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<blockquote data-quote="DanielGarneau" data-source="post: 66894461" data-attributes="member: 368956"><p>Hello everyone, </p><p></p><p>I have just been reading through this thread from my own response, posted Dec 19, 2014, up to the post preceding this one, Jan 10, 2015, where examples are provided of what are considered irritants playing against the choice of a local congregation over another. </p><p></p><p>Someone close to me tried to help me step out of the obscurantist views I was alleged to have about the Bible being God's Word and the importance of interpreting it as it intends itself to be undersood. Since that person got her information from the theological faculty of a prestigious local university, I chose to study those criticizing my position. </p><p></p><p>My response to those criticism that have to do with the Bible itself are going in two complementary directions: first, the reliability of Scriptures, second, the need to become thoroughly familiar with the text of the Bible, beginning from the New Testament, and seing how Jesus and the apostles treated the old testament. I will close this post on the need for personal commitment when one tries to chose a Christian local Churches to meet one's growth needs.</p><p></p><p><strong><em>ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF THE BIBLE</em></strong></p><p></p><p>One of the things I found is that some authors have a tendency to use name-calling instead of dealing with facts, positions, perspectives, and interacting with those. I documented this in an essay titled «Comment donc comprendre la Bible aujourd'hui?» (How then are we to understand the Bible today?). After writing it (in French), I found some English language material that follow the same path, showing that there are valid reasons to take the Bible seriously and to understand it as it tells us we should understand it. </p><p></p><p> You can find this French language essay and short English language video documents at www savoiretcroire ca. From the <em>Knowing</em> section choose the <em>What about the Bible</em> sub-section.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>ABOUT FAMILIARIZING ONESELF WITH THE BIBLE TEXT ITSELF</strong></em></p><p></p><p>I would suggest anyone with a bias against the validity of the Old Testament to begin reading the Bible by tring to understand the main message of the Gospel of John, asking, what would I have to change in my life is this were true, and if ever I concluded it were true, would I be willing to trust Christ with my views of life and with the way I conduct my personal and profesionnal affairs? </p><p></p><p>The entire New Testament should first be read with that sort of attitude, accompanied by an attitude of prayer that would go along the following lines: «God, Christianity as I understand it now turns me off. I believe it is off base. Please help me turn my eyes away from those who have led me to this belief, and help me understand Christianity from the teaching of its only true Chief, Jesus Christ Himself, and from those He mandated to represent Him, called apostles throughout the New Testament. God, I am willing to change my mind, my attitude, and my entire life, if I turn out to believe what they said». </p><p></p><p>The Bible says it requires the Spirit of God to understand the truth of God, so ask God to lead you through His Spirit so you will gain some understanding that is now elluding you. </p><p></p><p>Once you have gone through the New Testament at least once and perhaps several times with the basic attitudes I just mentioned, then I invite you to go back to the text and see how Jesus and the apostles considered the statements made in the Old Testament. You will see that they took it as history and not as myth. Looking up the Old Testament passages quoted in the New Testament will help you understand better what it talks about.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>BE PERSONALY COMITTED IN YOUR INVESTIGATING LOCAL CHURCHES</strong></em></p><p></p><p>Then, find a Church that takes the Bible seriously and that at the same time shows respect to its members and visitors. Then participate in it truly, and get involved in what it has to propose for your growth as a Christian. And don't shun the commitment part that you will be invited towards as you understand what Christianity is truly about.</p><p></p><p>Some of the posts I read today seem to take a sight-seeing approach to Church evaluation. You can't really know what is going on in a Church unless you truly get involved. So first impressions are important and must be taken into account. But one has to move further into his or her investigation before drawing conclusions, either about the Church's teaching or community life.</p><p></p><p>God bless all the readers of this thread.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DanielGarneau, post: 66894461, member: 368956"] Hello everyone, I have just been reading through this thread from my own response, posted Dec 19, 2014, up to the post preceding this one, Jan 10, 2015, where examples are provided of what are considered irritants playing against the choice of a local congregation over another. Someone close to me tried to help me step out of the obscurantist views I was alleged to have about the Bible being God's Word and the importance of interpreting it as it intends itself to be undersood. Since that person got her information from the theological faculty of a prestigious local university, I chose to study those criticizing my position. My response to those criticism that have to do with the Bible itself are going in two complementary directions: first, the reliability of Scriptures, second, the need to become thoroughly familiar with the text of the Bible, beginning from the New Testament, and seing how Jesus and the apostles treated the old testament. I will close this post on the need for personal commitment when one tries to chose a Christian local Churches to meet one's growth needs. [B][I]ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF THE BIBLE[/I][/B] One of the things I found is that some authors have a tendency to use name-calling instead of dealing with facts, positions, perspectives, and interacting with those. I documented this in an essay titled «Comment donc comprendre la Bible aujourd'hui?» (How then are we to understand the Bible today?). After writing it (in French), I found some English language material that follow the same path, showing that there are valid reasons to take the Bible seriously and to understand it as it tells us we should understand it. You can find this French language essay and short English language video documents at www savoiretcroire ca. From the [I]Knowing[/I] section choose the [I]What about the Bible[/I] sub-section. [I][B]ABOUT FAMILIARIZING ONESELF WITH THE BIBLE TEXT ITSELF[/B][/I] I would suggest anyone with a bias against the validity of the Old Testament to begin reading the Bible by tring to understand the main message of the Gospel of John, asking, what would I have to change in my life is this were true, and if ever I concluded it were true, would I be willing to trust Christ with my views of life and with the way I conduct my personal and profesionnal affairs? The entire New Testament should first be read with that sort of attitude, accompanied by an attitude of prayer that would go along the following lines: «God, Christianity as I understand it now turns me off. I believe it is off base. Please help me turn my eyes away from those who have led me to this belief, and help me understand Christianity from the teaching of its only true Chief, Jesus Christ Himself, and from those He mandated to represent Him, called apostles throughout the New Testament. God, I am willing to change my mind, my attitude, and my entire life, if I turn out to believe what they said». The Bible says it requires the Spirit of God to understand the truth of God, so ask God to lead you through His Spirit so you will gain some understanding that is now elluding you. Once you have gone through the New Testament at least once and perhaps several times with the basic attitudes I just mentioned, then I invite you to go back to the text and see how Jesus and the apostles considered the statements made in the Old Testament. You will see that they took it as history and not as myth. Looking up the Old Testament passages quoted in the New Testament will help you understand better what it talks about. [I][B]BE PERSONALY COMITTED IN YOUR INVESTIGATING LOCAL CHURCHES[/B][/I] Then, find a Church that takes the Bible seriously and that at the same time shows respect to its members and visitors. Then participate in it truly, and get involved in what it has to propose for your growth as a Christian. And don't shun the commitment part that you will be invited towards as you understand what Christianity is truly about. Some of the posts I read today seem to take a sight-seeing approach to Church evaluation. You can't really know what is going on in a Church unless you truly get involved. So first impressions are important and must be taken into account. But one has to move further into his or her investigation before drawing conclusions, either about the Church's teaching or community life. God bless all the readers of this thread. [/QUOTE]
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