Don't forget the OT dietary laws and genocides, or speaking in tongues as a form of worship that should be continued and interpretted, or the silent assent to slavery, or the rules about women remaining silent, not braiding their hair or wearing gold jewelry, etc...
2006-09-01 17:09:31 · 33 answers · asked by squirellywrath 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Since you asked:
1 Timothy 2:9 (New International Version)
I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,
2006-09-01 17:22:30 · update #1
And here's the other one you asked for:
1 Corinthians 14:34 (New International Version)
women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says
2006-09-01 17:24:27 · update #2
Just for my own edification... I want to let anyone know that has accused me of "immaturity" or of not studying the Bible in any depth, I devoted seven years of my life to studying the Bible in a Christian environment. I still study it. I still pray about it. Don't presume to judge me, it's very immature of you.
2006-09-01 17:26:35 · update #3
I've studied the Bible intensely for 7 years, earned 2 masters degrees and am currently working on a PhD. It's interesting to me that when those of us who do not hold to a literal reading of the text bring up contradictions or point to moral imperatives in the text that most people no longer follow, that we are accused by some of not reading the Bible. I'm sure you know of the layers of historical, social, scientific, literary, etc. that undergird the text and therefore color its meaning in ways that are alien to us. Certainly, I think its more intellectually honest and therefore, of high integrity to challenge the text when its logic breaks down. Good question.
2006-09-01 20:02:41 · answer #1 · answered by Tukiki 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With all due respect, if you had studied the Bible in depth as you say, then you must have realized that Jesus, Peter & Paul all said that we don't have to follow the Old Testament dietary laws anymore under the New Testament -- since Jesus expressly declaired all foods to be clean (Mark 7:14-23). There is a strong symbolic reason for this which you apparently missed (Acts 10:1-11:18 & 15:1-35). This truth is so basic to Christianity I don't see how that you missed it, if you have studied the Bible at all (Galations 3:1-5:26).
And it seems that you have miss-interperted other passagages by removing them from their cultural and historical context.
As for not beleiving every word of the Bible, exactally how would you pick and choose anyway? How do you decide what is true, and what not to believe? Unless you are a prophet who hears from God directly, then how do you know which parts of the Bible that God really meant, and which parts that he didn't? See the problem?
2006-09-01 17:42:29 · answer #2 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are a little confused about the meaning of the Bible. You are pulling out individual passages without understanding the whole. For example, the dietary laws you refer to...These are part of Torah Law, which is followed by Orthodox Jews. One of the major points of the New Testament was, that through the death of Jesus we are saved by grace and no longer bound by these laws. So, as a Christian one is NOT SUPPOSED to follow Torah Law...it is a piece of the HISTORY of God's relationship with His people. You need to read and understand the entire Bible to view this stuff in context...if you start pulling out passages you will come across stuff that is totally unbelievable and bizarre. Also, there is enough stuff in there which is interpreted differently by different Bible scholars...The answer is, a Christian should believe that what the Bible says is true, but not all Christians need to agree on an interpretation of what the Bible says, For example, many Fundamentalists believe the Creation Story in Genesis 1 is literal, while Many Catholics believe it is symbolic. Both have a legitimate claim to being Christian. No one has to be an expert on doctrine to be Christian, the requirement is that you accept God's grace offered through the death of his son Jesus Christ...even if you have never READ the Bible.
In response to your additional comment re Timothy: Only a very few denominations believe your literal interpretation about braided hair. Most look at the spirit of the text, which is that a woman's beauty comes from her character not her outer ornamentation, such as the braiding of her hair. Are you studying the Bible in a group using outside sources, or are you just reading it and interpreting it the best you can? Your comments lead me to believe your studying is either all independent reading, or else you are doing a Bible Study within one of the more esoteric denominations...either way, you could use a fresh point of view in a new Bible Study group or some different study guides. I am not trying to condescend, just suggesting.
2006-09-01 17:25:32 · answer #3 · answered by z 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do believe you can be a Christian and not believe every word, but I think you are selling yourself short and disregarding the most powerful tool you have as a Christian. You really need to get into a good church that teaches the Bible. Most of the things you listed are old testament...Jesus spoke about that in the new Testament. Speaking in tongues was an apostolic gift used as a sign to the Jews. Many denominations love to promote talking in tongues, but I've yet to find a single person that is truely speaking in tongues. They blurt gibberish in an attempt to convince all the others around them that they are full of the "holy spirit". You recieve the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. You recieve as much as you ever will get. Now you can ignore or not use the Holy Spirit in your life, but He won't make you roll on the floor, bark like a dog, pass out, or yell gibberish that no one understands. The Bible speaks of the Lord being against choas. Tongues is choas.
At any rate, you need to get some good study guides like something by Hank Hanigraf, get into a good Bible teaching church, and start to learn the book.
Every word is true, it's so accurate it's scarey. So many events described in the Bible have been proven to be true through archeology and written documents it's uncanny. Every prophesy in the Bible up to Revelations as come true. That's over 300 predictions written 2000 years ago. It talks of the earth being round before science proved it. It explains the earth tilts on an axis.
If you really studied it, you would find it to be amazing. Not to mention so helpful in guiding through life in these days and times.
Why would God put us on the planet and not leave us a guidebook to follow. Seems a bit irresponsible for an almighty God don't you think.
If there are parts that confuse you or you don't understand, then ask someone.
2006-09-01 17:25:13 · answer #4 · answered by Bubbles 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. But it's also possible to believe the whole Bible without completely understanding it. I don't believe the Bible should be interpreted literally at all times, but it should be interpreted normally. There are parables, metaphors and symbolic stuff in there for sure. You also have to remember what the situation was at the time it was written and to whom it was being written. The dietary laws are not for today. The New Testament says somewhere that you should eat food that's convenient for you. Also read Acts 10. As far as genocides, I think God was trying to preserve a holy race (Jews) and intermarriage with outsiders would have caused a problem. Speaking in tongues is not for today. It was a sign gift that is no longer needed. It is being abused in a lot of phony churches today. I don't think God was ever in favor of slavery. He allowed it because of circumstances at the time. But He also required slave owners to be kind. The unkind ones are going to answer to Him on Judgement Day. The thing about women being silent I believe refers to them not being pastors. A pastor should be a family man and a good role model representing God's view of a proper family. When a woman is pastor, the question is: are there no men up to the job? There is plenty of satisfying work for Christian women to do without being pastors. As far as wearing jewelry, etc. it just means that Christian women should be conservative in their appearance -- not flashy. The only thing someone needs to believe to be a Christian is that Christ died for their sins and rose again. As they read the Bible and grow in the Christian life, they will find that they believe a lot more that the Bible says.
2006-09-01 18:09:30 · answer #5 · answered by Cee T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oops just dropped my rattlesnake. If you define christian as a follower of Christ it would be quite possible to be a Christian without believing every single word in the bible particularly since there are factual conflicts though out the Gospels and several do not reconcile with one another. One example, the various gospels vary in how Judas Iscariot died. Also Mary is a virgin yet Christ has brothers and sisters one of which, James joins Jesus' ministry. The accounts of the resurrection vary greatly. Keep in mind the gospels selected to the bible were chosen arbitrarily. Gospels of Thomas, Mary of Magdalen, etc were excluded. Revelations almost didn't make the cut. The underlying message of Jesus is that the most important commandments of God are one must love God with all ones heart and loving ones neighbor achieves the first. No where in there did he say to ostracize others, in fact the parable of the Good Samaritan was about being inclusive and loving others though they are different than your own culture.
2006-09-01 17:22:32 · answer #6 · answered by Rico E Suave 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You must first learn how to read and understand what you have read. The Bible is the Canonical Word of God, Inspired by the Holy Spirit.
What you do is attempt to interpret the prose of several different types with no instruction and in the process you screw it up. It requires a little study and education to get it down.
The Pentateuch was fulfilled in its necessity with the advent of the New Covenant. Peter's vision? Remember?Or did we not read that yet?
Tongues? Read the Book of Acts? I bet not. See the part where Peter addresses the crowd outside at Pentacost to see what tongues really is. Its not what you may think.
No assent to slavery. Did you miss the story of Moses leading the Hebrews out of Egypt? Leading them OUT OF SLAVERY.
Please actually read and study it before flapping about how its contradictory and inconsistant and all the other things you've "heard" other people say. You remind me of a parrot. Just repeat what you've heard.
P.S. Addition to respond:
You have said: Just for my own edification... I want to let anyone know that has accused me of "immaturity" or of not studying the Bible in any depth, I devoted seven years of my life to studying the Bible in a Christian environment. I still study it. I still pray about it. Don't presume to judge me, it's very immature of you.
I would be embarrassed to have said I've studied "in depth" and come off with your interpretations. Please advise...studied where? What school? What certificates or degree do you hold?
2006-09-01 17:14:18 · answer #7 · answered by Augustine 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
in accordance to Christianity Christ is the founder upon whom the apostles (including Paul) outfitted what all of us be responsive to to be Christianity. In broadest words. Christianity in its extermal varieties is amazingly versatile. There at the instant are not any instructions concerning to the character of worship, even issues approximately management are obscure at maximum suitable. there is little approximately enterprise or polity. curiously that the 1st church homes introduced the classes of Christ and the apostles into their way of life. I have no project with that occuring at present. Your alleged discrepency is responded with an elementary google seek. And what alleged discrepencies illustrate maximum is that there have been not redactors. using fact if there have been they might have finished a greater clever interest cleansing this up so which you will not even have the prospect to ask the question. quickly devil is a champion of taking what God says and twisting it. study Gen. 3 the place it is meant to have got here approximately for the 1st time. not one of the gospel debts are all enclusive. So there's no reason for Mary, Joseph and Jesus to leave Bethlehem after a twelve months, pass to Egypt and then return. real adequate the Lord's prayer even has some textual subject concerns, won't be in a position to deny that, yet extremely distinctive phraseology is infrequently floor shaking. for sure you have in no way talked to numerous distinctive human beings concerning to the comparable journey. I even have had to try this frequently in my occupation and you be responsive to what I even have discovered. that when thoughts are precisely alike there has been a touch collaboration between witnesses. a genuine even is defined from distinctive perspective and infrequently if ever are expenses same.
2016-10-01 05:00:38 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Some of those things no longer apply today. You should listen to "The Bible Answer Man" radio show. He could answer your questions about those things.
Basically, there were reasons those things existed back then, due to cultural reasons.
Just because they no longer apply, though, does not mean they didn't happen.
So, no. If you don't believe in the bible, then you can't really call yourself a christian..
2006-09-01 17:17:17 · answer #9 · answered by mynickname 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catholics do not take the Bible literally and we are Christians.
For example, Catholics believe that the Creation stories teach truth about God but are not necessarily historically accurate.
Genesis tells the religious truth that God created the world and it was good.
The Catholic Church (hopefully) has learned it lesson and now proclaims that religion and science can coexist and complement each other.
Catholics can believe in the theory of evolution. Or not.
With love in Christ.
2006-09-02 17:05:17 · answer #10 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋