₦airaland Forum

babyosisi:
and which of the last 2 are you bringing us wine mineral for?
^{we don't drink alcohol}

Hehehe. . . nne, just collect the wine, sell it to belloti or uncle Olabs on hard currency, and pocket the money! Then, thou shalt have in abundance to provide minerals and cracker biscuits! Besides, thou mayest not loan babs787 on usury (else he finds a verse "proving" it's another curse)!

@goodguy,

goodguy:
Now, here's my guess:

m4malik is the eldest.

mlks_baby is the 2nd.

shahan is the 3rd.

First of all, I'm glad and relieved that you failed! Secondly, you have commited capital offence, no. . . em, felony, uhm. . . high treason - for placing me 3rd! And thy punishment shall be as follows: two e-kisses on your shoulders; swapping places with mrpataki under mlks_baby white-hot roasting; and a smack on the back for missing it by a few knots!

After that, thou shalt be liable to receive some presents by registered post (seriously) from mlks_baby when she returns to school after our holidaying out here - even though you didn't quite get it!

Cheers!

@mrpataki,

No wonder!!
I was on the mountain for another prophetic vision. . . only to discover that the crevices on the slope had caught fire! Further investigation confirms that you had released some wild declarations that need to be seriously countered! So here goes:

mrpataki:
@ shahan,
Hope your gift will be magnanimous indeed too. Taking the fact that I had to research you girls out.

Tsk! I woulda obliged you something from the Australian zoos we visited, but I fear you would lose your vision on that. It was actually mlks_baby who proposed a gift; and she's still going to send it. Nonetheless, I had a change of heart - so there's something reserved for you, provided you make one straight and correct guess on this:

We visited one of the 3 great Australian zoos: which one was it?

Okay, relax if you don't get it. Your gift will be posted if mlks_baby nods at your ticket as winner.

mrpataki:
Like making me to get confused that mlks_baby could possibly be even shahan herself! And what hint could that be? Yeah I know, one is taller than the other. hahahahahahahaha

Abeg make una call ambulance for this guy O! Take time!
_{Buhuhu!. . . my trick didn't work - and just look at how he laughed me to shame!}
Belloti, you go help me deal with this bobo?? Abeg, helep me!

mrpataki:
m4malik, where are you oh? See you sis making light of your gift here! Nah, infact m4malik is a great guy too. Where is he sef

The price of smacking OBJ for a third term: $15.
The cost of an Okada ride from Ikeja to Iyana-Ipaja: N180.
The price of dissing m4malik on NL: PRICELESS! _{No ask me wetin he do me!
I no tell you before?? I'm the most radical of 'em all!}

mrpataki:
Hen hen, e-kiss ke? Never heard of that!

Fire don catch this guy's prophetic vision O! Never heard of wetin? Abeg sharpen thy shoulder joo!! And BTW, where's the email you promised me, hmm??

mrpataki:
Sorry that option is not available on the nairaland network, please check your re-options and retry.

Broken record! The last time I checked (for thy sake), the network froze. . . and I was tempted to press ALT + CRTL + DELETE! It was only Gehazi that made me cool off - I couldn't contain my guffaw on seeing him frantically trying to conceal those bales of agbada from his master Elisha!

mrpataki:
Just got through from my dance rehearsals, did a whole lot of summersuger sef Now the vision flows expressly.

Good chap!
You see now? Where's mlks_baby to confirm what we were arguing about in our hotel room - that even prophets can take dance rehearsals?

mrpataki:
Hope you catch the relevant one soon.

Nope - the Aussies are great blokes, but I still can't understand their English with accent like someone chewing agbodo and tatashe!

mrpataki:
Have I not being over-roasted by the likes of TV01, goodguy, Thiefofhearts, Reverend,sista, Radiant,babs787, olabowale,

Golly!! My favorite roasters! I hope they didn't leave any colour recognizable on you?

mrpataki:
even you, now your sister wants to compound the matter,

She still has her hand on the lever and has counted to 2! Next you know, na gbosa you go hear! So, get ready!

mrpataki:
Let her come, there is space in my nairaland heart for her!

Aww. . . isn't that so sweet??
_{***mlks_baby comes over to PC, takes a peek and asked what the frown was doing at the end of mrpataki's sentence. . . then she rushes back to lever to take action!**}

mrpataki:
This reminds of the cinderella story! Hope she is well adorned in her beautiful robes when she appears!

Obviously she tossed it into the furnace to provide more fuel to the furnace where she hopes it heats up 7 times hotter than Nebuchadnezzar's! ***Is it hot in here. . . or it's just me??


Lol. . . mrpataki, on the whole, my sis is blushing for you! Abeg no let am fail her lawyer book exam for your sake O!

mrpataki:
@ Shahan,
Ok, very good of you to scurry off just like that!

No vex or blame me - na madam no wan wait until month end. So I scurried off "just like that" since the tickets were open for confirmation whenever I wanted to use them. Wetin I for do??
At any rate, we are having a swell time out here; and m-e-n!! It's amazing how different the weather is out here than back home. One thing is for sure, though: e go take centuries for our polluted air to reach half the clean air outside here!

mrpataki:
Anyways this is the final guess work that I could postulate, You are the Older one while mlks_baby is the younger!

She has recorded that against your name and ticket and we're waiting for goodguyto send in his guess. Don't forget that bros m4malik's position is included in the guess!

mrpataki:
Expecting DHL at my door post soon

Make the final guess and it's all yours if you guess right!
_{Tip: she's serious and is going to send it to you by registered mail when we get back to her school!}

@Softee,

No qualms sis - be cool.

@sage,

It really doesn't make sense that you're arguing against Scripture in a pretence to defend your preconceptions. If only you would read again the verses I offered, they may help you see things more clearly in your linear and antithetical reasoning.

Softee:
What part of me was acting this way towards Seun. I got nothing but love for him and would love to help him. 

Uhm. . . something like this - ?

Softee:
Please seun, If you got lost on your journey what makes you think other Christians should give up on theirs. Your expiriences are not another mans expiriences so you are not qualified to tell anyone that.

Anyways, it's only a matter of perspective, and I deliberately used "antagonistic" to share my point earlier about how "debating/debate(s)" may be used in several contexts than one - either positively or negatively!

However, I didn't see your reply to the verses I offered you??

@Bobbyaf (aka Mr. SDA sabbatical with a cult portfolio),

I usually restrain myself from entering into long-winded missives with people who try to use the precious Word of God to support their cultic movements. The Bible nowhere supports the idea of SDA's proposition denouncing other denominations or Christian Churches as you have done; and in all your entries you have upheld this cultic idea of such denunciations without a Biblical basis.

Bobbyaf:
Just remember this each time you deny truth

Bobby, where have I denied truth? And which "truth" has continually bothered you in my rejoinders? If you meant the SDA-flavoured anecdotes, you're correct in your analysis - I renounce all the cultic heresies of Ellen G. White and those pretended by the SDA leaders which are constantly edited to cover up their questionable history.

Bobbyaf:
If you think it is a nornal thing to accept that its ok to be in any organization, as long as all you do is call on the name of the Lord Jesus, then you'd have missed all that the apostles fought for and gave their lives trying to maintain.

Thanks. I can guarantee you this: none of the apostles fought for or gave their lives trying to maintain the heresies of Ellen G. White.

Bobbyaf:
Go ahead with your "itching ears" notions, and see how far it will take you when that day comes.

I got out of the SDA ear-itches years ago and I'm not about patronizing their heresies just now.

Bobbyaf:
Go ahead and sit in your comfort zone feeling you're doing people any good with your watered down version of christianity.

No one has complained about any watered-down version of Christianity as coming from me. On the contrary, please go through again and read the testimonies that trail my entries.

Bobbyaf:
You've been warned.

Most obliged, thank you. I have you in my prayers that God opens your eyes and ears to His precious Word by the revelation of His Spirit.

mrpataki:
@ Softee,
www.nairaland.com is not the only forum online where such heated debates and arguments as this that you have brought out occurs? Infact nairaland's version is even mild!

Voice of the elders!

Anyway, may I ask you Softee what you make of the following verses:

Act 9:29 - "And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him."

Act 17:16-17 - "Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him."

Act 28:23 - "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening."

Jude 3 - "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (ISV - "to continue your vigorous defense of the faith".

Besides, I think you should help us follow your context by not becoming antagonistic to Seun, since you hinted that Jesus laid it upon your heart not to do so.

babs787:
i could remember in one of the threads in which a question was thrown at shahan on 'who wrote the last part of the bok of deutronomy and joshua respectively. Shahan told me IT WAS MOSES AND JOSHUA THAT WROTE ABOUT THEIR OWN DEATH WHILE
Davidylan in another thread SAID IT WAS THEIR SUBORDINATES THAT WROTE THE BOOKS FOR THEM. now, do you call those 'answers'.

Since the authorship of Deuteronomy happens to be your problem and pedantic worry, here's my answer to that small concern:

The authorship of Deuteronomy has been debated among several scholars with the concensus falling either way to denying that Moses was its author or that someone else (possibly Joshua) wrote the latter parts. The difficulty for some stands on the question that Moses could not possibly be its author since he could not have written about his death in Deut. 34:5 - "So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD."

Whatever reasons are advanced for the denials, here's why I believe that Moses was the author of Deuteronomy:

1. Its Divine Source
No one who carefully reads the Bible will miss the point that Moses was a scribe who wrote what he was commanded so to do by God Himself. "And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD" (Exo. 24:4); "And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel" (Deut. 31:9). The book of Deuteronomy does not contain Moses' ideas; and it stands to reason that he could have detailed his own death and events following thereafter simply because God revealed them prophetically to him.

2. Its Coherrent Message
Scholars who do not banter to liberal theology recognize that the book of Joshua and Deuteronomy have very marked contrasting styles; the latter more attuned to the construct and style of the first four books of the OT authored by Moses. Besides, the internal evidence of Moses receiving revelation from God explains the mystery of his ability to have been able to detail events beyond his death. Such events include the spiritual decline of Israel and God's retribution thereto (Deut. 31:16-17); and the prophecy of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah (Gen. 3:15 and Deut. 18:15-19).

3. Its Divine Recognition
Probably one of the most authenticating is the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ recognized and ascribed its authorship to Moses. In Matt. 19:7-8 concerning a question about divorce, anyone can see that the enquirers were referring to Deut. 24:1 - and Lord Jesus affirmed that Moses indeed was its author without the slightest hint that anyone else would have possibly been so. He did not query or question that Deut. 24:1 was written by Moses or sought to correct the crowd; rather, He affirmed the point that none else was its author than Moses. This is doubly confirmed in Mark 10:3-5.

Another example is found in Mark 12:9-27 where the Sadducees most definitely were referring to Deut. 25:5-10 and said, "Master, Moses wrote unto us. . ." Rather than correct them about the author of Deuteronomy as being someone else, Jesus rather exposed their misunderstanding of the Scriptures and their lack of spiritual power. Nowehere did He suggest that someone other than Moses wrote Deuteronomy (see also Luke 20:28-38 ).

Again, in John 5:46 we read Jesus' own testimony: "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me." Carefully reading through Moses' writings reveals that Jesus was alluding very strongly to Deut.18:15, 18 & 19 - the very same texts that Muslims many times want to arrogate to Muhammad through the back door.

The Deut. 18 texts read: "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him." This has nothing to do with a Quraish Arabian self-acclaimed prophet, as the context reveal; and Moses could not have been referring to anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ (see also Acts 3:22-23 and 7:37).


4. Its Prophetic Power
Not only did Moses write of things about his death, but he also wrote about events beyond his death. This is what many people miss out when questioning the authorship of Deuteronomy because they assume that a writer could not possibly write about events that he had not experienced; hence, they miss the power of its prophetic language. Moses indeed wrote about events before his time, during his time, and beyond his time. One such prophetic event that Moses spoke about beyond his death is the first advent of the Lord Jesus Christ - Deut. 18:15-19.



The Enigma - Is the Qur'an Lying?

The question of Moses' prophetic detail about his own death as the basis for denying his authorship of Deuteronomy is really childish and begs the issue. If Moses was not the author of the Torah (i.e., the Pentateuch or five books of Moses), then the Qur'an must have been dishonest about its claim to have recognized Moses' authorship of Deuteronomy. Here are the Qur'anic verses:

Sura 2:53
And when We gave unto Moses the Scripture and the criterion (of right and wrong), that ye might be led aright.

Sura 5:44
Lo! We did reveal the Torah, wherein is guidance and a light, by which the prophets who surrendered (unto Allah) judged the Jews, and the rabbis and the priests (judged) by such of Allah's Scripture as they were bidden to observe, and thereunto were they witnesses. So fear not mankind, but fear Me. And My revelations for a little gain. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are disbelievers.

Sura 6:91
And they measure not the power of Allah its true measure when they say: Allah hath naught revealed unto a human being. Say (unto the Jews who speak thus): Who revealed the Book which Moses brought, a light and guidance for mankind, which ye have put on parchments which ye show, but ye hide much (thereof), and (by which) ye were taught that which ye knew not yourselves nor (did) your fathers (know it)? Say: Allah. Then leave them to their play of cavilling.

When Sura 6:91 asks, "Who revealed the Book which Moses brought, a light and guidance for mankind", the answer was: "Say: Allah." If the likes of babs787 deny that Moses was the author of the Torah (including Deuteronomy), then in the same breath they are openly ridiculing the Qur'an and inferring that the *Allah of the Qur'an was being dishonest in his claim in those verses.

There are certainly numerous verses in the Qur'an such as Sura 6:91 claiming that Allah revealed the Torah to Moses. Note that the Torah has always been regarded as "the five Books of the Moses" or "the first five Books of the Old Testament", and the Qur'an recognizes that there were more than one Book authored by Moses: (Sura 53:36 - "Nay, is he not acquainted with what is in the Books of Moses" - note the plural in 'Books'). Do a Wikipedia search to see that the Torah commonly comprises the following:

Bereishith - Genesis (In the beginning, )
Shemoth - Exodus (The names, )
Vayiqra - Leviticus (And He called, )
Bamidbar - Numbers (In the wilderness, )
Devarim - Deuteronomy (The words, )

From the foregoing, if the claims and denials of babs787 hold any substance at all, then it stands to reason that the Qur'an and its deity *allah were simply lying. However, if on the other hand the Qur'an and *allah expose babs787's confusion, one needs hardly imagine how far his MIDT has taken him. It is not surprising thereto, because nothing ever makes sense to these blabbers - not even their Qur'an which they pretend to have read.

@babs787,

Now you might think that you're quite knowledgeable and smart in defending the grey areas of Islam. Nevermind your beggarly un-Islamic overtures, but the following quotes in your earlier responses show how far you can stoop so low in your desperate efforts to take a swipe at Christians and yet end up making Islamic blasphemies against one of the respected Prophets that even the Qur'an fears to ridicule:

1. According to babs787, Jesus lied to his disciples:

babs787:
I still hold on to that unlike jesus of the bible that lied to his disciples,

2. According to babs787, Jesus was accused of stealing in John 7:8-9; but as frantic a dilated liar as babs787 himself is, the texts he quoted said nothing about accusations of stealing:

babs787:
1. jesus was accused of stealing in
john 7v8-10: On the feast of the tabernacles, jesus replied his brothers: go to the feast yourselves, I AM NOT GOING UP THE FEAST, and after his brothers were gone HE ALSO WENT UP, NOT PUBLICLY BUT IN PRIVATE

3. According to babs787, Jesus encouraged His disciples to steal grain; but the whole context shows how dubious babs787 can afford to be:

babs787:
2. Jesus disciples stole grain and he encouraged them because David did so too.
MATHEW 12 v1-4

Now let's see what babs787 is twisting in his warped agenda:

Matt. 12:1-4
¹At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. ²But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. ³But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; ⁴How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

(a). Was Jesus stealing corn in this text?
Certainly not, because the Law provided for this very action of people being free to eat from the grain fields of their neighbours as long as they did not use a sickle in harvesting:

Deut. 23:25 - "When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn."

(b). Did anyone accuse Jesus of stealing corn?
Certainly not (except babs787!). The complaint was not about stealing corn, but rather about not keeping the Sabbath day (Matt. 12:2 - see also verse 8 that shows precisely the case).

(c). What exactly did David do according to that verse?
Read I Sam. 21:4-6 carefully that reveals what actually happened: ⁴And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. ⁵And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. ⁶So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

Did that suggest that David stole bread in the house of the LORD? Readers should judge for themselves where babs787 got his wierd lies from!

4. According to babs787, Jesus stole a colt:

babs787:
3. jesus in the bible stole a colt and told his disciples to tell the owner that THE LORD NEEDED IT. EEEEEEEEEWOOOOOOOOOO
Luke 19v29-35.

a. Did Jesus actually steal a colt or fulfill prophecy?
Consider Luke 19:29-35 (actually read up to verse 38 ) and contrast with such prophetic declarations as Zech. 9:9 -

Luke 19:29-35
²⁹And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, ³⁰Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. ³¹And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. ³²And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. ³³And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? ³⁴And they said, The Lord hath need of him. ³⁵And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

Note: if this was a case of stealing, why did the owners not raise an alarm and publicly request the arrest and punishment for stealing upon the disciples? The fact that the owners could actually release the colt is testimony to the fact that they recognized Jesus as "Lord" and His divine prerogative over all things ("The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." Psa. 24:1; and, "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills; I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine" - Psa. 50:10-11).

The events in Luke 19 quoted above is only a fulfillment of Zech. 9:9 -"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." The recognition of the divine royalty of Jesus is evident in Luke 19:38, where the multitude rejoiced - "Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest."

From the foregoing, babs787 might think he actually was attacking anyone on the Forum; but his vexations only further reveal two things commonly denied in Islam:

(a) readers should understand that when Muslims claim they "do not insult any of the prophets incuding Jesus", such a claim is dishonest. As we have seen, here is an avowed Muslim openly drooling with calumny against Jesus Christ, and hence proving clearly the pretence of the typical mindset of Muslims claiming they do not deride any of the prophets.

(b) although babs787 actually thought he would win applause by his calumny against Jesus Christ, he has only ended up proving he is an incorrigible liar that will stoop so low and stop at nothing in his fallacious exercise. As he is often known to say, "MAY GOD’S ANGER BE ON LIARS", and "MAY LIARS NEVER PROSPER" - so I have left him to carry his own curses upon himself for his lies exposed above.

gbade. x:
@babs787:
you know, rather than u being called names, you earn names such as BLABS787. Just don't forget them anti-depressants when u get to the drug store. . .

Lol, gbade.x at it again!

@babs787,

babs787:
Shahan,
you are really a failure.You still have the gut to talk despite the unanswered questions thrown at you.

I'm not the only who recognizes that you have real struggles understanding simple statements. Many have wondered why I even bother to waste time to further oblige you answers where you're turning round in circles. It's easy: I do so in the hope that you'd finally see where you're missing the point and your obstinacy in understanding clear answers will be eased off.

babs787:
You should be ashamed of yourself by now and bury your head in shame.

And why is that - because I've exposed your MIDT? Lol, the only thing I'm quite ashamed of is your reverse-IQ and your inability to comprehend clear statements.

babs787:
You levelled allegations in which i responded and asked you questions but you failed woefully in responding.

Sorry, my dear - if asking the same questions I asked you is the way you "responded", then I'm not really surprised that you're drivelling the way you do.

babs787:
Am still very much around when you are able to put yourself together.

For a change, you've managed to shift gear from the "waiting" mode and now being "very much around" - although, your new trend is actually washing your mascara than helping your cause.

On a more serious note, since your problem is hinged now on the authorship of Deuteronomy and Joshua, let me offer you some answers that will help allay your fears. I know you'd come back again with your MIDT, but then it just might as well be useful in showing any reader how very fatally flawed your lullaby is in your previous rejoinders. So dress warm.

muske:
@shahan,
u amused me with your denial on all the sayings posted therein. so all the people are liars.  KAI Chineke

It doesn't really matter what sources you quote, and if those so-called scholars expose their theories to be blatant lies, the point is made. They may pretend to be wearing a "Christan" badge, but I'm not one to be easily fooled by mere titles just for the sake of so-called "research".

In my rejoinders, I have shown how very conspicuous is their duplicity in denying that the Trinity was never taught in the bible until 300 years after Jesus Christ. The reason why any quack will make such claims and pass them off as "research" is because they would have people like you believe that I John 5:7 was written 300 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. If you hold on to such silly denials, it is because you can't afford to admit that your sources are selling cheap lies to feed your prejudices against the veracity of Biblical statements.

muske:
trinity, oh just like "Tri-murti" (Three-forms) consisting of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva or that of The Brahmas having, Vajrapani, Manjusri, and Avalokitesvara or that of the Egyptians with the symbol of a wing, a globe, and a serpent.

Just do yourself the favour of not exposing yourself. Can't you even reason at all in noting that the Brahmas themselves never attribute their form of Trinity to the Christian doctrine?? Even when you take the so-called "tri-murti", you don't even find a semblance across the faiths, not even the claim for the Egyptians comes close.

Having lost all sense of purpose in the frantic effort to deny the authenticity of the Biblical faiths of Judaism and Christianity, so many quacks now parade themselves as "scholars" and banter to ideas that do not help their case. I have seen so many "research articles" on the web about the Qur'an which are bogus lies written by people claiming to be Christians and Muslims! You would agree with me that my integrity would be very well questioned if I used such duplicity to "prove" anything about the Qur'an! Rather than cheapen myself that way, I would rather go into the Qur'an to verify their claims before posting anything on the Forum.

That is what I would have expected yout to do, and not repost the unfounded claims of such materials as you have used - because they simply are debunked by the very Bible they seek to deny.

muske:
now shahan, lets take it one after the other. why did you post the above quotes. did you post them to buttress TRINITY as a result of the father and son being used therein?

More than that, I posted those verses to share with you how weak and fatally flawed your denials were in your attempt to quote flawed sources.

If the discussion would make any meaning to you, may I suggest that you first verify your claims from the Bible itself before resorting to flawed sources whose sole aim is to misrepresent what the Christian faith teaches. Failing to do so would make someone believe that you cheapen your integrity; and I sincerely hope you wouldn't like that.

babyosisi:
Only a cult believes theirs is the only true way and y'all are coming dangerously close.

Eruditely and aptly put.

Biblical Christianity recognizes all who believe in and confess the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, to be the children of God in all ages since Pentecost. Cultic denominations will find a way to disparage the clear teaching of God's Word in order to celebrate only their own and denounce other Christians.

sage:
JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES PAYED TAXES, PAUL HAD A TENT MAKING BUSINESS.

A friend of mine reading this beside me said: "Sad that only tent makers will escape the judgement. I presume this fellow lives in one with wooden pegs!" I wouldn't be that sarcastic, as I'd rather just share points with you.

sage:
BUT NEITHER JESUS NOR ANY OF THE TRUE FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS

1 PARTICIPATED IN POLITICS OF ANYFORM

There are also 5 things that neither Jesus nor any of the true first century Christians participated in:

1. They did not use the internet or a computer (which you have used, yes?)

2. They did not attend a university or take up employment in any Government office - no?

3. They did not take up employment in any Embassy as some Christians who have very good jobs in the visa sections - no?

4. They did not work in Government Hospitals, Health Care Centers, or the Fire Service - no?

5. They did not work in any bank or oil companies like some Christians do today - yes?

Now, since Christians in our age do these things in contrast to what the Lord Jesus Christ and "any of the true first century Christians" participated in, would it seem wise to still be so pronounced in your dichotomy?
_{My friend again: "I presume this chap can report them to God and sit under a gourd or booth in the eastern part of the hemisphere to see what God will do to them (Jonah 4:5)."}

sage:
BUT NEITHER JESUS NOR ANY OF THE TRUE FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS
. . .
2 SUPPORTED ANY HUMAN GOVERMENT OF ANY SORT.

Sage, please read Luke 20, Romans 13 and I Timothy 2 again.

Luke 20:25
He (Jesus) said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

Rom 13:1-7
¹Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ²Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ⁵Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ⁶For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. ⁷Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

I Tim. 2:1-3
¹First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ²for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. ³This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

sage:
BUT NEITHER JESUS NOR ANY OF THE TRUE FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS
. . .

3 JOIN IN MILITARY SERVICE TO ANY NATION

If I Tim. 2:1-3 says it is good and pleasing in the sight of God to pray for Kings and those in authority, where is the taboo against Christians taking up vocations in the law enforcement agencies? If Rom. 13:1-7 recognizes the civil governments of political blocs of nations as instituted by God Himself, where is the dividing line that forbids Christians to fulfill their calling in such institutions?

sage:
BUT NEITHER JESUS NOR ANY OF THE TRUE FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS
. . .
4 PRAYED FOR THE WELL BEIGN OF THER "NATION" EVEN WHEN THEIR "NATION" WAS UNDER ATTACK.

Have you ever read any of the following Scriptures? Here -

Psal. 51:18 - Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem

Psal. 122:6 - Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you!

Jer. 51:50 - Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.

Gal. 6:10 - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

I Tim. 2:1-2
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Question: should we pray for all nations that God may bless them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Gal. 3:8 - "And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed."

If these and other scriptures do not help the case of praying for the nations of the world, where indeed did God wish that we curse them?

sage:
BUT NEITHER JESUS NOR ANY OF THE TRUE FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS
. . .
5 PLEDGED ALLIGIANCE TO ANY NATION

It all depends what you mean by allegiance. I'm sure you don't count as a citizen of a nameless nation; and even if you do, the Bible does not recommend that we be disloyal to the governmental institutions of the various nations we find ourselves.

The apostle Paul recognized his rights as a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25-29); and he urged Christians to be respectful and responsible to the civil and political Governments existing in any nation (Rom. 13:1-7). To deny this on the premise that Christians did not pledge allegiance to any nation is to deny what the Bible states.

sage:
THESE THINGS ARE INCOMPACTIBLE WITH TRUE CHRISTIANITY.

True Christianity is based on the written Word and not on some esoteric, private far-fetched interpretation to some guru.

sage:
Jesus and his apostles had the ability to raise the dead, heal the sick, render righteous judgement, comfort the depressed etc

. . . And your point is??

sage:
If participation in human politics and rulership was acceptable according to what you guys are claiming, they should have taken on rulership and SHOWN OTHERS HOW TO RULE, BUT DID THEY? NO, THEY FLED FROM POLITICS LIKE IT WAS A PLAGUE COZ THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY COULD ONLY PLEDGE ALLIGIANCE TO ONE SINGLE GOVERMENT, THAT OF GOD.

Again, Romans 13:1-7 does not teach what you're pushing across - political governments are never treated as a "PLAGUE" from which Christians fled! And there are many spheres where Christians have distinguished themselves in positions of leadership - including politics, economics, academics, culture and the arts.

sage:
THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT HUMAN RULERSHIP WAS WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE DEVIL AND COULD THAT THEY COULD NOT EVEN TOUCH IT WITH A ONE MILE POLE.

You're preaching some of the pamphlets of your group/denomination, yes? The reason why I'm asking is because none of your ideas are actually substantiated in the Bible.

sage:
CHRISTIADOM IS ON A ONE WAY ROAD NOW, HEADED STRAIGHT OFF INTO DESTRUCTION ALONG WITH ALL HUMAN GOVERMENTS.

I wonder why it has to take over 2 millenia for the destruction you predict to occur, especially as God's Word clearly teaches that human governments are instituted by God.

sage:
The 1st century christians were persecuted fiercly by both the Jewish system, and the Roman state for their not pledging alligiance to the state. But they chose to die than take part in human politics.

It was not a political government that undergirded the persecution from the Jews; so your point is unbalanced. The Roman governors of the day did not seek Christian allegiance to a political state: rather, the big question was who was "Lord" - Caesar or Jesus? If you carefully read the lines, you can't mix them up the way you did.

sage:
Jesus prayed for Gods kingdom to come, the only Goverment that true Christians should pledge alligiance to. When that kingdom starts to rule on Earth, then the kingdoms of this world will indeed become the kingdom of our Lord.

Half-truths are dangerous. We pray for God's Kingdom to come; and from all the texts offered above, it is our Christian responsibility to pray for the welfare of civilian and political rulers.

sage:
The more i discuss about this the more i see why Christiandoms judgement by God will have no Mercy in it. She deserves it every single step of the way. What a wicked Harlot

Your ideas are really mixed up as it does not appear you were able to distinguish between issues. Rather than lump everything under your perceived "Christiandoms" (rather, Christendom) as a wicked Harlot, why don't you carefully and prayerfully ask God to help you rightly divide the Word of truth in a straight line (II Tim. 2:15)? Try it - you will come away really blessed!

zillonnair:
Please revisit the scriptures, with people like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Esther, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha down to new testament men like John, Peter, Paul you would see clearly that dey lacked nothing.  Dont be fooled.

Let's revisit the scriptures:

I Tim. 6:9-11
⁹But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ¹¹But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Phip. 4:11-12
¹¹Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. ¹²I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I Tim. 6:17
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

Heb. 11:26
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

They lacked nothing, you say? Don't be fooled!

@topic,

I would rather say that the call is out of personal feelings than a persuasion from the Bible. The word debate carries a certain negative connotation to many people; but when understood in a proper perspective, it carries more weight for the cause of Christians proposing well reasoned answers to publicly affecting issues than a mere call to be tarciturn thereto. Let me propose some contextual definition for the word 'debate' from the online WordWeb dictionary. :

Noun:
1. A discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal
2. The formal presentation of and opposition to a stated proposition (usually followed by a vote)

Verb:
1. Think about carefully; weigh
2. Discuss the pros and cons of an issue
3. Have an argument about something
4. Argue with one another

Except in the last two definitions (3 & 4 - as "argument" is another scary word to many), debating any issue (in the sense of the other meanings) is both a Christian responsibility and a healthy evangelical exercise. I believe the Bible offers several texts in support of a spirited debate where the aim is both to convince, offer answers to enquiries, and share knowledge on issues that are otherwise taken for granted. This is commonly known as apologetics. Here are a few:

I Pet. 3:15 - "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." See also Rom. 1:14-18.

Sometimes, I wonder if such calls for Christians to be quiet about current issues is suspect of the fact that those making the calls simply have no answers and would not be bothered to seek them. When the propositions are weighed at the end of the day, there's much more damage done by a reserved and taciturn attitude to serious matters. If anything at all, I have benefitted immensely from such spirited debates that have helped shape my convictions and ultimate conversion from Islam to the Christian faith.

Religious debates or not, there are people who will benefit tremendously from mature discussions on spirituality. As long as we don't lose sight of the substance, apologetics on the Christian faith is indeed much needed in our age; and is very much a part of the spiritual parlance in evangelical Christianity.

@babs787,

I see you've much improved on your MIDT; but this time it hasn't served you well because you only managed to knot yourself in your lengthy thesis and arrived at asking my questions to you without addressing them. Did your researchers miserably fail you?

Bless.

When are people going to open their eyes and see beyond this personality-cult of defending robbery on the excuse of "every idle word" to be accounted of? This was why I questioned earlier the sort of esoteric teaching and practices that are now blowing through LoveWorld. If this is all the defence that could be offered for the mystery behind the N49m offering that the "man-in-charge" refuses to return, then it's a shame beyond reason.

And the idea of trying to equate this N49m loot to "the case of Jesus and the Pharisees and Sadducee's" simply beggars the question. In all the years that I've been reading my Bible, I haven't seen any verse where Jesus was accused of questionable means of receiving monetary offering from anyone.

In case this defence is missing the point, let us remind our friends that God scrutinizes the source of any offering brought before Him. For instance, Deut. 23:18 gives a hint on this:

"Thou shalt not bring the hire of a LovePeddler, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God."

Take the hint: if the source of the N49m is questionable, rather than assume a personality-cult worship in defence of what is clearly wrong, we should not be reading such braggadocio as this:

donnie:
Return what money?
. . .
In any case, such amount of money wouldn't mean much to Pastor Chris.

Doing the work of the Lord does not exempt an MOG/pastor from integrity of character.

Salvation is simply by faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross. All those who have believed in Him are the children of God - for it is in Christ Jesus Himself that God receives people, and not on the basis of what denomination anyone belongs.

mrpataki:
@ Shahan,
Uhmmmm, guess am disqualified to make a single guess then.

Not at all - see just above for latest conditions, and how magnanimous we can be (ahem!!) 

mrpataki:
Well I can only think it as far as this level now, am +ve that you are not the older here, so that leaves me with just one option here, YOU GIRLS ARE TWINS!!!

Phew!! We share a lot in common in more ways than one, and the blokes out here where we are hanging out would have sworn on their honour that your guesses were correct, except for the. . . .!! No hints, pal - but still dead wrong!

mrpataki:
Hope to send you a mail soonest, or how do i get my gift when you guys are at the far end of the world?

I'll check my email ASA I post this and pass any info you require. It's no problem mailing your package from any part of the world if you emerge the winner. Bros (m4malik) wanted to join in the fun, but trust me - his gift is not worth it, so don't waste precious time bothering about him!

mrpataki:
I dare say i love giving peeps the right to guess about issues on me, but when I am thrown the same challenge, I wonder how I can be in such dilemma You just did that anyways

Oya, no vex. Here's an e-kiss on your shoulder, if that would help. If it doesn't, hope you summersault 3 times from the mountain where you catch your visions and prophetic insights!

mrpataki:
Stay close to momma ke?
How did you know that (_{Me thinks there is more to this peeps than it meets the eye here})

Told you - me sef dey catch vision well-well!

mrpataki:
I will have to resume my prayer on the mount! I must catch the vision!

I don tell you: if Gehazi catch you on top his spot, my hand no dey!

mrpataki:
What really is heating up?
Tell mlks_baby, that if she does not come here fast, the heat is she is anticipating will be far much hotter than the fiery furnace that Daniel's friend ever encountered

I told her exactly as you said. Her reply? "Hummff! I have my hands on the heating-lever, and by the time I count to 3, mrpataki will roast!"

mrpataki:
Wonder why she now uses you has her voice sef on nairaland.

She's been busy of late; and second, I have plenty of time to spare before acada resumes. However, she's enjoying the guess work and is waiting to see how you guys can go at it before she shows up. So get to it!

goodguy:
Conditions accepted.

So, my guess is. . .
       
          . . . *thinking* https://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/39.gif
                 
                       . . . I'm coming o! https://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/105.gif

          . . . *Clears throat like OBJ*  --  I'll be back. https://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/26.gif

Well, she's certainly reserving something special and says that anyone who would come up with just one right guess will receive it. At the mo, I'm at a cyber cafe and she's sizing up this Aussie-miss-road! Anyhow, I can guarantee she's really serious and you'll be surprised that a real winner will emerge with a real gift.

However, she only added one more condition when we landed at the airport: there's a deadline - and it's February 1! Besides, anyone welcome to have a go at the guesses - so long as they're in Naija!

mrpataki:
Pa, Uncle Olabowale,
Missed that great man, wish he could just come back and some more humor to this thing.
The likes that are there now basically have nothing interesting to offer.

Well, it all depends on how we read their inputs - sometimes, they offer some anecdotes where I get bored with Sesame Street.

mrpataki:
Although there are exceptions, belloti, babs787(Hibernation master!), Onikunkewu(religion comparative study lecturer), mukinatu, great guys so to speak.

. . . and the list is growing. As for my daughter (muki-babe) who thought I was a male and dubbed me the popular "shaitan", at least now she knows the internet was only an e-burka that kept me closely unidentified until. . .!

goodguy:
You people were so rude to Uncle Olabowale. I never liked it whenever I saw him being attacked by my "Christian" brethren. Even if you never agreed with him, you could still have considered the fact that he is way older than all of you; and you should have given him that respect.

Even though I was a late arrival and only missed uncle Olabs by a few days or so, I enjoyed a few of his entries, and more so the jolly input about the bia-bia! Although it didn't make any sense, but even when people make fun of people, I agree sometimes we should not over-stretch it. Maybe some of us might have wished that he, at least, tried to respect others as well in some of his rejoinders. But there again - I'm just being me!

Anyway, hope you're keeping cool and enjoying the breeze.

belloti:
Shahan vs Belloti on nairaland? Not for the slap sha? And definitely not for the holy Kiss suggested by mrpataki.

Yes, shahan vs belloti - live on Nairaland!
And point of correction: that was not a suggestion by mrpataki - it was rather a highly recommended, because we can all slap and hug and laugh at our differences, and still move naija forward - and only holy kisses can do the trick!

belloti:
Surely am getting more sympathy from you than Baby, David or Havila. But the four of you are just some wonderful bunch. it would have being boring without you. with due respect to my other friends across the divides, pataki, forgetme, etc.

Well, rather than sympathy, I'd say that you've earned my respect in more ways than one - and I know how to appreciate good sense when I read one, even though the person may be putting across views that conflagrate mine. As for the rest of the crew - babyosisi, davidylan, Havila, mrpataki, 4get_me, goodguy, gbade.x, et al, I'm sure you would agree with me that the Forum would have been quite drab without their presence. Incidentally, I've made more friends here in contrast to some other fora where I debate issues.

belloti:
However, in my group, we have the likes of our senior partner Bro Olabowale, Babs, Muske and the mercurial mukina. i think she deserve some awards on nairaland.

Okay, jokes apart, as goodguy said earlier, we should have shown Uncle Olabs some seniority respect (though I'm not quite sure that he was always level-headed - my opinion). The others - babs787, muske, even my dearly missed Islampride - all have my warm regards. The beautiful thing is that we can here check our religious persuasions at the door for the moment and have some rib-cracking fun. And, yes, dearest mercurial muki-babe has an award from me all the way from Bone's Knob!  

belloti:
This thread is surely dedicated to the friends of Shahan, which surely i am one.

Glad to know you regard me as one of your friends - hoping it'd last as long as the sun shines.

@people,

Where do I start from now??

All I can say for at the moment is that we (my & my sis) are having fun at its peak at the "treat" with lots of Aussies with their funny accent. Their English na wah - e dey sound like when person put gbegiri with half-cooked yam for mouth!

I go show and appear intermittently on the Forum - I see it has progressed far beyond my expectations, which is a good sign and perhaps very tempting for sis (mlks_baby) to show face one of these days. As for bros (m4malik), we trowey the bobo one side and took off without apology: he should know by now that babes rule!

trini_girl:
I read this book "Heaven Is So Real" by Choo Nam Thomas.  I think she's a Chinese convert.  As soon as I started reading the book alarms went off in my spirit.

Lol, this babe never ceases to amaze me with her polished grammar!

trini_girl:
I wish that more people here could read this book and tell me what they think if it's available in Nigeria.  People are debating it all over the net.  I've read where some people say it has caused family members to doubt their very salvation, and others to become depressed.

This is the alarm that went off in my spirit as well:

II Cor. 11:4 & 13-14
"For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. . .For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light!"

Good thing your spiritual antenna is still very functional. 

goodguy:
@ Shahan, will mlks_baby send me a very nice gift too if I guess right? https://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/5.gif

Uhm. . . it took a while to talk it over on phone with her, and she confirms positive on 3 conditions:

1. so long as it's only one guess

2. so long as it doesn't hamper her treat to Australia

3. so long as you can read the instructions in small prints below (typical of lawyer women!):

<sub>This offer is subject to the Laws of both the UK and the USA, arbitrated by the defunct and non-operative Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and served on tax-free koboko where participants fail! Call 1-800-THINK-BEFORE-YOU-AGREE if further information required. All calls carry premium charges, and you must be 19 years old to participate. Please obtain permission from Guardian or Parents if you are not sure when your birthday occurs; and sign a no-hassles certificate before you leaving home.

Prizes won are tax-deductable and may arrive only with wrappings after all necessary taxes have been deducted. Postage and Packaging costs will henceforth be subject to the Harare Convention (which incidentally has nothing to do with this offer); and only prophetic minds need bother to interpret.

Restrictions: If you are male, above 19 years of age, with long beards and low hair cut, please apply for a free extra ticket. All other participants to be disengaged upon recognition by username. Further, participants seeing visions are auto-disqualified (as they tend to see too many things!!)

Good luck and happy guesses!</sub>

So, those are the conditions in fine print I was asked to spell out for y'all!!

@babyosisi,

babyosisi:
I had a good friend in SDA,the sabaath thing was a little strange to me but I thought that was the only difference we had,I never knew they believed that all non SDA were false.

Well, my sis. . . hear it from our SDA representative himself:

Bobbyaf:
God has His remnant church that has preserved His truth. I belieev its the SDA church, and you don't. Prove it

. . . and again:

Bobbyaf:
There can only be one true church in which is found un-diluted doctrines and teachings.

shahan:
. . . And only the SDA is the true church, abi??

Bobbyaf:
Well, in terms of biblical teachings only.

. . .and this one again:

Bobbyaf:
Come out of religious confusion and separate yourself from pagan teachings, otherwise you will suffer the wrath of God when he pours 7 plagues upon all those who recieve the mark of the RCC, being Sunday observance.

. . .just keep reading:

Bobbyaf:
I see your technicality Shahan. The fact that I am even making such a statement means that I have excluded my denom from babylon. Can't your logical mind see that? Do I have to spell it out for you? Isn't it obvious that because I am a part of the SDA church that I would naturally think it is not apart of babylon? Hahaha, , You guys never fail to amuse me!

. . . gather the points:

Bobbyaf:
The term babylon constitutes, whether you desire to accept it or not, false worship.

. . . and more:

Bobbyaf:
With regards to my denom the SDA church, I am apart of it because of my conviction that it represents what God intends for His end-time church to be representing.

. . . almost there:

Bobbyaf:
Symbolical babylon is doing the same thing today, but this time it represents all false teachings, including professed christian churches. Every false prophet, the chief of which is the RCC is lumped under the general term babylon.

Phew!!

So, nne babyosisi. . . you can see the spinning around that puts every other Christian church/group/denomination as daughters of Babylon with the RCC as head; while the SDA alone is oga of the pure river! Wonders shall never end indeed!

mukina2:
shaitan
the ones quoted by all the haters are fake
that why i never read through them

Doesn't sound like you read anyone though; and looks like the Hadiths themselves are fakes - which precisely proves that the religion they produced is a fraud.

Anyway, let's keep it that way.

@luckyCo,

Now let me deal with your enquiry. Please pardon the delay - I actually tried posting it last night and then my PC froze and the piece was lost in transit. Here's a rough sketch of the points I had last night:

luckyCO:
I will be very glad to see their various operations(Ghost) such that I will discuss with examples while discussing with him. His is a man that needs many examples before he believes. He was a pegan before converted into christianity. Am virgling for that. Thanks and God bless.

I am not quite versed about the various operations of ghosts in the Bible, as they are not comprehensively discussed in Scripture. The reason seems to be that God in wisdom does not give us detail about what He pronounces as abomination - and as we have seen, communication with the spirits of the dead or the underworld is expressly forbidden and termed abomination: (Deut. 18).

Deut. 18:10-12
"There shall not be found among you any one that . . .useth divination, . . . or an enchanter, or a witch, . . . a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee."

The question is: What are 'familiar spirits'?
As explained earlier, these are diabolic spirits under the authority of Satan. The term 'familiar' given to them is should explain their perculiar activity as spirits disguising to be people known to others. They may assume the identities of very close relatives of people in order to bring special messages of warning, prosperity, goodwill and well wishes. . . or even bad news. Their goal is solely to captivate the attention of their victims in order to make them dependent on the whims of Satan and his domain.

And what are ghosts?
Ghosts are simply spirits, but again they are a real phenomenon that people experience. Not all ghosts, I pressume, are actually diabolical spirits; and the case of Moses and Elijah appearing on the mount of transfiguration and discoursing with Jesus in Matt. 17 is an example to the point. Yet, in the broader sense, ghosts are spirits that assume the identities of known people and pretend to bring some kind of message to living people.

Their activities.
Besides pretending to bring help to people in order to seduce and make them dependent on the domain and activities of Satan, ghosts are also particularly known for haunting people. In this case, they cause fear and rule the lives of people who are entrapped in that domain. From Luke 24:37, it is obvious that people were scared on seeing ghosts/spirits: "But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit." It doesn't mean there that they actually saw a ghost there; but it shows you what the reaction of people were if they happened to see a spirit/ghost.

The reason why their activities are not detailed in Scripture is simply because God would not have His people dwelling on the realms of what He condemns; and only by studying the texts where they are mentioned can one understand the phenomenon and activities of ghosts and familiar spirits.

Cheers.