In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [John 1:1] All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. [2 Timothy 3:16-17] For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. [Hebrews 4:12] Every Word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. [Proverbs 30:5] But He said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" [Luke 11:28] The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the thing's that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, [Revelation 1:1]
Maybe you mean well but saying it is not the Word of God is way off base. I challenge you to have the conversation with God about what the Bible is or is not, if you are capable of listening. Or if you had actually read the Bible with an open heart rather than being convinced of your superior knowledge, the Bible itself plainly says what it is and isn't. And if you think "using" the Bible is responsible for ideas of genocide, white supremacy, mysogyny and homophobia, then you are really mixed up. Those ideas are a result of people's selfish sinful natures and it is just as wrong to be hateful to white people and assume they are racist or automatically have some sort of privilege based on skin color as it is to make assumptions about and mistreat blacks or anyone else based on the color of their skin. This problem has nothing to do with "using" the Bible, it has to do with a mad obsession to keep identifying and sorting and characterizing everyone into groups and categories and subcategories based on race, gender and a host of other things, and instilling in them all the vengeful idea they are some sort of victims and pitting them all against one another. That is what needs to stop. Frankly I don't know where you got the idea of "using" the Bible anyway, maybe its a locality thing, I certainly never heard it put that way before in the Pacific Northwest despite growing up with a pastor father and attending a Christian university. Nowhere in scripture does it say we are to "use" the Bible, though instruction on what we are to do with it is clearly given. Regardless it doesn't excuse trying to blame peoples' evil ideas on their so-called use of the Bible and thinking you are going to solve that by declaring it is not God's Word but some fallible imperfect book of stories limited to the historical context in which it was set. Or a monster of Frankenstein. Really?? The "idea" of what we wish the Bible was?? Its not conflict about how to see and read the Bible that divides Christians, it the same thing that divides our whole nation on the political spectrum - pure selfish hatefulness and a misguided double standard which is derived from unrestrained, sinful, human nature. Only Christ can change peoples' hearts but they must first be willing and ask Him to do that. And until that happens, no amount of working for a better, more equitable world will bear any fruit.
this is beautiful.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [John 1:1] All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. [2 Timothy 3:16-17] For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. [Hebrews 4:12] Every Word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. [Proverbs 30:5] But He said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" [Luke 11:28] The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the thing's that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, [Revelation 1:1]
Maybe you mean well but saying it is not the Word of God is way off base. I challenge you to have the conversation with God about what the Bible is or is not, if you are capable of listening. Or if you had actually read the Bible with an open heart rather than being convinced of your superior knowledge, the Bible itself plainly says what it is and isn't. And if you think "using" the Bible is responsible for ideas of genocide, white supremacy, mysogyny and homophobia, then you are really mixed up. Those ideas are a result of people's selfish sinful natures and it is just as wrong to be hateful to white people and assume they are racist or automatically have some sort of privilege based on skin color as it is to make assumptions about and mistreat blacks or anyone else based on the color of their skin. This problem has nothing to do with "using" the Bible, it has to do with a mad obsession to keep identifying and sorting and characterizing everyone into groups and categories and subcategories based on race, gender and a host of other things, and instilling in them all the vengeful idea they are some sort of victims and pitting them all against one another. That is what needs to stop. Frankly I don't know where you got the idea of "using" the Bible anyway, maybe its a locality thing, I certainly never heard it put that way before in the Pacific Northwest despite growing up with a pastor father and attending a Christian university. Nowhere in scripture does it say we are to "use" the Bible, though instruction on what we are to do with it is clearly given. Regardless it doesn't excuse trying to blame peoples' evil ideas on their so-called use of the Bible and thinking you are going to solve that by declaring it is not God's Word but some fallible imperfect book of stories limited to the historical context in which it was set. Or a monster of Frankenstein. Really?? The "idea" of what we wish the Bible was?? Its not conflict about how to see and read the Bible that divides Christians, it the same thing that divides our whole nation on the political spectrum - pure selfish hatefulness and a misguided double standard which is derived from unrestrained, sinful, human nature. Only Christ can change peoples' hearts but they must first be willing and ask Him to do that. And until that happens, no amount of working for a better, more equitable world will bear any fruit.
I feel your heart and respect your awareness. We have made such a mess of things.
Could not love this more!!