Really? And then what do we do with "I am God, I change not"? I do not believe that this kind of behavior could have ever been acceptable to a loving, moral being.
I am much more inclined to believe that the Bible is corrupt. That it has been used to further an agenda and altered at the whim of man from time immemorial. Anyone who can not see the the hundreds and even thousands of discrepancies in our modern versions of 'the Bible' lives in denial, IMO. I am sure that that Israel's elite had an agenda that included wanting to be seen as fierce and supported by the most high God in their ferocity and so wrote their stories so slanted in some cases.
I see that God does not today keep anyone from corrupting His 'word' and I have no reason to believe that he did so in the past either. Where we ever got the idea that there is an 'incorruptible' book I am not sure. I would guess that it comes from the same place as nonexistent concepts like the immortal soul, man's imagination.
I believe that a lot of what Jesus Christ spent his time trying to tell us was that traditions, writings (even ancient dusty ones), leaderships opinions, etc. really don't matter in the same way that living this life fully engaged and loving and helping humanity does.
I have no problem admitting that I have never given stories like this more than a cursory glance. I find them repulsive and not a reflection of the God that I know and love intimately at all. I was grossed out and completely freaked by reading them here. Again ewwww....
Not trying to rock anyone's boat, just being honest...
In the past, I've said the same things as you're saying, God can't be like that, the bible is corrupt, Israel was doing these horrible things and attributing them to God, ect. The conflict in the middle east prompted me to reconsider the why's of the OT stories and I found a new understanding of what was going on back then, placing myself in that era of time, living as they were living.
Using America as an example, time and time again if America had not entered into conflict with other nations, America would no longer be America. As bad as war is, it's necessary at times in order to protect the existence and values of a nation, a people. So it was in OT times, war was common, the mindset of the people was different than today and extreme measures were used in order to never have to face their foe again. Completely destroy them, wipe them off the face of the earth, and then you'll have peace.
It's not so much as God changing, as it is society's changing and God interacts differently with them.
In the past, I've said the same things as you're saying, God can't be like that, the bible is corrupt, Israel was doing these horrible things and attributing them to God, ect. The conflict in the middle east prompted me to reconsider the why's of the OT stories and I found a new understanding of what was going on back then, placing myself in that era of time, living as they were living.
Using America as an example, time and time again if America had not entered into conflict with other nations, America would no longer be America. As bad as war is, it's necessary at times in order to protect the existence and values of a nation, a people. So it was in OT times, war was common, the mindset of the people was different than today and extreme measures were used in order to never have to face their foe again. Completely destroy them, wipe them off the face of the earth, and then you'll have peace.
It's not so much as God changing, as it is society's changing and God interacts differently with them.
All very true.
I want to highlight something. One cannot get to know God personally by studying the OT. Here we see God dealing with a nation in that cultural context. We don't see God sitting down and teaching them personally. However, we do see this in the NT when God comes to us in Christ Jesus. If one really wants to know God's heart, God's attitude, God's desire, study Jesus.
For example, we might study the statements made and laws passed by a President in time of war. However, we can't say that we personally "know" that president. Now, if we sit down with him for dinner, or he stays in our home for an extended period, and he tells us about events, what he personally thought about them, how he personally wished they had happened, etc., then we can say that we personally know that President.
I want to highlight something. One cannot get to know God personally by studying the OT. Here we see God dealing with a nation in that cultural context. We don't see God sitting down and teaching them personally. However, we do see this in the NT when God comes to us in Christ Jesus. If one really wants to know God's heart, God's attitude, God's desire, study Jesus.
For example, we might study the statements made and laws passed by a President in time of war. However, we can't say that we personally "know" that president. Now, if we sit down with him for dinner, or stays in our home for an extended period, and he tells us about events, what he personally thought about them, how he personally wished they had happened, etc., then we can say that we personally know that President.
In the past, I've said the same things as you're saying, God can't be like that, the bible is corrupt, Israel was doing these horrible things and attributing them to God, ect. The conflict in the middle east prompted me to reconsider the why's of the OT stories and I found a new understanding of what was going on back then, placing myself in that era of time, living as they were living.
Using America as an example, time and time again if America had not entered into conflict with other nations, America would no longer be America. As bad as war is, it's necessary at times in order to protect the existence and values of a nation, a people. So it was in OT times, war was common, the mindset of the people was different than today and extreme measures were used in order to never have to face their foe again. Completely destroy them, wipe them off the face of the earth, and then you'll have peace.
It's not so much as God changing, as it is society's changing and God interacts differently with them.
So Seekerman do you believe in an 'incorruptable Word of God'? And if you indeed do then which modern or ancient version of the Bible would that be exactly?
I am much more likely to continue to believe that to the winner goes the spoils and the right to write the history.
So Seekerman do you believe in an 'incorruptable Word of God'? And if you indeed do then which moderen or ancient version of the Bible would that be exactly?
I am much more likely to continue to believe that to the winner goes the spoils and the right to write the history.
I believe that the Word of God is incorruptible, yes. I personally like the NASB version but I can't testify to it's inerrantcy. If there's a particular passage or topic I'm studying, I usually go to the Greek manuscript and study what was written.
I believe that the Word of God is incorruptible, yes. I personally like the NASB version but I can't testify to it's inerrantcy. If there's a particular passage or topic I'm studying, I usually go to the Greek manuscript and study what was written.
Well we have a basic difference there... I do not see the Bible as incorruptable, innerent or infallible. To be clear I feel that infalliable is a stronger term than inerrant. Inerrant to me means there are no errors whereas infallible would mean there can be no errors. I know that many people use the terms interchangeably but they have slightly different flavors.
I believe that the Bible is a combination of history, the science of the time, and most importantly a record of God's communication with man through the ages. I love it for many reasons but I feel free to skip over the parts that have nothing to add to my life and do not feel as if I am forsaking my faith by doing so although it horrifies some people that know me.
I find it interesting that the Jews never saw the Torah as any of those things and that is why there were so many oral traditions in addition to the written scriptures that they held in equal regard.
At this poing I think that anyone who will take an honest look will find that the Bible has been altered at the whim of man and that God allowed it to happen as He allows us every other freedom.
I personally like The Christian Bible which does much to correct many of the errors of KJV especially with regards to gender equality, although that was never the authors intentions.
So Seekerman do you believe in an 'incorruptable Word of God'? And if you indeed do then which modern or ancient version of the Bible would that be exactly?
I am much more likely to continue to believe that to the winner goes the spoils and the right to write the history.
There are differences in translation and from older translated text to older translated text. But these differences are relatively minor.
Timmy, that's a mis-interpretation of Christ's point. Jesus wasn't talking about a translation's viability. Jesus was talking about the law's staying power. The law of God is enshrined in Heaven. Find a jot or tittle missing there. lol
Timmy, that's a mis-interpretation of Christ's point. Jesus wasn't talking about a translation's viability. Jesus was talking about the law's staying power. The law of God is enshrined in Heaven. Find a jot or tittle missing there. lol
It's kinda irrelevant to us if it's enshrined in Heaven, isn't it?
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