Do you assign your own meaning to what is not clear?
Do you let your pastor tell you what it means, and believe him without a doubt? He's the authority?
Do you tell people who don't believe exactly as you do that they are going to hell?
No wonder atheists get bonus points sometimes--how could they not deserve a few when sitting back and observing the cage match?
2007-12-12 12:05:51 · 20 answers · asked by colebolegooglygooglyhammerhead 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Bible should never be like a buffet table, picking and choosing what we like and ignoring the rest. I am glad to not serve a buffet table God.
As for your other points.
* I study what is not clear from various opinion points testing them with other scriptures.
* I listen to a minister's viewpoint, but I don't consider that ever to be a final authority.
* I tell people that If you do not listen to what Jesus says, Jesus tells us that He will send them to Hell. I can't send anyone there and that is not a way to win anyone to Jesus.
2007-12-12 12:12:43 · answer #1 · answered by mlcros 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Do you pick and choose from the Bible what you like and ignore the rest?
NO
Do you assign your own meaning to what is not clear?
NO
Do you let your pastor tell you what it means, and believe him without a doubt?
NO, I go back and restudy it with regard to what was told.
Do you tell people who don't believe exactly as you do that they are going to hell?
YES and NO, depends on what points are being in question. Some points of the belief are too important to negate or compromise. And there are points that do not threaten salvation that people have differences over.
No wonder atheists get bonus points sometimes--how could they not deserve a few when sitting back and observing the cage match? cant argue with you there, there are many who will just fight and fight amongst themselves. It is a disgrace.
2007-12-12 12:17:35 · answer #2 · answered by Sherry 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Do you pick and choose from the Bible what you like and ignore the rest?"
No. Only those that pick and choose to prove their own agenda do that. The Bible confirms itself. That is why doctrine should never hinge on just one scripture alone.
"Do you assign your own meaning to what is not clear?"
No. You look for other scriptures to provide context of thought and clarity.
"Do you let your pastor tell you what it means, and believe him without a doubt? He's the authority?"
No way. Acts 17:11 says to PROVE all things within your own personal study. If in the original language--even better.
"Do you tell people who don't believe exactly as you do that they are going to hell?"
No. The Bible has made it clear enough that hell exists, and the way out is free to anyone who wishes it. All I need do is point the way to anyone who desires salvation.
2007-12-12 12:16:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
First, I would like to say that it is not nice to lump all of us into the same category. Some so called Christians do pick and choose certain aspects, but there are plenty of Christians who follow the Bible based on what it says. Second, if you read the New Testament, especially the four Gospels, you will see many instances where Jesus upbraided the Pharisees for their strict adherence to the letter of the law. In other words, they obeyed the literal meaning of every law. However, Jesus reproached them for this because it went against the spirit of the law which is to put God first, but to have charity towards others. We as Christians realize that we are not perfect. We adhere to the spirit of the law more than the letter of the law. We will make mistakes because we are not perfect. That is when we take our sins to Jesus in repentance. Third, masturbation is not impossible to give up. It is quite possible to deny your flesh to grow in your spirit. Yes, it is a sin to lust after someone in your heart. It is entirely possible to see someone of the opposite sex and to acknowledge that person's good looks without wanting to get in the bed with him or her.
2016-05-23 07:24:05 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some parts of the Old Testament, like where it says to seperate menstuating women from the household, and adulters should be stoned, etc... I do not follow. The New Testament where Jesus talks about how to live a good life I try to follow, but of course I'm not perfect.
I would never tell anyone they are going to Hell. It's up to God, and it says in the Bible in more than one place like Matthew 7:1 that we shouldn't be judging others. Only God knows who we truly are and what is in our hearts.
2007-12-12 15:53:14 · answer #5 · answered by Melissa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Think of me what you may but, I believe EVERY word of the Bible. Yes, I believe in Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark and the parting or the Red Sea. Maybe those things dont seem possible to us but, in God all things are possible. Faith is a to each their own thing. I would much rather believe than not. No one has ever come back to tell us how or why God did things. All I know for sure is there is a God and he has always been with me. Even as a child before I was taught religion, I knew of him. Dont ask me how but, I did. My faith is just that " My faith" I dont have to answer to anyone but God. All people will die one day but, God will live on forever. I choose to believe!
2007-12-12 13:30:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't choose what I like. Instead, I choose what applies to my life. From a literary standpoint, the Bible is in terrible shape. There is so much missing, the themes jump around...it really is a jumble of stories strapped together. But that's the genius of it. Anyone at any point in their life can read a part of it and find some inspiration. I don't think it's to be taken literally; which is impossible to do since so many stories contradict other stories.
2007-12-12 13:20:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I found something in the bible I didn't like, but instead of ignoring it, I read other's comments about it. (Matthew 20:1-16, the parable about the workers who started work at different times of the day but received the same pay)
The pastor and others can provide their understanding, but I wouldn't take his or their word for it unquestioningly.
I don't talk about hell unless some one wants to know my understanding of what the bible says about it.
2007-12-12 12:58:45 · answer #8 · answered by Renata 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hell yeah i pick and choose, have you ever read the old testament, its INSANE, you cant live your life by it.
I dont listen to Pastors ever since one said if you are not living for God you shouldn't live at all, I just thought yeah Im pretty sure only God has the choice of who lives or dies for whatever reason
I think people only go to hell if they truly want to or just are that bad, going to hell for believing in a different religion sounds completely retarded
Athiests, if anything I think have things figured out for themselves, a lot of christians are christians just because its how they were raised or just because they think if they don't follow it to a T they will go to hell
2007-12-12 12:13:28 · answer #9 · answered by ehrlich 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Let's see:
1. No, I don't ignore any of it.
2. Not completely. I pray about it, meditate on it, then go back to it later.
3. No, and no.
4. No.
2007-12-12 12:10:27 · answer #10 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋