Originally Posted by
dmp
What have I written which would/might cause you to think I'm invalidating the Bible?
The Bible provides a VERY LIMITED VIEW of who God is. How can that last sentence be interpreted by you as "dmp thinking parts of the bible aren't valid"?
The Bible provides us all that we need to be prepared to serve God. You keep speaking of how the Bible is not a definitive source for men to gain knowledge of the true God. The scripture completely disagrees with that notion, my friend.
I honestly can't buy that. IF that were true, folks who grew up, say, shortly after Christ's death, were NOT prepared to serve God. The ONLY SINGLE ASPECT of GOD we need to know is this: Love God and your Neighbors. That's what Christ said was the key - the most-important aspect of 'commands' from God. In fact, the only folk I can recall being chewed-out by Christ himself were those steeped in knowledge of scripture.
That's not to say study is bad - it IS to say basing one's life completely on what they read, without applying love and context, will only lead to Churchianity - Religiousity.
Originally Posted by
2 Tim 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
First off - King James scripture is horrible.
Let's look at something more up-to-date: Here's Wycliff:
For all scripture inspired of God is profitable to teach, to reprove, to chastise, [for] to learn in rightwiseness,
17 that the man of God be perfect, learned to all good work [learned to all good works].
That said For all 'God-inspired' scripture is profitable to teach. Not "All Scripture IS God-inspired".
And here's the Key. Paul likely did NOT consider his letter to Timothy as being part of the Bible. At the time of Paul's writing, the OT was the only scripture.
Originally Posted by
dmp
As an aside - there IS a lot in the Bible which is NOT valid in terms of getting to know God better...or said another way - there's a lot of stuff God gave/told to people in a particular situation which is NOT 'valid' as proper guidance suggesting the instruction was meant for EVERY believer...do you agree with that?
2 Tim 2:15 addresses this concern and shows it to be inconsistent with the facts.
Originally Posted by
2 Tim 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Here's that verse in English we speak:
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
That has nothing to do with use as a counter-point to the fact the Bible isn't always relevant in our daily lives. The Bible doesn't answer all our questions - such as...I dunno...how about "Is Rock-n-Roll music of the Devil!" (something from my childhood).
How can we be approved of God if we do not know Him? We can and do know the truth through the word of God as delivered in the Bible.
Originally Posted by
John 8:31-32
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
We can be approved by God by LOVING people. We know God's love based on our hearts. Based on Accepting his Love and following his lead. If one has never experienced God's love, I believe they will be unable to keep "the greatest commandment"
As another aside: Here's something just a bit down which I think you're on-top-of. You DO this and it's appreciated and noted.
22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26
You're discussing this - unlike everyone in this thread - reasonably and without bitterness nor bitchiness. Makes it better for everyone when people can simple TALK about things like this without wearing their hearts on their sleeves.
Originally Posted by
HogTrash
I never understood why an all powerful, all knowing entity would demand to be worshiped by a weak insignificant species like humans.
I believe that maybe this is a misconception by those who fear anything they perceive to hold power and control over their existance.
It is said that God loves us as his children...Although I may demand that my children obey me, I would never demand they worship me.
We are NOT insignifigant. God CREATED us special from the rest of Creation.
“… the greatest detractor from high performance is fear: fear that you are not prepared, fear that you are in over your head, fear that you are not worthy, and ultimately, fear of failure. If you can eliminate that fear—not through arrogance or just wishing difficulties away, but through hard work and preparation—you will put yourself in an incredibly powerful position to take on the challenges you face" - Pete Carroll.