possibly good advice

[ladyinred]

A word about taking the bible literally, it is impossible for two reasons. First, the English translations preachers claim to be the literal word of God, are not always true to the original language of the Bible, Hebrew. All translations are really interpretations, and there are over 400 biblical words known as hapax legomena, whose English translation we don't know. The English you read is a best guess. The second reason why biblical literalism is impossible is because no one takes the entire bible literally. Serpent handling Pentecostal Christians in Appalachia come closest to following the words of Jesus literally in Mark 16. Perhaps you are aware of people who advocate self-mutilation in obedience to Jesus’ words in Mark 9. I'm not. And if we were to execute children who insult their parents as is written in Deuteronomy 21, we’d all be dead.

--Rabbi Micah Greenstein
from the sermon "Religion Without Humor Is Blasphemy"

[Rick336]

....biblical literalism is impossible is because no one takes the entire bible literally.

They used to. For example; The Spanish Inquisition. Thousands of people were put to death for blasphemy against the Bible. (The very same thing is going on in the Muslim world today for blasphemy against the Koran.)

"You ever notice what a bad rap the Inquisition gets? Even some Christians today think it was a bad idea. But how can it be a bad idea? If the Bible is right, aren't the stakes as high as they can be? If a little suffering here on earth saves more souls for all eternity, isn't that a good thing? The Inquisition was not a perversion of Christian doctrine. The Inquisition was an expression of Christian doctrine.

If the Bible is wrong, what the hell is moderate Christianity? Jesus was only sort of the son of God? He only somewhat rose from the dead? Your eternal soul is at stake but you shouldn't make a big deal out of it?

Moderate Christianity makes no sense. Is it any wonder why so many people today choose to actually have the courage of their convictions?" - Documentary Filmmaker Brian Flemming


"I'm sick and tired of hearing about all the radicals, and the perverts, and the liberals, and the leftists, and the Communists coming out of the closet. It's time for God's people to come out of the closet, out of the churches and change America. WE MUST DO IT!

Don't you commit yourself to some political party or polititians. You commit yourself to the principles of God and demand those parties and polititians align themselves with the eternal values of the Bible and America will be forever the greatest nation on this earth!" - TV Evangelist James Robinson


Rick

[fredyboy]

God wouldn't and didn't leave mankind in 100% wonder of what is wrong and what is right. Yes, there are hebrew words that cannot be directly translated into english. However, I believe (and hope you do too) in an omnipotent God who is not going to allow translations to get in the way of His Word spreading into the world. The translators left notes about why they chose certain words and didn't choose others.

Stop acting like we are stuck in the dark and not able to figure out what God has said. There is only one path to God. Stop looking for reasons why you can "interprete" scripture to make it mean something. If the Bible says "it is detestable," well, then I'm pretty sure it means it is detestable.

[Rick336]

Originally Posted by fredyboy

Stop looking for reasons why you can "interprete" scripture to make it mean something. If the Bible says "it is detestable," well, then I'm pretty sure it means it is detestable.

Did God write this?

"Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones." Psalms 137:9

"Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shall beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell." Proverbs 23:13-14

"I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters." Jeremiah 19:9

"Slay both man and woman, infant and suckling," I Samuel 15:3

"Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes." Isaiah 13:16

"Their infants shall be dashed to pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up." Hosea 13:16

"Their sons and daughters shall die by famine." Jeremiah 11:2

"The blueness of the wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly." Proverbs 20:30


Rick

[ladyinred]

fredyboy,Your interpretation of the bible not God's . Perhaps there are plenty of things that God would find about you that he wouldn't view so favorably as well. Those verses that Rick mentioned in the bible are absolutely there and that is why they have Christian "apologists" explaining things away.
It is also why there are many people who have turned atheists because they are saying if these verses really reflect the true of God, ( I believe they don't because there are other verses where God expressly prohibits murder and the new testament prohibits it as well, the bible may be somewhat schizophrenic in that it portrays God as wishy washy who won't even follow his own commands not to murder , steal and others and says one thing ,"Not to murder" and then changes his mind and actually commands it."Those who take the life of another shall I require their blood " and then seems to reneg on it in other scripture and condone or even command murder of others.)then we have no business worshipping such a God. They (atheists) are offended by the scriptures that do support the murder of infants and the like, which is why they have shunned religion all together, to them it is reprehensible to even think of murdering innocent children, women and those who are helpless.

Of course since you believe the bible is infallible and inerrant do you approve of such things as those written? IF you say yes, consider this from a psychiatrist's or a psychological standpoint :they would most likely consider you deranged and or mentally ill and probably lock you away in a mental hospital where you couldn't harm or be a danger to others. Your behavior and beliefs would be seen as severely dysfunctional,bizarre and anti-social. You would be characterized along the lines of Hitler or a serial killer..or criminally insane.

My personal belief is that God cannot be represented in mentioned scripture above because God cannot be evil. Even in new testament scripture it says God is peace or God is light and there is no darkness in him, and he does not change. God cannot sin because he is God. The new testament describes actions like murder, strife, envy ,hatred,emulations,and wrath as works of the flesh not God. The fruits of the spirit in the new testament are strictly benign.Love joy, peace, gentleness,kindness ,longsuffering .....
What did Jesus say about murder? Matthew 19:

18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Romans 1
28 And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful: Natural affection to me does not mean anything pertaining to sex, but to concern,caring about others. As a mother you are naturally affectionate with your son, for example.

The bible (new testament)also says you are to be blameless, harmless children without fault amidst a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world. Proverbs also says a violent man is perverse in his ways, he seeks to bring about evil, he entices his neighbor to do the same and leads him in a path that is not good. Proverbs:11:17 Your own soul is nourished if you are kind,but you destroy yourself if you are cruel.

[ladyinred]

I also do not agree with you assertions there is only one path to God. If there was then there wouldn't have been Judaism and then Christianity, Judaism would be the world religion of all. Other religions such as budhism and hinduism if I remember correctly existed before Christianity. So did Zoroastrianism and others. It seems you are more influenced by what preachers say rather than taking on the task to think for yourself. If they told you to jump off a cliff, would you do it? If they told you to it was ok to murder homosexuals ,would you do it? Whose in charge of your mind and thinking by the way?

And if you identify with the religious right I firmly believe they are cultic and do not represent the teachings of Christ. Why is it they don't teach as he does? Cults are identified by the control over their followers, no one has the right to question theirs (Leaders) views .You just do exactly what they tell you and believe exactly what they tell you to believe.Jesus never told you to follow someone else. He did tell his disciples after he was gone he would send the holy spirit and he would be their guide and comforter. And I will tell you one thing Fredyboy I will never walk into one of your churches when and if they teach violence and hatred against homosexuals. To me they are poison and treacherous.Blind guides of the blinded.

If it were up to me I would tell everyone who was gay and Christian to walk away from those type churches. I'd be surprised how many in their congregation were LGBT. Let's see what happens when they lose a large part their financial resources when gay people do walk away from their churches in large numbers. Money talks, but what happens when it walks out the door of their churches and money making machine? In my mind I would refuse to help fund their hate agenda against LGBT people. And let me tell you they are not getting one damned dime from me to do so. I will not even vote for people who believe and sponsor such activities and legislation.