Can I be Christian and Not Believe the Bible?

Apr 21, 2015
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Indeed there is much truth I still hope to gain. Life is but a process of gaining understanding. As I said before I think the old testament should be viewed in historical perspective of the people for which it was intended. I say this because I have come to realize that the old testament was once the truth. Athiests love to point at this to claim that Christianity is immoral. And they are so very wrong. And clinging to the old testament justifies their claims. If Christianity is to survive, it must recognize this as I am sure many have. But since Christianity is not unified it is being pulled back and forth and the message becomes harder to understand. Christianity would do better with a more consistent message and in so doing can alter the course of its own destruction. And prophecy should never be used as a cop out on life as is so often being done today.
The message has always been consistent. Think in terms of progressive fulfillment to the ultimate fulfillment. You might enjoy reading through the OT in the light of the New.

Don't get me wrong, the OT is difficult to digest until you become an established Christian. Better to begin with the milk of the Word, before you delve into the meat.
 
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Catherineanne

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I find this a bit off topic but rather intriguing. Exactly how do pray with someone in the hereafter? Do you have any scripture that backs this up? I have never heard of this before.

Exactly the same as here. You ask them to pray alongside you, and then you pray to God.

The saints in eternity stand before the Throne of the Lamb, and intercede for the world constantly. That is their role (and indeed ours) after leaving this world. See Revelation.
 
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bhsmte

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I know my observations to be true when I can tie them to what I have experienced before. And if you become frustrated it is only because your expectations were too high. I have come to realize this is why my Baptism was so disappointing for me.

What if what you experienced before was flawed and not reality?
 
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Catherineanne

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I think that you have done that ("thinking positively of...") very well - even though I, personally, am too much of a "fundie" to buy into most of your ("high church"??) arguments :).

Thanks.

Neither you nor I is called to abandon our conscience and believe what we cannot. We are only called to accept one another as part of the Body of Christ, and behave accordingly. : )
 
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rkl1963

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... and of Koine Greek. The phrase μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων = mia tōn sabbatōn (Luke 24:1, John 20:1, John 20:19, Acts 20:7, etc.) is a standard phrase meaning "the first day of the week" -- Sunday. And it's "tōn," not "ton" (two quite different words).

Also, please don't post links to rubbishy websites. They're totally unhelpful.

Archi
I was thinking you were smart enough to figure out "tōn" but you are just presenting a red herring to cover the fact "first day of week" is an impossible translation.
I would imagine these articles and study's are dangerous to your unbiblical doctrine

mia(cardinal) ton sabbaton = "one(cardinal) of the sabbaths", not "first(ordinal) day of the week." The Greek word "h/ebdomadas" refers to a week, as is found the LXX.

"mia ton sabbaton" was re-interpreted after the NT era to mean "first day of the week" (Sunday).

Someone who seeks the truth or best understanding. Congrats
 
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Givemeareason

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What if what you experienced before was flawed and not reality?
Then I would be wrong as I think many are today. But I don't know what I could base it on otherwise. I just recently discovered the name for the 3rd person as I have been doing it for a very long time. It is called illiesm. I do not speak of myself that way but rather I think in that way. Face to face I interract in the first person. When alone however I often talk to myself as I am doing now. And this seems very well suited for interacting online.
 
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Givemeareason

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I was just thinking about prophecy. The point is that if god knew what was going to happen then there would be no point in allowing it to happen. So since prophecy exists then wouldn't it be more likely that these are just predictions of what might happen based on knowing humanity?
 
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Smidlee

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I was just thinking about prophecy. The point is that if god knew what was going to happen then there would be no point in allowing it to happen. So since prophecy exists then wouldn't it be more likely that these are just predictions of what might happen based on knowing humanity?
What if someone had a time machine like Dr Who? How man's imagination handle this (Dr Who) is some points are fixed that cannot be change while others are not. Thus prophecy is fixed future points that can not be changed (predestination) but the rest is up to man (free will).
 
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Colter

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I was just thinking about prophecy. The point is that if god knew what was going to happen then there would be no point in allowing it to happen. So since prophecy exists then wouldn't it be more likely that these are just predictions of what might happen based on knowing humanity?

Consider Gods purpose for the creation of experiential worlds where we grapple with all these contemplations, growing in wisdom and experience. I see the prophets as more like "truth revealers" as a function of mercy ministry and guidance by the unseen.
 
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Albion

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Its an interesting practice to look at what Jesus did not say compared to what we just assume. On several occasions he upbraided the apostles in asking them "have you not read the scriptures?" When I here that I think Jesus is saying that if we read the scriptures with spiritual discernment we could understand the spiritual truth content with the understanding that they aren't that accurate in other ways.

But anyhow, we each need to be true to our sincere beliefs, so I don't want to be critical of you if bible perfection is a sincere belief for you. :)

"Bible perfection?" Nah. For informational purposes mainly, I just commented that 1) the Bible does indeed say that it's contents were inspired by God and that 2) Jesus did speak of it as being authoritative. :)
 
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Givemeareason

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What if someone had a time machine like Dr Who? How man's imagination handle this (Dr Who) is some points are fixed that cannot be change while others are not. Thus prophecy is fixed future points that can not be changed (predestination) but the rest is up to man (free will).
But if predictions from God were made based on God knowing humanity and humanity did not conform as expected then would that not invalidate the prediction. Based on that it may be that Christians are waiting on prophesy that will never come to pass.
 
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Avid

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I was just thinking about prophecy. The point is that if god knew what was going to happen then there would be no point in allowing it to happen. So since prophecy exists then wouldn't it be more likely that these are just predictions of what might happen based on knowing humanity?
These are atheist beliefs, and there is not much unique about them. They are not indicative of a love for Jesus Christ.

If you wish to call yourself a Christian, why do you still identify as an Atheist on this website?
 
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Smidlee

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But if predictions from God were made based on God knowing humanity and humanity did not conform as expected then would that not invalidate the prediction. Based on that it may be that Christians are waiting on prophesy that will never come to pass.
I guess you are not a fan of Dr Who. Dr Who is a time lord. God would be the ultimate Time Lord since He created it. "I Am that I Am" is the forever present One. "Before Abraham was I Am" Jesus said.
 
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Exactly the same as here. You ask them to pray alongside you, and then you pray to God.

The saints in eternity stand before the Throne of the Lamb, and intercede for the world constantly. That is their role (and indeed ours) after leaving this world. See Revelation.

Praying to/alongside dead people still creeps me out and as a fellow Anglican it disturbs me.I come from a strong Anglican family and never have I heard any of my family members consider such a thing.
I can see why praying to/with Mary would appeal to Christian women -especially mothers-but I still think it is wrong.
 
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Givemeareason

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These are atheist beliefs, and there is not much unique about them. They are not indicative of a love for Jesus Christ.

If you wish to call yourself a Christian, why do you still identify as an Atheist on this website?
These are not beliefs. I have never pursued atheism. I am athiest because I have no other choice. I do not know what other athiests say about this because I do not read about athiests. I did recently encounter a group of athiests and though they can be thought provoking i did not see much of other value there. Some athiests really need to get over it. As I have said before elsewhere there is nothing profound in being athiest.
 
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Givemeareason

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I guess you are not a fan of Dr Who. Dr Who is a time lord. God would be the ultimate Time Lord since He created it. "I Am that I Am" is the forever present One. "Before Abraham was I Am" Jesus said.
I am aware of it but have never watched it. I tried once and lost interest very quickly
 
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Givemeareason

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Do you keep His commandments?

Why don't you answer the question?
Of course I dont. Who does? Jesus however is the foundation of morality upon which I build other morals and some of them are not very Christian. But I don't go around spouting morality and then not follow it as some often do.
 
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These are not beliefs. I have never pursued atheism. I am athiest because I have no other choice. I do not know what other athiests say about this because I do not read about athiests. I did recently encounter a group of athiests and though they can be thought provoking i did not see much of other value there. Some athiests really need to get over it. As I have said before elsewhere there is nothing profound in being athiest.

My advice is to investigate Liberal Quakers.
They have the sort of approach to Christianity that you might find you can better relate to.
The best you are going to get here is judgement,opinions and conflicting advice.
 
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Givemeareason

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Do you keep His commandments?

Why don't you answer the question?
I am annoyed by your question. Such a question should never be asked. Such questions make Christians look bad. If a Christian answered that question with a yes I would advise to stay well away from them.
 
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