Posted on 08/13/2015 8:47:00 AM PDT by C19fan
” Not through pages written by other men. “
I perceive this to be a problem. To think of the Bible as pages written by other men is incorrect. Of course if it is written by other men it is just opinion or what have you.
If it is indeed God’s word then you need to submit to it, no matter what your own (sinful) heart might tell you.
If you reject the word, you reject the Word, ultimately, which is damnation.
You need to have a higher view of the Bible, much higher.
“To think of the Bible as pages written by other men is incorrect.”
To believe every single word in texts handled for 1000-5000 years by unknown men is the unfiltered, untranslated message of God is incorrect to me.
Of course the Bible is PART of His message. Just like every single thing we encounter...
But IMO, we are meant to question everything within this reality to find the Truth for OURSELVES. We are meant to eventually learn that prophets and books are ALL inherently corrupt since they come from men with egos.
IMO, God’s message only comes to us through non-corruptible mechanisms like nature and probability. We are free to listen to other men who claim to see them but ultimately we all have the desire to stray from their teachings and see for ourselves. And for very very good reason...
You should consider some of the reasons for the doctrine of inerrancy.
First of all would a great and loving God leave His people with no instruction?
Second it claims to be the word of God.
Third Jesus quoted all of the Old Testament as the inspired and infallible word of God. New Testament writers quoted gospels and etc. similarly.
Fourth its truth has been proven again and again empirically, archeologically, experientially, and historically.
Fifth hundreds of witnesses over the centuries testified as to the truth of it.
Sixth God used tens of writers over many centuries from varied social, economic, educational and cultural backgrounds and it harmonizes. . . perfectly???
Seventh it does not smell of man - we don’t come up with any system of salvation other than one that depends on our own works, and requires the level of humility that Christianity does. See all other religions. In every one, you earn it. You don’t humble yourself, admit you are dead and incapable, and put all your trust in one who graciously gives you anything.
Eighth your own soul recognizes it as the word of your Heavenly Father. Deny it and you are, as it says, simply suppressing the truth in unrighteousness.
God left you His word. Don’t reject it.
“First of all would a great and loving God leave His people with no instruction?”
He DID leave instruction. EVERYWHERE. The corrupt have simply caused us to close our eyes for generations.
One technique they use to stop critical thinking is professing some man-made books to be God’s word and attacking those who say otherwise.
“Second it claims to be the word of God. Third Jesus quoted all of the Old Testament as the inspired and infallible word of God. New Testament writers quoted gospels and etc. similarly.”
And I can CLAIM anything I want too. Does not make it fact.
We have no way to actually verify anything thousands of years ago. Even records from a few hundred years ago are poor. Even two people telling one story cannot keep it straight the same day.
Both accepted history AND the Bible can be based on shotty historical accounts. And archaeology can be twisted to nearly any agenda.
My advice is do not believe ANYTHING unless you see and experience it yourself. Nomatter how trustworthy you think the source is
You can’t find instructions under any rock or tree. That is paganism. God is a Person and communicates directly through language, which is His creation. Of course the heavens declare the glory of God; the creation shows the hand of its Creator. But you can’t know His requirements of you, or His way of saving you, through admiring a sunset.
Yes, anyone can claim anything. But of course if the Bible is the word of God, it will say so. And it does. I point that out because it is an important factor in realizing that the Bible is indeed the word of God.
Yes, we can verify things that happened years ago. Archeological, physical, geological, historical evidence is trustworthy. We can’t place all of our trust in it. But it is not unimportant or insignificact.
You are grasping for reasons to deny it. Even this is evidence that the Bible is true. We are shown throughout Scripture how sinful men (us) reject the word of God. Indeed, the first sin was predicated upon doubting it. Satan said to Adam, “Yea, hath God said?” Don’t be like Adam.
Among many other things God tells us:
“14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.’ 2nd Timothy.
You will not find God’s will outside of His Word. It is not to be found.
“But you can’t know His requirements of you, or His way of saving you, through admiring a sunset.”
Yes you can. He speaks to you constantly through mechanisms of the Universe along our entire path here. If you are perceptive enough, even a sunset can convey the entire message.
Everything is everything. All is a fractal model of the unseen Universe and represents His higher will. From the smallest atom to the largest star.
We ourselves are part of the Universe and the Bible is a message that flowed through the minds of other humans. But it is just another part of the journey and meant to be taken critically- as with ALL elements in the Universe.
I was once a complete atheist but the message was undeniable once I learned enough. BUT, IMO it only comes to us in ways that only WE can understand from out own perspective. For that reason, I believe God wants us to question and explore EVERYTHING.
TRUE believers can only come from self exploration and experience. Not from listening to the unverifiable claims of others.
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