Why can Christians pick and choose which parts of the Bible to believe?

[DallasApple]

I personaly dont resist prayer(I converse with God many times a day )..But if the Bible is complete and the instruction book it realy doesnt matter what I hear in a prayer....That is if I take it litteraly ...(everything the Bible says)

Like offer the other cheek if you are struck on one side..Sure...if I size it up and thats the right thing...But if I took that to mean litterally 100% of the time I'de be a doormat..Maybe even dead..


Blessings

Dallas

 

[sojourner]

In order to believe that the Bible is truly the word of God, it seems that you would have to believe that God can speak directly through humans. He spoke through the authors of the Bible who put the Holy Creator's words into this holy text.

Why then is it ok for mere humans to pick and choose which passages to believe in, which to take literally, which to disregard all together and how to interpret all facets of it? Most churches talk about a loving, forgiving God and talk about Jesus as the Prince of Peace. But when I read the Bible I can't seem to find this God in there. Much of what is in the Bible, especially the Old Testament, depicts an angry vengeful and frightening God (Leviticus for example). There are also laws outlined (in Dueteronomyfor example) that say women should be covered, they will be stoned to death in public for adultery, and are considered about as valuable as cattle. Most "Christians" I know certainly don't believe in these Taliban-like values.

Are there any Christians who might be able to explain how they reconcile this? Why you get to pick and choose only small sections of the Bible to believe in? And if you are free to do that, do you really believe it is the Divine Word? Do you think Christianity has actually evolved away from the Bible?

Who says that the Bible is a process of "Divine Dictation?" Your premise assumes too much.

As human beings who are trying to be faithful to God, we have to interpret what our faith-tradition has left us, whether it be scripture or other writings, or doctrine, or culture. We do that by engaging in a process of judgment. Jesus did the same thing. Didn't he decide that healing someone was more important than not breaking the Sabbath law?

We hope to always err (because we will err) on the side of love, acceptance, peace, forbearance, hospitality, kindness, self-sacrifice, salvation, compassion, etc., because these are the things Jesus modeled for us, and they are the things that promote our well-being and our relationships as community with each other.

 

[Starfish]

I personaly dont resist prayer(I converse with God many times a day )..But if the Bible is complete and the instruction book it realy doesnt matter what I hear in a prayer....That is if I take it litteraly ...(everything the Bible says)

Like offer the other cheek if you are struck on one side..Sure...if I size it up and thats the right thing...But if I took that to mean litterally 100% of the time I'de be a doormat..Maybe even dead..


Blessings

Dallas

This isn't necessary to you Dallas, but I do have some more thoughts.

When we, as LDS, suggest to others to simply ask God, through prayer; the typical response communicates that they don't need to because they have the Bible. They seem to say answers to prayers can be misinterpreted, too subjective, or it may just BE a feeling, which can't be trusted. It makes me wonder about their experience with prayer and with the Holy Ghost. The scriptures are an invaluable resource to find our answers, but they aren't the only source.

Do they know what an answer to prayer is? What it's like? How to recognize it? If they did, maybe they wouldn't be so resistant to it. In our religion, we use prayer for everything. Prayer is two-way communication, and every sincere prayer is always answered sooner or later. I mean with all the confusion over doctrinal differences, asking God just seems like the logical solution.

What if you feel your answer from God was different than my answer from God? Then go with your answer (as long as it doesn't break any basic moral, ethical or legal laws). Test it. See if it works for you. Over time you will know if it was truly from God or not. (We believe that God will never give you an answer that violates gospel-standards.) Keep praying as you go, never stopping, and sincerely following what you feel are your answers. This process will save you from a lot of mistakes.

Anyway, it works for me.

 

[stamlerms]

The Bible IS the inspired word of God. However, it is important to refer correctly to whom you are posting your questions. Christians are those that completely follow the Christianity as described in the Bible. Christendom is the world empire of false religion. Sects of the original Christianity, such as Catholic, Babtist, Protestant, Seventh Day Adventists and so on. A sect is listed in Galations as works of the flesh and it's participation precludes one from enjoying the Kingdom of Heaven, as per the scriptures. Very very few people actually worship God as he requires. Even less actually study and get the sense of each and every sentence in the Bible. Those that are part of Christendom follow the teachings of their own particular sect. A sect is a departure from the original, because they have their own separate beliefs. In the book of Revelation, in the end, it says that if one takes away from or adds to them, then he sets himself up as an enemy of God. Actually studying and understanding, not interpreting, the scriptures is a REQUIREMENT of all those who would follow and become friends with God.

 

[psychoslice]

I think because of this picking and choosing is why we have so many different beliefs in what is called Christianity, and all argue over who's picking and choosing is right, this i cannot follow.

 

[trumpet_guy]

You bring up a very good point, but this is far from a new one. Many Christians do in fact pick and choose verses out of the Bible to support their beliefs ignoring other parts of the Bible that are disconcerting to them, like the Old Testament. While many Christians do pick and choose, I feel the implication of this is that the Bible is not a coherent work and is full of contradicting ideas. However, one should not judge a work based on its readers, and should go straight to the source itself and understand it. Let's look at an example issue to illustrate my point.

It is true God commands the Israelites to commit genocide on multiple occasions. The initial response to this is to be appalled. But yet in every case God did command this, He only did so after having a message of repentance preached to them for decades, if not hundreds of years. Genocide on a whim would not fit in with the Bible. However a judgement from God after a plead for repentance does, and what every single genocide is.

 

[gzusfrk]

I pick the New Covenant, the Gospel of Christ, which is the New Testament. All of it.

 

[Darkness]

You bring up a very good point, but this is far from a new one. Many Christians do in fact pick and choose verses out of the Bible to support their beliefs ignoring other parts of the Bible that are disconcerting to them, like the Old Testament. While many Christians do pick and choose, I feel the implication of this is that the Bible is not a coherent work and is full of contradicting ideas. However, one should not judge a work based on its readers, and should go straight to the source itself and understand it. Let's look at an example issue to illustrate my point.

It is true God commands the Israelites to commit genocide on multiple occasions. The initial response to this is to be appalled. But yet in every case God did command this, He only did so after having a message of repentance preached to them for decades, if not hundreds of years. Genocide on a whim would not fit in with the Bible. However a judgement from God after a plead for repentance does, and what every single genocide is.

I vehemently reject the notion that it all or nothing. Only a deeply dogmatic and insecure faith requires all or nothing. I am a Freudian even though I do not accept everything that Sigmund Freud wrote. Why should my Roman Catholic religion be any different? The biblical literature reads as an unfolding of humankind's understanding of the Divine. We do not truly get the truth until it concretely manifests itself to us in the human form of Jesus of Nazareth, and even then we cannot fully grasp it but only view it through a glass darkly. I do not understand why I have to believe the biblical authors were pens in the Hand of God in order to value the wisdom of the biblical literature. Why cannot I believe that the New Testament writings were honest, human thoughts on their traumatic experiences with the Divine, and value that?

I pick the New Covenant, the Gospel of Christ, which is the New Testament. All of it.

Scott Hahn does a supreme job in stressing the notion that the New Covenant is not a book, but a living covenant between God and His Church that is expressed through the material-sacramental practice of Eucharist. He stresses that the writings of the Apostles were originally known as the "Books of the New Testament" and that the books should not be confused with the New Covenant itself.

 

[dance-above]

For those who feel the bible is not a worthy basis let us keep that as a separete topic please? For argumentation sake, the life of Christ, Written by those who actually lived in his time and followed him when he was alive is written in the bible. therefore, the priority for studying christianity is the bible.

now:

1. Real Christians were never commanded to choose what to follow. (1 Cor 4:60)
2. which verses in the ot are you referring too? and i will explain what they mean.


3. There should only be a single authentic christian church.

proof?

by logic.

There is one undeniable rule of logic we have to adhere too.

" No two contradicting principles can be both true" one party can't say "this pen is blue" and another party will say "this pen is red". provided they are referring to same pen, Common sense would dictate they can't be both true.


by scripture:

Gal 1:6-7

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ."


"this means that even during the time of the apostles, there were already elements preaching a different gospel. which means, we should NOT be surprised why there are a lot of christians denominations today. the verse further states that "some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ" meaning there are people who will add, delete and choose what is in the bible."

so now, how do we find out the truth. well, the bible is complete it will not show a problem without a solution.

according to the prophet jeremiah

JER 6:16

This is what the LORD says:

"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls."

ask for the old paths, of how the true religion is really practiced. if you wish to know more. ask.

Very good. Thank you

 

[angellous_evangellous]

That's just not fair.

How can we critique you Christians if I can't start with my premises, understandings, and interpretations?

Just not fair...

Where is the fun in that?

If it were your book, you could do whatever you liked with it.