How do you view the Bible?

Heather - posted on 03/12/2009

I feel very led to add some scriptures on here.

1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV - For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

2 Timothy 23-26 NIV- Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, wh has taken them captive to do his will.

Heberws 11:1 NIV- Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Heather - posted on 03/12/2009

Quoting Sarah:

I am not trying to come off sounding mean but.....I think the Bible is fake! How do we know any of the stories written in the book are real. How do we know that one day someone sat down and said that they were going to write a book, call it the bible, and see how many people believe in it. It just really has no proof in my eyes, it's like reading a disney fantasy book.

I do believe that there is a God, what that means to me is God is not a person, place, animal, thing, solid, whatever, It's just God! God is everything, sun, moon, space, trees, in people, animals, everywhere. AS for the Jesus dying on a cross for us. I don't know if I believe in that. Why....no proof, only proof is what is written in a book. We know nothing that went on back in "Jesus Days" , so again how do you know that it's just not a made up story.

I know this may anger some people. I don't want to do that, I just have a hard time believeing all that is written. It sounds fake, or made up! But as I said before I do believe in some sort of God, just not the way everyone else looks at it!

I have to say that your oppion is not very unique. I know several that feel this way, but I must now lock this thread because your answer has over shaddowed my question. I will not encourage believers to argue with you. That was not my intent. I am a Godly woman seeking an answer from other Godly women, and as Godly women we must not be vile or entertain thoughts as these. We face idea's like this everyday, I don't feel that we should be asked to do it here in our CHRISTIAN group. Having said that I ask you to please go and read the what this group is about section and decide if this is really where you need to be. I will pray for you.

Rebekah - posted on 03/11/2009

Quoting Sarah:

I am not trying to come off sounding mean but.....I think the Bible is fake! How do we know any of the stories written in the book are real. How do we know that one day someone sat down and said that they were going to write a book, call it the bible, and see how many people believe in it. It just really has no proof in my eyes, it's like reading a disney fantasy book.

I do believe that there is a God, what that means to me is God is not a person, place, animal, thing, solid, whatever, It's just God! God is everything, sun, moon, space, trees, in people, animals, everywhere. AS for the Jesus dying on a cross for us. I don't know if I believe in that. Why....no proof, only proof is what is written in a book. We know nothing that went on back in "Jesus Days" , so again how do you know that it's just not a made up story. 

I know this may anger some people. I don't want to do that, I just have a hard time believeing all that is written. It sounds fake, or made up! But as I said before I do believe in some sort of God, just not the way everyone else looks at it!

Amazing how we can compare truth to Disney and fantasy.  You know God does tell us to "test me", I would encourage you to test and see that Bible doesn't prove true to you and your family.  As far as not believing in Jesus, well, all I have to say is one day you will find out what you truly believe because everything that the Bible has talked about for the last days is happening right now - and that is truth! And yes, we can prove beyond what is written in a "Bible" that things did happen in Jesus days - look up Jewish writings and Israeli writings, even look up writings back in Pharoah's day.

If you can't believe everything that is written, then how can you believe in a history book? It's written by man.  The Bible on the otherhand is written by God.  If you don't believe Jesus died for you, then you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven and that to me is a scary thought.

Sarah - posted on 03/11/2009

I am not trying to come off sounding mean but.....I think the Bible is fake! How do we know any of the stories written in the book are real. How do we know that one day someone sat down and said that they were going to write a book, call it the bible, and see how many people believe in it. It just really has no proof in my eyes, it's like reading a disney fantasy book.

I do believe that there is a God, what that means to me is God is not a person, place, animal, thing, solid, whatever, It's just God! God is everything, sun, moon, space, trees, in people, animals, everywhere. AS for the Jesus dying on a cross for us. I don't know if I believe in that. Why....no proof, only proof is what is written in a book. We know nothing that went on back in "Jesus Days" , so again how do you know that it's just not a made up story. 

I know this may anger some people. I don't want to do that, I just have a hard time believeing all that is written. It sounds fake, or made up! But as I said before I do believe in some sort of God, just not the way everyone else looks at it!

Lystra - posted on 03/11/2009

When you buy an appliance you get a user's manual so that you would get the performance from your appliance that the owner wants you to get.The Bible is our user's manual.Before we read,we pray and ask the Holy Spirit to make the Word clear and relevant to our situation.The Devil comes in many forms to steal our joy,kill our spirit and destroy our hope of salvation.Be Blessed in your daily walk with God

Kathleen - posted on 03/10/2009

You hit the nail on the head "what it says is what it means".  I view the Bible as "Basic Instructions (for Christian living) Before Leaving Earth.  As we all know that instructions are just that they instruct us how to properly and effectively do something. 

Amy - posted on 03/10/2009

I completely agree with Melinda! The bible is very staight forward and it says exactly what it means. There are different versions none of which are sarcastic. If your reading the King James Version, it's the old english language and a little harder to understand but it is the first translation of the bible written in Jesus' time to english. I don't think it even metiphorical. I encourage you to pray about it and lift this concern up to him. He will guide you and show you what he wants you to believe if you will let him.

Melinda - posted on 03/10/2009

Well I think that the lady who said that needs a whole lot of Bible study. She doesn't seem to understand much about the Bible. In saying that I think the Bible is very straight forward and as tothe purpose for these parables, I believe that Jesus knew that people would be reading the Bible many years after He lived. He is all knowing and all seeing. I think that he wrote these parables so that we can use them for everyday situations that we see today. It would have been easy enough for Him to say this is right and this is wrong but by using parables He makes the Bible very relevent no matter what the time you are living in. He explained the parables after telling them but He did say they were not supposed to understand everything He said. If they knew He was the Son of God and believed it do you think they would have cruxified Him and then all would be lost for us. He did this so that after He was gone we would have something to refer to and learn from.

Veronica - posted on 03/10/2009

Praising God for mighty women of God as these, you are seeking Him and He loves it, Amen

Calley - posted on 03/10/2009

Quoting Katrina:

The Bible was inspired by God and written as the Holy Spirit moved on godly men. 2 Peter 1: 20-21 ; 2 Timothy 3:16.  It is its own interprator.  There are deep things in the Word of God and we must ask God to guide us when we study it.  There are symbols used and parables but the Bible gives you the keys to unlock the meaning.  The Bible is Gods Love Letter to humanity to show us the way of salvation-Christ Jesus!  God bless you as you walk with God!

I agree with you Katrina, I also believe that you have to take the bible in context and you have to let scripture interpret scripture.

Rebekah - posted on 03/10/2009

My view of the Bible is that it's a love letter from God to us.  It's His love letter telling us how to live, how He disciplines, examples to turn to when we feel discouraged/depressed/worthless, etc.  The Bible to me is a living word! I learn something new from it every time I open it.  I view it as my daily adventure - when I open it up I want something new to come to me even if it I've read it 5,000 times.

Heather - posted on 03/10/2009

Quoting Shelly:

OK Heather,

I think it's time for you to find a new Bible study group. Are these older women that you are studying with. This is now the second thing I have read that is way off the mark with these ladies. The bible is very much straight forward! Yyes Jesus spoke in parables but he also explaianed what the meaning was. And sarcastic, WOW thas way out there. Did you ask her why she felt that way. So if the Bible is sacastic does that mean that we shouldn't follow the Bible that we should just go off of our own understanding??? That would scare me to think that someone that partisapated (SP?) in my bible studie thought like that, and did anyone question her on this way of thinking? We are called to question what others are teaching we are called to find out for our selves. And did you or any one else questioning her, she has the oppertunity to spread this way of thinking with out being questioned in her belief and it would scare me to think that she would be out there teaching this to someone that realy doesn't know the Bible that well, like a baby Christian. Heather I think you need to go into praayer to deal with this one cause only God can straighten this one out for you.

It's really not the group as a whole, it is only one lady. This was an amazing group until she joined a few months ago. She is off base in a lot of her thinking, the first few weeks we got into strong debates over our beliefs, but we didn't get any real studying done. I have looked all over the area i live and can not find any other Bible studies that work with my schedule. It took me over a year to find this one. I hate to give it up for one misguided lady. But also if I argue her on every point there is really no point in even trying to study. There is one lady that is really good at rebuking her with out causing arguments, but she is on a missionary trip right now. I am greatly looking forward to her return. Please feel free to pray for her misguided soul, and for me to have wisdom in dealing with it!

Courtney - posted on 03/10/2009

Have you ever heard of Beth Moore? She's an excellent Bible teacher (Google her for her website) and relies heavily on serious biblical scholarship for her Bible studies. I took my first study by her (on the book of Daniel) and was extremely impressed with how carefully she dissected the Word and explained the meaning of the symbolism, Hebrew laws and traditions and world history. After finally getting into a close study of the Bible, I'll never again think of it as mainly "allegorical" or purely "symbolic". God didn't inspire biblical authors with a maze of odd-sounding stories to keep us guessing; rather, his Word truly is a light for our path. You're right on track when you say "what it says it what it means." The Holy Spirit has given you the discernment to know this, and He'll continue to guide you as you ponder these questions. Soli deo gloria!

Dawn - posted on 03/09/2009

The bible is full of all types of writings and "voices" if you will.  There is definitely humor, parable, literal instruction, poetry, story telling, history, law, prophecy and there are some forms of sarcastic exchanges recorded in the bible. Overall, the bible is not meant to be sarcastic, nor is it meant to be interpreted metaphorically unless a metaphor is being used by the author to make a point.  Basically, the bible means what it says and should be interpreted literally unless the author of a particular book is using certain figures of speech or means of communication like metaphors.  Your husband is right to point out that in the ancient middle east people used certain kinds of linguistic tools to teach, especially in the case of Jesus and the use of parables (which is a spiritual message using earthly examples). But, most important is the message that the bible communicates, which is God loves us and sent His Son Jesus to save us from our sins and make us new.

Amy - posted on 03/09/2009

The Bible is full of types of writing, and I would definately exclude sarcasm from that list though. It has literal, allegorical, poetry, prose, lists, but no sarcasm. Parts (in my opinion most) are to be taken just as they are written. Others are stories so we can understand things that would otherwise be foreign to us. The Bible must be interpretted only by the Bible. One saying says "the Old Testament is the New concealed and the New Testament is the Old revealed." Makes sense to me. Test everything said by anyone about the Bible against the Bible. We tend to make conclusions and then try to find proof. Instead we must read all of what is there and then draw the conclusion. 

Shelly - posted on 03/09/2009

OK Heather,

  I think it's time for you to find a new Bible study group.  Are these older women that you are studying with.  This is now the second thing I have read that is way off the mark with these ladies.  The bible is very much straight forward! Yyes Jesus spoke in parables but he also explaianed what the meaning was.  And sarcastic, WOW thas way out there.  Did you ask her why she felt that way.  So if the Bible is sacastic does that mean that we shouldn't follow the Bible that we should just go off of our own understanding???  That would scare me to think that someone that partisapated (SP?) in my bible studie thought like that, and did anyone question her on this way of thinking?  We are called to question what others are teaching we are called to find out for our selves.  And did you or any one else questioning her, she has the oppertunity to spread this way of thinking with out being questioned in her belief and it would scare me to think that she would be out there teaching this to someone that realy doesn't know the Bible that well, like a baby Christian.  Heather I think you need to go into praayer to deal with this one cause only God can straighten this one out for you.

Katrina - posted on 03/09/2009

The Bible was inspired by God and written as the Holy Spirit moved on godly men. 2 Peter 1: 20-21 ; 2 Timothy 3:16.  It is its own interprator.  There are deep things in the Word of God and we must ask God to guide us when we study it.  There are symbols used and parables but the Bible gives you the keys to unlock the meaning.  The Bible is Gods Love Letter to humanity to show us the way of salvation-Christ Jesus!  God bless you as you walk with God!

Heather - posted on 03/09/2009

To clarify:

Sarcastic: the entire book was written in sarcasim. I don't agree it was just thrown out and wondered if anyone else thought this way.

Metaphorically: The entire book is one big metaphor. Again, I don't agree, but wanted other oppinions.

My view: Straight forward. Some books speak in metaphores like Jesus's parabels, and a lot of the prophets used metaphores, but the book as a whole is very straight forward.

April - posted on 03/09/2009

WHAT????? ok, yes the bible speaks metaphorically if you mean the parables that Jesus taught. sarcastically? no. I think it is straight forward, with minor word change meanings due to translations (but nothing that changes the point) you can ask your pastor about. I dont know why someone would say it was sarcastic