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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Inspired or not? | OT general | Just Read Mark | 168062 | ||
What does inspired mean? Hi Trigger, and Brad. The Bible is inspired by God. It is God's Word. I agree with these statements. There are a range of opinions about what those statements mean, however... so I may not mean the same thing as others on this forum. Also, there will be a diversity of view within the forum --- although they are hard to see at first. It is critical to read the whole Bible. All its parts. Over the centuries, this amazing book has been formed -- with so many voices and histories and songs -- yet it is one Story. To interpret each part, I believe, you need to see where it falls within the great arc between the Creation and the New Creation. Like Paul, I believe our wisdom will pass away as God reveals ultimate reality at the end. (see the end of I Corinthians 13). Our understanding is partial. The Bible is reliable, but there is more to come. The Bible celebrates a union of God and creature --- that we are given physical bodies... that physical creation is celebrated... we are not over-riden by God, but shaped and used by God. The writers of scripture, then, bring their personalities and experiences to bear on their writing. Luke's character and insights are different than Matthews --- they tell the same Gospel story, but in different ways. Those ways enlighten us. We are seeing God WORK THROUGH his creatures. I do not believe their hands were taken over, and God wrote through them like possessed people.... rather, God's Holy Spirit worked through all that they had lived and learned - to produce something true. Sometimes, in this process, we see these faithful people struggling to find the right response for their culture and time. We will find things - wearing certain clothing for instance - that make little sense for today. But we can ask ourselves: what was the motive for that instruction? Where is their faithful heart in this? And then that can be applied today. It is applied as we live within the complete story of scripture, not just isolated verses. Sometimes we will see traces of the Fall in scripture. This can happen a few ways. First, the Bible can show an accurate representation of a fallen thing. The Old Testament often describes scenarios that are horrific, and leave us to draw the conclusion of whether they were right or not. It's often hard to tell, just like in life. The Bible is not a polite book at all. Another thing, however, is that God can move people within their historical context --- not to an ideal position (timeless) but to an improved position from where they were. The slavery question is probably one of those... the cultures around them sold their children into slavery, and so Moses is inspired to put limits on that practice. To the first listeners, it would be radical justice.... to us, it seems like condoning the slavery. But, when we see it in context, we can see the steady advance of the Kingdom of God. I believe God intends every word in the Bible to be there for us, to shape how we think, how we ask questions, how we pray. God has given us every word of it. Even parts that may be culturally "tainted". God's Word is perfect, in that --- as we immerse ourselves in it --- it shows us the direction of God's plan, including the direction we are headed in our future as a planet. Some parts of scripture can "critique" other parts, so we need to look at the big picture of the whole Bible. (For example, Jonah functions as a critique of Nehemiah, I'd suggest. We need to read both, to get the balance right. God made sure both were in there...) We see this plan more accurately, then, by tracing the large themes through the whole of scripture, rather than looking at specific instructions given at a particular point. You asked how I can have a vibrant faith despite the degree of questioning I live with. I have a relationship with the Living God. God is not afraid of questions. My questions do not stop me from loving God, serving God, listening to God. They make me fall into Christ's everlasting arms, knowing that my mind is not enough.... only God can save me. I am His. Also, and this is important.... if you read throught the questions I have posted, those are just the questions. There is so much I am confident about, each day, as I walk the faith. Obviously, if you look over the questions I've posted over several years, you'll get a bit of a slanted look at how I think. I live in the confidence of Jesus my Lord, repenting of my broken ways, walking in his Spirit, attempting to be a slave in love, and enduring in the hope of resurrection. Peace. JRM |
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2 | Inspired or not? | OT general | trigger | 168109 | ||
JRM, Thank you very much for your beautiful response. I've read it twice now. I really appreciate the way you think, and I'm thinking I could learn more from you. I have had some of the same thoughts, for instance on the subject of slavery, that you mention in your response. I would love to talk more with you, but I won't be able to get back to you again until next weekend. I enjoyed reading your comments very much. It edified me, and brought peace to my soul. I especially was glad to read that your relationship with Christ has not suffered among the apparent contradictions you have stumbled across in God's Word. Thank you for taking the time to share your heart! God Bless You! | ||||||