Why do a lot of Christians like things to be literal but then speak metaphorically?

Question

Seriously. For example, a lot of Christian creationists will go on about how everything in the Bible is literal (despite much of it being metaphorical and even self-described as parables) yet when it comes to Jesus and believing they will go into excessively non-literal mode and describe how you "need to open/soften your heart to let Jesus in".

So should this actually be taken literally (actually cleave open my heart) or does it mean something else. Why don't they just say "believe in Jesus"? That's surely what it means right?

Rev. Albert -
Surely you jest. In most cases it's obvious to anyone with a shred of intelligence what the majority of the things Jesus said, meant - at least in a general way.

While I agree that a lot is in the presentation, the Bible isn't presented in a manner that it is easy to tell. Notice how different people interpret passages with different meanings:

The curse of Ham for example: "he saw his father's nakedness and was cursed" to some that means he was cursed for literally looking at his nude father, to others it was cryptic and meant he slept with his father's wife ("nakedness" meaning his father's partner, "looked upon" meaning "had sex with", much the same as "knowing"). Some people take it completely the wrong way and assume that the curse was black skin and use it as an excuse for racism.

Not everything that seems literal in the Bible actually is.

Answer 1

The parables weren't meant for unbelievers to understand....only BELIEVERS....Jesus spoke that way so you COULDN'T understand....your ignorance of literal vs. parable shows it had the intended effect.

Answer 2

So that they can avoid being accountable for the contradictions in what they profess to believe. Be not deceived, God is not mocked.

Answer 3

I think it's the manner in which it is presented .
He who learns but does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.” Confucius