LamorakDesGalis
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- Sep 22, 2004
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First, it is such a complicated book. If every man was left to his own to read it, everyone would form a different understanding of who God is. How can this be? Why is "the word of God" so complex, so difficult to understand? Why does God care to reveal himself in a book? Many people in the world can't even read...
Do you read Scripture regularly? And if you do read Scripture regularly, what are your reasons for reading?
There is a difference between reading Scripture just to formulate theological arguments and reading Scripture on a devotional level. The former is time spent trying to make the Bible significant for others, while the latter is time spent making the Bible significant to oneself.
I find it so very, very hard to accept that those people who haven't heard of Christ are damned to Hell...
That would be an inclusivist view. A number of Christians such as Clark Pinnock hold to it.
I also have a hard time accepting that man "deserves" Hell, simply by being born.
Arminian theology holds that its the individual's sins that separate them from God and condemn them, rather than condemnation through original sin. So its not as if you are presenting an option outside historic Christianity.
If the Bible is God's infallible word, why do we all disagree on what it means?
It really has more to do with the diversity of humanity. Everyone has a set of presuppositions that color their understanding of Scripture. Everyone has a cultural background that conditions interpretation. Individuals also have different preunderstandings of passages. However, despite all the differences, there is still broad agreement on a number of issues.
And why do we not want to accept some of the things it says - namely things that we don't like?
Pride, sin, blindness. Its also the same issues that prevent people from growing spiritually.
When I step outside the Bible, and do not take it as authoritative to begin with, I see many things that I would not consider "moral". I feel almost blasphemous saying this, but I would be lying to myself if I said otherwise. When I ask: "Should people go to Hell just because they don't believe in the Bible?" I am almost repulsed that I even consider the answer to be yes.
Think how many religious books there are out there, how many prophets and "gods" there are... If I was born Muslim, I'd be a Muslim... If I was born in India, I'd be a Hindu, etc. We are all products of our environment in terms of religion.
*sigh* I don't know. It just doesn't seem right to me, to venerate a book... something written by man, that can't be fully understood or agreed upon by even most brilliant men in history. And what does that mean for the common man? Then there are things which just seem completely irrelevant to life... things like the doctrine of the Trinity; the "divine attribute of God"; the book of revelation. How does this have anything to do with God? How will these things better our lives in any way, or make us better people? Why are we to read and believe another's understanding of God? If there is a God, won't he reveal himself to us each individually?
You are struggling with honest, tough issues. I don't think it would help if each question or issue were answered in isolation. Have you considered spending time with God in conversational prayer about these issues? Spend time reading Scripture to meet Jesus? You might get some of the answers you are seeking...
LDG
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