Posted by Ex-Instructor on August 13, 2002 at 13:25:26:
In Reply to: Re: Humility and Respect. posted by ? on August 13, 2002 at 10:36:13:
I used to take all of those passages at face value (e.g, plucking out the eye). There's some really strong (and distrurbing) stuff in Mathew about it. But he's saying, 'wouldn't it be BETTER to pluck out your eye', not 'PLUCK IT OUT'. Also, all of these things were preached to talk about how one must be if they do not believe in Christ, not the other way around. Man is inherently flawed, and will sin. A lot of the bible teaches how there is NO HOPE to live a godly life, and thus, you must turn your life over to Christ.
I don't think Christ feared his fate. He DID live without sin, and of course, he has free will, but I think that free will is within the boundaries of rules. Let's say that, since God has free will, he can suddenly decide to just start being evil. That's free will, right? But God can't do that. Why? Because he's perfect, and in his perfection, evil is not allowed (hence the expulsion of Lucifer from heaven). Thus, while it is within the realm of free will to do evil, it is not within God's because God, by his very essence, is not capable. I know that seems to limit God, but in fact, it just shows how awesome he is (in my opinion).
I also recognize that the bible has been transcribed many, many times over the years. I am currently reading the NIV version, which is different from the KJ version I grew up on. But the essence is the same, and I have a hard time believing that God would allow the bible to differ too much from its original meaning, especially given that it is his method of communicating with us.
Keep in mind that the bible is just that, a tool. Jesus desires a personal relationship with you, and that's where the real teaching comes in. If all I had to go on was in the bible, I would not be Christian, and I would not have a relationship with God. But I have personally felt His works within me, and seen the transformation in my own life, and that is what I go on. I guess that's the essence of faith.
It took me MANY years to get here, by the way, so I don't expect you to see my point (just yet). ,)
*; =qq(