If the Bible is inerrant, why can't Christians find a way to define themselves universally?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhmegmZa15J16hFSVhS62.7sy6IX?qid=20061228122238AAupVIT

Answer 1

Because they pick and choose what part of the bible that they follow.

These are what I refer to as Burger King Christians, as in have it your way.

Answer 2

Note that your question begins with the conditional "if the Bible is inerrant." We must first determine whether that condition has been met. If we examine, for example, the translation of Isaiah from Hebrew to Greek, we will find errors in the translation. Since a major tenet of the Christian Bible is based on the Greek translation, which is in error, the Bible is not inerrant.

Answer 3

Because Christians are human beings and what with their pesky free will, differences of opinion, etc there will always be sects and synods and divisions between and among them.

Also, it is not generally accepted by most groups of theologians --even Christians--that the Bible itself is inerrant--as it was written by men to begin with (some divinely inspired, some not, many passages being written centuries after the events happened), edited by them, re-written by them and published by them.

There always has been such diviseness/differences of opinion--even when Christianity first was formed.

And then there are the different versions of the bible each group chooses to use and interpret.

All men and women are fallible, thus their interpretations and arguements are, too.

Also, don't forget, that when Christianity spread around the world, people of very different cultures often chose to retain some of their old ways and incorporate them into the practiceof christianity. They were all different people to start with, with different culture traditions, food, geography, etc, so their worship practices, of course, ended up slightly different from one another.

This is the same in Islam--thus the Sunni and Shi'ite sects, and Jewish people define also themselves as Orthodox, Reformed, etc.

Answer 4

Well, there are a lot of different interpretations as to what things mean. Catholics, for instance, believe the Bible was divinely inspired and the perfect word of God, but they do not necessarily take it literally. I think that's an interesting way to look at it, that it is exactly what God meant it to be, but part of it is allegory (i.e., possibly the creation story) and part of it is literally true. I don't know how you decide what to take literally, though. I am not a biblical scholar, but it is a fascinating question.

Answer 5

The bible is anything but inerrant: it has hundreds of errors, as well as dozens of internal contradictions, so it is literally impossible to believe all of it, and thus one must choose which parts to believe and which to ignore.

Answer 6

It's Satans way of deceiving many. He offers many forms of religion offering bits of the truth to make them seem believable. Many of these "Christian" religions don't disclose their true beliefs and rules until you are well hooked into their system. The Mormons are a prime example of that. They have secure loving, big families who are generous in the community with their time. They seem to always be happy & go-lucky. People are drawn to them. Once you have accepted their religion and considered "temple-worthy" you are brought in and taught that you have to know a secret handshake to do with Jesus to enter Heaven and you are threatened with your very life should you discuss that information with anyone outside of the religion. There are also more bizarre things like having to wear special underwear to give you special powers. It's just incredibly mind-numbing to real believers who know that the Bible says all we must do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Religions like this try to make it so complicated when it's so simple. They take the focus off of the real goal of salvation and get people focusing on other things - rituals and doctrines and they deceive millions. Here's what the Bible says:

2 Timothy 3

Godlessness in the Last Days

1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Answer 7

i've always wondered this too. is it really so hard to understand the universality of it all..? would it bring them 'down' to a level where they feel less superior? and even if not all of us do believe in the absolute word of the bible, wouldn't more credit be evident if they could place them selves in this world with their book AMONG everyone else instead of over them?

Answer 8

Christianity is clearly defined...its all about the New Commandment as proclaimed by Jesus..
"Love God and Love each other" any other definition is corrupted.

Answer 9

Because it's open to "interpretation," and can therefore be twisted to suit any insane notion that happens to occupy one's fool head.

It's as easy to prove that Jesus was a socialist as it is to prove that he'd vote Republican. The process essentially involves cherry-picking what you like and selectively forgetting the rest.

Answer 10

Personally, I don't feel the need to "define" myself to anyone. They can take me at face value or not take me at all. It's their decision. I'm a Christian because that's what I want to be. And I accept others decisions as to what they want to be. No categorizing, labeling or stereotyping is necessary.