The Lord Will Give You a Sign...

I read several blogs each day. Some of them for entertainment, some to keep up on what's happening in various "movements." One blog I've recently started reading is The Theologian's Cafe. Each day, he posts a question or two such as: "What is the maximum amount of items someone should check out in the self-check out line labeled fast lane?" or "Should an obese passenger have to pay extra for a plane ticket?" Some of the topics are prompted by current news items or events; others, who knows where he gets the inspiration for the question.

Anyhoooo...one of the questions yesterday (12.20.06) was "Do you believe the part of the story that said Jesus was born of a virgin?"

The range of answers was interesting to say the least. Lots of people said "Yes"; lots of people said "No." Some answers revealed a lack of understanding of the question all together. One responder wrote: "Can anyone NOT be born a virgin?" Some answers defied logic: "No. Even though I believe in God and Jesus, I don't believe everything in the Bible."

The answer that really got me was: "Actually, my pastor told me, back then virgin meant young woman, not someone who hadn't had sex..."

A couple of thoughts come to mind here.

1. If Mary wasn't a virgin (chaste; having never had sexual relations), what's the big deal? Where is the miracle? Isaiah 7:14 says: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." Where's the "sign" if Mary is simply a "young girl?"
2. How in the world is that Pastor able to read the Bible and come up with an answer like that?

You can read the whole thread here.