I’ve been listening to the bible a LOT on my three hour commute for the last three years and two months. I’m no longer a bible “worshiper”. I see it for what it is.
Regarding the NT, it is four accounts of the life, times and teachings of Jesus the Christ. It is one history book (Acts) that teaches us how the message filled the known world and was preached by his Apostles. It is quite a few letters to specific people and churches as well as “the church” in general. And there is a detailed dream/vision (The Revelation of John).
The bible is huge on teaching and wisdom. It is history, but it is also allegory, dreams, parables, etc. And it is not “the” word of God. Rather, it CONTAINS the word of God throughout.
So I believe the message of Christ. I believe he and his apostles really existed and wrote the things they wrote. But the key is not the bible. The key is Prayer and a personal relationship with Him. The bible merely enhances and solidifies.
If Jordan disagrees with me on some of that, that’s fine. I disagree with most churches on some things, and a few of them pretty major (I believe Mary had sex after Jesus was born. A lot of Christians don’t).
Jordan’s teaching that I’ve heard is rock solid and irrefutable. And it’s not just what he teaches. It is the foundational values and facts on which his teaching rests. But I’ve not been exposed to his entire body of work.
Thanks Mrs RobRoy...I appreciate the feedback. Are you saying you once were a “Bible Worshipper”? I am glad to hear that you believe the message of Christ, so do I. But how do you know what the actual message of Christ is, without the Bible?The way to look at the Bible is the Way Jesus did, He treated it as the written Word of God, saying things like, “Father...thy word is ruth” and “the scripture cannot be broken” and in his battle with Satan, He responded to the temptation with these words, “It is written...”. Why would He who is the incarnate Word of God, have to say “It is written...”? He is showing us that the Bible is the written word of God and that as a man, He puts himself under the authority of the Word of God, citing it, rather than his own personal feelings on the subject.
Ps- I agree with you that Mary was only a virgin until Jesus was born. Jesus had half brothers and sisters.
pps i too appreciate Jordan’s teaching for what it is...but it is not a true, spiritual approach to the Bible