Why Can't Christians Discern 'Different Conditions' in the Bible?
@mythociate (21432)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
March 3, 2013 4:46pm CST
This'll maybe help me get '"end-times off" their minds'*, a way to remind them that the Bible is ONLY about THIS LIFE---that Jesus came that we might have THIS LIFE & have it more-abundantly!
(And if you insist that this life is NOT to be held in joyful abundance--that there's something wrong that no one can ever fix--get off my cloud! 
)
But that misbelief is only ONE of the symptoms of this problem---the idea that "ever` word in the Bible is The Word of G*d" somehow confuses people into thinking that all those words came straight from His lightning-finger to the mountain-tablets (as portrayed in The Ten Commandments).
But they didn't! John 3:16--for example--was not 'St. John's commentary on what Jesus did'; rather, it was Jesus's explanation to a high-ranking pharisee of the TRUE Gospel! (And no, the 'true gospel' was not "I'm `bout to die, y`all!" but rather more-like 'our creator loves us all, so quit screwing-up' 
... or something).
There's that, then there's considering all 'the given of Paul's letters' etc. to be "echoes from G*d straight to us," on an equal place as the words of Moses, King David, King Solomon & all the prophets.
Why can't Christians see that--just as different people today have different ways of communicating what G*d tells them--the group of Scripture's writers each understood G*d as slightly different---one understood Him as a warmongering overseer, another as a rich daddy far away, etc. Why can't Christians see that?
*(that's a reference to "Heaven on Their Minds," Judas's lament in Andrew Lloyd Webber's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR)
)
But that misbelief is only ONE of the symptoms of this problem---the idea that "ever` word in the Bible is The Word of G*d" somehow confuses people into thinking that all those words came straight from His lightning-finger to the mountain-tablets (as portrayed in The Ten Commandments).
But they didn't! John 3:16--for example--was not 'St. John's commentary on what Jesus did'; rather, it was Jesus's explanation to a high-ranking pharisee of the TRUE Gospel! (And no, the 'true gospel' was not "I'm `bout to die, y`all!" but rather more-like 'our creator loves us all, so quit screwing-up' ... or something).
There's that, then there's considering all 'the given of Paul's letters' etc. to be "echoes from G*d straight to us," on an equal place as the words of Moses, King David, King Solomon & all the prophets.
Why can't Christians see that--just as different people today have different ways of communicating what G*d tells them--the group of Scripture's writers each understood G*d as slightly different---one understood Him as a warmongering overseer, another as a rich daddy far away, etc. Why can't Christians see that?
*(that's a reference to "Heaven on Their Minds," Judas's lament in Andrew Lloyd Webber's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR)1 person likes this
4 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
4 Mar 13
As an outsider I see it this way. Somewhere along the way, Christians were taught there is Only One way to understand the Bible.In some churches you are damned for asking questions. You either believe it this way or you can leave! It is sad.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
4 Mar 13
Surrender? What is with this surrender sh!t. We all are here by gthe will of G-d! and like an idiot He gave us free will. so why fear Him? Or surrender anything of your free will. He is the one that gave it to us. And if He Really didn't want us here As Is, We would be gone!
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
4 Mar 13
That's the proper attitude for Islam (whose name MEANS 'Surrender to the Will of G*d').
1 person likes this
@choconut (297)
• Philippines
3 Mar 13
end times will not be erased from their mind for a fact that the Bible didn't just state how to live in this day but it also talks about the end times, that a time will come when the TRUE believers will be with God in heaven and the FALSE believer and those who don't believe and accept will be punish for eternity. In the Bible it was not stated that we just live like this because its for here and now only, it was stated in a way that it tells us this is what we must do as preparation for our eternal life. So end times will not really be erased from the pictures.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
3 Mar 13
The only thing that ends is 'the world as you know it.' If you cannot adapt to the world 'as it becomes,' ... 
you don't have to (you'll be "eliminated"---you can call it 'being taken by Jesus' if that helps you sleep at night, but either way your worrying-about-it won't change it anyway).
you don't have to (you'll be "eliminated"---you can call it 'being taken by Jesus' if that helps you sleep at night, but either way your worrying-about-it won't change it anyway).
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
4 Mar 13
Myth: Our understanding of the spirit and what it can do are different. I understand the spirit, when it comes to me, is my breath and it knows nothing. I do believe in the Holy Spirit, and evil spirits. The are beings.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
4 Mar 13
I understand G*d as ALL. Now, if you want to say some parts of G*d aren't 'G*d'-enough to be G*d.
I bet the monster under your bed is a being too; and HE IS, because you imagine him to be so 
@vitalsigns (46)
• United States
4 Mar 13
Having a hard timew understanding where you are coming from. If you are saying that Christians shouldn't be concerned with the end of times, I totally agree. John 3:16 tells about God's greatest gift to humanity-Jesus and eternal life.
Paul's letters are the ones that are written to Christians. For Moses and the other prophets it was meant for the jews. Jesus was the middle ground sort of speak. Paul tweeks what Christ was about.
People need to understand the Bible as a whole, and which Chapters are written to them. Revelation is not written for us in today's world.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
4 Mar 13
And yet you don't remember how He said 'their generation (thousands of years ago) would not pass-away before those things'?
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
4 Mar 13
viral. I find Revelation very helpful. When someone says Christ is coming by such and such a date I remember what Revelation says about what is to happen in the last days. When these things all come about then I will know that Christ is about to come. My last day however could be tomorrow.
@Laurenlynn (715)
• Canada
4 Mar 13
Hi mythociate,I have to agree with dlr297 response everything they explained is true if you know the bible, I am not sure where you are getting your information for me I do not understand what you are trying to say. It has taken me years to try and understand the bible, I have always felt drawn to it, I always ask God to open my heart and mind so that I can understand his word for the day, maybe this can be of some help for you. For many of us the bible is a wonderful learning experience and their is so much learning I am still learning everyday.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
4 Mar 13
The Bible has only one message---of course, you can interpret it a bajillion different ways; but I would refine it down to 'rest satisfied in Jesus's salvation.'
ALL the other stuff is just for your brain to use to make your body shut up.
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
4 Mar 13
Lauaren: It does help our understanding of the Bible by the way we approach the Bible. If we ask God to help us understand he will. If we don't ask and only study to find fault we will show our ignorance because we won't have the full understanding of what every thing means. I also find that people who study that way pick up parts of a verse here and there to get the meaning they want. I guess some religions do the same.
