Can I be Christian and Not Believe the Bible?

[ananda]

The Nicene Creed formalised existing orthodox belief.

"Orthodox" meaning (in essence) "what the majority believed", right?

 

[bhsmte]

"Orthodox" meaning (in essence) "what the majority believed", right?

More like, what the powers at be, wanted the majority to follow.

 

[justlookinla]

The Church.

One of the sects of the Church.

 

[justlookinla]

There was only one church at the time. And it was the same church instituted by Christ; the Schism had not yet happened.

There's still only one Church. Many sects, but one Chruch.

 

[ananda]

More like, what the powers at be, wanted the majority to follow.

Either way, it would still fly in the face of what Jesus allegedly stated, that few would find his true way. How can the "majority" be the "few"?

 

[justlookinla]

Either way, it would still fly in the face of what Jesus allegedly stated that few would find the true way. How can the "majority" be the "few"?

On the other hand, there was a number no man could number which is a lot of people...

Rev 7:9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
Rev 7:10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

 

[rkl1963]

There's still only one Church. Many sects, but one Chruch.

Just how can so many who claim to be led by Holy Spirit have such diverse beliefs. How can these be one church

 

[bhsmte]

Either way, it would still fly in the face of what Jesus allegedly stated, that few would find his true way. How can the "majority" be the "few"?

Just another piece, that requires some creative reconciling.

 

[justlookinla]

Just how can so many who claim to be led by Holy Spirit have such diverse beliefs. How can these be one church

Great question and one often asked. The simple answer is that carnal man isn't perfect as the Holy Spirit is perfect and will lean to their own understanding. The first thing to realize is that Christians aren't perfect.

 

[Albion]

There's still only one Church. Many sects, but one Chruch.

True. That's the invisible church you're referring to, but at the time of the Council of Nicaea, there was also only one institutional (visible) church unless you count some extreme splinters that held to some ideas that hardly any Christian today would identify with.

 

[Oncedeceived]

Just how can so many who claim to be led by Holy Spirit have such diverse beliefs. How can these be one church

Personally I know that the Holy Spirit has led me down some pretty diverse paths to bring me to the understanding I have reached to date. I know that sometimes it takes being in error to understand the truth.

 

[justlookinla]

Just another piece, that requires some creative reconciling.

Not really, it just requires thought concerning the two passages. 'Few' is a relative term, compared to the billions and billions and billions of people who have lived on this earth.

 

[justlookinla]

Personally I know that the Holy Spirit has led me down some pretty diverse paths to bring me to the understanding I have reached to date. I know that sometimes it takes being in error to understand the truth.

I like that, Once. "Sometimes it takes being in error to understand the truth" is so very true. It's ever a journey into the unknown, sometimes with missteps.

 

[Oncedeceived]

I like that, Once. "Sometimes it takes being in error to understand the truth" is so very true. It's ever a journey into the unknown, sometimes with missteps.

True.

 

[justlookinla]

True. That's the invisible church you're referring to, but at the time of the Council of Nicaea, there was also only one institutional (visible) church unless you count some extreme splinters that held to some ideas that hardly any Christian today would identify with.

I disagree. For example, the Arians were a force to be reckoned with during that time, as well as others. The political/religious system was instituted during the hundreds of counsels, with the council of Nicaea only being one of them. The 'believe this or you die' for a few hundred years pretty well drove the dissidents underground, with their writings and beliefs destroyed. The main reason we know about the Arians for instance are the writings of the political/religious system which was in power and which opposed them

 

[Architeuthus]

"Orthodox" meaning (in essence) "what the majority believed", right?

What arose from a community consensus, yes.

 

[Architeuthus]

Either way, it would still fly in the face of what Jesus allegedly stated, that few would find his true way. How can the "majority" be the "few"?

Well, there's a creative twisting of Scripture. Obviously, 99% of "the few" would constitute "a majority."

 

[Architeuthus]

The Bible says Jesus, and we have no authority to change it.

I agree, although I would point out that the Greek Iēsous is also the Greek form of "Joshua."

 

[ananda]

Well, there's a creative twisting of Scripture. Obviously, 99% of "the few" would constitute "a majority."

What of the remaining 1% of "the few", are they true followers or not, even if they disagreed with the majority?

Your logic does not compute.

 

[rkl1963]

Personally I know that the Holy Spirit has led me down some pretty diverse paths to bring me to the understanding I have reached to date. I know that sometimes it takes being in error to understand the truth.

It is my understanding that the Holy Spirit would teach us all things and keep us from error. Of course to reconcile we must interpret to include ourselves . All I can say if I am to believe Jesus and Paul then I would question any spiritual guidance that does not provide a provable doctrine.