parted the waters of the Red Sea, but another passage says a strong east wind did it by blowing all night. 3. The chronological order of events in the life of Jesus is not the same in any two of the four Gospels. 4. One account of the first Easter morning says the women who went to Jesus’ empty tomb saw two angels, while another account says they saw one. 5. One account of Judas’s death says he hanged himself; another says he fell down and his guts burst asunder. Two things can be in response to questions like these. First, a sense of perspective is needed. These are not contradictions in substance. The Bible could well be infallible in all its teaching, its message, even while being fallible in incidental details like these. Second, even these minor contradictions can all be explained as only apparent. For instance: 1. Ancient histories rarely claimed exact numbers. Inexact estimates were common and expected. So were the use of symbolic numbers instead of literal numbers to describe real events. 2. First and second causes do not exclude each other: God parted the Red Sea by using a wind. 3. Only Luke, who was a Greek scientist (a doctor) claimed anything like exact chronological order (1:3). 4. Perhaps one woman saw one angel and the other saw two. “I saw two angels” is not contradicted by “I saw only one.” 5. Perhaps Judas’ hung himself with a rope was not strong enough to carry his body for long and it broke and he fell head long given that he hung himself on a tree by the edge of a hill. Hundreds of other minor details like these can all be made to fit a consistent and trustworthy pattern. But we must not impose our modern standards of accuracy on materials that was never intended to have it, it is bad literary criticism to exaggerate the importance of details for which the ancient author was in all likelihood unwilling to vouch

BAD THEOLOGY AND ATHEISM . EISEGESIS VS EXEGESIS

EXEGESIS VS EISEGESIS
Bad theology does more harm to the propagation of the glorious gospel of grace than anything else. Very often Christians  and non Christians are given the picture of an inconsistent God and atheist capitalize on this misrepresentation of the gospel to justify the non existence of a creator even when the human conscience says the contrary. It is against this backdrop that a sound knowledge of apologetics is a prerequisite before anyone is ordained a minister of the gospel. God is hated because of how he is represented by inequipped preachers especially in this day and age of internet technology .
Question: "What is the difference between exegesis and eisegesis?"
Answer: Exegesis and eisegesis are two conflicting approaches in Bible study. Exegesis is the exposition or
explanation of a text based on a careful, objective analysis. The word exegesis literally means “to lead out
of.” That means that the interpreter is led to his conclusions by following the text.
The opposite approach to Scripture is eisegesis, which is the interpretation of a passage based on a
subjective, non-analytical reading. The word eisegesis literally means “to lead into,” which means the
interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever he wants.Obviously, only exegesis does justice to the text. Eisegesis is a mishandling of the text and often leads to a misinterpretation. Exegesis is concerned with discovering the true meaning of the text, respecting its grammar, syntax, and setting. Eisegesis is concerned only with making a point, even at the expense of the meaning of words.
Second Timothy 2:15 commands us to use exegetical methods: “Present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” An honest student of the Bible will be an exegete, allowing the text to speak for itself.
Eisegesis easily lends itself to error, as the would-be interpreter attempts to align the text with his own preconceived notions.                Exegesis allows us to agree with the Bible; eisegesis seeks to force the Bible to agree with us.
The process of exegesis involves
1) observation: what does the passage say?
2) interpretation: what does the passage mean?
3) correlation: how does the passage relate to the rest of the Bible? and
4) application:how should this passage affect my life?

Eisegesis, on the other hand, involves
1) imagination: what idea do I want to present?
2) exploration: whatScripture passage seems to fit with my idea? and
3) application: what does my idea mean? Notice that, in eisegesis, there is no examination of the words of the text or their relationship to each other, no cross-referencing with related passages, and no real desire to understand the actual meaning. Scripture serves only as a prop to the interpreter’s idea.
          bTo illustrate, let’s use both approaches in the treatment of one passage:2 Chronicles 27:1-2
“Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. . . .
He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not
enter the temple of the LORD.”
EISEGESIS
First, the interpreter decides on a topic. Today, it’s “The Importance of Church Attendance.” The interpreter
reads 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 and sees that King Jotham was a good king, just like his father Uzziah had been,except for one thing: he didn’t go to the temple! This passage seems to fit his idea, so he uses it. The resulting sermon deals with the need for passing on godly values from one generation to the next.  Certainly, there is nothing wrong with preaching about church attendance or the transmission of values.
And a cursory reading of 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 seems to support that passage as an apt illustration. However, the
above interpretation is totally wrong. For Jotham not to go to the temple was not wrong; in fact, it was very
good, as the proper approach to the passage will show.Just because King Uzziah went to the temple every week didn’t mean that his son would continue the practice.
In the same way, many young people today tragically turn from their parents’ training, and church
attendance drops off. The sermon ends with a question: “How many blessings did Jotham fail to receive,
simply because he neglected church?”Certainly, there is nothing wrong with preaching about church attendance or the transmission of values. And
a cursory reading of 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 seems to support that passage as an apt illustration. However, the
above interpretation is totally wrong. For Jotham not to go to the temple was not wrong; in fact, it was very
good, as the proper approach to the passage will show.
EXEGESIS
First, the interpreter reads the passage and, to fully understand the context, he reads the histories of both
Uzziah and Jotham ( 2 Chronicles 26-27 ; 2 Kings 15:1-6 , 32-38 ). In his observation, he discovers that King
Uzziah was a good king who nevertheless disobeyed the Lord when he went to the temple and offered
incense on the altar—something only a priest had the right to do ( 2 Chronicles 26:16-20 ). Uzziah’s pride
and his contamination of the temple resulted in his having “leprosy until the day he died” ( 2 Chronicles
26:21 ).Needing to know why Uzziah spent the rest of his life in isolation, the interpreter studies Leviticus 13:46 and
does some research on leprosy. Then he compares the use of illness as a punishment in other passages,
such as 2 Kings 5:27 ; 2 Chronicles 16:12 ; and 21:12-15 .
By this time, the exegete understands something important: when the passage says Jotham “did not enter
the temple of the LORD,” it means he did not did not repeat his father’s mistake. Uzziah had proudly
usurped the priest’s office; Jotham was more obedient.The resulting sermon might deal with the Lord’s discipline of His children, with the blessing of total
obedience, or with our need to learn from the mistakes of the past rather than repeat them.
Of course, exegesis takes more time than eisegesis. But if we are to be those unashamed workmen “who
correctly handle the word of truth,” then we must take the time to truly understand the text. Exegesis is the
only way. May God give you a personal exegetic insight into the wisdom of His word as you read this in Jesus name. Ask Jesus Christ into your life now .

FEET WASHING ORDINANCE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

The root of this practice appears to be found in the hospitality customs of ancient civilizations, especially where sandals were the chief footwear. A host would provide water for guests to wash their feet, provide a servant to wash the feet of the guests or even serve the guests by washing their feet. This is mentioned in several places in the Old Testament of the Bible (e.g. Genesis
18:4 ; 19:2 ; 24:32 ; 43:24 ; I Samuel 25:41
Feet washing was instituted by Christ in John13.14-16
It showed humility, as the participants have to stoop low to wash the feet. Humility is from the greek word 'tapeinoo 'to depress; figuratively, to humiliate (in condition or heart):--abase, bring low, humble (self). This is a prerequisite for upliftment according to 1peter5.5-6. The greatest hindrance to faith is pride, a false estimation of self. Feet washing break the yokeof pride. Great miracles follow folks who observe this ordinance. In Genesis 18. from verse 4, Abraham received , revelations , became an intersesor, rescued a family member, broke the yoke of barrennes , experienced security , through the ordinance of feet washing . Widows in the early church broke through the barrier of poverty and enjoyed favour through feet washing 1Timothy 5.9-10  The ordinance of feet washing predates the laws of Moses. originated by the same token through which the holy communion originated. If you believe in the potency of holy communion then you should believe in feet washing.

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD ? NOW IS THE TIME FOR SALVATION

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD ? NOW IS THE TIME FOR SALVATION  .  
God decided to come down to human level by manifesting in Jesus Christ to reconcile man back to Him. This was to settle once and for all the misunderstandings between God and man. 
    During His earthly ministry Jesus Christ taught about the Kingdom of God being real and dwelt amongst us. He told us the kingdom of God was within our reach, Mathew 4:17, however man-made religions makes it difficult to realize this  .
    Religious practices are based on what man thinks as acceptable conditions for entrance in to the kingdom of God and they fall short of God's plan to save man.  The bible says in Colossians 2:20-23 “ You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,  "Don't handle! Don't taste! Don't touch!"?  Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person's evil desires. NLT Bible , in Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' and also in Lk 18:10-14  "Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don't cheat, I don't sin, and I don't commit adultery. I'm certainly not like that tax collector!  I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'  "But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'  I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."    
Seven Things That Will Not Take A Person To Heaven
1. Ability to prophesy
2. Ability to cast out devils
3 .Ability to work miracles
4.  Having a religious title or name
5 .fasting and prayer
6 tithing and offering
7.church membership.
      The Word of God teaches salvation is a gift to be received with thanksgiving  Tit 3:5 “he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit.” Mssg Bible. This process is known as being born again. Rejecting this free gift the bible says would lead to eternal damnation (Separation from God)Mark16:16 Mk 16:16 ..”whoever does not believe will be condemned ”NIV How To Be Saved : Jesus said “you must be born again” John3:3-7  Ro 10:9-11 “For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and believe in your own heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in his heart that a man becomes right with God; and with his mouth he tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation.    For the Scriptures tell us that no one who believes in Christ will ever be disappointed.”
DO YOU WANT TO BE SAVED? Then pray this prayer: Heavenly father I come to you as a sinner; forgive me of my sins, I accept Jesus Christ as my lord and  saviour .Thank you for accepting me as your child .Amen   
For counseling call or email Pst. Michael Benson Ajayi 234+08035536911. 234+ 08098536911 ,
Gracevine family church beside shipyard  by new flyover  off Alcon road last bus stop. woji town PH. Nig
You may inbox me and share your testimony . Michael Benson Ajayi // www.facebook.com
email:gracevinemin@yahoo.com :
gracevine ministries international/ facebook.com,
www.gracevinefamilychurch.com ,
twitter.@pastormikeblive.

SCIENCE , FAITH IN HARMONY? ( GOD AND THE BLACK HOLE )

SCIENCE AND FAITH IN HARMONY (GOD AND THE BLACK HOLE)
CASE IN STUDY :
ASTRONOMY - THE BLACK HOLE PHENOMENON
What Is a Black Hole?
A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light
can not get out. The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed
into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying.
Because no light can get out, people can't see black holes. They are
invisible. Space telescopes with special tools can help find black holes. The
special tools can see how stars that are very close to black holes act
differently than other stars.
How Do Black Holes Form?
Scientists think the smallest black holes formed when the universe began.
Stellar black holes are made when the center of a very big star falls in upon
itself, or collapses. When this happens, it causes a supernova. A supernova
is an exploding star that blasts part of the star into space.
Scientists think supermassive black holes were made at the same time as
the galaxy they are in.

If Black Holes Are "Black," How Do Scientists Know They Are There?
A black hole can not be seen because strong gravity pulls all of the light into
the middle of the black hole. But scientists can see how the strong gravity
affects the stars and gas around the black hole. Scientists can study stars to
find out if they are flying around, or orbiting, a black hole.
When a black hole and a star are close together, high-energy light is made.
This kind of light can not be seen with human eyes. Scientists use satellites
and telescopes in space to see the high-energy light.
NO BODY CAN CLAIM TO HAVE SEEN A BLACK HOLE BUT WE BELIEVE THEY EXIST BECAUSE WE BELIEVE OUR SCIENTISTS DESPITE THEIR IMPERFECTIONS.
Let's examine their claims , 1)a black hole has a middle ( implying there is a beginning and therefore an end or it has a perimeter or radius ) 2) black holes have masses ( they can be weighed based on standards determined only by a few persons out  of 7 billion persons on earth)
We believe this because WE CHOOSE  TO . This helps us understand the universe
FAITH , SCIENCE AND GOD
Hebrews 11:1, 3 NLT
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen."
What this means is that there is a difference between what was created and what was made.
You create something from what can not be seen while things a made from what has been created.
Therefore , it is wrong to give credit to a scientist  for making something out of an intelligent object created by God. Scientists make things out of what God has created. Without the innate intelligence in the nucleus andmby extension the  molecules of a cell , it will be absolutely impossible to manipulate a cell in to taking a desired shape . The human hand moves according to an invisible will of man, the various motor cells are intelligent enough to respond to our command.
From the above it will be contradictory to say faith and science are at a crossroad but rather they run parallel with each other. 
EMPERICAL DATA AND FAITH
Science deals with imperical data and the general consensus of peer groups in the scientific community. However, from the study of black holes certain assumptions where made in order to make progress , these sometimes are later proven wrong based on new more reliable data and evidence, case in point , the continental plates or shells where once seen as one continual plate by the scientific community until new data proved otherwise. There is also debate on the effect of global warming and climate change. The scientific community is torn on what to believe on the issue of climate change. Against this backdrop one could not base ones belief on a subjective system of analysis and yet arrive on an objective truth. That's why truth is seen as subjective , one man's meat being another's poison, thus there 'll be no obligation whatsoever to a righteous cause since righteousness doesn't exist in a world where truth is relative .

Does faith allow for imperial analysis , Yes, it does however , we are reminded of it's limitations .
John 20:24-25 NLT
One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
John 20:26-27 NLT
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
John 20:29 NLT
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

DO NOT CHOKE ON A DREAM

WORLDLY CARES ARE THORNS
Luke 8:14, "And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection."
This third type of ground is characteristic of a large part of the Body of Christ today. These are people who have received God's Word, committed themselves to it to the degree that they are able to remain faithful in persecution, but because of being occupied with the affairs of this life, the Word sown in their heart is choked and no fruit is produced. Just as weeds in a garden will steal all of the nutrients and starve the plant, so the pleasures of this life, if we allow them to dominate our thinking, will stop the fruit that the Word would have produced. Throughout history, the Church has always grown in size and strength during persecution. This is because during persecution we get our priorities straight. We realize our life is in Jesus (Jn. 14:6) and not in things (Lk. 12:15), and we focus all of our attention on the Lord. However, prosperity has been far more damaging to the Body of Christ for the exact reason stated here in this verse. God wants to bless His children with things (Ps. 35:27; Mt. 6:33), but a preoccupation with these things will choke God's Word and make it unfruitful. If we would follow God's formula for prosperity found in Matthew 6:19-34, we would have the Word bringing forth fruit and we'd enjoy the physical blessings of this life, too. Notice Jesus said that no fruit was brought to perfection. This type of person will exhibit some fruit, but it will always be small and far short of what it should be. Do you feel frustrated because you are just getting by and are not really experiencing the abundant life that Jesus came to give? (Jn. 10:10) Examine your lifestyle and see if the cares of this life, deceitfulness of riches, or pleasures of this life could be choking God's Word. His Word never fails.

ATHEISM AND MORALITY AT CROSS ROADS

ATHEISM AND MORALITY A GREAT CONTRADICTION
The Moral Argument in Theism  1.  Real moral obligation is a fact and  we are really, truly, objectively obligated to do good and avoid evil. 2.  Either the atheistic view of reality is correct or the “Godly” one. 3.  But the atheistic one is incompatible with there being moral obligation. 4.  Therefore the “theistic ” view of reality is correct.
  The first premise posits that human beings really are obligated; that our duties arise from the way things really are, and not simply from our desires or subjective dispositions. It is claiming, in other words, that moral values are obligations themselves –and not merely the belief in moral values – are objective facts.   Now given the fact that of moral obligation, a question naturally arises. Does the picture of the world view presented by atheism accord with this fact? It does not. Atheists hold the view that we are the chance products of the motion of matter: a motion which is purposeless , meaningless and blind to every human striving. If that is the case this question arises: Given this picture, in what exactly is the moral good rooted? Moral obligation can hardly be rooted in a material motion blind to purpose.   Suppose we say it is rooted in nothing deeper than human willing and desire. In that case, we have no moral standard against which human desires can be judged. For every desire will spring from the same ultimate source – purposeless, pitiless and meaningless matter. And what becomes of obligation? According to this view, if I say there is an obligation to clothe the naked, I would be stating a fact about my wants and desires and nothing else. I would be saying that I want the naked to be clothed, and that I choose to act on the desire. But this amounts to an admission that neither I nor anyone else is really obliged to clothe the naked – that, in fact, no one has any real obligation at all. Therefore the atheistic view of reality is not compatible with there being genuine moral obligation.   What view is compatible? One that sees real moral obligation as grounded in its Creator; that sees moral obligation as rooted in that fact that we have been created with a purpose and for an end. We may call this view, with deliberate generality, “the theistic view.” But however general the view, reflection on the fact of moral obligation does seem to confirm it.
Psalm 53.1 Bible.  Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!