CABL Forum - Re: Aren't All Religions Basically The Same?

My point is not to slam anyone, including yourself.

I have one point and one point only. There is no point in my opinion to prop up the bible with evidences or proofs or whatever you may call them.

It still all boils down to faith. Faith that God exists, Faith that the bible is God's word, Faith that Jesus was the Son of God (something I believe, but only by faith), Faith that the death of one brings about the life of many.

So many people recently and over the years have caused such a stir by insisting that this or that is true. I'm suggesting once again that those who know and follow Jesus precede the things we say with " I believe" and then fill in the blank with much sharing about Him as the way, His all encompassing love, and a grace that none can begin to measure or comprehend. Leave the "judgment of sinners" to the judge and not hammer on this fire and brimstone deal that some of the "early fathers" didn't even believe in. We should never focus our attention on convincing people to believe what we do and using "hell" as a leverage point or scare tactic. I personally believe that we should focus our attention on reconciliation.

It seems like many "christians" feel like if they can "prove" the bible is God's word and thus the truth that they are finally legitimized and have won the debate. I personally believe that it is about the spirit of God drawing all men to himself and they in turning making a personal choice to believe or not (faith or no faith)

If a person has a spiritual mind about things, say they are buddhist (sp.?) they are much closer to the truth that we believe is "the only truth" simply by virtue of the fact that they are seeking spiritually to put the things they observe in this life in order and perspective.

We can turn many away from this "Way" when all we do is spew about how "our God" is gonna get everyone in the end! Is He all loving? Did He die for the sins of the whole world or just the "elect"? This topic is much larger than most of us ever would have thought possible.

Since not too many of us have been there and back, since we can't be sure that all of our many interpretations of many "scriptures" are in fact from God, since we don't know for certain how many things we have messed up in our own individual little theologies, what should we do?

I am simply suggesting that those of us who claim to know the "one true God" should focus on the parts of His nature that we are the most sure of, those would be the ones on display for the whole universe in all time and in all dimensions to see when a God/man hung between the physical and the spiritual planes and cried: "It is finished!" What was finished? The power of sin to rule an individuals life and separate them from a loving God is what I believe. If so and if indeed He is not willing that any should die, perish, be eternally separated then I should focus on magnifying those facts not constantly being a reminder of the death he conquered, the "hell" of a life spent apart from Him that He didn't want anyone to have to experience. All of this, and in a language and vocabulary that people can relate to and understand, not a 300 or 400 year old vernacular.

I encourage you in your desire to encourage and to share your relationship with Jesus, your faith journey, and your spiritual insights gained by teaching and guiding from the spirit of God. Let's do that and leave the proof-texting and borderline bibliolatry out of it. It turns too many away from a Way that I think we both believe is important. Beyond that when you or anyone else continues on this bent, it separates others from you who otherwise call themselves a follower of Jesus because I simply cannot be grouped with that kind of spiritual thinking.

Thanks for reading and I hope everyone has a great weekend!

INSTALLATION

CONSTRUCTION / TECH

OFFICE / OTHER

Re: Aren't All Religions Basically The Same?