Comments on: The Bible http://tcspeak.com/blog/2009/03/06/the-bible/ Salvation Army dialogue with the Territorial Commander of the USA Western Territory. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:45:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ex-Salvo http://tcspeak.com/blog/2009/03/06/the-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-2089 Ex-Salvo Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:00:00 +0000 http://tcspeak.com/blog/?p=755#comment-2089 Lauren told a nice hypothetical story, but left out some important bits. Her story reads:<br/><br/><i>A large group of children have a father who would sacrfice anything for them to know that he loves them. This father does not demand anything of his children but only asks that they would come to know of his unconditional love for them. Despite this, these children continue to treat their father with indifference and contempt.</i><br/><br/>The most important part of the story is missing - how does the father respond to being rejected by his children? Some fathers would react violently. Others would simply be saddened and allow the rebellious children to live their lives without dispensing any punishment. The God of the Abrahamic religions is an example of the former - he gets angry and punishes, <i>forever</i>, his wayward children. <br/><br/>That simply does not comport at all with Lauren's final assertion that God is a god of love. Lauren told a nice hypothetical story, but left out some important bits. Her story reads:

A large group of children have a father who would sacrfice anything for them to know that he loves them. This father does not demand anything of his children but only asks that they would come to know of his unconditional love for them. Despite this, these children continue to treat their father with indifference and contempt.

The most important part of the story is missing – how does the father respond to being rejected by his children? Some fathers would react violently. Others would simply be saddened and allow the rebellious children to live their lives without dispensing any punishment. The God of the Abrahamic religions is an example of the former – he gets angry and punishes, forever, his wayward children.

That simply does not comport at all with Lauren’s final assertion that God is a god of love.

]]> By: John Duthie http://tcspeak.com/blog/2009/03/06/the-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-2086 John Duthie Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:35:00 +0000 http://tcspeak.com/blog/?p=755#comment-2086 I can understand David's point of view, in some Christian churches some sections of the bible get much coverage, and others don't. I feel that there is much focus on the loving aspects and behaviour of Jesus, and not much in terms of the angry side of Jesus. e.g. the over turning of the money changers tables. I know that Jesus was seldom angry, however the 'bad' emotions seem to be glossed over, and we are told not to be angry. Thats my experience anyway.<br/><br/>p.s. I've never heard a sermon about Song of Songs Chapter 1 verse 1 :-) I can understand David’s point of view, in some Christian churches some sections of the bible get much coverage, and others don’t. I feel that there is much focus on the loving aspects and behaviour of Jesus, and not much in terms of the angry side of Jesus. e.g. the over turning of the money changers tables. I know that Jesus was seldom angry, however the ‘bad’ emotions seem to be glossed over, and we are told not to be angry. Thats my experience anyway.

p.s. I’ve never heard a sermon about Song of Songs Chapter 1 verse 1 :-)

]]> By: Jim Knaggs http://tcspeak.com/blog/2009/03/06/the-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-2082 Jim Knaggs Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:06:00 +0000 http://tcspeak.com/blog/?p=755#comment-2082 Anon. Now let's not pick on others, even celebraties.<br/><br/>David - glad to see you're reading the Bible. Now try the gospel of John and do so with a mind and soul open to God. Anon. Now let’s not pick on others, even celebraties.

David – glad to see you’re reading the Bible. Now try the gospel of John and do so with a mind and soul open to God.

]]> By: David http://tcspeak.com/blog/2009/03/06/the-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-2080 David Sun, 08 Mar 2009 23:10:00 +0000 http://tcspeak.com/blog/?p=755#comment-2080 Yep, there's something for everyone in the Bible.<br/><br/>"Women's Weekly" style gossip:<br/><br/>When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. (2 Timothy 4:13-13)<br/><br/>Scientific guidelines (CSIRO need to look at this):<br/><br/>Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches. Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. (Genesis 30:37-39)<br/><br/>Family values such as how to sell your daughter:<br/><br/>And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do. (Exodus 21:7) Yep, there’s something for everyone in the Bible.

“Women’s Weekly” style gossip:

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. (2 Timothy 4:13-13)

Scientific guidelines (CSIRO need to look at this):

Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches. Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. (Genesis 30:37-39)

Family values such as how to sell your daughter:

And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do. (Exodus 21:7)

]]> By: Cameron Horsburgh http://tcspeak.com/blog/2009/03/06/the-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-2078 Cameron Horsburgh Sun, 08 Mar 2009 09:50:00 +0000 http://tcspeak.com/blog/?p=755#comment-2078 I would recommend the book 'The Blue Parakeet' by Scot McKnight. <br/><br/>It looks at how we read the Bible and how we tend to choose some bits and ignore others. It also discusses how the way we read the Bible will be affected by our context and how we should approach it in the 21st Century. I would recommend the book ‘The Blue Parakeet’ by Scot McKnight.

It looks at how we read the Bible and how we tend to choose some bits and ignore others. It also discusses how the way we read the Bible will be affected by our context and how we should approach it in the 21st Century.

]]> By: Jim Knaggs http://tcspeak.com/blog/2009/03/06/the-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-2073 Jim Knaggs Sat, 07 Mar 2009 09:14:00 +0000 http://tcspeak.com/blog/?p=755#comment-2073 The Bible tends to tell only the parts we need to know. While it contains history, theology and counsel, it is neither a history book, theological textbbok or counseling manual. I would more like to know the missing bits, than delete the tough bits. Life is tough. The bible is more relevant to me because of the questions. I do start on the premise of faith and confidence in the Word. Then we need to take it all in context. Sometimes we err by pulling out bits that serve our purposes.<br/><br/>Great question. Thanks. The Bible tends to tell only the parts we need to know. While it contains history, theology and counsel, it is neither a history book, theological textbbok or counseling manual. I would more like to know the missing bits, than delete the tough bits. Life is tough. The bible is more relevant to me because of the questions. I do start on the premise of faith and confidence in the Word. Then we need to take it all in context. Sometimes we err by pulling out bits that serve our purposes.

Great question. Thanks.

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