Posted by Ex-Instructor on August 13, 2002 at 09:13:53:
In Reply to: Re: Humility and Respect. posted by ? on August 13, 2002 at 07:08:11:
Two things:
1) I don't think that there are misrepresentations in the bible. Jesus preached the bible as literal. Thus, I have to take the bible as literal. I'm not sure which passages you're referring to about 'sons and daughters of God'. I know that there were passages in the old testament that talked about the sons of God mating with the daughters of man. I also know that God proceeded to destroy the earth by flooding it after that.
But seriously, I take the bible as literal. Things were a lot different in bible times than they are now. And, when you look at the bible in one reading, it sounds fantastical. But these events took place over thousands of years. If God wants to conjur up a giant fish, so be it. If satan wants to take on the persona of a snake, let him. If I believe the resurrection of Jesus, and that Jesus was the son of God, then I must take the bible literally, because that is how he took it.
Christ was both a man and God, simultaneously. But he was not about to lose his godliness by being tempted by Satan. Thus, I don't see how his temptation is relevant to the rest of humanity. It sets an example, yes, but he's playing on a different field. Satan could not, by God's definition, have tempted him. Plus, Christ knew all about Satan's intentions, having walked with him long before he was born to the flesh.
I think that there are a lot of wacky views that Christian's take, and it is really too bad. Most churches add way too many things into the mix that are not in the bible. I go to a bible based church that is non-denominational, and it is, in my opinion, the way to go. It allows me to get my lessons from scripture, not from church canonical law.
*; =qq(