I have a few (genuine) questions for any Christians reading.?

Question

How do you decide which part of the Bible to follow and when? (E.g. the contradiction between "turn the other cheek" and "eye for an eye")
Who do you believe wrote the Bible? Written by God, man or man inspired by God?
When it was decided (by men) what books should constitute the Bible you read today, how do you know they chose the correct ones?
Are all the people that lived before Jesus in Hell?
Are all those who've never heard of Christianity in Hell?
What's your take on evolution? Is it an amazing coincidence or is all the evidence put there by the devil?
There are hundreds of branches of Christianity. Is your branch the only one that leads to heaven? If not, then why have different practises at all?

Answer 1

You have some hard questions here!

1) When looking at certain passages you often have to look at their context and often if you look very closely they do not contradict.

2) I believe that the Bible was written by men that were inspired by God, so it was ultimately written throught God.

3) God guided men what to put in the Bible and the other books were not consistant with the Bible and said things that cannot be true like that Jesus lost his temper when we know that he never committed any sin.

4) All the people before Jesus lived in faith of what was going to happen (eg the promised Messiah) and tried to follow the commandments and do all the rictuals like offering a burnt offereing for their sin. The coming of Christ was the final offering of his body that was completed once and for all.

5)You dont need to have heard of Christiainity to go to heaven because the Bible says that 'all heavens declare the glory of the Lord' and that all creation speaks of him. Originally it was only for the Jews but when Jesus came it was for non-Jews as well. Now there are only a few people who have not heard the message.

6) I personally do not think that there is any evidence that evolution happened. I believe that God created everything in 6 days and rested on the 7th. The so-called evidence out there is not fully based (contact me for further details).

7) I do not think that that my 'branch' is the only way to heaven because it is not through certain practises of a church that you get to heaven but throught personally putting your life on Jesus and being a new person as the old lusts of the flesh have passed away. Some churches practises are a result of interperating the Bible different ways, and some are based on tradition and some are based on man's lusts and desires.

Answer 2

lets take one question at a time..

1. How do you decide which part of the Bible to follow and when?

A: follow all of the Bible, it is the written word of God. there are no contradictions between "turn the other cheek" and "eye for an Eye" the Bible says "turn the other cheek" the law of the land at that time was "eye for an eye".

2. Who do you believe wrote the Bible? Written by God, man or man inspired by God?
A: I believe God inspired the Bible. it was written by God through certain men that God picked to write it down.

3.When it was decided (by men) what books should constitute the Bible you read today, how do you know they chose the correct ones?
A: "the men" who decided what books should be written were under the guildance of God. I don't think God made any mistakes.

4.Are all the people that lived before Jesus in Hell?
A: no, the saints at that time went to a holding place (Paradise) and after Jesus was raised from the dead, he went and retrieved them and took them to heaven.

5. Are all those who've never heard of Christianity in Hell?
A: no, no one will ever be able to stand before God and say "I didn't know" God is big enough to get his message out to everyone. through missionaries and many other avenues that you wouldn't believe.. we are all born with a need to seek for God. some find the real one, some people make one up. but all are given the tools to find the real one.

6.What's your take on evolution? Is it an amazing coincidence or is all the evidence put there by the devil?
A: evolution is hog wash.. even scientist say it's impossiable to have so many reactions be perfect enough to make a world that is self sustaining. the devils doings? it would seem so. he comes as a light but in realitiy he is here to decieve.

7.There are hundreds of branches of Christianity. Is your branch the only one that leads to heaven?
A: religion doesn't get anyone in to heaven, only Jesus' sacrifice. Heaven is NOT filled with only one denomination, but rather the true believers of Christ.

Answer 3

Let's start with what part of the Bible to folllow first. An eye for an eye is in the Old Testament and when Jesus was here he said I have not come to do away with the law but fullfil it. Which means we are to folow the new rules of turn the other cheek., which is in the New Testament.
Who do I believ wrote the Bible. The Bible is the word of God. it is said all the words of the Bible are God breathed. Mathew, Mark,Luke I know all tell of Jesusu life here on earth each telling us a littel different due to the different experiences that they had with Him. None contradict each other but actually uphold one another.
I have to trust (faith) that God directd these men to use the works that best described what He wanted man to know and therefore we have a very good book of the breathed word of God.
No all the people that lived before Jesus are not in hell. Moses was before Jesus and I know he did not go to hell and there are alot more who were very devoted to God. So NO that is not true.
No I do not believe this. I do not know if there has been any or if so very many that have not had the chance to here the word of God. But if they did not I do not believe that they went to hell. I believe they have a chance to have their names in the book of life.
I believe they are given a chance to go before God and to belive on Him then.
Evolution is just a theory and thus shoukd be taught as such.Did satan put all of these coincidences here to mess up peoples minds? Maybe but why give him credit for anything. It is a mans theory that some like to use as the truth.
No my church is not the only one thst leads to heaven. Due to the fact the church buildings and groups are originally put together by man they are going to have flaws and diffferences. Lets face it opinion comes into play somewhat and therefore we have differneces. The true church of Christ is the body of believers that believe in Him and worship Him and among al oof the churches , christian most of them have the basixc same beliefs and that is what is important. And don't forget individuals from a certain church do not naturally speak for the entire church body.
Why did you not ask this as 7 different questions?

Answer 4

Well.. the whole references to turn the other cheek... I think that that means that we are to ignore actions that are set against us in the everyday...

The eye for an eye reference was the physical aspect of punishment that was governed by the laws of the land.
But now that I say that I am conflicted.. Ill ask my pastor about that!

The bible was written by desciples.. Thus the titles of the chapters..they wrote a play by play of the events that took place and of the word that they received directly form god and from Jesus....

I don't honestly know why one was chosen over the other... I know that a lot of scholars have been debating an archeological find that reportedly contains the scrolls of the chapter of Judas... I think that god compelled the choosers and guided them to make the right choice.

People that lived before Jesus time... I don't think they are in Hell... I mean Moses.. and Adam and Eve and all their children were alive before Jesus.. this the old testament.... good question though..

All those that don't know christianity.. no they aren't in hell.. I think that todays mainstream christian churches say that.. but I don't believe it.. if we are created in the image of god why would he intentionally create people to go to hell? I think that some of the other faiths are god's idea of a melting pot and I don't think they are the "false" religions that people say they are.. it just wouldn't make sense.

Evolution.. wow.. see I hail from a family of scientists and researchers.. and I have had this debate at many a thanksgiving dinners and porch gatherings...I really don't know... and I don't know how to form an answer into wording that would make sense.

Nope.. I am a non denominational christian... and I believe that I will go to heaven....and I agree with you.. why have different forms of faith and branches if in the end only one goes to heaven... if that were the case how would you know which was the right one?

I like your questions and thanks for clearing some cobwebs out of my brain. I miss healthy intelligent debates and conversations!

Answer 5

I'll try to answer your questions one by one, as best as I can.

As far as contradictory advice in the Bible, your question seems to suggest the differences between Old and New Testament exhortations. Most modern Christian churches (mine being Catholic, for your reference) suggest that, as the new covenant takes the place of the old, just so do Christ's messages take precedence over the more ancient.

Regarding the Bible's authorship, I am pretty sure almost all Christians believe it to be written by many men, inspired by God.

Early Christians sprung from Judaism, so naturally the books of the Torah and other widely used Jewish texts became part of the Bible. As far as the Catholic Church is concerend, several councils in the centuries after Christ's death determined, by virtue of quality and adherence to previously and widely accepted ideas concerning the faith chose which scriptures to include in the new testament.

The Church teaches that those people who died before Jesus' earthly life were brought to heaven after his death. The Nicene creed states that "He descended into Hell," and at that time brought the virtuous souls with Him to heaven.

The Church teaches that those people who have no exposure to the Christian faith and yet live a virtuous life and genuinely seek the divine nature can too achieve heavan.

Pope John Paul II said that "evolution is more than a theory." The Church has taught its validity for many years. In fact, St. Augustine suggested in the fourth century ideas about creation that uncannily mirror the theory of evolution.

As said above, it is possible for a person of any creed to reach heaven. However, the Church believes that the fulness of worship and human fulfillment lies in within it.

I hope this helps, and I'm happy to answer any more questions.

Answer 6

Follow the laws in the New Testament more than the Old Testament.

Inspired by God.

To difficult for me to answer.

People who lived before Jesus (or never heard about Him) will be judged according to what laws they did know, and if they obeyed them.

Micro evolution is science (one kind of dog starts a new breed of do, one kind of rose starts a new type of rose, etc..), the others are not. All the evidence (dinosaurs, etc..) points to creation, check out these sites
www.drdino.com
www.creationseminar.net

People see different truths in the Bible, and they make some of them of more importance than others, quite often this is a trick of the Devil to keep Christians apart. Most of the core truths are shared by all, but we let the other things keep us apart. I think that their is at least some people from all denominations that are saved (because they are truthfully following what they know, and are trusting Jesus as their Lord and Savior), but some denomination are more questionable than others.

Answer 7

You my friend are obviously not a Christian in the common idea of what a Christian is.

If you need an example of what a real christian sounds like read what our friend john who answered first had to say. He is a true christian in the modern sense.

You are thinking entirely too much and to independently too ever be one.

Judging from the clarity and order of your comments, you are ready to move on.

If you are seeing this clearly on your own you are probably ready for a graduate course in reality and human relations.

I suggest that you get a book called the course in miracles. It somewhat exhaustively explains many of the ideas you are talking about in great detail.

It’s well worth the effort. I have worn out my first copy, and had to get a new one.



Love and blessings

Answer 8

I truly wish all Christians would love God enough to take all these questions seriously.

I, for one, am not convinced that moral reasoning is best supported by simply reciting Bible texts. Also, I have mixed feelings about much of what I continue to read in the Bible. That doesn't mean I don't think it is worth my time and energy to study, but it does mean that I'm going to think about it on my own, chew on beliefs and opinions of others, and accept responsibility for my beliefs.

Answer 9

*** The Bible was written by man but it was sent from God
*** The people before Jesus stayed in Purgatory until He died for us, and then they went up to HEAVEN
*** Just because you're not a Christian it does not mean that you go to Hell... if you believe what you're doing is right and you ACT like a decent human being you will (most likely) go to Heaven; i.e: Cannibals would not go to Hell just because they eat other humans they do not know it is bad... it's their way of survival
*** ahhh... evolution.... it's all a load of crap... I think that it isn't fully one or the other... parts of it are true... like the extinction of certain animals and natural selection... but parts of it (like dinoaurs before humans AKA before Adam and Eve) are from Satan.
*** just like in the 3rd paragraph... although it's just some differences in the beliefs of different denominations...sucha as Catholics beliving in Reconciliation and Consecration... and Protestants.. well... don't

I hope i could help!!!!!
:D

Answer 10

i think the angels wrote the bible (old tes.) then gave it to the Jew's and the other bible was written by the Christ followers (the first name of Christians)