Wow, you have an interesting mix of spin and actual historical knowledge.

You previously accused me of picking and choosing what I want from the Bible. Ironically, this is exactly what you're doing.

I don't have a choice concerning truth because I care deeply about it.

I have studied and learned truth and decided to look into the revealing mirror of truth and saw myself as a child; Selfish, self-serving, and self-focused. Following through with this difficult decision has opened my eyes and transformed me from the inside out into someone who has begun to learn how to look beyond myself. This is the beginning of learning to love.

This processed is touched in my favorite scripture:

"1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jo 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jo 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jo 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jo 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jo 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jo 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jo 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jo 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jo 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1Jo 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1Jo 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1Jo 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1Jo 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jo 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1Jo 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
1Jo 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."

The kind of slavery God loves is slavery to the truth. We are all slaves to one system or another. Those who have not realized this are the most blind of all.

"Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ."

"Luk 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

"Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."

"Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. "

"Pro 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye."

The term slavery has a very narrow connotation for you. Do you not know that most slaves willingly stayed with their households and benefitted? In fact, that's where they wanted to be. This is a right of contract.

The historians that work for the powers-that-be have beguiled you with horrible stories of abuse that is repugnant to God. You have not yet learned that this kind of slavery is voluntary, and in fact, most of the world lives in a system of government today that places it's citizens in a state of "voluntary servitude". Study this term in modern law and learn.

Your comments asking me if I want to reintroduce your preconceived ideas about slavery because God allows it is an ulgy tactic used by spin doctors and displays your lack of knowledge about scripture in this respect.

"Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand."

"1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant."

"1Co 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more."

"Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

"Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

"Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;"

"Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:"

"Col 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven."

"1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
1Pe 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
1Pe 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:"



It is your place to choose to believe or not to believe, and this choice is important and should not be taken lightly.

Carla, it's apparent to me that you have only a little more than a hearsay knowledge of scripture, yet you have such strong opinions about it. And your opinions about the origins of America are strongly influenced by the propaganda of the media complex.

Study and you will find a more balanced view of the indian wars. There's another side to the story but you're holding on tightly to the first one you heard. This is what most people do which is why schools are the most effective place for propaganda. "Get 'em while they're young."

The natives were mistreated in many respects, but not as the propaganda says. Study.

Nevertheless, the actions of men who call themselves Christians are not a perfect example of God or scripture, nor ever have they been except in the person of Christ. To judge scripture or God by the actions of men is nothing more than a person's excuse to say, "I don't wanna!" We need to grow up beyond this mentality.

It takes humility to look at yourself and say, "Perhaps I've been believing the wrong thing. Perhaps I've been fooled."

Humility is the hinge on the gate of knowledge.

You've been beguiled Carla.

I'll let you in on a secret. The things that convinced me of the authenticity of the Bible is prophecy and gematria.

Being a staunch skeptic, I read the Bible several times before being able to see. But when you do see, it's an amazing sight indeed.

I recommend the following books for intellectual nonbelievers:

Number In Scripture - Bullinger
The Witness of the Stars - Bullinger

Study.

You're a smart woman. If you study past the propaganda, you'll be even smarter.