Who's a moderate?

[Terry M]

How do I know which bits to take literally and which not to? For me it all starts with my knowledge and understanding of my God - particularly His nature - His love for us - His care that we live in His peace and wholeness. I then see if what I'm reading fits with this.

I wrote a book recently called 'The Faith of an Ordinary Man' and devoted a section to 'Getting to know God' and another on my view of the Bible. Some of what I said is:

"I think that the Bible is clearly like this. On the one hand it paints pictures of deep truths that are mystical and feed those deep connections within us. On the other hand it contains history and facts and real words that were said by real people; and it relates real events as experienced and understood and expressed by the particular writer when transcribed into the written word.
So it contains:
· Truth
· History as viewed and understood by the particular narrator
· Fact
But it also contains:
· Parables
· Analogies
· Dreams
· Folk Lore and Traditional stories
Sometimes I think some of the stories are a mixture of some of these things. The New Testament openly uses these things – and often names them as what they are. Tho Old Testament doesn’t so much name them.
I think I can point to some bits of the Bible and identify which of the above list applies. But a lot of it I can’t.
But to me it doesn’t matter. If the facts of the story don’t hang together for me I just assign them to the second part of the above list – and then, like any other parable, etc., see what they are saying to me.
I read a part of the bible just about every day – and as much as anything else, the Bible has informed me about God: His awesomeness, His nature, His consistency, His love for us, His love for me, and His love for you.
This is what I do, and I consistently find love and encouragement from God in this understanding.

Bless you

Terry M

 

[TheDag]

Thanks Terry. Is your book available on Amazon? I would be interested in reading it but as a single parent with 68% of my income going to rent I simply can't spare money although have been given a amazon gift voucher. Is it available in electronic format?

 

[VikingGirlTBird]

I'm pretty sure I'm a moderate, but I'm not sure who "qualifies" as one.

I'm open to most of the findings of higher criticism.

I'm not sure of the origins of life, but I'm definitely not a young-earth creationist.

I'm opposed to the ordination of women and gay pastors. I wouldn't call a church that ordains women to be apostate, but I think those that ordain gays are seriously in error.

The Scriptures are infallible, but not necessarily literal.

I think the Nicene Creed is the "standard" to which someone has to hold to be considered a Christian. I also think one must be a Christian to be saved.

So am I moderate, or do I just hold positions that manage to annoy liberals and conservatives at the same time .

Yes, you are a moderate Christian.

 

[Albion]

I'm pretty sure I'm a moderate, but I'm not sure who "qualifies" as one.

I'm open to most of the findings of higher criticism.

I'm not sure of the origins of life, but I'm definitely not a young-earth creationist.

I'm opposed to the ordination of women and gay pastors. I wouldn't call a church that ordains women to be apostate, but I think those that ordain gays are seriously in error.

The Scriptures are infallible, but not necessarily literal.

I think the Nicene Creed is the "standard" to which someone has to hold to be considered a Christian. I also think one must be a Christian to be saved.

So am I moderate, or do I just hold positions that manage to annoy liberals and conservatives at the same time .

On this forum, "moderate" is defined totally by how you (or we) behave, not on any confession of faith, etc.