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I used to not want to read the Bible. I had the thought in my mind that it was boring, verbouse, and confusing. It was probably the Devil that was putting these thoughts in my head because when I finally really wanted a relationship with God and asked for Him to help lead me through the Bible I read it with more clarity and found it interesting and exciting! I'm reading the New Testament over again just because I love it and it is just so awesome to read all the amazing things Jesus actually did!!! I understand how it is hard to pick it up and just read it when you don't know where to begin, well I got this Bible App on my phone and it is great! It really helps me. Every night I meditate on what I read through Mark, maybe 2-3 pages. Then I'll read 4 Proverbs(Just finished all of Psalms yay!) Then I'll go through these plans that you can do. It's like devotionals that you can download. Some last 2 weeks others can last months. I have one where it is "Walking with Jesus through the New Testament" and it is more reading and highlights points. I recommend it for sure! I also have this Teen study Bible which comments through the Bible to get you thinking and that's good too.
Sorry, gotta blip in here - the Bible is the 100% inerrant word of God. If you could just pick and choose the parts that you believe are relevant, then we have nothing we can depend on for legitimate info on God.
I see little about Genesis that is metaphorical.
Keep struggling, OP. You have gotten past the surface level of truth, and a deeper truth is waiting for you. You just have to dig for it.
I know that there are translations, etc. and people involved in the workings of the scripture. But if God can create the world with a word, He can keep the truths He wants us to know in that book.
When you are in love with the Lord, reading the Bible is a pleasure. A truly converted Christian becomes hungry for the truth and the Bible is where you find it. The more I read the Bible, the more I love God and the more I love God, the more I want to read the Bible. That was probably His plan.
I have been a Christian for many years, but now find myself questioning a lot of the basic Christian tenets if you will.
I don't like to read the Bible--too many confusing things there and stuff that doesn't make sense.
I still believe there is a God and I still believe in Jesus. I am just wondering if I will be able to hang onto belief. If I can't believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible word of God, how can I know what to believe.
Anyway, I fell like I am in a spiritual limbo- not unbelieving, yet not totally believing. I don't even repeat certain phrases in church when it comes to the Bible.
This is where my problem lies. There are many things in the Bible that do comfort me and cause me to see God as loving and kind-great. There are other things that scare me to death. I don't understand how God could command people to slaughter all people women, children included. Yes, I have heard some explanations of those passages and I am sure my pastor would do his best, but I am also willing to bet that he would use the same or similar explanations.
Years ago I struggled with the fact that Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son. I struggled so much, I just left religion alone for quite a while. I cannot accept pat answers and repeated explanations. I just don't work that way. I got over this eventually, but I still don't like to hear that passage.
I am not being rude, but I stay away from the Bible at this point in time. I still believe there is a God, but I am not sure if I am right about who He is and all.
This is where my problem lies. There are many things in the Bible that do comfort me and cause me to see God as loving and kind-great. There are other things that scare me to death. I don't understand how God could command people to slaughter all people women, children included. Yes, I have heard some explanations of those passages and I am sure my pastor would do his best, but I am also willing to bet that he would use the same or similar explanations.
Years ago I struggled with the fact that Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son. I struggled so much, I just left religion alone for quite a while. I cannot accept pat answers and repeated explanations. I just don't work that way. I got over this eventually, but I still don't like to hear that passage.
I may or may not talk to my pastor. I really believe I will hear what I have already read. I am also concerned that he will think I wasn't walking close enough to God. I won't say I was a sold out selfless Christian, but I would share with people I worked with and my son and I often read the Bible together (we stayed in the NT). Could I have worked harder? Yes, but I don't think it would help in this case. I really only think it would have caused me to be confused earlier.
I am not being rude, but I stay away from the Bible at this point in time. I still believe there is a God, but I am not sure if I am right about who He is and all.
The Bible contains lots of voices, whose ideas about God tend to differ. I would suggest to you that the Prophets and Jesus are the key. The view of the later prophets is that Israel was intended to be a light to the Gentiles (non-Jews), not their conqueror. So I look at the OT as the process of God bringing israel to understand him. Many people in Israel didn't understand, and at times did terrible things. But when reading a section of the BIble, ask yourself where it is in this story.
On the specific things you mention:
What does story of Abraham and Isaac mean? If it were a model for how we should treat our children, it would be terrible. But it is not. It shows the end of human sacrifice. God will always provide another way to worship him. Furthermore, in the Jewish tradition, Isaac's submission is seen as a model, whose effects benefit his people, much as Isaiah 53 and Jesus' death. (In the story, Isaac is old enough that he certainly understood what was going on and accepted it. So it's not just Abraham's obedience, but Isaac's.) Scholars see it has one of the things that influenced Christian understandings of Jesus. Of course it's unlikely that it is an actual piece of history, but it's still an important story for those reasons.
Fortunately it's unlikely that the slaughters in Joshua actually happened. Archaeologists tell us that Israel was not a foreign group invading the holy land from Egypt, but that Israelite culture developed in the highlands, and slowly (and incompletely) took over the land. On the other hand, even the books with strong historical basis (e.g. Kings) show plenty of violence. I am simply skeptical that God commanded it. We know from Jesus how God wants us to deal with people. I think the Bible gives us an honest view of how Israel was, which forms the background for the teachings of the prophets and Jesus.
I really want to know why God would ask a group of people to kill all of another group including women and children. I am not being a trouble maker by bringing this up, I really find it disturbing.
I also want to know why in the OT if a woman is found not to be a virgin, they are to stone her. What happened to "Whoever is free of sin, cast the first stone."
These passages cause me a lot of grief and confusion and even tears. I feel that I am heretical even questioning the Bible, but on the other hand I feel saddened and confused as to why many people just accept it as it is and don't feel grief and confusion.
cabsmom,
But to stand aside and say, "I don't like that. That's too cruel" is actually to judge God. Do you believe you have more moral sensibility or more compassion than the One who went to the cruel Cross for you? That is something that truly makes no sense.
.
Why is it that you don't believe that Holy Bible is God's words of truth? Study to show yourself approved. If you study the Holy Bible and you have a question about that what is written, then you can look it up in the Hebrew and Greek to get a clearer definition of that scripture. But since you say that you don't like to read the Bible, then how do you know what is written in it if you don't open it and read it? It is easy to put down something that you don't partake of, but if you partake of it then you should find that it is rich and that it is food to the bones, and to the joints and marrow, and gives life and light and wisdom. There's an old saying, "You only get out of something that what you put into it." If you put forth half-effort, or worse no effort: then you will reap half benefit, or worse reap nothing. So I encourage you to give it your all, and you will not be disappointed with the returns and the blessings that you will receive. Amen? Amen.
Ok, you may not mean it this way, but to me this sounds like I am just throwing out which parts of the Bible I don't like in a very flippant way. I have been struggling with this for 1 1/2 years and in the past also many years ago. I really don't get some of this stuff.
I understand that in the Gospels Jesus died for us and sacrificed His own life in order to save us while we still sinners. What I don't understand (and maybe it IS just because I am a human) is what about the people back then? Do they have a chance at salvation if they were killed in childhood?
I understand the world was evil, but the world today is evil also. How much worse does it have to get to be on the same level as then?
Do the non-virgins in OT times not get a chance at redemption? I think in my heart that if Jesus were there at that time, He would have stopped those stoning also. But, that is confusing because it seems that the Bible supports these stonings in the OT.
Maybe I am missing a huge chunk of the picture, but in all honesty if I have to take a break from reading at least the OT, then I will. I have OCD and to simply tell me to believe something out of faith is not going to happen or at least it rarely does in my mind. If you don't understand OCD, then you can't possibly know how hard this stuff is.
My apologies. I had a feeling I hadn't expressed myself too clearly on that one. I wasn't trying to accuse you of willfully judging God, I was just saying that that is where the line of reasoning ultimately ends up. It's perfectly fine to question everything. My coming to the Lord was horrendously difficult. I hope He broke the mold after He made me! So I'm not going to condemn anyone who is sincere about their search.
Your concern seems to be about fairness. I went through that too, until I realized that my questions were based on immaturity, and that much of the teaching I had gotten had the same fault. God is far more fair than we could ever be, and He sees the entire picture to boot, whereas we can only judge the externals. Look at this interesting line from the NT. This is Paul speaking of the Jews:
As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. -Rom 11:28But Christ is the only way to the Father, right? Yes, Jesus explicitly said so. But what He didn't say was that people had to accept Him in a way that we can see and understand.
If you look further, there are many scriptures that support the principle that:
sin is not counted where there is no law. -Rom 5:13You see, God judges the heart. And He also judges on a curve. The Jews are playing the game with a "golf handicap" according to Romans 11. Those ancients without the law had their own handicap. They will be judged according to the light they were given, as to whether they accepted Christ.
You need not have concerns that our loving Father will be fair to all. "His judgments shall be proven altogether righteous". "The judge of the whole world will do what is right". And He also is the same one who came and died a horrendous criminal's death for us!
At the same time, He will judge those who reject Him. This is why Paul goes on to say "behold the kindness and severity of God" in Rom 11.
Once I began to see the immensity of God, how utterly perfect He is in all His ways, I began to see Him as a huge mountain, and there I was, a tiny gnat, buzzing against Him. I began to trust Him completely in everything. My concerns became irrelevant, and my regard for Him and His word increased, as did my peace. The only thing that worries me these days is myself - that I may not be hearing Him correctly or fulfilling His calling. That is what concerns and scares me.
BTW, I probably had some kind of borderline OCD at one time, and other horrors as well, but grace has made it irrelevant. The more I focus on the Completed Work, the less I care about my own (except that I want to fulfill my calling as best as possible).
Anyway, thank you again for your kind reply.
Ok, you may not mean it this way, but to me this sounds like I am just throwing out which parts of the Bible I don't like in a very flippant way. I have been struggling with this for 1 1/2 years and in the past also many years ago. I really don't get some of this stuff.
I understand that in the Gospels Jesus died for us and sacrificed His own life in order to save us while we still sinners. What I don't understand (and maybe it IS just because I am a human) is what about the people back then? Do they have a chance at salvation if they were killed in childhood?
I understand the world was evil, but the world today is evil also. How much worse does it have to get to be on the same level as then?
*You are talking the difference in cultures, laws, times etc.
In biblical times --sexual purity was highly valued and fathers were
responsible for protecting and providing for their daughters-- this was
a major thing in that culture--plus, the family's standing/reputation
was bound up in this.
Do the non-virgins in OT times not get a chance at redemption? I think in my heart that if Jesus were there at that time, He would have stopped those stoning also. But, that is confusing because it seems that the Bible supports these stonings in the OT.
*Do you recall Rehab the harlot who hid the spies?
Her act brought about redemption for her and those in her house..
all of them were spared.
King David's daughter Tamar was raped by her half brother, Amnon--
who was later killed by their half brother Absalom. Tamar wasn't stoned
but lived out her days "in the shadows"-- unmarried due to the laws/customs
of the times.
Add-on: Absalom had held his sister Tamar in high regard and even
named his own daughter Tamar.
I also note: Solomon first demonstrates wisdom by resolving a dispute between two harlots involving an infant. Solomon ruled and the baby was
given to it's mother...Solomon didn't order those women to be killed or stoned.
Also, it's not only a woman who is to be stoned to death if she is taken
in the act of having sex/fornicating-- In the case of committing adultery,
the Law said that both the man and the woman are to be put to death.
That's why the woman taken in the very act of
adultery wasn't put to death... I almost forgot--
There was this problem too:
The Law of Moses and the edicts of the Romans challenged each other.
Such a situation arises whenever they are commanded by the
Law of Moses to impose the death penalty for a particular offense,
such as adultery.
The Romans have authorized their appointee, the Governor, to impose the death sentence. No other person may do so.
What is the right thing to do in this situation?
The pious leaders brought the woman taken in adultery and their "case"
into the Temple were Jesus was teaching-- Jesus resolved the matter.
Maybe I am missing a huge chunk of the picture, but in all honesty if I have to take a break from reading at least the OT, then I will. I have OCD and to simply tell me to believe something out of faith is not going to happen or at least it rarely does in my mind. If you don't understand OCD, then you can't possibly know how hard this stuff is.
This is actually a great question. This is why it is important to understand what the Bible is. It is the written testimony of Jesus.I understand that in the Gospels Jesus died for us and sacrificed His own life in order to save us while we still sinners. What I don't understand (and maybe it IS just because I am a human) is what about the people back then? Do they have a chance at salvation if they were killed in childhood?
I understand the world was evil, but the world today is evil also. How much worse does it have to get to be on the same level as then?
Do the non-virgins in OT times not get a chance at redemption? I think in my heart that if Jesus were there at that time, He would have stopped those stoning also. But, that is confusing because it seems that the Bible supports these stonings in the OT.
I agree that the Bible should be considered a tool rather than an idol itself
I've started trying to renew my relationship with Christ and the Bible has become a new habit for me. It can be hard to understand sometimes, but the benefits certainly outweigh the difficulties. My advice would be finding a Bible reading partner. One in which you can bounce thoughts and ideas off of. One that can encourage you to keep reading and vice versa. My mother and my aunt are my Bible reading partners. We're reading the Bible in chronological order together and anytime one of us has a question that arise; we'll draw up what resources we have to try and answer our questions. There are many different resources online to help you understand the Bible as well
The Bible was written for the purpose of encouraging and teaching us while we walk with Christ. Trying to have a relationship with Christ without reading the word of God would probably be like trying to teach a history class without ever actually reading anything about history.
I used to think that the Bible wasn't important when it came to being a Christian, but I feel very differently about that now.
I have been a Christian for many years, but now find myself questioning a lot of the basic Christian tenets if you will.
I don't like to read the Bible--too many confusing things there and stuff that doesn't make sense.
I still believe there is a God and I still believe in Jesus. I am just wondering if I will be able to hang onto belief. If I can't believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible word of God, how can I know what to believe.
Anyway, I fell like I am in a spiritual limbo- not unbelieving, yet not totally believing. I don't even repeat certain phrases in church when it comes to the Bible.
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