For me, regarding all of these Biblical and Christian and theological discussions that arise on this forum sometimes, I conclude that what made Christianity so attractive in the first few centuries of its existence was Jesus’ resurrection. And I believe that a renewed focus on that can make Christianity attractive to people again.
Even though some of the Bible really troubles a lotta people, and causes them to struggle with doubt...understandably so...those things pale in comparison to the reality of Jesus rising from the dead. Even if the Bible contains allegory, and even if a literal interpretation of everything in the Bible isn’t possible or realistic for many...that does nothing to undermine the reality of Jesus’ resurrection and the claims that He made about Himself.
That’s not denying the Bible, it’s simply saying that...for me...I’ve gotta first start with a resurrected Jesus, and then make the case for the Bible, and not the other way around. No matter what one thinks about the Bible, if Jesus is risen from the dead, then Christianity is true. Period.
I do not believe that Christianity is true just because an inerrant Bible says so. For me, Christianity would still be true even if the Bible were never written. I accept the story of Jesus’ resurrection, and how I look at the Bible flows from the truth of that event. My view of Scripture follows from my understanding of who the Resurrected Jesus really is, and not the reverse.
