Random

Occasionally, when I'm reading, my brain wants to stop concentrating. The most recent form this has taken is for my brain to begin pondering random questions most of which I am sure are utterly pointless. However, once in a while I am actually pleasantly surprised by the randomness and it develops into somewhat of a conversation piece with co-workers and friends. Sometimes it causes us to think more deeply about scripture, and sometimes they're just setups for fun debate. I thought I would post a few of these random thoughts that go through my head for your enjoyment. Let me know which ones you thought were particularly interesting. If you think of any thoughts or questions that would fit this form please feel free to add them to the comment stream.

1.) Why did Jesus say "Father forgive them..."? Did this make them forgiven? Also the rest of that quote is "...FOR (emphasis mine) they know not what they do." Is their ignorance connected to the reason they should be forgiven?

2.) Were Adam and Eve saved before they fell? (No sin nature, perfect harmony with God) If so, would that constitute "losing" one's salvation?

3.) Sin existed before the fall of Adam and Eve. (Lucifer's rebellion) Satan was given some degree of authority over the earth or at the very least was already existing there... 1.) When in the Biblical timeline was he cast out? (Prior to the creation of Man? Animals? Must have been after the earth was created because God declared everything on the earth "good". 2.) Would not Satan's prior sin and exile to earth indicate earth was already "cursed" to some degree? Might the garden have been protected in some way from the cursed earth?

4.) Why do we pray over a meal, but not usually over a single drink? (Starbucks for example)

5.) Does sin (the curse) only effect the earth? If it effects the whole universe doesn't that exclude the possibility of extra-terrestrial life? If other objects or beings in the solar system are not cursed, why should they ever die?

6.) Jesus could not/cannot sin, angels cannot currently sin, human beings in heaven cannot sin; why then do we think that "free will" is a necessary component of loving God? (1 Cor 15:52)

7.) Was Jesus inerrant (did not err) or was he infallible (could not err)?

8.) Did/do angels die in battle with demons. Where would they go when they die?

9.) Why does Paul say Jesus is our only intercessor yet the Holy Spirit is also given this title (1 Timothy 2:5)

10.) Why did Jesus need to "prepare a place" for us in heaven when heaven already existed?

11.) Why did Jesus have to be conceived of by the Holy Spirit? Couldn't he have conceived himself?

12.) Adam and Eve didn't have a sinful nature yet they sinned. Do we necessarily need to have a sinful nature to sin?

13.) Jesus had to learn perfection!? What does this tell us about his early life? Did he have to learn to be a good speaker, kind, humorous?; Did he at one point make mistakes as a carpenter? (Hebrews 5:8-9)

14.) Little kids can be possesed!? Couldn't this be an argument for sinful nature from birth? (Matt 15:22, 9:17-27)

15.) Why does Jesus spit on the handicapped to heal them? (Mark 7:32-35, Mark 8:22-25, John 9:1-7)

16.) Why did Jesus tell people not to say what he had done? (Matt 8:1-4) Why did he not allow demons to testify to who he was? (Mark 1:34) Why did he not allow his disciples to share that he was the Messiah? (Matt 16:20)

17.) Talk about redemption and God choosing the wicked! Joseph would seem the likely pick for the lineage of Jesus yet it is his murderous jerk older brother Judah that receives this blessing!

18.) Jesus was given a pep talk by an angel in the garden. That's amazing to think about. (Luke 22:43)

19.) Who are the offspring of Satan? (Gen 3:15)

20.) If Jesus was indeed virgin born, why didn't Mary immediately recognize him as God? Such as when her and Jesus' brothers came out to seize him because they thought him out of his mind. (Mark 3:20-21)

Hope you found these as thought provoking as I did! Thanks for reading.