Picking and choosing from the Bible

[truthquest]

Picking and choosing...this is a phrase that I've seen crop up a lot lately. It is becoming a popular attack that fundamentalists use against Liberal Christians. And some will even sign us off as not being "true Christians". But don't we all pick and choose? Theologians have been wrestling with biblical interpretations for centuries. Instead of finding the "one size fits all answer" Christianity has branched off into hundreds of denominations that have their own take. So no matter who you are, you pick and choose a belief system that you feel is right for YOU. That's why I think a relationship with God is a very personal experience. The Kingdom of heaven is WITHIN. To boldy waltz into CF with your Bible under your arm and claim you have all the answers for you and everyone else comes across as a bit naive.

So why does it have to be "all or nothing" or "black and white" or "my way or the highway"? The Bible is a wonderful spiritual resource for me. Do I follow every single thing it says? Of course not. Do I claim to understand it completely? Heck no! But I continually search. The Bible reveals to me what I need at this point in my life. If something hasn't been revealed to me yet then God will reveal it when when he is ready. God, also, reveals himself to me from other sources as well. I don't limit my search to the Bible.

So why are there so many different levels of belief? Because we are all on different levels of spiritual growth. Some people need to be scared into action. If someone needs to believe in hellfire and a wrathful God in order to have a relationship with Him then that may be what that person needs in order to believe. Or a belief that God micromanages their worldly life. Ancient people respected a God that would smite their enemies. Some people seek inwardly for God in a meditative way and find comfort there. The bottom line is we don't have all the answers. Where does it say we have to have all the answers? I thought faith and trust is what we needed? The fact that so many people are searching for God the best way they know how says much for anyone who is honestly searching. It speaks of their faith. Jesus made it clear that it is the intentions of the heart that matter, not which translation or interpretation you are using or your depth of biblical knowledge.

Brian

 

[Skydancing]

I freely admit to picking and choosing where the Bible is concerned, I choose the bits I can live with and discard the rest!

 

[Im_A]

personally?

to me it all depends on how you view reality. every view of interpretation, and perception starts off with that and the rest will follow.

 

[savvy]

I think lots of people do picking and choosing on the Bible.
If you don't believe it is the infallible word of God, I see how this is acceptable, though I wonder how you decide which parts to take as fact and which as fiction.
However, fundamentalists latch on to condemnations and sins, discarding much of the good teaching about not judging others and loving your neighbor as yourself.
Liberal christians tend to overlook the overt acts of violence/malevolence committed by their deity. It goes both ways and I don't know how either side could justify doing it whilst saying the Bible cannot be wrong.
I suppose a lot of you here don't think every word of the Bible is true. I prefer your brand of Christianity much more than other types...at least you are more tolerant.

 

[Martinez]

I think lots of people do picking and choosing on the Bible.
If you don't believe it is the infallible word of God, I see how this is acceptable, though I wonder how you decide which parts to take as fact and which as fiction.






The truth of the matter is that you can't pick and choose.
You must either take it all or leave it all.
how can you pick which part is true and which isn't?

Where do you drarw the line?

now I'm a Christian Universalist,
and I constantly get accused of not believing what the Bible says by Ignorants!
but the truth of the matter is that, I am probably more of a fundamentalist than people who call themselves funamentalists.

now the funny part is that the people who accuse me of not believing what the bible says, also believe that evolution is true,
but it says in the bible that God created us in His image!
that would mean that If God set evolution in progress, then He either created us in His Image, which is some sort of Monkey like creature with a low intellect,
or It means that God is evolving, which means that He's not not perfect, and if He's not perfect,
then all the stuff He says about Himself isn't true,
and if the stuff He says about himself isn't true,
then How can We believe any of what He says?

see my point?

not only is it wrong to pick and choose what the bible says,
It's just plain stupid!

 

[Polycarp1]

A lovely demonstration of "picking and choosing from the Bible" is found here: http://www.christianforums.com/t2429224-congratulations-sir-elton-john-and-david-bernish.html&page=2 It's not merely Liberals who play that game; in fact, we follow Jesus's instructions as to how to interpret the Law.

 

[PookySmiley]

Since the bible was written in other languages centuries ago, I ask the Holy Spirit to show me what is His divine will for me to know. Why accept some person's translation when I can go to the author, Himself.

 

[Skydancing]

How do you know the HS exists and it is not just the product of an overactive imagination?

 

[PookySmiley]

How do you know the HS exists and it is not just an overactive imagination?

I read the bible regularly. Most weeks I read 5 out of 7 days. A chapter out of the OT and a chapter out of the NT. I have been doing this for years and as such I have read the bible through a few times. When a passage that I have read before comes to my attention as though it were in bold face on the page, I attribute that to the Holy Spirit, otherwise why wouldn't it always show up that way.

 

[Soul Searcher]

not only is it wrong to pick and choose what the bible says,
It's just plain stupid!

I strongly disagree with this statement.

IMPOV there are two ways to pick and choose, one is to discard the text, generally an entire section, or pick which is to be taken literally and which is to be taken as symbolic of something else.

One can actually believe the entire bible and still be guilty of picking and choosing.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

Many on both sides pick and choose, and many on both sides do not. What matters if one has a good reason to downplay or emphasize a passage other than whether one likes the passage or not.

 

[Skydancing]

I think it is stupid to believe that the Bible has anything to do with the old fella in the sky!

 

[elman]

I think it is stupid to believe that the Bible has anything to do with the old fella in the sky!

You don't think when it says God is Love it has anything to do with God and you think that is stupid?

 

[elman]

I think lots of people do picking and choosing on the Bible.
If you don't believe it is the infallible word of God, I see how this is acceptable, though I wonder how you decide which parts to take as fact and which as fiction.






The truth of the matter is that you can't pick and choose.
You must either take it all or leave it all.
how can you pick which part is true and which isn't?

Where do you drarw the line?

now I'm a Christian Universalist,
and I constantly get accused of not believing what the Bible says by Ignorants!
but the truth of the matter is that, I am probably more of a fundamentalist than people who call themselves funamentalists.

now the funny part is that the people who accuse me of not believing what the bible says, also believe that evolution is true,
but it says in the bible that God created us in His image!
that would mean that If God set evolution in progress, then He either created us in His Image, which is some sort of Monkey like creature with a low intellect,
or It means that God is evolving, which means that He's not not perfect, and if He's not perfect,
then all the stuff He says about Himself isn't true,
and if the stuff He says about himself isn't true,
then How can We believe any of what He says?

see my point?

not only is it wrong to pick and choose what the bible says,
It's just plain stupid!

I don't believe it is error free. When it says God is love I believe it. When it says God lies or sends lying spirits from His throne or kills people or orders others to kill people, I don't believe it.

 

[Skydancing]

Love is not stupid but whether it has anything to do with God is debateable!

 

[elman]

Love is not stupid but whether it has anything to do with God is debateable!

What kind of God do you believe in if love has nothing to do with God?

 

[Skydancing]

What kind of God do you believe in if love has nothing to do with God?

I will let you know when I have figured out the nature of God, if I ever do!