Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Marilyn Bales
I have listened to Arnold Murray and this is not what I get from his teachings at all. It's not about racism. It's about evil. Any one can be a Kenite if they choose to follow evil instead of good. And any one can become a child of God if they choose to be good. Even a Kenite is a child of God. That being said I don't understand what you have said here.
Jamie Brown
"Beguiled" has two distinct defenitons with multipule sub sets and embelishments. Its use in this particular event can be presumed to mean any of these depending on the readers point of view. To those who use it to justify a racist agenda can apply the sexual meaning. But to examin the text of the verse and verses before it give the Christian version point of view. Simply meaning that Eve defied Gods rule and in doing so took on a mortal coil of existance. Both Adam and Eve, after ingesting the fruit, were punished by the realization of humanity and mortality. To go a little further can you imagine what the world would be like if they had not disobeyed Gods one rule? Something to think about. One last thing some Christians I have discussed this particular event with believe the serp was the devil in carnate. I on the other hand believe it represented the doctrin of Gods gift of free will. God gives all of us a choice. The serpent from my interpertation is the embodyment of sin itself. Thus the free will to choose sin or not choose it along with the New Test. doctrin of choosing Christ as our Lord and saviour.
Terry Gillard
Unfortunately, this whole teaching is one of those that has twisted the Word of God. No question.
I'm a simple man; The Word should be taken as it is - full stop. Within that, questions will arise: if God thought the answers to those questions were critical, He would have made it crystal clear: (e.g. You must be born again). It seems to me that anyone who can latch onto a racist agenda like this teaching cannot know God personally.
The requirement of being "Born from on high" must mean that whether I choose to do good or choose to do evil is of no consequence in my relationship with God (in one sense). Once I'm born again, my relationship with God MUST lead me to "do good". So much more to say - but not now.
Vivian McLemore
Let me begin with the Word of God: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways."
Some things in the Word will not ever be understood by mere human intellect. It is better to leave such questions alone unless the person has had a divine response that all can relate to as truth.
Too often and even within this response commentary we have Christians bashing each other about their teachings. Is there another flesh man that has been given the title "judge and lawgiver of God's Divine Word"? God will reveal the dark in all the appointed authority! For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God (Romans 13:1).
He has all power and all authority, and He entrusts roles of leadership to individuals in the family, the church, the workplace, and the government. "FRUIT is not always edible as we're taught that it was an apple. Fruit is mentioned in many ways in the Bible, such as: Fruit of the Spirit, (Galatians 5:22-23) Fruit of the Womb, (Psalm 127:3), etc... We cannot be wise in our own eyes or we may be a fool in others. See Isaiah 5:21. Peace!