I’ve begun to realize that I have a lot of questions and skepticism when it comes to the Bible (and obviously I’m the first, right?). At some point, this might be productive questioning. It might actually lead me to do some research and scholarship work. However, right now, it’s just causing problems.
I have a lot of previous knowledge about religion and Christianity. I was raised in a Christian household, went to CCD, even took some courses in college on all religions, Judaism, and Christianity. That being said, I’m no biblical scholar. There are many things I don’t know about my faith, religious history, and biblical meaning. Keeping this mind, I’ve realized that the Bible is not user-friendly. It’s a lot like using Windows Vista when you were hoping for Mac OS Leopard. You are constantly surprised at how you have to interpret whatever your computer is trying to tell you or help you do.
I’m not reading a study bible. There aren’t footnotes or interpretations to help me get through this. I guess that’s a good and bad thing. On the one hand, I’m able to just read and really feel as though I’m accomplishing something by reading the Bible to completion. On the other hand, I don’t get any help. Moments of confusion are left open to whatever interpretation I can muster myself (with my limited knowledge base). Hence my last entry. When Lot has sex with his daughters and there is no external commentary or consequences, it’s hard to take it – especially when a bunch of homosexuals just had their entire village burned to the ground for having same sex relations.
I am trying to have faith that what I’m reading really does apply to my life. I’m trying to have faith with healthy skepticism and questioning. But it ain’t easy.
It’s all one big rambling mess … You’d think god could find a better copywriter than Moses!! ;)
I dont think the bible is a big rambling mess, I think its God prerogative to shut His words and seal the book as written in Daniel 12: 4 But thou, O Daniel shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Daniel 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
He closed the book but Christian was commanded to see his seer in Haggai 2:11 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ask now the priest concerning the law….
It was God’s gift for someone to understand his mystery as written in Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables..
I considered myself lucky to understand the bible through the teaching of our presiding minister Bro. Eli Soriano. You can visit his blog in http://www.esoriano.wordpress.com and try to ask him all your concerns regarding the bible.