Tcmc,
1. There are many reasons why people can have different
interpretations of the Bible. It is reductionistic to ascribe it to
one reason, generic. I have also given you another reason, people
(like you lah) are just being shoddy and callous in handling the
Word of God. Also, everyone has their own cultural and social
background that we often import into the text, and this can affect
how the Bible is to be read. A good example is the belief in
evolution. If one believes that science determines truth, then one
will take evolution as true and force it onto the Bible, or else
force the Bible to fit the evolutionary view and come up with what
Dawkins called "barking mad" theistic evolution. BTW, nowhere
does the Bible says that baptism is needed for salvation. But the
Bible clearly says that salvation is by grace so that no one can
boast of works. You need to let the clear words of Scripture take
precedence. A good interpretation will be able to account for other
APPARENTLY conflicting verses. But such explanations cannot be ad
hoc or arbitrary.
2. Dude, you are confused? Who are you kidding? Is your
personal confusion a reason for rejecting the faith? No, you seem
not to be confused at all that Christianity must be rejected.
Stop giving the impression that you are a helpless victim of
confusion. Many times we are confused because we lack the necessary
knowledge. But you take the lack of knowledge as your certainty and
confidence to reject the faith.
3. You truly confused about Jesus, heaven and hell meh? Doesn't
look like it to me at all. Jesus Himself claimed to be God, and
never denied the worship due to God alone. Even when Thomas called
"My God and my Lord" Jesus did not correct him. All indicators
clearly point to Jesus' deity. And Jesus spoke about heaven and
hell a lot. He spoke of hell as a place of torment. You think this
torment is fictional and not real? If so, what's so scary about a
nonliteral hell? And even if you want to be allegorical about it,
you will then have to come to terms with an allegorical hell that
is literally tormenting. I would say a real hell is consistent with
real torment.
4. You are so easily confused and swayed by what others are
telling you because you NEVER had a proper foundation to begin
with. You cannot even make a stand and study the Bible diligently,
or reason properly. Hebrews said that it is appointed for man to
die ONCE and face judgement. Ask yourself then where is the
place for a second chance? Did Jesus ever hint of a second
chance in any of the Gospels? Hebrews also say "Today is the day of
salvation", saying that we ought to make a choice for God today
while we still have today. It does not say, "no worry, you can
still make a choice after you are dead."
1. I am not reductionist what. I know there are a few reasons.
No, I really understand what you are saying about social and
cultural background. Like christians in catholic churches worship
in a different way compared to protestant christians like you etc.
But the goal is the same, I understand.
But my question is - All christians supposedly hear the voice of
God. And God apparently tells them whether E.g tongues is
biblical/unbiblical. So one camp says "GOd tells me" and the other
camp also says "God tells me". Yes it could probably be cultural
differences or different understanding. But the problem comes when
boths sides say "God tells me". If both claim "God tells me", then
one has to be wrong because apparently, God cannot contradict
himself.So how do you tell who is wrong and who is right when BOTH
camps quote verses? This is what I am trying to ask you all the
time. I know your answer will be "by the spirit". But both camps
also do go by "the spirit". So how?
2. Lets skip this question of whether jesus is god or not
because you seem not to understand that non-trinitarian christians
also can quote verses in the bible to justify non-trinitarian
beliefs, just like you can.
3. About salvation,
1 Peter 3:18-19 read as follows:
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just
for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death
in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went
and preached unto the spirits in prison;"
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the
poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty
to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are
bound.� (Isaiah 61:1)
So for christians who told me that jesus will go to
"prison" to preach to the spirits to give the dead a second chance,
they quote the above verses.
So yes you believe there's no second chance after we
die by quoting verses, these christians also tell me that there's a
second chance.
