Doubts like never before

[tmak]

At this site:
http://vanallens.com/exchristian/bible_quiz.htm
im not linking to it because i know i cant on this site, simply cut and paste
I've seen some pretty hard stuff to look at. my emotions are screwed up, i wanna cry.
ok, this is a quiz by exchristians.net and its about how the bible is wrong. AND IT REALLY GOT ME DOWN. i looked into a few of these verses and they frickin were right. ***. COULD THESE BE TRUE??
im really really doubting right now. ive been a strong or tried to be a strong christian but come on. this quiz points out a few contradictions in the bible and most of them seem to make sense right now. can someone please explain this to me...?? if ur gonna look at the site, please look at the answer key, cuz the answer key shows all the doubt causing things for me. if anyone could possible walk me through the questions and refute the arguements on the quiz it would mean the world to me. Literally. please, someone, pm me or something. i dont think ive felt this low in a long time. plz plz help me through these questions and help explain how theyre wrong.. please.
I just dont know what to do.

 

[kimber1]

well, i took this test for you!! i don't know what the "best" score you can get it but it said i would make a good Christian and that I know a little of the BIble so .... the thing that you need to understand is there is a lot of literal things in the Bible and then there are a lot of metaphorical things in there too. I think this is where alot of the "contradictions" come inot play. like with the earth ending. it says that it will last forever but then again it says the "old" earth will pass away and a new one will take it's place. give me some time and i will try to compile an answer for you aboiut the rest of it.

 

[kimber1]

1. i think this first one is more aimed at the disciples in that God would empower them to cast out demons and not get hurt from poison. God gave them this power so others would believe through what they did that God is the almighty. and the thing about Christians being able to do greatert things that Jesus is referring to the fact that they would be able to spread the gospel to numerous people where as Jesus was on Earth a finite period of time.

2. i have always been taught that Jacob wasn't wrestling with God Himself but and angel of God. as far as Moses, God told him he couldn't see His face b/c noone cold see Him adn live so He showed moses HIs back. about teh thing with Abraham...that one i'm not sure.

3.in Isaiah peace adn calamity are words clarifying the symbolic words light and darkness. in Judges, it wasn't GOd who had trouble with the iron chariots it was the mountaineers. in NUmbers, it's not saying God is ONLY as powerful as an ox, it's comparing His strength to one.

4. Jesus was a descendant of David. it doesn't have anything to do with that He came from David in the sense that this test is referring. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary.

5.if you'll notice, all referneces to those who should be put to death are from the Old Testament. we now live under a new covenant since Jesus came. Noone now is punishable by death UNLESS they do not accept Christ as their Savior.

6. i've already addressed the earth thing in my previous post.

7. hating your family does not mean actually hate. it means not to put them before God. God comes first, then our spouse, then our children.

8. i'm not exactly sure how to explain this one to be honest with you other than scripture says only God knows the actual time and we are to be ready!!

9. true these things are an abomination to God because God can't stand sin. but like i said, we are under a new covenant. not sure that really explains that but....

10. well, this one is pretty self explanatory

11. well, to me, i fwe're tlaking about the father's side, i don't see how Jesus could have a grandfather b/c His Father is God. now if they're talking about His stepfather (Joseph) then follow the lineage.

12.Jesus told US to love our enemies. HE however is the judge and therfore has power to judge His enemies.

13. following Christ obviously is going to cause problems if those within your family adn friends don't want to follow Him. thus, it will be very "unpeaceful" while we're here on earth. Jesus offers peace to those who follow HIm though.

14. i don't know how to explain this one either other than there was bound to be some he said she said going on. i mean, unless all 4 of the gospel writers were actually there at the tomb, they are going on what others told them i guess. personally i don't think it really matters who was there, just hte fact that Jesus had risen from teh dead!

15. i think somewhere it says God is a respector of no man. meaning to HIm noone is better than the other. we find favor in GOd's eyes however by choosing to believe in His Son.

16. this one i don't really understadn wither other than under the new covenant we're held liable for our own personal sins, noone elses.

17.well this one doesn't really need to be addressed b/c it gives the scripture to show where they existed.

18. i think this is more in reference to boasting. some people pray using big words and think they're inpressing GOd b/c of the way they speak. God doens't care what you say to HIm, just that you talk to Him!!

19. i don't know about this one. i mean a fetus in teh womb is still breathing, it's just breahting differently than how we do.

20. i don't understadn the 2 creation theories either. but bottom line does it matter how or on which day things were created. look around. they were created!!

21. i personally think a lot of the deal with the flat/round earth thing in the Bible is metaphorical. i mean, people get so caught up with the specifics adn want to disect the Bible to death that they lose the true reason behind it. ---to save our sorry, sinful butts and to be rewarded eternal life with our Father. that's what is important here really.

22. this again i think is a case of the he said she said thing. imagine yourself back then watching who you believed to be your Savior dying on the cross for your sorry sins. would you not be so awed adn saddened that you possibly could have gotten the order of His words mixed up? i know i could. i can't imagaine being there and watching this beautiful Man die for me. I probably wouldn't be able to hear anything He said over my own crying.

23. in 1 Kings the lord worked through Elijah to raise the dead boy. in luke Jesus(who is God) raised the dead boy.

24. true all the gospels tell of Jesus life. remembering that 4 different people wrote them obviously different things are going to be in each one. i mean, they all had different experiences with Jesus.

25. i don't know that this needs answering. faith is obviously in the BIble!

this test is pretty obviouisly done by at the very least a skeptic as you can tell by a lot of the way he words his answers and basically poopoos Christianity. like i said earlier, don't get so hung up on the specifics. there are so many things we will never fully understand until we meet GOd in His glory adn I for one can't wait for the conversation we'll have!! I hope this has helped you in some way!!

 

[tmak]

thanks a lot kimber1, that really lifted me out of the darkness. i spent last night tossing and turning wondering if anyone would even bother to reply to my msg.. cuz its really long. THANKS A LOT! i give u all my blessings!

 

[Rafael]

After looking through the test, I could see it as the trap of a scoffer who only wanted to bring reproach to God's name and deceive - nothing there to learn about truth.
Perhaps this is part of the great falling away that is supposed to happen in the end-times, as 2Thes.2:3 speaks of. Don't be part of it. Men think themselves as smarter than God, but there are logical explanations to all things in scripture when one studies with the faith that God gives those that ask for it.
If your looking for a sign that God and His testimony on earth is real, just look at Israel - 2,573 years ago this was prophecied and foretold by writers from all different backgrounds and occupations. The harmony is irrefuteable, yet men in their cleverness and the inspiration of the evil one devise ways to deceive. It's supposed to get so bad that even God's elect would be deceived, so do the things that will build your faith - ask questions and for help, but be sure and hit your knees, study, and work out your salvation with God in a sincere manner where He is able to keep you.

 

[erichmess_]

I didn't take the test, because I don't need another reason to doubt. Man, it's a constant, daily struggle for me to believe. It takes almost a constant, overiding conscious effort for me to be able to do it. I definately understand what you're going through. I'll pray for you.

 

[kimber1]

awww! thank you tmak! but i'll give you some back so you can do stuff with your avatar and your sig if you want to!!

 

[JohnR7]

if anyone could possible walk me through the questions and refute the arguements on the quiz it would mean the world to me. Literally. please, someone, pm me or something. i dont think ive felt this low in a long time. plz plz help me through these questions and help explain how theyre wrong.. please.I just dont know what to do.

5. According to the Bible who must be put to death?

According to the Bible all have sinned and all are worthy of death. So the question them becomes: Why are we still alive. Why did God not destroy mankind. Because of His love. Because He is patient not wanting any to perish but for all to repent and come to a saving knowledge of the truth. He wants us to turn away from sin. The wages of sin is death and the soul that sinneth shall die. So God is doing a work in this world to try and bring as many people as He can out of sin.

Of course there are people who got saved very early in life and were never really sinners. But that is because the power of God is at work in them and in their lives. But for those who rebelled and fell away from God, He wants them to repent and return to Him. He will help us so we can live a life where we do not harm others, so He is pleased with us. God is love, and He wants us to work in love. People who walk in love do no harm or injury. That is what He desires for us, and that is what Heaven will be, no arguements, contentions, divisions or strife. Just love, joy and peace in harmony and in unity.

With respect to family Jesus said

Jesus knew that familys would be divided. This is talking about extended family. All your aunts, uncles, nephews, and neices. Not everyone in a family is saved, and there is going to be a division between those who are saved and walk with God, and those who do not. Before my pastor got saved, he use to run around a lot with his brother. But when he got saved, he no longer went to the places where he use to go with his brother. Now, his brother respected that, he knew what it ment to be a christian. He would have been disappointed if the pastor continued to go to those places and do those things, because that is not the sort of life that a christian lives.

So, it is pretty easy to see that saved people and people who are not saved are not going to be able to run together, because they are living a different sort of life. When I got saved I continued to hang around with my friend, but over time we sort of drifted apart and I started to make new friends. Because they were into things that I was just not into anymore. Sometimes people in the world are into things like drinking, drugs, sex outside of marriage and that sort of stuff. Christians just do not do those things. So there is going to be a difference between them, there is going to be a natural seperation.

Jesus then in Luke 19:27 seems to suggest through parable that he will have those who won't serve him killed.

Well, here we go again with the same sort of thing. A pattern is beginning to emerge here. We can not judge anyone before their time, but in the end there are going to be two groups of people. Those who are saved and those who are NOT saved. The ones that are not saved did not repent, they did not give up being a sinner and that very sin will destroy them. The ones who repent, and get right with God are cleansed of that sin. They will live forever.

The Bible talks about two paths, the new and the living way. The abundant life we have in Jesus, where He provides for all we need, above and beyond all we ask or think. Do we need overcome power? He provides it for us. Do we need healing? He has healing for us. Do we need a miracle, He has all the miracles we will ever need. Maybe what we think we need and what God knows we need may not always be the same thing. But when we understand the love God has for us, then we know that He only wants what is best for us. Also some people have not learned how to walk in faith, so that can receive all that God has for us.

In time we learn, and grow in His love and in strength. As a child grows and becomes stronger. So we can walk in all that He has for us.

That is about as much as I can do in one post, but if you want me to explain more, I will be glad to explain more for you.

 

[psycmajor]

A lot of that stuff doesn't even apply anymore. When Jesus came, he changed a lot of stuff, and did away with a lot of the old Jewish laws.

 

[abbygirlforever]

I looked through a lot of the stuff, and the reason they think it contradicts is because they don't understand. For example, the one question about family. They claim that Jesus said to hate your family if you want to follow Him. Depending on which version you read, it does say that. The meaning, however, is not to hate your family. It means to not put your family before God. Using that kind of logic, a blatantly anti-Christian organization could twist a lot of scripture to suit their own ends. You have to be careful with what you read; people love to twist words for their own purposes.

 

[The Midge]

I had a look at the test and came out as a good Christian who new a bit about the bible. . I seemed to do worst in the questions when I thought all the options were wrong! (-10) and didn't tick a box.

I don't know by what right the author had to grade the test because his answers contained (IMO) some ropey theology. It does point out the danger with being over literalist in interpreting the bible. You need to apply your intellect and wrestle with the text, especially the difficult bits. Trust God, do not be afraid to study with an open mind. Most of the challenges can be discounted by good exegesis (finding out the original meaning of the text in context). We also have to apply examples and teaching to our own circumstances. (Hermeneutics)
I would recommend that you get hold of a good bible study guide, dictionary and perhaps a commentary. Perhaps you could find a course (an introduction to bible study) if you have the option at college or university. It is better to go for something that teaches you to find the answers for yourself rather than providing off the peg answers. The deeper you delve the more sense it makes.

Finally remember three things:
Context
Context
And context!

Prayers,
Midge