Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire "All things work together for Good".

The problem with "listening to what God has to tell us" is that we are humans and there is an undeniable overwhelming tendency to hear what we want to hear. Which is why I always say, if you want to hear what God has to say read the Bible. "Listening to what God has to Say" is very subjective and dangerous. Very few will "hear" the same. The Bible is never changing, solid as a rock. The Bible is God's word.

The Jesus I know is not bound by the covers of a book. He can reveal Himself in any manner He chooses.

Absolutely. I'm staring out the Window looking at Jesus and God as I type. I see them in everything, revealing themselves continually. But only take instruction from the Bible. I do not trust what I "hear". I do not trust what you "hear". The Bible is complete. I am certain homosexuals "hear" their lifestyle is okay with God, as does the habitual adulterer. Same with the drunk, the corrupt, the cult leader, etc. etc. But wait, I am an exception. Everything I hear God say is pure and correct. As a wise old man told me, "son, everybody thinks they are an exception. You are no exception".

It is good to remember the bible was compiled and edited by fallible men. The original dialogue quoted in the New Testament was spoken in Aramaic or Hebrew and translated into Greek at some point and now we have our English versions. It is interesting to me that some writings were lost or ditched and there are obvious insertions in places. The Roman church had custody of the bible for a long time and while they couldn't easily monkey with the Old Testament they certainly could bend the New to their own use and advantage. That said, it seems that Jesus' core message survived.

elf, I should have said, First chance.

wordTo me, the Bible is NOT the foundation of the Christian faith. It wasn’t for early first century followers of Jesus (when the Bible didn’t even exist), and it’s not now. To me, the Bible exists ‘because of’ Christianity...Christianity doesn’t exist ‘because of’ the Bible.

I believe the Bible is inerrant. If any piece of scripture can be broke, then the whole Bible can be unwound. Then who becomes the authority? Sorry Hastings, not you, but me neither.

Has there ever, been a better Book?

The Bible is very very clear that it is the Word of God, which has to be considered at least part of the foundation.

heard a guy say on the radio the other day, non-christians like to say that Jesus was a nice guy, spiritual, a lot of good teaching. but, if he claimed to be the Son of God, and really wasn't, is he still "good"?

I'll let someone else field that.

Christ followed the Old Testament, promoted others to do the same, and began the teachings which are documented in the New Testament. So, a big part of the Bible as we know it today was not discounted by Jesus and is a fundamental piece of Christianity

I believe it to be inspired. To me, that’s not so. I don’t have to believe the literal Genesis creation account, or the literal account of Noah and the Ark, or the literal account of Jonah and the great fish...in order for me to believe, wholeheartedly, the Gospel. My faith in Jesus is not dependent on an inerrant Bible, nor does my relationship with Him require me to believe things that simply are not true.

There is somewhat of a safety in basing your decisions in what God told others to do. The problem with it however is that you are left with a book of directions and examples of what God did long ago rather than a living God in you. Read Hebrews for example.The entire theme is that there is no longer any boundary between you and God. What good is it for God to provide a way for you to stand in his presence guilt free but you would rather just read an account of what he told somebody else to do?

The usefulness of the scriptures is not as a book of God's words to you,but as a book that reveals to you a way that you can hear from God for yourself. Yes,nobody will hear the same but that's the point. Your problems and weaknesses are completely different from mine. There's no danger for the seeker of truth. There's no danger of being wrong for he who seeks what is right. Follow peace,love,joy,goodness,all of what the bible calls fruit of the Spirit and your path is always sure. The real danger is when we stand up and declare that we know God because we have read the book. Therein lies pride. I'm not telling you to throw away your bible. I'm telling you the bible is the path,rather than the destination.

To me, Jesus was raised the Jew that He was. He knew the Law and the Prophets, and discussed them with His followers...ALL of whom were Jews. Up until that time, the Old Covenant was all they had, and it was all they’d known. But Jesus ushered in something brand new. The Old Covenant was made between God and the nation of Israel. Whereas Jesus’ New Covenant was made between God and all of the people in all of the world. Jesus fulfilled this Old Covenant, rendering it completed...“It is finished” meant just that...and He ushered in His New Covenant. Jesus’ New Covenant is what is in effect now. The appearance of Jesus and His ekklesia was intertwined with the history which had preceded it, and the Law and the Prophets were preserved for Christians in what became the Old Testament in the Christian Bible.

I'm in agreement with that as well, except that not all of Christ's audience was Jewish or Israelites.
But what is your basis for discounting the Bible as a "foundation" of Christianity? Yes the OT was fulfilled, but its words are still integral to belief and faith. As a historical record alone it carries many fundamental beliefs, and the words of the prophets foretold what was to come.

I play it safe. I know (and you do to) what happens when man is given any sort leeway. We always will twist it to fit our objective (whether its the Bible or anything else). Its human nature. I am no exception.

sse, Moses is a profit, and a "Good Guy, Jesus is Lord God.

Then what makes you think that exact twist didn't happen in translation or the writing down of direct revelation of the text you follow as inerrant? I think it a better testament of God's power that he can get the the message across despite any fallacy, rather than that he could cause humans to be infallible in this one area.

Question - God revealed to the local Methodist Church to allow gay pastors. What say you?