Does the Bible Have to be "True"?

[Scuba Pete]

This is little more than a rather silly ad hominem.

It's good to see that your patience has grown. I'm truly impressed.

 

[savagewind]

Honesty does require me to admit and declare that I believe it is just not possible to approach anything totally without bias. None of us are 100% neutral. We go in to everything we encounter with our imperfections as well as anything that one might consider "good."

I agree. Oh no, again! LOL

 

[First Baseman]

Please cite your source. A prophet might claim from time to time to speak for God, but the scriptures never, ever make such a claim.

Why not both? Why does it have to be either/or? Can you have a painting of a sunset without the sunset's participation? Sure, it's a passive role, but you can still see the sunset in the picture since it inspired it in the first place. Take any holy writing, the OT, NT, the Koran, hey, even the Book of Mormon. Many of the images they give us are strange, because we don't share their cultural or historical perspective. We can still see 'God' written there. Sure, it might be a God that's like a Picasso to us, but it's still God.

Think about it... is this any less a watch?

God Himself did not write any part of the Bible with His own hand if that is what you are talking about. If you don't think any of it is reliable as God's word then we are arguing a moot point. Which prophets were reliable and which weren't? On what basis do you judge this?

 

[Scuba Pete]

I agree that what people have seen and written of can direct another person to God.
The picture is not a watch. It is art. A watch is for knowing the time.

Unlike most watches, that one is right at least twice a day.

No matter whose scriptures you use, they are only a representation of God, based on their perspective. Just like art.

I Corinthians 13:12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. NIV

 

[savagewind]

Unlike most watches, that one is right at least twice a day.

No matter whose scriptures you use, they are only a representation of God, based on their perspective. Just like art.

I Corinthians 13:12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. NIV

I agree!

 

[savagewind]

God Himself did not write any part of the Bible with His own hand if that is what you are talking about. If you don't think any of it is reliable as God's word then we are arguing a moot point. Which prophets were reliable and which weren't? On what basis do you judge this?

Ooooooh. You missed something in the reading of it. I am sure that no man is reliable for everlasting life. God is.

 

[First Baseman]

I agree. Oh no, again! LOL

You have got to stop coing that! lol

I find I have more in common with people of other religions on here than I ever dreamed possible.

 

[savagewind]

You have got to stop coing that! lol

I find I have more in common with people of other religions on here than I ever dreamed possible.

I think we are of the same religion. I was never Catholic but you are a Jesus believer and so am I!

 

[First Baseman]

Ooooooh. You missed something in the reading of it. I am sure that no man is reliable for everlasting life. God is.

I don't follow.

 

[savagewind]

I don't follow.

You do not follow what? YOU said, "how does a person know which prophet is reliable?. The Bible really does teach that we should not trust anyone to be reliable. If I wanted to I could find 100 scriptures to prove it. I don't want to.

 

[First Baseman]

I think we are of the same religion. I was never Catholic but you are a Jesus believer and so am I!

Oh, I wasn't just talking about just you. And I do not think that one must be Catholic to be saved. Jesus is where it's all at. He is the one who unites all Christians in the Holy Spirit is the way I see it. Our denominations will not stand divided forever.

 

[First Baseman]

You do not follow what? YOU said, "how does a person know which prophet is reliable?. The Bible really does teach that we should not trust anyone to be reliable. If I wanted to I could find 100 scriptures to prove it. I don't want to.

So how do you know what to believe and what not to? I believe God reveals truth to us Himself through the Holy Spirit. Do you think the same?

 

[savagewind]

So how do you know what to believe and what not to? I believe God reveals truth to us Himself through the Holy Spirit. Do you think the same?

Yes. I think there is a difference between knowing God and knowing what God says. I believe anyone can know God. But knowledge is for people who can bear it.

 

[First Baseman]

Yes. I think there is a difference between knowing God and knowing what God says. I believe anyone can know God. But knowledge is for people who can bear it.

You sound like dear St. Paul in this post. That is a compliment I don't give often or on a whim.

 

[savagewind]

You sound like dear St. Paul in this post. That is a compliment I don't give often or on a whim.

Thank you.

 

[Scuba Pete]

If you don't think any of it is reliable as God's word then we are arguing a moot point

Rly? The scriptures are pretty clear about his.

John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. NIV

Many Christians have deified the scriptures and have abandoned the Spirit.

Then we come to your use of the word "reliable". Reliable for what? It's a unique historical document that logs man's search for God.It doesn't claim to be the word of God, so you are in error to treat it as such. It doesn't claim to be inerrant, so you are in error to view it in that way. It's ironic that you don't actually believe the very book you claim to be the word of God. It doesn't matter what I 'think'... it matters what the scriptures say. Stop putting words in God's mouth.

 

[Scuba Pete]

I find I have more in common with people of other religions on here than I ever dreamed possible.

We are often talking about the very same being, only from different perspectives. It's like the parable about the elephant:

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant

A Jain version of the story says that six blind men were asked to determine what an elephant looked like by feeling different parts of the elephant's body. The blind man who feels a leg says the elephant is like a pillar; the one who feels the tail says the elephant is like a rope; the one who feels the trunk says the elephant is like a tree branch; the one who feels the ear says the elephant is like a hand fan; the one who feels the belly says the elephant is like a wall; and the one who feels the tusk says the elephant is like a solid pipe.

A king explains to them:

All of you are right. The reason every one of you is telling it differently is because each one of you touched the different part of the elephant. So, actually the elephant has all the features you mentioned.

 

[First Baseman]

Rly? The scriptures are pretty clear about his.

John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. NIV

Many Christians have deified the scriptures and have abandoned the Spirit.

Then we come to your use of the word "reliable". Reliable for what? It's a unique historical document that logs man's search for God.It doesn't claim to be the word of God, so you are in error to treat it as such. It doesn't claim to be inerrant, so you are in error to view it in that way. It's ironic that you don't actually believe the very book you claim to be the word of God. It doesn't matter what I 'think'... it matters what the scriptures say. Stop putting words in God's mouth.

Stop complaining and read 2 Timothy 3:16.

 

[First Baseman]

We are often talking about the very same being, only from different perspectives. It's like the parable about the elephant:

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant

I disagree. There is no such parable in the Holy Bible. Everything outside of!the Bible that contradicts or opposes God's word is from Satan.

This is what Christ taught us. If you have a problem with that your problem isnt with me but the Son of God himself.

 

[savagewind]

Someone might think he or she must believe every word so then every word must be true. Why?
Knowledge puffs up. That one is true.
So how can you tell which words are scripture and which words can be dropped?
Dedication, prayer, trust in God, meditation, time, practice, humility, honesty......what else?

Acts of the Apostles 17:11