By Liaf
This is going to be a short message, but one that should hit the nail on the head. And maybe for once, this may be one that will be entirely read.
I came across an agnostic that did not really believe that Jesus was the true Messiah. He quoted genealogical problems with that of Matthew and Luke, he claimed that many of the prophecies were not fulfilled, many of the prophecies could have been imitated, and that the prophecies were maybe misinterpreted and did not really apply to Christ. You get the idea.
The evangelical and fundamental communities were upset at him. How dare he demand "proof"! He was being willfully blind! After all, it's a matter of faith in the bible, and the understanding that such prophecies demand fulfillment. Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecies and indeed, the man Jesus, per se, did not create the doctrine of the Messiah. Rather, there are prophecies regarding Messiah that by Jesus' actions and events fulfilled them and that was the evidence needed to show he was the Messiah. So to make a long story short, the Evangelicals and fundamentalists cannot see how such a person can be so blind as to not see that Jesus fulfilled them.
I replied to the agnostic, "I can see where you are coming from, even though I respectfully disagree." He was very thankful that I treated him like a human being. "But," I said, "I have a confession to make. My communication with you is not to make you believe Jesus is the Messiah. Actually, I am as far right to the Evangelicals and fundamentalists as they seem to you! Let me explain," I continued. "You see, I believe in what is commonly called British-Israelism even though I am not really officially affiliated with them. The Evangelicals and fundamentalists ask me, 'Where is your proof'? They fail to see that they are doing the same thing to me as you are doing to them!"
We continued to talk and I told the agnostic how I would provide scripture after scripture after scripture after scripture arguing the point. But they did not want to hear about "faith" in this subject and scripture. They wanted "proof"! They could not get it thru their thick skulls that I did not build the doctrine on the evidence, and then "make the bible fit it". Rather, the bible demanded certain marks, characteristics and prophecies about the lost house of Israel. I believe only certain nations and people conformed to the descriptions just as Jesus conformed to the images of the Messiah. What is the difference? What is there not to get about this?
But alas, their comeback regarding this subject basically still consists of poking fun or accusations such as racism. The Evangelicals and fundamentalists have yet to answer who or what fulfilled ALL THE GREAT PROMISES TO ISREAL as we teach on this site, no, NOT ONE!
I think the feeling I left with the agnostic is not to worry about their preaching about faith, for you see, they do not have all the answers as our friend the agnostic, and maybe do not want all the answers, either. Anything beyond their pharisaic understanding and walls I believe really threatens them. God forbid if we should question or even believe the bible (even if it teaches something not easily seen) that they claim to believe in. It takes a special type of person self-assured enough to believe the bible in spite of the masses' interpretation and to stand alone--- that's real faith.
CLICK HERE to read a "typical answer" regarding the promises in place of what we teach here!