Why do YOU believe the Bible?
 

Just interested in your responses. At the gym this morning I listened to a program that asked kids at a Christian college this question. Very interesting responses.

I just read a book called, "Don't know much about the BIBLE" The guy who wrote it also wrote a great book on American History called "Don't know much about History."

He goes through the bible book by book, explaining scripture, but also contrasting it with history. It isn't deep, and there is no agenda, but there are questions and what he thinks are contradicitons about certain things.

I thought for a time, how do I know what is true to actually be true? It occured to me in a powerful way that I have lived, experienced, and felt the spirit and presence of God in direct congruence with the word, and nothing can change that.

So I would say it is true by validation throught the Spirit of the Living God in my life and in my spirit.

I agree, Carpenter! :tiphat

You do realize that Mormons can make the same esoteric claim.......Why should I accept Christianity on your 'feelings'?

You can't accept Christianity on MY feelings, you must test God and His word yourself.

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

If you obey him, he will prove himself to you. If you seek him, he will be found of you.

Why should I believe the Bible when others have equal if not greater experiences? If I came to you and said that I've found perfect peace as a Zen Buddhist and I don't need Christianity. And BTW, many have found peace through Buddhism. You experience is of no greater authority than mine.

What if I told you I bought a car because I had some 'experience' when thinking about it. You would say I was a real flake.

Because my parents taught it, their lives exemplified it, I believed it, it has worked for me and my family. A biblicial world view has served us well, it has kept my children and given them a foundation for significant lives. The personal relationship with Jesus that has proceeded from faith in the Bible has given me peace, confidence and a template to live life. In the world yet not of the world, may God be praised!! That's not all but it is a start. Our God is an awesome God!

Sadly I don't know. I have been asking myself this question (and many others) lately.

I do know that there was a point of faith. At one time the Bible was just a spiritual book, and eventually I saw some truth in it. Eventually I came to a crossroads, and needed to determine if I was going to relegate it to absolute truth or dismiss it as error. I chose to have faith that it was Truth.

The problem came, when rather than having all the answers, it seems to simply lead to more questions.

RD........

Ever hear of T&P? Stands for "Tested and Proved". This is one of the reasons I believe the Bible and believe it to be authentic. :nod

So, you serve your God out of tradition. Many have done the same and have made the same claim. That doesn't make it true. Just remember, I'm a Buddhist from a long tradition also that has served me and my family well.

And I'm in that same boat. Except for the absolute truth thing or dismissing it for error. Your last sentence, though, that is saying a mouthful -- something I implicitly agree with. The question is: Is that such a bad thing?

How have you done that?

I'm glad you both are honest.....and thinking about it.

It is an obsession of mine, really.

'Truth' has to be something outside of us.

I don't disagree... that's why I'm obsessed. :D

The thing is my experience with the God of the Bible is enough for me to believe the Bible is true. He has answered my prayers. He has confirmed his word to me when I obeyed Him. Because of the relationship I have developed with Him, I have no doubt who God is and that the Bible is His word for me.

I'm convinced. I can only say to you to try Jesus Christ and see for yourself.

IMO, this is one of the most beautiful thing that's ever happened to me!!

Sure, there are days when some answers would be nice, but the vast majority of time I'm content because I know the questions that arise are generated by God, not me. He WANTS ME to ask and seek and search. He also knows I'll get frustrated and doubt. That's not Him, that's me. I can choose to let that drive me to seek Him more or I can let it generate even more doubt. So far I have chosen the former, and it's only because of Him! I thank Him almost everytime I get on my knees that HIS GRACE, not MY efforts, led me back there. Same with studying. I pray the day never comes that I don't have that grace to drive me.

These are very good questions, faith and experience require investigation to find evidence that our belief is based in fact and in truth. My faith that the Bible contains a revelation of the true God comes from a life time of experience as well as study.

Since I believe Jesus is the Savior of the whole world I believe all will come face to face with the true God with equal opportunity to embrace Him as Savior. I do not take on the responsibility of the Savior so I can talk to those of other faiths and if the Father is calling them at that time maybe I can be an instrument in His hands. All must come to willingly accept by faith the Savior to enter into His life.

There are always questions. Many of them lead to a dead end street and frustration. All the questions won't be answered until we're in glory.

I'm curious, Dave.......did you ever receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost when you were in the Apostolic church? I don't see how anyone could doubt after a genuine experience like that.

Because if I didn't I'd have no reason to live.

Dave doesn't doubt Sarah. He's just picking brains here to get others to think. Many people can't give a good answer to this question. And there are good answers to be given.

:)

I agree and I disagree...

I have many, many questions -- the thing is, though, that I believe in a God that is much bigger than I can comprehend. I merely keep asking knowing that if I don't have the answer now, and I may never know the answer, it's okay. Because God is big, his ways are above our way, his thoughts above ours -- and I have faith in God.

I can now question all I want and I don't have to expect answers because of the Mystery that is God. The problem is when people are so based on concrete answers and audible voices until they are frustrated when these things aren't as apparent as they like. The problem isn't the questions but how we approach the questions.

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.

You asked "Why do YOU believe the Bible?" My beginning to believe the Bible was because my parents were believers. I am now 56 years old and have moved beyond what my parents believed, however the Bible is still the foundation of my faith. THE BOOK is tried and tested in my life to be trustworthy, my faith will not necessary convince another. That is God's responsibility not mine. My job is to live my faith.

To convince a Buddhist of the truth of the Bible there would have to be work of the Holy Spirit. The Father would have to be calling them to truth at that particular time, otherwise my words would be "pearls before swine" as it were.

Growing up attending Buckeye Lake Ohio Campmeeting...Bro. Robert Trapani taught a series on the proofs that the Bible is real from archeological discoveries to experiential manifestations...it was awesome...never have forgotten.

God is bigger than we can comprehend. He's past finding out.

I enjoy "thinking" about and discussing scripture and ideas too, but ultimately there simply are not always answers to all the questions. And because there aren't answers to all the questions does not negate or destroy or otherwise negatively affect authentic faith.

We have a responsibility to search the Scripture. That's why the Bereans were commended.

:)

How did I know this was coming? LOL. Great discussion topic Dave! :thumbsup

Exactly...

:highfive

By the way, welcome to AFF Nathan.

Thanks.

My point is that the majority of Christians do not have a reasonable reason to be a Christian. If I used the same criteria on something else it would be deemed irrational. Knowledge has been divorced from faith and it has become something Scripture never meant it to be. I have not heard one apologetic answer, as Peter commands, and I could easily come to the conclusion that you have no cogent reasons to offer for the truth claims of Christianity.

I read Evidence That Demands a Verdict years ago and all the historical proof verifies my faith in God intellectually but it is not the same as having a relationship with God.

If I told you God healed me of a deadly disease and I have the MRI reports, the doctor's notes, etc would that be enough for you to believe?

Man has been trying to answer these questions for century's, and in this the 21st century even theologians do not agree. So if we had to be perfect in our understanding God would have established truth in a way that there would be no misunderstanding. GOD IS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, MAN SEEKS AN END.

Therefore I believe because of tradition and experience, I am in the process of working out my salvation with fear and trembling. I continually pray to know God as He really is, He is real and present. Beyond my faith and experience I must honestly and without fear say "I don't know."

RD, Christianity is what it is because of one man. That man has been proven with pretty good certainty to have existed. That man died, was buried and was resurrected. We have quite authentic documents to support that. Other than that, what do you want? Christianity does not rest on my proving to you the existence of God or the vailidity of His word. Those are YOUR demands. I don't agree that faith depends on knowledge, other than the knowledge about the man I just wrote about. :tiphat

Now, your thread is about the Bible. I believe the Bible because I think it has been proven to be authentic, as authentic (or moreso) than any other ancient document. Out of that document, I have experienced the words on the pages.

Is faith reasonable?

BTW, what do you think Peter would tell someone if they asked him the reason for the hope that is in him?

Would he say the resurrection of Christ? But would that be proof enough for some? Would an eyewitness report be enough? Obviously not for the council that beat him for preaching in the name of Christ.

When Paul said that Christ had been evidently crucified before the Galatians, what do you think he meant by that? Maybe that God confirmed His word that Paul spoke with signs and wonders which gave veracity to Paul's words. Are signs and wonders enough?

First, you make the a false dichotomy of separating 'head' from 'heart'. The gospels encompasses both. You can't truly serve a God you know nothing about. That's pure recklessness and folly. BTW, while I appreciate Josh MacDowell for many things apologetics is not one of them. Any college philosophy prof could tear it a part.

As far a miracles, that would not convince me at all. All religions have them.