Quote:
Originally Posted by BigBrodieFan
So, your interpretation of 'The Bible' is to focus on Jesus' teachings. (He did have a great message at times). So, we should just forget all of the other passages and content in the Bible because it's irrelevant, according to you and perhaps other Christians who have no explanation for the cruelty and evil that was/is 'The Word of the Lord?'
I really don't mean to be disrespectful, but isn't that a little convenient?
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no I understand what you are saying. well my intereperpretation is that Jesus is central to my faith so I should focus on him. there are other great lessons to be learned from the rest of the bible of course. we shouldn't forget the rest of the bible and just keep the gospel books. a little while ago a friend was saying that the bible as a whole is a story God trying to regain his soveriegnty. it makes sense in that since the beginning we have tried to form our own governments, think its up to us to decide what is right and wrong etc.
That to say it's not irrelevant, and it is convenient to just ignore some of the bad stuff that happened, because there is some sick stuff in there. I guess this is where the conversation usually breaks down: yes there was killings made in God's name in the OT. The thing is sometimes God can use bad things for something greater. at the time it seems horrible, but maybe something else is accomplished (like more reliance on Him). we want so badly to understand something, but if there is a God, would you expect to fully understand his reasoning, being human?
also, I think part of the old testament stuff was showing how we couldn't live by the rules we had been given. you could say why would he give the rules then, I guess to test our faithfulness to him, and for the opportunity to free us. You can't be freed from something (guilt etc) unless you did something wrong, it's a harmony type thing. or a random hockey analogy, I think we all can agree the Flames run was made so special because of the 7 years of missing the playoffs. Winning the cup every year for 50 years would be fun, but would get boring (I would take it though!)
we should take "all those other passages" into the context of the time, the book, the bible as a whole. looking at what can be learned from these passages is important, and many things can be taken from them. However, I was talking about the demonination issue, I think the difference in denominations is more because of new testament stuff, where not as much "bad" happened, Pauls writings etc.
some food for thought