Can you be a Christian and NOT believe the Bible? (punishment, Commandments)

[sun queen]

Originally Posted by Tricky D

Originally Posted by sun queen So Jesus did everything according to the Torah?
Was it not Jesus who preached about a loving God instead of the OT's hateful and / or revengeful God?

WHATI don't know what Bible u r reading, God is not "hateful or revengeful" in the OT or the NT! God is Love. HE does not change...Jesus did not come to change the Torah, but to fulfill it. I am not sure how your question relates to my opinion, though I hope I have answered it.

[Tricky D]

Originally Posted by sun queen

WHATI don't know what Bible u r reading, God is not "hateful or revengeful" in the OT or the NT! God is Love. HE does not change...Jesus did not come to change the Torah, but to fulfill it. I am not sure how your question relates to my opinion, though I hope I have answered it.

As I understand it the Israelites had to live a violent life, and the early settlers almost certainly had to fight for the land they were trying to colonize.
I just don’t think people in times of war would worship a peaceful pacifist god.

And didn't God smite a whole lot of people and cities in the OT?
Like the cities of Sodom and Gomorra for example?
Didn't He also not punish the Egyptians to let everyone else know how mighty He is?

[cross2cross]

why do you believe the bible in its entirey must be believed in order to be a follower of Jesus Christ (a Christian).

[cncracer]

I see two options here:
1- You rewrite it, like the church has done for the last 2000 years; till it fits the situation you are in. It worked for them over the years, and I am sure if you word it right you could get a version you liked.
2- You could face the fact it is all a bunch of bull and find something productive to do with your time.

[jimmiej]

Originally Posted by cross2cross

why do you believe the bible in its entirey must be believed in order to be a follower of Jesus Christ (a Christian).

How do you decide what part to believe?

[revrandy]

Originally Posted by jimmiej

How do you decide what part to believe?

Well first I ignore the parts that have been proven to have been redacted in after the fact and those where the text has been changed/edited.

I also wonder and question when direct conflicts arise between 2 texts.

In all cases though I try and look beyond the text to the situation, the context and ask myself what is the real message here and what is the message that is relevant for today.

[jimmiej]

Originally Posted by revrandy

Well first I ignore the parts that have been proven to have been redacted in after the fact and those where the text has been changed/edited.

I also wonder and question when direct conflicts arise between 2 texts.

So you don't believe God has the power to sustain His Word through the ages?

Originally Posted by revrandy

In all cases though I try and look beyond the text to the situation, the context and ask myself what is the real message here and what is the message that is relevant for today.

So if a passage doesn't fit in today's modern culture, you ignore it? Interesting. Do you believe God changes?

[MysticPhD]

Originally Posted by jimmiej

So you don't believe God has the power to sustain His Word through the ages?

The spiritual content is the same . . . the understanding changes with knowledge.

So if a passage doesn't fit in today's modern culture, you ignore it? Interesting. Do you believe God changes?

This strawman is used to excess. God does NOT change . . . but our understanding of Him DOES and should . . . or we stagnate in Bronze age thinking and ideas produced by ignorant primitive savages.

[jimmiej]

Originally Posted by MysticPhD

The spiritual content is the same . . . the understanding changes with knowledge.This strawman is used to excess. God does NOT change . . . but our understanding of Him DOES and should . . . or we stagnate in Bronze age thinking and ideas produced by ignorant primitive savages.

That's ridiculous! You're saying you understand God better than the Apostle Paul?

[revrandy]

Originally Posted by jimmiej

So you don't believe God has the power to sustain His Word through the ages?

So if a passage doesn't fit in today's modern culture, you ignore it? Interesting. Do you believe God changes?

I believe that God is still active in the world today and the word is sustained by our interpreting it in light of our times. Who said I ignore passages in the bible? What I do is look at the passage and try and discern what it means to me in our times, not what it meant to a dead white guy 2000 years ago.