[Mr. Douglas]

Christians should dispense with the “because the Bible told me so” rationale for believing its truth claims.

---

I tend to agree with that, if only because of some of the arguments I’ve had with devout believers. In one case, the guy, red faced, lifted his big KJV above his head and said, “I believe what the word says”. I said, “I do too. Where we differ is in our interpretation.”

People often use the word to support their beliefs that they acquired in Summer Junior Bible School and have not studied it since. i.e. they can’t support their position from a biblical perspective and refuse to even open the bible with you to discuss it. Further, they call you a heretic, or worse, because you disagree with that opinion.

Kinda weird, when you think about it. It is also a textbook example of dogmatism. It’s fine to disagree with someone, but you need to be able to back up your claims and successfully refute theirs, especially before calling them an agent of Satan. Just sayin’.

[Agamemnon]

“I do too. Where we differ is in our interpretation.”

Is it your position that everything in the Bible is up for debate and is subject to your own private interpretation?

FReegards!

[avenir]

“...the guy, red faced, lifted his big KJV above his head...”

Lol. I bought a Family Bible in KJV from Half-Price Books a few years ago that could deep-six someone if you clocked them with it! It’s huuuuuge.

[Sterlis]

1 Corinthians 1:23 - But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

Whether we like it or not we are living in a “Greek” gentile world where the bible is of no authority and is considered irrelevant by so many. Our model needs to always be Jesus who so clearly walked out the truth in love. People need to meet Jesus then the scripture will quickly become important precisely because that is where God speaks directly.

[wintertime]

And...most of all, it is important for the Spirit to testify to your heart that it is true.