Need help clearing some possible misconceptions

[mahi]

Hi,
I follow Islam, and I know it is quite annoying when people take common misconceptions and run with them. I have a lot of questions about Christianity, and would be glad for any input.

1) Can you explain a bit more to me about the Bible?
I was told its the 'Inspired' word of God? What exatly does that mean?
Has the bible been changed a lot by people before? What does that do for its credibility?
Also, what's it made up of (what parts and what are they/where are they from)?
Does it talk a lot more of the disciples than the love of God?
Haha, I know that's a load of questions, but it just goes with my clouded view. Any answers are loved, and ones that aren't I'll just ask later.

2) Next is the trinity concept. Can someone explain to me how that works? What I understand is that the father, the son and the holy spirit are one. They are all one. But then is Jesus seen as God? Then why does he pray to the father and say the father is greater than him?
And also the idea that Jesus is God who came down to get rid of the sins of man? Why would God need to do that?
Also, is the trinity concept a strong belief in Christianity, and if so/or not, where does it come from?

3) And as a direct question more personally to Christians in general, how do you see events like the First Crusade? What view does the the Christian world have towards it?

4) What is the Christian stance towards non Christians? Specifically the aitheists, the Jews, and the muslims?

I have a lot of other questions that I can't recall at the moment, so hopefully I can get some answers to these first. Thanks!

 

[Supreme]

1) The Bible is the divine word of God. Although Jesus never wrote the Bible (probably too busy saving manking from its sins and preaching love and stuff I'd imagine), Christians believe that the Bible is the word of God recieved through divine inspiration and revelation. We do not believe that the Bible has been changed, and none of it has been made up. Some bits are obviously open to interpretation as to whether or not they're literal, but none of it is made up.

2) The Trinity is an essential theological belief in Christianity. I like to think of a woman as a mother, sister and daughter is like God being able to be Father, Son and Spirit- the same being or 'person' but completely different roles.

3) The First Crusade was an abominable part of Christian history that was inexcusable and there was absoloutely nothing Christian about it.

4) Christians see atheists as pessimists, Jews as a sort of older albeit feeble 'brother' and Muslims misguided. That said, we still do believe Jesus loves all those groups of people irregardless of their religious beliefs.

I hope I've been of some help.

 

[mahi]

Thanks for you response.

1) Can you explain to me a little bit more about the history of the bible? I heard it was written after Jesus's time, so how does that all work?
Is their a lot of stuff to do more with the disciples than God? Again, these two questions are questions that I have little to no knowledge of.

2) Where does the trinity belief come from? And that way of seeing it is quite cool. So then Jesus saying the father is greater, could be interpreted as saying the role of the father is greater? Though at the same time, I can't really see why God needs roles, because God is well, God.

3) That's fine, thank you for the answer.

4) What specifically makes each of atheists, jews and muslims be seen in these ways?

 

[Supreme]

Thanks for you response.

1) Can you explain to me a little bit more about the history of the bible? I heard it was written after Jesus's time, so how does that all work?
Is their a lot of stuff to do more with the disciples than God? Again, these two questions are questions that I have little to no knowledge of.

2) Where does the trinity belief come from? And that way of seeing it is quite cool. So then Jesus saying the father is greater, could be interpreted as saying the role of the father is greater? Though at the same time, I can't really see why God needs roles, because God is well, God.

3) That's fine, thank you for the answer.

4) What specifically makes each of atheists, jews and muslims be seen in these ways?

1) The Tanankh or old Testament was written way before Jesus' time. As for the New Testament, of course it were written after Jesus' time- I'd be concerned if they documented the life of Jesus before Jesus was born! Although most of the New Testament is written by apostles of Jesus, the content is exclusively about Jesus and not the discipiles. You're thinking of Acts, which is one book out of 27 in the NT that focuses on Jesus' disciples, and even then it's only about Peter and Paul.

2) The Trinity belief comes from Jesus' last saying on Earth: '18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."'(Matthew 28:18-20), although it was developed heavily under Christian theologians in the 3 centuries after Jesus' life. God doesn't need roles, God doesn't need us humans as His creations, God does't need to cretae the universe... coulda woulda shoulda. The more we question why God does things, the more confused we are going to get. Let's not question His plan.

4) Atheists are seen as pessimists due to their (lack of) a belief in an afterlife, Jews are seen as Christianity's older brother because Christians believe Christianity is the fulfilliment of Judaism and Muslims are seen as misguided as they revere Muhammed, who is rejected as a false prophet in Christianity.

Any more questions I'd be happy to answer.

 

[mahi]

1) Ah cool. I'm understanding it better now, thanks. The New Testament is written by the disciples of Jesus, then how is it the divine word of God? I also heard the Bible has been changed after the New Testament, is that true also? If the New Testament was written by the disciples, does that not mean there could be falseness in it? What I learnt was is that by being the inspired word of God, God would not have lead the people who wrote the bible astray, is that correct. Finally, would it be possible to give me a very very brief summary of the different parts of the bible, and what each part talks about? Very briefly.

2) Of course we shouldn't question God's plan (one would question does God even need a plan?), but I am merely questioning the possibility that the trinity could be some false made up idea. Of course I don't think that, but I'm trying to see the history behind the idea, and whether it is a God given concept or rather man made. I mean the whole trinity idea can seem quite illogical.
Stance of boyfriend girlfriend relations?

4) Why is Muhammad seen as a false prophet? And what was it about the Jews that was not full?

5) What is the stance of Christianity towards boyfriend girlfriend relations? Basically relationships before marriage.

6) Does Christianity specify anything about rights to certain land? A British Christian recently told me they didn't want Asian people coming to Britain, so I was wondering if in Christianity it is said anywhere that land is specific to people or for everyone or no mention of anything rather?

Thank you once again

 

[Supreme]

1) It's possible yes, but likely? Not in my opinion. It is the divine word of God because the disciples interacted with Jesus and saw his miracles and listened to His teachings. Breif summary of the NT:

4 Gospels (Matthew Mark Luke John) Chart life of Jesus
Acts- Charts aftermath of Jesus' ascension into heaven, focusing on Peter and Paul
Epistles- Letters written by Christian Apostles, thinkers and teachers to other Christians regarding morals and theology of Christianity
Revelation- Documents end of the world and second coming of Jesus

2) I think if it's logic you're looking for, perhaps atheism is more suited to you? No religion is logical (big sky God creates and then for some reason demands worship from his far inferior creations and sends prophets to talk to people instead of talking to them himself), and Christianity and its concepts are no different.

4) Muhammed appeared 700 years after Jesus and introduced a completely new idea about Jesus that no Christians had ever heard of before. Plus, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would guide people on Earth after he'd left, thus rendering any prophet that would come after him needless. The 'Messiah' bit of the Jewish faith was not full.

5) I'm currently in a relationship with a beautiful black girl my age, but relationships before marriage depend on the views of the independent Christian. <Staff edit> So yeah, depends.

6) Christianity says nothing of the sort. Jesus loved all people, irrregardless of origin. Silly things such as race or borders made by men mean nothing to Jesus. The only thing I can think of is the promised land of Israel to the Jews, but that doesn't really apply to Christianity at all.

 

[fm107]

Hi,

I follow Islam, and I know it is quite annoying when people take common misconceptions and run with them. I have a lot of questions about Christianity, and would be glad for any input.

1) Can you explain a bit more to me about the Bible?
I was told its the 'Inspired' word of God? What exatly does that mean?
Has the bible been changed a lot by people before? What does that do for its credibility?
Also, what's it made up of (what parts and what are they/where are they from)?
Does it talk a lot more of the disciples than the love of God?
Haha, I know that's a load of questions, but it just goes with my clouded view. Any answers are loved, and ones that aren't I'll just ask later.

2) Next is the trinity concept. Can someone explain to me how that works? What I understand is that the father, the son and the holy spirit are one. They are all one. But then is Jesus seen as God? Then why does he pray to the father and say the father is greater than him?
And also the idea that Jesus is God who came down to get rid of the sins of man? Why would God need to do that?
Also, is the trinity concept a strong belief in Christianity, and if so/or not, where does it come from?

3) And as a direct question more personally to Christians in general, how do you see events like the First Crusade? What view does the the Christian world have towards it?

4) What is the Christian stance towards non Christians? Specifically the aitheists, the Jews, and the muslims?

I have a lot of other questions that I can't recall at the moment, so hopefully I can get some answers to these first. Thanks!

1) The bible was written by Holy men whom the Spirit of God worked through.
The bible has been translated from Hebrew into other languages and then into modern words. E.g. from "Thou" to "you." You need to keep in mind that English has more word choice than any other language and therefore words can be translated differently. E.g. Wept, cried etc etc.
I don't think it's all too important to get caught up on one or two words though. Christians have the Holy Spirit living within them whom help them understand God.
God's love is at the forefront of what is being taught in the bible. All of Christianity is based around the love of God and God giving his only begotten son to die for our sins so that those who believe in him will be forgiven. The disciples were servants of God who preached this good news to the world just as Jesus told them to do.

2) Jesus is most definitely seen as God. Indeed the Father is greater than him in that he is the Father and Jesus is the Son. Think about the relationship which exists. A son is not greater than his Father. The trinity concept comes from Jesus&#8217; teachings and the "inspired word of God."

Truth about the Trinity:

John 15:26
"When the Counselor comes [spirit of God], whom I [Jesus] will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he [spirit of God] will testify about me [Jesus].


3) I think crusades were not fought by those whom call themselves Christians but are not really Christians.

4) Every Christian should try to live the way the Lord Jesus lived, with love for his neighbours, no Christian should be hateful towards other non-Christians but loving!

 

[Van]

Hi Mahi, thanks for you questions.

As noted by others, the Bible is a collection of writing of about 40 different authors. The first five books of the Old testament are thought to be compiled by Moses sometime between 1500 BC and 1400 BC. Apparently he was "inspired" to select and edit the writings available to him, such that the compilation presents the story God intended. "Inspired" means "God breathed" and suggests the inspired authors did not just put down something close to what God intended, but rather put down precisely what God intended. There is a doctrine called inerrancy which says that in the original autographs (the documents actually written by the authors or their scribes) the message is exactly what God intended. The problem with this inference is we do not have the originals, and what we do have seems to include corruptions introduced over time. So while the doctrine may be true, what we can be certain of is that the Bible claims to be trustworthy and reliable, and profitable to us. At the other end of the Old Testament is the book of Malachi, written between about 450 BC and 400 BC. When the dead sea scrolls were discovered in the late 1940's every book or at least a part of every book (except Esther) was discovered. And these copies were about 2000 years old, from before Christ was born. What they demonstrated was the copies we had were essentially the same as those from 2000 years before. Therefore the process used to "transmit" the books provides accurate transmission over time. Therefore we can conclude the transmission from when the originals were written until they were copied as part of the dead sea scrolls also accurately transmitted the written words. Now some differences were observed, places spelled differently for example, but nothing that affected the message.

Now the basis for accepting that the New Testament, written from about 50 AD to about 100 AD, is different. Here we have many copies of the same document, copied by different scribes in different locations. So because the copies generally agree, we have studied them, giving priority to the earliest copies, and developed what we call the "critical text." This again provides the message of the original authors with very little corruption. For example the ending of Mark is questionable, so modern Bibles, using the critical text, bracket or otherwise denote that this section might not be part of the original text.

Turning now to the doctrine of the Trinity, one God in three persons, it was developed to address a paradox. There is one God (Yahweh) but the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1). Many other passages also strongly suggest a trinity. For example, when Jesus (the Word incarnate - in the flesh) was baptized in the River Jordan, the Holy Spirit as a separate entity descended upon Him, and then a voice from Heaven said, This is my Son in whom I am well pleased"(Luke 3:22). So you have God standing in the water in the form of Jesus, you have God (Holy Spirit) in a form like a dove, and you have God (the Father) in the form of a voice from Heaven all present at the same time. So the doctrine of the trinity was developed to address this paradox, One God in three persons, not one god and two creations or three gods.

The history of Christianity certainly has dark periods. But these are looked at as periods when hypocrites pretending to the Christians gained power within the church and did terrible things in the name of Christianity. Someone once said this, and sorry I cannot remember who, but "the world has little to fear in what men do in the name of evil, but God help us from what men do in the name of good."

What is the Christian attitude toward the lost - those who do not believe in the name of Jesus? We are to present the gospel and if they show interest we are to cultivate, plant, and water, but allow God to cause the increase in the family of God. He saves us, we do not save ourselves. If those hearing the gospel reject it and show no interest or are hostile, we are to move on, for the fields are ripe for harvest. We are to use persuasion, not compulsion. Again in the history of Christianity, some hypocrites gained power within the church and used compulsion to compel belief in "doctrines accepted by the church." This "dark ages" period tells us that those who seek to compel any belief system are not of God, for Love does not demand its own way.

May God bless.

 

[freeport]

1) Can you explain a bit more to me about the Bible?
I was told its the 'Inspired' word of God? What exatly does that mean?
Has the bible been changed a lot by people before? What does that do for its credibility?
Also, what's it made up of (what parts and what are they/where are they from)?
Does it talk a lot more of the disciples than the love of God?
Haha, I know that's a load of questions, but it just goes with my clouded view. Any answers are loved, and ones that aren't I'll just ask later.

We are believers of Scripture. We are saved by faith. We do not believe God has allowed Scripture to be grossly distorted or lost. God is God, He would not let that happen -- our salvation depends on it.

Scripture is the word of God, the prophets were moved by the Spirit of God to write every single word. Every word is from God, not man.

Through man, but not of man.

God is the author of the Bible and the lives of the prophets and apostles who wrote it. The Spirit of Prophecy is the Testimony of Jesus Christ -- through whom the entire world was made.

2) Next is the trinity concept. Can someone explain to me how that works? What I understand is that the father, the son and the holy spirit are one. They are all one. But then is Jesus seen as God? Then why does he pray to the father and say the father is greater than him?
And also the idea that Jesus is God who came down to get rid of the sins of man? Why would God need to do that?
Also, is the trinity concept a strong belief in Christianity, and if so/or not, where does it come from?

The trinity doctrine is just an aid. People can get lost in the details. God 'walked in the Garden of Eden'. Many prophets saw God in exalted form on thrones as reported in the Bible. That is transfigured Jesus. God the Father is formless, pure Spirit. Jesus is God the Father in form, the incarnation of the Father.

To claim that God could not be Jesus is to claim that God has never been seen and will never be seen: to claim that God could not be Jesus is to claim God who created ears and mouth and nose and hands does not have these. Just as the prophets saw God in human - but transfigured form - so did Jesus come as a man, the perfect man.

We are called to be true children of God born again in God. We are not from Heaven. Jesus alone came from Heaven. We are now of Heaven and not of earth, for we are born again in the Spirit of God.

Only God is good. No man can claim to do good unless he is born of God. To do so is a sin. It is blasphemy. If man, therefore, can do no good apart from God, how can he claim to be righteous or eternal life?

Our good deeds and words therefore do not come from us. No, but they come from the Spirit of God living in us. Yet, now, they do come from us, for we are born free and as true Children of God. We are given the Holy Spirit forever, to forever live with God.

Therefore, there is no way to God but through Jesus Christ: man can not see God except through the Lord Jesus Christ.

3) And as a direct question more personally to Christians in general, how do you see events like the First Crusade? What view does the the Christian world have towards it?

History is complex. I do not favor one race or nation over another. I do favor the ideals of freedom and Democracy which Free world nations support. This is clearly the right way for nations to be run. Tyranny is wrong.

Arab nations invaded the Holy Land and took it. Rome waited sometime before trying to take it back. I could see where people could use that as an excuse to blame or hate people of other nations, though I don't think that helps anything. It seems like very shallow way of thinking.

People often want to have scapegoats. This does not remove their own sins. It sometimes gives that illusion. People argue, "Well, he is the sinner" and forget they sin themselves.

4) What is the Christian stance towards non Christians? Specifically the aitheists, the Jews, and the muslims?

God made everyone and put them where they are. That is one way of saying it. In the end, 'every knee will bow'. Why? So all will know of God.

No one can boast of salvation. There is a good reason for anyone being in the place where they are. I don't think it is so much religion which makes the difference, but it is about relationships with God.


'We have all gone astray'.

That is a good way of putting it. Every single person.