Do we get to decide in the bible what's symbolic and what isn't according to convenience?

Question

Like when Jesus says that if our eye causes us to sin we're supposed to cut it since it's better to have a place in heaven than have an eye someone says that this is symbolic so we won't sin but " man shall not lie with a woman as he would a man" can't be symbolic to mean that gay love is quite different than straight love, since it is.....(sarcasm: i know the answer, and I know that hatred towards homosexuality has nothing to do with the bible or god)....Take care....

Sansfear.. thanks, but I already knew the answer..take care.... : )

Michael..I've studied that possibility,and found out that the symbolism isn't being done properly...thanks..take care..

Jonathan, in Hebrew, and in that time, abomination means "unusual" or "out of the ordinary."

thanks, take care..

Answer 1

Yes all Christians pick and choose their 'only symbols' teachings. They would treat women much more like the middle eastern countries if they didn't choose to conveniently ignore many NT teachings.

Answer 2

The only way to know if the bible is being symbolic or not, is to study it deeply, and get revelation from the spirit of God. Humans are incapable of understanding the scriptures without divine guidance. But verses like man shall not lie with man which is an abomination to God, is obviously not symbolic because it is very direct. Whenever the bible is using symbolism it is usual very clear as to what is going on.

Answer 3

Yeah. If that's what's causing you to sin. According to what I've been taught, Origen, a touted church father masticated himself, but found that the desire didn't leave him. So was it his unit (lol) that made him sin? No. It was a deeper inlaid nature that caused him to sin. It's a spiritual thing, not a fleshly thing (or things).

So with the Spirit of God to bring us to understanding, we can understand what is God's wisdom. I am Bi, peace to you in all things. Jesus is our Peace.

I will personally try to answer any question that you point at me, okay? I love it that Gays and others ask such intelligent questions. i have found that theree are many LGBT's that are trusting God through Jesus Christ. ( :

Answer 4

Proper interpretation and reasoning will dictate what is symbolism and what isn't. The Bible also says that two or three scriptures will establish a matter.

Answer 5

If you study the original languages you will find that there are many thing arbitrary in English. Less so with study.
"Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Answer 6

All Scripture is the inspired Word of God. We can not pick and choose what is convenient. Determining what is symbolic or not rests on the context of what we are reading, and on the ORIGINAL LANGUAGE the passage was written in. See below.

But first...we are not supposed to hate gays. God does not hate gays. He hates their SIN. We are supposed to speak the truth in love. But remember, we are supposed to speak the truth, not ignore it. Keeping silent is the same thing as lying. There is no difference. We are not to hate them, but tell them of their sin, or God's judgement will be on us for keeping silent, and allowing another individual to be in sin without saying anything. Anyway, back on topic.

Now, when we read the Bible, we have to read it in context. The below info will answer your question.

QUESTION
“What did Jesus mean in Mark 9:43 when he said if the hand, foot, or eye causes you to sin to cut the hand or foot off or pluck the eye out? I have heard sermons where it was said that Jesus did not mean that literally. I could accept that if it were not for the fact the he goes on to say that it would be better to enter life with one hand, foot, or eye than to have them both and be cast into hell.”

ANSWER
The language employed by Christ in this context does employ a figure of speech that is common to all languages. It is called hyperbole. The term is derived of two Greek components, hyper (over, above), and bole (from ballein, to throw), hence “to throw above.” It is a specially designed exaggeration for the purpose of emphasis. My mother, with somewhat of a twinkle in her eye, used to say, “Son, if you do that again, I’m gonna skin you alive.” I knew she was speaking figuratively; nonetheless, I got the point!

Thus Christ, in this context, was emphasizing the supreme value of pursuing the kingdom of God above all else. To illustrate this principle, he chose, for illustration purposes, items that are very precious to us, e.g., eye, hand, or foot. The obvious meaning is this. Recognize the value of eternal things; don’t be derailed by temporal and physical distractions.

Moreover, the language in the latter portion of the passage in no way negates the symbolism employed in the warning.

That this is the fair meaning of the passage is obvious from the fact that a mere amputation of hand or foot, or the removal of an eye, does not alter the condition of the heart. Such actions, therefore, drastic though they are, would not provide sufficient motive for a transformed heart (cf. Mk. 7:1; especially, vv. 18-23). The surgery is spiritual, not physical. The point is this—the value of being eternally with the Creator makes all of earth’s circumstances seem trivial.

Those who disdain the Savior’s strong word of caution will spend their eternity in hell (gehenna), where “their worm dies not” (Mk. 9:48). Surely the figurative nature of the language is apparent in the term “worm.” There are no literal worms, gnawing on literal corpses, in the eternal order of things. There will be eternal suffering, however, in a non-material realm.

A comprehension of at least some of the basic figures of speech utilized by the Bible writers is absolutely essential for a correct interpretation of Scripture in many cases. And a lack of such understanding has resulted in a variety of errors—some of which were painfully experienced.

Origen, a theologian of the early third century A.D., misinterpreted Jesus’ admonition about becoming a “eunuch” for the sake of “the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 19:12). As a consequence of his misguided exegesis, he emasculated himself. Eusebius, the fourth century historian, noted that Origen’s method of interpretation was “too literal and puerile in a sense” (Ecclesiastical History, VI.VIII). The historian paid a rather high price for failing to understand a significant biblical figure of speech.

The Savior’s teaching in the context cited above, therefore, is to be viewed figuratively—not literally. There is virtually no controversy among serious Bible scholars about this matter."




Now, on taking the Bible seriously-
Not only CAN we take the Bible literally, but we MUST take the Bible literally. This is the only way to determine what God really is trying to communicate to us. When we read any piece of literature, but especially the Bible, we must determine what the author intended to communicate. Many today will read a verse or passage of Scripture, and then will give their own definitions to the words, phrases, or paragraphs. But, this is not what God intended. This is why God tells us to correctly handle the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). In order to understand the Bible, we must realize that it was written over a period of 1,500 years, and was finished over 1,900 years ago. We need to understand the culture in which it was written; we must also consider the context of words, phrases, and chapters. At the end, I will recommend a couple of books that will help in understanding Scripture.

Though books have been written on this subject, I will write briefly on this subject and give you one or two examples of why we should take the Bible literally. We should take the Bible literally because the Lord Jesus Christ also took the Bible literally. Anytime the Lord Jesus quoted from the Old Testament, it was always clear that He was taking it literally. As an example, when Jesus was tempted by Satan in Luke 4, Jesus answered and quoted the Old Testament. It is clear from the context that He took the Bible literally.

Also, the disciples took the commands of Christ (which are part of the Bible) literally. Jesus commanded the disciples to go and make more disciples in Matthew 28:19-20. In Acts 2 and following, we find that the disciples took Jesus' command literally and went throughout the known world of that time preaching the Gospel of Christ and telling them to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31)."

As I stated earlier, books and books have been written on this subject. Allow me to make two more brief comments. First, just because you take the Bible literally does not mean that there are not figures of speech. An example of a figure of speech would be that if someone said "it is raining cats and dogs outside," you would know that they did not really mean that cats and dogs were falling from the sky. They would mean that it is raining really hard. There are figures of speech in the Bible.


Directed really to the first individual who answered you:

Question: "Is God / the Bible sexist?"

Answer: Sexism is one gender, usually male, having dominance over the other gender, usually female. The Bible contains many references to women that, in our modern minds, sound discriminatory towards women. Does this mean that God, and therefore the Bible, is sexist? We have to remember that the Bible describing an action does not necessarily mean that the Bible is endorsing that action. The Bible describes men treating women as little more than property, but that does not mean the Bible indicates approval of that action. Even in the instances where the Bible is giving a command regarding the treatment of women, it is not necessarily an indication of God’s ideal standard. The Bible is far more focused on reforming our souls than our societies. God knows that a changed heart will result in a changed behavior.

During the Old Testament, the whole world was a patriarchal society. That status of history is very clear - not only in Scripture but in the social rules that governed most societies in the world. By modern value systems and worldly human viewpoint, that is called “sexist.” God ordained the order in society, not man, and He is the author of the establishment principles of authority. However, like everything else, fallen man has corrupted this order. That has resulted in the inequality of the standing of men and women throughout history. The exclusion and the discrimination that we find in our world is not new. It is the result of the fall of man and the introduction of sin - which is rebellion against God. Therefore, we can rightly say that the term and the practice of “sexism” is a result of - a product of - the sin of mankind. The progressive revelation of the Bible leads us to the cure for sexism, and indeed all of the sinful practices of the human race.

To find and maintain a spiritual balance between the God-ordained positions of authority, we must look to Scripture. The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old, and in it we find principles that tell us the correct line of authority and the cure for sin, the ill of all mankind, and that includes discrimination based upon gender.

The cross of Christ is the great equalizer. John 3:16 says, "Whosoever will," and that is an all-inclusive statement that leaves no one out on the basis of position in society, mental capacity, or gender. We also find a passage in Galatians that tells us of our equal opportunity for salvation. "For we are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. For as many of you as have been baptized (identified) into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26-28). There is no sexism at the cross.

The Bible is not sexist. Why? Because it accurately portrays the results of sin. The Bible records all kinds of sin: slavery and bondage and the failures of its greatest heroes. Yet it also gives us the answer and the cure for those sins against God and His established order. That answer? It is a right relationship with God. The Old Testament was looking forward to the supreme sacrifice, and each time a sacrifice for sin was made, it was teaching the need for reconciliation to God. In the New Testament, the "Lamb that takes away the sin of the world" was born, died, was buried and rose again, and then ascended to His place in Heaven, and there He intercedes for us. It is through belief in Him that the cure for sin is found, and that includes the sin of sexism.

The charge of the sexism of the Bible is based upon a lack of knowledge of Scripture. When men and women of all ages have taken their God-ordained places and lived according to "Thus says the LORD," then there is a wonderful balance between the genders. That balance is what God began with, and it is what He will end with. There is an inordinate amount of attention paid to the various products of sin and not to the root of it. It is only when there is personal reconciliation with God through the LORD Jesus Christ that we find true equality. "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).

It is also very important to understand that the Bible's ascribing different roles to men and women is not sexism. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God expects men to take the leadership role in the church and the home. Does this make women inferior? Absolutely not. Does this mean women are less intelligent, less capable, or viewed as less in God’s eyes? Absolutely not! What it means is that in our sin-stained world, there has to be structure and authority. God has instituted the roles of authority for our good. Sexism is the abuse of these roles…not the existence of these roles.

Again, to the first individual who responded, you especially should read this. God bless you, and the individual who originally posted the question, as well.

Question: "What are the roles of the husband and wife in a family?"

Answer: "So God created people in His own image; God patterned them after Himself; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:27). God made Adam first and then from his rib made a woman, demonstrating how when a husband and wife marry, they cleave to one another, becoming one flesh (Genesis 2:24). One sex is not exalted over another, but God did make man to be the head of the household, and the women are supposed to submit to the authority of their husbands. “You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church; He gave His life to be her Savior. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything. And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's word” (Ephesians 5:22-26). Christ loved the church (or His people) with compassion, mercy, forgiveness, respect, and selflessness; the same way husbands are supposed to love their wives.

“In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands, even those who refuse to accept the Good News. Your godly lives will speak to them better than any words. They will be won over by watching your pure, godly behavior” (1 Peter 3:1-2). Being submissive is not only the responsibility of women who have Christian husbands. We should never submit to our husbands if it requires disobeying God; the relationship we have with Him is the most important (Deuteronomy 6:5). But preaching, nagging, whining, and refusing to serve will only turn an unbelieving husband away from God more. Instead, showing her husband the love of Christ through godly behavior, serving him and loving him, will give him an excellent example of how Christ served and loved the church. (Jesus was a true servant--He was God, and yet He washed His disciples' feet--read Matthew, Mark, Luke and/or John to see more of how Jesus was a servant. ) If a Christian woman has an unbeliever for a husband, she must not leave him if he wants to stay with her. And if a Christian husband has an unbeliever for a wife, he must not leave her if she wants to stay with him. But if the unbelieving spouse wants to leave, it is okay to let them go (1 Corinthians 7:12-15).

Although women should submit to their husbands, the Bible also tells men several times how they are supposed to treat their wives. The husband is not to take on the role of the dictator, but show respect for his wife and her opinions as well. “In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife. No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it...” (Ephesians 5:28-29). “So I say again, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband” (Ephesians 5:33). “You wives must submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. And you husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly” (Colossians 3:18-19). “In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. If you don't treat her as you should, YOUR PRAYERS WILL NOT BE HEARD” (1 Peter 3:7).

When a husband and wife marry, they become one flesh and their body is now shared with their partner; it no longer belongs solely to him or her. “The husband should not deprive his wife of sexual intimacy, which is her right as a married woman, nor should the wife deprive her husband. The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband also gives authority over his body to his wife” (1 Corinthians 7:3-4). And a wife's responsibility to her husband is a life-long commitment. “A wife is married to her husband for as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, but this must be a marriage acceptable to the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:39). If a husband does die, the widow is free to get remarried, but the new spouse must not be an unbeliever. The Bible tells us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for righteousness and wickedness have nothing in common (2 Corinthians 6:14).

These are the characteristics of a righteous man and woman: “Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have strong faith and be filled with love and patience. Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord. They must not go around speaking evil of others and must not be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to take care of their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely in all they do. And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good deeds of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Let your teaching be so correct that it can't be criticized. Then those who want to argue will be ashamed because they won't have anything bad to say about us” (Titus 2:2-8).


I pray this answers all of your questions.

Just remember, the Bible is the inspired Word of God. We can not pick and choose what we want to be literal and what we determine to be symbolic. In Revelation 22:18-19 it says, " I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. "
Determine the context you are reading, go to a source which has knowledge about the original language in which the passage was written, (Hebrew or Greek--a good website-- www.gotquestions.org ), and ask for God's guidance if you are still confused. God bless and guide you!




Below is more info--Three more Q&A--

Question: "What does it mean that the Bible is inspired?"

Answer: When people speak of the Bible being inspired, they are referring to the fact that God divinely influenced the human authors of the Scriptures in such a way that what they wrote was the very Word of God. In the context of the Scriptures, the word inspiration simply means “God-Breathed.” Inspiration communicates to us the fact the Bible truly is the Word of God, and makes the Bible unique among all other books.



While there are different views as to what extent the Bible is inspired, there can be no doubt that the Bible itself claims that every word, in every part of the Bible, is inspired by God (1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). This view of the Scriptures is often referred to as “verbal plenary” inspiration. What that means is that the inspiration extends to the very words themselves (verbal inspiration), not just concepts or ideas; and that the inspiration extends to all parts of Scripture and all subject matters of Scripture (plenary inspiration). There are some people who believe that only parts of the Bible are inspired, or only the thoughts or concepts that deal with religion are inspired, but these views of inspiration fall short of what the Bible itself claims. Full verbal plenary inspiration is an essential characteristic of the Word of God.



The extent of inspiration can be clearly seen in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This verse tells us that God inspired all Scripture and that it is profitable to us. It is not just the parts of the Bible that deal with religious doctrines that are inspired, but each and every part from Genesis to Revelation is the very Word of God. Because it is inspired by God, the Scriptures are therefore authoritative when it comes to establishing doctrine, and sufficient for teaching man how be in a right relationship with God, “training in righteousness.” The Bible claims not only to be inspired by God, but to also have the ability to change us and make us “complete,” thoroughly equipped for every good work.



Another verse that deals with the inspiration of the Scriptures is 2 Peter 1:21. This verse tells us that “prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” This verse helps us to understand that although men wrote the Scriptures, the words they wrote were the very words of God. Even though God used men with their distinctive personalities and writing styles, God divinely inspired the very words they wrote. Jesus Himself confirmed the verbal plenary inspiration of the Scriptures when He said, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished" (Matthew 5:17-18). In these verses, Jesus is reinforcing the accuracy of the Scriptures down to the smallest detail and the slightest punctuation mark - because it is the very word of God.



Because the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God, we can conclude that they are also inerrant and authoritative. A correct view of God will lead one to a correct view of His Word. Because God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and completely perfect, His Word will by its very nature have the same characteristics. The same verses that establish the inspiration of the Scriptures also establish that it is both inerrant and authoritative. Without a doubt the Bible is what it claims to be - the undeniable, authoritative, Word of God to humanity.


Question: "Is the Bible truly God's Word?"

Answer: Our answer to this question will not only determine how we view the Bible and its importance to our lives, but also it will ultimately will have an eternal impact on us. If the Bible is truly God’s Word, then we should cherish it, study it, obey it, and ultimately trust it. If the Bible is the Word of God then to dismiss it is to dismiss God Himself.



The fact that God gave us the Bible is an evidence and illustration of His love for us. The term "revelation" simply means that God communicated to mankind what He is like and how we can have a right relationship with Him. These are things that we could not have known had not God divinely revealed them to us in the Bible. Although God’s revelation of Himself in the Bible was given progressively over approximately 1500 years, it has always contained everything that man needed to know about God in order to have a right relationship with Him. If the Bible is truly the Word of God, then it is the final authority for all matters of faith, religious practice, and morals.



The question we must ask ourselves is how can we know that the Bible is the Word of God and not just a good book? What is unique about the Bible that sets it apart from all other religious books ever written? Is there any evidence that the Bible is truly God’s Word? These are the type of questions that must be looked at if we are to seriously examine the biblical claim that the Bible is the very Word of God, divinely inspired, and totally sufficient for all matters of faith and practice.



There can be no doubt about the fact that the Bible does claim to be the very Word of God. This is clearly seen in verses like 2 Timothy 3:15-17, which say, “. . .from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”



In order to answer these questions we must look at both the internal and external evidences that the Bible is truly God’s Word. The internal evidences are those things internal to the Bible itself that testify of its divine origin. One of the first internal evidences that the Bible is truly God’s Word is seen in its unity. Even though it is really sixty-six individual books, written on three continents, in three different languages, over a period of approximately 1500 years, by more that 40 authors (who came from many walks of life), the Bible remains one unified book from beginning to end without contradiction. This unity is unique from all other books and is evidence of the divine origin of the words as God moved men in such a way that they recorded His very words.



Another of the internal evidences that indicate the Bible is truly God’s Word is seen in the detailed prophecies contained within its pages. The Bible contains hundreds of detailed prophecies relating to the future of individual nations including Israel, to the future of certain cities, to the future of mankind, and to the coming of one who would be the Messiah, the Savior of not only Israel, but all who would believe in Him. Unlike the prophecies found in other religious books or those done by Nostradamus, the biblical prophecies are extremely detailed and have never failed to come true. There are over three hundred prophecies concerning Jesus Christ in the Old Testament alone. Not only was it foretold where He would be born and what family He would come from, but also how He would die and that He would rise again on the third day. There simply is no logical way to explain the fulfilled prophecies in the Bible other than by divine origin. There is no other religious book with the extent or type of predictive prophecy that the Bible has.



A third internal evidence of the divine origin of the Bible is seen in its unique authority and power. While this evidence is more subjective than the first two internal evidences, it is no less a very powerful testimony of the divine origin of the Bible. The Bible has a unique authority that is unlike any other book ever written. This authority and power are best seen in the way countless lives have been transformed by reading the Bible. Drug addicts have been cured by it, homosexuals have been set free by it, derelicts and deadbeats have been transformed by it, hardened criminals reformed by it, sinners are rebuked by it, and hate has been turned to love by reading it. The Bible does possess a dynamic and transforming power that is only possible because it is truly God’s Word.



Besides the internal evidence that the Bible is truly God’s Word there are also external evidences that indicate the Bible is truly the Word of God. One of those evidences is the historicity of the Bible. Because the Bible details historical events its truthfulness and accuracy is subject to verification like any other historical documentation. Through both archaeological evidences and other written documents, the historical accounts of the Bible have been proven time and time again to be accurate and true. In fact all the archaeological and manuscript evidence supporting the Bible makes it the best documented book from the ancient world. The fact that the Bible accurately and truthfully records historically verifiable events is a great indication of its truthfulness when dealing with religious subjects and doctrines and helps substantiate its claim that it is the very Word of God.



Another external evidence that the Bible is truly God’s Word is the integrity of the human authors. As mentioned earlier, God used men from many walks of life to record His Words to us. In studying the lives of these men, there is no good reason to believe that they were not honest and sincere men. Examining their lives and the fact that they were willing to die (often excruciating deaths) for what they believed in, it quickly becomes clear that these ordinary yet honest men truly believed that God had spoken to them. The men who wrote the New Testament and many hundreds of other believers (1 Corinthians 15:6) knew the truth of their message because they had seen and spent time with Jesus Christ after He had risen from the dead. The transformation of seeing the Risen Christ had a tremendous impact on these men. They went from hiding in fear, to being willing to die for the message God had revealed to them. Their lives and deaths testify to the fact that the Bible truly is God’s Word.



A final external evidence that the Bible is truly God’s Word is the indestructibility of the Bible. Because of its importance and its claim to be the very word of God, the Bible has suffered more vicious attacks and attempts to destroy it than any other book in history. From early Roman Emperors like Diocletian, through communist dictators and on to modern day atheists and agnostics, the Bible has withstood and outlasted all of its attackers and is still the most widely published book in the world today.



Throughout time, skeptics have regarded the Bible as mythological, but archeology has established it as historical. Opponents have attacked its teaching as primitive and outdated, but its moral and legal concepts and teachings have had a positive influence on societies and cultures throughout the world. It continues to be attacked by science, psychology, and political movements and yet remains just as true and relevant today as it was when it was first written. It is a book that has transformed countless lives and cultures throughout the last 2000 years. No matter how its opponents try to attack, destroy, or discredit it, the Bible remains just as strong, just a true, and just as relevant after the attacks as it was before. The accuracy which has been preserved despite every attempt to corrupt, attack, or destroy it, is clear testimony to the fact that the Bible is truly God’s Word. It should not surprise us that no matter how the Bible is attacked, it always comes out unchanged and unscathed. After all, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Mark 13:31). After looking at the evidence one can say without a doubt that “Yes the Bible is truly God’s Word.”

Recommended Resource: Scripture Alone by James White.




Question: "Is there such a thing as absolute truth / universal truth?"

Answer: In order to understand if there is any such thing as absolute truth / universal truth, let us first begin by defining what truth is. Truth is defined by the dictionary as “conformity to fact or actuality; a statement proven to be or accepted as true; reality or actuality.” Some people today would say that there is no true reality, only perceptions and opinions. On the other hand, others would argue that there must be some absolute reality or truth. Therefore, when considering the question as to if there is such a thing as absolute truth, we see two diametrically opposed views.

One view says that there are not absolutes that define reality. Those that hold this view believe that everything is relative, and thus there is no actual reality. Because of that, there is ultimately no authority for deciding if an action is positive or negative, right or wrong. This view is simply “situational ethics” in its highest form. There is no right or wrong and therefore whatever feels right at that time is right. Of course this type of “situational ethics” leads to a “whatever feels good” mentality and lifestyle, which has a devastating effect on society and individuals.

The other view believes that there are indeed absolute realities or standards that define what is true and what is not. Therefore, actions can be determined to be either right or wrong by how they measure up to those absolute standards. Can you imagine the chaos there would be if there were no absolutes, no reality. Take the law of gravity for instance. If it was not an absolute, one time you might go to take a step and end up miles in the sky, and the next time you would not be able to move your body at all. Or think about the confusion what would happen if numbers no longer had absolute values. For instance 2 + 2 would no longer always equal four. If there were no absolute truths, the world would be in chaos. There would be no laws of science, no laws of physics, everything would be without meaning and there would be no standards of measurement and no right or wrong. What a mess that would be, but thankfully there is absolute truth and it can be found and understood.

The very thought of someone making a statement that there is no absolute truth is totally illogical. Yet today, many people are embracing a cultural relativism that at its heart denies any type of absolute truth. A good question to as people who say “there is no absolute truth” is: “Are you absolutely sure of that?” It is totally illogical to make such a statement, since it is an absolute statement that in itself denies absolutes. It is, in essence, saying that the very fact there is no absolute truth is the one and only absolute truth.

There are several logical problems one must overcome to accept or believe that there are no absolute truths / universal truths. The first problem is that of self contradiction. This is seen in the question posed above and the fact that those who insist that there are no absolutes are in fact themselves believing in an absolute. They are absolutely sure that there is nothing absolute. This type of philosophy is both self-defeating and self-contradictory. The statement that there are no absolutes is in itself contradicting what they say they believe!

The second problem with the denial of absolute truth / universal truth is the fact that all humans have limited knowledge. As human beings with a limited and finite mind, we cannot logically make absolute negative statements. For example a person cannot logically say “There is no God” (even though many do so), because in order to say that they would need to have absolute knowledge of the entire universe from beginning to end. When people say there is no God or there is no absolute truth (which really in essence are the same thing), the most they can rationally and logically say is “With the limited knowledge I have, I don’t believe that there is a God,” or “With the limited knowledge that I have, I don’t believe there is any thing that is absolutely true.”

The third problem with the denial of absolute truth / universal truth is the fact that it fails to live up to what we know to be true in our own consciences, our own experiences, and what we see in the “real world.” If there is no such thing as absolute truth, then there is nothing ultimately right or wrong about anything. What might be “right for you” does not mean it is “right for me.” While on the surface this type of relativism seems to be very appealing, if it is taken to its logical conclusion it soon proves to be disastrous. Just consider for a moment if there really was no absolute truth and that everything really is relative (no standards of any kind). In essence what happens is everybody sets their own rules to live by and does what they think is right. This causes problems as one person’s sense of right will soon clash with another’s. For example, what if it is "right for me" to ignore traffic lights, even when they are red? In this way I put the life of others at risk. Or, I might think it is right to steal from you and you might think it is not right. In the same way one person might decide that killing people is OK and therefore they attempt to kill everyone in sight.

If there are no absolute standards, no absolute truth and all things are relative, then killing everybody is just as right as not killing everybody. Stealing is just as right as not stealing. Cruelty is equal to non-cruelty. What disastrous results the denial of absolute truths can so easily lead to. Because if there is no such thing as absolute truth, then no one can really “You should do that,” or “You shouldn’t do that.” If there is no absolute truth then even government itself cannot or should not impose rules on society. Can you see the problem this causes? Total chaos as each person does what is right in their own sight. If there is no absolute truth, no standard of right and wrong that we are all accountable to then we can never be sure of anything. People would be free to do whatever they want—murder, rape, stealing, lying, cheating, etc. and no one could say those things would be wrong. There could be no government, no laws, and no justice, because one could not even say that the majority of the people have the right to make and enforce standards upon the minority. A world without absolutes would be the most horrible world imaginable.

Today we often hear phrases like "that may be true for you, but it’s not true for me." To those that hold that there is no absolute truth, truth is seen as nothing more than a personal preference or a perception, and therefore cannot extend beyond a person’s boundaries. Because of this there are no final answers to the meaning of life and there could be no hope for any type of afterlife. This type of relativism results in religious confusion, because there can be no one true religion, no one way of having a right relationship with God. All religions would therefore be false because they all make claims to teach or believe in some type of after life, some type of absolute truth. This is why it is not uncommon today for people to believe that two diametrically opposed religions could both be equally “true” even though they both claim to have the only way to heaven or teach two totally opposite “truths.” People that do not believe in absolute truth ignore these claims and embrace a more tolerant universalism that teaches that all religions are equal and all of them will lead to heaven. This is also why people who embrace this worldview will vehemently oppose evangelical Christians who believe the Bible when it says that Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life” and that He is the ultimate manifestation of truth and the only way one can get to heaven (John 14:6).

And yet despite the fact that denying absolute truth is both illogical and irrational, the view that “all is relative” has become one of the slogans for the generation we live in. In much of the Western World, multitudes have rejected the possibility that such a thing as absolute truth could or does exist. This has resulted in what many refer to as a post-modern society, which is a society that regards all values, beliefs, lifestyles, and truth claims as equally valid. Because of this, those that hold to absolute standards of right or wrong are considered intolerant and are routinely condemned, mocked, and criticized.

In fact tolerance has become the one cardinal virtue of society, the one absolute, and therefore there can only be one evil, that of intolerance. In other words what has happened is that any religious system or individual that believes dogmatically in anything—especially in absolute truth—becomes guilty of intolerance, and the only thing a politically correct, relative society will not accept are those that believe in absolutes. Those that deny absolute truth will often say that it is alright to believe what you want, as long as you don’t try to impose your beliefs on others. But this view itself is a belief about what is right and wrong and those that hold this view most definitely do try to impose it on others and are therefore hypocritical. They set up a standard of behavior which they then insist that others follow—thereby violating the very thing they pretend to uphold.

The question that begs to be asked is why are those that promote tolerance so intolerant of people who believe in absolute truth? And why are people so willing to embrace a belief system that threatens to destroy the very fabric of society and is at its very heart both irrational and illogical? The simple reason is that people do not want to be accountable for their actions. If there is absolute truth then there are absolute standards of right and wrong, and we are then accountable to those standards. This accountability is what people are really trying to deny in their rejection of absolute truth.

The denial of absolute truth / universal truth and the cultural relativism that comes from it are simply the logical result of a society that has embraced the theory of evolution as the explanation for life. If evolution is true, then life has no meaning, we have no purpose, and there cannot be any absolute right or wrong. Man is then free to live life as he pleases and is accountable to no one for his actions. And yet no matter how much sinful men wants to deny the existence of God and of His absolute truth they still will someday stand before Him in judgment. The Bible declares, “what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:18-22).

The final question we should ask when considering whether absolute truth really exists or not, is if there is there any evidence for the existence of absolute truth? If one carefully considers this question it quickly become evident that there is indeed evidence that points to the existence of absolute truth. The first evidence for the existence of absolute truth is seen in our conscience. Our conscience tells us that the world should be a “certain way,” that some things are “right” and some are “wrong.” It helps us to understand that there is something wrong with suffering, starvation, rape, pain, and evil. It makes us aware that love, generosity, compassion, and peace are positive things for which we should strive. The Bible describes the role of the human conscience in Romans 2:14-16, “for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”

The second evidence for the existence of absolute truth is seen in science. Science is simply the pursuit of knowledge. It is the study of what we know and the quest to know more. Therefore, all scientific study must by necessity be founded upon the belief that there are objective realities that exist in the world. Without absolutes, what would there be to scientifically study? How could one know that the findings they made were real? In fact the very laws of science have to be founded on the certainty of absolute truth.

The third evidence for the existence of absolute truth / universal truth is the existence of religion. All the religions of the world are an attempt to give meaning and definition to life. They are born out of the fact that mankind desires something more than simply existing. Behind all religions is a fundamental belief that there must be more to life than simply this physical existence that we now know. Through religion, people are looking for assurance and hope for the future, for forgiveness of sins, for peace in the midst of our struggles, and for answers to our deepest questions. Religion is really evidence that mankind is more than simply a highly evolved animal. It is evidence of a higher purpose, and the fact that there is indeed a personal and purposeful Creator, who implanted into man the desire to know Him. And if there is indeed a Creator, then He becomes the standard for absolute truth, and it is His authority that establishes that truth.

Fortunately for us there is such a Creator and He has revealed not only Himself but also His truth to us through His very Word, the Bible. If we want to know the absolute truth / universal truth the only way to do that is through a personal relationship with the One who claimed to be the “Truth” Jesus Christ. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6). The fact that absolute truth does exist points us to the truth that there is a sovereign God who created the heavens and the earth and who has revealed Himself to us, in order that we might know Him personally through His son Jesus Christ.



Yeah, yeah, yeah...I get it's long already...here goes anyway... : )

Question: "What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Is homosexuality a sin?"



Answer: The Bible consistently tells us that homosexual activity is a sin (Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). Romans 1:26-27 teaches specifically that homosexuality is a result of denying and disobeying God. When a person continues in sin and disbelief, the Bible tells us that God “gives them over” to even more wicked and depraved sin in order to show them the futility and hopelessness of life apart from God. 1 Corinthians 6:9 proclaims that homosexual “offenders” will not inherit the kingdom of God.





God does not create a person with homosexual desires. The Bible tells us that a person becomes a homosexual because of sin (Romans 1:24-27), and ultimately because of their own choice. That does not excuse the person choosing to sin by giving into their sinful desires.


There is scientific evidence to back this up, as well, which I can post, if asked. But remember, that leads back to the old question--can we take God's Word literally? We MUST.


However, the Bible does not describe homosexuality as a “greater” sin than any other. All sin is offensive to God. Homosexuality is just one of the many things listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 that will keep a person from the kingdom of God. According to the Bible, God’s forgiveness is just as available to a homosexual as it is to an adulterer, idol worshipper, murderer, thief, etc. God also promises the strength for victory over sin, including homosexuality, to all those who will believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17). BUT REMEMBER--Jesus said, "GO AND SIN NO MORE." And that was a command.

Recommended Resources: Coming out of Homosexuality by Bob Davies and 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Homosexuality by Mike Haley.