What do you think are some reasons certain Christians refuse to read certain parts of the Bible?

[brinny]

The joy of fearing God, by Jerry Bridges.

Yes!! Excellent book.

 

[Yarddog]

The additional books teach that a believer can work magic, it teaches the existence of purgatory (Which is contradictory in terms of Hebrews 9:27 and other verses), and prayers to the dead or contacting or channeling familiar spirits (Which is the same thing as necromancy because the purpose of bringing up the dead or channeling a dead spirit is to communicate with them - as we see in the story of King Saul and the witch of Endor). Also, these extra deuterocanonical books do not have the same evidences backing them as being divine like the rest of the Bible. To see what I am talking about, check out my Blogger article here that shows forth evidences that back up the Bible:

Love Branch: Evidences for the Word of God

Your interpretations of scripture are up to you but the Apostles used the Septuagint when they went out spreading the Gospel and the scripture which you use to get your interpretations were in it.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Your interpretations of scripture are up to you but the Apostles used the Septuagint when they went out spreading the Gospel and the scripture which you use to get your interpretations were in it.

What I said stands, and should be obvious to see.
Again, a person has to be born of water to see. This is not about by being water baptized. The water is the communicated Word of God, i.e. Scripture (See: Ephesians 5:25-27, and also see: 1 Peter 1:23-25).

 

[Yarddog]

What I said stands, and should be obvious to see.
Again, a person has to be born of water to see. This is not about by being water baptized. The water is the communicated Word of God, i.e. Scripture (See: Ephesians 5:25-27, and also see: 1 Peter 1:23-25).

You should know that the Word of God is Jesus, not scripture. Scripture is the written word of God in which only a portion of the spoken word is recorded in writing.

 

[Emmylouwho]

What do you think are some reasons certain Christians refuse to read certain parts of the Bible?

Does the Bible speak about this?

I think a lot of people are uncomfortable with the story of Lot, who God thought was a worthy man, offering his “virgin” daughters to rapists in order to spare male angels from getting raped. Then Lot has sex with and procreates with his daughters. Does it make you uncomfortable to read that story?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I think a lot of people are uncomfortable with the story of Lot, who God thought was a worthy man, offering his “virgin” daughters to rapists in order to spare male angels from getting raped. Then Lot has sex with and procreates with his daughters. Does it make you uncomfortable to read that story?

While both Lot and his daughters did excessively sinful things like this, I believe God spared Lot in the fact that he would later repent or seek forgiveness with the Lord over these things and strive in not doing them again. While the Bible does not specifically say he repented later, I take it that he did so because he is called righteous in 2 Peter 2:7. So no. I did not see this as a page stopper like Judges 19.

 

[Emmylouwho]

While both Lot and his daughters did excessively sinful things like this, I believe God spared Lot in the fact that he would later repent or seek forgiveness with the Lord over these things and strive in not doing them again. While the Bible does not specifically say he repented later, I take it that he did so because he is called righteous in 2 Peter 2:7. So no. I did not see this as a page stopper like Judges 19.

God spared Lot because He considered Lot to be righteous.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

God spared Lot because He considered Lot to be righteous.

Right, because He would later seek forgiveness of his sins. For obviously GOD did not want Lot to be in that sinful city because GOD was going to destroy it. His being there was not what GOD wanted. Obviously Lot would have later realized his mistake in being around excessively sinful people vs. staying with Abraham. For surely you are not saying that Lot was righteous even despite him doing sinful things, right? I sure hope not. That would be no different than the belief that George Sodini had.

To learn about George Sodini, check out this article here.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

For why do you think that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha were destroyed?
Because GOD just wanted to destroy them for no real good reason and just labeled them as unrighteous for no real good reason? Or did GOD destroy Sodom & Gomorrha because the people's actions were sinful?

"And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly" (2 Peter 2:6).

The destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha was an example to all those who should AFTER ..... LIVE.... ungodly. They were destroyed because they lived ungodly or sinful.

 

[Anguspure]

What do you think are some reasons certain Christians refuse to read certain parts of the Bible?

Does the Bible speak about this?

Not the bits I read.

 

[Job3315]

I would say that we New Covenant believers need to consider ourselves as saints in the fact that we are spiritually changed to the point where we are living like saints (Because of God's grace). For the woman who was truly grateful of God's grace kept kissing Christ's feet as others mocked. The Bible refers to believers as "saints." A sinning "saint" is a contradiction in terms. But many today will say that they are sinners [presently speaking] saved by grace, or they will say that they are sons solely on the basis of the finished work of the cross and it is in nothing that they do (Which implies disobedience of some kind). But God's grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and to live righteously in this present world (Titus 2:11-12). I believe it is for this reason, that many are not really reading the Bible, but they are inserting their belief system into the Bible. I imagine some either must read fast through the portions in the New Testament that are uncomfortable to them, or they skip over certain verses, or they label these verses as "bad" [i.e. It's the Law or Legalism] and so they shut down their mind when reading these verses and they are just reciting the words [in their mind or with their mouth] without any real thought about what they actually say so as to apply it to their life. For when I show certain believers 1 John 1:7 and ask for them to explain it, many of them really cannot do so in light of what the text plainly says. They have to invent something that goes beyond what this verse actually says based upon what their teachers say, and it is not based upon just reading and believing the text plainly as they would read any other English text normally.

I agree with you on this.

From my own personal experience, since I was one of those who used to avoid reading some parts of the Bible, it was because I knew I was a daughter but I always lived in fear that if I did something wrong I wasn't a daughter anymore. This was because I saw God just as I saw my physical father, where one day he was happy and another day he was mad (I used to walk on egg shells) and that made me fear God. Fathers are supposed to be an image of God to their children until they start having a relationship with God themselves; unfortunately thats not always the case. When I read the Bible God seemed happy on one chapter then mad on the other. I remember reading a chapter about judgement and then I would run to the next because I knew He would talk about mercy; I always looked for mercy because He is a merciful God.

Then I started listening to Bob Hamp and Dan Mohler. They changed my view so much and taught me to learn to have a relationship with Jesus. Bob explains that we will sin as we grow in Jesus image. He said it is like potty training, but eventually we grow out of it as we mature in Jesus. Instead of always asking for forgiveness for something He already forgave, to learn to ask Him to teach us for the reason we are sinning to heal to then not sin anymore. That's when I started looking for the root cause of sin and learned to cancel it. We are sons and daughters who are learning the ways of the Father.

Dan Mohler taught me to love God and not to trust feelings. That even if I don't "feel" I am a daughter or if I don't "feel" loved, to camp on the Cross and the finished work of Christ.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

What do you think are some reasons certain Christians refuse to read certain parts of the Bible?

Does the Bible speak about this?

Many multitudes of people have been told simply not to read the Bible. So they don't. (this hurts them, of course, but it happens daily for thousands of years)

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I think a lot of people are uncomfortable with the story of Lot, who God thought was a worthy man, offering his “virgin” daughters to rapists in order to spare male angels from getting raped. Then Lot has sex with and procreates with his daughters. Does it make you uncomfortable to read that story?

No. (although the understanding granted by the Father does greatly help to not be uncomfortable)

We can rejoice that God does not hide the bad stuff, nor try to put only 'good' stuff, in His Word.
He Reveals many sins in Scripture, as well as the righteousness of His people, or the faithfulness, as He knows what is Perfect to Accomplish HIS PURPOSE (not ours).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I agree with you on this.

From my own personal experience, since I was one of those who used to avoid reading some parts of the Bible, it was because I knew I was a daughter but I always lived in fear that if I did something wrong I wasn't a daughter anymore. This was because I saw God just as I saw my physical father, where one day he was happy and another day he was mad (I used to walk on egg shells) and that made me fear God. Fathers are supposed to be an image of God to their children until they start having a relationship with God themselves; unfortunately thats not always the case. When I read the Bible God seemed happy on one chapter then mad on the other. I remember reading a chapter about judgement and then I would run to the next because I knew He would talk about mercy; I always looked for mercy because He is a merciful God.

Then I started listening to Bob Hamp and Dan Mohler. They changed my view so much and taught me to learn to have a relationship with Jesus. Bob explains that we will sin as we grow in Jesus image. He said it is like potty training, but eventually we grow out of it as we mature in Jesus. Instead of always asking for forgiveness for something He already forgave, to learn to ask Him to teach us for the reason we are sinning to heal to then not sin anymore. That's when I started looking for the root cause of sin and learned to cancel it. We are sons and daughters who are learning the ways of the Father.

Dan Mohler taught me to love God and not to trust feelings. That even if I don't "feel" I am a daughter or if I don't "feel" loved, to camp on the Cross and the finished work of Christ.

Well I agree it is not about our feelings sometimes when it comes to God's Word.
In fact, this is why I do not agree with the phrase "salvation is just believing in the finished work of the cross." No such phrase exists in the Bible. While a person cannot be saved without God's grace through faith in Christ, they also need to walk in the light in order for the blood of Jesus to also cleanse them of all sin according to 1 John 1:7, too.

 

[Emmylouwho]

No. (although the understanding granted by the Father does greatly help to not be uncomfortable)

We can rejoice that God does not hide the bad stuff, nor try to put only 'good' stuff, in His Word.
He Reveals many sins in Scripture, as well as the righteousness of His people, or the faithfulness, as He knows what is Perfect to Accomplish HIS PURPOSE (not ours).

Tell me one thing about Lot that was good.

 

[Job3315]

salvation is just believing in the finished work of the cross

I do believe salvation is believing the finished work of Christ on the Cross...in me. That's why I tell people to camp on the cross and fight to get a deep revelation of the meaning of the Cross. Unfortunately many take it slightly. The thing is, we have to be careful because many people, like me, start with grace and end with works. One day I was saved by grace, the next morning I told a Christian and she said, "Now you have to be good". So for years I tried to be and do good, but I was trying with my own will to change and do, when the transformation needs to happen from the inside out. Many, many people are doing good works, but without much impact because they are not attached to The Vine (Jesus). Eventually I realized I was saved by grace, I started having a relationship with Jesus and the fruits just started flowing, all because I am always aware of the grace He poured for me, so I extend it to others as well. But it needs to happen in your heart; the thief who died at the Cross didn't have a change to do good works, yet he is in Heaven.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I do believe salvation is believing the finished work of Christ on the Cross...in me. That's why I tell people to camp on the cross and fight to get a deep revelation of the meaning of the Cross. Unfortunately many take it slightly. The thing is, we have to be careful because many people, like me, start with grace and end with works. One day I was saved by grace, the next morning I told a Christian and she said, "Now you have to be good". So for years I tried to be and do good, but I was trying with my own will to change and do, when the transformation needs to happen from the inside out. Many, many people are doing good works, but without much impact because they are not attached to The Vine (Jesus). Eventually I realized I was saved by grace, I started having a relationship with Jesus and the fruits just started flowing, all because I am always aware of the grace He poured for me, so I extend it to others as well. But it needs to happen in your heart; the thief who died at the Cross didn't have a change to do good works, yet he is in Heaven.

But the Bible says this:

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7).​

IF we walk in the light the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. So if this is true, then it cannot be believing on the finished work of the cross alone your whole life. It has to also include "walking in the light." For walking in the light is the continued condition of the blood of Jesus cleansing us from all sin.

What does "walking in the light" mean?

Walking in the light is loving your brother.

In other words, we have to love the brethren, and or keep God's Commands in the New Testament (not the Old Testament and its ceremonial laws; see my signature below) in order for the blood of Christ to continue to cleanse us of sin. For Paul says that loving your neighbor is the fulfilling of the Moral Law (like do not kill, do not steal, do not covet, etc.) (See: Romans 13:8-10).

The Bible also says that if we willfully sin after we receive the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sin.

"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins," (Hebrews 10:26).​

This means that simply believing in the finished work of the cross is not going to cut it. If we sin again, we need to reconcile with the Lord.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9).​

After we are saved by God's grace, any other sins that are committed afterwards are only forgiven if we confess such sins to the Lord (compare 1 John 1:9 also with 1 John 2:1). This is with the intention that we are going to forsake such sin (See again 1 John 1:7 and compare with Proverbs 28:13).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Tell me one thing about Lot that was good.

Peter says that Lot was vexed by the filthy conversation by the wicked around him. Peter also says that he was vexed by their wicked deeds (sin), as well.

"And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds; )" (2 Peter 2:7-8).

A righteous man is vexed by sinful things the world does. An unrighteous man would not care because he would be just as sinful as the world.

Think.

Godly people can make mistakes, but that does not mean that they remain that way. We catch Lot making mistakes, but that is not the whole story of his life. We get a glimpse that Lot was a righteous man overall in 2 Peter 2:7-8. We also do not know what Lot did after Sodom and Gomorrah, either. I believe Lot repented or sought forgiveness of his sins with the Lord. Why? Peter calls him righteous in regards to the wicked who lived sinfully. Lot was vexed by the wicked deeds of Sodom and Gomorrah.

"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." (1 John 3:7).

"In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." (1 John 3:10).

 

[Emmylouwho]

But the Bible says this:

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7).​

IF we walk in the light the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. So if this is true, then it cannot be believing on the finished work of the cross alone your whole life. It has to also include "walking in the light." For walking in the light is the continued condition of the blood of Jesus cleansing us from all sin.

What does "walking in the light" mean?

Walking in the light is loving your brother.

In other words, we have to love the brethren, and or keep God's Commands in the New Testament (not the Old Testament and its ceremonial laws) in order for the blood of Christ to continue to cleanse us of sin. For Paul says that loving your neighbor is the fulfilling of the Moral Law (like do not kill, do not steal, do not covet, etc.) (See: Romans 13:8-10).

The Bible also says that if we willfully sin after we receive the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sin.

"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins," (Hebrews 10:26).​

This means that simply believing in the finished work of the cross is not going to cut it. If we sin again, we need to reconcile with the Lord.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9).​

After we are saved by God's grace, any other sins that are committed afterwards are only forgiven if we confess such sins to the Lord (compare 1 John 1:9 also with 1 John 2:1). This is with the intention that we are going to forsake such sin (See again 1 John 1:7 and compare with Proverbs 28:13).

So, being vexed by the sins of the world = righteous? That describes probably most people. But no matter how vexed I am by my neighbors, I’d never offer them my daughter to rape.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

So, being vexed by the sins of the world = righteous? That describes probably most people. But no matter how vexed I am by my neighbors, I’d never offer them my daughter to rape.

Unbelievers or sinful people of this world do not think their sin is a problem. Lot was righteous because Peter says he was vexed by their wicked deeds. That is what Peter is saying. I did not write what Peter wrote. Peter wrote it so your argument would be with him and not me.

As for Lot's mistake in offering up his daughters to be raped: Yes, I believe this was a sin. King David committed sins. But he later confessed such sins to the Lord in Psalms 51. That is what I am getting at here. David did not continue to keep murdering and committing adultery his whole life. He sought forgiveness with the Lord and he set to make things right. This is what Lot had to have done. For Proverbs 28:13 says he that confesses and forsakes sin shall have mercy.

Scripture is not read in a vacuum. We have to look at the whole counsel of God's Word to get the truth on things.