A QUESTION OF PARABLES
I find it interesting that people will jump through hoops trying to prove that all of the Bible is 100% accurate historically: creation happened just like in the Bible several thousand years ago (not millions or billions); the Exodus story happened just like "the Bible said;" and / or everything reported about Jesus in the Gospels is true because it's in the Bible.
Here is a problem I have with this line of thinking. First, using creation as an example, there is much evidence to indicate that there are TWO stories of creation in Genesis. The first is Genesis 1:1-2:4a, and the second is 2:4b-2:25. In addition, there is a different version in Job and in the Psalms. Which is correct? The first story in Genesis says that humans were made last of all creation. The second story says that Adam was made first before any other plants or animals (which were created to find a "helper" for Adam). Eve was made last in this story. Which is correct?
Well, I want to pose a thought. Let's think about Jesus. One of the primary ways he taught people were through parables - stories he made up. They were not factual tellings of historical events, they were just FICTIONAL stories. Well, since they WERE fiction, does that mean we should throw them out? Does that mean there is no truth to be found there? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
Here's something that's important to think about. We claim that Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We also claim that Jesus was inspired by God. If Jesus was indeed inspired by God and taught using fictional parables, who is to say that parts of Scripture that are inspired by God aren't also fictional parables? If they are fiction, does that mean we should throw them out? Does that mean there is no truth to be found there? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
The Bible is, by far, the most important document in the Christian faith, and I believe this wholeheartedly. However, the Bible is NOT God, and God is NOT the Bible. Many people spend so much time trying to "prove" the Bible, that they forget to "prove" God. Think of 1 John 4:12: "No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and God's love has been brought to full expression through us." (NLT)
As Christians, we must continue to study and interpret Scripture, but let's spend less time trying to prove the Bible and more time trying to prove God by loving God with everything we have and our neighbors as ourselves. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14, NLT)
Here is a problem I have with this line of thinking. First, using creation as an example, there is much evidence to indicate that there are TWO stories of creation in Genesis. The first is Genesis 1:1-2:4a, and the second is 2:4b-2:25. In addition, there is a different version in Job and in the Psalms. Which is correct? The first story in Genesis says that humans were made last of all creation. The second story says that Adam was made first before any other plants or animals (which were created to find a "helper" for Adam). Eve was made last in this story. Which is correct?
Well, I want to pose a thought. Let's think about Jesus. One of the primary ways he taught people were through parables - stories he made up. They were not factual tellings of historical events, they were just FICTIONAL stories. Well, since they WERE fiction, does that mean we should throw them out? Does that mean there is no truth to be found there? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
Here's something that's important to think about. We claim that Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We also claim that Jesus was inspired by God. If Jesus was indeed inspired by God and taught using fictional parables, who is to say that parts of Scripture that are inspired by God aren't also fictional parables? If they are fiction, does that mean we should throw them out? Does that mean there is no truth to be found there? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
The Bible is, by far, the most important document in the Christian faith, and I believe this wholeheartedly. However, the Bible is NOT God, and God is NOT the Bible. Many people spend so much time trying to "prove" the Bible, that they forget to "prove" God. Think of 1 John 4:12: "No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and God's love has been brought to full expression through us." (NLT)
As Christians, we must continue to study and interpret Scripture, but let's spend less time trying to prove the Bible and more time trying to prove God by loving God with everything we have and our neighbors as ourselves. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14, NLT)
posted by T-roy | 9:12 PM
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