There are many scriptures that I believe really are true! One in particular that is very true, very insightful, and well worth heeding is this: "God is not the author of confusion."
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
There are many scriptures that I believe really are true! One in particular that is very true, very insightful, and well worth heeding is this: "God is not the author of confusion."
How do you know that is true? On what basis?
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
mfblume, your simplistic approach to a complicated mess regarding what the Scripture is actually saying is why there is WAR in Religion.
If it was simple, we would agree, plain and simple. But no, the argument/debate continues, and will continue until death do us part. Fighting over who and what God IS, will never stop. His plan for mankind has plummeted into an endless and bottomless pit of “Words”.
I've debated subjects such as this one; Thou Shalt not KILL. Go ahead, slice it, dice it, and put your slant on it, but the facts are, the Old Testament is a blood bath. If killing women, children, those in hospitals, the elderly or retarded, is done today the Country or Warmongers responsible for such actions are deemed wicked, evil and guilty of genocide or crimes against humanity.
Yet, we continue to justify this evil because the Bible is considered a Holy Book by the Church or those who have their special take on God. We explain away anything or anyone who questions the blatant atrocities and practices of "God's Children" because they somehow are exempt from their very own Law, twisting the Scriptures to protect a Faith or Idea that is engrained into our brain or culture.
Your Saulistic approach of being Head and Shoulders above everyone with, "It's so easy, it's so simple, you dummies just don't get it,” gets real old. I'm tired of going in circles with things that are simple; Killing is Killing. If we're not supposed to kill, then don't kill. If we are supposed to kill, then let's kill. If the killing in the Old Testament contradicts the Ten Commandments, admit it. If we don’t admit it, then the guess work will never end and the belly of confusion will only get fatter.
I think the Bandwagon of Religion has been circled and there are desperate people trying to "Hold the Fort". But there are only so many rabbits in the hat, and people are tired of "Smoke and Mirrors" to get them to the next level of Faith. We want Facts, Bro Blume. The trust factor in Churches today is all but gone by people who’ve become skeptical after years of watching the fallacy of Religion and the dogmas that wound up being lies.
What makes things complicated when it comes to the bible is that some refuse to acknowledge the need for faith and others don't. Also, the human element in the reader is the problem, not the book.
And I certainly feel no more intellectual than anyone else. The only thing subjective in all of this is the myriad of reasons people refuse to agree that are aside from the words in black and white.
The fact is that if part of the bible is wrong, then no one can tell which part is not. And THAT is simple, despite your aversion to the thought, IMHO. And I do not see how that can make anyone smarter than anyone else. I think most here are very smart. But without certain points in mind, those "smarts" cannot correctly determine some things. IOW, since I said it's simple and explained why, then all you smart guys could then say, "Oh, right, never thought of that. Not that I'm stupid, but rather just overlooked that point." Why assume I meant you're dumb? lol
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
I've always thought of it as two accounts of the same situation by two different men. One recalls things one way while the other recalls things another... and both are true.
I've always thought that one Gospel writer recalls when both thieves mocked Jesus, the other remembers how one was repentant before Jesus gave up the ghost. In this we see that Jesus is merciful to all, even towards those who initially mocked and derided him.
Just my take.
God bless.
In contrast to my "brothers in doubt", I've also always assumed it this way....he mocked and it was recorded. He turned to Christ...and it was recorded.