The ramblings of an addled mind.
One of the arguments that some Bible critics make is that it mentions unicorns — which we all know are mythical creatures and therefore the Bible must be a book of myth and legend, not fact. And indeed the King James Bible does talk about unicorns:
It is the assigned task of every true Christian: followers of Jesus, to diligently study the Word of God. Listening to a sermon on Sunday mornings is not “studying” the Word. This may prove enlightening, but God desires to speak directly to each of His children and He does that through Bible study.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (NKJV)
The King James version says it more directly: Continue reading “A Prayer of Preparation for Bible Study”
In our modern, technology filled society we are quite familiar with user’s manuals. They offer important (supposedly) safety warnings, not because we’re stupid but because we’re litigious. If the manufacturer does not clearly state that we are not to shove our hand into a whirling cutter, some will file suit against the manufacturer for doing so and claim they were injured because they were not informed of the danger. The manual offers detailed instructions for the operation of the device, including helpful sections on maintenance, troubleshooting, and contact information for the manufacturer when you need service.
However, manufacturers know that in our rush to begin using a new device, we often refuse to sit down and read through the manual first. They, therefore, include a Quick Start card that tells us the most essential information to get us going. We will refer back to the manual as we have need of the other information.
The Bible is the operator’s manual for humanity. It gives us information of the product’s origin and development, detailed information for proper operation, tremendous trouble-shooting information, details on how to contact and communicate with the manufacturer and a peek at upcoming product improvements. And, like any comprehensive manual, it includes a Quick Start Guide: the book of John. Continue reading “A Quick Start Card for the Bible”
People like to say that there are many interpretations of the Bible. They say this in order to justify their viewpoint when it differs from that of established thought. This is why we have SO many denominations of the Christian church. The problem is that if we allow people to interpret the Bible any way they want, in order to validate their precepts, we end up with the mess we have where denominations are constantly squabbling over points of scripture. Sniping at one another creates disunity in a body that should be perfectly united in the love of God. Some are trying to rewrite the Bible because they can’t force existing scriptures into the mold they want to follow. God does not allow us to “interpret” His word. If we change His word, it is no longer His word, but our word and we are no longer believing in God, but in a god of our own design. That is idolatry, even if we use the traditional names and images. Continue reading “Interpretations”
One of our problems with honest Biblical interpretation is that we want our Bible to specifically address every issue. We want it to give simple, pat answers to all our complicated questions. When it does not, we twist and bend certain passages to give us our desired result. We tend to manipulate the Word of God to suit our own interpretation. We will not accept the Bible’s limitations.