Can I be Christian and Not Believe the Bible?

[Albion]

What I love about Jesus is not that he died for us. I love Jesus because of the pillar of morality that was laid down by him. I love Jesus because he said "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." To me that means that means that by whatever standard I judge the world, I must also judge myself. That rings so true within me.

Before we get too far away from the OP and what you wrote there about your own searching, I am going to suggest--based upon your comments on all your posts here on this thread--that the Unitarian Universalist Association looks like the church that most closely approximates what you have said you believe in and want in a church. It is not always considered to be a Christian church, however, although many of its members would say that it is.

 

[Saricharity]

I can believe in the writings about Jesus within the bible. The entire bible is not about Jesus. And the old testament is pretty evident it is not intended for us.

Jesus constantly referred to the Old Testament when he was speaking to people. He believed the Old Testament to be truth and worthy to mention. He used it to teach important truths. Without the Old Testament, why did Jesus come to earth? Why did He die? What does he ask us to take the message of salvation and share it with the lost? How would we know we are lost and need a saviour?

 

[Givemeareason]

Before we get too far away from the OP and what you wrote there about your own searching, I am going to suggest--based upon your comments on all your posts here on this thread--that the Unitarian Universalist Association looks like the church that most closely approximates what you have said you believe in and want in a church. It is not always considered to be a Christian church, however, although many of its members would say that it is.

Indeed that does look interesting.

 

[Givemeareason]

Jesus constantly referred to the Old Testament when he was speaking to people. He believed the Old Testament to be truth and worthy to mention. He used it to teach important truths. Without the Old Testament, why did Jesus come to earth? Why did He die? What does he ask us to take the message of salvation and share it with the lost? How would we know we are lost and need a saviour?

Because he was not speaking to us. He was speaking to the Jewish.

 

[Kirsten]

Jesus did not know any Christians and everything we know about Jesus was written by somebody else. So why would Jesus care how we chose to follow him as long as we made our best effort. Are you forgetting his message of forgiveness?

You can't follow Jesus unless you know what he was like and you will only find that in the bible. His message of forgiveness is that you must repent and be born again or you will not be forgiven.

 

[Kirsten]

I can believe in the writings about Jesus within the bible. The entire bible is not about Jesus. And the old testament is pretty evident it is not intended for us.

The ENTIRE bible is about Jesus, cover to cover, my friend.

 

[Givemeareason]

You can't follow Jesus unless you know what he was like and you will only find that in the bible. His message of forgiveness is that you must repent and be born again or you will not be forgiven.

Agreed mostly and that's why we have the new testament. But why should we judge each other as to how we go about that?

 

[Saricharity]

Because he was not speaking to us. He was speaking to the Jewish.

You are mistaken. Gods Word is for all of us. Without the Old Testament, we have no reason for a saviour. We have no reason to believe or follow Christ. The Old Testament gives us background and details and all the reasons why we need Jesus. Jesus believed the scriptures and quoted them often. Don't allow yourself to think they are any less important than the New Testament.

 

[Architeuthus]

As of right now, I have decided to become Christian.

I'm happy to hear that, although there's more to being a Christian than just believing that Jesus was a good person. Still, I encourage you to keep reading the New Testament.

So when I hear that Jesus said that the old laws are still in effect

Well, that's not quite what Jesus said.

Exactly... that's what I just said somewhere. The old testament should only be viewed from an historical perspective. Clearly the moral guidance offered there is not intended for us.

The moral guidance, yes. The ceremonial stuff, no.

 

[Albion]

Indeed that does look interesting.

A good introduction that is informative and easy to read is "The Challenge of a Liberal Faith" written by one of their ministers. Maybe you can find it somewhere.

 

[justlookinla]

Agreed mostly and that's why we have the new testament. But why should we judge each other as to how we go about that?

Hmmmmm. Maybe you're missing this.

John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

 

[Givemeareason]

You can't follow Jesus unless you know what he was like and you will only find that in the bible. His message of forgiveness is that you must repent and be born again or you will not be forgiven.

Isn't the most important thing that we live a moral life and feel good that we do so?

 

[Kirsten]

Agreed mostly and that's why we have the new testament. But why should we judge each other as to how we go about that?

How to go about what?

 

[Kirsten]

Isn't the most important thing that we live a moral life and feel good that we do so?

No, it isn't. Not according to Jesus. Jesus wants you to repent and be saved.

 

[Givemeareason]

Hmmmmm. Maybe you're missing this.

John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

And what did Jesus say the two greatest commandments were beyond all others?

 

[Albion]

Agreed mostly and that's why we have the new testament. But why should we judge each other as to how we go about that?

Isn't the most important thing that we live a moral life and feel good that we do so?

Those are questions worth asking, but the more critical point for someone looking for a church home is that virtually every Christian church disagrees with you, so the point is actually moot as concerns finding where you fit in.

 

[Kirsten]

And what did Jesus say the two greatest commandments were beyond all others?

Love God and love others. Do you know how that is possible? Being born again. His love is the only perfect love and if He doesn't live in you, you are not capable of it.

 

[Givemeareason]

How to go about what?

To tell us about Jesus and understand how he was trying to guide us.

 

[justlookinla]

And what did Jesus say the two greatest commandments were beyond all others?

Actually, Jesus taught more than two commandments. But to answer your question....

Mat 22:36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
Mat 22:37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the great and first commandment.
Mat 22:39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Now, said earlier that you love Jesus. The question becomes, do you live the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind?

Do you live your neighbor as yourself?

 

[Smidlee]

When Jesus was tempted by satan he answer him out of the OT ... all in Deuteronomy; Deut 8:3; Deut 6:16 ; Deut 6:13. Every verse Jesus quoted came out of the OT. Revelation makes no sense at all without the OT ... books like Daniel.