Results 1 - 7 of 7
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Christ and Christians? | Luke 14:26 | seeking4truth | 101426 | ||
I wanted to thank you for the time, effort, consideration, and thoughtfulness that you have put into your answers to this question. I can tell that you, too, are seeking to understand the truth as best as we can. I especially appreciate that you are stressing the importance of context. The more I study my Bible (and the less I find I know), the more important that context becomes. If I understand your answer correctly, you are advocating a principle, not only of considering context, but of considering that not everything written in the Bible is written directly for us. And you have cited excellent examples to show where we should determine who is speaking, to whom, and the relevance of whether what is being said applies to all persons at all times. This technique is close to what I suppose the Bible scholars call "dispensationalism" - that God deals with different people in different times in different ways. This method of interpretation can certainly seem to be helpful. It allows us to, though you may not like the term, "pick and choose" what parts of the Bible apply to us and what parts do not. For instance, I don't see many Christians taking a lamb to the church on Sunday morning to be sacrificed at the altar. Why not? Because a thorough study of the scriptures seems to support that the old sacrificial system has been done away with and, as Hebrews says, there is no longer a sacrifice for sins. So, in this particular case, it would seem that the scriptures themselves support that God's methods change over time. The signs that Jesus lists in Mark 16 become a little sticker don't they? I wouldn't have much opposition if I said that an animal sacrifice is no longer necessary (although those of Judaism would probably disagree with me). But if I start to say that the signs that Jesus gave are no longer applicable to the church, then my assertion becomes much more tenuous because: 1. Christians claim to follow Christ and His teachings, YET they themselves are picking and choosing WHICH of His teachings apply to them and which ones don't. 2. And, to the best of my knowledge, I don't recall Jesus saying that all of these signs were only for a particular group (other than believers). It would be similar if I claimed to be a follower of Buddha but did not believe that ALL of his teachings applied to me. Most Christians operate under some form of this "a la carte" Christianity. I am not saying that it is right nor wrong to do this. But I am curious as to WHY Christians do what they do. After all, most Christians claim to follow the teachings of their leader. But if pressed about this (as in Mark 16), many (if not most) of the Christians in the circles that I travel would say, "Yes, that is what Christ taught but it doesn't apply to me." So my question is, how can we claim that we are followers of Christ if we do not follow His clear teaching? What gives the disciples the right to determine which teachings of their teacher apply to them and which ones don't? That, my friend, is where I am at. I am looking at the specific teachings of Jesus and trying to determine, as best I can, whether or not I should even wear the name of Christian and say that I believe in Jesus. It is difficult for me to say that Jesus is my Lord if I am not willing to do what He says. It is difficult for me to say that He taught the truth if I am willing (and sometimes eager) to relegate His truths to other people and other time periods. But in the end, I find that I have to do this or His teachings make no sense. For instance, at one point Jesus sends out His disciples ONLY to the house of Israel. They are to take His gospel to the Jews only. Is this His true command? Certainly. But He seems to revise this command later in Matthew 28 when He gives out the great comission, doesn't He? There, His disciples are told to go into all the world. This "change" is substantiated by the scriptures themselves. Many of the other teachings of Christ are much more ambiguous. Are Christians on shakey ground when they claim to believe in Jesus Christ but either limit or dismiss some of His teachings? I am not questioning Christ's person at this point. But I am curious to what extent I can call myself a Christian if I disregard the clear teachings of the one I claim to follow. seeking4truth |
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2 | Christ and Christians? | Luke 14:26 | Ken hepting | 101535 | ||
[So, in this particular case, it would seem that the scriptures themselves support that God's methods change over time.] I don't believe that is an accurate conclusion. It's always been a "blood" demand with God. Why? Because life is in the blood. Corrupt the blood, corrupt the life. Give a transfusion of new pure blood and save it. |
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3 | Ken, are you sure? | Luke 14:26 | seeking4truth | 101538 | ||
Hi Ken, You wrote: For your consideration, let's see what the scriptures have to say: Psalm 30:2-3 - O Lord my God, I CRIED to You for help, and You healed me. O Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit. Psalm 40:1,6 - I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my CRY... Sacrifice and meal offering You have NOT desired; My ears You have opened; Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. Psalm 50:13-15 - "Shall I (GOD) eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of male goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of THANKSGIVING and pay your vows to the Most High. CALL upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me." Psalm 51:16-17 - For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a BROKEN SPIRIT; A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART, O God, You will NOT despise. Micah 6:6-8 - With what shall I come to the Lord and bow myself before the od on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what DOES the Lord REQUIRE OF YOU but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Post by seeking4truth, scriptures by God |
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4 | Ken, are you sure? | Luke 14:26 | Ken hepting | 101543 | ||
Sure. The above doesn't speak of standing in the presence of God but only being rescued or delivered. None of what you posted qualifies for reconcilation. Only innocent blood can stand in the presence of God and live. | ||||||
5 | Ken, are you sure? | Luke 14:26 | seeking4truth | 101545 | ||
Well, I'm not so sure, Ken. You wrote: "It's always been a "blood" demand with God." I've posted verses that seem to speak to the contrary. But we all tend to believe what we want to believe. Again, that is what much of these threads are about in this topic - that WE pick and choose which verses we want to hold to and which ones we want to reason away or ignor. To me, this smacks of the same sin that brought humanity's downfall in the first place - "Did God REALLY say...?" And I am not so sure about the statement of only innocent blood standing in the presence of God either. Jesus was, as I understand it, righteous, not innocent. Innocent denotes not knowing right or wrong (as Adam and Eve were before the fall). Righteous denotes a positive component of moral perfection, not innocence. But these are the fallible thoughts of a fallen creature (myself). seeking4truth |
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6 | Ken, are you sure? | Luke 14:26 | Ken hepting | 101549 | ||
["It's always been a "blood" demand with God." I've posted verses that seem to speak to the contrary] But you haven't. Lets begin with that fact. |
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7 | Ken, are you sure? | Luke 14:26 | seeking4truth | 101552 | ||
No thanks. I'll let someone else begin. seeking4truth |
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