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RE: Leaving Christianity to Follow the Teachings of Jesus
fully agree on most points, i was lucky enough to not be brought up in a christian cult, but came to the truth of God, Jesus and the bible as an adult reasonably recently (after realising the truth about who runs the world and for what purpose.)
my only caveat is with your encouraging people not to read the bible - surely your knowledge of who Jesus really is and what we ought to be doing (and not doing) as His followers comes from God's word?
also, Christ is our mediator - we do need Him as our lawyer before God. our deeds are not enough, and they should come because we recognise His sacrifice for us, because love.
peace.
I didn’t mean to discourage people from reading the Bible, simply to convey my opinion that it shouldn’t be taken as the highest authority, especially blindly taken along with a specific religious interpretation of it as the highest authority. That is my biggest issue with the Bible, is that so many people claim to follow it as the highest authority, as the word of God, and yet come to such so many different and contradictory interpretations. I think this is because some parts are imperfect, or allegories taken literally, and people tend to pick and choose the parts that support their chosen theology.
It was and sometimes still is used to defend slavery, the inequality of men and women, war, Jewish supremacism, Zionism, capitol punishment, usury, blood sacrifice, and many other things I would consider evils that most true followers of Jesus and many church going Christians as well would condemn.
I have the utmost respect for the scriptures though, and you’re right, much of what I know about Jesus come from the Bible. But I don’t believe it is the perfect, innerant, infallible, word of God, and I don’t see the Bible itself teaching that anywhere either. Nor do I think it is the only valid source for spiritual wisdom, which can also be found in many other sacred writings of old. It seems to me that the word of God is used interchangeably (in most cases) with the spirit of God, as when the word of God came to Ezekiel, the spirit of God then rested upon him.
Also, according to the Bible, the word of God came to all the prophets, and to John, before the Bible was ever written, so that indicates they are not one and the same, plus books don’t come to people. Furthermore, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit/spirit of truth to his disciples, not a book (such as the New Testament). He warned the Pharisees that their diligent study of the scriptures, insomuch as thinking they contained the key to eternal life, was actually one of the things holding them back from coming to him and learning his teachings which would bring them life.
Just my thoughts, which are still often evolving as I continue to learn and study new information and views I had never considered before. My spiritual beliefs and convictions have drastically changed over the past years, and rapidly more recently - going from fundamentalist evangelical to agnostic to the journey I now find myself on, trying my best to follow the way Jesus taught, seek truth, and keep an open mind. I’m sure my views will continue to change in the future, though I doubt I will drift away from the teachings of Jesus as the foundation for my faith.
Thanks for the comment, and hope you have a good day!
There is so much to respond to in your thoughtful and intelligent statement that the responses might be a bit scattered as i respond to parts of it, but here goes:
'blindly taken along with a specific religious interpretation of it as the highest authority.'
i think i see your problem, well everyone's at some point: it is hard to come to the bible without bias's because everyone has had some form of opinion on it, and we have all had many conversations where we have shared those opinions, plus hollywood, telescreen and what lots of other influential artists, writers etc. have had to say on it.
'some parts are imperfect' - i'd say this could refer back to the previous, they might seem imperfect because of either our prejudices, bad translations or our own lack of understanding, but maybe this is because i come to the bible as if it really is God's 100% True Word to man, not wondering whether it is or any other approach, just i'm the student, man and He is the Creator and Father, and as i read His book i will learn what it is we're doing here and how He wants me to behave.
You sum it up this: 'I have the utmost respect for the scriptures' - this is how i read both testaments, but with bells on.
'according to the Bible, the word of God came to all the prophets, and to John' - this is mixed up. 2 Timothy 3:16 says 'all scripture is God-breathed' and Hosea 12:10 states 'I spoke to the prophets; it was I who multiplied visions, and through the prophets gave parables. '
but the logos talked about in john 1 is literally the word of God, ie - His plan for mankind, the earth and redemption: the gospel, in other words.
as you probably know, the gospel means good news, and the good news is that God has kept His promise, Jesus was resurrected from death because HE was perfectly obedient to God, as the prototype, mankind 2.0, or 'the son of man' for God's family of children, who will live on the new earth and under the new heavens, with Him. it is summed up really well in 1 corinthians 15:12-28 and revelation 21-22.
with peace & love & faith.