If someone claimed to be a Christian, but was not aware of most of the Bible stories (Jonah, Sodom&Gomorah, etc.) what would your reaction be?
2007-06-04 07:07:35 · 22 answers · asked by KS 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yeah, I'd say there are more than a few who do, and they are displayed for our amusement on this site!
LOL! :0)
*WOW. As a Christian myself, I am shocked to read some of these responses. How could a person become a Christian without a knowledge of the Bible and its requirements?
Would you sign a legally binding contract without first reading it? Of course not- a person should always "look before they leap." Christianity isn't a bed of roses people, and neither is being a TRUE Christian. Accepting Jesus is all well and good, but being a follower of his requires work and dedication.
"This means everlasting life, THEIR TAKING IN KNOWLEDGE of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ."- John 17:3.
Accurate Bible knowledge is crucial to being a Christian- one cannot follow in the footsteps of Christ if they do not know what those footsteps were!*
2007-06-04 07:11:44 · answer #1 · answered by danni_d21 4 · 2⤊ 4⤋
First, Faith is all that is needed to be faith. You can look at all the evidence for God and become convinced or say wow what a huge coincidence.
Christianity is not a doctrine, not truth as truth, but the knowledge of a Person; it is knowing the Lord Jesus. You cannot be educated into being a Christian. --T. Austin-Sparks
Now do I think they should study the Bible, the history etc. etc. YES! Once they become a Christian I THINK they should study the Bible so then can tell when people are leading them astray and how to follow the path they should! So I suggest you and your friend have a dessert and Bible study night atleast every other week.
http://www.backtothebible.org/ is doing a couple weeks on the book of Job that they might find interesting or http://www.oneplace.com/ has many different ministries they can listen to but reading the Bible is the best source of learning!
2007-06-04 14:19:42 · answer #2 · answered by Pilgrim in the land of the lost 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Not only is it possible, it's probable. Most of the people who claim to be Christians may know a lot about their particular denomination's doctrines, but very little about the actual facts of the Bible. They have been misinformed by the paid clergy of organized religion. The Bible calls this, "the blind leading the blind"
But, it's not their fault. None can come to Christ unless, and until, the Father draws them. And God is not trying to save the world right now. If He was, He would. God is calling a few people in each generation to be part of the "first-born" company. Other children will be born in their due time.
Knowing Bible stories will not gain eternal life for anyone. But if you claim to be a Christian, they are good to know because there are hidden messages in every word in the Bible. God expects us to seek Him with our whole heart. That takes more effort than most are willing to give.
2007-06-04 14:32:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well the Old Testament stories are not really important.... Noah's Ark doesn't do anything for my salvation. Believing Daniel was thrown in the Lion's Den does not make me a good person or redeem me of my sins. God's Grace, Redemption through Christ, and Sanctification from the Holy Spirit is the most important thing.
2007-06-04 14:12:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, if you believe in Christ and the basic prinicples of Christianity you don't need to know any of the stories of the bible to call yourself a Christian. All you need is to know that your sins were forgiven when Jesus died on the cross. If you want to be a better person and try your hardest to live like Christ then you do need to read or understand some of the bible stories to live like Jesus.
2007-06-04 14:15:21 · answer #5 · answered by Tonya 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would immediately purchase a bible for him and recommend he read it. Most early Christians after the first few decades of church history were gentile; they had little or no knowlege of the old testament and the new testament was in process of being written, yet they were Christian, were they not?
2007-06-04 14:11:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would think they are new to the faith. Which is great. We all start somewhere. Some of us grew up in church and heard all the stories and still sinned our butts off. We could quote scripture and still party like a rock star. So which is better? Does is matter? As long as a person has given over to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then all is forgiven. God bless you.
2007-06-04 14:13:32 · answer #7 · answered by TripleTattoo™ 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Depends on how new to the faith they were. If there was a Christian who was only in Christ for three years, I would expect that they wouldn't know much.
Anyone who has been in Christ longer than five years, and didn't have at least knowledge of the New Testament would be a travesty.
I would give them a little longer to know the Old Testament.
2007-06-04 14:13:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
That they are learning?
We do not have to know everything before knowing that it is the truth.
The Study of Religion and the Bible is a life-long journey.
You don't just read through it once and move on.
Good Luck!
2007-06-04 14:11:53 · answer #9 · answered by C 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, because if they know about Jesus and accept Him as their personal they are a Christian. The learning can come later.
2007-06-04 14:12:30 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋