Christian By Choice

Hmmmm.... So, Judi, what's a biblical viewpoint? (I'm asking this sort of tongue-in-cheek.)

I ask this because so many (oh, so many times!) I (and you unless you've been raised in a pickle barrel) have both seen well-intentioned believers with contradictory interpretations of scripture.

Pick an issue: War, charity, foreign policy, the environment, education, child-raising, parental responsibiliies, marriage, dating (or not dating), food, wealth and poverty, education, holidays, civil rights, crime and punishment, death penalty, worship, praxis, church government, power and its exercise, sex, pregnancy, breast-feeding, gender identity, repentance, redemption, end times, voting, Christian identity, slavery, politics, economics--the list seems endless. On these issues, and far more, (even down to the incomprehendingly trivial: hymnal cover color!) you can find sincere believers disagreeing.

Almost any issue can be supported by scripture, especially if one uses out-of-context scripture. So a biblical worldview, IMHO, seems like too shallow and casual a phrase to describe something that is enormous and often complex.

A personal note: When I was younger, everything seemed so clear: I was right and anyone disagreeing was not-as-right or just wrong. I was amazed at how often God would line up His word with my opinion! I couldn't understand why people wrestled with scripture and its interpretation. I'd say "You don't need to interpret scripture, the meaning is right there in the words!"

Well, it's amazing what thirty-plus years of just living life, of the universe kicking me in the ass, did to change my attitudes.

So now, on most issues I honestly don't know there's one obvious and correct biblical viewpoint. (There are some critical issues that IMHO stand above interpretation: Charity toward the poor, honesty in personal and corporate dealings, sanctity of human life. While the ways these issues are practiced is debatable, for me there's no debate they must be practiced.)

Now, I've found the most reliable guide to a correct worldview life in Jesus' words in Matthew 22:37-40--Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

And as the rabbi said, "Everything else is commentary."

So, does a "tongue in cheek" comment require another comment?

That's up to you! :)>

Well, Ken, how to say this . . . mmmmm . . . .

From what I understand through my studies, today's society seem to believe that there is no "truth", and "all roads lead to Rome". Conclusion: (IMHO) we live in a world full of people who will believe in anything. or believe in nothing. There joy seems to be mainly in their searching for peace, joy & happiness, but never seeming to find it.

The Bible is meant to be understood, not to be taken out of context, and is an owner's manual, if you will, for human beings. There ARE pastor-teachers that DO study the original Greek, Hebrew & Aramaic, and teach the Bible the way it should be taught. These men (yes, men) have a special gift (not spooky or hearing voices, etc.). Rarely can one find someone that teaches this way anymore, and that's where we now have widespread apostasy & heresy in our churches. Christians usually get about 45 minutes a week of either hell & damnation, or, like with Joel Osteen, a self-help pep talk with a little bit of Jesus thrown in for credibility.

This is one reason why the Church is having a difficult time in today's society. They are filled with people who don't know God, and they are thinking like humans, rather than like God. Christians are commanded to have "the mind of Christ" & to "love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind." Matthew 22:34-40

One can only love someone this way by knowing them, and one can only know them by spending time with them. In the case of God, spending time daily learning Bible doctrine (God's Word), getting to know Him through His word. There is a whole process for this, and I won't explain it here.

I'm sure this is way more than you wanted, but it's hard to explain a whole personal relationship & spiritual practice in one short paragraph. But, hey, we're not doing much else with this thread, so why not? . . . . : - )

I will be covering a lot of this in the following months in my discussion group, "Practical Christianity". You are welcome to join in or just visit.

http://www.tbd.com/group/479/view

Thanks for reading!!