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Bible Questions and Spiritual Discussion
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Marcie in MO
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08/28/2013 12:36 |
Hi Russ,
I saw the quotes from this book you posted on Facebook. I'm confused about the first one. In what way is the Bible a debate about who God is?
~Marcie
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Catholica
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09/13/2013 17:03 |
Russ, good to hear from you. Are you still around to discuss what you posted?
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Davidwayne Lackey
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09/13/2013 21:34 |
Russ, I actually agree with most of what you posted. To break down preconceptions we are raised with we must know ourselves, our motivations and what drives them. We must change into the people God has ordained us to be by being obedient to the urgings of The Holy Spirit. Only then can we have our eyes open to what we were and to what we are to become. Certainly being Jesus centered is the way.
I do have the same question as Marcie though. The wording struck me as strange. I have never thought or gotten the idea from anyplace in Scripture that the Bible was a debate about who God is. Is there a misunderstanding on my part? I have always understood the Bible as a declaration of who God is.
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Kelley
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10/06/2013 03:05 |
Wow, I've missed these conversations.
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James Griffey
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10/07/2013 11:40 |
haha! I find myself, as usual, agreeing with Andre here. Religion is a word people treat like its something dirty.
I am sure that the real reason for this is a difference of definition!
if you defined 'religion' as 'the teachings of men', then yes, it is hollow and empty in and of itself.
the problem with that is that 'teachings of men' are what we received from the disciples in the new testament. After all, they were letters, and they were delivered by men!
If that be so, should we then discard all the non - gospel accounts and revelation as 'un - Godly?'
Of course not! The letters may have been written by men, but they were inspired by God, who wrote through His followers to encourage others to live. In the same way, any religious gathering that places Jesus first as the messiah is not in and of itself somehow 'restrictive'.
However, the people within the religion bring mistakes and pain, sometimes. but I guess it's like they say, 'a few bad apples spoil the bunch'.
I can certainly see how so many people have issues with "RELIGION" because of bad experiences within their religion.
At the same time, I also see why "RELIGION" is so important to many people, as it is the closest representation of the Kingdom that we can do as fallen (though redeemed) humanity.
And that is why I'm not so negative towards religious institutions, but rather "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (1 John 4:1)
blessings,
Bibleman
(my old account was lost!
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Catholica
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10/08/2013 09:50 |
Hi Kelley, I miss it too, and good to hear from you. This forum was a gem among fakes as far as internet forums go in the old days. Now there are far too few people here to keep up conversations. I only come back once in awhile now.
James, good to hear from you too. Thanks for your insights. I also agree with what you are saying.
Some may have little idea how much it pains other to hear religion degraded as it seems to be in so many places today. There are so many good things done by very religious people for the kingdom, many of whom love God very, very deeply and see their religion as a gift given by God as a sign of His love for us. And so when it was talked down like that at the DAB family gathering, it felt to me just a little less family-ish.
I know there are people out there who consider themselves "hurt by religion". But there should be made a the fine distinction between religion itself and the people who practice it. It is people who inevitably fail and hurt us. They can hurt us in many ways, some which might be perceived as religion itself, if that person is making up their own religion with principles or practices which go against the Spirit of God, who is Love and Truth. But that there is one false religious group, or that people have hurt us, doesn't mean that all religious groups are false or that all people will hurt us. We have as much right to thank God for a "freedom from religion" as we do to thank God for a "freedom from suffering". It may be that religion or suffering itself is the means by which we /gain/ freedom: the /true/ freedom which God intends for us.
We never know what means God may use to bring unity to the body of Christ. It may be (whatever one's opinion might be of religion in general) that God may have a plan to use religion to bring someone closer to His Heart in some way. May we tremble with a bit of holy fear lest we should be the means that forms poor opinions of religion in that person's mind which makes their journey to God just that much harder.
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James Griffey
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10/08/2013 23:38 |
Ahh, the good old days...
I know I'll be around here on the forums certainly through the end of the year (I am playing catch up for not listening to the DAB at all this year - a minimum of 4 readings a day (yesterday I did seven and right now I'm in the middle of number 5!) through December 31st.
Afterwards, I suppose I'll be joining you all on January 1st, Lord willing.
Truthfully, people can bash religion all they want, but without religion we wouldn't have such a well preserved set of scriptures to read today. We wouldn't have worship music so readily available, either. These were my thoughts that balanced my thinking as I ran out of my religious affiliations more than two years ago. Because I thought with a clear head, I saw through the thorns into the field of roses. Religion is truly a beautiful thing, but mind the roses!
nice to have classic pseudo - scholarly dialogue again,
Bibleman
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rhysy
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12/02/2013 05:10 |
Just be careful. When the bible mentions 'religion', it tends to use it in a worship sense; how your love for Jesus flows out in your life.
Additionally, Jesus warned against religiousness:
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"
(John 5:45-47)
Good to be back!!
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Catholica
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12/02/2013 10:17 |
Hi rhysy,
What do you mean when you say "religiousness" and how do you see that verse as being a warning against it?
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rhysy
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12/02/2013 13:46 |
Hi Catholica
I use the word "religiousness" to describe the way people and institutions set up traditions or behaviours, and then ear mark these as 'holy' or a pretence for others to live by.
The passage demonstrates how the teacher's of the law misused the law in an attempt to justify themselves before God. But, as Jesus explains, the law wasn't instituted to offer salvation in itself, but rather point people to their sin (thus accuse them) and lead them to Jesus' perfect sacrifice on the cross.
We are all worshippers. I guess my simple argument is Jesus doesn't want tradition, but rather, a life lived through the cross (a) seek to love God and enjoy him (b) by enjoying him, display God's greatness to others.
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