Originally Posted by ReformedDave (Post 47456)

The majority of responses that I've received have been simply experiential and thereby unverifiable. If proof for your God is only in the 'experience' why should I or anyone else believe in that kind of a God? I've had my own experiences and mine are better than yours. You base your life and eternity, if there is one, on a feeling that you interpret as 'truth'.....Scary. If we did that in other aspects of life we'd call that insane.

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 47846)

Wow! This is a terrific thread! It's the reason I've come out of hiding (lurking). This question has been on my mind and heart a lot, lately, and there's a lot of good stuff to read, here.

Seems to me that, when we say we believe that the Bible is God's Word, inspired, infallible, and so on, what we are really doing is putting a great deal of trust in men. Namely, the men who, centuries ago, decided on the canon -- which ancient writings were inpsired, which were not.

Were those men themselves inspired by God? Were their intentions pure? Were they 100% correct in their choices? Are all 66 books, no more and no less, the very books that God Himself intended to be the "Bible"?

Now, it could be that our spirit (or the Holy Spirit) somehow confirms in our hearts that the Bible is true. That's fine for those for whom this happens, I suppose. And it's fortunate for the ones whose experience also confirms the truth of such scriptures that, e.g., promise miracles and healings, and so on. But what about the rest of humanity? Some will read the Bible and react negatively. Some things in scripture don't ring true, to them. They see promises there that aren't (in their experience) kept! Is it simply carnality and a hard heart? Is it lack of faith? Would only an evil man read the Bible and not immediately (or eventually) say, "Aha! Yes, this must be God's word!"?

Originally Posted by Esther (Post 48932)

There is nothing like experience to solidify a belief, be it good or bad. I can not tell you why when I turn on a light switch electricity turns on the light. Can I turn it on and nothing happen? Yes, for a mirid of reasons. I will explain more in a minute.



You pose some good questions as well as to why the books presented were the ones selected.

Now as to why I believe the Bible to be true.

I look around me and I know there is something bigger than man that created the place call earth and heaven. I look at the magnatude of wisdom in the creation of man alone. It had to be someone much more intelligent that manking to have created all of this.

Then I have a source call a Holy Bible that explains all of this and time and scientist have proven to be true.

Most important I have a personal experience with the Creator than no man can say I didn't have. I have experience His healing power. I have heard His voice. I have received His Spirit in me.

I have seen His glory in the Heavens and here on Earth.

Then knowledge as to ask, why of all the things written by any and all authors is the Bible most questioned?

. Why has evolution theory tried to destroy the very foundation of the Word?
.. Why has man tried to stop the teaching in the name of Jesus? No one cares if you teach in buddah or any other god but Jesus. Now why is that?
... Why has man tried to destroy faith in the Word of God?

The Bible was written by 39 different authors yet by the inspiration of one God with out conflict of information.

You can't get two doctors to write on the same subject without differences of opinions.

Number one thing is you will have FAITH in something, what do YOU choose to believe? A lie or the truth?

You have to have a love for the truth to find truth.

What is truth?

God is Truth!

This is why I believe in the Bible.

Originally Posted by ReformedDave (Post 48945)

You never explained why experience is reliable. You gave an example of how inconsistent it can be. Your feelings are irrelevant in explaining the validity of your beliefs. As I said before many others have experiences that are just a valid as yours, Mormons, JWs, Buddhists, and atheists. Seems very unreasonable to base Truth and your life on experience.

Originally Posted by mizpeh (Post 48947)

Esther,

My pastor like to point to the frailities of the men of God found in the Bible as proof of it's veracity. He thinks that by not painting the heroes of the word of God as superhuman that this shows a truthfulness not found in other religions.

Originally Posted by Esther (Post 48952)

You are right. Experience to vary. But that in itself speaks a loud voice.

But if you noticed I did not limit it to ONLY experience. I noted that the things written in the Bible have been proven by sceintist in the past and still seem to even today.

Prophecies given have come to pass.

I would have to say show me something in the Bible that you can prove is NOT truth!

Originally Posted by ReformedDave (Post 48811)

You seem to pit intellect against faith as if they are antithetical.

Originally Posted by OGIA (Post 48962)

No, they are not antithetical, but they certainly are not completely dependent upon each other, either. Many things about God, while I may think I know them, are accepted purely by faith. Now, my knowledge of the Lord through His word does give me faith, but, still yet, that faith comes through hearing His word preached and seeing His word in action.


Is it insanity to believe in a man I've never seen? Certainly the Lord Jesus Christ is my object and reason for faith, but there are things my intellect will never grasp about Him or His ways. Faith then enters.


Can you give me that in its context?

Originally Posted by Esther (Post 48954)

BTW RD, have you been to the Genesis thread yet? Waiting on your input. :)