Taking the Bible literally

workerbee · May 15, 2008, 10:08 AM

Why do Christians take the Bible so literal? Some parts are absolutely absurd. There was a well-known Baptist, George Hensley, who took the Bible as the word of God. He thought thay he would be invulnerable to snake bites and poisions This lunatic was constantly in trouble with the law for endangering the idiots that went ot his church. having them touch snakes, etc. Let me fast foward to the ending Hensley died of a snake bite

workerbee

inthebox · May 16, 2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by workerbee

Why do Christians take the Bible so literal? Some parts are absolutely absurd. There was a well-known Baptist, George Hensley, who took the Bible as the word of God. He thought thay he would be invulnerable to snake bites and poisions This lunatic was constantly in trouble with the law for endangering the idiots that went ot his church. having them touch snakes, etc. Let me fast foward to the ending Hensley died of a snake bite

workerbee

Yes, I do take the Bible literally.

Taken in its entirety, not just the verses that you disagree with, it tells of an all powerful, righteous, perfect and holy being. A God that created us, allows us free will, and though we are not good enough to be in His presence, loves us so much that He sent His only Son to justify us through His death and resurrection. Ahhhh.... the JOY in Him, that he would tell us this through His words in the Bible.

De Maria · May 16, 2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by workerbee

Why do Christians take the Bible so literal?

Not all Christians take the Bible literally.

Quote:

Some parts are absolutely absurd.

No. None of the Bible is absurd. It is only absurd to those who don't believe in it or understand it.

Quote:

There was a well-known Baptist, George Hensley, who took the Bible as the word of God. He thought thay he would be invulnerable to snake bites and poisions This lunatic was constantly in trouble with the law for endangering the idiots that went ot his church. having them touch snakes, etc. Let me fast foward to the ending Hensley died of a snake bite

workerbee

Throughout the centuries, God has shown His favor on many men and women whom we call the Saints. They indeed were invulnerable to snake bites and poisons and also produced many miracles in the name of God.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues. 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.

Sincerely,

De Maria

workerbee · May 17, 2008, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrebel7

I do, by my choice, believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God. My faith in Jesus Christ and having Him be in my life has brought me much strength, knowledge of how to love others, hope for tomorrow and a peace that comes from knowing where, without a doubt, I will spend eternity when I pass on. There has always been and always will be people who believe in the Bible but who have different views of certain scriptures. I know that there have been times I have read a certain scripture but then there has been a time when I needed direction or guidance or peace about a situation and I have prayed in Jesus Name and asked God to help me through His word. I begin to read, not choosing a particular area of the Bible and the answer seem to just be there in that same scripture I have read so many times prior that did not really mean much to me those times. To me, that is part of the miracle of His word. That may not be everyone's experience and I am not saying it should be, just sharing one tiny part of my faith in God and how it blesses my life.

I know some people do not believe that the Bible is anything but, as one stated, "I believe that it is without a doubt, the greatest fictional novel ever written", but there is one thing that always puzzles me and I can't tell exactly workerbee what you believe just by these few posts but I am just saying, if a person chooses not to believe in the Bible, I don't understand the anger that comes with that, especially toward the ones who do.

I enjoy sharing my experiences and my belief but I do not ever want to argue about it. Each of us believe what we do but I think it is always good to share with others, our beliefs, our experiences, whether spiritual in nature or not. We learn as we live and as we share and as we listen. I appreciate your posting of this question. It opens up many areas that can be "debated until the cows come home"

or it can open up a sincere question and answer sharing time but I doubt the debating will help.

I read a lot lately of how Science is continually proving what has been believed for years by those who believe in God. I think it will continue to do so and it amazes me but does not surprise me, when I read that. I just get really excited when I see Science and God brought together in the same discussion. Thank you for allowing me to express my views and respecting that we all will differ somewhat in our views, if not dramatically, then in degrees.

I like your answer as far as being angry I don't care what people believe except when they are closed minded , you know like the fundametalists. Thsoe crazies slow down science and that irrattes me.

To every one else I used to be a Christian but not for a long time and I think that you have made excuses for God. you ignore tha age of the Earth or Naih's ark, the list is a s long as my arm. There were thousands of Gods in the past thsi one will run it's course and be replaced by something else.

workerbee

classyT · May 29, 2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by progunr

Men wrote the bible, not God, but they called it the word of God.

I believe that it is without a doubt, the greatest fictional novel ever written.

With that said, I do believe in God, or a Creator, but I can't accept the bible as fact.

I find it hard to understand how anyone could believe that Noah was 600 years old when he gathered two of every species, loaded them on the ark, and floated around for about a year, before running aground. Sorry, that would be an unattainable task for even a 60 year old, much less 10 times that age.

Well i agree with you that men wrote the Bible but they were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Noah didn't have to gather the animals when he was 600 years old..hee hee. Genesis 6:20.....they came to him. Now i don't know for sure but i'd be willing to bet that a 600 year old man BEFORE the flood was a bit more energetic then a 600 year old man today.

I personally believe the Bible is the truth and without error.

workerbee · May 31, 2008, 10:43 AM

You certainly should beleive what you like but it closes the mind to other possibilites. I just saw a picture in the newspaper of an unknown tribe in Brazil that has been cut off from the world as a plane flew low to take pictures these guys are firing srrows at them. they are in their own world not aware of what an airplane is. i believe the same true of Fundamentalists of any religion, they close thieir minds off to everything. I don't think i am being unfair, I am only speaking about the fundies

workerbee

DaBaAd · May 31, 2008, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by workerbee

.... the Bible was written by uneducated, hateful, ignorant, homophobic, men....workerbee

Quite the contrary....

The Bible is not just a book of historical stories. All of the events related in the word are intertwined and each has great meaning in the Bible and is directly related to the Purpose of God concerning mankind not only then but today as well. The Bible does not have to prove science in order to give meaning to man. It accounts for reasons in having faith in our creator and his promise for mankind.

Prophesies that were written in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) came true. How do you account for this? Jesus spoke of the new covenant between God and man in the Greek scriptures (New Testament) and he referred back to the old prophesies and validates their accounts.

Some of the 66 books of the Bible were written by craftsmen, physicians and educators of that time.

There's the book of Luke. Luke was well educated in Greek culture, a physician by profession, a companion of Paul at various times from his second missionary journey to his final imprisonment in Rome, and a loyal friend who remained with the apostle after others had deserted him.

There's the book of Isaiah. Educated and a poet, as well as a friend of the royal court and a great prophet… Isaiah was well suited to write this book.

While some prophets were a little zealous, Isaiah preaching nude and barefoot for three years when God commanded him to, it was through their faith that they had no issues.

In today's society, we place too many barriers to God's word, becoming self-centered and entirely without sacrificing our lifestyles. Yes, it's your choice now but in the end it's HIS choice as to your eternal life.

0rphan · May 31, 2008, 02:16 PM

Hi everyone,

having read previous posts, i can only say that i'll go along with some of them.
I believe in the good guy( GOD) where there is good there is always bad ( DEVIL).
I live my life by the ten commandments, which do not change what ever way you wish to dress them up, the principle of them remains the same which ever religious belief you choose to follow, they also apply if you have no religion.

You can't go wrong

jillianleab · May 31, 2008, 05:29 PM

You should read this book:

Amazon.com: The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible: A. J. Jacobs: Books

And here's an interview with the author:

What Happens When an Agnostic Follows the Bible Literally for One Year? | The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss

jrebel7 · May 31, 2008, 05:56 PM

For by grace are we save through faith; and that not of your selves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

It is as always, best to read the whole chapter to get the full meaning. It is speaking about receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and putting your faith in what He did for us on the cross and by defeating death by rising again on the third day after His crucifixion. Also good reading is John chapter 3 in the New Testament.

I too believe in the Ten Commandments but according to the Bible, without placing our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and asking Him to forgive our sins and come into our lives, no matter how much we do in terms of good works, we will never have eternal life in Heaven when we pass on. I choose to believe in the Old and New Testament of the Bible with the New Testament being the fulfillment of the Old.

I have to ask friends when we are sharing our beliefs and they believe if they are good people, don't lie, cheat, steal, and give to the poor, etc., how do they know they are just fine? I have to wonder, how many good deeds would one have to do to be good enough to be able to go to Heaven. How could a person ever know when they have been good enough? Would that person ever have peace and be able to KNOW in their hearts that all was well when they die? The truth as I see it is that all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God and the wages of sin is death so what is our provision to have peace and to know God and to know without a doubt that when we die, we can enter the gates of Heaven and not Hell? I believe that provision to be placing our trust in God through his son Jesus Christ and asking Him to be Lord of our lives.

In 1984, I was listening to Charles Colson speak on Television. He was chief counsel to one of the Unites States Presidents. He was named as one of the "Watergate Seven", he pleaded guilty for a crime and served prison time. During part of this time, he felt God dealing with his heart and he asked Jesus to come into his life. He made these following statements:

12 of the most powerful men in the U.S. could not contain a lie for three weeks.

Is God's Word true, did Jesus raise from the dead?

"If 12 of the most powerful men (in the U.S.), could not contain the lie (saw how fallible we were) how could the disciples who had no money, no power, underwent beatings and death??? Never was there a death bed confession that the resurrection wasn't real.

I share this part about Charles Colson only for the reason of showing a man who had great power yet was powerless as he saw his life without Christ. Within ourselves, we cannot earn salvation by actions, only by receiving God's free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

I generally only use scripture as I try to share but Mr. Colson raises a valid question and makes a powerful statement.