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Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

759.0. "Bible-exalting non-readers" by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE (Pacifist Hellcat) Mon Nov 15 1993 16:51

It has always intrigued me how many people there are who thoroughly believe
the Bible to be God's complete, perfect, and final word, but who've never
actually read, except maybe for sections here and there, what they believe
so strongly about.

Has this been anybody else's experience?

Richard
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759.1CVG::THOMPSONWho will rid me of this meddlesome priest?Mon Nov 15 1993 16:594
    Not as often as the experience of people who have read but verses
    here and there criticizing the whole book.

    			Alfred
759.2They must see me comingCSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatMon Nov 15 1993 17:057
    .1 Yeah, I've met a few of those, too.  But in my experience, they're
    not as likely to stop me on the street as the ones mentioned in .0.
    
    ;-)
    
    Shalom,
    Richard
759.3The Bible is like a jigsaw puzzle, by using only a few pieces one has an incomplete picture.RDGENG::YERKESSbring me sunshine in your smileTue Nov 16 1993 08:0543
re .0
	Richard,

	My father told me of an experience he once had. He was talking
	to someone about the Bible, and the other person said yes I
	know all about the contents of the Bible I read it all the time.
	My father said "oh that's good" and hoping to start a discussion
	said "what do you think about what it says in Genesis 1:1?" (or
	words to that effect) in reply the person said "Oh, I haven't got 
	that far yet" -).

	But on the serious side, many people own a Bible, the pity is that
	they leave them to gather dust on the bookshelf. Yet, if they were
	to show an interest they would be amazed by the contents of this
	book. However, like the Ethopian Eunuch mentioned in Acts 8, persons
	need to be shown how the Bible might benefit them.

	And if a person just picks the isolated texts and ignores the rest,
	he will not have the complete picture but just the edges of a jigsaw
	puzzle. He might decide he knows what the finished picture looks
	like, but this would just be presumptiousness. A scripture worth citing 
	is 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NWT "All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial
	for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining
	in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent completely
	equipped for every good work." 

	One should not think that reading the Bible all the way through is 
	sufficient. One needs to ponder on the things read, eg What does this tell 
	me about God?, what does tell me about God's will and purposes?, How do I 
	make application of the things learnt, such as counsel for family members 
	etc..... If the husband only reads the counsel of what his wife should do, 
	of what benefit will it be to him or his family if he ignores the counsel 
	for husbands?. How will the wife feel? probabally that her husband is 
	applying a double standard. So it is important to get a complete picture 
	of the whole Bible and this is something to strive for. And if you believe 
	what you learn then application is all important, or one would just be like 
	the hypocrite Pharisees.


	By regularily studying the Bible, God can be "...the One teaching you to 
	benefit [yourself]...", Isaiah 48:17 NWT.

	Phil.
759.4Bull-critting: Cliff's notes versionWELLER::FANNINWed Nov 17 1993 03:1415
    Richard,

    This seems to be one of those societal maladies that might turn up
    anywhere.  I remember reading an article a few years back about the
    practice of "bull-critting" where someone would actually write a book
    review based on superfluous skimming of the subject text.  Apparently
    this sort of thing happens on a regular basis in the "New York Times
    Book Review."

    As for myself, I've read The Bible cover-to-cover four times (different
    translations each time) and studied it for most of my life. --- And I
    hold to what I've said in this conference many times... The True Word
    of God is written on our hearts. 

      
759.5AIMHI::JMARTINWed Nov 17 1993 21:209
    Re: -1
    
    Actually, doesn't the verse go, "I have hidden thy Word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against thee"?
    
    A heart of stone cannot be transformed until we become a new creature.
    This takes an act of the will.
    
    -Jack
759.6AIMHI::JMARTINWed Nov 17 1993 21:221
    Keep in mind also that Satan uses the Word of God!!
759.7CSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatWed Nov 17 1993 22:226
    .5  I'd like Ruth to speak for herself, but I suspect she's referring
    to Jeremiah 31.31-33, 2 Corinthians 3.1-3 and other such passages.
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    
759.8One lump? Or two?CSC32::J_CHRISTIEPacifist HellcatThu Nov 18 1993 21:063
    .6  The last time Satan and I had tea together, he failed to mention
    Scripture at all. *<8*}
    
759.9That I might not sin against TheeWELLER::FANNINSat Nov 20 1993 01:5317
    Hi Jack,
    
    I memorized the entire Sermon on the Mount when I was fourteen years
    old...and part of the reason was that verse from the Psalms you quoted
    "I have hidden thy Word in my Heart..."
    
    But Richard C. is right, it was more along the lines of the scripture
    he pointed out.
    
    "Heart of stone" is an interesting metaphor.  I had one.  I don't now. 
    And part of the transformation was in allowing the Word of God in my
    heart to be heard by the rest of me.
    
    Love ya,
    
    Ruth