With a denomination that does not allow women to serve as priests to a denomination that allows gays to be bishops, can we at least dispense with the fantasy that there is a "clear teaching" in the bible?
The "clear teaching" in the bible has been used to justify:
- burning and drowning old women as witches
- the use of torture to extract confessions from heretics
- the massacre of all Muslim men, women and children in Jerusalem
- slavery
- misogyny
- anti-semitism
- racism
- the divine right of kings
- holy wars against schismatics
- the burning of books
the list is just about endless.
How can anyone claim there is "clear teaching" in the bible without ignoring Christianity's bloody history over what that "clear teaching" is, not to mention the extraordinary diversity of beliefs that various people have claimed to be Christian?
Isn't it true that most Christians arrogantly claim whatever version of Christianity they believe to be true is true for all?
2007-06-30 03:47:06 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
When I read the Bible, I ask God to guide me and help me understand what *I* am to gain from the reading.
When non-believers throw questions at me that *I* cannot explain the answers to, God often reminds me to, "Lean not on my *own* understanding."
I don't need to know everything. I trust God has a plan for me and I seek His will. If I die and just rot in the ground...at the LEAST my life will have held a purpose that worked for *me*.
Can you accept that?
2007-06-30 04:17:31 · answer #1 · answered by Edugator 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
There is clear teaching in the bible. what is not clear is man understanding of what is clear. The apostle Paul persecuted the church because he believed that he was right. He wasted the church of God; but when he received revelation of the true meaning to all that he had learned, he became a big defender of the truth.
A little learning is a dangerous thing when taken to the extreme. It is when men walk in the faith and worship in the truth that the Holy Spirit will guide their ways.
A lot of them had the same problem as Paul. They had a zeal for God but lack knowledge, therein lies the ugly history of a beautiful truth.
2007-06-30 10:59:35 · answer #2 · answered by I Wanna Know 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
"The Bible is very clear about whom [sic] the antichrist is. "
Uh, huh. 8-\
ADDEDNUM: "you need to get your history straight, pal. It was Muslim hordes slaughtering Jews at the direction of the vatican "
Umm, are you claiming that the Vatican is non-Christian? That's quite a stretch, even for a Xtian apologist grasping at straws.
ADDENDUM: "Remember that people in those days [...] Many read the Bible verses out of context, reading into it the meaning they wanted to."
Nothing's different today.
2007-06-30 10:55:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Private revelation for me is when the Holy Spirit leads me in the truth of the Holy Bible.
2007-06-30 11:50:36 · answer #4 · answered by LottaLou 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are very sadly mistaken about the clarity of the Bible. The Bible is crystal clear, especially about God's love. When men twist the scriptures ,or use them to justify the evil you list above, they are at fault ,not the word of God. Man is culpable for evil not God. There is only one version of Christianity. You either are saved or not saved. No grey area. What label you or anyone else puts on a believer does not affect that person's personal relationship with Jesus. Yes there are apsotate churches that promote homosexuality and anti-semitism. They will have to answer to God for this sin, not you. Who made you the judge of all Christians? Sir ,I humbly implore you. I beg you. read the word of God and ask him to reveal himself to you. The love of the creator for you and all of mankind is one of the most clear things in the Bible. Come to Chrsit Cap'. Arlo
2007-06-30 11:12:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
The Bible is clearly against all these things. Many of these events happened because people did not read the Bible but leaders used God and religion as clubs to hold sway over the people.
Remember that people in those days did not have the Bible readily available, and many of the people could not even read. Many read the Bible verses out of context, reading into it the meaning they wanted to.
When people read the word of God as though it comes from God, and read the Bible as a means of letting God direct their lives, then they will get the truths that tell them to love God and love their neighbor as themselves. That is one of the clearest teachings of the Bible, and all the things in your list clearly violate it.
Your question was good, but you need to see that people use the Bible in bad ways without even reading it, like doing wrong and saying, "God told me to." Obviously, that doesn't make the Bible wrong--it makes the criminal wrong.
2007-06-30 11:21:37 · answer #6 · answered by Steve Husting 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the Bible is clear that in order to obtain salvation one must believe in Jesus Christ and accept him as their Lord and Savior. Follow after, be lead by Christ, be filled with the Holy Spirit, love one another. These are clear teachings. A lot of the other things are legalistic and easier to follow than the things that require a change of heart.
2007-06-30 11:00:01 · answer #7 · answered by ignoramus_the_great 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Dismissing all the rest of your rant (which is quite easy to do when one has the FACTS), the part about the "massacre of all Muslim men, women, and children in Jerusalem"- you need to get your history straight, pal. It was Muslim hordes slaughtering Jews at the direction of the vatican to secure for itself the holy city.
2007-06-30 11:09:20 · answer #8 · answered by RIFF 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
What is clear to a good heart is obscured to one that is clouded with evil and sin.
2007-06-30 10:54:18 · answer #9 · answered by Hate Boy! 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I somewhat agree with you. See my Y profile, if you wish to currently. (I am currently 49; not a teenager).
2007-06-30 11:21:53 · answer #10 · answered by jefferyspringer57@sbcglobal.net 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋