"This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."
- Jesus -
The bible may not be for you.
The bald truth is, Christianity is an exclusive club. It's not for everyone.
The bible may not be for you.
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If you've followed my blog,
read my articles, or dialoged with me, you already know that I believe that Jesus is God.
You may thus find it puzzling that I would write an article like this.
"What's gotten into him?"
you may be thinking. "I thought he promoted the bible."
"I thought he promoted the bible."
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While I am a champion of the bible, I'm not going to "gloss over" the tough stuff. Here's one of the toughest things to realize:
Jesus never expected everyone to believe.
"There are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him."
- John 6:64-66
I'm not going to "gloss over" the tough stuff.
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In fact, the bible was written to hide the truth.
Jesus said this about that:
"This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."
- Matthew 13:13
There are two kinds of people in the world.
You could describe the difference between them as the difference between being either humble and being arrogant. The bible was not written for the proud.
"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”"
- James 4:6
There are two ways to approach the bible.
Are you reading it with a desire to learn? Or is it your agenda to discredit the bible?
Either way, you will find what you seek.
You see, the bible is no ordinary book.
The bible describes itself as being alive. While it doesn't brook arrogant skeptics, if you open it humbly, seeking truth, you will find it.
However, if you come to the bible expecting discrepancies, you will miss the truth and find contradictions instead. If you demand that God be your own imagined idea of God, you are certain to be disappointed.
I'm not saying anything new.
Listen to what the bible has to say about itself. Scripture after scripture plainly makes this point.
"For the Lord has poured out upon you
a spirit of deep sleep,
and has closed your eyes (the prophets),
and covered your heads (the seers)."
- Isaiah 29:10
"Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?"
- 1 Corinthians 1:20
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
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"They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart."
- Ephesians 4:18
"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened."
- Romans 1:21
Perhaps you'd rather write your own bible?
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These scriptures are not complimentary, are they?
"Blind, sleeping, foolish, darkened, alienated, hard-hearted, futile in thought."
You can dish out your critique of the bible; can you take its critique of you?
Do you find the bible offensive?
Does it seem foolish to you? Perhaps you'd rather write your own version of the truth?
Maybe you think I'm being harsh, writing a post like this?
Paul once said (in Romans 11) that God is stirs up some by making them jealous. I hope this article might stir a bit of jealousy in some of you.
Could it be possible that you've been approaching the bible the wrong way? Might it be time to drop your agenda for a while, and maybe listen instead?
Can you open yourself up to the possibility that the bible could change you, if you allow it to?
If there really is a creator/god...
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Follow my logic for a minute.
If there really is a creator/god, what would that make you? An artifact?
Try, for a moment, to see yourself from that perspective:
"But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?"
- Romans 9:20-21
Being an artifact may be a scary thought, one you may be inclined to dismiss out of hand. But what if it is true? Can you see how ridiculous it would be to argue with your creator?
“Why have you made me like this?”
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What do you expect, really?
If Jesus/God is in truth the creator of the universe, what reason would you have to expect him to comply with your demands?
It seems rather silly to me to imagine that an all-powerful God could exist, but then to limit him to your personal agenda.
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe."
- 1 Corinthians 1:18-21
Are you a seeker?
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Who, then, is the bible written for?
The bible is for humble, persistent seekers.
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
- Hebrews 11:6
It is water for the thirsty. It is light for the blind. It is the door at which, if you persistenly knock, you will find entrance into an endless kingdom containing the boundless wealth of all the universe. It is the word that brings life.
God is preparing an eternal feast.
Image courtesy of Dariusz Sankowski and http://pixabay.com
What if you threw a party, and nobody came?
This is the classic question Jesus raised in a story he told at a dinner party. In the story, none of the invitees came. All gave excuses. The party host had his servants compel people to attend.
God is preparing a perpetual feast, unlike any ever seen. He has issued an open invitation.
"The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price."
- Revelation 22:17
Don't say you weren't invited...
~FIN~
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In the bible god kills many, orders for children and animals to be killed, apolitical creatures. Why?
When I ask about this people tell me that those were different times and that we are no one to judge god and his actions, that we should just obey and never question. They say that since god gives life he can also take it away at will.
I'm sorry, this is unacceptable and I don't care if people think I'm arrogant because I will not worship someone who thinks killing children under certain circumstances is okay.
I'm not concerned with god because I know the biblical god doesn't exist, what really concerns me is the amount of people willing to ignore murder to gain a place in heaven or avoid a place in hell.
I would like to first mention that I am not writing this comment in order to discount your thoughts in anyway. While appreciating your take on the matter, it might be worth your time to consider different perspectives on the matter.
Everything changes as we look back on history. Cultures, ideas, values, acceptable or tolerable right&wrong... you name it. Perspectives and understanding also changes throughout history. With all these changes continuously taking place, what is the foundation in which we base our belief of something to be either right or wrong? or perhaps something to be correct or incorrect? What you may feel is right would seem wrong to someone else.
The sad truth of it all is that the society claims everything to be relative.
When we consider everything to be relative and not absolute, who gives you or anyone the right to claim something to be correct or incorrect?
Taking on an example of a famous story of a boy who stole bread because he was dying of starvation, would you accept or approve that certain countries still practice dismemberment as the law for stealing?
You see, you need to separate the basis of law (weighing measure of right & wrong) from your personal feelings of the situation.
You specify how God of the Bible killed many including children and explain as to claim its incorrectness based on your own perspective of the matter or rather your feelings toward the circumstance.
Old Testament's context you must understand prior to looking at these stories is that God of the Bible have created a Covenant with Israel through the Mosaic Law (or Law of the Moses) which was an exclusive relationship between the nation of Israel with God of the Bible apart from the other nations. Mosaic Law was based on several factors including 10 commandments, sacrificial festivals, and etc. So if you do in fact separate your feelings from the literal context of a situation, it becomes more clear.
Now, Christians actually believe a different fundamental which is opposite of non-believers and that is Absolute Truth or, in other words, Right & Wrong. Christians believe that the fundamental correctness does not change even though mankind's perspective and understandings of it change over time. An example of this would be, if in someone tried to physically assault you and in self-defense, you attacked the person back and broke his arm; are you justified to say you were right in doing so? Well, Christians believe otherwise. Christians see the matter in two-fold; the act of violence itself is wrong in its nature regardless of circumstance but the intricate feelings behind the person's action can be understood. In this same manner, we are able to stand firm in absolute right & wrong.
Now the most important aspect of Christianity is that the New Testament renounces the Mosaic Law and in its place stands Jesus Christ who became the atoning sacrifice to ultimately pay all penalties for every Sin and wrong doing of all Mankind who choose to believe in Him. The death on the cross literally represents death of the "righteous" for the "unrighteous". For instance, let's say you killed someone and you were caught. The Judge sees you to be guilty and according to a "Just" system, there must be a respective penalty for your wrong doing which equals death. If God then said, okay okay.. I forgive you just go live your life; that would be contradiction to justice. So rather, God sends his Son to die for sins of mankind in order that we may have our penalty paid in full and have life.
In the end... since Jesus is also God (Trinity), it God who came to die in our place to pay the penalty. Thus Christians talk of God's love toward us and his grace benefiting us all.
Ultimately, my suggestion is for you to ask God if he is real. I'm sure if you really want to find out whether He is real or not and if you're skeptical of such ideas and stories shared in the Bible, He'll want to show you the truth.
Christianity is not exclusive to certain individuals who conduct certain actions or claim to know/practice certain Biblical ideals. It is for any and everyone who wishes to find out what the truth is.
I would know.. because for over 30 years of my life, I have hated Christians and its values before I confronted God about my thoughts and questions. Well, we know how it ended up anyhow as I am sitting here writing this post.
Cheers
will said dude
you said god and not God and believe whatever you want, God truly exist
This is exactly what I mean. More concerned with stating that god exists with a capital G than explaining the circumstances in which murdering children is acceptable.
Why would anyone want to subscribe to this cult when its followers have their priorities so messed up?
kindly refer on my post brother,hope you can see the lord Grace..Peace upon you brother may the lord Yeshua the messiah will be with you and guide your way..https://steemit.com/christianity/@mrblu/the-bluepost-christinity-let-it-be-peace-upon-you-and-walk-by-faith-though-yeshua-the-messiah
The answer is complicated and most don't understand. If you have a steemit.chat come find me, pretradition.
Hey creatr: Excellent write up...
but
would **add:
... although it is OPEN to everyone.
This is most important, because Jesus died for everyone.
I appreciate your comments, @globocop... Thank you for stopping by.
While I agree that the offer is open and extended to everyone, the bible is quite clear that only those whom the Father draws will come to Jesus:
This is because Jesus did not die for everyone. Jesus died for his sheep.
For a very thorough discussion of this important distinction, you might enjoy reading this:
Thanks for the great link @creatr!
Of course, he died for all - but not all take the gift of salvation. So, in that, it is a choice anyone is free to make.
So, Jesus died for all that lose their lives to find salvation, take up their cross and follow Him.
An exclusive club, indeed. The path to the entrance is narrow, and not many will find it.
Preaching on a Sunday, I love it!
This was a balanced and caring piece of writing that I greatly enjoyed. The Bible holds truths in tension and you articulated that well.
Thanks, Lydon. This piece was inspired by a discussion I've been having with @rocking-dave. It's been respectful and stimulating, from my perspective, and I hope also from Dave's. ;)
It absolutely has! (sorry for the belated reply)
Thank you for posting @creatr.
Lovely presentation of Biblical scriptures in an interesting way....perhaps even causing a bit of curiosity in the unbeliever.......yet the scripture tells us that it is spirtual phenomenon and can only be understood by those in the spirit.
For understanding of the gospel....The Holy Spirit makes it understood to the unbeliever......which is the why of presenting the gospel through either John 3.16 or John 3.36 or Romans 5.8 is always a lovely addition to posts such as these.
Romans 5.8
But God commended His love toward us, in that whilst we were yet sinners, Christ died as a substitute for us....or on behalf of us.
....from the original Greek of the New Testament.
Thank you for opportunity to think on these things.
All the best to you. Cheers.
NB....The Bible/Chrisitianity is for everyone...God's gracious gift........God is a gentleman in the sense of ultimate integrity......He gave the human , volition that he may decide to accept or reject His gracious gift of salvation, made available for all mankind.
Thank you, friend @bleujay, for your as ever thoughtful and comprehensive response to my post.
Christianity and the bible certainly do present the free offer of life to all mankind. Sadly, all mankind is stillborn, beginning in a condition of spiritual death, without ability to respond.
It is only when the Spirit gives life that we become able to respond to the offer:
Please do pray, along with me, that some who may read this do become curious, and are drawn by the Father to believe in our LORD and creator - God, Jesus. :D
Great post! "The Bible Is ALIVE"
Yes, it is...
I like minions... :D
'me and my minions' - I don't have minions - everyone else seem to have them - what's the matter with me?
I don't know if you've ever read my lament about my personal lack of minions?:
that was a great post - so sad, the tiny reward for that gem
That you've read and appreciated it is my reward. ;) Thanks! :D
Great article. Not everyone will choose God. However for those who do it will be a glorious party! Thanks for sharing. Troy
Thanks, Troy...
Amen! And in the same way, with almost 2000 years having gone by since Jesus' death and resurrection, and the beginning of the church, a lot has changed since those early days. In the West, the Good News is still the Good News, but it's not news in the same way it is when apostles, or missionaries, first bring word to a people about Jesus Christ and who He is and what He did for us.
Thanks, friend, for reading and leaving your interesting comments. :D
Yes, the news was remarkable at the time. It is sad to me that through over familiarity the edge may seem to have been blunted. But, the news is still the difference between life and death!
I think we need to imagine fresh ways to communicate that truth, to convey to modern minds that Jesus offers the final solution to the universal death problem.
I can not agree more that "seek and though shalt find"
Blessings Brethren~*~
Thank you. It is my prayer that many seekers will read this.
Bless it be~*~
one of your tags is cognitive-dissonance - it seems the moment we talk about anything real (most married people will attest to this) the dissonance is there. So, some couples don't talk - some people refuse to discuss religion. But a respectful discussion is non-threatening and enriching. You may have stirred the depths, creatr :)
We are all so set in our ways, aren't we?
I think it perhaps the chief reason why God admonishes us not to neglect gathering in groups as believers. We need such communication desperately to shake us out of our ruts!
a good point.
I find it a hard read, I am still trying to get through it, I have to keep going over pages as it doesn't register but I am starting to understand a little better :)
Hi, my friend!
Don't feel alone in that. I am on my second time reading John within the last six months, and every time I read it I find new things I didn't see before.
Just ask God to help you understand it. Ask him to help you see what is most important for your life, and to help you believe what is true. I have been and will be asking him the same for you, OK? ;)
Blessings, Karen!
Hello there friend :) Tell him O need lots of help and patience and sometimes things don't make sense until I have read it a couple of times, that's with everything. :)
Blessed are the poor in Spirit ^^
@creatr God created us not as artifacts but to be more like him. He made us gods here on earth.
It is also his plan that all men be saved, hence he sent his Son. The Bible is replete with information in the New Testament of how much God loves us.
Get to know the word for yourself. @klynic
Perhaps you've misunderstood. The word "artifact" simply means a created thing. My point is that we owe our existence to God, and that he has legitimate and complete authority over us.
God sent his Son, not to save all men, but to save those who would believe and abide in him:
Bible is more than alive! For me, "We are the bible"! Thank you so much for the nice post!
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "We are the bible," but I've read and appreciated some of your articles.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Thank you for that article.
I think it's not only - maybe not only primary - a message to unbelievers.
When Jesus preached in parables he spoke to the people of god(!)
At his time it was the Jews. It's the same as if he would go into a church and tell them, that they are not able to understand the word of god.
And for the sad truth that's exactly whats happening in almost all churches around the word, but especially in our western culture.
As it is written in Revelation 3 we think we are rich and we do understand the word of god, but we are poor naked and blind.
I think there was not any time in history when the church was so blind, weak and mislead as today...
Where is true repentece? Where is true prayer? Where is seeking of god? Where is the seeking of the lost?
Maybe here and there we can find one ore two real christians, but it seems like well over 90% of all church attendees do not know god.
Thanks for your comments.
It is sadly true that many churches have devolved into not much more than social clubs.
I appreciate your thoughtful response.
The new testament was written by the roman Flavian family. Read up on Joesph Atwill.
all bible are written by human hands but with the authority of the lord's Presence and even all holy txt are written by human hand except the law of God given to moses.but then all i can say be unto you have faith through Jesus Christ.
live on faith.work for it.
Thanks, @deepwaterscrypto, for bringing this to my attention.
I've done a very preliminary scan of some web-based information on this. If I have opportunity, I'll delve into it a bit further.
Wow. Wonderful revelations you have here bro. Praise the Lord! Now i have to back read all your posts. I will share my enjoyment on this content in a few minutes. :)
Following you now. ;)
Thank you.
Please visit My Steemit Library for an organized presentation of my writing...
Great article thank you and God bless
Thanks.
Hello @creatr! Nice to have found you. I am very interested about the Bible quotes you're shared with us on this amazing post of yours.
So very interested that I've decided to make my own post in response to yours where I offer my own interpretation to some of those Bible quotes present here.
If you'd like to check it out: Here is the link to the response post.
Thanks for the quality post. Followed! :)
Hello, @cipriang,
Thank you for visiting my blog, for reading my post, and for responding - both here, and in a post on your own blog, which I have just read.
Although I do not agree with your method of interpretation of the bible, I do appreciate your interaction with me here on Steemit and your mention of me in your article.
Kind regards. ;)
Interesting post - You are right about one thing - Christianity is an exclusive club.
Jesus did not save the world or it's inhabitants, only the select few who would believe a handful of odd and absurd claims among many.
Why believe in any religion at all? Why bend the knee? Why worship these monstrous gods created by savage peoples? Religion is just another form of tyranny. There can be no liberty while a tyrant reigns in Heaven.
However, I did find it interesting when you talked about Christianity being water for the thirsty and light for the blind. If you mean this in the sense that religion provides a great emotional support so you can live life with a degree of psychological comfort, I would agree. When your planes going down, praying to heaven can be a great comfort.
Hello, @buildrobotics, and thank you for your visit and comments. Sorry for the delay responding.
Friend, Jesus is no tyrant to those who believe. I feel no oppression at his hand.
He is the God who offers the greatest imaginable liberty to whomever will believe him.
If that hope is good only while the plane is going down, it is but a minor comfort. It's the promised resurrection and eternal life that I find well worth looking forward to.
Hey I never saw this reply, forgive my incompetence.
Also I had a rather aggressive tone in my last post, please forgive me.
I think 1 Cor 7:22 demonstrates what I'm trying to say -
"For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave."
In becoming a Christian, you exchange your "bondage to sin" for bondage and servitude to this God. Slavery, servitude, and worship are expected of you. Who but a tyrant would ask this?
God is always watching. Your spiritual big brother, although far more invasive. He knows what you think, what you will think, what you will do, and how you will do it. There is no rest from his unblinking eye, always watching you and even probing into the depths of your most private thoughts. Tyranny begins where privacy ends.
All power is vested in him. He is judge, jury, and executioner. There is no way you can know he exists, yet he expects belief in, what is in my opinion, an absurd claim, on pain of eternal torture. Who but a tyrant would invent such a system?
He expected, in times past, that you follow his legal system, a system not made by the consent of the governed, but by his whim and will. The threat accompanying this system in response to disobedience was spiritual death and a host of maladys, an issue that could only be resolved by the tyrant sacrificing his own son to himself and asking for worship in return for fixing his own broken system that he allowed to come to fruition. Who but a tyrant would do such a thing?
Finally, he expects praise forever and ever. All those who refuse or even politely decline will meet there end. "Bow down and worship me or die." Even a polite, "no thanks" will get you thrown into the pit of fire. Who but a tyrant would do such a thing?
But of course it can not be, the true truth, just as many believe that they are all children of GOD, it is only children that Jesus gives them the opportunity to be them
Thank you for your comment.
Great post, I love it
Thanks.
Great post.I am following and voting .I will wait for your next post.
Thanks.
Great topic
thanks your post is very helpful
follow me @hattaarshavin
:\ - Sorry, I don't trade votes and follows. I vote for what I like, and follow what interests me, and I would encourage you to be a "Good Steemit Citizen" and do the same.
NO vote trading sir. Just for you to be blessed by the message. Thanks
Fair enough, thank you.
Thanks remain blessed
Amen! 🙏
Totally in agreement.
Thanks.
amen beloved, I just shared this too. Let's support each other on here：
https://steemit.com/christian-trail/@pastorlea/unless-you-belong-you-can-t-be-lost
Follow me too
:\ - Sorry, I don't trade votes and follows. I vote for what I like, and follow what interests me, and I would encourage you to be a "Good Steemit Citizen" and do the same.
You're UPVOTED and FOLLOWED see my post on HOW TO HEAR GOD
https://steemit.com/christianity/@oniraphaeleu/how-to-hear-god-and-be-successful-in-life-on-planet-earth
I appreciate your support, but (just so you know) I don't trade votes and follows. I vote for what I like, and follow what interests me, and I would encourage you to be a "Good Steemit Citizen" and do the same. I think you will find the greatest success here if you do.
Thanks for the advise.I think it is all about the motive of informing you about following you. You got the motive wrong sir.
. I don't trade votes. Niether do i expect you to vote me back. All i am interested in, is for you to be blessed by the message on the post. Thanks
Thank you! Understood and appreciated.
kindly refer on my post brother,hope you can see the lord Grace..Peace upon you brother may the lord Yeshua the messiah will be with you and guide your way..https://steemit.com/christianity/@mrblu/the-bluepost-christinity-let-it-be-peace-upon-you-and-walk-by-faith-though-yeshua-the-messiah