I don't get the bible!

[Sonya1980]

Having come from a totally non religious background I have been looking into Christianity for the past year. Earlier in the year I decided to follow Christ but everytime I try to read new sections of the bible I struggle with it!

I seem to be reading about a totally different God that the one I believe in. For example in Corithans (sp) I was reading a bit where it seemed to be saying that if someone is bad/ had issues do not mix with them. Surely that goes against everything Jesus taught?

Then the whole homosexual issues. I am not gay but i feel really uncomfortable with the idea of saying to someone that they would not go to heaven if they are (as I believe it is not a choice).

I am a very accepting person and when I read the bible it seems to say that we shouldn't accept certain people. Maybe I am being to sensitive, or misunderstanding.... I hope so!

Can anyone shead some light or point me in a direction for some guidance?

BTW, this is my first post - look forward to meeting you all x

 

[Dragons87]

Welcome to the board, Sonya!

Isambard is right. Bits in the Bible do contradict each other. Some of the contradictions are indeed glaring: plain errors of recording (e.g. some numbers don't add up). There are also logical absurdities (e.g. a man who claims love all souls to the point he is willing to die for every one of them, even though many of them will not accept his love; I used the word "logical" quite loosely).

But I genuinely understand your concerns, Sonya. Allow me to share how I read the Bible.

Do you know Van Gogh's "Starry, starry night"? Google it if you don't. Very nice painting. To me, reading the Bible to understand God is like trying to view a painting to understand the painter. Van Gogh used many colours in this painting, including the contrasting dark blues for the surroundings and bright yellows for the stars.

Let's say that one was looking at only the part of the painting that is dark, and another only the part that is bright. Both assumes that what they see is the whole painting. The first person is going to say that the theme of painting is definitely "night", while the second person will say that the theme is definitely "Starry starry".

One sees dark, the other sees bright. But both of them are wrong. The person who gets it right is the one who stands back and looks at the painting as a whole, who sees the darkness contrasted against the brightness. That is the same attitude I believe one should take when reading the Bible.

For instance, you say that Paul in Corinthians seem to contradict what Jesus has said about mixing with other people. What seem to be in contradiction also counter-balance each other. Putting the comments of Paul and Jesus together will give you a balanced view on to what degree Christians should mix with non-Christians. Mixing with people is not a black-and-white issue; there is a sliding scale, and Paul and Jesus are, if anything, simply putting the two end-limits on the scale.

And, if you look closely enough, there are places where Paul says "mix" (Gal. 3:28), and places where Jesus says "don't mix" (Mat. 23:1-2). So the goal posts are wide. You have to read the whole thing and understand the context.

That is just one example of how I choose to read the Bible. Moderation is the key. Whenever you think you've got a position right, you probably haven't. The only thing we have to get right as Christians is our perception of and hope in Christ. When we are connected to God through Christ, and the Holy Spirit is influencing our perceptions, we are able to produce answers to the most difficult questions from our hearts, not from the Bible.

Regarding your second issue, I struggle with homosexual tendencies myself. What one must understand about the Bible's stance against homosexuals is that it is not against homosexuality; it is against homosexual acts. The two are very different. You may argue successfully that feelings of attraction to the same sex are innate, but who you have in bed with you is entirely your own choice, which is accountable to God. Note that this is not just against homosexuals: heterosexuals will also have to account for who they invite into bed with them! Being gay does not automatically condemn people to hell, just as being straight does not automatically earn one a ticket to heaven. I think some conservative Christians forget that at their own peril, but that's just my opinion.

I hope I have helped to resolve some issues. If there is anything else (and I'm sure there is), please keep posting! Some Christians here are far more learned and experienced than I am.

 

[epr7142]

Sonya1980,
Not to blow away those before me, but the bible dosen't need to have contradictions, you need to dig deeper.

For example, when mixing with people both Paul and Jesus are correct.
Paul: Is saying that you should not associate with certain people because it makes being a faithful christian hard at times due to peer pressure and bad influences.

Jesus: says that you should associate with all people, so you can be an example of godliness and purity and to share the news and faith with others.
So the question basically is, why are you associating with them? If it is to help them in one way or another; perfectly acceptable and encourageable. If it is simply to hang out, or be close friends, you may be wrong. The only reason the bible says dont associate with them is becasue they may not be helpful in encouraging your christian walk. For example, as a whole, unchurched people would not be likely to encourage you in your bible reading and prayer time.

On the homosexual note: I have a few gay acquaintances. We are "friends" at a distance, not close ones. I know in the back of my mind he will not go to heaven if he does not change, but the bible does not tell me I need to remind him. I tell people the gospel, and if they want to know more, I answer. If he asked me whether or not he would go to hell, I would say yes, but it is not my judgement. It is god's. He states this.
I don't know if it will help you, but there are a few sentences that help me out with these kind of problems.
"God created the saints, the angels and the galaxy. He also created drug users, serial killers and even satan. He created them too, even if it was only to test our faith and to teach us about how badly we need him."

 

[Wackotic]

I won't interpret the Bible for you, but I think this speaks for an opportunity to ask God to give you clarity over these matters or help you to arrive at an answer. I share your feelings on what is said and I asked and received. You will, too. Accept what you can and always keep an open dialogue going, especially when passages become confusing or disconcerting.

 

[Aino]

I'd agree with Dragons here. If you're looking for more practical things to make reading your Bible easier, I'd strongly recommend first of all praying for understanding and guidance before and while reading and also having commentaries available for moments when you just don't understand something. Sometimes the background and context of those texts make them so much more understandable. Obviously, joining a Bible study would be another thing that would probably help you; I know there are people who never read the Bible alone just so they'd have another point of view to the texts.

 

[Sketcher]

I seem to be reading about a totally different God that the one I believe in. For example in Corithans (sp) I was reading a bit where it seemed to be saying that if someone is bad/ had issues do not mix with them. Surely that goes against everything Jesus taught?

It actually does not. There's a time for just about everything. Consider what Jesus said in Matthew 18:15-17.

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

In the context of Christian teaching, what happened in 1 Corinthians 5 was this: Somebody was sleeping with his stepmom. Multiple people tried talking to him, but he couldn't get enough of his stepmom. Paul told them to take the final step of temporarily outcasting him, which would be the "treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." And as we can see in 2 Corinthians 2:5-8, they did it, and the discipline served its purpose in convicting him of sin. So the church was told to forgive him and accept him again.

Note that this was a method of last resort. We can see Paul commanding the first resort steps in Galatians 6:1. That is how we are to start, but if the person in question is an arrogant, unrepentant hard case, then it's time to outcast him in order to teach him a lesson.

Then the whole homosexual issues. I am not gay but i feel really uncomfortable with the idea of saying to someone that they would not go to heaven if they are (as I believe it is not a choice).

The way you swing may or may not be a choice. What a person does with those desires very much is a choice. Temptation is not sin, but saying "yes" to the temptation is a sin. We're all tempted in various ways, but we're all responsible to not indulge in these temptations. I'm very prone to heterosexual lust and sinful anger. It's as much a part of me as homosexuality is part of a gay person. But I'm still responsible for my choices, and my responsibility is to choose what the Bible says is right, rather than what the Bible says is wrong. It's the same for gay people, it's just that their temptations are different. It's the same for you, though your temptations may be quite different from theirs or mine. It doesn't matter. We're all tempted, and we're all supposed to say "no" to the temptation. We all fail, and that is why we need Jesus. Fortunately, whether it's heterosexual lust, homosexual lust, homosexual relationships, other illicit relationships, or anything else, if we confess and renounce it, God forgives us. Don't let anyone tell you that homosexuality is unforgivable. That's just as Biblically wrong as saying that it's not a sin.

 

[Chyke4real]

As a new christian or one interested in christianity, i suggest you get in contact with a good christian foundation. It will enable you to interact directly with christians who will open your mind to grasp the real truth about christianity, it will also help you ask direct questions where you may seem lost or confused.

Reading the Bible alone, for a beginner can be confusing.

May God help you in your endeavour to seek out the truth.

 

[Luther073082]

Having come from a totally non religious background I have been looking into Christianity for the past year. Earlier in the year I decided to follow Christ but everytime I try to read new sections of the bible I struggle with it!

I seem to be reading about a totally different God that the one I believe in. For example in Corithans (sp) I was reading a bit where it seemed to be saying that if someone is bad/ had issues do not mix with them. Surely that goes against everything Jesus taught?

Could you specify the specific verse for this. I think you are misinterpreting what it said or ment.

There are very few situations where the bible calls for us to completly shun people.

Then the whole homosexual issues. I am not gay but i feel really uncomfortable with the idea of saying to someone that they would not go to heaven if they are (as I believe it is not a choice).

I am a very accepting person and when I read the bible it seems to say that we shouldn't accept certain people. Maybe I am being to sensitive, or misunderstanding.... I hope so!

You are misunderstanding it, and homosexuality is not a choice. Homosexuality is a curse that some people have due to sin entering the world. Like I naturally have epilepsy through no fault of my own and can do nothing about it, other then try and treat it. Homosexuals may be homosexual through no fault of their won and can't do anything about it.

BUT that said homosexuality is still a sin.

How? The action, the carrying out of homosexuality is a sin. Or the lust is a sin. Being a homosexual is not a sin, but having lustful feelings or having homosexual encounters are. Just like heterosexual lust or encounters are sin with anyone you are not married to. If you are single, they are all sin.

A homosexual can go to heaven if they believe in Christ. And being a Christian they would attempt to flee from their sexual desires. And they would need to remain celibate.

Can anyone shead some light or point me in a direction for some guidance?

Despite what a lot of protestants would tell you, I don't recommend reading the bible at first without guidance. The main reason is, scripture interprets scripture. Which means when you read something you have to understand it by EVERYTHING else scripture has to say.

And until you are fairly familiar with everything else scripture has to say its hard to understand many parts of the bible, because you are reading it without the light of the knowledge of the rest of the bible.

 

[callmeMurph]

Having come from a totally non religious background I have been looking into Christianity for the past year. Earlier in the year I decided to follow Christ but everytime I try to read new sections of the bible I struggle with it!

I suggest getting a study bible with a commentary they are really helpful when you have questions. Also joining a small group helps because you can discuss things with other Christians.

I seem to be reading about a totally different God that the one I believe in. For example in Corithans (sp) I was reading a bit where it seemed to be saying that if someone is bad/ had issues do not mix with them. Surely that goes against everything Jesus taught?

In regard to this I'm pretty sure the greek translation really means to associate closely. It isn't saying you shouldn't be friends with these people and love them and get to know them. It is saying that you should be so close to them that you are taking advice from them and stuff like that. They may be able to give good advice sometimes but it isn't always the best idea to take advice from people who don't share your faith.

The thing is you have to take in in context. Look at the entire chapter, book, or even the entire Bible and see how it fits into the story. I think the problem a lot of people run into is that they try to look at it from a modern worldview as if we can take a piece of it and it will make sense all by itself. The thing with the Bible is you have to look at it as a whole.

Then the whole homosexual issues. I am not gay but i feel really uncomfortable with the idea of saying to someone that they would not go to heaven if they are (as I believe it is not a choice).

I don't believe being gay is a choice either, but they do have a choice on whether or not the act on it. Some Christians may not even think that there is anything wrong with it at all. The Bible isn't totally clear, but from my understanding I would have to say that homosexual acts are wrong. That doesn't mean I shouldn't love them anyways.

I have friends that are gay and I don't look at them differently than any of my other friends. We all have struggles.

I realize this is a touchy subject but I think it is kinda hard to explain exactly how one should feel/act about it.

I am a very accepting person and when I read the bible it seems to say that we shouldn't accept certain people. Maybe I am being to sensitive, or misunderstanding.... I hope so!

Can anyone shead some light or point me in a direction for some guidance?

BTW, this is my first post - look forward to meeting you all x

There are a lot of choices that people make that are wrong, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't love them. We should see that the choices are wrong and not do them ourselves but it is not our job to judge them as people. We should love them and pray for them.

Welcome to the forums! I hope my post helped even though I confused myself a little bit.

 

[ModestGirlsRock]

Welcome!

I actually like the idea of seeing the bible as a painting. I've been told that you must take in account the "sum" of the bible, not just "some" of the bible.

Through translation from hebrew and greek to other languages, words and meanings get lost or confused and make the bible seem like it's contradicting itself. Thank the Lord for bible college because men and women can study all this stuff and explain it to the rest of us what kinds of words and what meanings are meant in all the books, letters, chapters, verses, etc. Many have explained the Bible doesn't contradict itself.

When it comes to certain numbers or descriptions (like what side of the mountain Jesus actually stood on when he gave his sermon on the mount), a person might miss the point of what's God's message truly is. Think about this...if you believe God does not contradict Himself, why He would inspire men to write and contradict each other including his own son??? (Though Jesus only taught...)

And as for God's qualities such as jealousy, anger, love, and mercy, many will say God can't be both, but look at yourself. We were made in His image. Think of the nicest person you know..I bet that person has felt anger and jealousy before, but they're still the nicest person you know. Would you call yourself a contradiction or hypocrite for having a variety of emotions and qualities? How much more important is to not accuse God of contradicting Himself?

This may sound really corny, but I truly believe we need to give God 100% credit and admit the perfection of His ways, His power, and His plan. Yet, Yes, ask questions and seek answers. Doubt is not bad. Doubt can help a Christian grow. I'm really glad you've decided to become more interested in Christianity and what God is about. I'm sorry if I've rambled on too long, or something like that.

 

[RobertMerton]

sonya,
best to understand the context of the bible,
so before reading the bible,

have a look at the specific book.

ie. for instance, the book of corinthians is a letter paul wrote to the church in corinth, which was a 'port city' famous for it's.. vices.

it was the 'las vegas' of the ancient times