Quote:
Originally Posted by deadeye
I didn't say we are in danger of falling into apostasy in the absence of the availability of a Bible...my point was that selectively discounting, or discrediting parts of the Bible will lead to apostasy....lot of difference there
Originally Posted by deadeye
I realize that there are variations and differences in translations.....and i also realize that some are better than others. However i believe that what has been delivered to us is the Infallible Word of God, and that it is our responsibility to "rightly divide the Word".
Sure there are things and scriptures that need research to have a better understanding, but when we start questioning the Flood, sun standing still, etc...we might as well throw the whole thing out....we can strive to understand it better but to selectively discount portions of the Bible is a slippery slope that ends in apostasy.
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Ok, here is your post. Here is mine;
Originally Posted by NotforSale
Deadeye, one question for you. The current Bible we possess was mass distributed starting in the early 1800's, as modern day printing presses had not been invented yet. This means, mankind as a whole never had a "Bible".
So, how did mankind in the context of all time conceive God and His will before the Bible became a part of mainstay reading by the common people?
I believe we are guilty of drawing vain conclusions by stating we will fall into apostasy without a Bible, when humanity as a whole on this Planet never even knew what a Bible was.
Maybe we both need to refine our comments or responses. But, I can't help ask you again; What did people do before the Bible became the mainstay Book of the Religious World?
Access to the Bible was primarily in the hands of the Catholic Church. In fact, even Catholics in my family were forbidden to own a Bible. The Church felt that is was their responsibility to handle this Divine Word, and that the laity needed to accept that or pay the price. I went to Catholic school for 6 years and not once did I see a Bible.
"The Roman Catholic Church has traditionally suppressed, opposed, and forbidden the open use of the Bible. It was first officially forbidden to the people and placed on the index of Forbidden Books List by the Council of Valencia in 1229 A.D. The Council of Trent (1545-63 A.D.) also prohibited its use and pronounced a curse upon anyone who would dare oppose this decree. Many popes have issued decrees forbidding Bible reading in the common language of the people, condemning Bible societies and banning its possession and translation under penalty of mortal sin and death. The Roman Catholic Church has openly burned Bibles and those who translated it or promoted its study, reading, and use (John Hus, 1415 A.D.; William Tyndale, 1536 A.D.)
Though external pressures have caused Rome to relax its restrictions and opposition against Bible reading in America, the Bible is still widely withheld and its distribution and free use discouraged in many countries which are heavily influenced by Roman Catholicism."
With this and other facts in mind regarding limited understanding of stories in the Bible, such as the Great Flood of Noah, which we dissect down to the last letter because we can, please tell me what human beings did before this current age of total access to Scripture?
I feel we are guilty today of placing everyone into our Box or Idea without a deep consideration of other generations who had to define God by more of an instinct, rather than our tabled Idea that if we dare question something from this Book we will face the consequences.
Think about it Deadeye, in all honesty, the 20th Century is the only Century in Time where man truly opened the pages of a Bible. Why is it that we are now responsible to put God in there without question or rebuttal? Hey, the Book says it, so I believe it!! This is not only wrong, but puts the entire human race at risk of being lost if we take this Book literally from the Apostolic Church's perspective.
I find it a big mistake that the unlearned and ignorant took this Book, claiming it's validity without proving its authenticity. It's simple. Just accept it. The Church say's "That's the Book for me, the B I B L E", and that settles it. In the past this worked. Men stood behind pulpits making the laity feel as if they would be struck by lightning if they ever questioned this Holy Oracle.
But today, we are capable of understanding much of past cultures, peoples, and Nations. We no longer comprehend our Planet from distant or made up ideas, we can go there if we want to and put our fingers into their soil. We don't observe War, Disease, Corrupt Governments, Natural Disasters, and many other things from a clouded lens anymore. In the last 50 years, our ability to understand the realities of nature and Human life is changing the way we all think. "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" theology is waning under the microscope of the Facts, which is leading us away from being manipulated by a spectral world that cannot be questioned.
We also see today the array of Religions on this Earth coming from this one Book. Where there used to be just a handful of Faith's, we now have 1000's all claiming their divine "Take". They had a revelation. God spoke to them. And, this Forum is no different. We have our "Take", and if we're not careful, those who don't agree with us will be deemed as destined to the Lake of Fire, the exact mindset that filled the Dark Ages of few Centuries ago.
Peoples and Nations who stop questioning Authority will end up being ruled by Tyrants, and Religion is included in this debauched ending by demanding the acceptance of things that cannot be proven.
Hybrid Mode
