I am really going to tread lightly here or at
least attempt to. Additionally, any feedback,
advice, etc.will be appreciated on this subject.
This thought has been in me for a very long
time and I have internalized it to myself and
pretty much lived it for a long time now. It is
just that I have had a really hard time putting
this specific thought into sensible, understandable
speak without coming off as a heretic.
So without further adieu.....
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I think the expression, "Because the Bible says so" (or any expression similar) is a very haphazzard response and is an expression that should be struck from most conversations. Maybe not in the midst of other Christians or Bible-believers, but definitely in your day-to-day dealings with the secular world.
Now obviously, the Bible does say Jesus was born and died and rose again and is the only source of salvation. And I am not really talking about the core doctrines of salvation, redemtpion, faith, and grace. I am talking about the peripherals or the extras if you will. Which, if we were all honest, is what most people get hung up on and use as excuses to not become Christian, or attend church, or whatever. These core doctrines can really only be explained by walking someone through the Bible and showing them the written word and having dialogue with them. Honest, open dialogue.
But when it comes to the extras, I think we as Christians fall into a trance like answer of what I wrote earlier:
"It's in the Bible" or "The Bible says so..."
I believe, that we as Christians, have an obligation to study and ponder these things and formulate thoughts and ideas around them. When we relay these arguements to others, we take our Biblical knowledge, apply our thought and lay it out before them and ourselves.
For instance, the Creation vs. Theory of Evolution arguement. I have been qouted before as saying, "I can see why someone would believe in the theory, but I cannot understand why they would believe." Why can I not understand it, not just that the Bible says God created "The heavens and the earth." (which is all I need), but because when I consider how exact everything is. The exact axis of the earth, the exact construction of an atom and DNA, the exact temperature of the body, the exact anatomy of the human body, the exact construction of an eye, etc., etc. these cannot just happen. Take into account probability rules and statistics and the idea that this all happen in exact fashion over time is unfathomable.
If everything came together all at once at the perfect time, why hasn't it happen again? Which really means you are asking:
Why is there just one "human" species on this earth? Or maybe the universe? Many Evolutionist or non-believers would state matter of factly, right back at you something along the lines of:
"How do you know there aren't aliens?" Or, "There are aliens"
For those that believe in extra terrestials, you have to compound and multiply this probability (which really means the probability it happened a second time is so miniscule, I doubt they have enough 0's to follow the decimal point to even write it down) that it happen all over again for these "beings" too. If one class of species was created through evolution, then all have been. You can't have one class evolving from single cells and the other just showing up on the scene without a Supreme Being of some sort having something to do with the fact that the second group just showed up. And why would this Supreme Being create one and not the other? Isn't the "being" not being "Supreme" by allowing this massive coincidence of events to take place?
As you can see, your thought on this can go on and on. This formulation of thought can go a long way in explaining yourself to a non-believer. I am not advocating nor saying you disregard the Bible entirely or never qoute it. The hard truth is that many people today will automatically tune you out if you start spouting off Bible verses and cannot carry yourself in a normal conversation or "discussion." This is very sad indeed, but none the less, the way it is.
Christians carry a double burden of not only being educated and deep rooted in the Bible, but also in secular science. Meaning, you cannot just respond to someone's question on Creation (or anything similar) by qouting the Bible and expect to get somewhere and get your message across to someone who doesn't believe the Bible. You do not have to have a Phd or a high IQ score or even a college degree. You just have to have some understanding of the elements around you. Take the time to think things through.
Once you've done this and gained respect and got the other party to think these things through themselves, you have opened a door and this is where scripture can walk through and have an effect.
Maybe this is unique to me and my situation, but I find most people take the opposite of "religious thought" because they just do. They've had public education and MTV and NPR and the Dan Brown's of the world help form and shape their thought and beliefs. They've accepted what they have seen and heard as truth and just put all "Bible qouters" as religious fanatics who are uneducated and close minded compared to them and stand behind some archaic book as truth. "Pfft, they do not even consider modern thought."
When I stop and have conversation with them in a civilized, open-forum kind of way, they begin to realize I am not off kilter and there is thought and explanation behind my beliefs. I have taken the time to develop my core values and beliefs. In this day and age, it goes a long, long, long way.
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As I said earier, I had a difficult time getting this thought out and "on paper" if you will. Your thoughts, comments, and questions are greatly appreciated.
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