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angellous_evangellous
Guest
Any more...
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Just_me_Mike
Well-Known Member
Can you deny the powers of Jesus spoken of in the bible and still be a Christian? If so, elaborate a bit...
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angellous_evangellous
Guest
Interesting question.
I don't think that "being a Christian" depends on a certain style of biblical interpretation but rather experiencing and participating the kingdom of God. That is, the Bible is not our God.
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angellous_evangellous
Guest
I don't know.
Just_me_Mike
Well-Known Member
Forgive me for saying this. Are you a minimalist?
I mean that in a good way, and often wonder if it is not the way to go, so that you end up believing in just enough, without pretending to believe in things one doesn't fully understand yet.
If my description is wrong, let me ask this. Comparing years ago from who you are today, have you stripped away more than you have added to your personal acceptance of things studied in the bible?
Thanks...
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angellous_evangellous
Guest
It has been more rewarding to me to believe in God.
I can tell you this:
As a Christian scholar I suspend all "belief in Scripture" for "belief in God" so that I trust my soul in God as my life experience unfolds, and my understanding of Scripture changes with what I learn from scholarship.
So I don't bring my beliefs to my scholarship, but my scholarship may or may not affect my faith.
Just_me_Mike
Well-Known Member
I get beat up a lot from you and Jay, and I totally get it, because I put my foot in my mouth a lot.
I say that to say this. I approach my religion the same way as you do, I just am not privy to the apparent resources you or Jay are, and I have a lot of respect for both of you.
I think for me, I only have the bible, and I do not know what else to trust, in terms of study guides and scholarship. So I have to bang a way at the bible, because I am afraid of the bias that might drive outside influence (if that makes any sense) in other sources besides the bible.
Anyway, thanks for sharing. Frubals for the clarity of your answer.
Just_me_Mike
Well-Known Member
OK next question:
Seeing that you believe in God, and keep the bible separate. As your scholarship moves forward and yet let the bible influence your faith in God. What have you found in the bible that you can not adopt as an understanding of God, that speaks to your heart?
Seeing that you believe in God, and keep the bible separate. As your scholarship moves forward and yet let the bible influence your faith in God. What have you found in the bible that you can not adopt as an understanding of God, that speaks to your heart?
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angellous_evangellous
Guest
Spiritually, I have based my faith in God in Christ through prayer, and lots of it...
Just_me_Mike
Well-Known Member
BUMP
OK next question:
Seeing that you believe in God, and keep the bible separate. As your scholarship moves forward and you let the bible influence your faith in God. What have you found in the bible that you can not adopt as an understanding of God, that speaks to your heart?
OK next question:
Seeing that you believe in God, and keep the bible separate. As your scholarship moves forward and you let the bible influence your faith in God. What have you found in the bible that you can not adopt as an understanding of God, that speaks to your heart?
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angellous_evangellous
Guest
This question doesn't make sense to me.
Just_me_Mike
Well-Known Member
What I mean to say, is since you put your faith in God ahead of and separate from the bible, are there things in the bible you just refuse to accept as something that represents God, as you understand God?
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angellous_evangellous
Guest
My faith has gone so far beyond it, I don't know how to answer the question.
Just_me_Mike
Well-Known Member
Why don't you know how to answer the question? I don't understand that answer.
Try, please...
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angellous_evangellous
Guest
Well, the traditions concerning God in the bible are so inconsistent and, if I may say so, clumsy... that I start with the hope that God will renew all things through Christ and point my faith towards this awesome redemptive act, participating as a Christian theologian/scholar in creating new traditions.
Just_me_Mike
Well-Known Member
Would you mind sharing some of the inconsistencies with me? Thank you...
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angellous_evangellous
Guest
1) The varying theologies in the Gospels
2) The openness of early Christians to people of every class into the communities but no condemnation of slavery, sexual exploitation, and child abuse by God
3) Love for all and yet judgement through Christ in the apocalypses (Christ killing people)
4) The male/female imagery of Christ and the church needs to be re-thought in terms of modern science, with implications for the nature of homosexuality.
Just_me_Mike
Well-Known Member
Monster of a subject, to be sure. Good thread possibility.
I am not sure I understand what you are saying, so if you are interested please reword.
Have you ever attempted to reconcile the problem with this one, or have you always just felt it wrong no matter what?
Hmm, and not the opposite where the nature of homosexuality is re-thought in terms of what is taught in the bible. Interesting! Have you tried to reconcile this as well in the direction that favors the bible? Or, is the evidence that some people are born homosexuals enough to refuse the concept in question outright.
Thanks!
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angellous_evangellous
Guest
The New Testament conceives of a God that welcomes a childlike faith, but its authors do not address pervasive child and slave abuse in the ancient world. Perhaps some other early Christian writers do, but God does not condemn these types of abuses in the "canon."