For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith –
and this is not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God
Ephesians 2:8
Some things are mysteries for a reason
Saturday, June 27, 2009 12:18 AM
There are numberous mysteries of theology, as I'm sure many of you realise. But sometimes, the mysteries of God and the Bible are often overlooked. We assume that we have the clear textbook answer to certain questions, but the fact is, we don't.
Shunbin would have remembered the question I raised at Youth Alpha training one night. My question was what is the church's stance on the parts of the Bible which are harder to believe. Like God creating the world in six days, the falling of man in Eden, so on and so fourth. Well, Pastor Timothy asked me what I thought as a christian myself, and when I said that I didn't know, he told me that it was quite important that I make a decision to believe whether the Bible is literal or merely a figure of speech. Now before you all start stoning me for even SUGGESTING for a single second that the Bible may be a figure of speech, let me explain.
Many Pastors, theologians and mature christians believe that certain parts of the Bible may be a figure of speech. They believe that six days in God's book may be six thousand years. And before you start stoning them too, let me point out the evidence. You see, in 1 John, there is a phrase mentioned in it. The phrase is "the final hour is near". You see, THE FINAL HOUR. John has believed that the end of the world is nearing. But you see, we're like, a few thousand years apart from them and the world has not ended. You may argue that John didn't know. But let's see somethings shall we? John wrote FOR THE BIBLE. And the Bible is God's word GIVEN to people like John. So we can thus infer that even God says that this is "the final hour". So how can we POSSIBLY take things like THIS to be literal?
Pastor Timothy has made it pretty clear that he would prefer it if I took the literal stance on things. But he still stressed the importance of choosing whether I'm a literal christian or a figurative Bible-believer. With all due respect to him as a Pastor, I personally believe that it isn't that important after. Up till now, I haven't made my decision. And I think God won't be very strongly worried whether I make up my mind before I die or not.
What's important is this: I BELIEVE that God COULD have done all those things. Like totally and complete flood the world, like complete creating the earth in a mere six days (even by our twenty four hours a day standards). Heck, I believe He can do it right now! So you see, this is what's important.
If you were to ask me what I believe in, I would only have this to say; I would say that I believe that the bible tells you what happened, but not how it happened. And I stick to that belief. It's concrete, and no matter whether you're a by-the-book christian as everybody in the CG is, or a slightly less conventional christian like me, you cannot argue with this fact.
Before you start stoning me (again, for being a very unconventional christian), I say you put this difference behind you. I'll tell you that I'm leaning to the side of believing that a number of things are very possibly a figure of speech. But DO NOT STONE ME because this is how so many problems have broken out in christianity. Look at Ireland's internal conflict, catholics versus prodestants. It brings me to my VERY IMPORTANT SECOND POINT: Minor on the minors and Major on the majors.
Let me explain, we need to focus on the similarities that are the major ones. Like we need to focus on the fact that we all believe in God. All the other minor differences should be pushed aside. Of course, don't use catholics as a comparison, because the difference is that they worship Mary and that's a pretty big difference. So yes. But still. We shouldn't FIGHT over differences like this.
If you forget every single word here or can't be bothered to read this chunk of text, please, I implore you, just read the text in bold.
Deborah
Shunbin would have remembered the question I raised at Youth Alpha training one night. My question was what is the church's stance on the parts of the Bible which are harder to believe. Like God creating the world in six days, the falling of man in Eden, so on and so fourth. Well, Pastor Timothy asked me what I thought as a christian myself, and when I said that I didn't know, he told me that it was quite important that I make a decision to believe whether the Bible is literal or merely a figure of speech. Now before you all start stoning me for even SUGGESTING for a single second that the Bible may be a figure of speech, let me explain.
Many Pastors, theologians and mature christians believe that certain parts of the Bible may be a figure of speech. They believe that six days in God's book may be six thousand years. And before you start stoning them too, let me point out the evidence. You see, in 1 John, there is a phrase mentioned in it. The phrase is "the final hour is near". You see, THE FINAL HOUR. John has believed that the end of the world is nearing. But you see, we're like, a few thousand years apart from them and the world has not ended. You may argue that John didn't know. But let's see somethings shall we? John wrote FOR THE BIBLE. And the Bible is God's word GIVEN to people like John. So we can thus infer that even God says that this is "the final hour". So how can we POSSIBLY take things like THIS to be literal?
Pastor Timothy has made it pretty clear that he would prefer it if I took the literal stance on things. But he still stressed the importance of choosing whether I'm a literal christian or a figurative Bible-believer. With all due respect to him as a Pastor, I personally believe that it isn't that important after. Up till now, I haven't made my decision. And I think God won't be very strongly worried whether I make up my mind before I die or not.
What's important is this: I BELIEVE that God COULD have done all those things. Like totally and complete flood the world, like complete creating the earth in a mere six days (even by our twenty four hours a day standards). Heck, I believe He can do it right now! So you see, this is what's important.
If you were to ask me what I believe in, I would only have this to say; I would say that I believe that the bible tells you what happened, but not how it happened. And I stick to that belief. It's concrete, and no matter whether you're a by-the-book christian as everybody in the CG is, or a slightly less conventional christian like me, you cannot argue with this fact.
Before you start stoning me (again, for being a very unconventional christian), I say you put this difference behind you. I'll tell you that I'm leaning to the side of believing that a number of things are very possibly a figure of speech. But DO NOT STONE ME because this is how so many problems have broken out in christianity. Look at Ireland's internal conflict, catholics versus prodestants. It brings me to my VERY IMPORTANT SECOND POINT: Minor on the minors and Major on the majors.
Let me explain, we need to focus on the similarities that are the major ones. Like we need to focus on the fact that we all believe in God. All the other minor differences should be pushed aside. Of course, don't use catholics as a comparison, because the difference is that they worship Mary and that's a pretty big difference. So yes. But still. We shouldn't FIGHT over differences like this.
If you forget every single word here or can't be bothered to read this chunk of text, please, I implore you, just read the text in bold.
Deborah
In God's awesome ♥
GO(L)D 90 FMadj. God our "Lao Da" (awesome Dad in the sky)
1. WEFC
2. Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen year olds.
3. Fuel Miracles, Fishers of Men (Yes, that would be what the FM stands for, love)
4. There is no love but in God alone
GO(L)D 90FM
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Set our sights in Him
Colossians 3:12-1712Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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