Hebrews: Extreme Warnings Against Denying Christ | Secular Bible Study (Episode 58)

[@MindShift-Brandon]

A nice change of pace after Paul! Also, upcoming q&a. Add your question with the link below (after you watch the video lol) kzbin.infoUgkxNw-crp7uy-wCFMqJh8rz9NUMaI875hXw?si=ZsFAK86QinnxfHXr

[@TonyLambregts]

When are you going to do a video on Pascal's Wager? 😊

[@MindShift-Brandon]

@@TonyLambregtsat some point it should have its own video nits just such a bad argument lol and so easy to cover that it would be like a 5 min video. But it might be time for another larger hell video in general so could squeeze it in there.

[@TonyLambregts]

@MindShift-Brandon a really crappy wager if you ask me. My response is that God is supposed to know me better than I know myself, and I know that I doubt that it exists. If that is going to condemn me, there's sweet bugger all I can do about it.

[@patrickthorpe422]

Love the video, brother!

[@n.c.1201]

Great collection of information here, Brandon. Hebrews is such a big theological book... I don't think we have to read beyond Chapter 1 to see how different the Son looks. The Son comes to them "in these last days", and he is appointed to the right hand "after he provided purification for sins" and because of this "he became" the way he is-- above the angels. This Son sounds nothing like a perfect being, it still sounds apocalyptic and is just such a fun study when you don't have blinders on! I love the world of the angels and demons... such a tie into the historic worldview.

[@BluStarGalaxy]

God letting someone die to test a persons faith is like a Dad running over the family pet with his truck to test if his children will still love him.

[@Sealust50]

I love that analogy 🎯

[@Khann_2102]

Amazing analogy

[@iaminevitable_]

Well said!

[@nihiqallam5616]

Fr

[@_ben_miller]

chapter 11:17-19, "17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure." the creator of all things can create and destroy and resurrect anything as much as he wants. and, besides, the creator of all things owns all things and has the only right to do anything. to not believe something because you don't like it is not a logical reason to not believe something. in order to dislike something and be correct, it has to exist/have happened.

[@jon.skeptischism]

It’s incredible coming to realize just how many apologetics for the Bible there are within the Bible itself!

[@26beegee]

The shedding of blood for the remission of sin was my biggest hurdle, which I never got over and ultimately caused the rejection of my cult membership. I kept asking, “Why?” If he could speak a universe into existence he could speak forgiveness into existence!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

1000%!

[@onedaya_martian1238]

**EXACTLY** Like jezus never handed out a "condition card" to all those he supposedly forgave prior to his grizzly crucifixion's stating "Your divine forgiveness is not in effect until my death on a cross at 3pm Friday, and will be activated on my rumored resurrection, at Sunrise Sunday of the same weekend, the year 33AD. Signed: Son of Man"

[@26beegee]

@@onedaya_martian1238 Good one! 🤣

[@rosalindc9651]

Yes! And I always asked myself “what would a cosmic, omnipotent deity of time and space want with a biological body fluid? The obsession with blood is unbelievably bizarre when you think about it clearly. It’s such a human idea and the farthest thing from the divine I could think of.

[@smidlee7747]

@@rosalindc9651 You think the Bible teaches materialism?

[@PaulTempesta-id8wr]

I am 70 and gave up my belief in any god over 25 years ago I admire you so much Brandon

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thank you, Paul!

[@BenjaminEaster-b8b]

​@MindShift-Brandon I instantly clicked away from an Aron Ra binge watch session 🙃 as soon as my notification regarding Mindshift materialized 😂

[@BenjaminEaster-b8b]

​@@MindShift-BrandonDon’t get me wrong. Aron Ra is a virtuoso, but Brandon is equivocally my bread 🍞 and butter 🧈 😋 in particularized aspects

[@MindShift-Brandon]

@user-kv2xy8rf3g thats high praise! Ha. Thank you

[@abiliv-lf9tz]

I hope you do well :3

[@TareqMaynard]

As we go along with this study series there's one continual underlying context, and it's that this religion is man made, male men to be exact.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

100%!

[@BenjaminEaster-b8b]

​@MindShift-Brandon I instantly clicked away from an Aron Ra binge watch session 🙃 as soon as my notification regarding Mindshift materialized 😂

[@BenjaminEaster-b8b]

​@MindShift-Brandon The contradictions and dichotomizingly exclusive verses you declaim make this glaringly, abounding blantant

[@rokkitserjun]

@@BenjaminEaster-b8b Aron-Ra is a brilliant Atheist and one of the OG KZbinrs, but he has gone too far down the political rabbit hole over the last few years for me to keep up with him. Sadly, a lot of Atheist channels seem to have taken this path, and I think we are worse off for it.

[@rcktneoofusa]

Definitely it's MAN made. Isn't even woman made

[@bluuuke9705]

30:00 It's like someone playing a video game and claiming they're best at the game because they never take any damage. But the reason they never take damage is not because of their skill, but because they had an invincibility cheat on.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

great analogy!

[@Khann_2102]

Amazing Analogy

[@Khann_2102]

​@@MindShift-Brandon Could you do a video about Islam someday? I was born a Muslim and not religious anymore gladly

[@KatMo7121]

Over the years, I've learned that when bad things happen, I have a tendency to blame myself, even when they couldn't possibly be my fault. Leftovers from how I was raised, I guess. Getting better, thanks to your videos, Brandon!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Its a hard line to find for sure. Glad to be of help. Thanks!

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

It really is a victim blaming religion

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

34:00 "I'm sorry, son. You talked crap about me at school because you're embarrassed by some of the things I say. I can't just let that one go. I'm a huge baby when it comes to my reputation and that's totally unforgivable. I cast you into the streets and you're dead to me."... Said nobody's dad.

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

To be fair, I am aware that, for strictly religious, dogmatic reasons, there have been people cast from their families. I'm coming from the opposite approach of unconditional love.

[@KatMo7121]

@@CatDaddyGuitar I was about to tell you of the kids I've "adopted" whose parents had kicked them out or made their lives a living hell, but then I read your reply to your OP. Good on you for explaining! Unconditional love is so hard to live by, but totally worth it!

[@Artdaclownindisbitch]

Your ... Austicic..? Uh aspergers , im legit asking,no offense

[@dflaming1371]

Lol mine did. Kicked me out for asking a question, for being ill, for defending myself when he threatened me and kicked my door down, and once for not being "affectionate enough"

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

@@dflaming1371 I'm sorry to hear that... Yeah, that's why I clarified that I understand that it happens. That's not love.

[@harmonychilden5326]

Yay!! I get so excited for these! I can't tell you how very VERY helpful you are, Brandon! Thank you for all that you do for those of us working our way out of years of indoctrination!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

My absolute pleasure. Thanks for the kind note!

[@BenjaminEaster-b8b]

​@@MindShift-Brandon​@MindShift-Brandon I instantly clicked away from an Aron Ra binge watch session 🙃 as soon as my notification regarding Mindshift materialized 😂

[@BenjaminEaster-b8b]

​@@MindShift-BrandonNow, you ought to go to Aron Ra's classification of taxonomical orders. He is the breakingly scrupulous evolutionary cognoscenti

[@suicune2001]

Learning about the history is fascinating. It really gives me the image of people struggling with a new religion that's not really compatible but they keep being told, "No no, it actually makes sense." until they give in. It also reminds me of Disney Star Wars. Kind of acknowledging the original but then saying, "My version makes the original better. All our characters are better." even though it doesn't fit quite right.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

love that comparison!

[@andrewbuswell6010]

‘Long,long ago at many times and in many ways in a galaxy far,far away….’

[@Aironcrow]

Around10:30ish, "This is a religion that took a sharp left turn." I reminded of Joseph Campbell saying that the right hand way (path) is the way of the the tribe, the tradition, the norm whereas the left hand path is the way of innovation, discovery and progress. Given that definition, the traditional religions became more constricted, dogmatic and separate. Thank you for your work, Brandon - keep exposing the dirt without talkin' trash. Make the problem the problem not other people the problem. Always move in the direction of human solidarity without niavete.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Appreciate that!

[@lilafeldman8630]

I can't wait to listen to this in full. The book of Hebrews scared me so much. So much fear of backsliding, of falling away.

[@Chuck-se5hh]

Your Mindshift work is historically ground-breaking and essential to countering the abuses and shortcomings and errors that are in the Bible and in the character of the God of the Bible. You have clearly demonstrated that the Bible has many contradictions and problematic passages and therefore such a book cannot be allowed to continue to unquestioningly run and reign supreme in our civilization and culture like it has for the last 2,000 years. The Bible itself tells us to 'prove all things' and to be diligent seekers of truth and fact - and that is exactly what you are doing.

[@Psych3001]

So glad you’re collaborating with Kristi! I love when the minds that helped me wake up get together 😅

[@NathonHay]

You are putting into words the thoughts I've had for 20 years. Thank you for your hard work!

[@hermungus1]

I was reading Dr Robert Price, he mentioned how the theology of Maccabees influenced the new testament. It would be so cool to see someone do a breakdown of those books in this style

[@Badficwriter]

This book really seems very pagan in its image of the angry, punishing god who demands blood. It doesn't fit with much of the New Covenant ideals of the other books.

[@victoriarose10]

Brandon, thank you so much for making these videos. I’ve been a Christian my whole life, but recently my faith crumbled after I found contradiction after contradiction, and it all went downhill from there. I may be a Christian again one day, but nevertheless, your videos are very helpful to dig to the truth, as, while there are many channels that have a similar style as yours, your logic is always very concise and easy to understand, not to mention you bring up so many good points that are very thought provoking, and you have a good balance between both the theological issues of Christianity and the Logical issues, all that to say, you got yourself a new subscriber :)

[@commandergs1390]

You followed the truth where it led you, that’s something not too many people do. Evidence leads to truth, but so many people try to take a predetermined “truth” and find evidence for it. I saw a quote today: “Science isn’t how you prove yourself right, it’s how you become right.” All I can really say at this point is that I appreciate your earnest search for the truth. Maybe it will bring you back to the church, maybe further away? It’s genuinely scary to have such uncertainty in your future, but you’re not alone.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

What s comment! Thank you for the very kind and detailed feedback. Proud of you for facing the music so to speak!

[@onedaya_martian1238]

If you are kind, laugh at the silly, the clever and ironic, love others as you (hopefully) love yourself, forgive those who sincerely need or ask for forgiveness...and seek Truth... all to the best of your ability... you are the best kind of "Christian"!! (not maybe being one, one day) Virtual hugs through the internet.

[@Badficwriter]

I thread the needle between the good feelings I remember from my old faith and the knowledge how destructive and deceitful that old faith could be. If I choose one piece of the faith (There is a part of the universe that corresponds to love and is within all humans.), is it compatible with all the other pieces of that faith? No. No god of love with perfect foreknowledge would create people who would be condemned to death and/or torture. My priest made it clear I could not pick and choose, so I am agnostic. I accept the scientific evidence compiled and agreed upon by groups of scholars because it can be independently affirmed. I am not a worshiper of science. No scientific theory is immutable, should more evidence come to light. Just as certain scientific theories like quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity both seem true within their bubble--but don't work with each other--I have no trouble letting my agnosticism sit in its own bubble of hope and treating people kindly, even if the evidence isn't quite there.

[@CB66941]

The fact that Hebrews 9:22 does not mention that without the shedding of blood, there can be no justice, but that there can be no forgiveness instead throws a wrench into that Christian apologetic that God needed to sacrifice his son because he is perfectly just. There is simply no reason why Jesus needed to die if he easily forgave people like the paralytic man.

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

@@CB66941 he even said it was easier to forgive than to do miracles.. so, yeah 👍🏼

[@MindShift-Brandon]

good point! lots of inconsistencies around this topic.

[@shadowwynd6641]

In that case, Jesus also said that due to the faith of the man’s friends, his (the paralyzed man) sins were forgiven. It says nothing about his own faith.

[@theol64]

@@MindShift-Brandon Brandon, as you being a "former Christian", I expect Christian answers. This would show that you actually understood. What do we get? 2:20 "...less than an hour 'high level overview' per book. What do you mean? Is it "high", a level of altitude (a birdseye view) or is is a "high" level of superior scholarly work? Thanks. I'd appreciate your clarification.

[@tomsenior7405]

Excellent. I genuinely appreciate your hard work. Unlike so many religious types, you show your working out. You go into detail and do not make any claims without substantiating your points. I am always impressed by your efforts. From one very ineloquent bloke to a trustworthy man, I thank you for putting into words that which I am inadequate. Cheers.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

As always far too kind, Tom!

[@kettei7743]

Breath of fresh of indeed, even when I disagree on these takes on Paul Happy sbs day

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Lol thanks!

[@duanethompson8770]

As a Protestant for most of my life I have heard many, many sermons using the book of Hebrews. It does sure hold a lots of concepts-many of them contradictory. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book.

[@brightargyle8950]

I'm excited about your having Kristi Burke on! I recently found her channel and enjoy her approach on things, similar to your own.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Me too! Thank you

[@darrenjames6309]

Good to see you touch on unforgettable sin, I think it's an horrific concept and I'd like to get over my fear of it. Please do an episode on it, debunking it.

[@PinkPony_]

I started watching Kristi on tt and that brought me to he yt which led me to mindshit, so I'm pretty excited, thanks Brandon for all your hard work

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thats awesome. Thanks!

[@SalvyMic]

This is definitely uncharted territory for me, it's illuminating. Appreciate it as always.

[@Spritaek]

I would not mind hearing your hours long in depth analysis, even as a podcast. Your way of speech is compelling and also gets me through my work day

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Appreciate that! I have been going about two hours in the podcast episodes

[@montanahelton1272]

Great video! Also am so excited for Kristi to be on!! ❤❤❤❤

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks and yes me too!

[@xtina2189]

How awful it would be to have such a horrible, insecure,abusive, neglectful, indifferent, tyrannical, psychopathic, intolerant, impatient, & clearly incompetent "heavenly father"😬🤦🏾‍♂️

[@SeekingTruth2023]

My sentiments exactly. And the thing is, that the believers oftentimes are not even aware of the character of the God they 'love' and 'worship'. Church usually speaks about the nice things only. No mentioning of the problematic and immoral things, and sometimes they don't even read the whole Bible, but only the passages they find pleasing and comfortable. I did exactly that soo many years, until I finally started to think critically, read the whole Bible, and stopped listening to the echo chamber of my former church, but looked at the bible from different perspectives. All the best to you!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

going hard, love it!

[@xtina2189]

@@SeekingTruth2023 cosign. 🤜🤛

[@victoriarose10]

@SeekingTruth2023 I couldn’t relate more to a comment!

[@SeekingTruth2023]

@victoriarose10 Thank you! It is so nice, that we are not alone anymore. I hope you are doing well and have good company to support you. I wish you a lot of strength and joy! Thanks for commenting. It made my day a beautiful one!

[@SCP-SAM]

Boom! Here we go!

[@SeekingTruth2023]

@@SCP-SAM Hi Sam, I missed this comment. :) Hope you are well! Have a good day!

[@SCP-SAM]

@@SeekingTruth2023 Hi Seeking...was late today as I had to take my HD in for servicing.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

@SCP-SAM what do you ride. I had a road king classic for a while but my favorite bike has actually been a Honda. Was a vtx1800

[@SeekingTruth2023]

@@MindShift-Brandon I was trying to find out, what HD means in this context, haha. I thought it can't be High Definition or sth like that... haha, now I understand! Really, you guys are bikers 🏍 ;) I don't even have a drivers license 😄 (my son has one) This is nice to know! I am sure you have a lot of fun! I have a bike, too 🚲😅 a bit slower than yours :))

[@MindShift-Brandon]

I cycle way more than i ride btw so im with you. A bit out of shape these days but used to gravel race and my longest was a double century. Id take my giant revolt advanced 0 over any motorcycle

[@akulagepard9510]

another crazy book of the NT, up there with acts. Happy SBS!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Its a wild one for sure!

[@SeekingTruth2023]

Pink shirt... ohh orange and Pink. :) Hebrews! I was waiting for this episode!! Excited to watch!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks for being here for it!

[@danielsmith2447]

I'm seeing a purple shirt

[@SeekingTruth2023]

​@danielsmith2447 oh yes, it might be purple. In my language one can say both. Anyway this colour is kind of new to this channel. ;)

[@danielsmith2447]

@@SeekingTruth2023 Ah I understand now, I'm kind of relieved, I paint cars for a living and was afraid I might be going color blind.

[@MalekMagicianPR]

Solid analysis 👌

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much!

[@JamesRichardWiley]

Christ: Love me and obey me or burn for eternity. Unconditional love.

[@MrBadway_636]

exactly...yet they say we have free-will, but do we? because that doesn't seem like a choice💁

[@smidlee7747]

God doesn't save anyone by His love. It's by His grace. You misrepresent Christ. Can an atheist be honest? It's more like you are already heading to hell so Jesus came to redeem man and tasted hell for every man so you no longer have to go. Let say I'm bankrupt because I didn't handle my money and was about to lose my house. My family is about to be in the street with no place to live. If my brother came up to me and offer to catch up on the house payment to 6 months in advance so I wouldn't lose my house and I refused then my family would end on the street not because the lack of money but because of my pride refusing my brother's help.

[@chrissonofpear1384]

@@smidlee7747 If Grace is so all encompassing - why did sin, desire to sin, and imperfection, ever arise in heaven? And nobody heads to, or chooses hell - wittingly. I hear there is a Pit. So one must be 'cast in'. To many, that does not look like a choice. And you knew your brother. You were not a Spanish medieval Jew, with little reason to trust 'the offer'. Whilst others around you, were persecuted. Or Africans, enslaved. So the offer here is made by an ambiguous stranger - who might be linked to the ones coming to claim your house. Not by an identifiable brother. And see also the debated term 'Mossiach'. Meanwhile, love is a motivating, character trait. Grace is instead, so far - just another code word. In a murky, legal system. Including predestination, seemingly.

[@smidlee7747]

@@chrissonofpear1384 What people chooses is to be their own god which the end result is hell. Pride is what leads people to hell. For example an atheist believes they have something good than didn't come from God, their intellect. They want all the glory for their own intelligence. You are misrepresenting what Christianity teaches. I only use that brother paying my debt example as an analogy which is much closer to Jesus teachings that your statement. Grace is not just a code word. Grace as it's been said is God's riches at Christ's expense. God can't save you by His love because He is also Just and Righteous. The Law still must be fulfilled.

[@chrissonofpear1384]

@@smidlee7747 No, that is not sufficient. Pride on it's own would not lead angels to hell. They would also have to be confused, lack common sense, or become suicidally proud too. It would have to be rooted into their very nature. And how many gods? How are we to know how many were responsible. I also cannot misrepresent what Christianity teaches - because I do not know which Christianity you mean. There are now 40,000 differing strains or variations of it. And such ambiguity is not my sole responsibility to resolve. Whilst the Law is that Adam and Eve's unwitting, naïve free will trumped all of ours, apparently. He is also - the Jeopardizer. In a way Adam and Eve could not possibly, or wittingly, be. He built the chess board, armed the opponents, and unleashed them. And told Adam and Eve, nothing of significance about them. Or stakes to other lives. But I do know, meanwhile, another thing that Christianity teaches: and that is John 14:12. It is now for you, and others - to fulfil it if you wish. Now - what was Satan owed, by law - after his betrayal? And exile. And what access to, mostly not yet even born, or existent humanity either - was he owed? Who unlike every angel - never has made, a wholly informed, free will choice, on the matter of loyalty. I have chosen humanity - it may not be, my god. But it is, my home. And my family. So deal with it. Or surpass it - but do something, other than yak on. And on. And schism.

[@BluStarGalaxy]

You brought up a good point. Jesus made himself fully man and was unable to sin. My thought is why did he not create Adam and Eve like that then? Christians might counter this by saying, “He didn’t because that would take away their free will.” I could say in response, “Does that mean that Jesus didn’t have free will?” Does that mean that Jesus being tempted in the wilderness was a sham because if he was perfect and unable to sin, it was never going work, and why do it at all. Why do the gospels make it seem so inspiring that Jesus never gave into Satan? It is a contradiction that Jesus is perfect, but that he underwent the same trials and challenges humans did and became like them when it’s not true. Why didn’t god make Adam and Eve like Jesus so they would be able to resist the serpent’s temptations in the garden?!

[@maggienewton8518]

nice flow of logic! Well said.

[@BluStarGalaxy]

Thanks Maggie! 😊 These kinds of discussions really get the gears turning. And I edit my comments quite a bit because I think of new things to add. One issue leads to another and then another.

[@FrostFang86]

I never understood why Satan would even try to tempt Jesus knowing who he was. Completely illogical

[@MindShift-Brandon]

love this, i have a video ideas saved called just that. "So, did Jesus have free will or not?" maybe i will bump it up.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

@@FrostFang86 yes lol, these stories fail so hard with just a bit of rationality

[@BluStarGalaxy]

It’s crazy how they took Jesus and made him into what they wanted him to be. Christians: He is God! He has risen! *Cut to Jesus’s body lying in a pit outside the walls of Jerusalem.*

[@TonyLambregts]

@BluStarGalaxy if it comforts them, then they will lap it up.

[@BluStarGalaxy]

It’s like Jesus became a pawn and a security blanket wrapped into one. Easily discarded and yet easily retrievable depending on the situation.

[@Anyox17]

This made me chuckle. So true!

[@BluStarGalaxy]

@@Anyox17 Reality is so much different from what the religion promotes. It is literally insane.

[@Colddirector]

It's so wierdly cathartic realizing I'm not the only one who thinks Paul was a real asshole. It's strange hearing christians talk about how great Paul is, then actually reading his letters and taking an almost immediate dislike to him lol

[@onedaya_martian1238]

Paul was the "original Joseph Smith", complete with hallucinations about talking to gawd.

[@karenlankford8558]

Thank you again. I now have a better understanding of where some of the ideas came from.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

So glad to help. Thanks for watching!

[@n.c.1201]

I think Jesus gets so confusing because of what the historical Jew, Jesus, stated and what was added and twisted and put together as the years went on after! I like what James says, which never states Jesus (his brother) is God. I find this fascinating and a fun. You did a great job with this one, per usual, Brandon. Feel better!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Great points and thanks so much!

[@EdwardM-t8p]

James does say that he is Jesus Christ's _servant._

[@n.c.1201]

@@EdwardM-t8p What is your point? That way I can figure out how to respond?

[@EdwardM-t8p]

@@n.c.1201 Go look it up, James 1:1. He's not saying he's Jesus' brother! Yet most NT scholars insist that James is Jesus' biological brother, which you accept. Paul is probably lying because right after he says in Gal. 1:19 that he met "James the brother of the Lord" he immediately says in v. 20, "What I write to you, before God I am not lying!" When somebody swears to God that he's not lying, and has a track record of lying, rest assured he's lying.

[@FrostFang86]

Jesus himself said not to judge, and all I saw in all my life is Christians judging. Even Paul judged. I found it impossible even when I was a Christian not to judge. It was time to run to confession as soon as I got out of church a few hours later by this standard

[@MindShift-Brandon]

it's an apt comparison, unfortunately.

[@luizr.5599]

Great analysis. This book has some crazy messages but the writing is superb

[@MindShift-Brandon]

I think so too

[@hamobu]

I have heard atheists say that someone who was an atheist and became religious was never truly an atheist.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

All kinds of people say all kinds of dumb things. I will say i have heard far too many christians use atheism for their testimony. They will say things like “i used to be a huge atheist and hated god so much.” Lol i have no problem saying these people were never really an atheist

[@BluStarGalaxy]

Atheism is simply a lack of belief in a deity. Someone can start to believe in a deity. Atheism is not a religion so leaving that association is not a problem. Religions are the ones that deny the sincerity of those that leave and call them apostates. We all start as atheists at birth until religion is introduced to us.

[@rcktneoofusa]

For me, this argument was similar to what Paul used to confirm that Christ appeared to him.

[@hamobu]

@@rcktneoofusa Yeah I found the whole story that Paul used to persecute Christians before converting to be suspect. Clearly he could be saying that to increase his credibility the way that apologist today do when they claim that they were atheists or whatever.

[@michaelhenry1763]

I try not to judge people and most of the time accept people’s “ self-label” at face value. People change their minds all the time. Could an atheist become a Christian? Sure. Just as in the same way a Christian can eventually become an atheist. Everyone is human. I have one caveat, I think it would be difficult for an atheist to become an evangelical Christian with all the theological baggage it entails. A Roman Catholic, Anglican or Episcopalian, sure. There are also atheist Jews and atheist Unitarians. In the Christian apologetic world, I think they confuse the term “ atheist” with “ non-religious”. Most of these stories are simply people growing up culturally Christian, not thinking about it much and converting to an extreme conservative form of Christianity.

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

Jesus is "growing" and also "immutable" because he's stuck in a time loop and until he gets it all correct, time passes for us, but he's gotta work it out. Good luck, Jesus.

[@toonyandfriends1915]

jesus is okabe from steins gate confirmed

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

@@lilafeldman8630 makes for good mutton and a saucy story! 😃

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

Mmmm... Greek food sounds good right now...

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

A little lamb gyro 🥙😋

[@DwightDawkness]

go gettem, Big J!

[@tobymartin2137]

I'm sorry you're not feeling well, but I'm glad you commit to this anyway. I shall hopefully provide a question for your Q&A, I just need to think of a suitable one. The other day, I was able to get my hands on a copy of the NRSV Bible with the deuterocanonical books included, and whilst there were probably better ways to spend my money, I decided to take your advice and read Hebrews in full right before your video. I think I had read it - or at least bits of it - a few times before, but I wanted it fresh in my mind. Despite it regularly being passed over, I have to say, I think it's one of the most sinister reads of the New Testament, if not the whole Bible. You've covered a good chunk of the reasons why, but I want to add my own spin on them. You pointed out that Jesus clearly didn't endure every hardship a human being can endure, but the fact that he was divine only adds to that, not only in avoiding sin, as you pointed out, but also in being able to maintain a degree of stoicism in the perfect knowledge that he would achieve the greatest honour once he'd done his bit, something none of the rest of us have. Whilst I personally got an Arian reading from the talk of Jesus being made perfect and seated at God's right hand (where he's the first creation and superior to the angels, but still separate from and subordinate to God), the mainstream Trinitarian reading makes this problem even bigger. I'm not 100% sure what the scholarly consensus is on what kind of Christology this epistle is endorsing, or if there even is a consensus, but regardless, no Christology makes Jesus as relatable as Christians want to try and make him. Despite the popular image of Jesus as a radical egalitarian, there's a huge amount of hierarchy present here. Jesus is not only the superior human and superior priest, his blood is also so much better than anyone else's, but rather than that achieving universal salvation, it just increases the penalty for those who would reject it (Hebrews 10:29). This rather speaks to the popular Christian apologetic of why finite sin deserves infinite punishment - well, it's because it's against an infinite God. In their mind, it's might makes right - God's better than us so those who wrong him deserve worse. It's biblical, but that doesn't in any way make it less abhorrent. I'd also like to point to chapter 8 verses 8-12, where the author quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 regarding the new covenant. The problem is that this passage gives a rather distinctive image of what this new covenant will look like, including: 'And they shall not teach one another or say to one another "Know the Lord", for they shall all know me, from the least of them to greatest.' Well, clearly teaching is necessary, otherwise this and other epistles wouldn't exist. Now, one could argue that the launch of the new covenant with Jesus' death has set such a state in motion, and this'll be what things will be like in the future, but without a deadline, such a prediction is useless. How can we be sure the covenant of Jesus is even the correct new covenant before the end comes and it's too late? Mandeans, Muslims, and Baha'is clearly think more work needed to be done there. Then there's this, Hebrews 11:6 - 'And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.' I think this one speaks for itself, but I'll commentate anyway...can you say confirmation bias? Or maybe that's not strong enough a word. Self-delusion? In any case, it makes the whole god matter unfalsifiable. Should ideally be enough for anyone to not take it seriously. Then, a small one, 12:16 - 'See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal.' Serious victim-blaming. From the beginning, Jacob God loved, and Esau he hated, and he told Rebekah regarding the twins that '...the elder shall serve the younger.' (Genesis 25:23.) The odds were stacked against Esau from the beginning, it had nothing to do with his immorality. Though chapter 12 has the section on God being like a disciplining parent, after the crap about Esau, starting at verse 18 up to 24, there's a section about how dangerous and terrifying God is. If these are the emotions your parents inspire in you, something's gone wrong. Another small one, 13:17 - 'Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing-for that would be harmful to you.' Just some rather threatening toxic positivity. One final thing to note - in their book 'The Bible With and Without Jesus', Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler point out that, even though bloodshed was naturally a huge part of atonement in a ritual sense, and therefore everywhere in the Priestly writings of the Hebrew Bible, the Deuteronomist and prophetic texts put a lot more focus on just repentance, with Jeremiah and Amos even suggesting offerings would be nothing without the virtues behind them. And of course, rabbinic writings that don't have the Temple anymore to use as a centre for atonement largely consider bloodshed not to be a necessary factor in being forgiven by God. Compare this to Christianity's closed canon, and it just seems so ridiculously hung-up on blood sacrifice (especially in this bizarre epistle) compared to its supposedly legalistic and restrictive predecessor religion that has mostly moved on. Just worth thinking about.

[@elizabethsmith5076]

Thank you for such clear thinking - very helpful!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks for being here!

[@jasonhighlander]

I've been looking forward to this one!

[@GenXwarrior]

Thank you Brandon

[@MindShift-Brandon]

My pleasure. Thanks for being here!

[@gnomueaux]

such an overlooked book!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Indeed!

[@nathanaellamb8647]

Hebrews, the book of the Bible most resembling a stream of consciousness from a Supreme Court justice.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Lol

[@onedaya_martian1238]

LoL And all that stream of consciousness without the benefit of lifetime job security or gifts of an RV or trips, etc. Wow !!

[@ColinWrubleski-eq5sh]

A husband and wife were having a good-natured argument over who should be responsible for making their morning coffee. At one point, the wife aserted that there was Biblical support for her claim that it was the man's job. "It's right in the Scriptures", she expostulated. ---> "HE Brews..." 😊😅

[@Djax111]

As a dad, I love that lmao. And Christians would def pull this kinda crap 😂

[@vaiyt]

Unicode needs a cringe emoji

[@GarrettRHall]

Strong content, Brandon. I’m watching from Greece, you know, where Paul traveled and preached. Patmos is not far from where I am. Interesting to experience orthodox Christianity from this side of the world. And it’s fascinating to see how much we have “Americanized” or “westernized” Christianity. What you and I grew up in I don’t think would make much sense to the folks over here. Maybe I’m wrong … I have so much to learn on that subject. Hebrews was a great source of my trauma, which I’m going to cover extensively in my series. Can’t wait for your convo with Kristi. Keep it going my friend.

[@Badficwriter]

I was raised in Orthodox Christianity in the US. Its small, mostly immigrants and their children, people who marry in and convert. The priests try to cleave to the ancient beliefs (the Orthodox do not change), but over time the people absorb the culture around them, which has taken two paths: one of openmindedness, and one of choosing to punish certain sins more than others. The priests go to meetings with other Christian faiths, absorb the intolerance so rife--what used to be considered inappropriate to comment on, since we were all sinners. The congregation listens to the people around who prefer modern attitudes by roughly 75%. Its strange there is such a chasm, and not surprising that so many prefer to pretend to the priest's rules but follow their own rules outside. Those who can't pretend, just leave.

[@GarrettRHall]

@@Badficwriter Thank you for this interesting perspective. Very much appreciated.

[@shriggs55]

"The Law of the Lord is perfect."(Psalms 18:8) VS "For if that first covenant had been FAULTLESS, then no place would have been sought for a second.(Heb.8:7)

[@guacool]

36:11 - 36:42 sounds like the beginning of a ‘lukewarm christian’ sermon lol

[@sauron69447]

Happy SBS day y'all!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks for being here!

[@sauron69447]

@@MindShift-Brandon It's an honor to be here brother

[@stevenpike7857]

A person can do things I can't even describe here (to children), believe in Jesus and be saved, yet a person that led a good life, is rational, and doesn't belief in Jesus Christ due to lack of evidence will be in hell for eternity? That doesn't sound right.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Justice it is not!

[@onedaya_martian1238]

It just AIN'T right. But people are CONvinced it is. The snake in the Genesis story is a WARNING about what is lost, when people listen to the p-ass-tors who profess to know the Truth! about gawd is not clear on in the babble. Yet, there are those who are willing to be fleeced, unfortunately. Is it any wonder that a horrible, horrible person was a president of a country that can beLIEve this sh-t ?? (And he could be again !?!?!?)

[@drwho8905]

Tim Ballard in the movie "Sound of Freedom" points out one of the major thing that drives human (child) trafficking in other countries is fueled here in USA by people's desires for porn. The same when Ronald Reagan was dropping bombs on drug lords in other countries, one of the leaders reminded Reagan he could bomb them all he likes but as long as there is a high demand for drugs in USA the one you take out will replaced by someone else. Even Jesus said those who are sick need a doctor. Of course those who think they are righteous will not see any need for salvation. According to the scripture God will judge you by your own judgement.

[@SunflowerLife1]

Sorry you’re not feeling well Brandon. Maybe you can do a “to be continued” for this video and talk about all the things that you didn’t get to this time. Your thoughts on this book are so interesting. I would love to hear the rest of what you wanted to say.

[@andresvillarreal9271]

More than the contradictions, my problem with these teachings is that perfection is not a useful paradigm or goal for human beings. The book that tells me what is the best that I can be just tells me that I have to do works, which, from the context, means praying and evangelizing. These were great instructions for the first century, when the apocalypse was imminent. But since the apocalypse never happened, there are no worse instructions than those. I improve the life of a kid by listening to him/her, and putting his/her empathy to good use, but I don't improve a thing by making him pray and evangelize.

[@sauron69447]

The idea of Jesus being above the Angels, prophets, & Moses is something Jesus himself never taught. Jesus even said that he has not come to abolish the law of Moses or the prophets, Which just proves that Jesus's followers were making up stuff after he died.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Yes. The delta between Jesus and what was written decades after him is humongous!

[@sauron69447]

@@MindShift-Brandon it's hilarious when Christians claim they follow "Jesus's" teachings but the Bible was not written by the man himself but by his disciples (who are humans more than capable of lying to achieve their goals) & people who have never met Jesus. Christians should consider if "Jesus's" words are actually his & not made up by his disciples.

[@Giantfloatingballoonhead]

Thank you!! My hot take is that the writers of the New Testament introduced new covenant law into the church as a way to control people and decide what christianity should look and sound like.

[@exploremore2438]

​@@sauron69447One thing that surprises me is the fact that Peter the supposed Rock in which Christ would build his church didn't write a single epistle himself or have someone he dictated to and also John the Beloved apostle has the same case. It's silly

[@sauron69447]

@@exploremore2438 yep, this whole thing is silly nonsense.

[@imjustsayingthough2261]

When i think about my belief i had in Santa Clause and how i had questions about how could he go to every house in one night. How could he know who was good or bad? And why did santa look different all the time. I would just except whatever reason i was given out of fear that i wouldn't get anything for Christmas. I see Christians the same way, with many questions but scared to ask for fear of not going to heaven

[@rik80280]

My parents didn’t play the Santa game (or lie, however you want to look at it) with us, but I really do think it’s a fantastic analogy to God. It covers all the same bases, but instead of parents giving up on it when their kids start to question, they bully, gaslight and anything they can do to keep up the charade.

[@theresemalmberg955]

Hebrews is an amazing book when you consider what its author(s) were working with. I think it safe to say that whoever wrote it, whether only one person or a team of persons, was well-educated, had access to the Tanakh or the Septuagint, and was well off enough to have the time to do a deep dive into these writings. First of all, there were no chapter or verse numbers in either version, which means being extremely well acquainted with the text. They would have to know what they were looking for and where to find it. A task somewhat comparable to pulling out texts in "War and Peace" that support a contrary interpretation of what Tolstoy was trying to say. Bad enough when you are dealing with a bound book (a codex) but even worse when you are dealing with scrolls. So this was someone with considerable education in the Jewish scriptures--a rabbi, maybe? Someone who was either wealthy themselves or connected with someone who was wealthy. They would then have to write all this out by hand and have it copied, again by hand, so they must have been able to employ scribes to do all this work. As far as contradictions were concerned, they weren't worried about them because again, there were no chapter and verse numbers, there were no uniform printed volumes, there were no concordances, there were no hyperlinks, where these things could be easily searched out. Even today, with all these tools, these issues often go unnoticed by believers until someone points them out. Back then it would have been even easier to overlook these things. Protestants talk about "sola scriptura" in determining doctrine but they don't stop to think that before the invention of the printing press the vast majority of Christians did not have access to the Bible. The Reformation simply would not have been possible without the printing press. This is why we now have 40,000 competing Christian sects because anyone can pick up a Bible and read into it whatever they want. The three oldest branches of Christianity--Catholic, Orthodox, and Coptic (Ethiopian)--all claim that the ultimate authority in interpreting Scripture is not the individual believer, but the church itself, and that interpretation relies on an unbroken chain of tradition, much like the Talmud interprets the Tanakh.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks for such a great comment!

[@theresemalmberg955]

@@MindShift-Brandon You're welcome. So often I think we read the Bible from the perspective of our times and don't take into account the realities of theirs. Traveling on foot or by donkey or sailing ship, handwritten texts, messages had to be sent by a runner, I guess the closest example of people living like they did back in New Testament times would be the Amish and even they have access to a lot of things people back in New Testament times didn't. In the "Food and Feasts of Jesus" Douglas Neel and Joel Pugh describe Galilee as being only about 35 miles north and south and 25 miles east and west. That happens to roughly correspond in size to the Michigan county I live in! Not a big area if you have a car, but if you were to walk the Kal-Haven Trail (a former railroad which was converted to a bike/pedestrian trail) which runs the length of the county it takes about 3 days to do it averaging 10 miles a day. Gives a whole new perspective on the Gospels.

[@onedaya_martian1238]

Great Comment !!!

[@midwinter78]

One of the "did Jesus have the experience to empathise" things - being frustrated with one's imperfections. Kind of a big deal for me - I grew up undiagnosed and autistic and had a _lot_ to be frustrated about...

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thats a really good point

[@onedaya_martian1238]

Hugs through the internet. Good you are reaching out and explaining your world view. Forgive us for not having a clue...that is, I'm sure, at least half of the frustration right there.

[@midwinter78]

@@onedaya_martian1238 It’s not the usual story. When I was 11 I got sent to a Church of England school because it was the nearest school that didn’t have a massive bullying problem - it was on the progressive end of C of E too. It had a small-to-medium sized bullying problem. So I had a bunch of formative years around Christianity even despite not being a believer, and some of it got under the skin. Having autism that’s not formally diagnosed but everyone can tell there’s something odd (plus some unrelated family stuff), it can give a person a sense of being fundamentally broken, and Christianity - at least many forms of it - kind of says “you’re fundamentally broken, but you can be saved”. There’s a recipe for a lot of complicated mixed feelings, a mess that gets more tangled the more you explore.

[@AdamKlownzinger]

In Hebrews I am once again struck by just how impotent this God is, despite apparently definitionally being a maximal, perfect, infinite being “of unimaginable power” as theists today assert he is. The end of Hebrews 2 seems to show this. It also shows the fundamental misunderstanding of what a sacrifice would actually entail that ancient people naturally had but that people today really have no excuse for. Hebrews 2:14 says “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil-“ This one seems to me to portray God as somehow not only not responsible for the existence of the Devil as the creator of all things - something Christians, or at least Christian apologists generally seem to accept today - but also as incapable of eliminating it whenever he wants to. Is he not omnipotent? Why does the elimination of evil require anything other than God’s desire to do so if he is omnipotent? Well, it wouldn’t require anything else. And because it’s hard to fathom an omniscient omnibenevolent being ever changing its mind on literally anything, if it wanted to eliminate evil, it would never have existed to begin with. Oh, and does God not hold the keys to death? I thought the apologetic line was that God was the giver of life so he could take it whenever he wants, he’s the sole arbiter. But also 2:17-18, “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” There’s some more incomprehensible New Testament nonsense here about being “fully human and fully divine,” but thats not my point. He became human so he could atone for man’s sin, by suffering as man suffered. Whoopsy, they’re again referencing the story of Jesus being tempted by Satan which seems logically incomprehensible for a being that is the incarnation of God and fully divine. But it’s interpreted as making a point about suffering during Jesus’ life as a whole. How should I be impressed that God underwent the suffering that he himself manufactured for 33-ish years? Honestly, how should we be impressed had it happened for millions of years? Just as no temporal crime deserves an infinite punishment, no temporal sacrifice is an actual sacrifice on the part of an infinite being. Unless Jesus Christ is burning in Hell right now and will always be doing so, I’m not in awe of the ‘sacrifice’ whatsoever. Yet I hope he’s not burning in Hell right now and I am sure we all feel that way, because our morality has surpassed Yahweh’s.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

really good thoughts here. thanks for sharing!

[@onedaya_martian1238]

Sorry Brandon, but this comment is not just really good, but beautifully brilliant (Thanks Adam ..rofl...Klownzinger!!). The overt logical inconsistencies being discussed, of just this one book in the ancient anthology, are amazingly articulated by the commenter! The more people who think critically like this, the much better the world will be !!

[@Badficwriter]

I agree, this is a fantastic comment. It explains why there were so many long winded arguments splitting hairs on everything--because the basis just didn't make sense. It feels like they went with a torrent of pretty words and difficult to understand concepts to overwhelm the basic contradictions. Its why apologists and evangelism relies on long, long explanations. The goal is persistence of confusion until one surrenders and accepts all absurdities.

[@marcolugo2475]

Brandon, I think you are 100% right. Hebrews deserves a full series on its own. I know I would welcome it. Can you do that video? 🙏

[@Fabboxmusic]

How could be possible for Jesus to sin since he was conceived by the Holy Spirit? What's the point in tempting him? He shared the human condition except the very part that, in christian theology, marks his existence...

[@MindShift-Brandon]

lol yup!

[@somersetcace1]

Wherever the `letters of Paul` come up, It makes me wonder if he knew that one day these letters would be considered the `divine revelation of God.` I doubt it, for several reasons,. but not the least of which being that if he `did,` he probably would have spent more time considering what he was writing, because they are all over the place.

[@DarqueSyde66]

Well done, sir!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Many thanks!

[@RobertGraziose]

And i believed in father Christmas, and I looked to the sky with excited eyes, then I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn, and I saw him and through his disguise. Greg Lake.

[@iwilldi]

The problem of Hebrews is that it cannot cope with Jesus the failed prophet of the eschaton. And here the true satire starts. Anyone who looks at this book and has read a little bit of Paul or listend to the Jerusalem church (Paul has no indicatiion that the church was split over the eschaton) would have imediately seen that this now is judaism 2.0 in christian clothing.

[@onedaya_martian1238]

Paul...the "original" iteration of Joseph Smith for judaism. Funny Yeshua ben Yusef never left a word of clarification. Seems like "He" thought the world would end when "He" did. Trust all the "p-ass-tors" of that time (even up to the present) starting their own churches at the time and collecting donations doing it.

[@SteelSquishy]

42:10 Kristi is your next guest??? 🎉🎉

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Yup! We film tomorrow and the episode will be out a week from Sunday!

[@SonnyMoonie]

The author of Hebrews was the godfather of the Christian reinterpretation of the Jewish scriptures. He's like, "You know, I heard you joined our thing, you broke bread with us. It felt good, right? Now, I've also heard that you broke our faith, and in that, you disrespected our capo, and that makes me very sad for you. Because you put him to shame, and that's like crucifying him, you understand? Now when you crucify him again, who has given us all so much, that's like cursing him. No one gets forgiven for that, and that makes me sad, for you." (dialog based loosely on Hebrews chapter 6)

[@aosidh]

"I'm bathed in the blood of Christ! Of course I think that human sacrifice is evil!" 🤪

[@MindShift-Brandon]

lol! this is great!

[@aosidh]

@@MindShift-Brandon I was actually confirmed Catholic, which somehow has a worse tradition 🥂

[@xtina2189]

Clearly, "perfect love" includes BLOODLUST! insatiable bloodlust.🙄

[@sethyarborough356]

Great video as always, Brandon. You brought up how some believers will bring up lifestyle sins they don’t like such as homosexuality and distance themselves from that type of sin by saying the sins they deal with aren’t lifestyle and are occasional mistakes they ask forgiveness over. I think for most sins this is probably true. But I believe the following observation I’m going to mention is very hard to deal with for those types of believers and excuses. Jesus modifies the law several times when confronted by those saying He and his disciples violated it; for example, not doing any work on the Sabbath or not washing their hands. In those cases, he lessens the severity of the law. But, in multiple gospel accounts Jesus INCREASES the severity of the law regarding divorce. He goes so far as saying if you divorce and remarry other than for your spouse committing “sexual immorality” against you, you have committed adultery and caused the new person you have married to commit adultery as well. What could be more lifestyle sin than that other than homosexuality? Every day you remain married by oath to your adulterous remarriage, according to Jesus’ teachings, you have committed a lifestyle sin of unrepentance by not changing that lifestyle and reconciling to your first spouse. This is hard for believes to deal with since divorce is so common and accepted and they don’t want to leave someone they love to either be alone or return to a bad, original marriage. But it is similar to what many Christians will demand of homosexuals-leave the person you love and are committed to and be celibate or choose to not be gay. The divorcees will lean into God’s grace for themselves, but demand lifestyle change and complete repentance from other groups they don’t identify with.

[@Badficwriter]

And then Paul just changes the rules completely.

[@billybobwombat2231]

Good old fear, nothing like scaring the shit out of people to hold them to a corrupted faith.

[@incrediblesloth85]

I trust a fart more than I trust God because at least I can prove a fart exists

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

Even if it's for a fleeting moment 😂 "I experienced this fart, therefore it happened" hahaha

[@rainyfeathers9148]

That's what I said😭. If I become a parent whatever kind of kid I get, I want them to know they can come to me and their daddy. The horror stories are unbearable, drugs this, my friend that, who's trans, gangs are recruiting, who's gay and so on. It's all happening where the parents are not, online or at school and whatnot. Maybe I'm paranoid but ugh😩...

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

Cheers mate

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Cheers!

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

@@MindShift-Brandon I was once a Christian when i was younger then science kicked in mate. Now a much happier 62 yr old atheist. Thankfully religion isn`t that big in Australia. Just dangerous islam

[@scvanderhorst]

Question for your Q&A: we both have been raised in Christian households. While I know my parent couldn’t do any better at that time, I still feel bad about all that happened, the indoctrination and many things that it caused (anxiety, shame about sexuality, the feeling that demons and angels were constantly around me, etc). It’s extra hard for me that they don’t take my objections to what they think seriously and don’t want to even consider they might be in a ‘bubble’. How did you cope with that?

[@stevewebber707]

I find the concept of Jesus being tempted laughable, if it's in the context of the trinity. You can't tempt God to sin, if sin is fundamentally defined by what God wants to happen, or not happen.

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

Jesus never had to deal with California traffic. So, yeah ..

[@toonyandfriends1915]

to be fair the point is at least that jesus is human now with human flesh and so can be tempted

[@MindShift-Brandon]

@@toonyandfriends1915correct but he also had divine power even in human form. He did miracles, could read minds, did healings etc. so where is the cut off? The fact his divine side cant be tempted and he obviously had access to his divine side, and he was the only human to never sin…seems like he was tapping into that

[@stevewebber707]

@@toonyandfriends1915 Either Jesus shares God's nature or he doesn't. If he doesn't share God's nature, calling him God is an absurdity. They don't say Jesus is without sin because he was systematically tested. They say it because it would contradict their theology.

[@stevewebber707]

@@MindShift-Brandon While the concept of the trinity is rather a mess, and there may be some wiggle room for what it means to call Jesus God, I think the fundamental nature and qualities are key, if considering Jesus' identity as God. Whether Jesus can do miracles might provide some evidence of divinity, but it doesn't define it. There are other figures in the bible that had those abilities and nobody claims to be God. If Jesus was described as a human tapping into divine qualities, I don't think it fair to call him God on that basis. God's divine qualities are defining what God actually is. Contrarily, if Jesus had qualities to directly contrast with some qualities of God, it would be fair to say he wasn't God. God's divine qualities are a part of the fundamental nature defining God. To diverge from them, is a divergence from being God.

[@rochelebierhalspereira7106]

Jesus also never knew what it was like to be a woman, to conceived and give birth, to fear you'll be violated or to be violated, and to hold the child you carried and birth as they die and have to put them on the ground 😅.

[@moises16]

The Hebrews 6 and 10 chapters gave me trauma alongside with the unforgivable sin when I converted in 2007. Today, if the predestined stuff is real, then, the hebrews chapters are useless.

[@jaflenbond7854]

REJECTION of the CREATOR brings DISHONOR and ETERNAL DEATHS Atheists who DON'T BELIEVE and ACCEPT what were written in Matthew 22: 37 and John 17: 3 that the Creator is the One who should be honored and respected as the Only True and Sovereign GOD KNOW and are fully aware that they are unbothered and just don't care even if their assertions and claims that GOD doesn't exist and the Bible is just a worthless book of lies, myths, fictions, and fairy tales bring them dishonor, disgrace, shame, and cause their own downfall and ETERNAL DEATHS. REJECTION of JESUS CHRIST brings DISHONOR and ETERNAL DEATHS Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and fanatics of all kinds of Religions who DON'T BELIEVE and ACCEPT the Authority and teachings of Jesus Christ about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" written in Matthew 28: 18, Luke 4: 43, and John 11: 25, 26 KNOW and are fully aware that they are unbothered and just don't care even if their Authority and Unbiblical teachings and doctrines about "hellfire", "afterlife", "immortality of the souls", "Armageddon", "Trinity", "rapture", and reincarnation" bring them dishonor, disgrace, shame, and cause their own downfall and ETERNAL DEATHS. REJECTION of ATHEISM and ALL RELIGIONS bring HONOR and ETERNAL LIFE and EXISTENCE on EARTH The CREATOR KNOWS that all persons on earth who rejected Atheism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and all kinds of Religions as worthless and useless, no value whatsoever and willingly submit instead to the Authority of Jesus Christ in their obedience to what's written in Matthew 28: 18 will definitely bring themselves honor and his favor and reward of ETERNAL LIFE and existence on earth without sufferings, pains, griefs, sickness, and death as written in Revelation 21: 3, 4 and the teachings of Jesus Christ about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" written in Luke 4: 43 and John 11: 25, 26 are the guarantee that all his loving, kind, considerate, and respectful Worshippers who died recently and thousands of years ago like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Job, Naomi, Ruth, King David, Jesus Christ's Followers and disciples, and many others will all be RESURRECTED back to life in the right and proper time so they can peacefully, happily, and abundantly live and exist on earth forever as subjects of the "KINGDOM of GOD" or His Kingdom and fully enjoy his and his Christ's eternal love, kindness, goodness, generosities, compassions, favors, and blessings for eternity under the loving and kind rulership, guidance, and protection of Jesus Christ as his Chosen King and Ruler of the heavens and the earth as written in Revelation 11: 15.

[@michaelhenry1763]

Thank you, thank you for such a wonderful breakdown of the book of Hebrews. What gets me the most about this book is the author believes he is living in the end times and his entire theology is based on this “ fact”. My question is: “ since the end of the first century CE was not the end times, does this imply everything he said about Jesus is wrong?”

[@xtina2189]

The ability to spot the contradictions takes much thoughtful analysis & zero faith.

[@tyrondecemberthomas]

Fun thing about Bible overview is if it’s just faith, why read the Bible at all? Do what you want. If it’s works, then this is just Judaism, with a cherry on top. Get well, Brandon.

[@survive323]

Once again you have knocked it out of the park. What? You mean you can lose your salvation. This would be a hard one to explain to a baptist preacher.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Appreciate that!

[@MrTimthetoyman]

"if you don't forgive your fellow man, neither will your father in heaven forgive you."... But I have to just forgive them, why can't you just forgive me? Am I expected to do something that God can't do? I have to have a greater capacity for forgiveness than God himself?

[@RobertGraziose]

The adult cartoon The Simpsons made light of the point you were making. Bart was sulking because the bullies were picking on him. His mother Marge approached him and said "Bart Jesus says to love your enemies", Bart replied, "Yea and Jesus gets to tell his enemies it was him who sent them to hell" Double standard. No? We have to forgive and turn the other cheek. While he gets to hold an eternal guudge!

[@MrTimthetoyman]

@@RobertGraziose exactly! Satan did one thing that landed him in eternal hell. I always wondered why God can't forgive him... Maybe it's because Satan didn't forgive God so God couldn't forgive him? The math ain't mathing...

[@RobertGraziose]

If this heaven is so great and perfect, why then did the devil and 1/3 of heaven rebell? And what makes us think it won't happen again? Given 5 million years, wont someone else figure out that somthing is wrong??!!​@@MrTimthetoyman

[@MrTimthetoyman]

@@RobertGraziose excellent points. On that note, consider that the angels were essentially created without sin. They had no "original sin" problem, so these perfect beings were living all of their lives just worshipping God and then one of them has an original thought about what it must be like to BE God, and the thought alone is enough to get him expelled from heaven, but not immediately to hell! No first he gets to go to earth and have a chance to convince innocent humans to choose to sin... Innocent like babies are because remember that they had no frame of reference to begin with so they didn't even have a concept of sin or wrong or disobedience etc. The whole story really falls apart I think when you really look at it closely and engage your grey matter... But I think that people are afraid to look at it that way because they are afraid of God and hell. Someone said that the strongest Christians are the ones who don't read the Bible. There seems to be some truth to that. Or maybe they read it once 40 years ago and have attended church every since but stopped reading it and this allows them to just put blind faith in their religion and their man of God and not look into it. One thing I've been noticing is that the people who are deconstructing and deconverting are people who has been studying! They looked at the Hebrew and Greek. Some of us went to Bible school. Many of us were in ministry! That should tell you something...

[@exoplanet11]

The whole thing about Christians who 'deliberately' sin being unforgivable reminds me of what I'd heard about Islam's treatments of apostates (leavers), which I think is even worse than the treatment of infidels/non-believers. I wonder if any of those concepts were inherited from Christianity.

[@59master60]

FEEL THE POWER OF THE GODS

[@kenhoover1639]

Thank you for enlightening me on just a few of the problematic passages in this book. I can't wait to lay this on my Christian friends Facebook. I never do this in a mean or hurtful way. It's just that some of them go on and on about the goodness of God. Am I enjoying this a bit too much?: Probably. 😂😂

[@Cannibal193]

You need to look Mauro Biglino, if you don t see his work. All the best to all.

[@quetzelmichaels1637]

That must be how Jacob felt about falling into the hands of his brother. Esau was indignant at the injustice suffered at the hands of his brother. Jacob knew his crimes. Yet, like a forgiving YHWH: Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau! (Gen 32:12 NABO) Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, and flinging himself on his neck, kissed him as he wept. (Gen 33:4 NABO) A good example of what to expect if you return.

[@Zimbabwae1]

If it were the other way around, Yahweh would've let Esau die.

[@quetzelmichaels1637]

@@Zimbabwae1 Isaac loved Esau and blessed him with a dwelling far from earth. The Snake 'striking at' (admiring) the heel of Adam becomes Jacob 'gripping' (reaching for the "protection" of) the heel of Esau. Though there was enmity between the two, the Snake and Adam, Jacob and Esau, they admire and protect each other. You have to look beyond the enmity. YHWH is an old softie. No one comes to the Father except through me. (Joh 14:6 NABO) For who is greater: the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves. (Luk 22:27 NABO) Jacob fits the profile of the snake, who was in need of salvation. The Father you spring from is the Devil. Esau, the firstborn, lives by the sword (sacrifice) and serves his brother, Jacob, who was born gripping (striking at) his heel. Isaac blessed Esau saying: Ah, far from the fertile earth shall be your dwelling; far from the dew of the heavens above! (Gen 27:39 NABO) (far above the heavens.) You will not always have me (Mat 26:11 NABO) (Homeward bound) I am with you always, until the end of the age. (Mat 28:20 NAB) (Began as the first Adam) My kingdom does not belong to this world. (Joh 18:36 NABO) (Third party mediator) Where I am going you cannot come. (Joh 8:21 NABO) (Left Behind) Then I took my staff "Refuge" and snapped it asunder, breaking off the covenant which I had made with all peoples (Noahic covenant) (Zec 11:10 NABO) Then I snapped asunder my other staff, "Heritage" (Deu 32:8) breaking off my brotherhood with (between?) Judah and Israel. (Zec 11:14 NABO) the one who ascended far above all the heavens (Eph 4:10 NABO) (in a galaxy far away) never to return to corruption (Act 13:34 NABO) (Wait, what?) I think Esau is taking Jacob with him. To a place vast and forever peaceful. Where a kingdom was prepared for him at the foundation of the world. A promised land. A heavenly home. A new heaven and new earth. To the Garden of Eden.

[@stevenpike7857]

When Brandon talks about sex sin, these same people don't even hold all deliberate sex sins as equal. People who have relations outside wedlock, or get divorced and live in perpetual adultery because they remarried with a second wife are not held on the same standard as being gay for example. Where are all the Christians standing outside divorce court with "God Hates Adulterers" signs? Shouldn't they have the same passion as they do with another sex sin?

[@Badficwriter]

It wasn't even equal sin for men and women. To ancient Hebrews, men couldn't commit adultery. Only women. The Sanhedrin specifies that men were not allowed to allow animals to commit homosexuality upon them, nor women allowed to lay with animals--but it is silent as to men treating animals as women. It is wild how clear it is that the men made sure their chosen vices would be excused.

[@auroraasleep]

The nuttiest thing to me is that this god demanded Abraham sacrifice Issac, then stopped him, then spends literally thousands of years complaining about other people groups who sacrifice their children, and then HE does it! WTF Dude, WTF? (and yes, this god is completely comfortable with genocide, unjustified slaughter and all sorts of other horrid things). It's fine to believe in a god. It's fine to believe in this god. But is this particular god worthy of your devotion and worship, or does he seriously miss the mark?

[@ATproof78]

When are you going to have livestream ask me anything. I have so many questions 😂

[@FoursWithin]

If a lie is repeated long enough the people will believe . If a lie is repeated for 2000 years it becomes a deity. Never mind the false prophet, that was thrown in to throw you off.

[@BlueSideUp77]

I can never return to my Father? So much for jesus' parable of the prodigal son.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Right?!

[@judethree4405]

Hebrews 6:4-6 is also contradicted by the reality of those who were Christian, deconverted, and years later reconverted. Not so impossible after all.

[@maggienewton8518]

It's difficult to take the Jesus pitch seriously when you are given such contradictory definitions of what he was: human, not fully human, one aspect of god and therefore god, son of that god, most perfect human yet had to overcome temptation...yet, people try to say it makes sense. Glad you mentioned blood sacrifice, Brandon. What kind of decent person would be on board for that? Should make anyone question their support, if not belief of such a religion.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

well done, Maggie! It's genuinely so inconsistent it becomes impossible!

[@Badficwriter]

I'm sure it made more sense to primitive people. Blood sacrifice was normal.

[@Critical_Explorer-vw5hy]

Aaaaa! Hebrews!!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

So much here!

[@wilkimist]

You could make the argument that Jesus is a descendant of Aaron from the tribe of Levi through Mary in the gospel of Luke. But that does commit one to accept the genealogies are both of Joseph.