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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | How should we take the Bible? | Bible general Archive 2 | jlhetrick | 154938 | ||
Hello Doc, Where are you coming from with this statement? You wrote: "We spend more time trying to figure out how to obey as little as possible and have our own way as much as possible. We even read the Scriptures -- when we bother to read them at all -- with an attitude of how much is in it for me, and what is the least I have to do. If we are honest, everyone of us struggles with this." It saddens me to read this. You used the "pronoun" WE but I hope you were not referring to yourself and/or Christians. What you described here is not the character or the way of a true converted person. Sure "our" sin nature still exists and sure many, and even perhapse all, of the characteristics you described can and do exists in every christian, but hoepfully as the exception rather than the rule. I'm sorry but I just don't see how this broad statement about Christians (as it appears you are referring to Christians) as being helpful in answering Diomede's question. Your numberes list was helpful and thanks for that. Jeff |
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2 | How should we take the Bible? | Bible general Archive 2 | mark d seyler | 154943 | ||
Hi Jeff, I agree with you in hoping that what Doc described is the exception and not the rule, but I stand with Doc, and am a part of his "we". Who among us would think, or claim, that we follow the Lord's mandates most of the time? Why do you think that there are so many places that we are told to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only? Not because it comes automatically, easily, or quickly, I am certain. I would even go a little further than what Doc wrote, and say that we don't even try to figure out how to not obey, we so often have not even the slightest intention of obeying. We read the Word so that we can think we are ok, and then continue with our lives as we choose. There is such a fundamental disobedience within us that has to die, and I think that of the people I know or have met, that have more than half died to themselves as God requires, I could count on one hand. Look at the state of the Christian church in America, and you tell me how far we have come. How many Christians do you know who you would characturize as primarily engaged in a ministry of reconciliation of mankind to God (2Cor 5)? How many are persecuted (2Tim 3)? How many have even suffered minor loss for the sake of the gospel? How many could stand up before us today, and say with clear conscience, "I live holy before God." How should we take the Bible? Like a scalpel in the hand of the only One Who can save us, like the drops of water on a dying man's lips, like our marching orders for today, lest we waste yet another day. Like our Father's words of love, and of power, that will light our way home. Blessings! Love in Christ, Mark |
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3 | How should we take the Bible? | Bible general Archive 2 | jlhetrick | 154944 | ||
Thanks for the reply Mark, I agree with everything you wrote here for the most part. I could not respond to your post the way I did to Doc's. Your post represents the truth about the majority of Christians in this country (in my opinion). I will not, and can not try to defend even myself regarding the "lazy" approach to Christianity the majority of Christians (in this Country) take. I know I should be giving more back to Him and I know that I will never succeed at doing all I should in this life to further the Kingdom of God. But I keep working at it (sometimes harder than others). This is not what I took issue with in Doc's post. In the section of his post that I quoted it read to me like he was likening Christians to the pagans in Romans 1:18-32. I simply don't agree that Christians are, as a rule, "inventors of evil" Romans 1:30 which is how the statment came across to me. That "we" are looking for ways to be disobedient. Perhapse it is our differences in experience related to our individual churches and fellowships. Perhaps I totally missed Doc's point and/or misunderstood what he was writing. But, I'll have to stand by my feedback until I know different. Jeff (always open to correction and redirection) |
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