Can a christian be a christian if he doesn't accept the bible literally?

Question

Can a christian take the bible seriously, but not literally?

Answer 1

". . . take the Bible seriously, but not literally."

I like that.

For hundreds of years, people became followers of Christ and they didn't have the Bible, because there was no New Testament. They weren't Jewish, so they had no idea what the Torah was. They'd worshiped pagan gods, or didn't have gods at all.

And when they learned the truth of Christ, and accepted the Holy Spirit into their hearts, they became followers of Christ -- without the Bible.

So, the question isn't can you be a Christian if you don't accept the Bible literally, the question is, can you accept the Holy Spirit -- and that's what I tell my congregation.

Godspeed.

Answer 2

Yes. There are many Christians who don't accept the Bible literally. Me, being one of them. I think of it as a guide book without literal meanings being put to it. It is the essence that I take seriously.

Answer 3

Yes. Most Christians now and throughout history have not accepted the Bible literally.

Answer 4

To be a Christian is to be Christ like. The bible should not be the governing factor of your life. It should be a guide to having a relationship with your god, not a rule book. This is how the religions of the world have caused the many wars and disparities in humnan culture. If you want to take things literally, take life that way. Live your life in a fashion that you believe to be in accordance with God's wishes not the interpretation of such by the teachings of others.

Answer 5

You bet!
The core message of Jesus is one of love not dogma.
Most of the things people get all serious about are silly, like evolution. If the scriptures aren't literal then it's a much easier world to understand.
If taken literally then the Bible becomes a Holy thing in and of itself which makes it an Idol. You can read the Bible yourself to see what God thinks of Idols.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh-1JVctSOY
♥Agape♥
♥Blessed Be♥
♥=∞

Answer 6

I would hope so considering- I can disprove much of the bible.

First creation 7 days

Dinosours have existed in fossil record since 230 million years ago, and most died off 65 million years ago.

Homosapien fossil remains, the oldest that exist are 200,000 years ago in africa.

If the god made the world, the animals and mankind in seven days how can dinosaurs have died off 65 million years before mankind was on earth. That is a very long 7 days.

Additionally on to Noahs ark. There is not enough water in the world to cause complete flooding. Even if all ice melted, which has happened before, the water level would not even be close to covering the whole earth, while it would raise total earth water level by around 50 feet, anything that is now 50 feet above sea level would still be above water, additionally even factoring in strange tidal activity there is still no way to submerge all land at once under water.

Additionally getting two of each animal is physically impossible, to fit that many animals would require a boat the size of europe. There are over 10,000 bird species in the world. There are at least 2 million types of insects. There are over 5,400 species of mammals. There are over 8,000 species of reptiles.

OH and what about the food? An adult elephant can eat 300 to 600 lbs of food a day, a pair that is 600 to 1200 lbs a day. 600 x 30 days equals 18,000 lbs of food just to feed the elephants. Also need to feed the other millions of animals still.

Then you could say well god suspended the need for food for the animals, well if he did that why didnt he suspend drowning, and just not made noah bring them along.

Part of the problem of christianity is you have to bury your head in the sand to try to ignore what science has proven.

Or instead you could realize the bible was not a factual account of events and was instead not meant to be taken literally, but this would cause all sorts of doctrinal problems, and disturb peoples beliefs, and cause religious leaders to call you a heathen.

Answer 7

First of all you will became a Christian if you accept the Lord JESUS CHRIST in your heart as your personal saviour and Lord.
The Holy Bible is the guide spiritually for every Christians.And Christians should follow and apply the teachings of Jesus day by day.

Answer 8

Here's a spin on it for you: If you dont read the Bible in its original language can you be considered a Christian. Since the text is translated, it is someone elses interpretations of words and not the original words themselves. The literal meaning of the words has already been compromised.

Answer 9

Even when I was an little kid and went to church I didn't believe in some of the stories.
Just because the stories aren't physically possible that doesn't mean you can't derive a lesson or moral from them.

I'm an agnostic now. But still..

Answer 10

Either you believe its the literal Word of the Living God, or you don't. The Scriptures, or the "WORD" was called "Jesus Christ" when it came in the flesh....
So if you don't believe in it, you don't believe in Jesus Christ, either, since they are one and the same.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD.

Always use common sense when you read the Scriptures. Some symbology is used, but its used as a method of TEACHING....
For example, we know that generally speaking we don't normally hear of multi-headed beasts rising out of the sea, correct? So we know this is symbology being used; and, since all the Scriptures explain themselves without any help needed from man, if you keep reading, Christ himself several chapters later, makes sure
you understand what he means when He says "sea" and also explains the multi-national New World Order - its simply a
multi-headed political system being described, thats all.

If you are reading of Jesus being angry because crooks are selling lice-infested birds for people to use as a sacrifice to
God, and He goes in there and dumps over all their money tables, there is no reason
to take that as symbolism. He was angry, he went there, he did what he did, he left.
What is not to take literally? Common sense has to be applied.