Linda Martens Comments

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Linda Martens 4 years ago in "Lead Us Not Into Temptation"

I wanted to listen to this sermon, but when I press the start button, someone else's face comes up, and the video does not work.

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "Fixing Bad Church Culture, Part 1: Caring About the Sinner, Not Just the Sin"

Thank you for a fine sermon that gets right to the heart of Christianity. So many fine lessons that focus on mercy and humility! This makes for a lovely, loving church culture. (As you said, it is not excusing sin -- but it is an attitude of the heart.)

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "How Abraham Became Obedient and Faithful: Warts and All"

"They can't all be gems." LOL Thank you for all you do.

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "Profiles of Faith: Rahab - From Harlot to Heroine"

Most prostitutes do not enjoy a good relationship with parents and siblings, which is one reason I find it so hard to believe she was a prostitute. But most commentators believe she was a harlot, and so I can't fault writers who agree with this.

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "Profiles of Faith: Rahab - From Harlot to Heroine"

I don't know about the marriage to the Egyptian ambassador -- I have not seen evidence of that -- but the rest of what you write makes sense. Josephus called Rahab an "Inn Keeper," and I believe she was an inn keeper, not a prostitute. As I have read, the New Testament apparently wrongly translated the mistranslated word from the Old Testament. Would the Bible really repeat over and over "Rahab the Harlot."? No other sinner is so acclaimed. "David the murderer." "Paul the murderer." "Jacob the Deceiver." But "Rahab the Inn Keeper" makes more sense. Over time the inn received many visitors, and Rahab and her family heard the stories of the happenings and feats of the Israelites and their God. And does someone really think the Israelitish spies went to a harlot's place to spend the night? What an evil example that would portray to all. Some say, "Well, that would be a good cover," but I don't think God's followers should need that kind of cover. God admonished his people over and over to live a wise and honorable life. And the example they set for the surrounding countries was important. Of course God can and does save prostitutes -- but it just doesn't fit the narrat

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "How Abraham Became Obedient and Faithful: Warts and All"

P.S. I am Linda Martens of Arkansas. I do not want to embarrass the other UCG Linda Martens of Ohio with my outspokenness. She is much more discrete.

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "How Abraham Became Obedient and Faithful: Warts and All"

Nehemiah 9:7,8 “You are the LORD God, Who chose Abram, And BROUGHT HIM OUT OF UR OF THE CHALDEANS, And gave him the name Abraham; You found his heart faithful before You, And made a covenant with him.” We saw how Abraham had so much influence over his household that in the self-same day they were told to be circumcised, that they ALL complied. Abraham circumcised himself and his son Ishmael and the rest. (Ask the few males in your home to get circumcised today and see how much compliance you get.) Abraham risked his own life to go after his nephew Lot and was heavily blessed for that. Abraham raised a knife to kill his beloved son. I think we wonderful modern-day Christians are a bunch of wimps compared to Abraham. But mainly, there are just no words of criticism from God for Abraham but just praise – so I won’t go beyond what God does and create my own denunciation. God said of Abraham, Genesis 18;19, For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment..”

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "How Abraham Became Obedient and Faithful: Warts and All"

Well, it appears that Abraham not only took along Lot but that his father was with him, too. Acts 7:2-4 "And he said, 'Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia (in Ur), before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you. Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell.” Yes, Abraham left the land of his nativity (Gen 11:28) with Sarai, Lot, and his father Terah. Genesis 11:31, 32 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan (ultimate destiny); and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. Canaan was the ultimate destiny not only for Abraham, Sarai, and Lot but also for father Terah. (600 miles between Ur and Haran. 500 miles between Haran and Canaan).

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "How Abraham Became Obedient and Faithful: Warts and All"

Of course we are all human and no one is perfect, but Abraham certainly came close to it as the scripture was written.

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "How Abraham Became Obedient and Faithful: Warts and All"

I am also nonplussed when people talk about Abraham’s lack of faith because when he was 100 and his wife long past child-bearing age, they decided to follow the custom of the time (odd to us now but common during that time) and have a servant produce a child. God had promised Abraham descendants – one can only imagine that it might be time to step up to the plate and have one. No, we all know in hind sight that that was not a good idea. But how many would have held out until age 100 (and the wife age 90)? Instead of flippantly saying they are a couple of faithless folks, maybe we can half admire that they waited so long. Not just here – but I see on the Internet a constant attempt to denigrate Abraham, calling him a liar. It seems that if the Father of the Faithful has many faults, then we all can feel justified in our own shortcomings. But God does have some words to say about bringing false accusations against others (in this case Abraham). And I do not have personally to impugn Abraham in order to feel better about myself or other sinners. As I consider the life of Abraham, I just do not see faults.

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "How Abraham Became Obedient and Faithful: Warts and All"

Genesis 14:18-20 “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God MostHigh. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he [Abraham] gave him a tithe of all. I am also nonplussed when people talk about Abraham’s lack of faith because when he was 100 and his wife long past child-bearing age, they decided to follow the custom of the time (odd to us now but common during that time) and have a servant produce a child. God had promised Abraham descendants – one can only imagine that it might be time to step up to the plate and have one. No, we all know in hind sight that that was not a good idea. But how many would have held out until age 100 (and the wife age 90)? Instead of flippantly saying they are a couple of faithless folks, maybe we can half admire that they waited so long. Not just here – but I see on the Internet a constant attempt to denigrate Abraham, calling him a liar. It seems that if the Father of the Faithful has many faults, then we all can feel justified in our own shortcomings.

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "How Abraham Became Obedient and Faithful: Warts and All"

I usually admire the sermons of Mr. Thomas – but this one is so wrong. It is over-the-top to say that when God says to leave family and go to a new location, that he means for a person to leave behind his apparent dependents. A godly person is merciful and takes care of responsibilities. I have lost my sister, and I love her child as one of my own. Does God allow us to add to scripture by making assumptions? Nowhere does God give any indication that he did not want Abraham to take along his dead brother’s child. As R. mentioned, Lot was called “righteous” and was blessed in many ways. In an apparent attempt to show that Lot should not have accompanied Abraham, Mr. Thomas mentioned that Abraham had to go rescue Lot. But he fails to mention that after that rescue, Melchizadek himself (said to be Jesus Christ) appeared in person to Abraham and blessed him – That is a huge and amazing event that none of us have ever experienced, and it showed acceptance and favor for Abraham. God would not give a special reward and blessing for wrong-doing.

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "Is Our Mass Media Leading Us Astray"

What does it mean to be "apolitical"?

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "Is Our Mass Media Leading Us Astray"

To editor: It was late last night when I wrote a comment. This comment may be better --
or you may consider it too incendiary. <<"How many say they will not be against immorality because that might make them "right wing." Yes, let's just use a pejorative for any who speak against evil. Then say we are apolitical - so we are above it all and don't have to e concerned. In Ezekiel 9:4 God says, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and who cry because of all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.” Is it wrong to decry an amoral media that stokes the fires of society's rebellion against the God we worship?>>

Linda Martens 6 years ago in "Is Our Mass Media Leading Us Astray"

I too, must disagree, Mr. Williams. The mass media is influencing people away from morality, away from God., just as the false prophets of old did. Would God have approved if folks in the ancient past had said, "I don't care if false prophets pull people away from God -- I am apolitical and I am above it all"? No, in Ezekiel 9:4 God says, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and who cry because of all the abominations that are done in t he midst thereof.” Should we not mourn for the lies of the mass media -- which influences folks to support immoral activity such as abortion, LBQT, radical feminism, adultery, living together without marriage, free sex, government theft of property, open borders, etc, etc. Maybe you want to call that "right-wing", but many call it ungodly and destructive of our nation.